Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions [Line Items]

Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions

Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions and Impairments

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 an additional three years starting June 2022. The terms and conditions of this April 2021 ZEC award are the same as 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 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.

In May 2021, the New Jersey Rate Counsel filed an appeal with the New Jersey Appellate Division of the BPU’s April 2021 decision. PSEG cannot predict the outcome of these matters.

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 was 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 and, prior to the sale of Solar Source in June 2021, included a 467 MW Solar Source portfolio located in various states. PSEG intends to retain ownership of PSEG Power’s existing nuclear fleet.

In May 2021, Power Ventures 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 Solar Source including its related assets and liabilities. The transaction closed in June 2021. As a result of the sale, PSEG Power recorded a pre-tax gain on sale of approximately $62 million, which is inclusive of the recognition of previously deferred unamortized investment tax credits (ITC) of $185 million, and income tax expense of approximately $63 million primarily due to the recapture of ITC on units that operated for less than five years.

In August 2021, PSEG entered into two agreements to sell PSEG Power’s 6,750 MW fossil generating portfolio, one agreement for the sale of assets in New Jersey and Maryland and another agreement for the sale of assets located in New York and Connecticut, to newly formed subsidiaries of Arclight Energy Partners Fund VII LP, a fund controlled by ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC for aggregate consideration of approximately $1,920 million. The transactions are subject to customary regulatory approvals at the federal and state levels, which are not cross-conditioned between the two agreements and may be completed independently. The transactions are expected to be completed late in the fourth quarter of 2021 or the first quarter of 2022.

As a result of the Board of Directors’ approval of the transactions, PSEG Power’s fossil generating assets and liabilities to be disposed were reclassified to Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale in August 2021, and accordingly, PSEG Power ceased recording depreciation expense. PSEG Power recorded a pre-tax impairment loss on sale of approximately $2,162 million as the purchase price is lower than the carrying value. This is in addition to the $519 million pre-tax impairment for the ISO-NE asset grouping recorded in the second quarter of 2021 as that asset grouping failed the impairment assessment prior to being classified as held for sale. As such, the total pre-tax loss on sale in 2021 is anticipated to be approximately $2,681 million. Further adjustments may be required as a result of any purchase price or working capital adjustments, primarily related to the timing of when the transactions close. In addition to the impairment loss, PSEG Power has also recorded approximately $13 million in pre-tax severance and retention charges, environmental accruals and other adjustments.

As of September 30, 2021, PSEG Power’s fossil generation assets and liabilities held for sale, including anticipated working capital, were $2,050 million and $126 million, respectively, as follows:

			As of September 30, 2021
		Millions
Current Assets (A)			$	264
Property, Plant and Equipment			1,749
Noncurrent Assets			37
	Total Assets Held for Sale		$	2,050
Current Liabilities (B)			$	49
Noncurrent Liabilities (C)			77
	Total Liabilities Held for Sale		$	126

(A)Primarily includes Fuel, Materials and Supplies, Prepayments and Other Current Assets.

(B)Primarily includes Accounts Payable and Other Current Liabilities.

(C)Primarily includes AROs, Accrued Pension Costs and Other Noncurrent Liabilities.

These held for sale balances represent all of the assets and liabilities expected to transfer to the buyer at closing. PSEG Power will retain ownership of certain assets and liabilities excluded from the transactions primarily related to obligations under certain environmental regulations, including possible remediation obligations under the New Jersey Industrial Site Recovery Act and the Connecticut Transfer Act. The amounts for any such environmental remediation are not currently estimable, but may be material.

In addition to the impairment loss and other related costs, in October 2021 PSEG Power redeemed all of its outstanding debt obligations and incurred a pre-tax loss of $298 million for the make whole provision payable upon early redemption and other non-cash debt extinguishment costs. See Note 12. Debt and Credit Facilities for more detail on PSEG Power’s debt extinguishment.

In September 2020, PSEG Power completed the sale of its ownership interest in the Yards Creek generation facility. PSEG

Power recorded a pre-tax gain on disposition of approximately $122 million in the third quarter of 2020 as the sale price was

greater than book value.

