Regulatory Matters (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Text Block]

REGULATORY MATTERS

Distribution Rate Case

On November 30, 2020, AES Ohio filed a new distribution rate case application with the PUCO to increase AES Ohio’s base rates for electric distribution service to address, in part, increased costs of materials and labor and substantial investments to improve distribution structures. On December 14, 2022, the PUCO issued an order on the application. Among other matters, the order:

•Establishes a revenue increase of $75.6 million for AES Ohio’s base rates for electric distribution service.

•Provides for a return on equity of 9.999% and a cost of long-term debt of 4.4% on a distribution rate base of $783.5 million and based on a capital structure of 53.87% equity and 46.13% long-term debt.

These rates will go into effect when AES Ohio has a new electric security plan in place. AES Ohio anticipates approval of ESP 4 in 2023.

AES Ohio ESPs, SEET Proceedings and Comprehensive Settlement

AES Ohio ESP - Ohio law requires utilities to file either an ESP or MRO plan to establish SSO rates. From November 1, 2017 through December 18, 2019, AES Ohio operated pursuant to an approved ESP plan, which was initially approved on October 20, 2017 (ESP 3). On December 18, 2019, the PUCO approved AES Ohio's Notice of Withdrawal and reversion to its prior rate plan (ESP 1). Among other items, the PUCO Order approving the ESP 1 rate plan includes reinstating the non-bypassable RSC Rider, which provides annual revenues of approximately $79.0 million. The OCC has appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court, the Commission’s decision approving the reversion to ESP 1 as well as argued for a refund of the RSC revenues dating back to August 2021. A decision is pending. We are unable to predict the outcome of this appeal, but if this results in terms that are more adverse than AES Ohio's current ESP rate plan, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

Comprehensive Settlement - On October 23, 2020, AES Ohio entered into a Stipulation and Recommendation (the Settlement) with the staff of the PUCO and various customers, and organizations representing customers of AES Ohio and certain other parties with respect to, among other matters, AES Ohio's applications pending at the PUCO for (i) approval of AES Ohio's plan to modernize its distribution grid (the Smart Grid Plan), (ii) findings that DP&L passed the SEET for 2018 and 2019, and (iii) findings that AES Ohio's current ESP 1 satisfies the SEET and the more favorable in the aggregate (MFA) regulatory test. On June 16, 2021, the PUCO issued their opinion and order accepting the stipulation as filed. The OCC appealed the final PUCO order to the Ohio Supreme Court on December 6, 2021. Oral arguments regarding this appeal are expected but not yet scheduled.

ESP 4 filing - On September 26, 2022, AES Ohio filed its latest ESP (ESP 4) with the PUCO. ESP 4 is a comprehensive plan to enhance and upgrade its network and improve service reliability, provide greater safeguards for price stability and continue investments in local economic development. As part of this plan, AES Ohio intends to increase investments in the distribution infrastructure and deploy a proactive vegetation management program. The plan also includes proposals for new customer programs, including renewable options, electric vehicle programs and energy efficiency programs for residential and low-income customers. ESP 4 also seeks to recover outstanding regulatory assets not currently in rates. AES Ohio did not propose that the Rate Stabilization Charge would continue as part of ESP 4. The plan requires PUCO approval and an evidentiary hearing is scheduled for April 12, 2023.

Decoupling

On January 23, 2021, AES Ohio filed with the PUCO requesting approval to defer its decoupling costs consistent with the methodology approved in its Distribution Rate Case. An evidentiary hearing was held in May 2021. If approved, the deferral would be effective December 18, 2019 and going forward would reduce impacts of weather, energy efficiency programs and economic changes in customer demand. These amounts were also included in the ESP 4 application and proposed to be recovered in a new rider.

