Earnings call transcript: Eversource Energy Q1 2025 shows strong revenue

Eversource Energy reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, revealing a mixed performance with a slight miss on earnings per share (EPS) but a significant revenue beat. The company posted an EPS of $1.50, just shy of the $1.51 forecast, while revenue surged to $4.12 billion, exceeding expectations of $3.57 billion. Following the announcement, Eversource’s stock dipped by 1.25%, closing at $59.08. According to InvestingPro data, the utility giant maintains an impressive 5.09% dividend yield and has raised its dividend for 26 consecutive years, demonstrating strong shareholder returns despite market fluctuations.

Key Takeaways

• Eversource’s revenue surpassed forecasts by over $500 million.
• The EPS came in slightly below expectations, though it showed growth from the previous year.
• The company’s stock experienced a modest decline post-earnings.
• Eversource reaffirmed its 2025 EPS guidance range.
• Continued investments in infrastructure and strategic projects were highlighted.

Company Performance

Eversource Energy’s Q1 2025 results demonstrate robust revenue growth, driven by increased earnings in its utility segments. Transmission and electric distribution earnings contributed positively, reflecting the company’s strategic investments in infrastructure. Despite the slight EPS miss, Eversource’s performance aligns with its historical trend of steady growth. InvestingPro analysis indicates the company operates with a significant debt burden, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94, though its overall financial health score remains FAIR.

Financial Highlights

• Revenue: $4.12 billion, up significantly from expectations.
• Earnings per share: $1.50, compared to $1.49 in Q1 2024.
• Transmission earnings increased by $0.04 per share.
• Electric distribution earnings rose by $0.03 per share.
• Natural gas segment earnings improved by $0.06 per share.

Earnings vs. Forecast

Eversource’s EPS of $1.50 narrowly missed the forecast of $1.51, representing a minor deviation. However, the revenue of $4.12 billion exceeded the forecast by approximately 15%, highlighting the company’s strong operational capabilities.

Market Reaction

Following the earnings release, Eversource’s stock fell by 1.25%, closing at $59.08. This movement reflects a cautious investor sentiment, likely influenced by the EPS miss and ongoing regulatory challenges. The stock remains within its 52-week range of $52.28 to $69.01, indicating stability amid market fluctuations. Based on InvestingPro’s Fair Value analysis, the stock appears slightly overvalued at current levels, with analysts setting price targets ranging from $47 to $85.

Outlook & Guidance

Eversource reaffirmed its EPS guidance range for 2025, projecting between $4.67 and $4.82. The company remains focused on infrastructure investments, including a $24.2 billion capital plan over five years, and anticipates regulatory approvals for rate mechanisms.

Executive Commentary

CEO Joe Nolan emphasized Eversource’s strategic positioning, stating, "We are uniquely positioned to leverage our strengths in transmission and distribution investment opportunities." CFO John Marreira highlighted financial targets, noting, "We continue to expect our FFO to debt targets for 2025 to be well above 100 basis points over the rating agency thresholds."

Risks and Challenges

• Potential tariff impacts could increase project costs by 3% to 6%.
• Ongoing regulatory proceedings in key states may affect future operations.
• The divestment of Aquarion Water poses strategic and financial implications.
• Market volatility and economic pressures could impact growth.

Q&A

During the earnings call, analysts inquired about the impact of tariffs on the Revolution Wind project and the company’s collaborative approach with state administrations on rate affordability. Eversource reiterated its focus on improving its balance sheet and cash flow, addressing concerns over regulatory and market challenges.

Full transcript - Eversource Energy (ES) Q1 2025:

Conference Operator: Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Eversource Energy First Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Call. At this time, all participants are in listen only mode. After the speakers’ presentation, there will be a question and answer session. To ask a question during this session, you will need to press 11 on your telephone.

You will then hear automated message if your hand is raised. Please be advised that today’s conference is being recorded. I would now like to hand the conference over to your first speaker today, Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy: Good morning, and thank you for joining us today on the first quarter twenty twenty five earnings call. During this call, we’ll be referencing slides that we posted this morning on our website. As you can see on slide one, some of the statements made during this call may be forward looking. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risk and uncertainty, which may cause the actual results to differ materially from forecasts and projections. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any of these statements.

Additional information about the various factors that may cause actual results to differ in our explanation of non GAAP measures and how they reconcile to GAAP results is contained within our news release, the slides we posted last night, and in our most recent 10 Q and 10 ks. Speaking today will be Joe Nolan, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and John Marreira, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Also joining us today is Jay Booth, our Vice President and Controller. I will now turn the call over to Joe.

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Thank you, Rima. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today for our first quarter earnings call. I am pleased to share our results and discuss the progress we have made towards our key initiatives in the first quarter of this year. This quarter, we saw strong growth across our transmission and distribution businesses versus last year, and we are pleased to reaffirm our 2025 EPS guidance, as well as our long term EPS growth rate of 5% to 7% through 2029. As shown on slide four, as a pure play pipes and wires regulated utility, we are uniquely positioned to leverage our strengths in transmission and distribution investment opportunities.

