Market sort of going side ways of late

But I'm amazed that this one has hardly moved up In the last week

30p divi due tomorrow.

Anyone else watching these?

Future operation of thermal generation sites

SSE plc has decided to select the Limited Life Derogation (LLD) option under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) for its remaining capacity at its coal-fired power stations at Ferrybridge (North Yorkshire) and Uskmouth (South Wales). Under this 'opt-out' derogation, the plant (defined by the stack configuration) can run without fitting further abatement technology for a total of 17,500 hours or to the end of December 2023, whichever is the earlier.

The IED is due to come into effect from 1 January 2016 and imposes emission limits of SO2, NOx and particulates on all UK generation plant. In choosing how to respond to the Directive plant operators have a number of options, including the opportunity to identify plant to take a Limited Life Derogation (LLD). This option must be exercised by 1 January 2014.

Barclays Capital Overweight 1,355.00 1,349.00 1,200.00 1,810.00 Downgrades

On edit - the note has now been changed to "Underweight" !

Interim Management Statement

Tempted to pick up some of these myself, but if the markets are due to correct following QE tapering and the usual 'go away in may' adage, then might wait awhile. Think 1200p might be on the cards.
Divi yield is very attractive, though final divi not due until July.

I hope for all the pension pots that 1200 is not reached. But would not be surprised. Mainly due to petty points scoring children playing politics.

I would be buying at 1200!!!

Good point dl. I forgot about the political side of things. My case for 1200p has just been strengthened!

1370 first please!

1370 been and gone.

OFGEM PUBLISHES EQUITY MARKET RETURN GUIDANCE

17 February 2014

EQUITY MARKET RETURN CONSULTATION: REDUCING THE COST OF CAPITAL FOR ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES

· Changes to methodology put greater weight on current market evidence
· Proposed changes will lower assumed cost of equity to 6% resulting in an assumed cost of capital of 3.8% for five electricity distribution companies in 2015-16, with further falls projected in subsequent years
· Western Power Distribution, which was proposed for fast-tracking in November, will need to lower its assumed cost of equity and therefore its cost of capital if it is to remain in the fast- track process

Ofgem has today published guidance which will reduce the assumed cost of equity and cost of capital for electricity distribution companies.

The cost of equity is an important financial parameter. Changes to this affect the assumed cost of capital, which determines the return a company can earn on its investment during a price control. We are currently setting the electricity distribution companies' price controls for 2015 - 2023.

In November, we assessed the business plans from all six distribution companies. We sent five of these plans back as we considered that they could deliver more value for consumers. The companies will resubmit their plans in March. Today we are setting out our baseline assumption of 6% for their cost of equity, resulting in an estimated cost of capital at 3.8% for the first year of the price control, 2015-16. As these companies are yet to resubmit their plans, a decision cannot be finalised at this stage.

When we assessed the business plans, Western Power Distribution (WPD) was the only electricity distribution company deemed suitable to be considered for fast-tracking, as its plans demonstrated clear value for consumers. This meant that in November we consulted on accepting its plans subject to our consultation on calculating equity market returns. Today's decision means that to stay in the fast-track process, WPD will need to make an equivalent reduction in its assumed cost of equity to 6.4% resulting in an overall cost of capital estimated at 3.9% for 2015-16.

WPD now has to decide whether to accept these adjustments. If it does not, it will revert to the slow-track process and resubmit plans in March, along with the other five companies.

-Ends-

Slowly undoing Ed's 'work'.

Looking at that chart skinny, I think we should see 1460 before the next halt.

Lord Gnome - I agree, and PDQ at this rate.

skinny - 25 Sep 2013 14:22 - 162 of 179
Nice one ED!

Back to where Ed opened his mouth.

Credit Suisse Outperform 1,483.00 1,475.00 1,700.00 1,600.00 Reiterates

SSE Business Update

SSE plc will enter its close period on 31 March 2014, prior to the publication on Wednesday 21 May of its financial report for the year to 31 March 2014. This statement:

· details developments since SSE published its Interim Management Statement (IMS)
on 23 January;

· summarises SSE's expected financial results for the year to 31 March 2014, which
are forecast to be in line with the financial outlook in the IMS;

· as part of a value programme, announces a programme of planned asset and
business disposals that will secure proceeds and debt reduction estimated to total
around £1bn and simplify significantly the SSE group;

· also as part of a value programme, announces the identification of further operational efficiencies that will result in annual savings in overheads of around £100m by March 2016 but which will result in a reduction, compared with previous plans, of around 500 in the number of people employed by SSE in Great Britain;

· announces that there will be legal separation of the businesses within SSE's Retail
and Wholesale segments, planned to be completed by March 2015;

· announces that SSE will freeze at current levels its household energy prices in GB
until at least January 2016;

· sets out the conclusions of SSE's review of its offshore wind development portfolio, which will result in SSE narrowing significantly the focus of its near-term development plans to no more than 375MW of capacity in the Beatrice project;

· forecasts capital and investment expenditure by SSE of around £1.6bn in 2014/15 and then an average of up to £1.3bn (net of disposals) across the three years to March 2018;

· states that SSE expects adjusted earnings per share1 for 2014/15 to be around or
slightly greater than in 2013/14 but to be subject to greater risks in the following two
years; and

· states that SSE is targeting an increase in the full-year dividend for 2014/15 of at least RPI inflation2, with annual increases thereafter of at least RPI inflation2 also being targeted.



more....

Freezing Gas and Electricity prices until 2016. Good news for me as a customer.

You have to smile!

SSE price-freeze: Politicians rush to claim credit

The government and the Labour party have both claimed credit for a price freeze announced by UK energy supplier SSE.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband said the freeze was a result of their policies.

Energy suppliers could face first anti-trust probe

(Reuters) - Britain's energy suppliers could be on track for their biggest shake up since privatisation when regulators rule on Thursday whether the industry is competitive enough following a public outcry over high prices.

Three regulators will say whether the whole industry needs to be subjected to a full-blown anti-trust investigation which could result in some of the big gas and electricity suppliers being broken up.

A referral for a monopoly review is widely expected.

more...

27 March 2014

PROPOSED GB ENERGY MARKET REFERENCE

SSE believes that the energy market in Great Britain is competitive, has brought significant benefits for customers, and that much has been done in recent years to make it more transparent and easier to understand, ranging from greater liquidity in the wholesale electricity market to simplification of tariffs in the retail markets. In addition, there has been significant investment in energy infrastructure - SSE alone has invested over GBP7bn in the last five years.

Nevertheless, many of the key features of the energy market have become politically contentious and been subject to significant change designed to achieve a mixture of objectives. Ofgem states this morning that it believes a referral offers the opportunity 'once and for all' to clear the air. SSE has demonstrated consistently its appetite for reform that is in the interests of customers and during the forthcoming consultation will argue constructively that a market reference should provide a platform for achieving greater political and regulatory stability for the GB energy market, for the benefit of customers and the investment in the country's energy system that they need.

Alistair Phillips-Davies, Chief Executive of SSE, said:

'Regulators, politicians, customers and SSE all want the same thing: an energy market that not only works for customers, but is also trusted and seen to do so.

We welcome any efforts to clear the air, and in the meantime SSE will continue with its positive agenda for customers including its price freeze until at least, 2016.'

This information is provided by RNS