Tokyo, November 27, 2013 -- Moody's Japan K.K. has affirmed its ratings on seven Japanese
electric power utilities.
The ratings outlooks remain negative for all seven companies.
Of the seven, six are regional integrated power utilities that own
nuclear facilities, and one is a nationwide wholesale power utility
whose only customers are regional integrated utilities.
Details of the rating affirmations are as follows:
Chubu Electric Power Company, Inc: Senior secured and issuer
rating A3; short-term rating Prime-2
Chugoku Electric Power Company, Inc: Senior secured and issuer
rating A3
Hokkaido Electric Power Company, Inc: Senior secured rating
A3; short-term rating Prime-2
Hokuriku Electric Power Company: Senior secured rating A3;
short-term rating Prime-2
Kansai Electric Power Company, Inc: Senior secured and issuer
rating A3
Kyushu Electric Power Company, Inc: Senior secured rating
A3
Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. (J-Power):
Senior unsecured and issuer rating A1
RATINGS RATIONALE
The affirmation of the ratings reflects various positive developments
for Japan's electricity sector. However, the negative
outlook reflects the continuing uncertainty surrounding the timing of
a return of profitability to the sector.
Positive developments include: [1] regulatory approvals of
tariff hikes for several utilities; [2] the government's
simplification of the approval process for subsequent rate increases;
[3] establishment of a new accounting method for enabling nuclear
decommissioning costs to be included in costs used to calculate tariff
increases; [4] increasing clarity on the position of regulators
on nuclear safety; and [5] the improved access of the utilities
to the capital markets.
Also, Moody's notes that the support of Japanese financial
institutions for the utilities remains ongoing.
As a result, several utilities reported profits in 1H FYE/2014 (April
-- September 2013). However, in part these profits were
supported by deferral of maintenance expenses and a one-time revenue
increase due to an extraordinarily hot summer. Sustainable and
stable profitability will require a more normalized operating environment.
The continued uncertainty driving the negative outlook can be narrowed
down to two issues;
First, there is uncertainty over when the Nuclear Regulatory Authority
(NRA), a newly established regulatory institution on industry safety,
will decide the issue of restarting nuclear generation. In some
cases agreements with local governments may also be needed.
Even if restarts are approved, timing of approvals and the time
it will take to prepare the facilities to return to operation remains
uncertain. Since July 2013, five utilities have applied to
restart 14 reactors in total. The general consensus is that the
NRA will take about six months to carry out its inspections of these reactors.
Moody's estimates the earliest NRA approvals will be in the first
quarter of 2014. If requirements for local approvals and/or new
safety equipment are imposed, restarts are not likely until the
second quarter of the year at the earliest.
The second uncertainty is the issue of Electricity System Reform.
Moody's notes that the Partial Revision of the Electricity Business
Act has been passed by the Diet in November 2013. The further steps
of the reform involve fully liberalizing the retail market, further
securing the neutrality of the power transmission/distribution sector,
and fully liberalizing electricity rates by around 2020.
These steps, when realized, would negatively affect utilities'
profits. However, the success of the second and third phases
is uncertain. Moody's sees significant challenges in achieving
true competition sufficient to lead to cheaper rates. Past deregulation
efforts have not led to significant reductions in electric rates,
but, Moody's notes the separation of transmission from power
generation could provide a basis for greater competition.
As a non-nuclear-dependent wholesaler of electric power,
J-Power is less affected by the stresses in the industry.
J-Power's sells electricity on a wholesale basis under long-term
contracts to 10 regional utilities throughout Japan. It is among
the lowest-cost producers of electricity in Japan and its contracts
allow for price increases to cover its costs. The company has consistently
reported profits and its negative rating outlook reflects the concerns
regarding its customer base rather than its own operations. Moody's
notes the company has one nuclear power plant currently under construction.
Given the negative outlook associated with all of the affected issuers,
upgrades are unlikely in the near term.
However, the ratings outlook could return to stable if the utilities
return to a sustainable level of operating profits as a result of a more
stable regulatory and operating environment.
However, a delay beyond the second calendar quarter of 2014 in achieving
sustained profitability could lead to negative rating actions.
Such a delay would indicate continued difficulties and delays in regulatory
authorities ability to resolve the underlying structural challenges facing
the industry in a timely manner.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Regulated Electric
and Gas Utilities published in August 2009. Please see the Credit
Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
The rated utility companies are integrated and dominant suppliers of electricity
in their respective service areas and J-Power is a nationwide wholesale
power company.
Chubu Electric Power Company, Inc. (headquarters in Aichi),
Chugoku Electric Power Company, Inc. (headquarters in Hiroshima),
Hokkaido Electric Power Company, Inc. (headquarters in Hokkaido),
Hokuriku Electric Power Company (headquarters in Toyama), Kansai
Electric Power Company, Inc. (headquarters in Osaka),
Kyushu Electric Power Company, Inc. (headquarters in Fukuoka),
and Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. (headquarters
in Tokyo).
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series
or category/class of debt or pursuant to a program for which the ratings
are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's
rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular
rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the
support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive
rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt,
in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed
prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would
have affected the rating. For further information please see the
ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit
support from the primary entity(ies) of this rating action, and
whose ratings may change as a result of this rating action, the
associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity.
Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures,
if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure
to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating
review.
Moody's Japan K.K. is a credit rating agency registered
with the Japan Financial Services Agency and its registration number is
FSA Commissioner (Ratings) No. 2. The Financial Services
Agency has not imposed any supervisory measures on Moody's Japan K.K.
in the past year.
Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued
the rating.
Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com
for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.
Kazusada Hirose
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Japan K.K.
Atago Green Hills Mori Tower 20fl
2-5-1 Atago, Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-6220
Japan
JOURNALISTS: (03) 5408-4110
SUBSCRIBERS: (03) 5408-4100
Richard Bittenbender
Associate Managing Director
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: (03) 5408-4110
SUBSCRIBERS: (03) 5408-4100
Releasing Office:
Moody's Japan K.K.
Atago Green Hills Mori Tower 20fl
2-5-1 Atago, Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-6220
Japan
JOURNALISTS: (03) 5408-4110
SUBSCRIBERS: (03) 5408-4100
Moody's affirms ratings of seven Japanese electric utilities; maintains negative outlook