SOUTHERN CO
For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Feb 15, 2024.
View on SEC.govAbout this filing
A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.
FY2023 · Filed Feb 15, 2024
Extracted filing text, with the paragraph anchors used by the comparison.
See the whole filing, with its images and exhibitsContents
Georgia Power
Georgia Power's 2023 net income was $2.1 billion, representing a $0.3 billion, or 14.7%, increase from the previous year. The increase was primarily due to lower non-fuel operations and maintenance costs, revenue reductions in 2022 as a result of Georgia Power exceeding its allowed retail return range, a $187 million decrease in after-tax charges related to the construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, and an increase in other revenues, partially offset by a decrease in retail revenues associated with lower contributions from customers with variable demand-driven pricing and milder weather in 2023, as well as higher interest expense. Also contributing to the net income growth were the impacts of the 2022 ARP effective January 1, 2023, including increased retail rates, largely offset by higher depreciation and amortization. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power" for additional information.
II-23
A condensed income statement for Georgia Power follows:
| 2023 | Increase(Decrease)from 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| (in millions) | ||
| Operating revenues | $10,118 | $(1,466) |
| Fuel | 1,781 | (705) |
| Purchased power | 1,281 | (976) |
| Other operations and maintenance | 2,083 | (266) |
| Depreciation and amortization | 1,681 | 251 |
| Taxes other than income taxes | 541 | 14 |
| Estimated loss on Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 | (68) | (251) |
| Total operating expenses | 7,299 | (1,933) |
| Operating income | 2,819 | 467 |
| Allowance for equity funds used during construction | 165 | 25 |
| Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized | 626 | 141 |
| Other income (expense), net | 170 | (6) |
| Income taxes (benefit) | 448 | 78 |
| Net income | $2,080 | $267 |
Operating revenues for 2023 were $10.1 billion, reflecting a $1.5 billion, or 12.7%, decrease from 2022. Details of operating revenues were as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| (in millions) | ||
| Retail — prior year | $10,792 | |
| Estimated change resulting from — | ||
| Rates and pricing | 172 | |
| Sales decline | (10) | |
| Weather | (141) | |
| Fuel cost recovery | (1,591) | |
| Retail — current year | $9,222 | $10,792 |
| Wholesale revenues | 188 | 235 |
| Other operating revenues | 708 | 557 |
| Total operating revenues | $10,118 | $11,584 |
Retail revenues decreased $1.6 billion, or 14.5%, in 2023 as compared to 2022. The significant factors driving this change are shown in the preceding table. The increase in rates and pricing was primarily due to base tariff increases in accordance with the 2022 ARP and revenue reductions in 2022 resulting from Georgia Power's retail ROE exceeding the allowed retail ROE range, partially offset by lower contributions from commercial and industrial customers with variable demand-driven pricing and a decrease in revenues recognized under the NCCR tariff. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Rate Plans" and " – Nuclear Construction" for additional information.
See "Energy Sales" below for a discussion of changes in the volume of energy sold, including estimated changes related to sales and weather in 2023.
Electric rates include provisions to adjust billings for fluctuations in fuel costs, including the energy component of purchased power costs. Under these fuel cost recovery provisions, fuel revenues generally equal fuel expenses and do not affect net income. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Fuel Cost Recovery" for additional information.
II-24
Wholesale revenues from power sales were as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| (in millions) | ||
| Capacity and other | $66 | $48 |
| Energy | 122 | 187 |
| Total | $188 | $235 |
In 2023, wholesale revenues decreased $47 million, or 20.0%, as compared to 2022 largely due to an $81 million decrease related to the average cost per KWH sold due to lower Southern Company system fuel and purchased power costs, partially offset by a $21 million increase related to new capacity contracts and a $13 million increase related to the volume of KWH sales associated with higher market demand.
Wholesale revenues from sales to non-affiliates consist of PPAs and short-term opportunity sales. Wholesale revenues from PPAs have both capacity and energy components. Wholesale capacity revenues from PPAs are recognized in amounts billable under the contract terms and provide for recovery of fixed costs and a return on investment. Wholesale revenues from sales to non-affiliates will vary depending on fuel prices, the market prices of wholesale energy compared to the cost of Georgia Power's and the Southern Company system's generation, demand for energy within the Southern Company system's electric service territory, and the availability of the Southern Company system's generation. Increases and decreases in energy revenues that are driven by fuel prices are accompanied by an increase or decrease in fuel costs and do not have a significant impact on net income. Short-term opportunity sales are made at market-based rates that generally provide a margin above Georgia Power's variable cost of energy.
