Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a) General Information—On June 29, 2015, Wisconsin Energy Corporation acquired Integrys and changed its name to WEC Energy Group, Inc. WEC Energy Group serves approximately 1.6 million electric customers and 2.8 million natural gas customers, and it owns approximately 60% of ATC. See Note 2, Acquisition, for more information on this acquisition.

As used in these notes, the term "financial statements" refers to the consolidated financial statements. This includes the income statements, statements of comprehensive income, balance sheets, statements of cash flows, statements of equity, and statements of capitalization, unless otherwise noted.

Our financial statements include the accounts of WEC Energy Group, a diversified energy holding company, and the accounts of our subsidiaries in the following reportable segments:


•	Wisconsin segment – Consists of Wisconsin Electric, Wisconsin Gas, and WPS, which are engaged primarily in the generation of electricity and the distribution of electricity and natural gas in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Electric's electric and WPS's electric and natural gas operations in the state of Michigan are also included in this segment.


•	Illinois segment – Consists of PGL and NSG, which are engaged primarily in the distribution of natural gas in Illinois.


•	Other states segment – Consists of MERC and MGU, which are engaged primarily in the distribution of natural gas in Minnesota and Michigan, respectively.


•	Electric transmission segment – Consists of our approximate 60% ownership interest in ATC, a federally regulated electric transmission company.


•	We Power segment – Consists of We Power, which is principally engaged in the ownership of electric power generating facilities for long-term lease to Wisconsin Electric.


•	Corporate and other segment – Consists of the WEC Energy Group holding company, the Integrys holding company, the PELLC holding company, Wispark, Bostco, Wisvest, WECC, WBS, PDL, and ITF.

Our financial statements also reflect our proportionate interests in certain jointly owned utility facilities. See Note 8, Jointly Owned Facilities, for more information. The cost method of accounting is used for investments when we do not have significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee. Investments in companies not controlled by us, but over which we have significant influence regarding the operating and financial policies of the investee, are accounted for using the equity method.

We prepare our financial statements in conformity with GAAP. We make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

(b) Reclassifications—On the income statements for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, we reclassified $17.4 million and $48.0 million, respectively, from treasury grant to depreciation and amortization. We also reclassified $1.2 million from interest expense to preferred stock dividends of subsidiaries on the income statements for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. These reclassifications were made to be consistent with the current year presentation on the income statements.

During the fourth quarter of 2015, we early implemented ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. As a result, debt issuance costs of $15.7 million, previously reported as other long-term assets, were reclassified to offset long-term debt on the December 31, 2014 balance sheet. We also early implemented ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, during the fourth quarter of 2015. Since we adopted this ASU on a retrospective basis, we reclassified current deferred income taxes of $242.7 million, previously reported as a separate component of current assets, to offset long-term deferred income tax liabilities on the December 31, 2014 balance sheet.

On the statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, we reclassified $2.4 million and $4.2 million, respectively, from depreciation and amortization to other operating activities. In addition, we reclassified $13.9 million and $22.8 million of nonqualified pension and OPEB contributions from other operating activities to contributions to pension and OPEB plans on the statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Preferred stock dividends of subsidiaries of $1.2 million were also reclassified from other financing activities to net income on the statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. These reclassifications were made to be consistent with the current year presentation on the statements of cash flows.

During the third quarter of 2015, following the acquisition of Integrys, we reorganized our business segments. All prior period amounts impacted by this change were reclassified to conform to the new presentation. See Note 24, Segment Information, for more information on our business segments.

(c) Cash and Cash Equivalents—Cash and cash equivalents include marketable debt securities acquired three months or less from maturity.

(d) Revenues and Customer Receivables—We recognize revenues related to the sale of energy on the accrual basis and include estimated amounts for services provided but not yet billed to customers.

We present revenues net of pass-through taxes on the income statements.

Below is a summary of the significant mechanisms our utility subsidiaries had in place that allowed them to recover or refund changes in prudently incurred costs from rate case-approved amounts:


•	Fuel and purchased power costs were recovered from customers on a one-for-one basis by our Wisconsin wholesale electric operations and our Michigan retail electric operations.

•

Our retail electric rates in Wisconsin are established by the PSCW and include base amounts for fuel and purchased power costs. The electric fuel rules set by the PSCW allow us to defer, for subsequent rate recovery or refund, under or over-collections of actual fuel and purchased power costs that exceed a 2% price variance from the costs included in the rates charged to customers. Our electric utilities monitor the deferral of under-collected costs to ensure that it does not cause them to earn a greater return on common equity than authorized by the PSCW.


