Quarterly Operational Update

Quarterly Operational Update for the three months ended 31 December 2021.

>HYDRO STORAGE MANAGED - Lake Taupo hydro storage lifted, despite drier conditions, to 75GWh above average at end of Q2.

>Q2 SPOT PRICES <$100/MWh - Average Otahuhu spot price at $77/MWh, down versus prior comparable period due to high national hydro storage.

>3,750GWh - FY2022 hydro generation forecast decreased to 3,750GWh, due to low Lake Taupo inflows.

HYDRO GENERATION UNCHANGED DUE TO LOW INFLOWS AND HYDRO STORAGE MANAGEMENT; TURITEA NORTH OPERATING

Mercury's hydro generation was unchanged versus the prior comparable period at 929GWh, 90GWh below average, due to 29th percentile inflows into Lake Taupo. Lower hydro generation also saw hydro storage in Lake Taupo increase across the quarter from 403GWh to 513GWh at the end of the quarter, 75GWh above average, leaving Mercury well-positioned in advance of the seasonally dry Q3. Mercury's FY2022 hydro generation forecast has been decreased by 150GWh to 3,750GWh.

This quarter also saw the first significant generation volumes of 92GWh from Turitea with all 33 turbines in the Northern section now operating. Mercury's PPA-linked wind farms, acquired from Tilt, generated 262GWh during the quarter.

SPOT PRICES DECREASE ON HIGH HYDRO STORAGE, FUTURES FLAT BUT LIFT FOLLOWING THE QUARTER

High national hydro storage (which ended the quarter at 122% of average) saw average spot prices decrease during the quarter from $117/MWh and $103/MWh at Otahuhu and Benmore in FY2021-Q2 to $77/MWh and $60/MWh respectively in FY2022-Q2. The proportion of total generation from renewable sources in the quarter was 91%, increasing from 85% in the pcp and displacing thermal generation. This was reflected in short-term futures prices with the FY2022 Otahuhu price decreasing from $133/MWh to $125/MWh and Benmore decreasing from $110/MWh to $103/MWh.

Following the quarter, record low inflows have seen national hydro storage trend quickly down to near average levels, resulting in futures prices for the second half of FY2022 increasing at Otahuhu and Benmore from $137/MWh and $115/MWh respectively at the end of FY2022-Q2 to $215/MWh and $188/MWh (as at 26 Jan 2022). Thermal fuel cost and availability pressures also persist with NZU prices reaching record levels of $75/unit in January 2022.

MASS MARKET STEADY; COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL YIELDS LIFT ON RE-PRICING AND NORSKE SKOG SETTLEMENT

Mass Market customer numbers decreased by 1,000 over the quarter from 328,000 to 327,000 as Mercury continues to pursue initiatives to maintain market share. The Mass Market yield increased by 2.9% from $139/MWh in FY2021-Q2 to $143/MWh in FY2022-Q2.

The Commercial & Industrial segment yield (including both physical and financial sales) increased by 8.4%, from $86/MWh in FY2021-Q2 to $94/MWh in the most recent quarter, due to recent re-contracting and the early exit of the foundation hedge with Norske Skog Tasman.

DEMAND RESILIENT DESPITE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN, DECREASED DUE TO REDUCED IRRIGATION AND INDUSTRIAL LOAD

Demand in FY2022-Q2 remained resilient despite the COVID-19 lockdown during the period, decreasing by 1.2% on a temperature adjusted basis (-1.7% on an unadjusted basis). This was mainly driven by reduced irrigation load (contributing -1.1%) with industrial sector demand also decreasing due to the closure of Norske Skog's Tasman mill and reductions at the Pan Pac mill and Glenbrook steel mill. The contributions from each sector were: irrigation (-1.1%), industrial (-0.7%), rural (-0.1%), urban (+0.7%) dairy (+0.1%).

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

ENDS

Howard Thomas
General Counsel and Company Secretary
Mercury NZ Limited

For investor relations queries, please contact:
Tim Thompson
Head of Treasury and Investor Relations
0275 173 470

For media queries, please contact:
Shannon Goldstone
Head of Communications
Media phone: 027 210 5337

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