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Report on Form 8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

Current Report

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 4, 2005

 


Commission
File Number


Registrant, State of Incorporation,
Address and Telephone Number

I.R.S. Employer
Identification
Number

 

 

 

 

 

0-33207

 

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED

 

43-1916803

 

 

(A Missouri Corporation)

 

 

 

 

1201 Walnut Street

 

 

 

 

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

 

 

 

 

(816) 556-2200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOT APPLICABLE

 

 

(Former name or former address,
if changed since last report)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1-707

 

KANSAS CITY POWER & LIGHT COMPANY

 

44-0308720

 

 

(A Missouri Corporation)

 

 

 

 

1201 Walnut Street

 

 

 

 

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

 

 

 

 

(816) 556-2200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOT APPLICABLE

 

 

(Former name or former address,
if changed since last report)

 

 

 

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Great Plains Energy Incorporated (Great Plains Energy) and Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L) (the Registrants) are separately furnishing this combined Current Report on Form 8-K (Report). Information contained herein relating to an individual Registrant is furnished by such registrant on its own behalf. Each Registrant makes representations only as to information relating to itself.

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On May 4, 2005, Great Plains Energy issued a press release announcing 2005 first quarter earnings information and reaffirming 2005 ongoing earnings guidance. A copy of the press release is attached to this report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.

The press release contains information regarding Great Plains Energy's reportable segments, including the KCP&L reportable segment. Accordingly, this report is also being furnished on behalf of KCP&L.

The information, including the exhibit attached hereto, in this report is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. The information in this report shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

 

(c) Exhibit No.

 

 

 

99

Press release issued by Great Plains Energy Incorporated on May 4, 2005.

 

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED

 

/s/Terry Bassham

Terry Bassham

Executive Vice President-Finance & Strategic Development and Chief Financial Officer

 

KANSAS CITY POWER & LIGHT COMPANY

 

/s/William H. Downey

William H. Downey

President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: May 5, 2005

Exhibit 99

Media Contact:    Tom Robinson
   816-556-2902

Investor Contact:    Todd Allen
   816-556-2312

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS

KANSAS CITY, MO, May 4, 2005 – Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE:GXP) today announced first quarter 2005 earnings available for common shareholders of $19.8 million or $0.27 per share, compared to first quarter 2004 earnings of $26.9 million or $0.39 per share. Ongoing earnings, defined as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) earnings adjusted for certain unusual items, were also $19.8 million or $0.27 per share this year, compared to $29.1 million or $0.42 per share in the first quarter of 2004.

Scheduled plant maintenance in the first quarter of 2005, combined with less than normal scheduled maintenance in the first quarter last year, was the primary driver of lower earnings at Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) compared to the same quarter last year. Total plant outages led to 30% less wholesale MWh sales and 27% less wholesale revenue than in the same period last year. KCP&L maintenance expense also increased by $8.9 million compared to the same period last year due primarily to the plant outages and an ice storm in January.

Chairman Michael Chesser commented, “Although our front-end loaded maintenance schedule reduced KCP&L’s earnings in the first quarter, this is simply a timing issue, and we remain on track to deliver on our 2005 guidance. Additionally, maintenance efforts at our LaCygne and Iatan plants resulted in uprates of approximately 30 MW for KCP&L’s rated capacity.”

Kansas City Power & Light

During the first quarter, KCP&L, an integrated, regulated electric utility, announced the filing of its regulatory agreement with the Missouri Commission, which outlines the specifics of the Company’s $1.3 billion comprehensive energy plan. The energy plan includes building an 800-900 MW coal plant (of which KCP&L will own 500 MWs), 100-200 MWs of wind generation, environmental upgrades, and demand, efficiency and affordability programs. On April 28, 2005, KCP&L announced that it had signed and filed a substantially similar agreement with the Kansas Commission. The regulatory agreements provide funding mechanisms that are anticipated to preserve KCP&L’s credit quality and the Company’s financial strength.

KCP&L reported earnings for the first quarter of 2005 of $10.8 million or $0.15 per share, compared to $21.6 million or $0.31 per share in the same period of 2004. First quarter revenues were $233.2 million, down 5% from $246.5 million in the first quarter of 2004.

Retail revenues were flat at approximately $189 million in the first quarter of 2005, compared to the same period last year. Normalized for weather variances in both periods, KCP&L’s quarter over quarter retail revenue growth was just under 2%.




