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Rate And Regulatory Matters
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Abstract]  
Public Utilities Disclosure [Text Block] RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS
Below is a summary of our regulatory frameworks and significant regulatory proceedings and related lawsuits. We are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these matters, the timing of final decisions of the various agencies and courts, or the effect on our results of operations, financial position, or liquidity.
Regulatory Frameworks
The following table presents the regulatory frameworks and significant regulatory recovery mechanisms for each of Ameren’s rate-regulated businesses, which are discussed in more detail below:
Ameren MissouriAmeren Illinois’ electric distribution businessAmeren Illinois’ natural gas delivery service businessAmeren Illinois’ and ATXI’s electric transmission business
Regulatory framework
Historical test year ratemaking
Natural gas revenues for residential customers adjusted for sales volume deviations resulting from weather through the WNAR


Performance-based formula ratemaking
Initial rates based on historical test year and expected net plant additions for the year before rates become effective
Revenues decoupled from sales volumes
Future test year ratemaking
Revenues for residential and small nonresidential customers decoupled from sales volumes through the VBA

Formula ratemaking
Initial rates based on future test year
Revenues decoupled from sales volumes
Regulatory mechanisms
PISA

Riders:
RESRAM
FAC
MEEIA
PGA
WNAR

Trackers:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs
Certain excess deferred income taxes
Renewable energy standard costs
Electric distribution service and energy-efficiency revenue requirement reconciliation adjustments

Riders:
Power procurement
Transmission services
Renewable energy credit compliance
Zero emission credits
Certain environmental costs
Bad debt write-offs
Costs of certain asbestos-related claims
Riders:
QIP
PGA
VBA
Energy-efficiency program costs
Certain environmental costs
Bad debt write-offs
Invested capital taxes
Revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment
Missouri
The MoPSC regulates rates and other matters for Ameren Missouri’s electric service and natural gas distribution businesses. The rates Ameren Missouri charges customers for these services are established in a traditional regulatory rate review, which takes up to 11 months to complete, based on a historical test year and the revenue requirement established in the review.
Ameren Missouri has recovery mechanisms, including the RESRAM, FAC, MEEIA, PGA, and WNAR, that allow customer rates to be adjusted without a traditional regulatory rate review. These riders, along with the PISA, each described in more detail below, partially mitigate the effects of regulatory lag. Ameren Missouri also employs other recovery mechanisms, including a pension and postretirement benefit cost tracker, an uncertain income tax position tracker, a tracker on certain excess deferred income taxes, and a renewable energy standard cost tracker. Each of these trackers allows Ameren Missouri to defer the difference between actual costs incurred and costs included in customer rates as a regulatory asset or regulatory liability, with the difference expected to be reflected in base rates in a subsequent MoPSC rate order. Ameren Missouri’s cost recovery under any of its recovery mechanisms is subject to MoPSC prudence reviews.
The PISA permits Ameren Missouri to defer and recover 85% of the depreciation expense and earn a return at the applicable WACC on investments in certain property, plant, and equipment placed in service, and not included in base rates. The regulatory asset for accumulated PISA deferrals also earns a return at the applicable WACC, with all approved PISA deferrals added to rate base prospectively and recovered over a period of 20 years following a regulatory rate review. Additionally, under the RESRAM, Ameren Missouri is permitted to recover the 15% of depreciation expense not recovered under the PISA, and earn a return at the applicable WACC for investments in renewable generation plant placed in service to comply with Missouri’s renewable energy standard. The RESRAM deferrals are a regulatory asset until they are included in customer rates and collected in a subsequent period. Those investments not eligible for recovery under the PISA and the remaining 15% of certain property, plant, and equipment placed in service, unless eligible for recovery under the RESRAM, remain subject to regulatory lag. Ameren Missouri defers its cost of debt relating to PISA eligible investments as an offset to interest charges with the difference between the applicable WACC and its cost of debt recognized in revenues when recovery of such deferrals is reflected in customer rates. Under Missouri law, as a result of the PISA election, additional provisions apply to Ameren Missouri. These provisions include limiting Ameren Missouri’s rate increases to a 2.85% compound annual growth rate in the average overall customer rate per kilowatthour, based on the electric rates that became effective in April 2017, less half of the annual savings from the TCJA that was passed on to customers as approved in a July 2018 MoPSC order. If rate changes from the FAC or the RESRAM riders would cause rates to temporarily exceed the 2.85% rate cap, the overage would be deferred for future recovery in the next regulatory rate review; however, rates established in such regulatory rate review would be subject to the rate cap. Any deferred overages approved for recovery would be recovered in a manner consistent with costs recovered under the PISA. Excluding customer rates under the MEEIA rider, which are not subject to the rate cap, Ameren Missouri would incur a penalty equal to the amount of deferred overage that would cause customer rates to exceed the 2.85% rate cap. Ameren Missouri did not incur a penalty related to the rate cap in 2021. Both the rate increase limitation and the PISA are effective through December 2023. Missouri law provides for the ability to use the PISA, if Ameren Missouri requests and receives MoPSC approval for extension, through December 2028.
