Edgar Filing: PUGET ENERGY INC /WA

2nd Quarter Earnings Release

UNITED STATES

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): August 3, 2006

	Exact name of registrant as specified	I.R.S.
	in its charter, state of incorporation,	Employer
Commission	address of principal executive offices,	Identification
File Number	Telephone	Number

1-16305	PUGET ENERGY, INC.	91-1969407
	A Washington Corporation
	10885 - N.E. 4th Street, Suite 1200
	Bellevue, Washington 98004-5591
	(425) 454-6363

1-4393	PUGET SOUND ENERGY, INC.	91-0374630
	A Washington Corporation
	10885 - N.E. 4th Street, Suite 1200
	Bellevue, Washington 98004-5591
	(425) 454-6363

___________

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8−K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a−12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a−12)
o	Pre−commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d−2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d−2(b))
o	Pre−commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e−4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e−4(c))

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On August 3, 2006, the Company issued the following press release.

Puget Energy Reports Second Quarter 2006 Earnings

Solid Results from PSE Utility Operations and Gain from InfrastruX Sale

·	Reports income of 46 cents per diluted share including 28 cents from InfrastruX Group (InfrastruX) discontinued operations
·	Reports income of 26 cents per diluted share from Puget Sound Energy (PSE), Puget Energy’s core utility business
·	Reaffirms full-year 2006 earnings guidance of $1.40 to $1.55 per share from PSE

BELLEVUE, Wash. (Aug. 3, 2006) — Puget Energy (NYSE: PSD), the parent of Puget Sound Energy (PSE), which serves more than 1 million electric and 700,000 natural gas customers in Washington state, today reported net income of $53.5 million, or 46 cents per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2006 compared to $13.9 million or 14 cents per diluted share in the second quarter of 2005.

“Puget Energy had a strong second quarter,” said Stephen P. Reynolds, chairman, president and CEO of Puget Energy and PSE. “Solid utility operations combined with the completed sale of InfrastruX enabled the company to invest in our core utility business. We continue to execute on our financial and operational goals, including remaining on schedule with the construction of our 230-megawatt Wild Horse wind facility for a year-end in-service date.”

Puget Energy’s second quarter 2006 results from discontinued operations reflect $33 million, or 28 cents per diluted share, from the company’s former utility construction services subsidiary, InfrastruX Group (InfrastruX). Puget Energy sold InfrastruX to Tenaska Power Fund in an all-cash transaction on May 7, 2006.

Puget Energy’s earnings from continuing operations reflect the after-tax impact of establishing the Puget Sound Energy Foundation, which as announced on July 24 was funded with $15 million of the InfrastruX sales proceeds. None of the funds required to create or administer the Puget Sound Energy Foundation will come from PSE’s utility customers.

Net income from Puget Energy's regulated electric and gas utility subsidiary, PSE, was $30.1 million, or 26 cents per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2006, compared to $12.2 million, or 12 cents per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2005. PSE's second quarter 2006 financial results reflect higher energy margins as a result of increased retail sales volumes and favorable hydroelectric conditions.

Table 1: Puget Energy reported earnings
	Second Quarter
Net Income (Loss) in millions of dollars	2006			2005
Continuing Operations - PSE	$	30.1		$	12.2
Continuing Operations - Charitable Foundation Funding		(9.8	)		--
Continuing Operations - Other		0.2			(0.2	)
Continuing Operations		20.5			12.0
Discontinued Operations (InfrastruX)		33.0			1.9
Puget Energy	$	53.5		$	13.9

Earnings per Fully Diluted Share
Continuing Operations - PSE	$	0.26		$	0.12
Continuing Operations - Charitable Foundation Funding		(0.08	)		--
Continuing Operations		0.18			0.12
Discontinued Operations (InfrastruX)		0.28			0.02
Puget Energy	$	0.46		$	0.14

