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Draft decision 2011-16 Access Arrangements for Envestra (SA) Andrew Reeves Chairman, AER 2 March 2011 Public forum. Housekeeping matters. Please sign the attendance sheet A record of this meeting will be made. 2. Purpose of the forum.
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Draft decision2011-16 Access Arrangements for Envestra (SA) Andrew ReevesChairman, AER2 March 2011Public forum
Housekeeping matters • Please sign the attendance sheet • A record of this meeting will be made 2
Purpose of the forum • Present the main features of the AER’s draft decision on the access arrangement proposal submitted by Envestra • inform parties intending to make submissions on the AER’s draft decision 3
Submissions • Submissions on the AER’s draft decision can be sent toQLDSAgas@aer.gov.au, until 21 April • The AER’s access arrangement guideline provides guidance on making submissions • available at www.AER.gov.au • Timeframes under the NGL and NGR limit the AER’s ability to accept late submissions 4
Revenues & Prices • The AER has determined lower revenues & prices than those proposed by Envestra. • The main reductions are to the proposed WACC, forecast capex, forecast opex and the opening capital base as at 1 July 2011. • Tariffs for haulage services are expected to rise in real terms by about 5.5 per cent per annum (on average) over the AA period. • The tariffs for ancillary services were revised and will increase each year only by the rate of change in CPI. 5
Key drivers of results • Key drivers are: • Return on capital (asset base * cost of capital) • Return of capital (depreciation) • Capital expenditure forecasts • Operating expenditure forecasts • Demand forecasts - for converting revenues to prices. 8
Cost of capital (WACC) • The nominal cost of capital has increased significantly (see following table) • Debt risk premium, more than tripled since the earlier AA period. • The cost of equity has decreased, due mostly to a reduction in the equity beta. • The AER has set the market risk premium to its pre-GFC level of 6%. 10
Capital expenditure • Envestra proposed a 157% real increase in capex compare to the earlier AA period. • The largest component of Envestra’s forecast capex was for mains replacement. • The AER accepted most of the forecast capex. Adjustments for: • contingency allowances • overheads and • real cost escalators. • In addition, forecast capex for a number of specific projects has not been adequately justified. 14
Total capex 15
Return of capital • Envestra proposed shorter asset lives than had been used previously. • The AER has accepted these asset lives • increased the rate of depreciation. • Return of capital has increased significantly. • The following graph shows the trend in regulatory depreciation. 18
Operating expenditure • Envestra proposed a 20% real increase in opex compare to the earlier AA period, principally due to: • expenditures not undertaken in earlier AA period due to financial pressures • increased UAG costs, and • one off costs & step changes compared to earlier AA period. • The AER amendments, including: • input cost escalation • reductions in network development • reductions in UAG expenditure and • amendments to several of the proposed step changes. • The AER’s draft decision results in a 9% real decrease in opex compared to the earlier AA period. 20
Total opex 21
Opex by purpose Earlier AA period Next AA period (as proposed) (actual) 22
Demand forecasts • For the most part, the proposed demand forecasts are reasonable. • AER adjustments: • average gas usage for residential customers • economic outlook used for business demand forecasts was overly pessimistic. • The AER revised upward the demand forecasts based on historic trends and SA state treasury forecasts on the SA economy. 23
Terms and conditions • Submissions: • overall terms and conditions were weighted too much in favour of Envestra. • The AER accepts most of proposed terms and conditions. • However, changes are required to provide a better balance between Envestra and customers 27
Consultants • Cost of capital: Professor Kevin Davis • Opex and capex forecasts: Wilson Cook • Labour cost growth: Access Economics • Demand forecasts: ACIL Tasman 28
Timeline 29