Our regulated status provides stability and predictability, allowing us to focus on long term growth and sustainability that will continue to deliver on customer expectations. Over the five year forecast period, we are projecting rate base growth at 8% with numerous additional opportunities outside of this forecasted period. As shown here, the composition of our rate base is strategically shifting toward higher distribution spend in Massachusetts, primarily to meet the state’s electrification goals set in the electric sector modernization plan and conversely the reduction of capital investment in Connecticut. We are excited to partner with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on its decarbonization strategy and to make necessary investments to meet these goals and enhance reliability. We have strong investment opportunities beyond our five year forecast period.

We were pleased to see that ISO New England recently issued a new RFP to solicit longer term proposals from transmission operators to address the region’s future load growth in connection with their 2,050 transmission study. We are examining numerous opportunities and we look forward to working with ISO New England on this unique opportunity to address the region’s energy transition and maintain system reliability. Another area of growth for us is the acquisition of the Mystic Site in Everett. With its strategic location, flexibility and existing infrastructure, this facility stands out as one of the most promising multi use interconnection points for a wide range of energy resources in New England, representing a unique opportunity to support the region’s energy goals, spur economic development, and create jobs. These future transmission and distribution opportunities give us confidence for growth for years to come, as well as ensuring that our customers receive safe and reliable service.

At the heart of our operation is our commitment to customer innovation and affordability. We continue to invest in advanced technologies and innovative solutions that enhance the reliability and efficiency of our transmission and distribution networks. Our focus on affordability ensures that we deliver value to our customers while maintaining reasonable rates. We have launched several initiatives aimed at improving customer experience and reducing costs in the long term. As shown on slide five in Massachusetts, our AMI project remains on track with significant progress made on standing up, integrating and testing the necessary systems.

We began deployment on AMI communication network in Western Massachusetts at the start of this year and is now 40% complete. We expect to complete the AMI network before the first smart meter is deployed in July. We are excited about this technology and how it will empower customers to make data driven decisions about their energy usage and provide customers with more control than ever before. Additionally, with feedback from our customers through our robust Voice of the Customer program, we have implemented many user experience enhancements, including redesigning and streamlining the digital customer experience for managing their account needs. More importantly, we added greater functionality and created a new redesigned account overview page on our website, making it easier for our customers to compare their bills and better understand their usage.

Helping our customers understand their bill, educating them on energy related topics, and making it seamless for customers to interact with Eversource is a key objective for us. On the regulatory front, we continue to make progress across three states. Earlier this year, there was a call to action in Massachusetts from our customers, communities and state policymakers to address affordability, stabilize rates and provide transparency on energy bills. This was in response to high gas bills following the rate adjustments and increased demand due to a very cold winter. In collaboration with state leaders, we developed a plan to reduce winter rates for our gas customers by approximately 10% to smooth bill impacts during high usage periods, which went into effect beginning March 1.

We have also organized many events to work with and educate customers and communities we serve about the various options they have to manage their bills including energy efficiency programs. We recognize there’s more to do to address transparency and affordability, and we are actively working with the administration, legislators, communities, and regulators on long term solutions to smooth rate shocks and address affordability. In Connecticut, PURA Commissioners Marissa Gillette and David R. Conti have been confirmed by the state legislature and we look forward to working with them to ensure customers continue to receive the safe, reliable electric, gas and water delivery services that they have become accustomed to over the years. In New Hampshire, we look forward to working with the new administration and partnering with them on meeting their energy goals.

We continue to execute on many fronts to strengthen our balance sheet. One of our key strategic initiatives was to divest Aquarion Water, which is anticipated to close by the end of the year. Last month, we filed for regulatory approval in all three states. The Aquarian proceeds along with our regulatory recoveries will enable us to improve our FFO to debt ratio from 2024 levels. Turning to a brief update on offshore wind and revolution wind project.

We are pleased to report that the construction of the onshore substation, which Eversource continues to oversee, is progressing very well. The onshore substation is the critical path to the project going into service. We continue to monitor the project’s overall construction progress closely. Currently, given the latest construction updates and cost estimates we have been provided, we have concluded that we do not need to change the contingent liability that we recorded in the third quarter of twenty twenty four. In summary, our first quarter results reflect unwavering commitment to customer innovation, affordability, financial strength and sustainability.

We are focused on our 2025 key priorities, as shown on slide six, in the first quarter results clearly demonstrate our successful execution of these goals, showcasing our commitment to sustained growth and strategic vision as a pure play pipes and wires regulated utility. We are confident in our ability to continue driving value for our customers and shareholders as we move forward. Our prudent and long standing approach to financial and operational management ensures that we can continue to invest in critical infrastructure and innovation while delivering consistent returns to our shareholders. Thank you for joining us today. I will now turn the call over to John Marreira to discuss our financial results.

