Good morning, welcome to the conference call regarding Neoenergia Second Quarter 2022 Earnings Result. This presentation will be led by Mr. Eduardo Capelastegui, CEO of the company, and Mr. Leonardo Gadelha, CFO of the company. This call is being broadcast simultaneously over the Internet via webcast, and can be accessed at ri.neoenergia.com, where the respective presentation is also available. At this moment, all participants are connected as listeners only, and later we will open a question-and-answer session when instructions for you to participate will be provided. This conference call is being held in Portuguese and has simultaneous interpretation into English. Should you need any assistance during the call, please press star zero for assistance. In addition, the event is being recorded, and later the replay will be available on Neoenergia's Investor Relations website.
It should be noted that this presentation may contain forward-looking statements that represent Neoenergia's expectations and projections about future events or assumptions. These expectations involve several risks and uncertainties, and therefore may be results or consequences different from those discussed and anticipated here. I should say investors should bear in mind general conditions and the current scenario could impact future results of the company, leading to results that differ materially from those anticipated here. I would now like to turn the floor over to Mr. Eduardo Capelastegui. Please, you may proceed, sir.
Thank you very much, operator. Good morning. I would like to thank you all for joining us today in this earnings release call to present our results for the second quarter and the first half of 2022. I am Eduardo Capelastegui.
This is my first call on quarterly results as CEO of Neoenergia, and I'm very proud of what we are going to share with you today. Here with me are Solange Ribeiro, Vice President of Regulation, Institutional, and Sustainability, Leonardo Gadelha, our CFO, Juliano Pansanato, our new Executive Director of Asset Control and Planning, Giancarlo Vassão, our new Executive Director of Operations, Fúlvio Machado, Executive Director of Network, and Renato Rocha, our IR Director. I will make a brief presentation going through the main highlights of the period, and then Leonardo will present the results in more detail. We will then move over to the question-and-answer session, and I will close with some conclusions. Well, on slide number four, we have Neoenergia highlights. Just as the first quarter of the year, the second quarter had a lot of rainfall and lower temperatures.
April to June were the months that had the highest rainfall rates in the past five years. Still, the injected energy in our five distribution companies had a 0.8% growth in the second quarter over the same period last year, confirming the resiliency we have in the market in our concession areas. Our EBITDA had a 40% growth, and the cash EBITDA 32% in the quarter, reflecting the success of the latest readjustment and tariff reviews in different businesses. Just as the improvement in the construction projects, especially in the Chafariz wind farms in Dourados transmission, Santa Luzia in Jalapão, all of them beginning operations in the second half 2021.
Our net income in the second quarter reached BRL 1.1 billion, 7% higher over the second quarter in 2021, showing us a balance between the EBITDA growth and the financial results growth of Neoenergia. We executed a CapEx of around BRL 2.1 billion in the second quarter 2022, resulting from our proven execution capacity and the growth of transmission projects for wind and solar energy, besides the recurring investments in distribution companies. Additionally, we closed the second quarter with 2.96 x our net debt EBITDA ratio with full control and below the numbers of the second quarter the previous year, the first quarter this year.
We are very happy to announce the beginning of partial operation of the Oitis wind farms in Bahia and Piauí states, our largest wind complex with 566.5 MW of installed power distributed in 103 aerogenerators with 5.5 MW each. Also with the new solar park, Luzia in Paraíba, in operation, the first solar generation in operation, both confirming our business plan that was approved by the Board of Directors. We are also celebrating the acquisition of lots two and 11 for transmissions in the auction on July 30th, bringing new returns with a two-digit growth during a 30-year period. With these six highlights, we see once again the excellent and sustained results we've maintained in the second quarter and that we are delivering throughout 2022.
On slide number five, we also have a big announcement to share with you. Well, the board of directors of Neoenergia at the last meeting on July 19th approved our 16 ESG goals for 2025 and 2030 commitments. With 16 goals that comprise environment, social, and governance roles, reaffirming our commitment to the sustainability agenda. We will also disclose the results of the goals, and they will also be shared on our website containing full details. Another relevant fact that also comes to show that ESG is part of our DNA was a super green loan of BRL 550 million signed by Neoenergia Coelba with the IFC, an arm of the World Bank.
