10-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-K/A
Amendment No. 1
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Commission File Number | | Registrant; State of Incorporation; Address; and Telephone Number | | I.R.S. Employer Identification No. |
1-8503 | | HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC., a Hawaii corporation 1001 Bishop Street, Suite 2900, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Telephone (808) 543-5662 | | 99-0208097 |
1-4955 | | HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC., a Hawaii corporation 900 Richards Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Telephone (808) 543-7771 | | 99-0040500 |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Registrant | | Title of each class | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. | | Common Stock, Without Par Value | | New York Stock Exchange |
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. | | Guarantee with respect to 6.50% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities Series 2004 (QUIPSSM) of HECO Capital Trust III | | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
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Registrant | | Title of each class |
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. | | None |
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. | | Cumulative Preferred Stock |
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
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Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. Yes X No | Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. Yes No X |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
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Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. Yes No X | Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. Yes No X |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
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Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. Yes X No | Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. Yes X No |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
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Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. Yes X No | Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. Yes X No |
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. | Large accelerated filer X Accelerated filer Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company | Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. | Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer Non-accelerated filer X (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
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Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. Yes No X | Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. Yes No X |
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| | Aggregate market value of the voting and non- voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrants as of | | Number of shares of common stock outstanding of the registrants as of |
| | June 30, 2014 | | June 30, 2014 | | February 13, 2015 |
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) | | $2,571,503,656 | | 101,560,176 (Without par value) | | 102,710,867 (Without par value) |
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (Hawaiian Electric) | | None | | 15,429,105 ($6 2/3 par value) | | 15,805,327 ($6 2/3 par value) |
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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Hawaiian Electric’s Exhibit 99.1, consisting of:
Hawaiian Electric’s Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance—Part III
Hawaiian Electric’s Executive Compensation—Part III
Hawaiian Electric’s Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters—
Part III
Hawaiian Electric’s Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Part III
Hawaiian Electric’s Principal Accounting Fees and Services—Part III
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This combined Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A represents separate filings by Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. Information contained herein relating to any individual registrant is filed by each registrant on its own behalf. Hawaiian Electric makes no representations as to any information not relating to it or its subsidiaries. |
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
HEI and Hawaiian Electric are filing this Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (the Amended Filing) to amend certain parts of their Annual Report on 2014 Form 10-K, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 26, 2015 (the Original Filing).
Background and Effects of the Restatement
The Audit Committees of the Boards of Directors of HEI and Hawaiian Electric, after consultation with management, concluded on November 4, 2015 that it is necessary to restate HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, and the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and to revise HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2014 for the correction of misstatements related to capital expenditures, changes in accounts payable, changes in deferred income taxes, changes in accrued income taxes, and changes in other assets and liabilities as described below and other immaterial items. This Amended Filing restates HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and revises HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2014 and makes other conforming changes (see “Items Amended in This Filing” below). This restatement does not impact HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s previously reported overall net change in cash and cash equivalents in their Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for any period presented. Additionally, this restatement does not impact HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s Consolidated Balance Sheets or Consolidated Statements of Income for any period presented.
Management discovered that the Utilities’ capital expenditures on HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows did not correctly account for the beginning of period unpaid invoices and accruals (that were paid in cash during the period) and is restating its previously filed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and revising its previously filed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2014 to correct for such misstatement by adjusting cash used for “Capital expenditures” (investing activity) and the change in accounts payable (operating activity).
Management also discovered that the eliminating journal entry to offset the Hawaiian Electric consolidated net operating loss deferred tax asset did not properly reflect the adjustment on the components of income taxes (current and deferred federal income taxes) and is revising its previously filed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to correct for such misstatement by adjusting “Increase in deferred income taxes,” “Change in prepaid and accrued income taxes and utility revenue taxes” and “Change in other assets and liabilities” for the year ended December 31, 2014 (operating activities).
The impact of the revision and restatements on the consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 is summarized in Note 1, "Summary of significant accounting policies - Revision and restatements of previously issued financial statements" to HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management reassessed its evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on the framework established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. As a result of that reassessment, management identified a material weakness and, accordingly, has concluded that the Company did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014. Management has restated its report on internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014. For a description of the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting and actions taken, and to be taken, to remediate the material weakness, see Part II, Item 9A. "Controls and Procedures" of this 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K/A.
Items Amended in This Filing
This Amended Filing amends and restates the following items of the Company's Original Filing as of, and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors
Part II - Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations
Part II - Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Part II - Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Part IV - Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
In accordance with applicable SEC rules, this Amended Filing includes certifications as required by Rule 12b-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) from HEI's and Hawaiian Electric’s Principal Executive Officers and Principal Financial Officers dated as of the date of this amended filing.
Except for the items noted above, no other information included in the Original Filing is being amended by this Amended Filing. The Amended Filing speaks as of the date of the Original Filing and HEI and Hawaiian Electric have not updated the Original Filing to reflect events occurring subsequent to the date of the Original Filing. Accordingly, this Amended Filing should be read in conjunction with HEI's and Hawaiian Electric’s filings made with the SEC subsequent to the date of the Original Filing.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Defined below are certain terms used in this report:
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Terms | | Definitions |
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ABO | | Accumulated benefit obligation |
AES Hawaii | | AES Hawaii, Inc. |
AFUDC | | Allowance for funds used during construction |
AOCI | | Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
AOS | | Adequacy of supply |
APBO | | Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation |
ARO | | Asset retirement obligations |
ASB | | American Savings Bank, F.S.B., a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Savings Holdings, Inc. |
ASB Hawaii | | ASB Hawaii, Inc. (formerly American Savings Holdings, Inc.), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. and the parent company of American Savings Bank, F.S.B. |
ASC | | Accounting Standards Codification |
ASU | | Accounting Standards Update |
Btu | | British thermal unit |
CAA | | Clean Air Act |
CERCLA | | Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act |
Chevron | | Chevron Products Company, a fuel oil supplier |
CIP | | Campbell Industrial Park |
CIS | | Customer Information System |
Company | | When used in Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. sections and in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, “Company” refers to Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including, without limitation, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and its subsidiaries (listed under Hawaiian Electric); ASB Hawaii, Inc. and its subsidiary, American Savings Bank, F.S.B.; HEI Properties, Inc.; Hawaiian Electric Industries Capital Trust II and Hawaiian Electric Industries Capital Trust III (inactive financing entities); and The Old Oahu Tug Service, Inc. (formerly Hawaiian Tug & Barge Corp.). When used in Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. sections, “Company” refers to Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and its direct subsidiaries. |
Consolidated Financial Statements | | HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric's combined Consolidated Financial Statements, including notes, in Item 8 of this Form 10-K |
Consumer Advocate | | Division of Consumer Advocacy, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs of the State of Hawaii |
CT-1 | | Combustion turbine No. 1 |
D&O | | Decision and order |
DBEDT | | State of Hawaii Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism |
DBF | | State of Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance |
DG | | Distributed generation |
Dodd-Frank Act | | Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 |
DOH | | Department of Health of the State of Hawaii |
DRIP | | HEI Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan |
DSM | | Demand-side management |
ECAC | | Energy cost adjustment clause |
EGU | | Electrical generating unit |
EIP | | 2010 Executive Incentive Plan, as amended |
Energy Agreement | | Agreement, dated October 20, 2008, signed by the Governor of the State of Hawaii, the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and Hawaiian Electric, for itself and on behalf of its electric utility subsidiaries, committing to actions to develop renewable energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels in support of the HCEI. In September 2014, the parties to the Energy Agreement concluded that the agreements and policy directives in the Energy Agreement had been advanced or superseded by subsequent events, as well as by decisions and orders issued by the PUC, and accordingly ended the Energy Agreement as of September 14, 2014. |
EOTP | | East Oahu Transmission Project |
EPA | | Environmental Protection Agency - federal |
EPS | | Earnings per share |
GLOSSARY OF TERMS (continued)
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Terms | | Definitions |
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ERISA | | Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended |
ERL | | Environmental Response Law of the State of Hawaii |
Exchange Act | | Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
FASB | | Financial Accounting Standards Board |
FDIC | | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
FDICIA | | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 |
federal | | U.S. Government |
FERC | | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
FHLB | | Federal Home Loan Bank |
FHLMC | | Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation |
FICO | | Financing Corporation |
Fitch | | Fitch Ratings, Inc. |
FNMA | | Federal National Mortgage Association |
FRB | | Federal Reserve Board |
GAAP | | Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America |
GHG | | Greenhouse gas |
GNMA | | Government National Mortgage Association |
Gramm Act | | Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 |
HCEI | | Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative |
HC&S | | Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, a division of A&B-Hawaii, Inc. |
Hawaii Electric Light | | Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., an electric utility subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. |
Hawaiian Electric | | Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., an electric utility subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. and parent company of Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., Maui Electric Company, Limited, HECO Capital Trust III (unconsolidated financing subsidiary), Renewable Hawaii, Inc. and Uluwehiokama Biofuels Corp. |
Hawaiian Electric’s MD&A | | Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 of this Form 10-K |
HEI | | Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., direct parent company of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., ASB Hawaii, Inc., HEI Properties, Inc., Hawaiian Electric Industries Capital Trust II, Hawaiian Electric Industries Capital Trust III and The Old Oahu Tug Service, Inc. (formerly Hawaiian Tug & Barge Corp.). |
HEI’s MD&A | | Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 of this Form 10-K |
HEIPI | | HEI Properties, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. |
HEIRSP | | Hawaiian Electric Industries Retirement Savings Plan |
HEP | | Hamakua Energy Partners, L.P., formerly known as Encogen Hawaii, L.P. |
HTB | | Hawaiian Tug & Barge Corp. On November 10, 1999, HTB sold substantially all of its operating assets and the stock of its subsidiary, Young Brothers, Limited, and changed its name to The Old Oahu Tug Services, Inc. |
HPower | | City and County of Honolulu with respect to a power purchase agreement for a refuse-fired plant |
IPP | | Independent power producer |
IRP | | Integrated resource plan |
IRR | | Interest rate risk |
Kalaeloa | | Kalaeloa Partners, L.P. |
kV | | Kilovolt |
kW | | Kilowatt/s (as applicable) |
KWH | | Kilowatthour/s (as applicable) |
LSFO | | Low sulfur fuel oil |
LTIP | | Long-term incentive plan |
Maui Electric | | Maui Electric Company, Limited, an electric utility subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. |
MBtu | | Million British thermal unit |
MD&A | | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
Merger | | As provided in the Merger Agreement, merger of Merger Sub I with and into HEI, with HEI surviving, and then merger of HEI with and into Merger Sub II, with Merger Sub II surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of NEE |
GLOSSARY OF TERMS (continued)
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Terms | | Definitions |
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Merger Agreement | | Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among HEI, NEE, Merger Sub II and Merger Sub I, dated December 3, 2014 |
Merger Sub I | | NEE Acquisition Sub II, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of NEE |
Merger Sub II | | NEE Acquisition Sub I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of NEE |
Moody’s | | Moody’s Investors Service’s |
MSFO | | Medium sulfur fuel oil |
MOU | | Memorandum of Understanding |
MW | | Megawatt/s (as applicable) |
NA | | Not applicable |
NAAQS | | National Ambient Air Quality Standard |
NEE | | NextEra Energy, Inc. |
NII | | Net interest income |
NM | | Not meaningful |
NPBC | | Net periodic benefits costs |
NQSO | | Nonqualified stock options |
O&M | | Other operation and maintenance |
OCC | | Office of the Comptroller of the Currency |
OPEB | | Postretirement benefits other than pensions |
OTS | | Office of Thrift Supervision, Department of Treasury |
OTTI | | Other-than-temporary impairment |
PBO | | Projected benefit obligation |
PCB | | Polychlorinated biphenyls |
PGV | | Puna Geothermal Venture |
PPA | | Power purchase agreement |
PPAC | | Purchased power adjustment clause |
PSD | | Prevention of Significant Deterioration |
PUC | | Public Utilities Commission of the State of Hawaii |
PURPA | | Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 |
QF | | Qualifying Facility under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 |
QTL | | Qualified Thrift Lender |
RAM | | Rate adjustment mechanism |
RBA | | Revenue balancing account |
Registrant | | Each of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. |
REIP | | Renewable Energy Infrastructure Program |
RFP | | Request for proposals |
RHI | | Renewable Hawaii, Inc., a wholly-owned nonregulated subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. |
ROA | | Return on assets |
ROACE | | Return on average common equity |
RORB | | Return on rate base |
RPS | | Renewable portfolio standards |
S&P | | Standard & Poor’s |
SAR | | Stock appreciation right |
SEC | | Securities and Exchange Commission |
See | | Means the referenced material is incorporated by reference (or means refer to the referenced section in this document or the referenced exhibit or other document) |
SLHCs | | Savings & Loan Holding Companies |
SOIP | | 1987 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as amended |
Spin-Off | | The distribution to HEI shareholders of all of the common stock of ASB Hawaii immediately prior to the Merger |
SPRBs | | Special Purpose Revenue Bonds |
ST | | Steam turbine |
state | | State of Hawaii |
TDR | | Troubled debt restructuring |
GLOSSARY OF TERMS (continued)
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Terms | | Definitions |
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Tesoro | | Tesoro Hawaii Corporation dba BHP Petroleum Americas Refining Inc., a fuel oil supplier |
TOOTS | | The Old Oahu Tug Service, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. |
Trust III | | HECO Capital Trust III |
UBC | | Uluwehiokama Biofuels Corp., a wholly-owned nonregulated subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. |
Utilities | | Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. and Maui Electric Company, Limited |
VIE | | Variable interest entity |
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Forward-Looking Statements |
This report and other presentations made by Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) and Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (Hawaiian Electric) and their subsidiaries contain “forward-looking statements,” which include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and usually include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “predicts,” “estimates” or similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance, ongoing business strategies or prospects or possible future actions are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and the accuracy of assumptions concerning HEI and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company), the performance of the industries in which they do business and economic and market factors, among other things. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.
Risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and from historical results include, but are not limited to, the following:
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• | the successful and timely completion of the proposed Merger with NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE), which could be materially and adversely affected by, among other things, resolving the litigation brought in connection with the proposed Merger, the timing and terms and conditions of required governmental and regulatory approvals, the ability to obtain the required shareholder approval and the ability to maintain relationships with employees, customers or suppliers, as well as the ability to integrate the businesses; |
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• | the ability of ASB to operate successfully after the Spin-Off of its parent ASB Hawaii; |
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• | international, national and local economic conditions, including the state of the Hawaii tourism, defense and construction industries, the strength or weakness of the Hawaii and continental U.S. real estate markets (including the fair value and/or the actual performance of collateral underlying loans held by American Savings Bank, F.S.B. (ASB), which could result in higher loan loss provisions and write-offs), decisions concerning the extent of the presence of the federal government and military in Hawaii, the implications and potential impacts of U.S. and foreign capital and credit market conditions and federal, state and international responses to those conditions, and the potential impacts of global developments (including global economic conditions and uncertainties, unrest, ongoing conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East, terrorist acts, potential conflict or crisis with North Korea or Iran, developments in the Ukraine and potential pandemics); |
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• | the effects of future actions or inaction of the U.S. government or related agencies, including those related to the U.S. debt ceiling and monetary policy; |
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• | weather and natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, lightning strikes, lava flows and the potential effects of climate change, such as more severe storms and rising sea levels), including their impact on the Company's and Utilities' operations and the economy; |
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• | the timing and extent of changes in interest rates and the shape of the yield curve; |
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• | the ability of the Company and the Utilities to access the credit and capital markets (e.g., to obtain commercial paper and other short-term and long-term debt financing, including lines of credit, and, in the case of HEI, to issue common stock) under volatile and challenging market conditions, and the cost of such financings, if available; |
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• | the risks inherent in changes in the value of the Company’s pension and other retirement plan assets and ASB’s securities available for sale; |
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• | changes in laws, regulations, market conditions and other factors that result in changes in assumptions used to calculate retirement benefits costs and funding requirements; |
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• | the impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act) and of the rules and regulations that the Dodd-Frank Act requires to be promulgated; |
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• | increasing competition in the banking industry (e.g., increased price competition for deposits, or an outflow of deposits to alternative investments, which may have an adverse impact on ASB’s cost of funds); |
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• | the PUC’s potential delay in considering (and potential disapproval of actual or proposed) Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI)-related costs; reliance by the Utilities on outside parties such as the state, independent power producers (IPPs) and developers; potential changes in political support for the HCEI; and uncertainties surrounding wind power, proposed undersea cables, biofuels, environmental assessments and the impacts of implementation of the HCEI on future costs of electricity); |
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• | the ability of the Utilities to develop, implement and recover the costs of implementing the Utilities’ action plans and business model changes that are being developed in response to the four orders that the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Hawaii (PUC) issued in April 2014, in which the PUC: directed the Utilities to develop, among other things, Power Supply Improvement Plans, a Demand Response Portfolio Plan and a Distributed Generation Interconnection Plan; described the PUC’s inclinations on the future of Hawaii’s electric utilities and the vision, business strategies and regulatory policy changes required to align the Utilities’ business model with customer interests and the state’s public policy goals; and emphasized the need to “leap ahead” of other states in creating a 21st century generation system and modern transmission and distribution grids; |
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• | capacity and supply constraints or difficulties, especially if generating units (utility-owned or IPP-owned) fail or measures such as demand-side management (DSM), distributed generation, combined heat and power or other firm capacity supply-side resources fall short of achieving their forecasted benefits or are otherwise insufficient to reduce or meet peak demand; |
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• | fuel oil price changes, delivery of adequate fuel by suppliers and the continued availability to the electric utilities of their energy cost adjustment clauses (ECACs); |
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• | the continued availability to the electric utilities of other cost recovery mechanisms, including the purchased power adjustment clauses (PPACs), rate adjustment mechanisms (RAMs) and pension and postretirement benefits other than pensions (OPEB) tracking mechanisms, and the continued decoupling of revenues from sales to mitigate the effects of declining kilowatthour sales; |
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• | the impact of fuel price volatility on customer satisfaction and political and regulatory support for the Utilities; |
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• | the risks associated with increasing reliance on renewable energy, including the availability and cost of non-fossil fuel supplies for renewable energy generation and the operational impacts of adding intermittent sources of renewable energy to the electric grid; |
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• | the growing risk that energy production from renewable generating resources may be curtailed and the interconnection of additional resources will be constrained as more generating resources are added to the Utilities' electric systems and as customers reduce their energy usage; |
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• | the ability of IPPs to deliver the firm capacity anticipated in their power purchase agreements (PPAs); |
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• | the ability of the Utilities to negotiate, periodically, favorable agreements for significant resources such as fuel supply contracts and collective bargaining agreements; |
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• | new technological developments that could affect the operations and prospects of HEI and ASB or their competitors; |
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• | new technological developments, such as the commercial development of energy storage and microgrids, that could affect the operations of the Utilities; |
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• | cyber security risks and the potential for cyber incidents, including potential incidents at HEI, ASB and the Utilities (including at ASB branches and electric utility plants) and incidents at data processing centers they use, to the extent not prevented by intrusion detection and prevention systems, anti-virus software, firewalls and other general information technology controls; |
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• | federal, state, county and international governmental and regulatory actions, such as existing, new and changes in laws, rules and regulations applicable to HEI, the Utilities and ASB (including changes in taxation, increases in capital requirements, regulatory policy changes, environmental laws and regulations (including resulting compliance costs and risks of fines and penalties and/or liabilities), the regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, governmental fees and assessments (such as Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation assessments), and potential carbon “cap and trade” legislation that may fundamentally alter costs to produce electricity and accelerate the move to renewable generation); |
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• | developments in laws, regulations, and policies governing protections for historic, archaeological, and cultural sites, and plant and animal species and habitats, as well as developments in the implementation and enforcement of such laws, regulations, and policies; |
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• | discovery of conditions that may be attributable to historical chemical releases, including any necessary investigation and remediation, and any associated enforcement, litigation, or regulatory oversight; |
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• | decisions by the PUC in rate cases and other proceedings (including the risks of delays in the timing of decisions, adverse changes in final decisions from interim decisions and the disallowance of project costs as a result of adverse regulatory audit reports or otherwise); |
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• | decisions by the PUC and by other agencies and courts on land use, environmental and other permitting issues (such as required corrective actions, restrictions and penalties that may arise, such as with respect to environmental conditions or renewable portfolio standards (RPS)); |
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• | potential enforcement actions by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and/or other governmental authorities (such as consent orders, required corrective actions, restrictions and penalties that may arise, for example, with respect to compliance deficiencies under existing or new banking and consumer protection laws and regulations or with respect to capital adequacy); |
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• | the ability of the Utilities to recover increasing costs and earn a reasonable return on capital investments not covered by RAMs; |
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• | the risks associated with the geographic concentration of HEI’s businesses and ASB’s loans, ASB’s concentration in a single product type (i.e., first mortgages) and ASB’s significant credit relationships (i.e., concentrations of large loans and/or credit lines with certain customers); |
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• | changes in accounting principles applicable to HEI, the Utilities and ASB, including the adoption of new U.S. accounting standards, the potential discontinuance of regulatory accounting and the effects of potentially required consolidation of variable interest entities (VIEs) or required capital lease accounting for PPAs with IPPs; |
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• | changes by securities rating agencies in their ratings of the securities of HEI and Hawaiian Electric and the results of financing efforts; |
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• | faster than expected loan prepayments that can cause an acceleration of the amortization of premiums on loans and investments and the impairment of mortgage-servicing assets of ASB; |
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• | changes in ASB’s loan portfolio credit profile and asset quality which may increase or decrease the required level of provision for loan losses, allowance for loan losses and charge-offs; |
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• | changes in ASB’s deposit cost or mix which may have an adverse impact on ASB’s cost of funds; |
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• | the final outcome of tax positions taken by HEI, the Utilities and ASB; |
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• | the risks of suffering losses and incurring liabilities that are uninsured (e.g., damages to the Utilities’ transmission and distribution system and losses from business interruption) or underinsured (e.g., losses not covered as a result of insurance deductibles or other exclusions or exceeding policy limits); and |
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• | other risks or uncertainties described elsewhere in this report (e.g., Item 1A. Risk Factors) and in other reports previously and subsequently filed by HEI and/or Hawaiian Electric with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). |
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the report, presentation or filing in which they are made. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, HEI, Hawaiian Electric, ASB and their subsidiaries undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
PART I
The businesses of HEI and its subsidiaries involve numerous risks which, if realized, could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements. In addition, there are numerous risks relating to the Merger and Spin-Off. For additional information for certain risk factors enumerated below and other risks of the Company and its operations, see “Forward-Looking Statements” above and HEI’s MD&A, HEI’s “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk”, the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, Hawaiian Electric’s MD&A, Hawaiian Electric’s “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”
Risk Factors Relating to the Merger.
