Dominion Energy Announces First-Quarter 2018 Earnings

Dominion Energy Announces First-Quarter 2018 Earnings

- First-quarter 2018 reported earnings of $0.77 per share

- First-quarter 2018 operating earnings of $1.14 per share

- Company expects to produce results that are above the midpoint of the reaffirmed full-year 2018 operating earnings guidance of $3.80 to $4.25 per share

- Company affirms intention to increase dividends per share by 10% per year through 2019 and 6%--10% in 2020

RICHMOND, Va., April 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Energy (NYSE: D) today announced unaudited reported earnings determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (reported earnings) for the three months ended March 31, 2018, of $503 million ($0.77 per share) compared with earnings of $632 million ($1.01 per share) for the same period in 2017.

Operating earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2018, were $741 million ($1.14 per share), compared to operating earnings of $611 million ($0.97 per share) for the same period in 2017. Operating earnings are defined as reported earnings adjusted for certain items.

The principal differences between reported earnings and operating earnings for the quarter were a charge associated with Virginia legislation enacted in March that requires one-time rate credits to utility customers and a market loss on our nuclear decommissioning trusts.

Dominion Energy uses operating earnings as the primary performance measurement of its earnings guidance and results for public communications with analysts and investors. Dominion Energy also uses operating earnings internally for budgeting, for reporting to the Board of Directors, for the company's incentive compensation plans and for its targeted dividend payouts and other purposes. Dominion Energy management believes operating earnings provide a more meaningful representation of the company's fundamental earnings power.

Thomas F. Farrell, II, chairman, president and chief executive officer, said:

"Our first quarter results were very strong and came in at the top end of our guidance range of $0.95 to $1.15. Given the strong results for the first quarter, we now expect to produce results that are above the midpoint of our guidance range for the year.

"We are pleased to report outstanding operational and record-setting safety results at each of our business segments.

"Construction of the 1,588-megawatt Greensville County combined cycle power station continues on time and on budget. The project is 84 percent complete and is expected to begin commercial operations in late 2018.

"We continue to make progress on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the Supply Header Project, including construction of compressor stations in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Both projects remain on schedule for completion in late 2019.

"The Cove Point Liquefaction facility, with a capacity of 5.25 million tons per annum of LNG, was placed into commercial service earlier this month representing the successful completion of a $4 billion, multi-year construction project.

"Finally, we have reviewed our dividend growth rate assumptions with our Board and reconfirm our policy to increase the dividend 10% annually in 2018 and 2019. The growth rate in 2020 is expected to be between 6% and 10%, depending on the viability of Master Limited Partnership capital markets at that time."

First-Quarter 2018 Reported and Operating Earnings Compared to 2017
Reported earnings decreased 24 cents per share as compared to first-quarter 2017. Business segment results and detailed descriptions of items included in reported earnings but excluded from operating earnings can be found on schedules 1, 2, and 3 of this release.

Operating earnings increased 17 cents per share as compared to first-quarter 2017 per share operating earnings. The increase is primarily attributable to the benefits of higher merchant generation margins, farmout transactions, normal weather in our regulated service territory and the impact of tax reform. Factors offsetting the increase include lower renewable energy investment tax credits and higher financing and share count.

Details of first-quarter operating earnings as compared to 2017 may be found on Schedule 4 of this release.

Second-Quarter 2018 Operating Earnings Guidance
Dominion Energy expects second-quarter 2018 operating earnings in the range of $0.70-$0.80 per share, compared to second-quarter 2017 operating earnings of $0.67 per share. Positive drivers include earnings contributions from Cove Point, a return to normal weather and the absence of a refueling outage at Millstone Power Station. The company expects negative drivers for the quarter to include lower investment tax credits, higher financing costs and a higher share count.

The company reaffirms its previously issued 2018 operating earnings guidance of $3.80-$4.25 per share.

In providing its operating earnings guidance, the company notes that there could be differences between expected reported earnings and estimated operating earnings for matters such as, but not limited to, acquisitions, divestitures or changes in accounting principles. At this time, Dominion Energy management is not able to estimate the aggregate impact of these items on future period reported earnings.

Conference Call Today
The company will host its first-quarter earnings conference call at 10 a.m. ET on Friday, April 27, 2018. Management will discuss first-quarter financial results and other matters of interest to the financial community.