The RESRAM permits Ameren Missouri to recover or refund, through customer rates, the difference between the cost of compliance, net of renewable tax credits, with Missouri’s renewable energy standard and the amount set in base rates. Effective February 28, 2022, all off-system sales from the High Prairie Renewable and Atchison Renewable energy centers will be included in the RESRAM. Previously, 95% of these sales were included in the FAC and 5% were included in the RESRAM. Customer rates are adjusted for the RESRAM on an annual basis without a traditional regulatory rate review, subject to MoPSC prudence reviews. The difference between actual compliance costs and costs billed to customers in a given period is deferred as a regulatory asset or liability. The deferred amount is either billed or refunded to customers in a subsequent period. RESRAM regulatory assets earn carrying costs at short-term interest rates. The RESRAM permits Ameren Missouri to recover investments in wind generation and other renewables related to compliance with Missouri’s renewable energy standard, and earn a return at the applicable WACC on those investments not already provided for in customer rates or any other recovery mechanism, such as the renewable energy standard cost tracker. The renewable energy standard cost tracker allows Ameren Missouri to defer differences between actual costs primarily associated with the Maryland Heights Energy Center and renewable energy credits obtained through a 102-MW power purchase agreement with a wind farm operator, which expires in 2024, and those costs included in customer rates.
The FAC permits Ameren Missouri to recover or refund, through customer rates, 95% of the variance in net energy costs from the amount set in base rates without a traditional regulatory rate review, subject to MoPSC prudence reviews, with the remaining 5% of changes retained by Ameren Missouri. As such, Ameren Missouri’s results of operations are affected by the 5% not recovered or refunded under the FAC. The 95% variance in net energy costs in a given period is deferred as a regulatory asset or liability, and either billed or refunded to customers in a subsequent period. FAC regulatory assets earn carrying costs at short-term interest rates. Ameren Missouri’s base rates for electric service are required to be reset at least every four years to allow for continued use of the FAC.
The MEEIA permits Ameren Missouri to recover customer energy-efficiency program costs, the related lost electric margins, and any performance incentive through the MEEIA without a traditional regulatory rate review, subject to MoPSC prudence reviews. MEEIA assets earn carrying costs at short-term interest rates.
Ameren Missouri is a member of the MISO, and its transmission rate is calculated in accordance with the MISO Open Access Transmission, Energy, and Operating Reserve Markets Tariff. The FERC regulates the rates charged and the terms and conditions for wholesale electric transmission service. The transmission rate update each June is based on Ameren Missouri’s actual historical cost from the prior calendar year. This rate is not directly charged to Missouri retail customers because, in Missouri, the revenue requirement used to set bundled retail base rates includes an amount for transmission-related costs and revenues.
The PGA allows Ameren Missouri to recover costs of natural gas purchased on behalf of its customers without a traditional regulatory rate review, subject to MoPSC prudence reviews. These pass-through purchased gas costs do not affect Ameren Missouri’s natural gas margins, as any change in costs is offset by a corresponding change in revenues. The difference between actual natural gas costs and costs billed to customers in a given period is deferred as a regulatory asset or liability. The deferred amount is either billed or refunded to customers in a subsequent period. PGA regulatory assets earn carrying costs at short-term interest rates. The WNAR will allow Ameren Missouri to adjust natural gas delivery service rates charged to residential customers without a traditional regulatory rate review, subject to MoPSC prudence reviews, when deviations from normal weather conditions cause natural gas revenues to vary from the related revenue requirement approved by the MoPSC in the previous regulatory rate review. The impact of deviations from normal weather on natural gas delivery service revenues billed to residential customers in a given period will be deferred as a regulatory asset or liability. WNAR regulatory assets will earn carrying costs at short-term interest rates. The deferred amount will either be billed or refunded to residential customers in a subsequent period. The WNAR was approved by the December 2021 MoPSC natural gas rate order discussed below, and will replace the DCA effective February 28, 2022.
Illinois
The ICC regulates rates and other matters for Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution service and natural gas distribution businesses. The rates Ameren Illinois charges customers for electric distribution service are calculated under a performance-based formula ratemaking framework pursuant to the IEIMA. Pursuant to the IETL and an order issued by the ICC in March 2021, Ameren Illinois expects to use the current IEIMA formula framework to establish annual customer rates effective through 2023 and reconcile the related revenue requirements, and anticipates filing an MYRP by mid-January 2023, with rates effective beginning in 2024. By law, the decoupling provisions extend beyond the end of existing performance-based formula ratemaking, which ensures that Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution revenues authorized in a regulatory rate review are not affected by changes in sales volumes. See below for additional information regarding the IETL, the MYRP, and the March 2021 ICC order. The rates Ameren Illinois charges customers for natural gas distribution service are established in a traditional regulatory rate review, which takes up to 11 months to complete, based on a future test year and the revenue requirement established in the review.
Ameren Illinois’ election to use the electric distribution service performance-based formula ratemaking framework allowed by state law, described below, permits Ameren Illinois to adjust customer rates to recover the cost of electric distribution service on an annual basis. Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution service also has other cost recovery mechanisms in place that allow customer rates to be adjusted without a traditional regulatory rate review. Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution service business has riders for power procurement and transmission services incurred on behalf of its customers, renewable energy credit compliance, zero emission credits, and certain environmental costs, as well as bad debt write-offs and the costs of certain asbestos-related claims not recovered in base rates. These pass-through costs do not affect Ameren Illinois’ net income, as any change in costs is offset by a corresponding change in revenues. Ameren Illinois’ cost recovery under any of its recovery mechanisms is subject to ICC prudence reviews.
Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution service performance-based formula ratemaking framework under the IEIMA allows Ameren Illinois to reconcile electric distribution service rates to its actual revenue requirement on an annual basis. If a given year’s revenue requirement varies from the amount collected from customers, an adjustment is made to electric operating revenues with an offset to a regulatory asset or liability to reflect that year’s actual revenue requirement, independent of actual sales volumes. The regulatory balance is then collected from, or refunded to, customers within two years from the end of the year. In addition, Ameren Illinois’ electric customer energy-efficiency rider provides Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution service business with recovery of, and return on, energy-efficiency investments. Under formula ratemaking for both its electric distribution service and its electric energy-efficiency investments, the revenue requirements are based on recoverable costs, year-end rate base, and a year-end ratemaking capital structure, and earn a return at the applicable WACC. The ROE component of the applicable WACC is based on the annual average of the monthly yields of the 30-year United States Treasury bonds plus 580 basis points and any performance-related basis point adjustments, described in more detail below. Therefore, Ameren Illinois’ annual ROE for its electric distribution business is directly correlated to the yields on such bonds. In addition, regulatory assets applicable to formula ratemaking for both electric distribution service and electric energy-efficiency investments earn a return at the applicable WACC. However, Ameren Illinois recognizes the cost of debt on these regulatory assets in revenue, instead of the applicable WACC, with the difference recognized in revenues when recovery of such regulatory assets is reflected in customer rates.
Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution service business is also subject to performance standards. Failure to achieve the standards would result in a reduction in the company’s allowed ROE calculated under the formula ratemaking recovery mechanism. The performance standards applicable to electric distribution service under the IEIMA include improvements in service reliability to reduce both the frequency and duration of outages, a reduction in the number of estimated bills, a reduction of consumption from inactive meters, and a reduction in bad debt expense. The allowed ROE for electric distribution service may be decreased for penalties up to 38 basis points in 2022 and up to 10 basis points in 2023 if these performance standards are not met. The allowed ROE on energy-efficiency investments can be increased or decreased up to 200 basis points, depending on the achievement of annual energy savings goals. Any adjustments to the allowed ROE for energy-efficiency investments will depend on annual performance for a historical period relative to energy savings goals. In 2021, 2020, and 2019, there were no performance-related basis point adjustments that materially affected financial results.
Ameren Illinois’ natural gas distribution business has recovery mechanisms, including the QIP, PGA, and VBA, that allow customer rates to be adjusted without a traditional regulatory rate review. These riders, described in more detail below, mitigate the effects of regulatory lag. Ameren Illinois employs other riders for natural gas customer energy-efficiency program costs and certain environmental costs, as well as bad debt write-offs and invested capital taxes not recovered in base rates. Pass-through costs under the riders do not affect Ameren Illinois’ net income, as any change in costs is offset by a corresponding change in revenues. Ameren Illinois’ cost recovery under any of its recovery mechanisms is subject to ICC prudence reviews.
The QIP provides Ameren Illinois with recovery of, and a return on, qualifying natural gas infrastructure investments that are placed in service between regulatory rate reviews. Infrastructure investments under the QIP earn a return at the applicable WACC. Eligible natural gas investments include projects to improve safety and reliability and modernization investments, such as smart meters. The deferrals are recorded as a regulatory asset, with recovery beginning two months after the qualifying natural gas plant is placed in service and continuing until such plant is included in base rates in a natural gas delivery service rate order. Ameren Illinois’ QIP is subject to a rate impact limitation of a cumulative 4% per year since the most recent delivery service rate order, with no single year exceeding 5.5%. If the rate impact limitation was met in a particular year, the amount of rate base causing the QIP rate to exceed the limitation would be exposed to regulatory lag until a year when that amount could be recovered under QIP or is added to rate base as a part of a regulatory rate review. Upon issuance of a natural gas delivery service rate order, QIP rate base is transferred to base rates and the QIP is reset to zero, which mitigates the risk that the QIP will exceed its statutory limitations in future years and ensures timely recovery of capital investments. Without legislative action, the QIP will expire after December 2023.
The PGA allows Ameren Illinois to recover costs of natural gas purchased on behalf of its customers without a traditional regulatory rate review, subject to ICC prudence reviews. These pass-through purchased gas costs do not affect Ameren Illinois natural gas margins, as any change in costs is offset by a corresponding change in revenues. The difference between actual natural gas costs and costs billed to customers in a given period is deferred as a regulatory asset or liability. The deferred amount is either billed or refunded to customers in a subsequent period. PGA regulatory assets earn carrying costs at short-term interest rates. The VBA ensures recoverability of the natural gas distribution service revenue requirement that is dependent on sales volumes for residential and small nonresidential customers. For these rate classes, the VBA allows Ameren Illinois to adjust natural gas distribution service rates without a traditional regulatory rate review when changes occur in sales volumes from those volumes approved by the ICC in a previous regulatory rate review. The difference between allowed sales revenues and amounts billed to customers in a given period is deferred as a regulatory asset or liability. The deferred amount is collected from, or refunded to, customers in a subsequent period. VBA regulatory assets for a given year that are not fully collected by the end of the following year begin earning carrying costs at short-term interest rates.
Federal
The FERC regulates rates and other matters for Ameren Illinois’ transmission business and ATXI, as well as for Ameren Missouri. See discussion above related to Ameren Missouri. Both Ameren Illinois and ATXI are members of the MISO, and their transmission rates are calculated in accordance with the MISO Open Access Transmission, Energy, and Operating Reserve Markets Tariff. Ameren Illinois and ATXI have received FERC approval to use a company-specific, forward-looking formula ratemaking framework in setting their transmission rates. These forward-looking rates are updated annually and become effective each January with forecasted information. The formula rate framework provides for an annual reconciliation of the electric transmission service revenue requirement, which reflects the actual recoverable costs incurred and the 13-month average rate base for a given year, with the revenue requirement in customer rates, including an allowed ROE. If a given year’s revenue requirement varies from the amount collected from customers, an adjustment is made to electric operating revenues with an offset to a regulatory asset or liability to reflect that year’s actual revenue requirement, independent of actual sales volumes. The regulatory balance is collected from, or refunded to, customers within two years from the end of the year. FERC revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment regulatory assets earn carrying costs at each company’s short-term interest rates. In addition, the FERC has approved transmission rate incentives, including a 50 basis point incentive adder to the allowed base ROE for Ameren Illinois and ATXI for participation in an RTO.