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Thank you, Joe, and good morning, everyone. This morning, I will review first quarter earnings results, provide a regulatory update and also discuss our balance sheet progress and credit metrics. I’ll start with our first quarter results on Slide eight. GAAP and recurring earnings results for the first quarter were $1.5 per share compared with GAAP and recurring earnings of $1.49 per share last year. Higher utility earnings were largely offset by a decrease in parent and other earnings.

Starting with transmission, higher electric transmission earnings of $04 per share were due to increased revenues from continued system investments to address agent infrastructure, reliability and load growth, partially offset by the impact of share dilution. Higher electric distribution earnings of $03 per share benefited from grid modernization and system improvement rate mechanisms. Additionally, base distribution rate increases in New Hampshire and Massachusetts provide a timely recovery of investments. Partially offsetting these revenue adjustments were higher property taxes, interest, depreciation and share dilution. The improved results of $06 per share at Eversource’s natural gas segment were due primarily to higher revenues from continued investments to replace agent infrastructure, resulting in base distribution rate increases at our Massachusetts gas businesses, including the eGMA rate base roll in that became effective November first of twenty twenty four, in accordance with the 2021 settlement agreement.

Offsetting these higher natural gas revenues were higher O and M, interest, depreciation, property taxes and the impact from share dilution. Water earnings were comparable year over year as the first quarter is typically a very low usage period. Eversource parent losses increased $0.12 per share in 2025. Lower results were as expected, primarily due to higher interest expense and the impact from the absence of capitalized interest associated with our former offshore wind investment. Overall, our first quarter earnings were in line with our expectations, and we are pleased to start 2025 with such a solid performance.

Moving to our key regulatory items as highlighted on slide nine. Starting with New Hampshire, where we currently have a pending rate proceeding. Hearings in this proceeding are scheduled to start next week. In addition to recovery of previous system investments and deferred storm costs, we have proposed implementing a four year performance based rate making plan, including a capital support mechanism that would adjust rates annually. We anticipate a final decision in July for rates to become effective August 1.

In Massachusetts on November one of twenty twenty five, new rates will be effective for NSTAR Gas under the annual PBR adjustment and a rate base rolling. In addition, rates reflect in the second phase of the 2024 rate based roll in for eGMA of approximately 62,000,000 Moving to Connecticut, we are pleased to report that the average CLMP residential customer will see a 6% reduction on May 1 due to the implementation of the annual rate adjustment mechanism. We appreciate the progress made by PURA from the proposed decision to the final decision to provide customers with this benefit. Also in Connecticut, we have an ongoing Yankee Gas rate case, where we seek to recover a revenue deficiency of $2.00 $9,000,000 reflecting critical investments in cost increases since our previous rate review in 2018. Hearings are scheduled for June with the final decision scheduled at the October for rates effective November first of this year.

Next, let me reaffirm our five year capital plan of $24,200,000,000 as shown on Slide 10, which reflects our five year utility infrastructure investments by segment. This plan is a 10% increase over the last five year plan. As a reminder, this forecast includes only those projects that we have a clear line of sight on from a regulatory approval perspective. The plan includes nearly $7,000,000,000 of transmission infrastructure investments over the next five years, greatly enabled by efforts in Massachusetts last year, including the state’s clean energy bill that reformed citing and permitting of energy facilities, as well as the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities approval of the Electric Sector Modernization Plan or ESMP. It also includes the Greater Cambridge Energy Project that commenced construction earlier this year.

As a reminder, this project consists of a 35,000 square foot underground substation at a projected capital cost of $1,800,000,000 with nearly 80% of this investment to be recovered through our transmission tariff. Turning to electric distribution, the capital forecast reflects over $10,000,000,000 of planned utility infrastructure investments, with investments related to Massachusetts operations making up 60% of this capital plan. This includes $850,000,000 for the AMI program in Massachusetts that Joe discussed. We have already realized significant benefits for our customers from the new billing system implemented to support AMI. And we look forward to providing customers with additional benefits as we begin meter installation later this year.

In addition to our base capital investment forecast, we continue to see opportunities that could provide additional investments in the range of 1.5 to $2,000,000,000 within the forecast period. And as Joe mentioned, we have other growth opportunities that could materialize towards the back end of our forecast period and beyond. Let me now turn the subject of potential tariffs and how they could impact our O and M and capital investment plan. First, we see minimal, if any impact on our operation and maintenance expense. Secondly, we could potentially see cost increases resulting from the tariffs impacting our capital investment plan, but we expect them to be manageable.

While tariffs are disruptive to our supply chain, we have been managing through supply chain disruption for the past five years, especially through the pandemic years. The work we have done to expand and diversify our supply chain prior to the tariffs has positioned us well to mitigate this potential tariff risk. Through this strategic planning, we have almost no direct exposure to China, where the tariff impact is slated to be the highest. Overall, we believe the potential cost increase to our capital projects will be approximately 3% to 6%. Should these potential tariffs put pressure on inflation, keep in mind that in Massachusetts, where we currently have performance based rates that include an inflationary adjustment, which would allow us to recover a portion of this inflation impact.

