Exelon Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Results and Initiates 2018 Financial Outlook

Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2017.

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Exelon Corporation 2017 in Review

Exelon Corporation 2017 in Review

"Exelon had a strong 2017, with our utilities turning in first-quartile and in several cases best-ever performance in reliability and customer service, and our nuclear generation fleet producing the most power on record, all thanks to the great work of our people, who also set company records for volunteerism and charitable giving,” said Christopher M. Crane, Exelon’s president and CEO. “We will build on this momentum in 2018 with our new dividend growth rate of 5 percent annually over the next three years, tax reform that will benefit utility customers and reduce tax expenses at Generation, and movement on needed power price formation changes in PJM and broader resiliency reviews at FERC.”

“In 2017, Exelon delivered solid financial performance with $2.60 of Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings, which is within our range,” said Jonathan W. Thayer, Exelon’s Senior Executive Vice President and CFO. “We are introducing 2018 operating earnings guidance of $2.90 - $3.20 per share which incorporates the benefits of U.S. tax reform, strong utility growth, a full-year of ZEC programs in New York and Illinois, and recognition of Illinois ZEC revenue from 2017.”

Fourth Quarter 2017

Exelon's GAAP Net Income for the fourth quarter 2017 increased to $1.94 per share from $0.22 per share in the fourth quarter of 2016; Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings increased to $0.55 per share in the fourth quarter of 2017 from $0.44 per share in the fourth quarter of 2016. For the reconciliations of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings, refer to the tables beginning on page 9.

Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings in the fourth quarter of 2017 reflect higher utility earnings due to regulatory rate increases and weather, partially offset by a 2017 impairment of certain transmission-related income tax regulatory assets; and, at Generation, New York ZEC revenue and higher capacity prices, partially offset by lower realized energy prices.

Full Year 2017

For the full year 2017, Exelon's GAAP Net Income increased to $3.97 per share from $1.22 per share in 2016. Exelon's Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for 2017 decreased to $2.60 per share from $2.68 per share in 2016.

Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for the full year 2017 reflect higher utility earnings due to regulatory rate increases, partially offset by weather and a 2017 impairment of certain transmission-related income tax regulatory assets; and, at Generation, lower realized energy prices, the impacts of lower load volumes delivered due to mild weather in the third quarter 2017, the conclusion of the Ginna RSSA and the impact of declining natural gas prices on Generation's natural gas portfolio, partially offset by New York ZEC revenue and higher capacity prices.

Operating Company Results1

ComEd2

ComEd's fourth quarter 2017 GAAP Net Income was $120 million compared with $80 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. ComEd’s Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for the fourth quarter 2017 were $123 million compared with $81 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, primarily reflecting higher electric distribution and transmission formula rate revenues.

PECO

PECO’s fourth quarter 2017 GAAP Net Income was $107 million compared with $92 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. PECO’s fourth quarter 2017 Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings of $95 million remained relatively consistent with fourth quarter 2016 Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings of $94 million.

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1 Exelon’s five business units include ComEd, which consists of electricity transmission and distribution operations in northern Illinois; PECO, which consists of electricity transmission and distribution operations and retail natural gas distribution operations in southeastern Pennsylvania; BGE, which consists of electricity transmission and distribution operations and retail natural gas distribution operations in central Maryland; PHI, which consists of electricity transmission and distribution operations in the District of Columbia and portions of Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey and retail natural gas distribution operations in northern Delaware; and Generation, which consists of owned and contracted electric generating facilities and wholesale and retail customer supply of electric and natural gas products and services, including renewable energy products and risk management services.
2 For BGE, Pepco and DPL Maryland and beginning in 2017 for ComEd, customer rates are adjusted to eliminate the impacts of weather and customer usage on distribution volumes.

Heating degree days were up 6.1 percent relative to the same period in 2016 and were 7.2 percent below normal. Total retail electric deliveries were up 3.4 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2016. Natural gas deliveries (including both retail and transportation segments) in the fourth quarter of 2017 were up 9.0 percent compared with the same period in 2016.

BGE2

BGE’s fourth quarter 2017 GAAP Net Income was $76 million compared with $103 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. BGE’s Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for the fourth quarter 2017 were $82 million compared with $105 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, primarily due to a favorable 2016 settlement of a Baltimore City conduit fee dispute and a 2017 impairment of certain transmission-related income tax regulatory assets.

PHI2

PHI’s fourth quarter 2017 GAAP Net Income was $4 million compared with $30 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. PHI’s Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for the fourth quarter 2017 were $48 million compared with $42 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, primarily due to regulatory rate increases, partially offset by a 2017 impairment of certain transmission-related income tax regulatory assets.

Generation

Generation's fourth quarter 2017 GAAP Net Income was $2,215 million compared with a GAAP Net Loss of $41 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Generation’s Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for the fourth quarter 2017 were $252 million compared with $162 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, primarily reflecting New York ZEC revenue and higher capacity prices, partially offset by lower realized energy prices.

The proportion of expected generation hedged as of Dec. 31, 2017, was 85.0 percent to 88.0 percent for 2018, 55.0 percent to 58.0 percent for 2019 and 26.0 percent to 29.0 percent for 2020.

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2 For BGE, Pepco and DPL Maryland and beginning in 2017 for ComEd, customer rates are adjusted to eliminate the impacts of weather and customer usage on distribution volumes.