•	Wisconsin Electric received payments from MISO under an SSR agreement for its PIPP units through February 1, 2015. We recorded revenue for these payments to recover costs for operating and maintaining these units. See Note 22, Regulatory Environment, and Note 23, Michigan Settlement, for more information.


•	The rates for all of our natural gas utilities included one-for-one recovery mechanisms for natural gas commodity costs. We defer any difference between actual natural gas costs incurred 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.


•	The rates of PGL and NSG included riders for cost recovery of both environmental cleanup costs and energy conservation and management program costs.


•	MERC's rates included a conservation improvement program rider for cost recovery of energy conservation and management program costs as well as a financial incentive for meeting energy savings goals.


•	The rates of PGL and NSG, and the residential rates of Wisconsin Electric and Wisconsin Gas, included riders or other mechanisms for cost recovery or refund of uncollectible expense based on the difference between actual uncollectible write-offs and the amounts recovered in rates.


•	The rates of PGL, NSG, MERC, and MGU included decoupling mechanisms. These mechanisms differ by state and allow utilities to recover or refund differences between actual and authorized margins. MGU's decoupling mechanism was discontinued after December 31, 2015. See Note 22, Regulatory Environment, for more information.


•	PGL's rates included a cost recovery mechanism for AMRP costs.

Revenues are also impacted by other accounting policies related to PGL's natural gas hub and our electric utilities' participation in the MISO Energy Markets. Amounts collected from PGL's wholesale customers that use the natural gas hub are credited to natural gas costs, resulting in a reduction to retail customers' charges for natural gas and services. Our electric utilities sell and purchase power in the MISO Energy Markets, which 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. If our electric utilities were a net seller in a particular hour, the net amount was reported as operating revenue. If our electric utilities were a net purchaser in a particular hour, the net amount was recorded as cost of sales on our income statements.

ITF accounts for revenues from construction management projects using the percentage of completion method. Revenues are recognized based on the percentage of costs incurred to date compared to the total estimated costs of each contract. This method is used because management considers total costs to be the best available measure of progress on these contracts. See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information.

We provide regulated electric service to customers in Wisconsin and Michigan and regulated natural gas service to customers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. The geographic concentration of our customers did not contribute significantly to our overall exposure to credit risk. We periodically review customers' credit ratings, financial statements, and historical payment performance and require them to provide collateral or other security as needed. Credit risk exposure at Wisconsin Electric, Wisconsin Gas, PGL, and NSG is mitigated by their recovery mechanisms for uncollectible expense discussed above. As a result, we did not have any significant concentrations of credit risk at December 31, 2015. In addition, there were no customers that accounted for more than 10% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015.

(e) Materials, Supplies, and Inventories—Our inventory as of December 31 consisted of:



(in millions)	2015		2014
Natural gas in storage	$	284.1	$	124.8
Materials and supplies	219.2		150.2
Fossil fuel	183.7		125.6
Total	$	687.0	$	400.6

PGL and NSG price natural gas storage injections at the calendar year average of the costs of natural gas supply purchased. Withdrawals from storage are priced on the Last-in, First-out (LIFO) cost method. Inventories stated on a LIFO basis represented approximately 18.0% of total inventories at December 31, 2015. The estimated replacement cost of natural gas in inventory at December 31, 2015, exceeded the LIFO cost by $15.2 million. In calculating these replacement amounts, PGL and NSG used a Chicago city-gate natural gas price per Dth of $2.48 at December 31, 2015.

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

(f) Investments Held in Rabbi Trust— Integrys has a rabbi trust that is used to fund participants' benefits under the Integrys deferred compensation plan and certain Integrys non-qualified pension plans. It holds investments that are classified as trading securities for accounting purposes. We do not intend to sell these investments in the near term. They are included in other investments on our balance sheet at December 31, 2015. The net unrealized loss included in earnings related to the investments held at the end of the period was not significant for the year ended December 31, 2015.

