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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) [Abstract]

General: Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Wisconsin Energy Corporation (Wisconsin Energy, the Company, our, we or us), a diversified holding company, as well as our subsidiaries in the following operating segments:


•	Utility Energy Segment -- Consisting of Wisconsin Electric and Wisconsin Gas, engaged primarily in the generation of electricity and the distribution of electricity and natural gas; and


•	Non-Utility Energy Segment -- Consisting primarily of We Power, engaged principally in the design, development, construction and ownership of electric power generating facilities for long-term lease to Wisconsin Electric.

Our Corporate and Other segment includes Wispark, which develops and invests in real estate. We have also eliminated all intercompany transactions and balances within this segment from the consolidated financial statements.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications: Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified on a basis consistent with the current period financial statement presentation.

On January 20, 2011, our Board of Directors approved a two-for-one stock split of our common stock, which was effected through a stock dividend. New shares were distributed on March 1, 2011 to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 14, 2011. All share and per share information has been restated for all periods presented to reflect this stock split.

Revenues: We recognize energy revenues on the accrual basis and include estimated amounts for services rendered but not billed.

Our retail electric rates in Wisconsin are established by the PSCW and include base amounts for fuel and purchased power costs. Beginning in January 2011, the electric fuel rules in Wisconsin allow us to defer, for subsequent rate recovery or refund, any under-collection or over-collection of fuel costs that are outside of the symmetrical fuel cost tolerance, which the PSCW set at plus or minus 2% of the approved fuel cost plan. The deferred amounts are subject to an excess revenues test.

Our retail gas rates include monthly adjustments which permit the recovery or refund of actual purchased gas costs. We defer any difference between actual gas costs incurred (adjusted for a sharing mechanism) and costs recovered through rates as a current asset or liability. The deferred balance is returned to or recovered from customers at intervals throughout the year.

For information regarding revenue recognition for We Power, see Note E.

Accounting For MISO Energy Transactions

Accounting for MISO Energy Transactions: The MISO Energy Markets operate under both day-ahead and real-time markets. We record energy transactions in the MISO Energy Markets on a net basis for each hour.

Property and Depreciation

Property and Depreciation: We record property, plant and equipment at cost. Cost includes material, labor, overheads and capitalized interest. Utility property also includes AFUDC - Equity. Additions to and significant replacements of property are charged to property, plant and equipment at cost; minor items are charged to maintenance expense. The cost of depreciable utility property less salvage value is charged to accumulated depreciation when property is retired.

We recorded the following property in service by segment as of December 31:



Property In Service		2011				2010
		(Millions of Dollars)

Utility Energy		$	9,817.7			$	9,221.1
Non-Utility Energy		3,067.5				2,283.4
Other		92.5				86.3
Total		$	12,977.7			$	11,590.8

Our utility depreciation rates are certified by the PSCW and MPSC and include estimates for salvage value and removal costs. Depreciation as a percent of average depreciable utility plant was 2.8% in 2011 and 2010, and 3.7% in 2009.

PWGS 1, PWGS 2, OC 1 and OC 2 are being depreciated over the estimated useful life of the various property components. The components have useful lives of between 10 to 45 years for PWGS 1 and PWGS 2, and 10 to 55 years for OC 1 and OC 2.

Our regulated utilities collect in their rates amounts representing future removal costs for many assets that do not have an associated Asset Retirement Obligation (ARO). We record a regulatory liability on our balance sheet for the estimated amounts we have collected in rates for future removal costs less amounts we have spent in removal activities. This regulatory liability was $728.2 million as of December 31, 2011 and $723.9 million as of December 31, 2010.

We recorded the following Construction Work in Progress (CWIP) by segment as of December 31:



CWIP		2011				2010
		(Millions of Dollars)

Utility Energy		$	910.3			$	806.9
Non-Utility Energy		8.9				761.3
Other		2.1				1.7
Total		$	921.3			$	1,569.9

Allowance For Funds Used During Construction - Regulated

Allowance For Funds Used During Construction - Regulated: AFUDC is included in utility plant accounts and represents the cost of borrowed funds (AFUDC - Debt) used during plant construction, and a return on stockholders' capital (AFUDC - Equity) used for construction purposes. AFUDC - Debt is recorded as a reduction of interest expense, and AFUDC - Equity is recorded in Other Income and Deductions, net.

