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Regulatory Matters
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]  
Regulatory Matters
REGULATORY MATTERS
Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities -
Regulatory assets were comprised of the following items (in millions):
 
Alliant Energy
 
IPL
 
WPL
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
Tax-related

$1,147.9

 

$1,055.6

 

$1,107.9

 

$1,022.4

 

$40.0

 

$33.2

Pension and OPEB costs
547.8

 
578.7

 
279.3

 
294.0

 
268.5

 
284.7

Asset retirement obligations
107.9

 
105.9

 
71.9

 
64.3

 
36.0

 
41.6

EGUs retired early
67.4

 
41.4

 
32.9

 

 
34.5

 
41.4

Derivatives
49.9

 
30.7

 
22.3

 
10.0

 
27.6

 
20.7

Emission allowances
25.6

 
26.2

 
25.6

 
26.2

 

 

Other
90.0

 
76.6

 
51.0

 
41.9

 
39.0

 
34.7

 

$2,036.5

 

$1,915.1

 

$1,590.9

 

$1,458.8

 

$445.6

 

$456.3



Regulatory liabilities were comprised of the following items (in millions):
 
Alliant Energy
 
IPL
 
WPL
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
Cost of removal obligations

$412.1

 

$411.6

 

$272.9

 

$269.4

 

$139.2

 

$142.2

Electric transmission cost recovery
94.8

 
72.0

 
35.9

 
35.7

 
58.9

 
36.3

IPL’s tax benefit riders
45.0

 
83.5

 
45.0

 
83.5

 

 

Commodity cost recovery
21.2

 
30.8

 
15.0

 
17.8

 
6.2

 
13.0

Energy efficiency cost recovery
20.0

 
20.5

 

 

 
20.0

 
20.5

Derivatives
10.9

 
31.5

 
5.8

 
12.1

 
5.1

 
19.4

Other
24.5

 
31.1

 
10.2

 
12.3

 
14.3

 
18.8

 

$628.5

 

$681.0

 

$384.8

 

$430.8

 

$243.7

 

$250.2



Tax-related - Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s tax-related regulatory assets are generally impacted by certain property-related differences at IPL for which deferred tax is not recorded in the income statement pursuant to Iowa rate-making principles. Deferred tax amounts for such property-related differences at IPL are recorded to regulatory assets, along with the necessary revenue requirement tax gross-ups. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s tax-related regulatory assets increased primarily due to property-related differences for qualifying repair expenditures.

Asset retirement obligations - In September 2017, IPL reached a partial settlement agreement related to its retail electric rate review (2016 Test Year), subject to IUB approval. The proposed settlement does not include the recovery of certain asset retirement obligation costs previously recorded as regulatory assets, and as a result, Alliant Energy and IPL recorded a write-down of regulatory assets in the third quarter of 2017 as discussed in “IPL’s Retail Electric Rate Review (2016 Test Year)” below.

Electric generating units retired early - In June 2017, IPL retired Sutherland Units 1 and 3 and reclassified the remaining net book value of these EGUs from property, plant and equipment to a regulatory asset on Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s balance sheets. IPL is currently earning a return on the remaining net book value of these EGUs, as well as recovering the remaining net book value of these EGUs from both its retail and wholesale customers. IPL’s proposed settlement reached in September 2017 includes recovery of the remaining net book value of these EGUs from IPL’s retail customers over a 10-year period. However, the proposed settlement does not allow IPL to earn a return on the remaining net book value of these EGUs from its retail customers when final rates are implemented, and as a result, Alliant Energy and IPL recorded a write-down of regulatory assets in the third quarter of 2017 as discussed in “IPL’s Retail Electric Rate Review (2016 Test Year)” below. IPL has requested continued recovery of the remaining net book value of these EGUs from its retail customers over a 10-year period from the IUB, with a decision currently expected in the first quarter of 2018. In September 2017, FERC approved continued recovery of the remaining net book value of these EGUs from IPL’s wholesale customers over a 10-year period.

Derivatives - Refer to Note 11 for discussion of derivative assets and derivative liabilities.

