JACKSON, Mich., Jan. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- CMS Energy announced today reported net income of $96 million, or $0.35 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to reported net income of $102 million, or $0.37 per share, for the same quarter of 2013. Adjusted (non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) net income for the fourth quarter was the same as the reported amounts.

For 2014, CMS Energy had reported net income of $477 million, or $1.74 per share, compared to $452 million, or $1.66 per share for 2013. On an adjusted basis, which excludes the effects of one-time items, the company had net income of $486 million, or $1.77 per share for 2014 at the high end of guidance, compared to $452 million, or $1.66 per share for 2013.

CMS Energy raised guidance for 2015 adjusted earnings to $1.86 to $1.89 per share. This guidance is consistent with the company's long-term plan of 5 percent to 7 percent annual earnings per share growth, and builds, as always over the last dozen years, on the company's high-end actual performance.

"CMS Energy continues to deliver on its promise to investors, customers and the State of Michigan. 2014 marks our 12(th) consecutive year of consistent financial performance, delivering top-end industry earnings growth, with more progress planned for 2015 and beyond," said John Russell, CMS Energy's president and chief executive officer.

"Our customer focus is paying off, with major improvements in customer satisfaction scores, residential electric bills that are 10 percent below the national average, and strong electric and natural gas reliability, including during last winter's historic Polar Vortex."

"We're anticipating action on energy policy in Michigan consistent with statements from state policy makers. The Lower Peninsula is facing an electric generation shortfall as early as 2016, which is why we need a Michigan-first energy plan. While supporting the efforts of policy makers, we also are ensuring power reliability for our customers by taking steps such as purchasing the Jackson Gas Plant for our electric generating fleet."

Russell said that CMS Energy's principal subsidiary, Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility with three million electric and natural gas customers, plans to invest more than $15.5 billion in its operations over the next 10 years to enhance customer value.

"We are making strategic investments in Michigan to provide customers with safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean energy," said Russell. "As a result of our investments electric reliability is improving, and we're proud that we achieved Michigan's standard for renewable energy production one year ahead of the statutory requirement."

Russell said the company is strengthening ties to the Michigan communities it serves with electric and natural gas, including more support for local businesses.

"In addition to the $2 billion we spend annually in Michigan on goods and services, we are a leadership sponsor of Pure Michigan Business Connect, which encourages Michigan companies to do more business with each other. As of year-end, we've awarded $956 million in contracts to Michigan companies since 2011 as part of Pure Michigan Business Connect, creating an estimated 5,000 jobs."

"Michigan's economy is rebounding strongly, with the lowest unemployment rate in 12 years. We're doing our part by making energy costs more affordable. We've proposed electric rate reductions of 5 percent to 15 percent for business customers which are large energy users. Natural gas bills for customers are forecasted to be lower in 2015 compared to 2014 and more than 20 percent lower than 5 years ago."

In reviewing recent major events, Russell cited:


    --  Commercial operation of Cross Winds® Energy Park, the company's second
        wind facility.
    --  Settlement of a gas rate case six months early, including a 10.3 percent
        return on equity.
    --  Commercial operation of the 36-inch Southwest Michigan Pipeline to
        strengthen gas delivery reliability and support strategic supply
        purchases.
    --  Achieved ranking as one of the world's leading sustainable energy
        providers as determined by Sustainalytics, a Boston-based global
        research firm.

CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) is a Michigan-based company that has an electric and natural gas utility, Consumers Energy, as its primary business and also owns and operates independent power generation businesses.

CMS Energy will hold a webcast to discuss its 2014 fourth quarter results and provide a business and financial outlook on January 29 at 9:00 AM (EDT). To participate in the webcast, go to CMS Energy's home page (www.cmsenergy.com) and select "Investor Meeting."

