XML 111 R26.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
Commitments and Contingencies (Exelon, Generation, ComEd, PECO and BGE)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Tables Disclosure [Line Items]  
Commitments and Contingencies (Exelon, Generation, ComEd, PECO and BGE)

15. Commitments and Contingencies (Exelon, Generation, ComEd, PECO and BGE)

 

The following is an update to the current status of commitments and contingencies set forth in Note 22 of the Exelon 2013 Form 10-K.

 

Commitments

 

Energy Commitments

 

As of March 31, 2014, Generation's commitments relating to its purchases from unaffiliated utilities and others of energy, capacity, transmission rights and RECs, are as indicated in the following table:

 Net Capacity REC Transmission Rights Purchased Energy   
 Purchases (a)  Purchases (b)  Purchases (c)  from CENG Total 
                          
2014 $314   $100   $19   $640   $1,073  
2015  367    141    13    0    521  
2016  284    96    2    0    382  
2017  223    42    2    0    267  
2018  112    8    2    0    122  
Thereafter  414    4    32    0    450  
                          
Total $1,714   $391   $70   $640   $2,815  

 

(a)       Net capacity purchases include PPAs and other capacity contracts including those that are accounted for as operating leases. Amounts presented in the commitments represent Generation's expected payments under these arrangements at March 31, 2014, net of fixed capacity payments expected to be received by Generation under contracts to resell such acquired capacity to third parties under long-term capacity sale contracts. Expected payments include certain fixed capacity charges which may be reduced based on plant availability.

(b)       The table excludes renewable energy purchases that are contingent in nature.

(c)       Transmission rights purchases include estimated commitments for additional transmission rights that will be required to fulfill firm sales contracts.

 

In connection with Constellation's comprehensive agreement with EDF in October 2010, Constellation's and EDF's existing power purchase agreements with CENG were modified to be unit-contingent through the end of their original term in 2014. Under these agreements, CENG has the ability to fix the energy price on a forward basis by entering into monthly energy hedge transactions for a portion of the future sale, while any unhedged portions will be provided at market prices by default. Additionally, beginning in 2015 and continuing to the end of the life of the respective plants, Generation agreed to purchase 50.01% of the available output of CENG's nuclear plants at market prices. Generation discloses in the table above commitments to purchase from CENG at fixed prices. All commitments to purchase at market prices, which include all purchases subsequent to December 31, 2014, are excluded from the table. Generation continues to own a 50.01% membership interest in CENG that is accounted for as an equity method investment. See Note 5 — Investment in Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, LLC for more details on this arrangement.

ComEd's, PECO's and BGE's electric supply procurement, curtailment services, REC and AEC purchase commitments, as applicable, as of March 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

    Expiration within
                   2019
 Total  2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 and beyond
                     
ComEd                    
Electric supply procurement (a)$591 $178 $136 $137 $140 $0 $0
Renewable energy and RECs (b) 1,565  50  72  76  77  83  1,207
PECO                    
Electric supply procurement (c) 713  546  167  0  0  0  0
AECs (d) 14  2  2  2  2  2  4
BGE                    
Electric supply procurement (e) 1,026  541  409  76  0  0  0
Curtailment services (f) 120  33  40  34  13  0  0

 

(a)       ComEd entered into various contracts for the procurement of electricity that started to expire in 2012, and will continue to expire through 2017. ComEd is permitted to recover its electric supply procurement costs from retail customers with no mark-up.

(b)       ComEd entered into 20-year contracts for renewable energy and RECs beginning in June 2012. ComEd is permitted to recover its renewable energy and REC costs from retail customers with no mark-up. The commitments represent the maximum settlements with suppliers for renewable energy and RECs under the existing contract terms. Pursuant to the ICC's Order on December 19, 2012, ComEd's commitments under the existing long-term contracts were reduced for the June 2013 through May 2014 procurement period. In addition, the ICC's December 18, 2013 order approved the reduction of ComEd's commitments under those contracts for the June 2014 through May 2015 procurement period, and the amount of the reduction was approved by the ICC in March 2014.

(c)       PECO entered into various contracts for the procurement of electric supply to serve its default service customers that expire between 2014 and 2016. PECO is permitted to recover its electric supply procurement costs from default service customers with no mark-up in accordance with its PAPUC-approved DSP Programs. See Note 4 - Regulatory Matters for additional information.

(d)       PECO is subject to requirements related to the use of alternative energy resources established by the AEPS Act. See Note 4 - Regulatory Matters for additional information.

(e)       BGE entered into various contracts for the procurement of electricity that expire between 2014 through 2016. The cost of power under these contracts is recoverable under MDPSC approved fuel clauses. See Note 4 - Regulatory Matters for additional information.

(f)       BGE has entered into various contracts with curtailment services providers related to transactions in PJM's capacity market. See Note 4 - Regulatory Matters for additional information.

 

Fuel Purchase Obligations

 

In addition to the energy commitments described above, Generation has commitments to purchase fuel supplies for nuclear and fossil generation. PECO and BGE have commitments to purchase natural gas related to transportation, storage capacity and services to serve customers in their gas distribution service territory. As of March 31, 2014, these net commitments were as follows:

    Expiration within
                   2019
 Total  2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 and beyond
                     
Generation$8,402 $1,036 $1,285 $1,039 $1,041 $780 $3,221
PECO 479  146  117  98  37  15  66
BGE 640  105  82  80  63  52  258

Other Purchase Obligations

 

The Registrants' other purchase obligations as of March 31, 2014, which primarily represent commitments for services, materials and information technology, are as follows:

 

    Expiration within
                   2019
 Total  2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 and beyond
                     
Exelon$547 $150 $146 $58 $49 $36 $108
Generation 462  120  138  45  41  30  88
ComEd (a) 45  11  5  5  5  5  14
PECO (a) 28  16  1  3  1  1  6
BGE (a) 10  1  2  5  2  0  0

____________________

(a)        Purchase obligations include commitments related to smart meter installation. See Note 4 – Regulatory Matters for additional information.

 

Construction Commitments

 

Generation has committed to the construction of the Antelope Valley solar PV facility in Los Angeles County, California. The first portion of the project began operations in December 2012, with six additional blocks coming online in 2013 and an expectation of full commercial operation in the first half of 2014. Generation's estimated remaining commitment for the project is $90 million.

 

On July 3, 2013, Generation executed a Turbine Supply Agreement to expand its Beebe wind project in Michigan. The estimated remaining commitment under the contract is $47 million and achievement of commercial operations is expected in the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

On July 26, 2013, Generation executed an engineering procurement and construction contract to expand its Perryman, Maryland generation site with 120 MW of new natural gas-fired generation to satisfy certain merger commitments. The estimated remaining commitment under the contract is $80 million and achievement of commercial operation is expected in 2015. See Note 4 – Mergers and Acquisitions of the Exelon 2013 Form 10-K for additional information on commitments to develop or assist in development of new generation in Maryland resulting from the merger.

