Iberdrola SA

Iberdrola SA

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142.25BMarket Cap
Feb 24Next Earn

Q4 FY2025 · Earnings Call TranscriptFebruary 25, 2026

Moderator

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. First, we would like to extend a warm welcome to all of you who have joined us today for our 2025 fiscal year results presentation.

As is customary, we will follow the traditional structure of our events. We are going to begin with an overview of the results and the key developments during the period.

The presentation and the Q&A part will be delivered by the top executive team joining us today: Mr. Ignacio Galán, Executive Chairman; Mr.

Pedro Azagra, CEO; and finally, Mr. Pepe Sáinz, CFO.

After the presentation, we'll move on to the Q&A session. I would like to remind you that we will only be taking questions submitted through our website.

Please send your questions exclusively via www.iberdrola.com. Finally, we expect today's event to last no more than 60 minutes.

Should any questions remain unanswered, the IR team will, as always, remain fully at your disposal. We hope that this presentation will be useful and informative for all of you, and now, without further ado, I would like to hand the floor over to Mr.

Ignacio Galán. Thank you once again.

Please, Mr. Galán.

Ignacio Galán

Thank you, Ignacio. Good morning, everyone, and thank you very much for joining this conference call.

In 2025, reported net profit reached €6,285 million, up by 12%, even excluding €464 million non-cash charges to adjust the value of our renewable pipeline in different countries. Excluding those charges, net profit would reach €6,749 million.

Adjusted net profit, which as you know exclude the impact of capital gains, increased by 10.3% to €6,231 million, above our guidance. Adjusted EBITDA rose 15,000— 15,684 million euros, up 3%, with 21% increase in networks, reflecting our higher regulated asset base in improving framework in our core geographies, partially offset by non-recurring impact of ancillary services costs in our power business due to the rainfall season operation in Iberia, as well as lower prices.

Total investment reached 14,000— €14,460 million, with two-thirds allocated to transmission and distribution networks, driving a 12% growth in our regulated asset base in just one year to almost €51 million— €51 billion. In power and customers, we added 2.7 new gigawatts in operation, and we have 4.7 GW more under construction that would start producing next quarters.

This strong expansion was combined with a further improvement in efficiency, thanks to an increase of only 1% in our recurrent net operating expenses, well below gross margin. Financial strength, with net debt down €1.5 billion, driven by an 8.2% increase in our operating cash flow, up to €12,811 million.

These positive impacts of our asset rotation and partnership plan and the capital increase last year, improving our FFO to adjusted net debt ratio to 25.5%, comfortably in the range of BBB+ rating. Finally, yesterday, the board decided to propose to the general meeting a total dividend of €0.68 per share.

As you can see, 2025 has been a transformational year for Iberdrola, thanks to the implementation of our strategy. In the last 12 months, we have had remarkable progress in all the pillars of the plan we presented a year ago, reinforcing our focus in network infrastructures with transmission as new growth vector in the UK, where we have secured €14 billion of totex for the next 5 years under RIIO-T3, including submarine interconnection like Eastern Green Link 1.

In the US, after commissioning the NECEC interconnection between Massachusetts and Canada. Now also in Australia, where we were recently awarded €1.2 billion line in state of Victoria as we expect to complete by 2030.

On top of that, we have also continued increasing our distribution investment and progressing in the definition of new frameworks for the coming years in all our countries, mainly Brazil, where the regulator has already approved the renewal of our distribution concession for 30 years more, providing us visibility up to 2030— 2060. In addition to organic investment, the asset rotation transaction completed in 2025 have also confirmed our strategy focus on networks, mainly due to the acquisition of Electricity North West, now fully integrated, and the purchase of Avangrid and Neoenergia minorities.

This record activity is also expanding our contribution to social development and job creation across our geographies, with 4,500 new hires in 2025 and a total workforce of 45,400; €13.2 billion of purchases to thousands of companies that support half a million jobs across our supply chains; and tax contribution of €10.4 billion; and €425 million allocated to research and development, reaffirming our position as leading private utility worldwide in innovation. Thanks to our performance in 2025, we are facing 2026 as the beginning of a new growth phase.

Before that, and given that we are from Bilbao, let me share with you a few figures that show our transformation over the last 25 years. Since 20— since 2001, we have multiplied our total asset base by 8 times to €161 billion, driven by the expansion of regulated networks asset base to €51 billion, 10 times more than 2001.

Our generation capacity from 16 to almost 60— from 16 to almost 60 GW today. Our storage capacity was multiplied about 3 times, thanks to the investment made in existing hydro turbines to make them reversible, new pumped storage facilities like Tâmega, and battery projects across the world.

On top of that, our international expansion has fully transformed Iberdrola from a utility based in Spain with just 1% of our activity in other markets in 2000, to a global utility with 61% of our business in the UK, US, Germany, France, Brazil, or Australia. As a result, we are reaching our 125th anniversary, consolidated as the largest utility in Europe and one of the two largest worldwide, with a market cap above €135 billion, 12 times more than 2001, even after paying €47 billion in dividends across the last 25 years.

You can be sure that the key pillars of this growth story were our vision, our strategic coherence, our ability to anticipate structural shift in the sector across our access to financial resources and supply chains, and our track record execution, and are also all of them the best guarantee to sustain growth in the coming years. We are demonstrating we are a company that always we fulfill our promises, even we overdeliver what we promise.

