Pepco Holdings Reports Third-Quarter 2012 Financial Results; Narrows 2012 Earnings Guidance Range

Pepco Holdings Reports Third-Quarter 2012 Financial Results; Narrows 2012 Earnings Guidance Range

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYS: POM) today reported third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012 earnings from continuing operations as follows:

The increase in adjusted net income from continuing operations (Non-GAAP) in the third quarter of 2012, as compared to the 2011 quarter, was largely due to higher electric transmission and distribution revenue (primarily due to higher rates driven by increased investment), lower expenses (primarily due to the establishment of a regulatory asset in 2012 for recovery of storm restoration costs incurred in 2011), and the early termination of one of the seven cross-border lease investments (after-tax gain of $9 million). Partially offsetting these positive factors were lower Pepco Energy Services earnings due to the wind-down of the retail energy supply business and lower energy services project activity.

"Our third quarter financial results reflect continued progress on executing our strategic plan, including our investments in Power Delivery infrastructure to improve system reliability and customer service. The gain on the early termination of certain cross-border energy leases also contributed to higher earnings," said Joseph M. Rigby, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Over the next five years, we expect to spend approximately $5.9 billion on investments aimed at improving system reliability, enhancing customer service, and installing advanced technologies. Investments such as these are important components of our strategy to provide value to our customers and investors."

Rigby continued by noting that it is critically important to the Company that the regulators ensure timely cost recovery and the opportunity to earn reasonable rates of return on Pepco Holdings' extensive investments. "As we complete our current round of distribution rate cases this year, we recognize that an additional cycle of rate cases across the jurisdictions we serve is necessary to help keep the rate of cost recovery in line with our rate of investment. Reducing regulatory lag will continue to be a significant focus going forward."

The decrease in adjusted net income from continuing operations (Non-GAAP) for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to the same period in the prior year, was driven by lower Pepco Energy Services earnings due to the wind-down of the retail energy supply business and lower energy services project activity, partially offset by higher electric transmission and distribution revenue (primarily due to higher rates driven by increased investment).

Non-GAAP Financial Information

Management believes the adjusted net income from continuing operations and related per share data are representative of Pepco Holdings' ongoing business operations. Management uses this information internally to evaluate Pepco Holdings' period-over-period financial performance and, therefore, believes that this information is useful to investors. The presentation of adjusted net income from continuing operations and related per share data is intended to complement, and should not be considered as an alternative to, reported earnings and related per share data presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP).

Reconciliation of GAAP Financial Information to Adjusted Financial Information

The income tax effect with respect to the foregoing adjustments was calculated using a composite income tax rate of approximately 40 percent.

Earnings Guidance

Pepco Holdings today narrowed its earnings guidance range for 2012 to $1.15 to $1.25 per share from $1.15 to $1.30 per share. The guidance range:

• excludes the results of discontinued operations and the impact of any special, unusual or extraordinary items,

• assumes normal weather conditions for the remainder of the year,

• excludes the net mark-to-market effects of economic hedging activities associated with the retail energy supply business of Pepco Energy Services, and

• excludes the cost of system restoration following Hurricane Sandy.

Recent Events

Operations

• On October 29, 2012, Pepco Holdings' service territories were severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The total incremental cost of system restoration is currently estimated to be approximately $45 million to $65 million, with a portion of the costs being charged to capital expenditures and the balance being expensed or deferred as regulatory assets. This estimate is based on assumptions related to the costs of services provided by third parties, and actual costs may vary from this estimate. Recovery of the incremental system restoration costs will be pursued during the next cycle of distribution rate cases.

• On June 29, 2012, Pepco Holdings' service territories were severely impacted by a violent and destructive wind storm. Given the timing of the storm, the impact to second quarter results was negligible, as most of the costs incurred for the restoration effort were recorded in the third quarter. The estimated incremental storm restoration costs are $81 million. Of these costs, $41 million were recorded as capital expenditures, $35 million were deferred as regulatory assets, and $5 million were recorded as operation and maintenance expense. Recovery of the incremental system restoration costs will be pursued during the next cycle of distribution base rate cases.

