Ontario- 101 PV Portfolio
The portfolio commenced construction in September 2013 and has seen 2 projects completed and awaiting COD confirmation from the Ontario Power Authority. The balance are at various stages nearing completion. While we anticipated completing all 12 projects in 2013 regrettably scheduling delays with roofing companies and a roofing strike in the area set us back. The Portfolio is expected to be completed substantially if not completely in Q1 2014.
COD – Commercial Operation Date – is a significant milestone not just because it represents project completion but because it is also the stage at which all cost calculations are finalized and the Company's payables and receivables netted. Up to this point both payables and receivables escalate at each stage of construction. At COD a project is complete and payables/receivables are netted such that financial statements now reflect that the project is in the past rather than still ongoing.
The utility scale projects, comprising 12 commercial buildings in Mississauga and Brampton in Ontario, represent 1.582 MW AC and approximately 1.9 MW DC peak.
Ontario – 102 PV Portfolio
Notice to Proceed was obtained from the Ontario Power Authority in November and construction is being scheduled for Q1 on 130kW with the remaining megawatt expected to follow shortly.
These utility scale projects, comprising 4 large commercial installations in Mississauga and Milton in Ontario, represent 1.130 MW AC and approximately 1.35 MW DC peak.
Ecuador Phase One 20 MW AC / 25 DC
Atlantic submitted the final utility scale system design to CONELEC in early December and awaits final notice to proceed. Land preparation is scheduled for January 2014 with the project expected to be commercially operating by Dec 31, 2014.
Further reduction in operating costs
In Q4 management continued its push toward lower operating costs. Senior Management will be swapping approximately $4.8 million Series A 12% Preferred Shares into Series B 8% non convertible Preferred Shares. The net affect will be a savings of nearly $200,000 in interest annually. In addition management will move to a more project based compensation system whereby salaries are reduced on an annual basis in exchange for potential bonus payments based on projects reaching commercial operation.
This better fits the Atlantic long-term business model and allows the company to match payables with receivables plus link management compensation to profitability rather than time. Together these restructuring moves will reduce annual expenses by nearly $600,000.
Back in Black
With Q4's revenues, plus the Q1 revenues from the projects in their final stages, and the cost reductions mentioned above Atlantic anticipates the elimination of losses imminently. With losses steadily decreasing from 2009's loss of nearly $2.7 million to 2012's loss of less than $350,000, Atlantic, in a turnaround that would be seen as swift in most markets, expects to report profits in the very near future.
Atlantic's additional pipeline in Ontario
The company continues to secure new projects in Ontario and taking steps to make further applications into the OPA FIT program.