Wholesale revenues from sales to affiliated companies will vary depending on demand and the availability and cost of generating resources at each company. These affiliate sales are made in accordance with the IIC, as approved by the FERC. These transactions do not have a significant impact on earnings since this energy is generally sold at marginal cost.
In 2023, other operating revenues increased $151 million, or 27.1%, as compared to 2022 primarily due to an increase of $105 million in unregulated sales associated with power delivery construction and maintenance, outdoor lighting, and energy conservation projects, a net increase of $17 million in realized gains associated with price stability products for retail customers on variable demand-driven pricing tariffs, an increase of $17 million in retail solar program fees, and a $9 million increase in open access transmission tariff sales.
| 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| TotalKWHs | Total KWHPercent Change | Weather-AdjustedPercent Change(*) | |
| (in billions) | |||
| Residential | 27.6 | (5.0)% | (0.4)% |
| Commercial | 32.6 | 0.1 | 1.2 |
| Industrial | 23.5 | (1.6) | (1.4) |
| Other | 0.4 | (4.7) | (4.2) |
| Total retail | 84.1 | (2.1) | (0.1)% |
| Wholesale | 2.6 | 7.8 | |
| Total energy sales | 86.7 | (1.9)% | |
(*)Weather-adjusted KWH sales are estimated using statistical models of the historical relationship between temperatures and energy sales, and then removing the estimated effect of deviations from normal temperature conditions. Normal temperature conditions are defined as those experienced in Georgia Power's service territory over a specified historical period. This metric is useful because it allows trends in historical operations to be evaluated apart from the influence of weather conditions. Management also considers this metric in developing long-term capital and financial plans.
Changes in retail energy sales are generally the result of changes in electricity usage by customers, weather, and the number of customers. Revenues attributable to changes in sales decreased in 2023 when compared to 2022. Weather-adjusted residential sales decreased 0.4% primarily due to decreased customer usage, largely offset by customer growth. Weather-adjusted commercial KWH sales increased 1.2% primarily due to customer growth. Weather-adjusted industrial KWH sales decreased
II-25
1.4% primarily due to decreases in the textile, mining, and stone, clay, and glass sectors, partially offset by an increase in the paper sector.
See "Operating Revenues" above for a discussion of significant changes in wholesale sales to non-affiliates and affiliated companies.
Fuel costs constitute one of the largest expenses for Georgia Power. The mix of fuel sources for the generation of electricity is determined primarily by demand, the unit cost of fuel consumed, and the availability of generating units. Additionally, Georgia Power purchases a portion of its electricity needs from the wholesale market.
Details of Georgia Power's generation and purchased power were as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation (in billions of KWHs)(a) | 60.3 | 59.7 |
| Total purchased power (in billions of KWHs) | 29.6 | 33.6 |
| Sources of generation (percent) — | ||
| Gas | 49 | 48 |
| Nuclear(a) | 29 | 27 |
| Coal | 19 | 21 |
| Hydro and other | 3 | 4 |
| Cost of fuel, generated (in cents per net KWH) — | ||
| Gas | 3.07 | 5.06 |
| Nuclear(a) | 0.82 | 0.75 |
| Coal | 5.59 | 4.12 |
| Average cost of fuel, generated (in cents per net KWH)(a) | 2.90 | 3.64 |
| Average cost of purchased power (in cents per net KWH)(b) | 4.63 | 7.88 |
(a)Excludes KWHs generated from test period energy at Plant Vogtle Unit 3 prior to its in-service date. The related fuel costs are charged to CWIP in accordance with FERC guidance. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Nuclear Construction" for additional information on Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
(b)Average cost of purchased power includes fuel purchased by Georgia Power for tolling agreements where power is generated by the provider.
Fuel and purchased power expenses were $3.1 billion in 2023, a decrease of $1.7 billion, or 35.4%, compared to 2022. The decrease was due to decreases of $1.4 billion related to the average cost of fuel and purchased power and $321 million related to the volume of KWHs generated and purchased.
Fuel and purchased power energy transactions do not have a significant impact on earnings since these fuel expenses are generally offset by fuel revenues through Georgia Power's fuel cost recovery mechanism. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Fuel Cost Recovery" for additional information.
