Northwestern Energy Group, Inc. · NASDAQ:NWE
Northwestern Energy — Baird Utility Corporate Access Day June 2013
43 slides from Northwestern Energy's conference presentation, Jun 12, 2013
Slide 1: Baird Utility Corporate Access Day June 2013
1 1 Baird Utility Corporate Access Day June 2013
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
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
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
Slide 5: NorthWestern Energy Profile
5 NORTHWESTERN ENERGY PROFILE TICKER: NWE
Slide 6: A Strong & Well Rounded Board & Executive Team
6 A STRONG & WELL ROUNDED BOARD & EXECUTIVE TEAM
Slide 7: NWE Corporate Responsibility
7 NWE CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
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 1st, SD 3rd & MT 14th) Top: Bad Debt/Revenue Write-off better than peer average in AGA/EEI 2011 Survey – Our customers pay their bills. Left: Proj
Slide 9: A Diversified Electric and Gas Utility
9 A DIVERSIFIED ELECTRIC AND GAS UTILITY Above data reflects full year 2012 results . Jurisdiction and service type based upon gross margin contribution. The “80/20” rules of NorthWestern Gross Margin in 2012: Electric: $528M Natural Gas: $146M Other $ 1M Gross Margin in 2012 Montana: $570M South Da
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
Slide 11: 2013 Earnings Guidance
11 2013 EARNINGS GUIDANCE 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%; • Colstrip Unit 4, Big Stone, and Coyote generation plants are scheduled for routine maintenance; • Di
Slide 12: Year Track Record of Delivering Results
12 5 YEAR TRACK RECORD OF DELIVERING RESULTS Return on Equity steadily improved each year from 2008 – 2012 and Dividend per Share increased each of the last 5 years. 5 Year (2008-12) Average Return on Equity : 9.8% 5 Year (2008-12) CAGR Dividend: 2.9% Current Dividend Yield Approximately 3.6% 1. ROE
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
Slide 14: Solid Pension Funding
14 SOLID PENSION FUNDING We calculate 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%. As of result of significant pension contributions in 2009 a
Slide 15: Balance Sheet Strength and Liquidity
15 BALANCE SHEET STRENGTH AND LIQUIDITY
Slide 16: Hard Assets Providing Real Value
16 HARD ASSETS PROVIDING REAL VALUE (Left) We believe continued investment in our system to provide safe, reliable, environmentally responsible and cost- effective service for our customers will produce additional value for our shareholders. (Below) NWE Total Shareholder Return has outperformed our
Slide 17: Growth with Little Impact to Customers
17 GROWTH WITH LITTLE IMPACT TO CUSTOMERS Over the past 5 years we have begun to rebuild our Montana energy supply portfolio and invested to enhance system safety, reliability and capacity. We have made these enhancements while delivering solid earnings growth to our investors with minimal impact to
Slide 18: Net Investment in Existing Business
18 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.
Slide 19: 2012 Montana Natural Gas Rate Filing
19 2012 MONTANA NATURAL GAS RATE FILING We are dedicated to operating a safe and reliable natural gas system that requires ongoing infrastructure investment. -Feb. 8: The Montana Consumer Counsel recommended a $4.1 million increase based upon a 9.0% ROE (45% equity) and other adjustments. -Apr. 15:
Slide 20: Investment Opportunity Outlook
20 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
Slide 21: Investment Project Summary
21 INVESTMENT PROJECT SUMMARY Several opportunities exist to further increase and diversify earnings as compared to our approximately $1.8 billion of rate base today. Additional opportunities for baseload generation in Montana are currently being evaluated and may be incorporated as their scope and
Slide 22: Natural Gas Needs and Supply
22 NATURAL GAS NEEDS AND SUPPLY Top Left: Approximately 14% of our total natural gas needs go toward electric generation and the remaining 86% is sold to our retail customers Top: We own approximately 11% of our total retail needs in Montana. In May 2013, we announced our intention to purchase the B
Slide 23: Montana Electric Generation Opportunity
23 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, would
Slide 24: Distribution Investment Outlook
24 DISTRIBUTION INVESTMENT OUTLOOK Distribution System Infrastructure Project (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 Pr
Slide 25: Capital Spending
25 CAPITAL SPENDING DSIP – Distribution System Infrastructure Project - $253M over the next 5 years. Energy Supply includes the planned environmental spending in South Dakota on Big Stone and Neal 4 power plants, and completion of the new Aberdeen Peaker plant in 2013. * A natural gas transmission s
Slide 26: Conclusion
26 CONCLUSION Fully- regulated utility Best practices corporate governance Financially sound Strong cash flows Attractive dividend Realistic investment opportunities to invest Free Cash Flow
Slide 27: Appendix
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Slide 28: Earnings Reconciliation
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Slide 29: Adjusted EPS Schedule
29 ADJUSTED EPS SCHEDULE Note: No one-time adjustments for Q1 2013 2013 EPS guidance range is $2.40 - $2.55 – midpoint of $2.48 2013 EPS guidance range midpoint
Slide 30: 2013 EPS Bridge from 2012
30 2013 EPS BRIDGE FROM 2012 Basic assumptions include the following expectations in 2013: A consolidated income tax rate of approximately 12% of pre-tax income; Colstrip Unit 4, Big Stone, and Coyote generation plants are scheduled for routine maintenance during second quarter of 2013; Diluted aver
Slide 31: Consolidated Statement of Income
31 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Slide 32: Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
32 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Slide 33: Consolidated Balance Sheet
33 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
Slide 34: Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation
34 EFFECTIVE TAX RATE RECONCILIATION
Slide 35: 2012 System Statistics
35 2012 SYSTEM STATISTICS Note: Statistics above are as of 12/31/2012 (1) Includes 60 MW Aberdeen Peaker to be placed in service during 2013 (2) Nebraska is a natural gas only jurisdiction (2) •MT electric supply increased 40 MW in 2012 due to the addition of Spion Kop wind. •MT NG reserves includes
Slide 36: Environmental Controls
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS PRESENT Primary Pollutant Controlled Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) SNCR PLANNED / REQUIRED Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) Low Nox SNCR___ Burne [Colstrip 3 & 4 [Big Stone I |DGGS (Natural Gas)| e [Neal #4 it Controls Acronyms [Selective Catalytic Reduction Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction [Sepa
Slide 37: Our Commissioners
OUR COMMISSIONERS Montana Public Service Commission ‘five districts. Chairperson is elected by fellow Commissioners. Began Term ‘Name Party — Serving Ends ‘Kirk Bushman R Jan-13 Jan-17 Bill Gallagher (Chairman) R Jan-11 Jan-15 Travis Kavulla. R Jan-11 Jan-15 Roger Koopman R— Jan-13—Jan-17 Bob Lake R
Slide 38: One Hundred Years Later
38 ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER. . . . After One Hundred Years, Electricity is still a great value
Slide 39: South Dakota Electric Supply Capex
39 SOUTH DAKOTA ELECTRIC SUPPLY CAPEX We are planning on spending approximately $180 million on capital expenditures on our South Dakota electric supply plants.
Slide 40: Montana Major Transmission Projects
40 MONTANA MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROJECTS 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 Carbon - Stillwater 100kV line and substation upgrades. With a
Slide 41: FERC's ALJ Ruling – We Got the Crust
41 FERC’s ALJ RULING – WE GOT THE CRUST 41
Slide 42: The Back Story on DGGS
42 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
Slide 43: The Back Story on DGGS (Continued)
43 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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