In addition, we have proposed PBR rate mechanisms in the PSNH and Yankee rate filings. Turning to Slide 11, to efficiently finance our customer focused investments, we have taken a number of steps to enhance our cash flow position and improve our balance sheet profile. Our plan to enhance our cash flows is well balanced alongside our equity needs of $1,200,000,000 The majority of which we expect to issue towards the back half of our five year forecast period. This plan also supports our FFO to debt ratio target, which we expect to improve significantly over 2024 actual results, and certainly above the rating agency downgrade thresholds. We continue to expect our FFO to debt targets for 2025 to be well above 100 basis points over the rating agency thresholds.

As

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: you

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: can see on the slide, we have provided you with the rating agency thresholds at both S and P and Moody’s, as well as the actual 2024 results. As we shared with you last quarter, and as shown on slide 12, we have executed on all of the items necessary to improve our cash flows and strengthen our balance sheet. Next, I will turn to 2025 earnings guidance on Slide 13. With the first quarter in the books, we are reaffirming our 2025 recurring earnings per share in the range of $4.67 to $4.82 and our long term EPS growth rate of 5% to 7% off of the 2024 base. Our EPS growth profile will continue to strengthen as we execute on the strategic plan with customer focused transmission and distribution infrastructure investments recovered through constructive rate mechanisms.

In addition, the progress with the recovery of deferred storm costs throughout the system and continued O and M cost discipline provide a solid foundation for Eversource to return value to our investors for years to come. I will now turn the call over to Rima to begin the Q and A session.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy: Thank you, John. Marvin, we are ready for our question and answers now. Thank you.

Conference Operator: Thank you. At this time, we’ll conduct a question and answer session. As a reminder to ask a question, you’ll need to press 11 on your telephone and wait for your name to be announced. To withdraw your question, please press 11 again. Please limit yourself to one question and a follow-up.

Please stand by while I compile the Q and A roster. Our first question comes from the line of Durgesh Chopra of Evercore ISI. Your line is now open.

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Good morning, Durgesh.

Durgesh Chopra, Analyst, Evercore ISI: Hey, good morning, Joe. For giving Good morning, John. Guys, just appreciate the tariff commentary. We’ve been getting a lot of questions on the offshore project, obviously, under construction. Can you just frame for us if you already have the equipment on hand?

I know there’s one monopile that is being manufactured. There’s also some storage, some equipment you have stored in Canada. Maybe just a little bit more color, you know, on the tariff exposure to revolution, please.

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Sure. I appreciate the appreciate the question. We have all items procured. There is as you mentioned, there is a monopod that’s being constructed that we do expect in the fall. But the remaining items, even the item that is the substation that’s being stored in Canada has already come to The United States.

It’s already been here. So we don’t anticipate or expect any calculated challenges of anything around revolution other than, you know, is one monopod that is coming that’s under construction. But we feel very good about it as we had mentioned, you know, this project is very, very mature. It’s going on very, very well. It’s construction.

I’m very, very pleased with the progress. As you know, we do oversee the construction of that substation in Rhode Island. And I will tell you that both John and I get daily updates on the progress and I’m very, very impressed with the team down there and what they’ve been able to do to bring that station to fruition. So we don’t feel as though there’s going to be anything that’s going to challenge us around tariffs as it relates to revolution. But Dagesh, I also want

Sophie Karp, Analyst, KBCM: to talk to you a

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: little bit about our business and some of our capital investments. When COVID hit, we made a concerted effort to go in and kind of fill the warehouses with a lot of components and parts that might be challenging to get. So fortunately Eversource is blessed with a very robust warehouse operation that hopefully will insulate us from anything that’s very, very challenging. But again, it is an issue we need to look at. We do look at it all the time.

John, it does oversee warehousing and procurement. So it’s in very, very good hands, I know that he’ll do everything he can to mitigate any risk that tariffs could have on the company.

Durgesh Chopra, Analyst, Evercore ISI: Got it. Got it, Joe. Thanks. That’s very thorough. Thank you.

Sounds like you don’t see it as a major risk. Okay. Really quickly shifting gears, Aquarian still on track for year end. And then what kind of regulatory approval timeline, you know, as as as you think about approvals through two different states? Are you should we be expecting, please?

Thank you.

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Sure. Yeah, the inquiry filing has been made. We anticipate that that transaction will close in 2025. We don’t see any bumps in the road. As you know, we will pass through Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the regulatory bodies.

But it’s a pretty straightforward filing and I think that obviously when you look at the buyer of the assets, you know, they’re very competent buyer that has is already operating in the jurisdiction. So we don’t see any issues at all.

Durgesh Chopra, Analyst, Evercore ISI: Got it. Is there a specific timeline for Connecticut to rule on this?

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Yes. They have the timeline would be October. So five months range. Thank you. Alrighty.

