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Regulatory Matters
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Regulated Operations [Abstract]  
Regulatory Matters REGULATORY MATTERS
RATE-RELATED INFORMATION
The NCUC, PSCSC, FPSC, IURC, PUCO, TPUC and KPSC approve rates for retail electric and natural gas services within their states. The FERC approves rates for electric sales to wholesale customers served under cost-based rates (excluding Ohio and Indiana), as well as sales of transmission service. The FERC also regulates certification and siting of new interstate natural gas pipeline projects.
Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress
Nuclear Station Subsequent License Renewal
On June 7, 2021, Duke Energy Carolinas filed a subsequent license renewal (SLR) application for the Oconee Nuclear Station (ONS) with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to renew ONS’s operating license for an additional 20 years. The SLR would extend operations of the facility from 60 to 80 years. The current licenses for units 1 and 2 expire in 2033 and the license for unit 3 expires in 2034. By a Federal Register Notice dated July 28, 2021, the NRC provided a 60-day comment period for persons whose interest may be affected by the issuance of a subsequent renewed license for ONS to file a request for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene. On September 27, 2021, Beyond Nuclear and Sierra Club (Petitioners) filed a Hearing Request and Petition to Intervene (Hearing Request) and a Petition for Waiver. The Hearing Request proposed three contentions and claimed that Duke Energy Carolinas did not satisfy the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, or the NRC’s NEPA-implementing regulations. Following Duke Energy Carolinas' answer and the Petitioners' reply, on February 11, 2022, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) issued its decision on the Hearing Request and found that the Petitioners failed to establish that the proposed contentions are litigable. The ASLB also denied the Petitioners' Petition for Waiver and terminated the proceeding.
On February 24, 2022, the NRC issued a decision in the SLR appeal related to Florida Power and Light's Turkey Point nuclear generating station in Florida. The NRC ruled that the NRC’s license renewal Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) does not apply to SLR because the GEIS does not address SLR. The decision overturned a 2020 NRC decision that found the GEIS applies to SLR. Although Turkey Point is not owned or operated by a Duke Energy Registrant, the NRC’s order applies to all SLR applicants, including ONS. The NRC order also indicated no subsequent renewed licenses will be issued until the NRC staff has completed an adequate NEPA review for each application. On April 5, 2022, the NRC approved a 24-month rulemaking plan that will enable the NRC staff to complete an adequate NEPA review. Although an SLR applicant may wait until the rulemaking is completed, the NRC also noted that an applicant may submit a supplement to its environmental report providing information on environmental impacts during the SLR period prior to the rulemaking being completed. On November 7, 2022, Duke Energy Carolinas submitted a supplement to its environmental report addressing environmental impacts during the SLR period. On December 19, 2022, the NRC published a notice in the Federal Register that the NRC will conduct a limited scoping process to gather additional information necessary to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the environmental impacts at ONS during the SLR period. The NRC received comments from the EPA and the Petitioners and these comments identify 18 potential impacts that should be considered by the NRC in the EIS, which include, but are not limited to, climate change and flooding, environmental justice, severe accidents, and external events. Currently, the NRC expects to publish a draft EIS in October 2023.
On December 19, 2022, the NRC issued the Safety Evaluation Report (SER) for the safety portion of the SLR application. The NRC determined Duke Energy Carolinas met the requirements of the applicable regulations and identified actions that have been taken or will be taken to manage the effects of aging and address time-limited analyses. Duke Energy Carolinas and the NRC met with the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) on February 2, 2023, to discuss issues regarding the SER and SLR application. On February 25, 2023, the ACRS issued a report to the NRC on the safety aspects of the ONS SLR application, which concluded that the established programs and commitments made by Duke Energy Carolinas to manage age-related degradation provide confidence that ONS can be operated in accordance with its current licensing basis for the subsequent period of extended operation without undue risk to the health and safety of the public and the SLR application for ONS should be approved.
