Earnings Labs

Emera Incorporated (EMA)

Q2 2021 Earnings Call· Wed, Aug 11, 2021

$52.97

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Emera Second Quarter 2021 Analysts Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. After the speaker presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded. [Operator Instructions] I would now like to hand the conference over to your speaker today, Mr. Dave Bezanson, Vice President of Investor Relations. Sir, please go ahead.

Dave Bezanson

Analyst

Thank you, Rand, and thank you all for joining us this morning. Emera's second quarter earnings release was distributed this morning via newswire and the financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis and the presentation being referenced on this call are available at our website at emera.com. Joining me this morning for the call is Scott Balfour, Emera's President and Chief Executive Officer; Greg Blunden, Emera's Chief Financial Officer; and other members of Emera’s management team. Before we begin, I will take a moment to advise you that this morning's discussion will include forward-looking information, which is subject to the cautionary statement contained in the supporting slide. Today's discussion and presentation will also include references to non-GAAP financial measures. You should refer to the appendix for definitional information and reconciliations of historical non-GAAP measures to the closest GAAP financial measure. And now I will turn things over to Scott.

Scott Balfour

Analyst

Thank you, Dave, and good morning, everyone. This morning, we released our second quarter results, and I'm pleased to say that we continue to see solid results and steady growth in our business. We delivered quarterly adjusted earnings per share of $0.54, an increase of $0.06 over last year, and year-to-date adjusted earnings per share of $1.49, up $0.22 over 2021 despite facing pressure from foreign exchange rates. Our team also continued to safely execute on our capital program, and we're on track to complete our $2.4 billion 2021 plan. The team is also making significant progress on the regulatory front. Last Friday, we filed a settlement agreement related to a request for a general base rate increase at Tampa Electric. Unanimously supported by all intervening consumer parties, it's a balanced agreement that supports Tampa Electric and Emera strategy to advance cleaner energy and investments in grid modernization and reliability, all the while never losing sight of affordability for customers. As you know, Tampa Electric has been significantly reducing the carbon intensity of its generation mix with major investments in solar and the Big Bend Modernization project. Today, Tampa Electric is Florida's top producer of solar energy on a per customer basis. This three-year agreement allows Tampa Electric to continue this progress, providing great support for investments already made as well as those planned over the period, giving us confidence in our ability to continue to deliver on many fronts. If approved, we will see an increase in base revenues of $122.7 million starting in 2022, these are all U.S. dollars, a further US$90 million in 2023 and US$21 million in 2024. The agreement also creates the Clean Energy Transition Mechanism, which will allow Tampa Electric to collect revenue of US$69 million annually over the next 15 years starting January…

Greg Blunden

Analyst

Thank you, Scott, and good morning, everyone. This morning we reported second quarter adjusted earnings of $137 million and adjusted earnings per share of $0.54. For the six months year-to-date adjusted earnings was $380 million and adjusted earnings per share was $1.49. Our adjusted earnings exclude mark-to-market adjustments that I will discuss in a few minutes. Emera's adjusted earnings per share increased for the quarter and year-to-date despite foreign exchange headwinds of $0.04 and $0.08 respectively. The Q2 increase of $0.06 per share was driven by strong quarter and the gas utilities and infrastructure segment led by Peoples Gass, but the segments contributing US $10 million US more than in Q2, 2020. Peoples Gas continues to benefit from new rates and continued growth in its customer base. The timing of preferred share dividends also gave us a year-over-year increase of $12 million as we record two dividends in Q2 2020 and only one in Q2 2021. The Canadian utilities contributed modestly to the growth with a higher contribution from the Maritime Link and Labrador Island Link projects. And lower corporate interest expense as a result of our efforts to reduce corporate debt continued this quarter. On the non-regulated front, we continue to see better results at Emera Energy due to strengthen market pricing and increase volatility. These positive changes were partially offset by the impact of a stronger Canadian dollar and by slightly lower earnings at Tampa Electric which experienced increased OM&G and depreciation resulting from our continued investments in solar and Big Bend and the effect of our regulatory settlement that led to an US $8 million amortization credits last year. Adjusting for the foreign exchange impacts and the amortization credit in 2020, Tampa Electric was modestly up quarter-over-quarter. Year-to-date increases in adjusted earnings per share of $0.22 were…

Dave Bezanson

Analyst

Thank you, Greg. This concludes the presentation. We would now like to open the call for questions from analysts.

