NRG Energy, Inc. Reports First Quarter Results; Reaffirms Adjusted EBITDA Guidance and Increases Fre

NRG Energy, Inc. Reports First Quarter Results; Reaffirms Adjusted EBITDA Guidance and Increases Free Cash Flow (FCF) Before Growth Investments Guidance

First Quarter Highlights

• $373 million of Adjusted EBITDA, including $103 million delivered by NRG's retail businesses;

• Achieved commercial operation at our 720 MW Marsh Landing project on May 1, 2013, which when combined with the anticipated COD of El Segundo Energy Center in the third quarter, is expected to result in over $100 million in Adjusted EBITDA over the remainder of 2013;

• Reduced projected environmental capital expenditures by approximately $100 million over the next three years primarily as a result of compliance with MATS and the recent New Source Review settlement at Big Cajun II;

• Agreed to acquire the 400 MW, 160 MWt Gregory cogeneration plant in Texas for $244 million;

• Reached commercial operation and fully funded long-term debt financing in the first quarter for the Alpine and Borrego solar photovoltaic (PV) projects (92 MW);

• Grew customer count in retail by 21,000 during the quarter

2013 and 2014 Guidance

• Transaction synergies remain on track:

  • Total cash flow benefits of $310 million by 2014;

  • On track to deliver $150 million and $210 million of Adjusted EBITDA from synergies in 2013 and 2014, respectively, including $20 million from realized synergies in the first quarter of 2013

• Reaffirming Adjusted EBITDA guidance:

  • $2,615-$2,815 million for 2013 (Reaffirmed);

  • $2,760-$2,960 million for 2014 (Reaffirmed)

• Increasing FCF before growth investments guidance for 2013 by $100 million:

  • $1,000-$1,200 million for 2013 (Increased);

  • $900-$1,100 million for 2014 (Reaffirmed)

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NRG Energy, Inc. (NYS: NRG) today reported first quarter 2013 Adjusted EBITDA of $373 million with Wholesale contributing $234 million, Retail contributing $103 million and Solar projects contributing $36 million. First quarter 2013 adjusted cash flow from operations totaled $21 million while net loss was ($328) million, or ($1.02) per diluted common share compared to first quarter 2012 net loss of ($207) million, or ($0.92) per diluted common share.

"As we satisfy our financial targets for the quarter, we remain intensely focused across our company on fulfilling our strategic objectives for 2013, particularly in the area of post-GenOn asset synergies and solar monetization," said David Crane, NRG President and Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to sharing more details with you of our plans in these important areas by the end of the second quarter."

Segment Results

⁽¹⁾ Alternative Energy includes the results of the Company's Solar projects

⁽²⁾ Detailed adjustments by region are shown in Appendix A

⁽³⁾ Revised to reflect new Adjusted EBITDA methodology

⁽¹⁾ Alternative Energy includes the results of the Company's Solar projects

Retail: First quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $103 million; $9 million lower than first quarter 2012. Gross Margin was lower by $4 million primarily due to increased supply costs not fully recovered as a result of competitive renewal and acquisition pricing, as well as weather impacts, partially offset by additional margin attributable to higher customer count. Operating expenses increased $5 million, primarily reflecting an increase in selling and marketing expenses in line with our growth initiatives, partially offset by a decrease in general and administrative expenses.

Gulf Coast - Texas: First quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $72 million; $67 million lower than the first quarter 2012. Gross margin was lower by $67 million due to lower realized energy margins driven by a 19% decline in baseload hedge prices. Losses from commercial optimization activities were more than offset by higher volumes at the coal plants due to fewer planned outage hours and the elimination of ERCOT nodal fees. Operating costs meanwhile were favorable driven primarily by a decrease in major maintenance at Limestone, which incurred costs in 2012 for boiler and generator stator repairs, offset by an increase in general and administrative expenses.

Gulf Coast - South Central: First quarter Adjusted EBITDA was ($8) million, $34 million lower than first quarter of 2012. Gross margin declined $25 million as average realized revenue rate increases of 3% which were offset by (i) a combination of higher natural gas prices as compared to the unprecedented lows in the first quarter of 2012, (ii) commercial optimization activities and (iii) one-time transportation costs resulting from route shipment changes due to the low water conditions on the Mississippi River, which have since abated. Meanwhile, higher operating expenses were the result of additional outage work at Cottonwood including a major outage on Cottonwood Unit 3.