Although the NRC’s GEIS applicability decision will delay completion of the SLR proceeding, Duke Energy Carolinas does not believe it changes the probability that the ONS subsequent renewed licenses will ultimately be issued, although Duke Energy Carolinas cannot guarantee the outcome of the license application process.
Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress intend to seek renewal of operating licenses and 20-year license extensions for all of their nuclear stations. New depreciation rates were implemented for all of the nuclear facilities during the second quarter of 2021. Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress cannot predict the outcome of these additional relicensing proceedings.
Storm Cost Securitization
On June 15, 2022, the South Carolina General Assembly unanimously adopted S. 1077 (Act 227) in both the House and Senate and the bill was signed into law on June 17, 2022. The legislation enables the PSCSC to permit the issuance of bonds for the payment of storm costs and the creation of a storm charge for repayment.
On August 5, 2022, Duke Energy Progress filed a petition with the PSCSC for review and approval of deferred storm costs to be securitized of approximately $223 million. On February 7, 2023, a stipulation was reached with all parties in the proceeding regarding certain items identified through the Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) audit of storm costs. The evidentiary hearing was held on March 1, 2023. On April 20, 2023, the PSCSC issued its order, approving the stipulation and determining unresolved issues in the case, resulting in approximately $171 million in projected deferred storm costs eligible to be securitized. The difference in the original filed amount and the approved amount is primarily related to the stipulation with the ORS in which Duke Energy Progress agreed to apply a debt-only rate of return for the calculation of carrying costs during the deferral period for the deferred storm costs.
Duke Energy Carolinas
2023 North Carolina Rate Case
On January 19, 2023, Duke Energy Carolinas filed a PBR application with the NCUC to request an increase in base rate retail revenues. The PBR Application includes an MYRP to recover projected capital investments during the three-year MYRP period. In addition to the MYRP, the PBR Application includes an Earnings Sharing Mechanism, Residential Decoupling Mechanism and Performance Incentive Mechanisms as required by HB 951. If approved, the overall retail revenue increase would be $501 million in Year 1, $172 million in Year 2 and $150 million in Year 3, for a combined total of $823 million or 15.7% by early 2026. The rate increase is driven primarily by major transmission and distribution investments since the last rate case and projected in the MYRP, as well as investments in energy storage and solar assets included in the MYRP consistent with the Carbon Plan. Duke Energy Carolinas plans to implement interim rates, subject to refund, on September 1, 2023, and has requested permanent rates be effective by January 1, 2024. The evidentiary hearing has been scheduled to begin on August 21, 2023. Duke Energy Carolinas cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
Duke Energy Progress
2022 North Carolina Rate Case
On October 6, 2022, Duke Energy Progress filed a PBR application with the NCUC to request an increase in base rate retail revenues. The rate request before the NCUC includes an MYRP to recover projected capital investments during the three-year MYRP period. In addition to the MYRP, the PBR Application includes an Earnings Sharing Mechanism, Residential Decoupling Mechanism and Performance Incentive Mechanisms (PIMs) as required by HB 951. The overall retail revenue increase as originally filed would be $326 million in Year 1, $151 million in Year 2 and $138 million in Year 3, for a combined total of $615 million or 16% by late 2025. The rate increase is driven primarily by major transmission and distribution investments since the last rate case and projected in the MYRP, as well as investments in energy storage and solar assets included in the MYRP consistent with the Carbon Plan. Duke Energy Progress plans to implement interim rates, subject to refund, in June 2023, and has requested permanent rates be effective by October 1, 2023.