 

On December 27, 2013, Generation executed a Turbine Supply Agreement for construction of the 40 MW Fourmile Wind project in western Maryland. The estimated remaining commitment under the contract is $27 million and achievement of commercial operations is expected in the fourth quarter 2014. In the first quarter of 2014, Generation approved expansion of the Fourmile project to 40MW. This project will satisfy a portion of Exelon's 125 MW Tier I land-based renewables commitment in Maryland. See Note 4 – Mergers and Acquisitions of the Exelon 2013 Form 10-K for additional information on commitments to develop or assist in development of new generation in Maryland resulting from the merger.

 

Refer to Note 3 – Regulatory Matters of the Exelon 2013 Form 10-K for information on investment programs associated with regulatory mandates, such as ComEd's Infrastructure Investment Plan under EIMA, PECO's Smart Meter Procurement and Installation Plan and BGE's comprehensive smart grid initiative.

 

Constellation Merger Commitments

 

In February 2012, the MDPSC issued an Order approving the Exelon and Constellation merger. As part of the MDPSC Order, Exelon agreed to provide a package of benefits to BGE customers, the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland, resulting in an estimated direct investment in the State of Maryland of approximately $ 1 billion.

 

The direct investment estimate includes $95 million to $120 million relating to the construction of a headquarters building in Baltimore for Generation's competitive energy businesses. On March 20, 2013, Generation signed a 20 - year lease agreement that is contingent upon the developer obtaining all required approvals, permits and financing for the construction of the building. Once required approvals are received and financing conditions are met, construction will commence and the building is expected to be ready for occupancy in approximately 2 years after building construction commences.

 

The direct investment commitment also includes $600 million to $650 million relating to Exelon and Generation's development or assistance in the development of 285300 MWs of new generation in Maryland, which is expected to be completed over a period of 10 years. The MDPSC Order contemplates various options for complying with the new generation development commitments, including building or acquiring generating assets, making subsidy or compliance payments, or in circumstances in which the generation build is delayed, making liquidated damages payments. Exelon and Generation expect that the majority of these commitments will be satisfied by building or acquiring generating assets and, therefore, will be primarily capital in nature and recognized as incurred. If in the future Exelon determines that it is probable that it will make subsidy, compliance or liquidated damages payments related to the new generation development commitments, Exelon will record a liability at that time. As of March 31, 2014, it is reasonably possible that Exelon will be required to make subsidy or liquidated damages payments of approximately $40 million rather than build one of the generation projects contemplated by the commitments, given that the generation build is dependent upon the passage of legislation and other conditions that Exelon does not control.

 

 

Contingencies

 

Commercial Commitments

 

The Registrants' commercial commitments as of March 31, 2014, representing commitments potentially triggered by future events were as follows:

 

    Exelon  Generation  ComEd  PECO  BGE 
                  
Letters of credit (non-debt) (a) $1,717 $1,675 $17 $22 $1 
Guarantees  4,644(b) 1,287(c) 205(d) 181(e) 259(f)
Nuclear insurance premiums (g)  3,529  3,529  0  0  0 
                  
Total commercial commitments $9,890 $6,491 $222 $203 $260 

 

(a)       Non-debt letters of credit maintained to provide credit support for certain transactions as requested by third parties.

(b)       Primarily reflects parental guarantees issued on behalf of Generation to allow the flexibility needed to conduct business with counterparties without having to post other forms of collateral. Also reflects guarantees issued to ensure performance under specific contracts, preferred securities of financing trusts, property leases, indemnifications, NRC minimum funding assurance requirements and $211 million on behalf of CENG nuclear generating facilities for credit support and miscellaneous guarantees. The estimated net exposure for obligations under commercial transactions covered by these guarantees was $0.5 billion at March 31, 2014, which represents the total amount Exelon could be required to fund based on March 31, 2014 market prices.

(c)       Primarily reflects guarantees issued to ensure performance under energy marketing and other specific contracts and $211 million on behalf of CENG nuclear generating facilities for credit support. The estimated net exposure for obligations under commercial transactions covered by these guarantees was $0.3 billion at March 31, 2014, which represents the total amount Generation could be required to fund based on March 31, 2014 market prices.

(d)       Primarily reflects full and unconditional guarantees of $200 million Trust Preferred Securities of ComEd Financing III, which is a 100% owned finance subsidiary of ComEd.

(e)       Primarily reflects full and unconditional guarantees of $178 million Trust Preferred Securities of PECO Trust III and IV, which are 100% owned finance subsidiaries of PECO.

(f)       Primarily reflects full and unconditional guarantees of $250 million Trust Preferred Securities of BGE Capital Trust II, which is a 100% owned finance subsidiary of BGE.

(g)       Represents the maximum amount that Generation would be required to pay for retrospective premiums in the event of nuclear disaster at any domestic site under the Secondary Financial Protection pool as required under the Price-Anderson Act as well as the current aggregate annual retrospective premium obligation that could be imposed by NEIL. See the Nuclear Insurance section within this note for additional details on Generation's nuclear insurance premiums.

 

Nuclear Insurance (Exelon and Generation)

 

Generation is subject to liability, property damage and other risks associated with major incidents at any of its nuclear stations, including the CENG nuclear stations. Generation has reduced its financial exposure to these risks through insurance and other industry risk-sharing provisions

 

The Price-Anderson Act was enacted to ensure the availability of funds for public liability claims arising from an incident at any of the U.S. licensed nuclear facilities and also to limit the liability of nuclear reactor owners for such claims from any single incident. As of March 31, 2014, the current liability limit per incident was $13.6 billion and is subject to change to account for the effects of inflation and changes in the number of licensed reactors. An inflation adjustment must be made at least once every 5 years and the last inflation adjustment was made effective September 10, 2013. In accordance with the Price-Anderson Act, Generation maintains financial protection at levels equal to the amount of liability insurance available from private sources through the purchase of private nuclear energy liability insurance for public liability claims that could arise in the event of an incident. As of March 31, 2014, the amount of nuclear energy liability insurance purchased is $375 million for each operating site. Additionally, the Price-Anderson Act requires a second layer of protection through the mandatory participation in a retrospective rating plan for power reactors (currently 104 reactors) resulting in an additional $13.2 billion in funds available for public liability claims. Participation in this secondary financial protection pool requires the operator of each reactor to fund its proportionate share of costs for any single incident that exceeds the primary layer of financial protection. Under the Price-Anderson Act, the maximum assessment in the event of an incident for each nuclear operator, per reactor, per incident (including a 5% surcharge), is $127.3 million, payable at no more than $19 million per reactor per incident per year. Exelon's maximum liability per incident is approximately $2.4 billion.

 

In addition, the U.S. Congress could impose revenue-raising measures on the nuclear industry to pay public liability claims exceeding the $13.6 billion limit for a single incident.

 

Generation is also required each year to report to the NRC the current levels and sources of property insurance that demonstrates Generation possesses sufficient financial resources to stabilize and decontaminate a reactor and reactor station site in the event of an accident. The property insurance maintained for each facility is currently provided through insurance policies purchased from NEIL, an industry mutual insurance company of which Generation is a member. Premiums paid to NEIL by its members are subject to assessment for adverse loss experience (the retrospective premium obligation). The maximum combined retrospective premium amount that Generation could be required to pay due to participation in the Price-Anderson Act retrospective rating plan for power reactors and the NEIL retrospective premium obligation is $3.5 billion, which is included above in the Commercial Commitments table. See the Nuclear Insurance section within Note 22 – Commitments and Contingencies of the Exelon 2013 Form 10-K for additional details on Generation's nuclear insurance premiums.

