Jersey Electricity Regulatory News (JEL)

Jersey Electricity plc

Interim Management Report

for the six months ended 31 March 2019

The Board approved at a meeting on 16 May 2019 the Interim Management Report for the six months ended 31 March 2019 and declared an interim dividend of 6.45p compared to 6.10p for 2018. The dividend will be paid on 28 June 2019 to those shareholders registered in the records of the Company at the close of business on 7 June 2019.

The Interim Management Report is attached and will be available to the public on the Company's website www.jec.co.uk/about-us/investor-relations/financial-figures-and-reports.

The Interim Management Report for 2019 has not been audited, or reviewed, by our external auditors nor have the results for the equivalent period in 2018. The results for the year ended 30 September 2018 were extracted from the statutory accounts. The auditor has reported on those accounts and their report was unmodified.

M.P. Magee P.J. Routier

Finance Director Company Secretary

Direct telephone number : 01534 505201 Direct telephone number : 01534 505253

Email : mmagee@jec.co.uk Email : proutier@jec.co.uk

16 May 2019

The Powerhouse,

PO Box 45,

Queens Road,

St Helier,

Jersey JE4 8NY

Jersey Electricity plc

Unaudited Interim Management Report

for the six months to 31 March 2019

Overall trading performance

Group revenue, at £59.7m, was 1% lower for the first half of 2019 compared to the same period last year mainly due to a £1.3m decrease in revenue in JEBS, our contracting and business services unit. Revenue in our Energy business was broadly similar to last year. Profit before tax at £9.3m was £0.4m less than 2018 with a fall in Energy profits associated with lower unit sales being the primary driver. Cost of sales at £36.7m was £0.8m lower than last year with the fall in JEBS revenue being the main reason and operating expenses at £13.1m were £0.5m higher driven by marginal increases in depreciation, maintenance costs and software licensing. The taxation charge in the period of £1.9m was £0.1m lower than last year due to lower profits. Earnings per share, at 23.8p, were marginally behind 24.9p in 2018 due to lower profits. Net debt on the balance sheet, which comprises borrowings less cash and cash equivalents, at 31 March 2019 was £12.1m compared to £20.2m at this time last year (and £14.3m at our last year end on 30 September 2018).

Energy performance

Unit sales of electricity fell 3%, from 368m to 357m kWh, compared with last year. The recorded Maximum Demand fell by 15% from an all-time record of 178MW in March 2018 to 150MW, in December 2018. Revenues in our Energy business at £47.4m were £0.2m higher than in 2018 reflecting a £0.6m reduction due to lower unit sales offset by the 2% rise in customer tariffs from 1 June 2018. Other income received was £0.8m higher than in 2018 as we received a rebate for subsea cable repair costs incurred in 2014. Operating profit at £8.2m was £0.5m lower than in the same period last year. Gross margin was impacted by lower unit sales and increased imported electricity prices and other costs, such as manpower, were higher compared to last year. We imported 95% of our on-Island requirement from France and 5% from the Energy from Waste plant, owned by the States of Jersey. Only 0.2% (1m units) of electricity was generated in Jersey using our own plant due to the availability of our three subsea cables to France. These importation and generation levels were consistent with the same period last year.

Non-Energy performance

Year-on-year revenue in our Powerhouse retail business, rose by 3% to £8.1m (2018: £7.9m) and profits rose by £0.1m to £0.6m in what is a very competitive marketplace, both locally and off-island. Profit for our Property portfolio was £0.1m lower than last year, at £0.8m, due mainly to an increase in operational maintenance costs. JEBS, our contracting and business services unit, saw a £1.3m decrease in external revenue to £1.6m (as one particularly large project took place during the previous financial year) but profitability remained around break-even similar to 2018. Our remaining business units produced profits of £0.3m being at a similar level to that delivered in 2018.  

Investment in infrastructure

Capital expenditure was £6.4m in the first 6 months of the financial year compared to £7.1m in the same period last year. Our new West of St Helier Primary sub-station was successfully commissioned on 13 December as planned and the remaining mainly cosmetic works to the site, will be completed by summer 2019. Our rollout of smart-enabled meters continues with around 45,000 installed in customer premises as at 31 March 2019 representing around 90% of our customer base. A £4m project to install a new transformer at our La Collette site was approved at the March 2019 Board meeting and the project is expected to be completed during 2021.