It's a bit difference with others with their promising and they're not delivering as much as they are promising traditionally. Moving to 2025 results, adjusted EBITDA reached €15 million— 15 15,684 million euros, with two-thirds coming from international business.

The United Kingdom contributed with €3,306 million, and US €2,662 million. Brazil, close to €3 billion, and EBITDA from other European countries and Australia reached €791 million, with Iberia contributing the remaining €6 billion.

As a result, 81% of our group EBITDA is already coming from A-rated countries. By businesses, networks adjusted EBITDA grew by 21%, thanks to higher regulated asset base in all countries, new tariffs in the US and Brazil, and the consolidation of Electricity North West.

While renewable power and customer EBITDA fell by 10%, as a result of lower market prices and the impact of the so-called reinforced operation implemented by Red Eléctrica in Spain, partially offset by the addition of 2.7 GW of new installed capacity worldwide. Total investment reached €14,460 million due to the acceleration of organic growth and the acquisition of Neoenergia minorities in Brazil.

By countries, investment increased by 34% in the UK, driven by 47% rise in networks due to the new transmission project and the ongoing investment of Scottish distribution Manweb and Electricity North West. UK investment in power also increased by 21%, mainly in East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm.

The US, investment increased by 2%, as the growth in transmission and distribution more than offset the slightly lower investment in power after the completion of projects under construction. Combined US and UK contributed 60% of total investment, with 70% allocated to Iberia, 14% to Brazil, and 9% to other countries, mainly Australia, where investment more than doubled year-on-year, offsetting the decrease in Germany and France as offshore projects are put in service.

By businesses, networks reached €9 billion, almost two-thirds of the total, with 13% growth in organic investment, mainly in UK and Spain, and the US and Brazil, where the increase in distribution has more than offset the completion of transmission project. Our regulated asset base increased by 12% to €51 billion, with transmission already representing today 25% of our total network assets.

This pattern will continue in the next years, reflecting the progress made in our regulatory frameworks and the construction of new projects. In the United Kingdom, Ofgem published its final determination for RIIO-T3 with almost €14 billion of totex for ScottishPower Transmission up to 2031.

This will imply multiplying by 4 the investment made in the previous 5 years, securing long-term growth and fully transforming the profile of ScottishPower. In the United States, Avangrid benefiting from higher rates and the rising contribution to results of new transmission project that will accelerate 2026, thanks to the commissioning of our interconnection line between Canada and Massachusetts, adding €125 million per annum to group EBITDA.

In Spain, the new remuneration methodology for the period '26 to '31 has already been published. While in Brazil, the regulator has approved the renewal of our distribution concession for 30 years up to 2060, and Neoenergia has completed its transmission project with a total contribution of €150 million to EBITDA per year.

Finally, Iberdrola Australia was awarded, as I said, transmission line in the state of Victoria with an investment of €1.2 billion up to 2030 that will increase significantly our footprint and results in the country, and we continue developing a pipeline of additional transmission projects in another different states. In power and customer, we invested €5,260 million, well spread across the UK, the US, Iberia, and other countries.

By technologies, we invested €1.7 billion in onshore wind, €1.4 billion in offshore wind, €1 billion in solar, and €1 billion in storage and retail. We have already put in service 2,710 MW of onshore and offshore wind, solar and PV, and storage.

We have 4,679 MW under construction, as well a pipeline of more than 9,000 MW ready for 2028, more than enough, of course, to secure all the new capacity expected in our plan. Regarding routes to the market, we have also sold all our production for 2026, with an attractive mix of regulated contracts with an average duration of 14 years, retail customers, and long-term PPAs, which already represent two-thirds of our total energy sales, and will continue increasing, thanks to the ongoing signature of new contracts.

As a result, we have been recently recognized as the leading seller of PPAs in Europe and one of the three largest worldwide. Operating cash flow was up by 8.2% to €12,811 million, reflecting the strong performance of networks and the stable contribution from power.

This rise in cash generation, up to €1 billion in just one year, together with asset rotation and partnership and the capital increase of last summer, has allowed us to reduce our adjusted net debt by €1.5 billion to €50.2 billion, even after the consolidation of Electricity North West and the acquisition of minorities in the US and Brazil, improving even more our ratios, with FFO to adjusted net debt reaching 25.5%, and adjusted net debt to EBITDA down to 3 times. Following this strong operational and financial performance, yesterday the board decided to propose to the General Shareholders' Meeting a total dividend of €0.68 per share, adding €0.427 to €0.253 already paid three weeks ago as interim dividend.

These figures represent a year-on-year growth of 6.3% in dividend per share, and 12% in total dividend payments, up to €4.5 billion, taking into account the impact of a capital increase. I will now hand it over to our CFO, who will present the group financial results in further detail.

Thank you.

José Sainz Armada

Thank you, Chairman, and good morning to everybody. '25 adjusted net profit reached €6,231 million, representing a 10.3% increase compared to the €5,651 million in '24 adjusted net profit.

Reported net profit was 12% up to €6,285 million. 2025 net profit would have reached €6.7 billion if capital gains had not been more than applied to adjust adjustments in our power division, and as the Chairman has said, mainly in renewables.

As the main perimeter change, have to say ENW has been fully consolidated since March. Another thing to note for you is that the Mexico P&L and net is included here for illustrative purposes, because in our reported accounts, it's classified as an asset held for sale due to the expected closing of the transaction very soon.

