Rate Matters

Recently Concluded Regulatory Proceedings — PSCW

NSP-Wisconsin – Wisconsin 2016 Electric and Gas Rate Case — In May 2015, NSP-Wisconsin filed a request with the PSCW seeking an increase in annual electric rates of $27.4 million, or 3.9 percent, and an increase in natural gas rates of $5.9 million, or 5.0 percent, effective Jan. 1, 2016. The rate filing was based on a 2016 forecast test year, a ROE of 10.2 percent, an equity ratio of 52.5 percent and a forecasted average rate base of approximately $1.2 billion for the electric utility and $111.2 million for the natural gas utility.

In December 2015, the PSCW approved an electric rate increase of approximately $7.6 million, or 1.1 percent, and a natural gas rate increase of $4.2 million, or 3.6 percent, based on a 10.0 percent ROE and an equity ratio of 52.5 percent. New rates went into effect in January 2016. As shown below, NSP-Wisconsin received approximately 65 percent of the non-fuel and purchased power portion of its requested electric rate increase and 71 percent of its requested natural gas rate increase.

The major components of the requested rate increases and the PSCW's approval are summarized as follows:



Electric Rate Request (Millions of Dollars)	NSP-Wisconsin Request			PSCW Approval
Capital investments	$	23.0		$	13.9
ROE & other capital structure adjustments	—			(3.8		)
Generation and transmission expenses (excluding fuel and purchased power)	37.2			42.7
O&M expenses	11.1			3.2
Sales forecast	(27.0		)	(27.0		)
Rate increase - non-fuel and purchased power	44.3			29.0
Rate reduction - fuel and purchased power	(16.9		)	(21.4		)
Total electric rate increase	$	27.4		$	7.6



Natural Gas Rate Request (Millions of Dollars)	NSP-Wisconsin Request			PSCW Approval
Capital investments	$	3.7		$	3.7
ROE & other capital structure adjustments	—			(0.4		)
O&M expenses	3.2			1.9
Environmental remediation expenses	2.9			2.9
Sales forecast	(3.9		)	(3.9		)
Total natural gas rate increase	$	5.9		$	4.2

Recently Concluded Regulatory Proceedings — MPUC

Nuclear Project Prudence Investigation — In 2013, NSP-Minnesota completed the Monticello LCM/EPU project. The multi-year project extended the life of the facility and increased the capacity from 600 to 671 MW. The Monticello LCM/EPU project expenditures were approximately $665 million. Total capitalized costs were approximately $748 million, which includes AFUDC. In 2008, project expenditures were initially estimated at approximately $320 million, excluding AFUDC.

In 2013, the MPUC initiated an investigation to determine whether the final costs for the Monticello LCM/EPU project were prudent.

In March 2015, the MPUC voted to allow for full recovery, including a return, on approximately $415 million of the total plant costs (inclusive of AFUDC), but only allow recovery of the remaining $333 million of costs with no return on this portion of the investment over the remaining life of the plant. Further, the MPUC determined that only 50 percent of the investment was considered used and useful for 2014. As a result of these determinations, Xcel Energy recorded an estimated pre-tax loss of $129 million in the first quarter of 2015, after which the remaining book value of the Monticello project represented the present value of the estimated future cash flows. As NSP-Wisconsin shares in the costs of the Monticello plant through the Interchange Agreement with NSP-Minnesota, the MPUC decision also affects NSP-Wisconsin. NSP-Wisconsin’s portion of the $129 million pre-tax loss, recorded in the first quarter of 2015, was approximately $5 million.

Pending Regulatory Proceedings — FERC

MISO ROE Complaints/ROE Adder — In November 2013, a group of customers filed a complaint at the FERC against MISO TOs, including NSP-Minnesota and NSP-Wisconsin. The complaint argued for a reduction in the ROE in transmission formula rates in the MISO region from 12.38 percent to 9.15 percent, a prohibition on capital structures in excess of 50 percent equity, and the removal of ROE adders (including those for RTO membership and being an independent transmission company), effective Nov. 12, 2013.

Subsequently, the FERC adopted a new ROE methodology, which requires electric utilities to use a two-step discounted cash flow analysis that incorporates both short-term and long-term growth projections to estimate the cost of equity.

The ROE complaint was set for full hearing procedures. The complainants and intervenors filed testimony recommending a ROE between 8.67 percent and 9.54 percent. The FERC staff recommended a ROE of 8.68 percent. The MISO TOs recommended a ROE not less than 10.8 percent. In December 2015, an ALJ initial decision was issued recommending a ROE of 10.32 percent. Briefs on exceptions challenging the ALJ recommendation were filed in January 2016. A FERC order is expected to be issued later in 2016.

Certain MISO TOs separately requested FERC approval of a 50 basis point ROE adder for RTO membership, which was approved effective Jan. 6, 2015, subject to the outcome of the ROE complaint. The total ROE, including the RTO membership adder, may not exceed the top of the discounted cash flow range under the new ROE methodology. Certain intervenors sought rehearing of the FERC order granting the ROE adder and FERC action is pending.

In February 2015, certain intervenors filed a second complaint to reduce the MISO region ROE to 8.67 percent, prior to an adder. FERC set the second complaint for hearings, and established a refund effective date of Feb. 12, 2015. The complainants and intervenors filed direct testimony in September 2015, the MISO TOs filed answering testimony in October 2015 and FERC staff filed testimony in November 2015. In January 2016, all parties updated their ROE analyses. The complainants and intervenors recommended ROEs between 8.72 percent and 9.32 percent while FERC staff recommended a ROE of 8.78 percent. The MISO TOs recommended a ROE of 10.96 percent. Hearings were held before an ALJ in February 2016. An ALJ initial decision is expected in June 2016 with a FERC decision expected in late 2016 or 2017.

NSP-Minnesota recorded a current liability representing the current best estimate of a refund obligation associated with the new ROE, including the RTO membership adder, as of Dec. 31, 2015. The new FERC ROE methodology is estimated to reduce transmission revenue, net of expense, between $8 million and $10 million annually for the NSP System.