Conference Operator: Thank you. One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from the line of Shar Pourreza of Guggenheim Partners. Your line is now open.

James, Analyst, Guggenheim Partners: Hey, guys. Good morning. It’s actually James on for Shar. Happy Friday.

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Good morning, James. Good morning, James.

James, Analyst, Guggenheim Partners: Good morning. So maybe just starting off in Connecticut, a lot of moving pieces on the legislative front. I think one of them is securitization potentially for the storm cost reg assets. I guess if you receive that, would it change your thoughts on the timing, the quantum of the current ATM equity? I think you had said back half, but just any kind of thoughts there for us.

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Yeah. Hey, James, this is John. Yes. So, obviously, as I communicated in February, we did not assume securitization as part of our financing strategy. But certainly, if we get that and we get that cash in the door on an accelerated basis, we would revisit our equity needs at that point in time.

James, Analyst, Guggenheim Partners: Okay, perfect. And then just any updated thoughts or expectations for movement in the AMI process at this point?

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Well, that docket James is under the final one we did file for reconsideration to try to get some clarity and some certainty around the recovery of dollars that we might spend. And so we’ll see how that plays out there, but we just want to get comfortable. Obviously, we’ll spend what Connecticut wants us to spend, but we do need to have line of sight on recovery.

James, Analyst, Guggenheim Partners: Excellent. Thanks guys. I’ll leave it there.

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Thank you. Thank you.

Conference Operator: You. One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from the line of Carly Davenport of Goldman Sachs. Your line is now open.

Carly Davenport, Analyst, Goldman Sachs: Good morning,

Analyst, Goldman Sachs: Good morning. For taking the questions. Maybe just a follow-up on Connecticut. Just could you provide your latest thoughts just around some of the noise on the forward composition of PURA just in terms of filling those other two seats? You can share and how you’re thinking about the timing of when potentially we could get some certainty on that piece?

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Yeah, you know, great question. You know, we are indifferent on whether it’s three or whether it’s five. We do feel as though there’s a movement that, know, hopefully we’ll see some activity down there on that and get some clarity. But you know, unfortunately, I cannot predict for you when we might see it or whether it’s three or whether it’s five. You know we are obviously eager for a stable regulatory climate in that jurisdiction.

So we’ll continue to monitor it we will hope that, we do get a transparent, regulatory environment that allows us to continue to operate in that state.

Analyst, Goldman Sachs: Great. Appreciate that. And then maybe just shifting to the balance sheet and FFO to debt. Appreciate the detail that you shared in the slides there. Just anything you can provide in terms of conversations, in particular with Moody’s, in terms of what they need to see to sort of shift from the negative watch and how you feel about the path to executing on that goal?

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Yes, Collie. I would say what they need to see is, us to continue to execute on our plan that we have put before them. We’re going through a refresh of that plan, next month, with all three agencies. But suffice it to say, as you’ll see in our first quarter statement of cash flows, you’ll see a significant improvement in our operating cash flows. And it’s really execution of what we’ve been saying for the past year.

The recovery of previously under recovered regulatory costs have come in and will continue to come in. That in and of itself is probably will generate benefit FFO to debt at Moody’s of about 300 basis points. So everything that we’ve been executing on, everything that we’ve been communicating to you all has materialized and will continue to materialize.

Analyst, Goldman Sachs: Great. Thank you for the color.

Conference Operator: Thank you. We’ll move it for our next question. Our next question comes from the line of Jeremy Tonet of JPMorgan Securities. Your line is now open.

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Hey, Jeremy. Good morning, Jeremy.

Jeremy Tonet, Analyst, JPMorgan Securities: Morning. Thank you for the color here today. Just wanted to pick up with the FFO to debt commentary that you provided in the slide there. Just wondering if you had thoughts you could share with regards to where you think you’d land in 2026 FFO to debt on both agency metrics there?

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Sure. I mean, the groundwork that we’ve laid to get us to a much better spot in 2025, that’ll continue with the reduction of about $2,400,000,000 of debt just related to the acquiring on sale. That’s going to continue to persist. And what I think is very, very important for you all to understand is that this huge under recovery, what’s really important and what I feel so optimistic about and confident is that the future costs and rates have been set to align with those costs. So we should not, see significant swings in under recoveries in the future.

So then, having that sustainable cost incurred with the revenues to match it is a major, major, benefit for us.

Jeremy Tonet, Analyst, JPMorgan Securities: Got it. And so I guess, do you expect FFO to debt will improve from the numbers outlined in 2025, the 100 bps cushion?

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Our FFO to debt will continue to enhance. Obviously, that’s contingent. We have to look at where our capital forecast is over our five year period. As I’ve communicated to you all, there’s potentially 1.5 to $2,000,000,000 kind of sitting on the sidelines, and that we’ll hope to have clarity certainly within the next six to twelve month period. And as we typically do, we’ll update you all in our financing plan annually.

Jeremy Tonet, Analyst, JPMorgan Securities: Got it. Thank you. And then just as it relates to the Rev Win cost estimates, just wondering, I guess, how the process works with there. You guys kind of work together in formulating those estimates, those expectations of tariff impacts, and we would expect them to kind of say the same thing or the independent processes. Just wondering if how that process works.

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: No, it’s a collaborative. We get updates, as Joe mentioned, from them. They share their forecast update routinely. So we’re much aligned obviously. The deal, that we struck with GIP gives us that line of sight and clarity.

We have access to Arstad and we’re constantly engaged with GIP.

Jeremy Tonet, Analyst, JPMorgan Securities: Okay, great. Thank you. I’ll leave it there.

Conference Operator: Thank you. One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from the line of Sophie Karp of KBCM. Your line is now open.

Sophie Karp, Analyst, KBCM: Good morning, Sophie. Good morning.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy0: Good morning. Thank you for taking my question. I was wondering about the upcoming Millstone recontracting rates. So kinda along the lines of would that present an opportunity to, you know, either maybe improve affordability for rate payers or at least make it clearer to rate payers in Connecticut what they’re paying for because I think right now it’s rolled into something called public benefit charge. From a PR standpoint, would that benefit you in any way?

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Yeah, mean, that contract is up in 2029, obviously having a 1,000 megawatts of clean energy at baseload generation in the region is helpful and in a region where we are actually losing generation. So it’s very helpful, but I think it’s too early right now, Sophie, to be looking at that contract and maybe what’s gonna happen going forward. As you know, this was a desire of the administration, the previous administration to to contract for this power and, you know, we we we’d have to work collaboratively with the administration on what’s important to them.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy0: Alright. Thank you very much. That’s all for me.

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Welcome. Thank you. Thank you.

Conference Operator: One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from the line of Anthony Cordell of Mizuho. Your line is now open.

Carly Davenport, Analyst, Goldman Sachs: Good morning, Anthony. Good morning. Hey, good morning. Let’s go Knicks, right? I think I heard that in the background.

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: We’ll see what happens Monday.

Carly Davenport, Analyst, Goldman Sachs: I don’t think the Knicks have a chance, but just some odds and ends. In Connecticut, the securitization, the public benefit and the storm cost recovery, are those rolled up together in same legislation or it’s not decided yet?

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Well, yeah, no, it is rolled up. I mean, not that it would be allowing securitization for storm costs. But in SB fifteen sixty, all of those issues are discussed and contemplated. So, but again, that’s just to allow the recovery of storm cost. As you know, we do have a prudence review underway at PURA and we’ll continue to work through that process, but it’s going very, very well.

Carly Davenport, Analyst, Goldman Sachs: Great. And then if I move to Massachusetts, I think on Wednesday, there was a Berkshire gas decision that maybe changed some of the rules on the acronym, I think it’s GSEP. Does that impact you guys or what kind of exposure do you have with the new rules on the GSEP?

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Well, the GSEP filing impacted NSTAR Gas and EGMA, Anthony, where they lowered the ceiling from 3% cap to 2.5%. So in and of itself, I don’t see that as something that’s devastating. We can certainly manage to that. Obviously, our focus will continue to make sure that we provide safe and reliable gas services to our customers. That’s first and foremost.

And once again, I think, we’re still going through that review process and we haven’t determined what action we would take. So I think it’s a bit early in that process. So there’s more to come, but we don’t see that as a major impact to us. It’s not as though they don’t want us to make the investments, they continue to support it, which is but they’re basically saying, hey, consider other non pipe alternatives. So that’s really what the message and what they’ve communicated to us and we’re very supportive of that concept.

Carly Davenport, Analyst, Goldman Sachs: Great. And if I could just squeeze one more in, it follows off of Jerry Geshe’s questioning earlier. Have you guys stated what percentage of the Revolution project is complete, fifty, forty, 30? Have you guys quantified what percent of the project is completed?

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: We have not. I will just tell you that construction is going very, very well.

Carly Davenport, Analyst, Goldman Sachs: Great. Thanks for taking my questions and Nixon seven.

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Thank you.

Conference Operator: Thank you. One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from the line of Travis Miller of Morningstar. Your line is now open.

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Good morning, Good morning, everyone. Good morning.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy1: Back sticking on the regulatory under recoveries, wonder if you

Sophie Karp, Analyst, KBCM: could just give a little bit

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy1: of a list here what you got in, in the first quarter and the ones you expect or what you expect to get in over the next, say, two quarters or even through the end of the year? I know that the New Hampshire one is outstanding, Connecticut is a bit outstanding, but you have one

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Well, I would say the most significant one, Travis, is the RAM docket, which recovered some of the Millstone, Seabrook, kind of all that the public benefits charge, some bad debt recovery. As you know, we had a $900,000,000 rate increase to collect those on the recoveries and to set rates for the current year at a much more reasonable level. So that was a $900,000,000 rate increase that went live July 1. And that runs from July through April thirtieth of this year. And then recently, as I stated in my formal remarks, we just got the final decision on the RAM, for this year that will go live May, that went live May 1, which lowered the recovery by $142,000,000 So we have very good line of sight, but suffice it to say, in that 300 basis point that I just mentioned, that includes the bulk of the RAM decision recovery of those costs.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy1: Okay, and then the New Hampshire and then any kind of results future Connecticut?

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: I would characterize it in this fashion, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, we have timely recovery. They could, you know, within a very short period of time, we adjust rates, whether it’s no recovery or under recovery, and they’re not significant balances, Travis.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy1: Yes. Okay, very good. And then just real quick, that $1.5 to $2,000,000,000 CapEx opportunity, anything different or changed in that bucket since the last quarter or since February?

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Well, always continue to progress and look at it. It’s a little bit early and obviously embedded in that is the AMI in Connecticut. And I think Joe addressed that.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy1: Okay, very good. Thanks

Conference Operator: you. One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from the line of Julien Dumoulin Smith of Jefferies. Your line is now open.

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Morning, Julien.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy1: JULIEN

Hey. Hey. Are you guys doing? Great. Good.

Excellent. Thank you for the time. Look, I just wanted to come back to where Jeremy was a second ago. If we could talk a little bit more about the FFO to debt numbers and just trying to understand like the numerator and denominator a little bit because clearly hearing your comments about the 100 basis points of latitude, just wanted to understand a little bit more about how you’re seeing that happen. Because if I remember right, I think last quarter, you guys were talking about this, I think it was a 45% number on improvement in operating cash flow.

So it’s a good I think that was a good proxy for thinking about the numerator improving. But is that still the case? Or how do you think about the debt moving versus the CFO to get to that 100 basis points of latitude you talk about from the 9%?

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Julian, I would say that the enhancement in cash flows is obviously when you look at the calculation, it’s much more impactful to have a dollar come in, in cash flows than it is to have a dollar reduction in debt. So, the improvement and I stated in my formal remarks that we are looking to be well over 100 basis points, not only for 2025, but on sustainable basis throughout our forecast period, driven by enhanced cash flows from operations.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy1: The 45% is still relevant though, right? Or is it better than

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: that now? Haven’t done the math recently, but it’s probably slightly enhanced. And as I said, you’ll see when we file our 10 Q on Monday, you’ll see that there’s been about a $750,000,000 improvement quarter over quarter in our cash flows from operations. So that’s very sizable and that moves the needle quite a bit.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy1: Got it. All right, awesome. Thank you guys for that. I appreciate it. And then quick, if I can come back just a little bit nitty gritty here, but we’ll do a little cleanup.

On the corporate drag, just to talk about that super quickly. I see the $0.16 drag, and I think for full year ’24, you had about $0.16 How do you think about 1Q being a run rate versus what’s in there that you should be excluding? Like, there’s a lower tax rate, some other dynamics here. What should we be watching from taking away from that? I know you mentioned in some of in the prepared remarks, but I’m curious if there’s anything you’d flag, like kind of what do you what’s the glean from the 1Q for full year corporate?

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: So let me stop by saying that items that run through the parent and other category, that segment is becoming less items that are impacting. It’s really two, it’s interest and taxes. For the $0.16 impact in Q1 of twenty twenty five, let me remind you, Q1 of twenty twenty four, we were still capitalizing interest on, the offshore wind. That has now tailed off effective Q3 with the sale the final sale to GIP. So we will see a bit more of an impact in the first couple of quarters until we catch up.

In addition, the first quarter, we didn’t have the full impact of the $1,400,000,000 holding company debt that we issued in mid April. So this quarter, you’re seeing the full brunt of both of those items. As we progress through the year, year over year, quarter over quarter, it’ll be far less significant. The only item that will create that is the tax benefits. And as I said, those tax benefits are typically recognized in Q3 and in Q4.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy1: Got it. Is there a good full year tax rate you’d be running with given those benefits that you talked about in the back half of the year?

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Yes. So our our tax rate for 2025 is in the range of, 22 and a half to 23 and a half percent. You know, last year, it was in the upper teens.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy1: Yeah. No. Absolutely. Okay. That includes everything and so Alright.

Excellent, guys. Hey, thank you so much for your time and patience. Alright? Have a great day, guys.

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Thanks. Thank you.

Conference Operator: You. One moment for our next question. And our next question comes from the line of Paul Patterson of Glenrock Associates. Your line is now open.

Sophie Karp, Analyst, KBCM: Good morning, Paul. Hey, good morning. So a lot of questions have been answered, but just really following up on the PBR. Assuming that these guys get it done by the end of the year, as you mentioned in the prepared remarks, when do you think the first practical impact on rates would be experienced, I mean, if you can, if you have a rough estimate as to when we might see it actually impacting you, if you follow what I’m saying, as opposed

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Sure, sure thing, Paul. So the first thing is have to file a rate case, number one, right? And in the Yankee case, we currently have proposed a PBR structure, so we were proactive. So we need to see how things continue to pan out. We did see revised swap proposal at the February.

So we hope to see a draft and a final decision kind of midyear July timeframe, July, August timeframe. So I think we still have more to come.

Sophie Karp, Analyst, KBCM: Right. So the Yankee case, just to refresh my memory, with the PBR, these giant sockets or whatever, would be, I apologize for being unfamiliar exactly, but when would those potentially impact the Yankee case? Would those impact the Yankee case, or would that be at a later time, do you think?

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: I think that’s to be determined, Paul, to be quite honest with you, because we have proposed our PBR structure that we’re very familiar and we’ve had it for nearly a decade in Massachusetts. So the timing is going to be a bit tight. We do expect a decision in the Yankee case in October timeframe. So if PURA issues its guidance, in the July or August timeframe, that’s really, really close. So we’re getting a little bit ahead of ourselves here.

So to be determined how that would ultimately shake out.

Sophie Karp, Analyst, KBCM: I appreciate that. And then in Massachusetts, it seems like the governor for the most part has been oriented towards sort of expanding low income assistance and sort of the phase in issue or the avoiding rate shock approach, if I understand it correctly. Is there anything else we should think about? One of the things I have heard sort of in the past is sort of an income determination, energy burden approach. Do you think that would be expanded greatly, or do you just see this as sort of what I just talked about, just expanding low income assistance and the avoidance of rate shock.

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Yeah, mean, guess the one great thing I’ll tell you about Governor Healy and this administration is that they’re very collaborative and thoughtful. I participated in many discussion around the table. We were looking at opportunities, to try to help, customers that are in need. And I think it’s been very, very productive. We continue to look at that.

And I think if you look at the 10% reduction we were able to help our customers achieve, that’s just another example of when you collaborate, when the utilities collaborate with regulators and administrations, you get very positive outcomes that are a win win for everybody. So I think everything is on the table. I’m not saying that that particular one, I do remember it being discussed, but how it plays out, you know, it’s still pretty early on in that.

Sophie Karp, Analyst, KBCM: Okay, great. I really appreciate it. Have a great one.

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Thank you. Thank you.

Conference Operator: Thank you. One moment for our next question. And our next question comes from the line of Andrew Wiesel of Scotiabank. Your line is now open.

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Good morning, Andrew. Hey, good morning, everyone.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy2: First, to follow-up on the FFO to debt, just to clarify, which threshold are you referring to when you

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy1: talk about the 100 basis point cushion? Is it

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy2: the 12% at S and P? So you’re talking about 13% or higher?

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: I’m talking about the both thresholds at S and P and Moody’s.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy2: Okay, so each of them on a corresponding calculation basis?

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Correct, Andrew. Correct.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy2: Great. Thank you for clarifying. Next, maybe I need a little bit of a reminder, but when you talk about tariffs and the Massachusetts mechanism around performance based rate making and inflation, please just remind me how would that work? And would you expect to fully pass on the effect? I think you mentioned an estimate of 3% to 6% impact.

Is your expectation that that would be fully passed on or just some portion of it?

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Well, the reference to the 3% to 6% that I mentioned was on our capital program. So that would be capital projects related. I also said in my formal remarks that we see very little impact on O and M or O and M. What I’m trying with the reference that I made about the PBR mechanism, if these tariffs put inflationary pressure on the commodities that we purchase from a material from an O and M perspective or general inflation that we’ve seen across the board. The PBR mechanism that we have in Massachusetts, and we’ve had it for, as I said, nearly a decade now, the first layer of that mechanism is an adjustment for inflation using the JDP PI mechanism.

That adjustment, that inflationary adjustment is capped at 5%. So last year’s PBR adjustment for NSTAR electric, for example, that took effect January one of this year, then inflation adjustment was about 3%, three point two five %. So if inflation were to creep up to 6%, we would at least get up to 5% of that rate impact.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy2: I see. Thank you for clarifying that. Two different things, the O and M versus the capital, different buckets. Correct. Thank you for clarifying.

Got it. And one last one, if I may. Can you just give us your latest thoughts on timing of a potential CLMP rate case? Would that be something for 2025?

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: We’re still assessing as as I’ve continuously communicated to you, the earliest we would likely file would be in the fall, but there’s, you know, we’re still assessing the timing of that.

Rima Hyder, Vice President of Investor Relations, Eversource Energy2: Okay, thank you very much.

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Thanks, Andrew.

Conference Operator: Thank you. I’m showing no further questions at this time. I’ll now turn it back to Joe Nolan for closing remarks.

Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eversource Energy: Great. Well, thank you all for taking the time to join us this morning. We really appreciate it. And you’ve got eight minutes to get on the Amarin call with my good friend, Marty Lyons. So enjoy.

John Marreira, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eversource Energy: Thank you, everyone.

Conference Operator: Thank you for your participation in today’s conference. This does conclude the program. You may now disconnect.

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