10-KPeriod: FY2009

EDISON INTERNATIONAL Annual Report, Year Ended Dec 31, 2009

Filed March 1, 2010For Securities:EIX

Summary

Edison International, in its 2010 10-K filing, reported a net income attributable to common shareholders of $849 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, a decrease from $1.215 billion in 2008. This decline was primarily driven by a significant loss of $614 million after tax in 2009 related to the Global Settlement with the IRS and the termination of Edison Capital's cross-border leases. The company's core utility operations, represented by Southern California Edison (SCE), showed improved performance with a core earnings increase to $874 million from $732 million in 2008, largely due to favorable rate case decisions from the CPUC and FERC. However, Edison Mission Group (EMG), the competitive power generation segment, experienced a decline in core earnings to $222 million in 2009 from $561 million in 2008, impacted by lower wholesale energy prices, decreased electrical demand, and higher compliance costs for environmental regulations at its Midwest Generation and Homer City plants. Despite the net income decline, SCE maintained a solid capital investment plan for infrastructure upgrades and renewable energy development, projecting $18 billion to $21.5 billion in capital expenditures from 2010 to 2014. The company also highlighted ongoing efforts to address environmental regulations, particularly those concerning greenhouse gas emissions and water quality standards, which may require significant future capital outlays. The filing also disclosed risks associated with regulatory decisions, market volatility, and the ability to recover costs and maintain liquidity, particularly at the parent company level.

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$12.36B
Operating Expenses$10.96B
Operating Income$1.40B
Interest Expense$732.00M
Net Income$849.00M
EPS (Basic)$2.59
EPS (Diluted)$2.58
Shares Outstanding (Basic)326.00M
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)327.00M

Key Highlights

  • 1Net income attributable to common shareholders decreased to $849 million in 2009 from $1.215 billion in 2008, primarily due to a $614 million after-tax charge related to the Global Settlement and lease terminations.
  • 2SCE's core earnings increased by 19.4% to $874 million in 2009, driven by favorable regulatory decisions and revenue requirement increases from the CPUC and FERC.
  • 3EMG's core earnings declined by 60.6% to $222 million in 2009, primarily due to lower wholesale energy prices and decreased electrical demand impacting its merchant power generation segment.
  • 4SCE announced a significant capital investment plan of $18-$21.5 billion for 2010-2014, focusing on transmission, distribution, renewable energy projects, and smart meter deployment.
  • 5The company faces ongoing environmental regulatory challenges, including those related to greenhouse gas emissions, air quality standards for its fossil fuel plants in Illinois and Pennsylvania, and water quality regulations impacting its San Onofre nuclear plant.
  • 6Parent company liquidity remains a focus, with Edison International expecting to incur additional borrowings to fund its own activities, given its subsidiaries' capital needs.
  • 7The company is subject to various risks including regulatory changes, market price volatility for energy and fuel, and credit risk from counterparties.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary driver of Edison International's net income decline in 2009 was a significant after-tax charge of $614 million related to the Global Settlement with the IRS, which resolved federal tax disputes and included the termination of Edison Capital's cross-border leases.

SCE's core earnings improved by 19.4% to $874 million in 2009 due to favorable rate case decisions from the CPUC and FERC, which authorized higher revenue requirements, and the implementation of certain incentive mechanisms.

EMG's competitive power generation segment faced challenges from lower wholesale energy prices, decreased electrical demand due to the economic downturn and milder weather, and increased costs associated with complying with environmental regulations, particularly at its Midwest Generation and Homer City plants.

Edison International plans to invest between $18 billion and $21.5 billion from 2010 to 2014, primarily focused on upgrading and expanding its transmission and distribution infrastructure, developing utility-owned solar projects, replacing steam generators at San Onofre, and deploying smart meters through the Edison SmartConnect™ program.

The company faces significant environmental risks related to air quality regulations (including greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants like NOx and SO2) impacting its coal-fired plants, water quality regulations (like the prohibition of ocean-based once-through cooling), and potential costs associated with remediation. These regulations could lead to substantial capital expenditures, operational modifications, or even plant shutdowns.