SSE forecasts dip in earnings, investment plans on track

(Sharecast News) - SSE forecast a dip in annual earnings on Wednesday, as mixed weather conditions offset an otherwise robust operational performance. Updating on third-quarter trading, the renewable power generator - which unveiled a £33bn investment programme intended to increase its exposure to UK electricity networks last November - said adjusted earnings per share for the current year were set to come in between 144p and 152p.

SSE said the guidance reflected "strong operational performance against mixed weather conditions".

The FTSE 100 firm posted adjusted earnings per share of 160.9p in the year to 31 March 2025.

Barry O'Regan, chief financial officer, said: "Since announcing our £33bn investment programme to unlock the enormous growth opportunity presented by the transformation of electricity networks, our focus has been on accelerating investment and delivering the plan that will create compounding, long-term earnings and value for investors."

SSE said it was seeing ongoing momentum in delivering the plan, including securing five transmission planning decisions since November.

It now has 25 of the 34 of the major consents required to fulfil its licence condition to deliver the 11 major projects that reinforce the grid in the north of Scotland. "Securing the remaining consents will be a focus of the business for the remainder of this calendar year," it noted.

SSEN Transmission has also signed a £1bn, 12-year bank facility backed by a £800m financial guarantee from the government's National Wealth Fund.

The total adjusted investment in the three months to December end was £1.79bn, up from £1.09bn a year previously.

Total renewable output, meanwhile, was 9,876GWh, compared to 9,253GWh.