Mighty River Power: Quarterly Operational Update, March 2014

Mighty River Power – Quarterly Operational Update: Three months ended 31 March 2014

• GEOTHERMAL GENERATION – increased by 36% to the highest-ever production level.
• HYDRO GENERATION up 13% reflecting the decision to build-up storage in prior quarter.
• COMMERCIAL SALES VOLUMES down increasing net wholesale sales.

GEOTHERMAL GENERATION INCREASES BY 36%, HYDRO GENERATION UP
Mighty River Power’s geothermal production was its highest ever in the period at 682GWh, an increase of 179GWh (or 36%) on the prior comparable period (pcp) – making up 45% of Mighty River Power’s total generation. The boost in geothermal production was the result of the additional base-load generation from the 82MW Ngatamariki station completed in September last year, and increased generation from Kawerau due to more fuel availability with a new consent secured for additional fuel. Gas-fired generation at Southdown was only 6GWh during the quarter due to the plant being out for routine maintenance. Southdown is being progressively returned to service with two units now operational, and the third unit expected to be back in service by the end of April.

Hydro generation was up 95GWh on pcp (up 13%) to 834GWh despite quarterly inflows at the 2nd percentile. There has only been one drier year on record for the January to March period. The Company had built-up storage in the previous quarter to average levels at 1 January 2014.

COMMERCIAL SALES VOLUMES DOWN, NET WHOLESALE SALES UP
Net sales to the wholesale market (102GWh long) increased as a result of Mighty River Power reducing commercial sales commitments by 12% through 2013 (calendar year), with the wholesale market providing better rewards for the Company’s flexible hydro generation. Since the beginning of 2014 the Company has seen increased volatility and higher pricing in the wholesale market, and the longer net sales position gave the Company flexibility to optimise value in the market resulting in the price achieved for total generation of $105.34/MWh (up 8%). The overall price the Company achieved for its fixed-price electricity sales was up slightly (1.3%) to $112.67/MWh, which reflected higher commercial prices. Both residential prices and volumes remained flat, with the Company holding broadly steady market share for the period. The Company announced in December that there would be no increase in residential energy prices until at least April 2015, and it has recently also increased its Prompt Payment Discount by 2% for customers on both direct debit and electronic billing.

TAUPO STORAGE AT LAST YEAR’S LOW LEVEL
Lake Taupo ended the period with storage at 33% of average, with both national and Taupo storage at about the same level as they were this time last year. Typically Taupo inflows increase in May from the low in April. Mighty River Power’s lower commercial sales commitments and higher reliable base-load geothermal production, along with dry year cover and hedging contracts, provides the Company with resilience to manage wholesale price risk when hydrology is low. Mighty River Power will release its financial results for the year ending 30 June 2014 on 20 August 2014.

Click on the link below for the full Quarterly Operational Update and the history of operating statistics
http://www.mightyriver.co.nz/Investor-Centre/Reports-and-Presentations/Operational-Information.aspx

Click here for the full report.

ENDS

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