Fully diluted common shares outstanding (millions)		116.4			100.7

Table 2: Second quarter 2006 vs. second quarter 2005 EPS reconciliation for Continuing Operations	Cents per diluted share
Puget Energy’s 2005 earnings from PSE	$	0.12
Increase in electric margin		0.14
Increase in gas margin		0.04
Increase in depreciation and amortization expense		(0.03	)
Increase in other items, net		0.03
Impact of dilution from higher common shares outstanding		(0.04	)
Puget Energy 2006 earnings from PSE	$	0.26
Charitable foundation establishment and funding		(0.08	)
Puget Energy's 2006 earnings from continuing operations	$	0.18

Puget Energy 2006 Outlook:

Puget Energy reaffirms its full-year 2006 guidance from PSE to be between $1.40 to $1.55 per diluted share, unchanged from the company’s previously disclosed estimates.

PSE Second Quarter 2006 Highlights:

Key components of PSE’s second quarter financial performance are highlighted below. All items are pre-tax unless otherwise noted.

·	PSE’s second quarter 2006 net income increased by $17.9 million to $30.1 million from $12.2 million in the second quarter 2005.

·	As of June 30, 2006, PSE provided service to 1,023,800 electric customers and 702,500 natural gas customers in Washington, representing a 1.3 percent and 3.0 percent increase, respectively, in the last 12 months.

·	PSE's retail sales volumes of electricity and natural gas increased in the second quarter as compared to the same period a year ago by 3.4 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively.

PSE’s electric margin increased by $25.8 million in the second quarter of 2006, primarily due to favorable hydroelectric conditions and an increase in retail sales volumes. PSE’s electric margin represents electric sales, net of revenue based taxes, to retail and transportation customers less the cost of generating, purchasing and wheeling electricity.

PSE’s natural gas margin increased by $7.2 million in the second quarter of 2006. PSE's second quarter 2005 gas margin was adversely impacted by a one-time true-up of previously reported gas costs resulting in a $5 million decrease in gas margin and a $3.3 million after-tax charge to net income. Gas margin represents natural gas sales to retail and transportation customers, net of revenue based taxes, less the cost of purchasing and transporting natural gas.

PSE’s depreciation and amortization expense increased by $4.9 million in the second quarter of 2006 due to additional utility plants placed in service during the last twelve months, including $2.2 million related to the 150-megawatt Hopkins Ridge wind-powered electric generating facility in Columbia County, Wash. that became operational in November 2005.

The average number of Puget Energy fully diluted common shares outstanding in the second quarter 2006 increased to 116.4 million compared to 100.7 million during the same period in 2005. The increase was primarily the result of a secondary offering of 15 million shares completed in November 2005. The impact of dilution as a result of the higher shares outstanding resulted in an earnings per share reduction of 4 cents per share in the second quarter 2006.

Conference Call:

Puget Energy will provide additional information regarding its second quarter 2006 results during a conference call for analysts scheduled at 10 a.m. ET (7 a.m. PT) on Friday, Aug. 4, 2006. The call will be broadcast live through a Webcast at www.pugetenergy.com. The Webcast will be archived and available for replay following the call. A tape-recorded replay of the call will be available two hours after completion of the conference call through midnight (ET) on Aug. 18, 2006 by dialing 1-888-286-8010 and entering the conference identification number of 58400549.

Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the Second Quarter of 2006

Puget Energy today filed its Form 10-Q for the second quarter 2006 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a copy of which will be available through the SEC’s Web site at www.sec.gov or the company’s Web site at www.pugetenergy.com. Investors are encouraged to read the financial statements and disclosures that will be contained in the Form 10-Q filing.

About Puget Energy

Puget Energy (NYSE:PSD) is the parent company of Puget Sound Energy (PSE), a regulated utility, providing electric and natural gas service to the growing Puget Sound region of western Washington.

