TransAlta Corporation (TransAlta or the Company) (TSX: TA) (NYSE:
TAC) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter
and year ended Dec. 31, 2024.
“Our business delivered solid results within the
upper range of our guidance, driven by high availability across our
generation portfolio, along with the enduring performance of our
optimization and hedging strategies. During the year, we added 2.2
GW of generation to our fleet, with three contracted wind
facilities achieving commercial operation in addition to the
acquisition of Heartland Generation. We also returned $214 million,
or $0.71 per share, of value to shareholders through dividends and
share repurchases at an average price of $10.59 per share,” said
John Kousinioris, President and Chief Executive Officer of
TransAlta.
“Given our confidence in the future, we are
pleased to announce that our Board of Directors has approved
an eight per cent increase to our common share dividend, now
equivalent to $0.26 per share on an annualized basis. This
represents our sixth consecutive annual dividend increase,
affirming our Company's commitment to returning value to
shareholders,” added Mr. Kousinioris.
“Our portfolio of generating facilities
continues to perform well. In 2025, we expect to generate between
$450 and $550 million of free cash flow. We maintain a balanced,
prudent and disciplined approach to capital allocation and balance
sheet strength. We remain focused on advancing development
opportunities at our legacy thermal energy campuses, along with
pursuing longer term growth options with a commitment to maximizing
shareholder value. Looking to 2025 and beyond, I am optimistic
about our Company’s momentum and opportunities."
Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights
- Adjusted
EBITDA(1) of $285 million, compared to $289 million for the same
period in 2023
- Free Cash Flow
(FCF)(1) of $48 million, or $0.16 per share, compared to $121
million, or $0.39 per share, for the same period in 2023
- Cash flow from
operating activities of $215 million, compared to $310 million from
the same period in 2023
- Net loss
attributable to common shareholders of $65 million, or $0.22 per
share, compared to $84 million, or $0.27 per share, for the same
period in 2023
Full Year 2024 Financial Highlights
- Achieved the
upper range of both 2024 adjusted EBITDA and FCF guidance
- Returned $143
million of capital to common shareholders through the buyback of
13.5 million common shares at an average price of $10.59 per
share
- Adjusted EBITDA
of $1,253 million, compared to $1,632 million from the same period
in 2023
- FCF of $569
million, or $1.88 per share, compared to $890 million, or $3.22 per
share, from the same period in 2023
- Net earnings
attributable to common shareholders of $177 million, or $0.59 per
share, compared to $644 million, or $2.33 per share, from the same
period in 2023
- Exited 2024 with
a strong financial position, with adjusted net debt to adjusted
EBITDA of 3.6 times and available liquidity of $1.6 billion
Other Business Highlights and Updates
- Announced an
annual dividend increase of eight per cent, now equivalent to $0.26
per share on an annualized basis, which represents the sixth year
of consecutive dividend growth
- Provided 2025
guidance including adjusted EBITDA of $1.15 to $1.25 billion and
FCF of $450 to $550 million, or $1.51 to $1.85 per share
- Completed the
acquisition of Heartland Generation at a purchase price of $542
million in December 2024, which added 1.7 GW to gross installed
capacity
- Achieved strong
operational availability of 91.2 per cent in 2024, compared to 88.8
per cent in 2023
- 2024 Total
Recordable Injury Frequency of 0.56 compared to 0.30 in 2023
- Reduced scope 1
and 2 GHG emissions intensity in 2024 to 0.35 tCO2e/MWh from 2023
levels of 0.41 tCO2e/MWh
- Achieved
commercial operation at the White Rock West and East wind
facilities in January and April 2024, respectively
- Achieved
commercial operation at the Horizon Hill facility in May 2024
- Completed the
Mount Keith 132kV expansion project during the first quarter of
2024
Key Business Developments
Declared Increase in Common Share
DividendThe Company’s Board of Directors has approved a
$0.02 annualized increase to the common share dividend, or 8 per
cent increase, and declared a dividend of $0.065 per common share
to be payable on July 1, 2025 to shareholders of record at the
close of business on June 1, 2025. The quarterly dividend of $0.065
per common share represents an annualized dividend of $0.26 per
common share.
TransAlta Acquired Heartland Generation from Energy
Capital Partners
On Dec. 4, 2024, the Company closed the
acquisition of Heartland Generation Ltd. and certain affiliates
(collectively, Heartland) for a purchase price of $542 million from
an affiliate of Energy Capital Partners (ECP), the parent of
Heartland (the Transaction). To meet the requirements of the
federal Competition Bureau, the Company entered into a consent
agreement with the Commissioner of Competition pursuant to which
TransAlta agreed to divest Heartland's Poplar Hill and Rainbow Lake
assets (the Planned Divestitures) following closing of the
Transaction. In consideration of the Planned Divestitures,
TransAlta and ECP agreed to a reduction of $80 million from the
original purchase price for the Transaction. ECP will be entitled
to receive the proceeds from the sale of Poplar Hill and Rainbow
Lake, net of certain adjustments following completion of the
Planned Divestitures. TransAlta also received a further $95 million
at closing of the Transaction to reflect the economic benefit of
the Heartland business arising from Oct. 31, 2023 to the closing
date of the Transaction, pursuant to the terms of the share
purchase agreement. The net cash payment for the Transaction,
before working capital adjustments, totalled $215 million, and was
funded through a combination of cash on hand and draws on
TransAlta's credit facilities.
Excluding the Planned Divestitures, the
Transaction adds 1.7 GW (net interest) of complementary capacity
from nine facilities, including contracted cogeneration and peaking
generation, legacy gas-fired thermal generation, and transmission
capacity, all of which will be critical to support reliability in
the Alberta electricity market.
Mothballing of Sundance Unit 6
On Nov. 4, 2024, the Company provided notice to
the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) that Sundance Unit 6
will be mothballed on April 1, 2025, for a period of up to two
years depending on market conditions. TransAlta maintains the
flexibility to return the mothballed unit to service when market
fundamentals improve or opportunities to contract are secured. The
unit remains available and fully operational for the first quarter
of 2025.
Production Tax Credit (PTC)
Sale Agreements
On Feb. 22, 2024, the Company entered into
10-year transfer agreements with an AA- rated customer for the sale
of approximately 80 per cent of the expected PTCs to be generated
from the White Rock and the Horizon Hill wind facilities.
On June 21, 2024, the Company entered into an
additional 10-year transfer agreement with an A+ rated customer for
the sale of the remaining 20 per cent of the expected PTCs.
The expected average annual EBITDA(1) from the
two agreements is approximately $78 million (US$57 million).
Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB)
TransAlta remains committed to enhancing
shareholder returns through appropriate capital allocation such as
share buybacks and its quarterly dividend. In the first quarter of
2024, the Company announced an enhanced common share repurchase
program for 2024, allocating up to $150 million, and targeting up
to 42 per cent of 2024 FCF guidance, to be returned to shareholders
in the form of share repurchases and dividends.
On May 27, 2024, the Company announced that it
had received approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange to purchase
up to 14 million common shares pursuant to an NCIB during the
12-month period that commenced May 31, 2024, and terminates May 31,
2025. Any common shares purchased under the NCIB will be
cancelled.
For the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, the Company
purchased and cancelled a total of 13,467,400 common shares at an
average price of $10.59 per common share, for a total cost of $143
million, including taxes.
Horizon Hill Wind Facility Achieves Commercial
Operation
On May 21, 2024, the 202 MW Horizon Hill wind
facility achieved commercial operation. The facility is located in
Logan County, Oklahoma and is fully contracted to Meta Platforms
Inc. for the offtake of 100 per cent of the generation.
White Rock Wind Facilities Achieve Commercial
Operation
On Jan. 1, 2024, the 100 MW White Rock West wind
facility achieved commercial operation. On April 22, 2024, the 202
MW White Rock East wind facility also completed commissioning. The
facilities are located in Caddo County, Oklahoma and are contracted
under two long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Amazon
Energy LLC for the offtake of 100 per cent of the generation.
