Annual Report 2015
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ANNUAL REPORT 2015 LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS The Hon. Gladys Berejiklian MP The Hon. Dominic Perrottet MP Treasurer Minister for Finance, Services and Property 52 Martin Place 52 Martin Place SYDNEY NSW 2000 SYDNEY NSW 2000 Dear Shareholders, The Delta Electricity Annual Report is submitted by its Board for the period 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 as required under the Annual Report (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984. The Annual Report covers the activities of Delta Electricity for the year and contains the Financial Statements for the period ended 30 June 2015. The Annual Report was prepared in accordance with Section 24A of the State Owned Corporations Act 1989 and the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984. It is being submitted for presentation to Parliament. Yours faithfully Helen Garnett Greg Everett PSM FTSE FAICD Chief Executive Chair CONTENTS About Delta Electricity 2 Year in Review 4 Key Performance Indicators 6 Operations Report 7 Governance 11 Financial Reports 16 Corporate Office Vales Point Power Station Website de.com.au Level 22, 175 Liverpool Street Vales Road Sydney NSW 2000 Mannering Park NSW 2259 T 02 9285 2700 T 02 4352 6111 (24 hours) 2 About Delta Electricity Delta Electricity Annual Report 2015 OUR MISSION About In 2014/15 our mission was to generate electricity safely, Delta Electricity reliably and competitively while respecting our workmates, 1 customers, community and the environment. OUR PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS At the end of 2014/15 Delta represented 7% of NSW generating In 2014/15 our principal functions were to: capacity, with sufficient power to supply one million average‐ sized homes across Australia. establish, maintain and operate facilities for the generation of electricity and other forms of energy; WHO WE ARE and Delta Electricity is an electricity generator in Australia’s National supply electricity and other forms of energy. Electricity Market (NEM), with an installed capacity of more than 1,320 megawatts (MW). We operate as a Statutory State Owned OUR OBJECTIVES Corporation under the Energy Services Corporations Act (1995) In carrying out these principal functions, Delta Electricity was and the State Owned Corporations Act (1989), and in guided by the following objectives from the Energy Services accordance with our annual Statement of Corporate Intent. Corporations Act (1995): WHAT WE DO 1. to operate efficient, safe and reliable facilities for the generation of electricity at a competitive cost; In 2014/15 Delta Electricity produced electricity from coal, gas, 2. to be a successful participant in the wholesale market for biomass and water. Our generators produced around 4% of the electricity; electricity needed by consumers in the NEM, which comprises all 3. to contribute to the development of low carbon emission states and territories except Western Australia and the Northern electricity; Territory. Delta Electricity participates in the NEM by trading 4. to promote the use of sustainable energy practices; output from Vales Point Power Station. As a result of the NSW 5. to protect the environment by conducting our operations in Energy Reform process, Delta Electricity’s assets have compliance with NSW environment laws; progressively been offered for sale by the NSW Government. 6. to contribute to regional development and decentralisation OUR LOCATIONS in the way in which we operate; and As at 30 June 2015 Delta operated two power stations in NSW. 7. to improve the skills and work practices of our people to Vales Point is a coal‐fired power station providing a reliable promote and enhance safety, productivity, efficiency and supply of 24‐hour, baseload electricity. Brown Mountain is a job satisfaction. small hydro power station located near Cooma. It is a non‐ scheduled generator, and operates when the opportunity arises. Delta also manages the decommissioned Munmorah Power Station and associated land. 3 Delta Electricity Annual Report 2015 About Delta Electricity LOCATIONS Type Unit Size Total Units Capacity Coal Vales Point 660 MW 2 1,320 MW Gas Colongra 168MW 4 671MW Hydro Brown Mountain 1x 4.3MW and 1 x 2 4.7MW 400KW Total 1,996MW Note: The map shows Delta locations during the 2014/15 financial year. Munmorah was closed in July 2012. Colongra was sold to Snowy Hydro in January 2015. 