I should point out there are ESG goals such as a percentage of women electricians in the company, a reduction of the carbon emissions index, which will be attained and will lead to a review of our funding spread. This is unprecedented in a distribution company of electricity in Brazil, which comes to show all of our actions in different areas at a national and international level. Slide six, we have the growth projects starting with transmission. We are moving forward with all of our projects in the 2018 lots. We are looking at deliveries for the second half of 2022. In the second semester, new assets representing BRL 103 million in RAP, annualized RAP will come into operation, representing 20% of the full RAP in 2018.
Just as the start of operations of the December 2019 auction lot, therefore many deliverables in this first half and second half in December 2020 auction. We should point out that 100% of our materials and services are contracted. Moving forward with licensing permits in December 2021 auction, we obtained the deferred request for environmental licensing waiver, confirming the very low risk in the execution of this project. As regards renewables, we have great news. Our Oitis complex has 126 MW in operation, commercial, and under testing, confirming the success of the execution of this project, total building 566.5 MW throughout the second half of 2022, in line with the business plan and with the expected returns.
Our first solar complex in Luzia is also under test and will be delivered in the second half of 2022 also. Luzia, well, I should point out also the concession rights we obtained with Enel, and therefore we will be able to increase by 100 points the returns of the project once this considerable review of the tariffs and transmission systems will be carried out, surpassing the expected results that were expected. In concluding my presentation, I would like to share slide seven, the excellent performance of Neoenergia Brasília. In all aspects, it is a success, and we can actually say that we are ahead of the business plan. In losses, the second quarter of 2022 marks the sixth consecutive quarter with reductions in the indicator, reaching 12.4% at the moment and still in a downward trend.
In terms of collections, we also have good news. We had a 93% performance last year, today reaching 98% roughly, also in line with the other four distribution companies of the group, all resulting from the incorporation of intelligence and discipline in cuts and collections. In OpEx, we are clearly at a different level of expenses, accelerating the regulatory OpEx, reflecting the new robust culture that has been adopted with new efficiencies in Neoenergia, acknowledged by the market, resulting from investments that have been made.
We have surpassed the regulatory levels with 5.12x , and they are very close to reaching the same in DEC, also performing far below the concession contract 0.45. Well, I will now give the floor to our CFO, Leonardo, who will provide you with more details on our results for the second quarter in 2022. Over to you, Leo.
Thank you, Eduardo. Good morning to all. Well, as mentioned by Eduardo, we had a consistent quarter with consistent results. In slide nine, we can see the evolution, the 34% evolution of gross consolidated margin in the quarter, driven mainly by the effects of Parcel B readjustments, tariff reviews, resets, excellent results in renewables with the Chafariz complex in operation starting last year, last quarter.
With Termopernambuco's results this quarter, we have maintained a good performance with operational expenses, 11% growth over the second quarter in 2021, absorbing the inflation of almost 12%, an increase in number of clients, greater headcount and new businesses in transmission projects and renewables. In slide 10, we see that the EBITDA also evolved 40%, reaching BRL 3.226 billion in the quarter. As seen to the right, far right, EBITDA cash ratio, looking at the VNR, IFRS 15, we have a 32% ratio, a strong growth as in the previous quarters. Our net income was BRL 1.075 billion, representing a 7% growth over the first quarter in 2021, and despite the pressure with financial lines due to the higher interest rates.
Now in slide 11, looking at CapEx in the quarter, we had BRL 2.122 billion. The highlights are BRL 1.2 billion in distribution, BRL 551 million in transmission with the construction works moving forward in Oitis as well. The Luzia Solar, also BRL 430 million, both in operations now starting this first quarter 2022, indicating we're in line with our CapEx plan for the year of BRL 10 billion as planned and confirming our execution capacity. Now in slide 13, looking at networks, we can see the variation, the distribution of injected energy, which is consolidating at a 0.8% growth in the five distribution companies, as expected, as predicted, and communicated to the market. The second quarter normally has lower temperatures. Still this year with the seasonality, there were heavy rainfalls, mainly in Pernambuco.
In June, we had 250% more rainfall than the historic average, with over 1,000 mm accumulated in this first half in distributed energy. In slide 14, we see the evolution in our five distribution companies, as also communicated to the market. In the second quarter, distribution companies had growth in line with injected energy at 0.7% growth. The total number of consumers reached 15.9 million, therefore, a 309,000 Increase of clients in the last month. Now looking at losses in slide 15. As regards total losses, once again, we had a good performance in the quarter with a trajectory of changes in our DisCos, except for Pernambuco, which was in line with the previous quarters despite the heavy rainfalls. In Coelba, Elektro, Cosern, and Brasília had presented reductions.