Mount Keith 132kV Expansion Complete
The Mount Keith 132kV expansion project, located
in Western Australia, was completed during the first quarter of
2024. The expansion was developed under the existing PPA with BHP
Nickel West (BHP), which extends until Dec. 31, 2038. The expansion
will facilitate the connection of additional generating capacity to
the transmission network which supports BHP's operations.
Year Ended and Fourth Quarter 2024
Highlights
$ millions, unless otherwise stated |
Year Ended |
Three Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Operational information |
|
|
|
|
Availability (%) |
91.2 |
88.8 |
87.8 |
|
86.9 |
|
Production (GWh) |
22,811 |
22,029 |
6,199 |
|
5,783 |
|
Select financial
information |
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
2,845 |
3,355 |
678 |
|
624 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA(1) |
1,253 |
1,632 |
285 |
|
289 |
|
Earnings (loss) before income taxes |
319 |
880 |
(51 |
) |
(35 |
) |
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders |
177 |
644 |
(65 |
) |
(84 |
) |
Cash
flows |
|
|
|
|
Cash flow from operating activities |
796 |
1,464 |
215 |
|
310 |
|
Funds from operations(1) |
810 |
1,351 |
137 |
|
229 |
|
Free cash flow(1) |
569 |
890 |
48 |
|
121 |
|
Per
share |
|
|
|
|
Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders,
basic and diluted |
0.59 |
2.33 |
(0.22 |
) |
(0.27 |
) |
Funds from operations per share(1),(2) |
2.68 |
4.89 |
0.46 |
|
0.74 |
|
FCF per share(1),(2) |
1.88 |
3.22 |
0.16 |
|
0.39 |
|
Dividends declared per common share |
0.24 |
0.22 |
0.12 |
|
0.12 |
|
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding |
302 |
276 |
298 |
|
308 |
|
Segmented Financial Performance
$ millions |
Year Ended |
Three Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Dec. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Hydro |
316 |
|
459 |
|
57 |
|
56 |
|
Wind and Solar |
316 |
|
257 |
|
95 |
|
82 |
|
Gas |
535 |
|
801 |
|
116 |
|
141 |
|
Energy Transition |
91 |
|
122 |
|
28 |
|
26 |
|
Energy Marketing |
131 |
|
109 |
|
27 |
|
14 |
|
Corporate |
(136 |
) |
(116 |
) |
(38 |
) |
(30 |
) |
Adjusted EBITDA |
1,253 |
|
1,632 |
|
285 |
|
289 |
|
Earnings (loss) before income
taxes |
319 |
|
880 |
|
(51 |
) |
(35 |
) |
Full Year 2024 Financial Results Summary
For the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, the Company
demonstrated strong financial and operational performance. The
results were within the upper range of management's expectations
due to active management of the Company's merchant portfolio and
hedging strategies. During 2024, the Company settled a higher
volume of hedges at prices that were significantly above the spot
market in Alberta and achieved commercial operation at the White
Rock and Horizon Hill wind facilities. On Dec. 4, 2024, the Company
completed the acquisition of Heartland Generation, which added 1.7
GW to gross installed capacity. Refer to the Significant and
Subsequent Events section of our MD&A dated Dec. 31, 2024, for
details on the Heartland acquisition and the Planned
Divestitures.
Availability for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024,
was 91.2 per cent, compared to 88.8 per cent in 2023, an increase
of 2.4 percentage points, primarily due to:
- The addition of
the White Rock and Horizon Hill wind facilities; and
- The return to service of the Kent Hills
wind facilities.
Total production for the year ended Dec. 31,
2024, was 22,811 GWh, compared to 22,029 GWh for the same period in
2023, an increase of 782 GWh, or four per cent, primarily due
to:
- Production from
new facilities, including the White Rock West and East wind
facilities commissioned in January and April 2024, respectively,
the Horizon Hill wind facility commissioned in May 2024, and the
Northern Goldfields solar facilities commissioned in November
2023;
- Production from
the facilities acquired with Heartland;
- Favourable
market conditions in the Ontario wholesale power market that
enabled higher dispatch at the Sarnia facility in the Gas segment
that resulted in higher merchant production to the Ontario
grid;
- The return to
service of the Kent Hills wind facilities in the first quarter of
2024; and
- Full-year
production from the Garden Plain wind facility; partially offset
by
- Increased
economic dispatch at the Centralia facility due to lower market
prices compared to the prior year in the Energy Transition segment;
and
- Higher dispatch
optimization in Alberta.
Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended Dec. 31,
2024, was $1,253 million, compared to $1,632 million in 2023, a
decrease of $379 million, or 23.2 per cent. The major factors
impacting adjusted EBITDA include:
- Gas adjusted
EBITDA decreased by $266 million, or 33 per cent, compared to 2023,
primarily due to lower power prices in the Alberta market and
resulting increase in economic dispatch, an increase in the price
of carbon, higher carbon costs and fuel usage related to production
and lower capacity payments, partially offset by a higher volume of
favourable hedging positions settled, the utilization of emission
credits to settle a portion of our 2023 GHG obligation and lower
natural gas prices;
- Hydro adjusted
EBITDA decreased by $143 million, or 31 per cent, compared to 2023,
primarily due to lower spot power prices and ancillary services
prices in the Alberta market, partially offset by realized premiums
above the spot power prices, higher environmental and tax
attributes revenues due to higher sales of emission credits to
third parties and intercompany sales to the Gas segment and higher
ancillary service volumes due to increased demand by the AESO;
- Energy
Transition adjusted EBITDA decreased by $31 million, or 25 per
cent, compared to 2023, primarily due to increased economic
dispatch driven by lower market prices which negatively impacted
merchant production, partially offset by lower fuel and purchased
power costs; and
- Corporate
adjusted EBITDA decreased by $20 million, or 17 per cent, compared
to 2023, primarily due to higher spending to support strategic and
growth initiatives; partially offset by
- Wind and Solar
adjusted EBITDA increasing by $59 million, or 23 per cent, compared
to 2023, primarily due to new sales of production tax credits, the
return to service of the Kent Hills wind facilities, the commercial
operation of the White Rock and Horizon Hill wind facilities,
partially offset by lower realized power pricing in the Alberta
market and higher OM&A due to the addition of new wind
facilities; and
- Energy Marketing
adjusted EBITDA increasing by $22 million, or 20 per cent, compared
to 2023, primarily due to favourable market volatility and timing
of realized settled trades during the current year in comparison to
the prior year and lower OM&A.
Cash flow from operating activities totalled
$796 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, compared to $1,464
million in the same period in 2023, a decrease of
$668 million, or 46 per cent, primarily due to:
- Lower gross
margin due to lower revenues, excluding the effect of unrealized
losses from risk management activities, partially offset by lower
fuel and purchased power;
- Higher OM&A
due to increased spending on planning and design of an ERP system
upgrade, higher spending on strategic and growth initiatives,
penalties assessed by the Alberta Market Surveillance Administrator
for self-reported contraventions and Heartland acquisition-related
transaction and restructuring costs;
- Higher current
income tax expense due to the full utilization of Canadian
non-capital loss carryforwards in 2023, which was partially offset
by lower earnings before income tax in 2024;
- Unfavourable
change in non-cash operating working capital balances due to lower
accounts payables and accrued liabilities, partially offset by
lower collateral provided as a result of market price
volatility;
- Higher interest
expense on debt primarily due to lower capitalized interest
resulting from lower construction activity in 2024 compared to
2023; and
- Lower interest
income due to lower cash balances and lower interest rates.
