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Black Hills Corp. Reaffirms 2024 Earnings Guidance and Reports 2024 Third-Quarter Results

RAPID CITY, S.D., Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2024. Net income available for common stock and earnings per share for the three and nine months ended Sept. 30, 2024, compared to the three and nine months ended Sept. 30, 2023, were:

  Three Months Ended Sept. 30,   Nine Months Ended Sept. 30,  
  2024   2023   2024   2023  
  (in millions, except per share amounts)
 
Operating Income $ 75.8   $ 97.8   $ 339.8   $ 336.2  
Net income available for common stock $ 24.4   $ 45.4   $ 175.0   $ 182.5  
Earnings per share, Diluted $ 0.35   $ 0.67   $ 2.52   $ 2.74  
                         

Earnings of $0.35 per share for the third quarter benefited from new rates, rider recovery and customer growth, which partially offset higher operating expenses, including depreciation, and the impacts of unplanned generation outages and higher interest expense. Earnings during the same period in 2023 benefited from one-time insurance proceeds and a gain on the sale of land.

Earnings of $2.52 per share year to date benefited from new rates, rider recovery and customer growth, which partially offset unfavorable weather, lower energy market pricing for off-system sales, the impacts of unplanned generation outages, higher operating expenses, including depreciation, and higher interest expense and the impact of new shares issued. Earnings during the same period in 2023 benefited from a one-time state income tax rate reduction in Nebraska, gains on the sales of land and wind assets, and insurance proceeds.

“We are on track to achieve our 2024 earnings guidance as we continue to execute on our strategy while navigating ongoing cost pressures and mild weather,” said Linn Evans, president and CEO of Black Hills Corp. “Our team made progress on our regulatory initiatives, with new natural gas utility rates effective in Arkansas and a constructive settlement reached in Iowa. We also completed our key financing activities for the year, ending the quarter at our long-term capitalization target of 55% debt.

“I’m excited about our strategic progress in delivering safe, reliable and cost-effective energy for our customers. Our 260-mile Ready Wyoming transmission project remains on track and will expand system capacity and power market access. We also continue to pursue new renewable resources in Colorado and dispatchable, baseload generation in South Dakota. For more than a decade, our innovative service model has successfully supported data center demand, and we look forward to serving Meta’s new AI data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming by 2026,” concluded Evans.

THIRD-QUARTER 2024 HIGHLIGHTS AND UPDATES

Electric Utilities

Gas Utilities

Corporate and Other

2024 EARNINGS GUIDANCE REAFFIRMED

Black Hills reaffirms its guidance issued on Feb. 7, 2024, for 2024 earnings per share available for common stock to be in the range of $3.80 to $4.00, which was based on the following assumptions:

During the first nine months of 2024, Black Hills issued equity within the forecasted range, completed the sale of production tax credits, and mitigated the financial impacts of mild weather and unplanned generation outages.

         
BLACK HILLS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RESULTS

(Minor differences may result due to rounding)

         
  Three Months Ended Sept. 30,   Nine Months Ended Sept. 30,  
  2024   2023   2024   2023  
  (in millions, except per share amount)  
Revenue $ 401.6   $ 407.1   $ 1,530.6   $ 1,739.6  
                 
Operating expenses:                
Fuel, purchased power, and cost of natural gas sold   94.5     102.2     518.2     749.8  
Operations and maintenance   145.6     125.7     420.8     412.5  
Depreciation and amortization   69.3     64.9     201.8     191.2  
Taxes – property and production   16.4     16.5     50.0     49.9  
Total operating expenses   325.8     309.3     1,190.8     1,403.4  
                 
Operating income   75.8     97.8     339.8     336.2  
                 
Interest expense, net   (45.2 )   (41.0 )   (131.9 )   (126.0 )
Other income (expense), net   (1.3 )   (0.6 )   (1.7 )   (1.5 )
Income tax benefit (expense)   (2.9 )   (7.4 )   (23.6 )   (16.0 )
Net income   26.4     48.8     182.6     192.7  
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest   (2.0 )   (3.4 )   (7.6 )   (10.2 )
Net income available for common stock $ 24.4   $ 45.4   $ 175.0   $ 182.5  
                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:          
Basic   70.5     67.3     69.2     66.7  
Diluted   70.6     67.4     69.3     66.7  
                 
Earnings per share:                
Earnings Per Share, Basic $ 0.35   $ 0.67   $ 2.53   $ 2.74  
Earnings Per Share, Diluted $ 0.35   $ 0.67   $ 2.52   $ 2.74  
                         
CONSOLIDATING INCOME STATEMENTS — THIRD QUARTER
(Minor differences may result due to rounding)
     
Three Months Ended Sept. 30, 2024 Electric Utilities   Gas Utilities   Corporate and
Other
  Total  
  (in millions)  
Revenue $ 232.5   $ 173.6   $ (4.5 ) $ 401.6  
                 