 

Spent Nuclear Fuel Obligation (Exelon and Generation)

 

Under the NWPA, the DOE is responsible for the development of a geologic repository for and the disposal of SNF and high-level radioactive waste. As required by the NWPA, Generation is a party to contracts with the DOE (Standard Contracts) to provide for disposal of SNF from Generation's nuclear generating stations. In accordance with the NWPA and the Standard Contracts, Generation pays the DOE one mill ($0.001) per kWh of net nuclear generation for the cost of SNF disposal. This fee may be adjusted prospectively in order to ensure full cost recovery. The NWPA and the Standard Contracts required the DOE to begin taking possession of SNF generated by nuclear generating units by no later than January 31, 1998. The DOE, however, failed to meet that deadline and its performance will be delayed significantly. On November 19, 2013, the D.C. Circuit Court ordered the DOE to submit to Congress a proposal to reduce the current SNF disposal fee to zero, unless and until there is a viable disposal program. On January 3, 2014, the DOE filed a petition for rehearing which was denied by the D.C. Circuit Court on March 18, 2014. Also, on January 3, 2014, the DOE submitted a proposal to Congress to reduce the current SNF disposal fee to zero, subject to any further action on its request for rehearing. For the year ended December 31, 2013, Generation incurred expense of $136 million in SNF disposal fees, recorded in Purchased power and fuel expense within Exelon's and Generation's Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, including Exelon's share of Salem and net of co-owner reimbursements (not including such fees incurred by CENG). The DOE's submitted proposal becomes effective after 90-days of continuous Congressional session, unless there is Congressional action contrary to the DOE proposal. Until such time as a new fee structure is in effect, Generation must continue to pay the current SNF disposal fees.

Indemnifications Related to Sale of Sithe (Exelon and Generation)

 

On January 31, 2005, subsidiaries of Generation completed a series of transactions that resulted in Generation's sale of its investment in Sithe. Specifically, subsidiaries of Generation consummated the acquisition of Reservoir Capital Group's 50% interest in Sithe and subsequently sold 100% of Sithe to Dynegy, Inc. (Dynegy).

 

The estimated maximum possible exposure to Exelon related to the guarantees provided as part of the sales transaction to Dynegy was approximately $200 million at December 31, 2013. The guarantee expired January 31, 2014. Generation was not required to make payments under the guarantee, and, therefore, has no further obligation related to this guarantee as of March 31, 2014.

 

 

Environmental Issues

 

General. The Registrants' operations have in the past, and may in the future, require substantial expenditures in order to comply with environmental laws. Additionally, under Federal and state environmental laws, the Registrants are generally liable for the costs of remediating environmental contamination of property now or formerly owned by them and of property contaminated by hazardous substances generated by them. The Registrants own or lease a number of real estate parcels, including parcels on which their operations or the operations of others may have resulted in contamination by substances that are considered hazardous under environmental laws. In addition, the Registrants are currently involved in a number of proceedings relating to sites where hazardous substances have been deposited and may be subject to additional proceedings in the future.

 

ComEd, PECO and BGE have identified sites where former MGP activities have or may have resulted in actual site contamination. For almost all of these sites, ComEd, PECO or BGE is one of several PRPs that may be responsible for ultimate remediation of each location.

  • ComEd has identified 42 sites, 16 of which have been approved for cleanup by the Illinois EPA or the U.S. EPA and 26 that are currently under some degree of active study and/or remediation. ComEd expects the majority of the remediation at these sites to continue through at least 2017.
  • PECO has identified 26 sites, 16 of which have been approved for cleanup by the PA DEP and 10 that are currently under some degree of active study and/or remediation. PECO expects the majority of the remediation at these sites to continue through at least 2020.
  • BGE has identified 13 former gas manufacturing or purification sites that it currently owns or owned at one time through a predecessor's acquisition. Two gas manufacturing sites require some level of remediation and ongoing monitoring under the direction of the MDE. The required costs at these two sites are not considered material. One gas purification site is in the initial stages of investigation at the direction of the MDE.

 

ComEd, pursuant to an ICC order, and PECO, pursuant to settlements of natural gas distribution rate cases with the PAPUC, are currently recovering environmental remediation costs of former MGP facility sites through customer rates. BGE is authorized to and is currently recovering environmental costs for the remediation of former MGP facility sites from customers; however, while BGE does not have a rider for MGP clean-up costs, BGE has historically received recovery of actual clean-up costs in distribution rates. ComEd, PECO and BGE have recorded regulatory assets for the recovery of these costs. See Note 4 - Regulatory Matters for additional information regarding the associated regulatory assets.

 

As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Registrants had accrued the following undiscounted amounts for environmental liabilities in other current liabilities and other deferred credits and other liabilities within their respective Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 

 March 31, 2014Total Environmental Investigation and Remediation Reserve  Portion of Total Related to MGP Investigation and Remediation  
 Exelon$332 $267 
 Generation 56  0 
 ComEd 230  225 
 PECO 45  42 
 BGE 1  0 
 December 31, 2013Total Environmental Investigation and Remediation Reserve  Portion of Total Related to MGP Investigation and Remediation  
 Exelon$338 $273 
 Generation 56  0 
 ComEd 234  229 
 PECO 47  44 
 BGE 1  0 

The Registrants cannot reasonably estimate whether they will incur other significant liabilities for additional investigation and remediation costs at these or additional sites identified by the Registrants, environmental agencies or others, or whether such costs will be recoverable from third parties, including customers.

 

Water Quality

 

Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act. Section 316(b) requires that the cooling water intake structures at electric power plants reflect the best technology available to minimize adverse environmental impacts, and is implemented through state-level NPDES permit programs. All of Generation's and CENG's power generation facilities with cooling water systems are subject to the regulations. Facilities without closed-cycle recirculating systems (e.g., cooling towers) are potentially most affected by changes to the existing regulations. For Generation, those facilities are Clinton, Dresden, Eddystone, Fairless Hills, Gould Street, Handley, Mountain Creek, Mystic 7, Oyster Creek, Peach Bottom, Quad Cities, Riverside, Salem and Schuylkill. For CENG, those facilities are Calvert Cliffs, Nine Mile Point Unit 1 and R.E. Ginna.

 

On March 28, 2011, the U.S. EPA issued the proposed regulation under Section 316(b). The proposal does not require closed-cycle cooling (e.g., cooling towers) as the best technology available to address impingement and entrainment. The proposal provides the state permitting agency with discretion to determine the best technology available to limit entrainment (drawing aquatic life into the plants cooling system) mortality, including application of a cost-benefit test and the consideration of a number of site-specific factors. After consideration of these factors, the state permitting agency may require closed cycle cooling, an alternate technology, or determine that the current technology is the best available. The proposed rule also imposes limits on impingement (trapping aquatic life on screens) mortality, which likely will be accomplished by the installation of screens or another technology at the intake. Exelon filed comments on the proposed regulation on August 18, 2011, stating its support for a number of its provisions (e.g., cooling towers not required as best technology available, and the use of site-specific and cost benefit analysis) while also noting a number of technical provisions that require revision to take into account existing unit operations and practices within the industry.

