MCY - Quarterly Operational Update

Wednesday 19th April 2023

QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS

> STILL WET, WET, WET! - Wettest July to March period ever. Q3 hydro generation up 367GWh on pcp

> CONNECTION GROWTH ACROSS ALL PRODUCTS - Total connections lift 11,000 in Q3

> ELECTRCITY FUTURES REMAIN HIGH - Electricity futures prices remain elevated at around $170/MWh out to CY26

COMMENTARY

WET CONDITIONS CONTINUE OVER QUARTER

Inflows into the Waikato catchment remained very high for the quarter on the back of Cyclone Hale and the tropical atmospheric river experienced over Auckland Anniversary weekend. This continued a trend of very wet conditions since the start of the financial year, with the inflow sequence since 1 July 2022 remaining the wettest on record. Hydro generation was 1,220GWh for the three months ended 31 March 2023, up 367GWh (43%) on the prior comparable period, reflecting the high inflows. Hydro spill was approximately 160 GWh for the quarter and circa 850GWh since 1 July 2022 to maintain lakes within normal operating ranges.

ELECTRICITY SPOT PRICES FIRM ON LOW SOUTH ISLAND INFLOWS, FORWARD PRICES REMAIN HIGH

National inflows were below average for the quarter, driven by South Island inflows being at the lower quartile for the period. This reflected in electricity spot prices firming since last quarter, averaging $142/MWh and $86/MWh in Auckland for the quarter and the financial year to date respectively. Forward prices remain high but have moderated to around $170/MWh in Auckland for calendar years 2024 - 2026, reflecting a reduction in thermal generation costs.

NATIONAL DEMAND IMPACTED BY CYCLONE GABRIELLE

National demand reduced 1.1% relative to the prior comparable period and is at the lowest level for Q3 since financial year 2009. The reduction in national demand was driven mainly by lower industrial load, partly contributed to with reduced consumption by the ex-refinery at Marsden Point. Cyclone Gabrielle also impacted on demand due to network outages and flooding damage, including Pan Pac and Ravensdown facilities based in Hawkes Bay.

STRONG HYDRO GENERATION PRODUCTION, SLIGHTLY OFFSET BY GEOTHERMAL UNPLANNED OUTAGES

As noted above, hydro generation was strong for the quarter due to the wet weather. Geothermal generation was 596GWh for the quarter, down 57GWh on the prior comparable period due mainly to unplanned outages at Kawerau and Rotokawa. Wind generation was down 0.9% for the quarter due mainly to lighter wind conditions. For the financial year, we are forecasting hydro generation of 5,100GWh. Higher financial year 2023 hydro generation is forecast to be largely offset by impacts of the Kawerau outage with a return to service scheduled for early June.

CONNECTION GROWTH CONTINUES, COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL YIELDS LIFT

Mercury's quarterly operational update now includes the impact of the Trustpower retail and NOW businesses resulting in higher mass market connections, volumes and prices relative to the prior comparable period. Mercury saw connection growth across all product lines, lifting total connections by 11,000 over the quarter. Commercial & Industrial yields (physical and end-user CfDs) remained strong, increased by $12/MWh to $119/MWh versus the prior comparable period, reflecting repricing contract renewals into the high electricity forward curve.

[For Operational Statistics and Charts, please refer to the attached]

ENDS

Quarterly Operational Update Q3FY2023

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