PACIFIC ENTERPRISES INC
8-K, 1998-02-09
NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION
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<PAGE>

                                UNITED STATES
                      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)   January 27, 1998
                                                ----------------------------

                              Pacific Enterprises
         ------------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                   California
             ----------------------------------------------------
                (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation


         1-40                                          94-0743670
- ----------------------                     ------------------------------------
Commission File Number                     (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


           555 West Fifth Street, Los Angeles, California  90013-1011
           ----------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                                  (Zip Code)


                               (213) 895-5000
           -----------------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

<PAGE>

ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

     See the attached news release dated January 27, 1998, which sets forth 
certain fourth quarter and year-end 1997 earnings results for Pacific 
Enterprises and Southern California Gas Company.

     The Justice Department has issued a request for additional information 
and documents in connection with its review under the Hart-Scott-Rodino 
Antitrust Improvements Act of the pending business combination of Pacific 
Enterprises and Enova Corporation. Pacific Enterprises expects that any 
Justice Department concerns will be favorably resolved and will not affect 
the timing of the business combination which is expected to be completed this 
summer.

SIGNATURE
- ---------

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 thereunto duly authorized.

Pacific Enterprises
- ------------------------------
   (Registrant)


/s/ Ralph Todaro
- ------------------------------
Vice President and Controller
(Chief Accounting Officer and
duly authorized signatory)

Date:  Feb 9, 1998
     -------------------------


<PAGE>







Contact:  Clem Teng (Investors) (213) 244-3966
          Larry Pickett (News Media) (213) 244-2585

                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                                January 27, 1998

                            PACIFIC ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCES

                            EARNINGS FOR 1997, 4TH QUARTER


     LOS ANGELES - Pacific Enterprises (NYSE-PET), the parent of Southern
California Gas Co., today reported net income of $184 million or $2.22 per share
of common stock for 1997, compared to 1996 earnings of  $203 million or $2.37
per common share.

     Excluding merger-related and nonrecurring items in both periods, earnings
increased by 7 percent to $2.41 per share in 1997 from $2.26 per share in 1996.

     For the fourth quarter of 1997, the company reported net income of $40
million or 47 cents per share, compared to net income of $48 million or 56 cents
per share for the same period of 1996.  These results include merger-related
expenses of 4 cents and 5 cents per share, respectively, for each period.

                                       -MORE-


<PAGE>

4TH QUARTER EARNINGS --2

     Willis B. (Bill) Wood Jr., Pacific Enterprises chairman and chief executive
officer, said that 1997 was an excellent year for PE and its shareholders,
driven by the performance of it's major subsidiary, Southern California Gas Co.
(SoCalGas) which exceeded the rate of return on rate base authorized by the
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and by other company efforts to
position itself for the new energy marketplace.

     Consolidated results included 1997 net income of $231 million for SoCalGas,
compared with $193 million in 1996. Results in 1996 were impacted by an
after-tax, non-cash charge of $27 million related to a previous accounting
estimate for a comprehensive settlement between SoCalGas and the CPUC.  This
charge impacted SoCalGas' net income, but had no effect on PE's consolidated
income.

      For the fourth quarter of 1997, SoCalGas reported earnings of $49 million,
compared with $57 million for the fourth quarter of 1996.

     Wood noted that SoCalGas' 1997 results were achieved within the
implementation parameters of the Performance Based Regulation (PBR) order by the
CPUC which went into effect Aug. 1.  The impact of this order was partially
offset by the greater volumes of gas transported during 1997 due to higher
demand for gas used to generate electricity; by lower operating expenses and; by
a 60-basis-point increase in the authorized common equity component in the
utility's capital structure.

                                       -MORE-


<PAGE>

4TH QUARTER EARNINGS --3

     " We continue to believe that the PBR overall encourages a more competitive
environment which provides SoCalGas with the opportunity to achieve its
authorized return," noted Wood.

     Gas volumes delivered by SoCalGas in 1997 totaled 930 billion cubic feet
(BCF), compared with 884 BCF in 1996.  Gas transported for utility electric
generation customers totaled 158 BCF for 1997 compared to 139 BCF in 1996.

     According to Wood, other achievements in 1997 that enhance shareholder
value include:

- -    A 1997 total return to the shareholders of 30 percent which includes stock
     price appreciation and assumed reinvested dividends.