Operator

Operator

Thank you. [Operator Instructions] We have our first question from the line of Ben Pham from BMO. Please go ahead.

BenPham

Analyst

Hi, thanks. Good morning. With Tampa’s settlement recognized, you’ve got to get still approval for that and you had the decision on New Mexico Gas fuel costs and lows coming in. Do you have better confidence now in terms of where the cash flow is going to go in 2022?

GregBlunden

Analyst

Good morning, Ben. It's Greg. We do, I mean, I think we, I think it's fair to say we always had confidence. Certainly, the settlements that we reached are in alignment with what our expectations would have been. And I think it's fair to say what the expectations of the rating agencies would have been. So the target of 12% FFO CFO to debt in 2022 is very much achievable at this point in time.

BenPham

Analyst

Okay. And when you actually head towards 2022, you have a step change in the Florida business and the cash coming in. Do you think you could be in a position where you can self-fund your CapEx program post-2022? I noticed a bit of DRIP still in the backend. But as you look forward, is that increasing probability there?

GregBlunden

Analyst

Yes, I think that nothing's changed from our expectation on what our funding requirements are for the '21 through to '23 period, we'll, of course, refreshes that in the fall, when we also refresh our capital forecast. But at this point in time, we're committed to maintaining our DRIP at the level we are. The ATM program is functioning quite well from our perspective, and we'll continue to access that for probably in the $50 million to $60 million a quarter on average going forward for the next, at least, the next couple of years.

BenPham

Analyst

Okay. And can you just comment, maybe high level, you think what your CapEx program, there's some advanced metering investments in there, NSP? Is there more to go maybe just broadly automation and implementing digital systems and what not, is there some upside and opportunity for that in your plan?

GregBlunden

Analyst

Ben, it's - I think, broadly across the portfolio is, we continue to make investments to modernize the grid and make investments in customer-facing technologies. Yes, for sure, that'll be part of our CapEx plan going forward. There’s aspects of that, obviously, within the plan now. Our AMI and smart meters have been obviously the most significant part of that and parts that we've talked about. But there have been other components of that as well across the portfolio. And so for certain that'll continue to be an important part of our capital program moving forward and part of the transition that we're driving as well.

BenPham

Analyst

Okay. That’s great. Thank you.

Operator

Operator

Thank you. Our next question is from the line of Mark Jarvi from CIBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

MarkJarvi

Analyst

Thanks. Good morning, everyone. I just wanted to come back to the question around the funding and now that you've got the settlement agreement. Maybe, Greg, when you look at that sort of funding pie chart and you had equity at 15% to 25%. I understand now, are you kind of trending towards that middle take 20% equity when we talked about $15 million a quarter for the ATM? Is that sort of where you're guiding to the midpoint of the equity requirements you’ve planned before?

GregBlunden

Analyst

Yes, Mark, I'd say, I don't think there's anything that would necessarily suggest that we'd want to tighten that range. I think that range for equity requirements over the three years is still appropriate. As I mentioned in response to Ben's question, we'll update that when we update our capital program later in the year. But at this point in time, I think that's the most appropriate guidance for us to have out there.

MarkJarvi

Analyst

Fair enough. And then coming to the Tampa, the fuel charge recovery, was there a bit of a drag in this quarter or last quarter in terms of just carrying the higher fuel costs? I am just wondering on that $83 million of higher revenue that comes through on a new rate, is any of that a bit of a catch up, or is that all just adjusting to where commodity costs are trending more in the back half of this year?

GregBlunden

Analyst

Yes, it's a combination, Mark, of a catch up for the first half of the year, as well as capturing what we expect the incremental fuel costs would be above what's in the basic fuel cost of rates in the second half of the year as well.

