Utah Power parent company PacifiCorp Monday reported third quarter earnings of $77 million, or 26 cents per share, matching estimates of financial analysts.
The reported earnings, up from third quarter 1998 losses of $92 million, or 31 cents per share, do not include costs related to PacifiCorp's proposed merger with British utility ScottishPower. Those costs totaled $4 million, or 1 cent per share, in this year's third quarter."We are pleased that our quarterly financial results are again in line with expectations and that we are on track to complete our merger with ScottishPower by the end of the year," Richard O'Brien, PacifiCorp executive vice president and chief operating officer, said in a prepared statement.
The planned $11 billion merger has received all necessary U.S., United Kingdom and Australian federal regulatory approvals, as well as approval from state regulators in California, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Regulators in Utah and Idaho have yet to rule on the merger, although the Idaho Public Utilities Commission was expected to announce its decision after press deadlines Monday.
PacifiCorp said its domestic electric operations contributed $62 million, or 20 cents per share, to third quarter 1999 earnings. That was an increase from domestic electric earnings of $50 million, or 17 cents per share, during the same period of 1998.
The domestic electric earnings increased despite an $85 million annual rate reduction ordered by the Utah Public Service Commission in March. That rate cut decreased the company's earnings in the third quarter by $15 million, or 5 cents per share.
PacifiCorp stock rose 50 cents to $20.94 per share in early trading Monday on the New York Stock Exchange.