 

In June 2012, the U.S. EPA published two Notices of Data Availability (NODA) seeking public comment on alternate compliance technologies for impingement and the use of a public opinion survey to calculate the so-called “non-use” benefits of the rule. Exelon filed comments for each NODA, supporting the additional flexibility afforded by the impingement NODA, and opposing the NODA relating to calculation of non-use benefits due to its inaccurate and unreliable methodologies that would artificially inflate the benefits of proposed technologies that would otherwise not be cost-effective. On June 27, 2013, the U.S. EPA agreed to amend the court approved Settlement Agreement to extend the deadline to issue a final rule until November 4, 2013 and on October 30, 2013 the U.S. EPA invoked the force majeure provision of the Settlement Agreement to extend the final rule deadline until January 14, 2014 due to the early October 2013 federal government shutdown. The parties then agreed to an additional extension until April 17, 2014. The U.S. EPA has announced that it will not meet this latest deadline and has established May 16, 2014 as the date for issuance of the final rule. Until the rule is finalized, the state permitting agencies will continue to apply their best professional judgment to address impingement and entrainment.

 

Salem and Other Power Generation Facilities. In June 2001, the NJDEP issued a renewed NPDES permit for Salem, allowing for the continued operation of Salem with its existing cooling water system. NJDEP advised PSEG, in July 2004 that it strongly recommended reducing cooling water intake flow commensurate with closed-cycle cooling as a compliance option for Salem. PSEG submitted an application for a renewal of the permit on February 1, 2006. In the permit renewal application, PSEG analyzed closed-cycle cooling and other options and demonstrated that the continuation of the Estuary Enhancement Program, an extensive environmental restoration program at Salem, is the best technology to meet the Section 316(b) requirements. PSEG continues to operate Salem under the approved June 2001 NPDES permit while the NPDES permit renewal application is being reviewed. If the final permit or Section 316(b) regulations ultimately requires the retrofitting of Salem's cooling water intake structure to reduce cooling water intake flow commensurate with closed-cycle cooling, Exelon's and Generation's share of the total cost of the retrofit and any resulting interim replacement power would likely be in excess of $430 million, based on a 2006 estimate, and would result in increased depreciation expense related to the retrofit investment.

 

It is unknown at this time whether the NJDEP permit programs will require closed-cycle cooling at Salem. In addition, the economic viability of Generation's other power generation facilities, as well as CENG's, without closed-cycle cooling water systems will be called into question by any requirement to construct cooling towers. Should the final rule not require the installation of cooling towers, and retain the flexibility afforded the state permitting agencies in applying a cost benefit test and to consider site-specific factors, the impact of the rule would be minimized even though the costs of compliance could be material to Generation and CENG.

 

Given the uncertainties associated with the requirements that will be contained in the final rule, Generation cannot predict the eventual outcome or estimate the effect that compliance with any resulting Section 316(b) or interim state requirements will have on the operation of its and CENG's generating facilities and its future results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

 

Groundwater Contamination. In October 2007, a subsidiary of Constellation entered into a consent decree with the MDE relating to groundwater contamination at a third-party facility that was licensed to accept fly ash, a byproduct generated by coal-fired plants. The consent decree required the payment of a $1 million penalty, remediation of groundwater contamination resulting from the ash placement operations at the site, replacement of drinking water supplies in the vicinity of the site, and monitoring of groundwater conditions. Prior to the Merger, Constellation recorded in its Consolidated Balance Sheets total liabilities of approximately $30 million to comply with the consent decree with an additional $3 million recognized through purchase accounting. During third quarter of 2013, Generation increased its reserve by $2 million based on an update of future estimated remediation costs. The remaining liability as of March 31, 2014, is approximately $15 million. In addition, a private party asserted claims relating to groundwater contamination. In February 2014, Generation settled these private party claims for an amount that is not material to the financial condition of Generation.

 

 

Air Quality

 

Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). On July 11, 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit Court) vacated the CAIR, which had been promulgated by the U.S. EPA to reduce power plant emissions of SO2 and NOx. The D.C. Circuit Court later remanded the CAIR to the U.S. EPA, without invalidating the entire rulemaking, so that the U.S. EPA could correct CAIR in accordance with the D.C. Circuit Court's July 11, 2008 opinion. On July 7, 2011, the U.S. EPA published the final rule, known as the CSAPR. The CSAPR requires 28 states in the eastern half of the United States to significantly improve air quality by reducing power plant emissions that cross state lines and contribute to ground-level ozone and fine particle pollution in other states.

 

Numerous entities challenged the CSAPR in the D.C. Circuit Court, and some requested a stay of the rule pending the Court's consideration of the matter on the merits. On December 30, 2011, the Court granted a stay of the CSAPR, and directed the U.S. EPA to continue the administration of CAIR in the interim. On August 21, 2012, a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court held that the U.S. EPA has exceeded its authority in certain material aspects of the CSAPR and vacated the rule and remanded it to the U.S. EPA for further rulemaking consistent with its decision. The Court also ordered that CAIR remain in effect pending finalization of CSAPR on remand. The Court's order was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and on April 29, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Appellate Court decision and upheld CSAPR, and remanded the case to the Appellate Court to resolve the remaining implementation issues.

 

Under the CSAPR, generation units were to receive allowances based on historic heat input and intrastate, and limited interstate, trading of allowances was permitted. The CSAPR restricted entirely the use of pre-2012 allowances. Existing SO2 allowances under the ARP would remain available for use under ARP. As of March 31, 2014, Generation had $51 million of emission allowances carried at the lower of weighted average cost or market.

 

EPA Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). The MATS rule became final on April 16, 2012. The MATS rule reduces emissions of toxic air pollutants, and finalized the new source performance standards for fossil fuel-fired electric utility steam generating units (EGUs). The MATS rule requires coal-fired EGUs to achieve high removal rates of mercury, acid gases and other metals from air emissions. To achieve these standards, coal units with no pollution control equipment installed (uncontrolled coal units) will have to make capital investments and incur higher operating expenses. It is expected that smaller, older, uncontrolled coal units will retire rather than make these investments. Coal units with existing controls that do not meet the required standards may need to upgrade existing controls or add new controls to comply. In addition, the new standards will require oil units to achieve high removal rates of metals. Owners of oil units not currently meeting the proposed emission standards may choose to convert the units to light oils or natural gas, install control technologies or retire the units. The MATS rule requires generating stations to meet the new standards three years after the rule takes effect, April 16, 2015, with specific guidelines for an additional one or two years in limited cases. Numerous entities challenged MATS in the D.C. Circuit Court, and Exelon intervened in support of the rule. On April 15, 2014, the D.C Circuit Court issued an opinion upholding MATS in its entirety.

 

Exelon, along with the other co-owners of Conemaugh Generating Station have improved the existing scrubbers and installed Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) controls to meet the requirements of MATS.

 

In addition, as of March 31, 2014, Exelon had a $368 million net investment in coal-fired plants in Georgia and Texas subject to long-term leases extending through 2028-2032. While Exelon currently estimates the value of these plants at the end of the lease term will be in excess of the recorded residual lease values, after the impairment recorded in the second quarter of 2013, final applications of the CSAPR and MATS regulations could negatively impact the end-of-lease term values of these assets, which could result in a future impairment loss that could be material. See Note 8 – Impairment of Long-Lived Assets of the Exelon 2013 Form 10-K for additional information.

 

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The U.S. EPA previously announced that it would complete a review of all NAAQS by 2014. Oral argument in the litigation (State of Miss. v. EPA) of the final 2008 ozone standard occurred in the D.C. Circuit Court in November 2012 and a final Court decision was issued on July 23, 2013 with the 2008 primary ozone standard upheld, but the secondary standard remanded to EPA for reconsideration. Concurrent with litigation of the 2008 ozone standard, the U.S. EPA continues its regular, periodic review of the ozone NAAQS and is expected to propose revisions in the fall of 2014, with preliminary indications that the U.S. EPA will likely propose a tightened standard. It is unclear at this point in time whether the U.S. EPA will be able to respond to the Court remand of the secondary 2008 ozone standard on a timeframe that would be any quicker than that of the U.S. EPA's current, periodic review schedule. In December 2012, the U.S. EPA issued its final revisions to the Agency's particulate matter (PM) NAAQS. In its final rule, the U.S. EPA lowered the annual PM2.5 standard, but declined to issue a new secondary NAAQS to improve urban visibility. The U.S. EPA indicated in its final rule that by 2020 it expects most areas of the country will be in attainment of the new PM2.5 NAAQS based on currently expected regulations, such as the MATS regulation. It is unclear if the vacatur of the CSAPR, one of the regulations that the U.S. EPA is relying on to assist with future PM reduction, would alter the U.S. EPA's view since either CAIR or a finalized CSAPR regulation would be in effect leading up to 2020. In March 2013, a number of industry coalitions filed a joint lawsuit challenging the new PM2.5 standard. Also during early 2013, the D.C. Circuit remanded several rules for implementation of earlier PM2.5 NAAQS to the U.S. EPA for revision of certain aspects of the rules, with a requirement that the U.S. EPA re-promulgate regulations in conformance with the correct subparts of the Clean Air Act.

 

In addition to these NAAQS, the U.S. EPA also finalized nonattainment designations for certain areas in the United States for the 2010 one-hour SO2 standard on August 5, 2013, and indicated that additional nonattainment areas will be designated in a future rulemaking. U.S. EPA will require states to submit state implementation plans (SIPs) for nonattainment areas by April 2015. With regard to Texas and Maryland, no nonattainment areas were identified in EPA's final designation rule. With regard to Illinois and Pennsylvania, several counties, or portions of counties, in each state were identified as nonattainment. The U.S. EPA will follow the approach outlined in a February 2013 U.S. EPA strategy document that establishes a process and timeline for the Agency to address additional designations in states' counties under a future rulemaking. Nonattainment county compliance with the one-hour SO2 standard is required by October 2018. While significant SO2 reductions will occur as a result of MATS compliance in 2015, Exelon is unable to predict the requirements of pending states' SIPs to further reduce SO2 emissions in support of attainment of the one hour SO2 standard.

 

Notices and Finding of Violations and Midwest Generation Bankruptcy. In December 1999, ComEd sold several generating stations to Midwest Generation, LLC (Midwest Generation), a subsidiary of Edison Mission Energy (EME). Under the terms of the sale agreement, Midwest Generation and EME assumed responsibility for environmental liabilities associated with the ownership, occupancy, use and operation of the stations, including responsibility for compliance by the stations with environmental laws before their purchase by Midwest Generation. Midwest Generation and EME additionally agreed to indemnify and hold ComEd and its affiliates harmless from claims, fines, penalties, liabilities and expenses arising from third party claims against ComEd resulting from or arising out of the environmental liabilities assumed by Midwest Generation and EME under the terms of the agreement governing the sale. In connection with Exelon's 2001 corporate restructuring, Generation assumed ComEd's rights and obligations with respect to its former generation business, including its rights and obligations under the sale agreement with Midwest Generation and EME.

 

Under a supplemental agreement reached in 2003, Midwest Generation agreed to reimburse ComEd and Generation for 50% of the specific asbestos claims pending as of February 2003 and related expenses less recovery of insurance costs and agreed to a sharing arrangement for liabilities and expenses associated with future asbestos-related claims as specified in the agreement.

 

On December 17, 2012 (Petition Date), EME and certain of its subsidiaries, including Midwest Generation, filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

 

In 2012, the Bankruptcy Court approved the rejection of an agency agreement related to a coal rail car lease under which Midwest Generation had agreed to reimburse ComEd for all obligations incurred under the coal rail car lease. The rejection left Generation as the party responsible for making all remaining payments under the lease and performing all other obligations there under. In January 2013, Generation made the final $10 million payment due under the lease agreement which had been accrued at December 31, 2012.

 

During the second quarter of 2013, Exelon filed proofs of claim for approximately $21 million with the Bankruptcy Court for amounts owed by EME and Midwest Generation for the coal rail car lease, ComEd utility payments and certain legal costs. Further, Exelon filed an environmental claim with an unspecified amount that listed the indemnifications that were in place pre-Petition Date and other factors associated with the remediation and a claim under the asbestos cost-sharing agreement with an unspecified amount. As of March 31, 2014, Exelon has not recorded a receivable for the filed proofs of claim because recovery of any amount cannot be assured at this point in the bankruptcy. Exelon will not record claim recoveries unless and until they are realized.

 

On January 17, 2014, Midwest Generation filed a plan supplement to its bankruptcy filing that included a list of contracts to be rejected upon the effective date of the reorganization plan. This list included the sale agreement, including the environmental indemnity, and the asbestos cost-sharing agreement.

 

On March 11, 2014, the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois entered its Order Confirming Debtors' Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization. On April 1, 2014 (Effective Date), NRG Energy purchased EME's portfolio of generation, including Midwest Generation and the Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization (Plan) became effective. As part of the Plan, the sale agreement, including the environmental indemnity, and the asbestos cost-sharing agreement were rejected. Creditors have 30 days from the Effective Date to file rejection damages claims associated with contracts rejected under the Plan. Exelon will be filing claims related to the rejected agreements.