Testimony was filed by various parties on March 27, 2023, and Duke Energy Progress rebuttal testimony was filed on April 14, 2023. On April 26, 2023, Duke Energy Progress filed a partial settlement with Public Staff, which includes agreement on many aspects of Duke Energy Progress' three-year MYRP proposal. In May 2023, the Carolina Industrial Group for Fair Utility Rates II joined this partial settlement and the parties filed a separate settlement reaching agreement on PIMs, Tracking Metrics and the residential decoupling mechanism under the PBR Application. The settlement agreements are subject to the review and approval of the NCUC. Evidentiary hearings began on May 4, 2023. The key unsettled issues to be litigated in the hearing include the return on equity, capital structure, recovery of the COVID-19 cost deferral and treatment of certain regulatory asset and liability amortizations. Duke Energy Progress' proposed revenue requirement in the case as adjusted for supplemental updates and the partial settlement is $320 million in Year 1, $127 million in Year 2 and $140 million in Year 3, for a combined total of $587 million or 15% by late 2025. Duke Energy Progress cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
2022 South Carolina Rate Case
On September 1, 2022, Duke Energy Progress filed an application with the PSCSC to request an increase in base rate retail revenues. On January 12, 2023, Duke Energy Progress and the ORS, as well as other consumer, environmental, and industrial intervening parties, filed a comprehensive Agreement and Stipulation of Settlement resolving all issues in the base rate proceeding. The major components of the stipulation include:
A $52 million annual customer rate increase prior to the reduction from the accelerated return to customers of federal unprotected Property, Plant and Equipment related EDIT. After extending the remaining EDIT giveback to customers to 33 months, the net annual retail rate increase is approximately $36 million.
ROE of 9.6% based on a capital structure of 52.43% equity and 47.57% debt.
Continuation of deferral treatment of coal ash basin closure costs. Supports an amortization period for remaining coal ash closure costs in this rate case of seven years. Duke Energy Progress agreed not to seek recovery of approximately $50 million of deferred coal ash expenditures related to retired sites in this rate case (South Carolina retail allocation).
Accepts the 2021 Depreciation Study as proposed in this case, as adjusted for certain recommendations from ORS and includes accelerated retirement dates for certain coal units as originally proposed.
Establishment of a storm reserve to help offset the costs of major storms.
The PSCSC held a hearing on January 17, 2023, to consider evidence supporting the stipulation and unanimously voted to approve the comprehensive agreement on February 9, 2023. A final written order was issued on March 8, 2023.
Duke Energy Florida
2021 Settlement Agreement
On January 14, 2021, Duke Energy Florida filed a Settlement Agreement (the “2021 Settlement”) with the FPSC. The parties to the 2021 Settlement include Duke Energy Florida, the Office of Public Counsel (OPC), the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, White Springs Agricultural Chemicals, Inc. d/b/a PCS Phosphate and NUCOR Steel Florida, Inc. (collectively, the “Parties”).
Pursuant to the 2021 Settlement, the Parties agreed to a base rate stay-out provision that expires year-end 2024; however, Duke Energy Florida is allowed an increase to its base rates of an incremental $67 million in 2022, $49 million in 2023 and $79 million in 2024, subject to adjustment in the event of tax reform during the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Parties also agreed to an ROE band of 8.85% to 10.85% with a midpoint of 9.85% based on a capital structure of 53% equity and 47% debt. The ROE band can be increased by 25 basis points if the average 30-year U.S. Treasury rate increases 50 basis points or more over a six-month period in which case the midpoint ROE would rise from 9.85% to 10.10%. On July 25, 2022, this provision was triggered. Duke Energy Florida filed a petition with the FPSC on August 12, 2022, to increase the ROE effective August 2022 with a base rate increase effective January 1, 2023. The FPSC approved this request on October 4, 2022. The 2021 Settlement Agreement also provided that Duke Energy Florida will be able to retain $173 million of the expected Department of Energy (DOE) award from its lawsuit to recover spent nuclear fuel to mitigate customer rates over the term of the 2021 Settlement. In return, Duke Energy Florida is permitted to recognize the $173 million into earnings through the approved settlement period. Duke Energy Florida settled the DOE lawsuit and received payment of approximately $180 million on June 15, 2022, of which the retail portion was approximately $154 million. The 2021 Settlement authorizes Duke Energy Florida to collect the difference between $173 million and the $154 million retail portion of the amount received through the capacity cost recovery clause. As of March 31, 2023, Duke Energy Florida has recognized $54 million into earnings. The remaining $119 million is expected to be recognized over the remainder of 2023 and 2024, while also remaining within the approved return on equity band.