Initiates Annual Guidance for 2018

Exelon introduced a guidance range for 2018 Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings of $2.90 to $3.20 per share. Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings guidance is based on the assumption of normal weather, which is determined based on historical average heating and cooling degree days for a 30-year period in the respective utilities' service territories, except at PHI, where a 20-year period is used. The outlook for 2018 Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for Exelon and its subsidiaries excludes the following items:

  • Mark-to-market adjustments from economic hedging activities;
  • Unrealized gains and losses from NDT fund investments to the extent not offset by contractual accounting as described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements;
  • Non-cash amortization of intangible assets, net related to commodity contracts recorded at the date of the acquisition of ConEdison Solutions in 2016 and FitzPatrick in 2017;
  • Certain costs incurred related to the PHI and FitzPatrick acquisitions;
  • Certain costs incurred related to plant retirements;
  • Certain costs incurred to achieve cost management program savings;
  • Other unusual items;
  • Generation's noncontrolling interest related to CENG exclusion items; and
  • One-time impacts of adopting new accounting standards.

Recent Developments

  • Dividend Policy Update: On Jan. 30, 2018, the Board of Directors of Exelon announced an updated dividend policy targeting 5 percent annual dividend growth for the period covering 2018 through 2020. Since the last dividend policy of 2.5 percent annual growth was implemented in 2016, Exelon’s business position has continued to strengthen. The company has generated more earnings from regulated utilities following the PHI acquisition, recognized greater stability for its generation fleet with the Illinois and New York ZEC programs, and continued to focus on cost management and prudent balance sheet oversight. As a result of the strengthened outlook on earnings, Exelon is sharing the financial success with its shareholders through this updated dividend policy.
  • Utility Capex and Rate Base Update: Exelon Utilities plan to invest nearly $21 billion of capital to ensure reliable, more resilient and more efficient transmission and distribution of electricity and gas for our customers. The increased capital investments and impacts of tax reform are expected to drive annual rate base growth of 7.4 percent through 2021, exceeding the 6.5 percent growth expectations for 2017-2020 projected a year ago.
  • Generation and Free Cash Flow Outlook: Cumulatively from 2018 through 2021, Generation projects $7.6 billion of free cash flow before growth capex, which is $0.8 billion higher than the prior 4-year outlook from 2017 through 2020. This financial outlook accounts for the latest power price forwards, updated gross margins at Constellation, continued efforts to reduce O&M cost and capital expenditures, the planned closure of Three Mile Island and Oyster Creek, and the impact of tax reform.
  • Exelon Nuclear Plants Selected in Illinois ZEC Procurement Event: On Jan. 25, 2018, the ICC announced that Clinton Unit 1 and Quad Cities Units 1 & 2 were winning bidders through the Illinois Power Agency's ZEC procurement event, which entitles them to compensation for the sale of ZECs. Generation executed the ZEC procurement contracts with Illinois utilities, including ComEd, effective January 26, 2018, and will begin recognizing revenue. In addition to recognizing ZEC revenue generated in the first quarter of 2018, Generation will also recognize ZEC revenue retroactive to June 1, 2017, which will contribute approximately $0.11 to Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings. The $0.11 contribution to Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings is higher than the $0.09 originally expected in 2017 due to the lower tax rate in 2018 at Generation as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
  • Early Retirement of Oyster Creek Nuclear Facility: On Feb. 2, 2018, Generation announced that it will permanently cease generation operations at Oyster Creek Generating Station (Oyster Creek) at the end of its current operating cycle in October 2018. In 2010, Generation announced that Oyster Creek would retire by the end of 2019 as part of an agreement with the State of New Jersey to avoid significant costs associated with the construction of cooling towers to meet the State’s then new environmental regulations. Since then, like other nuclear sites, Oyster Creek has continued to face rising operating costs amid a historically low wholesale power price environment. The decision to retire Oyster Creek in 2018 at the end of its current operating cycle involved consideration of several factors, including economics and operating efficiencies, and avoids a refueling outage scheduled for the fall of 2018 that would have required advanced purchasing of fuel fabrication and materials beginning in late February 2018. Because of the decision to retire Oyster Creek in 2018, Generation will recognize certain one-time charges in the first quarter of 2018 ranging from an estimated $25 million to $35 million (pre-tax) related to a materials and supplies inventory reserve adjustment, employee-related costs, and construction work-in-progress impairment, among other items. The aforementioned one-time charges will be excluded from GAAP Net Income to arrive at Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings in the first quarter 2018.
  • DOE Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: On Aug. 23, 2017, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) released its report on the reliability of the electric grid. One aspect of the wide-ranging report is the DOE’s recognition that the electricity markets do not currently value the resiliency provided by baseload generation, such as nuclear plants. On Sept. 28, 2017, the DOE issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) that would entitle certain eligible resilient generating units (i.e., those located in organized markets, with a 90-day supply of fuel on site, not already subject to state cost of service regulation and satisfying certain other requirements) to recover fully allocated costs and earn a fair return on equity on their investment. On Jan. 8, 2018, the FERC issued an order terminating the rulemaking docket that was initiated to address the proposed rule in the DOE NOPR, concluding the proposed rule did not sufficiently demonstrate there is a resiliency issue and that it proposed a remedy that did not appear to be just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory as required under the Federal Power Act. At the same time, the FERC initiated a new proceeding to consider resiliency challenges to the bulk power system and evaluate whether additional FERC action to address resiliency would be appropriate. Exelon has been and will continue to be an active participant in these proceedings, but cannot predict the final outcome or its potential impact, if any, on Exelon or Generation.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

  • Corporate Tax Reform: On Dec. 22, 2017, President Trump signed into law the TCJA. The Registrants remeasured their existing deferred income tax balances as of Dec. 31, 2017, to reflect the decrease in the corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, which resulted in a material decrease to their net deferred income tax liability balances. At Generation, this reduction in net deferred income tax liabilities resulted in a one-time credit to income tax expense of approximately $1.9 billion. The Utility Registrants offset virtually all similar reductions, totaling $7.3 billion, with net regulatory liabilities (rather than through earnings), given that changes in income taxes are generally passed through customer rates. The amount and timing of potential refunds of the established net regulatory liabilities will be determined by the Utility Registrants’ respective rate regulators, subject to certain IRS "normalization" rules.