FX evolution has had a minor effect on results, thanks to our FX hedging policy, with the dollar 4%, the pound 1.1%, and the real 7.6%, all of them depreciated against the euro. Our €6,231 million adjusted net profit is beating our adjusted our our guidance and is close to the €6,285 million reported net profit.

In this slide, you can see the details of the adjustments from '25 reported net profit to adjusted net profit. The €379 million exclusion of UK smart meters capital gain in Q3 is more than compensated with the €464 million in adjustments in our power division, which are write-offs in our renewable pipeline.

The network cost recognition one-off in the US, a non-cash item, which is taken out from our adjusted net profit, is also partially compensated with inclusion of the cap allowance in the UK, as it is a cash income. Adjusted revenues rose 0.6%, driven by the network business, while procurements fell 0.7%, driving up adjusted gross margin by 1.8% to €24.3 billion, and here we are excluding the cost recognition in the US networks.

Excluding capital gains from asset rotation accounted at the operating income and one-off efficiencies, '25 net operating expenses improved 4.1%, affected by lower storm costs that also diminished gross margin. Adjusted net personnel expenses rose 1.9% due to a higher number of employees, as the Chairman has commented.

Adjusted external services declined by 5.2%, mainly due to the €350 million lower storm costs, and adjusted other operating income increased by 10% compared to '24, due to the indemnities of past year costs, partially offset by the €121 million negative impact of the East Anglia sale that it is compensated at the financial results. Excluding mentioned storm-related impacts and other adjustments, net operating expenses on a recurrent terms grew 1%.

Analyzing the results of the different businesses and starting by networks, its adjusted EBITDA grew 21% to €7,794 million, mainly driven by the strong performance of the UK and the US, and a significant last-quarter improvement in Spain. Transmission EBITDA is up 28% to €1.1 billion, and distribution EBITDA 19% to €6.7 billion.

In the US, the EBITDA reached $2,491 million, 73% more, with higher rates in distribution and better contribution from transmission, and positive impact since Q1 by the decision from the New York regulator that allows to register a regulatory asset under IFRS regarding past costs of $551 million. Taking out this effect, EBITDA is still up a remarkable 35% on an adjusted basis to $1,940 million.

In the UK, EBITDA increased 28.7% to £1,595 million, including 10 months positive ENW contribution and the growing contribution from transmission. In Brazil, EBITDA was up 13.8% to R$13,837 million, thanks to higher revenues in distribution due to demand, inflation, and increase in rate reviews over a higher asset base.

Transmission contributed positively with R$1.6 billion Brazilian EBITDA, 56% up, or R$583 million more than in '24, as all the lines have been completed. In Spain, EBITDA grew by 31% to €2,015 million.

The result was positively impacted by the recognition in Q4 of incentives related to '24 and '25, the remuneration increase for the '24-'25 period, 6.58%, and from the positive effects in Q4 '24 of a negative one-off inefficiency costs. '25 power EBITDA reached €7.9 billion versus €8.8 billion in '24, both excluding capital gains from asset rotation, which are €1.3 billion lower in '25, as higher production due to 2,700 million 2,700 MW additional installed capacity did not compensate lower volumes and prices.

Emission-free generation reached 85%. In Iberia, EBITDA was €3,321 million, 16.8% down, with higher production more than offset by lower margin and sales, explaining part of the year-on-year variation, and higher ancillary services costs, lower court rulings, and higher levies, despite the termination of the 1.2% revenue tax, explaining the remaining decrease.

Hydro reserves have reached an all-time record of more than 9 TWh as of today. In the US, EBITDA grew 0.9%, reaching $1,069 million, supported by higher prices and new solar capacity.

This growth came despite the fact that '24 was positively impacted by the Arctic blast storm one-off and by the sale of Kittyhawk in the fourth quarter of last year. In the UK, EBITDA grew 0.4% to £1,536 million, considering the £324 million capital gain from the US the from the UK smart meters divestments in Q3.

Adjusted EBITDA, taking out this capital gain, was down 20.8% to £1,212 million, with lower prices and lower volumes in renewables, and lower EBITDA from the supply business, driven by lower volumes. Net operating expenses included £108 million negative one-off impact linked to the East Anglia THREE sale, which is more than compensated at the net financial results.

In the rest of the world, EBITDA grew 10.4% to €796 million, due to the higher contribution from offshore wind farms, Saint-Brieuc in France and Baltic Eagle in Germany, but with lower contribution from supply business in Portugal, due to a €30 million negative impact of the ancillary services costs as a consequence of the blackout. In Brazil, EBITDA fell 2.7% to R$1,283 million as a consequence of lower production and lower margins, but with a positive impact of R$297 million linked to the negative adjustment recorded in Q4 '24 following the classification of Baixo Iguaçu as held for sale.

Finally, in Mexico, EBITDA reached $632 million, decreasing 71%, with lower reported contribution due to the assets sold on February 26 last year and the higher contribution from the retained business, thanks, oh sorry, the sold in February '25 last year, and with higher contribution from the retained business, thanks to a higher availability and demand. As mentioned at the beginning, the performance of the EBITDA from Mexico is for illustrative purposes, as on the official accounts, it's classified as held for sale, the results are on the discontinued operations paragraphs before the net profit line.

Adjusted depreciation and amortization and provisions, with €524 million of adjustments in '25 and €1,500 million in '24, mainly in the power business, increased by 3% to €5,793 million, driven by a higher asset base base despite lower bad debt provisions. Adjusted EBIT reached €9.9 billion and grew 3.1%, in line with adjusted EBITDA.

Net financial costs increased by €288 million due to to -€1,863 million, mainly driven by €263 million higher debt-related costs due to to €6.2 billion higher average net debt, with an impact of €357 million, while interest-related costs and FX improved by €94 million due to FX depreciation, especially of the real and the dollar. Derivatives had a positive contribution of €164 million, mainly due to the East Anglia THREE derivative contribution, while the rest had a negative impact, mainly due to the Mexico hedges, compensated at the net profit level in the tax line, lower capitalized interest, and other items.

Cost of debt improved 6 basis points to 4.75%, mainly thanks to lower short-term interest rates, especially in the euro, despite higher interest rates in Brazil. Excluding the real, cost of debt improved 15 basis points to 3 to 3.55%.

'25 net debt, as the Chairman has said, is €1.5 billion lower than the €51.7 billion reported in the '24 year-end, reaching €50.2 billion. This positive evolution was driven by the €12.8 billion FFO generation, plus the €4.6 billion as a result of asset rotation and East Anglia THREE debt deconsolidation, and the €5 billion capital increase, more than covering the €12.6 billion capex, plus the €1.9 billion of Neoenergia prev acquisition, and the €4.6 billion dividend, as well as a €2.2 billion ENW net debt consolidation.

As a consequence, our credit ratios are strong for our BBB+/Baa1 rating. Our adjusted net debt to EBITDA was 3.02 times, the FFO adjusted net debt reached 25.5%, and our adjusted leverage ratio was 43.8%, 1.6 percentage points lower than at the end of '24.

Regarding our financing strategy, we delivered a year of unprecedented execution, awarded by the the IFR magazine as the best issuer in the world in '25. In addition to the capital increase, Iberdrola signed €16.7 billion of new financing under highly competitive conditions in different markets.

We placed €4.9 billion in bonds, achieving several milestones: our first green senior under the EU Green Bond Standards and ICMA standards, a non-dilutive green convertible with the highest savings versus a senior structure ever in Iberdrola, our lowest coupon among all hybrid issues in the euro market in '25, and the tightest spreads at Neoenergia and NYSEG. In structured finance, we secured €4.5 billion, driven by the East Anglia THREE project, financed by 23 banks and the Danish export credit agency.

We also reinforced our liquidity position with €3.8 billion in credit lines, including €2.5 billion euro sustainable syndicated facility for the holding and Avangrid, which has now become a benchmark in terms of pricing. In multilateral and development financing, we added €2.5 billion, including green funding from the EIB supporting next-generation investment, and the first green loan granted by the National Wealth Fund to a European company to finance projects in the UK.

'25 adjusted net profit grew 10% to €6,231 million, while reported net profit rose 12% to €6,285 million. Let me stress again that the net profit would have had exceeded €6.7 billion euros if '25 capital gains had not been more than applied to adjustments in our power division.

Now the Chairman will conclude the presentation. Thank you very much.

Ignacio Galán

Thank you, Pepe. To conclude, 2025 was again a year with a strong operational and financial performance.

Above all, last year confirmed the transformational impact of our strategic plan based in networks infrastructures as key driver. In 2025, our RAB increased by 12%, with attractive return and visibility, thanks to our presence in countries like United States and UK.

We expect to continue growing in the coming years, both in distribution due to integration of Electricity North West in the UK and increasing investment needs in all geographies, and in transmission, mainly in UK and US and Australia. In power and customers, our selective approach focusing our core markets and our balanced mix of technologies allow us to install 2.7 new gigawatts in 2025, with 4.7 GW more under construction, and 9 GW of projects ready for 2028.

In addition, 100% of our energy is already sold out for 2026, mainly through long-term PPAs and regulated contracts. We have continued expanding our unique portfolio of storage, which include hydro pumped facilities in operation capable of delivering up to 10,200 GWh per annum, and a pipeline of battery and hydro pumped storage projects up to 7,500 GWh per annum more.

In 2025, we have also confirmed our commitment to financial strength, with a reduction of €1.5 billion in net debt to €50.2 billion, following an 8% increase in cash flow generation up to €12.8 billion, the execution of our asset rotation and partnership plan, and the capital increase of last year. Driven by the expected continuation of these positive trends in 2026 and the impact of new investment, today we are setting an adjusted net profit guidance of more than €6.6 billion in 2026.

Which will mean adding €1 billion to our net profit in just two years, and we'll put Iberdrola in the best position to exceed our guidance of €7.6 billion for 2028. The growth potential of our business model goes far beyond 2028, given the unprecedented investment opportunities created by electrification.

In the last years, electricity consumption has been growing faster than infrastructure, accumulating a huge latent demand that today is waiting to be connected. Most countries are responding to this situation by increasing networks investment and accelerating planning processes.

Consumption is expected to continue increasing strongly in the coming years in heating and cooling as more heat pumps are installed, transport as the penetration of electric vehicles continues to accelerate, and industry, especially in low-temperature processes, creating the need for more installed power and storage facilities. Generation technologies will be chosen by each country according to three main criteria: self-sufficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability.

Of course, this new production will also require substantial upgrade in transmission and distribution networks. On top of this, data and artificial intelligence have emerged as the last year as a new demand vector with a very large potential, mainly from technology companies which are already Iberdrola largest customers in our key markets, the US, UK, and continental Europe.

This already requires significant upgrades of generation, and very especially transmission and distribution assets. This vicious circle of additional power demand and infrastructure is just starting.