PSEG Power [Member]

Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions [Line Items]

Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions

Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions and Impairments

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 an additional three years starting June 2022. The terms and conditions of this April 2021 ZEC award are the same as 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 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.

In May 2021, the New Jersey Rate Counsel filed an appeal with the New Jersey Appellate Division of the BPU’s April 2021 decision. PSEG cannot predict the outcome of these matters.

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 was 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 and, prior to the sale of Solar Source in June 2021, included a 467 MW Solar Source portfolio located in various states. PSEG intends to retain ownership of PSEG Power’s existing nuclear fleet.

In May 2021, Power Ventures 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 Solar Source including its related assets and liabilities. The transaction closed in June 2021. As a result of the sale, PSEG Power recorded a pre-tax gain on sale of approximately $62 million, which is inclusive of the recognition of previously deferred unamortized investment tax credits (ITC) of $185 million, and income tax expense of approximately $63 million primarily due to the recapture of ITC on units that operated for less than five years.

In August 2021, PSEG entered into two agreements to sell PSEG Power’s 6,750 MW fossil generating portfolio, one agreement for the sale of assets in New Jersey and Maryland and another agreement for the sale of assets located in New York and Connecticut, to newly formed subsidiaries of Arclight Energy Partners Fund VII LP, a fund controlled by ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC for aggregate consideration of approximately $1,920 million. The transactions are subject to customary regulatory approvals at the federal and state levels, which are not cross-conditioned between the two agreements and may be completed independently. The transactions are expected to be completed late in the fourth quarter of 2021 or the first quarter of 2022.

As a result of the Board of Directors’ approval of the transactions, PSEG Power’s fossil generating assets and liabilities to be disposed were reclassified to Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale in August 2021, and accordingly, PSEG Power ceased recording depreciation expense. PSEG Power recorded a pre-tax impairment loss on sale of approximately $2,162 million as the purchase price is lower than the carrying value. This is in addition to the $519 million pre-tax impairment for the ISO-NE asset grouping recorded in the second quarter of 2021 as that asset grouping failed the impairment assessment prior to being classified as held for sale. As such, the total pre-tax loss on sale in 2021 is anticipated to be approximately $2,681 million. Further adjustments may be required as a result of any purchase price or working capital adjustments, primarily related to the timing of when the transactions close. In addition to the impairment loss, PSEG Power has also recorded approximately $13 million in pre-tax severance and retention charges, environmental accruals and other adjustments.

As of September 30, 2021, PSEG Power’s fossil generation assets and liabilities held for sale, including anticipated working capital, were $2,050 million and $126 million, respectively, as follows:

			As of September 30, 2021
		Millions
Current Assets (A)			$	264
Property, Plant and Equipment			1,749
Noncurrent Assets			37
	Total Assets Held for Sale		$	2,050
Current Liabilities (B)			$	49
Noncurrent Liabilities (C)			77
	Total Liabilities Held for Sale		$	126

(A)Primarily includes Fuel, Materials and Supplies, Prepayments and Other Current Assets.

(B)Primarily includes Accounts Payable and Other Current Liabilities.

(C)Primarily includes AROs, Accrued Pension Costs and Other Noncurrent Liabilities.

These held for sale balances represent all of the assets and liabilities expected to transfer to the buyer at closing. PSEG Power will retain ownership of certain assets and liabilities excluded from the transactions primarily related to obligations under certain environmental regulations, including possible remediation obligations under the New Jersey Industrial Site Recovery Act and the Connecticut Transfer Act. The amounts for any such environmental remediation are not currently estimable, but may be material.

In addition to the impairment loss and other related costs, in October 2021 PSEG Power redeemed all of its outstanding debt obligations and incurred a pre-tax loss of $298 million for the make whole provision payable upon early redemption and other non-cash debt extinguishment costs. See Note 12. Debt and Credit Facilities for more detail on PSEG Power’s debt extinguishment.

In September 2020, PSEG Power completed the sale of its ownership interest in the Yards Creek generation facility. PSEG

Power recorded a pre-tax gain on disposition of approximately $122 million in the third quarter of 2020 as the sale price was

greater than book value.