About Puget Sound Energy

The state’s oldest and largest energy utility, with a 6,000-square-mile service area stretching across 11 counties, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) serves more than 1 million electric customers and 700,000 natural gas customers in western Washington. PSE meets the energy needs of its growing customer base through incremental, cost-effective energy efficiency, low-cost procurement of sustainable energy resources, and prudent investment in the energy-delivery infrastructure.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Certain statements contained in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, among which include Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE’s) plans relating to utility plant additions and expenses, and factors that could impact Puget Energy’s earnings guidance for the year-end 2006. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the time the statements are made and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect actual results include, among others, governmental policies and regulatory actions, including those of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, and weather conditions. More information about these and other factors that potentially could affect the company’s financial results is included in Puget Energy’s and PSE's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q and in their other public filings filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Puget Energy and PSE undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

PUGET ENERGY -- SUMMARY INCOME STATEMENT
(In thousands, except per-share amounts)
	Unaudited						Unaudited
	Three months ended 6/30¹						Six months ended 6/30¹
	2006			2005			2006			2005

Operating revenues
Electric	$	380,980		$	345,420		$	848,403		$	765,511
Gas		192,457			162,567			599,044			483,695
Other		787			2,127			4,510			2,561
Total operating revenues		574,224			510,114			1,451,957			1,251,767
Operating expenses
Purchased electricity		187,945			178,943			440,070			387,122
Electric generation fuel		14,292			12,894			35,876			33,342
Residential exchange		(38,670	)		(37,105	)		(95,303	)		(92,151	)
Purchased gas		118,362			98,142			385,041			299,887
Unrealized net (gain) on derivative instruments		(150	)		(591	)		825			(82	)
Utility operations & maintenance		83,598			83,132			170,961			158,654
Other operations & maintenance		689			558			1,544			1,299
Depreciation & amortization		64,545			59,657			128,429			117,734
Conservation amortization		7,462			5,951			15,510			11,113
Taxes other than income taxes		54,178			50,521			133,910			120,221
Income taxes		15,433			6,093			55,778			52,175
Total operating expenses		507,684			458,195			1,272,641			1,089,314
Operating income		66,540			51,919			179,316			162,453
Other income (deductions):
Charitable foundation funding		(15,000	)		--			(15,000	)		--
Other income		5,916			1,890			8,240			3,721
Income taxes		4,532			(292	)		4,547			(959	)
Interest Charges:
AFUDC		3,027			2,041			5,049			3,503
Interest expense		(44,417	)		(43,568	)		(87,959	)		(84,611	)
Mandatorily redeemable securities interest expense		(23	)		(23	)		(45	)		(45	)
Net income from continuing operations³		20,575			11,967			94,148			84,062
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		32,954			1,928			51,901			909
Net income before cumulative effect of
accounting change		53,529			13,895			146,049			84,971
Cumulative effect of accounting change		--			--			(89	)		--
Net Income	$	53,529		$	13,895		$	146,138		$	84,971
Common shares outstanding		115,907			100,157			115,817			100,058
Diluted shares outstanding		116,405			100,690			116,266			100,590
Basic earnings per common share before cumulative effect
of accounting change from continuing operations	$	0.18		$	0.12		$	0.81		$	0.84
Basic earnings from discontinued operations		0.28			0.02			0.45			0.01
Cumulative effect from accounting change		--			--			--			--
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.46		$	0.14		$	1.26		$	0.85

Diluted earnings per common share before cumulative effect
of accounting change from continuing operations³	$	0.18		$	0.12		$	0.81		$	0.83
Diluted earnings from discontinued operations		0.28			0.02			0.45			0.01
Cumulative effect from accounting change		--			--			--			--
Diluted earnings per common share²	$	0.46		$	0.14		$	1.26		$	0.84

¹	Partial-year results may not accurately predict full-year performance, as earnings are significantly affected by weather.
²	Diluted earnings per common share include the dilutive effect of securities related to employee compensation plans.
³	Net Income from Continuing Operations was $30,325, or $.26 per diluted earnings per common share, in the second quarter of 2006 excluding the impact of Puget Energy charitable foundation funding of $15 million ($9.75 million net of taxes).

