10-KPeriod: FY2001

NEXTERA ENERGY INC Annual Report, Year Ended Dec 31, 2001

Filed March 29, 2002For Securities:NEENEE-PNNEE-PSNEE-PTNEE-PWNEE-PVNEE-PU

Summary

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) in its March 2002 10-K filing demonstrates a robust financial position and strategic growth, primarily driven by its Florida Power & Light (FPL) subsidiary and its FPL Energy division. FPL, the regulated utility arm, serves nearly eight million customers across Florida and is subject to FPSC regulation, with recent rate agreements impacting revenue. FPL Energy, the unregulated subsidiary, is expanding its independent power generation portfolio significantly, diversifying by fuel type and region. The company is actively managing regulatory environments, including upcoming changes in Florida's energy market. FPL Energy's growth is a key driver, with substantial investments in new generation capacity, particularly in natural gas and wind power. The company's financial performance in 2001 showed increased operating revenues and net income, demonstrating resilience despite merger-related expenses. Liquidity appears strong, supported by significant available lines of credit and manageable debt levels.

Key Highlights

  • 1FPL's regulated operations serve approximately 3.9 million customer accounts across Florida, with revenue primarily from retail customers (99%).
  • 2FPL Energy significantly expanded its independent power project portfolio, with a net generating capacity of 5,063 MW by the end of 2001, and plans to add approximately 5,000 MW more by the end of 2004.
  • 3Total capital expenditures for FPL in 2001 were $1.1 billion, with projected expenditures of $4.4 billion for 2002-2004.
  • 4FPL Group's consolidated operating revenues increased to $8.475 billion in 2001, with net income of $781 million.
  • 5The company is navigating deregulation trends in the electric utility industry, with a focus on potential restructuring of Florida's wholesale electricity market.
  • 6FPL Energy received substantial payments from California utilities for past-due electricity sales, with remaining exposure deemed not material.
  • 7The company reported strong customer growth and slightly higher electricity usage per retail customer in 2001, despite a slowing economy.

Frequently Asked Questions

NextEra Energy (NEE), through its subsidiaries Florida Power & Light (FPL) and FPL Energy, operates as a public utility holding company. FPL is engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electric energy primarily in Florida, while FPL Energy focuses on developing, constructing, managing, and operating domestic electric-generating facilities in non-regulated markets.

FPL's current rate agreement, effective April 1999 and expiring April 2002, provided for annual revenue reductions and a revenue-sharing mechanism. While customer growth and higher usage were positive, a higher refund provision under the revenue sharing mechanism and increased O&M and interest expenses partly offset these benefits. A new rate agreement was approved in March 2002, which includes a further $250 million annual reduction in retail base revenues and will be effective from April 2002 through December 2005.

FPL Energy's primary growth driver is the expansion of its independent power generation portfolio. In 2001, capital expenditures and investments totaled approximately $1.977 billion. The company had ownership interests in operating projects with a net generating capacity of 5,063 MW and was actively constructing or had announced plans for an additional 5,000 MW of capacity by the end of 2004, with an expectation to add 1,000 to 2,000 MW of new wind generation by the end of 2003.

The electric utility industry is facing increasing competitive pressure due to deregulation. FPL faces competition from other suppliers in the wholesale market and from self-generation for industrial customers. The company is actively monitoring and participating in discussions and proposals related to deregulation and restructuring in Florida, including potential changes to wholesale market structures and transmission operations (RTOs/ISOs).