Exhibit 99.1
Media Contact: Doug Kline
(877) 866-2066
www.sempra.com
Investor Relations Contact: Clem Teng
(877) 736-7727
SEMPRA ENERGY SECOND-QUARTER EARNINGS RISE 34 PERCENT
Trading and International Operations Show Improved Results;
SDG&E Earnings Decline
SAN DIEGO, July 27, 2000 - Based on increased profits at its
energy trading and international units, Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE)
today reported unaudited consolidated net income of $110 million,
or 55 cents per diluted share of common stock, for the second
quarter of 2000, up 34 percent over last year's second-quarter net
income of $82 million, or 35 cents per diluted share. Last year's
second-quarter income included non-recurring business-combination
costs of $12 million after-tax, or 5 cents per diluted share.
Second-quarter revenues for Sempra Energy were $1.5 billion in
2000, equal to revenues in the year-earlier period.
"We are now seeing significant contributions from new lines of
business outside our California utilities," said Stephen L. Baum,
vice chairman, president and chief executive officer of Sempra
Energy. "These unregulated businesses provided 21 percent of our
consolidated net income for the quarter, and we are well on our way
to achieving our goal to derive one-third of our annual earnings
from them by 2003."
-more-
The earnings from the unregulated businesses more than offset
reduced or flat earnings at the company's two California utilities,
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas
Company. In California's newly deregulated energy market, SDG&E no
longer generates nor prices electricity, but acts as an energy-
delivery service provider. SDG&E buys electricity from the
California Power Exchange (Cal-PX) and passes that cost directly
onto its customers, with no mark-up.
The increase in corporate earnings was due primarily to oil
and natural gas transactions by Sempra Energy Trading outside of
California. More than 90 percent of the trading unit's earnings
was derived from its activities in the eastern half of the United
States and Europe.
"We continue to be concerned about the impact that high Cal-PX
electricity prices are having on SDG&E's customers, and we are
working with all the participants in California's deregulated
energy market to arrive at short- and long-term solutions," Baum
said. "We believe regulators need to move quickly to enable the
installation of real-time hourly meters statewide to give consumers
the ability to capture the full value of their energy conservation.
Also, there are significant problems in the wholesale electricity
marketplace and we advocate imposition of a wholesale price cap in
the entire western region to bring more price stability. In the
long term, California needs an infusion of new power generation and
transmission to meet growing energy demand in the state."
Sempra Energy continues to pursue a focused, integrated
business strategy to capitalize on opportunities in the $160
billion U.S. retail energy services marketplace, Baum added. The
company is concentrating on growth in six business lines:
regulated energy delivery services; energy trading; international
energy transmission and distribution; competitive retail energy
services for the commercial, industrial and residential markets;
wholesale electric generation; and technology ventures.
-more-
Energy Delivery Services
Net income for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) in the second
quarter was $40 million, down 15 percent from $46 million for the
same period in 1999. The decline in net income was due primarily
to regulatory changes effective in mid-1999 related to California's
electric industry restructuring and the elimination of a regulatory
balancing account. With the elimination of the balancing account,
SDG&E's net income now fluctuates with changes in natural gas
demand, due to seasonal and other factors. During the second
quarter 2000, this resulted in a $4 million decrease in net income.
Southern California Gas Company recorded net income of $47
million in the second quarter 2000, up from $46 million in 1999's
second quarter.
Parent Company and New Business Activities
In the second quarter of 2000, net income for Sempra Energy's
non-utility and new-business operations - including Sempra Energy
Trading, Sempra Energy International, Sempra Energy Solutions,
Sempra Energy Financial, Sempra Energy Resources, Sempra
Communications and the parent company - rose to $23 million from a
loss of $10 million in the second quarter 1999.
Energy Trading
Sempra Energy Trading's net income grew to $40 million in the
second quarter 2000, compared to $3 million in the year-earlier
period. The dramatic increase is primarily due to improved results
in oil and natural gas trading in the United States and Europe
amidst volatile international commodity markets.