COVID-19

In response to the PUCO’s COVID-19 emergency orders, AES Ohio filed an Application on March 23, 2020, requesting waivers of certain rule and tariff requirements and deferral of certain costs and revenues including those related to deposits and reconnection fees, late payment fees, credit card fees; and waived or uncollected amounts associated with putting customers on payment plans. On May 20, 2020, the PUCO approved the application and

required AES Ohio to file a plan outlining the timing and steps it plans to take in an effort to return to normal operations. The authorized deferral of those certain costs and revenues must be offset by COVID-19 related savings. AES Ohio filed its plan on July 15, 2020 and was approved by the PUCO on August 12, 2020. AES Ohio had recorded a $0.9 million regulatory asset as of December 31, 2021; however, during the third quarter of 2022, AES Ohio decided it will not seek recovery in a future rate proceeding and, thus, wrote off the $0.9 million deferral, which is included in Operation and maintenance on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

FERC Proceedings

On March 3, 2020, AES Ohio filed an application before the FERC seeking to change its existing stated transmission rates to formula transmission rates that would be updated each calendar year. This filing was approved and made effective as of May 3, 2020, subject to possible refunds if the approved rates were modified. An uncontested settlement was filed December 10, 2020 and approved April 15, 2021. Among other things, the settlement established new depreciation rates for AES Ohio’s transmission assets and an authorized return on equity of 9.85%, and started an amortization process to return excess deferred taxes created by the TCJA. Pursuant to the approved mechanisms and formula, transmission rates were adjusted, effective on January 1, 2022, to reflect projected 2022 costs, adjusted to true-up the projections of revenues and costs incurred during 2020. Adjustments to true-up 2021 revenues and costs will be reflected in 2023 formula transmission rates. At December 31, 2022, AES Ohio has recorded a liability of $18.2 million, with $12.8 million classified as current, representing credits owed to customers for the 2022 and 2021 annual true-ups.

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

In accordance with ASC 980 - Regulated Operations ("ASC 980"), we have recognized total regulatory assets of $169.0 million and $201.3 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and total regulatory liabilities of $239.1 million and $243.9 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Regulatory assets and liabilities are classified as current or non-current based on the term in which recovery is expected. See Note 1 – OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES for accounting policies regarding Regulatory Assets and Liabilities.

The following table presents DPL’s Regulatory assets and liabilities:

	Type of Recovery	Amortization Through	December 31,
$ in millions			2022		2021
Regulatory assets, current:
Undercollections to be collected through rate riders	A/B	2023	$	38.7	$	23.9
Rate case expenses being recovered in base rates	B	2023	0.5		0.6
Total regulatory assets, current			39.2		24.5
Regulatory assets, non-current:
Pension benefits	B	Ongoing	64.2		76.2
Unrecovered OVEC charges	C		—		28.9
Regulatory compliance costs	B	Undetermined	6.4		6.3
Smart grid and AMI costs	B	2025	2.3		5.2
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt	B	Various	2.0		4.3
Deferred storm costs	A	Undetermined	8.7		15.2
Deferred rate case costs	B	Undetermined	1.9		1.8
Deferred vegetation management and other	A/B	Undetermined	23.0		18.7
Decoupling deferral	C	Undetermined	13.8		13.8
Uncollectible deferral	C	Undetermined	7.5		6.4
Total regulatory assets, non-current			129.8		176.8
Total regulatory assets			$	169.0	$	201.3
Regulatory liabilities, current:
Overcollection of costs to be refunded through rate riders	A/B	2023	$	27.6	$	14.2
Transmission formula rate credits	A	2023	12.8		0.4
Total regulatory liabilities, current			40.4		14.6
Regulatory liabilities, non-current:
Estimated costs of removal - regulated property		Not Applicable	136.8		145.2
Deferred income taxes payable through rates		Various	45.2		57.5
TCJA regulatory liability	B	Ongoing	4.5		6.5
Transmission formula rate credits	A	2024	5.4		12.2
PJM transmission enhancement settlement	A	2025	3.5		5.1
Postretirement benefits	B	Ongoing	3.3		2.8
Total regulatory liabilities, non-current			198.7		229.3
Total regulatory liabilities			$	239.1	$	243.9

A – Recovery of incurred costs plus rate of return.

