FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE) Q3 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Angie Storozynski: Okay. And my bigger question here, and I know that this is what we are all sort of the beating is that you obviously have this bullish EPS and now dividend growth plan. It’s pretty much contingent on the outcome of the distribution case in Ohio, and we won’t know that what happens there until probably very late to 2025. So, how do we get comfortable with that validation of your growth profile between now and then?

Brian Tierney: Just – so Angie, I don’t think we are all debating that at all. I just disagree with that. The things that you look for and how we hit our growth rate are how we perform in the rate cases that are before us, and you are going to have signposts to that long before the end of ‘25. We have the Ohio ESP Grid Mod II. We have the New Jersey case, the West Virginia case. And if we are performing well on those, I think you will be able to see – you will be able to get an indication that we are being successful in prosecuting rate cases, engaging with staff and interveners and come to positive outcomes. So, no need to wait until the end of 2025.

Angie Storozynski: And then just lastly on the tax benefit, very big tax benefits. And I understand that you are trying to address the weather impact. I mean lots of headwinds actually this year, but you are also reflecting in the O&M lever. I mean did you expect to have this tax benefit this year, again – and is it cash related?

Jon Taylor: So, at the beginning of the year, we did not anticipate the effective tax rate being at that 17%, 18%. We anticipated it being probably in that 19% to 19.5% range. So, some of the benefit that we achieved this year was not planned, but something that came up midyear and that the team executed on. I would tell you, long-term though, Angie, if you think about our blended effective tax rate, it’s probably going to be 17%, 18% this year. But longer term, it will be a more normal tax rate in that 20% to 21% range.

Angie Storozynski: And that’s already reflected in the growth plan?

Jon Taylor: Correct.

Angie Storozynski: Along with those additional costs that will come with basically those additional managers that you are hiring for the utilities and the COO, right? All of this is reflected in your – in your EPS growth plan.

Brian Tierney: It’s all in there, Angie.

Angie Storozynski: Okay. Thank you.

Brian Tierney: Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Jeremy Tonet with JPMorgan. Please proceed with your question.

Jeremy Tonet: Hi. Good morning. Thanks for squeezing me back in here. Just wanted to kind of clarify, I guess the cadence of updates of what we should be expecting for updates on 4Q or for EEI, just wondering when ‘24 – I guess future color as far as long-term plan revisions might be if that’s the 4Q event, just wanted to kind of clarify some of the prior comments there.

Brian Tierney: Yes. We are going to provide an update on the fourth quarter earnings call. So, we will do specific guidance for ‘24 and we will also update the capital plan at that time.

Jeremy Tonet: Got it. And this could include everything EPS, long-term EPS CAGR as well or just those two items really the focus?

Brian Tierney: Yes. We are – there is going to be no change in the long-term EPS CAGR.

Jeremy Tonet: Got it. Great. Very helpful. I will leave it there. Thank you.

Brian Tierney: Thanks Jeremy.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Anthony Crowdell with Mizuho Securities. Please proceed with your question.