Today, electricity is only 20% of the global energy demand, and this percentage is expected to grow strongly, boosted by new technological solutions and the need for strategic autonomy and competitiveness. In Europe, for example, the Commission expects that the share of electricity in total energy consumption will double in the next 10 years, and triple by 2050, reaching 60%.

We are in the best position to reaffirm our current global leadership in electricity infrastructure, which has become a new high-growth sector, thanks to the electrification, as we anticipated 25 years ago. Since then, we have been implementing a consistent strategy based in expansion of networks, selective investment in power, and access to customers through all routes to market, including the most sophisticated instruments like multicountry PPAs.

The €170 billion invested in the last 25 years have allowed us to multiply our asset base by 8 times, and expand our geographical footprint to several countries, mainly in the US and the UK, to become the largest integrated utility in Europe and one of the two largest worldwide by market capitalization. Always preserving our commitment to BBB+ rating, thanks to our financial discipline and our ongoing access to market and liquidity.

Our size, diversification, and solidity are the best guarantees to secure access to supply chains, technology, and the best talent and skills, and to maintain our track record of shareholder return, more than 1,800% over the last 25 years, and a sustained growth in results. Thank you very much for all your attention.

We can now begin the Q&A session. Thank you.

Moderator

Thank you, Mr. Galán.

The following financial professionals have raised the following questions: First, Rob Pulleyn, Morgan Stanley; Gonzalo Sánchez-Bordona, UBS; Ahmed Farman, Jefferies; Arturo Murua, Jefferies; Pedro Alves, CaixaBank; Pablo Cuadrado, JB Capital Markets; Fernando García, RBC; James Brand, Deutsche Bank; Jorge Alonso, Bernstein Société Générale; Philippe Ourpatian, ODDO BHF; Dominic Nash, Barclays; Meike Becker, HSBC; Peter Bisztyga, Bank of America; Pierre-Alexandre Ramondenc, AlphaValue; and finally, Skye Landon, Rothschild. The first question is, can you expand on the main elements driving the increase in net profit?

Ignacio Galán

In net profit, 2026 will be another year of growth. I think there are several reasons for— sorry, it was off.

I said 2026 will be another year of clearly growth. The first one is due to the consolidation Electricity North West and Neoenergia.

As we are already Neoenergia, we expect in the next few weeks we will have the control the 100% of the company. The positive acquisition these minorities what I mentioned.

New distribution frameworks, what we are now like the case of the UK, which is the T3 in RIIO-T3 from April. Interconnections between Canada and Massachusetts, which I mentioned it was 25 $125 million EBITDA contribution per annum.

The Brazil, the finalization of the transmission project, which can act, as I mentioned before, €250 million additional EBITDA. As well, the contribution of the 2.7 MW 2,700 MW installed power in 2025, and the partial contribution of this 4.7 GW which now under construction and will be completed during the year.

The other one important point, I think we are beating this year the record of hydro reserve in the history of the group. I can say in this moment all our dams are 100% almost full, I think we are on the over 95, which is the reserve margin we have to keep already just for security reason.

That is already provide more than 9,000 GWh of store energy, which will be used in due time. That can be completed with our capacity of pumping storage, which I mentioned is another potential almost 10,000 GWh per annum that we can as well potentially produce with it.

Financial expenses, as it was mentioned by Pepe Sáinz, is fully under control, is a lower debt and our interest rate are mainly fixed or are hedged. That's why I think we are confident that to reach more than €6.6 billion net profit this year.

That represent practically, I think when we present last year our plan, it was a plan to increase by €2 billion in 3 years. I think between 2024 and 2028.

I think with that one, we can already secure then a half of the term. This €1 billion is already been already increased already.

That's why I think we are comfortable that another €1 billion from 2027-2028 as well can be easily be achieved. Traditionally, always, as I mentioned before, we are overdelivering our promises.

Which I think you see that we when we make that one is we are normally comfortable that we can already achieve these numbers. Related net debt, I don't know, Pepe, you would like to say something.

We are very very happy with our cash flow generation, which continue increasing, but I think you mentioned, Pepe, with more details.

José Sainz Armada

In the net debt, we are expecting to end '26 somewhere between €54 and €55 billion, which is below what we had in our plan. This is basically because we have, as finished this year with lower debt than what we had expected, lower €1.5 billion at 50.2.

This means that we are going to increase a little bit the debt amount as we continue to invest, but below what we had in our plan and that we had in our Capital Markets Day. As the Chairman has said, the debt under control and the financial expenses also.

Moderator

Next question is related to the non-recurring impacts that are affecting the 2025 EBITDA and net profit.

Ignacio Galán

Pepe, you want to start?

José Sainz Armada

As well, this year we had a capital gain mainly due to the sale of the smart meters in the UK. This is something that we have adjusted.

We have taken away another €460 million to more than compensate this 379. This 464 is below the EBITDA, but so we are stripping €379 million of the EBITDA this year versus €1,700 million last year, mainly due to the Mexican capital gain.

This is what makes the fact that in reported terms, the EBITDA is below last year, but not in recurrent terms, eh? These are the two main impacts at the EBITDA level.

At the net profit, below the EBITDA level, mainly in the EBIT, in the depreciation and amortization in the provisions side, this year we have provisioned €460 million mainly to some adjustments in the value of our pipeline, mainly in renewables across different geographies, okay? Compared to last year, which the adjustment was basically in the onshore in the US, as you recall.

