Northwestern Energy Group, Inc. · NASDAQ:NWE

Northwestern Energy — Investor Presentation (September 2016)

49 slides from Northwestern Energy's investor presentation, Sep 8, 2016

  1. Slide 1: Investor Update September 2016

    Madison River at Three Forks, MT Artist – Monte Dolack Black Eagle dam – Missouri River – Montana 8-K on September 8, 2016 Investor Update September 2016

  2. Slide 2: Forward Looking Statements

    2 Forward Looking Statements Forward Looking Statements 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

  3. Slide 3: NWE: An Investment for the Long Term

    NWE: An Investment for the Long Term 3 • 100% Regulated electric & natural gas utility business • 100 year history of competitive customer rates, system reliability and customer satisfaction • Solid economic indicators in service territory • A diverse electric supply portfolio that is approximately

  4. Slide 4: About NorthWestern

    About NorthWestern 4 Montana Operations Electric 359,000 customers 24,350 miles – transmission & distribution lines 851 MW nameplate owned power generation Natural Gas 191,500 customers 7,200 miles of transmission and distribution pipeline 18 Bcf of gas storage capacity Owns 66 Bcf of proven natural

  5. Slide 5: A Diversified Electric and Gas Utility

    A Diversified Electric and Gas Utility 5 Gross Margin in 2015: Electric: $663M Natural Gas: $178M Gross Margin in 2015: Montana: $729M South Dakota: $102M Nebraska: $ 10M Average Customers in 2015: Residential: 579k Commercial: 111k Industrial: 7k NorthWestern’s ‘80/20’ rules: Approximately 80% Elec

  6. Slide 6: NorthWestern Energy Profile

    NorthWestern Energy Profile 6 Financial and Company Statistics

  7. Slide 7: Solid Economic Indicators

    Solid Economic Indicators 7 • Unemployment rates in all three of our states are meaningfully below National Average. • Customer growth rates historically exceed National Averages. Source: NorthWestern customer growth - 2008-2015 Forms 10-K Unemployment Rate: US Department of Labor via SNL Database 2

  8. Slide 8: Strong Utility Foundation

    Strong Utility Foundation 8 Electric source: Edison Electric Institute Typical Bills and Average Rates Report, 1/1/16 Natural gas source: US EIA - Monthly residential supply and delivery rates as of 1/29/16  Customer service satisfaction scores in line or better than survey average (JD Powers)  Re

  9. Slide 9: Track Record of Delivering Results

    Track Record of Delivering Results 9 Notes: - ROE in 2011, 2012 , 2013, 2014 & 2015 on a Non-GAAP Adjusted basis, would be 10.5%, 9.8%, 9.6% ,9.4% & 9.9% respectively. - 2016 ROAE and 2016 Dividend payout ratio estimate based on midpoint of our updated guidance range of $3.20-$3.35. - Details regard

  10. Slide 10: Investment for Our Customers' Benefit

    Investment for Our Customers’ Benefit 10 Over the past 7 years we have been reintegrating our Montana energy supply portfolio and making additional investments across our entire service territory to enhance system safety, reliability and capacity. We have made these enhancements with minimal impact

  11. Slide 11: Total Shareholder Return

    Total Shareholder Return 11 • 13 member peer group: ALE (Allete), AVA (Avista), BKH (Black Hills), EE (El Paso Electric), GXP (Great Plains), IDA (IDA Corp), MGEE (Madison Gas & Electric), OGE (OGE Energy), OTTR (Otter Tail Power), PNM (PNM Resources), POR (Portland Electric),, VVC (Vectren), WR (We

  12. Slide 12: Strong Cash Flows

    While maintenance capex and total dividend payments have continued to grow since 2011 (16.6% and 14.8% CAGR respectively), Cash Flow from Operations has continued to outpace maintenance capex and averaged approximately $38 million of positive Free Cash Flow per year. With the addition of production

  13. Slide 13: Balance Sheet Strength and Liquidity

    Balance Sheet Strength and Liquidity 13

  14. Slide 14: 2016 Earnings Guidance

    2016 Earnings Guidance 14 NorthWestern reaffirms our full-year 2016 adjusted (Non-GAAP) guidance range of $3.20 - $3.35 per diluted share, based upon, but not limited to, the following major assumptions and expectations: • Normal weather in our electric and natural gas service territories; • A conso

  15. Slide 15: The Hydro Facilities

    The Hydro Facilities 15 Overview of Hydro Facilities Black Eagle Hydro Asset Integration • Montana Asset Optimization Study: As part of reintegrating the hydro facilities into our generation portfolio, we initiated an asset optimization study to maximize the value of our diverse generation portfolio

  16. Slide 16: Highly Renewable Supply Portfolio

    16 Highly Renewable Supply Portfolio Based upon 2015 delivered electric portfolio, approximately 54% of our total company owned and contracted supply is renewable or supports renewables. * Wind Owned delivered in 2015 includes a partial year of production from the Beethoven wind farm, which was acqu