• On August 24, 2012, PJM Interconnection, LLC notified Pepco Holdings that it has terminated the Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway (MAPP) project and removed it from its regional transmission expansion plan. The MAPP project was a proposed high voltage 152-mile interstate transmission project designed to improve reliability and provide interconnection to diverse generation sources. As of September 30, 2012, the total capital expenditures for the MAPP project were approximately $101 million. Recovery of expenditures deemed to be abandoned will be sought through a filing to be submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in accordance with terms of the FERC order approving an incentive rate for the MAPP project, including the recovery of prudently incurred abandonment costs.

• In October 2012, Power Delivery established a forecast of capital expenditures for 2013 through 2017. Total Power Delivery capital expenditures forecasted for the five-year period are $5.9 billion, with $4.6 billion planned for distribution capital expenditures and $1.3 billion planned for transmission capital expenditures.

• Power Delivery electric sales were 14,371 gigawatt hours (GWh) in the third quarter of 2012, compared to 14,329 GWh for the same period in the prior year. In the electric service territory, cooling degree days decreased by 1 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. Weather-adjusted electric sales were 13,802 GWh in the third quarter of 2012, compared to 13,836 GWh for the same period in the prior year.

• As of September 30, 2012, Delmarva Power's installation and activation of smart meters in its Delaware electric service territory was complete and Pepco had installed approximately 98 percent of its smart meters in its District of Columbia service territory (89 percent activated) and 60 percent of its smart meters in its Maryland service territory (18 percent activated). On May 8, 2012, the Maryland Public Service Commission (MPSC) authorized Delmarva Power to proceed with the implementation of the smart meters in Maryland; installation is expected to begin by year-end 2012. The respective Public Service Commissions have approved the creation of a regulatory asset to defer Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) costs between rate cases, as well as the accrual of a return on the deferred costs.

Regulatory Matters

• On October 23, 2012, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) approved a settlement agreement signed by the parties to Atlantic City Electric's electric distribution base rate case. The settlement provides for an annual increase in electric distribution base rates by the net amount of approximately $28 million, based on a return on equity of 9.75 percent. The net increase consists of a rate increase of approximately $44 million, less a deduction from base rates of approximately $16 million through an excess depreciation rider expected to expire in the third quarter of 2013 that is designed to refund customers certain excess depreciation reserve funds as previously directed by the NJBPU. Upon the expiration of the excess depreciation rider, there will be an increase in cash flow, but not operating income since the increase in revenue will be offset by increased depreciation expense. The new rates became effective November 1, 2012.

• On October 3, 2012, the Maryland governor forwarded to the MPSC a report issued by his Grid Resiliency Task Force urging the MPSC to quickly implement certain Task Force recommendations that would, among other things, strengthen existing reliability and storm restoration regulations, accelerate reliability improvement investments in the electric distribution system, and allow a surcharge recovery for the accelerated investments. Pepco and Delmarva Power are currently evaluating the report and its recommendations to determine what effect they may have on proposals to be made in future electric distribution base rate cases in Maryland. The form and substance of any such proposals will also depend, in part, on how the MPSC responds to the report and the governor's request.

• On September 26, 2012, the District of Columbia Public Service Commission (DCPSC) approved a $24 million annual increase in Pepco's electric distribution base rates based on a 9.5 percent return on equity. The new rates were effective October 18, 2012. A portion of the rate increase provides for recovery of AMI costs that were previously deferred as a regulatory asset, resulting in an annual increase in amortization expense of $3.3 million for 15 years.

