subject: Competitive Strategies Of Profitable Utilities - Market Research Reports On Aarkstore Enterprise [print this page] Introduction Introduction
With the ever-changing energy landscape, utilities have focused on certain strategies and components of the energy-value chain that have impacted their overall utility profitability during the period 2004-2008.
Scope
*A review of the financial performance of 15 leading utilities across Europe
*An analysis of different strategies and components of the energy-value chain that have contributed significantly to utility profitability
*Individual case studies of certain utilities showing both successful and unsuccessful strategies impacting their overall profitability
*A review of how the financial performance of different utilities has changed over time
Highlights
Counter-intuitively, the larger energy suppliers are among the lower performers in terms of overall utility profitability (Centrica, EOn, RWE and EDF). Of the top three most profitable utilities in 2004-2008, two of these are small-medium sized utilities (CEZ and Fortum).
Mergers and Acquisitions have contributed heavily to individual utility profitability levels, whereas over-exposure to one market or component of the energy value chain has led to large losses for individual utilities.
Utilities that have assets in upstream gas and gas storage have seen significant contributions to their individual profitability.
Reasons to Purchase
*Gain a comprehensive analysis of strategic and financial performance across utilities.
*Uncover the strategies and components of the energy-value chain that a company may want to invest into in future
*Benchmark individual leading utilities in Europe across a range of metrics
Table of Contents :
"Overview 1
Catalyst 1
Summary 1
analysis 2
This brief reviews the competitive strategies and financial performance of 15 leading utilities across Europe. 2
This brief reviews the competitive strategies and financial performance of 15 leading utilities across Europe. 2
Virtually all utilities saw their profitability fall in 2008 3
Fortum has been the most profitable utility for the last four out of five years 3
Overall profitability for the next five utilities did not vary much between 2007-08 4
Centrica and RWE are the only utilities to feature in the bottom five profitable utilities for four out of the last five years 5
Upstream and gas storage businesses have been considerably more profitable than other components of the energy value chain in 2007 and 2008 6
Centrica and Eni's upstream gas assets contributed significantly to utility profitability over 2007-08 8
The retail markets component of the energy value chain was the only component to post low contributions to overall utility profitability compared to overall utility revenue over 2007-08 10
RWE is the only utility to post significant profitability to revenue ratios in power generation over 2007-08 12
Centrica is a strong example of gas storage profitability 14
The lack of robust data from wholesale power trading makes it difficult to distinguish its profitability prospects 16
The distribution business was profitable overall, although there were mixed fortunes across utilities 18
Expansion via M&A activity proved to be more profitable than organic growth between 2006-08 20
Enel's acquisition of Endesa in 2007-08 considerably increased revenues and contributions to profitability 20
Iberdrola's acquisition of Scottish Power in 2007 increased its revenues, profitability, and access to the UK market 21
Over-exposure to one market or one segment of the energy value chain has been the least profitable strategy 22
Over-exposure to one market led to a substantial decrease in profitability for Centrica 22
Volatility in wholesale power prices led to BizzEnergy being taken into administration 23
National Grid was fined 41m in 2007 as a result of anti-competitive behavior 24
High market shares and the diversification of operations in several countries cannot sufficiently explain the differences in profitability between utilities 25
The most profitable utilities are not necessarily those that have high market shares in either the retail gas or power markets 25
Utilities in the top, middle and bottom profitability categories typically derive at least 50% of their revenues within their incumbent markets 27
The most profitable and least profitable utilities are geographically spread across both western and eastern Europe 29
APPENDIX 30
Ask the analyst 30
consulting 30
Disclaimer 30
List of Figures
Figure 1: Leading European utilities, in order of profitability in 2008 2
Figure 2: Top five utilities by profitability (2008), with five-year results 3
Figure 3: Mid-table utilities by profitability (2008), with five-year results 4
Figure 4: Bottom five utilities by profitability (2008), with five-year results 5
Figure 5: Revenue vs Profitability for Individual Business Units (2007-2008) 6
Figure 6: Profitability Scale for Individual Business Units (2007 - 2008) 7
Figure 7: Upstream Gas - Revenue vs Profitability (2007-2008) 8
Figure 8: Profitability Scale for Upstream Gas (2007 - 2008) 9
Figure 9: Retail Markets - Revenue vs Profitability (2007-2008) 10