The 2021 Settlement also contained a provision to recover or flow back the effects of tax law changes. As a result of the IRA enacted on August 16, 2022, Duke Energy Florida is eligible for PTCs associated with solar facilities placed in service beginning in January 2022. Duke Energy Florida filed a petition with the FPSC on October 17, 2022, to reduce base rates effective January 1, 2023, by $56 million to flow back the expected 2023 PTCs and to flow back the expected 2022 PTCs via an adjustment to the capacity cost recovery clause. On December 14, 2022, the FPSC issued an order approving Duke Energy Florida's petition.
In addition to these terms, the 2021 Settlement contained provisions related to the accelerated depreciation of Crystal River Units 4-5, the approval of approximately $1 billion in future investments in new cost-effective solar power, the implementation of a new Electric Vehicle Charging Station Program and the deferral and recovery of costs in connection with the implementation of Duke Energy Florida’s Vision Florida program, which explores various emerging non-carbon emitting generation technology, distributed technologies and resiliency projects, among other things. The 2021 Settlement also resolved remaining unrecovered storm costs for Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Dorian.
The FPSC approved the 2021 Settlement on May 4, 2021, issuing an order on June 4, 2021. Revised customer rates became effective January 1, 2022, with subsequent base rate increases effective January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024.
Clean Energy Connection
On July 1, 2020, Duke Energy Florida petitioned the FPSC for approval of a voluntary solar program. The program consists of 10 new solar generating facilities with combined capacity of approximately 750 MW. The program allows participants to support cost-effective solar development in Florida by paying a subscription fee based on per kilowatt subscriptions and receiving a credit on their bill based on the actual generation associated with their portion of the solar portfolio. The estimated cost of the 10 new solar generation facilities is approximately $1 billion and the projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2024. This investment will be included in base rates offset by the revenue from the subscription fees and the credits will be included for recovery in the fuel cost recovery clause. The FPSC approved the program in January 2021.
On February 24, 2021, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) filed a notice of appeal of the FPSC’s order approving the Clean Energy Connection to the Supreme Court of Florida. The Supreme Court of Florida heard oral arguments in the appeal on February 9, 2022. On May 27, 2022, the Supreme Court of Florida issued an order remanding the case to the FPSC so that the FPSC can amend its order to better address some of the arguments raised by LULAC. On September 23, 2022, the FPSC issued a revised order and submitted it on September 26, 2022, to the Supreme Court of Florida. The Supreme Court of Florida requested that the parties file supplemental briefs regarding the revised order, which were filed February 6, 2023. LULAC has filed a request for Oral Argument on the issues discussed in the supplemental briefs, but the Court has yet to rule on that request. The FPSC approval order remains in effect pending the outcome of the appeal. Duke Energy Florida cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
Storm Protection Plan
On April 11, 2022, Duke Energy Florida filed a Storm Protection Plan for approval with the FPSC. The plan, which covers investments for the 2023-2032 time frame, reflects approximately $7 billion of capital investment in transmission and distribution meant to strengthen its infrastructure, reduce outage times associated with extreme weather events, reduce restoration costs and improve overall service reliability. The evidentiary hearing began on August 2, 2022. On October 4, 2022, the FPSC voted to approve Duke Energy Florida’s plan with one modification to remove the transmission loop radially fed program, representing a reduction of approximately $80 million over the 10-year period starting in 2025. On December 9, 2022, the Office of Public Counsel filed a notice of appeal of this order to the Florida Supreme Court. The Office of Public Counsel’s initial brief was filed on April 18, 2023. Duke Energy Florida cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
Hurricane Ian