Failure to complete the Merger could negatively impact the stock price and the future business and financial results of HEI. If the Merger is not completed, the ongoing business of HEI may be adversely affected and HEI will be subject to several risks, including the following:
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• | having to pay certain costs relating to the proposed Merger and the Spin-Off, such as legal, accounting, financial advisor, filing, printing and mailing fees; |
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• | focusing HEI’s management on the Merger, which could lead to the disruption of HEI’s ongoing business or inconsistencies in its services, standards, controls, procedures and policies, any of which could adversely affect the ability of HEI to maintain relationships with customers, regulators, vendors and employees, or could otherwise adversely affect the business and financial results of HEI, without realizing any of the benefits of having the Merger completed; and |
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• | focusing HEI’s management on the Merger instead of on pursuing other opportunities that could be beneficial to HEI, without realizing any of the benefits of having the Merger completed. |
In addition to the above risks, HEI may be required, under certain circumstances, to pay to NEE a termination fee of $90 million, plus NEE’s expenses up to $5 million.
If the Merger is not completed, HEI cannot assure its shareholders that these risks will not materialize and will not materially affect its business, financial results and stock price.
The pendency of the Merger could adversely affect the business and operations of HEI. In connection with the pending Merger, some customers or vendors of HEI’s utilities may delay or defer decisions, which could negatively impact the revenues, earnings, cash flows and expenses of HEI, regardless of whether the Merger is completed. Similarly, current and prospective employees of HEI and its utilities may experience uncertainty about their future roles following the Merger, which may materially adversely affect the ability of HEI and its utilities to attract and retain key personnel during the pendency of the Merger. In addition, due to operating covenants in the Merger Agreement, HEI and its utilities may be unable, during the pendency of the Merger, to pursue strategic transactions, undertake significant capital projects, undertake certain significant financing or other specified transactions or pursue actions that are not in the ordinary course of business, even if such actions would prove beneficial.
If the Merger is completed, NEE may be unable to successfully integrate HEI’s business. NEE and HEI currently operate as independent public companies. After the Merger, NEE will be required to devote significant management attention and resources to integrating HEI’s business. Potential difficulties NEE may encounter in the integration process include the following:
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• | the complexities associated with integrating HEI and its utility business, while at the same time continuing to provide consistent, high quality services; |
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• | the additional complexities of integrating a company with different core services, markets and customers; |
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• | the inability to retain key employees; |
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• | unknown liabilities and unforeseen expenses, delays or regulatory conditions associated with the Merger; and |
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• | performance shortfalls as a result of the diversion of management’s attention caused by completing the Merger and integrating HEI’s utility business. |
For these reasons, the integration process following the Merger could result in the distraction of NEE’s management, the disruption of NEE’s ongoing business or inconsistencies in its services, standards, controls, procedures and policies, any of which could adversely affect the ability of NEE to maintain relationships with customers, vendors and employees or could otherwise adversely affect the business and financial results of NEE.
HEI may be materially adversely affected by negative publicity related to the proposed Merger and in connection with other matters. From time to time, political and public sentiment in connection with the proposed Merger and in connection
with other matters may result in a significant amount of adverse press coverage and other adverse public statements affecting NEE and HEI. Adverse press coverage and other adverse statements, whether or not driven by political or public sentiment, may also result in investigations by regulators, legislators and law enforcement officials or in legal claims. Responding to these investigations and lawsuits, regardless of the ultimate outcome of the proceeding, can divert the time and effort of senior management from the management of HEI’s businesses.
Addressing any adverse publicity, governmental scrutiny or enforcement or other legal proceedings is time consuming and expensive and, regardless of the factual basis for the assertions being made, can have a negative impact on HEI’s reputation, on the morale and performance of its employees and on its relationships with its regulators. It may also have a negative impact on HEI’s ability to take timely advantage of various business and market opportunities. The direct and indirect effects of negative publicity, and the demands of responding to and addressing it, may have a material adverse effect on HEI’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Pending litigation against HEI and NEE could result in an injunction preventing completion of the merger, the payment of damages in the event the merger is completed and/or may adversely affect the combined company's business, financial condition or results of operations following the Merger.
Holding Company and Company-Wide Risks.
HEI is a holding company that derives its income from its operating subsidiaries and depends on the ability of those subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to HEI and on its own ability to raise capital. HEI is a legal entity separate and distinct from its various subsidiaries. As a holding company with no significant operations of its own, HEI’s cash flows and consequent ability to service its obligations and pay dividends on its common stock is dependent upon its receipt of dividends or other distributions from its operating subsidiaries and its ability to issue common stock or other equity securities and to incur additional debt. The ability of HEI’s subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to HEI, in turn, is subject to the risks associated with their operations and to contractual and regulatory restrictions, including:
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• | the provisions of an HEI agreement with the PUC, which could limit the ability of HEI’s principal electric public utility subsidiary, Hawaiian Electric, to pay dividends to HEI in the event that the consolidated common stock equity of the Utilities falls below 35% of total capitalization of the electric utilities; |
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• | the provisions of an HEI agreement entered into with federal bank regulators in connection with its acquisition of its bank subsidiary, ASB, which require HEI to contribute additional capital to ASB (up to a maximum amount of additional capital of $28.3 million as of December 31, 2014) upon request of the regulators in order to maintain ASB’s regulatory capital at the level required by regulation; |
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• | the minimum capital and capital distribution regulations of the OCC that are applicable to ASB and capital regulations that become applicable to HEI and ASB Hawaii; |
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• | the receipt of a letter of non-objection or prior approval from the OCC and FRB to the payment of any dividend ASB proposes to declare and pay to ASB Hawaii and HEI; and |
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• | the provisions of preferred stock resolutions and debt instruments of HEI and its subsidiaries. |
The Company is subject to risks associated with the Hawaii economy (in the aggregate and on an individual island basis), volatile U.S. capital markets and changes in the interest rate and credit market environment that have and/or could result in higher retirement benefit plan funding requirements, declines in electric utility KWH sales, declines in ASB’s interest rate margins and investment values, higher delinquencies and charge-offs in ASB’s loan portfolio and restrictions on the ability of HEI or its subsidiaries to borrow money or issue securities. The two largest components of Hawaii’s economy are tourism and the federal government (including the military). Because the core businesses of HEI’s subsidiaries are providing local public electric utility services (through Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries) and banking services (through ASB) in Hawaii, the Company’s operating results are significantly influenced by Hawaii’s economy, which in turn is influenced by economic conditions in the mainland U.S. (particularly California) and Asia (particularly Japan) as a result of the impact of those conditions on tourism, by the impact of interest rates on the construction and real estate industries and by the impact of world conditions (e.g., U.S. withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan) on federal government spending in Hawaii. For example, the turmoil in the financial markets and declines in the national and global economies had a negative effect on the Hawaii economy in 2009. In 2009, declines in the Hawaii, U.S. and Asian economies in part led to declines in KWH sales, an increase in uncollected billings of the Utilities, higher delinquencies in ASB’s loan portfolio and other adverse effects on HEI’s businesses.
If Fitch, Moody's or S&P were to downgrade HEI’s or Hawaiian Electric’s long-term debt ratings because of past adverse effects, or if future events were to adversely affect the availability of capital to the Company, HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s ability to borrow and raise capital could be constrained and their future borrowing costs would likely increase with resulting reductions in HEI’s consolidated net income in future periods. Further, if HEI’s or Hawaiian Electric’s commercial paper ratings were to be downgraded, HEI and Hawaiian Electric might not be able to sell commercial paper and might be required to draw on more expensive bank lines of credit or to defer capital or other expenditures.
Changes in the U.S. capital markets can also have significant effects on the Company. For example, pension funding requirements are affected by the market performance of the assets in the master pension trust maintained for pension plans, and by the discount rate used to estimate the service and interest cost components of net periodic pension cost and value obligations. The Utilities’ pension tracking mechanisms help moderate pension expense; however, the significant decline in 2008 in the value of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan assets resulted in a substantial gap between the projected benefit obligations under the plans and the value of plan assets, resulting in increases in funding requirements. The increases have moderated in recent years as investment performance has improved.
Because the earnings of ASB depend primarily on net interest income, interest rate risk is a significant risk of ASB’s operations. HEI and the Utilities are also exposed to interest rate risk primarily due to their periodic borrowing requirements, the discount rate used to determine pension funding requirements and the possible effect of interest rates on the electric utilities’ rates of return. Interest rates are sensitive to many factors, including general economic conditions and the policies of government and regulatory authorities. HEI cannot predict future changes in interest rates, nor be certain that interest rate risk management strategies it or its subsidiaries have implemented will be successful in managing interest rate risk.
Interest rate risk also represents a market risk factor affecting the fair value of ASB’s investment securities. Increases and decreases in prevailing interest rates generally translate into decreases and increases in the fair values of those instruments, respectively. Disruptions in the credit markets, a liquidity crisis in the banking industry or increased levels of residential mortgage delinquencies and defaults may result in decreases in the fair value of ASB’s investment securities and an impairment that is other-than-temporary, requiring ASB to write down its investment securities. As of December 31, 2014, all of ASB’s investment securities were securities and obligations issued by a federal agency or government sponsored entity that have an implicit guarantee from the U.S. government.
HEI and Hawaiian Electric and their subsidiaries may incur higher retirement benefits expenses and have and will likely continue to recognize substantial liabilities for retirement benefits. Retirement benefits expenses and cash funding requirements could increase in future years depending on numerous factors, including the performance of the U.S. equity markets, trends in interest rates and health care costs, plan amendments, new laws relating to pension funding and changes in accounting principles. For the Utilities, however, retirement benefits expenses, as adjusted by the pension and postretirement benefits other than pensions (OPEB) tracking mechanisms, have been an allowable expense for rate-making purposes.
The Company is subject to the risks associated with the geographic concentration of its businesses and current lack of interconnections that could result in service interruptions at the Utilities or higher default rates on loans held by ASB. The business of the Utilities is concentrated on the individual islands they serve in the State of Hawaii. Their operations are more vulnerable to service interruptions than are many U.S. mainland utilities because none of the systems of the Utilities are interconnected with the systems on the other islands they serve. Because of this lack of interconnections, it is necessary to maintain higher generation reserve margins than are typical for U.S. mainland utilities to help ensure reliable service. Service interruptions, including in particular extended interruptions that could result from a natural disaster or terrorist activity, could adversely impact the KWH sales of some or all of the Utilities.
Substantially all of ASB’s consumer loan customers are Hawaii residents. A significant portion of the commercial loan customers are located in Hawaii. While a majority of customers are on Oahu, ASB also has customers on the neighbor islands (whose economies have been weaker than Oahu during the recent economic downturn). Substantially all of the real estate underlying ASB’s residential and commercial real estate loans are located in Hawaii. These assets may be subject to a greater risk of default than other comparable assets held by financial institutions with other geographic concentrations in the event of adverse economic, political or business developments or natural disasters affecting Hawaii and the ability of ASB’s customers to make payments of principal and interest on their loans.
Increasing competition and technological advances could cause HEI’s businesses to lose customers or render their operations obsolete. The banking industry in Hawaii, and certain aspects of the electric utility industry, are competitive. The success of HEI’s subsidiaries in meeting competition and responding to technological advances will continue to have a direct impact on HEI’s consolidated financial performance. For example:
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• | ASB, one of the largest financial institutions in the state, is in direct competition for deposits and loans not only with two larger institutions that have substantial capital, technology and marketing resources, but also with smaller Hawaii institutions and other U.S. institutions, including credit unions, mutual funds, mortgage brokers, finance companies and investment banking firms. Larger financial institutions may have greater access to capital at lower costs, which could impair ASB’s ability to compete effectively. Significant advances in technology could render the operations of ASB less competitive or obsolete. |
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• | The Utilities face competition from IPPs; customer self-generation, with or without cogeneration; customer energy storage; and the potential formation of community-based, cooperative ownership structures for electrical service on the neighbor islands. With the exception of certain identified projects, the Utilities are required to use competitive bidding |
to acquire a future generation resource unless the PUC finds competitive bidding to be unsuitable. The PUC set policies for distributed generation (DG) interconnection agreements and standby rates, and established conditions under which electric utilities can provide DG services on customer-owned sites as a regulated service. The results of competitive bidding, competition from IPPs, customer self-generation, and potential cooperative ownership structures for electric utility service, and the rate at which technological developments facilitating nonutility generation of electricity and customer energy storage occur may adversely affect the Utilities and the results of their operations.
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• | New technological developments, such as the commercial development of energy storage and microgrids, may render the operations of the Utilities less competitive or outdated. |
The Company may be subject to information technology system failures, network disruptions and breaches in data security that could adversely affect its businesses and reputation. The Company is subject to cyber security risks and the potential for cyber incidents, including potential incidents at ASB branches and at the the Utilities' plants and the related electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure, and incidents at data processing centers they use, to the extent not prevented by intrusion detection and prevention systems, anti-virus software, firewalls and other general information technology controls. ASB and the Utilities are highly dependent on their ability to process, on a daily basis, a large number of transactions. ASB and the Utilities rely heavily on numerous data processing systems. If any of these systems fails to operate properly or becomes disabled even for a brief period of time, the Company could suffer financial loss, business disruptions, liability to customers, regulatory intervention or damage to its reputation. The Utilities and ASB have disaster recovery plans in place to protect their businesses against natural disasters, security breaches, military or terrorist actions, power or communication failures or similar events. The disaster recovery plans, however, may not be successful in preventing the loss of customer data, service interruptions, disruptions to operations or damage to important facilities.
HEI’s businesses could suffer losses that are uninsured due to a lack of affordable insurance coverage, unavailability of insurance coverage or limitations on the insurance coverage the Company does have. In the ordinary course of business, HEI and its subsidiaries purchase insurance coverages (e.g., property and liability coverages) to protect against loss of, or damage to, their properties and against claims made by third parties and employees for property damage or personal injuries. However, the protection provided by such insurance is limited in significant respects and, in some instances, there is no coverage. Certain of the insurance has substantial deductibles or has limits on the maximum amounts that may be recovered. For example, the Utilities’ overhead and underground transmission and distribution systems (with the exception of substation buildings and contents) have a replacement value roughly estimated at $6 billion and are largely not insured against loss or damage because the amount of transmission and distribution system insurance available is limited and the premiums are cost prohibitive. Similarly, the Utilities have no business interruption insurance as the premiums for such insurance would be cost prohibitive, particularly since the Utilities are not interconnected to other systems. If a hurricane or other uninsured catastrophic natural disaster were to occur, and if the PUC were not to allow the affected Utilities to recover from ratepayers restoration costs and revenues lost from business interruption, the lost revenues and repair expenses could result in a significant decrease in HEI’s consolidated net income or in significant net losses for the affected periods.
ASB generally does not obtain credit enhancements, such as mortgagor bankruptcy insurance, but does require standard hazard and hurricane insurance and may require flood insurance for certain properties. ASB is subject to the risks of borrower defaults and bankruptcies, special hazard losses not covered by the required insurance and the insurance company’s inability to pay claims on existing policies.
Increased federal and state environmental regulation will require an increasing commitment of resources and funds and could result in construction delays or penalties and fines for non-compliance. HEI and its subsidiaries are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations relating to air quality, water quality, hazardous substances, waste management, natural resources and health and safety, which regulate, among other matters, the operation of existing facilities, the construction and operation of new facilities and the proper cleanup and disposal of hazardous and toxic wastes and substances. HEI or its subsidiaries are currently involved in investigatory or remedial actions at current, former or third-party sites and there is no assurance that the Company will not incur material costs relating to these sites. In addition, compliance with these legal requirements requires the Utilities to commit significant resources and funds toward, among other things, environmental monitoring, installation of pollution control equipment and payment of emission fees. These laws and regulations, among other things, require that certain environmental permits be obtained in order to construct or operate certain facilities, and obtaining such permits can entail significant expense and cause substantial construction delays. Also, these laws and regulations may be amended from time to time, including amendments that increase the burden and expense of compliance. For example, emission and/or discharge limits may be tightened, more extensive permitting requirements may be imposed and additional substances may become regulated. In addition, significant regulatory uncertainty exists regarding the impact of federal or state greenhouse gas (GHG) emission limits and reductions.
If HEI or its subsidiaries fail to comply with environmental laws and regulations, even if caused by factors beyond their control, that failure may result in civil or criminal penalties and fines or the cessation of operations.
Adverse tax rulings or developments could result in significant increases in tax payments and/or expense. Governmental taxing authorities could challenge a tax return position taken by HEI or its subsidiaries and, if the taxing authorities prevail, HEI’s consolidated tax payments and/or expense, including applicable penalties and interest, could increase significantly.
The Company could be subject to the risk of uninsured losses in excess of its accruals for litigation matters. HEI and its subsidiaries are involved in routine litigation in the ordinary course of their businesses, most of which is covered by insurance (subject to policy limits and deductibles). However, other litigation may arise that is not routine (such as the litigation related to the proposed Merger) or involves claims that may not be covered by insurance. Because of the uncertainties associated with litigation, there is a risk that litigation against HEI or its subsidiaries, even if vigorously defended, could result in costs of defense and judgment or settlement amounts not covered by insurance and in excess of reserves established in HEI’s consolidated financial statements.
Changes in accounting principles and estimates could affect the reported amounts of the Company’s assets and liabilities or revenues and expenses. HEI’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. Changes in accounting principles (including the possible adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards or new U.S. accounting standards), or changes in the Company’s application of existing accounting principles, could materially affect the financial statement presentation of HEI’s or the Utilities’ consolidated results of operations and/or financial condition. Further, in preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change include the amounts reported for pension and other postretirement benefit obligations; contingencies and litigation; income taxes; property, plant and equipment; regulatory assets and liabilities; electric utility revenues; allowance for loan losses; nonperforming loans; troubled debt restructurings; and fair value.
The Utilities' financial statements reflect assets and costs based on cost-based rate-making regulations. Continued accounting in this manner requires that certain criteria relating to the recoverability of such costs through rates be met. If events or circumstances should change so that the criteria are no longer satisfied, the Utilities’ expect that their regulatory assets (amounting to $905 million as of December 31, 2014), net of regulatory liabilities (amounting to $345 million as of December 31, 2014), would be charged to the statement of income in the period of discontinuance.
Changes in accounting principles can also impact HEI’s consolidated financial statements. For example, if management determines that a PPA requires the consolidation of the IPP in the Consolidated Financial Statements, the consolidation could have a material effect on Hawaiian Electric’s and HEI’s consolidated financial statements, including the recognition of a significant amount of assets and liabilities and, if such a consolidated IPP were operating at a loss and had insufficient equity, the potential recognition of such losses. Also, if management determines that a PPA requires the classification of the agreement as a capital lease, a material effect on HEI’s consolidated balance sheet may result, including the recognition of significant capital assets and lease obligations.
