Other Commitments And Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Guarantees and Indemnities. We and certain of our subsidiaries enter into various agreements providing financial or performance assurance to third parties on behalf of certain subsidiaries as a part of normal business. Such agreements include guarantees and stand-by letters of credit. These agreements are entered into primarily to support or enhance the creditworthiness otherwise attributed to a subsidiary on a stand-alone basis, thereby facilitating the extension of sufficient credit to accomplish the subsidiaries' intended commercial purposes. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had issued stand-by letters of credit of $9.9 million and $10.2 million, respectively, for the benefit of third parties.

We provide guarantees related to our future performance under BTAs for our renewable generation projects. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, our guarantees for multiple BTAs totaled $642.4 million and $841.6 million, respectively. The amount of each guaranty will fluctuate upon the completion of the various steps outlined in each BTA. See ''- D. Other Matters - Generation Transition,'' below for more information.

B. Legal Proceedings. Due to the inherent uncertainty of litigation, there can be no assurance that the resolution of any particular claim, proceeding or investigation would not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity. If one or more matters were decided against us, the effects could be material to our results of operations in the period in which we would be required to record or adjust the related liability and could also be material to our cash flows in the periods that we would be required to pay such liability.

Private Actions. On September 13, 2018, a series of fires and explosions occurred in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover, Massachusetts related to the delivery of natural gas by Columbia of Massachusetts (the "Greater Lawrence Incident"). There continue to be asserted wrongful death and bodily injury claims as it relates to the Greater Lawrence Incident. We continue to discuss potential settlements with remaining claimants. The outcomes and impacts of such private actions are uncertain at this time.

FERC Investigation. In April 2022, NIPSCO was notified that the FERC Office of Enforcement (“OE”) is conducting an investigation of an industrial customer for allegedly manipulating the MISO Demand Response (“DR”) market. The customer and NIPSCO are cooperating with the investigation. It is probable that the OE will require the customer to repay certain DR revenues received from MISO, and will require NIPSCO to disgorge administrative fees and foregone margin charges that NIPSCO collected pursuant to its own IURC-approved tariff. The investigation remains ongoing. NIPSCO currently estimates the maximum amount of its disgorgement exposure to be $7.7 million which will be returned to customers. As of September 30, 2023, NIPSCO expects to recover more than 50% of that amount.

Other Legal Proceedings. We are also party to other claims, regulatory and legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business in each state in which we have operations, none of which we believe to be individually material at this time.

Environmental Matters. Our operations are subject to environmental statutes and regulations related to air quality, water quality, hazardous waste and solid waste. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with the environmental regulations currently applicable to our operations.

It is management's continued intent to address environmental issues in cooperation with regulatory authorities in such a manner as to achieve mutually acceptable compliance plans. However, there can be no assurance that fines and penalties will not be incurred. Management expects a majority of environmental assessment and remediation costs and asset retirement costs, further described below, to be recoverable through rates.

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had recorded a liability of $82.7 million and $86.5 million, respectively, to cover environmental remediation at various sites. This liability is included in "Other accruals" and "Other noncurrent liabilities and deferred credits" in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited). We recognize costs associated with environmental remediation obligations when the incurrence of such costs is probable and the amounts can be reasonably estimated. The original estimates for remediation activities may differ materially from the amount ultimately expended. The actual future expenditures depend on many factors, including laws and regulations, the nature and extent of impact and the method of remediation. These expenditures are not currently estimable at some sites. We periodically adjust our liability as information is collected and estimates become more refined.

CERCLA. Our subsidiaries are potentially responsible parties at waste disposal sites under CERCLA and similar state laws. Under CERCLA, each potentially responsible party can be held jointly, severally and strictly liable for the remediation costs as the EPA, or state, can allow the parties to pay for remedial action or perform remedial action themselves and request reimbursement from the potentially responsible parties. Our affiliates have retained CERCLA environmental liabilities, including remediation liabilities, associated with certain current and former operations. At this time, we cannot estimate the full cost of remediating properties that have not yet been investigated, but it is possible that the future costs could be material to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

MGP. We maintain a program to identify and investigate former MGP sites where Gas Distribution Operations subsidiaries or predecessors may have liability. The program has identified 53 such sites where liability is probable. Remedial actions at many of these sites are being overseen by state or federal environmental agencies through consent agreements or voluntary remediation agreements.

We utilize a probabilistic model to estimate our future remediation costs related to MGP sites. The model was prepared with the assistance of a third party and incorporates our experience and general industry experience with remediating MGP sites. We completed an annual refresh of the model in the second quarter. No material changes to the estimated future remediation costs were noted as a result of an internal quarterly review of environmental reserves completed as of September 30, 2023. Our total estimated liability related to the facilities subject to remediation was $77.7 million and $81.0 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The liability represents our best estimate of the probable cost to remediate the MGP sites. Our model indicates that it is reasonably possible that remediation costs could vary by as much as $15.1 million in addition to the costs noted above. Remediation costs are estimated based on the best available information, applicable remediation standards at the balance sheet date and experience with similar facilities.

