Q1 2022 Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc Earnings Call

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Good afternoon, and welcome to the Q1 2020 to Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. Earnings Conference call. My name is Sam and I'll be your moderator for today's call all lines will be muted during the presentation portion of the call with an opportunity for questions and answers it yet.

You'd like to ask a question. Please press star followed by one on your telephone keypad.

At this time I'd now like to turn the call over to our host Julie Smolinski, VP Investor Relations and corporate sustainability Julie.

Thank you Sam and welcome everyone to Ati's first quarter 2022 earnings call. Joining me today are Scott to Hei, President and CEO , Greg Hazelton, Hei Executive Vice President and CFO , Shelly Kimura, Hawaiian electric President and CEO and here in D C.

American savings Bank, President and CEO and other members of senior management.

Our press release and our presentation for this call are available in the Investor Relations section of our website.

Today's call will be using certain non-GAAP financial measures to describe our operating performance. Our presentation contains reconciliations of these measures to the equivalent GAAP measures.

As a reminder, forward looking statements will be made on today's call factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations can be found in our presentation, our SEC filings and in the Investor Relations section of our website.

Now Scott will begin with his remarks.

Hello, Hookup co greetings, everyone. Thank you for joining us today.

We're pleased with our consolidated first quarter earnings, which represents a 7% increase over the prior year.

Each of our businesses contributed to the solid results.

The utility is executing well under the new performance based regulation framework.

It had higher operations and maintenance expenses in the first quarter those were offset by other items that Greg will address and we're on track with our full year plan.

Utility remains focused on delivering customer value, while progressing ambitious climate change action goals.

The bank's results reflect good execution, and an improving banking environment.

Earning asset yields are starting to improve with rising interest rates credit quality remained solid as our state's economy strengthens and the bank is managing expenses well Amit its digital transformation.

Our first quarter results also benefited from the sale of an investment in electric vehicle charging company ever charge that Pacific current has partnered with to expand access to charging stations in Hawaii.

The partnership with ever charge will continue.

Overall, the first quarter represents a strong start for 2022.

Turning to the utility.

During the first quarter.

<unk> worked hard to manage the impacts of inflation and supply chain pressures, including higher fuel prices, which are impacting our customers.

These dynamics underscore the importance of our focus on affordability efficiency and providing customers options to manage their bills.

Rising fuel costs also highlight the need to continue working together as a state to rapidly reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Like the rest of the industry, we're seeing impacts to renewable energy and storage projects from inflationary conditions in supply chain and other challenges.

Some projects have been delayed and some are no longer moving forward. We've also had successes, including the acceleration of the state's largest solar plus storage project, which is now set to come online in July several months ahead of schedule.

The challenging macroeconomic environment has led to opportunities to partner with stakeholders to identify solutions together.

A great example is the Oahu powering past call task force established by the Governor.

Which has brought together the parties involved in bringing projects to fruition to identify and address issues.

Discussions are underway to create similar processes on other islands in the state.

Such partnerships will be all the more important as we scale up efforts to meet our collective goals.

In addition to the over 400 megawatts of energy and roughly two five gigawatt hours of storage scheduled to come online by year end 2024.

We're pursuing numerous additional procurements and programs to grow renewable energy storage and grid services resources on our systems.

This includes eight shared solar rfps, representing more than 120 megawatts combined and stage three rfps for Hawaii Island, Oahu, and Maui, which combined are seeking up to 980 gigawatt hours of energy and 800 megawatts of capacity, including firm renewable generation on Oahu and Maui.

We continue to advance grid services, Rfps and distributed energy initiatives, including continued expansion of rooftop solar and additional incentives to edge storage.

We're working to scale up other key components of our renewable energy transition as well, including the expansion of phase one of our grid modernization program to full smart meter deployment.

Electrification of transportation work continues progressing with broad support from stakeholders.

Most recently, we launched our E bus charging pilot to provide make ready infrastructure for eligible box offering.

Sure.

So far PBR is providing a stable more predictable regulatory framework to operate within as we transform our system.

The process to develop additional PBR performance incentives is nearing conclusion.

Hearings were held April 26, and 27 with post hearing briefs this month.

Turning to the bank.

ESP continues to perform very well it remains a high quality bank with a low risk profile solid credit quality and low cost funding base.

Rising interest rates and the improving economy bode well in terms of bank profitability and loan growth opportunities.

We're closely monitoring potential economic impacts caused by inflation high fuel costs and strained supply chains, but to date remain positive about Hawaii's overall economic picture.

Given asp's asset sensitive balance sheet margin is expected to extend as interest rates continue to increase.