A proposed standard on accounting for expected credit losses was issued by the FASB which would replace existing impairment models, including replacing an “incurred loss” model for loans with a “current expected credit loss” model. There are a number of questions and issues around the expected credit loss model. ASB cannot predict whether or when a final standard will be issued, when it will be effective or what it its final provisions will be. It is possible that the final standard could have a material adverse impact on the bank’s results of operations once it is issued and becomes effective.
A standard on accounting for revenues from contracts with customers was issued by the FASB in May 2014. The Company plans to adopt this standard in the first quarter of 2017, but has not determined the impact of adoption on its financial statements.
The Company has identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting. If the Company fails to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting at a reasonable assurance level, HEI and Hawaiian Electric may not be able to accurately report their financial results, which could have a material adverse effect on their operations, investor confidence in their businesses and the trading prices of their securities. HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over their financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act.
In connection with the preparation of HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, management along with its independent registered public accounting firm identified a material weakness in the internal control over financial reporting.
The material weakness management identified specifically related to the fact that controls were not designed to ensure that non-cash transactions were properly identified and recorded, and management’s review process was not effective. The
deficiency resulted in restatements of HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, and the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and revisions of HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2014.
The Company will initiate remediation efforts of the material weakness in the internal control over financial reporting. The remediation includes, but is not limited to, Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries instituting a control that requires a roll forward reconciliation and review of the capital expenditures amount included in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and enhancing templates to facilitate the preparation and review of cash flows.
If the Company’s remediation efforts are insufficient to address the identified material weakness or if additional material weaknesses in internal controls are discovered in the future, they may adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information timely and accurately and, as a result, the Company’s financial statements may contain material misstatements or omissions.
Electric Utility Risks.
Actions of the PUC are outside the control of the Utilities and could result in inadequate or untimely rate increases, in rate reductions or refunds or in unanticipated delays, expenses or writedowns in connection with the construction of new projects. The rates the Utilities are allowed to charge for their services and the timeliness of permitted rate increases are among the most important items influencing the Utilities’ results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. The PUC has broad discretion over the rates that the Utilities charge their customers. As part of the decoupling mechanism that the Utilities have implemented, each of the Utilities will file a rate case once every three years. Any adverse decision by the PUC concerning the level or method of determining electric utility rates, the items and amounts that may be included in rate base, the returns on equity or rate base found to be reasonable, the potential consequences of exceeding or not meeting such returns, or any prolonged delay in rendering a decision in a rate or other proceeding could have a material adverse effect on Hawaiian Electric’s consolidated results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
To improve the timing and certainty of the recovery of their costs, the Utilities have proposed and received approval of various cost recovery mechanisms including an ECAC and pension and OPEB tracking mechanisms, as well as a decoupling mechanism, a PPAC, and a renewable energy infrastructure program (REIP) surcharge. A change in, or the elimination of, any of these cost recovery mechanisms, including in the current proceeding in which the PUC is examining the decoupling mechanism, could have a material adverse effect on the Utilities.
The Utilities could be required to refund to their customers, with interest, revenues that have been or may be received under interim rate orders in their rate case proceedings, integrated resource plan cost recovery dockets and other proceedings, if and to the extent they exceed the amounts allowed in final orders.
Many public utility projects require PUC approval and various permits (e.g., environmental and land use permits) from other governmental agencies. Difficulties in obtaining, or the inability to obtain, the necessary approvals or permits, or any adverse decision or policy made or adopted, or any prolonged delay in rendering a decision, by an agency with respect to such approvals and permits, can result in significantly increased project costs or even cancellation of projects. In the event a project does not proceed, or if the PUC disallows cost recovery for all or part of a project, project costs may need to be written off in amounts that could result in significant reductions in Hawaiian Electric’s consolidated net income. For example, in January 2013, the Utilities and the Consumer Advocate signed a settlement agreement to write off $40 million of costs in lieu of conducting PUC-ordered regulatory audits of the CIP CT-1 and the CIS projects.
Energy cost adjustment clauses. The rate schedules of each of the Utilities include ECACs under which electric rates charged to customers are automatically adjusted for changes in the weighted-average price paid for fuel oil and certain components of purchased power, and the relative amounts of company-generated power and purchased power.
ECACs are subject to periodic review by the PUC. As part of the review, the Energy Agreement had provided that the PUC may examine whether there are renewable energy projects from which the Utilities should have, but did not, purchase energy or whether alternative fuel purchase strategies were appropriately used or not used.
In the most recent rate cases, the PUC allowed the current ECAC to continue. However, in the decoupling reexamination proceeding, certain parties recommended modifying the ECAC to allow only partial pass-through of fuel costs and eventual phasing out of the ECAC. The Consumer Advocate stated that there should be no significant change to the existing ECAC without first undertaking a new regulatory proceeding that would provide time and resources for the careful study of the potential effects of each ECAC change considered, but that there should be significantly greater ECAC audit and regulatory review of the Utilities’ incurred fuel costs should be implemented to encourage cost control and to identify and deny recovery of any imprudently incurred energy costs through the ECAC. The Utilities suggested ways of improving the ECAC but stated
that the partial pass through of fuel costs would not be proper regulatory policy since the Utilities have no control over world oil markets, that 42 of the 50 states provide dollar-for-dollar pass through of market-driven changes in fuel or purchase power costs, and that modifying the ECAC to allow only partial pass-through of fuel costs could severely impact the Utilities’ credit rating. A change in, or the elimination of, the ECAC could have a material adverse effect on the Utilities.
Electric utility operations are significantly influenced by weather conditions. The Utilities’ results of operations can be affected by the weather. Weather conditions, particularly temperature and humidity, directly influence the demand for electricity. In addition, severe weather and natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and lightning storms, which may become more severe or frequent as a result of global climate changes, can cause outages and property damage and require the Utilities to incur significant additional expenses that may not be recoverable.
Electric utility operations depend heavily on third-party suppliers of fuel and purchased power. The Utilities rely on fuel oil suppliers and shippers and IPPs to deliver fuel oil and power, respectively, in accordance with contractual agreements. Approximately 69% of the net energy generated or purchased by the Utilities in 2014 was generated from the burning of fossil fuel oil, and purchases of power by the Utilities provided about 46% of their total net energy generated and purchased for the same period. Failure or delay by oil suppliers and shippers to provide fuel pursuant to existing contracts, or failure by a major IPP to deliver the firm capacity anticipated in its PPA, could disrupt the ability of the Utilities to deliver electricity and require the Utilities to incur additional expenses to meet the needs of their customers that may not be recoverable. In addition, as the IPP contracts near the end of their terms, there may be less economic incentive for the IPPs to make investments in their units to ensure the availability of their units. Also, as these contractual agreements end, the Utilities may not be able to purchase fuel and power on terms equivalent to the current contractual agreements. As the use of biofuels in generating units increases, the same risks will exist with suppliers of biofuels.
Electric utility generating facilities are subject to operational risks that could result in unscheduled plant outages, unanticipated and/or increased operation and maintenance expenses and increased power purchase costs. Operation of electric generating facilities involves certain risks which can adversely affect energy output and efficiency levels. Included among these risks are facility shutdowns or power interruptions due to insufficient generation or a breakdown or failure of equipment or processes. In January 2015, Hawaiian Electric experienced a generation shortfall event due to unexpected concurrent outages of a utility generating unit and several IPPs. In addition, operations could be negatively impacted by interruptions in fuel supply, inability to negotiate satisfactory collective bargaining agreements when existing agreements expire or other labor disputes, inability to comply with regulatory or permit requirements, disruptions in delivery of electricity, operator error and catastrophic events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, fires, explosions, floods or other similar occurrences affecting the Utilities’ generating facilities or transmission and distribution systems.
The Utilities may be adversely affected by new legislation. Congress, the Hawaii legislature and governmental agencies periodically consider legislation and other initiatives that could have uncertain or negative effects on the Utilities and their customers. Congress, the Hawaii legislature and governmental agencies have adopted, or are considering adopting, a number of measures that will significantly affect the Utilities, as described below.
Renewable Portfolio Standards law. In 2009, Hawaii’s RPS law was amended to require electric utilities to meet an RPS of 10%, 15%, 25% and 40% by December 31, 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2030, respectively. Energy savings resulting from energy efficiency programs do not count toward the RPS after 2014. The Utilities are committed to achieving these goals and met the 2010 RPS; however, due to the exclusion of energy savings in calculating RPS after 2014 and risks such as potential delays in IPPs being able to deliver contracted renewable energy, it is possible the Utilities may not attain the required renewable percentages in the future, and management cannot predict the future consequences of failure to do so (including potential penalties to be assessed by the PUC). On December 19, 2008, the PUC approved a penalty of $20 for every MWh that an electric utility is deficient under Hawaii’s RPS law. The PUC noted, however, that this penalty may be reduced, in the PUC’s discretion, due to events or circumstances that are outside an electric utility’s reasonable control, to the extent the event or circumstance could not be reasonably foreseen and ameliorated, as described in the RPS law and in an RPS framework adopted by the PUC. In addition, the PUC ordered that the Utilities will be prohibited from recovering any RPS penalty costs through rates.
Renewable energy. In 2007, a measure was passed by the Hawaii legislature stating that the PUC may consider the need for increased renewable energy in rendering decisions on utility matters. Due to this measure, it is possible that, if energy from a renewable source is more expensive than energy from fossil fuel, the PUC may still approve the purchase of energy from the renewable source, resulting in higher costs.
Global climate change and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. National and international concern about climate change and the contribution of GHG emissions to climate change have led to action by the state of Hawaii and federal legislative and regulatory proposals to reduce GHG emissions.
In July 2007, Act 234, which requires a statewide reduction of GHG emissions by January 1, 2020 to levels at or below the statewide GHG emission levels in 1990, became law in Hawaii. On June 20, 2014, the Governor signed the final regulations required to implement Act 234 and the regulations went into effect on June 30, 2014. In general, the regulations require affected sources that have the potential to emit GHGs in excess of established thresholds to reduce GHG emissions by 16% below 2010 emission levels by 2020. The regulations will also assess affected sources an annual fee based on tons per year of GHG emissions commencing on the effective date of the regulations, estimated to be approximately $0.5 million annually for the Utilities. The DOH GHG regulations also track the federal “Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule” (GHG Tailoring Rule, see below) and would create new thresholds for GHG emissions from new and existing stationary source facilities.
Several approaches to GHG emission reduction (including “cap and trade”) have been either introduced or discussed in Congress; however, no legislation has yet been enacted.
In response to the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency, which ruled that the EPA has the authority to regulate GHG emissions from motor vehicles under the CAA, the EPA has accelerated rulemaking addressing GHG emissions from both mobile and stationary sources. On September 22, 2009, the EPA issued the Final Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule. The rule, which applies to the Utilities, requires that sources above certain threshold levels monitor and report GHG emissions.
On June 3, 2010, the EPA’s final GHG Tailoring Rule was published. It created a new emissions threshold for GHG emissions from new and existing facilities and requires certain facilities to obtain PSD and Title V operating permits. On June 23, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision that invalidated the GHG Tailoring Rule, to the extent it regulated sources based solely on their GHG emissions. It also invalidated the GHG emissions threshold for regulation. On December 19, 2014, EPA released two memorandums outlining the Agency’s plan for addressing the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision. Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric are evaluating the potential impacts of the Agency’s plan on utility operations and permitting. The current status of the GHG Tailoring Rule, and any further regulatory action the EPA may take in light of this recent decision, are uncertain.
On January 8, 2014, the EPA published in the Federal Register its new proposal for New Source Performance Standards for GHG from new generating units. The proposed rule on GHG from new EGUs does not apply to oil- fired combustion turbines or diesel engine generators, and is not otherwise expected to have significant impacts on the Utilities.
On June 18, 2014, the EPA published in the Federal Register its proposed rule for GHG emissions from existing power plants. The rule sets interim and final state-wide, state-specific emission performance goals, expressed as lb CO2/MWh, that would apply to the state’s affected sources. The interim goal would apply as an average over the period 2020 through 2029, with the final goal to be met by 2030. On the same date, the EPA also published a separate rule for modified and reconstructed power plants. The EPA’s plan is to issue the final rules by mid-summer 2015. Hawaiian Electric is still evaluating the proposed rules for GHG emissions from existing, modified, and reconstructed sources, and how they might relate to the recently issued State GHG rules. Hawaiian Electric will participate in the federal GHG rulemaking process, and in the implementation of the State GHG rules, to try to reconcile federal GHG regulation, state GHG regulation, and any action the EPA may take as a result of the recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion, to facilitate clear and cost-effective compliance. The Utilities will continue to evaluate the impact of proposed GHG rules and regulations as they develop. Final regulations may impose significant compliance costs, and may require reductions in fossil fuel use and the addition of renewable energy resources in excess of the requirements of the RPS law.
While the timing, extent and ultimate effects of climate change cannot be determined with any certainty, climate change is predicted to result in sea level rise, which could potentially impact coastal and other low-lying areas (where much of the Utilities’ electric infrastructure is sited), and could cause erosion of beaches, saltwater intrusion into aquifers and surface ecosystems, higher water tables and increased flooding and storm damage due to heavy rainfall. The effects of climate change on the weather (for example, floods or hurricanes), sea levels, and water availability and quality have the potential to materially adversely affect the results of operations, financial condition and liquidity of the Utilities. For example, severe weather could cause significant harm to the Utilities’ physical facilities.
The Utilities have taken, and continue to identify opportunities to take, direct action to reduce GHG emissions from their operations, including, but not limited to, supporting DSM programs that foster energy efficiency, using renewable resources for energy production and purchasing power from IPPs generated by renewable resources, burning renewable biodiesel in Hawaiian Electric’s CIP CT-1, using biodiesel for startup and shutdown of selected Maui Electric generating units, and testing biofuel blends in other Hawaiian Electric and Maui Electric generating units. The Utilities are also working with the State of Hawaii and other entities to pursue the use of liquefied natural gas as a cleaner and lower cost fuel to replace, at least in part, the petroleum oil that would otherwise be used. Management is unable to evaluate the ultimate impact on the Utilities of these various measures to reduce GHG emissions.
The foregoing legislation or legislation that now is, or may in the future be, proposed present risks and uncertainties for the Utilities.
The Utilities may be subject to increased operational challenges and their results of operations, financial condition and liquidity may be adversely impacted in meeting the commitments and objectives of clean energy initiatives and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). The far-reaching nature of the Utilities' renewable energy commitments and the RPS goals present risks to the Company. Among such risks are: (1) the dependence on third party suppliers of renewable purchased energy, which if the Utilities are unsuccessful in negotiating purchased power agreements with such IPPs or if a major IPP fails to deliver the anticipated capacity in its purchased power agreement, could impact the Utilities’ achievement of their commitments to RPS goals and/or the Utilities’ ability to deliver reliable service; (2) delays in acquiring or unavailability of non-fossil fuel supplies for renewable generation; (3) the impact of intermittent power to the electrical grid and reliability of service if appropriate supporting infrastructure is not installed or does not operate effectively; (4) the likelihood that the Utilities may need to make substantial investments in related infrastructure, which could result in increased borrowings and, therefore, materially impact the financial condition and liquidity of the Utilities; and (5) the commitment to support a variety of initiatives, which, if approved by the PUC, may have a material impact on the results of operations and financial condition of the Utilities depending on their design and implementation.
Bank Risks.
Fluctuations in interest rates could result in lower net interest income, impair ASB’s ability to originate new loans or impair the ability of ASB’s adjustable-rate borrowers to make increased payments. Interest rate risk is a significant risk of ASB’s operations. ASB’s net interest income consists primarily of interest income received on fixed-rate and adjustable-rate loans, mortgage-related securities and investments and interest expense consisting primarily of interest paid on deposits and other borrowings. Interest rate risk arises when earning assets mature or when their interest rates change in a time frame different from that of the costing liabilities. Changes in market interest rates, including changes in the relationship between short-term and long-term market interest rates or between different interest rate indices, can impact ASB’s net interest margin.
Although ASB pursues an asset-liability management strategy designed to mitigate its risk from changes in market interest rates, unfavorable movements in interest rates could result in lower net interest income. Residential 1-4 family fixed-rate mortgage loans comprised about 43% of ASB’s loan portfolio as of December 31, 2014 and do not re-price with movements in interest rates. ASB continues to face a challenging interest rate environment. Interest rates declined in 2014 and new loan production rates remained at historically low levels and below ASB's loan portfolio yields. This placed additional pressure on ASB's asset yields and net interest margin. The degree to which compression of ASB's margin continues is uncertain if interest rates rise.
Increases in market interest rates could have an adverse impact on ASB’s cost of funds. Higher market interest rates could lead to higher interest rates paid on deposits and other borrowings. Significant increases in market interest rates, or the perception that an increase may occur, could adversely affect ASB’s ability to originate new loans and grow. An increase in market interest rates, especially a sudden increase, could also adversely affect the ability of ASB’s adjustable-rate borrowers to meet their higher payment obligations. If this occurred, it could cause an increase in nonperforming assets and charge-offs. Conversely, a decrease in interest rates or a mismatching of maturities of interest sensitive financial instruments could result in an acceleration in the prepayment of loans and mortgage-related securities and impact ASB’s ability to reinvest its liquidity in similar yielding assets.
ASB’s operations are affected by many disparate factors, some of which are beyond its control, that could result in lower net interest income or decreased demand for its products and services. ASB’s results of operations depend primarily on the level of interest income generated by ASB’s earning assets in excess of the interest expense on its costing liabilities and the supply of and demand for its products and services (i.e., loans and deposits). ASB’s net income may also be adversely affected by various other factors, such as:
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• | local and other economic and political conditions that could result in declines in employment and real estate values, which in turn could adversely affect the ability of borrowers to make loan payments and the ability of ASB to recover the full amounts owing to it under defaulted loans; |
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• | the ability of borrowers to obtain insurance and the ability of ASB to place insurance where borrowers fail to do so, particularly in the event of catastrophic damage to collateral securing loans made by ASB; |
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• | faster than expected loan prepayments that can cause an acceleration of the amortization of premiums on loans and investments and the impairment of mortgage servicing assets of ASB; |
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• | changes in ASB’s loan portfolio credit profiles and asset quality, which may increase or decrease the required level of allowance for loan losses; |
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• | technological disruptions affecting ASB’s operations or financial or operational difficulties experienced by any outside vendor on whom ASB relies to provide key components of its business operations, such as business processing, network access or internet connections; |
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• | the impact of legislative and regulatory changes affecting capital requirements and increasing oversight of, and reporting by, banks; |
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• | additional legislative changes regulating the assessment of overdraft, interchange and credit card fees, which will have a negative impact on noninterest income; |
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• | public opinion about ASB and financial institutions in general, which, if negative, could impact the public’s trust and confidence in ASB and adversely affect ASB’s ability to attract and retain customers and expose ASB to adverse legal and regulatory consequences; |
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• | increases in operating costs (including employee compensation expense and benefits), inflation and other factors, that exceed increases in ASB’ s net interest, fee and other income; and |
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• | the ability of ASB to maintain or increase the level of deposits, ASB’s lowest costing funds. |
Banking and related regulations could result in significant restrictions being imposed on ASB’s business or in a requirement that HEI divest ASB. ASB is subject to examination and comprehensive regulation by the Department of Treasury, the OCC and the FDIC, and is subject to reserve requirements established by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. In addition, the FRB is responsible for regulating ASB’s holding companies, HEI and ASB Hawaii. The regulatory authorities have extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities and examination policies to address not only ASB’s compliance with applicable banking laws and regulations, but also capital adequacy, asset quality, management ability and performance, earnings, liquidity and various other factors.
Under certain circumstances, including any determination that ASB’s relationship with HEI results in an unsafe and unsound banking practice, these regulatory authorities have the authority to restrict the ability of ASB to transfer assets and to make distributions to its shareholders (including payment of dividends to HEI), or they could seek to require HEI to sever its relationship with or divest its ownership of ASB. Payment by ASB of dividends to HEI may also be restricted by the OCC and FRB under its prompt corrective action regulations or its capital distribution regulations if ASB’s capital position deteriorates. In order to maintain its status as a QTL, ASB is required to maintain at least 65% of its assets in “qualified thrift investments.” Institutions that fail to maintain QTL status are subject to various penalties, including limitations on their activities. In ASB’s case, the activities of HEI and HEI’s other subsidiaries would also be subject to restrictions, and a failure or inability to comply with those restrictions could effectively result in the required divestiture of ASB. Federal legislation has also been proposed in the past that could result in a required divestiture of ASB. In the event of a required divestiture, federal law substantially limits the types of entities that could potentially acquire ASB.
