Rates and Other Regulatory Activities |
6 Months Ended |
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Jun. 30, 2024 | |
Regulated Operations [Abstract] | |
Public Utilities Disclosure [Text Block] | Rates and Other Regulatory Activities Our natural gas and electric distribution operations in Delaware, Maryland and Florida are subject to regulation by their respective PSC; Eastern Shore, our natural gas transmission subsidiary, is subject to regulation by the FERC; and Peninsula Pipeline and Aspire Energy Express, our intrastate pipeline subsidiaries, are subject to regulation (excluding cost of service) by the Florida PSC and Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, respectively. Delaware In September 2023, the Delaware Division submitted the Energy Efficiency Rider application for natural gas with the Delaware PSC after obtaining an affirmative recommendation from the Delaware Energy Efficiency Advisory Council (“EEAC”). The application was the first in the state and included four programs including, Home Energy Counseling, Home Performance with Energy Star, Assisted Home Performance with Energy Star, and a standard Offer Program in which customers can participate and allow for recovery. The evidentiary hearing on this matter was held in April 2024 with all programs, with the exception of the Offer Program, approved by the PSC and rates became effective May 1, 2024. Delaware Natural Gas Rate Case: In May 2024, our Delaware natural gas division provided notice to the Delaware PSC of its intent to file a petition seeking a general rate base increase based on a test period ending in December 2024. The filing is expected to be submitted to the Delaware PSC in August 2024 and the outcome of the application will be subject to review and approval by the Delaware PSC. Maryland Maryland Natural Gas Rate Case: In January 2024, our natural gas distribution businesses in Maryland, CUC-Maryland Division, Sandpiper Energy, Inc., and Elkton Gas Company (collectively, “Maryland natural gas distribution businesses”), filed a joint application for a natural gas rate case with the Maryland PSC. In connection with the application, we are seeking approval of the following: (i) permanent rate relief of approximately $6.9 million; (ii) authorization to make certain changes to tariffs to include a unified rate structure and to consolidate the Maryland natural gas distribution businesses which we anticipate will be called Chesapeake Utilities of Maryland, Inc.; and (iii) authorization to establish a rider for recovery of the costs associated with our new technology systems. The outcome of the application is subject to review and approval by the Maryland PSC. Rate changes are suspended until December 2024. Maryland Natural Gas Depreciation Study: In January 2024, our Maryland natural gas distribution businesses filed a joint petition for approval of their proposed unified depreciation rates with the Maryland PSC. A settlement agreement between the Company, PSC staff and the OPC was reached and the final order approving the settlement agreement went into effect in July 2024 which will include an annual benefit of $1.2 million. Florida Wildlight Expansion: In August 2022, Peninsula Pipeline and FPU filed a joint petition with the Florida PSC for approval of its Transportation Service Agreement associated with the Wildlight planned community located in Nassau County, Florida. The project enables us to meet the significant growing demand for service in Yulee, Florida. The agreement enables us to construct the project during the build-out of the community and charge the reservation rate as each phase of the project goes into service. Construction of the pipeline facilities will occur in two separate phases. Phase one consists of three extensions with associated facilities, and a gas injection interconnect with associated facilities. Phase two will consist of two additional pipeline extensions. The various phases of the project commenced in the first quarter of 2023, with construction on the overall project continuing through 2025. The petition was approved by the Florida PSC in November 2022. FCG Natural Gas Rate Case: In May 2022, FCG filed a general base rate increase with the Florida PSC based on a projected 2023 test year. In June 2023, the Florida PSC issued an order approving a single total base revenue increase of $23.3 million (which included an incremental increase of $14.1 million, a previously approved increase of $3.8 million for a liquefied natural gas facility, and $5.3 million to transfer the SAFE investments from a rider clause to base rates), with new rates becoming effective as of May 1, 2023. The Commission also approved FCG's proposed RSAM with a $25.0 million reserve amount, continuation and expansion of the capital SAFE program, implementation of an automated metering infrastructure pilot, and continuation of the storm damage reserve with a target reserve of $0.8 million. On June 23, 2023, the Florida OPC filed a motion for reconsideration of the PSC’s approval of RSAM, which was denied on September 12, 2023. On July 7, 2023, the Florida OPC filed a notice of appeal with the Florida Supreme Court, which is pending. The Florida OPC filed their initial brief on January 31, 2024 with answer briefs filed on April 30, 2024. The RSAM is recorded as either an increase or decrease to accrued removal costs which is reflected on the Company’s balance sheets and a corresponding increase or decrease to depreciation and amortization expense. In order to earn the targeted regulatory return on equity ("ROE") in each reporting period subject to the conditions of the effective rate agreement, RSAM is calculated using a trailing thirteen-month average of rate base and capital structure in conjunction with the trailing twelve-month regulatory base net operating income, which primarily includes the base portion of rates and other revenues, net of operations and maintenance expenses, depreciation and amortization, interest and tax expenses. In general, the net impact of these income statement line items is adjusted, in part, by RSAM or its reversal to earn the targeted regulatory ROE. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company recorded decreases to asset removal costs and depreciation expense of $2.3 million and $5.7 million, respectively, as a result of the RSAM adjustment. Storm Protection Plan: In 2020, the Florida PSC implemented the Storm Protection Plan ("SPP") and Storm Protection Plan Cost Recovery Clause ("SPPCRC") rules, which require electric utilities to petition the Florida PSC for approval of a Transmission and Distribution Storm Protection Plan that covers the utility’s immediate 10-year planning period with updates to the plan at least every 3 years. The SPPCRC rules allow the utility to file for recovery of associated costs for the SPP. Our Florida electric distribution operation’s SPP plan was filed during the first quarter of 2022 and approved in the fourth quarter of 2022, with modifications, by the Florida PSC. Rates associated with this initiative were effective in January 2023. The Commission voted to approve the projections in November 2023. FPU projects to spend $13.6 million on the program in 2024. GUARD Program: In February 2023, FPU filed a petition with the Florida PSC for approval of the GUARD program. GUARD is a ten-year program to enhance the safety, reliability, and accessibility of portions of our natural gas distribution system. We identified various categories of projects to be included in GUARD, which include the relocation of mains and service lines located in rear easements and other difficult to access areas to the front of the street, the replacement of problematic distribution mains, service lines, and maintenance and repair equipment and system reliability projects. In August 2023, the Florida PSC approved the GUARD program, which included $205.0 million of capital expenditures projected to be spent over a 10-year period. FCG SAFE Program: In June 2023, the Florida PSC issued the approval order for the continuation of the SAFE program beyond its 2025 expiration date and inclusion of 150 miles of additional mains and services located in rear property easements. The SAFE program is designed to relocate certain mains and facilities associated with rear lot easements to street front locations to improve FCG's ability to inspect and maintain the facilities and reduce opportunities for damage and theft. In the same order, the Commission approved a replacement of 160 miles of pipe that was used in the 1970s and 1980s and shown through industry research to exhibit premature failure in the form of cracking. The program includes projected capital expenditures of $205.0 million over a 10-year period. In April 2024, FCG filed a petition with the Florida PSC to more closely align the SAFE Program with FPU's GUARD program. Specifically, the requested modifications will enable FCG to accelerate remediation related to problematic pipe and facilities consisting of obsolete and exposed pipe. If approved, these efforts will serve to improve the safety and reliability of service to FCG's customers. These modifications, if approved, will result in an estimated additional $50.0 million in capital expenditures associated with the SAFE Program which would increase the total projected capital expenditures to $255.0 million over a 10-year period. The Commission decision is expected in September 2024. Newberry Expansion: In April 2023, Peninsula Pipeline filed a petition with the Florida PSC for approval of its Transportation Service Agreement with FPU for an additional 8,000 Dts/d of firm service in the Newberry, Florida area. The petition was approved by the Florida PSC in the third quarter of 2023. Peninsula Pipeline will construct a pipeline extension, which will be used by FPU to support the development of a natural gas distribution system to provide gas service to the City of Newberry. A filing to address the acquisition and conversion of existing Company owned propane community gas systems in Newberry was made in November 2023. The Florida PSC approved it in April 2024. The Company began the conversions of the community gas systems in the second quarter of 2024. East Coast Reinforcement Projects: In December 2023, Peninsula Pipeline filed a petition with the Florida PSC for approval of its Transportation Service Agreements with FPU for projects that will support additional supply to communities on the East Coast of Florida. The projects are driven by the need for increased supply to coastal portions of the state that are experiencing significant population growth. Peninsula Pipeline will construct several pipeline extensions which will support FPU’s distribution