PSP is executing well on its digital transformation successfully implementing large projects such as its new customer relationship management system, enabling it to deepen its customer relationships and continue delivering exceptional personalized service across digital and in person platforms.

Customer adoption of online and mobile options have enabled the bank to optimize its French footprint to best meet customer needs.

Now I will hand, the call over to Greg who will be retiring from Hei July one to pursue another exciting opportunity.

I'll comment further on that later.

Now, Greg will review, our financial results and outlook.

Thank you Scott.

Hawaii's economy has been improving as COVID-19 has become less disruptive and tourism has strengthened <unk> indoor mass mandate in domestic travel restrictions.

Expired in late March.

Domestic visitor arrivals have remained strong in March and the in March were nearly 10% above the same month in the pre pandemic times.

Although international visitor arrivals are still down sharply.

Japan is traditionally our strongest source of international visitors and we're just starting to see Japanese tourists in pickup.

Travelers from Japan are projected to reach 40% of 2019 levels by year end and reach or exceed pre pandemic levels next year.

Hawaii unemployment has continued to steadily improve it was four 1% in March down from six 6% in March of last year and down markedly from the peak of nearly 24% in April 2020.

Although we still lagged the national average of three 6% today.

Hawaii's housing market remains very strong the March median sales price for single family homes was up 21% from last year and the condo market median sale price up 14%.

Overall, while we're watching inflation and supply chain dynamics closely we have a positive outlook for Hawaii Hawaii's economy.

Turning to our financial performance, we are pleased with our consolidated first quarter results with consolidated net income and EPS growth of 7% the.

The utility is executing well in its first full year under PBR and the bank is starting to see benefits from rising interest rates and the improving economy.

Pacific current contributed a non reoccurring <unk> after tax gain from the sale of an investment in ever charge, an electric vehicle charging company that it has partnered has a partnership with to provide expanded access to charging stations here in Hawaii.

As Scott noted that partnership will continue.

Consolidated last 12 months return on equity improved 90 basis points.

Versus the same quarter last year and the utility return of eight 1% was in line with expectations. Despite higher O&M expenses during the quarter.

As anticipated bank earnings were down from last year, given the large negative provision credit for losses in 2021.

After significant provision expense in 2020 during the onset of the pandemic.

On slide seven we show.

The major variances across our enterprise to give the consolidated picture compared to the first quarter of last year.

As you can see lower bank net income versus last year was primarily driven by a $3 3 million negative provision for credit losses compared to an $8 four negative provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2021.

The quarter's negative provision reflected continued favorable credit trends and the paydown of the nonperforming loan and credit upgrades, primarily in the commercial real estate portfolio.

Net interest income of $59 million was up versus $57 million in the first quarter of 2021, primarily due to higher average, earning assets driven by increased liquidity from continued strong deposit growth.

As well as higher investment yields.

Noninterest income was down primarily due to lower mortgage banking income as loan volume and profit margin on the sale of loans have decreased and the rising interest rate environment.

The bank saw slightly higher noninterest expenses. However that was primarily due to a pension accounting change that resulted in lower pension expense in the first quarter of 2021.

Overall, the bank continues to manage expenses well, even as it invests in its digital transformation.

On the utility side net income increased 7%, primarily driven by higher annual revenue adjustment, our Ah <unk> revenues and major project interim recovery revenues.

Lower heat rate penalties with the Hawaii Island heat rate reset and a timing change in monthly allocation of revenues for Maui.

These items offset higher O&M expenses during the quarter, which were primarily driven by more generating facility overhauls and maintenance.

Performed and higher transmission and distribution maintenance expenses as well as higher bad debt expense.

The higher bad debt expense was due to last year's deferral of Covid related.

Bad debt expense and the impact of this year's higher fuel prices on customer bills.

For the full year 2022, we still expect the increase in utility O&M to be within the levels provided by the inflation adjustment in the <unk> mechanism.

Utility capital investment for the quarter was approximately $57 million consistent with the first quarter of last year, but lower than anticipated due to several factors, including supply chain disruptions and cause customer work delays stemming from COVID-19 pending PUC decisions on to battery storage.

Projects.

The denial of rich.

Recovery under the exceptional project recovery mechanism for a substation project, which will now be recovered through the Ara.

And the suspension of grid modernization phase II docket as the utility focus on full smart meter deployment on phase one.

We still expect full year capital investment of $350 million to $400 million, even as we anticipate supply chain disruptions in customer work delays stemming from Covid.

We expect those delays to improve throughout the year. We are working closely with our suppliers to ensure we have timely flow of materials and services to execute on our work. We've also identified work that can be quickly executed planned projects are delayed.

