|
|
June
2, 2004
FPL Energy completes sale of Texas generating facility
JUNO BEACH, Fla. -- FPL
Energy, LLC, the wholesale generating subsidiary of FPL Group Inc.
(NYSE: FPL), today announced that FPL Energy affiliates have successfully
completed the sale of their entire ownership interest in the Bastrop
Energy Center (BEC) to Centrica. The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Act has been terminated.
BEC is a 540-megawatt combined cycle power
plant located in Bastrop County, Texas, and has been in operation
since May 2002.
“We are pleased to complete the sale
of our ownership interest in the Bastrop Energy Center,” said
Jim Robo, president of FPL Energy. “We continue to own and
operate an attractive portfolio of natural gas-fired generating
assets in North Texas near the fast growing Dallas market and more
than 600 net megawatts of wind generation in West Texas and are
excited about their long-term potential.”
A FPL Energy affiliate will provide Centrica
transition services and ongoing major maintenance support for three
years under a services contract.
FPL Energy is a leading wholesale
generator of clean energy, including natural gas, wind, solar,
hydroelectric and nuclear. It is a subsidiary of FPL Group (NYSE:FPL),
one of the nation’s largest providers of electricity-related services
with annual revenues of more than $9 billion. FPL Group’s
principal subsidiary is Florida Power & Light Company, one
of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving more
than 4.2 million customer accounts in Florida. Additional information
is available on the Internet at www.FPLEnergy.com, www.FPLGroup.com and www.FPL.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS AND RISK FACTORS
THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS
In connection with the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
(Reform Act), FPL Group, Inc. (FPL Group) and Florida Power & Light
Company (FPL) are hereby filing cautionary statements identifying
important factors that could cause FPL Group's or FPL's actual
results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking
statements (as such term is defined in the Reform Act) made by
or on behalf of FPL Group and FPL in this press release, in response
to questions or otherwise. Any statements that express, or involve
discussions as to expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions
or future events or performance (often, but not always, through
the use of words or phrases such as will likely result, are expected
to, will continue, is anticipated, believe, could, estimated, may,
plan, potential, projection, target, outlook) are not statements
of historical facts and may be forward-looking. Forward-looking
statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties. Accordingly,
any such statements are qualified
in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the
following important factors (in addition to any assumptions and
other factors referred to specifically in connection with such
forward-looking statements) that could cause FPL Group's or FPL's
actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking
statements made by or on behalf of FPL Group and FPL.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only
as of the date on which such statement is made, and FPL Group and
FPL undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement
to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such
statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible
for management to predict all of such factors, nor can it assess
the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to
which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results
to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statement.
The following are some important factors
that could have a significant impact on FPL Group's and FPL's operations
and financial results, and could cause FPL Group's and FPL's actual
results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in
the forward-looking statements:
- FPL Group and FPL are subject to changes
in laws or regulations, including the Public Utility Regulatory
Policies Act of 1978, as amended (PURPA), and the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (Holding Company Act),
changing governmental policies and regulatory actions, including
those of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the
Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) and the utility commissions
of other states in which FPL Group has operations, and the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), with respect to, among other
things, allowed rates of return, industry and rate structure,
operation of nuclear power facilities, operation and construction
of plant facilities, operation and construction of transmission
facilities, acquisition, disposal, depreciation and amortization
of assets and facilities, recovery of fuel and purchased power
costs, decommissioning costs, return on common equity and equity
ratio limits, and present or prospective wholesale and retail
competition (including but not limited to retail wheeling and
transmission costs). The FPSC has the authority to disallow recovery
by FPL of costs that it considers excessive or imprudently incurred.
- The regulatory process generally restricts
FPL's ability to grow earnings and does not provide any assurance
as to achievement of earnings levels.
- FPL Group and FPL are subject to extensive
federal, state and local environmental statutes, rules and regulations
relating to air quality, water quality, waste management, wildlife
mortality, natural resources and health and safety that could,
among other things, restrict or limit the output of certain facilities
or the use of certain fuels required for the production of electricity
and/or increase costs. There are significant capital, operating
and other costs associated with compliance with these environmental
statutes, rules and regulations, and those costs could be even
more significant in the future.
- FPL Group and FPL operate in a changing
market environment influenced by various legislative and regulatory
initiatives regarding deregulation, regulation or restructuring
of the energy industry, including deregulation of the production
and sale of electricity. FPL Group and its subsidiaries will
need to adapt to these changes and may face increasing competitive
pressure.
- FPL Group's and FPL's results of operations
could be affected by their ability to renegotiate franchise agreements
with municipalities and counties in Florida.