Recent legislative and regulatory initiatives could have an adverse effect on ASB’s business. The Dodd-Frank Act, which became law in July 2010, has had a substantial impact on the financial services industry. The Dodd-Frank Act establishes a framework through which regulatory reform will be written and changes to statutes, regulations or regulatory policies could affect HEI and ASB in substantial and unpredictable ways. A major component of the Dodd-Frank Act is the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that has the responsibility for setting and enforcing clear, consistent rules relating to consumer financial products and services and has the authority to prohibit practices it finds to be unfair, deceptive or abusive. Compliance with any such directives could have adverse effects on ASB’s revenues or operating costs. Failure to comply with laws, regulations or policies could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil money penalties and/or reputation damage, which could have a material adverse effect on ASB’s business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
A large percentage of ASB’s loans and securities are collateralized by real estate, and adverse changes in the real estate market and/or general economic or other conditions may result in loan losses and adversely affect the Company’s profitability. As of December 31, 2014 approximately 79% of ASB’s loan portfolio was comprised of loans primarily collateralized by real estate, most of which was concentrated in the State of Hawaii. ASB’s HELOC (home equity line of credit) portfolio grew by 11% during 2014 and now comprises 23% of total real estate loans. ASB’s financial results may be adversely affected by changes in prevailing economic conditions, either nationally or in the state of Hawaii, including decreases in real estate values, adverse employment conditions, the monetary and fiscal policies of the federal and state government and other significant external events. Adverse changes in the economy may have a negative effect on the ability of borrowers to make timely repayments of their loans. A deterioration of the economic environment in Hawaii, including a material decline in the real estate market, further declines in home resales, or a material external shock, or any environmental clean-up obligation, may also significantly impair the value of ASB’s collateral and ASB’s ability to sell the collateral upon foreclosure. In the event of a default, amounts received upon sale of the collateral may be insufficient to recover outstanding principal and interest. In addition, if poor economic conditions result in decreased demand for real estate loans, ASB’s profits may decrease if its alternative investments earn less income than real estate loans.
ASB’s strategy to expand its commercial and commercial real estate lending activities may result in higher service costs and greater credit risk than residential lending activities due to the unique characteristics of these markets. ASB has been aggressively pursuing a strategy that includes expanding its commercial and commercial real estate lines of business. These types of loans generally entail higher underwriting and other service costs and present greater credit risks than traditional residential mortgages.
Generally, both commercial and commercial real estate loans have shorter terms to maturity and earn higher spreads than residential mortgage loans. Only the assets of the business typically secure commercial loans. In such cases, upon default, any collateral repossessed may not be sufficient to repay the outstanding loan balance. In addition, loan collections are dependent on the borrower’s continuing financial stability and, thus, are more likely to be affected by current economic conditions and adverse business developments.
ASB has grown its national syndicated lending portfolio where ASB is a participant in credit facilities agented by established and reputable national lenders. Management selectively chooses each deal based on conservative credit criteria to ensure a high quality, well diversified portfolio.
Commercial real estate properties tend to be unique and are more difficult to value than residential real estate properties. Commercial real estate loans may not be fully amortizing, meaning that they may have a significant principal balance or “balloon” payment due at maturity. In addition, commercial real estate properties, particularly industrial and warehouse properties, are generally subject to relatively greater environmental risks than noncommercial properties and to the corresponding burdens and costs of compliance with environmental laws and regulations. Also, there may be costs and delays involved in enforcing rights of a property owner against tenants in default under the terms of leases with respect to commercial properties. For example, a tenant may seek the protection of bankruptcy laws, which could result in termination of the tenant’s lease.
PART II
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ITEM 7. | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
Restatement
As described in Note 1, “Summary of significant accounting policies - Revision and restatements of previously issued financial statements,” to HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” and Part II, Item 9A “Controls and Procedures,” HEI and Hawaiian Electric have revised or restated certain financial statements and other information, including this management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations.
HEI and Hawaiian Electric (in the case of Hawaiian Electric, only the information related to Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries):
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements. The general discussion of HEI’s consolidated results should be read in conjunction with the electric utility and bank segment discussions that follow.
Proposed Merger. On December 3, 2014, HEI, NEE, Merger Sub II and Merger Sub I entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger. The Merger Agreement provides for Merger Sub I to merge with and into HEI, with HEI surviving, and then for HEI to merge with and into Merger Sub II, with Merger Sub II surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of NEE (the Merger). The Merger Agreement provides that, prior to completion of the Merger, HEI will distribute to its shareholders, on a pro-rata basis, all of the issued and outstanding shares of ASB Hawaii, parent company of ASB (the Spin-Off). The closing of the Merger is subject to various conditions, including federal and state regulatory approvals and the approval of holders of 75% of the outstanding shares of HEI common stock. For additional information concerning the proposed merger, see Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Executive overview and strategy. HEI is a holding company that operates subsidiaries (collectively, the Company), principally in Hawaii’s electric utility and banking sectors. HEI’s strategy is to build fundamental earnings and profitability of
its electric utilities and bank in a controlled risk manner to support its current dividend and improve operating and capital efficiency in order to build shareholder value.
HEI, through its electric utility subsidiaries (Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries, Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric), provides the only electric public utility service to approximately 95% of Hawaii’s population. HEI also provides a wide array of banking and other financial services to consumers and businesses through its bank subsidiary, ASB, one of Hawaii’s largest financial institutions based on total assets. Together, HEI’s unique combination of electric utilities and a bank continues to provide the Company with a strong balance sheet and the financial resources to invest in the strategic growth of its subsidiaries while providing an attractive dividend for investors.
In 2014, net income for HEI common stock was $168 million, up 4% from $162 million in 2013 primarily due to the Utilities’ 12% higher net income. ASB had 11% lower net income in 2014 compared to 2013 and the “other” segment had a $2 million higher net loss. Basic earnings per share were $1.65 per share in 2014, up 1% from $1.63 per share in 2013.
The Utilities’ strategic focus has been to meet Hawaii’s energy needs by modernizing and adding needed infrastructure through capital investment, placing emphasis on energy efficiency and conservation, pursuing renewable energy generation and taking the necessary steps to secure regulatory support for their plans. Electric utility net income for common stock in 2014 of $138 million increased 12% from the prior year due primarily to the increase in revenues in 2014 for the recovery of costs for clean energy and reliability investments and reduction of earnings in 2013 due to the Maui Electric refund to customers, offset in part due to higher O&M expenses, depreciation expense, interest costs, and a favorable deferred tax adjustment in 2013.
ASB continues to develop and introduce new products and services in order to meet the needs of both consumer and commercial customers. Additionally, ASB is making the investments in people and technology necessary to adapt to a constantly changing banking industry and remain competitive. ASB’s earnings in 2014 of $51 million decreased $6 million compared to prior year net income due primarily to lower noninterest income and a higher provision for loan losses. In 2014, ASB earnings were impacted by lower debit card interchange fees as a result of being non-exempt from the Durbin Amendment from July 1, 2013, and the settlement of a lawsuit. ASB’s future financial results will continue to be impacted by the interest rate environment and the quality of ASB’s loan portfolio. If the Spin-Off occurs as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, ASB expects to be exempt from the Durbin Amendment.
HEI’s “other” segment had a net loss in 2014 of $20.8 million, compared to a net loss of $18.9 million in 2013. In 2014, HEI incurred $5 million of expenses related to the proposed merger and $3 million lower interest expense (each net of taxes).
Shareholder dividends are declared and paid quarterly by HEI at the discretion of HEI’s Board of Directors. HEI and its predecessor company, Hawaiian Electric, have paid dividends continuously since 1901. The dividend has been stable at $1.24 per share annually since 1998. The indicated dividend yield as of December 31, 2014 was 3.7%. The dividend payout ratios based on net income for common stock for 2014, 2013 and 2012 were 75%, 76% and 87%, respectively. The HEI Board of Directors considers many factors in determining the dividend quarterly, including but not limited to the Company’s results of operations, the long-term prospects for the Company, and current and expected future economic conditions.
HEI’s subsidiaries from time to time consider various strategies designed to enhance their competitive positions and to maximize shareholder value. Management cannot predict whether any of these strategies or transactions will be carried out or, if so, whether they will be successfully implemented. See "Proposed merger" above.
Economic conditions.
Note: The statistical data in this section is from public third-party sources that management believes to be reliable (e.g., Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT); University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR); Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA); Honolulu Board of REALTORS® and national and local newspapers).
Hawaii’s tourism industry, a significant driver of Hawaii’s economy, reached record highs in both visitor spending and arrivals for the third consecutive year in 2014. Visitor expenditures increased 2.3% and arrivals increased 1.3% compared to 2013. Looking ahead, the Hawaii Tourism Authority expects scheduled nonstop seats to Hawaii for the first quarter of 2015 to increase by 6.1% over the first quarter of 2014 driven primarily by a 9.2% increase in domestic seats.
Hawaii’s unemployment rate was relatively stable at 4.0% in December 2014, lower than the state’s 4.7% rate in December 2013 and the December 2014 national unemployment rate of 5.6%.
Hawaii real estate activity, as indicated by the home resale market, experienced growth in median sales prices in 2014. Median sales prices for single family residential homes and condominiums on Oahu increased 3.8% and 5.4%, respectively, over 2013. However, the number of closed sales was down slightly in 2014. Closed sales for single family residential homes were down 0.8% and condominiums were down 1.3% compared to 2013.
Hawaii’s petroleum product prices reflect supply and demand in the Asia-Pacific region and the price of crude oil in international markets. In 2014, prices of all petroleum fuels plateaued during the first three quarters of the year before falling strongly over the course of 2014’s final quarter.
At its January 2015 meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held the federal funds rate target at 0% to 0.25% and this rate is expected to remain at record lows for a considerable time following the end of the asset purchase program in October 2014.
Overall, Hawaii’s economy is expected to see positive growth in 2015. Tourism had another record year in 2014, but future gains will be restrained due to limited capacity. Lower energy costs could also provide a boost to the economy if energy costs remain near the low levels experienced in the latter part of 2014. Risks to local economic growth include planned reductions in active duty military personnel and weak Japanese visitor arrivals and spending.
Recent tax developments. The Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 provided a one year extension of 50% bonus depreciation, increasing the Company's 2014 federal tax depreciation by an estimated $162 million, primarily attributable to the Utilities. Previously, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 provided 50% bonus depreciation through 2013, resulting in an increase in 2013 federal tax depreciation of $160 million, primarily attributable to the Utilities.
Also, see Note 12 and Hawaiian Electric's consolidated income taxes refunded in Note 13 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Results of operations.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | 2014 |
| | % change |
| | 2013 |
| | % change |
| | 2012 |
|
Revenues | $ | 3,240 |
| | — |
| | $ | 3,238 |
| | (4 | ) | | $ | 3,375 |
|
Operating income | 329 |
| | 4 |
| | 315 |
| | 11 |
| | 284 |
|
Net income for common stock | 168 |
| | 4 |
| | 162 |
| | 16 |
| | 139 |
|
Net income (loss) by segment: | | | | | |
| | |
| | |
|
Electric utility | $ | 138 |
| | 12 |
| | $ | 123 |
| | 24 |
| | $ | 99 |
|
Bank | 51 |
| | (11 | ) | | 58 |
| | (2 | ) | | 59 |
|
Other | (21 | ) | | NM |
| | (19 | ) | | NM |
| | (19 | ) |
Net income for common stock | $ | 168 |
| | 4 |
| | $ | 162 |
| | 16 |
| | $ | 139 |
|
Basic earnings per share | $ | 1.65 |
| | 1 |
| | $ | 1.63 |
| | 14 |
| | $ | 1.43 |
|
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 1.64 |
| | 1 |
| | $ | 1.62 |
| | 14 |
| | $ | 1.42 |
|
Dividends per share | $ | 1.24 |
| | — |
| | $ | 1.24 |
| | — |
| | $ | 1.24 |
|
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (millions) | 102.0 |
| | 3 |
| | 99.0 |
| | 2 |
| | 96.9 |
|
Dividend payout ratio | 75 | % | | |
| | 76 | % | | |
| | 87 | % |
See “Executive overview and strategy” above and the “Other segment,” “Electric utility” and “Bank” sections below for discussions of results of operations.
Retirement benefits. The Company’s reported costs of providing retirement benefits are dependent upon numerous factors resulting from actual plan experience and assumptions about future experience. For example, retirement benefits costs are impacted by actual employee demographics (including age and compensation levels), the level of contributions to the plans, plus earnings and realized and unrealized gains and losses on plan assets, and changes made to the provisions of the plans. (See Note 10 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.) Costs may also be significantly affected by changes in key actuarial assumptions, including the expected return on plan assets, the discount rate and mortality. The Company’s accounting for retirement benefits under the plans in which the employees of the Utilities participate is also adjusted to account for the impact of decisions by the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Hawaii (PUC). Changes in obligations associated with the factors noted above may not be immediately recognized as costs on the income statement, but generally are recognized in future years over the remaining average service period of plan participants.
The assumptions used by management in making benefit and funding calculations are based on current economic conditions. Changes in economic conditions will impact the underlying assumptions in determining retirement benefits costs on a prospective basis.
For 2014, the Company’s retirement benefit plans’ assets generated a gain of 6.8%, net of investment management and trustee fees, resulting in net earnings and unrealized gains of $90 million, compared to net earnings and unrealized gains of
$223 million for 2013 and $134 million for 2012. The market value of the retirement benefit plans’ assets for December 31, 2014 and 2013 were $1.4 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively.
The Company intends to make contributions to the qualified pension plan for HEI and Hawaiian Electric equal to the calculated net periodic pension cost for the year. However, if the minimum required contribution determined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended by the Pension Protection Act of 2006, for the year is greater than the net periodic pension cost, then the Company will contribute the minimum required contribution and the Utilities’ difference between the minimum required contribution and the net periodic pension cost will increase their regulatory asset. In the next rate case, the regulatory asset will be amortized over five years and used to reduce the cash funding requirement based on net periodic pension cost. The regulatory asset may not be applied against the ERISA minimum required contribution.
The net periodic pension cost is expected to be higher than the ERISA minimum required contribution for 2015. Therefore, to satisfy the requirements of the electric utilities’ pension tracking mechanism, net periodic pension cost will be the basis of the cash funding for 2015. Based on plan assets as of December 31, 2014 and various assumptions in Note 10 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company estimates the net periodic pension cost contribution for 2015 will be $85 million ($2 million for HEI and $83 million for the Utilities).
Based on various assumptions in Note 10 of the Consolidated Financial Statements and assuming no further changes in retirement benefit plan provisions, information regarding consolidated HEI’s and consolidated Hawaiian Electric’s retirement benefits was, or is estimated to be, as follows, and constitutes “forward-looking statements:”
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| AOCI debit/(credit), net of taxes (benefits), related to retirement benefits liability | | Retirement benefits expense, net of tax benefits | | Retirement benefits paid and plan expenses |
| December 31 | | Years ended December 31 | | Years ended December 31 |
(in millions) | 2014 |
| | 2013 |
| | (Estimated) 2015 |
| | 2014 |
| | 2013 |
| | 2012 |
| | 2014 |
| | 2013 |
| | 2012 |
|
Consolidated HEI | $ | 28 |
| | $ | 13 |
| | $ | 23 |
| | $ | 20 |
| | $ | 21 |
| | $ | 22 |
| | $ | 71 |
| | $ | 70 |
| | $ | 68 |
|
Consolidated Hawaiian Electric | — |
| | (1 | ) | | 19 |
| | 19 |
| | 18 |
| | 20 |
| | 66 |
| | 65 |
| | 63 |
|
Based on various assumptions in Note 10 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, sensitivities of the projected benefit obligation (PBO) and accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO) as of December 31, 2014, associated with a change in certain actuarial assumptions, were as follows and constitute “forward-looking statements.”
|
| | | | |
Actuarial assumption | Change in assumption in basis points | Impact on HEI Consolidated PBO or APBO | | Impact on Consolidated Hawaiian Electric PBO or APBO |
(dollars in millions) | | | | |
Pension benefits | | | | |
Discount rate | '+/- 50 | $(139)/$157 | | $(128)/$145 |
Other benefits | | | | |
Discount rate | '+/- 50 | (14)/16 | | (14)/15 |
Health care cost trend rate | '+/- 100 | 4/(5) | | 4/(4) |
See Note 10 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for further retirement benefits information.
Other segment.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(dollars in millions) | 2014 | | % change | | 2013 | | % change | | 2012 |
Revenues 1 | $ | — |
| | NM | | $ | — |
| | NM | | $ – |
|
Operating loss | (22 | ) | | NM | | (17 | ) | | NM | | (17 | ) |
Net loss | (21 | ) | | NM | | (19 | ) | | NM | | (19 | ) |
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1 | Including writedowns of and net gains and losses from investments. |
The “other” business segment includes results of the stand-alone corporate operations of HEI and ASB Hawaii, both holding companies; HEI Properties, Inc., a company holding passive, venture capital investments (venture capital investments
with a carrying value of $0.1 million as of December 31, 2014); and The Old Oahu Tug Service, Inc., a maritime freight transportation company that ceased operations in 1999; as well as eliminations of intercompany transactions.
HEI corporate-level operating, general and administrative expenses were $21 million in 2014 compared to $16 million in 2013 and $16 million in 2012. In 2014, HEI had approximately $5 million of expenses related to the proposed merger. In 2013, HEI had higher administrative and general expenses, including retirement benefits, partly offset by lower executive compensation.
The “other” segment’s interest expenses were $12 million in 2014, $16 million in 2013 and $16 million in 2012. In 2014, HEI had lower average interest rates, partly offset by the impact of higher average borrowings. In 2014, a 6.51% medium-term note of $100 million was paid off and a $125 million Eurodollar term loan (at rates ranging from 1.12% to 1.14% through December 31, 2014) was drawn. In 2013, $50 million of long-term debt was refinanced at a lower interest rate. The “other” segment’s income tax benefits were $13 million in 2014, $14 million in 2013 and $15 million in 2012.
Effects of inflation. U.S. inflation, as measured by the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI), averaged 1.6% in 2014, 1.5% in 2013 and 2.1% in 2012. Hawaii inflation, as measured by the Honolulu CPI, was 1.8% in 2013, 2.4% in 2012 and 3.7% in 2011. DBEDT estimates average Honolulu CPI to have been 1.5% in 2014 and forecasts it to be 2.2% for 2015.
Inflation continues to have an impact on HEI’s operations. Inflation increases operating costs and the replacement cost of assets. Subsidiaries with significant physical assets, such as the electric utilities, replace assets at much higher costs and must request and obtain rate increases to maintain adequate earnings. In the past, the PUC has granted rate increases in part to cover increases in construction costs and operating expenses due to inflation.
Recent accounting pronouncements. See “Recent accounting pronouncements and interpretations” in Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Liquidity and capital resources. The Company believes that its ability to generate cash, both internally from electric utility and banking operations and externally from issuances of equity and debt securities, commercial paper and bank borrowings, is adequate to maintain sufficient liquidity to fund its contractual obligations and commercial commitments, its forecasted capital expenditures and investments, its expected retirement benefit plan contributions and other cash requirements in the foreseeable future.
The Company’s total assets were $11.2 billion as of December 31, 2014 and $10.3 billion as of December 31, 2013.
The consolidated capital structure of HEI (excluding deposit liabilities and other bank borrowings) was as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
December 31 | 2014 | | 2013 |
(dollars in millions) | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|
Short-term borrowings—other than bank | $ | 119 |
| | 3 | % | | $ | 105 |
| | 3 | % |
Long-term debt, net—other than bank | 1,507 |
| | 44 |
| | 1,493 |
| | 45 |
|
Preferred stock of subsidiaries | 34 |
| | 1 |
| | 34 |
| | 1 |
|
Common stock equity | 1,791 |
| | 52 |
| | 1,727 |
| | 51 |
|
| $ | 3,451 |
| | 100 | % | | $ | 3,359 |
| | 100 | % |
HEI’s short-term borrowings and HEI’s line of credit facility were as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, 2014 | | |
(in millions) | Average balance | | End-of-period balance | | December 31, 2013 |
Short-term borrowings 1 | | | | | |
Commercial paper | $ | 71 |
| | $ | 119 |
| | $ | 105 |
|
Line of credit draws | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Undrawn capacity under HEI’s line of credit facility | |
| | 150 |
| | 125 |
|
| |
1 | This table does not include Hawaiian Electric’s separate commercial paper issuances and line of credit facilities, which are disclosed below under “Electric utility—Financial Condition—Liquidity and capital resources.” At February 13, 2015, HEI’s outstanding commercial paper balance was $105 million and its line of credit facility was undrawn. The maximum amount of HEI’s short-term borrowings in 2014 was $119 million. |
HEI utilizes short-term debt, typically commercial paper, to support normal operations, to refinance commercial paper, to retire long-term debt, to pay dividends and for other temporary requirements. HEI also periodically makes short-term loans to Hawaiian Electric to meet Hawaiian Electric’s cash requirements, including the funding of loans by Hawaiian Electric to Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric, but no such short-term loans to Hawaiian Electric were outstanding as of December 31, 2014. HEI periodically utilizes long-term debt, historically consisting of medium-term notes and other unsecured indebtedness, to fund investments in and loans to its subsidiaries to support their capital improvement or other requirements, to repay long-term and short-term indebtedness and for other corporate purposes.
