Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]

The following regulatory assets were reflected on our balance sheets as of December 31:


(in millions)	2022		2021		See Note
Regulatory assets (1) (2)
Pension and OPEB costs (3)	$	714.3	$	802.3	20
Plant retirement related items	688.6		722.3
Environmental remediation costs (4)	610.7		630.9		24
Income tax related items	461.9		458.8		16
AROs	169.7		194.2		1(l), 9
Derivatives	133.8		33.1		1(s)
SSR (5)	123.5		129.5
Securitization	92.4		100.7		23
Uncollectible expense	69.3		42.6		5
MERC extraordinary natural gas costs (6)	35.1		59.7		26
Energy efficiency programs (7)	33.9		22.0
Energy costs recoverable through rate adjustments	26.9		85.4		1(d), 26
Other, net	146.8		85.6
Total regulatory assets	$	3,306.9	$	3,367.1

Balance sheet presentation
Other current assets	$	42.3	$	102.3
Regulatory assets	3,264.6		3,264.8
Total regulatory assets	$	3,306.9	$	3,367.1

(1) Based on prior and current rate treatment, we believe it is probable that our utilities will continue to recover from customers the regulatory assets in this table. In accordance with GAAP, our regulatory assets do not include the allowance for ROE that is capitalized for regulatory purposes. This allowance was $27.3 million and $30.9 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

(2) As of December 31, 2022, we had $237.9 million of regulatory assets not earning a return, $35.3 million of regulatory assets earning a return based on short-term interest rates, and $123.5 million of regulatory assets earning a return based on long-term interest rates. The regulatory assets not earning a return primarily relate to certain environmental remediation costs, uncollectible expense, MERC's extraordinary natural gas costs, our invested capital tax rider, and unamortized loss on reacquired debt. The other regulatory assets in the table either earn a return at the applicable utility's weighted average cost of capital or the cash has not yet been expended, in which case the regulatory assets are offset by liabilities.

(3) Primarily represents the unrecognized future pension and OPEB costs related to our defined benefit pension and OPEB plans. We are authorized recovery of these regulatory assets over the average remaining service life of each plan.

(4) As of December 31, 2022, we had made cash expenditures of $111.1 million related to these environmental remediation costs. The remaining $499.6 million represents our estimated future cash expenditures.

(5) This regulatory asset relates to WE's 2014 announcement to retire the PIPP. Despite WE's intent to retire the PIPP, MISO designated the PIPP as an SSR, which meant the PIPP's operation was necessary for reliability, and the plant could not be shut down until new generation or transmission facilities were built. In December 2014, the PSCW authorized escrow accounting for WE's SSR revenues because of the fluctuations in the actual revenues WE received under the PIPP SSR agreements. The rate order WE received from the PSCW in December 2019 authorized recovery of this SSR regulatory asset over a 15-year period that began on January 1, 2020.

(6) Represents the extraordinary natural gas costs MERC incurred during February 2021 that are being recovered over 27 months, beginning in September 2021. See Note 26, Regulatory Environment, for more information on our recovery efforts associated with these costs.

(7) Represents amounts recoverable from customers related to programs at the utilities designed to meet energy efficiency standards.

The following regulatory liabilities were reflected on our balance sheets as of December 31:


(in millions)	2022		2021		See Note
Regulatory liabilities
Income tax related items	$	1,956.6	$	1,998.5	16
Removal costs (1)	1,260.9		1,248.0
Pension and OPEB benefits (2)	340.5		397.3		20
Derivatives	76.7		124.1		1(s)
Energy costs refundable through rate adjustments	53.4		13.7		1(d)
Uncollectible expense	24.0		37.1		5
Earnings sharing mechanisms	12.9		28.4		26
Electric transmission costs (3)	0.4		84.2
Other, net	66.5		29.0
Total regulatory liabilities	$	3,791.9	$	3,960.3

Balance sheet presentation
Other current liabilities	$	56.4	$	14.3
Regulatory liabilities	3,735.5		3,946.0
Total regulatory liabilities	$	3,791.9	$	3,960.3

(1) Represents amounts collected from customers to cover the future cost of property, plant, and equipment removals that are not legally required. Legal obligations related to the removal of property, plant, and equipment are recorded as AROs. See Note 9, Asset Retirement Obligations, for more information on our legal obligations.

(2) Primarily represents the unrecognized future pension and OPEB benefits related to our defined benefit pension and OPEB plans. We will amortize these regulatory liabilities into net periodic benefit cost over the average remaining service life of each plan.

(3) In accordance with the PSCW's approval of escrow accounting for ATC and MISO network transmission expenses for our Wisconsin electric utilities, WE and WPS defer as a regulatory asset or liability the difference between actual transmission costs and those included in rates until recovery or refund is authorized in a future rate proceeding. During 2022, WE and WPS amortized $81.0 million of their transmission regulatory liabilities to offset certain 2022 revenue deficiencies, as approved by the PSCW in order to forego filing for 2022 base rate increases. See Note 26, Regulatory Environment, for more information.

Pleasant Prairie Power Plant

The Pleasant Prairie power plant was retired on April 10, 2018. The net book value of this plant was $575.1 million at December 31, 2022, 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 $17.5 million as of December 31, 2022. The net amount of $557.6 million was classified as a regulatory asset on our balance sheet at December 31, 2022 due to the retirement of the plant. This regulatory asset does not include certain other previously recorded deferred tax liabilities of $156.7 million related to the retired Pleasant Prairie power plant. Pursuant to 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. The amortization is included in depreciation and amortization in the income statement. WE also 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.

WE received approval from the PSCW in December 2019 to collect a full return of the net book value of the Pleasant Prairie power plant and a return on all but $100 million of the net book value. During May 2021, WE securitized the remaining $100 million of the Pleasant Prairie power plant's book value, the carrying costs accrued on the $100 million during the securitization process, and the related financing fees, in accordance with a written order issued by the PSCW in November 2020. See Note 23, Variable Interest Entities, for more information on this securitization.

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 $163.7 million at December 31, 2022, 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 $5.2 million as of December 31, 2022. The net amount of $158.5 million was classified as a regulatory asset on

our balance sheet at December 31, 2022 as a result of the retirement of the plant. This regulatory asset does not include certain other previously recorded deferred tax liabilities of $44.4 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. This 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 also 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.

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 $36.6 million at December 31, 2022, representing book value less cost of removal and accumulated depreciation. This amount was classified as a regulatory asset on our balance sheet at December 31, 2022 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. The amortization is included in depreciation and amortization in the income statement. WPS also 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.

Edgewater Unit 4

The Edgewater 4 generating unit was retired on September 28, 2018. The net book value of the generating unit was $3.2 million at December 31, 2022, representing book value less cost of removal and accumulated depreciation. This amount was classified as a regulatory asset on our balance sheet at December 31, 2022 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. The amortization is included in depreciation and amortization in the income statement. WPS also 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.