East: First quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $166 million; $157 million higher than first quarter 2012. The improvement was the result of a $371 million increase in realized gross margin due to the addition of the GenOn assets, contributions from the Dunkirk reliability support services agreement in western New York and an improvement in capacity prices in both New York and PJM. Offsetting the increase in gross margin was $185 million in higher operating costs and $29 million higher general and administrative expenses resulting primarily from the GenOn acquisition.

West: First quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $4 million; $11 million lower than the first quarter 2012. Outages at non-affiliated local generation in the first quarter of 2012 resulted in a higher dispatch at our Encina plant compared to the first quarter of 2013. Despite the ongoing San Onofre outage, market prices were less impacted due to a combination of improved resource planning and the activation of the Sunrise transmission line. Overall generation increased 30% quarter over quarter as the addition of the GenOn portfolio offset a 25% reduction in generation from legacy NRG assets. Finally, due to the increased generation in 2012, first quarter 2013 operating expenses increased as a result of planned maintenance work and the addition of the GenOn assets.

Alternative Energy: First quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $24 million; $20 million higher than the first quarter 2012. Solar gross margin was $42 million, a $31 million increase from the prior year driven by the addition of new phases to the Company's Agua Caliente solar facility, which contributed $20 million in gross margin in the first quarter of 2013. Also, the addition of the California Valley Solar Ranch (CVSR), Alpine, Avra Valley and Borrego facilities contributed $15 million in gross margin in the first quarter of 2013. Partially offsetting the improved margin were NRG's continued development efforts in its new businesses.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Total current liquidity, as of March 31, 2013, was $3,085 million, a decrease of $277 million from December 31, 2012. Increases of $4 million in restricted cash and $99 million in revolver availability were more than offset by a $380 million decrease in cash and cash equivalents consisting of the following items:

• $430 million of cash outflows consisting of the following items:

  • $200 million to repurchase NRG unsecured notes and $18 million of scheduled debt amortization;

  • $104 million of cash paid for maintenance and environmental capital expenditures;

  • $52 million in merger related payments;

  • $31 million in payments of dividends to common and preferred shareholders;

  • $20 million of share repurchases (an additional $5 million was paid during April); and

  • $5 million in other investing and financing activities

• Partially offset by $50 million of cash inflows consisting of the following items:

  • $29 million of net cash inflows from our solar and conventional growth investments as debt and cash grant proceeds exceeded NRG equity contributions; and

  • $21 million of adjusted cash flow from operations

Growth Initiatives and Developments

NRG continued to advance its leadership position in advanced energy including:

Solar

• Agua Caliente - As of March 31, 2013, 253 MW of generation capacity had achieved commercial operation making Agua Caliente the largest operating solar PV project in the United States. Overall, construction at Agua Caliente is several months ahead of schedule and is currently expected to reach full completion in early 2014 (290 MW). Power generated by Agua Caliente is being sold under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Pacific Gas and Electric Co (PG&E).

• CVSR - Construction of the California Valley Solar Ranch project is ahead of schedule with 127 MW having achieved operation by March 31, 2013, with the remaining 123 MW expected to come on line by the fourth quarter of 2013. Power from this project is being sold to PG&E under 25-year PPAs.

• Ivanpah - Unit 1 (124 MW) is expected to reach commercial operation in September 2013. The remaining two units (each at 127 MW) are currently expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2013. Power from Units 1 and 3 will be sold to PG&E via two 25-year PPAs, and power from Unit 2 will be sold to Southern California Edison (SCE) under a 20-year PPA.

• Other Solar

  • Alpine, a 66 MW project under a 20-year PPA with PG&E, reached commercial operation in the first quarter of 2013 and subsequently received funding from non-recourse project financings, net of fees, of $222 million;

  • Borrego, a 26 MW project under a 25-year PPA with San Diego Gas and Electric, reached commercial operation in the first quarter of 2013 and subsequently received funding from non-recourse project financings, net of fees, of $77 million;

  • In March 2013, the Company acquired High Desert, an operating 20 MW utility-scale photovoltaic solar facility located in Lancaster, California. The project was acquired for $24 million of equity as well as the assumption of non-recourse project financing. The solar facility provides electricity to SCE under a 20-year PPA.

Conventional

• Marsh Landing - On May 1, 2013, the Company declared commercial operation of its Marsh Landing project, a 720 MW natural gas-fired peaking facility adjacent to the Company's Contra Costa generating facility near Antioch, California. The facility is contracted with PG&E under a 10-year PPA.