(g) Regulatory Assets and Liabilities—The economic effects of regulation can result in regulated companies recording costs and revenues 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 or revenues would be recognized by a nonregulated company. When this occurs, regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are recorded on the balance sheet. Regulatory assets represent probable future revenue associated with certain costs or liabilities that have been deferred and are expected to be recovered through rates charged to customers. Regulatory liabilities represent amounts that are expected to be refunded to customers in future rates or amounts that are collected in rates for future costs. Recovery or refund of regulatory assets and liabilities is based on specific periods determined by the regulators or occurs over the normal operating period of the assets and liabilities to which they relate. If at any reporting date a previously recorded regulatory asset is no longer probable of recovery, the regulatory asset is reduced to the amount considered probable of recovery with the reduction charged to expense in the reporting period the determination is made. See Note 6, Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, for more information.

(h) Property, Plant, and Equipment—We record property, plant, and equipment at cost. Cost includes material, labor, overhead, 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 record straight-line depreciation expense over the estimated useful life of utility property using depreciation rates approved by the applicable regulators. Annual utility composite depreciation rates are shown below:



Annual Utility Composite Depreciation Rates	2015	2014	2013
Wisconsin Electric	3.01%	2.93%	2.90%
WPS ⁽¹⁾	1.30%	N/A	N/A
Wisconsin Gas	2.36%	2.69%	2.68%
PGL ⁽¹⁾	1.67%	N/A	N/A
NSG ⁽¹⁾	1.22%	N/A	N/A
MERC ⁽¹⁾	1.26%	N/A	N/A
MGU ⁽¹⁾	1.32%	N/A	N/A


⁽¹⁾	The rates shown for 2015 are for a partial year as a result of the acquisition of Integrys on June 29, 2015. The full year rate would be approximately double the rate shown.

We depreciate our We Power assets 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.

We capitalize certain costs related to software developed or obtained for internal use and record these costs to amortization expense over the estimated useful life of the related software, which ranges from 3 to 15 years. If software is retired prior to being fully amortized, the difference is recorded as a loss on the income statement.

(i) Allowance for Funds Used During Construction—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, net.

The majority of AFUDC is recorded at Wisconsin Electric, WPS, and Wisconsin Gas. Approximately 50% of Wisconsin Electric's, WPS's, and Wisconsin Gas's retail jurisdictional CWIP expenditures are subject to the AFUDC calculation. For 2015, Wisconsin Electric's average AFUDC retail rate was 8.45%, and its average AFUDC wholesale rate was 1.72%. For the six months ended December 31, 2015, WPS's average AFUDC retail rate was 7.92% and its average AFUDC wholesale rate was 5.04%. For 2015, Wisconsin Gas's average AFUDC retail rate was 8.33%. The AFUDC calculation for WBS uses the WPS AFUDC retail rate, while the other utilities AFUDC rates are determined by their respective state commissions, each with specific requirements. Based on these requirements, the other utilities and WBS did not record significant AFUDC for 2015, 2014, or 2013.

Our regulated utilities recorded the following AFUDC for the years ended December 31:



(in millions)	2015		2014		2013
AFUDC – Debt	$	8.6	$	2.3	$	7.7
AFUDC – Equity	$	20.1	$	5.6	$	18.3

(j) Asset Impairment—Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are subject to an annual impairment test. Interim impairment tests are performed when impairment indicators are present. Intangible assets with definite lives are reviewed for impairment on a quarterly basis. Other long-lived assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable.

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.

Our reporting units containing goodwill perform annual goodwill impairment tests during the third quarter of each year. The carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill is considered not recoverable if the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the reporting unit's fair value. An impairment loss is recorded for the excess of the carrying amount of the goodwill over its implied fair value. See Note 10, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, for more information.

The carrying amounts of cost and equity method investments are assessed for impairment by comparing the fair values of these investments to their carrying amounts, if a fair value assessment was completed, or by reviewing for the presence of impairment indicators. If an impairment exists and it is determined to be other-than-temporary, a loss is recognized equal to the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the investment's fair value.

(k) Deferred Revenue—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 sheets and we are amortizing the deferred carrying costs to revenue over the individual lease terms.

(l) Asset Retirement Obligations—We recognize, at fair value, legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development, and normal operation of the assets. A liability is recorded, when incurred, for these obligations as long as the fair value can be reasonably estimated, even if the timing or method of settling the obligation is unknown. The associated retirement costs are capitalized as part of the related long-lived asset and are depreciated over the useful life of the asset. The AROs are accreted to their present value each period using the credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate associated with the expected settlement dates of the AROs. This rate is determined when the obligation is incurred. Subsequent changes resulting from revisions to the timing or the amount of the original estimate of undiscounted cash flows are recognized as an increase or a decrease to the carrying amount of the liability and the associated retirement costs. For our regulated entities, we recognize regulatory assets or liabilities for the timing differences between when we recover an ARO in rates and when we recognize the associated retirement costs. See Note 9, Asset Retirement Obligations, for more information.