On September 28, 2022, much of Duke Energy Florida’s service territory was impacted by Hurricane Ian, which caused significant damage resulting in more than 1.1 million outages. Duke Energy Florida's March 31, 2023 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets includes an estimate of approximately $357 million in regulatory assets related to deferred Hurricane Ian storm costs consistent with the FPSC's storm rule. After depleting any existing storm reserves, which were approximately $107 million before Hurricane Ian, Duke Energy Florida is permitted to petition the FPSC for recovery of additional incremental operation and maintenance costs resulting from the storm and to replenish the retail customer storm reserve to approximately $132 million. Duke Energy Florida filed its petition for cost recovery of various storms, including Hurricane Ian, and replenishment of the storm reserve on January 23, 2023, seeking recovery of $442 million, for recovery over 12 months beginning with the first billing cycle in April 2023. On March 7, 2023, the Commission approved this request for interim recovery, subject to refund, and ordered Duke Energy Florida to file documentation of the total actual storm costs, once known. Duke Energy Florida cannot predict the outcome of this matter
Duke Energy Ohio
Duke Energy Ohio Electric Base Rate Case
Duke Energy Ohio filed with the PUCO an electric distribution base rate case application on October 1, 2021, with supporting testimony filed on October 15, 2021, requesting an increase in electric distribution base rates of approximately $55 million and an ROE of 10.3%. On September 19, 2022, Duke Energy Ohio filed a Stipulation and Recommendation with the PUCO, which includes an increase in overall electric distribution base rates of approximately $23 million and an ROE of 9.5%. The stipulation is among all but one party to the proceeding. The PUCO issued an order on December 14, 2022, approving the Stipulation without material modification. Rates went into effect on January 3, 2023. The Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) filed an application for rehearing on January 13, 2023. On February 8, 2023, the Commission granted the OCC's application for rehearing for further consideration. Duke Energy Ohio cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery
In response to changes in Ohio law that eliminated Ohio's energy efficiency mandates, the PUCO issued an order on February 26, 2020, directing utilities to wind down their demand-side management programs by September 30, 2020, and to terminate the programs by December 31, 2020. Duke Energy Ohio took the following actions:
On March 27, 2020, Duke Energy Ohio filed an application for rehearing seeking clarification on the final true up and reconciliation process after 2020. On November 18, 2020, the PUCO issued an order replacing the cost cap previously imposed upon Duke Energy Ohio with a cap on shared savings recovery. On December 18, 2020, Duke Energy Ohio filed an additional application for rehearing challenging, among other things, the imposition of the cap on shared savings. On January 13, 2021, the application for rehearing was granted for further consideration.
On October 9, 2020, Duke Energy Ohio filed an application to implement a voluntary energy efficiency program portfolio to commence on January 1, 2021. The application proposed a mechanism for recovery of program costs and a benefit associated with avoided transmission and distribution costs. This application remains under review.
On November 18, 2020, the PUCO issued an order directing all utilities to set their energy efficiency riders to zero effective January 1, 2021, and to file a separate application for final reconciliation of all energy efficiency costs prior to December 31, 2020. Effective January 1, 2021, Duke Energy Ohio suspended its energy efficiency programs.
On June 14, 2021, the PUCO requested each utility to file by July 15, 2021, a proposal to reestablish low-income programs through December 31, 2021. Duke Energy Ohio filed its application on July 14, 2021.
On February 23, 2022, the PUCO issued its Fifth Entry on Rehearing that 1) affirmed its reduction in Duke Energy Ohio's shared savings cap; 2) denied rehearing/clarification regarding lost distribution revenues and shared savings recovery for periods after December 31, 2020; and 3) directed Duke Energy Ohio to submit an updated application with exhibits. On March 25, 2022, Duke Energy Ohio filed its Amended Application consistent with the PUCO's order.
On March 17, 2023, the Staff of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio submitted its Staff Review and Recommendation. This Staff Report, like prior such reports, recommends certain disallowances related to incentives.
On March 27, 2023, the Commission established a procedural schedule. Intervention/comments were filed on April 26, 2023, and reply comments are due by May 11, 2023.