    Pursuant to TCJA, beginning in 2018, Generation is expected to have higher operating cash flows over the next five years reflecting the reduction in the corporate federal income tax rate and full expensing of capital investments. The TCJA is generally expected to result in lower operating cash flows for the Utility Registrants as a result of the elimination of bonus depreciation and lower customer rates. Increased operating cash flows for the Utility Registrants from lower corporate federal income tax rates is expected to be more than offset over time by lower customer rates resulting from lower income tax expense and the settlement of deferred income tax net regulatory liabilities established pursuant to TCJA, partially offset by the impacts of higher rate base. The Utility Registrants expect to fund any required incremental operating cash outflows using third party debt financings and equity funding from Exelon in combinations generally consistent with existing capitalization ratio structures. To fund any additional equity contributions to the Utility Registrants, Exelon would have available to it its typical sources, including, but not limited to, the increased operating cash flows at Generation referenced above, which over time are expected to exceed the incremental equity needs at the Utility Registrants.

    The Utility Registrants continue to work with their state regulatory commissions to determine the amount and timing of the passing back of TCJA income tax savings benefits to customers; with filings either made, or expected to be made, at Pepco, DPL and ACE, and approved filings at ComEd and BGE. The amounts being passed back or proposed to be passed back to customers reflect the benefit of lower income tax expense beginning January 1, 2018 (Feb. 1, 2018 for DPL Delaware), and the settlement of a portion of deferred income tax regulatory liabilities established upon enactment of the TCJA. To date, neither the PAPUC nor FERC has yet issued guidance on how and when to reflect the impacts of the TCJA in customer rates.
  • EGTP Bankruptcy: On Nov. 7, 2017, EGTP and all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. As a result, Exelon and Generation deconsolidated EGTP’s net liabilities, which included the previously impaired assets and related debt, from their consolidated financial statements, resulting in a $213 million pre-tax gain. Concurrently with the Chapter 11 filings, Generation entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire one of EGTP’s generating plants, the Handley Generating Station, for approximately $60 million, subject to a potential adjustment for fuel oil and assumption of certain liabilities. The acquisition was approved by the Bankruptcy Court in January 2018 and the transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2018.
  • Proposed Remedy for West Lake Landfill: On Feb. 1, 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed remediation plan for the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site in Bridgeton, Missouri, for which Generation is one of the potentially responsible parties (PRPs). The proposed remediation plan includes a partial excavation of the site and an enhanced landfill cover and will be open for public comment through March 22, 2018, with the expectation that a Record of Decision will be issued during the third quarter of 2018. Thereafter, the EPA will seek to enter into a Consent Decree with the PRPs to effectuate the remedy, which Generation currently expects will occur in late 2018 or early 2019. The estimated total cost to fully execute the EPA’s proposed remedy is approximately $340 million, including cost escalation on an undiscounted basis, which will be allocated among the final group of PRPs. Generation increased its previous liability to reflect management’s best estimate of Generation’s allocable share of the cost of the proposed remedy among the PRPs, which could materially change in the future. The aforementioned 2017 charge has been excluded from GAAP Net Income to arrive at Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings.
  • ComEd Electric Distribution Rate Case: On Dec. 6, 2017, the ICC issued its final order approving ComEd’s 2017 annual distribution formula rate update. The final order resulted in an increase to the revenue requirement of $96 million, reflecting an increase of $78 million for the initial revenue requirement for 2017 and an increase of $18 million related to the annual reconciliation for 2016. The increase was set using an allowed return on rate base of 6.47 percent for the initial revenue requirement and 6.45 percent for the annual reconciliation (inclusive of an allowed ROE of 8.40 percent for 2017 less a reliability performance metric penalty of 6 basis points for the 2016 reconciliation). The rates took effect in January 2018.
  • Pepco District of Columbia Electric Distribution Rate Case: On Dec. 19, 2017, Pepco filed an application with the DCPSC to increase its annual electric distribution base rates by $66 million, reflecting a requested ROE of 10.1 percent. By mid-February, Pepco will update its current distribution rate case to reflect the TCJA impacts. Pepco expects a decision in the matter in the fourth quarter of 2018, but cannot predict how much of the requested increase the DCPSC will approve.
  • Pepco Maryland Electric Distribution Rate Case: On Jan. 2, 2018, Pepco filed an application with the MDPSC to increase its annual electric distribution base rates by $41 million, reflecting a requested ROE of 10.1 percent. On Feb. 5, 2018, Pepco filed with the MDPSC an update to its current distribution rate case to reflect approximately $31 million in TCJA tax savings, thereby reducing the requested annual base rate increase to $11 million. Pepco expects a decision in the matter in the third quarter of 2018, but cannot predict how much of the requested increase the MDPSC will approve.
  • DPL Maryland Electric Distribution Rate Case: On July 14, 2017, DPL filed an application with the MDPSC to increase its annual electric distribution base rates by $27 million, which was updated to $19 million on Nov. 16, 2017, reflecting a requested ROE of 10.1 percent. On Dec. 18, 2017, DPL, the MDPSC Staff and Maryland’s Office of People’s Counsel filed a settlement agreement with the MDPSC that would provide DPL a rate increase of $13 million, and a ROE of 9.5 percent solely for purposes of calculating AFUDC and regulatory asset carrying costs. By mid-February, DPL is planning to file with the MDPSC seeking approval to pass back to customers beginning in 2018 approximately $13 million in annual tax savings resulting from the enactment of the TCJA through a reduction in electric distribution rates. DPL expects a decision in the matter in the first quarter of 2018, but cannot predict whether the MDPSC will approve the settlement agreement as filed or how much of the requested increase will be approved.
  • FERC Transmission-Related Regulatory Asset Order: On Nov. 16, 2017, FERC issued an order rejecting BGE’s proposed revisions to its transmission formula rate to recover certain transmission-related income tax regulatory assets. ComEd, Pepco, DPL and ACE have similar transmission-related income tax regulatory assets also requiring FERC approval separate from their transmission formula rate mechanisms. Pursuant to the FERC order, management of each company concluded that the portion of the total transmission-related income tax regulatory assets that would have been previously amortized and recovered through rates had the transmission formula rate provided for such recovery was no longer probable of recovery; and recorded impairment charges to Income tax expense of $35 million, $3 million, $5 million, $27 million, $14 million, $6 million and $7 million at Exelon, ComEd, BGE, PHI, Pepco, DPL and ACE, respectively. Nevertheless, each company believes there is sufficient basis to support full recovery of all existing transmission-related income tax regulatory assets, and intends to further pursue such full recovery with FERC.
  • Nuclear Operations: Generation’s nuclear fleet, including its owned output from the Salem Generating Station and 100 percent of the CENG units, produced 47,528 gigawatt-hours (GWhs) in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with 44,834 GWhs in the fourth quarter of 2016. Excluding Salem, the Exelon-operated nuclear plants at ownership achieved a 95.3 percent capacity factor for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with 94.2 percent for the fourth quarter of 2016. Excluding Salem, the number of planned refueling outage days in the fourth quarter of 2017 totaled 60, compared with 71 in the fourth quarter of 2016. There were 18 non-refueling outage days in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with 32 days in the fourth quarter of 2016.
  • Fossil and Renewables Operations: The dispatch match rate for Generation’s gas and hydro fleet was 98.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with 99.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016. The lower performance in the quarter was primarily due to outages at gas units in Texas and Alabama. The reported performance includes the EGTP sites, which Exelon maintained and operated through the quarter, but does not include Wolf Hollow II or Colorado Bend II, the two new CCGT units that went into full commercial operation in the second quarter. Energy capture for the wind and solar fleet was 96.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with 95.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016.
  • Financing Activities:
    • On Nov. 28, 2017, ExGen Renewables IV, an indirect subsidiary of Exelon and Generation, entered into an $850 million non-recourse senior secured term loan credit facility agreement scheduled to mature on Nov. 28, 2024. The net proceeds of $785 million, after the initial funding of $50 million for debt service and liquidity reserves as well as deductions for original discount and issuance costs, were distributed to Generation for general corporate purposes. The term loan bears interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.00 percent, subject to a 1.00 percent LIBOR floor. As of Dec. 31, 2017, $850 million was outstanding. In addition to the financing, ExGen Renewables IV entered into interest rate swaps with an initial notional amount of $636 million at an interest rate of 2.32 percent to manage a portion of the interest rate exposure in connection with the financing.

