PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

We have evaluated future plans for our older and less efficient fossil fuel generating units and have retired several plants within the Wisconsin segment. In addition, a severance liability was recorded in other current liabilities on our balance sheets related to these plant retirements.



(in millions)
Severance liability at December 31, 2018	$	15.7
Severance payments	(1.7		)
Total severance liability at March 31, 2019	$	14.0

Presque Isle Power Plant

Pursuant to MISO's April 2018 approval of the retirement of the PIPP, these units were retired on March 31, 2019. Also on March 31, 2019, UMERC's new natural gas-fired generation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan began commercial operation. The carrying value of the PIPP units was $172.1 million at March 31, 2019. This amount included the net book value of $183.1 million, which was classified as a regulatory asset on our balance sheet. In addition, an $11.0 million cost of removal reserve related to the PIPP units remained classified as a regulatory liability at March 31, 2019. WE will amortize this regulatory asset on a straight-line basis using the composite depreciation rates approved by the PSCW before the units were retired.