NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. · NASDAQ:NWE

NorthWestern Energy — Investor Presentation (March 2013)

42 slides from NorthWestern Energy's investor presentation, March 2013

  1. Slide 1: Investor Update March 2013

    Energy Delivering a Bright Future INVESTOR UPDATE March 2013 * CELEBRATING OUR FIRST CENTURY 1912 - 2012

  2. Slide 2: Forward Looking Statement

    2 FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT During the course of this presentation, there will be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial

  3. Slide 3: About NorthWestern

    3 ABOUT NORTHWESTERN Our Vision: Enriching lives through a safe, sustainable energy future Our Mission: Working together to deliver safe, reliable and innovative energy solutions Our Values: S - safety E - excellence R - respect V - value I - integrity C - community E - environment

  4. Slide 4: NWE: An Investment for the Long Term

    4 NWE: AN INVESTMENT FOR THE LONG TERM We’re a fully regulated and financially solid utility; with – Diversity across states, service type and customer segments – A 100 year history of competitive customer rates, system reliability and customer satisfaction – 5 years of significant earnings and divi

  5. Slide 5: NorthWestern Energy Profile

    5 NORTHWESTERN ENERGY PROFILE TICKER: NWE

  6. Slide 6: A Strong & Well Rounded Board & Executive Team

    6 A STRONG & WELL ROUNDED BOARD & EXECUTIVE TEAM

  7. Slide 7: NWE Corporate Responsibility

    7 NWE CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

  8. Slide 8: Better Than Average Economic Indicators

    8 BETTER THAN AVERAGE ECONOMIC INDICATORS Top Left: Unemployment rate consistently below National Average for our service territory. National Ranking (NE 2nd, SD 3rd & MT 15th) Top: Bad Debt/Revenue Write-off better than peer average in AGA/EEI 2011 Survey – Our customers pay their bills. Left: Proj

  9. Slide 9: A Diversified Electric and Gas Utility

    9 A DIVERSIFIED ELECTRIC AND GAS UTILITY The “80/20” rules of NorthWestern Gross Margin in 2012: Electric: $528M Natural Gas: $146M Gross Margin in 2012 Other $ 1M Montana: $570M South Dakota: $ 95M Nebraska: $ 10M Average Customers in 2012: Residential: 557k Above data reflects full year 2012 resul

  10. Slide 10: Strong Utility Foundation

    10 STRONG UTILITY FOUNDATION Electric source: Edison Electric Institute Typical Bills and Average Rates Report, 1/1/12 Natural gas source: US Dept of Energy Monthly residential supply and delivery rates as of 1/1/12 Strong utility operations:  Solid system reliability (EEI 2nd quartile);  A NWE cu

  11. Slide 11: 2013 Earnings Guidance

    11 2013 EARNINGS GUIDANCE 2013 Diluted GAAP EPS Range of $2.40-2.55 1 Midpoint 2013 guidance range of $2.40-$2.55 based upon, but not limited to, the following major assumptions and expectations: • A consolidated income tax rate of approximately 12% - 16% of pre-tax income; • Colstrip Unit 4, Big St

  12. Slide 12: 5 Year Track Record of Delivering Results

    12 5 YEAR TRACK RECORD OF DELIVERING RESULTS Return on Equity has steadily improved each year from 2008 – 2012 and Dividend per Share has increased each of the last 5 years. 1 1 2 5 Year (2008-12) Average Return on Equity : 9.8% 5 Year (2008-12) CAGR Dividend: 2.9% Current Dividend Yield Approximate

  13. Slide 13: Strong Cash Flows

    13 STRONG CASH FLOWS While maintenance capex and dividend payments have continued to grow over the past 5 years (6.5% and 2.1% CAGR respectively), Cash Flow from Operations has continued to outpace maintenance capex and provided approximately $40-60 million of positive Free Cash Flow per year. We an

  14. Slide 14: Solid Pension Funding

    14 SOLID PENSION FUNDING We calculated our pension obligation with conservative estimates relative to our peers. Updated 2013 pension assumptions include an expected long-term rate of return of 7.00% and discount rate assumed at 3.55%-3.80%. NorthWestern pension funding status as of 12/31/12 is 78%.