This year, it's been basically across different geographies. Last year also in the provision line, we adjusted around €1,500 million in the provision line in 20 in '24 to compensate these capital gains that we had in the EBITDA level.

We stripped this provision from the EBIT side. To conclude, last year we stripped €379 million at the EBITDA this year, €379 million at the EBITDA level, '24 €1,700 million at the EBITDA level.

This year we have taken away around €460 million at the EBIT level, and

Pedro Azagra

we have also taken away last year also through efficiencies and adjustments another €1,500 million. In addition to that, we have two other elements, which is basically the fact that this year we have included the cap allowance, which compensates what we are taking away, which is the New York recognition of the past costs, okay?

That is basically the main adjustments in our numbers.

Moderator

Next question is related to the recent regulatory development both in Spain and the UK, and how this compare with the assumptions included in our strategic plan.

Ignacio Galán

I think as I have mentioned, in the case of Spain, we have to manage our business according with the signal that has been given. The signals is that they are already just reducing the money for in operation and maintenance, we have to adapt our operation and maintenance to the new circumstances.

They are already just limited the capex, and they are giving some guidelines where to invest and how much to invest, we have to adapt to these circumstances. I think I would like to say that in the case of Spain, it's less than 20% of our RAB, I think we will adapt to the circumstances in such a way that we will not be affected in our P&L, adapting our expenses, adapting our capex to the framework has been defined.

I think our networks business is depending much more of another countries. I think in the case of UK, as I mentioned, only the growth then we are expecting in transmission is absolutely huge.

Only in transmission, the regulator has already recognized the need of accelerating our transmission lines, multiplying by 4 times the capex toward the previous 5 years, with a clear, stable, predictable, and attractive framework. I think RIIO-T3 is clearly a transformational things for ScottishPower.

The RAB of transmission in 2030 will be equal, even highly higher than the RAB of distribution. Together, we are going to reach more than €30 billion RAB, compared with €9 billion we have in Spain, I think just to give you the image what they represent.

As well, the return on equity, it's return on equity including incentive higher than 9 9%. Similar situation we are facing in other countries like United States, which as well there are a pressure for increasing the investment.

The situation in Brazil, which, as you saw, is already just renewing the license for next 30 years with the commitment of investing huge amount of money in the country for electrifying the sectors which still in the country are not electrified. I think those are the main things.

I think our business transmission and distribution business is a growth vector which is transmission, either in UK, in United States, which I think in the case of Britain is going to transform completely the size of the company from a company €15 billion RAB to €30 billion RAB. In the case of United States, similar thing, as well of Brazil.

In Spain, the situation, we have to follow the signals of regulator. In any case, the size of our business in Spain is less than 20% of our total, which I think is not important what it represented for that one.

We will adapt completely our deliveries what has been already been given. The signals given is clear: less investment in operation and maintenance, capex already addressed to certain areas and not to another areas.

I think we have to follow these instructions. That's it.

Moderator

Next question is regarding the regulatory framework and negotiation in New York and Maine, and how this align with the assumptions included in our strategic plan.

Ignacio Galán

Pedro, will you reply?

Pedro Azagra

I think we are always adjusting, Chairman, on these rate cases to the circumstances. Last year, we focused on recovering storm costs in New York, $800 million, and more than $300 million of storm costs as well in Maine.

That was the focus. I think this year, because of circumstances, we believe it's the right thing to do interim rates and one-year rate case in Maine.

The interim rates will be applied in July, and then we will request for a one-year rate case. After that, we'll go into a multi-year rate case.

In the case of New York, we still have the current rate plan, which will finish in the middle of the year, and we're already working in a one-year rate case. After that, we will file also a multi-year rate case.

Moderator

Next is, could you provide an update on the status of Vineyard Wind 1 project and its recent progress?

Ignacio Galán

I think I would summarize in two words. For me, as engineer, the farm is already completed.

In this moment, we have more than 60 turbines of the 62 which are fully installed. I think there are more than 55, I think, in operation exporting electricity.

I think these numbers is means is the level of availability is similar of other offshore wind farm we have in operation. For me, that is completed.

Nevertheless, Pedro, you would like to add any detail. For me is the sentence, that is fully completed.

That's it.

Pedro Azagra

I think you're totally right, Chairman. I think we have 60 of 62 rotors installed.

That's 97%. Probably in the next days, we will install the two remaining ones.

I think from an operation point of view, 52 of the 62, that's almost 85% of them are right now allowed for operation.

Moderator

Next is, how is your customer base evolving in Spain, particularly in terms of churn level, customer retention, and portfolio quality?

Ignacio Galán

Pedro?

Pedro Azagra

I think it's important to know that we are the market leader. We are the leader in energy supply, we are the leader in number of customers, and also the leader in churn rate.

It's normal that we have some rotation in those customers. I think we continue to be successfully measuring, taking actions to retain our best customers.

Right now, we feel even that margin in per customer is right now growing from an energy point of view.

Ignacio Galán

I would like to insist in one word. I think we are the leader in number of customers.

The level of loyalty of our customer is huge. We have the record that we are the best in churn rates in the country as well.

I think it's normal when you are already the largest number of customers that you lose someone else. Important is the level of loyalty of the existing one.

The percentage of rotation, asset rotation in our case is much lower than the rest, especially those newcomers. The newcomers is the churn rates are absolutely huge.

