ALLETE reports 2009 earnings
ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE: ALE) today reported 2009 earnings of $1.89 per share, compared with 2008 earnings of $2.82 per share. Net income was $61 million on operating revenue of $759.1 million in 2009, versus net income of $82.5 million and operating revenue of $801 million in 2008. ALLETE's 2009 financial results reflected a $4.9 million, or 15 cent per share, after-tax charge for the 2008 portion of electric customer refunds from a prior rate case. Excluding that charge, ALLETE's 2009 earnings were $2.04 per share.
"The financial picture for ALLETE in 2009 was negatively impacted by the economic downturn and by regulatory outcomes that were less than favorable to us," said Don Shippar, ALLETE's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Regulated Operations recorded net income of $65.9 million during the year, $2 million less than in 2008. Higher electric rates did not offset the combination of increased expenses, the 2008 portion of customer refunds, and lower kilowatt-hour sales. Due to the region's sluggish economy, sales of electricity to residential, municipal, commercial and industrial customers all declined from 2008 to 2009.
Kilowatt-hour sales to other power suppliers, however, more than doubled from 2008 to 2009 as Minnesota Power sold a portion of the electricity not used by its industrial customers.
ALLETE recorded higher income from its investment in the American Transmission Company due to an investment balance that climbed to $88.4 million at the end of 2009.
Net income in the Investments and Other segment fell by $19.5 million compared to 2008. Year-over-year comparison in this segment was also affected by $9.6 million in tax benefits and a gain on the sale of securities in 2008 that did not reoccur in 2009. ALLETE Properties recorded a net loss of $4.7 million in 2009 versus net income of $1.8 million the previous year as Florida real estate market conditions remained weak throughout the year.
Common stock shares issued by the company during the year to fund ALLETE's regulated utility capital investment program diluted earnings by 19 cents per share in 2009.
Shippar said he expects ALLETE earnings for the full year 2010 to be within a range of $2.05 and $2.35 per share.
"We're encouraged by an improved outlook for our industrial customers and we expect to achieve acceptable regulatory outcomes in 2010," he said. Shippar also noted that a new industrial customer, Mesabi Nugget, is now in operation and that the company's investment balance in the American Transmission Company will grow in 2010.
ALLETE's corporate headquarters are located in Duluth, Minnesota. ALLETE provides energy services in the upper Midwest and has real estate holdings in Florida. More information about the company is available on ALLETE's Web site at www.allete.com.
The statements contained in this release and statements that ALLETE may make orally in connection with this release that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and investors are directed to the risks discussed in documents filed by ALLETE with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ALLETE's press releases and other communications may include certain non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) financial measures. A "non-GAAP financial measure" is defined as a numerical measure of a company's financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes (or includes) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the company's financial statements.
Non-GAAP financial measures utilized by the Company include presentations of earnings (loss) per share. ALLETE's management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors by removing the effect of variances in GAAP reported results of operations that are not indicative of changes in the fundamental earnings power of the Company's operations. Management believes that the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures is appropriate and enables investors and analysts to more accurately compare the company's ongoing financial performance over the periods presented.
Investor Contact:
Tim Thorp
218.723.3953
tthorp@allete.com