Proceedings and Updates
Missouri
December 2021 MoPSC Electric Rate Order
In December 2021, the MoPSC issued an order in Ameren Missouri’s 2021 electric service regulatory rate review, approving nonunanimous stipulations and agreements. The order will result in an increase of $220 million to Ameren Missouri’s annual revenue requirement for electric retail service. The approved revenue requirement is based on a rate base of $10.2 billion, infrastructure investments as of September 30, 2021, and a change in the depreciable lives of the Sioux and Rush Island energy centers’ assets consistent with Ameren Missouri’s 2020 IRP. The order did not specify an ROE, but specified that Ameren Missouri’s September 30, 2021 capital structure, which was composed of 51.97% common equity, will be used in the PISA and RESRAM. The order provides for the continued use of the FAC and trackers for pension and postretirement benefits, uncertain income tax positions, certain excess deferred income taxes, and renewable
energy standard costs that the MoPSC previously authorized in earlier electric rate orders. The order also changed annualized depreciation, regulatory asset and liability amortization amounts, and the base level of expenses for trackers. On an annualized basis, these changes reflect approximate increases in depreciation and amortization of $140 million and other operating and maintenance expenses of $40 million. As a result of the order, all off-system sales resulting from the High Prairie Renewable and Atchison Renewable energy centers will be included in the RESRAM beginning February 28, 2022. Prior to this change, 95% of these sales were included in the FAC and 5% were included in the RESRAM. The order also establishes a five-year recovery period for $61 million of certain costs associated with the Meramec Energy Center, which is expected to be retired in 2022. The new rates, base level of expenses, and amortizations will become effective on February 28, 2022.
MoPSC Staff Review of Planned Rush Island Energy Center Retirement
In February 2022, the MoPSC issued an order directing the MoPSC staff to review Ameren Missouri’s planned accelerated retirement of the Rush Island Energy Center as a result of the NSR and Clean Air Act Litigation discussed in Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies. The MoPSC staff’s review will include potential impacts on the reliability and cost of Ameren Missouri’s service to its customers, Ameren Missouri’s plans to mitigate the customer impacts of the accelerated retirement, and the prudence of Ameren Missouri’s actions and decisions with regard to the Rush Island Energy Center, among other things. The MoPSC staff is under no deadline to complete this review. Ameren Missouri is unable to predict the ultimate resolution of this matter; however, such resolution could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, financial position, and liquidity of Ameren and Ameren Missouri.
December 2021 MoPSC Natural Gas Rate Order
In December 2021, the MoPSC issued an order in Ameren Missouri’s 2021 natural gas delivery service regulatory rate review, approving nonunanimous stipulations and agreements. The order will result in an increase of $5 million to Ameren Missouri’s annual revenue requirement for natural gas delivery service. The approved revenue requirement is based on a rate base of $313 million and infrastructure investments as of September 30, 2021. The order did not specify an ROE or a capital structure. The order provides for the continued use of the PGA and trackers for pension and postretirement benefits and certain excess deferred income taxes that the MoPSC previously authorized in earlier natural gas rate orders. The order also authorizes the use of the WNAR, which replaces the DCA and is discussed above. The new rates will become effective on February 28, 2022.
Accounting Authority Orders Related to COVID-19 Pandemic Costs
In March 2021, the MoPSC issued orders approving nonunanimous stipulation and agreements related to Ameren Missouri’s electric and natural gas service accounting authority order requests. The orders allowed Ameren Missouri to accumulate $9 million of certain costs incurred related to the COVID-19 pandemic, net of cost savings, as well as forgone customer late fee and reconnection fee revenues from March 2020 to March 2021. The accumulated costs and forgone customer late fee and reconnection fee revenues were approved for recovery in the MoPSC’s December 2021 electric and natural gas rate orders discussed above. In March 2021, Ameren Missouri deferred other operations and maintenance expenses of $5 million as a regulatory asset related to the accounting authority orders and will amortize the balance over a five-year period once new rates become effective on February 28, 2022. Ameren Missouri will recognize the remaining $4 million associated with forgone customer late fee and reconnection fee revenue when billed to customers over the five-year period beginning on February 28, 2022.
MEEIA
In September 2021, the MoPSC issued an order approving Ameren Missouri’s energy savings results for the second year of the MEEIA 2019 program. As a result of this order and MoPSC orders issued in September 2017, October 2018, January 2019, September 2019, and August 2020, and in accordance with revenue recognition guidance, Ameren Missouri recognized revenues of $9 million, $6 million, and $37 million in 2021, 2020, and 2019 respectively.
In October 2021, the MoPSC issued an order approving Ameren Missouri’s request to implement the 2023 program year of its MEEIA 2019 program. The order established performance incentives that would provide Ameren Missouri an opportunity to earn additional revenues, including $13 million if Ameren Missouri achieves certain energy-efficiency goals during the 2023 program year. Ameren Missouri intends to invest $75 million in energy-efficiency programs during the 2023 program year.
Extension of PGA Recovery
In October 2021, the MoPSC issued an order allowing Ameren Missouri to extend the collection period for the cumulative PGA under-recovery as of August 2021, which includes the February 2021 under-recovery of $53 million, from 12 months to 36 months beginning November 2021, to lessen the impact on customer rates. Similar to other deferrals under the PGA, the deferral associated with the February 2021 under-recovery earns carrying costs at short-term interest rates.
