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Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions [Line Items]  
Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions
Nuclear
In April 2019, PSEG Power’s Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek nuclear plants were awarded ZECs by the BPU. Pursuant to a process established by the BPU, ZECs are purchased from selected nuclear plants and recovered through a non-bypassable distribution charge in the amount of $0.004 per kilowatt-hour (KWh) used (which is equivalent to approximately $10 per megawatt hour (MWh) generated in payments to selected nuclear plants (ZEC payment)). Each nuclear plant is expected to
receive ZEC revenue for approximately three years, through May 2022.
In April 2021, PSEG Power’s Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek nuclear plants were awarded ZECs for the three-year eligibility period starting June 2022 at the same approximate $10 per MWh received during the current ZEC period through May 2022 referenced above. As a result, each nuclear plant is expected to receive ZEC revenue for approximately three years starting June 2022. The terms and conditions of this April 2021 ZEC award are generally similar to the current ZEC period as discussed above.
The award of ZECs attaches certain obligations, including an obligation to repay the ZECs in the event that a plant ceases operations during the approximate three-year period that it was awarded ZECs, subject to certain exceptions specified in the ZEC legislation. PSEG Power has and will continue to recognize revenue monthly as the nuclear plants generate electricity and satisfy their performance obligations. Further, the ZEC payment may be adjusted by the BPU at any time to offset environmental or fuel diversity payments that a selected nuclear plant may receive from another source. For instance, the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel (New Jersey Rate Counsel), in written comments filed with the BPU, has advocated for the BPU to offset market benefits resulting from New Jersey’s rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative from the ZEC payment. PSEG intends to vigorously defend against these arguments. Due to its preliminary nature, PSEG cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
The BPU’s April 2019 decision awarding ZECs through May 2022 has been appealed by the New Jersey Rate Counsel. In March 2021, the New Jersey Appellate Division affirmed the BPU’s April 2019 decision granting ZECs for the first eligibility period. In April 2021, New Jersey Rate Counsel has petitioned to the New Jersey Supreme Court for further appellate review. PSEG cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
In the event that (i) the ZEC program is overturned or is otherwise materially adversely modified through legal process; or (ii) any of the Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek plants is not sufficiently valued for its environmental, fuel diversity or resilience attributes in future periods and does not otherwise experience a material financial change that would remove the need for such attributes to be sufficiently valued, PSEG Power will take all necessary steps to cease to operate all of these plants. Alternatively, even with sufficient valuation of these attributes, if the financial condition of the plants is materially adversely impacted by changes in commodity prices, FERC’s changes to the capacity market construct (absent sufficient capacity revenues provided under a program approved by the BPU in accordance with a FERC-authorized capacity mechanism), or, in the case of the Salem nuclear plants, decisions by the EPA and state environmental regulators regarding the implementation of Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and related state regulations, or other factors, PSEG Power will take all necessary steps to cease to operate all of these plants. Ceasing operations of these plants would result in a material adverse impact on PSEG’s and PSEG Power’s results of operations.
Non-Nuclear
In July 2020, PSEG announced that it is exploring strategic alternatives for PSEG Power’s non-nuclear generating fleet, which includes more than 6,750 MW of fossil generation located in New Jersey, Connecticut, New York and Maryland as well as the 467 MW Solar Source portfolio located in various states. PSEG intends to retain ownership of PSEG Power’s existing nuclear fleet. The marketing of a potential transaction in one or a series of steps launched in the fourth quarter of 2020, and any potential transaction is expected to be completed sometime in 2021. As a result of the strategic review of PSEG Power’s non-nuclear generating assets, and the launch in the fourth quarter of 2020 of an associated marketing process for their potential disposition, PSEG Power has performed an impairment assessment of its PJM, NYISO and ISO-NE asset groupings, as well as for its solar assets, as of each quarter end. The assessments included probability weightings assigned to undiscounted cash flow scenarios of retaining the assets through the end of their estimated useful lives and a successful disposition of the non-nuclear assets in 2021. Estimates of cash flows associated with a sale scenario were based on management’s expectations of the fair value of such assets. The probability weighted aggregation of undiscounted cash flows for each of the asset groupings expected to result from the use and potential disposition of the asset groups exceeded their carrying value at the assessment dates. As such, it demonstrated that no impairment exists for any of the asset groupings and they continue to remain classified as held-for-use as of March 31, 2021. However, certain assumptions are subject to change as the potential sales and marketing process progresses. The net book value of the fossil generation and of the solar Property, Plant and Equipment (net of eligible investment tax credits) was approximately $4.5 billion and $550 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2021.