During 2009, Wisconsin Electric accrued AFUDC at a rate of 9.09% as authorized by the PSCW. Consistent with the PSCW's 2008 rate order, Wisconsin Electric accrued AFUDC on 50% of all utility CWIP projects except the Oak Creek AQCS project, which accrued AFUDC on 100% of CWIP. Wisconsin Electric's rates are set to provide a current return on CWIP that does not accrue AFUDC. Based on the 2010 PSCW rate order, effective January 1, 2010 Wisconsin Electric recorded AFUDC on 100% of CWIP associated with the Oak Creek AQCS project, the Edgewater Unit 5 Selective Catalytic Reduction project and the Glacier Hills Wind Park. Wisconsin Electric recorded AFUDC on 50% of all other electric, gas and steam utility CWIP. The AFUDC rate starting January 1, 2010 was 8.83%. This AFUDC accrual policy and rate for Wisconsin Electric continued through 2011 and will continue through 2012.

Wisconsin Electric is also accruing AFUDC on 100% of the biomass project.

During 2009, Wisconsin Gas accrued AFUDC at a rate of 10.80% on 50% of its CWIP as authorized by the PSCW in its 2008 rate order. Wisconsin Gas' rates are set to provide a current return on CWIP that does not accrue AFUDC. Based on the 2010 PSCW rate order, effective January 1, 2010 Wisconsin Gas recorded AFUDC on 50% of all CWIP using an AFUDC rate of 9.05%. This AFUDC accrual policy and rate for Wisconsin Gas continued through 2011 and will continue through 2012.

Capitalized Interest And Carrying Costs - Non Regulated Energy

Capitalized Interest and Carrying Costs - Non-Regulated Energy: As part of the construction of the PTF electric generating units, we capitalized interest during construction. As allowed under the lease agreements, we were able to collect the carrying costs during the construction of the PTF generating units from our utility customers. The carrying costs that we collected during construction have been recorded as deferred revenue on our balance sheet and we are amortizing the deferred carrying costs to revenue over the individual lease terms. For further information on the accounting for capitalized interest and deferred carrying costs associated with the construction of our PTF power plants, see Note E.

Earning per Common Share

Earnings per Common Share: We compute basic earnings per common share by dividing our net income attributed to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income attributed to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted for the exercise and/or conversion of all potentially dilutive securities. Such dilutive securities include in-the-money stock options. The future issuance of shares underlying the outstanding stock options depends on whether the exercise prices of the stock options are less than the average market price of the common shares for the respective periods. Shares that are anti-dilutive are excluded from the calculation. All stock options outstanding during 2011 were included in the computation of diluted earnings per share. For 2010 and 2009, the calculation of diluted earnings per share excluded an immaterial number of out-of-the money stock options that had an anti-dilutive effect.

Materials, Supplies and Inventories

Materials, Supplies and Inventories: Our inventory as of December 31 consists of:



Materials, Supplies and Inventories		2011				2010
		(Millions of Dollars)

Fossil Fuel		$	169.2			$	182.4
Materials and Supplies		114.1				105.2
Natural Gas in Storage		98.7				91.5
Total		$	382.0			$	379.1

Substantially all fossil fuel, materials and supplies, and natural gas in storage inventories are recorded using the weighted-average cost method of accounting.

Regulatory Accounting

Regulatory Accounting: The economic effects of regulation can result in regulated companies recording costs that have been or are expected to be allowed in the rate-making process in a period different from the period in which the costs would be charged to expense by an unregulated enterprise. When this occurs, costs are deferred as regulatory assets on the balance sheet and expensed in the periods when they are reflected in rates. We defer regulatory assets pursuant to specific or generic orders issued by our regulators. Additionally, regulators can impose regulatory liabilities upon a regulated company for amounts previously collected from customers and for amounts that are expected to be refunded to customers. We expect to recover our outstanding regulatory assets in rates over a period of no longer than 20 years. Regulatory assets and liabilities that are expected to be amortized within one year are recorded as current on the balance sheet. For further information, see Note C.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations: We record a liability for a legal ARO in the period in which it is incurred. When a new legal obligation is recorded, we capitalize the costs of the liability by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. We accrete the liability to its present value each period and depreciate the capitalized cost over the useful life of the related asset. At the end of the asset's useful life, we settle the obligation for its recorded amount or incur a gain or loss. As it relates to our regulated operations, we apply regulatory accounting guidance and recognize regulatory assets or liabilities for the timing differences between when we recover legal AROs in rates and when we would recognize these costs. For further information, see Note F.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments: We have derivative physical and financial instruments which we report at fair value. For further information, see Note L.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include marketable debt securities acquired three months or less from maturity.