Illinois
IETL
The IETL was enacted in September 2021. The IETL resulted in changes to the regulatory framework applicable to Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution business by giving Ameren Illinois the option to file an MYRP with the ICC by mid-January 2023, with rates effective beginning in 2024, among other things. Ameren Illinois has the option to file for an MYRP every four years. Subject to a constructive outcome regarding the ICC’s determination of performance metrics, Ameren Illinois anticipates filing an MYRP for rates effective beginning in 2024. If it does not file by mid-January 2023, its next opportunity to file an MYRP would be for rates effective beginning in 2028. Ameren Illinois expects to continue to use the current IEIMA performance-based formula ratemaking framework to establish annual customer rates effective through 2023 and reconcile the related revenue requirements. In order to utilize the IEIMA reconciliation, Ameren Illinois must file either a traditional regulatory rate review or an MYRP pursuant to the IETL by mid-January 2023.
Under the MYRP, the ICC would approve base rates for electric distribution service to be charged to customers for each calendar year of a four-year period. The base rates for a particular calendar year would be based on forecasted recoverable costs and an ICC-determined ROE applied to Ameren Illinois’ forecasted average annual rate base using a forecasted capital structure, with a common equity ratio of up to 50% being deemed prudent and reasonable by law and a higher equity ratio requiring specific ICC approval. The ROE determined by the ICC is applicable to each calendar year of the four-year period. Under a traditional regulatory rate review, the revenue requirement may be based on a future test year and would include an ROE determined by the ICC. Ameren Illinois’ existing riders will remain effective whether it elects to file an MYRP or a traditional regulatory rate review. Additionally, electric distribution service revenues would continue to be decoupled from sales volumes under either election.
The MYRP would also allow Ameren Illinois to reconcile electric distribution service rates to its actual revenue requirement on an annual basis, subject to a reconciliation cap, which provides that the actual revenue requirement does not exceed 105% of the annual revenue requirement approved by the ICC. Certain variations from forecasted costs would be excluded from the reconciliation cap, including those associated with major storms; new business and facility relocations; changes in the timing of expenditures or investments into or out of the applicable calendar year; and changes in interest rates, income taxes, taxes other than income taxes, pension and other post-retirement benefits costs, and amortization of certain regulatory assets. The reconciliation cap would also exclude costs recovered through riders outside of base rates, such as riders for electric energy-efficiency investments, power procurement and transmission services, renewable energy credit compliance, zero emission credits, certain environmental costs, and bad debt write-offs, among others. The actual revenue requirement for a particular year would incorporate Ameren Illinois’ year-end rate base and actual capital structure for such year, provided that the common equity ratio in such capital structure may not exceed that approved by the ICC in the MYRP. Additionally, the ICC-determined ROE in the MYRP would be subject to annual adjustments during the four-year period based on certain performance metrics relating to delivery system reliability, supplier diversity, affordability of customer delivery service cost, customer service performance, timeliness of response to customer requests for interconnection of distributed energy resources, and reductions in peak load due to demand response programs, with aggregate symmetrical performance-based ROE incentives and penalties ranging from 20 to 60 basis points annually. In January 2022, Ameren Illinois filed a request with the ICC proposing performance metrics that would be used in determining ROE incentives and penalties. The ICC is required to issue an order on this matter by September 30, 2022. Excluding potential phase-in of the initial rate increase discussed below, if a given year’s revenue amount collected from customers varies from the approved revenue requirement, an adjustment would be made to electric operating revenues with an offset to a regulatory asset or liability to reflect that year’s actual revenue requirement, independent of actual sales volumes. The regulatory balance would then be collected from, or refunded to, customers within two years from the end of the applicable annual period.
Under an MYRP, the IETL permits any initial rate increase to be phased in, with at least 50% of the first annual period’s approved rate increase reflected in rates in the first annual period, with the remaining portion deferred as a regulatory asset and collected from customers over a period not to exceed two years beginning within one year after the second annual period’s rates are effective. Ameren Illinois recognizes revenues when amounts are expected to be collected from customers within two years from the end of an applicable year.
The IETL contains other provisions in addition to the ratemaking impacts discussed above. The law permits Ameren Illinois to invest up to $20 million in each of two solar generation and battery storage pilot projects in Illinois. Additionally, the law increases the existing customer surcharge for renewable energy resources, which funds IPA renewable energy credit procurement events. As a result, Ameren Illinois expects additional annual revenues of approximately $100 million to be collected, beginning in February 2022, under the rider for renewable energy credit compliance. It also establishes an Energy Transition Assistance Fund to support economic and workforce development programs designed to assist the state of Illinois with its transition to clean energy sources. The fund will be subsidized through customer surcharges collected by electric utilities operating in the state, including Ameren Illinois, and will be remitted in the month following collection to an Illinois state agency. Ameren Illinois expects to collect up to $25 million annually related to this fund, beginning in January 2022. The IETL also requires Ameren Illinois to file a multi-year integrated grid plan with the ICC to ensure electric distribution infrastructure investments align with the state of Illinois’ renewable energy, climate, and environmental goals, and to support grid modernization, clean energy, and energy efficiency, while providing electric distribution service to customers at affordable rates, among other things. The first multi-year
integrated grid plan is required to be filed by mid-January 2023, with the next filing required by mid-January 2026, and every four years thereafter.
See Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies for additional information on emission standards established by the IETL that will limit the operations of Ameren Missouri’s natural gas-fired energy centers located in the state of Illinois.
Electric Distribution Service Rate Reconciliation Tariff
In March 2021, the ICC issued an order approving Ameren Illinois’ requested tariff to reconcile its electric distribution service revenue requirement once Ameren Illinois ceases to update customer rates under performance-based formula ratemaking. The last update under such ratemaking is anticipated to be for 2023 customer rates. The tariff would allow Ameren Illinois to reconcile its revenue requirement for customer rates established for 2022 and 2023. To utilize the reconciliation, Ameren Illinois is required to file a request to update its electric distribution service rates through either a traditional regulatory rate review, which may be based on a future test year and would reflect a proposed ROE subject to ICC approval, or through the filing of an MYRP, which Ameren Illinois expects to file for rates effective beginning in 2024 pursuant to the IETL as described above. The rate update request would need to be filed by mid-January 2023. Pursuant to the order, Ameren Illinois’ 2022 and 2023 revenues would reflect each year’s actual recoverable costs, year-end rate base, and a return at the applicable WACC, with the ROE component based on the annual average of the monthly yields of the 30-year United States Treasury bonds plus 580 basis points. The revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment would be collected from, or refunded to, customers within two years from the end of the reconciled year.
