10-QPeriod: Q2 FY2007

EXELON CORP Quarterly Report for Q2 Ended Jun 30, 2007

Filed July 25, 2007For Securities:EXC

Summary

Exelon Corporation reported strong financial performance for the first six months of 2007, with net income increasing to $1,393 million ($2.05 per diluted share) from $1,044 million ($1.55 per diluted share) in the same period of 2006. This growth was primarily driven by higher average margins in the Generation segment's wholesale market sales, benefiting from the expiration of a below-market power purchase agreement with ComEd. Favorable weather conditions, increased delivery volumes at ComEd and PECO, and higher transmission revenues at ComEd also contributed to the positive results. The company is navigating a complex regulatory and legislative environment, particularly in Illinois, with ongoing discussions and potential settlements regarding rate relief and electricity procurement. Exelon has made significant progress in managing its financial obligations, meeting capital resource requirements through a combination of internally generated cash and external financing, including bond issuances by its utility subsidiaries. Despite some debt rating downgrades for ComEd and PECO, the company emphasizes its continued access to credit facilities and focus on operational efficiency and shareholder value.

Key Highlights

  • 1Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2007, increased by $349 million to $1,393 million, with diluted earnings per share rising to $2.05 from $1.55 in the prior year.
  • 2The Generation segment was a key driver of profit growth, largely due to higher wholesale market margins following the expiration of a below-market power purchase agreement with ComEd.
  • 3Favorable weather conditions and increased electricity and gas delivery volumes positively impacted the regulated utility segments, ComEd and PECO.
  • 4Exelon successfully met its capital resource requirements through internally generated cash flows and external financing, including significant bond issuances by ComEd and PECO.
  • 5The company is actively engaged in regulatory and legislative developments, particularly in Illinois, concerning electricity rates and procurement, aiming for greater stability and certainty.
  • 6Despite debt rating downgrades for ComEd and PECO, the company maintains access to sufficient credit facilities to support its operations.
  • 7Exelon is exploring growth opportunities, including a potential new nuclear plant in Texas, demonstrating a long-term strategic outlook.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary drivers were higher average margins on the Generation segment's wholesale market sales, largely due to the expiration of a below-market power purchase agreement with ComEd. Additionally, favorable weather conditions in the service territories of ComEd and PECO, increased delivery volumes at these utilities, and higher transmission revenues at ComEd significantly contributed to the profit increase.

Exelon is involved in significant regulatory and legislative discussions in Illinois aimed at addressing concerns about higher electricity bills. A key development is a potential settlement agreement that would involve voluntary contributions to rate relief programs and the establishment of a new Illinois Power Agency to manage electricity procurement. Exelon and ComEd are committed to contributing substantially to these initiatives. These developments are expected to reduce the likelihood of adverse legislation, such as rate freezes or generation taxes, and provide greater stability for ComEd's electricity procurement and cost recovery.

Exelon's financial performance was strong in the first half of 2007. The company met its capital resource requirements through a combination of internally generated cash flows and external financing, including significant bond issuances by ComEd and PECO. While ComEd and PECO experienced debt rating downgrades, Exelon maintains access to substantial credit facilities to support its operations and commercial paper programs. The company expects cash flows to be sufficient to meet its operational, financing, and capital expenditure needs.

Key risks include potential liabilities associated with nuclear facility operations, particularly decommissioning costs, although Exelon has demonstrated to the NRC that its current trust funds are adequately funded. Exelon also faces commodity price risk on unhedged energy portfolios, which it manages through hedging strategies. Regulatory and political uncertainty, especially in Illinois, continues to be a factor, although recent settlement discussions aim to mitigate some of these risks. The company also faces credit risk from counterparties in its energy contracts.