Domestic callers should dial (877) 410-5657. International callers should dial (334) 323-9872. The passcode for the conference call is "Dominion." Participants should dial in 10 to 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Members of the media also are invited to listen.

A live webcast of the conference call, including accompanying slides, and other financial information will be available on the investor information pages at investors.dominionenergy.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available beginning about 1 p.m. ET April 27 and lasting until 11 p.m. ET May 4. Domestic callers may access the recording by dialing (877) 919-4059. International callers should dial (334) 323-0140. The PIN for the replay is 67615976. Additionally, a replay of the webcast will be available on the investor information pages by the end of the day April 27.

Dominion Energy is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 26,000 megawatts of electric generation, 14,800 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,600 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion Energy operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with approximately 1 trillion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves nearly 6 million utility and retail energy customers. For more information about Dominion Energy, visit the company's website at www.dominionenergy.com.

This release contains certain forward-looking statements, including forecasted operating earnings for second-quarter and full-year 2018 and beyond which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to: unusual weather conditions and their effect on energy sales to customers and energy commodity prices; extreme weather events and other natural disasters; federal, state and local legislative and regulatory developments; changes to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, including proposed carbon regulations; cost of environmental compliance; changes in enforcement practices of regulators relating to environmental standards and litigation exposure for remedial activities; capital market conditions, including the availability of credit and the ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms; fluctuations in interest rates; changes in rating agency requirements or credit ratings and their effect on availability and cost of capital; impacts of acquisitions, divestitures, transfers of assets by Dominion Energy to joint ventures or to Dominion Energy Midstream Partners, and retirements of assets based on asset portfolio reviews; the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the proposed acquisition of SCANA Corporation, including the ability to obtain the requisite approvals of SCANA's shareholders and timing, receipt and terms and conditions of required regulatory approvals; receipt of approvals for, and timing of, closing dates for other acquisitions and divestitures; the execution of Dominion Energy Midstream Partners' growth strategy; changes in demand for Dominion Energy's services; additional competition in Dominion Energy's industries; changes to regulated rates collected by Dominion Energy; changes in operating, maintenance and construction costs; timing and receipt of regulatory approvals necessary for planned construction or expansion projects and compliance with conditions associated with such regulatory approvals; the inability to complete planned construction projects within time frames initially anticipated; and the ability of Dominion Energy Midstream Partners to negotiate, obtain necessary approvals and consummate acquisitions from Dominion Energy and third-parties, and the impacts of such acquisitions. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in Dominion Energy's and Dominion Energy Midstream Partners' quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



                                                          Dominion Energy, Inc.

                                                   Consolidated Statements of Income*

                                                         Unaudited (GAAP Based)

                                                  (millions, except per share amounts)


                                                          Three Months Ended March 31,

                                                                                     2018                       2017
                                                                                     ----                       ----


    Operating Revenue                                                              $3,466                     $3,384
                                                                                   ------                     ------

    Operating Expenses

    Electric fuel and other energy-
     related purchases                                                                744                        575

    Purchased (excess) electric
     capacity                                                                          14                       (17)

    Purchased gas                                                                     340                        305

    Other operations and maintenance                                                  796                        784

    Depreciation, depletion and
     amortization                                                                     498                        469

    Other taxes                                                                       199                        189
                                                                                                                ---

    Total operating expenses                                                        2,591                      2,305
                                                                                    -----                      -----

    Income from operations                                                            875                      1,079
                                                                                      ---                      -----

    Other income                                                                      100                        162

    Interest and related charges                                                      314                        292
                                                                                      ---                        ---

    Income from operations including
     noncontrolling interests before
     income tax expense                                                               661                        949

    Income tax expense                                                                135                        275
                                                                                      ---                        ---

    Net Income Including
     Noncontrolling Interests                                                         526                        674

    Noncontrolling Interests                                                           23                         42

    Net Income Attributable to
     Dominion Energy                                                                 $503                       $632
                                                                                     ====                       ====

    Earnings Per Common Share

    Net income attributable to
     Dominion Energy -Basic                                                         $0.77                      $1.01

    Net income attributable to
     Dominion Energy -Diluted                                                        0.77                       1.01

    Dividends Declared Per Common
     Share                                                                         $0.835                    $0.7550
                                                                                   ======                    =======


    * The notes contained in Dominion Energy's most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q or annual report on
     Form 10-K are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.