"We're pleased with these results - clearly Sempra Energy
Trading has demonstrated its value as a key element in our
strategic direction," said Baum. "We also are aware that energy
trading is more volatile than the traditional utility business and
Sempra Energy Trading's results will vary from quarter to quarter."
-more-
Sempra Energy Trading's physical trading volumes of natural
gas increased 91 percent to 8.4 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd)
during the quarter, compared to 4.4 bcfd during the same period
last year. Trading volumes of crude oil and products increased 4
percent to 2.4 million barrels per day (mbd) in second quarter
2000, compared to 2.3 mbd in second quarter 1999.
During the quarter, the company entered the Asian energy
trading market, opening a new office in Singapore.
In May 2000, Sempra Energy Trading was chosen as the preferred
wholesale natural gas supplier to Utility.com, the world's first
Internet utility company. Sempra Energy Trading will provide
competitively priced natural gas to Utility.com, which currently
serves consumers in California and Pennsylvania.
International Operations
Sempra Energy International's net income grew to $7 million in
the second quarter 2000 from a loss of $2 million during the same
quarter last year. The increase was due primarily to the profit
contributions of Chilquinta Energia and Luz del Sur, two South
American electric distribution utilities that Sempra Energy
International jointly acquired with PSEG Global in mid-1999.
Sempra Energy International achieved three major milestones in
its growth strategy during the second quarter. First, the company
began delivering U.S. natural gas through the Rosarito Pipeline to
the Presidente Juarez Power Plant in Baja California, Mexico, with
a current load of approximately 87 million cubic feet per day.
The company also announced a partnership with PG&E Corporation's
National Energy Group and Mexico's Proxima Gas, S.A. de C.V., to
build the proposed North Baja Pipeline, a $230 million, 212-mile
pipeline from Arizona across California and Baja California,
Mexico. Finally, the international subsidiary signed an agreement
with Dominion Resources Inc. to purchase Dominion's assets in
Argentina, including an additional 21.5-percent interest in holding
companies that control two natural gas distribution utilities.
When the transaction is completed, Sempra Energy International will
have raised its total stake in the Argentine utility holding
companies to 43 percent.
-more-
Retail Energy Services
Revenues from Sempra Energy's retail energy services marketing
operations in the second quarter 2000 nearly doubled to $114
million, compared to $59 million in the same quarter last year.
These operations are concentrated primarily in Sempra Energy
Solutions, which markets integrated energy-services solutions to
commercial, industrial and institutional customers, and Energy
America, which sells gas and electricity to residential and small-
business customers.
During the quarter, Sempra Energy Solutions signed a three-
year, $85 million contract to offer energy-efficiency services to
facilities associated with Premier Inc., a purchasing alliance
serving 1,800 non-profit hospitals and health-care systems. The
subsidiary also entered into an agreement to acquire full ownership
of the energy infrastructure at The Venetian Hotel Resort Casino
and Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, and DreamWorks
Animation Studios in Glendale, Calif., two of the company's largest
energy service customers.
Earlier this month, Energy America acquired 50,000 residential
and small-business customers from Titan Energy of Georgia for $2.5
million. Energy America now sells electricity and natural gas to
425,000 customers in six states.
Continued start-up costs at Sempra Energy's retail energy
services operations led to a loss of $7 million in the second
quarter 2000, compared to a loss of $4 million during the same
period last year.
Generation
Second-quarter earnings from Sempra Energy Resources'
generation operations were $3 million, compared to $1 million last
year, primarily due to the start-up of commercial operations at El
Dorado Energy. The 480-megawatt power plant, jointly owned with
Reliant Energy, was operational for approximately two-thirds of the
quarter. Located near Las Vegas, the plant sells electricity into
the wholesale power markets of Nevada, California and the
southwestern United States. Over the next five years, Sempra
Energy Resources will develop a portfolio of electric generation
plants to meet customer needs as part of Sempra Energy's overall
retail energy marketing strategy.
-more-
Share Repurchases
The weighted average number of common shares outstanding
(diluted) for the second quarter was 201 million, down from 237
million for the same period in 1999. The decrease in shares
outstanding resulted from Sempra Energy's repurchase of 36 million
shares of common stock through a Dutch Auction self-tender.