Fuel
Fuel expense was $1.8 billion in 2023, a decrease of $0.7 billion, or 28.4%, compared to 2022. The decrease was primarily due to decreases of 39.3% in the average cost per KWH generated by natural gas and 8.9% in the volume of KWHs generated by coal, partially offset by increases of 35.7% in the average cost per KWH generated by coal, 9.3% in the average cost per KWH generated by nuclear, 8.5% in the volume of KWHs generated by nuclear, and 2.1% in the volume of KWHs generated by natural gas.
Purchased Power – Non-Affiliates
Purchased power expense from non-affiliates was $517 million in 2023, a decrease of $339 million, or 39.6%, compared to 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease of 33.9% in the volume of KWHs purchased due to lower demand and the availability of lower cost generation in the Southern Company system and a decrease of 22.3% in the average cost per KWH purchased primarily due to lower natural gas prices.
Energy purchases from non-affiliates will vary depending on the market prices of wholesale energy as compared to the cost of the Southern Company system's generation, demand for energy within the Southern Company system's electric service territory, and the availability of the Southern Company system's generation.
II-26
Purchased Power – Affiliates
Purchased power expense from affiliates was $764 million in 2023, a decrease of $637 million, or 45.5%, compared to 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease of 49.1% in the average cost per KWH purchased primarily due to lower natural gas prices.
Energy purchases from affiliates will vary depending on the demand and the availability and cost of generating resources at each company within the Southern Company system. These purchases are made in accordance with the IIC or other contractual agreements, all as approved by the FERC.
Other operations and maintenance expenses decreased $266 million, or 11.3%, in 2023 as compared to 2022. The decrease was primarily due to decreases of $182 million in storm damage recovery as authorized in the 2022 ARP, $178 million in transmission and distribution expenses primarily associated with line maintenance, $74 million in generation non-outage maintenance expenses, and $28 million in certain employee compensation and benefit expenses. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $60 million from unregulated power delivery construction and maintenance and energy conservation projects, $59 million in generation environmental projects, $55 million in technology infrastructure and application production costs, and $28 million in planned generation outages. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Storm Damage Recovery" for additional information.
Depreciation and amortization increased $251 million, or 17.6%, in 2023 as compared to 2022 primarily due to increases of $190 million resulting from higher depreciation rates as authorized in the 2022 ARP and $75 million associated with additional plant in service, partially offset by a decrease of $15 million in amortization of regulatory assets related to the retirement of certain generating units that ended in 2022.
Taxes other than income taxes increased $14 million, or 2.7%, in 2023 as compared to 2022 primarily due to an increase of $56 million in property taxes primarily resulting from an increase in the assessed value of property, largely offset by a decrease of $40 million in municipal franchise fees resulting from lower retail revenues.
Estimated Loss on Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4
Georgia Power recorded pre-tax charges (credits) to income for the estimated probable loss on Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 totaling $(68) million and $183 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The charges (credits) to income in each year were recorded to reflect revisions to the total project capital cost forecast to complete construction and start-up of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 and the related cost recovery. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Nuclear Construction" for additional information.
Allowance for equity funds used during construction increased $25 million, or 17.9%, in 2023 as compared to 2022 primarily due to an increase in capital expenditures subject to AFUDC.
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized increased $141 million, or 29.1%, in 2023 as compared to 2022. The increase primarily reflects approximately $78 million related to higher interest rates and $76 million related to higher average outstanding borrowings, partially offset by the deferral of $14 million in financing costs related to Plant Vogtle Unit 3. See FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY – "Sources of Capital" and "Financing Activities" herein and Note 8 to the financial statements for additional information. Also see Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Nuclear Construction" for additional information on Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
Other income (expense), net decreased $6 million, or 3.4%, in 2023 as compared to 2022 primarily due to decreases in non-service cost-related retirement benefits income and customer charges related to contributions in aid of construction, partially offset by a decrease in charitable donations. See Note 11 to the financial statements for additional information on Georgia Power's net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit costs.
II-27
Income taxes increased $78 million, or 21.1%, in 2023 as compared to 2022 primarily due to the flowback of $145 million of certain excess deferred income taxes that ended in 2022 and higher pre-tax earnings largely resulting from lower charges associated with the construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, partially offset by an $85 million decrease in charges to a valuation allowance on certain state tax credit carryforwards, generation of $35 million of advanced nuclear PTCs, and a $32 million adjustment in 2022 related to a prior year state tax credit carryforward. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Nuclear Construction" and Note 10 to the financial statements for additional information.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.