Elektro and Cosern are still within their regulatory limit with losses. In Brasília, as Eduardo mentioned, with a performance that is better than last year's, closer to the regulatory limit earlier than expected. As regards default delinquency in slide 16 in the second quarter, It was maintained under control, very well under control, despite the economic situation, also as a result of the water shortage and the readjustment in tariffs. The PCLD was controlled as a result of collection actions in pre-COVID levels, BRL 125 million lower than the first quarter of 2022. Therefore, delinquency is still under control in all distribution companies, the result of the collection actions and all the payment methods that were made available to our clients by the company.
As regards DEC and FEC in slide 17, in hours and times, we had a consistent improvement in quality indicators, both in hours and times in distribution companies, despite the rainfall level, higher rainfall levels in the concession areas, I should point out. As also mentioned by Eduardo, the performance Neoenergia Brasília, which is close to be within the regulatory DEC limit and is below the concession contract limit. In slide 18, now looking at the networks results, we have an evolution of 31% of gross margin reaching in this quarter BRL 3.7 billion, driven by the readjustments, the tariff reviews in Parcel B VNR and IFRS 15.
The OpEx also had an 11% growth in this quarter, confirming the efficient cost management, absorbing the inflation in the period with a higher headcount and the new transmission projects in the period. In slide 19, we have the network's EBITDA, with a 33% growth in the second quarter. Excluding the VNR and IFRS adjustments, it was a 35% growth, reaching BRL 1.808 billion, driven by adjustments and the new operations of Dourados and Santa Luzia Jalapão projects. Net income reached BRL 1.111 billion in networks in the second quarter, 5% growth over the second quarter in 2021. In slide 21, now looking at renewables and liberalized segments. We had a summary of the results of both segments, which had a strong performance. Both performed very strongly.
In the second quarter, the EBITDA in renewables reached BRL 261 million, with an 86% growth, therefore driven mainly by the EBITDA in wind farms that were 123% with the Chafariz Complex that began operations in the second semester of 2021. The EBITDA of hydrothermal plants also contributed with 13% growth in the quarter. In liberalized, we reached EBITDA in the second quarter of BRL 254 million, a 105% growth over 2021, with the strong results in Termopernambuco reaching BRL 247 million EBITDA in the quarter. Since it did not operate, it benefited from a low PLD in its contracts. Moreover, our trader, NC, also had BRL 6 million EBITDA in the quarter. Now looking at our capital structure in slide 23.
As regards our structure, we closed the second quarter with a net debt of BRL 34.5 billion, mainly driven by the CapEx realization according to plan. Still, the strong results that were presented reduced our net debt EBITDA ratio, going from 3.14 in the first quarter on closing, up to 2.96 now in the second quarter. We expect more leveraging threefold going forward this year, still below what is planned in the original plan. The debt structure is still very comfortable with the good distribution over the next years with a five-year period in average. We have disbursed to date BRL 9.3 billion in new fundings or capital contributions with a successful admission of debentures in the five distribution companies in the past days.
We can claim we have addressed all our funding needs in the market for 2022, and now only with disbursements for lines that have been contracted, like BNDES and AS five. This actually reassures us in terms of our business plan, despite the macroeconomic instability. Now I will ask the operator to please open for questions, the Q&A session.
Ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin our question- and- answer session. To ask a question, please press star one. To remove the question from the list, press star two. Please wait while we take the questions. Our first question is from André Sampaio, Santander. You have the floor, André.
Good morning to all. Great call. I have a question regarding Termopernambuco. Can you tell us more about what is planned for expansion, potential investment potential, the ESG documents that will also be submitted? How are you actually moving forward with this part of the business? Thank you.
Thank you, André. As you are all aware, Termopernambuco has an economic life cycle which will be concluded in April 2024, the original contract with Petrobras. Therefore, we will have one year, one and a half year, actually, before we enter into a 15-year contract. We might not be able to anticipate this new contract, but these are two economic scenarios that are quite different. You have the one that is reaching the end, one that will be renewed, that will be a new one under new conditions, new terms.