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In addition to the scheduled plant maintenance, the Wolf Creek nuclear facility also experienced a 10-day forced outage. As a result of these plant outages, net generation was down 8%, which was the primary driver for 30% fewer wholesale MWhs sold, compared to the first quarter of 2004. Most of KCP&L’s scheduled maintenance for 2005 was achieved in the first quarter, with Wolf Creek’s refueling outage and one other small scheduled outage to be completed in the second quarter of 2005, in addition to the mid-April completion of the LaCygne plant maintenance previously mentioned.

Pension expense was $1.9 million higher than in the first quarter of 2004. However, the $22 million pension cap contained in the regulatory agreements, once approved by the Commissions, is anticipated to result in approximately $2.5 million of first quarter 2005 pension expense being reclassified through the creation of a regulatory asset. First quarter taxes of $1.5 million were substantially lower compared to $12.3 million in 2004 driven by lower taxes at KCP&L. KCP&L’s income taxes decreased as a result of lower income, as well as a $1.5 million allocation of tax benefits from holding company losses pursuant to the Company’s inter-company tax allocation agreement.

Strategic Energy

Strategic Energy, a competitive electricity supplier, continues to experience a challenging market environment. Earnings for the first quarter were up 37% to $12.8 million or $0.17 per share, compared to $9.3 million or $0.13 per share last year. A $5.3 million net increase in fair value related to energy contracts and $1.2 million from the reversal of a tax reserve were the primary drivers of the earnings growth. These drivers increased gross margin per MWh by approximately $1.40 resulting in a $7.35 gross margin per MWh in the quarter compared to $6.85 in the same quarter last year. Gross margin per MWh on new business in the quarter was approximately $3.15 reflecting the continued impact of the challenging environment.

In some markets, wholesale power prices year-to-date have continued to rise faster than host utility rates. In markets where this occurs, the savings competitive suppliers can offer to customers are reduced or in some markets are unavailable. Additionally, in those markets where wholesale power prices are lower than host utility rates, Strategic Energy continues to face strong competition from other competitive suppliers.

Strategic Energy grew revenues by 6% during the first quarter to $311.8 million, compared to $294.5 million in the first quarter of 2004 due to increases in power prices and a 5% increase in MWhs delivered. The combination of first quarter MWhs delivered and backlog for the remainder of 2005 improved modestly to 16.6 million MWhs, up 1.2 million MWhs from the 2005 backlog reported at the end of the fourth quarter of 2004. The average length of contracts signed in the quarter was approximately 10 months, unchanged from the previous quarter. The customer retention rate decreased from 76% in the fourth quarter of 2004 to approximately 72% in the first quarter of 2005.




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Non-GAAP Financial Measure

Great Plains Energy provides in its earnings releases descriptions of “ongoing earnings” in addition to earnings calculated in accordance with GAAP. Great Plains Energy also provides its earnings guidance in terms of ongoing earnings. Ongoing earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure that differs from GAAP earnings because it excludes the effect of certain unusual items. Ongoing earnings for historical periods are reconciled to GAAP earnings in Attachments B.

Great Plains Energy believes ongoing earnings provides to investors a useful indicator of its results that are comparable among periods because it excludes the effects of unusual items, which may occur on an irregular basis. Investors should note that this non-GAAP measure involves judgments by management including whether an item is classified as an unusual item. Ongoing earnings is used internally to measure performance against budget, in reports for management and the board of directors, and in determining incentive compensation.

Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE:GXP) headquartered in Kansas City, MO, is the holding company for Kansas City Power & Light Company, a leading regulated provider of electricity in the Midwest, and Strategic Energy LLC, a competitive electricity supplier. The Company’s web site is www.greatplainsenergy.com.

CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION — Statements made in this release that are not based on historical facts are forward-looking, may involve risks and uncertainties, and are intended to be as of the date when made. In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company is providing a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the provided forward-looking information. These important factors include: future economic conditions in the regional, national and international markets, including but not limited to regional and national wholesale electricity markets; market perception of the energy industry and the Company; changes in business strategy, operations or development plans; effects of current or proposed state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments, including, but not limited to, deregulation, re-regulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry and constraints placed on the Company’s actions by the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935; adverse changes in applicable laws, regulations, rules, principles or practices governing tax, accounting and environmental matters including, but not limited to, air quality; financial market conditions and performance including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates and in availability and cost of capital and the effects on the Company’s pension plan assets and costs; ability to maintain current credit ratings; inflation rates; effectiveness of risk management policies and procedures and the ability of counterparties to satisfy their contractual commitments; impact of terrorist acts; increased competition including, but not limited to, retail choice in the electric utility industry and the entry of new competitors; ability to carry out marketing and sales plans; weather conditions including weather-related damage; cost, availability, quality and deliverability of fuel; ability to achieve generation planning goals and the occurrence of forced generation outages; delays in the anticipated in-service dates of additional generating capacity; nuclear operations; ability to enter new markets successfully and capitalize on growth opportunities in non-regulated businesses; performance of projects undertaken by the Company’s non-regulated businesses and the success of efforts to invest in and develop new opportunities; and other risks and uncertainties. This list of factors is not all-inclusive because it is not possible to predict all factors.




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Attachment A

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31
2005 2004

Operating Revenues (thousands, except per share amounts)
   Electric revenues - KCP&L     $ 233,215   $ 246,535  
   Electric revenues - Strategic Energy    311,316    294,111  
   Other revenues    583    832  

      Total    545,114    541,478  

Operating Expenses  
   Fuel    41,490    40,600  
   Purchased power - KCP&L    11,490    12,467  
   Purchased power - Strategic Energy    277,866    264,354  
   Other    79,895    79,734  
   Maintenance    29,358    20,471  
   Depreciation and amortization    37,862    36,520  
   General taxes    25,856    24,721  
   Gain on property    (519 )  (35 )

      Total    503,298    478,832  

Operating income    41,816    62,646  
Non-operating income    1,924    1,412  
Non-operating expenses    (1,315 )  (2,902 )
Interest charges    (17,487 )  (18,339 )

Income from continuing operations before income taxes,  
   minority interest in subsidiaries and loss from equity  
   investments    24,938    42,817  
Income taxes    (5,291 )  (12,163 )
Minority interest in subsidiaries    888    (845 )
Loss from equity investments    (345 )  (307 )

Income from continuing operations    20,190    29,502  
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes    -    (2,178 )

Net income    20,190    27,324  
Preferred stock dividend requirements    411    411  

Earnings available for common shareholders   $ 19,779   $ 26,913  

Average number of common shares outstanding    74,436    69,257  

Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share
  
   Continuing operations   $ 0.27   $ 0.42  
   Discontinued operations    -    (0.03 )

Basic and diluted earnings per common share   $ 0.27   $ 0.39  


Cash dividends per common share
   $ 0.415   $ 0.415  

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Attachment B

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Consolidated Earnings and Earnings Per Share
Three Months Ended March 31
(Unaudited)



Earnings per Great
Earnings Plains Energy Share


2005 2004 2005 2004

(millions)
KCP&L     $ 10.8   $ 21.6   $ 0.15   $ 0.31  
Strategic Energy    12.8    9.3    0.17    0.13  
KLT Investments    3.0    3.2    0.04    0.05  
Other    (6.4 )  (4.6 )  (0.09 )  (0.06 )

   Income from continuing operations    20.2    29.5    0.27    0.43  
KLT Gas discontinued operations,  
   net of income taxes    -    (2.2 )  -    (0.03 )
Preferred dividends    (0.4 )  (0.4 )  -    (0.01 )

      Earnings available for common shareholders   $ 19.8   $ 26.9   $ 0.27   $ 0.39  

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP  
Earnings available for common shareholders   $ 19.8   $ 26.9   $ 0.27   $ 0.39  
Reconciling items  
   KLT Gas -- Discontinued operations    -    2.2    -    0.03  

      Ongoing earnings   $ 19.8   $ 29.1   $ 0.27   $ 0.42  

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Attachment C

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Summary Income Statement by Segment
Three Months Ended March 31, 2005
(Unaudited)



Consolidated Strategic
GPE KCP&L Energy Other

(millions)
Operating revenues     $ 545.1   $ 233.2   $ 311.8   $ 0.1  
Fuel    (41.5 )  (41.5 )  -    -  
Purchased power    (289.4 )  (11.5 )  (277.9 )  -  
Other operating expense    (135.0 )  (118.2 )  (10.7 )  (6.1 )
Depreciation and amortization    (37.9 )  (36.3 )  (1.5 )  (0.1 )
Gain on property    0.5    -    -    0.5  

