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BKW Energie AG

Half-Year Results 2010 : Sound operating earning power in difficult circumstances

Bern (ots)

Despite a difficult economic and regulatory
environment, the BKW Group maintained its market position, and 
achieved a gratifyingly sound result for the first six months of 
2010. The result reflects the operating strength, low energy prices 
on the international markets, the falling stock markets and the low 
value of the Euro. Compared with the same period of the previous 
year, the consolidated operating revenue fell by 12.9 % to CHF 
1,585.1 million. The operating earning power, earnings before 
interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), however, 
increased to CHF 261.9 million. Compared with the same period of the 
previous year, this comes to an increase of CHF 3.8 million or 1.5 %.
Net profit for the first six months of 2010 amounted to CHF 134.4 
million, which is CHF 21.1 million less than the result for the first
six months of 2009.
High volatility affected the electricity market in the first six 
months of 2010. The positive economic figures were spoilt by the 
uncertainties of the European debt crisis. The tentative economic 
recovery has only brought about a moderate increase in demand for 
electricity and a partial increase in primary energy prices. 
Electricity prices remained stubbornly low. The falling trend of the 
previous year continued into the first quarter of 2010. It was not 
until the second quarter that an upward correction started to take 
place.
Strong sales business
The BKW Group achieved sales in the first six months of 2010 of 
13,083 GWh. This represents a slight dip of 0.9 % compared with the 
first six months of 2009 (13,203 GWh). Electricity sales in 
Switzerland increased compared with the same period for the previous 
year by 2.9 % to 4,213 GWh (4,095 GWh). This can be put down to an 
increase in demand in the supply zone that is related to economic 
conditions. The volume of electricity traded however fell by 13.3 % 
to 5,281 GWh (6,091 GWh).
Electricity generation fell compared with the same period of the 
previous year by 367 GWh to 5,035 GWh. This fall can be attributed in
particular to lower production from hydroelectric power plants and 
from the gas-fired combined cycle power plant in Livorno Ferraris in 
Piedmont. Hydroelectricity production fell by 211 GWh to 1,729 GWh 
due to the below-average amount of snowfall at the end of the winter 
and the lack of rainfall in April and May. Due to these hydrological 
conditions, the level of the reservoirs was slightly below the 
standard year-on-year level. Electricity generation from nuclear 
power stations reached 3,165 GWh, almost the level of the same period
of the previous year (3,187 GWh). The production of the Mühleberg 
nuclear power station came to 1,617 GWh (1,624 GWh), and that of the 
gas-fired combined cycle power plant in Livorno Ferraris fell from 
258 GWh to 123 GWh in line with market conditions.
 Variations from one business division to another
In the first half of 2010, the BKW Group recorded consolidated 
operating revenue of CHF 1,585.1 million, which represents a fall of 
12.9 % compared with the same period of the previous year (1,820.5 
million). Each of the business divisions performed differently. 
Compared with the same period of the previous year, Energy 
Switzerland increased its turnover by 2.3 % to CHF 1,074 million 
(1,049.8 million). Energy International and Trading however recorded 
a fall in turnover of 18.3 % to CHF 1,306.8 million (1,599.7 
million). Trading turnover fell by 30.6 % to CHF 530.4 million (763.9
million), and International Sales dropped by 2.9 % to CHF 268.2 
million (276.1 million). International Sales however showed good 
results in terms of quantity. In Germany in particular, electricity 
sales increased for existing customers. The turnover and results for 
Energy International and Trading underwent a drop in wholesale trade 
prices in the second half of 2008 and in 2009. Flexible power plants 
were successfully optimised on the market in the first six months of 
2010. Proprietary trading opportunities were lacking to a large 
extent. Revenue for the Networks segment increased by 2.0 % to CHF 
322.3 million (316.1 million).
Energy procurement costs came to CHF 953.1 million (1,167.2 million),
which comes to a fall of 18.3 % compared with the costs for the same 
period of the previous year. Earnings before interest, taxes, 
depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) increased by 1.5 % to CHF 
261.9 million (258.1 million). This increase is mainly due to the 
improved performance of the Swiss energy business and to the 
liquidation of reserves for onerous agreements for energy procurement
from partner power plants coming to a total of CHF 28.9 million. The 
more favourable energy procurement costs were however offset by lower
revenue on the market. Depreciation increased compared with the 
previous year by CHF 4.5 million to CHF 68.8 million. Earnings before
interest and taxes (EBIT) of CHF 193.1 million were maintained at 
almost the same level as the previous year, which came to CHF 193.8 
million.
The financial result fell in the first half of 2010 compared with the
same period for the previous year by CHF 31.1 million to CHF -26.6 
million (4.5 million) as a result of the deteriorating stock markets 
and the low value of the Euro. The main influencing factor was share 
proceeds on shares and securities related to the 
decommissioning/disposal funds measured at market prices. Instead of 
the gains made during the previous period, the result was adversely 
affected by losses despite state funds in the first half of 2010 
because of the falling stock markets. Thanks to the increase in 
nominal values, the state funds can show a balanced result on the 
whole for the first six months of 2010.
The net profit was not affected as much as it might have been by 
operating result because of the negative financial result.
The BKW Group profit for the first six months of 2010 fell, 
compared with the first six months of 2009 by 13.6 % from CHF 155.5 
million to CHF 134.4 million.
Outlook
For the current financial year, the BKW Group expects a fall in sales
because of the market conditions. The difficult circumstances with 
continued low energy prices on the international markets, economic 
uncertainty, new regulations and expenditure for strategic projects -
in particular to boost production - are to have a detrimental effect 
on the operating result during the second half of the year. Taking 
all these factors into consideration, it can hardly be expected the 
that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization 
(EBITDA) of 2009 can be achieved - as revised to take into account 
the one-off effect of charging against the assets from provision 
plans. The financial result is dependent on financial market 
movements; assuming that equity markets remains stable, BKW can 
expect net profits to be lower than the previous year.
The half-year report for 2010 can be downloaded at
www.bkw-fmb.ch/halfyearreport10
The expectations and the forecasts expressed in this text are based 
on assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. The actual
results may differ from the expectations and forecasts expressed in 
this text. This text exists in German, French, English and Italian. 
The German version is binding.

Contact:

Antonio Sommavilla, tél. 031 330 51 07; e-mail
antonio.sommavilla@bkw-fmb.ch

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