NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings assigns an 'AA' rating to the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC), Florida's $250 million utility system revenue refunding bonds series 2013A. The bonds are expected to price Nov. 28 through negotiated sale. Bond proceeds will be used to refund the 1996A (Multi-Modal), 2003A and 2003B bonds.
Fitch also affirms the 'AA' rating on the following outstanding OUC bonds as follows:
--$197.2 million water and electric revenue bonds;
--$1.46.2 billion utility system revenue bonds.
The Rating Outlook is Stable.
SECURITY
The bonds are secured by net revenues of the combined electric and water system.
KEY RATING DRIVERS
STRONG FUNDAMENTALS: The electric and water utility's 'AA' rating reflects solid financial metrics, competitive rates, a diverse fuel mix and experienced financial management.
SOLID FINANCIAL COVERAGE: Fitch calculated debt service coverage (DSC) has historically hovered around 2.0 times (x). On a more conservative basis, DSC adjusted for purchased power and general fund transfers, coverage equaled a solid 1.55x in 2011. These figures are in line with Fitch 'AA' public power medians.
AMPLE LIQUIDITY: There is approximately $600 million of cash reserves or 354 days cash on hand, which provides ample coverage of outstanding variable-rate demand bonds and other financial and capital obligations. This mitigates concerns about the lack of a debt service reserve fund.
DIVERSIFIED CAPACITY: OUC's generating mix of coal (41% of capacity) and natural gas (54%) provides good operating flexibility and enables the utility to offer low cost electric service to its customers.
SLOWER ECONOMY: The utility's service territory has been impacted by the weak economy and slower demand for electricity. This conservatism has been incorporated into OUC's planning models.
WHAT COULD TRIGGER A RATING ACTION
Excessive Transfer Payments: Transfer payments levels are currently high, and Fitch would view negatively any unusually large payments above current levels.
Electric and Water Systems
OUC employs a diverse mix of coal and natural gas generation; supplemented by a small component of nuclear power. Plans to add more nuclear generation appear to have been discarded. OUC believes it has sufficient generation capacity until 2017. Generating capacity totals about 1,850 MW and is made up by fuel type for 2011 as follows: natural gas (54%), coal (41%), nuclear (4%) and renewable (1%). OUC has contracts with three coal suppliers to provide about 58% of needs through 2013. The utility hedges against its budget for up to 75% of estimated retail natural gas prices in the current fiscal year and also maintains a fuel stabilization fund to help mitigate short-term fuel variability. Additionally, the utility can pass increased costs to its customers based solely on the decision of its governing board.
The water system's customer base is reasonably diverse. OUC's water customers include 106,203 residential, 13,107 commercial and 16,106 irrigation customers as of Aug. 31, 2012. The 10 largest water customers comprise approximately 8.5% of total water sales, with the largest being approximately 2.2%. The water supply is obtained from 32 deep wells from the Floridian Aquifer. With a consumptive use permit (CUP) through May 2023, supply is expected to be sufficient through the duration of the CUP.
Financial Performance Positive
OUC has historically demonstrated strong and stable financial metrics; however, Fitch-calculated debt service coverage (DSC) did decline to 1.71x in 2010 from 2.07x in fiscal 2009 largely due to increases in interest expenses from 2009 bonds, as well as the issuance of Build America Bonds in early 2010. Despite the drop in coverage and the use of fuel stabilization funds to offset fuel costs, OUC's cash position has continued to improve, which Fitch views as a credit positive. Management forecasts assume DSC above 2.0x (1.6x adjusted) and days cash on hand greater than 200 days over the next several years.
Transfers to the City
OUC makes both a revenue-based transfer and an income-based dividend payment to the city of Orlando. In 2008, the board fixed the payments through 2011. Revenue based payments for fiscal year 2012 were $29.6 million and fixed-income payments were $47.1 million, with the total approximating $76.8 million. For 2013, this number is expected to be $76 million. The size of the transfer payments (over 8 percent of total revenues) remains high for the rating category.
Service Territory Stable
Future growth of the electric system is forecasted at about 2% annually for the next several years, with above average growth expected to come from areas surrounding the Lake Nona Medical City, which is southeast of the Orlando International Airport and from plans to add SunRail, a mass transportation network closer to the city. Water customer and sales growth is expected to be about 1.5% yearly for the next five years. Unemployment rates for Orange County, FL, the state of Florida and the U.S., based on preliminary August 2012 figures, was 8.6%, 9.0% and 8.2%, respectively. Attendance at major theme parks continues to remain stable.
Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. The ratings above were solicited by, or on behalf of, the issuer, and therefore, Fitch has been compensated for the provision of the ratings.
In addition to the sources of information identified in Fitch's Revenue-Supported Rating Criteria and U.S. Public Power Rating Criteria, this action was informed by information from CreditScope.
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
--'Revenue-Supported Rating Criteria' (June 12, 2012);
--'U.S. Public Power Rating Criteria' (Jan. 11, 2012).
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
Revenue-Supported Rating Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=681015
U.S. Public Power Rating Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=665815
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