Operating income    41.8    25.7    21.7    (5.6 )
Non-operating income (expenses)    0.6    0.3    0.4    (0.1 )
Interest charges    (17.5 )  (14.6 )  (0.8 )  (2.1 )
Income taxes    (5.3 )  (1.5 )  (8.5 )  4.7  
Minority interest in subsidiaries    0.9    0.9    -    -  
Loss from equity investments    (0.3 )  -    -    (0.3 )

Net income (loss)   $ 20.2   $ 10.8   $ 12.8   $ (3.4 )

Earnings (loss) per GPE common share   $ 0.27   $ 0.15   $ 0.17   $ (0.05 )

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Attachment D

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)


March 31 December 31
2005 2004

ASSETS (thousands)
Current Assets
   Cash and cash equivalents     $ 84,671   $ 127,129  
   Restricted cash    10,050    7,700  
   Receivables, net    284,156    247,184  
   Fuel inventories, at average cost    24,908    21,121  
   Materials and supplies, at average cost    55,704    54,432  
   Deferred income taxes    6,736    13,065  
   Assets of discontinued operations    -    749  
   Derivative instruments    30,745    6,372  
   Other    18,570    14,485  

      Total    515,540    492,237  

Nonutility Property and Investments  
   Affordable housing limited partnerships    40,343    41,317  
   Nuclear decommissioning trust fund    85,112    84,148  
   Other    34,432    32,739  

      Total    159,887    158,204  

Utility Plant, at Original Cost  
   Electric    4,857,076    4,841,355  
   Less-accumulated depreciation    2,239,908    2,196,835  

      Net utility plant in service    2,617,168    2,644,520  
   Construction work in progress    67,327    53,821  
   Nuclear fuel, net of amortization of $130,908 and $127,631    33,635    36,109  

      Total    2,718,130    2,734,450  

Deferred Charges  
   Regulatory assets    144,901    144,345  
   Prepaid pension costs    111,673    119,811  
   Goodwill    86,767    86,767  
   Other deferred charges    70,035    63,087  

      Total    413,376    414,010  

      Total   $ 3,806,933   $ 3,798,901  

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Attachment D continued

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)


March 31 December 31
2005 2004

LIABILITIES AND CAPITALIZATION (thousands)
Current Liabilities
   Notes payable     $ 17,000   $ 20,000  
   Commercial paper    9,200    -  
   Current maturities of long-term debt    398,505    253,230  
   EIRR bonds classified as current    85,922    85,922  
   Accounts payable    198,378    199,952  
   Accrued taxes    42,877    46,993  
   Accrued interest    13,051    11,598  
   Accrued payroll and vacations    23,569    32,462  
   Accrued refueling outage costs    14,903    13,180  
   Supplier collateral    10,050    7,700  
   Liabilities of discontinued operations    -    2,129  
   Other    27,933    24,931  

      Total    841,388    698,097  

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities  
   Deferred income taxes    640,151    632,160  
   Deferred investment tax credits    32,615    33,587  
   Asset retirement obligations    115,489    113,674  
   Pension liability    96,181    95,805  
   Other    89,577    88,524  

      Total    974,013    963,750  

Capitalization  
   Common shareholders' equity  
      Common stock-150,000,000 shares authorized without par value  
           74,587,492 and 74,394,423 shares issued, stated value    771,181    765,482  
      Unearned compensation    (2,519 )  (1,393 )
      Capital stock premium and expense    (32,060 )  (32,112 )
      Retained earnings    440,378    451,491  
      Treasury stock-28,488 shares, at cost    (856 )  (856 )
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss    (32,331 )  (41,018 )

         Total    1,143,793    1,141,594  
   Cumulative preferred stock $100 par value  
      3.80% - 100,000 shares issued    10,000    10,000  
      4.50% - 100,000 shares issued    10,000    10,000  
      4.20% - 70,000 shares issued    7,000    7,000  
      4.35% - 120,000 shares issued    12,000    12,000  

         Total    39,000    39,000  
   Long-term debt    808,739    956,460  

         Total    1,991,532    2,137,054  

Commitments and Contingencies  

      Total   $ 3,806,933   $ 3,798,901  

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