To us, well, the doubt we had a few months earlier was regarding the new cycle, which has been defined, and now we have an important flow, an important new deal for a longer period of time. We are reassured that we will. Well, we have an expansion project in Termopernambuco II, which is being analyzed, and nothing has been defined yet. However, this asset is very valuable and will be very interesting, especially looking into gas. This was a group of assets, part of the group of assets that we are considering, and considering bringing into the group. Let us see how we will move forward over the next months and the decisions that will be made.
Excellent. Thank you. If I may, I'd like to ask one more question.
Yes, please go ahead.
Regarding the Enel sale process, I would like to ask you if you have changed your position or you're not actually interested in this asset.
We are not interested in this asset. We're not considering this asset, and this is the same position that we have shared with you in the past. We have the same stance at the moment. We're not considering and we're not interested.
Perfect.
Thank you once again. The next question is from Rafael Nagano from Credit Suisse. You have the floor, Rafael.
Good morning, everyone. Thank you for this call. I have two questions.
Please, one in relation to the distribution companies in terms of volumes, what you expect going forward, if the mix of tariffs we had in the cycle, which was maybe lower, maybe it should now turn around or should we expect the same level, the same EBITDA levels that are somewhat lower? The second question refers to the HPP, the hydro power plant sales and how that plan is going forward. Thank you.
Thank you for your questions, Rafael. In fact, as mentioned, we are, of course, we have the climate impacts, environmental impacts, temperatures, rainfall, and, in average in the past two quarters, we maintain our levels. For the second half, we have different expectations. First, because we do not think things will remain as they are.
Second, because through all the initiatives to revert tariffs that you are all keeping track with the PIS/Cofins, et cetera, we will be looking at tariff reductions, which in our case are going from -21% to -8%, depending on each DisCo. In terms of Pernambuco, we are looking at 20%. We believe this will be very positive in terms of losses, default, and market. It is, well, of course, you have. If we have more normal weather conditions and relevant tariff reviews, consumption and the mix, well, should be actually maintained at the second half of the year at improvement levels with a clear recovery. As far as your second question, as mentioned earlier and in previous opportunities, one of my priorities is to, of course, value Neoenergia's assets.
We are all aware we have several assets. Belo Monte, we all know it's public. We are selling Belo Monte. There are assets that are there because they're not strategic or under our control or have low return rates, low returns. We are considering actually how to value those assets, and this is something that we have been considering in the market. Of course, I cannot speak openly about these actions at the moment. Yes, it's in the market already, and maybe over the next six to 12 months, we will have concrete operations. We are also considering bringing investors or partners to also join us in our growth opportunities in transmission, renewables, and we're also going to the market and analyzing these opportunities.
There isn't much more I can share at the moment, but you will definitely, of course, keep track of the things we will be doing over the next six to 12 months.
Thank you.
To ask a question, press star one. To remove your question from the list, press star two. Please hold while we take further questions. There is one more question from Daniel Travitzky from Banco Safra. You have the floor, Daniel.
Hello, everyone. Good morning. I have a question on the performance of the wind farms, in particular Oitis. We had, of course, the wind performance was somewhat negative in this past quarter. I'd like to learn what your experience was in terms of wind performance, how much you have reached in the wind farms, P90, P50.
Thank you. Daniel, thank you for your question.
Well, in Brazil, up in the Northeast, the first two quarters normally have lower winds, and there are higher winds in the second half of the year in that region. Therefore, we have had lower winds in this past quarter, but it is not actually directly tied to what will come later. We've had two years with lower quarters in the first half and a positive, upward trend in the second half. Of course, you have the influence of El Niño, La Niña currents in this second semester, in the second half, but has also been, of course, considered the price in our budget. The inputs that we have been receiving from our climate experts are of winds that are actually expected, pretty much in line with what is expected for the second half. This is the answer I have for now. Thank you.
Excellent. Thank you.
We have one more question from Henrique Peretti, JP Morgan. Go ahead, Henrique.
Good morning, and thank you. I have two questions. One, on the GD impact. To know if there's been a relevant impact in concession areas. It has reached 1 percentage point in growing demand. It could have been higher percentage that is reported, and that is why I ask the question. My second question is regarding capital allocation. In the past, you've indicated, you know, that we could be interested in reviewing the dividends policy at the end of this CapEx cycle, and I would like to know if this is still the case. Thank you.
