Sentiment Analysis of the earnings transcript to help figure out if there are any bullish or bearish sentiments that could be gathered from it. We're doing ML and AI based analysis on the earnings call to get some more insights.
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| Statement |
|---|
| Across all of our utilities we expect additional growth opportunities to support climate adaptation, grid resiliency and the clean energy transition |
| We recognize that it’s no small task to keep each other safe, deliver reliable service to the customers, invest over 4 billion of capital, obtain key regulatory outcomes, and deliver solid financial results |
| Today we are pleased to report strong 2023 operational and financial results |
| Adjusted EPS grew approximately 9%, excluding foreign exchange impacts, with rates growth and the regulatory outcomes in British Columbia and Arizona serving as key drivers |
| And with our track record of executing a regulated growth strategy, we increased our fourth quarter dividend by 4.4%, marking 50 consecutive years of increases in dividends paid, a milestone of which we are very proud |
| David Hutchens We are pleased with our accomplishments in 2023 and we appreciate the contributions of every employee who helped to make last year a success |
| As David mentioned, we delivered strong EPS growth in 2023 |
| And of course, Arizona is always a net migration state as well, where we end up with good, strong population growth, typically decade after decade |
| We achieved a Moody’s cash flow to debt ratio of 11.6% and an S&P FFO to debt ratio of 11.4% in 2023, both coming in stronger than our forecast outlined at Investor Day |
| All in all, a very strong growth year across our portfolio of regulated utilities |
| We continue that track record of dependable shareholder returns despite a challenging year for the utility sector |
| Fortis also benefits from constructive regulatory jurisdictions and legal environments |
| We remain in a strong liquidity position to execute our $25 billion capital plan |
| Our largest utility, ITC, increased EPS by $0.06, reflecting 6% year-over-year earnings growth |
| At our regulated utilities the $0.09 increase in EPS quarter-over-quarter was driven by rate based growth, higher retail revenue in Arizona associated with new customer rates at TEP, and the new cost of capital parameters at FortisBC |
| This balanced portfolio supports the delivery of cleaner, reliable, and affordable energy for our customers |
| We have a strong track record of managing climate risk, including wildfires and other climate events, and they have not had a significant impact on our operations and financial results to date |
| And I think overall, we will see more, I think, positive and balanced discussions and outcomes due to that conversation |
| But we do see this as definitely as a positive |
| Higher retail sales associated with warmer weather and customer growth, an increase in the market value of certain investments that support retirement benefits and lower depreciation associated with the retirement of the San Juan generating station in 2022, also favorably impacted results |
| Over a 20-year period, we have had an average annual return of approximately 11%, significantly higher than the returns generated by the benchmark indices |
| At of our Other Electric segment, rate based growth, higher sales and equity income from the Wataynikaneyap project contributed a $0.02 increase in EPS |
| There is a lot of good ideas |
| We also anticipate growth opportunities associated with renewable natural gas solutions and LNG infrastructure in British Columbia |
| As mentioned earlier, we increased our common share dividend in the fourth quarter by 4.4%, marking 50 consecutive years of increases in dividends paid |
| Reported earnings per common share for the fourth quarter of 2023 were $0.78, $0.01 higher than reported in the fourth quarter of the prior year |
| Looking back, Fortis has delivered rate based growth of 6.5% and adjusted EPS growth of approximately 6% on average annually over the past three years |
| So it’s good to be in that service territory |
| During the year, we provided reliable service to our customers, invested $4.3 billion of capital in our energy systems, concluded key regulatory applications, sold the non-regulated Aitken Creek natural gas storage facility, and further reduced our carbon emissions |
| Reported EPS was $3.10, $0.32 higher than 2022 |
| Statement |
|---|
| S&P also revised its outlook on our issuer rating to negative, citing rising physical risks due to climate change, including wildfires |
| And I’ll say the sad part about having the injunction sitting there is it’s negative to all three of those things |
| These are projects that improve affordability by interconnecting cheaper resources, delivering cleaner energy, and/or are there for reliability and having those delayed is a negative to the three absolute tenants of our utility sector |
| And then just if you think broadly around that question around the Okanagan pipeline and gas needs and this transition around electrification, but obviously BC struggled with forest fires, wildfires, drought conditions, which has hampered their whole sub-verse of the generation market there |
| The remaining EPS decrease for the Corporate and Other segment reflects lower earnings at Aitken Creek, driven by the timing of the disposition and higher margins recognized in the fourth quarter of 2022 |
| David Hutchens Yes, there have been challenges in other states, some that we operate in, some that we have ROFRs in and other states as well |
| Our S&P metric was below our new threshold of 12%, which S&P raised from 10.5% in November |
| For the Corporate and Other segment, this decrease mainly reflects higher holding company finance costs as well as $0.03 related to lower hydroelectric generation in Belize and lower earnings at Aitken Creek |
| Disappointed, of course, that it was denied |
| It’s more that with the policy direction that BC is going, with clean BC, significant uncertainty right now on how does BC meet some fairly aggressive emissions targets, what does that mean for solutions that are 56 years life, like the OCU pipeline upgrade, relative to what the long-term forecast is versus the near-term capacity shortfall |
| Just trying to fully understand the nature of the negative outlook |
| As David mentioned earlier, in December, the Iowa District Court ruled that the Iowa ROFR legislation was unconstitutional on procedural grounds |
| I just think it may make it maybe a little more difficult to legislate by regulation on a going forward basis if it is challenged |
| And we thought first that the minimum tax was going to impact us |
| I think the third issue, and really the heart of your question is what’s changed that, they’re not accepting our load forecast |
| As a result, ITC's Tranche 1 projects located in Iowa are currently on hold |
| It may have been a little bit lower |
| There’s some other growth limitations in there as well |
| As you look out through 2024, are there any events, items that we should look out for that might motivate you to want to restore the cushion? Jocelyn Perry I think, Maurice, I mean, we’re going to continue to have conversations with S&P clearly, we want to set ourselves up to rebuild that cushion, but again, this was a surprise |
| In the fourth quarter, as part of the Iowa Right of First Refusal proceeding, a district court placed an injunction on MISO's long-range transmission projects in Iowa |
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