B – Recovery of incurred costs without a rate of return.

C – Recovery not yet determined, but recovery is probable of occurring in future rate proceedings.

Current regulatory assets and liabilities primarily represent costs that are being recovered per specific rate orders; recovery for the remaining costs is probable, but not certain. These costs include: (i) the Energy Efficiency Rider, (ii) the Economic Development Rider, (iii) the Competitive Bidding Rider and (iv) the Transmission Cost Recovery Rider. Also included are the current portion of rate case expense costs, storm costs, Smart Grid O&M, Smart Grid Depreciation, the Infrastructure Investment Rider and Smart Grid R&D, which do not earn a return and are described in greater detail below. Current regulatory liabilities include the overcollection of alternative energy costs, legacy generation costs and certain transmission related costs, including the current portion of the PJM transmission enhancement settlement, the transmission rate true-up (including an anticipated refund as a result of a FERC audit) and the TCJA regulatory liability.

AES Ohio is earning a return on $3.5 million of the net undercollections / (overcollections) to be collected / (refunded) through rate riders including: (i) the Energy Efficiency Rider, (ii) the Economic Development Rider, (iii) the Competitive Bidding Rider and (iv) the Transmission Cost Recovery Rider, partially offset by the overcollection of economic development costs and legacy generation costs.

Pension benefits represent the qualifying ASC 715 costs of our regulated operations that for ratemaking purposes are deferred for future recovery. We recognize an asset for a plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s

underfunded status, and recognize, as a component of OCI, the changes in the funded status of the plan that arise during the year that are not recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost. This regulatory asset represents the regulated portion that would otherwise be charged as a loss to OCI. As per PUCO and FERC precedents, these costs are probable of future rate recovery.

Unrecovered OVEC charges includes the portion of charges from OVEC that were not recovered through AES Ohio’s Fuel Rider from October 2014 through October 2017. Additionally, it includes net OVEC costs from December 19, 2019 through December 31, 2019. Beginning on November 1, 2017, through December 18, 2019, current OVEC costs were being recovered through AES Ohio’s reconciliation rider which was authorized as part of the ESP 3. AES Ohio has requested recovery of these costs through a proposed rider in ESP 4. During the third quarter of 2022, AES Ohio recorded a $28.9 million reduction to this regulatory asset as a charge to Net purchased power cost in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in accordance with the provisions of ASC 980.

Regulatory compliance costs represent the long-term portion of the regulatory compliance costs which include the following costs: (i) Consumer Education Campaign, (ii) Retail Settlement System, (iii) Generation Separation, (iv) Bill Format Redesign, (v) Green Pricing Tariff and (vi) Supplier Consolidated Billing. All of these costs except for Generation Separation earn a return. These costs were being recovered over a three-year period that began November 1, 2017 through a rider approved in the ESP 3. That rider was eliminated with the approval of the ESP 1 rate plan, so the balance as of December 18, 2019 remains a regulatory asset for future recovery. AES Ohio has requested recovery of the remaining balance through a proposed rider in ESP 4.

Rate case expenses represents costs associated with preparing distribution rate cases. AES Ohio was granted recovery of these costs for the 2015 case which do not earn a return, as part of the DRO. Recovery of costs for the 2020 case were included in the 2020 rate case filing.

Smart Grid and AMI costs represent costs incurred as a result of studying and developing distribution system upgrades and implementation of AMI. In a PUCO order on January 5, 2011, the PUCO indicated that it expects AES Ohio to continue to monitor other utilities’ Smart Grid and AMI programs and to explore the potential benefits of investing in the Smart Grid Plan and AMI programs and that AES Ohio will, when appropriate, file new Smart Grid and/or AMI business cases in the future. These costs are included in the October 23, 2020 settlement described above.

Unamortized loss on reacquired debt represents losses on long-term debt reacquired or redeemed in prior periods that have been deferred. These deferred losses are being amortized over the lives of the original issues in accordance with the rules of the FERC and the PUCO.