MarkJarvi

Analyst

And anyway to sort of give us a little bit of color in terms of how much of a grind might have been on Tama earnings in the last quarter?

GregBlunden

Analyst

So it won't have any impact on earnings at all, Mark, because it just flows through that fuel cost.

MarkJarvi

Analyst

Okay, fair enough. And my last question, just on the Muskrat Falls, the Nova Scotia Block coming through now, what's sort of the backup plan, if there was ever any unplanned outages on that or issues with your own transmission lines in terms of obligations on sort of renewable electricity, mix commitments and stuff in terms of how you guys either would be exposed on any penalties or how you would feel if there was ever any sort of temporary losses in that power coming through?

ScottBalfour

Analyst

Yes, Mark, I'll start and then Peter, I know he is on the phone and he can sort of backfill my answer, but broadly, we expect now with the Nova Scotia Block flowing, that will also enable incremental energy beyond the Nova Scotia Power Block also to flow. We expected that will effectively allow them switch power to procure the renewable energy that it needs, in addition to that, that's already being generated at natively here in the province to be able to meet that standard. But, Peter, over to you to add any more clarity.

PeterGregg

Analyst

Yes, thanks, Scott. And hi, Mark. In terms of if there were to be any transmission outages on that line, when it's part of our reliability planning, we need to ensure we've got a portfolio of resources, it's available to fill in any gaps. And so, you see, continuing --we will continue to utilize our coal fleet as we shut those down over the next number of years, we've got gas facilities, we've got existing renewables, we've got hydro facilities, we've also got the timeline into New Brunswick. And so we've got options and that's what we do every day. We have plan for those contingencies to make sure we can provide a reliable source of power.

MarkJarvi

Analyst

Okay. Thanks, Peter.

Operator

Operator

Thank you. Our next question is from Maurice Choy from RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

MauriceChoy

Analyst

Thank you, and good morning. My first question is on Tampa Electric. You're obviously open to go right to the end on a fully litigated case. But you're also willing to engage in the settlement, which obviously was a route that you took. And you mentioned earlier that this agreement aligned with your expectations. But as you look at this package holistically, can you discuss the puts and takes that led you to accept this settlement, and also how this deal may compared to the ones that appears in Florida also filed? Do you go in this year, as well as IPO [ph] yesterday?

ScottBalfour

Analyst

Yes, thanks for the question, Maurice. Archie, can you answer the first part of that question, and then I'll answer the second.

ArchieCollins

Analyst

Sure. Very good. Thanks, Scott. Good morning, Maurice. Yes, Maurice, I think what you're -- your first half of the question was were we prepared to go the full distance on a fully litigated rate case, and we absolutely were. The team here was in parallel with the settlement we were working on was busily prepping themselves for being on the witness stand during the hearing and preparing filing testimony, et cetera, et cetera. So we were fully prepared to go all the way and we all -- and we felt good and continue to feel good about the strength of our case and the value that it represented for both customers and shareholders. Our interest in engaging in a settlement when that opportunity was presented to us was really one of is there a way for us to work through this and achieve an outcome that we believe is equal to if not better than what we might derive from a fully litigated settlement? And is there a way to do it that brings certainty to what the price increases will be for customers on the 1st of January of 2022. There are other reasons as well, reputational, and otherwise, why we would have started to engage with all of the consumer parties. The deal, the agreement that we ultimately reached is one we feel really good about, for us as an organization and where we sit today it is a settlement that represents a significant de-risking of our business, it is a prudence determination on all of the assets that we were seeking recovery for is 100% recovery on all of those assets, including those that we intend to retire. So we feel really good about what we have achieved. For us, it certainly is -- it is…

ScottBalfour

Analyst

No, I think that covered it, I think that already answers the second question to Maurice. I think, as Archie said, look, what we have in front of us settlement and agreement that we have in front of us unanimously supported, I think it gives us a clear pathway to approval. There is of course a process that needs to go through with the Florida Public Service Commission. But obviously with all of the intervening parties supporting that agreement, we have confidence in the outcome, and this settlement agreement will allow us to deliver on our plans, our plans for our customers, and our plans for shareholders as well. So I think that's really the right answer to the question and Archie has reference to, you need to look at things as a whole package, which certainly, we've done, and we're happy with the settlement package that we've achieved.

