Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:TEG) announced this week that it’s selling off one of its hydro dams, marking yet another utility’s unease with hydroelectric power. Let’s take a closer look to see whether this power company’s piddling away profits — or making smart moves for its future.
Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:TEG)‘ exit
Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:TEG) subsidiary Wisconsin Public Service is handing over ownership of its Otter Rapids dam to Renewable World Energies, a privately run Midwest company with 22 hydroelectric facilities to its name. According to the press release, Otter Rapids’ “size and location” make it a mismatch for Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:TEG)’ generation portfolio, despite a regulatory license lasting through 2037.
It seems that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, as Renewable World Energies is confident that it will be able to make a series of improvements, optimizing power output for years to come.
Water works?
Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:TEG)’ latest move is more and more common in the world of utilities. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) made a similar motion last December, when it announced it was selling all 351 MW of its hydro generating assets to Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners, another hydro specialist. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) President and CEO Armando Pimentel spoke of the need to “further optimize our power generation portfolio” and concentrate on growth opportunities.
Debt-heavy FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE) is also attempting to exit its 1,180 MW of hydro assets. The company originally wanted out by early 2015 but is attempting to scoot up its schedule to clear cash for its transmission investments. This utility is downsizing fast, as it also announced last month that it will shut down 2,080 MW of coal-fired plants. Hydro currently comprises 9% of total capacity, while the coal plants will knock off another 10%.
All dried up
As the energy sector becomes increasingly competitive, utilities are focusing their generation fleets on what they believe to be winners. Simply put, these companies are looking to specialization and economies of scale to give them a competitive edge.
While a lack of energy diversity might seem like a dumb move, there’s more risk in hydro than most investors are aware of. Low reservoir levels at just eight hydro facilities knocked 5% off Duke Energy Corp (NYSE:DUK)‘s Q1 EPS. Rainfall levels have been increasingly erratic around the world, and recent studies are pointing to even less real power for high-capacity hydro plants. In New Zealand, a country dependent on hydro for around 15% of its total capacity, two more weeks of drought last summer would’ve pushed the entire country into rolling blackouts.