In July, Sempra Energy repurchased approximately 160,000
additional shares of common stock on the open market, as part of a
board-approved $100 million buyback program.
Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), based in San Diego, is a Fortune
500 energy services holding company with 12,000 employees and
revenues of nearly $5.5 billion. Through its eight principal
subsidiaries -- Southern California Gas Company, San Diego Gas &
Electric, Sempra Energy Solutions, Sempra Energy Trading, Sempra
Energy International, Sempra Energy Resources, Sempra
Communications and Sempra Energy Financial -- Sempra Energy serves
more than 9 million customers in the United States, Europe, Canada,
Mexico and South America.
# # #
This press release contains statements that are not historical
fact and constitute projections, forecasts or forward-looking
statements. When we use words like "believes," "expects,"
"anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "may," "should" or
similar expressions, or when we discuss our strategy or plans, we
are making projections, forecasts or forward-looking statements.
These statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve
risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the company's
future results to differ materially from those expressed in these
statements. Many of the factors that will determine these results
are beyond the company's ability to control or predict. These
statements are necessarily based upon various assumptions involving
judgments with respect to the future. These risks and
uncertainties, include, among others: national, international,
regional and local economic, competitive and regulatory conditions
and developments; capital market conditions, inflation rates and
interest rates; energy markets, including the timing and extent of
changes in commodity prices; weather conditions; business,
regulatory and legal decisions; the pace of deregulation of retail
natural gas and electricity delivery; technological developments;
the timing and success of business development efforts; and other
uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of
which are beyond the company's control. These risks and
uncertainties are further discussed in the company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 1999, which has
been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is
available through the EDGAR system without charge at its Web site,
www.sec.gov.
<TABLE>
SEMPRA ENERGY
TABLE A
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT (Unaudited)
<CAPTION>
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30 June 30
------------------ ----------------
2000 1999 2000 1999
-----------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
In Millions of Dollars, Except Per Share Amounts
Revenues
California utilities:
Natural Gas $ 716 $ 706 $ 1,537 $ 1,404
Electric 473 646 822 1,006
Other 347 165 643 298
------------------ ----------------
Total 1,536 1,517 3,002 2,708
Expenses
Cost of natural gas distributed 316 275 706 566
Electric fuel and net purchased power 264 109 397 211
Operating expenses 530 485 1,029 873
Depreciation and decomissioning 144 467 278 609
Franchise payments and other taxes 40 41 91 86
Preferred dividends/distributions by
subsidiaries 7 3 12 6
------------------ ----------------
Total 1,301 1,380 2,513 2,351
------------------ ----------------
Income Before Interest and Income Taxes 235 137 489 357
Interest expense 76 54 149 112
------------------ ----------------
Income Before Income Taxes 159 83 340 245
Income taxes 49 1 117 64
------------------ ----------------
Net Income $ 110 $ 82 $ 223 $ 181
------------------ ----------------
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding * 201 237 215 237
Net Income Per Share of Common Stock $ 0.55 $ 0.35 $ 1.04 $ 0.76
Dividends Declared Per Common Share $ 0.25 $ 0.39 $ 0.50 $ 0.78
*In millions of shares (basic and diluted)
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
KEY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET STATISTICS (Unaudited)
<CAPTION>
June 30
----------------------------
In Millions of Dollars, Except Per Share Amounts 2000 1999
------------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Short-Term Debt $ -- $ --