FCF totalled $569 million for the year ended
Dec. 31, 2024, compared to $890 million for the same period in
2023, a decrease of $321 million, or 36 per cent, primarily driven
by:
- The adjusted
EBITDA items noted above;
- Higher current
income tax expense due to the full utilization of Canadian
non-capital loss carryforwards in 2023, partially offset by lower
earnings before income taxes in 2024; and
- Higher net
interest expense due to lower capitalized interest resulting from
lower construction activity in 2024 compared to 2023, and lower
interest income due to lower cash balances and interest rates in
2024 compared to prior year; partially offset by
- Lower
distributions paid to subsidiaries' non-controlling interests
relating to lower TA Cogen net earnings resulting from lower
merchant pricing in the Alberta market and the cessation of
distributions to TransAlta Renewables non-controlling
interest;
- Lower sustaining
capital expenditures due to the receipt of a lease incentive
related to the Company's head office and lower planned major
maintenance at our Alberta and Western Australian gas facilities,
partially offset by higher major maintenance at our Alberta Hydro
assets; and
- Higher
provisions accrued in the current year compared to the prior year
resulting in higher FCF.
Earnings before income taxes totalled $319
million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, compared to $880 million
in the same period in 2023, a decrease of $561 million, or 64 per
cent.
Net earnings attributable to common shareholders
totalled $177 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, compared to
$644 million in the same period in 2023, a decrease of $467
million, or 73 per cent, primarily due to:
- The adjusted
EBITDA items discussed above;
- Higher asset
impairment charges due to an increase in decommissioning and
restoration provisions on retired assets, driven by a decrease in
discount rates and revisions in estimated decommissioning costs and
higher impairment charges related to development projects that are
no longer proceeding;
- Lower unrealized
mark-to-market gains and lower realized gains on closed exchange
positions in the Energy Marketing segment mainly driven by market
volatility across North American power and natural gas
markets;
- Higher
unrealized mark-to-market losses recorded in the Wind and Solar
segment primarily related to the long-term wind energy sales at the
Oklahoma facilities;
- Higher interest
expense due to lower capitalized interest during 2024 resulting
from lower construction activity in 2024 compared to 2023;
- Lower capacity
payments in 2024 for Southern Cross Energy in Western Australia due
to the scheduled conclusion on Dec. 31, 2023 of the demand capacity
charge under the customer contract, partially offset by the
commencement in March 2024 of capacity payments for the Mount Keith
132kV expansion;
- Heartland
acquisition-related transaction and restructuring costs;
- Lower interest
income due to lower cash balances and lower interest rates during
2024;
- Higher spending
in connection with planning and design work on a planned upgrade to
the ERP system;
- Lower income tax
expense due to lower earnings; and
- Penalties
assessed by the Alberta Market Surveillance Administrator for
self-reported contraventions pertaining to Hydro ancillary services
provided during 2021 and 2022; partially offset by
- Lower
depreciation and amortization compared to 2023 related to revisions
of useful lives of certain facilities in prior and current periods,
partially offset by the commercial operation of new facilities
during the year and the return to service of the Kent Hills wind
facilities;
- Higher
unrealized mark-to-market gains recorded in the Energy Transition
segment primarily related to favourable changes in forward
prices;
- A recovery
related to the reversal of previously derecognized Canadian
deferred tax assets; and
- Higher net other
operating income mainly due to Sundance A decommissioning cost
reimbursement.
Fourth Quarter Financial Results Summary
Fourth quarter 2024 results were in-line with
management's expectations due to active management of the Company's
merchant portfolio and hedging strategies, despite lower power
prices in the Alberta and mid-Columbia markets. The Company settled
a higher volume of hedges that were significantly above average
spot prices during the period. The acquisition of Heartland on Dec.
4, 2024 positively contributed to production in the Gas segment and
further diversifies TransAlta’s competitive portfolio in the highly
dynamic and shifting electricity landscape in Alberta by adding 1.7
GW to gross installed capacity.
Availability for the three months ended Dec. 31,
2024, was 87.8 per cent, compared to 86.9 per cent for the same
period in 2023, an increase of 0.9 percentage points, primarily due
to:
- The addition of
the White Rock and Horizon Hill wind facilities which operated with
high availability;
- The return to
service of the Kent Hills wind facilities;
- Higher
availability in the Hydro segment due to lower planned
outages;
- Higher
availability in the Energy Transition segment due to lower
unplanned outages; and
- Positive
contribution from the addition of the gas facilities acquired with
Heartland; partially offset by
- Lower
availability for the Gas segment due to planned outages at Sarnia,
Sheerness and Keephills.
Production for the three months ended Dec. 31,
2024, was 6,199 GWh, compared to 5,783 GWh for the same period in
2023. The increase of 416 GWh, or seven per cent, was primarily due
to:
- Higher
production in the Wind and Solar segment due to the addition of the
Horizon Hill and White Rock West and East wind facilities during
2024;
- Higher
production in the Hydro segment compared to the same period in 2023
due to water conservation in the fourth quarter of 2023 that
resulted in lower production volumes compared to the current
period; partially offset by
- Lower production
in the Energy Transition segment due to higher dispatch
optimization, which negatively affected merchant production;
and
- Lower production
in the Gas segment driven by lower availability at the Sarnia
facility due to planned outages, higher economic dispatch in
Alberta and lower production from Western Australia due to lower
demand, partially offset by positive contribution from the
Heartland gas facilities.
Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended Dec.
31, 2024, was $285 million, compared to $289 million in the same
period of 2023, a decrease of $4 million, or one per cent. The
major factors impacting adjusted EBITDA are summarized below:
- Gas adjusted
EBITDA decreased by $25 million, or 18 per cent, due to lower
realized power prices in Alberta, an increase in the carbon price
in Canada and higher OM&A driven by higher maintenance costs at
the South Hedland facility, partially offset by a higher volume of
favourable hedging positions settled, positive contribution from
the Heartland gas facilities and lower capacity payments;
- Corporate
adjusted EBITDA decreased by $8 million, or 27 per cent, due to
higher spending to support strategic and growth initiatives;
partially offset by
- Wind and Solar
adjusted EBITDA increasing by $13 million, or 16 per cent, due to
environmental and tax attributes revenues from the sale of PTCs
from the White Rock and Horizon Hill wind facilities to taxable US
counterparties, higher revenues driven by increased production from
the addition of the White Rock and Horizon Hill wind facilities and
the return to service of the Kent Hills wind facilities, partially
offset by unfavourable merchant power prices in Alberta;
- Energy Marketing
adjusted EBITDA increasing by $13 million, or 93 per cent, due to
favourable market volatility and the timing of realized settled
trades during 2024 in comparison to the same period in 2023;
- Energy
Transition adjusted EBITDA increasing by $2 million, or eight per
cent, compared to 2023, primarily due to lower fuel and purchased
power costs, partially offset by increased economic dispatch due to
lower market prices; and
- Hydro adjusted
EBITDA increasing by $1 million, or two per cent, due to higher
merchant revenues driven by higher volumes, partially offset by
lower spot power prices and lower environmental and tax attributes
revenues.
FCF totalled $48 million for the three months
ended Dec. 31, 2024, compared to $121 million in the same period in
2023, a decrease of $73 million, or 60 per cent, primarily due
to:
- The adjusted
EBITDA items noted above;
- Higher realized
foreign exchange losses compared to realized foreign exchange gains
in the comparative period;
- Higher current
income tax expense due to the full utilization of Canadian
non-capital loss carryforwards in 2023, partially offset by a
higher loss before income taxes in the current period compared to
the same period in 2023;
- Higher net
interest expense due to lower capitalized interest as a result of
capital projects being completed in the first half of 2024 and
lower interest income due to lower cash balances in 2024; and
- Higher dividends
paid on preferred shares; partially offset by
- Lower
distributions paid to subsidiaries' non-controlling interests due
to lower TA Cogen net earnings;
- Lower sustaining
capital due to lower planned maintenance at the Alberta gas
facilities, partially offset by higher planned maintenance at the
Sarnia cogeneration facility and Alberta hydro facilities; and
- Higher
provisions accrued in the current year compared to the prior year
resulting in higher FCF.