Fuel, purchased power and cost of natural gas sold   54.9     39.7     (0.1 )   94.5  
Operations and maintenance   65.1     84.8     (4.3 )   145.6  
Depreciation and amortization   38.0     31.3     0.1     69.3  
Taxes – property and production   9.4     6.9         16.4  
Operating income (loss)   65.1     10.9     (0.2 )   75.8  
                 
Interest expense, net               (45.2 )
Other income (expense), net               (1.3 )
Income tax benefit (expense)               (2.9 )
Net income               26.4  
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest               (2.0 )
Net income available for common stock             $ 24.4  
Three Months Ended Sept. 30, 2023 Electric Utilities   Gas Utilities   Corporate and
Other
  Total  
  (in millions)  
Revenue $ 237.3   $ 174.3   $ (4.5 ) $ 407.1  
                 
Fuel, purchased power and cost of natural gas sold   55.4     46.9     (0.1 )   102.2  
Operations and maintenance   53.9     75.7     (3.9 )   125.7  
Depreciation and amortization   35.8     29.0     0.1     64.9  
Taxes – property and production   9.2     7.3         16.5  
Operating income (loss)   83.0     15.4     (0.6 )   97.8  
                 
Interest expense, net               (41.0 )
Other income (expense), net               (0.6 )
Income tax benefit (expense)               (7.4 )
Net income               48.8  
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest               (3.4 )
Net income available for common stock             $ 45.4  
                   

Three Months Ended Sept. 30, 2024, Compared to the Three Months Ended Sept. 30, 2023

The variance to the prior year included the following:

CONSOLIDATING INCOME STATEMENTS — YEAR-TO-DATE  
(Minor differences may result due to rounding)  
     
Nine Months Ended Sept. 30, 2024 Electric Utilities   Gas Utilities   Corporate and
Other
  Total  
  (in millions)  
Revenue $ 659.8   $ 884.2   $ (13.4 ) $ 1,530.6  
                 
Fuel, purchased power and cost of natural gas sold   155.7     362.9     (0.4 )   518.2  
Operations and maintenance   190.5     242.6     (12.3 )   420.8  
Depreciation and amortization   108.9     92.8     0.1     201.8  
Taxes – property and production   28.7     21.3         50.0  
Operating income (loss)   176.0     164.6     (0.8 )   339.8  
                 
Interest expense, net               (131.9 )
Other income (expense), net               (1.7 )
Income tax benefit (expense)               (23.6 )
Net income               182.6  
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest               (7.6 )
Net income available for common stock             $ 175.0  
Nine Months Ended Sept. 30, 2023 Electric Utilities   Gas Utilities   Corporate and
Other
  Total  
  (in millions)  
Revenue $ 649.1   $ 1,103.9   $ (13.4 ) $ 1,739.6  
                 
Fuel, purchased power and cost of natural gas sold   147.2     602.9     (0.3 )   749.8  
Operations and maintenance   176.8     246.8     (11.1 )   412.5  
Depreciation and amortization   106.7     84.4     0.1     191.2  
Taxes – property and production   27.7     22.1     0.1     49.9  
Operating income (loss)   190.7     147.7     (2.2 )   336.2  
                 
Interest expense, net               (126.0 )
Other income (expense), net               (1.5 )
Income tax benefit (expense)               (16.0 )
Net income               192.7  
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest               (10.2 )
Net income available for common stock             $ 182.5  
                   

Nine Months Ended Sept. 30, 2024, Compared to the Nine Months Ended Sept. 30, 2023

The variance to the prior year included the following:

OPERATING STATISTICS

Electric Utilities

  Revenue (in millions)   Quantities Sold (GWh)  
  Three Months
Ended Sept. 30,
  Nine Months
Ended Sept. 30,
  Three Months
Ended Sept. 30,
  Nine Months
Ended Sept. 30,
 
By customer class 2024   2023   2024   2023   2024   2023   2024   2023  
Residential $ 66.1   $ 63.1   $ 179.4   $ 170.3     411.1     393.9     1,123.4     1,090.6  
Commercial   71.3     69.5     202.6     195.1     571.9     567.1     1,590.6     1,576.1  
Industrial   42.0     43.0     128.4     116.4     531.5     553.5     1,643.4     1,511.6  
Municipal   4.4     4.7     12.8     13.2     41.4     42.7     111.7     116.1  
Subtotal Retail Revenue – Electric   183.8     180.3     523.2     495.0     1,555.9     1,557.2     4,469.1     4,294.4  
Contract Wholesale   3.8     6.8     13.2     15.4     99.4     140.6     385.0     403.7  
Off-system/Power Marketing Wholesale (a)   7.4     9.6     14.8     31.7     227.0     138.4     506.8     518.5  
Other (b)   25.6     25.0     75.2     69.1                  
Total Regulated   220.6     221.7     626.4     611.2     1,882.3     1,836.2     5,360.9     5,216.6  
Non-Regulated (c)   11.9     15.6     33.4     37.9     25.0     25.4     74.2     102.6  
Total Revenue and Quantities Sold $ 232.5   $ 237.3   $ 659.8   $ 649.1     1,907.3     1,861.6     5,435.1     5,319.2  
Other Uses, Losses, or Generation, net (d)                   110.7     97.7     237.5     345.6  
Total Energy                   2,018.0     1,959.3     5,672.6     5,664.8  