Deferred storm costs represent the long-term portion of deferred costs for major storms which occurred during 2021 and 2022. AES Ohio files annual petitions seeking recovery of storm costs. Recovery of these costs is probable, but not certain.

Vegetation management costs represents costs incurred from outside contractors for tree trimming and other vegetation management services. Calculation terms were agreed to in the stipulation approved in the DRO. The terms were an annual baseline of $10.7 million in 2018 and $15.7 million thereafter. Amounts over the baseline will be deferred subject to an annual deferral maximum of $4.6 million. Annual spending less than the vegetation management baseline amount will result in a reduction to the regulatory asset or creation of a regulatory liability. These costs are included in AES Ohio's 2020 distribution rate case application.

Decoupling deferral represents the change in the revenue requirement based on a per customer methodology in the stipulation approved in the DRO and includes deferrals through December 18, 2019. These costs were previously recovered through a Decoupling Rider; however, AES Ohio withdrew its application in the ESP 3 and in doing so, the PUCO ordered on December 18, 2019 in the ESP 1 order, that AES Ohio no longer has a Decoupling Rider. As described above, AES Ohio filed a petition seeking authority to record a regulatory asset to accrue revenues that would have otherwise been collected through the Decoupling Rider; these amounts were also included in the ESP 4 application and proposed to be recovered in a new rider.

Uncollectible deferral represents deferred uncollectible expense associated with the nonpayment of electric service, less the revenues associated with the bypassable uncollectible portion of the standard offer rate. The DRO established that these costs would be recovered in a rider outside of base rates, thus no uncollectible expense is included in base rates. These costs are included in the 2020 distribution rate case.

Estimated costs of removal - regulated property reflect an estimate of amounts collected in customer rates for costs that are expected to be incurred in the future to remove existing transmission and distribution property from service when the property is retired.

Deferred income taxes payable through rates represent deferred income tax liabilities recognized from the normalization of flow-through items as the result of taxes previously charged to customers. A deferred income tax asset or liability is created from a difference in income recognition between tax laws and accounting methods. As a regulated utility, AES Ohio includes in ratemaking the impacts of current income taxes and changes in deferred income tax liabilities or assets. Accordingly, this liability reflects the estimated deferred taxes AES Ohio expects to return to customers in future periods.

TCJA regulatory liability represents the long-term portion of both protected and unprotected excess Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes ("ADIT") for both transmission and distribution portions, grossed up to reflect the revenue requirement. As a part of the DRO, AES Ohio agreed that savings from the TCJA attributable to distribution facilities, including the excess ADIT and the regulatory liability, constitute amounts that will be returned to customers. As a result of the TCJA and subsequent DRO, AES Ohio entered into a stipulation to resolve all remaining TCJA items related to its distribution rates, including a proposal to return no less than $4.0 million per year for the first five years unless fully returned in the first five years via a tax savings cost rider for the distribution portion of the balance. On September 26, 2019, an order approved the stipulation in its entirety.

Transmission Formula Rate Credits liability represents the amounts due to customers as a result of the implementation of transmission formula rates, which are adjusted each year based on actual revenue and costs from a previous year, as described above under "FERC Proceedings".

PJM Transmission Enhancement Settlement liability represents the Transmission Enhancement Settlement charges for which AES Ohio is due a refund per FERC Order EL05-121-009 issued on May 31, 2018. The Order states that customers are due a refund for part of these charges which will be received starting August 2018 through 2025. Refunds received will be returned to customers via the transmission cost rider.

Postretirement benefits represent the qualifying ASC 715 gains related to our regulated operations that, for ratemaking purposes, are probable of being reflected in future rates. We recognize an asset for a plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status, and recognize, as a component of OCI, the changes in the funded status of the plan that arise during the year that are not recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost. This regulatory liability represents the regulated portion that would otherwise be reflected as a gain to OCI.