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt 153 334
Long-Term Debt 3,313 2,889
------------- -----------
Total Debt 3,466 3,223
Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries 204 204
Mandatorily Redeemable Trust Preferred Securities 200 --
Common Equity 2,420 2,909
------------- -----------
Total Capitalization $ 6,290 $ 6,336
------------- -----------
Debt to Total Capitalization 55% 51%
Book Value per Share $ 12.01 $ 12.26
Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 546 $ 656
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
SEMPRA ENERGY
TABLE B
BUSINESS UNIT EARNINGS (Unaudited)
<CAPTION>
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30 June 30
----------------- ----------------
2000 1999 Change 2000 1999 Change
------------------------ ------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Delivery Services:
SoCal Gas $ 47 $ 46 $ 1 $ 97 $ 93 $ 4
SDG&E 40 46 (6) 92 99 (7)
------------------------ ------------------------
Subtotal 87 92 (5) 189 192 (3)
Energy Trading 40 3 37 58 4 54
International 7 (2) 9 12 (8) 20
Generation 3 1 2 3 2 1
Retail Services (7) (4) (3) (13) (8) (5)
Technology Ventures (3) (1) (2) (5) (3) (2)
Financial 7 7 -- 15 14 1
Parent and Other (24) (2) (22) (36) -- (36)
------------------------ ------------------------
Subtotal 23 2 21 34 1 33
Business-Combination Costs -- (12) 12 -- (12) 12
------------------------ ------------------------
Total Net Income $ 110 $ 82 $ 28 $ 223 $ 181 $ 42
------------------------ ------------------------
Shares Outstanding
(in millions) 201 237 215 237
----------------- ----------------
Earnings per Share $ 0.55 $ 0.35 $0.20 $ 1.04 $ 0.76 $0.28
------------------------ ------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Unaudited)
<CAPTION>
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30 June 30
-----------------------------------------
2000 1999 2000 1999
-----------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Capital Expenditures (in millions)
SoCalGas $ 47 $ 34 $ 87 $ 66
SDG&E $ 65 $ 48 $ 130 $ 90
Authorized Return on Common Equity
SoCalGas -- -- 11.60% 11.60%
SDG&E -- -- 10.60% 10.60%
Achieved Return on Common Equity
(annualized)
SoCalGas -- -- 14.94% 14.10%
SDG&E -- -- 14.60% 17.11%
Sempra -- -- 16.50% 12.44%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
SEMPRA ENERGY TABLE C
OPERATING STATISTICS (Unaudited)
<CAPTION>
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
------------------- -----------------
2000 1999 2000 1999
------------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Delivery Services (California Utilities)
Revenues ($ Millions)
SDG&E 574 740 1,045 1,201
SoCalGas (excludes
intercompany sales) 615 612 1,314 1,209
Gas Sales (BCF) 79 106 212 265
Transportation and Exchange (BCF) 166 117 304 226
------------------- -----------------
Total Deliveries (BCF) 245 223 516 491
------------------- -----------------
Total Gas Customers (Thousands) 5,764 5,677
Electric Sales (Millions of Kwhs) 3,674 3,449 7,468 7,186
Direct Access (Millions of Kwhs) 865 746 1,744 1,403
------------------- -----------------
Total Deliveries (Millions of Kwhs) 4,539 4,195 9,212 8,589
------------------- -----------------
Total Electric Customers (Thousands) 1,228 1,209
Energy Trading
Operating Margins ($ Millions)
North America 103 17 145 31
Europe/Asia 31 14 62 20
Natural Gas (Physical, BCF/Day) 8.4 4.4 8.2 5.1
Electric (Physical, Millions
of Kwhs) 12,644 4,200 17,357 9,192
Oil & Liquid Products (Physical,
Millions Bbls/Day) 2.4 2.3 2.2 1.3
International (1)
Revenues ($ Millions) 199 192 469 452
Natural Gas Sales (BCF)
Argentina 42 53 105 125
Mexico 4 2 8 5
Natural Gas Customers (Thousands)
Argentina 1,287 1,244
Mexico 37 14
Electric Sales (Millions of Kwhs)
Chile 395 363 773 707
Peru 891 843 1,792 1,685
Electric Customers (Thousands)
Chile 387 383
Peru 683 650
Retail Services
Revenues ($ Millions)
Commercial and Industrial 73 36 119 68
Mass Market 41 23 91 41
Mass Market Customers (Thousands) 377 320
Mass Market Gas Volumes (BCF) 9 7 23 13
Mass Market Electricity Volumes
(Millions of Kwhs) 89 -- 93 --
(1) Represents 100 percent of these subsidiaries, although all are less than 100
percent owned by Sempra
</TABLE>
