OPERATING REVENUES

Adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenues from Contracts with Customers

On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenues from Contracts with Customers, and the related amendments. In accordance with the guidance, revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services.

We adopted this standard using the modified retrospective method. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018, are presented under the new standard. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. Adoption of the standard did not result in an adjustment to our opening retained earnings balance as of January 1, 2018, and we do not expect the adoption of the standard to have a material impact on our net income in future periods.

We adopted the following practical expedients and optional exemptions for the implementation of this standard:


•	We elected to exclude from the transaction price any amounts collected from customers for all sales taxes and other similar taxes.


•	When applicable, we elected to apply the standard to a portfolio of contracts with similar characteristics, primarily our tariff-based contracts, as we reasonably expect that the effects on the financial statements of applying this guidance to the portfolio would not differ materially from applying this guidance to the individual contracts.


•	We elected to recognize revenue in the amount we have the right to invoice for performance obligations satisfied over time when the consideration received from a customer corresponds directly with the value provided to the customer during the same period.


•	We elected to not disclose the remaining performance obligations of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less.


•	We elected to apply this standard only to contracts that are not completed as of the date of initial application.

Disaggregation of Operating Revenues

The following tables present our operating revenues disaggregated by revenue source. Comparable amounts have not been presented for the three months ended March 31, 2017, due to our adoption of this standard under the modified retrospective method.



(in millions)	Wisconsin		Illinois			Other States			Total Utility Operations			Electric Transmission		Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure		Corporate and Other		Reconciling Eliminations			WEC Energy Group Consolidated
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Electric	$	1,067.7	$	—		$	—		$	1,067.7		$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	1,067.7
Natural gas	518.0		507.6			172.7			1,198.3			—		14.9		—		(2.5		)	1,210.7
Total utility revenues	1,585.7		507.6			172.7			2,266.0			—		14.9		—		(2.5		)	2,278.4
Other non-utility revenues	—		—			3.9			3.9			—		7.1		1.3		(0.7		)	11.6
Total revenues from contracts with customers	1,585.7		507.6			176.6			2,269.9			—		22.0		1.3		(3.2		)	2,290.0
Other operating revenues	3.4		(0.3		)	(6.7		)	(3.6		)	—		96.1		0.1		(96.1		)	(3.5		)
Total operating revenues	$	1,589.1	$	507.3		$	169.9		$	2,266.3		$	—	$	118.1	$	1.4	$	(99.3	)	$	2,286.5

Revenues from Contracts with Customers

Electric Utility Operating Revenues

The following table disaggregates electric utility operating revenues into customer class for the current period:



(in millions)	Electric Utility Operating Revenues
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Residential	$	384.3
Small commercial and industrial	330.7
Large commercial and industrial	203.9
Other	7.7
Total retail revenues	926.6
Wholesale	54.9
Resale	73.8
Steam	9.7
Other utility revenues	2.7
Total electric utility operating revenues	$	1,067.7

Electricity sales to residential and commercial and industrial customers are generally accomplished through requirements contracts, which provide for the delivery of as much electricity as the customer needs. These contracts represent discrete deliveries of electricity and consist of one distinct performance obligation satisfied over time, as the electricity is delivered and consumed by the customer simultaneously. For our Wisconsin residential and commercial and industrial customers and the majority of our Michigan residential and commercial and industrial customers, our performance obligation is bundled and consists of both the sale and the delivery of the electric commodity. In our Michigan service territory, a limited number of residential and commercial and industrial customers can purchase the commodity from a third party. In this case, the delivery of the electricity represents our sole performance obligation. The rates, charges, terms, and conditions of service for sales to these customers are included in tariffs that have been approved by state regulators. These rates often have a fixed component customer charge and a usage-based variable component. We recognize revenue for the fixed component customer charge monthly using a time-based output method. We recognize revenue for the usage-based variable component using an output method based on the quantity of electricity delivered each month.

Wholesale customers who resell power can choose to either bundle capacity and electricity services together under one contract with a supplier or purchase capacity and electricity separately from multiple suppliers. Furthermore, wholesale customers can choose to have our utilities provide generation to match the customer's load, similar to requirements contracts, or they can purchase specified quantities of electricity and capacity. The rates, charges, terms and conditions of service for sales to wholesale customers are included in tariffs that have been approved by the FERC. Contracts with wholesale customers that include capacity bundled with the delivery of electricity contain two performance obligations, as capacity and electricity are often transacted separately in the marketplace at the wholesale level. When recognizing revenue associated with these contracts, the transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price. Revenue is recognized as control of each individual component is transferred to the customer. Electricity is the primary product sold by our electric utilities and represents a single performance obligation satisfied over time through discrete deliveries to a customer. Revenue from electricity sales is generally recognized as units are produced and delivered to the customer within the production month. Capacity represents the reservation of an electric generating facility and conveys the ability to call on a plant to produce electricity when needed by the customer. The nature of our performance obligation as it relates to capacity is to stand ready to deliver power. This represents a single performance obligation transferred over time, which generally represents a monthly obligation. Accordingly, capacity revenue is recognized on a monthly basis.

We are an active participant in the MISO Energy Markets, where we bid our generation into the Day Ahead and Real Time markets and procure electricity for our retail and wholesale customers at prices determined by the MISO Energy Markets. Purchase and sale transactions are recorded using settlement information provided by MISO. These purchase and sale transactions are accounted for on a net hourly position. Net purchases in a single hour are recorded as purchased power in cost of sales and net sales in a single hour are recorded as resale revenues. For resale revenues, our performance obligation is created only when electricity is sold into the MISO Energy Markets.