Subsidiaries [Member]

Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Text Block]

REGULATORY MATTERS

Distribution Rate Case

On November 30, 2020, AES Ohio filed a new distribution rate case application with the PUCO to increase AES Ohio’s base rates for electric distribution service to address, in part, increased costs of materials and labor and substantial investments to improve distribution structures. On December 14, 2022, the PUCO issued an order on the application. Among other matters, the order:

•Establishes a revenue increase of $75.6 million for AES Ohio’s base rates for electric distribution service.

•Provides for a return on equity of 9.999% and a cost of long-term debt of 4.4% on a distribution rate base of $783.5 million and based on a capital structure of 53.87% equity and 46.13% long-term debt.

These rates will go into effect when AES Ohio has a new electric security plan in place. AES Ohio anticipates approval of ESP 4 in 2023.

AES Ohio ESPs, SEET Proceedings and Comprehensive Settlement

AES Ohio ESP - Ohio law requires utilities to file either an ESP or MRO plan to establish SSO rates. From November 1, 2017 through December 18, 2019, AES Ohio operated pursuant to an approved ESP plan, which was initially approved on October 20, 2017 (ESP 3). On December 18, 2019, the PUCO approved AES Ohio's Notice of Withdrawal and reversion to its prior rate plan (ESP 1). Among other items, the PUCO Order approving the ESP 1 rate plan includes reinstating the non-bypassable RSC Rider, which provides annual revenues of approximately $79.0 million. The OCC has appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court, the Commission’s decision approving the reversion to ESP 1 as well as argued for a refund of the RSC revenues dating back to August 2021. A decision is pending. We are unable to predict the outcome of this appeal, but if this results in terms that are more adverse than AES Ohio's current ESP rate plan, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

Comprehensive Settlement - On October 23, 2020, AES Ohio entered into a Stipulation and Recommendation (the Settlement) with the staff of the PUCO and various customers, and organizations representing customers of AES Ohio and certain other parties with respect to, among other matters, AES Ohio's applications pending at the PUCO for (i) approval of AES Ohio's plan to modernize its distribution grid (the Smart Grid Plan), (ii) findings that DP&L passed the SEET for 2018 and 2019, and (iii) findings that AES Ohio's current ESP 1 satisfies the SEET and the more favorable in the aggregate (MFA) regulatory test. On June 16, 2021, the PUCO issued their opinion and order accepting the stipulation as filed. The OCC appealed the final PUCO order to the Ohio Supreme Court on December 6, 2021. Oral arguments regarding this appeal are expected but not yet scheduled.

ESP 4 filing - On September 26, 2022, AES Ohio filed its latest ESP (ESP 4) with the PUCO. ESP 4 is a comprehensive plan to enhance and upgrade its network and improve service reliability, provide greater safeguards for price stability and continue investments in local economic development. As part of this plan, AES Ohio intends to increase investments in the distribution infrastructure and deploy a proactive vegetation management program. The plan also includes proposals for new customer programs, including renewable options, electric vehicle programs and energy efficiency programs for residential and low-income customers. ESP 4 also seeks to recover outstanding

regulatory assets not currently in rates. AES Ohio did not propose that the Rate Stabilization Charge would continue as part of ESP 4. The plan requires PUCO approval and an evidentiary hearing is scheduled for April 12, 2023.

Decoupling

On January 23, 2021, AES Ohio filed with the PUCO requesting approval to defer its decoupling costs consistent with the methodology approved in its Distribution Rate Case. An evidentiary hearing was held in May 2021. If approved, the deferral would be effective December 18, 2019 and going forward would reduce impacts of weather, energy efficiency programs and economic changes in customer demand. These amounts were also included in the ESP 4 application and proposed to be recovered in a new rider.