Certain larger projects are scheduled to ramp up in the second half of the year, including the <unk> switch yard project and a substation project recently approved by the PUC.

Finally, we expect that the expansion of our phase <unk> grid modernization project to start full of smart meter deployment strict.

Two a full smart meter deployment strategy will contribute to our capex for the year.

Our three year Capex forecast includes resilience investments to address climate change and hardened certain assets, we expect to file our multiyear resilience program by the end of the second quarter.

Focusing on utility earnings driver for the rest of the year.

Although O&M was up this quarter, and we expect higher generating station maintenance and bad debt expense pressures to persist the rest of the year, we still expect O&M to be within the allowance afforded by the <unk> mechanism.

We are forecasting net rewards this year from performance incentive mechanisms driven by the grid.

<unk> procurement Kim.

And an improved outlook for the interconnection Pam.

Supply chain and Covid related disruptions have impacted completion times for our contracted renewable projects and the <unk> geothermal plant on Hawaii Island has yet to return to full capacity.

As a result, we now expect no meaningful contribution from the from RP Rps Atms this year.

Although we expect higher sharing with customers under our fuel cost risk sharing mechanism due to increasing fuel prices. We expect some offset from the heat rate reset mentioned earlier.

Turning to the bank's financial performance on slide 10.

Asp's net income growth in the quarter continued to reflect growth in earning assets.

As started.

Has started.

We started to see higher asset yields following the fed rate increase in mid March net interest margin remained stable at 279% as the benefits of higher of higher rate environment were offset by lower PPP.

Fees continued low cost of funds and increase liquidity from higher customer deposits.

Looking at the drivers of bank performance for the rest of the year the yield curve has risen dramatically. This year with another 50 basis points of fed rate increase last week. The market now expects the fed funds rate to be over two 5% by year end we.

We expect to eventually see.

Increased net interest margin benefits from the higher rate environment. However, in the near term, we expect that to be offset by a lower PPP fees.

This year.

We anticipate.

Some quarter over quarter net interest margin volatility as the remaining $1 5 million of the Paycheck protection program fees are recognized but our net interest margin guidance for the year is unchanged.

While we and the rest of the industry have seen slowing residential mortgage production with rising rates. The strengthening economy is expected to present other loan growth opportunities. We're seeing good activity in home equity line of lines of credit.

Our pipelines for commercial commercial real estate and personal unsecured lending look promising.

And we recently initiated a modest purchase of solar and home improvement loans from a provider with potential for further high quality loan growth in this area.

We're expecting mid single digit loan growth and low single digit earning asset growth for the year.

We plan to redeploy funds from the investment securities portfolio into a more strategic and higher yielding loan portfolio over time.

At the same time, we are expecting deposit growth to moderate given the rising rate environment.

Today.

We are reaffirming reaffirming utility bank and consolidated EPS guidance for the year.

Note that for purposes of the consolidated and holding company guidance. We are excluding the one time <unk> <unk> per share gain on the sale of the preferred equity interest in ever charge that was recognized at Pacific current in the first quarter.

We still expect utility EPS in the $1 68 to $1 78 range, despite higher O&M in the first quarter.

We are reaffirming bank EPS guidance in the 59 to 68 range.

And given the positive catalyst that potential to be at the upper half of that range.

At the holding company, excluding the first quarter gain on sale of Pacific current we expect full year EPS and then in the 28 to 30 loss range consistent with our plan for the year.

On a personal note you may have noted my announced street.

Announced retirement from Hei as of July one as part of a planned career transition my time with Hei has been tremendous and I'm grateful to have been part of the company's progress and accomplishments over the past nearly nine years since I first joined the company.

It's been a privilege working with all of you throughout my time at Hei.

Thoroughly enjoyed our time together and look forward to crossing paths again in the future, including with some of you. This week in New York.

With that I'll now turn it back to Scott to give his closing remarks.

Thank you Greg.

As noted this is your last earnings call as our CFO .

Perhaps not as a.

Shareholder you can see on our future earnings.

So we've really value your leadership, Greg over all these years.

You've contributed so much to our corporation.

Finance strategy risks and now ESG.

So we are truly excited and we wish you well as you.

Go onto your next exciting career adventure.

Now you are still with us through the end of June and we really appreciate that I appreciate that to allow for the for our transition here.

But notwithstanding that we still have you for a few more weeks.

I'll close with this because I highly doubt that your future opportunity will close with a few Hawaiian issues here.

As we sit here in Hawaii, Greg first off to Mahalo P hub, which means our wholehearted gratitude to you.