Which I think as well is normal in other countries when you go as a country initially, I think the number of you win customer, but you lose customer. The important thing is the loyalty of our customer is huge.

I think that would like to mention this message. Thank you.

Next,

Moderator

could you provide an update on your view regarding the role of nuclear generation in Spain and the status of the Almaraz extension process?

Ignacio Galán

I don't know how many times I repeated as engineer what is my vision. The nuclear power plant are necessary, are safe, are efficient, and contributed to lower prices in all countries.

I think that is a reality. In the case of Spain, we suffer a huge taxation, which I think is reach almost €30 or €35 per megawatt-hour, which is 3 times, 4 times more than other neighbor countries.

The power plant itself, I insist, are necessary, safe, and efficient, and they are already generating lower prices. I think that is like that.

Today, some of the nuclear power plant have been called to operate under restriction because they are cheaper than gas plant. I think that is the reality we have facing today.

In fact, today European countries with no nuclear have a structurally higher prices, Italy and Germany, around €20 more than France of Spain. I think that is the big debate in Europe.

Those countries what we have already keeping our nuclear power plant and we have already invested in another renewable technologies, we have lower prices than those who have not already, either not built or either has already closed the nuclear power plant and they're fully depending of the import of fossil fuels, which I think that makes that the cost is automatically higher. That's why for this reason, we have already asked the extension of Almaraz, and we will ask the extension of others in the future, I imagine.

I think this process is ongoing. I think is Nuclear Security Council is analyzing, but I think I'm not seeing that we are already delivered all the paper requested, and I think the fact is to this power plant, most power plant similar to that one are already extension life up to 60, even 80 years, which I think will have not much sense than here will not already use this asset, which I insist are necessary, safe, efficient, and contribute to lower prices.

Moderator

Next is related to the status of the Neoenergia minorities acquisition deal. In,

Ignacio Galán

sorry?

Moderator

Sobre Neoenergia, the process of

Ignacio Galán

the... Neoenergia.

I think that the process is going on. I think it's a question of weeks, I think all they are progressing well step-by-step.

I think I feel, Pepe, that in April will be closed,

Moderator

at

Ignacio Galán

the latest. I think it's going according with schedule.

Moderator

Next is, how will required US network investment affect customer affordability, and are European regulators becoming more focused on this issue as well, especially Italy with the new measures adopted?

Ignacio Galán

As I mentioned in my presentation, today we have a significant latent demand unattended due to lack of infrastructure. I think that is a fact in all countries.

The fact, European Commission has already make just directive recommending higher investment in networks and infrastructures. I think this lack of infrastructures of transmission and distribution is causing losses in curtailments, and that is generating extra cost to many countries.

That's why a higher investment in network will allow to solve those curtailments. I think the case of UK, if I don't remember bad, the curtailments amounts something like £5 billion per annum, just because they are certain electricity in some part of the country cannot be exported to another part of the country, and this part of the country have to use more expensive sources of energy toward another one are already not being able to be exported.

This more investment solve this problem of curtailments. That can incorporate an additional demand, which now is latent, which cannot be supplied, and they will dilute it.

This extra demand will dilute the cost and the impact of this infrastructure cost, resulting at the end lower cost per kilowatt-hour. That is a virtuous circle.

If we are not making the infrastructure, we have to pay higher cost of electricity. If we have this infrastructure, we can benefit, we can enjoy a lower cost of electricity, and we will consume more electricity, we will dilute it the cost of this extra infrastructure.

The British regulator has understood very well, and that's why they are already introducing incentives for accelerating the construction of new infrastructures, precisely for diminishing this curtailments than the British are paying at present. In generation, I think my position in Georges charge also clearly, each country have to look for how to use their own indigenous electric energy to become more autonomous, to use the more autonomy in their energy to avoid problems that we've been experiencing in the past due to import of certain energies from other countries.

I think we've been suffering the problems of shortage of gas two years ago because the lack of supply from Russia. Now, but in any case, this cost of gas imported with liquefied always will be less competitive than those who have the gas door-to-door to the power plant.

That's why each country have to look what is the alternative. In the case of Europe, the European Commission is clearly defining what they would like.

They would like more autonomous energy based in renewables, onshore, offshore, solar; more nuclear, extension of the existing one or potentially new one, which is the case of France, France just published their policy where they are relying in more nuclear and more offshore; and I think Britain is already saying the same thing as well. That is the point is, the point is networks for supplying the demand, which today cannot be supplied.

These networks can already diminish the cost per kilowatt-hour because they will dilute it, with more demand dilute the cost of the new infrastructures. The power will be depending of the countries, and depending on the sources each country.

If the country has one type of the sources of energy, that energy you have to be used with the basis of competitiveness, sustainability, and self-sufficiency in the country.

Moderator

Next is, could you update on your US renewable pipeline? Is repowering still an opportunity in the US?

Ignacio Galán

It is, but Pedro, you can already explain with more detail.

Pedro Azagra

I think in the US, we have 11,000 MW in operation, and we're right now building around in construction, 600 MW, out of which 455 are repowering. I think because of the customer demand to continue to increase, we are also looking into extension of life between 15 and 20 years, with very moderate investments and attractive business cases.

I think on top of this, we have more than 4,000 MW of pipeline. We don't have any new projects in the projections we gave in the Capital Markets Day, because we prefer to actually do things, and that will be an upside every time we decide to do new projects.

