10-QPeriod: Q3 FY2006

NEXTERA ENERGY INC Quarterly Report for Q3 Ended Sep 30, 2006

Filed November 3, 2006For 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, 2006. Total operating revenues increased significantly year-over-year, driven by robust growth in both its regulated utility segment (FPL) and its competitive energy business (FPL Energy). Net income also saw a substantial rise, benefiting from increased revenues, strategic investments, and effective cost management, partially offset by merger-related expenses and storm cost disallowances. The company's liquidity remains strong, supported by substantial cash flows from operations and access to credit facilities, enabling continued investment in capital projects and strategic initiatives. FPL Energy, in particular, demonstrated impressive growth, with net income surging due to new investments in generation capacity, improved market conditions, and effective asset optimization. The company continues to expand its renewable energy portfolio, especially in wind generation, leveraging government incentives. While regulatory matters and ongoing litigation present some uncertainties, NextEra Energy's diversified business model and proactive management position it well for continued growth and value creation for its shareholders.

Key Highlights

  • 1Consolidated operating revenues increased substantially to $12,087 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, up from $8,682 million in the prior year period.
  • 2Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, grew to $1,010 million, a significant increase from $679 million in the same period of 2005.
  • 3FPL Energy, the competitive energy segment, experienced a substantial rise in net income to $458 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $102 million in the prior year.
  • 4Capital expenditures remained robust, with FPL investing $1,303 million and FPL Energy investing $1,375 million in new generation and infrastructure projects during the first nine months of 2006.
  • 5The company maintained strong liquidity, with FPL Group reporting $4.3 billion in net available liquidity as of September 30, 2006.
  • 6Merger-related costs of $11 million were incurred in the third quarter of 2006 due to the termination of the proposed merger with Constellation Energy Group, Inc.
  • 7FPL recovered a significant portion of deferred storm costs through securitization bonds, mitigating the impact of 2004 and 2005 hurricane damages on its financial results.

Frequently Asked Questions

The significant increase in net income was primarily driven by strong performance from FPL Energy, the company's competitive energy business, which benefited from new investments in generation capacity, improved market conditions, and effective asset optimization. Additionally, FPL, the regulated utility, also contributed positively with increased revenues and cost management, despite some storm-related cost disallowances.

NextEra Energy has been recovering past storm restoration costs through a combination of securitization bonds and surcharges. In May 2006, the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) approved the issuance of approximately $708 million in bonds to recover estimated storm reserve deficiencies from 2004 and 2005. Unrecovered 2004 storm costs continue to be recovered through an approved surcharge.

FPL Energy is actively expanding its renewable energy portfolio, with a focus on wind generation. The company expects significant future capacity growth from wind development, especially benefiting from the extension of the production tax credit program. In 2006, FPL Energy completed or expected to bring online approximately 623 MW of wind projects and planned to add at least 1,500 MW of new wind generation in 2006 and 2007.

The proposed merger with Constellation Energy Group was terminated in October 2006. NextEra Energy incurred approximately $11 million in merger-related costs in the third quarter of 2006, primarily due to the write-off of previously capitalized transaction costs. These costs were reflected in the 'Corporate and Other' segment.