  17. Slide 17: South Dakota Electric Operations

    17 South Dakota Electric Operations The owned and rate-based cost of energy from the Beethoven wind project over the next 20 years is expected to be $44 million ($25 million net present value) less than the PPA alternative, thus benefitting our customers’ bills over the long-term. Beethoven Wind Pro

  18. Slide 18: Infrastructure Projects

    Infrastructure Projects 18 • In Montana, our Distribution System Infrastructure Project (DSIP) and Transmission System Infrastructure Project (TSIP), both of which are currently in process, are to maintain a safe and reliable electric and natural gas distribution and transmission system. – The prima

  19. Slide 19: Capital Spending Forecast

    Capital Spending Forecast 19 Current estimated cumulative capital spending for 2016 through 2020 is $1.66 billion. This reflects a $187 million increase from the capital plan included in our 2015 10-K; approximately $122 million increase for internal combustion (IC) units in Montana and $65 million

  20. Slide 20: Montana 2015 Electric Supply Resource Plan

    Montana 2015 Electric Supply Resource Plan 20 The resource initiatives and actions developed in 2015 Electricity Supply Resource Procurement Plan identify the critical future needs of our portfolio, including solutions to resolve our current negative planning reserve margin. The plan identifies how

  21. Slide 21: Montana 2015 Electric Supply Resource Plan

    Montana 2015 Electric Supply Resource Plan 21 Spending on the generation assets will be subject to the development of a plan for clear regulatory recovery. * Assumes no retirements and no additions. ** Montana supply plan would add 689MW of capacity and require approximately $1.3 billion of investme

  22. Slide 22: Natural Gas Reserves Opportunity

    Owned Owned Target Total Annual Need Natural Gas Reserves Opportunity 22 As we continue to add to our natural gas reserves portfolio, we anticipate a reduction in supply cost volatility for our customers. As a result of the October 2015 natural gas tracker order, we are required to make a filing pri

  23. Slide 23: Regulatory Update

    23 Regulatory Update Regulatory Item Current / Anticipated Action FERC / DGGS: April 2014 order regarding cost allocation at DGGS between retail and wholesale customers. FERC denied our request for rehearing and required us to make refunds. Refunds were made in June 2016. Also in June 2016, we filed

  24. Slide 24: Colstrip Unit / Sierra Club Litigation

    24 Colstrip Unit 4 / Sierra Club Litigation Background • On March 6, 2013, the Sierra Club and the Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC) (both are plaintiffs) filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Montana (court) against the six individual Owners of the Colstri

  25. Slide 25: Conclusion

    Conclusion 25 Pure Electric and Gas Utility Solid Utility Foundation Strong Earnings and Cash Flows Attractive Future Growth Prospects Best Practices Corporate Governance

  26. Slide 26: Appendix

    Appendix 26

  27. Slide 27: Summary Financial Results (Second Quarter)

    Summary Financial Results (Second Quarter) 27

  28. Slide 28: Gross Margin (Second Quarter)

    28 Gross Margin (Second Quarter) (dollars in millions) Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 Variance Electric $ 176.2 $ 155.5 $ 20.7 13.3% Natural Gas 35.2 35.6 (0.4) (1.1%) Gross Margin $ 211.4 $ 191.1 $ 20.3 10.6% Increase in gross margin due to the following factors: $ 12.6 Lost revenue adjustme

  29. Slide 29: Weather (Second Quarter)

    Weather (Second Quarter) 29 The tables on the top represent the variances for the quarter from historical average and prior year. The 2nd quarter is primarily a heating degree period in our service territory – 2nd quarter typically has 1,200+ Heating Degree Days (HDD) versus less than 100 Cooling De

  30. Slide 30: Operating Expenses (Second Quarter)

    Operating Expenses (Second Quarter) 30 Increase in operating expenses due mainly to the following factors: $10.9 million increase in OG&A $ 20.8 Insurance recovery, net (included in 2015) $ 1.6 Non-employee directors deferred compensation $ (5.6) Hydro operations (Kerr Conveyance) $ (1.3) Distributi

  31. Slide 31: Operating to Net Income (Second Quarter)

    Operating to Net Income (Second Quarter) 31 $3.5 million increase in interest expenses was primarily due to $2.9 million of interest associated with the MPSC disallowance, increased debt outstanding associated with the September 2015 Beethoven wind project acquisition and lower capitalization of all

  32. Slide 32: Balance Sheet

    Balance Sheet (dollars in millions) As of June 30, As of December 31, 2016 2015 Cash $ Restricted cash Accounts receivable, net Inventories Other current assets Goodwill PP&E and other non-current assets Assets Payables Short-term borrowings Other current liabilities Long-term debt & capital leases

  33. Slide 33: Cash Flow

    Cash Flow 33 Changes in working capital is largely attributed to the $30.8 million* refund to customers in June 2016 associated with the DGGS/FERC ruling. * $27.3 million of deferred revenues plus accrued interest of $3.5 million.