COVID-19

In response to the PUCO’s COVID-19 emergency orders, AES Ohio filed an Application on March 23, 2020, requesting waivers of certain rule and tariff requirements and deferral of certain costs and revenues including those related to deposits and reconnection fees, late payment fees, credit card fees; and waived or uncollected amounts associated with putting customers on payment plans. On May 20, 2020, the PUCO approved the application and required AES Ohio to file a plan outlining the timing and steps it plans to take in an effort to return to normal operations. The authorized deferral of those certain costs and revenues must be offset by COVID-19 related savings. AES Ohio filed its plan on July 15, 2020 and was approved by the PUCO on August 12, 2020. AES Ohio had recorded a $0.9 million regulatory asset as of December 31, 2021; however, during the third quarter of 2022, AES Ohio decided it will not seek recovery in a future rate proceeding and, thus, wrote off the $0.9 million deferral, which is included in Operation and maintenance on the Statements of Operations.

FERC Proceedings

On March 3, 2020, AES Ohio filed an application before the FERC seeking to change its existing stated transmission rates to formula transmission rates that would be updated each calendar year. This filing was approved and made effective as of May 3, 2020, subject to possible refunds if the approved rates were modified. An uncontested settlement was filed December 10, 2020 and approved April 15, 2021. Among other things, the settlement established new depreciation rates for AES Ohio’s transmission assets and an authorized return on equity of 9.85%, and started an amortization process to return excess deferred taxes created by the TCJA. Pursuant to the approved mechanisms and formula, transmission rates were adjusted, effective on January 1, 2022, to reflect projected 2022 costs, adjusted to true-up the projections of revenues and costs incurred during 2020. Adjustments to true-up 2021 revenues and costs will be reflected in 2023 formula transmission rates. At December 31, 2022, AES Ohio has recorded a liability of $18.2 million, with $12.8 million classified as current, representing credits owed to customers for the 2022 and 2021 annual true-ups.

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

In accordance with ASC 980 - Regulated Operations ("ASC 980"), we have recognized total regulatory assets of $169.0 million and $201.3 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and total regulatory liabilities of $239.1 million and $243.9 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Regulatory assets and liabilities are classified as current or non-current based on the term in which recovery is expected. See Note 1 – OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES for accounting policies regarding Regulatory Assets and Liabilities.

The following table presents AES Ohio’s Regulatory assets and liabilities:

	Type of Recovery	Amortization Through	December 31,
$ in millions			2022		2021
Regulatory assets, current:
Undercollections to be collected through rate riders	A/B	2023	$	38.7	$	23.9
Rate case expenses being recovered in base rates	B	2023	0.5		0.6
Total regulatory assets, current			39.2		24.5
Regulatory assets, non-current:
Pension benefits	B	Ongoing	64.2		76.2
Unrecovered OVEC charges	C		—		28.9
Regulatory compliance costs	B	Undetermined	6.4		6.3
Smart grid and AMI costs	B	2025	2.3		5.2
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt	B	Various	2.0		4.3
Deferred storm costs	A	Undetermined	8.7		15.2
Deferred rate case costs	B	Undetermined	1.9		1.8
Deferred vegetation management and other	A/B	Undetermined	23.0		18.7
Decoupling deferral	C	Undetermined	13.8		13.8
Uncollectible deferral	C	Undetermined	7.5		6.4
Total regulatory assets, non-current			129.8		176.8
Total regulatory assets			$	169.0	$	201.3
Regulatory liabilities, current:
Overcollection of costs to be refunded through rate riders	A/B	2023	$	27.6	$	14.2
Transmission formula rate credits	A	2023	12.8		0.4
Total regulatory liabilities, current			40.4		14.6
Regulatory liabilities, non-current:
Estimated costs of removal - regulated property		Not Applicable	136.8		145.2
Deferred income taxes payable through rates		Various	45.2		57.5
TCJA regulatory liability	B	Ongoing	4.5		6.5
Transmission formula rate credits	A	2024	5.4		12.2
PJM transmission enhancement settlement	A	2025	3.5		5.1
Postretirement benefits	B	Ongoing	3.3		2.8
Total regulatory liabilities, non-current			198.7		229.3
Total regulatory liabilities			$	239.1	$	243.9

A – Recovery of incurred costs plus rate of return.