Electric transmission cost recovery - A group of MISO cooperative and municipal utilities previously filed two complaints with FERC requesting a reduction to the base return on equity used by MISO transmission owners, including ITC and ATC LLC, to determine electric transmission costs billed to utilities, including IPL and WPL. In September 2016, FERC issued an order on the first complaint and established a base return on equity of 10.32%, excluding any incentive adders granted by FERC, effective September 28, 2016, and for the refund period from November 12, 2013 through February 11, 2015 (first complaint period). During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL received the refunds for the first complaint period of $50 million, $39 million and $11 million, respectively, after final true-ups. IPL and WPL each initially recorded the retail portion of the refunds to a regulatory liability. Pursuant to IUB approval, IPL’s retail portion of the refund from ITC is currently being refunded to its retail customers in 2017. WPL’s retail portion of the refund from ATC LLC will remain in a regulatory liability until such refunds are approved to be returned to retail customers in a future rate proceeding. IPL’s and WPL’s wholesale customers received their share of the refunds through normal monthly billing practices in 2017.

IPL’s tax benefit riders - IPL’s tax benefit riders utilize regulatory liabilities to credit bills of IPL’s Iowa retail electric and gas customers to help offset the impact of rate increases on such customers. These regulatory liabilities are related to tax benefits from tax accounting method changes for repairs expenditures and cost of removal expenditures, and a rate-making accounting change for capitalized interest. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s “IPL’s tax benefit riders” regulatory liabilities decreased by ($39) million as follows (in millions):
Electric tax benefit rider credits

($51
)
Gas tax benefit rider credits
(5
)
Rate-making accounting change
17

 

($39
)


In the third quarter of 2017, Alliant Energy and IPL implemented a rate-making accounting change for capitalized interest. IPL currently anticipates crediting its related tax benefits from this rate-making accounting change to its Iowa retail electric and gas customers in the future, and as a result, Alliant Energy and IPL recorded an increase of $17 million to IPL’s tax benefit riders regulatory liabilities during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Utility Rate Reviews -
IPL’s Retail Electric Rate Review (2016 Test Year) - In April 2017, IPL filed a request with the IUB to increase annual electric base rates for its Iowa retail electric customers by $176 million, or approximately 12%. The request was based on a 2016 historical Test Year as adjusted for certain known and measurable changes occurring up to 12 months after the commencement of the proceeding. The key drivers for the filing included recovery of capital projects, primarily power grid modernization and investments that advance cleaner energy, including Marshalltown. An interim retail electric base rate increase of $102 million, or approximately 7%, on an annual basis, was implemented effective April 13, 2017, without regulatory review, and will be subject to refund pending determination of final rates. Tax benefit rider credits and MISO transmission owner return on equity refunds are expected to reduce the effect of the rate increase on customer bills in 2017 and 2018. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alliant Energy and IPL recorded increases in electric base rates of $34 million and $54 million, respectively, in conjunction with the interim retail electric base rate increase.

In September 2017, IPL reached a partial, non-unanimous settlement agreement with the Iowa Office of Consumer Advocate, the Iowa Business Energy Coalition and the Large Energy Group for an annual electric base rate increase of $130 million, or approximately 9%. The final proposed rate increase (based on proposed settlement) includes increased depreciation expense resulting from an updated depreciation study; recovery over a four-year period of asset retirement obligation expenditures since the last retail electric rate filing in 2010; recovery over a 10-year period of the remaining net book value of Sutherland Units 1 and 3, unamortized forward contract costs for SO2 emission allowances through the energy adjustment clause and cancelled project costs approved in a prior emissions plan and budget; and no double leverage applied to the weighted-average cost of capital. The proposed settlement did not address rate design or IPL’s proposal to continue the electric transmission cost rider. As a result of the proposed settlement, in the third quarter of 2017, IPL recorded a write-down of regulatory assets of $9 million, including $4 million to “Other operation and maintenance” expenses primarily related to IPL being no longer probable of earning a return on the remaining net book value of Sutherland Units 1 and 3 from its retail customers when final rates are implemented, and $5 million to “Depreciation and amortization” expenses for asset retirement obligations deemed no longer probable of recovery in future rates. IPL currently expects to implement final rates in the first quarter of 2018. The IUB must issue a decision on requests for retail rate changes within 10 months of the date of the application for which changes are filed.