Thank you, Henrique. Well, in answering your first question, distributed generation. In fact, we are now feeling the impact of the micro distributed generation in concession, some concession areas more than others.
Ribeira up north in Ceará, high impact and with a significant impact. As for, well, what is positive to us, first, the new regulation and all that impacts the distribution company. Now, of course, I can turn it over to Solange to explore this further. We are, of course, looking at all of these factors. Of course, in 2022 it's neutral, but we want, of course, to have something that is continuous. This energy, of course, comes out of this, of our energy, of this load, and is therefore excessive in the distribution company. Solange, can you also add?
Yes, I would add that according to the legislation, as of a certain level, this is neutral in terms of income levels or earnings.
In terms of the overproduction or underproduction, we have been already talking to ANEEL, and we should consider the effects of under contracting as an involuntary effect. Therefore, there's neutrality to the process. Yes, precisely. That is correct. It's important because these are significant volumes, and we should also bear that in mind. To your second question, the payout policy, it's also something we've discussed. After the results of the last auction, we had actually, well, a payout plan that was previously defined and was submitted to the board. Of course, with the volumes in June 30th, well, the policy is not actually effective because it does not change the current scenario much. Now we're reviewing it. We will be redesigning it and consider which way to go forward, and it's precisely what we're doing at the moment to.
We're considering what we can propose, what we can do, what can be attractive, what can be applicable. This is the phase we're in at the moment. Maybe Leonardo wishes to add more to this answer.
I would just say that, well, yes, the scenario has not changed. We believe we see there are advantages in having a clear policy that is tied to leveraging the payout. But as mentioned by Eduardo, with these latest events and the two acquisitions of the two lots that we obtained with the CapEx is concentrated mainly as of 2024, and the deleveraging curve is slower, therefore. It will continue, but more gradually. Yes, we will keep on focusing on a more clear policy, but, in the short run, well, not so much in the short run. This is what has changed in regards to the leveraging levels resulting from the new acquisitions of lots. The concept remains the same.
I see. One more question, if I may. You said that in the next review, well, according to the legislation, it has to be neutral. In ANEEL you want to pass the involuntary contracting. Will that be by the next review?
As of January 2023, it will be neutral. Right now, we're talking to the regulator, to ANEEL, to look at the involuntary levels. Whatever is installed in the farms, in the complex, as of 2022 would be considered involuntary. These are two different aspects.
Perfect. Perfectly clear.
Thank you. We will now close the question- and- answer session. I will now give the floor to Mr. Eduardo Capelastegui for his final closing remarks. You have the floor, Mr. Capelastegui.
Thank you very much, operator. Well, I would like to point out that once again, we have our strong commitment with all the stakeholders. 2022 has been a challenging year. However, we're going to reach at the end of the year with a stronger and more profitable company, as you have seen in the results that we have shared in this call. We have had consistent results confirming the continuous value that we're creating to our shareholders. Since the IPO in 2019, our EBITDA, cash and net income have grown by almost 80%. With our new assets, we will continue growing. On the same trajectory, we have been controlling costs, losses, delinquency, and we have also reassuring our clients will get energy supply, and we play an important role in the Brazilian electricity sector.
We are constantly innovating in renewable energy. In Brazil, we've had great success proving our capacity to deliver. We are extremely aware of our health status, and we have a capital structure that is appropriate. As mentioned, oftentimes over the past two months, we have to show the correct value of our assets. This is a priority for us at Neoenergia. It's among our top priorities to prove this in the short-term, short and medium run. I'm very proud because in June we have been fulfilling our ESG commitment, and we will continue going forward. Likewise, another priority is the active and quality communication on all the projects and actions that we are carrying out. We will focus more strongly on the identity, authority of the brand Neoenergia over the next months. We will see concrete actions in this aspect.
To our shareholders, to all of those who trust in the work we do, once again, I would like to reassure you that we have the right team, a team that is engaged to producing the expected results. I would like to close by thanking all of the employees of Neoenergia for keeping up with the results, for making sure we are, at Neoenergia, driving our economy and providing quality of life to our customers. Thank you to all of you for joining us, and I wish you an excellent day. Neoenergia's earnings release call is adjourned.
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