B – Recovery of incurred costs without a rate of return.

C – Recovery not yet determined, but recovery is probable of occurring in future rate proceedings.

Current regulatory assets and liabilities primarily represent costs that are being recovered per specific rate orders; recovery for the remaining costs is probable, but not certain. These costs include: (i) the Energy Efficiency Rider, (ii) the Economic Development Rider, (iii) the Competitive Bidding Rider and (iv) the Transmission Cost Recovery Rider. Also included are the current portion of rate case expense costs, storm costs, Smart Grid O&M, Smart Grid Depreciation, the Infrastructure Investment Rider and Smart Grid R&D, which do not earn a return and are described in greater detail below. Current regulatory liabilities include the overcollection of alternative energy costs, legacy generation costs and certain transmission related costs, including the current portion of the PJM transmission enhancement settlement, the transmission rate true-up (including an anticipated refund as a result of a FERC audit) and the TCJA regulatory liability.

AES Ohio is earning a return on $3.5 million of the net undercollections / (overcollections) to be collected / (refunded) through rate riders including: (i) the Energy Efficiency Rider, (ii) the Economic Development Rider, (iii) the Competitive Bidding Rider and (iv) the Transmission Cost Recovery Rider, partially offset by the overcollection of economic development costs and legacy generation costs.

Pension benefits represent the qualifying ASC 715 costs of our regulated operations that for ratemaking purposes are deferred for future recovery. We recognize an asset for a plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status, and recognize, as a component of OCI, the changes in the funded status of the plan that arise during the year that are not recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost. This regulatory asset represents the regulated portion that would otherwise be charged as a loss to OCI. As per PUCO and FERC precedents, these costs are probable of future rate recovery.

Unrecovered OVEC charges includes the portion of charges from OVEC that were not recovered through AES Ohio’s Fuel Rider from October 2014 through October 2017. Additionally, it includes net OVEC costs from December 19, 2019 through December 31, 2019. Beginning on November 1, 2017, through December 18, 2019, current OVEC costs were being recovered through AES Ohio’s reconciliation rider which was authorized as part of the ESP 3. AES Ohio has requested recovery of these costs through a proposed rider in ESP 4. During the third quarter of 2022, AES Ohio recorded a $28.9 million reduction to this regulatory asset as a charge to Net purchased power cost in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in accordance with the provisions of ASC 980.

Regulatory compliance costs represent the long-term portion of the regulatory compliance costs which include the following costs: (i) Consumer Education Campaign, (ii) Retail Settlement System, (iii) Generation Separation, (iv) Bill Format Redesign, (v) Green Pricing Tariff and (vi) Supplier Consolidated Billing. All of these costs except for Generation Separation earn a return. These costs were being recovered over a three-year period that began November 1, 2017 through a rider approved in the ESP 3. That rider was eliminated with the approval of the ESP 1 rate plan, so the balance as of December 18, 2019 remains a regulatory asset for future recovery. AES Ohio has requested recovery of the remaining balance through a proposed rider in ESP 4.

Rate case expenses represents costs associated with preparing distribution rate cases. AES Ohio was granted recovery of these costs for the 2015 case which do not earn a return, as part of the DRO. Recovery of costs for the 2020 case were included in the 2020 rate case filing.

Smart Grid and AMI costs represent costs incurred as a result of studying and developing distribution system upgrades and implementation of AMI. In a PUCO order on January 5, 2011, the PUCO indicated that it expects AES Ohio to continue to monitor other utilities’ Smart Grid and AMI programs and to explore the potential benefits of investing in the Smart Grid Plan and AMI programs and that AES Ohio will, when appropriate, file new Smart Grid and/or AMI business cases in the future. These costs are included in the October 23, 2020 settlement described above.

Unamortized loss on reacquired debt represents losses on long-term debt reacquired or redeemed in prior periods that have been deferred. These deferred losses are being amortized over the lives of the original issues in accordance with the rules of the FERC and the PUCO.

