Endesa urges Spain to act to boost power grid investments as energy prices dent profit
Adds CEO comment in paragraphs 3 and 7-9, CFO comment in paragraph 12
By Pietro Lombardi
MADRID, May 8 (Reuters) -Endesa ELE.MC on Wednesday urged the Spanish government to make it more attractive to invest in power networks as the Spanish power utility shifts investment towards grids.
The company, owned by Italian energy group Enel ENEI.MI, said power grid bottlenecks in Spain are already hindering the development of businesses like data centres and called on Spanish authorities to improve the regulatory framework and encourage investments.
"What we are asking the regulator and the government is to give us some kind of signals that really give us comfort for the investment that we are doing now," Chief Executive Jose Bogas told analysts after reporting first-quarter results, where net profit fell 51% due to shrinking margins.
Under Spanish rules, the amount energy companies can invest in power networks is limited to a small percentage of the country's gross domestic product. Energy companies have pointed out that financial returns in Spain, at roughly 5.6%, are lower than in Britain and the United States.
Endesa, like competitor Iberdrola IBE.MC, is shifting investments towards networks while taking a more cautious approach towards new renewable projects.
Both companies are attracted by the stable and predictable returns power grids can offer.
Over the last four years, Endesa has had to reject a volume of demand equivalent to 15 GW from data centres and other sectors, Bogas said, adding that he was optimistic authorities will heed his call.
Bogas said investments in new renewable capacity may slow down, given an environment marked by low energy prices and the massive roll out of solar capacity.
"The market context could delay a little our investment," he said, referring to renewables.
The renewable sector has also been hit by high interest rates, rising debt costs and supply chain issues.
Endesa is seeking to raise cash to fund investments by selling stakes in existing renewable projects.
The company is in the final stages of the sale of a 49% stake in a 2 GW portfolio of operating solar assets, Chief Financial Officer Marco Palermo said, adding that he expects a deal by the second quarter or early in the third quarter.
Endesa's first-quarter net profit fell more than expected, as margins in its electricity and gas businesses shrank amid lower energy and gas prices compared with the same period last year and weak demand in Spain.
The company's net profit fell 51% to 292 million euros ($313.58 million), below the 324 million euros expected by analysts polled by LSEG.
The company said margins on its gas and electricity operations returned to normal from exceptionally high levels in the same quarter last year.
($1 = 0.9312 euros)
Reporting by Pietro Lombardi, editing by Inti Landauro, Lincoln Feast and Jane Merriman
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