Duke Energy Ohio cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
Duke Energy Ohio Natural Gas Base Rate Case
Duke Energy Ohio filed with the PUCO a natural gas base rate case application on June 30, 2022, with supporting testimony filed on July 14, 2022, requesting an increase in natural gas base rates of approximately $49 million and an ROE of 10.3%. This is an approximate 5.6% average increase in the customer's total bill across all customer classes. The drivers for this case are capital invested since Duke Energy Ohio's last natural gas base rate case in 2012. Duke Energy Ohio is also seeking to adjust the caps on its CEP Rider. The Staff of the PUCO (Staff) report was issued on December 21, 2022, recommending an increase in natural gas base rates of $24 million to $36 million, with an equity ratio of 52.32% and an ROE range of 9.03% to 10.04%. On April 28, 2023, Duke Energy Ohio filed a stipulation with all parties to the case except the OCC. In the stipulation, the parties agreed to approximately $32 million in revenue increases with an equity ratio of 52.32% and an ROE of 9.6%, and adjustments to the CEP Rider caps. The evidentiary hearing is scheduled to begin on May 23, 2023. Duke Energy Ohio cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
Duke Energy Kentucky Electric Base Rate Case
On December 1, 2022, Duke Energy Kentucky filed a rate case with the KPSC requesting an annualized increase in electric base rates of approximately $75 million and an ROE of 10.35%. This is an overall increase in rates of approximately 17.8%. The request for rate increase is driven by capital investments to strengthen the electricity generation and delivery systems along with adjusted depreciation rates for the East Bend and Woodsdale generation stations to support the energy transition. Duke Energy Kentucky is also requesting new programs and tariff updates, including a voluntary community-based renewable subscription program and two EV charging programs. Intervenor testimony was filed March 10, 2023, and rebuttal testimony was filed April 14, 2023. The Kentucky Attorney General recommended an increase of $31 million and an ROE of 9.55%. An evidentiary hearing will begin May 9, 2023. New rates are anticipated to go into effect around July 15, 2023. Duke Energy Kentucky cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
Duke Energy Indiana
2019 Indiana Rate Case
On July 2, 2019, Duke Energy Indiana filed a general rate case with the IURC for a rate increase for retail customers of approximately $395 million. The rebuttal case, filed on December 4, 2019, updated the requested revenue requirement to result in a 15.6% or $396 million average retail rate increase, including the impacts of the utility receipts tax. On June 29, 2020, the IURC issued an order in the rate case approving a revenue increase of $146 million before certain adjustments and ratemaking refinements. The order approved Duke Energy Indiana’s requested forecasted rate base of $10.2 billion as of December 31, 2020, including the Edwardsport Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) Plant. The IURC reduced Duke Energy Indiana’s request by slightly more than $200 million, when accounting for the utility receipts tax and other adjustments. Approximately 50% of the reduction was due to a prospective change in depreciation and use of regulatory asset for the end-of-life inventory at retired generating plants, approximately 20% was due to the approved ROE of 9.7% versus the requested ROE of 10.4% and approximately 20% was related to miscellaneous earnings neutral adjustments. Step one rates were estimated to be approximately 75% of the total and became effective on July 30, 2020. Step two rates estimated to be the remaining 25% of the total rate increase were approved on July 28, 2021, and implemented in August 2021.