MauriceChoy

Analyst

Thanks and maybe just a follow up to those comments. 9.95% is your starting point and obviously the higher end of 11%, can you compare that expectation to what you've achieved for last few years? From my recollections probably around 10% or just above 10%? But happy to hear your thoughts on that.

GregBlunden

Analyst

Yes, Maurice. This is Greg, I mean, I think it's fair to say that we've probably and maybe one year might have a slightly higher than this or one year, slightly lower, but I think we've generally been in around 10.25% to 10.50% ROE at Tampa Electric. And I think this settlement in its totality, probably positions as well that on average, we would expect to kind of maintain that level of performance at the utility.

MauriceChoy

Analyst

Great. And just my following question on the Investor Day that you've scheduled for December, not the same that you're obviously still waiting for a decision from the regulator in Florida. But what are perhaps two or three things that you're still waiting on over the next three or four months, in order to provide us an update to the CapEx and funding plan?

GregBlunden

Analyst

Yes, I wouldn't say there's anything, Maurice that we're waiting for, from a regulatory perspective running to that. We're just going through, it's a natural part of our planning cycle right now at Emera where we're going through and revealing capital plans for all of our businesses, and there's just some internal work that needs to get rolled up. And we review that with our board to make sure that we have their full support. And so it's really more of an internal processing than anything else.

Operator

Operator

The next one we have from Rob Hope from Scotiabank.

RobHope

Analyst

Good morning, everyone, just a follow up question on the CSCO ROE. So just want to further kind of clarify our understanding here, how, what are the key drivers that will move you kind of to the upper end of the band? And then through the agreement, do you think you kind of start towards the upper end? And then, as a little bit of lag sets in, you could kind of drift lower to get you to that overall 10 in the quarter average?

GregBlunden

Analyst

Yes, I mean, I think the greatest variability that we'll see over the next couple years is weather and load related. Rob, obviously, we're experiencing some customer growth. And we expect that to continue over the period. And with that customer growth, obviously, comes some load growth, we do have also step changes in revenue in both '23 and '24, which also helps. So again, on its whole, we would expect to maintain a fairly consistent ROE profile with probably the variable being weather, then ultimately residential load as a result of that weather.

RobHope

Analyst

Great, thanks for that. And then, just in terms of your kind of capital outlook, the opportunity is under development that you've been talking about for some time to have more -- just under $200 million of potential CapEx that's in over $400 million next year, where are we in moving those opportunities from under development into the secured bucket?

ScottBalfour

Analyst

Yes, it's, well, it's, you've heard us articulate before about half of it is projects related to the Atlantic Loop or direct investments in Atlantic Loop, and as we said, we expect to have greater clarity and be able to provide some additional color around that, in the fall of this year. Some of the other projects, I can't say we're seeing, necessarily material changes in it, we are seeing some progress in some of our utilities. New Mexico is an example where we're starting to look at gas storage as an opportunity in reaction to what was experienced with winter storm Uri. So there are a few things like that, Robert, but I wouldn't say there's necessarily anything significant to call out for it.

Operator

Operator

The next one we have from Linda Ezergailis from TD Securities.

LindaEzergailis

Analyst

Hi. Numbers of my questions have been answered. But maybe I'll switch the focus a little bit to your operating results. I'm wondering if you could give us a sense of the puts and takes in your operating expenses as it relates to any sort of inflationary pressures you're seeing, versus any sort of ongoing or new productivity initiatives, especially perhaps leveraging learnings from remote learning and adopting new technologies during the pandemic.