GAAP/Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings Reconciliations

Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for the fourth quarter of 2017 do not include the following items (after tax) that were included in reported GAAP Net Income:

(in millions)Exelon
Earnings per
Diluted
Share
ExelonComEdPECOBGEPHIGeneration
2017 GAAP Net Income$1.94$1,871$120$107$76$4$2,215
Mark-to-Market Impact of Economic Hedging Activities (net of taxes of $7 and $6, respectively) 0.01 8 9
Unrealized Gains Related to Nuclear Decommissioning Trust (NDT) Fund Investments (net of taxes of $67) (0.12 ) (108 ) (108 )
Amortization of Commodity Contract Intangibles (net of taxes of $5) 0.01 8 8
Merger and Integration Costs (net of taxes of $1, $1 and $0, respectively) 1 1 1
Long-Lived Asset Impairments (net of taxes of $16, $9 and $8, respectively) 0.03 29 16 12
Plant Retirements and Divestitures (net of taxes of $45, respectively) 0.07 70 70
Cost Management Program (net of taxes of $6, $1, $1 and $5, respectively) 0.01 10 1 1 8
Reassessment of Deferred Income Taxes (entire amount represents tax expense) (1.30 ) (1,257 ) 3 (12 ) 5 33 (1,874 )
Gain on Deconsolidation of Businesses (net of taxes of $83) (0.14 ) (130 ) (130 )
Vacation Policy Change (net of taxes of $21, $1, $1, $3, and $16, respectively) (0.03 ) (33 ) (1 ) (1 ) (5 ) (26 )
Change in Environmental Remediation Liabilities (net of taxes of $17) 0.03 27 27
Noncontrolling Interests (net of taxes of $8) 0.04 40 40
2017 Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings$0.55$536$123$95$82$48$252

Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for the fourth quarter of 2016 do not include the following items (after tax) that were included in reported GAAP Net Income:

(in millions)Exelon
Earnings per
Diluted
Share
ExelonComEdPECOBGEPHIGeneration
2016 GAAP Net Income$0.22$204$80$92$103$30$(41)
Mark-to-Market Impact of Economic Hedging Activities (net of taxes of $28) (0.05 ) (44 ) (44 )
Unrealized Losses Related to NDT Fund Investments (net of taxes of $13) 0.01 9 9
Amortization of Commodity Contract Intangibles (net of taxes of $16) 0.03 26 26
Merger and Integration Costs (net of taxes of $14, $0, $1, $1, $3 and $9, respectively) 0.02 23 1 1 1 4 15
Merger Commitments (net of taxes of $12, $2 and $9, respectively) 0.04 38 8 40
Long-Lived Asset Impairments (net of taxes of $1) (1 )
Plant Retirements and Divestitures (net of taxes of $59) 0.10 94 94
Cost Management Program (net of taxes of $5, $1, $1 and $3, respectively) 0.01 8 1 1 6
Reassessment of State Deferred Income Taxes (entire amount represents tax expense) 0.01 10 14
Asset Retirement Obligation (net of taxes of $14) (0.08 ) (75 ) (75 )
Curtailment of Generation Growth Development Activities (net of taxes of $35) 0.06 57 57
Noncontrolling Interests (net of taxes of $1) 0.07 61 61
2016 Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings$0.44$410$81$94$105$42$162

Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for the full year 2017 do not include the following items (after tax) that were included in reported GAAP Net Income:

(in millions)Exelon
Earnings per
Diluted
Share
ExelonComEdPECOBGEPHIGeneration
2017 GAAP Net Income$3.97$3,770$567$434$307$362$2,694
Mark-to-Market Impact of Economic Hedging Activities (net of taxes of $68 and $66, respectively) 0.11 107 109
Unrealized Gains Related to NDT Fund Investments (net of taxes of $204) (0.34 ) (318 ) (318 )
Amortization of Commodity Contract Intangibles (net of taxes of $22) 0.04 34 34
Merger and Integration Costs (net of taxes of $25, $0, $2, $2, $7 and $27, respectively) 0.04 40 1 2 2 (10 ) 44
Merger Commitments (net of taxes of $137, $52 and $18, respectively) (0.14 ) (137 ) (59 ) (18 )
Long-Lived Asset Impairments (net of taxes of $204, $9 and $194, respectively) 0.34 321 16 306
Plant Retirements and Divestitures (net of taxes of $134 and $133, respectively) 0.22 207 208
Reassessment of Deferred Income Taxes (entire amount represents tax expense) (1.37 ) (1,299 ) 1 (12 ) 5 34 (1,856 )
Cost Management Program (net of taxes of $21, $3, $3 and $15 respectively) 0.04 34 4 5 25
Like-Kind Exchange Tax Position (net of taxes of $66 and $9, respectively) (0.03 ) (26 ) 23
Asset Retirement Obligation (net of taxes of $1) (2 ) (2 )
Tax Settlements (net of taxes of $1) (0.01 ) (5 ) (5 )
Bargain Purchase Gain (net of taxes of $0) (0.25 ) (233 ) (233 )
Gain on Deconsolidation of Businesses (net of taxes of $83) (0.14 ) (130 ) (130 )
Vacation Policy Change (net of taxes of $21, $1, $1, $3, and $16, respectively) (0.03 ) (33 ) (1 ) (1 ) (5 ) (26 )
Change in Environmental Remediation Liabilities (net of taxes of $17) 0.03 27 27
Noncontrolling Interests (net of taxes of $24) 0.12 114 114
2017 Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings$2.60$2,471$592$427$318$338$973

Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for the full year 2016 do not include the following items (after tax) that were included in reported GAAP Net Income:

(in millions)Exelon
Earnings per
Diluted
Share
ExelonComEdPECOBGEPHIGeneration
2016 GAAP Net Income$1.22$1,134$378$438$286$(61)$496
Mark-to-Market Impact of Economic Hedging Activities (net of taxes of $18) 0.03 24 24
Unrealized Gains Related to NDT Fund Investments (net of taxes of $77) (0.13 ) (118 ) (118 )
Amortization of Commodity Contract Intangibles (net of taxes of $22) 0.04 35 35
Merger and Integration Costs (net of taxes of $50, $2, $2, $28 and $22, respectively) 0.12 114 (3 ) 3 42 35
Merger Commitments (net of taxes of $126, 77 and $10, respectively) 0.47 437 247 42
Long-Lived Asset Impairments (net of taxes of $68) 0.11 103 103
Plant Retirements and Divestitures (net of taxes of $273, respectively) 0.47 432 432
Reassessment of Deferred Income Taxes (entire amount represents tax expense) 0.01 10 20
Cost Management Program (net of taxes of $21, $2, $2 and $17 respectively) 0.04 34 3 3 28
Like-Kind Exchange Tax Position (net of taxes of $61 and $42, respectively) 0.21 199 149
Asset Retirement Obligation (net of taxes of $13) (0.08 ) (75 ) (75 )
Curtailment of Generation Growth and Development Activities (net of taxes of $35) 0.06 57 57
Noncontrolling Interests (net of taxes of $9) 0.11 102 102
2016 Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings$2.68$2,488$524$444$289$228$1,181

Note:

Unless otherwise noted, the income tax impact of each reconciling item between GAAP Net Income and Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings is based on the marginal statutory federal and state income tax rates for each Registrant, taking into account whether the income or expense item is taxable or deductible, respectively, in whole or in part. For all items except the unrealized gains and losses related to NDT fund investments, the marginal statutory income tax rates ranged from 39.0 percent to 41.0 percent. Under IRS regulations, NDT fund investment returns are taxed at differing rates for investments in qualified vs. non-qualified funds. The tax rates applied to unrealized gains and losses related to NDT fund investments were 49.5 percent and 76.2 percent for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively; and were 47.4 percent and 48.7 percent for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Webcast Information

Exelon will discuss fourth quarter 2017 earnings in a one-hour conference call scheduled for today at 9 a.m. Central Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time). The webcast and associated materials can be accessed at www.exeloncorp.com/investor-relations.