  34. Slide 34: Income Tax Reconciliation (Second Quarter)

    Income Tax Reconciliation (Second Quarter) 34 Even with approximately the same pre-tax income, our income taxes are considerably lower in second quarter 2016 versus the prior year largely due to higher flow through repairs deductions, higher production tax credits related to Beethoven wind farm and

  35. Slide 35: Non-GAAP Adjusted Earnings ('16 vs '15)

    Non-GAAP Adjusted Earnings (‘16 vs ’15) 35 The non-GAAP measures presented in the table above are being shown to reflect significant items that were not contemplated in our original guidance, however they should not be considered a substitute for financial results and measures determined or calculat

  36. Slide 36: Summary Financial Results (YTD thru Qtr 2)

    Summary Financial Results (YTD thru Qtr 2) 36

  37. Slide 37: Weather (YTD thru Qtr 2)

    Weather (YTD thru Qtr 2) 37 Average Temperature Ranks (last 122 years) Mean Temperature from Normal For the months January through June, the 2016 period was the 2nd warmest period in Montana, the 5th warmest in South Dakota and the 5th warmest in Nebraska over the last 122 years.

  38. Slide 38: Non-GAAP Adjusted Earnings ('16 vs '15)

    Non-GAAP Adjusted Earnings (‘16 vs ’15) 38 The non-GAAP measures presented in the table above are being shown to reflect significant items that were not contemplated in our original guidance, however they should not be considered a substitute for financial results and measures determined or calculat

  39. Slide 39: Non-GAAP Adjusted EPS

    Non-GAAP Adjusted EPS 39 The non-GAAP measures presented in the table above are being shown to reflect significant items that were not contemplated in our original guidance, however they should not be considered a substitute for financial results and measures determined or calculated in accordance w

  40. Slide 40: 2015 to 2016 Reconciliation (2nd Quarter & YTD)

    40 2015 to 2016 Reconciliation (2nd Quarter & YTD) (1) Income Tax Benefit (Expense) calculation on reconciling items assumes normal effective tax rate of 38.5% (2) These items have offsets in operating expenses or income tax expenses that result in no impact to net income. Six Months Ended June 30 P

  41. Slide 41: 2015 System Statistics

    Owned Energy Supply Transmission Distribution Electric (MW) MT SD Total 2015 Tx for Others MT SD Total Demand MT SD / NE Total Base load coal 222 210 432 Electric (GWh) 11,300 100 11,400 Daily MWs 750 187 937 Wind 40 80 120 Natural Gas (Bcf) 22.5 29.5 52.0 Peak MWs 1,790 306 2,096 Hydro 442 - 442 An

  42. Slide 42: Experienced & Engaged Board of Directors

    Experienced & Engaged Board of Directors 42 Dr. E. Linn Draper Jr. • Chairman of the Board • Independent • Director since November 1, 2004 Stephan P. Adik • Committees: Audit (chair), Human Resources • Independent • Director since November 1, 2004 Dorothy M. Bradley • Committees: Human Resources, Go

  43. Slide 43: Strong Executive Team

    Strong Executive Team 43 Robert C. Rowe • President and Chief Executive Officer • Current position since 2008 Brian B. Bird • Vice President and Chief Financial Officer • Current position since 2003 Michael R. Cashell • Vice President - Transmission • Current Position since 2011 Patrick R. Corcoran

  44. Slide 44: Our Commissioners

    Our Commissioners 44 Name Party Began Serving Term Ends Kirk Bushman R Jan-13 Jan-17 Travis Kavulla R Jan-11 Jan-19 Roger Koopman R Jan-13 Jan-17 Brad Johnson (Chairman) R Jan-15 Jan-19 Bob Lake R Jan-13 Jan-17 Commissioners are elected in statewide elections from each of five districts. Chairperson

  45. Slide 45: EPA's 2030 carbon target for Montana

    EPA’s 2030 carbon target for Montana NWE’s CO2 intensity* decreased by approximately 37% with the addition of the hydro facilities to our Montana generation portfolio. However EPA’s Clean Power Plan targets are statewide and not utility specific targets. * lbs CO2 per MWH produced CO2 Intensity* 37%

  46. Slide 46: EPA's Clean Power Plan (CPP)

    46 EPA’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) The February 9th Supreme Court 5-4 vote to stay the EPA CPP rules • We will be working with state agencies and other stakeholders to evaluate the implications. • We hope the EPA takes this opportunity to address Montana’s serious concerns with the 47% statewide reduct

  47. Slide 47: DGGS Update – Denied Rehearing Request

    DGGS Update – Denied Rehearing Request 47 Note: Please see Regulatory Matters footnote and Risk Factors section of our recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q for additional disclosures.

  48. Slide 48: Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures 48 The data presented in this presentation includes financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as other Non-GAAP financial measures such as Gross Margin (Revenues less Cost of Sales), Free Cash Flows (Cash flows from operations less maintenance capex

  49. Slide 49: Delivering a bright future

    Upelivering a bright future

NorthWestern — Investor Presentation (September 2016) on 6ix