CMS Energy provides historical financial results on both a reported (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and adjusted (non-GAAP) basis and provides forward-looking guidance on an adjusted basis. Management views adjusted earnings as a key measure of the company's present operating financial performance, unaffected by discontinued operations, asset sales, impairments, regulatory items from prior years, or other items detailed in the attached summary financial statements. These items have the potential to impact, favorably or unfavorably, the company's reported earnings in future periods.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in Rule 3b-6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Rule 175 of the Securities Act of 1933, and relevant legal decisions. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of the risk and other factors detailed from time to time in CMS Energy's and Consumers Energy's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction with "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION" and "RISK FACTORS" sections of CMS Energy's Form 10-K and Consumers Energy's Form 10-K each for the year ended December 31, 2013 and as updated in CMS Energy's and Consumers Energy's subsequent Forms 10-Q.

CMS Energy's and Consumers Energy's "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION" and "RISK FACTORS" sections are incorporated herein by reference and discuss important factors that could cause CMS Energy's and Consumers Energy's results to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Investors and others should note that CMS Energy and Consumers Energy post important financial information using the investor relations section of the CMS Energy website, www.cmsenergy.com and Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

For more information on CMS Energy, please visit our web site at: www.cmsenergy.com.



                                                               CMS Energy Corporation

                                                    SUMMARIZED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                                    --------------------------------------------

                                                       (In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)







                                                                                           Fourth Quarter         Full Year

                                                                                            (Unaudited)          (Unaudited)
                                                                                             ----------           ----------

                                                                                               2014         2013               2014   2013
                                                                                               ----         ----               ----   ----


    Operating Revenue                                                                        $1,758       $1,736             $7,179 $6,566


    Operating Expenses                                                                        1,485        1,472              6,027  5,424
                                                                                              -----        -----              -----  -----


    Operating Income                                                                           $273         $264             $1,152 $1,142


    Other Income (Expense)                                                                     (17)         (1)              (16)    12


    Interest Charges                                                                            104           99                407    398
                                                                                                ---          ---                ---    ---


    Income before Income Taxes                                                                 $152         $164               $729   $756


    Income Tax Expense                                                                           55           62                250    302
                                                                                                ---          ---                ---    ---


    Net Income                                                                                  $97         $102               $479   $454


    Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests                                               1            -                 2      2
                                                                                                ---          ---               ---    ---


    Net Income Available to Common Stockholders                                                 $96         $102               $477   $452
                                                                                                ===         ====               ====   ====



    Income Per Share

                 Basic                                                                        $0.35        $0.38              $1.76  $1.71

                 Diluted                                                                       0.35         0.37               1.74   1.66


                                                   CMS Energy Corporation

                                           SUMMARIZED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                           --------------------------------------

                                                       (In Millions)


                                                      December 31                 December 31

                                                                        2014                      2013
                                                                        ----                      ----

                                                      (Unaudited)

    Assets

    Cash
     and
     cash
     equivalents                                                        $207                      $172

     Restricted
     cash
     and
     cash
     equivalents                                                          37                        32

    Other
     current
     assets                                                            2,353                     2,322
                                                                       -----                     -----

       Total
        current
        assets                                                        $2,597                    $2,526

    Plant,
     property,
     and
     equipment                                                        13,412                    12,246

    Other
     non-
     current
     assets                                                            3,176                     2,644
                                                                       -----                     -----

    Total
     Assets                                                          $19,185                   $17,416
                                                                     =======                   =======



    Liabilities and Equity

     Current
     liabilities                                                      $1,414                    $1,213

    Non-
     current
     liabilities                                                       5,325                     4,741

    Capitalization

       Debt, capital leases, and financing
        obligation (*)

          Debt, capital leases, and financing
           obligation

              (excluding
              non-
              recourse
              and
              securitization
              debt)                                                    7,428                     7,227

          Non-
           recourse
           debt                                                          884                       652
                                                                         ---                       ---

       Total
        debt,
        capital
        leases,
        and
        financing
        obligation                                                     8,312                     7,879

        Noncontrolling
        interests                                                         37                        37

