XML 57 R19.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.3.0.15
Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Income Taxes

Note 13. Income Taxes

PSEG's, Power's and PSE&G's effective tax rates for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
     

2011

   

2010

   

2011

   

2010

 

PSEG

     43.1     40.4     42.0     40.3

Power

     40.7     39.6     41.0     40.3

PSE&G

     40.1     39.5     40.5     38.4

For the three months ended September 30, 2011, the increase in PSEG's effective tax rate was due primarily to Energy Holdings' 2011 charge against earnings applicable to the Dynegy leases. (See Note 5. Financing Receivables) and a lower manufacturer's deduction under the American Job Creation Act of 2004 as compared to the same period in 2010. There was no material change in the effective tax rate for Power and PSE&G.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the increase in PSEG's effective tax rate was due primarily to Energy Holdings' 2011 charge against earnings applicable to the Dynegy leases and a lower manufacturer's deduction as compared to the same period in 2010. PSE&G's effective tax rate was lower in 2010, primarily due to tax benefits from uncollectible accounts and plant-related adjustments. There was no material change in the effective tax rate for Power.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 include various health care-related provisions which will go into effect over the next several years. One of the provisions eliminates the tax deductibility of retiree health care costs, to the extent of federal subsidies received by plan sponsors that provide retiree prescription drug benefits equivalent to Medicare Part D coverage. As a result, in the first quarter of 2010, PSEG recorded noncash after-tax charges of $9 million for income tax expense to establish the related deferred tax liabilities, primarily related to Power. There was no immediate impact on PSE&G's income tax expense or effective tax rate since the related amount of $78 million was deferred as a Regulatory Asset to be collected and amortized over future periods.

Two other tax provisions enacted during 2010 will have a significant impact on PSEG's cash position. The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, enacted in September 2010, extended the tax deduction for 50% bonus depreciation through 2010 for qualified property. The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, enacted in December 2010, included a provision making qualified property placed into service after September 8, 2010 and before January 1, 2012, eligible for 100% bonus depreciation for tax purposes. In addition, qualified property placed into service in 2012 will be eligible for 50% bonus depreciation for tax purposes. These provisions will generate cash for PSEG through tax benefits related to the accelerated depreciation, most of which is anticipated to be realized in 2011. Also, for the third quarter of 2011, Power and PSE&G completed an analysis of industry specific tax accounting method changes resulting in current tax benefits. These tax benefits would have otherwise been received over the longer lives of the related depreciable property.

PSE&G has accrued $32 million of Investment Tax Credits (ITC) associated with alternative energy projects in the first nine months of 2011. Because the law provides an option to claim either a grant or the ITC, the ITC has been accounted for as a reduction of the book basis of the related assets as opposed to being recorded in tax expense.

PSEG's unrecognized tax benefits increased by approximately $53 million in the first nine months of 2011, attributable to PSE&G. This increase is due to a position raised by the IRS during its examination of the tax years 2004 to 2006 and a position taken for tax years 2004 to 2011 related to casualty loss deductions. Since December 31, 2010, the balance of unrecognized tax benefits that are reasonably likely to increase or decrease within the next 12 months changed by $19 million related to the positions discussed above.

 

PSEG made tax deposits with the IRS to defray interest costs associated with disputed tax assessments associated with certain lease investments. The deposits are fully refundable and are recorded as a reduction to Current Accrued Taxes on PSEG's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, but are not reflected in the unrecognized tax benefits.

As a result of a change in accounting method for the capitalization of indirect costs, PSEG reduced the net amount of its uncertain tax positions (including interest) by $97 million, approximately $43 million of which related to PSE&G. It is reasonably possible that PSE&G's claim related to this matter will be settled with the IRS in the next 12 months, resulting in an increase in the uncertain tax positions.

It is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits associated with the leasing tax issue discussed in Note 8. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities, will change significantly. This change could be triggered by a settlement with the IRS or developments in other litigated cases. Based upon these developments, unrecognized tax benefits could increase by as much as $205 million or decrease by as much as $297 million. It is not possible to predict the magnitude, timing or direction of any such change.

