Rating Rationale
July 07, 2020 | Mumbai
Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.577.36 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.457.36 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Assigned)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has assigned its 'CRISIL A4+' rating to the short-term bank facility of Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited (Eastern Discom) and reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BB/Stable' rating on the long-term bank facilities.
 
The ratings take into account release of subsidy payments by the Andhra Pradesh government in fiscals 2020 (Rs 2,288 crore), which has resulted in a significant decline in subsidy receivables for the discom. Furthermore, the state government has provided support of Rs 1,063 crore in fiscal 2020 to fund the loss in the previous fiscal. This has led to debt reduction from Rs 6,800 crore as on March 31, 2020, to Rs 4,500 crore as on June 30, 2020. However, the operational performance of the discom remains subdued as reflected by the continuing provisional tariff gap (the gap between the average cost of supply and average revenue realised) of Rs 0.37/kWh in fiscal 2020, large government receivables (Rs 1,650 crore) and stretched power purchase payables (around 165 days). The liquidity remains constrained, as indicated by high utilisation of working capital limit and debt of around Rs 4,500 crore as on June 30, 2020 which is marginally higher than the pre-UDAY level of Rs 4,264 crore as of September 30, 2015. 
 
After weakening in fiscal 2019, the aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses for the discom improved to 6.64% in fiscal 2020 supported by subsidy payments from the state. With the approved subsidy payments inching up significantly in fiscal 2021 (Rs 2,813 crore), the sustenance of timely subsidy release from the state government remains highly critical.
 
CRISIL expects the operational performance of the discom to remain subdued due to continued operating losses. Hence, dependence on the state government will continue over the medium term. The quantum and timing of funds from the state government will remain key rating sensitivity factors.
 
The ratings continues to reflect the company's monopoly in the power distribution business in the designated service area, healthy consumer mix and low distribution losses. These strengths are partially offset by weak financial risk profile because of subdued debt protection metrics.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Monopoly in the power distribution business in the designated service area
Eastern Discom plays a critical role in the development of its service area, which covers a substantial portion of Andhra Pradesh's industrial economy. Also, there is limited threat from the open access system, as the open access charges levied by the discom should partly compensate for the flight of any industrial consumer.
 
Eastern Discom should maintain its monopoly in the long term, given that it is financially unviable for competitors to duplicate the network of wires required in the retail power supply business.
 
* Healthy consumer mix and low distribution losses
Eastern Discom had distribution loss of 6.64% in fiscal 2020 and a similar loss for the previous three fiscals. The distribution loss is low compared to other discoms in the country due to a large proportion of supply to HT (high tension) consumers (57%), where power losses are lower.
 
The overall consumer mix is healthy, with a high proportion of industrial and commercial consumers (64%). Eastern Discom should continue to benefit from its healthy consumer mix and low distribution loss.
 
Weakness
* Weak financial risk profile
The financial risk profile is constrained by high operating loss and weak debt protection metrics. The tariff gap reduced to Rs 0.37 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in fiscal 2020 from Rs 2.03 in the previous fiscal. During fiscal 2019, the discom booked additional power expenses for earlier years resulting in a substantial increase in the tariff gap.
 
The AT&C losses reduced to 6.64% in fiscal 2020 from 18.3% in the previous fiscal due to improvement in collection efficiency because of receipt of pending subsidies from the state government.
 
The company has government receivables of around Rs 1,650 crore marginally increased from Rs 1,478 crore a year earlier. Power purchase payables reduced to 165 days as on March 31, 2020, from 205 days a year earlier. Debt increased to Rs 6,800 crore as on March 31, 2020, from Rs 4,420 crore a year earlier, primarily to fund losses and reduced payables. However, the company received Rs 3,350 crore in fiscal 2020 from the state government by way of pending subsidies (Rs 2,287 crore) and loss funding (Rs 1,063 crore) for the previous fiscal, which was partly utilised to reduce debt to Rs 4,500 crore as on June 30, 2020. Debt may increase over the medium term because of expected continued cash loss and stretched working capital.
Liquidity Stretched

Eastern Discom maintained cash and equivalent of Rs 160 crore as on March 31, 2020. Liquidity remains stretched with expected cash loss of around Rs 1,100 crore in fiscal 2021 and debt obligation likely to be managed through government support and by stretching payables to power producers. Eastern Discom has access to Rs 550 crore of cash credit facility, which was fully utilised over the 12 months. Liquidity is supported by the company's critical utility role and state government ownership. The company will depend on clearing of dues and timely subsidies from the state government for meeting its funding requirement, including expected annual capital expenditure of around Rs 800 crore, over the medium term.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Eastern Discom will continue to depend on state government support to manage its liquidity over the medium term.
 
Rating sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Elimination of the tariff gap
* Decline in receivables to 60-90 days on a sustained basis
* Sharp reduction in debt
 
Downward factors
* Persistence of the tariff gap over the medium term, weakening the financial risk profile
* Increase in receivables beyond 150 days, on a sustained basis impacting liquidity
* Any diminution or delay in support from the state government

About the Company

Eastern Discom distributes and supplies power in the operation circles of Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, East and West Godavari districts, and 20 divisions of coastal Andhra Pradesh. The company's service area covers 42,100 square km, with a population of over 1.73 crore and a customer base of 59.7 lakh.
 
In fiscal 2020 (provisional), net loss was Rs 1,875 crore and operating income was Rs 12,608 crore, against a net loss of Rs 4,465 crore and operating income of Rs 11,880 crore in the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators^
As on / for the period ended March 31   2020* 2017
Revenue Rs crore 13,671 11,880
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore (813) (4,465)
PAT margin % (5.95) (37.6)
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times (0.71) (0.57)
PBDIT/interest expenses Times 0.3 (7.97)
^CRISIL adjusted numbers
*Provisional

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the Annexure -- Details of Instrument in this Rating Rationale. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of allotment Coupon rate (%) Maturity date Issue size (Rs crore) Complexity levels Rating assigned with outlook
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 472.13 NA CRISIL BB/Stable
NA Proposed long-term bank loan facility NA NA NA 5.23 NA CRISIL BB/Stable
NA Letter of credit NA NA NA 100.00 NA CRISIL A4+
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2020 (History) 2019  2018  2017  Start of 2017
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  477.36  CRISIL BB/Stable      28-06-19  CRISIL BB/Stable  26-03-18  CRISIL BB+/Stable      CRISIL BB+/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  100.00  CRISIL A4+    --    --  26-03-18  CRISIL A4+      CRISIL A4+ 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit 472.13 CRISIL BB/Stable Cash Credit 452.13 CRISIL BB/Stable
Letter of Credit 100 CRISIL A4+ Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 5.23 CRISIL BB/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 5.23 CRISIL BB/Stable Rupee Term Loan 45.82 Withdrawn
Total 577.36 -- Total 503.18 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Power Distribution Utilities

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