In myeloma panel, which we want you to take.

Good care B, well and then finally of course, <unk>, which means we will see you.

We will see you later and this is not completely goodbye and so with that.

We look forward to your questions.

Thank you we will now begin the Q&A session.

If you'd like to ask a question. Please press star one on your telephone keypad.

Any reason you'd like to remove that question. Please press star two.

As a reminder, if you are using a speaker phone. Please remember to pick up your handset before asking your question.

Okay.

We will pause you very briefly as questions registered.

Our first question comes from the line of Julien Dumoulin Smith of Bank of America.

Julian you May proceed with your question.

Hey, good afternoon team. Thank you for the time and Greg wish you all the best Sir and I'm sure, we'll be connecting with you shortly regardless so.

In fact actually maybe the first question, let's just go for that.

Any thoughts on the CFO search here any comments or preferences for internal or external.

When we may get a bit more clarity on that and again, maybe not to you Greg but the wider team but.

And I wish you well.

Yes.

Hi, Julien this is Scott.

Well for one thing for sure this will be an orderly transition.

So I'm working with input from our board as well as the senior management team in terms of the process.

We will be seeking the best CFO for for the team here to take us forward.

I won't go into much detail other than to say, we will be going through an orderly process and considering a variety of a number of candidates both internal as well as external.

Alright fair enough.

I'm keen to see you guys bring out here you got you.

You've got quite a bit.

You've got to preserve quite a legacy here.

Maybe secondly, and more substantively.

Been an increase in payments and non payments in recent months just in light of this elevated fuel cost environment.

And how does this shift generation dynamics in the state and conversations.

That both could be constructive and more difficult.

Hi, Hi.

This is shelly and so on the high bills and how thats impacting us.

In terms of collections were actually seen an improving trend in collections relative through the pandemic period.

So through the second half of last year and continuing through this year, we're actually seeing improved collections. We've also stepped up our collection efforts as well now that we're out of the pandemic period.

Sure.

The other part of your question was sorry I've forgotten.

The next.

What is the opportunity that exist given the elevated price curve in theory. This could make economic hosted different opportunities back to you or whether.

Whether in the form of owned opportunities and are contracted.

Got it yes, so I mean, we started this clean energy transition.

In large part because of the volatility of oil prices and the exposure that we as a state and we as a company and our customers have because of that so it just reinforces the importance of the path that we're on to accelerate the renewable transition that we have and two.

An increase in I guess.

Confirm our resolve for doing that not just for ourselves, but others in our state.

Got it excellent and then just Greg maybe.

A quick one here if you don't mind.

When you talked about net interest margins here you talked about that remaining relatively stable. Despite the backdrop that we're in today can you talk about how that might annualized here, especially as you think about those pvp fees roll off here into subsequent periods, what that kind of growth grossing up number might eventually transition to hear as you rollout of some of those.

That guy's year over year.

Maybe how this maybe fits in with your expectations I think for the full year of having four rate hikes.

As part of your at least guidance assumptions.

Yes.

As I mentioned earlier, we believe we're on track with our guidance maybe to the effort towards the upper half of the range overall and we have reaffirmed the guidance ranges around that particular component. What we're seeing is some volatility on a quarterly basis because of the PPP.

At fee.

Initial dynamics.

But maybe dean why don't Dana and feel free to elaborate on the dynamics overall, yes. So this is the CFO .

We do expect net interest income to be slightly higher in 2022 compared to the prior year period.

Greg mentioned, we are seeing the benefits of the higher rate environment, but that is having an offset of the.

Or PPP fees that we actually realized in the prior year. So we're look we're thinking it's slightly higher but but.

Obviously, we're watching the environment the CEVA actually comes to fruition.

So we are we do have an asset sensitive balance sheet and over time, we will see.

We will see the benefits of that pricing through.

Correct.

Alright, Indeed, Okay noted and best of luck again.

Hopefully see you and talk to you guys soon.

Sounds good thank you Julian Thanks Julien.

Thank you Julien.

A final reminder to ask a question. It is star one on your telephone keypad.

Positive very briefly.

And there are no additional questions waiting at this time, so I'll hand, the call back over to Julien The management team for closing remarks.

Thank you everyone for joining us today and.

Certainly if you have any additional questions. After the call. Please reach out and our Investor Relations information is available on our website and we will see a number of you in New York later this week.

Everyone and have a great rest of the week. Thank you Greg.

And the rest of the team here.

Okay.

Take care.

That concludes the Q1 2020 to Hawaiian Electric Industries earnings Conference call. Thank you all for your participation you may now disconnect your lines.

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