Property, Plant, and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant, and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:

(in millions)	2019		2018
Electric – generation	$	6,858.8	$	6,410.6
Electric – distribution	7,018.1		6,534.6
Natural gas – distribution, storage, and transmission	11,602.7		10,766.3
Property, plant, and equipment to be retired, net	—		174.8
Other	1,696.7		1,649.1
Less: Accumulated depreciation	8,073.7		7,573.6
Net	19,102.6		17,961.8
CWIP	820.4		707.5
Net utility property, plant, and equipment	19,923.0		18,669.3
We Power generation	3,245.7		3,244.4
Renewable generation	716.5		193.3
Natural gas storage	245.9		244.8
Net non-utility energy infrastructure	4,208.1		3,682.5
Corporate services	180.4		171.0
Other	88.8		127.1
Less: Accumulated depreciation	805.0		731.5
Net	3,672.3		3,249.1
CWIP	24.8		82.5
Net non-utility and other property, plant, and equipment	3,697.1		3,331.6
Total property, plant, and equipment	$	23,620.1	$	22,000.9

Pleasant Prairie Power Plant

The Pleasant Prairie power plant was retired on April 10, 2018. The net book value of this plant was $615.1 million at December 31, 2019, representing book value less cost of removal and accumulated depreciation. In addition, previously deferred unprotected tax benefits from the Tax Legislation related to the unrecovered balance of this plant were $20.6 million. The net amount of $594.5 million was classified as a regulatory asset on our balance sheets as a result of the retirement of the plant. This regulatory asset does not include certain other previously recorded deferred tax liabilities of $172.1 million related to the retired Pleasant Prairie power plant. Effective with its rate order issued by the PSCW in December 2019, WE will continue to amortize this regulatory asset on a straight-line basis through 2039, using the composite depreciation rates approved by the PSCW before this plant was retired. Amortization is included in depreciation and amortization in the income statement. WE has FERC approval to continue to collect the net book value of the Pleasant Prairie power plant using the approved composite depreciation rates, in addition to a return on the remaining net book value. Collection of the return of and on the net book value is no longer subject to refund as the

FERC completed its prudency review and concluded that the retirement of this plant was prudent. WE received approval from the PSCW in December 2019 to collect a full return of and on all but $100 million of the net book value of the Pleasant Prairie power plant. In accordance with its PSCW rate order received in December 2019, WE will seek a financing order from the PSCW to securitize the remaining $100 million. See Note 25, Regulatory Environment, for more information.

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. The net book value of the PIPP was $162.7 million at December 31, 2019, representing book value less cost of removal and accumulated depreciation. In addition, previously deferred unprotected tax benefits from the Tax Legislation related to the unrecovered balance of these units were $6.4 million. The net amount of $156.3 million was classified as a regulatory asset on our balance sheets as a result of the retirement of the plant. This regulatory asset does not include certain other previously recorded deferred tax liabilities of $46.5 million related to the retired PIPP. After the retirement of the PIPP, a portion of the regulatory asset and related cost of removal reserve was transferred to UMERC for recovery from its retail customers. Effective with its rate order issued by the PSCW in December 2019, WE received approval to collect a return of and on its share of the net book value of the PIPP, and as a result, will continue to amortize the regulatory assets on a straight-line basis through 2037, using the composite depreciation rates approved by the PSCW before the units were retired. UMERC will also continue to amortize the regulatory assets on a straight-line basis using the composite depreciation rates approved by the PSCW before the units were retired. Amortization is included in depreciation and amortization in the income statement. UMERC will address the accounting and regulatory treatment related to the retirement of the PIPP with the MPSC in conjunction with a future rate case. WE has FERC approval to continue to collect the net book value of the PIPP using the approved composite depreciation rates, in addition to a return on the net book value. However, this approval is subject to refund pending the outcome of settlement proceedings. See Note 25, Regulatory Environment, for more information.

Pulliam Power Plant

In connection with a MISO ruling, WPS retired Pulliam Units 7 and 8 on October 21, 2018. The net book value of the Pulliam units was $36.3 million at December 31, 2019, representing book value less cost of removal and accumulated depreciation. This amount was classified as a regulatory asset on our balance sheets as a result of the retirement of the plant. Effective with its rate order issued by the PSCW in December 2019, WPS received approval to collect a return of and on the entire net book value of the Pulliam units, and as a result, will continue to amortize this regulatory asset on a straight-line basis through 2031, using the composite depreciation rates approved by the PSCW before these generating units were retired. Amortization is included in depreciation and amortization in the income statement. WPS has FERC approval to continue to collect the net book value of the Pulliam power plant using the approved composite depreciation rates, in addition to a return on the remaining net book value. FERC has completed its prudency review of Pulliam, concluding that the retirement of this plant was prudent.

Edgewater Unit 4

The Edgewater 4 generating unit was retired on September 28, 2018. The net book value of the generating unit was $5.3 million at December 31, 2019, representing book value less cost of removal and accumulated depreciation. This amount was classified as a regulatory asset on our balance sheets as a result of the retirement of the plant. Effective with its rate order issued by the PSCW in December 2019, WPS received approval to collect a return of and on the entire net book value of the Edgewater 4 generating unit, and as a result, will continue to amortize this regulatory asset on a straight-line basis through 2026, using the composite depreciation rates approved by the PSCW before this generating unit was retired. Amortization is included in depreciation and amortization in the income statement. WPS has FERC approval to continue to collect the net book value of the Edgewater 4 generating unit using the approved composite depreciation rates, in addition to a return on the remaining net book value. FERC has completed its prudency review of Edgewater 4, concluding that the retirement of this plant was prudent.

Severance Liability for Plant Retirements

In December 2017, a severance liability of $29.4 million was recorded in other current liabilities on our balance sheets related to these plant retirements. Activity related to this severance liability for the years ended December 31 was as follows:

(in millions)	2019			2018
Severance liability at January 1	$	15.7		$	29.4
Severance payments	(7.2		)	(10.7		)
Other	(6.4		)	(3.0		)
Total severance liability at December 31	$	2.1		$	15.7