In March 2013, HEI entered into equity forward transactions in which a forward counterparty borrowed 7 million shares of HEI’s common stock from third parties and such borrowed shares were sold pursuant to an HEI registered public offering. See Note 9 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
On May 2, 2014, HEI closed a two-year term loan from three banks for $125 million. See Note 8 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a brief description of the loan agreement and the application of the proceeds of the loan.
In December 2014, HEI filed an omnibus shelf registration statement to register an indeterminate amount of debt and equity securities.
HEI has a line of credit facility, as amended and restated on April 2, 2014, of $150 million. See Note 7 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The rating of HEI’s commercial paper and debt securities could significantly impact the ability of HEI to sell its commercial paper and issue debt securities and/or the cost of such debt. The rating agencies use a combination of qualitative measures (i.e., assessment of business risk that incorporates an analysis of the qualitative factors such as management, competitive positioning, operations, markets and regulation) as well as quantitative measures (e.g., cash flow, debt, interest coverage and liquidity ratios) in determining the ratings of HEI securities.
Following the announcement that HEI has agreed to merge with NextEra Energy, Inc., on December 4, 2014, Fitch Ratings (Fitch) placed the ‘BBB’ long-term issuer default rating of HEI on Rating Watch Positive and noted “Fitch will likely resolve the Rating Watch on the conclusion of the transaction and could upgrade HEI by one notch given its ownership by a higher rated company. In such a scenario, the ratings of HEI will be equalized with that of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), given the transaction contemplates the spin-off of the bank.” The key ratings drivers cited were (1) modest improvement in business risk, (2) structural challenges in Hawaii, (3) regulatory approvals required, and (4) credit metrics trajectory unchanged. Fitch also noted that “[f]uture developments that may, individually or collectively, lead to negative rating action include:-- [a]n inability to earn an adequate and timely recovery on invested capital; -- [a]ccelerating competitive inroads by distributed generation and energy efficiency; and -- [f]ailure to consummate acquisition by Nextera [sic] and material deterioration in regulatory environment.”
On December 4, 2014, Moody’s affirmed the ratings of HEI (Baa2 stable). Moody’s views “NextEra’s acquisition as potentially beneficial to HECO which has been experiencing numerous operational challenges due to pressure from regulators and other stakeholders to reduce costs and expand the use of renewable generation.” Moody’s also noted that the “rating could be downgraded or placed on negative outlook should the company’s relationship with the regulators deteriorate to a point where it might affect the company’s credit metrics in a meaningful way, or if HECO’s cash flow to debt metric declined to 13% or below on a sustained basis.”
On December 4, 2014, S&P placed the ‘BBB-’ issuer credit rating for HEI on CreditWatch with positive implications. S&P indicated that “[i]n light of the level of NextEra’s investment in HEI, NextEra’s proposed method of funding the acquisition, opportunities for growth, and stated commitment from management, we assess HEI and HECO as “core” subsidiaries of NextEra. As a result, upon the close of the transaction, we expect to raise our issuer credit ratings on HEI and HECO to be aligned with that of the ultimate parent NextEra.” S&P issued a subsequent report on January 26, 2015, stating “[t]he ratings of HEI and its subsidiaries are on CreditWatch with positive implications because of the proposed merger with higher-rated NextEra Energy Inc.”
As of February 13, 2015, the Fitch, Moody's and S&P ratings of HEI were as follows:
|
| | | |
| Fitch | Moody’s | S&P |
Long-term issuer default and senior unsecured; senior unsecured; and corporate credit; respectively | BBB | Baa2 | BBB- |
Commercial paper | F3 | P-2 | A-3 |
Outlook | Watch-Positive | Stable | Watch-Positive |
The above ratings reflect only the view, at the time the ratings are issued, of the applicable rating agency, from whom an explanation of the significance of such ratings may be obtained. Such ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold any securities; such ratings may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the rating agencies; and each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.
Management believes that, if HEI’s commercial paper ratings were to be downgraded, or if credit markets for commercial paper with HEI’s ratings or in general were to tighten, it could be more difficult and/or expensive for HEI to sell commercial paper or HEI might not be able to sell commercial paper in the future. Such limitations could cause HEI to draw on its syndicated credit facility instead, and the costs of such borrowings could increase under the terms of the credit agreement as a result of any such ratings downgrades. Similarly, if HEI’s long-term debt ratings were to be downgraded, it could be more difficult and/or expensive for HEI to issue long-term debt. Such limitations and/or increased costs could materially adversely affect the results of operations, financial condition and liquidity of HEI and its subsidiaries.
Issuances of common stock through the Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (DRIP), Hawaiian Electric Industries Retirement Savings Plan (HEIRSP) and the ASB 401(k) Plan provided new capital of $3 million (approximately 0.1 million shares) in 2014, $48 million (approximately 1.8 million shares) in 2013 and $47 million (approximately 1.8 million shares) in 2012. From March 6, 2014 to date and from August 18, 2011 to January 8, 2012, HEI satisfied the share purchase requirements of the DRIP, HEIRSP and ASB 401(k) Plan through open market purchases of its common stock rather than new issuances.
Operating activities provided net cash of $325 million in 2014, $362 million in 2013 and $279 million in 2012. Investing activities used net cash of $592 million in 2014, $598 million in 2013 and $471 million in 2012. In 2014, net cash used in investing activities was primarily due to a net increase in loans held for investment, Hawaiian Electric’s consolidated capital expenditures (net of contributions in aid of construction) and ASB's purchases of investment securities, partly offset by the repayments of investment securities and the proceeds from sales of investment securities, redemption of stock from Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle and real estate acquired in settlement of ASB loans. Financing activities provided net cash of $223 million in 2014, $237 million in 2013 and $142 million in 2012. In 2014, net cash provided by financing activities included net increases in deposits, other bank borrowings, long-term debt and short-term borrowings and proceeds from the issuance of common stock, offset by the payment of common and preferred stock dividends. Other than capital contributions from their parent company, intercompany services (and related intercompany payables and receivables), Hawaiian Electric’s periodic short-term borrowings from HEI (and related interest) and the payment of dividends to HEI, the electric utility and bank segments are largely autonomous in their operating, investing and financing activities. (See the electric utility and bank segments’ discussions of their cash flows in their respective “Financial condition–Liquidity and capital resources” sections below.) During 2014, Hawaiian Electric and ASB (via ASB Hawaii) paid cash dividends to HEI of $88 million and $36 million, respectively.
A portion of the net assets of Hawaiian Electric and ASB is not available for transfer to HEI in the form of dividends, loans or advances without regulatory approval. One of the conditions to the PUC’s approval of the Merger and corporate restructuring of Hawaiian Electric and HEI requires that Hawaiian Electric maintain a consolidated common equity to total capitalization ratio of not less than 35% (actual ratio of 58% at December 31, 2014), and restricts Hawaiian Electric from making distributions to HEI to the extent it would result in that ratio being less than 35%. In the absence of an unexpected material adverse change in the financial condition of the electric utilities or ASB, such restrictions are not expected to significantly affect the operations of HEI, its ability to pay dividends on its common stock or its ability to meet its debt or other cash obligations. See Note 14 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Forecasted HEI consolidated “net cash used in investing activities” (excluding “investing” cash flows from ASB) for 2015 through 2017 consists primarily of the net capital expenditures of the Utilities. In addition to the funds required for the Utilities’ construction programs (see “Electric utility–Liquidity and capital resources”), approximately $200 million will be required during 2015 through 2017 to repay HEI senior notes of $75 million maturing in March 2016 and and HEI’s $125 million two-year term loan maturing in May 2016, which are expected to be repaid with the proceeds from the issuance of commercial paper, bank borrowings, other medium- or long-term debt, common stock and/or dividends from subsidiaries (assuming that the proposed Merger has not closed by the maturity dates). Additional debt and/or equity financing may be utilized to invest in the Utilities and bank; to pay down commercial paper or other short-term borrowings; or to fund unanticipated expenditures not
included in the 2015 through 2017 forecast, such as increases in the costs of or an acceleration of the construction of capital projects of the Utilities, unanticipated utility capital expenditures that may be required by the HCEI or new environmental laws and regulations, unbudgeted acquisitions or investments in new businesses, significant increases in retirement benefit funding requirements and higher tax payments that would result if certain tax positions taken by the Company do not prevail or if taxes are increased by federal or state legislation. In addition, existing debt may be refinanced prior to maturity with additional debt or equity financing (or both). Further, in anticipation of the possible completion of the Merger, the Company will make financing arrangements for the funding of the special dividend of $0.50 per share through some combination of the accumulation of dividends from subsidiaries and/or equity financing and for payment of additional transaction advisory fees and contingent payments (approximately $30 million) through additional debt and/or equity financing.
As further explained in “Retirement benefits” above and Notes 1 and 10 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company maintains pension and OPEB plans. The Company’s contributions to the retirement benefit plans totaled $60 million in 2014 ($59 million by the Utilities, $1 million by HEI and nil by ASB), $83 million in 2013 ($81 million by the Utilities, $2 million by HEI and nil by ASB) and $78 million in 2012 ($63 million by the Utilities, $2 million by HEI and $13 million by ASB) and are expected to total $86 million in 2015 ($84 million by the Utilities, $2 million by HEI and nil by ASB). These contributions satisfied the minimum funding requirements pursuant to ERISA, including changes promulgated by the Pension Protection Act of 2006, and the requirements of the electric utilities’ pension and OPEB tracking mechanisms. In addition, the Company paid directly $2 million of benefits in 2014, $2 million in 2013 and $1 million in 2012 and expects to pay $2 million of benefits in 2015. Depending on the performance of the assets held in the plans’ trusts and numerous other factors, additional contributions may be required in the future to meet the minimum funding requirements of ERISA or to pay benefits to plan participants. The Company believes it will have adequate cash flow or access to capital resources to support any necessary funding requirements.
Selected contractual obligations and commitments. Information about payments under the specified contractual obligations and commercial commitments of HEI and its subsidiaries was as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
December 31, 2014 | |
(in millions) | Less than 1 year | | 1-3 years | | 3-5 years | | More than 5 years | | Total |
Contractual obligations | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|
Time certificates | $ | 256 |
| | $ | 100 |
| | $ | 72 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 431 |
|
Other bank borrowings | — |
| | 156 |
| | 50 |
| | — |
| | 206 |
|
Long-term debt | — |
| | 200 |
| | 50 |
| | 1,257 |
| | 1,507 |
|
Interest on certificates of deposit, other bank borrowings and long-term debt | 79 |
| | 143 |
| | 131 |
| | 760 |
| | 1,113 |
|
Operating leases, service bureau contract and maintenance agreements | 29 |
| | 47 |
| | 31 |
| | 39 |
| | 146 |
|
Open purchase order obligations1 | 55 |
| | 26 |
| | 2 |
| | 3 |
| | 86 |
|
Fuel oil purchase obligations (estimate based on December 31, 2014 fuel oil prices) | 427 |
| | 349 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 776 |
|
Power purchase obligations–minimum fixed capacity charges | 124 |
| | 197 |
| | 184 |
| | 531 |
| | 1,036 |
|
Total (estimated) | $ | 970 |
| | $ | 1,218 |
| | $ | 520 |
| | $ | 2,593 |
| | $ | 5,301 |
|
| |
1 | Includes contractual obligations and commitments for capital expenditures and expense amounts. |
The tables above do not include other categories of obligations and commitments, such as deferred taxes, trade payables, amounts that will become payable in future periods under collective bargaining and other employment agreements and employee benefit plans, obligations that may arise under indemnities provided to purchasers of discontinued operations, potential refunds of amounts collected from ratepayers (e.g., under the earnings sharing mechanism) and additional transaction advisory fees and contingent payments related to the proposed merger (approximately $30 million). As of December 31, 2014, the fair value of the assets held in trusts to satisfy the obligations of the Company’s retirement benefit plans did not exceed the retirement benefit plans’ benefit obligation. Minimum funding requirements for retirement benefit plans have not been included in the tables above; however, see “Retirement benefits” above for estimated minimum required contributions for 2015.
See Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of fuel and power purchase commitments. See Note 5 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a further discussion of ASB's commitments.
Off-balance sheet arrangements. Although the Company has off-balance sheet arrangements, management has determined that it has no off-balance sheet arrangements that either have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors, including the following types of off-balance sheet arrangements:
| |
1. | obligations under guarantee contracts, |
| |
2. | retained or contingent interests in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity or similar arrangements that serve as credit, liquidity or market risk support to that entity for such assets, |
| |
3. | obligations under derivative instruments, and |
| |
4. | obligations under a material variable interest held by the Company in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support to the Company, or engages in leasing, hedging or research and development services with the Company. |
Certain factors that may affect future results and financial condition. The Company’s results of operations and financial condition can be affected by numerous factors, many of which are beyond its control and could cause future results of operations to differ materially from historical results. The following is a discussion of certain of these factors. Also see “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” above and “Certain factors that may affect future results and financial condition” in each of the electric utility and bank segment discussions below.
Proposed Merger. On December 3, 2014, HEI, NEE, Merger Sub II and Merger Sub I entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger. The Merger Agreement provides that, prior to completion of the Merger, HEI will distribute to its shareholders, on a pro-rata basis, all of the issued and outstanding shares of ASB Hawaii (parent company of ASB). In addition, the Merger Agreement contemplates that, immediately prior to the closing of the Merger, HEI will pay its shareholders a special dividend of $0.50 per share. At the effective time of the Merger, shares of HEI common stock will be converted into shares of NEE common stock and HEI shareholders will become stockholders of NEE. The closing of the Merger is subject to various conditions, including federal and state regulatory approvals and the approval of holders of 75% of the outstanding shares of HEI common stock. See Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements and “Risk Factors Related to the Merger” above.
Economic conditions, U.S. capital markets and credit and interest rate environment. Because the core businesses of HEI’s subsidiaries are providing local electric public utility services and banking services in Hawaii, the Company’s operating results are significantly influenced by Hawaii’s economy, which in turn is influenced by economic conditions in the mainland U.S. (particularly California) and Asia (particularly Japan) as a result of the impact of those conditions on tourism, by the impact of interest rates, particularly on the construction and real estate industries, and by the impact of world conditions on federal government spending in Hawaii. The two largest components of Hawaii’s economy are tourism and the federal government (including the military).
If Fitch, Moody's or S&P were to downgrade HEI’s or Hawaiian Electric’s debt ratings, or if future events were to adversely affect the availability of capital to the Company, HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s ability to borrow and raise capital could be constrained and their future borrowing costs would likely increase.
Changes in the U.S. capital markets can also have significant effects on the Company. For example, pension funding requirements are affected by the market performance of the assets in the master pension trust, and by the discount rate used to estimate the service and interest cost components of net periodic pension cost and value obligations. The Utilities’ pension tracking mechanisms help moderate pension expense; however, a decline in the value of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan assets may increase the unfunded status of the Company’s pension plans and result in increases in future funding requirements.
Because the earnings of ASB depend primarily on net interest income, interest rate risk is a significant risk of ASB’s operations. Changes in interest rates and credit spreads also affect the fair value of ASB’s investment securities. HEI and its electric utility subsidiaries are also exposed to interest rate risk primarily due to their periodic borrowing requirements, the discount rate used to determine pension funding requirements and the possible effect of interest rates on the electric utilities’ rates of return and overall economic activity. Interest rates are sensitive to many factors, including general economic conditions and the policies of government and regulatory authorities. HEI cannot predict future changes in interest rates, nor be certain that interest rate risk management strategies it or its subsidiaries have implemented will be successful in managing interest rate risk.
Limited insurance. In the ordinary course of business, the Company purchases insurance coverages (e.g., property and liability coverages) to protect itself against loss of or damage to its properties and against claims made by third-parties and employees for property damage or personal injuries. However, the protection provided by such insurance is limited in significant respects and, in some instances, the Company has no coverage. The Utilities’ transmission and distribution systems (excluding substation buildings and contents) have a replacement value roughly estimated at $6 billion and are largely uninsured. Similarly, the Utilities have no business interruption insurance. If a hurricane or other uninsured catastrophic natural disaster were to occur, and if the PUC were not to allow the Utilities to recover from ratepayers restoration costs and revenues lost from business interruption, their results of operations, financial condition and liquidity could be materially adversely impacted. Certain of the Company’s insurance has substantial “deductibles” or has limits on the maximum amounts that may be recovered. Insurers also have exclusions or limitations of coverage for claims related to certain perils. If a series of losses
occurred, such as from a series of lawsuits in the ordinary course of business each of which were subject to an insurance deductible amount, or if the maximum limit of the available insurance were substantially exceeded, the Company could incur uninsured losses in amounts that would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
Environmental matters. HEI and its subsidiaries are subject to environmental laws and regulations that regulate the operation of existing facilities, the construction and operation of new facilities and the proper cleanup and disposal of hazardous waste and toxic substances. These laws and regulations, among other things, may require that certain environmental permits be obtained and maintained as a condition to constructing or operating certain facilities. Obtaining such permits can entail significant expense and cause substantial construction delays. Also, these laws and regulations may be amended from time to time, including amendments that increase the burden and expense of compliance.
Material estimates and critical accounting policies. In preparing financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change include the amounts reported for pension and other postretirement benefit obligations; contingencies and litigation; income taxes; property, plant and equipment; regulatory assets and liabilities; electric utility revenues; allowance for loan losses; nonperforming loans; troubled debt restructurings; and fair value. Management considers an accounting estimate to be material if it requires assumptions to be made that were uncertain at the time the estimate was made and changes in the assumptions selected could have a material impact on the estimate and on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.
In accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8040, “Cautionary Advice Regarding Disclosure About Critical Accounting Policies,” management has identified accounting policies it believes to be the most critical to the Company’s financial statements—that is, management believes that the policies discussed below are both the most important to the portrayal of the Company’s results of operations and financial condition, and currently require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments. The policies affecting both of the Company’s two principal segments are discussed below and the policies affecting just one segment are discussed in the respective segment’s section of “Material estimates and critical accounting policies.” Management has reviewed the material estimates and critical accounting policies with the HEI Audit Committee and, as applicable, the Hawaiian Electric Audit Committee.
For additional discussion of the Company’s accounting policies, see Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements and for additional discussion of material estimates and critical accounting policies, see the electric utility and bank segment discussions below under the same heading.
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligations. For a discussion of material estimates related to pension and other postretirement benefits (collectively, retirement benefits), including costs, major assumptions, plan assets, other factors affecting costs, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) charges and sensitivity analyses, see “Retirement benefits” in “Consolidated—Results of operations” above and Notes 1 and 10 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Contingencies and litigation. The Company is subject to proceedings (including PUC proceedings), lawsuits and other claims. Management assesses the likelihood of any adverse judgments in or outcomes of these matters as well as potential ranges of probable losses, including costs of investigation. A determination of the amount of reserves required, if any, for these contingencies is based on an analysis of each individual case or proceeding often with the assistance of outside counsel. The required reserves may change in the future due to new developments in each matter or changes in approach in dealing with these matters, such as a change in settlement strategy.
In general, environmental contamination treatment costs are charged to expense, unless it is probable that the PUC would allow such costs to be recovered through future rates, in which case such costs would be capitalized as regulatory assets. Also, environmental costs are capitalized if the costs extend the life, increase the capacity, or improve the safety or efficiency of property; the costs mitigate or prevent future environmental contamination; or the costs are incurred in preparing the property for sale.
See Notes 2, 4 and 5 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are established for the temporary differences between the financial reporting bases and the tax bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities using tax rates expected to be in effect when such deferred tax assets or liabilities are realized or settled. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible.
Management evaluates its potential exposures from tax positions taken that have or could be challenged by taxing authorities. These potential exposures result because taxing authorities may take positions that differ from those taken by management in the interpretation and application of statutes, regulations and rules. Management considers the possibility of alternative outcomes based upon past experience, previous actions by taxing authorities (e.g., actions taken in other jurisdictions) and advice from its tax advisors. Management believes that the Company’s provision for tax contingencies is reasonable. However, the ultimate resolution of tax treatments disputed by governmental authorities may adversely affect the Company’s current and deferred income tax amounts.
See Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Following are discussions of the electric utility and bank segments. Additional segment information is shown in Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. The discussion concerning Hawaiian Electric should be read in conjunction with its consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.
