Jersey Electricity PLC

Interim Report

for the six months ended 31 March 2024 

The Board approved at a meeting on 20 May 2024 the Interim Management Report for the six months ended 31 March 2024 and declared an interim dividend of 8.40p compared to 8.00p for 2022/23. The dividend will be paid on 24 June 2024 to those shareholders registered in the records of the Company at the close of business on 7 June 2024.

The Interim Management Report is attached and will be available to the public on the Company's website www.jec.co.uk/investors. 

The Interim Management Report for 2024 has not been audited, or reviewed, by our external auditors, nor have the results for the equivalent period in 2023. The results for the year ended 30 September 2023 were extracted from the statutory accounts. The auditor has reported on those accounts and their report was unmodified.   

L.G. Fulton                                                                                                                                                                     A. Welsby

Chief Financial Officer                                                                                                                                         Company Secretary 

Direct telephone number: 01534 505270                                                                                                  Direct telephone number: 01534 505250

Mobile: 07797 778688                                                                                                                                           

Email: lfulton@jec.co.uk                                                                              Email: awelsby@jec.co.uk 

20 May 2024

The Powerhouse, 

PO Box 45, 

Queen's Road, 

St Helier, 

Jersey JE4 8NY  

Directors' Statement

Jersey Electricity Plc (JE) has delivered a strong set of both operational and financial results for the period 1^st October 2023 to 31^st March 2024.

Operational Performance

At the start of the financial year Jersey faced one of the worst storms in at least 40 years. The storm caused a lot of damage and disruption on the Island and the Energy Business had faced significant challenges with its overhead network and certain substations, but overall resilience remained strong with a less than 1% fault rate. We thank all our staff, and the broader Community for their strong response to the Storm.

Excluding the storm, our Customer Minutes Lost remain below 7 and the enabling works has begun on our new ground mounted solar array in St Clements. We have also commenced the replacement of transformers at Five Oaks and have initiated our £23m resilience programme at La Collette.

Wholesale Energy Markets

In our 2023 Annual Report, we noted that global energy markets had eased somewhat compared to the turmoil of 2021/22. The market has continued to improve with more easing in the first three months of calendar year 2024, however, it remains above historic levels and the macro-economic environment is tough. The geopolitical landscape is fragile, with ongoing conflict in Ukraine and rising tension in the Middle East. Through this period of uncertainty and turmoil we have continued to demonstrate financial resilience and have shielded our customers from the higher retail prices seen elsewhere without needing any Government help/subsidy.

Hedging of electricity and foreign exchange, and customer tariffs

Our focus remains on delivering secure, low-carbon electricity supplies and maintaining relatively stable and competitive customer tariffs, now and into the future. Our electricity purchases are fully fixed for the remainder of 2024 and materially hedged for 2025. In addition, we have around one third of our expected 2026 and 2027 requirements hedged. As these are contractually denominated in Euros, we also enter forward foreign currency contracts, on a three-year rolling basis, reducing the volatility of our cost base and aiding tariff planning. In January 2024 we implemented a 12% rise in customer tariffs and do not anticipate further rises during the remainder of 2024.

Even with the rises implemented to date, the tariffs paid by our customers continue to benchmark well against other jurisdictions. Residential customers on the general domestic tariff in Jersey pay around 40% less than the equivalent customers in the UK on average for their electricity.

Financial Performance

Group revenue, at £75.6m, was 9% higher for the first half of 2023/24 compared with £69.4m for the same period last year mainly due to a rise in revenue from our Energy business. Profit before tax was in line with prior year at £10.3m. Cost of sales and operating costs increased by 5% year on year recognising the ongoing inflationary pressures.

Net cash on the balance sheet, which comprises borrowings less cash and cash equivalents, on 31 March 2024, was £16.7m compared with £16.8m at this time last year (and £17.4m at our last year end on 30 September 2023).