Electric Distribution Service Rates Under IEIMA
In December 2021, the ICC issued an order in Ameren Illinois’ annual update filing that approved a $58 million increase in Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution service rates beginning in January 2022. This order reflected an increase to the annual performance-based formula rate based on 2020 actual recoverable costs and expected net plant additions for 2021, an increase to include the 2020 revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment including a capital structure composed of 51% common equity, and an increase for the conclusion of the 2019 revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment, which was fully refunded to customers in 2021, consistent with the ICC’s December 2020 annual update filing order.
Electric Customer Energy-Efficiency Investments
In December 2021, the ICC issued an order in Ameren Illinois’ annual update filing that approved electric customer energy-efficiency rates of $61 million beginning in January 2022, which represents an increase of $10 million from 2021 rates.
In July 2021, the ICC issued an order approving Ameren Illinois’ energy-efficiency plan that includes annual investments in electric energy-efficiency programs of approximately $100 million per year from 2022 through 2025. Pursuant to the IETL, the planned annual investments in electric energy-efficiency programs will increase to approximately $120 million. Ameren Illinois expects to file a revised energy-efficiency plan with the ICC by early March 2022 to reflect the expected increased level of annual investments. The ICC has the ability to reduce the amount of electric energy-efficiency savings goals in future plan program years if there are insufficient cost-effective programs available, which could reduce the investments in electric energy-efficiency programs. The electric energy-efficiency program investments and the return on those investments are collected from customers through a rider and are not recovered through the electric distribution service performance-based formula ratemaking framework.
QIP Reconciliation Hearings
In March 2021, the ICC issued an order approving Ameren Illinois’ QIP reconciliation for 2018. The ICC also found that Ameren Illinois’ natural gas capital investments recovered under the QIP during 2018 were accurate and prudent. The ICC order effectively dismissed the Illinois Attorney General’s office challenge with respect to 2018 capital investments.
In March 2020, Ameren Illinois filed a request with the ICC for a reconciliation hearing to determine the accuracy and prudence of natural gas capital investments recovered under the QIP rider during 2019. In August 2021, the Illinois Attorney General’s office challenged the recovery of capital investments that were made during 2019, alleging that the ICC should disallow approximately $70 million in natural gas capital investments as improper and imprudent, providing a potential over-recovery of approximately $3 million in 2019. In August and December 2021, the ICC staff filed testimony that supports the prudence and reasonableness of the capital investments made during 2019. Ameren Illinois’ 2019 QIP rate recovery request under review by the ICC is within the rate increase limitations allowed by law. The ICC is under no deadline to issue an order in this proceeding.
Service Disconnection Moratorium
From March 2020 through March 2021, the ICC limited disconnection activities and late fees for customer nonpayment to varying degrees based on customer class. In March 2021, the ICC issued an order allowing Ameren Illinois to resume disconnection activities for all residential customers through a phased-in approach, which began in April 2021 for customers with the largest past due balances and in June 2021 for all remaining residential customers. The March 2021 order also required Ameren Illinois to offer deferred payment arrangements extending to 18 months to all residential customers through June 2021. In addition, the order requires Ameren Illinois to extend the financial assistance program established by a June 2020 ICC order through 2021. Ameren Illinois is allowed to recover up to $4 million in costs incurred during 2021 related to this financial assistance program. These costs will be deferred as regulatory assets and the portion associated with Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution business will be recovered through its bad debt rider and the portion associated with its natural gas distribution business will be recovered through a special purpose rider.
Federal
Transmission Formula Rate Revisions
In February 2020, the MISO, on behalf of Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI, filed requests with the FERC to revise each company’s transmission formula rate calculations with respect to the calculation used for materials and supplies inventories included in rate base. In May 2020, the FERC issued orders approving the revisions prospectively. In addition, the FERC declined to order refunds for earlier periods, as requested by intervenors in Ameren Illinois’ filing, but directed its audit staff to review historical rate recovery in connection with an ongoing FERC audit. In June 2020, Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI filed requests for rehearing arguing, among other things, the revisions should be applied retrospectively to include the period January 1, 2019, to June 1, 2020, and that the FERC should not require refunds for periods prior to 2019. In July 2020, the FERC denied the rehearing requests without addressing the issues raised. In July 2020, Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI filed an appeal of the July 2020 rehearing denials to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which is under no deadline to address the appeal. In October 2020, the FERC issued an order reaffirming its May 2020 order and denying the arguments raised in the rehearing requests filed by Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI. In November 2020, Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI filed an appeal of the October 2020 order to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The court of appeals is under no deadline to address either appeal. Regardless of the outcome of the appeal, the impacts of the May 2020 and October 2020 orders were immaterial to Ameren’s, Ameren Missouri’s, or Ameren Illinois’ results of operations, financial position, or liquidity.