About Exelon

Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC) is a Fortune 100 energy company with the largest number of utility customers in the U.S. Exelon does business in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Canada and had 2017 revenue of $33.5 billion. Exelon’s six utilities deliver electricity and natural gas to approximately 9 million customers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania through its Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO and Pepco subsidiaries. Exelon is one of the largest competitive U.S. power generators, with more than 35,168 megawatts of nuclear, gas, wind, solar and hydroelectric generating capacity comprising one of the nation’s cleanest and lowest-cost power generation fleets. The company’s Constellation business unit provides energy products and services to approximately 2 million residential, public sector and business customers, including more than two-thirds of the Fortune 100. Follow Exelon on Twitter @Exelon.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to net income as determined under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP), Exelon evaluates its operating performance using the measure of Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings because management believes it represents earnings directly related to the ongoing operations of the business. Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings exclude certain costs, expenses, gains and losses and other specified items. This measure is intended to enhance an investor’s overall understanding of period over period operating results and provide an indication of Exelon’s baseline operating performance excluding items that are considered by management to be not directly related to the ongoing operations of the business. In addition, this measure is among the primary indicators management uses as a basis for evaluating performance, allocating resources, setting incentive compensation targets and planning and forecasting of future periods. Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings is not a presentation defined under GAAP and may not be comparable to other companies’ presentation. The Company has provided the non-GAAP financial measure as supplemental information and in addition to the financial measures that are calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings should not be deemed more useful than, a substitute for, or an alternative to the most comparable GAAP Net Income measures provided in this earnings release and attachments. This press release and earnings release attachments provide reconciliations of adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, are posted on Exelon’s website: www.exeloncorp.com, and have been furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K on February 7, 2018.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are subject to risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made by Exelon Corporation, Exelon Generation Company, LLC, Commonwealth Edison Company, PECO Energy Company, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, Pepco Holdings LLC, Potomac Electric Power Company, Delmarva Power & Light Company, and Atlantic City Electric Company (Registrants) include those factors discussed herein, as well as the items discussed in (1) the Registrants' 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K in (a) ITEM 1A. Risk Factors, (b) ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and (c) ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: Note 24, Commitments and Contingencies; (2) the Registrants' Third Quarter 2017 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q in (a) Part II, Other Information, ITEM 1A. Risk Factors; (b) Part 1, Financial Information, ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and (c) Part I, Financial Information, ITEM 1. Financial Statements: Note 18, Commitments and Contingencies; and (3) other factors discussed in filings with the SEC by the Registrants. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release. None of the Registrants undertakes any obligation to publicly release any revision to its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

EXELON CORPORATION

GAAP Consolidated Statements of Operations and

Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings Reconciling Adjustments

(unaudited)

(in millions, except per share data)

