OREANDA-NEWS.  January 21, 2014. The Board of Directors of Joint Stock Company “Moscow United Electric Grid Company” (JSC “MOESK”) approved the Business Plan for 2014, including the investment program, and took note of the forecast figures for 2015-2018.

According to the Business Plan for 2014, the revenues of JSC “MOESK” will be RUR 128.0 bn (2.1% higher than the expected revenue for 2013), EBITDA – RUR 35.6 bn (-2.2%), net profit – RUR 7.8 bn (-28.7%), net debt – RUR 70.7 bn (+19.8%). The Company may pay annually 25% of net profit as dividends for the years 2014-2018 in accordance with the approved Business Plan and forecast indicators, continuing the practice of 2012 (in the case of positive decisions of the General Shareholders’ Meeting of JSC “MOESK” about the payment).

Business Plan for 2014 and forecast figures for 2015-2018

The annual revenue growth is planned for the years 2014-2018: if the figure is expected to be RUR 125.3 bn following the results of the year 2013, then the revenue is planned in the amount of RUR 128.0 bn for 2014 (+2.1% against 2013), and RUR 149.0 bn following the results of 2018 (+18.9% against 2013). The revenue target increase is mainly due to the planned growth of productive supply of electricity in 2014-2018 (81.6 bn kWh in 2014, +1.8% against 2013 and RUR 88.3 bn in 2018, +10.2% against 2013) and, consequently, the increase in electricity transmission revenue for this period (RUR 115.7 bn in 2014, +3.5% against 2013). According to the Company forecast for the years 2015-2018, grid connection revenue will decline annually: the figure is expected to be RUR 11.1 bn in 2014 (-13.0% against 2013), RUR 8.7 bn in 2018 (-31.9% against 2013). The decrease in grid connection revenue is associated with reduced tariffs for grid connection and exclusion of under-150 kW-applicants from grid connection (due to changes in legislative enactments).

The annual prime cost growth is expected as well during the five-year forecast period: the figure in 2014 will increase to RUR 111.2 bn (+6.3% against 2013), to RUR 134.2 bn in 2018 (+28.3% against 2013); at the same time, growth rates of the figure are ahead of the revenue dynamics. This trend is mainly due to the increase in the Company conditionally uncontrolled costs, namely the costs of services of JSC “UES FGC” and electricity costs for loss compensation. The Company continues to address losses reduction: losses reduction to 7.8 bn kWh is expected in 2014 (-3.2% against 2013), to 7.6 kWh in 2018 (-5.9% against 2013 year). The forecasted result of the work held to reduce losses is smoothed by the expected increase in the average electricity purchase price for their compensation: the price is expected to increase to RUR 1.88/KWh in 2014 (+11.9% against 2013), to RUR 2.56/kWh in 2018 (+52.4% against 2013).

Over the forecast period, no same dynamics is expected in respect of the figures of EBITDA and net profit: decline in EBITDA and net profit to RUR 35.6 bn and RUR 7.8 bn is expected in 2014 (-2.2% and -28.7% against 2013 respectively), followed by predominantly positive dynamics before 2018, when the figures projected will equal RUR 45.2 bn and RUR 9.6 bn (+24.4% and -12.9% against 2013 respectively).

In 2014, the negative impact on the Company financial performance, namely, the net profit will still be generated by the increase in the receivables impairment reserve. Following the results of 2013, the receivables impairment reserve amounted to RUR 10.4 bn, this reserve is supposed to include RUR 3.1 bn more in 2014. Formation of the reserve is due to receivables of JSC “Energocomplex” which has been generated for the period of the existence of “one contact” system.

The Company expects a growth of the average electricity transmission tariff to RUR 1,634.4/MWh in 2014 (+2.2% against 2013), while the average tariff can grow at a moderate pace up until 2017. In 2018, in connection with the beginning of a new tariff regulation period, the average tariff according to forecasts can grow up to RUR 1,830.7/MWh (+14.4% against 2013).

In connection with the tariffs “freezing”, the Company adjusted the plans regarding the sources of the investment program funding. The amount of borrowed funds for investments was increased (relative to the approved program for 2014-2017) from RUR 23.8 bn to RUR 32.2 bn, that is by RUR 8.4 bn, or 35%, resulting in 21% share of borrowed funds to finance the investment program of the mentioned period. Meanwhile, the growth of the debt burden is not critical for the relation debt/EBITDA: the maximum value of the relation will be 2.29 in 2015.