GregBlunden

Analyst

Well, I can start Linda and then maybe Scott can add on. It's a big question. I can say on a kind of our day to day operating expenses. Like if you think of kind of corporate expenses and things like that, we're not really seeing any inflationary increases yet but although I'm not sure what the level of activity would necessarily highlight that at this point in time, because clearly nobody's traveling and some of those things, so we're still seeing a lot of benefits from that side of it. I think, how, what we've experienced over the last year how that will continue? I think there's no question that the volume of travel, some conferences, things like that investor conferences and things like that, I think there's no question some of them will stay virtual. And I think we'll see some benefit from that side of it. On our core operating utilities, again, minimal impact so far, I would say, from an inflationary perspective, maybe the area we're starting to see some is on things like poles and wires are kind of just the day to day maintenance of our system. But, we're still, fortunately work cost to service utilities, those that inevitably get pass through to customers, a lot of our costs are labor and labor related costs that are, through agreements with unionized workforces, interest rates are certainly being helpful. So I think collectively as a whole, it's something we're watching, but it's not something that we've seen any kind of impact on our financial results to date.

ScottBalfour

Analyst

And I think in terms of cost efficiencies, Linda, I think sort of remote aspect of work, I'm not sure that would point anything of notable scale there, but where we are certainly seeing some efficiencies as we continue to invest in cleaner energies, things like, the conversion of coal units to natural gas fired units, drives a lot of operating costs efficiencies, and the labor components of running a gas plant is much less than that of running a coal plant to run the same again, when you think of renewable. So we're seeing those kinds of efficiencies as well, the impact of technology, smart meters and the impact there, taking away some of the manual processes that were required, not just the reading of meters, as was required in Nova Scotia, for example, but even the ability to remote disconnect and reconnect without needing to roll a truck in order to perform that service. So, we're seeing those kinds of efficiencies as businesses are benefiting from and that's an ongoing focus area for us for sure.

LindaEzergailis

Analyst

Thank you. And as a follow on and recognizing it's not a significant part of your business, but it is one of the more variable aspects of your Emera Energy. I'm wondering if you can give us a sense of whether some of the hot weather we've been seeing recently this summer, has translated into market dislocations and opportunities Q3 to date. And any sort of visibility or observations for the balance of the year beyond Q3 would be helpful context.

JudySteele

Analyst

So, Linda, it's Judy, good morning. So I guess I'll answer the second one first, we are having a much better year in 2021, than we had in '20 or '19. So I feel comfortable saying that we will be in our -- would expect to be with in our earnings range, which is US $15 million to US $30 million. I would say we're hopeful to be towards the higher end there. But the reality is about 40% of the year still kind of happens in November and December. So I can kind of -- I can't predict that is as confidently as I can say that we certainly will within the range. There hasn't been -- there's been a little, July has been okay, but not -- certainly not as Swedish Jews was I guess how I would describe it. It's been hot in the West, but not so much, kind of in a prime territory. Not bad, just not too exciting.

LindaEzergailis

Analyst

That's helpful context. Thank you. And maybe just as another quick follow on recognizing that your annual planning process needs to run its course. I'm just wondering how any sort of conversations with both your equity and debt investors are informing your thoughts going into that process around potentially expanded investor base. Are you seeing some of your sustainability initiatives and reporting and targets translating into potentially broader access to new classes of investors or potentially shifting your investor base a little bit? Any context around that would be helpful.

GregBlunden

Analyst

Yes, I'm not sure would necessarily, I mean it's interesting question, Linda, I'm not sure it necessarily say we've seen a really notable shift or extension. But I would say that, we've been getting really good feedback from existing investors and prospective new investors who are our focus in the ESG space around our disclosure around the language that we're using as of late even to our carbon reduction initiatives and efforts. And, look, we've been working hard to try and tell the story better, I think we've had a good story to tell for a long time, we just haven't really focused on telling it as well as we have in the last year or two and making steps that we did to really bring some robustness to our sustainability report, the most recent one issued about a month ago, now are not just telling a story about the carbon reduction efforts that have already been achieved. But what our plans and our goals are moving forward as part of our climate commitments. And I think frankly being candid with our investors around, our visibility to achieve an 80% reduction by 2040. But the net zero component of our Climate Commitment being more visionary, or it is over ambition, without the ability to have perfect line of sight as to how that could be achieved, affordably, as we sit today. So I think all those messages have resonated and I think frankly, within our two largest emitters, Nova Scotia Power and Tampa Electric, just given the clarity of the significant progress that both have already made, in terms of carbon reduction, I think has been something that shareholders have welcomed more clarity around the significance of the achievements that we made.