- -    A progression of regulatory approvals on the company's proposed merger with
     Enova Corporation (NYSE-ENA), parent of San Diego Gas & Electric.  The
     Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) conditionally approved the
     merger on June 25, 1997; the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the
     merger on August 19, 1997; and the California Attorney General's office
     approved the merger on November 21, 1997.  Final regulatory approvals must
     be gained from the CPUC, FERC, the U.S. Department of Justice and the
     Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                       -MORE-


<PAGE>

4TH QUARTER EARNINGS -4

      It is expected that all regulatory approvals will be granted and the new
company, to be called Sempra Energy, will be operational in the summer of 1998.

- -    Maintenance of PE's strong financial position demonstrated by its excellent
     debt-to-total-capital ratio of 51 percent, along with $153 million in
     short-term investments and cash at year-end with no outstanding bank debt.

- -    The repurchase of 1.5 million shares of common stock during 1997, bringing
     total shares under the repurchase program to 2.4 million shares.

- -    Completion of the acquisitions with Enova of AIG Trading Corporation and
     CES/Way International, dramatically expanding the company's portfolio of
     competitive energy services and capabilities.

- -    Expansion of domestic operations with new natural gas distribution projects
     in North Carolina and Maine under regional joint ventures and partnerships
     by Energy Pacific, the joint venture company of Pacific Enterprises and
     Enova.

     Wood noted that these business ventures demonstrate significant moves by
the company to position itself as a major player in the new national and
international energy marketplace.  Such moves, however, did affect Pacific
Enterprise's earnings for the year with costs for the launch of new unregulated
products and services and the higher level of international activity.

                                       -MORE-


<PAGE>


4TH QUARTER EARNINGS --5


     Pacific Enterprises' Energy Management Services (EMS), which is responsible
for interstate and offshore gas pipeline operations and unregulated energy
products and services, had losses of approximately $5 million for 1997 compared
to net income of $6 million for the same period last year.

     The loss was partially due to a reduction of revenues related to the
mid-year sale of Pacific Energy, completed on June 30, 1997, which included EMS'
alternate energy electric generating assets.  The sale was required prior to
completion of the merger with Enova because of Pacific Enterprises ownership of
these "Qualifying Facility" assets, which cannot be more than 50 percent owned
by an electric utility holding company.

     Pacific Enterprises International had losses of $8 million for the 12
months of 1997 compared with losses of $5 million for 1996.

     Looking forward to 1998, it is expected that activities in the unregulated
businesses, both domestic and international, will continue to incur start-up
losses.  Also, as a result of the impact of PBR on SoCalGas operations, Wood
explained that it will be more difficult for the utility to achieve the level of
returns above those authorized by the CPUC, that it has recently experienced.

                                       -MORE-


<PAGE>

4TH QUARTER EARNINGS --6

     Southern California Gas Co., PE's major subsidiary, is the nation's largest
natural gas distributor with 4.8 million meters serving 17 million customers.

     In addition to its regulated operations, Pacific Enterprises also markets a
wide range of unregulated energy products and services, including natural gas,
and owns interests in international utility operations, interstate and offshore
natural gas pipelines and centralized heating and cooling for large building
complexes.

                                         ###

<PAGE>

PACIFIC ENTERPRISES AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             Three Months Ended           Twelve Months Ended
                                                                 December 31,                 December 31,
                                                           ---------------------         ---------------------
                                                            1997           1996           1997          1996
- ------------------------------------------------------     ------         ------         ------        -------
(DOLLARS ARE IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER-SHARE
AMOUNTS)

<S>                                                        <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>
REVENUE
    Operating Revenue                                        $743           $776         $2,738         $2,563
    Other Income                                                9              9             39             25
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
         Total                                                752            785          2,777          2,588
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------

EXPENSES
    Cost of Gas Distributed                                   272            295          1,059            866
    Operating Expenses                                        293            302            918            910
    Depreciation and Amortization                              64             63            256            255
    Other                                                      28             27            106            106
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
         Total                                                657            687          2,339          2,137
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST AND TAXES               95             98            438            451
INTEREST                                                       25             21            103             97
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES                     70             77            335            354
INCOME TAXES                                                   30             29            151            151
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------

NET INCOME                                                     40             48            184            203
DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED STOCK                                    1              1              4              5
PREFERRED STOCK ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT                         -              -              -              2
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------

NET INCOME APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK                         $39            $47           $180           $196
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------

