Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Commodity Fair Value Adjustments Fair value adjustments on commodity derivative instruments decreased the margin on commodity sales by $11 million as the $20 million favourable fair value position at March 31, 2023 decreased to $9 million favourable at September 30, 2023. The favourable price differential between contract prices and market prices on future commodity purchase contracts decreased to $0.17 per GJ at September 30, 2023, compared to $0.30 per GJ at March 31, 2023. SaskEnergy segregates a portion of its natural gas purchase contracts for gas that will ultimately be sold to commodity customers. Under IFRS, such contracts are not required to be reported at market value. Asset Optimization Margin SaskEnergy uses its access to natural gas markets to execute purchases and sales of natural gas to generate margins. By utilizing off-peak transportation and storage capacity, SaskEnergy is able to find opportunities in the market to take advantage of pricing differentials between transportation hubs, delivery points and time periods. In most cases, the Corporation executes purchase and sales contracts at the same time, thereby mitigating much of the price risk that would normally be associated with such transactions. SaskEnergy also uses purchases and sales of natural gas to mitigate transportation constraints, which are executed at a cost. The asset optimization margin, as reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements, was as follows:
Three months ended September 30,
Six months ended September 30,
(millions)
2023
2022 Change 2023
2022 Change
$
38 33
$
75 69
Asset optimization sales
$
106
$
(68) (58) (10)
$
220 199
$
(145) (130)
Asset optimization cost of sales
91 15
5
6
Realized margin on asset optimization sales Unrealized fair value adjustments Revaluation of natural gas in storage
21
(15)
(2)
(3)
(1)
(1) (1)
(1)
(2)
-
-
1
-
-
$
3
$
3
Margin on asset optimization sales
$
15
$
(12)
$
20
$
(17)
The realized margin on asset optimization sales for the six months ended September 30, 2023, which removes fair value adjustments on derivative instruments and the revaluation of natural gas in storage, was $15 million lower than in 2022. In the prior year, energy prices in Western Canada increased through the six months ending September 30, 2022, as major pipeline capacity projects in Alberta experienced continued construction delays. In combination with increased maintenance projects on natural gas systems in Alberta, both components factored into creating transportation capacity constraints, resulting in increasing natural gas market prices, increasing market price volatility through 2022 and increasing AECO to TEP price differentials. The Corporation was able to capitalize on its unutilized transportation capacity through the six months ending September 30, 2022, and executed 38.4 PJ of asset optimization contracts at an average margin of $0.56 per GJ. The delayed construction projects in Alberta were operationalized in early 2023 and increased transportation capacity in Alberta. Natural gas prices, location price differentials and market price volatility have declined, as transportation capacity constraints seen in 2022 are not materializing in 2023. This is resulting in decreased opportunities for SaskEnergy to use its unutilized transportation capacity for asset optimization activities. The Corporation executed 27.5 PJ of asset optimization contracts at an average margin of $0.23 per GJ through the six months ended September 30, 2023. Asset Optimization Fair Value Adjustments The Corporation enters into various natural gas contracts in its asset optimization strategies, which are subject to volatility of natural gas market prices until the natural gas contracts are realized. The unrealized fair value adjustments on asset optimization derivative instruments had a $3 million unfavourable impact on outstanding asset optimization contracts in 2023. Revaluation of Natural Gas in Storage The carrying amount of natural gas in storage is adjusted to reflect the lower of weighted average cost and net realizable value. At each reporting period, the Corporation measures net realizable value of natural gas in storage held for asset optimization transactions based on forward market prices and anticipated delivery dates. The Corporation sold its asset optimization natural gas in storage inventory and has no inventory held at September 30, 2023. The impact on 2023 net income was $nil.
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