Alliant Energy (LNT) Q2 2025 Earnings Call August 08, 2025 10:00 AM ET Speaker0Thank you for holding, and welcome to Alliant Energy's Second Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all lines are in a listen only mode. Today's conference call is being recorded. I would now like to turn the call over to your host, Susan Gill, Investor Relations Manager at Alliant Energy.Speaker1Good morning. I would like to thank all of you on the call and the webcast for joining us today. We apprec ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported earnings of $0.76 per share for Q2 2025, reflecting a $0.09 increase compared to Q2 2024 [15] - The earnings guidance for 2025 remains between $5.17 to $5.27 per share, assuming normal weather conditions for the remainder of the year [3][20] - The company expects a long-term compound annual earnings growth rate of 6.5% to 7% [4][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Utility operations earnings increased by $0.16 compared to Q2 2024, with weather positively impacting earnings by approximately $0.04 [15][16] - Retail electric deliveries grew by 1.1%, led by a 1.9% increase in the large commercial and industrial segment [17] - Earnings from the Energy Infrastructure segment decreased by $0.03 due to storm damage losses [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The unemployment rate in Wisconsin stands at 3.2%, below the national average, indicating strong economic conditions [4] - The company anticipates a demand growth forecast of 1.8 gigawatts to serve the I-94 corridor [5] - The Wall Street Journal reported Milwaukee ranked second among U.S. metro areas for college graduates landing jobs, highlighting a skilled labor market [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is executing a five-year capital investment plan totaling $28 billion, the largest in its history, aimed at supporting economic growth and reliability [7] - The company is actively working on renewable projects and has received approvals for natural gas generation and storage projects [9][10] - The Very Large Customer tariff is under review, designed to meet the needs of large load customers while protecting other customers [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the economic development in the region, particularly with significant investments from companies like Yaskawa and Microsoft [4][5] - The company is closely monitoring the regulatory environment and expects a decision on the Very Large Customer tariff by Q2 next year [12] - Management remains optimistic about continued growth in the region and the company's future [21] Other Important Information - The company plans to extend the operating lives of coal units at the Oak Creek plant through 2026 to meet energy demand [10][68] - The company is working on safe harboring renewable projects to qualify for tax credits under new treasury guidance [8][64] - The annualized dividend stands at $3.57 per share, with a target payout ratio of 65% to 70% of earnings [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the demand from Vantage and how the company plans to procure generation for that? - The company is actively working with Vantage to meet their demand needs, aiming for about 1.3 gigawatts by 2027, while exploring various options for capacity [24][28] Question: How does the company view the capital growth rate and potential adjustments? - Management is optimistic about economic development and will review growth patterns in the upcoming capital plan update [30][32] Question: What is the status of the large load tariff proceeding? - The company has reached a settlement with large customers on the tariff, which is currently under review by the commission [33][34] Question: Can you provide updates on the Microsoft data center site? - The company is confident in the ongoing development at the Microsoft site and anticipates future opportunities as construction progresses [75][84] Question: What is the plan for the Point Beach PPA and Port Washington Unit one? - Discussions are ongoing regarding the Point Beach PPA, with productive talks expected to yield updates by the end of the year [47][48]