10-QPeriod: Q3 FY2001

NEXTERA ENERGY INC Quarterly Report for Q3 Ended Sep 30, 2001

Filed November 9, 2001For Securities:NEENEE-PNNEE-PSNEE-PTNEE-PWNEE-PVNEE-PU

Summary

NextEra Energy Inc. (NEE), formerly FPL Group, Inc., reported strong financial performance for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. The company saw a significant increase in operating revenues for both FPL and FPL Energy segments, signaling robust growth. Net income rose for both the three-month and nine-month periods, driven by contributions from both its regulated utility (FPL) and non-regulated energy generation subsidiary (FPL Energy). Key operational highlights include customer growth for FPL, contributing to increased revenues, and FPL Energy's expanding power generation portfolio. Despite some headwinds, such as the economic impact of September 11th on Florida's tourism-dependent economy and challenges in California regarding past-due receivables from utilities like PG&E and SCE, the company demonstrated resilience. The adoption of new accounting standards, particularly FAS 133, had a minimal impact on earnings, with forward-looking impacts being evaluated.

Key Highlights

  • 1Total operating revenues for FPL Group increased significantly, with a substantial rise in the nine months ended September 30, 2001 ($6,636 million) compared to the same period in 2000 ($5,225 million).
  • 2Net income for FPL Group showed a positive trend, growing to $334 million in Q3 2001 from $314 million in Q3 2000, and for the nine months to $663 million in 2001 from $639 million in 2000.
  • 3FPL, the rate-regulated utility segment, experienced customer growth of 2.3% and improved net income due to lower O&M expenses and non-clause-related taxes in the third quarter.
  • 4FPL Energy, the non-regulated generation subsidiary, benefited from a growing power generation portfolio and higher operating margins, with significant expansion plans underway.
  • 5FPL Group's consolidated balance sheet shows a strong increase in total assets to $17,355 million as of September 30, 2001, up from $15,300 million at year-end 2000, largely driven by property, plant, and equipment additions.
  • 6The company successfully managed its capital structure, increasing long-term debt to fund expansion while also increasing cash and cash equivalents.
  • 7Despite challenges such as past-due receivables from California utilities (PG&E and SCE) totaling approximately $14 million, the company is actively managing these exposures and believes it has meritorious defenses in ongoing litigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The increase in operating revenues is primarily driven by customer growth within FPL, the rate-regulated utility segment, and the expansion of FPL Energy's power generation portfolio. Higher fuel costs also contributed to increased revenue pass-throughs.

The adoption of FAS 133, effective January 1, 2001, had a minimal effect on the quarterly results and contributed approximately $4 million to FPL Group's and FPL Energy's earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. For FPL's regulated operations, changes in fair value of derivatives are deferred as regulatory assets/liabilities, while for FPL Energy's unregulated operations, changes are recognized in earnings or as a component of other comprehensive income if designated as a cash flow hedge.

Key challenges include potential impacts from the economic slowdown following the September 11th attacks on Florida's tourism-dependent economy, uncertainty surrounding the financial recovery of California utilities (PG&E and SCE) with whom FPL Energy has past-due receivables, and ongoing regulatory proceedings related to base rates and potential market restructuring in Florida.

FPL Group is actively investing in capital expenditures for expansion, particularly at FPL Energy, with significant commitments for new generation projects. The company has increased its credit facilities to support its commercial paper programs and general corporate purposes, indicating a focus on maintaining adequate liquidity to fund its growth initiatives and operational needs.