    Schedule 1 - Segment Reported and Operating Earnings


    Unaudited

    (millions, except earnings per share)                                                                                   Three months ended March 31,
                                                                                                                            ----------------------------

                                                                                                                                                    2018              2017          Change
                                                                                                                                                    ----              ----          ------


    REPORTED EARNINGS (1)                                                                                                                        $503              $632                     $(129)


                                                                         Pre-tax loss (income) (2)                      305                                 (31)               336

                                                                         Income tax (2)                                (67)                                  10               (77)
                                                                         --------------

    Adjustments to reported earnings                                                                                                              238              (21)                       259


    OPERATING EARNINGS                                                                                                                           $741              $611                       $130
                                                                                                                                                 ----              ----                       ----

                                                                         By segment:

                                                                         Power Delivery                                 156                                  125                 31

                                                                         Power Generation                               348                                  261                 87

                                                                         Gas Infrastructure                             327                                  263                 64

                                                                         Corporate and Other                           (90)                                (38)              (52)
                                                                         --------------

                                                                                                                                                    $741              $611                       $130
                                                                                                                                                    ====              ====                       ====


    Earnings Per Share (EPS):

    REPORTED EARNINGS (1)                                                                                                                       $0.77             $1.01                    $(0.24)

    Adjustments to reported earnings (after tax)                                                                                                 0.37            (0.04)                      0.41
                                                                                                                                                 ----             -----                       ----

    OPERATING EARNINGS                                                                                                                          $1.14             $0.97                      $0.17
                                                                                                                                                -----             -----                      -----

                                                                         By segment:

                                                                         Power Delivery                                0.24                                 0.20               0.04

                                                                         Power Generation                              0.54                                 0.41               0.13

                                                                         Gas Infrastructure                            0.50                                 0.42               0.08

                                                                         Corporate and Other                         (0.14)                              (0.06)            (0.08)
                                                                         --------------

                                                                                                                                                   $1.14             $0.97                      $0.17
                                                                                                                                                   =====             =====                      =====


    Common Shares Outstanding (average, diluted)                                                                                                650.5             628.1


    1)  Determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

    2)  Adjustments to reported earnings are included in Corporate and Other segment reported GAAP earnings.
        Refer to Schedules 2 and 3 for details, or find "GAAP Reconciliation" in the Earnings Release Kit on Dominion
        Energy's website at www.dominionenergy.com/investors.
    ---------------------------------------------------------

Schedule 2 - Reconciliation of 2018 Operating Earnings to Reported Earnings

2018 Earnings (Three months ended March 31, 2018)

The $305 million pre-tax net effect of the adjustments included in 2018 reported earnings, but excluded from operating earnings, is primarily related to the following items:

    --  $215 million charge associated with Virginia legislation enacted in
        March that requires one-time rate credits of certain amounts to utility
        customers.
    --  $43 million net loss related to our investments in nuclear
        decommissioning trust.
    --  $31 million of restoration costs associated with Winter Storm Riley
        primarily affecting our Virginia service territory.
    --  $16 million of transaction and transition costs associated with the
        Dominion Energy Questar combination and the proposed acquisition of
        SCANA Corporation.

    (millions, except
     per share
     amounts)                                   1Q18                 2Q18                3Q18                4Q18  YTD 2018
    -----------------                           ----                 ----                ----                ----  --------

    Reported earnings                                  $503                                                                  $503

    Adjustments to reported earnings (1):

        Pre-tax loss
         (income)                                       305                                                                   305

        Income tax                                     (67)                                                                 (67)
        ----------                                      ---                                                                   ---

                                                        238                                                                   238

    Operating
     earnings                                          $741                                                                  $741
    ---------                                          ----                                                                  ----

    Common shares
     outstanding
     (average,
     diluted)                                         650.5                                                                 650.5
    -------------

    Reported earnings
     per share                                        $0.77                                                                 $0.77

    Adjustments to
     reported
     earnings (after-
     tax)                                              0.37                                                                  0.37

    Operating
     earnings per
     share                                            $1.14                                                                 $1.14
    -------------                                     -----                                                                 -----


