WHY ONLY A 50/50 CHANCE FOR EMERA SANCTION?

Last time, I
referred to BMO Capital Markets’ Report that the Maritime Link might
have only a 50/50 chance of sanction. 
You may well ask why only 50/50?  Given all the sweeteners Emera has been
offered to become Nalcor’s partner, why are the odds so poor? Let’s take a look at Nalcor’s deal with Emera:

a)     
Emera’s
investment, in the transmission line from Labrador, receives a “guaranteed”
rate of return from Nalcor. 

b)     Emera
receives 20% of the power from Muskrat at zero cost (but for the cost of
the Maritime Link)

c)     
Cost
overruns on the Labrador/Island transmission line are paid for by Nalcor

d)     
80%
of Emera’s cost overruns on the Maritime Link are paid for by Nalcor

e)     
Emera
receives the benefits of the Federal Loan Guarantee; and

f)      
Emera
gets to broker any “surplus” power for which it will receive fees

Not a bad deal,
by any measure, wouldn’t you think.    

But Emera is
still holding out on sanctioning the Maritime Link. 

Why might such a Company pass up what others perceive to be exceedingly generous? Essentially, for
four and possibly five reasons:

a)     
Emera
does not have the support of the Utility and Rates Board of Nova Scotia (UARB) to
build the ML; it likely could not proceed without being guaranteed the return
of its investment and an acceptable rate of return.  Even if Nalcor comes up with all the cheap “market-priced”
power the UARB is demanding, other issues interfere.

 
b)     
Most
noteworthy is the filing, in the Superior Court of Quebec, of an action by
Hydro Quebec (HQ) to quash the Water Management Agreement (which HQ refused to
endorse). If HQ’s position is upheld, it would mean that Muskrat Falls could produce
only 170 megawatts (or as little as 146 megawatts based upon Pre-File Evidence by Nalcor to the PUB on the WMA)  of firm power and not the full 824 Megawatt capacity of the
facility. That will require the Upper Churchill operating at full capacity. The Federal Government could hold up the
Federal Loan Guarantee on this serious legal issue, alone, (though it is more unlikely
that the Feds would hang that hat on Emera’s refusal/inability to sanction the
Link).  Nevertheless, the increased risk
associated with HQ’s intervention inherently threatens the viability of its
investment.


            c)   Emera’s low-risk investment profile cannot be overlooked.  Equities, like Emera, are        
                  called  ‘granny’ stocks for a reason.

d)     
A
study released last year by New England’s regional electricity transmission
organization shows average demand growth essentially flat-lined to 2021, for that region, (scroll down to the graph on page 20 of that above link) as a result of energy efficiency initiatives. The Premier has ignored that reality but I doubt that Emera has.

 
According to a recent Report, which I will discuss in a future Post, the
average wholesale price, per KWh, of electricity sold in New York in 2012 was
4.3 cents; lower even than the price in 2009.

 
The demand by the UARB for all the surplus, or “market-priced” power,
from Muskrat is part of the same theme. Emera recognizes that the energy
paradigm is shifting almost daily in the direction of cheaper prices.  Hence, it will not be caught without the protection of the UARB. Possibly, too,
it will not risk being less popular, than it is already, if it ties
Nova Scotians into a long term/high cost power arrangement. It may be shopping other options.

e)     
It
is unclear whether Emera Inc.’s agreement to acquire Capital Power Corp.’s
three New England combined cycle, natural gas-fired power generation facilities
for $541-million (U.S.) is part of this alternative strategy.  This investment, plus the share of the
capital required for Labrador/Island transmission line and Maritime Link, would
require significant borrowing by the Company, for the next few years, all of
which may be dilutive for existing shareholders.

One
lawyer, familiar with the file, described the UARB demand for more
“market-priced” power as ‘extortionist’. Extortion is a strong word. Likely,
what he meant was, that Nalcor placed itself in a position, by spending hundreds
of millions of dollars prematurely, to be ‘screwed’ by both Emera and Hydro Quebec. If Emera proceeds with the Maritime Link it will place itself under HQ’s thumb, too.

Simply put, the Hydro Quebec action is a ‘show stopper’.  Everyone familiar with the Project knows it; neither Nalcor or the Government wants wants to talk about it.
Who would invest billions of dollars in a
project and risk it being largely redundant? 
Emera boasts a solid history; the Company has a capable Board of
Directors and the watchful eye of major shareholders to keep their senior
executives from straying too far.  Some
lawyers suggest it may be 2016 before the Quebec Superior Court hands down a
ruling and appeals are heard.

Private
enterprise is usually wise enough to avoid the perils such a prospect represents.

A 50/50
probably says BMO Capital markets? Consider this detail:

Among the top fifty “Holders” of Emera stock, BMO Dividend, Income and other Funds have
at least 2.7 million Emera shares under management, according to latest public
filings. That makes BMO the second largest holder of Emera shares held in
wealth management, retirement and other funds (second only to Investors Group). 

Given all
that is at stake for their clients and for the Bank, do you think its BMO
Capital Markets division engages in idle chatter?

Finally, the meeting which the Premier held with Quebec Premier Marlene Marois underscores the level of desperation,
over Muskrat’s mounting challenges, now felt by the Dunderdale/Nalcor camp.  

Remind me
again…wasn’t the purpose of Muskrat Falls to circumvent Quebec’s stranglehold over
NL electricity? More on this issue soon.