Operator

Operator

Our next question is from Andrew Kuske from Credit Suisse.

AndrewKuske

Analyst

Thank you. Good morning. Your renewable power generation exposures largely been tied to your rate based activities and your utility businesses in several jurisdictions. What appetite do you have to either build or acquire renewables outside of a regulated framework?

ScottBalfour

Analyst

Yes, I mean, Andrew, it's a good -- it's a really good question, and of course, one that we've asked ourselves about, I think, we continue to be comfortable with our approach, obviously, of with an eye on the pace of investment, given its impact on affordability, but is to really focus on the transition of power generation based inside a regulated utilities towards renewables, looking at it outside of our regulated service territories, we do look at it, we do think about it, of course, our efforts with the newer technologies, today is in a way a part of that in terms of looking at how distributed and renewable generation and backup storage, battery storage can be part of a system, whether that's inside our service territories or in the service territories of others. So that today would be our primary focus. But it's an area that we've looked at, but primary our focus is rate based investments of renewables, and continuing to push along our block energy concept that Emera Technologies has developed.

AndrewKuske

Analyst

So that's very helpful context. And so maybe it's just really a function of you have so much growth within the embedded rate basis, and you're trying to avoid rate shocks. And that's really the focus right now, because it's effectively captive solar reference, for example, in Florida.

ScottBalfour

Analyst

Yes, exactly. Right. And we look at the risk return trade often in doing something outside of the investment opportunity profile that we have now. And so we keep directing our capital towards those areas where we take the risk return, balance is most in favor of our shareholders.

AndrewKuske

Analyst

One small question and maybe a bit of a blast from the past, but also ties into the renewable power side of things and really just on tidal power. Are there any initiatives going on the tidal power side at this point in time?

ScottBalfour

Analyst

Not by us, I know the province here in Nova Scotia continues to look at it. But no, we've obviously taken two kicks at that. And it's a really interesting concept, but it's a long way from being commercial. And so our -- Emera Capital continues to be focused on those places where that risk return profile is it to the best advantage of shareholders. And so that's not an area that we're currently pursuing.

Operator

Operator

Our next question is from David Quezada from Raymond James.

DavidQuezada

Analyst

Thanks, good morning, everyone. My first question here, just on Maritime Link, I believe there's a comment in the MD&A that you have the potential to purchase additional power from Nalcor under energy access agreement. Just curious, what would cause you to exercise that and how you could make use of it? Potentially, I guess, flexibility on the cap and trade program or requirements in Nova Scotia?

ScottBalfour

Analyst

Peter, are you comfortable to answer that?

PeterGregg

Analyst

Yes, I think Greg can add as well. So, hi, David, I think it's certainly an option. And as we look to decarbonize our resource fleet, if it makes sense economically to expand that source of power, when you compare it to other options, I would say it is an option for us to further decarbonize as we shut down coal. But we'll judge that based on how it stacks up to other options. As Scott mentioned before, as we decarbonize, the most important thing for us is that we do that in an affordable way. So we need to be a cost competitive option for us

GregBlunden

Analyst

Yes, I think Peter said it right, David, it really is a -- it's something it's available to Nova Scotia Power, if it's in the best economic interests of its customers. And so it's got that option to procure that energy. And but if it can procure other energy, or generate other energy for less cost, then it will do that, it's really provides that incremental benefit to Nova Scotia Power and power planning and Nova Scotia Power customers, as it relates to cost and affordability of energy moving forward. So I think that is probably the best way to describe it. Rick, is there anything else that you'd like to add? I wasn't sure if you were on or not Rick so.

