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 4, 2002
PPL Corporation
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Pennsylvania 1-11459 23-2758192
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State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
Two North Ninth Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18101-1179
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(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (610) 774-5151
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On January 4, 2002, PPL Corporation ("PPL") announced that it was
scaling back its generation expansion program in light of continuing declines in
wholesale energy prices, and revised its earnings forecasts for 2001 and 2002.
GENERATION EXPANSION PROGRAM
PPL had previously announced plans to develop an additional 4,605 MW of
generating capacity, including a 1,200 MW generating facility in Starbuck,
Washington and five gas-fired peaking facilities in Pennsylvania totaling 900
megawatts, all of which were in the early stages of development. PPL continually
evaluates development projects based on market conditions and other factors to
determine whether to proceed with these projects, sell them, expand them or
pursue other opportunities. In light of continuing declines in wholesale energy
prices in the Eastern and Western U.S. markets, PPL has decided to scale back
its generation development program by canceling the Starbuck and Pennsylvania
peaking projects. While PPL believes that there is a need for new generating
capacity in specific regions of the United States, PPL has concluded that
current market prices and regulatory conditions do not justify its continued
pursuit of these six projects. As a result of these cancellations, PPL will be
taking a charge to 2001 earnings.
In January 2002, PPL entered into a contract with the Long Island Power
Authority to develop two gas-fired generating facilities, totaling 160 MW, on
Long Island, New York. Construction on these facilities is expected to commence
in 2002 and these facilities are expected to be in service during 2002.
PPL's 225 MW gas-fired Wallingford, Connecticut plant went into
commercial operation in December 2001, and its 300 MW gas-fired Griffith
facility in Kingman, Arizona is expected to go into operation imminently. With
the commercial operation of these plants, PPL will control about 10,300
megawatts of generating capacity in the Eastern and Western United States. In
addition to these projects, PPL has about 2,100 megawatts under active
development in Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York.
ENRON BANKRUPTCY IMPACT
PPL's earnings also have been affected by the bankruptcy filings by
Enron Corp. and its affiliates ("Enron"). As a result of Enron's bankruptcy,
certain of PPL's subsidiaries have terminated certain electricity and gas
agreements with Enron. PPL will record the charges associated with these
contract terminations in 2001. Certain of these contracts with Enron extended
through 2006, and were at prices more favorable to PPL than current market
prices.
Through its subsidiary, PPL Global, LLC, PPL has a 51 percent economic
interest in WPD Holdings UK ("WPDH"). WPDH is a 15 percent equity investor in
the 1,875 MW Teesside Power Station, located in northern England. Enron
participates through affiliates as an owner, an operator and a power purchaser
of the project. As a result of Enron's receivership in the U.K. and its default
on its obligations under the power
purchase agreements, WPDH has written off its entire equity investment in
Teesside Power Limited ("Teesside"), the owner of the power station. As a
result, PPL will record a charge in 2001 for its share of the impairment loss.
Finally, in connection with the Enron bankruptcy and the probable
resulting loss of Teesside cash flows, PPL is evaluating the carrying value of
its investment in WPDH. At this time, PPL is unable to determine the amount of
any impairment, but the impact could be material. Any required write-down would
be recorded in 2001.
2001 EARNINGS FORECAST
Previously, PPL had forecast earnings per share of approximately $4.00
for 2001. PPL now forecasts 2001 earnings of $3.35 to $3.45 per share, exclusive
of any potential impairment of the company's investment in WPDH discussed above.
The details of that revised 2001 forecast are as follows:
Earnings Per Share
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Earnings from core operations $4.15 to $4.25
Charge from Enron-related write-off of ($0.14)
WPDH's investment in Teesside
Other charges associated with Enron bankruptcy ($0.06)
Charge for cancellation of generation projects ($0.60)
2001 earnings forecast $3.35 to $3.45
The company's 2001 earnings from core operations result primarily from:
strong margins, early in the year, from energy sales in markets in both the
Eastern and Western United States; improved earnings contributions from
energy-related businesses, including the company's mechanical contracting
subsidiaries and synfuel operations; and success in continuing to control
operating costs.
2002 EARNINGS FORECAST
PPL also announced that it was lowering its 2002 earnings forecast to
$3.35 to $3.45 per share. Previously, the company had projected earnings in
excess of $4.00 per share for 2002.
The primary reason for the lower 2002 earnings forecast is continued
declines in the wholesale energy markets. The new projection is based on current
forward wholesale energy prices -- which are at their lowest level in four years
-- for the unhedged portion of PPL's generating output.
PPL anticipates that its 2002 earnings will be negatively affected by
the loss of expected earnings resulting from the Enron bankruptcy and
lower-than-expected earnings from the company's Latin American operations
resulting from the drought and general economic conditions in Brazil. In
addition, a change in the accounting rules for goodwill could result in a
substantial negative earnings impact for 2002, but PPL is unable to quantify
such impact, if any, at this time.
* * * *
Certain statements contained in this report, including statements with
respect to future earnings, energy marketing, prices and margins, corporate
strategy, subsidiary performance, growth, dividends, project development,
liquidity, accounting impacts, revenues, capital expenditures, operating
expenses, and generating capacity, are "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the federal securities laws. Although PPL believes that the
expectations and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are
reasonable, these statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and
actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the
statements. The following are among the important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements: market
demand and prices for energy, capacity and fuel; weather variations affecting
customer energy usage; competition in retail and wholesale power markets; the
effect of any business or industry restructuring; the profitability and
liquidity of PPL and its subsidiaries; new accounting requirements or new
interpretations or applications of existing requirements; operating performance
of plants and other facilities; environmental conditions and requirements;
system conditions and operating costs; development of new projects, markets and
technologies; performance of new ventures; political, regulatory or economic
conditions in countries where PPL or its subsidiaries conduct business; receipt
of necessary governmental approvals; capital market conditions; stock price
performance; foreign exchange rates; and the commitments and liabilities of PPL
and its subsidiaries. Any such forward-looking statements should be considered
in light of such factors and in conjunction with PPL's Form 10-K and other
reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SIGNATURE
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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 hereunto duly authorized.
PPL CORPORATION
By: /s/ James E. Abel
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James E. Abel
Vice President-Finance and
Treasurer
Dated: January 7, 2002