Why Utility Profits Could Be the Next Target

Electricity prices are heading up. Utility operating costs, raw materials, and fuel (obviously), are all heading up and no sign of stopping. Now higher capital costs courtesy of the Fed can also be expected. All we can say is that it seems like inflation is back, baby. The Fed recently raised its discount rate and Treasury bond yields hit 5%—their highest level in almost two decades. A utility’s cost of capital consists of two parts: 1) the return earned on a risk-free investment (like US Treasury bonds) plus 2) an extra amount added...