Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Employee Benefits SaskEnergy increased its full-time equivalent positions in key strategic areas to meet current and future business needs. In addition, the Corporation continued to transition functions currently being performed by contracted resources to full-time equivalent positions in order to bring key skill-sets into the organization and reduce overall resourcing costs. While ongoing efficiency efforts and management of planned overtime and vacancies have mitigated costs in some key areas, employee benefit costs of $96 million were $7 million higher than 2018-19, due in part to the cost of transitioning contract resources to employees. Operating and Maintenance Operating and maintenance expenses were $164 million in 2019-20, $3 million higher than in 2018-19. Growing demand for imported natural gas from Alberta is resulting in more natural gas being transported and over greater distances. Rate increases on third-party transportation systems are also increasing transportation expenses. This was partially offset by savings related to transitioning contracted resources to full-time equivalent positions. The implementation of IFRS 16, Leases , reduced property costs as some buildings and parking lots are now capitalized as right-of-use (ROU) assets. SaskEnergy was able to partially mitigate the impact of higher transportation through continued efficiency efforts and cost saving measures. Depreciation and Amortization Balancing safety and system integrity with the growing demand for service continued through 2019-20. Strategic capital investments required to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place to meet increasing load growth has increased the capital asset base, resulting in increased depreciation and amortization. In 2019-20, depreciation and amortization was $109 million, $10 million higher than for the same period in 2018-19.
Net Finance Expense Net finance expenses were $55 million in 2019-20 compared to $52 million in 2018-19. The increase in finance expenses resulting from increased debt required to support capital investment levels was largely offset by historically low interest rates and higher debt retirement fund earnings. The low interest rate environment has allowed the Corporation to replace maturing higher-rate long-term debt with lower cost debt. Other losses (gains) As part of the continued effort to provide safe and reliable service to its customers, SaskEnergy began a project to expand storage capacity in the Regina area. During 2019-20, exploratory drilling and core analysis revealed geological issues at the chosen site; therefore, costs relating to seismic and test hole activity were written off. In addition, a permanent impairment loss was realized on natural gas inventory when it was determined that deliverability at one of the Corporation’s storage facilities was not able to produce all the gas from the facility before the site’s planned decommissioning date. In 2018-19, other gains were $11 million. Effective October 1, 2018, the Corporation sold its two natural gas liquid extraction plants, which were accounted for in its Bayhurst Energy Services Corporation (BESCO) subsidiary.
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