WPL’s Retail Electric and Gas Rate Review (2017/2018 Test Period) - In December 2016, WPL received an order from the PSCW authorizing WPL to implement an increase in annual retail electric rates of $9 million, or approximately 1%, and an increase in annual retail gas base rates of $9 million, or approximately 13%. The $9 million net annual retail electric rate increase reflects a $60 million increase in base rates, partially offset by a $51 million reduction in fuel-related costs, using an estimate for 2017 fuel-related costs. These increases were effective January 1, 2017 and extend through the end of 2018. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alliant Energy and WPL recorded increases in electric base rates of $4 million and $42 million, and increases in gas base rates of $2 million and $6 million, respectively, in conjunction with the base rate increases authorized in the PSCW’s December 2016 order.

WPL’s Retail Fuel-related Rate Filing (2016 Test Year) - Pursuant to a 2015 PSCW order, WPL’s 2016 fuel-related costs were subject to deferral if they were outside an annual bandwidth of plus or minus 2% of the approved annual forecasted fuel-related costs. Retail fuel-related costs incurred by WPL in 2016 were lower than fuel-related costs used to determine rates for such period resulting in an over-collection of fuel-related costs. In August 2017, the PSCW authorized WPL to utilize $6 million of the over-collections as an offset to projected 2017 fuel-related cost under-collections. As of September 30, 2017, $3 million of remaining fuel-related costs for 2016 outside of the approved bandwidth are included in “Commodity cost recovery” in Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s regulatory liabilities table above, and these costs are expected to offset any rate changes for WPL’s 2018 fuel-related costs.

WPL’s Retail Fuel-related Rate Filing (2017 Test Year) - In March 2017, WPL filed an application with the PSCW for a mid-year fuel-related cost adjustment for 2017. Fuel-related costs for 2017 are currently expected to exceed the approved 2017 fuel-related cost plan by more than the 2% annual bandwidth. In August 2017, the PSCW authorized WPL to utilize $6 million of the 2016 fuel-related cost over-collections to offset a portion of the projected fuel-related cost under-collections for 2017. As of September 30, 2017, after applying the 2016 over-recovery amounts, the remaining fuel-related costs for 2017 outside of the approved bandwidth were $3 million and are included in “Other” in Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s regulatory assets table above.

WPL’s Retail Fuel-related Rate Filing (2018 Test Year) - In July 2017, WPL filed a request with the PSCW to increase annual rates for WPL’s retail electric customers by $6 million, or approximately 1%, in 2018. The increase primarily reflects a change in expected fuel-related costs in 2018, which are expected to be offset by $3 million of over-collections from WPL’s 2016 fuel-related costs as discussed above. Any rate changes granted from this request are expected to be effective January 1, 2018.
IPL [Member]  
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]  
Regulatory Matters
REGULATORY MATTERS
Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities -
Regulatory assets were comprised of the following items (in millions):
 
Alliant Energy
 
IPL
 
WPL
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
Tax-related

$1,147.9

 

$1,055.6

 

$1,107.9

 

$1,022.4

 

$40.0

 

$33.2

Pension and OPEB costs
547.8

 
578.7

 
279.3

 
294.0

 
268.5

 
284.7

Asset retirement obligations
107.9

 
105.9

 
71.9

 
64.3

 
36.0

 
41.6

EGUs retired early
67.4

 
41.4

 
32.9

 

 
34.5

 
41.4

Derivatives
49.9

 
30.7

 
22.3

 
10.0

 
27.6

 
20.7

Emission allowances
25.6

 
26.2

 
25.6

 
26.2

 

 

Other
90.0

 
76.6

 
51.0

 
41.9

 
39.0

 
34.7

 

$2,036.5

 

$1,915.1

 

$1,590.9

 

$1,458.8

 

$445.6

 

$456.3



Regulatory liabilities were comprised of the following items (in millions):
 
Alliant Energy
 
IPL
 
WPL
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
Cost of removal obligations

$412.1

 

$411.6

 

$272.9

 

$269.4

 

$139.2

 

$142.2

Electric transmission cost recovery
94.8

 
72.0

 
35.9

 
35.7

 
58.9

 
36.3

IPL’s tax benefit riders
45.0

 
83.5

 
45.0

 
83.5

 

 

Commodity cost recovery
21.2

 
30.8

 
15.0

 
17.8

 
6.2

 
13.0

Energy efficiency cost recovery
20.0

 
20.5

 

 

 
20.0

 
20.5

Derivatives
10.9

 
31.5

 
5.8

 
12.1

 
5.1

 
19.4

Other
24.5

 
31.1

 
10.2

 
12.3

 
14.3

 
18.8

 

$628.5

 

$681.0

 

$384.8

 

$430.8

 

$243.7

 

$250.2



Tax-related - Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s tax-related regulatory assets are generally impacted by certain property-related differences at IPL for which deferred tax is not recorded in the income statement pursuant to Iowa rate-making principles. Deferred tax amounts for such property-related differences at IPL are recorded to regulatory assets, along with the necessary revenue requirement tax gross-ups. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s tax-related regulatory assets increased primarily due to property-related differences for qualifying repair expenditures.