PUGET SOUND ENERGY -- UTILITY OPERATING DATA
	Three months ended 6/30						Six months ended 6/30
	2006			2005			2006			2005
*Energy sales revenues* ($ in thousands; unaudited)
Electricity
Residential	$	167,174		$	152,959		$	409,108		$	364,799
Commercial		159,489			150,043			342,252			307,935
Industrial		24,189			23,156			50,466			45,235
Other retail sales, including change in unbilled		(5,639	)		(9,627	)		(21,404	)		(14,394	)
Subtotal, retail sales		345,213			316,531			780,422			703,575
Transportation, including change in unbilled		2,664			2,419			5,375			5,087
Sales to other utilities & marketers		16,751			16,870			32,554			33,191
Other¹		16,352			9,600			30,052			23,658
Total electricity sales		380,980			345,420			848,403			765,511
Gas
Residential		110,016			94,744			375,108			303,400
Commercial		62,416			50,378			179,224			141,626
Industrial		12,589			10,033			29,403			23,026
Subtotal, retail sales		185,021			155,155			583,735			468,052
Transportation		3,100			3,215			6,714			6,612
Other		4,336			4,197			8,595			9,031
Total gas sales		192,457			162,567			599,044			483,695
Total energy sales revenues	$	573,437		$	507,987		$	1,447,447		$	1,249,206
*Energy sales volumes* (unaudited)
Electricity (in mWh)
Residential		2,374,816			2,277,739			5,802,784			5,558,632
Commercial		2,121,333			2,082,005			4,460,808			4,263,613
Industrial		338,371			337,971			684,194			662,140
Other, including change in unbilled		(105,919	)		(124,652	)		(342,223	)		(280,994	)
Subtotal, retail sales		4,728,601			4,573,063			10,605,563			10,203,391
Transportation, including change in unbilled		525,991			477,906			1,052,411			999,931
Sales to other utilities & marketers		786,058			447,150			1,105,965			792,934
Total mWh		6,040,650			5,498,119			12,763,939			11,996,256
Gas (in 000's of therms)
Residential		82,812			79,991			298,489			279,042
Commercial		54,968			51,220			160,717			146,461
Industrial		11,938			10,934			27,567			24,845
Transportation		50,630			48,438			105,458			101,563
Total gas volumes		200,348			190,583			592,231			551,911
*Margins²($ in thousands; unaudited)*
Electric	$	177,041		$	151,269		$	382,942		$	352,788
Gas		52,789			45,561			153,096			133,178
*Weather* (unaudited)
Actual heating degree days		779			788			2,546			2,599
Normal heating degree days³		888			888			2,830			2,830
*Customers served at June 30⁴(unaudited)*
Electricity
Residential		908,629			892,719
Commercial		109,048			111,937
Industrial		3,586			3,910
Other		2,549			2,436
Transportation		17			17
Total electricity customers		1,023,829			1,011,019
Gas
Residential		648,542			628,782
Commercial		51,233			50,644
Industrial		2,629			2,687
Transportation		121			130
Total gas customers		702,525			682,243

¹	Includes sales of non-core gas supplies.
²	Electric margin is electric sales to retail and transportation customers less the cost of generating and purchasing electric energy sold to customers, including transmission costs, to bring elecric energy to PSE's service territory. Gas margin is gas sales to retail and transportation customers less the cost of gas purchased, including gas transportation costs, to bring gas to PSE's service territory.
³	Seattle-Tacoma Airport statistics reported by NOAA which are based on a 30-year average, 1971-2000. Heating degree days measure how far the daily average temperature falls below 65 degrees.
⁴	Customers represents average served at month end.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	PUGET ENERGY, INC.

	PUGET SOUND ENERGY, INC.

	By: /s/ Bertrand A. Valdman
Dated: August 3, 2006	Bertrand A. Valdman Senior Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer