Growth Projects and Cost Savings Help DCP Midstream Partners, LP Overcome Weaker Volumes

This quarter, the partnership delivered significant operating cost savings and growth in fee based assets, which more than offset anticipated volume declines. Our unwavering DCP 2020 strategy execution and operational excellence focus are substantiated by our strong safety and reliability results, lower costs, and increased fee based earnings. Looking forward to 2017, we will continue to have a steadfast focus on creating value for our unitholders, customers and employees.

One of DCP Midstream's aims in its DCP 2020 strategy has been to grow its fee-based asset base, which will generate a growing supply of stable cash flow to offset hedges as they roll off. It has already brought several projects online this year, including the Grant Parkway gathering system and the Panola Pipeline. These projects have pushed the company's fee-based margin up from 60% last year to 75% this year, and it should hit 80% next year.

Midstream companies continue to strategically focus on reducing their direct exposure to commodity prices by building or buying additional fee-based assets and selling those exposed to volatility. For example, Williams Companies (NYSE: WMB) and its MLP,Williams Partners (NYSE: WPZ), reported a double-digit rise in distributable cash flow during the third quarter due in part to recently completed fee-based projects. Meanwhile, Williams Partners is planning to invest up to $5 billion over the next two years to build additional fee-based assets. Finally, Williams Companies and Williams Partners both recently sold their Canadian assets and are looking for ways to monetize a petrochemical plant to reduce their direct exposure to commodity prices.

Looking forward

One of the fruits of DCP Midstream's growing stream of fee-based cash flow is that the company sees its distributable cash flow coming in above guidance. The MLP initially thought distributable cash flow would be in the range of $465 million to $495 million. However, it is increasing its guidance to between $515 million and $525 million. That gives it more breathing room to support the distribution, which it would have fully covered at the midpoint of the initial guidance.