BUZZ-European utilities: EVs almost double household electricity use - DB

** Deutsche Bank (IOB: 0H7D.IL - news) ponders the impact of electric vehicles (EVs) growth on European utilities and sees electricity distribution cos as the likely clearest winners despite some operational challenges

** DB highlights RWE (Amsterdam: RW6.AS - news) (through innogy), E.ON, Iberdrola (Amsterdam: ID6.AS - news) , Enel (LSE: 0NRE.L - news) , CEZ as the key plays in the distribution segment

** "Higher volumes would take pressure off unit prices and drive growing asset bases over the long term," broker says

** Electricity retail cos - e.g. Centrica (Frankfurt: A0DK6K - news) , RWE (through innogy), Enel, E.ON - could also benefit from EVs but value capture less certain than asset growth for monopoly networks due to competition, according to DB

** There is significant attraction for energy retailers to promote EVs, per broker, as an electric car could roughly double household electricity demand

** DB sees less clear implications for electricity generation cos -- e.g. key wind/solar plays DONG, innogy, E.ON, Iberdrola and SSE (LSE: SSE.L - news)

** On one hand, EVs might drive up peak demand, which could benefit flexible fossil generation, per broker

** On the other hand, off peak EV charging and potential vehicle to grid discharging could smooth out demand, reducing the value of peaking capacity, according to DB