In March 2021, the FERC issued an order related to an intervenor challenge to Ameren Illinois’ 2020 transmission formula rate update. As a result of this order, in March 2021, Ameren Illinois recorded a regulatory liability of $9 million, largely as a reduction of electric operating revenues, to reflect expected refunds, including interest, primarily related to the historical rate recovery of materials and supplies inventories included in rate base. In April 2021, Ameren Illinois filed a request for rehearing with the FERC regarding its March 2021 order. In May 2021, the FERC denied the rehearing request without addressing the issues raised. In July 2021, Ameren Illinois filed an appeal of the March 2021 order and the May 2021 rehearing denial to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In August 2021, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit granted a motion to consolidate the July 2021, July 2020, and November 2020 appeals. In November 2021, the FERC issued an order reaffirming its March 2021 order and denying the arguments raised in the rehearing request filed by Ameren Illinois. In December 2021, Ameren Illinois filed an appeal of the November 2021 order to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In December 2021, Ameren Illinois filed a motion to consolidate the December 2021 appeal with the July 2020, November 2020, and July 2021 appeals. In January 2022, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued an order granting the motion to consolidate the appeals. The court is under no deadline to address the appeal.
FERC Complaint Cases
In November 2013, a customer group filed a complaint case with the FERC seeking a reduction in the allowed base ROE for FERC-regulated transmission rate base under the MISO tariff from 12.38% to 9.15%. In September 2016, the FERC issued an order in the November 2013 complaint case, which lowered the allowed base ROE to 10.32%, or a 10.82% total allowed ROE with the inclusion of a 50 basis point incentive adder for participation in an RTO, that was effective from late September 2016 forward. The September 2016 order also required refunds for the period November 2013 to February 2015, which were paid in 2017. In November 2019, the FERC issued an order addressing the November 2013 complaint case, which set the allowed base ROE at 9.88%, superseding the 10.32% previously ordered, and required refunds, with interest, for the periods November 2013 to February 2015 and from late September 2016 forward. In December 2019, the MISO transmission owners, including Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI, filed requests for rehearing with the FERC. In May 2020, the FERC issued an order addressing the requests for rehearing, which set the allowed base ROE at 10.02%, superseding the 9.88% previously ordered, and required refunds, with interest, for the periods November 2013 to February 2015 and from late September 2016 forward. In June 2020, various parties filed requests for rehearing with the FERC, challenging the new ROE methodology established by the May 2020 order. In July 2020, the FERC denied the rehearing requests without addressing the issues raised, and indicated it will address the requests for rehearing in a future order. Also, in July 2020, Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI filed
an appeal of the May 2020 order to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit challenging the refunds required for the period from September 2016 to May 2020. The court is under no deadline to address the appeal.
As of December 31, 2021, Ameren and Ameren Illinois had substantially paid the refunds, including interest, associated with the allowed base ROE set by the May 2020 order in the November 2013 complaint case. The increase in the FERC-allowed base ROE resulting from the May 2020 order was not material to Ameren Missouri’s results of operations, financial position, or liquidity.
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
The following table presents our regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities at December 31, 2021 and 2020:
20212020
Ameren
Missouri
Ameren
Illinois
AmerenAmeren
Missouri
Ameren
Illinois
Ameren
Regulatory assets:
Under-recovered FAC(a)
$47 $ $47 $48 $— $48 
Under-recovered PGA(b)(c)
49 114 163 — 
MTM derivative losses(d)
77 125 202 21 200 221 
IEIMA revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment(e)(f)
 42 42 — — — 
FERC revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment(g)
 18 43 — 28 50 
Under-recovered VBA(h)
 17 17 — 11 11 
Income taxes(i)
115 69 185 117 65 183 
Bad debt rider(j)
 8 8 — 11 11 
Callaway refueling and maintenance outage costs(k)
14  14 39 — 39 
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt(l)
50 13 63 52 22 74 
Environmental cost riders(m)
 70 70 — 93 93 
Storm costs(f)(n)
 17 17 — 
Allowance for funds used during construction for pollution control equipment(f)(o)
13  13 15 — 15 
Customer generation rebate program(f)(p)
 47 47 — 17 17 
PISA(f)(q)
244  244 78 — 78 
FEJA energy-efficiency rider(f)(r)
 350 350 — 283 283 
Other41 42 83 37 40 77 
Total regulatory assets$650 $932 $1,608 $407 $779 $1,209 
Less: current regulatory assets(127)(180)(319)(60)(37)(109)
Noncurrent regulatory assets$523 $752 $1,289 $347 $742 $1,100 
Regulatory liabilities:
Over-recovered FAC(a)
$19 $ $19 $10 $— $10 
Over-recovered Illinois electric power costs(b)
 13 13 — 15 15 
Over-recovered PGA(b)
 1 1 15 22 
MTM derivative gains(d)
50 41 91 11 10 21 
IEIMA revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment(e)
   — 22 22 
FERC revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment(g)
 2 4 — 21 21 
Income taxes(i)
1,208 770 2,066 1,317 790 2,192 
Cost of removal(s)
1,028 929 1,988 1,027 873 1,923 
AROs(t)
603  603 436 — 436 
Bad debt rider(j)
 19 19 — 
Pension and postretirement benefit costs(u)
399 392 791 198 177 375 
Pension and postretirement benefit costs tracker(v)
28  28 55 — 55 
Renewable energy credits and zero emission credits(w)
 246 246 — 200 200 
RESRAM(x)
19  19 — 
Excess income taxes collected in 2018(y)
25  25 45 — 45 
Other32 15 48 28 23 59 
Total regulatory liabilities$3,411 $2,428 $5,961 $3,136 $2,151 $5,403 
Less: current regulatory liabilities(57)(54)(113)(26)(88)$(121)
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities$3,354 $2,374 $5,848 $3,110 $2,063 $5,282 
(a)Under-recovered or over-recovered fuel costs to be recovered or refunded through the FAC. Specific accumulation periods aggregate the under-recovered or over-recovered costs over four months, any related adjustments that occur over the following four months, and the recovery from, or refund to, customers that occurs over the next eight months.