Power [Member]
 
Income Taxes

Note 13. Income Taxes

PSEG's, Power's and PSE&G's effective tax rates for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
     

2011

   

2010

   

2011

   

2010

 

PSEG

     43.1     40.4     42.0     40.3

Power

     40.7     39.6     41.0     40.3

PSE&G

     40.1     39.5     40.5     38.4

For the three months ended September 30, 2011, the increase in PSEG's effective tax rate was due primarily to Energy Holdings' 2011 charge against earnings applicable to the Dynegy leases. (See Note 5. Financing Receivables) and a lower manufacturer's deduction under the American Job Creation Act of 2004 as compared to the same period in 2010. There was no material change in the effective tax rate for Power and PSE&G.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the increase in PSEG's effective tax rate was due primarily to Energy Holdings' 2011 charge against earnings applicable to the Dynegy leases and a lower manufacturer's deduction as compared to the same period in 2010. PSE&G's effective tax rate was lower in 2010, primarily due to tax benefits from uncollectible accounts and plant-related adjustments. There was no material change in the effective tax rate for Power.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 include various health care-related provisions which will go into effect over the next several years. One of the provisions eliminates the tax deductibility of retiree health care costs, to the extent of federal subsidies received by plan sponsors that provide retiree prescription drug benefits equivalent to Medicare Part D coverage. As a result, in the first quarter of 2010, PSEG recorded noncash after-tax charges of $9 million for income tax expense to establish the related deferred tax liabilities, primarily related to Power. There was no immediate impact on PSE&G's income tax expense or effective tax rate since the related amount of $78 million was deferred as a Regulatory Asset to be collected and amortized over future periods.

Two other tax provisions enacted during 2010 will have a significant impact on PSEG's cash position. The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, enacted in September 2010, extended the tax deduction for 50% bonus depreciation through 2010 for qualified property. The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, enacted in December 2010, included a provision making qualified property placed into service after September 8, 2010 and before January 1, 2012, eligible for 100% bonus depreciation for tax purposes. In addition, qualified property placed into service in 2012 will be eligible for 50% bonus depreciation for tax purposes. These provisions will generate cash for PSEG through tax benefits related to the accelerated depreciation, most of which is anticipated to be realized in 2011. Also, for the third quarter of 2011, Power and PSE&G completed an analysis of industry specific tax accounting method changes resulting in current tax benefits. These tax benefits would have otherwise been received over the longer lives of the related depreciable property.

PSE&G has accrued $32 million of Investment Tax Credits (ITC) associated with alternative energy projects in the first nine months of 2011. Because the law provides an option to claim either a grant or the ITC, the ITC has been accounted for as a reduction of the book basis of the related assets as opposed to being recorded in tax expense.

PSEG's unrecognized tax benefits increased by approximately $53 million in the first nine months of 2011, attributable to PSE&G. This increase is due to a position raised by the IRS during its examination of the tax years 2004 to 2006 and a position taken for tax years 2004 to 2009 related to casualty loss deductions. Since December 31, 2010, the balance of unrecognized tax benefits that are reasonably likely to increase or decrease within the next 12 months changed by $19 million related to the positions discussed above.

 

PSEG made tax deposits with the IRS to defray interest costs associated with disputed tax assessments associated with certain lease investments. The deposits are fully refundable and are recorded as a reduction to Current Accrued Taxes on PSEG's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, but are not reflected in the unrecognized tax benefits.

As a result of a change in accounting method for the capitalization of indirect costs, PSEG reduced the net amount of its uncertain tax positions (including interest) by $97 million, approximately $43 million of which related to PSE&G. It is reasonably possible that PSE&G's claim related to this matter will be settled with the IRS in the next 12 months, resulting in an increase in the uncertain tax positions.

It is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits associated with the leasing tax issue discussed in Note 8. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities, will change significantly. This change could be triggered by a settlement with the IRS or developments in other litigated cases. Based upon these developments, unrecognized tax benefits could increase by as much as $205 million or decrease by as much as $297 million. It is not possible to predict the magnitude, timing or direction of any such change.