Net loss attributable to common shareholders for
the three months ended Dec. 31, 2024, was $65 million, compared to
a net loss of $84 million in the same period of 2023, an
improvement of $19 million, or 23 per cent, primarily due to:
-
The adjusted EBITDA items discussed above;
-
Higher interest expense due to lower capitalized interest in the
fourth quarter of 2024 resulting from lower capital activity
compared to the same period in 2023;
- Heartland
acquisition-related transaction and restructuring costs in the
fourth quarter of 2024;
- Higher ERP
upgrade costs related to planning and design work;
- Penalties
assessed by the Alberta Market Surveillance Administrator for
self-reported contraventions pertaining to Hydro ancillary services
provided during 2021 and 2022;
- Higher
depreciation and amortization due to the commercial operation of
the White Rock and Horizon Hill wind facilities during 2024;
and
- Higher taxes
other than income taxes, mainly consisting of property taxes due to
the addition of new wind facilities during 2024; partially offset
by
-
Higher realized and unrealized foreign exchange gains;
-
Lower realized gains on closed exchange positions in 2024 compared
to the same period in 2023;
- An income tax
recovery relative to the prior period expense as a result of a
higher loss before income taxes due to the above noted items; in
addition to lower non-deductible expenses;
- Lower net
earnings attributable to non-controlling interest compared to the
same period in 2023 due to lower merchant pricing in the Alberta
market;
-
Higher net other operating income mainly due to Sundance A
decommissioning cost reimbursement; and
- Lower asset
impairment charges related to the decommissioning and restoration
provisions on retired assets driven by lower discount rates in the
current period compared to the same period in 2023, partially
offset by impairment charges related to development projects that
are no longer proceeding.
Alberta Electricity Portfolio
For the three months and year ended Dec. 31,
2024, the Alberta electricity portfolio generated 3,150 GWh and
11,809 GWh, respectively, compared to 2,989 GWh and 11,759 GWh,
respectively, in the same periods in 2023. The annual production
increase of 50 GWh, or 0.4 per cent, was primarily due to:
- Higher
production in the Gas segment due to the addition of gas facilities
from the acquisition of Heartland; and
- A full-year of
production from the addition of the Garden Plain wind facility,
which was commissioned in August 2023; partially
offset by
- Higher dispatch
optimization in the Gas segment; and
- Lower production
from the Alberta hydro facilities due to lower water resources
compared to the prior year.
The fourth quarter production increase of 161
GWh, or five per cent, benefited from:
- Higher
production from the Gas segment due to the Heartland acquisition;
and
- Higher
production from the Alberta hydro facilities due to significant
water conservation during the fourth quarter of 2023; partially
offset by
- Higher economic
dispatch for the Alberta gas facilities; and
- Lower production
in the Wind and Solar segment due to lower wind resource.
Gross margin for the Alberta portfolio for the
three months and year ended Dec. 31, 2024, was $191 million and
$856 million, respectively, a decrease of $24 million and
$392 million, respectively, compared to the same periods in
2023. The annual decrease was primarily due to:
- The impact of
lower Alberta spot power prices and lower hydro ancillary services
prices;
- Increased
dispatch optimization in the Gas segment driven by lower power
prices; and
- An increase in
the carbon price per tonne from $65 in 2023 to $80 in 2024;
partially offset by
- Higher gains
realized on financial hedges settled in the period;
- Higher
environmental and tax attributes revenues due to the increased
sales of emission credits to third parties and intercompany sales
from the Hydro segment to the Gas segment;
- The utilization
of emission credits in the Gas segment in 2024 to settle a portion
of our 2023 GHG obligation;
- Higher hydro
ancillary services volumes due to increased demand by the AESO;
and
- Lower natural
gas prices.
Gross margin for the three months ended Dec. 31,
2024 was impacted by:
- Lower Alberta
spot power prices;
- Higher carbon
compliance costs due to increase in the carbon price from $65 per
tonne in 2023 to $80 per tonne in 2024; and
- Higher purchased
power due to the contractual requirement to fulfill physical power
trades; partially offset by
- Higher gains
realized on financial hedges settled in the period.
Alberta power prices for 2024 were lower
compared to 2023. The average spot power price per MWh for the
three months and year ended Dec. 31, 2024, was $52 and $63,
respectively, compared to $82 and $134, respectively, in the same
periods in 2023. This was primarily due to:
- Higher
generation from the addition of increased supply of new renewables
and combined-cycle gas facilities into the market compared to the
prior period; and
- Lower natural
gas prices.
Hedged volumes for the three months and year
ended Dec. 31, 2024, were 2,637 GWh and 9,080 GWh at an average
price of $80 per MWh and $84 per MWh, respectively, compared to
1,824 GWh and 7,550 GWh at an average price of $90 per MWh and $110
per MWh, respectively, in 2023.
Liquidity and Financial Position
We maintain adequate available liquidity under
our committed credit facilities. As at Dec. 31, 2024, we had access
to $1.6 billion in liquidity, including $336 million in cash, which
exceeds the funds required for committed growth, sustaining capital
and productivity projects.
2025 Outlook and Financial Guidance
For 2025, management expects adjusted EBITDA to
be in the range of $1.15 to $1.25 billion and FCF to be in the
range of $450 to $550 million, based on the following, relative to
2024:
- Higher
contribution from the wind and solar portfolio due to a full-year
impact of new asset additions of the White Rock and Horizon Hill
wind facilities;
- Contribution
from assets acquired with Heartland;
- Lower
contributions from the legacy merchant hydro, wind and gas assets
in Alberta which are expected to step down due to lower expected
average power prices in Alberta given baseload gas and renewables
supply additions in late 2024 and 2025;
- Lower current
income tax expense in 2025 compared to 2024 actual; and
- Increased net
interest expense in 2025 as a result of the Heartland acquisition
and lower interest income earned on lower cash deposits and lower
capitalized interest on growth projects.
The following table outlines our expectations
regarding key financial targets and related assumptions for 2025
and should be read in conjunction with the narrative discussion
that follows and the Governance and Risk Management section of the
MD&A for additional information:
Measure |
2025 Target |
2024 Target |
2024 Actual |
Adjusted EBITDA |
$1,150 to $1,250 million |
$1,150 to $1,300 million |
$1,253 million |
FCF |
$450 to $550 million |
$450 to $600 million |
$569 million |
FCF per share |
$1.51 to $1.85 |
$1.47 to $1.96 |
$1.88 |
Annual dividend per share |
$0.26 annualized |
$0.24 annualized |
$0.24 annualized |
The Company's outlook for 2025 may be impacted
by a number of factors as detailed further below.
Market |
2025 Assumptions |
2024 Assumptions |
2024 Actual |
Alberta spot ($/MWh) |
$40 to $60 |
$75 to $95 |
$63 |
Mid-Columbia spot (US$/MWh) |
US$50 to US$70 |
US$85 to US$95 |
US$76 |
AECO gas price ($/GJ) |
$1.60 to $2.10 |
$2.50 to $3.00 |
$1.29 |
Alberta spot price sensitivity: a +/- $1 per MWh
change in spot price is expected to have a +/-$3 million impact on
adjusted EBITDA for 2025.
Other assumptions relevant to the 2025
outlook
|
2025 Assumptions |
2024 Assumptions |
2024 Actual |
Energy Marketing gross margin |
$110 to $130 million |
$110 to $130 million |
$167 million |
Sustaining capital |
$145 to $165 million |
$130 to $150 million |
$142 million |
Current income tax expense |
$95 to $130 million |
$95 to $130 million |
$143 million |
Net interest expense |
$255 to $275 million |
$240 to $260 million |
$231 million |
Hedging assumptions |
Q1 2025 |
Q2 2025 |
Q3 2025 |
Q4 2025 |
2026 |
Hedged production (GWh) |
2,117 |
1,758 |
1,942 |
1,845 |
4,713 |
Hedge
price ($/MWh) |
$72 |
$70 |
$70 |
$70 |
$75 |
Hedged gas volumes (GJ) |
14 million |
6 million |
6 million |
6 million |
18 million |
Hedge
gas prices ($/GJ) |
$2.98 |
$3.63 |
$3.77 |
$3.65 |
$3.67 |
Conference call
TransAlta will host a conference call and
webcast at 9:00 a.m. MST (11:00 a.m. EST) today, Feb. 20, 2025, to
discuss our fourth quarter and year end 2024 results. The call will
begin with comments from John Kousinioris, President and Chief
Executive Officer, and Joel Hunter, EVP Finance and Chief Financial
Officer, followed by a question-and-answer period.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Conference
Call
Webcast link:
https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/zd49obg6
To access the conference call via telephone,
please register ahead of time using the call link here:
https://register.vevent.com/register/BI5c12d9a2da0e4e06892f413e217f0350.