    1)Adjustments to reported earnings are reflected in the following table:

                                                1Q18                 2Q18                3Q18                4Q18  YTD 2018
                                                ----                 ----                ----                ----  --------

    Pre-tax loss (income):
    ----------------------

        Impact of
         Virginia rate
         legislation                                    215                                                                   215

        Net loss on NDT
         funds                                           43                                                                    43

        Storm costs                                      31                                                                    31

        Merger-related
         transaction and
         transition costs                                16                                                                    16


                                                       $305                                                                  $305
                                                       ----                                                                  ----

    Income tax expense (benefit):
    -----------------------------

       Tax effect of
        above
        adjustments to
        reported
        earnings *                                     (67)                                                                 (67)

                                                      ($67)                                                                ($67)
                                                       ----                                                                  ----


    * Income taxes for individual pre-tax items include current and deferred taxes using a transactional effective

    tax rate. For interim reporting purposes, such amounts may be adjusted in connection with the calculation of
     the

    Company's year-to-date income tax provision based on its estimated  annual effective tax rate.

Schedule 3 - Reconciliation of 2017 Operating Earnings to Reported Earnings

2017 Earnings (Twelve months ended December 31, 2017)

The $235 million pre-tax net effect of the adjustments included in 2017 reported earnings, but excluded from operating earnings, is primarily related to the following items:

    --  $158 million of impairment charges associated with our equity method
        investments in wind-powered generation facilities.
    --  $72 million of transaction and transition costs, primarily associated
        with the Dominion Energy Questar combination.
    --  $46 million net gain related to our investments in nuclear
        decommissioning trust funds.

The 2017 Tax Reform Act reduced the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. Dominion Energy recognized $851 million of tax benefits resulting from the re-measurement of deferred income taxes to the new corporate income tax rate.



    (millions, except per share amounts)                                     1Q17        2Q17       3Q17       4Q17            YTD 2017             (2)
    -----------------------------------                                      ----        ----       ----       ----            --------

    Reported earnings                                                               $632       $390       $665          $1,312               $2,999
    -----------------                                                               ----       ----       ----          ------               ------

    Adjustments to reported earnings (1):

        Pre-tax loss (income)                                                       (31)        47         12             207                  235

        Income tax                                                                    10       (16)       (5)          (934)               (945)
        ----------                                                                   ---        ---        ---            ----                 ----

                                                                                    (21)        31          7           (727)               (710)

    Operating earnings                                                              $611       $421       $672            $585               $2,289
    ------------------                                                              ----       ----       ----            ----               ------

    Common shares outstanding (average, diluted)                                   628.1      629.2      642.5           643.9                636.0
    -------------------------------------------

    Reported earnings per share                                                    $1.01      $0.62      $1.03           $2.04                $4.72

    Adjustments to reported earnings (after-tax)                                  (0.04)      0.05       0.01          (1.13)              (1.12)

    Operating earnings per share                                                   $0.97      $0.67      $1.04           $0.91                $3.60
    ----------------------------                                                   -----      -----      -----           -----                -----


    1)Adjustments to reported earnings are reflected in the following table:

                                                                             1Q17        2Q17       3Q17       4Q17            YTD 2017
                                                                             ----        ----       ----       ----            --------

    Pre-tax loss (income):
    ----------------------

        Impairments of equity method investments                                                                      158                  158

        Merger-related transaction & transition costs                                  3         20         16              33                   72

        Net gain on NDT funds                                                       (34)       (3)       (4)            (5)                (46)

        Other                                                                                 30                        21                   51


                                                                                   ($31)       $47        $12            $207                 $235
                                                                                    ----        ---        ---            ----                 ----

    Income tax expense (benefit):
    -----------------------------

       Tax effect of above adjustments to reported earnings *                         10       (16)       (5)           (83)                (94)

       Re-measurement of Deferred Tax Balances **                                                                   (851)               (851)


                                                                                     $10      ($16)      ($5)         ($934)              ($945)
                                                                                     ---       ----        ---           -----                -----

    * Income taxes for individual pre-tax
     items include current and deferred
     taxes using a transactional effective
     tax rate. For interim reporting
     purposes, such amounts may be adjusted
     in connection with the calculation of
     the Company's year-to-date income tax
     provision based on its estimated annual
     effective tax rate.