Energy Performance

Unit sales of electricity were static at 355.9 kWh compared to 355.7 kWh for the same period last year. We imported 96% of our on-island requirement from France and 4% from the Energy from Waste plant, owned by the Government of Jersey. Just over 1 million units of power (0.4%) was generated in Jersey using our traditional oil-fired plant, which is run during testing regimes, and from our local solar generation. These importation and generation levels are materially consistent with the same period last year.

Revenue in our Energy Business at £60.9m was £6.1m higher than in 2022/23 with the year-on-year increase being largely attributable to a 12% tariff rise in January 2024. Operating profit at £8.5m is consistent with the same period last year. We anticipate our year end position to be in line with our targeted range of 6% - 7% Return on Assets (ROA), on a five-year rolling basis.

Non-Energy performance

Throughout a challenging economic period, our Non-Energy Businesses have produced a half year position that remains consistent with the prior financial year. Our Powerhouse retail store has had a slight reduction in profit year on year due to inflationary cost pressures relating to storage. Our property portfolio has, as forecast, now leased the commercial space at the Powerhouse site resulting in all major commercial spaces being fully occupied. JEBS, our building services unit, has also performed well over the first 6 months of the year, with profits increased by £0.1m over the same period last year.

Liquidity and cashflow

Net cash on the balance sheet, which comprises borrowings less cash and cash equivalents, on 31 March 2024, was £16.7m compared with £16.8m at this time last year (and £17.4m at our last year end on 30 September 2023). Net cash consists of cash and cash equivalents of £46.7m offset by £30.0m of long-term debt. The cash and cash equivalents balances have, for the last five years, remained relatively stable. However, over the next few years, we expect to see this balance reduce as our capital programme increases in line with our long-term investment requirements. Our programme of work is focussed on ensuring investment is optimised to deliver community, customer, and shareholder value.

Pension scheme

The defined benefit pension scheme surplus (without deduction of deferred tax) on our balance sheet on 31 March 2024 stood at £28.9m, compared with a surplus of £25.5m on 30 September 2023.

Net of deferred tax, the pension surplus, increased by £2.7m, mainly driven by the increase in assets by 7.7% over the period versus the increase in liabilities of the scheme by 6.1%.  Assets in the Scheme rose by around £8.6m to £119.7m. Unlike most UK schemes, the Jersey Electricity pension scheme is not funded to pay mandatory annual rises on retirement. The P&L charge is £0.1m for the half-year to 31 March 2024, which we have determined by pro-rating the estimated P&L charge for the full year ending 30 September 2024. There were no special events during the period that led to past service costs or settlement costs in the P&L charge.  No new ex-gratia pension increases were awarded during the period.

Dividends

Your Board proposes to pay an interim net dividend for 2024 of 8.4p (2023: 8.0p). As stated in previous years, we aim to deliver sustained real growth each year over the medium-term. The final dividend for 2023 of 11.40p, paid in late March in respect of the last financial year, was an increase of 5% on the previous year.

Risk and Outlook

The principal risks and uncertainties identified in our last Annual Report, issued in December 2023 have not materially altered in the interim period. As highlighted earlier in this report, there is continued uncertainty in the energy markets, although we have seen an overall easing during the first quarter of 2024.

The JE Board is satisfied business has sufficient resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future, a period of not less than 12 months from the date of approval of this report and accordingly, we continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the condensed financial statements.

Responsibility Statement

We confirm to the best of our knowledge:

(a)    the condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting'.

(b)    the Interim Directors Statement includes a fair review of the information required by the Disclosure and Transparency Rule DTR 4.2.7R (indication of important events during the first six months and description of principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year); and

(c)    the Interim Directors Statement includes a fair review of the information required by the Disclosure and Transparency Rule DTR 4.2.8R (disclosure of related party transactions and changes therein); and

(d)    this half yearly interim report looks at certain forward-looking statements with respect to the operations, performance, and financial condition of the Group. By their nature, these statements involve uncertainty since future events and circumstances can cause results and developments to differ materially from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements reflect knowledge and information available at the date of preparation of this half yearly financial report and the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Nothing in this half yearly financial report should be construed as a profit forecast.