Asset retirement obligations - In September 2017, IPL reached a partial settlement agreement related to its retail electric rate review (2016 Test Year), subject to IUB approval. The proposed settlement does not include the recovery of certain asset retirement obligation costs previously recorded as regulatory assets, and as a result, Alliant Energy and IPL recorded a write-down of regulatory assets in the third quarter of 2017 as discussed in “IPL’s Retail Electric Rate Review (2016 Test Year)” below.

Electric generating units retired early - In June 2017, IPL retired Sutherland Units 1 and 3 and reclassified the remaining net book value of these EGUs from property, plant and equipment to a regulatory asset on Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s balance sheets. IPL is currently earning a return on the remaining net book value of these EGUs, as well as recovering the remaining net book value of these EGUs from both its retail and wholesale customers. IPL’s proposed settlement reached in September 2017 includes recovery of the remaining net book value of these EGUs from IPL’s retail customers over a 10-year period. However, the proposed settlement does not allow IPL to earn a return on the remaining net book value of these EGUs from its retail customers when final rates are implemented, and as a result, Alliant Energy and IPL recorded a write-down of regulatory assets in the third quarter of 2017 as discussed in “IPL’s Retail Electric Rate Review (2016 Test Year)” below. IPL has requested continued recovery of the remaining net book value of these EGUs from its retail customers over a 10-year period from the IUB, with a decision currently expected in the first quarter of 2018. In September 2017, FERC approved continued recovery of the remaining net book value of these EGUs from IPL’s wholesale customers over a 10-year period.

Derivatives - Refer to Note 11 for discussion of derivative assets and derivative liabilities.

Electric transmission cost recovery - A group of MISO cooperative and municipal utilities previously filed two complaints with FERC requesting a reduction to the base return on equity used by MISO transmission owners, including ITC and ATC LLC, to determine electric transmission costs billed to utilities, including IPL and WPL. In September 2016, FERC issued an order on the first complaint and established a base return on equity of 10.32%, excluding any incentive adders granted by FERC, effective September 28, 2016, and for the refund period from November 12, 2013 through February 11, 2015 (first complaint period). During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL received the refunds for the first complaint period of $50 million, $39 million and $11 million, respectively, after final true-ups. IPL and WPL each initially recorded the retail portion of the refunds to a regulatory liability. Pursuant to IUB approval, IPL’s retail portion of the refund from ITC is currently being refunded to its retail customers in 2017. WPL’s retail portion of the refund from ATC LLC will remain in a regulatory liability until such refunds are approved to be returned to retail customers in a future rate proceeding. IPL’s and WPL’s wholesale customers received their share of the refunds through normal monthly billing practices in 2017.

IPL’s tax benefit riders - IPL’s tax benefit riders utilize regulatory liabilities to credit bills of IPL’s Iowa retail electric and gas customers to help offset the impact of rate increases on such customers. These regulatory liabilities are related to tax benefits from tax accounting method changes for repairs expenditures and cost of removal expenditures, and a rate-making accounting change for capitalized interest. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s “IPL’s tax benefit riders” regulatory liabilities decreased by ($39) million as follows (in millions):
Electric tax benefit rider credits

($51
)
Gas tax benefit rider credits
(5
)
Rate-making accounting change
17

 

($39
)


In the third quarter of 2017, Alliant Energy and IPL implemented a rate-making accounting change for capitalized interest. IPL currently anticipates crediting its related tax benefits from this rate-making accounting change to its Iowa retail electric and gas customers in the future, and as a result, Alliant Energy and IPL recorded an increase of $17 million to IPL’s tax benefit riders regulatory liabilities during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Utility Rate Reviews -
IPL’s Retail Electric Rate Review (2016 Test Year) - In April 2017, IPL filed a request with the IUB to increase annual electric base rates for its Iowa retail electric customers by $176 million, or approximately 12%. The request was based on a 2016 historical Test Year as adjusted for certain known and measurable changes occurring up to 12 months after the commencement of the proceeding. The key drivers for the filing included recovery of capital projects, primarily power grid modernization and investments that advance cleaner energy, including Marshalltown. An interim retail electric base rate increase of $102 million, or approximately 7%, on an annual basis, was implemented effective April 13, 2017, without regulatory review, and will be subject to refund pending determination of final rates. Tax benefit rider credits and MISO transmission owner return on equity refunds are expected to reduce the effect of the rate increase on customer bills in 2017 and 2018. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alliant Energy and IPL recorded increases in electric base rates of $34 million and $54 million, respectively, in conjunction with the interim retail electric base rate increase.