________________

(a)  Off-system/Power Marketing Wholesale revenues decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to lower excess capacity and lower commodity prices.
(b)  Primarily related to transmission revenues from the Common Use System.
(c)  Includes Integrated Generation and non-regulated services to our retail customers under the Service Guard Comfort Plan and Tech Services.
(d)  Includes company uses and line losses.
   
  Revenue (in millions)   Quantities Sold (GWh)
  Three Months
Ended Sept. 30,
  Nine Months
Ended Sept. 30,
  Three Months
Ended Sept. 30,
  Nine Months
Ended Sept. 30,
By business unit 2024   2023   2024   2023   2024   2023   2024   2023
Colorado Electric $ 74.9   $ 80.8   $ 208.7   $ 216.9     675.4     653.2     1,816.8     1,794.5
South Dakota Electric   86.0     83.0     242.5     240.6     669.8     622.7     1,882.3     1,876.7
Wyoming Electric   60.3     58.4     176.7     155.0     537.1     560.3     1,661.8     1,545.4
Integrated Generation   11.3     15.1     31.9     36.6     25.0     25.4     74.2     102.6
Total Revenue and Quantities Sold $ 232.5   $ 237.3   $ 659.8   $ 649.1     1,907.3     1,861.6     5,435.1     5,319.2
  Three Months Ended Sept. 30, Nine Months Ended Sept. 30,
  2024 2023 2024 2023
Degree Days Actual Variance
from
Normal
Actual Variance
from
Normal
Actual Variance
from
Normal
Actual Variance
from
Normal
Heating Degree Days:                
Colorado Electric 19 (57)% 26 (42)% 3,050 (8)% 3,365 5%
South Dakota Electric 48 (71)% 140 (15)% 4,080 (12)% 4,621 2%
Wyoming Electric 109 (35)% 152 (12)% 4,135 (8)% 4,534 4%
Combined (a) 47 (58)% 91 (19)% 3,624 (10)% 4,031 4%
                 
Cooling Degree Days:                
Colorado Electric 904 5% 909 6% 1,247 10% 1,040 (10)%
South Dakota Electric 789 57% 460 (11)% 903 48% 496 (21)%
Wyoming Electric 368 (6)% 315 (20)% 486 6% 329 (30)%
Combined (a) 756 17% 635 (2)% 975 19% 710 (15)%

________________

(a) Degree days are calculated based on a weighted average of total customers by state.
   

 

  Three Months Ended Sept. 30,
Nine Months Ended Sept. 30,
Contracted generating facilities Availability(a)by fuel type 2024 2023 2024 2023
Coal (b) 90.7% 96.3% 87.3% 93.7%
Natural gas and diesel oil (b) 98.0% 94.2% 95.4% 94.0%
Wind 92.3% 93.4% 91.6% 93.4%
Total Availability 95.1% 94.7% 92.5% 93.8%
         
Wind Capacity Factor (a) 32.0% 31.3% 36.2% 37.9%

________________

(a) Availability and Wind Capacity Factor are calculated using a weighted average based on capacity of our generating fleet.
(b) 2024 included unplanned outages at Wygen I and Colorado IPP.
   

OPERATING STATISTICS (continued)

Gas Utilities

  Revenue
(in millions)
  Quantities Sold and Transported
(Dth in millions)
 
  Three Months
Ended Sept. 30,
  Nine Months
Ended Sept. 30,
  Three Months
Ended Sept. 30,
  Nine Months
Ended Sept. 30,
 
By customer class 2024   2023   2024   2023   2024   2023   2024   2023  
Residential $ 76.3   $ 75.1   $ 481.9   $ 620.3     3.5     3.5     38.2     41.1  
Commercial   27.5     28.6     185.8     255.4     2.4     2.4     19.3     20.5  
Industrial   7.6     9.9     18.5     26.2     2.4     2.1     5.1     4.5  
Other   2.6     3.1     8.0     7.3                  
Total Distribution (a)   114.0     116.7     694.2     909.2     8.3     8.0     62.6     66.1  
Transportation and Transmission   43.3     42.8     131.4     131.8     35.8     36.8     117.0     118.2  
Total Regulated   157.3     159.5     825.6     1,041.0     44.1     44.8     179.6     184.3  
Non-regulated Services (b)   16.3     14.8     58.6     62.9                  
Total Revenue and Quantities Sold $ 173.6   $ 174.3   $ 884.2   $ 1,103.9     44.1     44.8     179.6     184.3  