Forward hedging of electricity and foreign exchange, and customer tariffs

We continue with our focus on delivering secure low-carbon electricity supplies and in our goal to maintain relative stability in customer tariffs, despite volatility in both European wholesale electricity, and foreign exchange markets. Our electricity purchases are materially, albeit not fully, hedged for the period 2019-22. As these are contractually denominated in the Euro we enter into forward foreign currency contracts to reduce the volatility of our cost base and aid tariff planning. In February 2019 we announced a below inflation average rise in tariffs of 3.5%, from 1 April, largely driven by a weakening of Sterling relative to the Euro and other inflationary factors. This is only the second rise instigated in the last five years and the tariffs payable by an average customer continue to benchmark well against other jurisdictions. The 'default maximum tariff', recently introduced by Ofgem (the electricity Regulator) to cap prices payable in the UK, is set at a level that is over 30% higher than the average customer would pay in Jersey.

Debt and financing

The net debt figure fell to £12.1m at 31 March 2019 compared to £20.2m at this time last year (and £14.3m at 30 September 2018). We continue to invest in necessary infrastructure in the Channel Islands and the Board is of the opinion that the Company is in a strong position to invest and fund further capital expenditure as considered appropriate.

Pension scheme

The defined benefit pension scheme deficit (without deduction of deferred tax) on our balance sheet at 31 March 2019 stood at £3.4m, compared to a surplus of £4.8m level at 30 September 2018 (and a deficit of £3.9m at 31 March 2018). Since the last financial year end scheme liabilities have materially increased by approximately £13m (to £144m). This increase was due to the assumed discount rate moving down from 2.9% at the last financial year-end to 2.4% at 31 March 2019 as yield curve movements have fallen in the interim period. Assets in the Scheme have risen by around £5m (to £141m).

The defined benefit scheme has been closed to new members since 2013. The triennial valuation of the pension scheme, as at 31 December 2018, is currently being performed by Aon, and the results will be reported in our 2019 Annual Report.

Dividend

Your Board proposes to pay an interim net dividend for 2019 of 6.45p (2018: 6.10p). As stated previously we continue to aim to deliver sustained real growth each year over the medium-term. The final dividend for 2018 of 8.80p, paid in late March in respect of the last financial year, was an increase of 5% on the previous year. 

Risk and outlook

The principal risks and uncertainties identified in our last Annual Report, issued in January 2019, have not materially altered in the interim period. We reported on Brexit considerations in the 2018 Annual Report and our view has not altered, since then.

Your Board is satisfied that Jersey Electricity plc has sufficient resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future, a period of not less than 12 months from the date of approval of this report. Accordingly, we continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the condensed financial statements.

Responsibility statement

We confirm to the best of our knowledge:

(a) the condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting';

(b) the Interim Directors Statement includes a fair review of the information required by the Disclosure and Transparency Rule DTR 4.2.7R (indication of important events during the first six months and description of principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year); and

(c) the Interim Directors Statement includes a fair review of the information required by the Disclosure and Transparency Rule DTR 4.2.8R (disclosure of related party transactions and changes therein); and

(d) this half yearly interim report contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the operations, performance and financial condition of the Group. By their nature, these statements involve uncertainty since future events and circumstances can cause results and developments to differ materially from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements reflect knowledge and information available at the date of preparation of this half yearly financial report and the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Nothing in this half yearly financial report should be construed as a profit forecast.

C.J. AMBLER - Chief Executive M.P.MAGEE - Finance Director 16 May 2019

INVESTOR TIMETABLE FOR 2019

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Statement (Unaudited)

1. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The interim financial statements for the six months ended 31 March 2019 have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the 30 September 2018 annual report and accounts using accounting policies consistent with International Financial Reporting Standards and in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 'Interim Financial Reporting'. There have been two changes to accounting standards during the current financial period that would be expected to impact the disclosures in these financial statements and the full year financial statements that will be prepared for 30 September 2019:

IFRS 9 'Financial instruments' was endorsed by the European Union (EU) and has been effective for periods on or after 1 January 2018 (1 October 2018 for the Group) and replaces IAS 39 'Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement'. The impact of adopting this standard does not materially change the amounts recognised in relation to existing Euro forward currency hedging arrangements employed by the Group but does simplify the requirements for measuring hedge effectiveness, and thus the eligibility conditions for hedge accounting. The Group's review of the IFRS 9 hedge accounting model concluded that whilst adoption does not change the treatment of existing hedging arrangements, the changes made do not result in any additional hedge designations either. As such, the existing hedge accounting model under IAS 39 appropriately reflects our risk management activities in the financial statements. Therefore, as permitted by IFRS 9, the Group has elected to continue to apply the hedge accounting requirements of IAS 39. This policy choice will be periodically reviewed to consider any changes in our risk management activities. Additionally, the Group has applied the exemption from the requirement to restate comparative information about classification and measurement, including impairment.