(m) Environmental Remediation Costs—We are subject to federal and state environmental laws and regulations that in the future may require us to pay for environmental remediation at sites where we have been, or may be, identified as a potentially responsible party. Loss contingencies may exist for the remediation of hazardous substances at various potential sites, including coal combustion product landfill sites and manufactured gas plant sites. See Note 18, Commitments and Contingencies, for more information.

We record environmental remediation liabilities when site assessments indicate remediation is probable and we can reasonably estimate the loss or a range of losses. The estimate includes both our share of the liability and any additional amounts that will not be paid by other potentially responsible parties or the government. When possible, we estimate costs using site-specific information but also consider historical experience for costs incurred at similar sites. Remediation efforts for a particular site generally extend over a period of several years. During this period, the laws governing the remediation process may change, as well as site conditions, potentially affecting the cost of remediation.

Our utilities have received approval to defer certain environmental remediation costs, as well as estimated future costs, through a regulatory asset. The recovery of deferred costs is subject to the applicable state Commission's approval.

We review our estimated costs of remediation annually for our manufactured gas plant sites and coal combustion product landfill sites. We adjust the liabilities and related regulatory assets, as appropriate, to reflect the new cost estimates. Any material changes in cost estimates are adjusted throughout the year.

(n) 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. See Note 15, Income Taxes, for more information.

We recognize interest and penalties accrued, related to unrecognized tax benefits, in income tax expense in our income statements.

(o) Guarantees— We follow the guidance of the Guarantees Topic of the FASB ASC, which requires that the guarantor recognize, at the inception of the guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee. See Note 16, Guarantees, for more information.

(p) Employee Benefits—The costs of pension and OPEB are expensed over the periods during which employees render service. These costs are allocated among our subsidiaries based on current employment status and actuarial calculations, as applicable. Our regulators allow recovery in rates for the utilities' net periodic benefit cost calculated under GAAP. See Note 17, Employee Benefits, for more information.

(q) Stock-Based Compensation— In accordance with stockholder approved plans, we provide long-term incentives through our equity interests to our outside directors, officers, and other key employees. The plans provide for the granting of stock options, restricted stock awards, performance shares, and other share-based awards. Awards may be paid in common stock, cash, or a combination thereof. We recognize share-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis. Accordingly, for employee awards classified as equity awards, share-based compensation expense is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the award and is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period.

Stock Options

We grant non-qualified stock options that vest on a cliff-basis after a three-year period. The exercise price of a stock option under the plan cannot be less than 100% of our common stock's fair market value on the grant date. Historically, all stock options have been granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of the grant. Options may not be exercised within six months of the grant date except in the event of a change in control. Options expire no later than 10 years from the date of grant. There were no modifications to the terms of outstanding stock options during the year.

The fair value of our stock options was calculated using a binomial option-pricing model. The following table shows the estimated fair value per stock option granted along with the weighted-average assumptions used in the valuation models:



	2015			2014			2013
Non-qualified stock options granted	516,475			899,500			1,418,560

Estimated fair value per non-qualified stock option	$	5.29		$	4.18		$	3.45

Assumptions used to value the options:
Risk-free interest rate	0.1% – 2.1%			0.1% – 3.0%			0.1% – 1.9%
Dividend yield	3.7		%	3.8		%	3.7		%
Expected volatility	18.0		%	18.0		%	18.0		%
Expected forfeiture rate	2.0		%	2.0		%	2.0		%
Expected life (years)	5.8			5.8			5.9

The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury interest rate with a term consistent with the expected life of the stock options. Dividend yield, expected volatility, expected forfeiture rate, and expected life assumptions are based on our historical experience.

Restricted Shares

Restricted shares have a three-year vesting period, and generally, one-third of the award vests on each anniversary of the grant date. During the vesting period, restricted share recipients also have voting rights and are entitled to dividends in the same manner as other shareholders.