Once registered, participants will have the option of 1) dialing
into the call from their phone (via a personalized PIN); or 2)
clicking the “Call Me” option to receive an automated call directly
to their phone.
Related materials will be available on the
Investor Centre section of TransAlta’s website at
https://transalta.com/investors/presentations-and-events/. If you
are unable to participate in the call, the replay will be
accessible at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/zd49obg6. A
transcript of the broadcast will be posted on TransAlta’s website
once it becomes available.
Notes
(1)These items (adjusted EBITDA, FCF and annual
average EBITDA) are not defined and have no standardized meaning
under IFRS. Presenting these items from period to period provides
management and investors with the ability to evaluate earnings
(loss) trends more readily in comparison with prior periods’
results. Please refer to the Non-IFRS Measures section of this
earnings release for further discussion of these items, including,
where applicable, reconciliations to measures calculated in
accordance with IFRS.(2)Funds from operations (FFO) per share and
free cash flow (FCF) per share are calculated using the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
Refer to the Additional IFRS Measures and Non-IFRS Measures section
of the MD&A for the purpose of these non-IFRS ratios.
Non-IFRS financial measures and other specified
financial measures
We use a number of financial measures to
evaluate our performance and the performance of our business
segments, including measures and ratios that are presented on a
non-IFRS basis, as described below. Unless otherwise indicated, all
amounts are in Canadian dollars and have been derived from our
consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS.
We believe that these non-IFRS amounts, measures and ratios, read
together with our IFRS amounts, provide readers with a better
understanding of how management assesses results.
Non-IFRS amounts, measures and ratios do not
have standardized meanings under IFRS. They are unlikely to be
comparable to similar measures presented by other companies and
should not be viewed in isolation from, as an alternative to, or
more meaningful than, our IFRS results.
Adjusted EBITDA
Each business segment assumes responsibility for
its operating results measured by adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA
is an important metric for management that represents our core
operational results. Interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
are not included, as differences in accounting treatments may
distort our core business results. In addition, certain
reclassifications and adjustments are made to better assess
results, excluding those items that may not be reflective of
ongoing business performance. This presentation may facilitate the
readers' analysis of trends.
Average Annual EBITDA
Average annual EBITDA is a forward-looking
non-IFRS financial measure that is used to show the average annual
EBITDA that the project is expected to generate.
Funds From Operations (FFO)
FFO is an important metric as it provides a
proxy for cash generated from operating activities before changes
in working capital and provides the ability to evaluate cash flow
trends in comparison with results from prior periods. FFO is a
non-IFRS measure. The most directly comparable IFRS
measure is Cash Flow from Operations.
Free Cash Flow (FCF)
FCF is an important metric as it represents the
amount of cash that is available to invest in growth initiatives,
make scheduled principal repayments on debt, repay maturing debt,
pay common share dividends or repurchase common shares. Changes in
working capital are excluded so FFO and FCF are not distorted by
changes that we consider temporary in nature, reflecting, among
other things, the impact of seasonal factors and timing of receipts
and payments. FCF is a non-IFRS measure. The most directly
comparable IFRS measure is Cash Flow from Operations.
Non-IFRS Ratios
FFO per share, FCF per share and adjusted net
debt to adjusted EBITDA are non-IFRS ratios that are presented in
the MD&A. Refer to the Reconciliation of Cash Flow from
Operations to FFO and FCF and Key Non-IFRS Financial Ratios
sections of the MD&A for additional information.
FFO per share and FCF per share
FFO per share and FCF per share are calculated
using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding
during the period. FFO per share and FCF per share are non-IFRS
ratios.
Reconciliation of these non-IFRS financial
measures to the most comparable IFRS measure are provided
below.
Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures on a Consolidated
Basis
The following table reflects adjusted EBITDA by
segment and provides reconciliation to earnings before income taxes
for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2024:
Three months ended Dec. 31, 2024$ millions |
Hydro |
|
Wind & Solar(1) |
|
Gas |
|
Energy Transition |
|
EnergyMarketing |
Corporate |
|
Total |
|
Equity accounted
investments(1) |
|
Reclass adjustments |
|
IFRS financials |
|
Revenues |
93 |
|
104 |
|
319 |
|
155 |
|
14 |
— |
|
685 |
|
(7 |
) |
— |
|
678 |
|
Reclassifications
and adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized mark-to-market (gain) loss |
4 |
|
23 |
|
26 |
|
(8 |
) |
19 |
— |
|
64 |
|
— |
|
(64 |
) |
— |
|
Realized gains (losses) on closed exchange positions |
— |
|
— |
|
(1 |
) |
2 |
|
1 |
— |
|
2 |
|
— |
|
(2 |
) |
— |
|
Decrease in finance lease receivable |
— |
|
1 |
|
5 |
|
— |
|
— |
— |
|
6 |
|
— |
|
(6 |
) |
— |
|
Finance lease income |
— |
|
2 |
|
3 |
|
— |
|
— |
— |
|
5 |
|
— |
|
(5 |
) |
— |
|
Revenues from Planned Divestitures |
— |
|
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
— |
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
Brazeau penalties |
(20 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
— |
|
(20 |
) |
— |
|
20 |
|
— |
|
Unrealized foreign exchange gain on commodity |
— |
|
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
— |
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
Adjusted revenues |
77 |
|
130 |
|
350 |
|
149 |
|
34 |
— |
|
740 |
|
(7 |
) |
(55 |
) |
678 |
|
Fuel and purchased power |
3 |
|
8 |
|
136 |
|
102 |
|
— |
— |
|
249 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
249 |
|
Reclassifications
and adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fuel and purchased power related
to Planned Divestitures |
— |
|
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
— |
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
Australian interest income |
— |
|
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
— |
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
Adjusted fuel and purchased power |
3 |
|
8 |
|
134 |
|
102 |
|
— |
— |
|
247 |
|
— |
|
2 |
|
249 |
|
Carbon
compliance |
— |
|
— |
|
39 |
|
— |
|
— |
— |
|
39 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
39 |
|
Gross margin |
74 |
|
122 |
|
177 |
|
47 |
|
34 |
— |
|
454 |
|
(7 |
) |
(57 |
) |
390 |
|
OM&A |
47 |
|
27 |
|
67 |
|
19 |
|
7 |
68 |
|
235 |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
234 |
|
Reclassifications and
adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brazeau penalties |
(31 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
— |
|
(31 |
) |
— |
|
31 |
|
— |
|
ERP integration costs |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
(14 |
) |
(14 |
) |
— |
|
14 |
|
— |
|
Acquisition-related transaction and restructuring costs |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
(16 |
) |
(16 |
) |
— |
|
16 |
|
— |
|
Adjusted OM&A |
16 |
|
27 |
|
67 |
|
19 |
|
7 |
38 |
|
174 |
|
(1 |
) |
61 |
|
234 |
|
Taxes, other than
income taxes |
1 |
|
3 |
|
4 |
|
— |
|
— |
— |
|
8 |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
9 |
|
Net other operating income |
— |
|
(3 |
) |
(10 |
) |
(9 |
) |
— |
— |
|
(22 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
(22 |
) |
Reclassifications and
adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sundance A decommissioning cost reimbursement |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
9 |
|
— |
— |
|
9 |
|
— |
|
(9 |
) |
— |
|
Adjusted net other operating income |
— |
|
(3 |
) |
(10 |
) |
— |
|
— |
— |
|
(13 |
) |
— |
|
(9 |
) |
(22 |
) |
Adjusted EBITDA(2) |
57 |
|
95 |
|
116 |
|
28 |
|
27 |
(38 |
) |
285 |
|
|
|
|
Equity income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
Finance lease income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
Depreciation and
amortization |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(143 |
) |
Asset impairment charges |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(20 |
) |
Interest income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(92 |
) |
Foreign exchange gain |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
Loss before income taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(51 |
) |
(1) The Skookumchuck wind facility
has been included on a proportionate basis in the Wind and Solar
segment.(2) Adjusted EBITDA is not defined and has no
standardized meaning under IFRS. Refer to the Non-IFRS financial
measures and other specified financial measures section in this
earnings release and may not be comparable to similar measures
presented by other issuers.