Deferred storm costs represent the long-term portion of deferred costs for major storms which occurred during 2021 and 2022. AES Ohio files annual petitions seeking recovery of storm costs. Recovery of these costs is probable, but not certain.

Vegetation management costs represents costs incurred from outside contractors for tree trimming and other vegetation management services. Calculation terms were agreed to in the stipulation approved in the DRO. The terms were an annual baseline of $10.7 million in 2018 and $15.7 million thereafter. Amounts over the baseline will be deferred subject to an annual deferral maximum of $4.6 million. Annual spending less than the vegetation management baseline amount will result in a reduction to the regulatory asset or creation of a regulatory liability. These costs are included in AES Ohio's 2020 distribution rate case application.

Decoupling deferral represents the change in the revenue requirement based on a per customer methodology in the stipulation approved in the DRO and includes deferrals through December 18, 2019. These costs were previously recovered through a Decoupling Rider; however, AES Ohio withdrew its application in the ESP 3 and in doing so, the PUCO ordered on December 18, 2019 in the ESP 1 order, that AES Ohio no longer has a Decoupling Rider. As described above, AES Ohio filed a petition seeking authority to record a regulatory asset to accrue revenues that would have otherwise been collected through the Decoupling Rider; these amounts were also included in the ESP 4 application and proposed to be recovered in a new rider.

Uncollectible deferral represents deferred uncollectible expense associated with the nonpayment of electric service, less the revenues associated with the bypassable uncollectible portion of the standard offer rate. The DRO established that these costs would be recovered in a rider outside of base rates, thus no uncollectible expense is included in base rates. These costs are included in the 2020 distribution rate case.

Estimated costs of removal - regulated property reflect an estimate of amounts collected in customer rates for costs that are expected to be incurred in the future to remove existing transmission and distribution property from service when the property is retired.

Deferred income taxes payable through rates represent deferred income tax liabilities recognized from the normalization of flow-through items as the result of taxes previously charged to customers. A deferred income tax asset or liability is created from a difference in income recognition between tax laws and accounting methods. As a regulated utility, AES Ohio includes in ratemaking the impacts of current income taxes and changes in deferred income tax liabilities or assets. Accordingly, this liability reflects the estimated deferred taxes AES Ohio expects to return to customers in future periods.

TCJA regulatory liability represents the long-term portion of both protected and unprotected excess Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes ("ADIT") for both transmission and distribution portions, grossed up to reflect the revenue requirement. As a part of the DRO, AES Ohio agreed that savings from the TCJA attributable to distribution facilities, including the excess ADIT and the regulatory liability, constitute amounts that will be returned to customers. As a result of the TCJA and subsequent DRO, AES Ohio entered into a stipulation to resolve all remaining TCJA items related to its distribution rates, including a proposal to return no less than $4.0 million per year for the first five years unless fully returned in the first five years via a tax savings cost rider for the distribution portion of the balance. On September 26, 2019, an order approved the stipulation in its entirety.

Transmission Formula Rate Credits liability represents the amounts due to customers as a result of the implementation of transmission formula rates, which are adjusted each year based on actual revenue and costs from a previous year, as described above under "FERC Proceedings".

PJM Transmission Enhancement Settlement liability represents the Transmission Enhancement Settlement charges for which AES Ohio is due a refund per FERC Order EL05-121-009 issued on May 31, 2018. The Order states that customers are due a refund for part of these charges which will be received starting August 2018 through 2025. Refunds received will be returned to customers via the transmission cost rider.

Postretirement benefits represent the qualifying ASC 715 gains related to our regulated operations that, for ratemaking purposes, are probable of being reflected in future rates. We recognize an asset for a plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status, and recognize, as a component of OCI, the changes in the funded status of the plan that arise during the year that are not recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost. This regulatory liability represents the regulated portion that would otherwise be reflected as a gain to OCI.