NEW YORK, May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Consolidated Edison, Inc. (Con Edison) (NYSE:ED) today reported 2024 first quarter net income for common stock of $720 million or $2.08 a share compared with $1,433 million or $4.06 a share in the 2023 first quarter. Adjusted earnings were $742 million or $2.15 a share in the 2024 period compared with $645 million or $1.83 a share in the 2023 period. Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share in the 2024 period exclude the effects of hypothetical liquidation at book value (HLBV) accounting for tax equity investments and adjustments to the gain and other impacts related to the sale of its former subsidiary, Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, Inc. (the Clean Energy Businesses), in 2023. Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share in the 2023 period exclude the effects of HLBV accounting for tax equity investments, the gain and other impacts related to the sale of the Clean Energy businesses and the net mark-to-market effects of the Clean Energy Businesses.   "We are off to a strong start in 2024 in our efforts to transition to clean energy while maintaining the world-class reliability that our unique service area needs and our customers deserve," said Tim Cawley, the chairman and CEO of Con Edison. "We gained state approval for our Reliable Clean City – Idlewild Project, a $1.2 billion investment in two new substations in southeast Queens to meet the growing need for power as buildings become electrified, more electric vehicles take to the road and John F. Kennedy International Airport undergoes redevelopment. The dedication of our dynamic workforce makes me more optimistic than ever about the future of our company and the Greater New York area." "Our first quarter financial results reflect the solid rate base growth that we project at our utilities through 2028, as we invest to protect our equipment from climate change and build an electric grid capable of delivering 100 percent clean energy," said Robert Hoglund, senior vice president and CFO of Con Edison. "Our strategy of investing in our energy delivery systems and our 50 straight years of increasing our dividend make Con Edison an attractive investment and give us confidence that we will continue providing strong, stable earnings and returns for our investors." For the year of 2024, Con Edison reaffirmed its previous forecast of adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of $5.20 to $5.40 per share. Adjusted earnings per share excludes the effects of HLBV accounting for tax equity investments (approximately $(0.01) a share after-tax) and adjustments to the gain and other impacts related to the sale of the Clean Energy Businesses in 2023, the amount of which will not be determinable until year-end. See Attachment A to this press release for a reconciliation of Con Edison's reported earnings per share to adjusted earnings per share and reported net income for common stock to adjusted earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.  See Attachment B for the estimated effect of major factors resulting in variations in earnings per share and net income for common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the 2023 period. The company's 2024 First Quarter Form 10-Q is being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A first quarter 2024 earnings release presentation will be available at www.conedison.com. (Select "For Investors" and then select "Press Releases.") This press release contains forward-looking statements that are intended to qualify for the safe-harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations and not facts. Words such as "forecasts," "expects," "estimates," "anticipates," "intends," "believes," "plans," "will," "target," "guidance," "potential," "goal," "consider" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements reflect information available and assumptions at the time the statements are made, and accordingly speak only as of that time. Actual results or developments might differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements because of various factors such as those identified in reports Con Edison has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including that Con Edison's subsidiaries are extensively regulated and are subject to substantial penalties; its utility subsidiaries' rate plans may not provide a reasonable return; it may be adversely affected by changes to the utility subsidiaries' rate plans; the failure of, or damage to, its subsidiaries' facilities could adversely affect it; a cyber-attack could adversely affect it; the failure of processes and systems, the failure to retain and attract employees and contractors, and their negative performance could adversely affect it; it is exposed to risks from the environmental consequences of its subsidiaries' operations, including increased costs related to climate change; its ability to pay dividends or interest depends on dividends from its subsidiaries; changes to tax laws could adversely affect it; it requires access to capital markets to satisfy funding requirements; a disruption in the wholesale energy markets, increased commodity costs or failure by an energy supplier or customer could adversely affect it; it faces risks related to health epidemics and other outbreaks; its strategies may not be effective to address changes in the external business environment; it faces risks related to supply chain disruptions and inflation; and it also faces other risks that are beyond its control. Con Edison assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. This press release also contains financial measures, adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share, that are not determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to net income for common stock or net income per share, respectively, each of which is an indicator of financial performance determined in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share exclude from net income for common stock and net income per share, respectively, certain items that Con Edison does not consider indicative of its ongoing financial performance such as the gain and other impacts related to the sale of the Clean Energy Businesses, the effects of HLBV accounting for tax equity investments ...