The following table reflects adjusted EBITDA by
segment and provides reconciliation to loss before income taxes for
the three months ended Dec. 31, 2023:
Three months ended Dec. 31, 2023$ millions |
Hydro |
|
Wind & Solar(1) |
|
Gas |
|
Energy Transition |
EnergyMarketing |
|
Corporate |
|
Total |
|
Equity accounted
investments(1) |
|
Reclass adjustments |
|
IFRS financials |
|
Revenues |
77 |
|
94 |
|
246 |
|
175 |
39 |
|
— |
|
631 |
|
(7 |
) |
— |
|
624 |
|
Reclassifications
and adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized mark-to-market (gain) loss |
(2 |
) |
20 |
|
53 |
|
7 |
(19 |
) |
— |
|
59 |
|
— |
|
(59 |
) |
— |
|
Realized gain on closed exchange positions |
— |
|
— |
|
23 |
|
— |
4 |
|
— |
|
27 |
|
— |
|
(27 |
) |
— |
|
Decrease in finance lease receivable |
— |
|
— |
|
15 |
|
— |
— |
|
— |
|
15 |
|
— |
|
(15 |
) |
— |
|
Finance lease income |
— |
|
— |
|
2 |
|
— |
— |
|
— |
|
2 |
|
— |
|
(2 |
) |
— |
|
Unrealized foreign exchange gain on commodity |
— |
|
— |
|
1 |
|
— |
— |
|
— |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
Adjusted revenues |
75 |
|
114 |
|
340 |
|
182 |
24 |
|
— |
|
735 |
|
(7 |
) |
(104 |
) |
624 |
|
Fuel and purchased power |
5 |
|
8 |
|
127 |
|
138 |
— |
|
— |
|
278 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
278 |
|
Reclassifications
and adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Australian interest income |
— |
|
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
— |
|
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
Adjusted fuel and purchased power |
5 |
|
8 |
|
126 |
|
138 |
— |
|
— |
|
277 |
|
— |
|
1 |
|
278 |
|
Carbon
compliance |
— |
|
— |
|
27 |
|
— |
— |
|
— |
|
27 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
27 |
|
Gross margin |
70 |
|
106 |
|
187 |
|
44 |
24 |
|
— |
|
431 |
|
(7 |
) |
(105 |
) |
319 |
|
OM&A |
13 |
|
25 |
|
56 |
|
18 |
10 |
|
29 |
|
151 |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
150 |
|
Taxes, other than
income taxes |
1 |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
— |
— |
|
1 |
|
3 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
3 |
|
Net other operating
income |
— |
|
(3 |
) |
(10 |
) |
— |
— |
|
— |
|
(13 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
(13 |
) |
Adjusted net other operating income |
— |
|
(2 |
) |
(10 |
) |
— |
— |
|
— |
|
(12 |
) |
— |
|
(1 |
) |
(13 |
) |
Adjusted EBITDA(2) |
56 |
|
82 |
|
141 |
|
26 |
14 |
|
(30 |
) |
289 |
|
|
|
|
Equity income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
Finance lease income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
Depreciation and
amortization |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(132 |
) |
Asset impairment charges |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(26 |
) |
Interest income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(66 |
) |
Foreign exchange loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7 |
) |
Loss before income taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(35 |
) |
(1) The Skookumchuck wind facility
has been included on a proportionate basis in the Wind and Solar
segment.(2) Adjusted EBITDA is not defined and has no
standardized meaning under IFRS. Refer to the Non-IFRS financial
measures and other specified financial measures section in this
earnings release and may not be comparable to similar measures
presented by other issuers.
The following table reflects adjusted EBITDA by
segment and provides reconciliation to earnings before income taxes
for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024:
Year ended Dec. 31, 2024$ millions |
Hydro |
Wind & Solar(1) |
|
Gas |
|
Energy Transition |
|
EnergyMarketing |
|
Corporate |
|
Total |
|
Equity accounted
investments(1) |
|
Reclass adjustments |
|
IFRS financials |
|
Revenues |
409 |
|
357 |
|
1,350 |
|
616 |
|
168 |
|
(34 |
) |
2,866 |
|
(21 |
) |
— |
|
2,845 |
|
Reclassifications
and adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized mark-to-market (gain) loss |
1 |
|
84 |
|
(60 |
) |
(36 |
) |
14 |
|
— |
|
3 |
|
— |
|
(3 |
) |
— |
|
Realized gain (loss) on closed exchange positions |
— |
|
— |
|
7 |
|
2 |
|
(15 |
) |
— |
|
(6 |
) |
— |
|
6 |
|
— |
|
Decrease in finance lease receivable |
— |
|
2 |
|
19 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
21 |
|
— |
|
(21 |
) |
— |
|
Finance lease income |
— |
|
6 |
|
8 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
14 |
|
— |
|
(14 |
) |
— |
|
Revenues from Planned
Divestitures |
— |
|
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
Brazeau penalty |
(20 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(20 |
) |
— |
|
20 |
|
— |
|
Unrealized foreign exchange loss on commodity |
— |
|
— |
|
(2 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(2 |
) |
— |
|
2 |
|
— |
|
Adjusted revenues |
390 |
|
449 |
|
1,321 |
|
582 |
|
167 |
|
(34 |
) |
2,875 |
|
(21 |
) |
(9 |
) |
2,845 |
|
Fuel and purchased power |
16 |
|
30 |
|
475 |
|
418 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
939 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
939 |
|
Reclassifications
and adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fuel and purchased power
related to Planned Divestitures |
— |
|
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
Australian interest income |
— |
|
— |
|
(4 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(4 |
) |
— |
|
4 |
|
— |
|
Adjusted fuel and purchased power |
16 |
|
30 |
|
470 |
|
418 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
934 |
|
— |
|
5 |
|
939 |
|
Carbon
compliance |
— |
|
— |
|
145 |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
(34 |
) |
112 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
112 |
|
Gross margin |
374 |
|
419 |
|
706 |
|
163 |
|
167 |
|
— |
|
1,829 |
|
(21 |
) |
(14 |
) |
1,794 |
|
OM&A |
86 |
|
97 |
|
198 |
|
69 |
|
36 |
|
173 |
|
659 |
|
(4 |
) |
— |
|
655 |
|
Reclassifications and
adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brazeau penalty |
(31 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(31 |
) |
— |
|
31 |
|
— |
|
ERP implementation costs |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(14 |
) |
(14 |
) |
— |
|
14 |
|
— |
|
Acquisition-related transaction and restructuring costs |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(24 |
) |
(24 |
) |
|
24 |
|
— |
|
Adjusted OM&A |
55 |
|
97 |
|
198 |
|
69 |
|
36 |
|
135 |
|
590 |
|
(4 |
) |
69 |
|
655 |
|
Taxes, other than income
taxes |
3 |
|
16 |
|
13 |
|
3 |
|
— |
|
1 |
|
36 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
36 |
|
Net other operating
income |
— |
|
(10 |
) |
(40 |
) |
(9 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
(59 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
(59 |
) |
Reclassifications and
adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sundance A decommissioning cost reimbursement |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
9 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
9 |
|
— |
|
(9 |
) |
— |
|
Adjusted net other operating income |
— |
|
(10 |
) |
(40 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(50 |
) |
— |
|
(9 |
) |
(59 |
) |
Adjusted EBITDA(2) |
316 |
|
316 |
|
535 |
|
91 |
|
131 |
|
(136 |
) |
1,253 |
|
|
|
|
Equity income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
Finance lease income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14 |
|
Depreciation and
amortization |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(531 |
) |
Asset impairment charges |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(46 |
) |
Interest income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(324 |
) |
Foreign exchange gain |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
Gain on
sale of assets and other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
Earnings before income taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
319 |
|
(1) The Skookumchuck wind facility
has been included on a proportionate basis in the Wind and Solar
segment.(2) Adjusted EBITDA is not defined and has no
standardized meaning under IFRS. Refer to the Non-IFRS financial
measures and other specified financial measures section in this
earnings release and may not be comparable to similar measures
presented by other issuers.