• On August 17, 2012, Delmarva Power entered into a proposed settlement agreement with parties to its electric distribution base rate case in Delaware, including the Delaware Public Service Commission (DPSC) Staff and the Public Advocate. The settlement provides for a $22 million annual increase in Delmarva Power's electric distribution base rates and a stated return on equity of 9.75 percent. As permitted by Delaware law, Delmarva Power implemented interim rate increases of $2.5 million on January 31, 2012 and $22.3 million on July 3, 2012. The excess amount collected will be returned to customers. The proposed settlement agreement also provides for the phased-in recovery of $40 million of AMI costs that were previously deferred as a regulatory asset. On October 23, 2012, the Hearing Examiner issued a report recommending approval of the settlement agreement. The settlement agreement is subject to final review and approval by the DPSC. A decision is expected by year-end 2012.

Cross-Border Energy Leases

• On September 25, 2012, at the request of the lessees, Pepco Holdings completed the early termination of one of the seven cross-border lease investments. Pepco Holdings received net proceeds of $202 million and recorded an after-tax gain of $9 million. The current annual tax benefits from the remaining cross-border energy lease investments are approximately $43 million and the annual net earnings are approximately $25 million. As of September 30, 2012, the equity investment in the cross-border energy leases was $1.2 billion.

Further details regarding changes in consolidated earnings between 2012 and 2011 can be found in the following schedules. Additional information regarding financial results and recent regulatory events can be found in the Pepco Holdings, Inc. Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is also available at http://www.pepcoholdings.com/investors. Pepco Holdings, Inc. routinely makes available this and other important information on this website, which is a key channel of distribution for Pepco Holdings, Inc. to reach its public investors and to disclose material, non-public information. Information on this website is not a part of this news release.

Conference Call for Investors

Pepco Holdings, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss third quarter results on Tuesday, November 6 at 10 a.m. E.T. Investors, members of the media and other interested persons may access the conference call on the Internet at http://www.pepcoholdings.com/investors or by calling 1-800-901-5241 before 9:55 a.m. The pass code for the call is 58971508. International callers may access the call by dialing 1-617-786-2963, using the same pass code, 58971508. An on-demand replay will be available for seven days following the call. To hear the replay, dial 1-888-286-8010 and enter pass code 72397069. International callers may access the replay by dialing 1-617-801-6888 and entering the same pass code 72397069. An audio archive will be available at PHI's website, http://www.pepcoholdings.com/investors.

Note: If any non-GAAP financial information (as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Regulation G) is used during the quarterly earnings conference call, a presentation of the most directly comparable GAAP measure and a reconciliation of the differences will be available at http://www.pepcoholdings.com/investors promptly after the conclusion of the conference call.

About PHI: Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYS: POM) is one of the largest energy delivery companies in the Mid-Atlantic region, serving about 2 million customers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland and New Jersey. PHI subsidiaries Pepco, Delmarva Power and Atlantic City Electric provide regulated electricity service; Delmarva Power also provides natural gas service. PHI also provides energy efficiency and renewable energy services through Pepco Energy Services.

Forward-Looking Statements: Some of the statements contained in this news release with respect to Pepco Holdings, Pepco, Delmarva Power and Atlantic City Electric, including each of their respective subsidiaries (each, a "Reporting Company"), are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws, and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby and by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "could," "expects," "intends," "assumes," "seeks to," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "projects," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "future," "goal," "objective," or "continue" or the negative of such terms or other variations thereof or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause one or more Reporting Company's or their subsidiaries' actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Therefore, forward-looking statements are not guarantees or assurances of future performance, and actual results could differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements should be read together with the risk factors included in the "Risk Factors" section and other statements contained in each Reporting Company's annual report, as amended, filed in 2012, and quarterly reports filed in 2012, and investors should refer to these risk factor sections and other statements. All of such factors and forward-looking statements are difficult to predict, contain uncertainties, are beyond each Reporting Company's control and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements speak only as to the date this news release was issued, and none of the Reporting Companies undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for a Reporting Company to predict all such factors, nor can the impact of any such factor be assessed on such Reporting Company's or its subsidiaries' business (viewed independently or together with the business or businesses of some or all of the other Reporting Companies or their subsidiaries) or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive.