SAN DIEGO — Sempra Energy, parent of the Southern California Gas Company, reported huge second-quarter 2018 losses of $561 million, or $2.11 per diluted share, compared with earnings of $259 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, in the second quarter 2017.

Announced Monday, Sempra Energy’s second-quarter 2018 results included a $755 million impairment (after tax and noncontrolling interests) related to the planned sale of certain U.S. midstream assets and a $145 million after-tax impairment related to the planned sale of U.S. wind investments.

On an adjusted basis, excluding the aforementioned impairment charges, Sempra Energy’s second-quarter 2018 earnings were $361 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, up from $276 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, in last year’s second quarter.

“In the second quarter, we achieved solid operating results and, with our recent successful equity offerings, we have strengthened our balance sheet,” said Jeffrey W. Martin, CEO of Sempra Energy. “We also have taken significant steps to begin optimizing our portfolio of assets and expand our liquefied natural gas business. These initiatives are integral to our long-term strategic plan, which should deliver shareholder value through superior earnings and dividend growth.”

Sempra Energy’s losses for the first six months of 2018 were $214 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, compared with earnings of $700 million, or $2.77 per diluted share, in the first six months of 2017. Adjusted earnings for the first six months of 2018 were $733 million, or $2.78 per diluted share, compared with $714 million, or $2.83 per diluted share, in the first six months of 2017.

On June 28, following the company’s annual strategic review, Sempra Energy announced a portfolio optimization initiative designed to create incremental shareholder value. The company intends to sell several energy infrastructure assets, including its entire portfolio of U.S. wind and U.S. solar assets and investments, as well as certain U.S. midstream storage assets.

Proceeds from the sales will be used to support growth opportunities in the company’s other businesses and further strengthen Sempra Energy’s balance sheet.

Sempra Energy Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Sempra Energy)

On July 13, Sempra Energy successfully completed equity offerings that are expected to raise $1.82 billion, assuming settlement of all forward sale agreements by the issuance of common stock. The funds will be used to complete the financing for the acquisition earlier this year of an 80.25-percent stake in Oncor Electric Delivery Co. with approximately 65 percent in equity.

OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
In the second quarter, Sempra LNG & Midstream advanced development of its Port Arthur LNG and Energía Costa Azul natural gas liquefaction-export projects. On June 26, Port Arthur LNG entered into a preliminary 20-year agreement for the sale of 2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of natural gas to the Polish national oil company, beginning in 2023, subject to reaching a definitive agreement.

On June 22 and June 25, respectively, Sempra LNG & Midstream announced the selection of Bechtel as the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contractor for the Port Arthur liquefaction project under development in Texas and a partnership of TechnipFMC and Kiewit as the EPC contractor for the Energía Costa Azul liquefaction project under development in Mexico.

Last month, Sempra Energy’s Mexican operating unit, IEnova, announced it had been awarded a 20-year contract by the Topolobampo Port Administration in Mexico to build and operate an estimated $150 million receipt, storage and send-out liquid fuels marine terminal in the state of Sinaloa. Operations are expected to commence in the fourth quarter 2020.

To support the project, IEnova has entered into 10- and 15-year U.S. dollar-denominated contracts for 100 percent of the terminal’s capacity. The two contracts are with refining and fuel marketing companies. Both contracts have the potential to be extended to 20 years.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Non-GAAP financial measures include Sempra Energy’s 2018 adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share for both the second quarter and first six months of 2018 and 2017. Information regarding these non-GAAP financial measures is in the appendix on Table A of the second-quarter financial tables.

INTERNET BROADCAST
Sempra Energy will broadcast a live discussion of its earnings results over the Internet today at 12 p.m. EDT with senior management of the company. Access is available by logging onto the website at www.sempra.com. For those unable to log onto the live webcast, the teleconference will be available on replay a few hours after its conclusion by dialing (888) 203-1112 and entering passcode 7703894.

Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2017 revenues of more than $11 billion. Sempra Energy is the utility holding company with the largest U.S. customer base. The Sempra Energy companies’ approximately 20,000 employees serve more than 40 million consumers worldwide.