The following table reflects adjusted EBITDA by
segment and provides reconciliation to earnings before income taxes
for the year ended Dec. 31, 2023:
Year ended Dec. 31, 2023$ millions |
Hydro |
|
Wind & Solar(1) |
|
Gas |
|
Energy Transition |
|
EnergyMarketing |
|
Corporate |
|
Total |
|
Equity accounted
investments(1) |
|
Reclass adjustments |
|
IFRS financials |
|
Revenues |
533 |
|
357 |
|
1,514 |
|
751 |
|
220 |
|
1 |
|
3,376 |
|
(21 |
) |
— |
|
3,355 |
|
Reclassifications
and adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized mark-to-market loss |
(4 |
) |
16 |
|
(67 |
) |
(5 |
) |
23 |
|
— |
|
(37 |
) |
— |
|
37 |
|
— |
|
Realized gain (loss) on closed exchange positions |
— |
|
— |
|
10 |
|
— |
|
(91 |
) |
— |
|
(81 |
) |
— |
|
81 |
|
— |
|
Decrease in finance lease receivable |
— |
|
— |
|
55 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
55 |
|
— |
|
(55 |
) |
— |
|
Finance lease income |
— |
|
— |
|
12 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
12 |
|
— |
|
(12 |
) |
— |
|
Unrealized foreign exchange gain on commodity |
— |
|
— |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
Adjusted revenues |
529 |
|
373 |
|
1,525 |
|
746 |
|
152 |
|
1 |
|
3,326 |
|
(21 |
) |
50 |
|
3,355 |
|
Fuel and purchased power |
19 |
|
30 |
|
453 |
|
557 |
|
— |
|
1 |
|
1,060 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
1,060 |
|
Reclassifications
and adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Australian interest income |
— |
|
— |
|
(4 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(4 |
) |
— |
|
4 |
|
— |
|
Adjusted fuel and purchased power |
19 |
|
30 |
|
449 |
|
557 |
|
— |
|
1 |
|
1,056 |
|
— |
|
4 |
|
1,060 |
|
Carbon
compliance |
— |
|
— |
|
112 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
112 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
112 |
|
Gross margin |
510 |
|
343 |
|
964 |
|
189 |
|
152 |
|
— |
|
2,158 |
|
(21 |
) |
46 |
|
2,183 |
|
OM&A |
48 |
|
80 |
|
192 |
|
64 |
|
43 |
|
115 |
|
542 |
|
(3 |
) |
— |
|
539 |
|
Taxes, other than income
taxes |
3 |
|
12 |
|
11 |
|
3 |
|
— |
|
1 |
|
30 |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
29 |
|
Net other operating
income |
— |
|
(7 |
) |
(40 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(47 |
) |
|
— |
|
(47 |
) |
Reclassifications
and adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Insurance recovery |
— |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
(1 |
) |
— |
|
Adjusted net other operating income |
— |
|
(6 |
) |
(40 |
) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(46 |
) |
— |
|
(1 |
) |
(47 |
) |
Adjusted EBITDA(2) |
459 |
|
257 |
|
801 |
|
122 |
|
109 |
|
(116 |
) |
1,632 |
|
|
|
|
Equity income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
Finance lease income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
|
Depreciation and
amortization |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(621 |
) |
Asset impairment reversals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
48 |
|
Interest income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
59 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(281 |
) |
Foreign exchange gain |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7 |
) |
Gain on sale of assets and other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
Earnings before income taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
880 |
|
(1) The Skookumchuck wind facility
has been included on a proportionate basis in the Wind and Solar
segment.(2) Adjusted EBITDA is not defined and has no
standardized meaning under IFRS. Refer to the Non-IFRS financial
measures and other specified financial measures section in this
earnings release and may not be comparable to similar measures
presented by other issuers.
Reconciliation of cash flow from operations to FFO and
FCF
The table below reconciles our cash flow from
operating activities to our FFO and FCF:
|
Three Months Ended |
Year Ended |
$ millions, unless otherwise stated |
Dec. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Dec. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Cash flow from operating activities(1) |
215 |
|
310 |
|
796 |
|
1,464 |
|
Change
in non-cash operating working capital balances |
(97 |
) |
(135 |
) |
(38 |
) |
(124 |
) |
Cash flow from operations before changes in working
capital |
118 |
|
175 |
|
758 |
|
1,340 |
|
Adjustments |
|
|
|
|
Share of adjusted FFO from joint venture(1) |
4 |
|
3 |
|
8 |
|
8 |
|
Decrease in finance lease receivable |
6 |
|
15 |
|
21 |
|
55 |
|
Clean energy transition provisions and adjustments(2) |
— |
|
4 |
|
— |
|
11 |
|
Sundance A decommissioning cost reimbursement |
(9 |
) |
— |
|
(9 |
) |
— |
|
Realized gain (loss) on closed exchanged positions |
2 |
|
27 |
|
(6 |
) |
(81 |
) |
Acquisition-related transaction and restructuring costs |
11 |
|
— |
|
19 |
|
— |
|
Other(3) |
5 |
|
5 |
|
19 |
|
18 |
|
FFO(4) |
137 |
|
229 |
|
810 |
|
1,351 |
|
Deduct: |
|
|
|
|
Sustaining capital(1) |
(67 |
) |
(74 |
) |
(142 |
) |
(174 |
) |
Productivity capital |
(1 |
) |
(1 |
) |
(1 |
) |
(3 |
) |
Dividends paid on preferred shares |
(13 |
) |
(12 |
) |
(52 |
) |
(51 |
) |
Distributions paid to subsidiaries’ non-controlling interests |
(6 |
) |
(19 |
) |
(40 |
) |
(223 |
) |
Principal payments on lease liabilities |
(3 |
) |
(2 |
) |
(6 |
) |
(10 |
) |
Other |
1 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
FCF(4) |
48 |
|
121 |
|
569 |
|
890 |
|
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding in the
period |
298 |
|
308 |
|
302 |
|
276 |
|
FFO per share(4) |
0.46 |
|
0.74 |
|
2.68 |
|
4.89 |
|
FCF per share(4) |
0.16 |
|
0.39 |
|
1.88 |
|
3.22 |
|
(1) Includes our share of amounts for
the Skookumchuck wind facility, an equity-accounted joint
venture.(2) 2023 includes amounts related to onerous
contracts recognized in 2021 and a voluntary contribution to the US
Defined Benefit Pension Plan for the Centralia thermal
facility.(3) Other consists of production tax credits,
which is a reduction to tax equity debt, less distributions from an
equity-accounted joint venture.(4) These items are not
defined and have no standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be
comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Refer to
the Non-IFRS Measures section in this earnings release .