Several groups appealed the IURC order to the Indiana Court of Appeals. The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the IURC decision on May 13, 2021. However, upon appeal by the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) and the Duke Industrial Group on March 10, 2022, the Indiana Supreme Court found that the IURC erred in allowing Duke Energy Indiana to recover coal ash costs incurred before the IURC’s rate case order in June 2020. The Indiana Supreme Court found that allowing Duke Energy Indiana to recover coal ash costs incurred between rate cases that exceeded the amount built into base rates violated the prohibition against retroactive ratemaking. The IURC’s order has been remanded to the IURC for additional proceedings consistent with the Indiana Supreme Court’s opinion. As a result of the court's opinion, Duke Energy Indiana recognized pretax charges of approximately $211 million to Impairment of assets and other charges and $46 million to Operating revenues in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Duke Energy Indiana filed a request for rehearing with the Supreme Court on April 11, 2022, which the court denied on May 26, 2022. Duke Energy Indiana filed its testimony in the remand proceeding on August 18, 2022. On February 3, 2023, Duke Energy Indiana filed a settlement agreement reached with the OUCC and Duke Industrial Group, which includes an agreed amount of approximately $70 million of refunds to be paid to customers. The IURC approved this settlement agreement in its entirety on April 12, 2023.
2020 Indiana Coal Ash Recovery Case
In Duke Energy Indiana’s 2019 rate case, the IURC also opened a subdocket for post-2018 coal ash related expenditures. Duke Energy Indiana filed testimony on April 15, 2020, in the coal ash subdocket requesting recovery for the post-2018 coal ash basin closure costs for plans that have been approved by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) as well as continuing deferral, with carrying costs, on the balance. An evidentiary hearing was held on September 14, 2020. Briefing was completed by mid-September 2021. On November 3, 2021, the IURC issued an order allowing recovery for post-2018 coal ash basin closure costs for the plans that have been approved by IDEM, as well as continuing deferral, with carrying costs, on the balance. The OUCC and the Duke Industrial Group appealed. The Indiana Court of Appeals issued its opinion on February 21, 2023, reversing the IURC's order to the extent that it allowed Duke Energy Indiana to recover federally mandated costs incurred prior to the IURC's November 3, 2021 order. In addition, the court found that any costs incurred pre-petition to determine federally mandated compliance options were not specifically authorized by the statute and should also be disallowed. As a result of the Court's opinion, Duke Energy Indiana recognized a pretax charge of approximately $175 million to Impairment of assets and other charges for the year ended December 31, 2022. After the passage of Senate Enrolled Act 9, which amended the federal mandate statute to make clear that costs incurred pre-order are recoverable, Duke Energy Indiana filed a petition for rehearing with the Indiana Court of Appeals, which was denied on April 27, 2023. Duke Energy Indiana is evaluating whether to file a petition to transfer the case to the Indiana Supreme Court. Duke Energy Indiana cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
TDSIC 2.0
On November 23, 2021, Duke Energy Indiana filed for approval of the Transmission, Distribution, Storage Improvement Charge 2.0 investment plan for 2023-2028 (TDSIC 2.0). On June 15, 2022, the IURC approved, without modification, TDSIC 2.0, which includes approximately $2 billion in transmission and distribution investments selected to improve customer reliability, harden and improve resiliency of the grid, enable expansion of renewable and distributed energy projects and encourage economic development. In addition, the IURC set up a subdocket to consider the targeted economic development project, which the IURC approved on March 2, 2022. On July 15, 2022, the OUCC filed a notice of appeal to the Indiana Court of Appeals in Duke Energy Indiana’s TDSIC 2.0 proceeding. An appellant brief was filed on October 28, 2022, and Duke Energy Indiana filed its responsive brief on December 28, 2022. The Indiana Court of Appeals issued its opinion on March 9, 2023, affirming the Commission’s order in its entirety. The Duke Industrial Group filed a petition to transfer to the Indiana Supreme Court. Duke Energy Indiana filed its opposition to transfer on April 11, 2023. Duke Energy Indiana cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
Piedmont
Tennessee Annual Review Mechanism
On October 10, 2022, the TPUC approved Piedmont’s petition to adopt an Annual Review Mechanism (ARM) as allowed by Tennessee law. Under the ARM, Piedmont will adjust rates annually to achieve its allowed 9.80% ROE over the upcoming year and to true up any variance between its allowed ROE and actual ROE from the prior calendar year. The initial year subject to the true up is 2022, and the initial rate adjustments request will be filed in May 2023 for rates effective October 1, 2023.