Executive overview and strategy. The Utilities provide electricity on all the principal islands in the state other than Kauai and operate on five separate grids. The Utilities’ strategic focus is meeting Hawaii’s energy needs in a reliable, economical and environmentally sound way by modernizing the electric grid, maximizing the use of low-cost, clean energy sources, sustaining an effective asset management program and promoting smart use of energy by customers through information and choices. The Utilities are focused on helping Hawaii achieve its statutory goal of 40% of electricity from clean, locally-generated sources by 2030.
Utility strategic progress. The Utilities continue to make significant progress in implementing their renewable energy strategies to support Hawaii’s efforts to reduce its dependence on oil. The PUC issued several important regulatory decisions during the last few years, including a number of interim and final rate case decisions (see table in “Most recent rate proceedings” below).
On August 26, 2014, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric filed proposed plans for Hawaii’s energy future with the PUC, as required by PUC orders issued in April 2014. The plans filed were the Hawaiian Electric Power Supply Improvement Plan, Maui Electric Power Supply Improvement Plan, Hawaii Electric Light Power Supply Improvement Plan, Hawaiian Electric Companies Distributed Generation Interconnection Plan, and Hawaiian Electric Companies Integrated Interconnection Queue Plan. Under these plans, the Utilities will support sustainable growth of rooftop solar, expand use of energy storage systems, empower customers by developing smart grids, offer new products and services to customers (e.g., community solar, microgrids and voluntary “demand response” programs), and switch from high-priced oil to lower cost liquefied natural gas.
Transition to renewable energy. The Utilities are committed to assisting the State of Hawaii in achieving or exceeding its Renewable Portfolio Standard goal of 40% renewable energy by 2030 (see “Renewable energy strategy” below). In addition, while it will not take precedence over the Utilities’ work to increase their use of renewable energy, the Utilities are also working with the State of Hawaii and other entities to examine the possibility of using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a cleaner and lower cost fuel to replace, at least in part, the petroleum oil that would otherwise be used for the remaining generation. In December 2013, the Utilities executed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with The Gas Company, LLC d/b/a HawaiiGAS, documenting the parties’ desire to work together to (a) develop and/or secure infrastructure for large scale importation of LNG into Hawaii and (b) establish a consortium to competitively procure the LNG and provide storage and regasification of it at an LNG terminal site. In March 2014, Hawaiian Electric issued a RFP for the supply of containerized LNG. Hawaiian Electric received 3 final bid submissions in May 2014 and is in the final stage of selecting an LNG supplier. Also, see "Liquefied natural gas" in Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of Hawaiian Electric's agreement with Fortis BC Energy Inc.
After launching a smart grid customer engagement plan during the second quarter of 2014, Hawaiian Electric replaced approximately 5,200 residential and commercial meters with smart meters in selected areas across Oahu as part of the Smart Grid Initial Phase. The Initial Phase is expected to run through 2015 and includes the installation of direct load control water heating switches and the launch of a Pre Pay Application. Also under the Initial Phase, fault circuit indicators and key remote controlled switches have been installed, a grid efficiency measure called Volt/Var Optimization was turned on and customer energy portals were launched and are available for customer use. The smart grid provides benefits such as customer tools to manage their electric bills, potentially shortening outages and enabling the Utilities to integrate more low-cost renewable energy, like wind and solar, which will reduce Hawaii’s dependence on imported oil. The Utilities are planning to seek approval from the PUC in 2015 to commit funds for an expansion of the smart grid project, including at Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric.
Decoupling. In 2010, the PUC issued an order approving decoupling, which was implemented by the Utilities in 2011 and 2012. The decoupling model implemented delinks revenues from sales and includes annual rate adjustments for certain O&M expenses and rate base changes.
Under decoupling, the most significant drivers for improving earnings are:
•completing major capital projects within PUC approved amounts and on schedule;
•managing O&M expense relative to authorized O&M adjustments; and
•regulatory outcomes that cover O&M requirements and rate base items not included in the RAMs.
On May 31, 2013, as provided for in its original order issued in 2010 approving decoupling, the PUC opened an investigative docket to review whether the decoupling mechanisms are functioning as intended, are fair to the Utilities and their ratepayers, and are in the public interest. On February 7, 2014, in the first part of this bifurcated proceeding, the PUC issued a D&O on select issues, which made certain modifications to the decoupling mechanism. Among other things, the D&O requires:
| |
• | An adjustment to the Rate Base RAM Adjustment to include 90% of the amount of the current RAM Period Rate Base RAM Adjustment that exceeds the Rate Base RAM Adjustment from the prior year, to be effective with the Utilities' 2014 decoupling filing. |
| |
• | Effective March 1, 2014, the interest rate to be applied on the outstanding RBA balances to be the short term debt rate used in each Utilities last rate case (ranging from 1.25% to 3.25%), instead of the 6% that was previously approved. |
The second part of this proceeding continued with panel hearings held in October 2014. The proceeding is currently pending a PUC order instructing the parties regarding the issues and scope for limited briefs and reply briefs. See "Decoupling" in Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Actual and PUC-allowed (as of December 31, 2014) returns were as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
% | | Return on rate base (RORB)* | | ROACE** | | Rate-making ROACE*** |
Year ended December 31, 2014 | | Hawaiian Electric | | Hawaii Electric Light | | Maui Electric | | Hawaiian Electric | | Hawaii Electric Light | | Maui Electric | | Hawaiian Electric | | Hawaii Electric Light | | Maui Electric |
Utility returns | | 7.76 |
| | 6.28 |
| | 7.50 |
| | 8.74 |
| | 6.71 |
| | 8.81 |
| | 9.85 |
| | 6.65 |
| | 9.44 |
|
PUC-allowed returns | | 8.11 |
| | 8.31 |
| | 7.34 |
| | 10.00 |
| | 10.00 |
| | 9.00 |
| | 10.00 |
| | 10.00 |
| | 9.00 |
|
Difference | | (0.35 | ) | | (2.03 | ) | | 0.16 |
| | (1.26 | ) | | (3.29 | ) | | (0.19 | ) | | (0.15 | ) | | (3.35 | ) | | 0.44 |
|
* Based on recorded operating income and average rate base, both adjusted for items not included in determining electric rates.
** Recorded net income divided by average common equity.
*** ROACE adjusted to remove items not included by the PUC in establishing rates, such as executive incentive compensation and certain advertising.
The approval of decoupling by the PUC has helped the Utilities to gradually improve their ROACEs, which in turn will facilitate the Utilities’ ability to effectively raise capital for needed infrastructure investments. However, the Utilities continue to expect an ongoing structural gap between their PUC-allowed ROACEs and the ROACEs actually achieved due to the following:
•the timing of general rate case decisions,
| |
• | the effective date of June 1 (rather than January 1) for the RAMs for Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric currently, and for Hawaiian Electric beginning in 2017, |
•the 5-year historical average for baseline plant additions,
| |
• | the modifications to the rate base RAM and RBA interest rate per the PUC's February 2014 decision on decoupling (as discussed in Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements), and |
•the PUC’s consistent exclusion of certain expenses from rates.
The structural gap in 2015 to 2017 is expected to be 100 to 120 basis points. Factors which impact the range of the structural gap include the actual sales impacting the size of the RBA regulatory asset, the actual level of baseline additions in any given year relative to the 5-year historical average, and the timing, nature, and size of any general rate case. Between rate cases, items not covered by the annual RAMs could also have a negative impact on the actual ROACEs achieved by the Utilities. Items not covered by the annual RAMS include the changes in rate base for the regulatory asset for pension contributions in excess of the pension amount in rates, investments in software projects, changes in fuel inventory and O&M in excess of indexed escalations. The specific magnitude of the impact will depend on various factors, including changes in the required annual pension contribution, the size of software projects, changes in fuel prices and management’s ability to manage costs within the current mechanisms.
As part of decoupling, the Utilities also track their rate-making ROACEs as calculated under the earnings sharing mechanism, which includes only items considered in establishing rates. At year-end, each utility's rate-making ROACE is
compared against its ROACE allowed by the PUC to determine whether earnings sharing has been triggered. Annual earnings of a utility over and above the ROACE allowed by the PUC are shared between the utility and its ratepayers on a tiered basis. For 2014 and 2013, the earnings sharing mechanism was triggered for Maui Electric, and Maui Electric will credit $0.5 million and credited $0.4 million, respectively, to its customers for their portion of the earnings sharing. For 2012, the earnings sharing mechanism was triggered for Hawaiian Electric, and Hawaiian Electric credited its customers $2.6 million for their portion of the earnings sharing. Hawaiian Electric’s 2012 rate-making ROACE of 10.70% included various adjustments to Hawaiian Electric’s actual ROACE of 7.57% such as the exclusion of the $40 million of CIS project costs pursuant to the 2013 Agreement, and other expenses not considered in establishing electric rates (e.g., executive incentive compensation and certain advertising). Earnings sharing credits are included in the annual decoupling filing for the following year.
Annual decoupling filings. On May 30, 2014, the PUC approved the revised annual decoupling filings for tariffed rates for the Utilities that will be effective from June 1, 2014 through May 31, 2015. The tariffed rates include: (1) RAM adjusted revenues (the components of the annual incremental changes are shown below) with the 2014 rate base RAM return on investment calculated as the PUC ordered in its recent investigative docket on the decoupling mechanism, (2) accrued earnings sharing credits to be refunded, and (3) the amount of the accrued RBA balance as of December 31, 2014 (and associated revenue taxes) to be collected:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in millions) | | Hawaiian Electric | | Hawaii Electric Light | | Maui Electric |
Annual incremental RAM adjusted revenues | | | | | | |
Operations and maintenance | | $ | 4.0 |
| | $ | 0.9 |
| | $ | 1.0 |
|
Invested capital | | 26.8 |
| | 3.9 |
| | 4.4 |
|
Total annual incremental RAM adjusted revenues | | $ | 30.8 |
| | $ | 4.8 |
| | $ | 5.4 |
|
Accrued earnings sharing credits to be refunded | | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | (0.4 | ) |
Accrued RBA balance as of December 31, 2014 (and associated revenue taxes) to be collected | | $ | 72.6 |
| | $ | 8.2 |
| | $ | 9.6 |
|
Results of operations.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2014 | | 2013 | | Increase (decrease) | | (dollars in millions, except per barrel amounts) |
$ | 2,987 |
| | $ | 2,980 |
| | $ | 7 |
| | |
| | Revenues. Increase largely due to: |
| | | | |
| | $ | 52 |
| | Higher rate base and O&M RAM |
| | | | |
| | 8 |
| | Higher purchased power costs |
| | | | |
| | 5 |
| | Maui Electric refund in 2013 due to final 2012 rate case decision |
| | | | | | (32 | ) | | Lower KWH generated |
| | | | | | (28 | ) | | Lower fuel prices |
1,132 |
| | 1,186 |
| | (54 | ) | | |
| | Fuel oil expense. Decrease largely due to lower KWHs generated and lower fuel costs |
722 |
| | 711 |
| | 11 |
| | |
| | Purchased power expense. Increase due to higher KWHs purchased as a result of decreased availability of AES in 2013 and expanded capacity of HPower in 2014, partly offset by lower purchased energy costs due to lower fuel prices |
411 |
| | 403 |
| | 8 |
| | |
| | Operation and maintenance expense. Increase largely due to: |
| | | | |
| | 8 |
| | Smart Grid initial phase |
| | | | |
| | 8 |
| | Consultant costs associated with energy transformation plans |
| | | | | | 4 |
| | Storm restoration |
| | | | | | 4 |
| | Customer information system upgrade |
| | | | | | (9 | ) | | Lower customer service costs that were elevated in 2013 during the stabilization period for the new customer information system |
| | | | | | (5 | ) | | Lower overhaul costs due to reduced scope of overhauls |
| | | | | | (5 | ) | | Lower production costs due to deactivation of HPP |
447 |
| | 435 |
| | 12 |
| | |
| | Other expenses. Increase primarily due to depreciation expense for plant investments |
276 |
| | 246 |
| | 30 |
| | |
| | Operating income. Increase due to higher revenues and a decrease in overall expenses |
138 |
| | 123 |
| | 15 |
| | |
| | Net income for common stock. Increase due to higher operating income |
8.4 | % | | 8.0 | % | | 0.4 | % | | | | Return on average common equity |
129.65 |
| | 131.10 |
| | (1.45 | ) | | | | Average fuel oil cost per barrel 1 |
8,976 |
| | 9,070 |
| | (94 | ) | | | | Kilowatthour sales (millions) 2 |
4,909 |
| | 4,506 |
| | 403 |
| | | | Cooling degree days (Oahu) |
2,759 |
| | 2,764 |
| | (5 | ) | | | | Number of employees (at December 31) |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2013 | | 2012 | | Increase (decrease) | | (dollars in millions, except per barrel amounts) |
$ | 2,980 |
| | $ | 3,109 |
| | $ | (129 | ) | | |
| | Revenues. Decrease largely due to: |
| | |
| | |
| | $ | (150 | ) | | Lower fuel prices and lower KWH sales |
| | |
| | |
| | (12 | ) | | Maui Electric test year 2012 final D&O |
| | |
| | |
| | 35 |
| | Higher decoupling revenues |
1,186 |
| | 1,297 |
| | (111 | ) | | |
| | Fuel oil expense. Decrease largely due to lower fuel costs and less KWHs generated |
711 |
| | 725 |
| | (14 | ) | | |
| | Purchased power expense. Decrease due to lower purchased power energy costs offset by higher KWHs purchased |
403 |
| | 397 |
| | 6 |
| | |
| | Operation and maintenance expense. Increase largely due to: |
| | |
| | |
| | 11 |
| | Higher customer service expenses (CIS and customer service support) offset by |
| | |
| | |
| | (8 | ) | | Lower costs in overhauls, substation maintenance costs at Maui Electric and overhead line maintenance costs at Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light |
435 |
| | 480 |
| | (45 | ) | | |
| | Other expenses. Decrease largely due to: |
| | |
| | |
| | (40 | ) | | Write down of CIS project costs in 2012 |
| | |
| | |
| | (12 | ) | | Lower revenues in 2013 (which resulted in lower taxes, other than income taxes) |
| | |
| | |
| | 9 |
| | Increase in depreciation due to increase in plant investments |
246 |
| | 213 |
| | 33 |
| | |
| | Operating income. Increase largely due to write down of CIS project costs in 2012 offset by higher customer service expenses |
8 |
| | 11 |
| | (3 | ) | | |
| | Allowance for funds used during construction |
123 |
| | 99 |
| | 24 |
| | |
| | Net income for common stock. Increase largely due to write down of CIS project costs recognized in 2012 |
8.0 | % | | 6.9 | % | | 1.1 | % | | | | Return on average common equity |
131.10 |
| | 138.09 |
| | (6.99 | ) | | | | Average fuel oil cost per barrel 1 |
9,070 |
| | 9,206 |
| | (136 | ) | | | | Kilowatthour sales (millions) 2 |
4,506 |
| | 4,532 |
| | (26 | ) | | | | Cooling degree days (Oahu) |
2,764 |
| | 2,658 |
| | 106 |
| | | | Number of employees (at December 31) |
| |
1 | The rate schedules of the electric utilities currently contain energy cost adjustment clauses (ECACs) through which changes in fuel oil prices and certain components of purchased energy costs are passed on to customers. |
| |
2 | KWH sales were lower in 2014 and 2013 when compared to the prior year due largely to continued energy efficiency and conservation efforts by customers and increasing levels of customer-sited renewable generation. |
Most recent rate proceedings. Unless otherwise agreed or ordered, each electric utility is currently required by PUC order to initiate a rate proceeding every third year (on a staggered basis) to allow the PUC and the Consumer Advocate to regularly evaluate decoupling and to allow the utility to request electric rate increases to cover rising operating costs and the cost of plant and equipment, including the cost of new capital projects to maintain and improve service reliability. The PUC may grant an interim increase within 10 to 11 months following the filing of an application, but there is no guarantee of such an interim increase and interim amounts collected are refundable, with interest, to the extent they exceed the amount approved in the PUC’s final D&O. The timing and amount of any final increase is determined at the discretion of the PUC. The adoption of revenue, expense, rate base and cost of capital amounts (including the ROACE and RORB) for purposes of an interim rate increase does not commit the PUC to accept any such amounts in its final D&O.
The following table summarizes certain details of each utility’s most recent rate cases, including the details of the increases requested, whether the utility and the Consumer Advocate reached a settlement that they proposed to the PUC and the details of any granted interim and final PUC D&O increases.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Test year (dollars in millions) | | Date (applied/ implemented) | | Amount | | % over rates in effect | | ROACE (%) | | RORB (%) | | Rate base | | Common equity % | | Stipulated agreement reached with Consumer Advocate |
Hawaiian Electric | | | | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
2011 (1) | | | | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Request | | 7/30/10 | | $ | 113.5 |
| | 6.6 |
| | 10.75 |
| | 8.54 |
| | $ | 1,569 |
| | 56.29 |
| | Yes |
Interim increase | | 7/26/11 | | 53.2 |
| | 3.1 |
| | 10.00 |
| | 8.11 |
| | 1,354 |
| | 56.29 |
| | |
Interim increase (adjusted) | | 4/2/12 | | 58.2 |
| | 3.4 |
| | 10.00 |
| | 8.11 |
| | 1,385 |
| | 56.29 |
| | |
Interim increase (adjusted) | | 5/21/12 | | 58.8 |
| | 3.4 |
| | 10.00 |
| | 8.11 |
| | 1,386 |
| | 56.29 |
| | |
Final increase | | 9/1/12 | | 58.1 |
| | 3.4 |
| | 10.00 |
| | 8.11 |
| | 1,386 |
| | 56.29 |
| | |
2014 (2) | | 6/27/14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Hawaii Electric Light | | | | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
2010 (3) | | | | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Request | | 12/9/09 | | $ | 20.9 |
| | 6.0 |
| | 10.75 |
| | 8.73 |
| | $ | 487 |
| | 55.91 |
| | Yes |
Interim increase | | 1/14/11 | | 6.0 |
| | 1.7 |
| | 10.50 |
| | 8.59 |
| | 465 |
| | 55.91 |
| | |
Interim increase (adjusted) | | 1/1/12 | | 5.2 |
| | 1.5 |
| | 10.50 |
| | 8.59 |
| | 465 |
| | 55.91 |
| | |
Final increase | | 4/9/12 | | 4.5 |
| | 1.3 |
| | 10.00 |
| | 8.31 |
| | 465 |
| | 55.91 |
| | |
2013 (4) | | | | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Request | | 8/16/12 | | $ | 19.8 |
| | 4.2 |
| | 10.25 |
| | 8.30 |
| | $ | 455 |
| | 57.05 |
| | |
Closed | | 3/27/13 | | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Maui Electric | | | | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
2012 (5) | | | | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Request | | 7/22/11 | | $ | 27.5 |
| | 6.7 |
| | 11.00 |
| | 8.72 |
| | $ | 393 |
| | 56.85 |
| | Yes |
Interim increase | | 6/1/12 | | 13.1 |
| | 3.2 |
| | 10.00 |
| | 7.91 |
| | 393 |
| | 56.86 |
| | |
Final increase | | 8/1/13 | | 5.3 |
| | 1.3 |
| | 9.00 |
| | 7.34 |
| | 393 |
| | 56.86 |
| | |
2015 (6) | | 12/30/14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Note: The “Request Date” reflects the application filing date for the rate proceeding. All other line items reflect the effective dates of the revised schedules and tariffs as a result of PUC-approved increases.
(1) Hawaiian Electric filed a request with the PUC for a general rate increase of $113.5 million, based on depreciation rates and methodology as proposed by Hawaiian Electric in a separate depreciation proceeding. Hawaiian Electric’s request was primarily to pay for major capital projects and higher O&M costs to maintain and improve service reliability and to recover the costs for several proposed programs to help reduce Hawaii’s dependence on imported oil, and to further increase reliability and fuel security.
The $53.2 million, $58.2 million, and $58.8 million interim increases, and the $58.1 million final increase, include the $15 million in annual revenues that were being recovered through the decoupling RAM prior to the first interim increase.
(2) See “Hawaiian Electric 2014 test year rate case” below.
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(3) | Hawaii Electric Light’s request was primarily to cover investments for system upgrade projects, two major transmission line upgrades and increasing O&M expenses. On February 8, 2012, the PUC issued a final D&O, which reflected the approval of decoupling and cost-recovery mechanisms, and on February 21, 2012, Hawaii Electric Light filed its revised tariffs to reflect the increase in rates. On April 4, 2012, the PUC issued an order approving the revised tariffs, which became effective April 9, 2012. Hawaii Electric Light implemented the decoupling mechanism and began tracking the target revenues and actual recorded revenues via a revenue balancing account. Hawaii Electric Light also reset the heat rates and implemented heat rate deadbands and the PPAC, which provides a surcharge mechanism that more closely aligns cost recovery with costs incurred. The revised tariffs reflect a lower increase in annual revenue requirement compared to the interim increase due to factors that became effective concurrently with the revised tariffs (lower depreciation rates and lower ROACE) and therefore, no refund to customers was required. |
(4) Hawaii Electric Light’s request was to pay for O&M expenses and additional investments in plant and equipment required to maintain and improve system reliability and to cover the increased costs to support the integration of more renewable energy generation. As a result of the 2013 Agreement and 2013 Order (described below), the rate case was withdrawn and the docket has been closed.