The table below provides a reconciliation of our
adjusted EBITDA to our FFO and FCF:
|
Three Months Ended |
Year Ended |
$ millions, unless otherwise stated |
Dec. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Dec. 31, 2024 |
|
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA(1)(4) |
285 |
|
289 |
|
1,253 |
|
1,632 |
|
Provisions |
2 |
|
(1 |
) |
10 |
|
(1 |
) |
Net interest expense(2) |
(64 |
) |
(41 |
) |
(231 |
) |
(164 |
) |
Current income tax recovery
(expense) |
(20 |
) |
5 |
|
(143 |
) |
(50 |
) |
Realized foreign exchange gain
(loss) |
(20 |
) |
9 |
|
(27 |
) |
(4 |
) |
Decommissioning and
restoration costs settled |
(12 |
) |
(15 |
) |
(41 |
) |
(37 |
) |
Other
non-cash items |
(34 |
) |
(17 |
) |
(11 |
) |
(25 |
) |
FFO(3)(4) |
137 |
|
229 |
|
810 |
|
1,351 |
|
Deduct: |
|
|
|
|
Sustaining capital(4) |
(67 |
) |
(74 |
) |
(142 |
) |
(174 |
) |
Productivity capital |
(1 |
) |
(1 |
) |
(1 |
) |
(3 |
) |
Dividends paid on preferred shares |
(13 |
) |
(12 |
) |
(52 |
) |
(51 |
) |
Distributions paid to subsidiaries’ non-controlling interests |
(6 |
) |
(19 |
) |
(40 |
) |
(223 |
) |
Principal payments on lease liabilities |
(3 |
) |
(2 |
) |
(6 |
) |
(10 |
) |
Other |
1 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
FCF(4) |
48 |
|
121 |
|
569 |
|
890 |
|
(1) Adjusted EBITDA is defined in the
Additional IFRS Measures and Non-IFRS Measures of this earnings
release and reconciled to earnings (loss) before income taxes
above.(2) Net interest expense includes interest expense less
interest income and excludes non-cash items like financing
amortization and accretion.(3) These items are not
defined and have no standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be
comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. FFO and
FCF are defined in the Non-IFRS financial measures and other
specified financial measures section of in this earnings release
and reconciled to cash flow from operating activities
above.(4) Includes our share of amounts for Skookumchuck
wind facility, an equity-accounted joint venture.
TransAlta is in the process of filing its Annual
Information Form, Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and
accompanying notes, as well as the associated Management’s
Discussion & Analysis (MD&A). These documents will be
available today on the Investors section of TransAlta’s website at
www.transalta.com or through SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca.
TransAlta will also be filing its Form 40-F with
the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The form will be
available through their website at www.sec.gov. Paper copies of all
documents are available to shareholders free of charge upon
request.
About TransAlta Corporation:
TransAlta owns, operates and develops a diverse
fleet of electrical power generation assets in Canada, the United
States and Western Australia with a focus on long-term shareholder
value. TransAlta provides municipalities, medium and large
industries, businesses and utility customers with clean,
affordable, energy efficient and reliable power. Today, TransAlta
is one of Canada’s largest producers of wind power and Alberta’s
largest producer of hydro-electric power. For over 112 years,
TransAlta has been a responsible operator and a proud member of the
communities where we operate and where our employees work and live.
TransAlta aligns its corporate goals with the UN Sustainable
Development Goals and the Future-Fit Business Benchmark, which also
defines sustainable goals for businesses. Our reporting on climate
change management has been guided by the International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS) S2 Climate-related Disclosures Standard
and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
recommendations. TransAlta has achieved a 70 per cent reduction in
GHG emissions or 22.7 million tonnes CO2e since 2015 and received
an upgraded MSCI ESG rating of AA.
For more information about TransAlta, visit our
web site at transalta.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Information
This news release includes "forward-looking
information," within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
laws, and "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of
applicable United States securities laws, including the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively referred to
herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements
are not facts, but only predictions and generally can be identified
by the use of statements that include phrases such as "may",
"will", "can", "could", "would", "shall", "believe", "expect",
"estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "forecast", "foresee",
"potential", "enable", "continue" or other comparable terminology.
These statements are not guarantees of our future performance,
events or results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other
important factors that could cause our actual performance, events
or results to be materially different from those set out in or
implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, this news
release contains forward-looking statements about the following,
among other things: the strategic objectives of the Company and
that the execution of the Company's strategy will realize value for
shareholders; our capital allocation and financing strategy; our
sustainability goals and targets, including those in our 2024
Sustainability Report; our 2025 Outlook; our financial and
operational performance, including our hedge position; optimizing
and diversifying our existing assets; the increasingly contracted
nature of our fleet; expectations about strategies for growth and
expansion, including opportunities for Centralia redevelopment, and
data centre opportunities; expected costs and schedules for planned
projects; expected regulatory processes and outcomes, including in
relation to the Alberta restructured energy market; the power
generation industry and the supply and demand of electricity; the
cyclicality of our business; expected outcomes with respect to
legal proceedings; the expected impact of future tax and accounting
changes; and expected industry, market and economic conditions.
The forward-looking statements contained in this
news release are based on many assumptions including, but not
limited to, the following: no significant changes to applicable
laws and regulations; no unexpected delays in obtaining required
regulatory approvals; no material adverse impacts to investment and
credit markets; no significant changes to power price and hedging
assumptions; no significant changes to gas commodity price
assumptions and transport costs; no significant changes to interest
rates; no significant changes to the demand and growth of
renewables generation; no significant changes to the integrity and
reliability of our facilities; no significant changes to the
Company's debt and credit ratings; no unforeseen changes to
economic and market conditions; and no significant event occurring
outside the ordinary course of business.
These assumptions are based on information
currently available to TransAlta, including information obtained
from third-party sources. Actual results may differ materially from
those predicted. Factors that may adversely impact what is
expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained in
this news release include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in
power prices; changes in supply and demand for electricity; our
ability to contract our electricity generation for prices that will
provide expected returns; our ability to replace contracts as they
expire; risks associated with development projects and
acquisitions; any difficulty raising needed capital in the future
on reasonable terms or at all; our ability to achieve our targets
relating to ESG; long-term commitments on gas transportation
capacity that may not be fully utilized over time; changes to the
legislative, regulatory and political environments; environmental
requirements and changes in, or liabilities under, these
requirements; operational risks involving our facilities, including
unplanned outages and equipment failure; disruptions in the
transmission and distribution of electricity; reductions in
production; impairments and/or writedowns of assets; adverse
impacts on our information technology systems and our internal
control systems, including increased cybersecurity threats;
commodity risk management and energy trading risks; reduced labour
availability and ability to continue to staff our operations and
facilities; disruptions to our supply chains; climate-change
related risks; reductions to our generating units' relative
efficiency or capacity factors; general economic risks, including
deterioration of equity and debt markets, increasing interest rates
or rising inflation; general domestic and international economic
and political developments, including potential trade tariffs;
industry risk and competition; counterparty credit risk; inadequacy
or unavailability of insurance coverage; increases in the Company's
income taxes and any risk of reassessments; legal, regulatory and
contractual disputes and proceedings involving the Company;
reliance on key personnel; and labour relations matters.
The foregoing risk factors, among others, are
described in further detail under the heading "Governance and Risk
Management" in the MD&A, which section is incorporated by
reference herein.
Readers are urged to consider these factors
carefully when evaluating the forward-looking statements and are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on them. The forward-looking
statements included in this news release are made only as of the
date hereof and we do not undertake to publicly update these
forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future
events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. The
purpose of the financial outlooks contained herein is to give the
reader information about management's current expectations and
plans and readers are cautioned that such information may not be
appropriate for other purposes.
Note: All financial figures are in Canadian dollars unless
otherwise indicated.
For more information:
Investor Inquiries: |
Media Inquiries: |
Phone: 1-800-387-3598 in
Canada and US |
Phone: 1-855-255-9184 |
Email:
investor_relations@transalta.com |
Email:
ta_media_relations@transalta.com |
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