Performance Units

Officers and other key employees are granted performance units under the WEC Energy Group Performance Unit Plan. Under the plan, the ultimate number of units that will be awarded is dependent on our total stockholder return (stock price appreciation plus dividends) as compared to the total stockholder return of a peer group of companies over a three-year period. Under the terms of the award, participants may earn between 0% and 175% of the base performance unit award. All grants are settled in cash and are accounted for as liability awards accordingly. We accrue compensation costs over the three-year performance period based on our estimate of the final expected value of the awards.

See Note 11, Common Equity, for more information on our share-based compensation plans.

(r) Earnings Per Share—We compute basic earnings per 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 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. Options to purchase 516,475 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $52.90 were outstanding at December 31, 2015, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive. All stock options outstanding during 2014 and 2013 were included in the computation of diluted earnings per share.

(s) Fair Value Measurements—Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price).

Fair value accounting rules provide a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurement). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 – Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

Level 2 – Pricing inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly, but are not quoted prices included within Level 1. Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued using external inputs within models or other valuation methods.

Level 3 – Pricing inputs include significant inputs that are generally less observable from objective sources. These inputs may be used with internally developed methods that result in management's best estimate of fair value. Level 3 instruments include those that may be more structured or otherwise tailored to customers' needs.

Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. We use a mid-market pricing convention (the mid-point price between bid and ask prices) as a practical measure for valuing certain derivative assets and liabilities. We primarily use a market approach for recurring fair value measurements and attempt to use valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

When possible, we base the valuations of our derivative assets and liabilities on quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets. These valuations are classified in Level 1. The valuations of certain contracts not classified as Level 1 may be based on quoted market prices received from counterparties and/or observable inputs for similar instruments. Transactions valued using these inputs are classified in Level 2. Certain derivatives are categorized in Level 3 due to the significance of unobservable or internally-developed inputs.

Derivatives were transferred between levels of the fair value hierarchy primarily due to observable pricing becoming available. We recognize transfers at their value as of the end of the reporting period.

Due to the short-term nature of cash and cash equivalents, net accounts receivable, accounts payable, and short-term borrowings, the carrying amount of each such item approximates fair value. The fair value of our preferred stock is estimated based on the quoted market value for the same issue, or by using a perpetual dividend discount model. The fair value of our long-term debt, including the current portion of long-term debt, but excluding capitalized leases, is estimated based upon the quoted market value for the same issue, similar issues, or upon the quoted market prices of U.S. Treasury issues having a similar term to maturity, adjusted for the issuing company's bond rating and the present value of future cash flows.

We conduct a thorough review of fair value hierarchy classifications on a quarterly basis.

See Note 19, Fair Value Measurements, for more information.

(t) Derivative Instruments—We use derivatives as part of our risk management program to manage the risks associated with the price volatility of purchased power, generation, and natural gas costs for the benefit of our customers and shareholders. Our approach is non-speculative and designed to mitigate risk. Regulated hedging programs are approved by our state regulators.

We record derivative instruments on our balance sheets as an asset or liability measured at fair value unless they qualify for the normal purchases and sales exception, and are so designated. We continually assess our contracts designated as normal and will discontinue the treatment of these contracts as normal if the required criteria are no longer met. Changes in the derivative's fair value are recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met or we receive regulatory treatment for the derivative. For most energy-related physical and financial contracts in our regulated operations that qualify as derivatives, our regulators allow the effects of fair value accounting to be offset to regulatory assets and liabilities.

We classify derivative assets and liabilities as current or long-term on our balance sheets based on the maturities of the underlying contracts. Gains and losses on derivative instruments are primarily recorded in cost of sales on the income statements. Cash flows from derivative activities are presented in the same category as the item being hedged within operating activities on our statements of cash flows.

Derivative accounting rules provide the option to present certain asset and liability derivative positions net on the balance sheets and to net the related cash collateral against these net derivative positions. We elected not to net these items. On our balance sheets, cash collateral provided to others is reflected in other current assets. See Note 20, Derivative Instruments, for more information.

(u) Customer Deposits and Credit Balances—When utility customers apply for new service, they may be required to provide a deposit for the service.

Utility customers can elect to be on a budget plan. Under this type of plan, a monthly installment amount is calculated based on estimated annual usage. During the year, the monthly installment amount is reviewed by comparing it to actual usage. If necessary, an adjustment is made to the monthly amount. Annually, the budget plan is reconciled to actual annual usage. Payments in excess of actual customer usage are recorded within current liabilities on our balance sheets.