Three Months Ended
December 31, 2017
Three Months Ended
December 31, 2016
GAAP (a)Non-GAAP AdjustmentsGAAP (a)Non-GAAP Adjustments
Operating revenues $ 8,381 $ 93 (b),(d) $ 7,875 $ 177 (b),(d)
Operating expenses
Purchased power and fuel 3,508 61 (b),(d),(g) 3,178 184 (b),(d),(g)
Operating and maintenance 2,395 (53 ) (e),(f),(g),(h),
(i),(k),(o)
2,371 107 (e),(g),(h),(l),
(m),(n)
Depreciation and amortization 1,015 (109 ) (g) 1,115 (251 ) (g)
Taxes other than income 418 2 (k) 408
Total operating expenses 7,336 7,072
Loss on sales of assets (89 ) 89 (g),(n)
Gain on deconsolidation of business 213 (213 ) (j)
Operating income 1,258 714
Other income and (deductions)
Interest expense, net (365 ) (356 )
Other, net 331 (244 ) (c),(i) 33 37 (c),(g),(n)
Total other income and (deductions) (34 ) (323 )
Income before income taxes 1,224 391
Income taxes (719 ) 1,110 (b),(c),(d),(e),
(f),(g),(h),(i),(j),(k),(o)
136 118 (b),(c),(d),(e),
(g),(h),(i),(l),
(m),(n)
Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates (6 ) (8 )
Net income 1,937 247
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and preference stock dividends 66 (40 ) (p) 43 (61 ) (p)
Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 1,871 $ 204
Effective tax rate(q)(r) (58.7 )% 34.8 %
Earnings per average common share
Basic $ 1.94 $ 0.22
Diluted $ 1.94 $ 0.22
Average common shares outstanding
Basic 964 925
Diluted 967 928
Effect of adjustments on earnings per average diluted common share recorded in accordance with GAAP:
Mark-to-market impact of economic hedging activities (b) $ 0.01 $ (0.05 )
Unrealized (gains) losses related to NDT fund investments (c) (0.12 ) 0.01
Amortization of commodity contract intangibles (d) 0.01 0.03
Merger and integration costs (e) 0.02
Long-lived asset impairments (f) 0.03
Plant retirements and divestitures (g) 0.07 0.10
Cost management program (h) 0.01 0.01
Reassessment of deferred income taxes (i) (1.30 ) 0.01
Gain on deconsolidation of business (j) (0.14 )
Vacation policy change (k) (0.03 )
Merger commitments (l) 0.04
Asset retirement obligation (m) (0.08 )
Curtailment of Generation growth and development activities (n) 0.06
Change in environmental remediation liabilities (o) 0.03
Noncontrolling interests (p) 0.04 0.07
Total adjustments $ (1.39 ) $ 0.22
(a) Results reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP).
(b) Adjustment to exclude the mark-to-market impact of Exelon’s economic hedging activities, net of intercompany eliminations.
(c) Adjustment to exclude the impact of unrealized gains and losses on NDT fund investments to the extent not offset by contractual accounting as described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
(d) Adjustment to exclude the non-cash amortization of intangible assets, net, primarily related to commodity contracts recorded at fair value related to, in 2016, the Integrys and ConEdison Solutions acquisitions, and in 2017, the ConEdison Solutions and FitzPatrick acquisitions.
(e) Adjustment to exclude certain costs associated with mergers and acquisitions, including, if and when applicable, professional fees, employee-related expenses and integration activities related to the PHI and FitzPatrick acquisitions.
(f) Adjustment to exclude charges to earnings related to the PHI 2017 impairment of the District of Columbia sponsorship intangible asset.
(g) Adjustment to exclude in 2016, incremental accelerated depreciation and amortization expenses from June 2, 2016 through December 6, 2016 pursuant to the second quarter decision to early retire the Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear generation facilities, which decision was reversed in December 2016, partially offset by the reversal of certain one-time charges for materials & supplies inventory reserves and severance reserves upon Generation’s decision to continue operating the plants with the passage of the Illinois Zero Emission Standard, and in 2017, an adjustment to exclude accelerated depreciation and amortization expenses associated with Generation’s decision to early retire the Three Mile Island nuclear facility.
(h) Adjustment to exclude severance and reorganization costs related to a cost management program.
(i) Adjustment to exclude in 2016 the non-cash impact of the remeasurement of deferred income taxes as a result of changes in forecasted apportionment related to the PHI acquisition, and in 2017, the one-time non-cash impacts associated with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (including impacts on pension obligations).
(j) Adjustment to exclude the gain recorded upon deconsolidation of EGTP's net liabilities, which included the previously impaired assets and related debt, as a result of the November 2017 bankruptcy filing.
(k) Adjustment to exclude the reversal of previously accrued vacation expenses as a result of a change in Exelon's vacation vesting policy.
(l) Adjustment to exclude costs incurred as part of the settlement orders approving the PHI acquisition and a charge related to a 2012 CEG merger commitment.
(m) Adjustment to exclude a non-cash benefit pursuant to the annual update of the Generation nuclear decommissioning obligation related to the non-regulatory units.
(n) Adjustment to exclude the one-time recognition for a loss on sale of assets and asset impairment charges pursuant to Generation’s strategic decision in the fourth quarter of 2016 to narrow the scope and scale of its growth and development activities.
(o) Represents charges to adjust the environmental reserve associated with future remediation of the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site.
(p) Adjustment to exclude the elimination from Generation’s results of the noncontrolling interests related to certain exclusion items, primarily related to the impact of unrealized gains and losses on NDT fund investments at CENG.
(q) The effective tax rate related to GAAP Net Income for the three months ended December 31, 2017 includes the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
(r) The effective tax rate related to Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings is 40.8% and 38.8% for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

EXELON CORPORATION

GAAP Consolidated Statements of Operations and

Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings Reconciling Adjustments

(unaudited)

(in millions, except per share data)

Twelve Months Ended
December 31, 2017
Twelve Months Ended
December 31, 2016
GAAP (a)Non-GAAP AdjustmentsGAAP (a)Non-GAAP Adjustments
Operating revenues $ 33,531 $ 170 (b),(d) $ 31,360 $ 545 (b),(d),(e)
Operating expenses
Purchased power and fuel 14,035 (72 ) (b),(d),(h) 12,640 395 (b),(d),(h)
Operating and maintenance 10,126 (686 ) (e),(g),(h),(i),
(j),(l),(p),(r)
10,048 (849 ) (e),(f),(g),(h),
(j),(l),(q)
Depreciation and amortization 3,828 (252 ) (d),(h) 3,936 (704 ) (e),(h)
Taxes other than income 1,731 2 (p) 1,576 (1 ) (j)
Total operating expenses 29,720 28,200
Gain (Loss) on sales of assets 3 1 (h) (48 ) 57 (h),(q)
Bargain purchase gain 233 (233 ) (n)
Gain on deconsolidation of business 213 (213 ) (o)
Operating income 4,260 3,112
Other income and (deductions)
Interest expense, net (1,560 ) 58 (g),(k),(m) (1,536 ) 153 (k)
Other, net 1,056 (638 ) (c),(i),(k) 413 (124 ) (c),(h),(k),(q)
Total other income and (deductions) (504 ) (1,123 )
Income before income taxes 3,756 1,989
Income taxes (125 ) 1,566 (b),(c),(d),(e),
(f),(g),(h),(i),
(j),(k),(l),(m),
(o),(p),(r)
761 538 (b),(c),(d),(e),
(f),(g),(h),(i),
(j),(k),(l),(q)
Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates (32 ) (24 )
Net income 3,849 1,204
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and preference stock dividends 79 (114 ) (s) 70 (102 ) (s)
Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 3,770 $ 1,134
Effective tax rate(t)(u) (3.3 )% 38.3 %
Earnings per average common share
Basic $ 3.98 $ 1.23
Diluted $ 3.97 $ 1.22
Average common shares outstanding
Basic 947 924
Diluted 949 927
Effect of adjustments on earnings per average diluted common share recorded in accordance with GAAP:
Mark-to-market impact of economic hedging activities (b) $ 0.11 $ 0.03
Unrealized gains related to NDT fund investments (c) (0.34 ) (0.13 )
Amortization of commodity contract intangibles (d) 0.04 0.04
Merger and integration costs (e) 0.04 0.12
Merger commitments (f) (0.14 ) 0.47
Long-lived asset impairments (g) 0.34 0.11
Plant retirements and divestitures (h) 0.22 0.47
Reassessment of deferred income taxes (i) (1.37 ) 0.01
Cost management program (j) 0.04 0.04
Like-kind exchange tax position (k) (0.03 ) 0.21
Asset retirement obligation (l) (0.08 )
Tax settlements (m) (0.01 )
Bargain purchase gain (n) (0.25 )
Gain on Deconsolidation of Business (o) (0.14 )
Vacation policy change (p) (0.03 )