(b)Under-recovered or over-recovered costs from utility customers. Amounts will be recovered from, or refunded to, customers within one year of the deferral.
(c)As a result of the significant increase in customer demand and prices for natural gas and electricity experienced in mid-February 2021 due to extremely cold weather, for the month of February 2021, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois had under-recovered costs under their PGA clauses of $53 million and $221 million, respectively. Pursuant to an October 2021 MoPSC order, the collection period for Ameren Missouri’s cumulative PGA under-recovery as of August 2021, which includes the February 2021 under-recovery, was extended from 12 months to 36 months, beginning November 2021. Ameren Illinois is collecting its February 2021 PGA under-recovery over 18 months beginning April 2021, but the collection of the remaining balance may be extended at Ameren Illinois’ election to lessen the impact on customer rates.
(d)Deferral of commodity-related derivative MTM losses or gains. See Note 7 – Derivative Financial Instruments for additional information.
(e)The difference between Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution service annual revenue requirement calculated under the performance-based formula ratemaking framework and the revenue requirement included in customer rates for that year. Any under-recovery or over-recovery will be recovered from, or refunded to, customers with interest within two years.
(f)These assets earn a return at the applicable WACC.
(g)Ameren Illinois’ and ATXI’s annual revenue requirement reconciliation calculated pursuant to the FERC’s electric transmission formula ratemaking framework. Any under-recovery or over-recovery will be recovered from, or refunded to, customers within two years.
(h)Under-recovered natural gas revenue caused by sales volume deviations from weather normalized sales approved by the ICC in rate regulatory reviews. Each year’s amount will be recovered from customers from April through December of the following year.
(i)The regulatory assets represent amounts that will be recovered from customers for deferred income taxes related to the equity component of allowance for funds used during construction and the effects of tax rate increases. The regulatory liabilities represent amounts that will be refunded to customers for deferred income taxes related to depreciation differences, other tax liabilities, and the unamortized portion of investment tax credits recorded at rates in excess of current statutory rates. Amounts associated with the equity component of allowance for funds used during construction and the unamortized portion of investment tax credits will be amortized over the expected life of the related assets. For net regulatory liabilities related to deferred income taxes recorded at rates other than the current statutory rate, the weighted-average remaining amortization periods at Ameren, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois are 35, 28, and 42 years.
(j)A rider for the difference between the level of bad debt write-offs, net of any subsequent recoveries, incurred by Ameren Illinois and the level of such costs included in electric distribution and natural gas delivery service rates. Pursuant to a June 2020 ICC order, Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution bad debt rider provided for the recovery of bad debt expense in 2020. The under-recovery or over-recovery for each year is recovered from, or refunded to, customers over a twelve-month period beginning June the following year.
(k)Maintenance expenses related to scheduled refueling and maintenance outages at Ameren Missouri’s Callaway Energy Center. Amounts are amortized over the period between refueling and maintenance outages, which has historically been approximately 18 months.
(l)Losses related to reacquired debt. These amounts are being amortized over the lives of the related new debt issuances or the original lives of the old debt issuances if no new debt was issued.
(m)The recoverable portion of accrued environmental site liabilities that will be collected from electric and natural gas customers through ICC-approved cost recovery riders. The period of recovery will depend on the timing of remediation expenditures. See Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies for additional information.
(n)Storm costs from 2018, 2020, and 2021 deferred in accordance with the IEIMA. These costs are being amortized over five-year periods beginning in the year the storm occurred.
(o)The MoPSC’s May 2010 electric rate order allowed Ameren Missouri to record an allowance for funds used during construction for pollution control equipment at its Sioux Energy Center until the cost of that equipment was included in customer rates beginning in 2011. These costs are being amortized over the expected life of the Sioux Energy Center through 2028.
(p)Costs associated with Ameren Illinois’ customer generation rebate program. Costs are amortized over a 15-year period, beginning in the year rebates are paid.
(q)Under the PISA, Ameren Missouri is permitted to defer and recover 85% of the depreciation expense and earn a return at the applicable WACC on investments in certain property, plant, and equipment placed in service and not included in base rates. Accumulated PISA deferrals are added to rate base prospectively and amortized over a period of 20 years following a regulatory rate review.
(r)The electric energy-efficiency investments are being amortized over their weighted-average useful lives beginning in the period in which they were made, with current remaining amortization periods ranging from 5 to 13 years.
(s)Estimated funds collected from customers to pay for the future removal cost of property, plant, and equipment retired from service, net of salvage.
(t)The ARO regulatory liability includes the nuclear decommissioning trust fund balance ($1,159 million and $982 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively), net of recoverable removal costs for AROs ($556 million and $546 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively). See Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Asset Retirement Obligations.
(u)Over-recovered costs are being amortized in proportion to the recognition of prior service costs (credits) and actuarial losses (gains) attributable to Ameren’s pension plan and postretirement benefit plans. See Note 10 – Retirement Benefits for additional information.
(v)A regulatory recovery mechanism for the difference between the level of pension and postretirement benefit costs incurred by Ameren Missouri and the level of such costs included in customer rates. The period of refund varies based on MoPSC approval in a regulatory rate review. The weighted-average remaining amortization period is five years.
(w)Funds collected for the purchase of renewable energy credits and zero emission credits through IPA procurements. The balance will be amortized as the credits are purchased.
(x)Over-recovered costs associated with Ameren Missouri’s compliance with the state of Missouri’s renewable energy standard. Under-recovered or over-recovered costs are aggregated over a twelve-month period beginning each August and are amortized over a twelve-month period beginning February the following year.
(y)The excess amount collected in rates related to the TCJA from January 1, 2018, through July 31, 2018. The regulatory liability is being amortized over a three-year period, which began in April 2020.