       Common
        stockholders'
        equity                                                         3,670                     3,454
                                                                       -----                     -----

       Total
        capitalization                                               $12,019                   $11,370

     Securitization
     debt                                                                427                        92
                                                                         ---                       ---

    Total
     Liabilities
     and
     Equity                                                          $19,185                   $17,416
                                                                     =======                   =======


    (*) Current and long-term



                                                 CMS Energy Corporation

                                          SUMMARIZED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                          -----------------------------------

                                                     (In Millions)





                                                       Full Year

                                                      (Unaudited)
                                                       ----------

                                                                        2014                      2013
                                                                        ----                      ----



     Beginning
     of
     Period
     Cash                                                               $172                       $93



    Cash
     provided
     by
     operating
     activities                                                       $1,447                    $1,421

    Cash
     used
     in
     investing
     activities                                                      (1,910)                  (1,532)
                                                                      ------                    ------

    Cash
     flow
     from
     operating
     and
     investing
     activities                                                       $(463)                   $(111)

    Cash
     provided
     by
     financing
     activities                                                          498                       190

    Total
     Cash
     Flow                                                                $35                       $79
                                                                         ---                       ---



    End of
     Period
     Cash                                                               $207                      $172
                                                                        ====                      ====


                                                                                                                                           CMS Energy Corporation

                                                                                                                                      SUMMARY OF CONSOLIDATED EARNINGS
                                                                                                                                      --------------------------------

                                                                                                                     Reconciliations of GAAP Net Income to Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income

                                                                                                                                   (In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)




                                                                                                                                                      Fourth Quarter                     Full Year

                                                                                                                                                        (Unaudited)                     (Unaudited)
                                                                                                                                                        ----------                      ----------

                                                                                                                                                                        2014                         2013    2014    2013
                                                                                                                                                                        ----                         ----    ----    ----


    Net Income Available to Common Stockholders                                                                                                                          $96                         $102    $477    $452


    Reconciling Items:

                                   Discontinued Operations (Income) Loss                                                                                                     *                           *    (*)      *


                                   Restructuring Costs and Other                                                                                                             *                           *      9       *
                                                                                                                                                                         ---


    Adjusted Net Income - Non-GAAP Basis                                                                                                                                 $96                         $102    $486    $452
                                                                                                                                                                         ===                         ====    ====    ====



    Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding

                                   Basic                                                                                                                                   274                          265     271     265

                                   Diluted                                                                                                                                 275                          272     275     272


    Basic Earnings Per Average Common Share


    Net Income Per Share as Reported                                                                                                                                   $0.35                        $0.38   $1.76   $1.71


    Reconciling Items:

                                   Discontinued Operations (Income) Loss                                                                                                     *                           *    (*)      *


                                   Restructuring Costs and Other                                                                                                             *                           *   0.03       *
                                                                                                                                                                         ---


    Adjusted Net Income - Non-GAAP Basis                                                                                                                               $0.35                        $0.38   $1.79   $1.71
                                                                                                                                                                       =====                        =====   =====   =====



    Diluted Earnings Per Average Common Share


    Net Income Per Share as Reported                                                                                                                                   $0.35                        $0.37   $1.74   $1.66


    Reconciling Items:

                                   Discontinued Operations (Income) Loss                                                                                                     *                           *    (*)      *


                                   Restructuring Costs and Other                                                                                                             *                           *   0.03       *
                                                                                                                                                                         ---


    Adjusted Net Income - Non-GAAP Basis                                                                                                                               $0.35                        $0.37   $1.77   $1.66
                                                                                                                                                                       =====                        =====   =====   =====



    Note:                           Management views adjusted (non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) earnings
                                    as a

                                    key measure of the Company's present operating financial performance,
                                    unaffected by

                                    discontinued operations, asset sales, impairments, regulatory items from
                                    prior years,

                                    or other items detailed in these summary financial
                                    statements.


    * Less than $500 thousand or $0.01 per share.

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SOURCE CMS Energy