PPL Corporation Reports Third-Quarter 2024 Earnings

PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) today announced third-quarter 2024 reported earnings (GAAP) of $214 million, or $0.29 per share, compared with third-quarter 2023 reported earnings of $230 million, or $0.31 per share.

PPL reported earnings of $711 million, or $0.96 per share, for the first nine months of 2024, compared with the reported earnings of $627 million, or $0.85 per share, for the first nine months of 2023.

Adjusting for special items, third-quarter 2024 earnings from ongoing operations (non-GAAP) were $310 million, or $0.42 per share, compared with $317 million, or $0.43 per share, a year ago.

Earnings from ongoing operations for the first nine months of 2024 were $994 million, or $1.34 per share, compared with $884 million, or $1.20 per share, for the first nine months of 2023.

Special items in the third quarters and first nine months of 2024 and 2023 primarily included integration and related expenses associated with the acquisition of Rhode Island Energy.

“Based on our strong year-to-date financial performance and continued execution of our business plan, we’ve narrowed our 2024 ongoing earnings forecast range,” said Vincent Sorgi, president and chief executive officer of PPL Corporation.

In updating the company’s 2024 ongoing earnings forecast range today, PPL narrowed the range to $1.67 to $1.73 per share from $1.63 to $1.75 per share, increasing the midpoint a penny to $1.70 per share.

In addition, the company reaffirmed its projection of 6% to 8% annual earnings and dividend growth through at least 2027 based off the midpoint of its original 2024 ongoing earnings forecast range.

“As we work to close out the year, we are firmly on track to achieve our 2024 priorities,” said Sorgi. “This includes investing more than $3 billion in infrastructure improvements to make the grid more resilient to future storms and advance a safe, reliable, affordable and cleaner energy future. In addition, it includes achieving our targeted O&M savings to keep energy affordable for our customers.”

PPL’s plan includes delivering targeted annual operation and maintenance savings of at least $175 million by 2026 from the company’s 2021 baseline, with a cumulative $120 million to $130 million of annual savings planned by the end of 2024.

In third-quarter highlights, PPL completed the integration of Rhode Island Energy, exiting the remaining transition service agreements that were in place with National Grid following PPL’s acquisition of Rhode Island Energy in May 2022. PPL’s priority at the outset of the acquisition was a smooth transition for Rhode Island customers, and the company was broadly successful in achieving this objective and minimizing impacts to customers.

Also in the third quarter, PPL subsidiaries Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities filed their triennial Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Kentucky Public Service Commission. The plan includes robust analysis of a wide range of variables – demand growth, energy efficiency, regulatory outcomes, fuel prices, etc. – to provide guidance for resource planning. The IRP envisions a need to add an estimated 2,700 MW to 3,200 MW of new natural gas, solar and battery storage through 2039 to safely, reliably and affordably serve future demand growth.

Other highlights included strong storm response in Kentucky to the remnants of Hurricane Helene, demonstrating the benefits of LG&E and KU’s continued investments in smart grid technology. In addition, PPL Electric Utilities, Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities continued their strong support of economic development, including growing interest from data center developers in PPL’s Pennsylvania and Kentucky service territories.

Third-Quarter 2024 Earnings Details

As discussed in this news release, reported earnings are calculated in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). “Earnings from ongoing operations” is a non-GAAP financial measure that is adjusted for special items. See the tables at the end of this news release for a reconciliation of reported earnings (net income) to earnings from ongoing operations, including an itemization of special items.

Key Factors Impacting Earnings

In addition to the segment drivers outlined below, PPL’s reported earnings in the third quarter of 2024 included net special item after-tax charges of $96 million, or $0.13 per share, compared to net special item after-tax charges of $87 million, or $0.12 per share, in the third quarter of 2023. In both cases, special items were primarily attributable to integration and related expenses associated with the acquisition of Rhode Island Energy.

Reported earnings in the first nine months of 2024 included net special item after-tax charges of $283 million, or $0.38 per share, compared to net special item after-tax charges of $257 million, or $0.35 per share, in the first nine months of 2023. In both cases, special items were primarily attributable to integration and related expenses associated with the acquisition of Rhode Island Energy.

Kentucky Regulated Segment
PPL’s Kentucky Regulated segment primarily consists of the regulated electricity and natural gas operations of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and the regulated electricity operations of Kentucky Utilities Company.

Reported earnings in the third quarter of 2024 decreased by $0.01 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the third quarter of 2024 were even compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included an adjustment to Environmental Cost Recovery revenues, offset by higher sales volumes primarily due to weather.

Reported earnings and earnings from ongoing operations in the first nine months of 2024 increased by $0.08 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results included higher sales volumes primarily due to weather and lower operating costs.

Pennsylvania Regulated Segment
PPL’s Pennsylvania Regulated segment consists of the regulated electricity delivery operations of PPL Electric Utilities.

Reported earnings in the third quarter of 2024 increased by $0.01 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the third quarter of 2024 decreased by $0.01 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher operating costs.

Reported earnings and earnings from ongoing operations in the first nine months of 2024 increased by $0.08 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher transmission revenue, higher sales volumes and other factors, partially offset by higher interest expense.

Rhode Island Regulated Segment
PPL’s Rhode Island Regulated segment consists of the regulated electricity and natural gas operations of Rhode Island Energy.

Reported earnings and earnings from ongoing operations in the third quarter of 2024 increased by $0.01 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included lower property taxes.

Reported earnings in the first nine months of 2024 increased by $0.02 per share compared to a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the first nine months of 2024 increased by $0.03 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher distribution revenue from capital investments and higher transmission revenue, partially offset by higher interest expense.

Corporate and Other
PPL’s Corporate and Other category primarily includes financing costs incurred at the corporate level, certain non-recoverable costs resulting from commitments made to the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office in conjunction with the acquisition of Rhode Island Energy, and certain other unallocated costs.

Reported earnings in the third quarter of 2024 decreased by $0.03 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the third quarter of 2024 decreased by $0.01 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher interest expense.

Reported earnings in the first nine months of 2024 decreased by $0.07 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the first nine months of 2024 decreased by $0.05 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher interest expense and other factors.

2024 Earnings Forecast

PPL narrowed its 2024 earnings from ongoing operations forecast range to $1.67 to $1.73 per share from a prior forecast range of $1.63 to $1.75 per share, increasing the midpoint to $1.70 per share from $1.69 per share.

Earnings from ongoing operations is a non-GAAP measure that could differ from reported earnings due to special items that are, in management’s view, non-recurring or otherwise not reflective of the company’s ongoing operations. PPL management is not able to forecast whether any of these factors will occur or whether any amounts will be reported for future periods. Therefore, PPL is not able to provide an equivalent GAAP measure for earnings guidance.

See the table at the end of this news release for a complete reconciliation of the earnings forecast.

About PPL
PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a leading U.S. energy company focused on providing electricity and natural gas safely, reliably and affordably to more than 3.5 million customers in the U.S. PPL’s high-performing, award-winning utilities are addressing energy challenges head-on by building smarter, more resilient and more dynamic power grids and advancing sustainable energy solutions. For more information, visit www.pplweb.com.