• El Segundo -The Company is continuing construction at its El Segundo Power Generating Station, a 550 MW fast start, combined-cycle plant. The plant has a 10 year PPA with SCE. The Company expects to achieve commercial operation in the third quarter of 2013.

• WA Parish Peaking Unit - The Company is nearing completion of a 75 MW peaking unit at Parish, and anticipates achieving commercial operation during the second quarter of 2013.

• Gregory - The Company entered into an agreement to acquire the Gregory cogeneration plant in Corpus Christi, Texas, for $244 million (subject to working capital adjustments), which will expand NRG's growing cogeneration fleet as it provides NRG with additional cost-effective baseload power in ERCOT.

Outlook for 2013 and 2014

NRG is reaffirming the Adjusted EBITDA guidance announced on February 27, 2013; increasing FCF before growth investments guidance for 2013 due to the acceleration of tax refunds and reduced environmental capital expenditures; and reaffirming FCF before growth investments guidance for 2014.

Notes - subtotals and totals are rounded

2013 Capital Allocation Program

During the first quarter of 2013, the Company substantially completed the previously announced $1 billion deleveraging plan by repurchasing $200 million of NRG unsecured notes.

On April 19, 2013, the company declared a 33% increase in quarterly dividend from $0.09 to $0.12 per share, payable May 15, 2013, to shareholders of record as of May 1, 2013.

During the first quarter of 2013, the Company purchased 972,292 shares of NRG common stock for $25 million, at an average cost of $25.88 per share, leaving $175 million remaining in the 2013 common stock repurchase program announced on our last quarterly earnings call.

The Company's common stock dividend and share repurchases are subject to available capital, market conditions, and compliance with associated laws and regulations.

Earnings Conference Call

On May 7, 2013, NRG will host a conference call at 9:00 am eastern to discuss these results. Investors, the news media and others may access the live webcast of the conference call and accompanying presentation materials by logging on to NRG's website at http://www.nrgenergy.com and clicking on "Investors." The webcast will be archived on the site for those unable to listen in real time.

About NRG

NRG is at the forefront of changing how people think about and use energy. We deliver cleaner and smarter energy choices for our customers, backed by the nation's largest independent power generation portfolio of fossil fuel, nuclear, solar and wind facilities. A Fortune 300 company, NRG is challenging the U.S. energy industry by becoming the largest developer of solar power, building the first privately funded electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and providing customers with the most advanced smart energy solutions to better manage their energy use. In addition to 47,000 megawatts of generation capacity, enough to supply nearly 40 million homes, our retail electricity providers - Reliant, Green Mountain Energy and Energy Plus - serve more than two million customers. More information is available at www.nrgenergy.com. Connect with NRG Energy on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @nrgenergy.

Safe Harbor Disclosure

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions and include our Adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow guidance, expected earnings, future growth, financial performance, capital allocation, environmental capital expenditures, expected benefits from the GenOn acquisition and development projects, and typically can be identified by the use of words such as "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "forecast," "plan," "believe" and similar terms. Although NRG believes that its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct, and actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated above include, among others, general economic conditions, hazards customary in the power industry, weather conditions, successful partnering relationships, government loan guarantees, competition in wholesale and retail power markets, the volatility of energy and fuel prices, failure of customers to perform under contracts, changes in the wholesale power markets, changes in government regulation of markets and of environmental emissions, our ability to utilize tax incentives, the condition of capital markets generally, our ability to access capital markets, unanticipated outages at our generation facilities, adverse results in current and future litigation, our inability to implement value enhancing improvements to plant operations and companywide processes, the ability to successfully integrate the businesses of NRG and GenOn, the ability to realize anticipated benefits of the transaction (including expected cost savings and other synergies) or the risk that anticipated benefits may take longer to realize than expected due to our ability to maintain retail customers, and our ability to achieve the expected benefits and timing of development projects. Furthermore, any common stock dividend or share repurchases are subject to available capital, market conditions, and compliance with associated laws and regulations.

NRG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Adjusted EBITDA guidance and free cash flows are estimates as of today's date, May 7, 2013 and are based on assumptions believed to be reasonable as of this date. NRG expressly disclaims any current intention to update such guidance. The foregoing review of factors that could cause NRG's actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included in this news release should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect NRG's future results included in NRG's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. In addition, NRG makes available free of charge at www.nrgenergy.com (in the "Investors" section), copies of materials it files with, or furnish to, the SEC.