 

Certain environmental laws and regulations subject current and prior owners of properties or generators of hazardous substances at such properties to liability for remediation costs of environmental contamination. As a prior owner of the generating stations, ComEd (and Generation, through its agreement in Exelon's 2001 corporate restructuring to assume ComEd's rights and obligations associated with its former generation business) could face liability (along with any other potentially responsible parties) for environmental conditions at the stations requiring remediation, with the determination of the allocation among the parties subject to many uncertain factors. ComEd and Generation have reviewed available public information as to potential environmental exposures regarding the Midwest Generation station sites. Midwest Generation publicly disclosed in its December 31, 2013 Form 10-K that (i) it has accrued a probable amount of approximately $8 million for estimated environmental investigation and remediation costs under CERCLA, or similar laws, for the investigation and remediation of contaminated property at two Midwest Generation plant sites, (ii) it has identified stations for which a reasonable estimate for investigation and/ or remediation cannot be made and (iii) it and the Illinois EPA entered into Compliance Commitment Agreements outlining specified environmental remediation measures and groundwater monitoring activities to be undertaken at its Crawford, Powerton, Joliet, Will County and Waukegan generating stations. At this time, however, ComEd and Generation do not have sufficient information to reasonably assess the potential likelihood or magnitude of any remediation requirements that may be asserted. For these reasons, ComEd and Generation are unable to predict whether and to what extent they may ultimately be held responsible for remediation and other costs relating to the generating stations and as a result no liability has been recorded as of March 31, 2014. Any liability imposed on ComEd or Generation for environmental matters relating to the generating stations could have a material adverse impact on their future results of operations and cash flows.

Generation increased its reserve for asbestos-related bodily injury claims at December 31, 2013 by $25 million, as a result of Midwest Generation listing such agreement in the January 2014 plan supplement as an agreement to be rejected in connection with the Plan. As discussed above, the rejection became effective as part of the Plan and no further adjustment to the reserve is required. Midwest Generation publicly disclosed in its December 31, 2013 Form 10-K that they had $53 million recorded related to asbestos bodily injury claims under the contractual indemnity with ComEd. Exelon and Generation may be entitled to damages associated with the rejection of the agreement. These amounts are considered to be contingent gains and would not be recognized until realized.

 

Solid and Hazardous Waste

 

Cotter Corporation. The U.S. EPA has advised Cotter Corporation (Cotter), a former ComEd subsidiary, that it is potentially liable in connection with radiological contamination at a site known as the West Lake Landfill in Missouri. On February 18, 2000, ComEd sold Cotter to an unaffiliated third party. As part of the sale, ComEd agreed to indemnify Cotter for any liability arising in connection with the West Lake Landfill. In connection with Exelon's 2001 corporate restructuring, this responsibility to indemnify Cotter was transferred to Generation. On May 29, 2008, the U.S. EPA issued a Record of Decision approving the remediation option submitted by Cotter and the two other PRPs that required additional landfill cover. The current estimated cost of the anticipated landfill cover remediation for the site is approximately $42 million, which will be allocated among all PRPs. Generation has accrued what it believes to be an adequate amount to cover its anticipated share of such liability. By letter dated January 11, 2010, the U.S. EPA requested that the PRPs perform a supplemental feasibility study for a remediation alternative that would involve complete excavation of the radiological contamination. On September 30, 2011, the PRPs submitted the final supplemental feasibility study to the U.S. EPA for review. In June 2012, the U.S. EPA requested that the PRPs perform additional analysis and groundwater sampling as part of the supplemental feasibility study, and subsequently requested additional analysis sampling and modeling that will be conducted throughout 2014. In light of these additional requests, it is unknown when the U.S EPA will propose a remedy for public comment. Thereafter the U.S. EPA will select a final remedy and enter into a Consent Decree with the PRPs to effectuate the remedy. A complete excavation remedy would be significantly more expensive than the previously selected additional cover remedy; however, Generation believes the likelihood that the U.S. EPA would require a complete excavation remedy is remote.

 

On August 8, 2011, Cotter was notified by the DOJ that Cotter is considered a PRP with respect to the government's clean-up costs for contamination attributable to low level radioactive residues at a former storage and reprocessing facility named Latty Avenue near St. Louis, Missouri. The Latty Avenue site is included in ComEd's indemnification responsibilities discussed above as part of the sale of Cotter. The radioactive residues had been generated initially in connection with the processing of uranium ores as part of the U.S. government's Manhattan Project. Cotter purchased the residues in 1969 for initial processing at the Latty Avenue facility for the subsequent extraction of uranium and metals. In 1976, the NRC found that the Latty Avenue site had radiation levels exceeding NRC criteria for decontamination of land areas. Latty Avenue was investigated and remediated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers pursuant to funding under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program. The DOJ has not yet formally advised the PRPs of the amount that it is seeking, but it is believed to be approximately $90 million. The DOJ and the PRPs agreed to toll the statute of limitations until August 2014 so that settlement discussions could proceed. Based on Generation's preliminary review, it appears probable that Generation has liability to Cotter under the indemnification agreement and has established an appropriate accrual for this liability.

 

On February 28, 2012, and April 12, 2012, two lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri against 15 and 14 defendants, respectively, including Exelon, Generation and ComEd (the “Exelon defendants”) and Cotter. The suits allege that individuals living in the North St. Louis area developed some form of cancer due to the defendants' negligent or reckless conduct in processing, transporting, storing, handling and/or disposing of radioactive materials. Plaintiffs have asserted claims for negligence, strict liability, emotional distress, medical monitoring, and violations of the Price-Anderson Act. The complaints do not contain specific damage claims. On May 30, 2012, the plaintiffs filed voluntary motions to dismiss the Exelon defendants from both lawsuits which were subsequently granted. Since May 30, 2012, several related lawsuits have been filed in the same court on behalf of various plaintiffs against Cotter and other defendants, but not Exelon. The allegations in these related lawsuits mirror the initially filed lawsuits. In the event of a finding of liability, it is reasonably possible that Exelon would be considered liable due to its indemnification responsibilities of Cotter described above. On March 27, 2013, the U.S. District Court dismissed all state common law actions brought under the initial two lawsuits; and also found that the plaintiffs had not properly brought the actions under the Price-Anderson Act. On July 8, 2013, the plaintiffs filed amended complaints under the Price-Anderson Act. Cotter moved to dismiss the amended complaints and has motions currently pending before the court. At this stage of the litigation, Exelon cannot estimate a range of loss, if any.

 

On April 11, 2014, a class action complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri against Cotter and six additional defendants. The complaint alleges that individuals living in the North St. Louis area within a three-mile radius of the West Lake Landfill suffered damage to property or loss of use of property due to the defendants' negligent handling of radioactive materials. Plaintiffs have asserted claims for monetary damages under the Price-Anderson Act. At this stage of the litigation, Exelon and Generation cannot estimate a range of loss, if any.

 

68th Street Dump. In 1999, the U.S. EPA proposed to add the 68th Street Dump in Baltimore, Maryland to the Superfund National Priorities List, and notified BGE and 19 others that they are PRPs at the site. In March 2004, BGE and other PRPs formed the 68th Street Coalition and entered into consent order negotiations with the U.S. EPA to investigate clean-up options for the site under the Superfund Alternative Sites Program. In May 2006, a settlement among the U.S. EPA and 19 of the PRPs, including BGE, with respect to investigation of the site became effective. The settlement requires the PRPs, over the course of several years, to identify contamination at the site and recommend clean-up options. The PRP's submitted their investigation of the range of clean-up options in the first quarter of 2011. Although the investigation and options provided to the U.S. EPA are still subject to U.S. EPA review and selection of a remedy, the range of estimated clean-up costs to be allocated among all of the PRPs is in the range of $50 million to $64 million. On September 30, 2013, U.S. EPA issued the Record of Decision identifying its preferred remedial alternative for the site. The estimated cost for the alternative chosen by U.S. EPA is consistent with the PRPs estimated range of costs noted above. Based on Generation's preliminary review, it appears probable that Generation has liability and has established an appropriate accrual for its share of the estimated clean-up costs. A wholly owned subsidiary of Generation has agreed to indemnify BGE for most of the costs related to this settlement and clean-up of the site.