C.J. AMBLER - Chief Executive                 L.G. Fulton - Chief Financial Officer                                                   Director                                                              Director

20 May 2024

Condensed Consolidated Income Statement (Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (Unaudited)

    *'Other reserves represents the foreign currency hedging reserve.

Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Statement (Unaudited)

 Of the £46.7m cash and cash equivalents at 31 March 2024, £35.0m with an average of 74 days remaining. On 30^th September 2023 this was £34.0m with an average of 70 days remaining, whilst on 31^st March 2023 the figure was £37.0m with an average of 74 days remaining.

Notes to the Condensed Interim Accounts (Unaudited)

1               Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

 The interim accounts for the six months ended 31 March 2024 have been prepared based on the accounting policies set out in the 30 September 2023 annual report and accounts using accounting policies consistent with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the EU and in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting'. There have been no changes to accounting standards during the current financial period that has impacted the disclosures in these financial statements and the full year financial statements that will be prepared for 30 September 2023.

Jersey Electricity Plc has considerable financial resources and, consequently, the directors believe that the Group is well placed to manage its business risks successfully despite the current uncertain economic outlook. The directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual financial statements.

2              Revenue and profit

The contributions of the various activities of the Group to turnover and profit are listed below:

*Other segment includes Jersey Energy, Jendev as well as Jersey Deep Freeze Limited, the Company's sole subsidiary.

Materially, all the Group's operations are conducted within the Channel Islands. All transfers between divisions are on an arm's length basis. Gains or losses resulting from the revaluation of investment properties is shown separately from Property operating profit.

Revenues disclosed by the business segments above are recognised both on a point in time and over time basis. The treatment of revenue recognition in accordance with IFRS 15 is detailed in the 30 September 2023 annual report.

3 Taxation

The Company is taxable at the rate applicable to utility companies in Jersey of 20%. (2023: 20%).

4 Dividends paid and proposed

The distribution to equity holders in respect of the final dividend for 2023 of £3,492,059 (11.40p net of tax per share) was paid on 15 March 2024. The Directors have declared an interim dividend of 8.40p per share, net of tax (2023: 8.00p) for the six months ended 31 March 2024 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 7 June 2024. This dividend was approved by the Board on 20 May 2024 and has not been included as a liability on 31 March 2024.

5 Pensions

 In consultation with the independent actuaries to the scheme, the valuation of the pension scheme assets and liabilities has been updated to reflect current market discount rates, discount rates, inflation, salary increases, pension increases, post-retirement mortality, current market values of investments and actual investment returns applicable under IAS 19 'Employee Benefits', and also consideration has been given as to whether there have been any other events that would significantly affect the pension liabilities.

6 Financial Instruments

  The Group held the following derivative contracts, classified as level 2 financial instruments on 31 March 2023.

All financial instruments for which fair value is recognised or disclosed are categorised within the fair value hierarchy. This hierarchy is based on the underlying assumptions used to determine the fair value measurement as a whole and is categorised as follows:

Level 1 - financial instruments are those with values that are immediately comparable to quoted (unadjusted) market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - financial instruments are those with values that are determined using valuation techniques for which the basic assumptions used to calculate fair value are directly or indirectly observable (such as readily available market prices).

Level 3 - financial instruments are shown at values that are determined by assumptions that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

The derivative contracts for foreign currency shown above are classified as level 2 financial instruments and are valued using a discounted cash flow valuation technique. Future cash flows are estimated based on forward exchange rates (from observable forward exchange rates at the end of the reporting period) and contract forward rates, discounted at a rate that reflects the credit risk of various counterparties.

7 Related Party Transactions

 The Government of Jersey (the "Government") treats the Company as a strategic investment. Whilst it holds the majority voting rights in the Company, the Government does not view the Company as being under its control and as such, it is not consolidated within the Government accounts. The Government is understood by the Directors to have significant influence but not control of the Company.

 The Company has elected to take advantage of the disclosure exemptions available in IAS 24, paragraphs 25 and 26.  All transactions are undertaken on an arms-length basis in the ordinary course of business.