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash: For 2011, restricted cash consists of the settlement we received from the DOE during the first quarter of 2011, which is being returned, net of costs incurred, to customers. For 2010, restricted cash consisted of cash proceeds that we received from the sale of Point Beach that were used for the benefit of our customers. As of December 31, 2011, all restricted cash is classified as current.

Margin Accounts

Margin Accounts: Cash deposited in brokerage accounts for margin requirements is recorded in Other Current Assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Goodwill: Goodwill reflects the cost of an acquisition in excess of the fair values assigned to identifiable net assets acquired. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had $441.9 million of goodwill recorded at the utility energy segment, which related to our acquisition of Wisconsin Gas in 2000.

Goodwill is not subject to amortization. However, it is subject to fair value-based rules for measuring impairment, and resulting write-downs, if any, are to be reflected in operating expense. Fair value is assessed by considering future discounted cash flows, a comparison of fair value based on public company trading multiples, and merger and acquisition transaction multiples for similar companies. This evaluation utilizes the information available under the circumstances, including reasonable and supportable assumptions and projections. We perform our annual impairment test as of August 31. There was no impairment to the recorded goodwill balance as of our annual 2011 impairment test date.

Impairment or Disposal of Long Lived Assets

Impairment or Disposal of Long Lived Assets: We carry property, equipment and goodwill related to businesses held for sale at the lower of cost or estimated fair value less cost to sell. As of December 31, 2011, we had no assets classified as Held for Sale. Long-lived assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable from the use and eventual disposition of the asset based on the remaining useful life. An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable and exceeds the fair value of the asset. The carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. An impairment loss is measured as the excess of the carrying amount of the asset in comparison to the fair value of the asset.

Investments: We account for investments in other affiliated companies in which we do not maintain control using the equity method of accounting. We had a total ownership interest of approximately 26.2% in ATC as of December 31, 2011 and 2010. We are represented by one out of ten ATC board members, each of whom has one vote. Due to the voting requirements, no individual member has more than 10% of the voting control. For further information regarding such investments, see Note Q.

Income Taxes: We follow the liability method in accounting for income taxes. Accounting guidance for income taxes requires the recording of deferred assets and liabilities to recognize the expected future tax consequences of events that have been reflected in our financial statements or tax returns and the adjustment of deferred tax balances to reflect tax rate changes. We are required to assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets would expire before being realized. If we conclude that certain deferred tax assets are likely to expire before being realized, a valuation allowance would be established against those assets. GAAP requires that, if we conclude in a future period that it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets would be realized before expiration, we reverse the related valuation allowance in that period. Any change to the allowance, as a result of a change in judgment about the realization of deferred tax assets, is reported in income tax expense.

Investment tax credits associated with regulated operations are deferred and amortized over the life of the assets. We file a consolidated Federal income tax return. Accordingly, we allocate Federal current tax expense benefits and credits to our subsidiaries based on their separate tax computations. For further information, see Note H.

We recognize interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in Income Taxes in our Consolidated Income Statements, as well as Regulatory Assets or Regulatory Liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

We collect sales and use taxes from our customers and remit these taxes to governmental authorities. These taxes are recorded in our Consolidated Income Statements on a net basis.

Stock Options: We estimate the fair value of stock options using the binomial pricing model. We report unearned stock-based compensation associated with non-vested restricted stock and performance share awards activity within Other Paid in Capital in our Consolidated Statements of Common Equity. We report excess tax benefits as a financing cash inflow. Historically, all stock options have been granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant and expire no later than 10 years from grant date. For a discussion of the impacts to our Consolidated Financial Statements, see Note I.