 

Rossville Ash Site. The Rossville Ash Site is a 32-acre property located in Rosedale, Baltimore County, Maryland, which was used for the placement of fly ash from 1983-2007. The property is owned by Constellation Power Source Generation, LLC (CPSG). In 2008, CPSG investigated and remediated the property by entering it into the Maryland Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) to address any historic environmental concerns and ready the site for appropriate future redevelopment. The site was accepted into the program in 2010 and is currently going through the process to remediate the site and receive closure from MDE. Exelon currently estimates the cost to close the site to be approximately $6 million, which has been fully reserved as of March 31, 2014.

 

Sauer Dump. On May 30, 2012, BGE was notified by the U.S. EPA that it is considered a PRP at the Sauer Dump Superfund site in Dundalk, Maryland. The U.S. EPA offered BGE and three other PRPs the opportunity to conduct an environmental investigation and present cleanup recommendations at the site. In addition, the U.S. EPA is seeking recovery from the PRPs of $1.7 million for past cleanup and investigation costs at the site. On March 11, 2013, BGE and three other PRP's signed an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent with the U.S. EPA which requires the PRP's to conduct a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study at the site to determine what, if any, are the appropriate and recommended cleanup activities for the site. The ultimate outcome of this proceeding is uncertain. Since the U.S. EPA has not selected a cleanup remedy and the allocation of the cleanup costs among the PRPs has not been determined, an estimate of the range of BGE's reasonably possible loss, if any, cannot be determined. 

 

Climate Change Regulation. Exelon is subject to climate change regulation or legislation at the Federal, regional and state levels. In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that GHG emissions are pollutants subject to regulation under the new motor vehicle provisions of the Clean Air Act. Consequently, on December 7, 2009, the U.S. EPA issued an endangerment finding under Section 202 of the Clean Air Act regarding GHGs from new motor vehicles and on April 1, 2010 issued final regulations limiting GHG emissions from cars and light trucks effective on January 2, 2011. While such regulations do not specifically address stationary sources, such as a generating plant, it is the U.S. EPA's position that the regulation of GHGs under the mobile source provisions of the Clean Air Act has triggered the permitting requirements under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Title V operating permit sections of the Clean Air Act for new and modified stationary sources effective January 2, 2011. Therefore, on May 13, 2010, the U.S. EPA issued final regulations (the Tailoring Rule) relating to these provisions of the Clean Air Act for major stationary sources of GHG emissions that apply to new sources that emit greater than 100,000 tons per year, on a CO2 equivalent basis, and to modifications to existing sources that result in emissions increases greater than 75,000 tons per year on a CO2 equivalent basis. These thresholds became effective January 2, 2011, apply for six years and will be reviewed by the U.S. EPA for future applicability thereafter. On July 2, 2012 the U.S. EPA declined to lower GHG permit thresholds in its final “Step 3” Tailoring Rule update. The U.S. EPA will review permit thresholds again in a 2015 rulemaking process. On June 26, 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, in a per curium decision, dismissed industry and state petitions challenging the U.S. EPA's “Tailpipe Rule” for cars and light duty trucks, the endangerment finding for GHG's from stationary sources, and the Tailoring Rule. On October 15, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court granted industry petitions to review one aspect of the PSD permitting regulations. Under the PSD regulations, new and modified major stationary sources could be required to install best available control technology, to be determined on a case by case basis. Generation could be significantly affected by the regulations if it were to build new plants or modify existing plants.

 

On June 25, 2013, President Obama announced “The President's Climate Action Plan,” a summary of executive branch actions intended to: reduce carbon emissions; prepare the United States for the impacts of climate change; and lead international efforts to combat global climate change and prepare for its impacts. Concurrent with the announcement of the Administration's plan, the President also issued a Memorandum for the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency that focused on power generation sector carbon reductions under the Section 111 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) section of the federal Clean Air Act. The memorandum directs the U.S. EPA Administrator to issue two sets of proposed rulemakings with regard to power plant carbon emissions under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act.

 

The first rulemaking, under Section 111(b) of the Clean Air Act is to focus on establishing carbon regulations for new fossil-fuel power plants. This rulemaking was proposed on September 20, 2013 and is to be finalized “in a timely fashion.” In the proposed rule U.S. EPA sets separate standards for fossil-fuel fired utility boilers and natural gas fired stationary combustion turbines.

 

The second rulemaking, under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act is to focus on modified, reconstructed and existing fossil power plants. The rulemaking is to be proposed no later than June 1, 2014, be finalized no later than June 1, 2015, and require that states submit to U.S. EPA their implementation plans no later than June 30, 2016. In developing this rulemaking, U.S. EPA is directed to consider a number of factors, including options to reduce costs, options to ensure the continued use of a range of energy sources and technologies, options that are consistent with reliable and affordable power, and options that allow for the use of market-based instruments, performance standards and other regulatory flexibilities.

 

To the extent that the final Section 111(d) rule results in emission reductions from fossil fuel fired plants, and thereby imposes some form of direct or indirect price of carbon in competitive electricity markets, Exelon's overall low carbon generation portfolio results could benefit.

Litigation and Regulatory Matters

 

Except to the extent noted below, the circumstances set forth in Note 22 of the Exelon 2013 Form 10-K describe, in all material respects, the current status of litigation matters. The following is an update to that discussion.

 

Asbestos Personal Injury Claims (Exelon, Generation, PECO and BGE)

 

Exelon and Generation. Generation maintains a reserve for claims associated with asbestos-related personal injury actions in certain facilities that are currently owned by Generation or were previously owned by ComEd and PECO. The reserve is recorded on an undiscounted basis and excludes the estimated legal costs associated with handling these matters, which could be material.

 

At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, Generation had reserved approximately $89 million and $90 million, respectively, in total for asbestos-related bodily injury claims. As of March 31, 2014, approximately $20 million of this amount related to 238 open claims presented to Generation, while the remaining $69 million of the reserve is for estimated future asbestos-related bodily injury claims anticipated to arise through 2050, based on actuarial assumptions and analyses, which are updated on an annual basis. On a quarterly basis, Generation monitors actual experience against the number of forecasted claims to be received and expected claim payments and evaluates whether an adjustment to the reserve is necessary.