  15. Slide 15: Balance Sheet Strength and Liquidity

    15 BALANCE SHEET STRENGTH AND LIQUIDITY

  16. Slide 16: Hard Assets Providing Real Value

    HARD ASSETS PROVIDING REAL VALUE 16 (Left) We believe continued investment in our system to provide an even more safe, reliable, environmentally responsible and cost-effective service for our customers will produce additional value for our shareholders. (Below) NWE Total Shareholder Return has outpe

  17. Slide 17: Net Investment in Existing Business

    17 NET INVESTMENT IN EXISTING BUSINESS Maintenance capital expenditures have cumulatively outpaced depreciation by $160 million over the last five years (2008 to 2012), while maintaining a positive Free Cash Flow during the same period.

  18. Slide 18: 2012 Montana Natural Gas Rate Filing

    18 2012 MONTANA NATURAL GAS RATE FILING We are dedicated to operating a safe, reliable natural gas system and that requires ongoing investment in infrastructure replacements. If approved by the MPSC, on average this request would result in a monthly increase of $5.69 or 7.17% for a residential custo

  19. Slide 19: Investment Opportunity Outlook

    19 INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY OUTLOOK  Energy Supply – Big Stone/Neal pollution control – South Dakota natural gas peaking generation – Montana Spion Kop Wind facility - completed – Other vertical integration opportunities in Montana including gas reserves or base load generation  Transmission – Netwo

  20. Slide 20: Investment Project Summary

    20 INVESTMENT PROJECT SUMMARY COMPLETED IN 2012 Note: Color / label indicate NorthWestern Energy's current probability of execution and timing of expenditures. Several opportunities exist to further increase and diversify earnings as compared to our approximately $1.8 billion of rate base today. Add

  21. Slide 21: Natural Gas Needs and Supply

    21 NATURAL GAS NEEDS AND SUPPLY Top Left: Approximately 11% of our total natural gas needs go toward electric generation and the remaining 89% is sold to our retail customers Top: We own approximately 10% of our total retail needs in Montana Left: As we continue to add to our natural gas reserves to

  22. Slide 22: Montana Electric Generation Opportunity

    22 MONTANA ELECTRIC GENERATION OPPORTUNITY The total load served over our Montana system is approximately 11 million MWh. The load we currently have responsibility for providing supply is approximately 6 million MWh. Our owned generation in Montana , including the addition of Spion Kop in 2013, woul

  23. Slide 23: Distribution Investment Outlook

    DISTRIBUTION INVESTMENT OUTLOOK 23 Distribution System Integrity Program (DSIP) The Project addresses the emerging issue of our aging infrastructure and prepares our natural gas and electric distribution systems for the next generation of technology. For the electric distribution system, the Program

  24. Slide 24: Capital Spending

    CAPITAL SPENDING 24 DSIP – Distribution System Infrastructure Project - $253M over the next 5 years. Energy Supply includes the planned environmental spending, in South Dakota, on our Big Stone, Neal 4, and Aberdeen Peaker plants. Does not include any electric or natural gas supply acquisitions or a

  25. Slide 25: Conclusion

    CONCLUSION 25 We’re a fully- Best practices Attractive future regulated and corporate growth prospects financially sound governance and utility; with - Reintegrating energy - Diversity across states, supply portfolio (natural -A strong and well rounded service type and customer gas and electric) boa

  26. Slide 26: Appendix

    26 APPENDIX NorthWesterni Energy Delivering a Bright Future

  27. Slide 27: Earnings Reconciliation

    EARNINGS RECONCILIATION 27 Total Operating Expense Operating Income Interest Expense Other Income (Expense) Income Before Inc. Taxes Income Tax Benefit (Expense)' Net Income (Loss) Diluted Shares Diluted EPS Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2012 {$millions, except EPS) 5 P j 5 pa og a o Qo ao 3 : 5.