Curtailment of generation growth and development activities (q)

0.06
Change in environmental remediation liabilities (r) 0.03
Noncontrolling interests (s) 0.12 0.11
Total adjustments $ (1.37 ) $ 1.46
As a result of the PHI acquisition completion on March 23, 2016, the table includes financial results for PHI beginning on March 24, 2016 to December 31, 2017. Therefore, the results of operations from 2017 and 2016 are not comparable for Exelon. The explanations below identify any other significant or unusual items affecting the results of operations.
(a) Results reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP).
(b) Adjustment to exclude the mark-to-market impact of Exelon’s economic hedging activities, net of intercompany eliminations.
(c) Adjustment to exclude the impact of unrealized gains on NDT fund investments to the extent not offset by contractual accounting as described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
(d) Adjustment to exclude the non-cash amortization of intangible assets, net, primarily related to commodity contracts recorded at fair value related to, in 2016, the Integrys and ConEdison Solutions acquisitions, and in 2017, the ConEdison Solutions and FitzPatrick acquisitions.
(e) Adjustment to exclude certain costs associated with mergers and acquisitions, including, if and when applicable, professional fees, employee-related expenses and integration activities related to the PHI and FitzPatrick acquisitions.
(f) Adjustment to exclude costs incurred as part of the settlement orders approving the PHI acquisition, and in 2016, a charge related to a 2012 CEG merger commitment, and in 2017, a decrease in reserves for uncertain tax positions related to the deductibility of certain merger commitments associated with the 2012 CEG and 2016 PHI acquisitions.
(g) Adjustment to exclude charges to earnings related to the impairment of upstream assets and certain wind projects at Generation in 2016, and in 2017, impairments of the ExGen Texas Power, LLC (EGTP) assets and PHI District of Columbia sponsorship intangible asset.
(h) Adjustment to exclude in 2016, accelerated depreciation and amortization expenses through December 2016 and construction work in progress impairments associated with Generation’s previous decision to early retire the Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear facilities, partially offset by a gain associated with Generation’s sale of the New Boston generating site, and in 2017, primarily reflects accelerated depreciation and amortization expenses, increases to materials and supplies inventory reserves, construction work in progress impairments and charges for severance reserves associated with Generation’s decision to early retire the Three Mile Island nuclear facility.
(i) Adjustment to exclude in 2016 the non-cash impact of the remeasurement of deferred income taxes as a result of changes in forecasted apportionment related to the PHI acquisition, and in 2017, one-time non-cash impacts associated with remeasurements of deferred income taxes as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (including impacts on pension obligations), changes in the Illinois and District of Columbia statutory tax rates and changes in forecasted apportionment.
(j) Adjustment to exclude severance and reorganization costs related to a cost management program.
(k) Adjustment to exclude in 2016 the recognition of a penalty and associated interest expense as a result of a tax court decision on Exelon’s like-kind exchange tax position, and in 2017, adjustments to income tax, penalties and interest expenses as a result of the finalization of the IRS tax computation related to Exelon’s like-kind exchange tax position.
(l) Adjustment to exclude a non-cash benefit pursuant to the annual update of the Generation nuclear decommissioning obligation related to the non-regulatory units.
(m) Adjustment to exclude benefits related to the favorable settlement in 2017 of certain income tax positions related to PHI's unregulated business interests that were transferred to Generation.
(n) Adjustment to exclude the excess of the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired over the purchase price for the FitzPatrick acquisition.
(o) Adjustment to exclude the gain recorded upon deconsolidation of EGTP's net liabilities, which included the previously impaired assets and related debt, as a result of the November 2017 bankruptcy filing.
(p) Adjustment to exclude the reversal of previously accrued vacation expenses as a result of a change in Exelon's vacation vesting policy.
(q) Adjustment to exclude the one-time recognition for a loss on sale of assets and asset impairment charges pursuant to Generation’s strategic decision in the fourth quarter of 2016 to narrow the scope and scale of its growth and development activities.
(r) Represents charges to adjust the environmental reserve associated with future remediation of the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site.
(s) Adjustment to exclude the elimination from Generation’s results of the noncontrolling interests related to certain exclusion items, primarily related to the impact of unrealized gains and losses on NDT fund investments at CENG.
(t) The effective tax rate related to GAAP Net Income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 includes the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
(u) The effective tax rate related to Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings is 36.9% and 34.4% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Contacts:

Exelon Corporation
Dan Eggers
Investor Relations
312-394-2345
or
Paul Adams
Corporate Communications
410-470-4167

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