(5) Maui Electric’s request was to pay for O&M expenses and additional investments in plant and equipment required to maintain and improve system reliability and to cover the increased costs to support the integration of more renewable energy generation. See discussion on final D&O, including the refund to customers in September and October 2013 required as a result of the final D&O, in Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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(6) | See “Maui Electric 2015 test year rate case” below. |
Hawaiian Electric 2011 test year rate case. In the Hawaiian Electric 2011 test year rate case, the PUC had granted Hawaiian Electric’s request to defer CIS project O&M expenses (limited to $2,258,000 per year in 2011 and 2012) that were to be subject to a regulatory audit of project costs, and allowed Hawaiian Electric to accrue allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) on these deferred costs until the completion of the regulatory audit.
On January 28, 2013, the Utilities and the Consumer Advocate entered into the 2013 Agreement to, among other things, write-off $40 million of CIS Project costs in lieu of conducting the regulatory audits of the CIP CT-1 and the CIS projects, with the remaining recoverable costs for the projects of $52 million to be included in rate base as of December 31, 2012. The parties agreed that Hawaii Electric Light would withdraw its 2013 test year rate case and not file a rate case until its next turn in the rate case cycle, for a 2016 test year, and Hawaiian Electric would delay the filing of its scheduled 2014 test year rate case to no earlier than January 2, 2014. The parties also agreed that, starting in 2014, Hawaiian Electric will be allowed to record RAM revenues starting on January 1 (instead of the prior start date of June 1) for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016. This resulted in additional revenues of $7 million and $5 million for the first and second quarters of 2014, respectively, for a year-to-date amount of $12 million. There were no additional revenues recorded in the third quarter of 2014 as a result of the 2013 Agreement. See “Commitments and contingencies—Utility projects” in Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the 2013 Agreement and the 2013 D&O and their effects.
Hawaiian Electric 2014 test year rate case. On October 30, 2013 Hawaiian Electric filed with the PUC a Notice of Intent to file an application for a general rate case (on or after January 2, 2014, but before June 30, 2014, using a 2014 test year) and a motion, which was subsequently recommended by the Consumer Advocate, for approval of test period waiver. Hawaiian Electric’s filing of a 2014 rate case would be in accordance with a PUC order which calls for a mandatory triennial rate case cycle. On March 7, 2014, the PUC issued an order granting Hawaiian Electric’s motion to waive the requirement to utilize a split test year, and authorized a 2014 test year.
On June 27, 2014, Hawaiian Electric submitted an abbreviated rate case filing (abbreviated filing), stating that it intends to forego the opportunity to seek a general rate increase in base rates, and if approved, this filing would result in no change in base rates. Hawaiian Electric stated that it is foregoing a rate increase request in recognition that its customers are already in a challenging high electricity bill environment. The abbreviated filing explained that Hawaiian Electric is aggressively attacking the root causes of high rates, by, among other things, vigorously pursuing the opportunity to switch from oil to liquefied natural gas, acquiring lower-cost renewable energy resources, pursuing opportunities to achieve operational efficiencies, and deactivating older, high-cost generation. Instead of seeking a rate increase, Hawaiian Electric is focused on developing and executing the new business model, plans and strategies required by the PUC’s April 2014 regulatory orders discussed in Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, as well as other actions that will reduce rates.
Hawaiian Electric further explained that the abbreviated filing satisfies the obligation to file a general rate case under the three-year cycle established by the PUC in the decoupling final D&O. If the PUC determines that additional materials are required, Hawaiian Electric stated it will work with the Consumer Advocate on a schedule to submit additional information as needed. Hawaiian Electric asked for an expedited decision on this filing and stated that if the PUC decides that such a ruling is not in order, Hawaiian Electric reserves the right to supplement the abbreviated filing with additional material to support the increase in revenue requirements forgone by this filing-calculated to be $56 million over revenues at current effective rates. Hawaiian Electric’s revenue at current effective rates includes: (1) the revenue from Hawaiian Electric’s base rates, including the revenue from the energy cost adjustment clause and the purchased power adjustment clause, (2) the revenue that would be included in the decoupling revenue balancing account (RBA) in 2014 based on 2014 test year forecasted sales, and (3) the revenue from the 2014 rate adjustment mechanism (RAM) implemented in connection with the decoupling mechanism.
Under Hawaiian Electric’s proposal, the decoupling RBA and RAM would continue, subject to any change to these mechanisms ordered by the PUC in Schedule B of the decoupling proceedings, the DSM surcharge would continue since demand response (DR) program costs would not be rolled into base rates (as required in the April 28, 2014 DR Order) until the next rate case, and the pension and OPEB tracking mechanisms would continue. Hawaiian Electric plans to file its next rate case according to the normal rate case cycle using a 2017 test year. If circumstances change, Hawaiian Electric may file its next rate case earlier.
Management cannot predict whether the PUC will accept this abbreviated filing to satisfy Hawaiian Electric’s obligation to file a rate case in 2014, whether additional material will be required or whether Hawaiian Electric will be required to proceed with a traditional rate proceeding.
Maui Electric 2015 test year rate case. On October 17, 2014, Maui Electric filed its notice of intent to file a general rate case application by the end of 2014, utilizing a 2015 calendar test year. The rate case filing is required to satisfy the obligation to file a general rate case under the three-year cycle established by the PUC in the decoupling final D&O. On December 30, 2014, Maui Electric filed its abbreviated 2015 test year rate case filing. In recognition that its customers have been enduring a high bill environment, Maui Electric proposed no change to its base rates, thereby foregoing the opportunity to seek a general
rate increase. If Maui Electric were to seek an increase in base rates, its requested increase in revenue, based on its revenue requirement for a normalized 2015 test year, would have been $11.6 million, or 2.8%, over revenues at current effective rates with estimated 2015 rate adjustment mechanism (RAM) revenues. The normalized 2015 test year revenue requirement is based on an estimated cost of common equity of 10.75%. Management cannot predict any actions by the PUC as a result of this filing.
Integrated resource planning and April 2014 regulatory orders. See “April 2014 regulatory orders” in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Renewable energy strategy. The Utilities’ policy is to support efforts to increase renewable energy in Hawaii. The Utilities believe their actions will help stabilize customer bills as they become less dependent on costly and price-volatile fossil fuel. The Utilities’ renewable energy strategy will also allow them to meet Hawaii’s RPS law, which requires electric utilities to meet an RPS of 10%, 15%, 25% and 40% by December 31, 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2030, respectively. The Utilities met the 10% RPS for 2010 with a consolidated RPS of 20.7%, including savings from energy efficiency programs and solar water heating (or 9.5% without DSM energy savings). Energy savings resulting from DSM energy efficiency programs and solar water heating will not count toward the RPS after 2014. For 2014, the Utilities achieved an RPS without DSM energy savings of an estimated 21%, primarily through a comprehensive portfolio of renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs), net energy metering programs and biofuels. The Utilities have been successful in adding significant amounts of renewable energy resources to their electric systems. The Utilities are on track to exceed their 2015 RPS goal, and lead the nation in terms of the amount of photovoltaic (PV) systems installed by its customers. Additionally, the State continues to pursue reduction in energy use, as embodied in its energy efficiency portfolio standard goals.
As more generating resources, whether utility scale or distributed generation, are added to the Utilities' electric systems and as customers reduce their energy usage, the ability to accommodate additional generating resources and to accept energy from existing resources is becoming more challenging. As a result, there is a growing risk that energy production from generating resources may need to be curtailed and the interconnection of additional resources will need to be closely evaluated. Also, under the state’s renewable energy strategy, there has been exponential growth in recent years in variable generation (e.g. solar and wind) on Hawaii’s island grids. Much of this variable generation is in the form of distributed generators interconnected at distribution circuits that cannot be directly controlled by system operators. As a consequence, grid resiliency in response to events that cause significant frequency and/or voltage excursions has weakened, and the prospects for larger and more frequent service outages have increased. The Utilities have been progressively making changes in their operating practices, are making investments in grid modernization technologies, and are working with the solar industry to mitigate these risks and continue the integration of more renewable energy.
Developments in the Utilities’ renewable energy strategy include the following (also see the projects discussed under “Renewable Energy Projects” in Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements):
| |
• | In July 2011, the PUC directed Hawaiian Electric to submit a draft request for proposals (RFP) for the PUC’s consideration for a competitive bidding process for 200 MW or more of renewable energy to be delivered to, or to be sited on, the island of Oahu. In October 2011, Hawaiian Electric filed a draft RFP with the PUC. In July 2013, the PUC issued orders related to the 200 MW RFP. First, it issued an order that Hawaiian Electric shall amend its current draft of the Oahu 200 MW RFP to remove references to the Lanai Wind Project, eliminate solicitations for an undersea transmission cable, and amend the draft RFP to reflect other guidance provided in the order. Second, it initiated an investigative proceeding to review the progress of the Lanai Wind Project stating that there was an uncertainty whether the project developer retained an equivalent ability to develop the project as when it submitted its bid in 2008 and its term sheet in 2011. Third, the PUC initiated a proceeding to solicit information and evaluate whether an interisland grid interconnection transmission system between the islands of Oahu and Maui is in the public interest, given the potential for large-scale wind and solar projects on Maui. (see Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information). |
| |
• | In May 2012, the PUC approved Hawaiian Electric’s 3-year biodiesel supply contract with Renewable Energy Group for continued biodiesel supply to CIP CT-1 of 3 million to 7 million gallons per year. |
| |
• | In May 2012, Maui Electric began purchasing wind energy from the 21-MW Kaheawa Wind Power II, LLC facility, which went into commercial operation in July 2012. |
| |
• | In May 2012, Hawaiian Electric signed a contract, which was approved by the PUC, with the City and County of Honolulu to purchase an additional 27 MW of capacity and energy from an expanded waste-to-energy HPower facility, which was placed in service in April 2013. |
| |
• | In May 2012, Hawaii Electric Light signed a PPA, which the PUC approved in December 2013, with Hu Honua Bioenergy for 21.5 MW of renewable, dispatchable firm capacity fueled by locally grown biomass from a facility on the island of Hawaii. |
| |
• | In May 2012, the PUC instituted a proceeding for a competitive bidding process for up to 50 MW of firm renewable geothermal dispatchable energy (Geothermal RFP) on the island of Hawaii. Bids were received in January 2015, and |
in February 2015, Ormat Technologies, Inc. was selected to provide 25 MW of additional geothermal energy, subject to successful contract negotiations and PUC approval of the final agreement.
| |
• | In August 2012, the battery facility at a 30-MW Kahuku wind farm experienced a fire. After the interconnection infrastructure was rebuilt and voltage regulation equipment was installed, the facility came up to full output in January 2014 to perform control system acceptance testing, and energy is being purchased at a base rate until PUC approval of an amendment to the Power Purchase Agreement. |
| |
• | In August 2012, the PUC approved a waiver from the competitive bidding process to allow Hawaiian Electric to negotiate with the U.S. Army for construction of a 50 MW utility-owned and operated firm, renewable and dispatchable generation facility at Schofield Barracks on the island of Oahu and expected to be placed in service in 2017. |
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• | In September 2012, Hawaiian Electric began purchasing test wind energy from the 69-MW Kawailoa Wind, LLC facility. The wind farm was placed into full commercial operation in November 2012. |
| |
• | In December 2012, the PUC approved a 3-year biodiesel supply contract with Pacific Biodiesel to supply 250,000 to 1 million gallons of biodiesel at the Honolulu International Airport Emergency Power Facility beginning in 2013. |
| |
• | In December 2012, the 21-MW Auwahi Wind Energy LLC facility was placed into commercial operation, selling power to Maui Electric under a 20-year contract. |
| |
• | In December 2012, the 5-MW Kalaeloa Solar Two, LLC PV facility was placed into commercial operation, selling power to Hawaiian Electric under a 20-year contract. |
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• | In February 2013, Hawaiian Electric issued an “Invitation for Low Cost Renewable Energy Projects on Oahu through Request for Waiver from Competitive Bidding,” which seeks to lower the cost of electricity for customers in the near term with qualified renewable energy projects on Oahu that can be quickly placed into service at a low cost per KWH. Proposals were received and Hawaiian Electric obtained waivers from the PUC Competitive Bidding Framework for certain projects, subject to certain conditions. In the fourth quarter of 2014, Hawaiian Electric filed applications requesting PUC approval of power purchase agreements for renewable as-available energy for seven projects that were granted waivers from the Competitive Bidding Framework. |
| |
• | In May 2013, Maui Electric requested a waiver from the PUC Competitive Bidding Framework to conduct negotiations for a PPA for approximately 4.5 to 6.0 MW of firm power from a proposed Mahinahina Energy Park, LLC project, fueled with biofuel. The PUC approved the waiver request, provided that an executed PPA must be filed for PUC approval by February 2015. The parties did not execute a PPA by the PUC deadline, but continue to negotiate. |
| |
• | In October 2013, Hawaiian Electric requested approval from the PUC for a waiver from the competitive bidding process and to commit $42.4 million for the purchase and installation of a 15 MW utility scale PV generation system at its Kahe Power generation station property. In November 2014, the PUC denied the request for a waiver from the competitive bidding process. |
| |
• | In October 2013, the PUC approved Hawaiian Electric’s 20-year contract with Hawaii BioEnergy to supply 10 million gallons per year of biocrude at Kahe Power Plant to begin within five years of November 25, 2013. |
| |
• | In November 2013, the 5 MW Kalaeloa Renewable Energy Park, LLC PV facility was placed into commercial operation selling power to Hawaiian Electric under a 20-year contract. |
| |
• | In December 2013, the PUC denied approval of Hawaii Electric Light’s contract with Aina Koa Pono-Ka’u LLC (AKP) to supply 16 million gallons of biodiesel per year, citing the higher cost of the biofuel over the cost of petroleum diesel. |
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• | In December 2013, Hawaiian Electric requested PUC approval for a waiver of the Na Pua Makani Power Partners, LLC’s proposed 24-MW wind farm located in the Kahuku area on Oahu from the competitive bidding process and of the PPA for Renewable As-Available Energy dated October 3, 2013 between Hawaiian Electric and Na Pua Makani Power Partners, LLC for the proposed 24-MW wind farm. In December 2014, the PUC approved both the waiver request and the PPA. |
| |
• | In April 2014, Hawaiian Electric requested PUC approval of a PPA for Renewable As-Available Energy with Lanikuhana Solar, LLC for a proposed 20-MW PV facility on Oahu. |
| |
• | In June 2014, the PUC approved the Utilities 3-year biodiesel supply contract with Pacific Biodiesel Technologies, LLC to spot purchase up to 200,000 gallons per month of as available biodiesel at cost parity to petroleum diesel. |
| |
• | The Utilities began accepting energy from feed-in tariff projects in 2011. As of December 31, 2014, there were 11 MW, 1 MW and 2 MW of installed feed-in tariff capacity from renewable energy technologies at Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric, respectively. |
| |
• | As of December 31, 2014, there were approximately 214 MW, 46 MW and 48 MW of installed net energy metering capacity from renewable energy technologies (mainly PV) at Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric, respectively. The amount of net energy metering capacity installed in 2014 was about 32% lower than the amount installed in 2013, principally due to higher circuit saturations (resulting in the need for further technical reviews and potential equipment modification and/or upgrades). |
Other regulatory matters. In addition to the items below, also see “Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative” and “Utility projects” in Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Adequacy of supply.
Hawaiian Electric. In January 2015, Hawaiian Electric filed its 2015 Adequacy of Supply (AOS) letter, which indicated that based on its February 2014 sales and peak forecast for the 2015 to 2017 time period, Hawaiian Electric’s generation capacity will be sufficient to meet reasonably expected demands for service and provide reasonable reserves for emergencies through 2016, notwithstanding a generation shortfall event in January 2015, due to unexpected concurrent outages of a utility generating unit and several IPPs.
In accordance to its planning criteria, Hawaiian Electric deactivated two fossil fuel generating units from active service at its Honolulu Power Plant in January 2014 and anticipates deactivating two additional fossil fuel units at its Waiau Power Plant in the 2016 timeframe. Hawaiian Electric is proceeding with future firm capacity additions in coordination with the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation in 2015, and with the U.S. Department of the Army for a utility owned and operated renewable, dispatchable, including black start capabilities, generation security project on federal lands, which may be in service in the 2018 timeframe. Hawaiian Electric is continuing negotiations with two firm capacity IPPs on Oahu under PPAs scheduled to expire in 2016 and 2022.
Hawaii Electric Light. In January 2015, Hawaii Electric Light filed its 2015 AOS letter, which indicated that Hawaii Electric Light’s generation capacity through 2017 is sufficient to meet reasonably expected demands for service and provide for reasonable reserves for emergencies.
Hawaii Electric Light is anticipating the addition of the Hu Honua Bioenergy, LLC plant in 2016, and potentially additional generation in the 2020-2025 timeframe. The addition of the Hu Honua Bioenergy plant will provide Hawaii Electric Light with the opportunity to deactivate existing fossil fueled generating capacity.
Maui Electric. In January 2015, Maui Electric filed its 2015 AOS letter, which indicated that Maui Electric’s generation capacity through 2018 is sufficient to meet the forecasted demands on the islands of Maui, Lanai, and Molokai. Maui Electric anticipates needing additional firm capacity on Maui in the 2019 timeframe. In February 2014, Maui Electric deactivated two fossil fuel generating units at its Kahului Power Plant. In January 2015, the two deactivated units at Kahului Power Plant were reactivated for a 3-day period based on forecasts of insufficient total system capacity due to scheduled maintenance for other generating units. Maui Electric anticipates the retirement of all generating units at the Kahului Power Plant in the 2019 timeframe. Maui Electric plans to issue one or more RFPs for energy storage, demand response and firm generating capacity, and to make system improvements needed to ensure reliability and voltage support in this timeframe.
The PSIPs, Distributed Generation Interconnection Plan, Integrated Interconnection Queue Plan and Demand Response Portfolio Plan filed in response to the April 2014 regulatory orders may affect the resource plans.
April 2014 regulatory orders. In April 2014, the PUC issued four orders that collectively provide certain key policy, resource planning, and operational directives to the Utilities. See “April 2014 regulatory orders” in Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Legislation and regulation. Congress and the Hawaii legislature periodically consider legislation that could have positive or negative effects on the Utilities and their customers. Also see “Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative” and “Environmental regulation” in Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements and “Recent tax developments” above.
Renewable energy. In 2011, a Hawaii law was enacted that gives the PUC the authority to allow those electric utilities (including the Utilities) that aggregate their renewable portfolios in measuring whether they achieve the renewable portfolio standards under the Hawaii RPS law discussed above under "Renewable energy strategy" to distribute the costs and expenses of renewable energy projects among those utilities. The bill also allows the PUC to establish a surcharge for such costs and expenses without a rate case filing. Also passed in 2011, Act 10 provides for continued inclusion of customer-sited, grid-connected renewable energy generation in the RPS calculations after 2015. This is the current practice in calculating RPS levels, which provides electric utility ratepayers with a clear value from a program such as net energy metering.
Commitments and contingencies. See “Commitments and contingencies” in Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Potential impact of lava flows. In June 2014, lava from the Kilauea Volcano on the island of Hawaii began flowing toward the town of Pahoa. Hawaii Electric Light is monitoring utility property and equipment near the affected areas and protecting that property and equipment to the extent possible (e.g., building barriers around poles).
Recent accounting pronouncements. See “Recent accounting pronouncements and interpretations” in Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Liquidity and capital resources. Management believes that Hawaiian Electric’s ability, and that of its subsidiaries, to generate cash, both internally from operations and externally from issuances of equity and debt securities and commercial paper and draws on lines of credit, is adequate to maintain sufficient liquidity to fund their respective capital expenditures and investments and to cover debt, retirement benefits and other cash requirements in the foreseeable future.