  28. Slide 28: Adjusted EPS Schedule

    28 ADJUSTED EPS SCHEDULE 2012 Q12012— Q22012-Q32012, 42012 | =FY 2012 Reported GAAP diluted EPS $ 0.88 $ 0.31 $§ (0.10) $ 1.57] $ 2.66 Non-GAAP Adjustments: Weather 0.09 0.05 (0.06) 0.06 | $ 0.14 Release of MPSC DGGS deferral (0.05) $ (0.05) Lost revenue recovery related to 2010/2011 (0.05) $ (0.05)

  29. Slide 29: 2013 EPS Bridge from 2012

    2013 EPS BRIDGE FROM 2012 29 Basic assumptions include the following expectations in 2013: A consolidated income tax rate of approximately 12% - 16% of pre-tax income; Colstrip Unit 4, Big Stone, and Coyote generation plants are scheduled for routine maintenance during second quarter of 2013; Dilute

  30. Slide 30: Consolidated Statement of Income

    30 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

  31. Slide 31: Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

    31 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

  32. Slide 32: Consolidated Balance Sheet

    32 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

  33. Slide 33: Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation

    33 EFFECTIVE TAX RATE RECONCILIATION

  34. Slide 34: 2012 System Statistics

    34 2012 SYSTEM STATISTICS (2) (1) •MT electric supply increased 40 MW in 2012 due to the addition of Spion Kop wind. •MT NG reserves includes 13.4 Bcf Bear Paw acquisition in 2012. Note: Statistics above are as of 12/31/2012 (1) Includes 60 MW Aberdeen Peaker to be placed in service during 2013 (2)

  35. Slide 35: Environmental Controls

    35 ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS PRESENT Primary Pollutant Controlled Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) Particulate Matter | 0 Low Nox HG Control Plant Name SNCR Burner B E Injection Colstrip 3 & 4 x x x x Big Stone nis x DGGS (Natural Gas) x (Coyote x x Neal #4 x x PLANNED / REQUIRED Primary Pollutant Controlled Nitro

  36. Slide 36: Our Commissioners

    36 OUR COMMISSIONERS . ow Montana Public Service Commission Commissioners are elected in statewide elections from each of five districts. Chairperson is elected by fellow Commissioners. Commissioner term is 4 years, Chairperson term is 2 years. Moxras® Began Term Name Party Serving Ends Kirk Bushman

  37. Slide 37: One Hundred Years Later

    37 ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER. . . . After One Hundred Years, Electricity is still a great value

  38. Slide 38: South Dakota Electric Supply Capex

    SOUTH DAKOTA ELECTRIC SUPPLY CAPEX 38 We are planning on spending approximately $190 million on capital expenditures on our South Dakota electric supply plants.

  39. Slide 39: Montana Major Transmission Projects

    MONTANA MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROJECTS 39 Jack Rabbit – Big Sky 161kV Line Columbus – Rapelje 100kV NorthWestern Energy continues to make significant investments to upgrade our transmission system to add capacity and improve reliability. Two such projects are: Jack Rabbit – Big Sky 161kV Line and Colum

  40. Slide 40: FERC's ALJ Ruling – We Got the Crust

    40 FERC’s ALJ RULING – WE GOT THE CRUST 40

  41. Slide 41: The Back Story on DGGS

    41 THE BACK STORY ON DGGS Background •NorthWestern Energy operates a transmission system and balancing authority within Montana and is charged with the responsibility of providing safe and reliable electric service to all of its customers. This includes retail and wholesale customers. • Part of Nort

  42. Slide 42: The Back Story on DGGS (Continued)

    42 THE BACK STORY ON DGGS (CONTINUED) Support for DGGS (continued) • On April 29, 2010, NorthWestern made a filing with FERC proposing to collect costs associated with DGGS under the same cost allocation methodology and for the same magnitude of Regulating Resource as had been previously approved by

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