system in the areas of Boynton Beach and New Smyrna Beach with an additional 15,000 Dts/d and 3,400 Dts/d, respectively. The Florida PSC approved the projects in March 2024. Construction is projected to be complete in the first and second quarters of 2025 for Boynton Beach and New Smyrna Beach, respectively. Central Florida Reinforcement Projects: In February 2024, Peninsula Pipeline filed a petition with the Florida PSC for its Transportation Service Agreements with FPU for projects that will support additional supply to communities located in Central Florida. The projects are driven by the need for increased supply to communities in central Florida that are experiencing significant population growth. Peninsula Pipeline will construct several pipeline extensions which will support FPU's distribution system around the Plant City and Lake Mattie areas of Florida with an additional 5,000 Dts/d and 8,700 Dts/d, respectively. The Florida PSC approved the projects in May 2024. Completion of the projects is projected for the fourth quarter of 2024 for Plant City and the fourth quarter of 2025 for Lake Mattie. Renewable Natural Gas Supply Projects: In February 2024, Peninsula Pipeline filed a petition with the Florida PSC for approval of Transportation Service Agreements with FCG for projects that will support the transportation of additional renewable energy supply to FCG. The projects, located in Florida’s Brevard, Indian River and Miami-Dade counties, will bring renewable natural gas produced from local landfills into FCG’s natural gas distribution system. Peninsula Pipeline will construct several pipeline extensions which will support FCG's distribution system in Brevard County, Indian-River County, and Miami-Dade County. Benefits of these projects include increased gas supply to serve expected FCG growth, strengthened system reliability and additional system flexibility. The Florida PSC approved the petition at it's July 2024 meeting with the projects estimated to be completed in the first half of 2025. St. Cloud Project Amendment: In February 2024, Peninsula Pipeline filed a petition with the Florida PSC for its approval of an amendment to its Transportation Service Agreement with FPU for a project that will support additional supply to communities in the St. Cloud, Florida area. The project is driven by the need to expand gas service to future communities that are expected in that area. Peninsula Pipeline will construct pipeline expansions that will allow FPU to serve the expected new growth. The expansion will provide FPU with an additional 10,000 Dts/d. The Florida PSC approved the project in May 2024, and it is expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of 2025. Pioneer Supply Header Pipeline Project: In March 2024, Peninsula Pipeline filed a petition with the Florida PSC for its approval of Firm Transportation Service Agreements with both FCG and FPU for a project that will support greater supply growth of natural gas service in southeast Florida. The project consists of the transfer of a pipeline asset from FCG to Peninsula Pipeline. Peninsula Pipeline will proceed to provide transportation service to both FCG and FPU using the pipeline asset, which supports continued customer growth and system reinforcement of these distribution systems. The Florida PSC approved the petition in July 2024. FPU Electric Rate Case: In June 2024, our Florida Electric division provided notice to the Florida PSC of its intent to file a petition seeking a general rate base increase based on a 2025 projected test year. The filing is expected to be submitted to the Florida PSC in August 2024 and the outcome of the application will be subject to review and approval by the Florida PSC. Eastern Shore Worcester Resiliency Upgrade: In August 2023, Eastern Shore filed an application with the FERC requesting authorization to construct the Worcester Resiliency Upgrade, which consists of a mixture of storage and transmission facilities in Sussex County, DE and Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset Counties in Maryland. The project will provide long-term incremental supply necessary to support the growing demand of the participating shippers. Eastern Shore has requested certificate authorization by December 2024, with a target in-service date by the third quarter of 2025. In December 2023, the FERC issued its schedule for preparation of the Environmental Assessment ("EA"). In April 2024, the FERC issued their EA with no significant impacts noted. The EA comment period closed May 28, 2024, and Eastern Shore responded to the one adverse comment received. TCJA In connection with the TCJA, which was signed into law in December 2017, our customer rates for our regulated businesses were adjusted as applicable as approved by the regulators. Regulatory liabilities related to accumulated deferred income taxes (“ADIT”) associated with the TCJA amounted to $85.2 million and $85.8 million at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. With the exception of the ADIT balance of $34.2 million attributable to Eastern Shore, such amounts are being amortized in accordance with approvals received from the Delaware, Maryland, and Florida PSCs in 2018 and 2019. The ADIT balance attributable to Eastern Shore will be addressed in its next rate case filing.
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