Income Taxes (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

As required under GAAP, the Company makes an estimate of its anticipated effective tax rate for the year as of the end of each quarterly period within its fiscal year. Year-to-date income tax expense is then calculated by applying the anticipated annual effective tax rate to year-to-date earnings before taxes, which includes the earnings attributable to the Valencia non-controlling interest. GAAP also provides that certain unusual or infrequently occurring items, as well as adjustments due to enactment of new tax laws, be excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate calculation.

On January 3, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which extended fifty percent bonus depreciation, was signed into law.  Due to provisions in the act, taxes payable to the State of New Mexico for 2013 were reduced, which resulted in an impairment of New Mexico wind energy production tax credits. In accordance with GAAP, PNMR was required to record this impairment, which after federal income tax benefit, amounted to $1.5 million as additional income tax expense during the three months ended March 31, 2013. This impairment is reflected in PNMR's Corporate and Other segment.

On April 4, 2013, New Mexico House Bill 641 was signed into law. One of the provisions of the bill was to reduce the New Mexico corporate income tax rate from 7.6% to 5.9%. The rate reduction will be phased in from 2014 to 2018. In accordance with GAAP, PNMR and PNM adjusted accumulated deferred income taxes to reflect the tax rate at which the balances are expected to reverse. The portion of the adjustment related to PNM's regulated activities was recorded as a reduction in deferred tax liabilities, which was offset by an increase in a regulatory liability, on the assumption that PNM will be required to return the benefit to customers over time. The increase in the regulatory liability was $23.9 million. The portion of the adjustment that is not related to PNM's regulated activities was recorded as a reduction in deferred tax assets and an increase in income tax expense of $1.2 million during the three months ended June 30, 2013. This additional income tax expense is reflected in PNMR's Corporate and Other segment.

The future reduction in taxes payable to the State of New Mexico resulting from the rate reduction in House Bill 641 and revisions in estimates of future taxable income resulted in a further impairment of New Mexico wind energy production tax credits. In accordance with GAAP, PNMR was required to record this impairment, which after federal income tax benefit, amounted to $2.4 million as additional income tax expense during the three months ended June 30, 2013. This impairment is reflected in PNMR's Corporate and Other segment.

On April 30, 2013, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2013-24, which provides a safe harbor method of accounting that taxpayers may use to determine repair costs for electric generation property.  Adoption of the safe harbor method is elective for years ending on or after December 31, 2012.  On July 11, 2013, the IRS issued a directive that suspends most current examination activity related to generation repairs methodology for any company that is eligible for the safe harbor. PNM is evaluating the possible effects of adopting the safe harbor method and the ultimate outcome cannot be determined at this time.

In May 2013, PNMR received a refund of federal income taxes paid in prior years, which primarily was due to bonus tax depreciation and changes in the Company's method of accounting for repairs expense for income tax purposes. The total refund was $96.2 million of which $77.4 million was attributable to PNM. As of June 30, 2013 $45.0 million had been transferred to PNM.