________________

(a) Gas distribution revenues decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to lower commodity prices. Our Utilities have regulatory mechanisms that allow them to pass prudently incurred costs of energy through to the customer. Customer billing rates are adjusted periodically to reflect changes in our cost of energy.
(b) Includes Black Hills Energy Services and non-regulated services under the Service Guard Comfort Plan, Tech Services, and HomeServe.
  Revenue
(in millions)
  Quantities Sold and Transported
(Dth in millions)
 
  Three Months
Ended Sept. 30,
  Nine Months
Ended Sept. 30,
  Three Months
Ended Sept. 30,
  Nine Months
Ended Sept. 30,
 
By business unit 2024   2023   2024   2023   2024   2023   2024   2023  
Arkansas Gas $ 25.4   $ 27.2   $ 167.2   $ 189.0     4.5     4.3     21.5     21.0  
Colorado Gas   31.5     31.5     191.5     227.9     3.3     3.6     21.3     23.3  
Iowa Gas   21.0     18.7     110.4     168.1     5.8     5.8     26.4     27.2  
Kansas Gas   19.6     22.8     90.8     118.5     8.5     9.1     26.1     27.4  
Nebraska Gas   54.2     55.3     218.9     277.9     16.5     17.0     58.1     59.8  
Wyoming Gas   21.9     18.8     105.4     122.5     5.5     5.0     26.2     25.6  
Total Revenue and Quantities Sold $ 173.6   $ 174.3   $ 884.2   $ 1,103.9     44.1     44.8     179.6     184.3  
                                                 
  Three Months Ended Sept. 30, Nine Months Ended Sept. 30,
  2024 2023 2024 2023
Heating Degree Days Actual Variance
from Normal
Actual Variance
from Normal
Actual Variance
from Normal
Actual Variance
from Normal
Arkansas Gas (a) 9 (40)% (100)% 1,925 (18)% 1,944 (18)%
Colorado Gas 80 (29)% 91 (22)% 3,613 (5)% 4,078 7%
Iowa Gas 45 (47)% 37 (59)% 3,450 (19)% 3,867 (10)%
Kansas Gas (a) 19 (26)% 6 (78)% 2,576 (11)% 2,749 6%
Nebraska Gas 22 (65)% 21 (67)% 3,281 (12)% 3,591 (5)%
Wyoming Gas 132 (37)% 180 5% 4,384 (6)% 4,953 14%
Combined (b) 50 (43)% 56 (35)% 3,502 (11)% 3,926 1%

________________

(a) Arkansas Gas and Kansas Gas have weather normalization mechanisms that mitigate the weather impact on gross margins.
(b) The combined heating degree days are calculated based on a weighted average of total customers by state excluding Kansas Gas due to its weather normalization mechanism. Arkansas Gas is partially excluded based on the weather normalization mechanism in effect from November through April.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

Black Hills will host a live conference call and webcast at 11 a.m. EST on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, to discuss its financial and operating performance.

To access the live webcast and download a copy of the investor presentation, go to the “Investor Relations” section of the Black Hills website at www.blackhillscorp.com and click on “News and Events” and then “Events & Presentation.” The presentation will be posted on the website before the webcast. Listeners should allow at least five minutes for registering and accessing the presentation. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available on the company’s website.

To ask a question during the live broadcast, users can access dial-in information and a personal identification number by registering for the event at https://register.vevent.com/register/BI9ac113e7b8ef4295bbbb150c1d14c3ac.

A listen-only webcast player and presentation slides can be accessed live at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/gncgbawz with a replay of the event available for up to one year.

EEI FINANCIAL CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Leadership from Black Hills will be attending the 2024 Edison Electric Institute Financial Conference taking place from Nov. 10, 2024, through Nov. 12, 2024. An investor presentation will be available prior to the conference on Black Hills’ website at www.blackhillscorp.com under “Events and Presentations” in the “Investor Relations” section.

ABOUT BLACK HILLS CORP.

Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer-focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves 1.34 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com, www.blackhillscorp.com/corporateresponsibility and www.blackhillsenergy.com.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. This includes, without limitations, our 2024 earnings guidance. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions which we believe are reasonable based on current expectations and projections about future events and industry conditions and trends affecting our business. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that, among other things, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation, the risk factors described in Item 1A of Part I of our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports that we file with the SEC from time to time, and the following:

New factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements emerge from time-to-time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors, or the extent to which any such factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We assume no obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Relations:  
Sal Diaz  
Phone 605-399-5079
Email investorrelations@blackhillscorp.com
   
Media Contact:  
24-hour Media Assistance 888-242-3969
   


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