In May 2021, PSEG Power Ventures LLC (Power Ventures), a direct wholly owned subsidiary of PSEG Power, entered into a purchase agreement with Quattro Solar, LLC, an affiliate of LS Power, relating to the sale by Power Ventures of 100% of its ownership interest in PSEG Solar Source LLC (Solar Source) including its related assets and liabilities. The transaction is expected to close during the second or third quarter of 2021, subject to certain closing conditions, adjustments and regulatory approvals. As a result, the assets and liabilities of Solar Source will be classified as Assets Held for Sale beginning in the
second quarter of 2021. The net carrying value of the assets and liabilities to be sold is approximately $500 million as of March 31, 2021.
There is no assurance that the strategic review will result in a sale or other disposition of all or any portion of the fossil generation assets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. Any transaction would be subject to market conditions and customary closing conditions, including the receipt of all required regulatory approvals. Management expects that a change in the probability of a successful disposition based upon further progression in the marketing process, but prior to meeting all necessary held-for-sale classification criteria, would result in an impairment of the ISO-NE asset grouping, which would be material. Furthermore, a change to a held-for-sale classification from a held-for-use classification would result in an impairment of the PJM, NYISO and ISO-NE asset groupings, which would be material.
PSEG Power [Member]  
Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions [Line Items]  
Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions
Nuclear
In April 2019, PSEG Power’s Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek nuclear plants were awarded ZECs by the BPU. Pursuant to a process established by the BPU, ZECs are purchased from selected nuclear plants and recovered through a non-bypassable distribution charge in the amount of $0.004 per kilowatt-hour (KWh) used (which is equivalent to approximately $10 per megawatt hour (MWh) generated in payments to selected nuclear plants (ZEC payment)). Each nuclear plant is expected to
receive ZEC revenue for approximately three years, through May 2022.
In April 2021, PSEG Power’s Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek nuclear plants were awarded ZECs for the three-year eligibility period starting June 2022 at the same approximate $10 per MWh received during the current ZEC period through May 2022 referenced above. As a result, each nuclear plant is expected to receive ZEC revenue for approximately three years starting June 2022. The terms and conditions of this April 2021 ZEC award are generally similar to the current ZEC period as discussed above.