    ** Federal tax reform, enacted in
     December 2017, reduced the corporate
     income tax rate from 35% to 21%,
     effective 1/1/2018. Deferred taxes are
     required to be measured at the enacted
     rate in effect when they are expected
     to reverse.  As a result, deferred
     taxes were re-measured to the 21%
     rate.  For regulated entities, where
     the reduction in deferred taxes is
     expected to be recovered or refunded in


    2) YTD EPS may not equal sum of quarters
     due to share count differences


    Schedule 4 - Reconciliation of 1Q18 Earnings to 1Q17


    Preliminary, Unaudited                                                                       Three Months Ended

    (millions, except EPS)                                                                            March 31,

                                                                                                    2018 vs. 2017

                                                                                               Increase / (Decrease)

    Reconciling Items                                                                   Amount                     EPS
    -----------------                                                                   ------                     ---


    Change in reported earnings (GAAP)                                                            ($129)               ($0.24)


                                                         Change in Pre-tax loss (income) (1)           336

                                                         Change in Income tax (1)                     (77)

    Adjustments to reported earnings                                                                $259                  $0.41


    Change in consolidated operating
     earnings                                                                                       $130                  $0.17
                                                                                                    ====                  =====


    Power Delivery (2)

                                                         Regulated electric sales:

                                                         Weather                                       $14                  $0.02

                                                         Other                                           4                   0.01

                                                         FERC Transmission equity return                 4                   0.01

                                                         Tax reform impacts                              0                   0.00

                                                         Other                                           9                   0.01

                                                         Share dilution                                  -                (0.01)
                                                         --------------

                                                          Change in contribution to operating
                                                          earnings                                     $31                  $0.04


    Power Generation (2)

                                                         Regulated electric sales:

                                                         Weather                                       $28                  $0.04

                                                         Other                                         (9)                (0.01)

                                                         Merchant generation margin                     61                   0.10

                                                         Electric capacity                            (18)                (0.03)

                                                         Tax reform impacts                             23                   0.04

                                                         Other                                           2                   0.01

                                                         Share dilution                                  -                (0.02)
                                                         --------------

                                                          Change in contribution to operating
                                                          earnings                                     $87                  $0.13


    Gas Infrastructure (2)

                                                         Farmout transactions                          $32                  $0.05

                                                          Transportation and storage growth
                                                          projects                                       8                   0.01

                                                         Cove Point import contracts                   (9)                (0.01)

                                                         Tax reform impacts                             32                   0.05

                                                         Other                                           1                   0.00

                                                         Share dilution                                  -                (0.02)
                                                         --------------

                                                          Change in contribution to operating
                                                          earnings                                     $64                  $0.08


    Corporate and Other (2)

                                                          Renewable energy investment tax
                                                          credits                                    ($35)               ($0.05)

                                                         Tax reform impacts                          ($19)                (0.03)

                                                         Interest expense and other                      2                   0.00

                                                          Change in contribution to operating
                                                          earnings                                   ($52)               ($0.08)
                                                                                                   -----



    Change in consolidated operating
     earnings                                                                                       $130                  $0.17


    Change in adjustments included in
     reported earnings(1)                                                                         ($259)               ($0.41)
                                                                                                   -----                 ------


    Change in consolidated reported
     earnings                                                                                     ($129)               ($0.24)
                                                                                                   =====                 ======



                                                      1)  Adjustments to reported earnings are
                                                          included in Corporate and Other
                                                          segment reported GAAP earnings.

                                                         Refer to Schedules 2 and 3 for
                                                          details, or find "GAAP
                                                          Reconciliation" in the Earnings
                                                          Release Kit on Dominion Energy's
                                                          website at www.dominionenergy.com/
                                                          investors.


                                                      2)  For period over period comparability
                                                          reconciling items tax effected
                                                          using a 35 percent federal tax
                                                          rate.

                                                          Segment specific tax reform impacts
                                                          outlined as individual reconciling
                                                          items.

    Note: Figures may not add due to rounding

CONTACT: Media: Ryan Frazier, (804) 819-2521 or C.Ryan.Frazier@dominionenergy.com; Financial analysts: Steven Ridge, (804) 929-6865 or Steven.D.Ridge@dominionenergy.com

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SOURCE Dominion Energy