NET INCOME PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK:
    BASIC                                                   $0.47          $0.56          $2.22          $2.37
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
    DILUTED                                                 $0.47          $0.56          $2.21          $2.36
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OF
    COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING (IN THOUSANDS)                81,158         82,652         81,124         82,626
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


KEY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET STATISTICS                        December 31,
                                                           ---------------------

                                                            1997           1996
- ------------------------------------------------------     ------         ------
(DOLLARS ARE IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER-SHARE AMOUNTS)

SHORT-TERM DEBT                                              $354           $262
CURRENT PORTION LONG-TERM DEBT                                148            149
LONG-TERM DEBT                                              1,118          1,225

PREFERRED STOCK                                               175            175
COMMON EQUITY                                               1,389          1,360
                                                           ------         ------        

    TOTAL CAPITALIZATION                                   $3,184         $3,171
                                                           ------         ------
                                                           ------         ------

DEBT TO TOTAL CAPITALIZATION                                   51%            52%
BOOK VALUE PER SHARE                                       $17.13         $16.58
PARENT CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                             $151           $234
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                          SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY
                            SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATING DATA

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                               Three Months Ended          Twelve Months Ended
                                                                   December 31                December 31,
                                                           ---------------------------------------------------
                                                             1997            1996          1997           1996
- -------------------------------------------------------    ---------------------------------------------------

<S>                                                        <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
GAS VOLUMES (BCF)
Residential                                                    73             74            237            233
Commercial/Industrial                                          20             21             80             82
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
     Gas Volumes Sold                                          93             95            317            315
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
Residential                                                     1              1              3              3
Commercial/Industrial                                          81             77            308            292
Utility Electric Generation                                    30             30            158            139
Wholesale                                                      35             36            138            130
Exchange                                                        2              1              6              5
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
    Gas Volumes Transported or Exchanged                      149            145            613            569
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
         Total Throughput                                     242            240            930            884
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
Core                                                           96             97            323            314
Noncore                                                       146            143            607            570
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
         Total Throughput                                     242            240            930            884
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------

REVENUES (IN MILLIONS)
Residential                                                  $569           $489         $1,736         $1,613
Commercial/Industrial                                         195            184            756            708
Utility Electric Generation                                    15              9             76             70
Wholesale                                                      19             22             67             70
Exchange                                                        -              -              1              1
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
    Gas Revenues in Rates                                     798            704          2,636          2,462
Regulatory Balancing Accounts and Other                       (58)            25              5            (40)
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
    Total Utility Operating Revenues                         $740           $729         $2,641         $2,422
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------

AVERAGE RATES ($/MCF)
Residential                                                 $7.69          $6.52          $7.23          $6.83
Commercial/Industrial                                        1.93           1.88           1.95           1.89
Utility Electric Generation                                  0.50           0.30           0.48           0.50
Wholesale                                                    0.54           0.61           0.49           0.54
Exchange                                                     0.10           0.16           0.17           0.10
     System Average Gas Sold                                 3.30           2.93           2.83           2.79
Core                                                         7.36           6.30           6.94           6.59
Noncore                                                      0.63           0.68           0.65           0.69

GAS PURCHASED (BCF)
Total Market Gas                                               57             71            229            226
Affiliates                                                     24             24             95             96
Other Long-Term Supplies                                        2              2              5             12
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
         Total Gas Purchased                                   83             97            329            334
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------
                                                           ------         ------         ------         ------

System Average Cost of Gas Purchased
    (Excluding Fixed Costs and Adjusted for
    Comprehensive Settlement), $/MCF                        $2.92          $2.66          $2.58          $1.88
                                                                                                               
OTHER OPERATING STATISTICS                                                                                     
Degree Days                                                   431            472          1,126          1,195
New Meters Added                                           12,435         11,607         43,720         44,406
Total Number of Active Meters (in thousands)                    -              -          4,830          4,790
Capital Expenditures (in millions)                            $49            $73           $159           $197
Weighted Average Rate Base (in millions)                        -              -         $2,734         $2,777
Utility Book Value Per Share of PE Common Stock                 -              -         $16.89         $16.95
Authorized Return on Rate Base                                  -              -           9.49%          9.42%
Authorized Return on Common Equity                              -              -          11.60%         11.60%
Achieved Return on Common Equity*                               -              -          16.74%         14.35%
</TABLE>
   *(ADJUSTED FOR NON-RECURRING SETTLEMENTS)







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