In September 2017, IPL reached a partial, non-unanimous settlement agreement with the Iowa Office of Consumer Advocate, the Iowa Business Energy Coalition and the Large Energy Group for an annual electric base rate increase of $130 million, or approximately 9%. The final proposed rate increase (based on proposed settlement) includes increased depreciation expense resulting from an updated depreciation study; recovery over a four-year period of asset retirement obligation expenditures since the last retail electric rate filing in 2010; recovery over a 10-year period of the remaining net book value of Sutherland Units 1 and 3, unamortized forward contract costs for SO2 emission allowances through the energy adjustment clause and cancelled project costs approved in a prior emissions plan and budget; and no double leverage applied to the weighted-average cost of capital. The proposed settlement did not address rate design or IPL’s proposal to continue the electric transmission cost rider. As a result of the proposed settlement, in the third quarter of 2017, IPL recorded a write-down of regulatory assets of $9 million, including $4 million to “Other operation and maintenance” expenses primarily related to IPL being no longer probable of earning a return on the remaining net book value of Sutherland Units 1 and 3 from its retail customers when final rates are implemented, and $5 million to “Depreciation and amortization” expenses for asset retirement obligations deemed no longer probable of recovery in future rates. IPL currently expects to implement final rates in the first quarter of 2018. The IUB must issue a decision on requests for retail rate changes within 10 months of the date of the application for which changes are filed.

WPL [Member]  
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]  
Regulatory Matters
REGULATORY MATTERS
Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities -
Regulatory assets were comprised of the following items (in millions):
 
Alliant Energy
 
IPL
 
WPL
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
Tax-related

$1,147.9

 

$1,055.6

 

$1,107.9

 

$1,022.4

 

$40.0

 

$33.2

Pension and OPEB costs
547.8

 
578.7

 
279.3

 
294.0

 
268.5

 
284.7

Asset retirement obligations
107.9

 
105.9

 
71.9

 
64.3

 
36.0

 
41.6

EGUs retired early
67.4

 
41.4

 
32.9

 

 
34.5

 
41.4

Derivatives
49.9

 
30.7

 
22.3

 
10.0

 
27.6

 
20.7

Emission allowances
25.6

 
26.2

 
25.6

 
26.2

 

 

Other
90.0

 
76.6

 
51.0

 
41.9

 
39.0

 
34.7

 

$2,036.5

 

$1,915.1

 

$1,590.9

 

$1,458.8

 

$445.6

 

$456.3



Regulatory liabilities were comprised of the following items (in millions):
 
Alliant Energy
 
IPL
 
WPL
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
Cost of removal obligations

$412.1

 

$411.6

 

$272.9

 

$269.4

 

$139.2

 

$142.2

Electric transmission cost recovery
94.8

 
72.0

 
35.9

 
35.7

 
58.9

 
36.3

IPL’s tax benefit riders
45.0

 
83.5

 
45.0

 
83.5

 

 

Commodity cost recovery
21.2

 
30.8

 
15.0

 
17.8

 
6.2

 
13.0

Energy efficiency cost recovery
20.0

 
20.5

 

 

 
20.0

 
20.5

Derivatives
10.9

 
31.5

 
5.8

 
12.1

 
5.1

 
19.4

Other
24.5

 
31.1

 
10.2

 
12.3

 
14.3

 
18.8

 

$628.5

 

$681.0

 

$384.8

 

$430.8

 

$243.7

 

$250.2



Tax-related - Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s tax-related regulatory assets are generally impacted by certain property-related differences at IPL for which deferred tax is not recorded in the income statement pursuant to Iowa rate-making principles. Deferred tax amounts for such property-related differences at IPL are recorded to regulatory assets, along with the necessary revenue requirement tax gross-ups. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s tax-related regulatory assets increased primarily due to property-related differences for qualifying repair expenditures.