4 Year in Review Delta Electricity Annual Report 2015 The LRET allows renewable energy generators to create large‐ Year in Review scale generation certificates (LGCs) for every megawatt hour of renewable electricity they produce. Liable entities (generally Chair and Chief electricity retailers) are obligated to purchase certificates and surrender them to the Clean Energy Regulator. The 2 establishment of the revised LRET has removed uncertainty Executive Report surrounding the future of the scheme. In response, the price of LGCs has increased from around $35 in early 2015 to more than During 2014/15 Delta Electricity faced continuing challenges $55 in August 2015. arising from the transformation of Australia’s energy industry in which coal’s market share is diminishing as a result of the rising Current total generation from annual large‐scale renewables is use of renewable energy sources, and demand for electricity around 16,000GWh and an additional 17,000GWh per annum of remaining low after declining in recent years. renewable generation will need to be commissioned to operate in the NEM by 2020 to reach the new target. This new Consequently, for the 2014/15 financial year Delta made an generation exceeds demand growth in AEMO’s medium growth operating loss of $72.5 million before tax excluding financial forecast, exacerbating the excess supply in the NEM. instrument fair value movements, impairment and provisions related to property, plant and equipment and accounting losses Renewable generation operates regardless of market prices and on early debt repayment. The $72.5 million operating loss was a displaces energy supplied by coal and gas‐fired generation. The significant improvement against Delta’s budget, largely due to additional renewable generation expected to be commissioned the sale of Colongra Power Station and a focus on realising over the next five years will place downward pressure on overhead cost savings during the year. wholesale electricity prices and potentially force the closure of more plants. ENERGY REFORM AND THE MARKET Delta currently creates around 26,000 LGCs per annum from the Market Conditions co‐firing of biomass and the recent increase in the price of LGCs Demand for electricity in NSW grew slightly in 2014/15, with has enhanced the value of Delta’s biomass co‐firing activity. total consumption 1.5% higher than 2013/14. This is the first Emissions Reduction Fund time since 2008/09 that demand growth in NSW has been positive. However, growth is not forecast to continue at this The Federal Government has been working with businesses to level. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) forecasts implement the safeguard mechanism for the Emissions 0.6% demand growth in NSW in the short term with no return to Reduction Fund. historical demand growth levels in its 10‐year forecast period. The proposed safeguard mechanism is to encourage businesses Regulation and Energy Reform not to increase emissions above historical levels. The safeguard Throughout the year, Delta implemented changes to its business mechanism will apply to direct emissions, including direct practices following the repeal of the carbon price by the Federal emissions from energy production, where a facility’s emissions Government. Delta also prepared for legislative changes are above historical thresholds. following the review of the Renewable Energy Target and the Delta Electricity supports setting a limit on emissions based on planned introduction of the safeguard mechanism, the final historical maximum emission levels to recognise the variable element of the Direct Action legislation. annual output of both renewable and conventional generators Carbon Tax due to factors such as weather conditions, portfolio operations and market supply and demand. The Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Act 2014 (the Act) took effect from 1 July 2014. The Act also amended the SALE OF NSW GENERATORS Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (CCA) providing the In May 2012 legislation was passed in the NSW Parliament to sell Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) with the State‐owned generators. new powers to ensure that consumers received the benefits of During late 2012 the sales structure and strategy was developed. the repeal. Delta Electricity fully complied with its obligations The sale of Delta’s western assets, Mount Piper and under the amended CCA, to provide the ACCC and electricity Wallerawang power stations, was completed in September supply customers (including all NEM registered market 2013. The sale process for Vales Point and Colongra power customers) with carbon tax removal substantiation statements stations commenced after the subsequent sale of Macquarie that detailed the methods used to pass through cost savings. Generation. Renewable Energy Target The sale of Colongra Power Station to Snowy Hydro was In June 2015, the Senate reduced Australia’s 2020 Large‐scale confirmed in December 2014 and completed on 30 January Renewable Energy Target (LRET) from 41,000 gigawatts hours 2015. Eight employees transferred to Snowy Hydro with the (GWh) to 33,000GWh.1 station’s property, plant, IT and contracts. The sale had no 1. GWh equals 1000 megawatt hours. 5 Delta Electricity Annual Report 2015 Governance impact on Delta’s buffer zones and community access areas as Government’s 2014 Green Globe Awards and was one of 10 only a small footprint of land around the station was sold. projects recognised at the inaugural Energy Productivity in Proceeds from the sale of the Colongra power station were used Action event organised by the NSW Office of Environment and to retire Delta Electricity’s debt, strengthening the State’s Heritage to acknowledge NSW businesses making significant financial position. energy productivity achievements.