- The operation of power generation facilities
involves many risks, including start up risks, breakdown or failure
of equipment, transmission lines or pipelines, use of new technology,
the dependence on a specific fuel source or the impact of unusual
or adverse weather conditions (including natural disasters such
as hurricanes), as well as the risk of performance below expected
levels of output or efficiency. This could result in lost revenues
and/or increased expenses. Insurance, warranties or performance
guarantees may not cover any or all of the lost revenues or increased
expenses, including the cost of replacement power. In addition
to these risks, FPL Group's and FPL's nuclear units face certain
risks that are unique to the nuclear industry including the ability
to dispose of spent nuclear fuel, as well as additional regulatory
actions up to and including shutdown of the units stemming from
public safety concerns, whether at FPL Group's and FPL's plants,
or at the plants of other nuclear operators. Breakdown or failure
of an FPL Energy, LLC (FPL Energy) operating facility may prevent
the facility from performing under applicable power sales agreements
which, in certain situations, could result in termination of
the agreement or incurring a liability for liquidated damages.
- FPL Group's and FPL's ability to successfully
and timely complete their power generation facilities currently
under construction, those projects yet to begin construction
or capital improvements to existing facilities is contingent
upon many variables and subject to substantial risks. Should
any such efforts be unsuccessful, FPL Group and FPL could be
subject to additional costs, termination payments under committed
contracts, and/or the write-off of their investment in the project
or improvement.
- FPL Group and FPL use derivative instruments,
such as swaps, options, futures and forwards to manage their
commodity and financial market risks, and to a lesser extent,
engage in limited trading activities. FPL Group could recognize
financial losses as a result of volatility in the market values
of these contracts, or if a counterparty fails to perform. In
the absence of actively quoted market prices and pricing information
from external sources, the valuation of these derivative instruments
involves management's judgment or use of estimates. As a result,
changes in the underlying assumptions or use of alternative valuation
methods could affect the reported fair value of these contracts.
In addition, FPL's use of such instruments could be subject to
prudency challenges and if found imprudent, cost recovery could
be disallowed by the FPSC.
- There are other risks associated with
FPL Group's non-rate regulated businesses, particularly FPL Energy.
In addition to risks discussed elsewhere, risk factors specifically
affecting FPL Energy's success in competitive wholesale markets
include the ability to efficiently develop and operate generating
assets, the successful and timely completion of project restructuring
activities, maintenance of the qualifying facility status of
certain projects, the price and supply of fuel, transmission
constraints, competition from new sources of generation, excess
generation capacity and demand for power. There can be significant
volatility in market prices for fuel and electricity, and there
are other financial, counterparty and market risks that are beyond
the control of FPL Energy. FPL Energy's inability or failure
to effectively hedge its assets or positions against changes
in commodity prices, interest rates, counterparty credit risk
or other risk measures could significantly impair its future
financial results. In keeping with industry trends, a portion
of FPL Energy's power generation facilities operate wholly or
partially without long-term power purchase agreements. As a result,
power from these facilities is sold on the spot market or on
a short-term contractual basis, which may affect the volatility
of FPL Group's financial results. In addition, FPL Energy's business
depends upon transmission facilities owned and operated by others;
if transmission is disrupted or capacity is inadequate or unavailable,
FPL Energy's ability to sell and deliver its wholesale power
may be limited.
- FPL Group is likely to encounter significant
competition for acquisition opportunities that may become available
as a result of the consolidation of the power industry. In addition,
FPL Group may be unable to identify attractive acquisition opportunities
at favorable prices and to successfully and timely complete and
integrate them.
- FPL Group and FPL rely on access to capital
markets as a significant source of liquidity for capital requirements
not satisfied by operating cash flows. The inability of FPL Group
and FPL to maintain their current credit ratings could affect
their ability to raise capital on favorable terms, particularly
during times of uncertainty in the capital markets which, in
turn, could impact FPL Group's and FPL's ability to grow their
businesses and would likely increase interest costs.
- FPL Group's and FPL's results of operations
can be affected by changes in the weather. Weather conditions
directly influence the demand for electricity and natural gas
and affect the price of energy commodities, and can affect the
production of electricity at wind and hydro-powered facilities.
In addition, severe weather can be destructive, causing outages
and/or property damage, which could require additional costs
to be incurred.
- FPL Group and FPL are subject to costs
and other effects of legal and administrative proceedings, settlements,
investigations and claims, as well as the effect of new, or changes
in, tax rates or policies, rates of inflation, accounting standards,
securities laws or corporate governance requirements.
- FPL Group and FPL are subject to direct
and indirect effects of terrorist threats and activities. Generation
and transmission facilities, in general, have been identified
as potential targets. The effects of terrorist threats and activities
include, among other things, terrorist actions or responses to
such actions or threats, the inability to generate, purchase
or transmit power, the risk of a significant slowdown in growth
or a decline in the U.S. economy, delay in economic recovery
in the United States, and the increased cost and adequacy of
security and insurance.
- FPL Group's and FPL's ability to obtain
insurance, and the cost of and coverage provided by such insurance,
could be affected by national events as well as company-specific
events.
- FPL Group and FPL are subject to employee
workforce factors, including loss or retirement of key executives,
availability of qualified personnel, collective bargaining agreements
with union employees or work stoppage.
The issues and associated risks and uncertainties
described above are not the only ones FPL Group and FPL may face.
Additional issues may arise or become material as the energy industry
evolves. The risks and uncertainties associated with these additional
issues could impair FPL Group's and FPL's businesses in the future.
|