CCRs. NIPSCO continues to meet the compliance requirements established by the EPA for the regulation of CCRs. The current CCR rule required revisions to previously recorded legal obligations associated with the retirement of certain NIPSCO facilities. The actual asset retirement costs related to the CCR rule may vary substantially from the estimates used to record the increased asset retirement obligation due to the uncertainty about the requirements that will be established by environmental authorities, compliance strategies that will be used and the preliminary nature of available data used to estimate costs. As allowed by the rule, NIPSCO will continue to collect data over time to determine the specific compliance solutions and associated costs and, as a result, the actual costs may vary.

Other Matters. Generation Transition. NIPSCO has executed several PPAs to purchase 100% of the output from renewable generation facilities at a fixed price per MWh. Each facility supplying the energy will have an associated nameplate capacity, and payments under the PPAs will not begin until the associated generation facility is constructed by the owner/seller. NIPSCO has also executed several BTAs with developers to construct renewable generation facilities. NIPSCO's purchase obligation under each respective BTA is dependent on satisfactory approval of the BTA by the IURC and timely completion of construction. NIPSCO and the tax equity partner, where applicable, for each respective BTA, are obligated to make cash contributions to acquire the project at the date construction is substantially complete. Certain BTA agreements require NIPSCO to make partial payments upon the developer's completion of significant construction milestones.

Proposed Sale of 19.9% Equity Interest in Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC. On June 17, 2023, NiSource and our wholly-owned subsidiary, NIPSCO Holdings II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NIPSCO Holdings II”), entered into a purchase and sale agreement (the “BIP Purchase Agreement”) with BIP BLUE BUYER L.L.C., an affiliate of BIP. NIPSCO Holdings II is the 100% owner of all issued and outstanding membership interests of NIPSCO. NIPSCO Holdings II is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NIPSCO Holdings I LLC (“NIPSCO Holdings I”), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NiSource. Under the terms of the BIP Purchase Agreement, BIP will acquire newly issued membership interests of NIPSCO Holdings II which will represent a 19.9% ownership in NIPSCO Holdings II at closing, for a purchase price of $2.150 billion in cash, subject to adjustment based on the timing of closing and the amount of NiSource capital contributions made prior to closing (the “NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale”). At the closing of the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale, through their respective percentage ownership of NIPSCO Holdings II, NiSource will own an 80.1% controlling interest in NIPSCO, while BIP will own the remaining 19.9% non-controlling interest. The parties currently expect for the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale to close by the end of 2023. The closing of the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale is subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions described in the BIP Purchase Agreement, including receipt of authorization by FERC. FERC approval was received on October 19, 2023.

The BIP Purchase Agreement may be terminated: (i) by mutual written consent of the parties; (ii) by either party if the closing has not occurred on or before one year after the effective date of the BIP Purchase Agreement; (iii) by BIP or NiSource, as the case may be, prior to the closing upon certain material breaches or failures to perform any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements by the other party; or (iv) by either party prior to the closing in the event of a final and non-appealable law or order restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the closing in any competent jurisdiction.

The BIP Purchase Agreement prohibits NIPSCO and NIPSCO Holdings II from paying any dividends or similar distributions to NiSource prior to the closing of the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale.

Pursuant to the terms of the BIP Purchase Agreement, at closing of the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale, BIP, NIPSCO Holdings I, NIPSCO Holdings II and NiSource will enter into an Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement (the “Holdings II LLC Agreement”). The Holdings II LLC Agreement, among other things, provides for ongoing governance, exit rights, additional capital contributions, distributions, and other arrangements for NIPSCO Holdings II from and after the closing of the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale. As part of the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale, BIP is committed to funding its pro rata share of ongoing capital requirements, which is supported by a $250 million equity commitment letter. Upon the closing of the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale, the board of directors of NIPSCO Holdings II (the “Holdings II Board”) will consist of seven directors. The Holdings II LLC Agreement will allow BIP to appoint at least two directors to the Holdings II Board so long as BIP holds at least a 17.5% Percentage Interest (as defined in the Holdings II LLC Agreement). The Holdings II LLC Agreement also contains certain investor protections, including, among other things, requiring BIP approval for NIPSCO Holdings II to take certain major actions. In addition, the Holdings II LLC Agreement will contain certain transfer restrictions and other transfer rights and obligations applicable to both BIP and NiSource.

NiSource intends to use the proceeds from the purchase price and future capital contributions by BIP to support NIPSCO’s capital expenditure plans for serving customers, reduce NiSource’s debt and fund ongoing capital needs associated with the renewable generation transition.