The award of ZECs attaches certain obligations, including an obligation to repay the ZECs in the event that a plant ceases operations during the approximate three-year period that it was awarded ZECs, subject to certain exceptions specified in the ZEC legislation. PSEG Power has and will continue to recognize revenue monthly as the nuclear plants generate electricity and satisfy their performance obligations. Further, the ZEC payment may be adjusted by the BPU at any time to offset environmental or fuel diversity payments that a selected nuclear plant may receive from another source. For instance, the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel (New Jersey Rate Counsel), in written comments filed with the BPU, has advocated for the BPU to offset market benefits resulting from New Jersey’s rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative from the ZEC payment. PSEG intends to vigorously defend against these arguments. Due to its preliminary nature, PSEG cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
The BPU’s April 2019 decision awarding ZECs through May 2022 has been appealed by the New Jersey Rate Counsel. In March 2021, the New Jersey Appellate Division affirmed the BPU’s April 2019 decision granting ZECs for the first eligibility period. In April 2021, New Jersey Rate Counsel has petitioned to the New Jersey Supreme Court for further appellate review. PSEG cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
In the event that (i) the ZEC program is overturned or is otherwise materially adversely modified through legal process; or (ii) any of the Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek plants is not sufficiently valued for its environmental, fuel diversity or resilience attributes in future periods and does not otherwise experience a material financial change that would remove the need for such attributes to be sufficiently valued, PSEG Power will take all necessary steps to cease to operate all of these plants. Alternatively, even with sufficient valuation of these attributes, if the financial condition of the plants is materially adversely impacted by changes in commodity prices, FERC’s changes to the capacity market construct (absent sufficient capacity revenues provided under a program approved by the BPU in accordance with a FERC-authorized capacity mechanism), or, in the case of the Salem nuclear plants, decisions by the EPA and state environmental regulators regarding the implementation of Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and related state regulations, or other factors, PSEG Power will take all necessary steps to cease to operate all of these plants. Ceasing operations of these plants would result in a material adverse impact on PSEG’s and PSEG Power’s results of operations.
Non-Nuclear
In July 2020, PSEG announced that it is exploring strategic alternatives for PSEG Power’s non-nuclear generating fleet, which includes more than 6,750 MW of fossil generation located in New Jersey, Connecticut, New York and Maryland as well as the 467 MW Solar Source portfolio located in various states. PSEG intends to retain ownership of PSEG Power’s existing nuclear fleet. The marketing of a potential transaction in one or a series of steps launched in the fourth quarter of 2020, and any potential transaction is expected to be completed sometime in 2021. As a result of the strategic review of PSEG Power’s non-nuclear generating assets, and the launch in the fourth quarter of 2020 of an associated marketing process for their potential disposition, PSEG Power has performed an impairment assessment of its PJM, NYISO and ISO-NE asset groupings, as well as for its solar assets, as of each quarter end. The assessments included probability weightings assigned to undiscounted cash flow scenarios of retaining the assets through the end of their estimated useful lives and a successful disposition of the non-nuclear assets in 2021. Estimates of cash flows associated with a sale scenario were based on management’s expectations of the fair value of such assets. The probability weighted aggregation of undiscounted cash flows for each of the asset groupings expected to result from the use and potential disposition of the asset groups exceeded their carrying value at the assessment dates. As such, it demonstrated that no impairment exists for any of the asset groupings and they continue to remain classified as held-for-use as of March 31, 2021. However, certain assumptions are subject to change as the potential sales and marketing process progresses. The net book value of the fossil generation and of the solar Property, Plant and Equipment (net of eligible investment tax credits) was approximately $4.5 billion and $550 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2021.
In May 2021, PSEG Power Ventures LLC (Power Ventures), a direct wholly owned subsidiary of PSEG Power, entered into a purchase agreement with Quattro Solar, LLC, an affiliate of LS Power, relating to the sale by Power Ventures of 100% of its ownership interest in PSEG Solar Source LLC (Solar Source) including its related assets and liabilities. The transaction is expected to close during the second or third quarter of 2021, subject to certain closing conditions, adjustments and regulatory approvals. As a result, the assets and liabilities of Solar Source will be classified as Assets Held for Sale beginning in the
second quarter of 2021. The net carrying value of the assets and liabilities to be sold is approximately $500 million as of March 31, 2021.
There is no assurance that the strategic review will result in a sale or other disposition of all or any portion of the fossil generation assets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. Any transaction would be subject to market conditions and customary closing conditions, including the receipt of all required regulatory approvals. Management expects that a change in the probability of a successful disposition based upon further progression in the marketing process, but prior to meeting all necessary held-for-sale classification criteria, would result in an impairment of the ISO-NE asset grouping, which would be material. Furthermore, a change to a held-for-sale classification from a held-for-use classification would result in an impairment of the PJM, NYISO and ISO-NE asset groupings, which would be material.