 

On November 22, 2013, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania held that the Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Act does not apply to an employee's disability or death resulting from occupational disease, such as diseases related to asbestos exposure, which manifests more than 300 weeks after the employee's last employment-based exposure, and that therefore the exclusivity provision of the Act does not preclude such employee from suing his or her employer in court. The Supreme Court's ruling reverses previous rulings by the Pennsylvania Superior Court precluding current and former employees from suing their employers in court, despite the fact that the same employee was not eligible for workers compensation benefits for diseases that manifest more than 300 weeks after the employee's last employment-based exposure to asbestos. Currently, Exelon, Generation and PECO are unable to predict whether and to what extent they may experience additional claims in the future as a result of this ruling; as such no increase to the asbestos-related bodily injury liability has been recorded as of March 31, 2014. Increased claims activity resulting from this ruling could have a material adverse effect on Exelon's, Generation's and PECO's future results of operations and cash flows.

 

BGE. Since 1993, BGE and certain Constellation (now Generation) subsidiaries have been involved in several actions concerning asbestos. The actions are based upon the theory of "premises liability," alleging that BGE and Generation knew of and exposed individuals to an asbestos hazard. In addition to BGE and Generation, numerous other parties are defendants in these cases.

 

Approximately 486 individuals who were never employees of BGE or certain Constellation subsidiaries have pending claims each seeking several million dollars in compensatory and punitive damages. Cross-claims and third-party claims brought by other defendants may also be filed against BGE and certain Constellation subsidiaries in these actions. To date, most asbestos claims which have been resolved have been dismissed or resolved without any payment by BGE or certain Constellation subsidiaries and a small minority of these cases has been resolved for amounts that were not material to BGE or Generation's financial results.

 

Discovery begins in these cases after they are placed on the trial docket. At present, only two of the pending cases are set for trial. Given the limited discovery in these cases, BGE and Generation do not know the specific facts that are necessary to provide an estimate of the reasonably possible loss relating to these claims; as such, no accrual has been made and a range of loss is not estimable. The specific facts not known include:

 

  • the identity of the facilities at which the plaintiffs allegedly worked as contractors;
  • the names of the plaintiffs' employers;
  • the dates on which and the places where the exposure allegedly occurred; and
  • the facts and circumstances relating to the alleged exposure.

 

Insurance and hold harmless agreements from contractors who employed the plaintiffs may cover a portion of any awards in the actions.

 

 

Continuous Power Interruption (ComEd)

Section 16-125 of the Illinois Public Utilities Act provides that in the event an electric utility, such as ComEd, experiences a continuous power interruption of four hours or more that affects (in ComEd's case) more than 30,000 customers, the utility may be liable for actual damages suffered by customers as a result of the interruption and may be responsible for reimbursement of local governmental emergency and contingency expenses incurred in connection with the interruption. Recovery of consequential damages is barred. The affected utility may seek from the ICC a waiver of these liabilities when the utility can show that the cause of the interruption was unpreventable damage due to weather events or conditions, customer tampering, or certain other causes enumerated in the law.

 

On August 18, 2011, ComEd sought from the ICC a determination that ComEd is not liable for damage compensation to customers in connection with the July 11, 2011 storm system that produced multiple power interruptions that in the aggregate affected more than 900,000 customers in ComEd's service territory, as well as for five other storm systems that affected ComEd's customers during June and July 2011 (Summer 2011 Storm Docket). In addition, on September 29, 2011, ComEd sought from the ICC a determination that it was not liable for damage compensation related to the February 1, 2011 blizzard (February 2011 Blizzard Docket).

 

On June 5, 2013, the ICC approved a complete waiver of liability for five of the six summer storms and the February 2011 blizzard. The ICC held that for the July 11, 2011 storm, 34,559 interruptions were preventable and therefore no waiver should apply. As required by the ICC's Order, ComEd notified relevant customers that they may be entitled to seek reimbursement of incurred costs in accordance with a claims procedure established under ICC rules and regulations. In addition, the ICC found that ComEd did not systematically fail in its duty to provide adequate, reliable and safe service. As a result, the ICC rejected the Illinois Attorney General's request for the ICC to open an investigation into ComEd's infrastructure and storm hardening investments.

 

Following the ICC's June 26, 2013 denial of ComEd's request for rehearing, on June 27, 2013 ComEd filed an appeal of both the summer and winter storm dockets with the Illinois Appellate Court regarding the ICC's interpretation of Section 16-125 of the Illinois Public Utilities Act. ComEd cannot predict the outcome of appeals.

 

As a result of the ICC's June 5, 2013 ruling, ComEd established a liability, which was not material, for potential reimbursements for actual damages incurred by the 34,559 customers covered by the ICC's June 5, 2013 Order. The liability recorded represents the low end of a range of potential losses given that no amount within the range represents a better estimate. ComEd's ultimate liability will be based on actual claims eligible for reimbursement as well as the outcome of the appeal. Although reimbursements for actual damages will differ from the estimated accrual recorded, at this time ComEd does not expect the difference to be material to ComEd's results of operations or cash flows.

 

ComEd has not recorded an accrual for reimbursement of local governmental emergency and contingency expenses as a range of loss, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated at this time, but may be material to ComEd's results of operations and cash flows.

 

 

Telephone Consumer Protection Act Lawsuit (ComEd)

 

On November 19, 2013, a class action complaint was filed in the Northern District of Illinois on behalf of a single individual and a presumptive class that would include all customers that ComEd enrolled in its Outage Alert text message program.  The complaint alleges that ComEd violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) by sending approximately 1.2 million text messages to customers without first obtaining their consent to receive such messages.  The complaint seeks certification of a class along with statutory damages, attorneys' fees, and an order prohibiting ComEd from sending additional text messages.  Such statutory damages could range from $ 500 to $ 1,500 per text. On February 21, 2014, ComEd filed a motion to dismiss this class action complaint and intends to contest the allegations of this suit. As of March 31, 2014, ComEd established a reserve, which was not material, representing its best estimate of probable loss associated with this class action complaint. As ComEd is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this proceeding, actual damages may differ from the estimated amount recorded, which may be material to ComEd's results of operations, cash flows, and financial position.

 

Baltimore City Franchise Taxes (BGE)

 

The City of Baltimore claims that BGE has maintained electric facilities in the City's public right-of-ways for over one hundred years without the proper franchise rights from the City.  BGE is currently reviewing the merits of this claimBGE has not recorded an accrual for payment of franchise fees for past periods as a range of loss, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.  Franchise fees assessed in future periods may be material to BGE's results of operations and cash flows.

 

General (Exelon, Generation, ComEd, PECO and BGE)

 

The Registrants are involved in various other litigation matters that are being defended and handled in the ordinary course of business. The assessment of whether a loss is probable or a reasonable possibility, and whether the loss or a range of loss is estimable, often involves a series of complex judgments about future events. The Registrants maintain accruals for such losses that are probable of being incurred and subject to reasonable estimation. Management is sometimes unable to estimate an amount or range of reasonably possible loss, particularly where (1) the damages sought are indeterminate, (2) the proceedings are in the early stages, or (3) the matters involve novel or unsettled legal theories. In such cases, there is considerable uncertainty regarding the timing or ultimate resolution of such matters, including a possible eventual loss.

Income Taxes (Exelon, Generation, ComEd, PECO and BGE)

 

See Note 9 - Income Taxes for information regarding the Registrants' income tax refund claims and certain tax positions, including the 1999 sale of fossil generating assets.