Avista Q4 2020 Earnings Report
Key Takeaways
Avista Corp. reported net income attributable to Avista Corp. shareholders of $58.7 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $50.8 million, or $0.76 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2019. The company is initiating its 2021, 2022, and 2023 earnings guidance with consolidated ranges of $1.96 to $2.16 per diluted share in 2021, $2.18 to $2.38 per diluted share in 2022, and $2.42 to $2.62 per diluted share in 2023.
Net income attributable to Avista Corp. shareholders was $58.7 million for Q4 2020, compared to $50.8 million for Q4 2019.
Earnings per diluted share were $0.85 for Q4 2020, compared to $0.76 for Q4 2019.
Avista Utilities earnings were better than expectations due to higher utility margin and lower income taxes, partially offset by higher operating expenses.
AEL&P’s earnings exceeded expectations due to higher sales volumes to residential customers resulting from cooler weather than the prior year and lower operating costs resulting from COVID-19 related operational restrictions.
Avista
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Avista Revenue by Segment
Forward Guidance
Avista Corp. is initiating its 2021, 2022, and 2023 earnings guidance with consolidated ranges of $1.96 to $2.16 per diluted share in 2021, $2.18 to $2.38 per diluted share in 2022, and $2.42 to $2.62 per diluted share in 2023.
Positive Outlook
- Timely and appropriate rate relief in our jurisdictions is assumed.
- Filed general rate cases in Washington and Oregon.
- Filed general rate cases in Idaho in January of 2021.
- Expect these cases to provide rate relief in 2021 and start reducing regulatory lag.
- Anticipate a return to 4 to 6 percent growth following 2023.
Challenges Ahead
- Experienced regulatory lag during 2020 and expect this to continue through the end of 2022.
- Unrecovered structural costs estimated to reduce the return on equity by approximately 70 basis points.
- Regulatory timing lag estimated to reduce the return on equity by approximately 100 basis points.
- Expect to experience increased costs in 2021 associated with exploring strategic business opportunities.
- Cannot predict the duration and severity of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Revenue & Expenses
Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income