For all of our customers, consistent with the timing of when we recognize revenue, customer billings generally occur on a monthly basis, with payments typically due in full within 30 days. For the majority of our wholesale customers, the price billed for energy and capacity is a formula-based rate. Formula-based rates initially set a customer's current year rates based on the previous year’s expenses. This is a predetermined formula derived from the utility's costs and a reasonable rate of return. Because these rates are eventually trued up to reflect actual current year costs, they represent a form of variable consideration in certain circumstances. The variable consideration is estimated and recognized over time as wholesale customers receive and consume the capacity and electricity services.

Natural Gas Utility Operating Revenues

The following table disaggregates natural gas utility operating revenues into customer class for the current period:



(in millions)	Wisconsin			Illinois			Other States			Total Natural Gas Utility Operations
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Residential	$	356.7		$	332.6		$	123.2		$	812.5
Commercial and industrial	187.9			109.4			64.7			362.0
Total retail revenues	544.6			442.0			187.9			1,174.5
Transport	21.0			77.7			9.9			108.6
Other utility revenues *	(47.6		)	(12.1		)	(25.1		)	(84.8		)
Total natural gas utility operating revenues	$	518.0		$	507.6		$	172.7		$	1,198.3


*	Includes amounts (refunded to) collected from customers for purchased gas adjustment costs.

We recognize natural gas utility operating revenues under requirements contracts with residential, commercial and industrial, and transportation customers served under the tariffs of our regulated utilities. Tariffs provide our customers with the standard terms and conditions, including rates, related to the services offered. Requirements contracts provide for the delivery of as much natural gas as the customer needs. These requirements contracts represent discrete deliveries of natural gas and constitute a single performance obligation satisfied over time. Our performance obligation is both created and satisfied with the transfer of control of natural gas upon delivery to the customer. For most of our customers, natural gas is delivered and consumed by the customer simultaneously. A performance obligation can be bundled to consist of both the sale and the delivery of the natural gas commodity. In certain of our service territories, customers can purchase the commodity from a third party. In this case, the performance obligation only includes the delivery of the natural gas to the customer.

The transaction price of the performance obligations is valued using rates in the tariffs of our regulated utilities, which have been approved by state regulators. These rates often have a fixed component customer charge and a usage-based variable component. We recognize revenue for the fixed component customer charge monthly using a time-based output method. We recognize revenue for the usage-based variable component using an output method based on natural gas delivered each month.

Consistent with the timing of when we recognize revenue, customer billings generally occur on a monthly basis, with payments typically due in full within 30 days.

Other Non-Utility Operating Revenues

Other non-utility operating revenues consist primarily of the following:



(in millions)	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
We Power revenues	$	6.4
Appliance service revenues	3.9
Distributed renewable solar project revenues	1.3
Total other non-utility operating revenues	$	11.6

As part of the construction of the We Power electric generating units, we capitalized interest during construction, which is included in property, plant, and equipment. As allowed by the PSCW, we collected these carrying costs from WE's utility customers during construction. The equity portion of these carrying costs was recorded as deferred revenue, and we continually amortize the deferred carrying costs to revenues over the life of the plants to better match the costs of owning the plant while we are providing service to our customers. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we recorded $6.4 million of revenue related to these deferred carrying costs, which were included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period. This contract liability is presented as deferred revenue, net on our balance sheets.

Non-utility operating revenues are derived primarily from servicing appliances for customers at MERC. These contracts customarily have a duration of one year or less and consist of a single performance obligation satisfied over time. We use a time-based output method to recognize revenues monthly for the service fee.

Revenues from distributed renewable solar projects consist primarily of sales of renewable energy and solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) generated by WPS Power Development, LLC. The sale of SRECs is a distinct performance obligation as they are often sold separately from the renewable energy generated. Although the performance obligation for the sale of renewable energy is recognized over time and the performance obligation for SRECs is recognized at a point-in-time, the timing of revenue recognition is the same and occurs as renewable energy is generated.

Other Operating Revenues

Other operating revenues consist primarily of the following:



(in millions)	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Alternative revenues *	$	(16.1	)
Late payment charges	11.4
Leases	1.2
Total other operating revenues	$	(3.5	)


*	Negative amounts can result from alternative revenues being reversed to revenues from contracts with customers as the customer is billed for these alternative revenues. Negative amounts can also result from revenues to be refunded to customers subject to decoupling mechanisms and wholesale true-ups, as discussed below.

Alternative Revenues

Alternative revenues are created from programs authorized by regulators that allow our utilities to record additional revenues by adjusting rates in the future, usually as a surcharge applied to future billings, in response to past activities or completed events. Alternative revenue programs allow compensation for the effects of weather abnormalities, other external factors, or demand side management initiatives. Alternative revenue programs can also provide incentive awards if the utility achieves certain objectives and in other limited circumstances. We record alternative revenues when the regulator-specified conditions for recognition have been met. We reverse these alternative revenues as the customer is billed, at which time this revenue is presented as revenues from contracts with customers.

Below is a summary of the alternative revenue programs at our utilities:


•	The rates of PGL, NSG, and MERC include decoupling mechanisms. These mechanisms differ by state and allow the utilities to recover or refund the differences between actual and authorized margins for certain customers.


•	MERC’s rates include a conservation improvement program rider, which includes a financial incentive for meeting energy savings goals.

•

WE and WPS provide wholesale electric service to customers under market-based rates and FERC formula rates. The customer is charged a base rate each year based upon a formula using prior year actual costs and customer demand. A true-up is calculated based on the difference between the amount billed to customers for the demand component of their rates and what the actual cost of service was for the year. The true-up can result in an amount that we will recover or refund to the customer. We consider the true-up portion of the wholesale electric revenues to be alternative revenues.