Asset retirement obligations - In September 2017, IPL reached a partial settlement agreement related to its retail electric rate review (2016 Test Year), subject to IUB approval. The proposed settlement does not include the recovery of certain asset retirement obligation costs previously recorded as regulatory assets, and as a result, Alliant Energy and IPL recorded a write-down of regulatory assets in the third quarter of 2017 as discussed in “IPL’s Retail Electric Rate Review (2016 Test Year)” below.

Electric generating units retired early - In June 2017, IPL retired Sutherland Units 1 and 3 and reclassified the remaining net book value of these EGUs from property, plant and equipment to a regulatory asset on Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s balance sheets. IPL is currently earning a return on the remaining net book value of these EGUs, as well as recovering the remaining net book value of these EGUs from both its retail and wholesale customers. IPL’s proposed settlement reached in September 2017 includes recovery of the remaining net book value of these EGUs from IPL’s retail customers over a 10-year period. However, the proposed settlement does not allow IPL to earn a return on the remaining net book value of these EGUs from its retail customers when final rates are implemented, and as a result, Alliant Energy and IPL recorded a write-down of regulatory assets in the third quarter of 2017 as discussed in “IPL’s Retail Electric Rate Review (2016 Test Year)” below. IPL has requested continued recovery of the remaining net book value of these EGUs from its retail customers over a 10-year period from the IUB, with a decision currently expected in the first quarter of 2018. In September 2017, FERC approved continued recovery of the remaining net book value of these EGUs from IPL’s wholesale customers over a 10-year period.

Derivatives - Refer to Note 11 for discussion of derivative assets and derivative liabilities.

Electric transmission cost recovery - A group of MISO cooperative and municipal utilities previously filed two complaints with FERC requesting a reduction to the base return on equity used by MISO transmission owners, including ITC and ATC LLC, to determine electric transmission costs billed to utilities, including IPL and WPL. In September 2016, FERC issued an order on the first complaint and established a base return on equity of 10.32%, excluding any incentive adders granted by FERC, effective September 28, 2016, and for the refund period from November 12, 2013 through February 11, 2015 (first complaint period). During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL received the refunds for the first complaint period of $50 million, $39 million and $11 million, respectively, after final true-ups. IPL and WPL each initially recorded the retail portion of the refunds to a regulatory liability. Pursuant to IUB approval, IPL’s retail portion of the refund from ITC is currently being refunded to its retail customers in 2017. WPL’s retail portion of the refund from ATC LLC will remain in a regulatory liability until such refunds are approved to be returned to retail customers in a future rate proceeding. IPL’s and WPL’s wholesale customers received their share of the refunds through normal monthly billing practices in 2017.

IPL’s tax benefit riders - IPL’s tax benefit riders utilize regulatory liabilities to credit bills of IPL’s Iowa retail electric and gas customers to help offset the impact of rate increases on such customers. These regulatory liabilities are related to tax benefits from tax accounting method changes for repairs expenditures and cost of removal expenditures, and a rate-making accounting change for capitalized interest. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s “IPL’s tax benefit riders” regulatory liabilities decreased by ($39) million as follows (in millions):
Electric tax benefit rider credits

($51
)
Gas tax benefit rider credits
(5
)
Rate-making accounting change
17

 

($39
)


In the third quarter of 2017, Alliant Energy and IPL implemented a rate-making accounting change for capitalized interest. IPL currently anticipates crediting its related tax benefits from this rate-making accounting change to its Iowa retail electric and gas customers in the future, and as a result, Alliant Energy and IPL recorded an increase of $17 million to IPL’s tax benefit riders regulatory liabilities during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Utility Rate Reviews -
IPL’s Retail Electric Rate Review (2016 Test Year) - In April 2017, IPL filed a request with the IUB to increase annual electric base rates for its Iowa retail electric customers by $176 million, or approximately 12%. The request was based on a 2016 historical Test Year as adjusted for certain known and measurable changes occurring up to 12 months after the commencement of the proceeding. The key drivers for the filing included recovery of capital projects, primarily power grid modernization and investments that advance cleaner energy, including Marshalltown. An interim retail electric base rate increase of $102 million, or approximately 7%, on an annual basis, was implemented effective April 13, 2017, without regulatory review, and will be subject to refund pending determination of final rates. Tax benefit rider credits and MISO transmission owner return on equity refunds are expected to reduce the effect of the rate increase on customer bills in 2017 and 2018. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alliant Energy and IPL recorded increases in electric base rates of $34 million and $54 million, respectively, in conjunction with the interim retail electric base rate increase.