PSE&G [Member]
 
Income Taxes

Note 13. Income Taxes

PSEG's, Power's and PSE&G's effective tax rates for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
     

2011

   

2010

   

2011

   

2010

 

PSEG

     43.1     40.4     42.0     40.3

Power

     40.7     39.6     41.0     40.3

PSE&G

     40.1     39.5     40.5     38.4

For the three months ended September 30, 2011, the increase in PSEG's effective tax rate was due primarily to Energy Holdings' 2011 charge against earnings applicable to the Dynegy leases. (See Note 5. Financing Receivables) and a lower manufacturer's deduction under the American Job Creation Act of 2004 as compared to the same period in 2010. There was no material change in the effective tax rate for Power and PSE&G.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the increase in PSEG's effective tax rate was due primarily to Energy Holdings' 2011 charge against earnings applicable to the Dynegy leases and a lower manufacturer's deduction as compared to the same period in 2010. PSE&G's effective tax rate was lower in 2010, primarily due to tax benefits from uncollectible accounts and plant-related adjustments. There was no material change in the effective tax rate for Power.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 include various health care-related provisions which will go into effect over the next several years. One of the provisions eliminates the tax deductibility of retiree health care costs, to the extent of federal subsidies received by plan sponsors that provide retiree prescription drug benefits equivalent to Medicare Part D coverage. As a result, in the first quarter of 2010, PSEG recorded noncash after-tax charges of $9 million for income tax expense to establish the related deferred tax liabilities, primarily related to Power. There was no immediate impact on PSE&G's income tax expense or effective tax rate since the related amount of $78 million was deferred as a Regulatory Asset to be collected and amortized over future periods.

Two other tax provisions enacted during 2010 will have a significant impact on PSEG's cash position. The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, enacted in September 2010, extended the tax deduction for 50% bonus depreciation through 2010 for qualified property. The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, enacted in December 2010, included a provision making qualified property placed into service after September 8, 2010 and before January 1, 2012, eligible for 100% bonus depreciation for tax purposes. In addition, qualified property placed into service in 2012 will be eligible for 50% bonus depreciation for tax purposes. These provisions will generate cash for PSEG through tax benefits related to the accelerated depreciation, most of which is anticipated to be realized in 2011. Also, for the third quarter of 2011, Power and PSE&G completed an analysis of industry specific tax accounting method changes resulting in current tax benefits. These tax benefits would have otherwise been received over the longer lives of the related depreciable property.

PSE&G has accrued $32 million of Investment Tax Credits (ITC) associated with alternative energy projects in the first nine months of 2011. Because the law provides an option to claim either a grant or the ITC, the ITC has been accounted for as a reduction of the book basis of the related assets as opposed to being recorded in tax expense.

PSEG's unrecognized tax benefits increased by approximately $53 million in the first nine months of 2011, attributable to PSE&G. This increase is due to a position raised by the IRS during its examination of the tax years 2004 to 2006 and a position taken for tax years 2004 to 2009 related to casualty loss deductions. Since December 31, 2010, the balance of unrecognized tax benefits that are reasonably likely to increase or decrease within the next 12 months changed by $19 million related to the positions discussed above.

 

PSEG made tax deposits with the IRS to defray interest costs associated with disputed tax assessments associated with certain lease investments. The deposits are fully refundable and are recorded as a reduction to Current Accrued Taxes on PSEG's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, but are not reflected in the unrecognized tax benefits.

As a result of a change in accounting method for the capitalization of indirect costs, PSEG reduced the net amount of its uncertain tax positions (including interest) by $97 million, approximately $43 million of which related to PSE&G. It is reasonably possible that PSE&G's claim related to this matter will be settled with the IRS in the next 12 months, resulting in an increase in the uncertain tax positions.

It is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits associated with the leasing tax issue discussed in Note 8. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities, will change significantly. This change could be triggered by a settlement with the IRS or developments in other litigated cases. Based upon these developments, unrecognized tax benefits could increase by as much as $205 million or decrease by as much as $297 million. It is not possible to predict the magnitude, timing or direction of any such change.