Moderator

Next is something related to the previous question, but could you provide your view the recent regulatory intervention in Italy power market, and do you foresee similar measures in Spain?

Ignacio Galán

Italy, as I mentioned before, I was explaining clearly, they have higher prices than other European countries due to their past energy policy decisions, that they are already make they increase their dependence of gas imports. I think that is clear.

Same than Germany is facing a higher prices in Europe there due of decision, political decision taken in the past of that one. I think this case is very different for other countries that we have renewable and nuclear driving a structural lower cost.

That is the case of France, that is the case of Spain. I think in line with the conclusion reached in the European Commission three years ago related to the market design, we continue thinking the long-term contracting, mainly in PPAs, are the solution to avoid volatile and high power prices for European consumers.

I think the fact those countries who have already more long-term contracts are those countries are part of the mix of power generation of those countries who have already more stable and predictable prices. I think Europe needs to become more and more energy independent, we cannot rely in sources which are not already in our hands.

That's why any market intervention will not help to attract the necessary investment to attend this growing electricity demand. We have to be very careful with all these measures.

We have to be very careful with the taxation. We have to be very careful the fact that taxation, European Commission is recommending as well reduction, substantial reduction in taxes to electricity for increasing competitiveness, because that is the best way to increase the competitiveness of European.

If we compare the taxes of Europe with Americans and with the Chinese, in some cases is 5 times more, the European toward the Americans or the Chinese. I think it's not a question of looking for more reforms.

It's a question of looking where is the problem. The problem in Europe is taxation and energy policies has not been in some countries making the right direction.

If we are keeping already the nuclear power plant, if we increase our investment in already in autonomous energies, which in the case of Europe certain is renewable, onshore, offshore, solar, hydro, we make more storage, certain we can be already as competitive as others. That is what they're making countries like China, which are investing heavily already in autonomous energies, mainly renewable, hydroelectric, and nuclear as well, for keeping already much competitive mix of power generation.

Moderator

Next is, could you update on your activity with data center clients, particularly regarding PPAs and expected demand growth?

Ignacio Galán

I think is PPAs with technology company is not new for us. I think we have PPAs with the largest users of data centers.

We have already in this moment more than 150 GWh of new PPAs signed, and only in last year, we signed 1 TWh more, and we have already 12 TWh per annum already the energy supplied to these companies. I think I insist on that one many times.

I think there are people who has been dreaming to become data centers builders. We are already data center facilitators.

We try to facilitate the installation of data centers, because data center is a large consumer of electricity, and our business is to sell electricity. That's why we are doing our best for helping those who would like to install new data centers through providing land or providing connection or providing these PPAs, whatever.

I think is data center is not only question of power, it's question as well of connection, it's question of networks. More networks are needed as much power is needed.

I think if I have to say prioritize, networks is the first bottleneck in this moment, more than power itself, in some of the countries where we present actually.

Moderator

Last question is related to the guidance given to the 2028, and is please can you elaborate why 2028 guidance has moved from around €7.6 billion to higher than €7.6 billion?

Ignacio Galán

I think is we have increased our net profit €1 billion in last two years, and we expect to at least to increase another one more billion in the next two years. Investment and asset rotation is ahead of schedule, I think the RAB is up by 12%.

We have more than 7,000 MW new megawatt in construction of in operation in this moment. We have 9,000 MW pipeline ready for 2028.

We are seeing the acceleration of electrification, I was insisting and insisting again and again, with new investment opportunities in transmission and distribution. Clearly, that is a clear example in T3 in UK, where they are for the incentive for acceleration.

We have increased our return on equity by 100 basis points if we goes ahead of schedule, I think it's incentive for being faster. On top of this, we have already better expectation for 2030 and beyond with new opportunities in transmission in countries like Australia.

I think, all in all, we are keeping our plan and delivering, focusing in networks, being selective in renewables and in power, as Pedro mentioned in United States. There are opportunities that we are making, but we can make more if there are demand.

There are another countries what we are possibilities in making more things, but we don't like to make dreams. As you remember, we put name by name, power plant by power plant, which one we are going to build per annum per annum.

It's not saying we are going to make 9,000. No, we are going to make this 9,000 in this country, in this period, in this thing.

We have already, in the case of United States, that Pedro mentioned, we have for repowering, we are 11,000 MW already in operations, with more than half can be repowered. In the moment we have one by one which one we are going to make repower, we will let you know.

I think we are working with that one case by case, because the time is moves faster. Nevertheless, I think we have already our financial strength, we are committed with it.

We took all the necessary steps for keeping already our financial solidity, and I think is and that's why we feel we have a unique value proposition in the sector. I mentioned in my speech something that we are from Bilbao.

I think is although the people from Bilbao, we have the reputation of being a little exaggerated sometimes, in our case, after 125 of history, and 25 years of myself leading the group, we have already taken, I feel, the best of the country Basque: the ambition to achieve better and higher results, and the pride of also typical from Bilbao of overdelivering. That is our track record.

Our track record is ambitious plan and overdelivering the results. This is the result of the plan 2022 to 2025, what it just finished, with our plan, and that is going to be again our plan for 2028, compared with others who has not proven this ambition, it has not proven this delivery.

Moderator

After this Bilbao answer, I will now hand the floor over to Mr. Galán again to close this event.

Ignacio Galán

Thank you very much to all of you for participating in this conference call, and nothing. If there are any question, our Investor Relations, we will available for any additional information you may require.

Thank you, and thank you very much. See you soon.

Thank you.