Mr. David Lebeter reports
HYDRO ONE REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS
Hydro One Ltd. has released its financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.
First Quarter Highlights
-
First quarter basic earnings per share (EPS) of $0.49 was higher than EPS of $0.47 for the same period in 2023.
- EPS for the quarter was higher year-over-year largely due to higher revenues resulting from Ontario Energy Board (OEB)-approved 2024 transmission and distribution rates, partially offset by higher income tax expense, when excluding the impact of the cessation of DTA recovery in the prior year, and higher financing charges.
- Hydro One restored power to approximately 190,000 customers affected by the damaging high winds in parts of central, southern and eastern Ontario in late February to early March.
- Hydro One is proud to be once again listed in the Globe & Mail Women Lead Here Report on Business magazine's annual benchmark of gender diversity in executive roles in Corporate Canada.
- Hydro One sponsored the Little Native Hockey League's (LNHL) 50th anniversary tournament. Hydro One was recently inducted into the LNHL Hall of Fame as a "Friend of the Little NHL," honouring a partnership that first began in 2003.
- Hydro One is proud to be listed on the Corporate Knights' 2024 Global 100 ranking of the world's most sustainable companies.
- Subsequent to quarter end, the Company received OEB approval of the Section 92 Leave to Construct application for the Waasigan Transmission Line.
- Subsequent to quarter end, the Company also received OEB approval to proceed with the acquisition of the Chapleau Public Utilities Corporation, that was previously announced in November 2023.
-
Hydro One strengthened its leadership team with the addition of Renee McKenzie as Executive Vice President (EVP), Digital and Technology Solutions.
- The Company's capital investments and in-service additions for the quarter were $673 million and $240 million, respectively, compared to $499 million and $237 million in 2023.
- Quarterly dividend declared at $0.3142 per share, payable June 28, 2024.
"We have refreshed our corporate strategy to be more customer-focused while remaining agile and flexible to the changing landscape within the energy sector," said David Lebeter, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hydro One. "Hydro One has a definitive plan to navigate this time of change and build a modernized grid that meets the needs of Ontario."
Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Highlights
Three months ended March 31
(millions of Canadian dollars, except as otherwise noted) 2024 2023
Revenues 2,166 2,074
Purchased power 1,096 1,010
Revenues, net of purchased power1 1,070 1,064
Net income attributable to common shareholders 293 282
Basic EPS $0.49 $0.47
Diluted EPS $0.49 $0.47
Net cash from operating activities 462 350
Capital investments 673 499
Assets placed in-service 240 237
Transmission: Average monthly Ontario 60-minute peak demand (MW) 19,799 20,228
Distribution: Electricity distributed to Hydro One customers (GWh) 8,613 8,545
Key Financial Highlights
2024 First Quarter Highlights
The Company reported net income attributable to common shareholders of $293 million during the quarter, compared to $282 million in the same period of 2023. This resulted in EPS of $0.49, compared to EPS of $0.47 in the prior year.
Revenues of $2,166 million for the first quarter were $92 million higher than revenues for the first quarter of 2023. Revenues, net of purchased power[1] of $1,070 million for the first quarter were $6 million higher than revenues, net of purchased power1 for the first quarter of 2023. The increase is mainly attributable to higher revenues resulting from OEB-approved 2024 rates which was partially offset by the cessation of the OEB-approved recovery of deferred tax asset (DTA) amounts previously shared with ratepayers in the prior year. Lower revenues attributable to the DTA recovery are offset by a decrease in income tax expense and net income neutral in the period.
Operation, maintenance and administration (OM&A) costs in the first quarter of 2024 were slightly lower than the prior year. Once adjusted for net income neutral items, OM&A was slightly higher than the prior year primarily due to higher allowance for doubtful accounts.
Financing charges in the first quarter of 2024 were higher than the prior year primarily due to higher weighted-average interest rates and higher average debt levels.
Depreciation, amortization and asset removal costs for the first quarter of 2024 were slightly higher than the prior year mainly due to growth in capital assets as the Company continues to place new assets in-service, consistent with its ongoing capital investment program, partially offset by lower amortization of regulatory assets.