In September 2017, IPL reached a partial, non-unanimous settlement agreement with the Iowa Office of Consumer Advocate, the Iowa Business Energy Coalition and the Large Energy Group for an annual electric base rate increase of $130 million, or approximately 9%. The final proposed rate increase (based on proposed settlement) includes increased depreciation expense resulting from an updated depreciation study; recovery over a four-year period of asset retirement obligation expenditures since the last retail electric rate filing in 2010; recovery over a 10-year period of the remaining net book value of Sutherland Units 1 and 3, unamortized forward contract costs for SO2 emission allowances through the energy adjustment clause and cancelled project costs approved in a prior emissions plan and budget; and no double leverage applied to the weighted-average cost of capital. The proposed settlement did not address rate design or IPL’s proposal to continue the electric transmission cost rider. As a result of the proposed settlement, in the third quarter of 2017, IPL recorded a write-down of regulatory assets of $9 million, including $4 million to “Other operation and maintenance” expenses primarily related to IPL being no longer probable of earning a return on the remaining net book value of Sutherland Units 1 and 3 from its retail customers when final rates are implemented, and $5 million to “Depreciation and amortization” expenses for asset retirement obligations deemed no longer probable of recovery in future rates. IPL currently expects to implement final rates in the first quarter of 2018. The IUB must issue a decision on requests for retail rate changes within 10 months of the date of the application for which changes are filed.

WPL’s Retail Electric and Gas Rate Review (2017/2018 Test Period) - In December 2016, WPL received an order from the PSCW authorizing WPL to implement an increase in annual retail electric rates of $9 million, or approximately 1%, and an increase in annual retail gas base rates of $9 million, or approximately 13%. The $9 million net annual retail electric rate increase reflects a $60 million increase in base rates, partially offset by a $51 million reduction in fuel-related costs, using an estimate for 2017 fuel-related costs. These increases were effective January 1, 2017 and extend through the end of 2018. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alliant Energy and WPL recorded increases in electric base rates of $4 million and $42 million, and increases in gas base rates of $2 million and $6 million, respectively, in conjunction with the base rate increases authorized in the PSCW’s December 2016 order.

WPL’s Retail Fuel-related Rate Filing (2016 Test Year) - Pursuant to a 2015 PSCW order, WPL’s 2016 fuel-related costs were subject to deferral if they were outside an annual bandwidth of plus or minus 2% of the approved annual forecasted fuel-related costs. Retail fuel-related costs incurred by WPL in 2016 were lower than fuel-related costs used to determine rates for such period resulting in an over-collection of fuel-related costs. In August 2017, the PSCW authorized WPL to utilize $6 million of the over-collections as an offset to projected 2017 fuel-related cost under-collections. As of September 30, 2017, $3 million of remaining fuel-related costs for 2016 outside of the approved bandwidth are included in “Commodity cost recovery” in Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s regulatory liabilities table above, and these costs are expected to offset any rate changes for WPL’s 2018 fuel-related costs.

WPL’s Retail Fuel-related Rate Filing (2017 Test Year) - In March 2017, WPL filed an application with the PSCW for a mid-year fuel-related cost adjustment for 2017. Fuel-related costs for 2017 are currently expected to exceed the approved 2017 fuel-related cost plan by more than the 2% annual bandwidth. In August 2017, the PSCW authorized WPL to utilize $6 million of the 2016 fuel-related cost over-collections to offset a portion of the projected fuel-related cost under-collections for 2017. As of September 30, 2017, after applying the 2016 over-recovery amounts, the remaining fuel-related costs for 2017 outside of the approved bandwidth were $3 million and are included in “Other” in Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s regulatory assets table above.

WPL’s Retail Fuel-related Rate Filing (2018 Test Year) - In July 2017, WPL filed a request with the PSCW to increase annual rates for WPL’s retail electric customers by $6 million, or approximately 1%, in 2018. The increase primarily reflects a change in expected fuel-related costs in 2018, which are expected to be offset by $3 million of over-collections from WPL’s 2016 fuel-related costs as discussed above. Any rate changes granted from this request are expected to be effective January 1, 2018.