IFRS 15 'Revenue from contracts with customers' was endorsed by the EU and is effective for periods commencing on or after 1 January 2018 (1 October 2018 for the Group) and replaces IAS 11 'Construction contracts', IAS 18 'Revenue', IFRIC 18 'Transfers of Assets from Customers' and a number of other revenue related interpretations previously adopted by the Group. The core principle of IFRS 15 is that an entity recognises revenue that reflects the expected consideration for goods or services provided to a customer under contract, over the performance obligations they are provided, especially where bundled services are provided. Due to the nature of the Group's revenue generating transactions with customers, the impact of IFRS 15 only affects very limited activities undertaken by our Jendev division. It is therefore understood that this standard has no material impact to revenue or profits of the Group.

IFRS 16 'Leases' has been endorsed by the EU and will be effective for periods commencing on or after 1 January 2019 (1 October 2019 for the Group) and replaces IAS 17 'Leases' and sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases. It is anticipated that where the Group is currently lessee, around £4.0m of additional "Right of Use" assets will be capitalised with a corresponding lease liability. The amortisation of the lease liability through the income statement is currently forecast to be similar to the current rent charges and thus there is expected to be no material impact to profit.

The directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group (being the Company, Jersey Electricity plc and its subsidiary, Jersey Deep Freeze Ltd) has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the interim financial statements.

Notes to the Condensed Interim Accounts (Unaudited)

2. Revenue and profit

The contributions of the various activities to Group revenue and profit are listed below:

Materially, all of the Group's operations are conducted within the Channel Islands. All transactions between divisions are on an arm's-length basis. The assets and liabilities of the Group are not reported on as there has been no significant movement in the values in the six months to 31 March 2019.

3. Taxation

For the period ended 31 March 2019 and subsequent periods, the Company is taxable at the rate applicable to utility companies in Jersey of 20% (2018: 20%). 

Notes to the Condensed Interim Accounts (Unaudited)

4. Dividends paid and proposed

The distribution to equity holders in respect of the final dividend for 2018 of £2,695,449 (8.80p net of tax per share) was paid on 28 March 2019.

The Directors have declared an interim dividend of 6.45p per share, net of tax (2018: 6.10p) for the six months ended 31 March 2019 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 7 June 2019. This dividend was approved by the Board on 16 May 2019 and has not been included as a liability at 31 March 2019.

5. Pensions

In consultation with the independent actuaries to the scheme, the valuation of the pension scheme assets and liabilities has been updated to reflect current market discount rates, current market values of investments and actual investment returns applicable under IAS 19 'Employee Benefits', and consideration has also been given as to whether there have been any other events that would significantly affect the pension liabilities.

6. Financial instruments

The Group held the following derivative contracts, classified as level 2 financial instruments at 31 March 2019. 

All financial instruments for which fair value is recognised or disclosed are categorised within the fair value hierarchy. This hierarchy is based on the underlying assumptions used to determine the fair value measurement as a whole and is categorised as follows:

Level 1 financial instruments are those with values that are immediately comparable to quoted (unadjusted) market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2 financial instruments are those with values that are determined using valuation techniques for which the basic assumptions used to calculate fair value are directly or indirectly observable (such as to readily available market prices);

Notes to the Condensed Interim Accounts (Unaudited)

Level 3 financial instruments are shown at values that are determined by assumptions that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

The derivative contracts for foreign currency shown above are classified as level 2 financial instruments and are valued using a discounted cash flow valuation technique. Future cash flows are estimated based on forward exchange rates (from observable forward exchange rates at the end of the reporting period) and contract forward rates, discounted at a rate that reflects the credit risk of various counterparties.

7. Related party transactions

Jersey Electricity plc conducts a variety of transactions with the States of Jersey and its associated entities:

The States of Jersey is the Group's majority and controlling shareholder. Related entities include all corporatised entities that remain wholly owned by, or controlled by, the States of Jersey.