RickJanega

Analyst

No, you've both covered it.

GregBlunden

Analyst

Thank you.

DavidQuezada

Analyst

Okay, great. Great, thank you for that color. Appreciate it. And then maybe just one kind of high level question in US. Just wondering if you have any thoughts on how potential clean energy standard a federally could affect things? Or I guess create opportunities, maybe even across your footprint?

ScottBalfour

Analyst

Yes, I think, the way I describe it, David is, look, we have enough -- as a regulated utility through regulation, we have an obligation to produce for customers, the cheapest electron that is compliant to whatever the rules and regulations and legislation exists in that environment. And so the renewables that Nova Scotia Power has been investing in over the last few years have been part of that journey to meet the 40% renewable requirement that was set provincially here, the renewables that are being invested in Florida, have been made on the basis that they are the most cost effective sources of energy for the overall mix for Tampa Electric. So to the extent that there is a renewable standard that's imposed, it's another consideration. It's another factor as it's related to the generation planning for Tampa Electric, if it's a US based or Florida based standard, that may change i.e. accelerate the pace of investment in order to produce that cheapest electron that is compliant with regulation, so it would be directionally positive. But in the moment, Tampa Electric continues to decarbonize its fleet, both with things like grid modernization and the investment of renewables because it's in customers' best interests now, even before consideration of a renewable energy standard. So it's not holding us back from doing the right thing for customers today. If there was a change, obviously, Tampa Electric would factor that into its own planning and that might cause acceleration. But we also want to make sure that we're balancing affordability for customers at all times. And that will be part of the planning as well.

Operator

Operator

Our next question is from [Darius Lazni] from Bank of America.

UnidentifiedAnalyst

Analyst

Hi, good morning. Thank you for taking my question. Just wanted to clarify and follow up on the inflation comments from earlier specifically, as it relates to your solar initiatives in Florida. Are you seeing much as far as inflationary pressures on the price of the panels or things like that? Or it sounded like maybe the answer is no, but I'll let you respond there.

ScottBalfour

Analyst

Archie?

ArchieCollins

Analyst

Yes, happy to take that. Good morning, Darius. We're not seeing any inflation on the panels because we would have purchased those in advance; we have a long term agreement with for solar at fixed pricing that goes out for the full term of the construction period. And that goes beyond just the panels; it goes to the inverters, the trackers, and other elements that we had the Safe Harbor as part of that -- of those investments in order to secure the investment tax credit. So we're seeing some inflation on things like the steel that's used for the posts and some other smaller aspects of the projects, but nothing substantive that changes the economics of those investments.

UnidentifiedAnalyst

Analyst

Okay, excellent. Thank you very much. And one more, if I can just now that you've -- the regulated outlook is relatively the derisked following the proposed settlement in Florida, just curious how you're thinking about your dividend now and in the near term in the intermediate term, as far as the growth or potentially the payout ratio, just curious how you're thinking about it.

ScottBalfour

Analyst

Yes, we're thinking but any differently today than we were last week or last year. And, obviously, any change in the dividend is always the purview of the board of directors. But it's typically a discussion that we have on an annual basis, typically, in the fall. And look, when we set the dividend growth target at the level that it currently is, we did that with an eye to the long term as to what we believed was sustainable over the long term, of course, our guidance period will be adjusted from time to time, but really had -- our view as to what do we believe the earnings growth potential of the business is on an EPS basis and looking to ensure that we see an earnings growth potential that exceeds the rate of growth of the dividend over the long term. And that's how and why the dividend growth target of 45% was set a few years ago and we continue to look through that lens. And with that old look, today, as we have before. Thank you. I am showing no further questions at this time. Mr. Scott Balfour, please continue.

Scott Balfour

Analyst

Okay, so thank you everybody for participating in the call and we look forward to our call as part of the third quarter and wish everybody a healthy and safe balance of the summer.

Operator

Operator

Thank you. This concludes today's conference call. Thank you for participating. You may now disconnect. Have a great day.