Hawaiian Electric’s consolidated capital structure was as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
December 31 | 2014 | | 2013 |
(dollars in millions) | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|
Short-term borrowings | $ | — |
| | — | % | | $ | — |
| | — | % |
Long-term debt, net | 1,207 |
| | 41 |
| | 1,218 |
| | 43 |
|
Preferred stock | 34 |
| | 1 |
| | 34 |
| | 1 |
|
Common stock equity | 1,682 |
| | 58 |
| | 1,594 |
| | 56 |
|
| $ | 2,923 |
| | 100 | % | | $ | 2,846 |
| | 100 | % |
Hawaiian Electric’s short-term borrowings (other than from Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric) and line of credit facility were as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, 2014 | | |
(in millions) | Average balance | | End-of-period balance | | December 31, 2013 |
Short-term borrowings1 | | | | | |
Commercial paper | $ | 56 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
|
Line of credit draws | | | — |
| | — |
|
Borrowings from HEI | | | — |
| | — |
|
Undrawn capacity under line of credit facility | | | 200 |
| | 175 |
|
| |
1 | The maximum amount of external short-term borrowings in 2014 was $103 million. At December 31, 2014, Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric had short-term borrowings from Hawaiian Electric of $11 million and $6 million, respectively, which intercompany borrowings are eliminated in consolidation. At February 13, 2015, Hawaiian Electric had $52 million of outstanding commercial paper, its line of credit facility was undrawn, it had no borrowings from HEI and it had loans to Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric of $21 million and $9 million, respectively. |
Hawaiian Electric utilizes short-term debt, typically commercial paper, to support normal operations, to refinance short-term debt and for other temporary requirements. Hawaiian Electric also borrows short-term from HEI for itself and on behalf of Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric, and Hawaiian Electric may borrow from or loan to Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric short-term. The intercompany borrowings among the Utilities, but not the borrowings from HEI, are eliminated in the consolidation of Hawaiian Electric’s financial statements. The Utilities periodically utilize long-term debt, historically borrowings of the proceeds of special purpose revenue bonds (SPRBs) issued by the Department of Budget and Finance of the State of Hawaii (DBF) and more recently the issuance of privately placed taxable unsecured senior notes, to finance the Utilities’ capital improvement projects, or to repay short-term borrowings used to finance such projects. The PUC must approve issuances, if any, of equity and long-term debt securities by the Utilities.
Hawaiian Electric has a line of credit facility, as amended and restated on April 2, 2014, of $200 million. In January 2015, the PUC approved Hawaiian Electric’s request to extend the term of the credit facility to April 2, 2019. See Note 7 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The ratings of Hawaiian Electric’s commercial paper and debt securities could significantly impact the ability of Hawaiian Electric to sell its commercial paper and issue debt securities and/or the cost of such debt. The rating agencies use a combination of qualitative measures (e.g., assessment of business risk that incorporates an analysis of the qualitative factors such as management, competitive positioning, operations, markets and regulation) as well as quantitative measures (e.g., cash flow, debt, interest coverage and liquidity ratios) in determining the ratings of Hawaiian Electric securities.
Following the announcement that HEI has agreed to merge with NextEra Energy, Inc., on December 4, 2014, Fitch affirmed the ‘BBB+’ long-term issuer default rating of Hawaiian Electric with a stable rating outlook. Fitch noted that “HECO will benefit significantly from Nextera’s [sic] ownership, in Fitch’s view, given access to Nextera’s [sic] expertise in developing renewable projects, superior operational performance and portfolio transformation to cleaner fuels in addition to access to capital. However, the structural weakness in its service territory due to rising penetration of roof top solar compounded by the uncertainty around the fleet modernization plan limits any positive rating actions at this time.” The key ratings drivers cited
were (1) modest improvement in business risk, (2) structural challenges in Hawaii, (3) regulatory approvals required, and (4) credit metrics trajectory unchanged. Fitch also noted that “[f]uture developments that may, individually or collectively, lead to negative rating action include:-- [a]n inability to earn an adequate and timely recovery on invested capital; -- [a]ccelerating competitive inroads by distributed generation and energy efficiency; and -- [f]ailure to consummate acquisition by Nextera [sic] and material deterioration in regulatory environment.”
On December 4, 2014, Moody’s affirmed the ratings of Hawaiian Electric (Baa1 stable). Moody’s views “NextEra’s acquisition as potentially beneficial to HECO which has been experiencing numerous operational challenges due to pressure from regulators and other stakeholders to reduce costs and expand the use of renewable generation.” Moody’s also noted that the “rating could be downgraded or placed on negative outlook should the company’s relationship with the regulators deteriorate to a point where it might affect the company’s credit metrics in a meaningful way, or if HECO’s cash flow to debt metric declined to 13% or below on a sustained basis.”
On December 4, 2014, S&P placed the ‘BBB-’ issuer credit rating for Hawaiian Electric on CreditWatch with positive implications. S&P indicated that “[i]n light of the level of NextEra’s investment in HEI, NextEra’s proposed method of funding the acquisition, opportunities for growth, and stated commitment from management, we assess HEI and HECO as “core” subsidiaries of NextEra. As a result, upon the close of the transaction, we expect to raise our issuer credit ratings on HEI and HECO to be aligned with that of the ultimate parent NextEra.” S&P issued a subsequent report on January 26, 2015, stating “the outlook on HECO mirrors the outlook on parent HEI. The ratings on HEI and its subsidiaries are on CreditWatch with positive implications because of the proposed merger with higher-rated NextEra Energy Inc.”
As of February 13, 2015, the Fitch, Moody’s and S&P ratings of Hawaiian Electric were as follows:
|
| | | |
| Fitch | Moody’s | S&P |
Long-term issuer default, long-term issuer and corporate credit, respectively | BBB+ | Baa1 | BBB- |
Commercial paper | F2 | P-2 | A-3 |
Special purpose revenue bonds | * | Baa1 | BBB- |
Hawaiian Electric-obligated preferred securities of trust subsidiary | * | Baa2 | BB |
Cumulative preferred stock (selected series) | * | Baa3 | * |
Senior unsecured debt | A- | Baa1 | * |
Subordinated debt | BBB | * | * |
Outlook | Stable | Stable | Watch-Positive |
* Not rated.
The above ratings reflect only the view, at the time the ratings are issued, of the applicable rating agency, from whom an explanation of the significance of such ratings may be obtained. Such ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold any securities; such ratings may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the rating agencies; and each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.
Management believes that, if Hawaiian Electric’s commercial paper ratings were to be downgraded or if credit markets were to further tighten, it could be more difficult and/or expensive to sell commercial paper or secure other short-term borrowings. Similarly, management believes that if Hawaiian Electric’s long-term credit ratings were to be downgraded, or if credit markets further tighten, it could be more difficult and/or expensive for DBF and/or the Company to sell SPRBs and other debt securities, respectively, for the benefit of the Utilities in the future. Such limitations and/or increased costs could materially adversely affect the results of operations, financial condition and liquidity of the Utilities.
SPRBs have been issued by the DBF to finance (and refinance) capital improvement projects of Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries, but the sources of their repayment are the non-collateralized obligations of Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries under loan agreements and notes issued to the DBF, including Hawaiian Electric’s guarantees of its subsidiaries’ obligations. The payment of principal and interest due on SPRBs currently outstanding and issued prior to 2009 are insured by Financial Guaranty Insurance Company (FGIC), which was placed in a rehabilitation proceeding in the State of New York in June 2012. On August 19, 2013 FGIC's plan of rehabilitation became effective and the rehabilitation proceeding terminated. The S&P and Moody’s ratings of FGIC, which at the time the insured obligations were issued were higher than the ratings of the Utilities, have been withdrawn. Management believes that if Hawaiian Electric’s long-term credit ratings were to be downgraded, or if credit markets further tighten, it could be more difficult and/or expensive to sell bonds in the future.
In April 2014, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric filed an application with the PUC for approval of the sale of each utility’s common stock over a period from the date of approval in 2014 to December 31, 2016 (Hawaiian Electric’s sale to HEI of up to $250 million and Hawaii Electric Light’s and Maui Electric’s sales to Hawaiian Electric of up to
$26 million and $47 million, respectively), and the purchase of the Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric common stock by Hawaiian Electric over the same period. In July 2014, the Utilities modified their request to the PUC to approve the issuance and sale of common stock in 2014 only in the amounts stated in the application (Hawaiian Electric’s issuance and sale of its common stock to HEI of up to $60 million and Hawaii Electric Light’s and Maui Electric’s issuance and sale of their common stock to Hawaiian Electric of up to $5 million and $20 million, respectively), which the PUC approved in November 2014. In December 2014, Hawaiian Electric sold $40 million of its common stock to HEI pursuant to this approval. Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric did not issue common stock in 2014.
The PUC has approved the use of an expedited approval procedure for the approval of long-term debt financings or refinancings (including the issuance of taxable debt) by the Utilities, up to specified amounts, during the period 2013 through 2015, subject to certain conditions. On October 3, 2013, after obtaining such expedited approvals, the Utilities issued through a private placement taxable non-collateralized senior notes with an aggregate principal amount of $236 million. In September 2014, the Utilities filed a request with the PUC under the expedited approval procedure for approval to issue unsecured obligations bearing taxable interest through December 31, 2015 of up to $80 million (Hawaiian Electric $50 million, Hawaii Electric Light $25 million and Maui Electric $5 million), which represents the remaining unused amount subject to the expedited approval procedure for long-term debt financings. The proceeds are expected to be used, as applicable, to finance capital expenditures, repay long-term and/or short term debt used to finance or refinance capital expenditures and/or to reimburse funds used for payment of the capital expenditures. PUC approval to issue an additional $47 million to refinance outstanding revenue bonds (Hawaiian Electric $40 million, Hawaii Electric Light $5 million and Maui Electric $2 million) can be requested under the expedited approval procedure through 2015.
Cash flows from operating activities generally relate to the amount and timing of cash received from customers and payments made to third parties. Using the indirect method of determining cash flows from operating activities, noncash expense items such as depreciation and amortization, as well as changes in certain assets and liabilities, are added to (or deducted from) net income. In 2014 and 2013, net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $20 million and increased by $105 million, respectively, compared to the prior year. In 2014, noncash depreciation and amortization amounted to $173 million due to an increase in plant and equipment and deferred income taxes increased $83 million. Further, net cash provided by operating activities included a decrease of $33 million in accounts receivable and accrued unbilled revenues due to timing of customer payments, a $28 million decrease in fuel oil stock, offset by a $66 million decrease in accounts payable due to timing of vendor payments. In 2013, noncash depreciation and amortization amounted to $159 million due to an increase in plant and equipment and deferred income taxes increased $65 million. Further, net cash provided by operating activities included a net decrease of $40 million in accounts receivable and accrued unbilled revenues due to more cash receipts from customers as a result of improved collections, a $27 million decrease in fuel oil stock due to lower payments to fuel suppliers, and a $15 million increase in accounts payable due to timing of vendor payments.
In 2014 and 2013, net cash used in investing activities decreased by $51 million and increased by $36 million, respectively, compared to the prior year. In 2014 and 2013, cash used for capital expenditures amounted to $337 million and $378 million, respectively, offset by contributions in aid of construction of $42 million and $32 million, respectively.
Financing activities provide supplemental cash for both day-to-day operations and capital requirements as needed. In 2014 and 2013, cash flows from financing activities decreased by $126 million and increased by $9 million, respectively, compared to the prior year. In 2014, cash used financing activities consisted primarily of the payment of $90 million of common and preferred stock dividends and the redemption of $11 million of special purpose revenue bonds, partially offset by net proceeds received from the issuance of $40 million of common stock. In 2013, cash provided by financing activities consisted primarily of net proceeds received from the issuance of $236 million of taxable unsecured senior notes and $79 million of common stock, partially offset by the redemption of $166 million of special purpose revenue bonds and the payment of $84 million of common and preferred stock dividends.
For the three-year period 2015 through 2017, the Utilities forecast $1.9 billion of net capital expenditures, which could change over time based upon external factors such as the timing and scope of environmental regulations, unforeseen delays in permitting and the outcome of competitive bidding for new generation. Hawaiian Electric’s consolidated cash flows from operating activities (net income for common stock, adjusted for non-cash income and expense items such as depreciation, amortization and deferred taxes), after the payment of common stock and preferred stock dividends, are currently not expected to provide sufficient cash to cover the forecasted net capital expenditures. Debt and equity financing are expected to be required to fund this estimated shortfall and to fund any unanticipated expenditures not included in the 2015 through 2017 forecast, such as increases in the costs or acceleration of the construction of capital projects, unbudgeted acquisitions or investments in new businesses and significant increases in retirement benefit funding requirements.
Proceeds from the issuance of equity, cash flows from operating activities, temporary increases in short-term borrowings and existing cash and cash equivalents are expected to provide the forecasted $420 million needed for the net capital expenditures and deferred software costs in 2015. For 2015, net capital expenditures and deferred software costs include
approximately $255 million for transmission and distribution projects, approximately $80 million for generation projects and approximately $85 million for general plant and other projects.
Management periodically reviews capital expenditure estimates and the timing of construction projects. These estimates may change significantly as a result of many considerations, including changes in economic conditions, changes in forecasts of KWH sales and peak load, the availability of purchased power and changes in expectations concerning the construction and ownership of future generation units, the availability of generating sites and transmission and distribution corridors, the need for fuel infrastructure investments, the ability to obtain adequate and timely rate increases, escalation in construction costs, the effects of opposition to proposed construction projects and requirements of environmental and other regulatory and permitting authorities.
For a discussion of funding for the electric utilities’ retirement benefits plans, see Notes 1 and 10 of the Consolidated Financial Statements and “Retirement benefits” above. The electric utilities were required to make contributions of $56 million for 2014, $61 million for 2013 and $53 million for 2012 to the qualified pension plans to meet minimum funding requirements pursuant to ERISA, including changes promulgated by the Pension Protection Act of 2006. The electric utilities made additional voluntary contributions in 2014, 2013 and 2012. Contributions by the electric utilities to the retirement benefit plans for 2014, 2013 and 2012 totaled $59 million, $81 million and $63 million, respectively, and are expected to total $84 million in 2015. In addition, the electric utilities paid directly $1 million of benefits in 2014, $1 million of benefits in 2013 and $1 million of benefits in 2012 and expect to pay $1 million of benefits in 2015. Depending on the performance of the assets held in the plans’ trusts and numerous other factors, additional contributions may be required in the future to meet the minimum funding requirements of ERISA or to pay benefits to plan participants. The electric utilities believe they will have adequate cash flow or access to capital resources to support any necessary funding requirements.
Selected contractual obligations and commitments. The following table presents aggregated information about total payments due from the Utilities during the indicated periods under the specified contractual obligations and commitments:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
December 31, 2014 | Payments due by period |
(in millions) | Less than 1 year | | 1-3 years | | 3-5 years | | More than 5 years | | Total |
| | | | | | | | | |
Long-term debt | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | 50 |
| | $ | 1,157 |
| | $ | 1,207 |
|
Interest on long-term debt | 61 |
| | 121 |
| | 119 |
| | 750 |
| | 1,051 |
|
Operating leases | 8 |
| | 11 |
| | 7 |
| | 14 |
| | 40 |
|
Open purchase order obligations ¹ | 55 |
| | 26 |
| | 2 |
| | 3 |
| | 86 |
|
Fuel oil purchase obligations (estimate based on December 31, 2014 fuel oil prices) | 427 |
| | 349 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 776 |
|
Purchase power obligations-minimum fixed capacity charges | 124 |
| | 197 |
| | 184 |
| | 531 |
| | 1,036 |
|
Total (estimated) | $ | 675 |
| | $ | 704 |
| | $ | 362 |
| | $ | 2,455 |
| | $ | 4,196 |
|
¹ Includes contractual obligations and commitments for capital expenditures and expense amounts.
The table above does not include other categories of obligations and commitments, such as deferred taxes, trade payables, amounts that will become payable in future periods under collective bargaining and other employment agreements and employee benefit plans and potential refunds of amounts collected from ratepayers (e.g., under the earnings sharing mechanism). As of December 31, 2014, the fair value of the assets held in trusts to satisfy the obligations of the Utilities’ retirement benefit plans did not exceed the retirement benefit plans’ benefit obligation. Minimum funding requirements for retirement benefit plans have not been included in the table above, but retirement benefit plan obligations, including estimated minimum required contributions for 2015 are discussed in the section “Retirement benefits” in Hawaiian Electric’s MD&A and Note 10 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
See Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of fuel and power purchase commitments.
Certain factors that may affect future results and financial condition. Also see “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Certain factors that may affect future results and financial condition” for Consolidated HEI above.
Clean energy initiatives and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). The far-reaching nature of the Utilities’ renewable energy commitments and the RPS goals presents risks to the Company. Among such risks are: (1) the dependence on third party suppliers of renewable purchased energy, which if the Utilities are unsuccessful in negotiating purchased power agreements with such IPPs or if a major IPP fails to deliver the anticipated capacity in its purchased power agreement, could impact the Utilities’ achievement of their commitments to RPS goals and/or the Utilities’ ability to deliver reliable service; (2) delays in acquiring or unavailability of non-fossil fuel supplies for renewable generation; (3) the impact of intermittent power to the electrical grid and reliability of service if appropriate supporting infrastructure is not installed or does not operate effectively;
(4) the likelihood that the Utilities may need to make substantial investments in related infrastructure, which could result in increased borrowings and, therefore, materially impact the financial condition and liquidity of the Utilities; and (5) the commitment to support a variety of initiatives, which, if approved by the PUC, may have a material impact on the results of operations and financial condition of the Utilities depending on their design and implementation. These initiatives include, but are not limited to, removing the system-wide caps on net energy metering (but studying distributed generation interconnections on a per-circuit basis); and developing an Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard. The implementation of these or other programs may adversely impact the results of operations, financial condition and liquidity of the Utilities.
Regulation of electric utility rates. The rates the electric utilities are allowed to charge for their services, and the timeliness of permitted rate increases, are among the most important items influencing their results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. The PUC has broad discretion over the rates the electric utilities charge and other matters. Any adverse decision by the PUC concerning the level or method of determining electric utility rates, the items and amounts permitted to be included in rate base, the authorized returns on equity or rate base found to be reasonable, the potential consequences of exceeding or not meeting such returns, or any prolonged delay in rendering a decision in a rate or other proceeding could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s and Hawaiian Electric’s consolidated results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. Upon a showing of probable entitlement, the PUC is required to issue an interim D&O in a rate case within 10 months from the date of filing a completed application if the evidentiary hearing is completed (subject to extension for 30 days if the evidentiary hearing is not completed). There is no time limit for rendering a final D&O and interim rate increases are subject to refund with interest if the interim increase is greater than the increase approved in the final D&O.
Fuel oil and purchased power. The electric utilities rely on fuel oil suppliers and IPPs to deliver fuel oil and power, respectively. See “Fuel contracts” and “Power purchase agreements” in Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company estimates that 68% of the net energy the Utilities generate and purchase in 2015 will be from the burning of fossil fuel oil as compared to 69% in 2014. Purchased KWHs provided approximately 46%, 44%, and 42% of the total net energy generated and purchased in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Failure or delay by the electric utilities’ oil suppliers and shippers to provide fuel pursuant to existing supply contracts, or failure by a major IPP to deliver the firm capacity anticipated in its PPA, could interrupt the ability of the electric utilities to deliver electricity, thereby materially adversely affecting the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. Hawaiian Electric generally maintains an average system fuel inventory level equivalent to 47 days of forward consumption. Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric generally maintain an inventory level equivalent to one month’s supply of both medium sulfur fuel oil and diesel fuel. Some, but not all, of the Utilities’ PPAs require that the IPPs maintain minimum fuel inventory levels and all of the firm capacity PPAs include provisions imposing substantial penalties for failure to produce the firm capacity anticipated by those agreements.
Other operation and maintenance expenses. O&M expenses increased by 2% in 2014, 1% in 2013 and 4% in 2012 when compared to the prior year. The change in O&M expenses (excluding expenses covered by surcharges or by third parties) was 1%, 1% and 4% for 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, when compared to the prior year. O&M expenses (excluding expenses covered by surcharges or by third parties) for 2015 are projected to be approximately 2% higher than 2014.
Other regulatory and permitting contingencies. Many public utility projects require PUC approval and various permits (e.g., environmental and land use permits) from other agencies. Delays in obtaining PUC approval or permits can result in increased costs. If a project does not proceed or if the PUC disallows costs of the project, the project costs may need to be written off in amounts that could have a material adverse effect on the Company. For example, two major capital improvement utility projects, the Keahole project (consisting of CT-4, CT-5 and ST-7) and the East Oahu Transmission Project, encountered opposition and were seriously delayed before being placed in service, with a writedown being required for both the Keahole and EOTP projects in 2007 and 2011, respectively. More recently, the Utilities and the Consumer Advocate signed a settlement agreement, subject to approval by the PUC, to write off $40 million of costs in 2012 in lieu of conducting the regulatory audits of the CIP CT-1 and the CIS projects. See Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of additional regulatory contingencies.
Competition. Although competition in the generation sector in Hawaii is moderated by the scarcity of generation sites, various permitting processes and lack of interconnections to other electric utilities, t