Income tax expense for the first quarter of 2024 was lower than the prior year primarily due to the cessation of the DTA recovery period, which is offset in revenue and net income neutral. Once adjusted for net income neutral items, income tax expense was higher year-over-year primarily due to lower deductible timing differences and higher pre-tax earnings.
Hydro One continues to invest in the reliability and performance of Ontario's electricity transmission and distribution systems by addressing aging power system infrastructure, facilitating connectivity to new load customers and generation sources, and improving service to customers. The Company made capital investments of $673 million during the first quarter of 2024 and placed $240 million of new assets in-service.
Selected Operating Highlights
Hydro One has refreshed its corporate strategy, building on the strong foundation created by its existing strategy which delivered value to our shareholders, customers, partners and Ontarians. Given the pace of change within the energy sector, the corporate strategy has been refreshed to build on our successes as well as set out a roadmap to meet the evolving expectations of our customers.
Hydro One strengthened its leadership team with the addition of Renee McKenzie as EVP, Digital and Technology Solutions. Ms. McKenzie has more than 24 years of experience delivering innovative and digital solutions to achieve strategic business goals, enhance customer satisfaction and drive operational efficiencies. Previously, Ms. McKenzie held progressively more senior positions at OpenText, most recently as EVP, and Chief Information Officer.
Subsequent to quarter end, the Company received OEB approval for its Waasigan Transmission Line project. In cooperation with First Nation partners, the Waasigan Transmission Line will be a new double-circuit 230 kilovolt transmission line between Lakehead Transformer Station (TS) in the Municipality of Shuniah and Mackenzie TS in the Town of Atikokan, and a new single-circuit 230 kilovolt transmission line between Mackenzie TS and Dryden TS in the City of Dryden.
Common Share Dividends
Following the conclusion of the first quarter, on May 13, 2024, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend to common shareholders of $0.3142 per share to be paid on June 28, 2024 to shareholders of record on June 12, 2024.
Supplemental Segment Information
Three months ended March 31
(millions of Canadian dollars) 2024 2023
Revenues
Transmission 553 555
Distribution 1,605 1,509
Other 8 10
Total revenues 2,166 2,074
Revenues, net of purchased power 1
Transmission 553 555
Distribution 509 499
Other 8 10
Total revenues, net of purchased power1 1,070 1,064
Operation, maintenance and administration costs
Transmission 121 123
Distribution 180 185
Other 21 20
Total operation, maintenance and administration costs 322 328
Income before financing charges and taxes
Transmission 299 304
Distribution 211 192
Other (16) (12)
Total income before financing charges and taxes 494 484
Capital investments
Transmission 421 298
Distribution 249 196
Other 3 5
Total capital investments 673 499
Assets placed in-service
Transmission 64 115
Distribution 172 122
Other 4 -
Total assets placed in-service 240 237
This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's first quarter 2024 unaudited consolidated financial statements and MD&A. These financial statements and MD&A together with additional information about Hydro One, including the audited consolidated financial statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2023 can be accessed at
www.HydroOne.com/Investors
and
www.sedarplus.com
.
Quarterly Investment Community Teleconference
The Company's first quarter 2024 results teleconference with the investment community will be held on May 14, 2024 at 8 a.m. ET, a webcast of which will be available at
www.HydroOne.com/Investors
. Members of the financial community wishing to ask questions during the call should go to this link (
https://register.vevent.com/register/BIe3165992422b44faad16a4edd9cfadee
) prior to the scheduled start time to access Hydro One's first quarter 2024 results call. Media and other interested parties are welcome to participate on a listen-only basis. A webcast of the teleconference will be available at the same link following the call. Additionally, investors should note that, from time to time Hydro One management presents at brokerage sponsored investor conferences. Most often, but not always, these conferences are webcast by the hosting brokerage firm, and when they are webcast, links are made available on Hydro One's website at
www.HydroOne.com/Investors
and are posted generally at least two days before the conference.
Hydro One Limited (TSX: H)
Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.5 million valued customers, approximately $32.8 billion in assets as at December 31, 2023, and annual revenues in 2023 of approximately $7.8 billion.
Our team of approximately 9,700 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2023, Hydro One invested approximately $2.5 billion in its transmission and distribution networks, and supported the economy through buying approximately $2.5 billion of goods and services.
We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives.
Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE.
We seek Safe Harbor.
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