But, as to a
50/50 probability that Emera will sanction the Maritime Link, the BMO analyst
may well be an optimist.
Des Sullivan
Des Sullivan
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Uncle Gnarley is hosted by Des Sullivan, of St. John's. He is a businessman engaged over three decades in real estate management and development companies and in retail. He is currently a Director of Dorset Investments Limited and Donovan Holdings Limited. During his early career he served as Executive Assistant to Premier's Frank D. Moores (1975-1979) and Brian Peckford (1979-1985). He also served as a Part-Time Board Member on the Canada-Newfoundland Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB). Uncle Gnarley appears on the masthead representing serious and unambiguous positions on NL politics and public policy. Uncle Gnarley is a fiscal conservative possessing distinctly liberal values and a non-partisan persusasion. Those values and opinions underlie this writer's views on NL's politics, economy and society. Uncle Gnarley publishes Monday mornings and more often when events warrant.

REMEMBERING BILL MARSHALL

Bill left public life shortly after the signing of the Atlantic Accord and became a member of the Court of Appeal until his retirement in 2003. During his time on the court he was involved in a number of successful appeals which overturned wrongful convictions, for which he was recognized by Innocence Canada. Bill had a special place in his heart for the underdog.

Churchill Falls Explainer (Coles Notes version)

If CFLCo is required to maximize its profit, then CFLCo should sell its electricity to the highest bidder(s) on the most advantageous terms available.

END OF THE UPPER CHURCHILL POWER CONTRACT: IMPROVING OUR BARGAINING POWER

This is the most important set of negotiations we have engaged in since the Atlantic Accord and Hibernia. Despite being a small jurisdiction we proved to be smart and nimble enough to negotiate good deals on both. They have stood the test of time and have resulted in billions of dollars in royalties and created an industry which represents over a quarter of our economy. Will we prove to be smart and nimble enough to do the same with the Upper Churchill?

2 COMMENTS

  1. Why did Nalcor start construction, or engineering for that matter before emera got regulatory approval? Why are they spending all of this money from provincial coffers without waiting and borrowing it at low rates via the federal loan guarantee? I just can't figure out why they are building this white elephant day and night under bright lights without a shred of legitimacy. Would a private sector energy company do this? I doubt it. It wouldn't surprise me know if they brain trust at Nalcor tries to buy the money losing refinery in Come-by-Chance to complete the song and dance. Disturbing view of the future.

  2. Emera is a low risk investor – 50/50 might indeed be far too optimistic in regards to ML sanction.

    If BMO doesn't think ML is a wise investment at $1.52 billion for Emera how can NL possibly 'self finance' the $6.2 billion portion of this project by ourselves? Going it alone if Emera backs out makes this project more appealing to the bonds markets? No federal or provincial partners coupled with NLs limited domestic market, WMA, cost overruns, realistic demand projections puts stand alone MF at HIGH risk.

    Private investors mightn't be interested AT ALL in a project with so many unanswered questions.

    4.3 cents wholesale is 25% of what residential ratepayers in NL will be paying for MF power.

    Why hasn't Nalcor or its proponents addressed the steep domestic demand decline when prices will be at LEAST 50% higher in 2017 V current?

    Wade Locke presentation said for every 20% energy cost increase there is a 5% demand decrease: Demand should drop 12.5% based on 16.4 cent kWh power, yet Nalcor has projected exponentially increasing demand?

    CBPP will close any month now subsidies or not and Deer Lake power is more then enough for Long Harbor (as is 12.5% demand decrease).

    If Emera does back out is MF worth such a heavy investment for the only customer thus far the Avalon (330MW)? Only other option would be to sell excess power to Quebec but the Romaine project will be finished in 2020 with 1550MW of power.

    Dunderdale has had recent talks with Quebec for Upper Churchill, what are the NLPCs willing to sellout in order for MF to go through? Old Harry, yet another UC contract extension?

    Building MF for future possible industrial demand isn't bankable on the bonds market. They will want concrete commitments in the form of long term PPAs, 60% of the rated capacity isn't under contract currently.

    Overspending, inability to balance a budget in years, debt reaching pre Accord amounts and the least popular gov since Confederation – red flags for any private investor. NSNDP could also fall on their swords this October thereby in 2 years 2/2 pro MF parties won't be the gov anymore.

    Holyrood wasn't even compared to the most obvious replacement a natural gas plant. USA NG prices look to drop even further this decade, offshore NL NG could start being developed by 2020.

    Oil is the largest cost for Holyrood, but how much would the equivalent amount of energy produced with natural gas cost in comparison? 400 billion cubic feet of natural gas should suffice for the Island's demand until 2041 – one 30 million gallon LNG carrier every 2 months.

    2041 NL will have access to 20,000 GWH of UC electricity, why is there SUCH a rush to develop MF using a ridiculous 50 year projection? Even at 1 cent kWh UC provides $200 million in revenue, why are NNLPCs playing chicken with this?

    Giving up conditions and stipulations was never how MF was framed at first, nor was dealing with Quebec. Reality is harsh, Emera might very well back out and Quebec is the ONLY export market. If only NLPCs hadn't bashed Quebec for many years while in gov, could come to haunt them in future negotiations.

    If Nalcor were a private company Gil and Ed would have been long ago fired, the entire Board of Directors replaced. Can't commit capital without signed power contracts and legal issues sorted out: was the same for LC in the 60s 70s 80s 90s 00s 10s – first thing banks ask for are PPAs.