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Income Taxes (All Registrants)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes (All Registrants)
Income Taxes (All Registrants)
The effective income tax rate from continuing operations varies from the U.S. Federal statutory rate principally due to the following:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Successor
 
Exelon(a)

Generation(b)

ComEd

PECO

BGE
 
Pepco
 
DPL
 
ACE
 
PHI
U.S. Federal statutory rate
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
Increase (decrease) due to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit
(2,745.7)
 
5.6
 
5.8
 
(0.6)
 
5.0
 
3.2
 
4.6
 
5.6
 
4.3
Qualified nuclear decommissioning trust fund income
3,156.6
 
(6.3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of investment tax credit, including deferred taxes on basis difference
(528.7)
 
0.9
 
(0.2)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.2)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.4)
 
(0.1)
Plant basis differences
(2,764.4)
 
 
(0.2)
 
(16.0)
 
(0.3)
 
(6.2)
 
(1.7)
 
(3.3)
 
(4.8)
Production tax credits and other credits
(1,035.7)
 
2.0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interests
84.7
 
(0.2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Like-kind exchange(c)
(5,362.4)
 
 
5.9
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
1,960.6
 
1.1
 
0.5
 
0.2
 
1.3
 
(0.2)
 
0.9
 
(3.6)
 
0.9
Effective income tax rate
(7,200.0)%
 
38.1%
 
46.8%
 
18.5%
 
40.8%
 
31.7%
 
38.7%
 
33.3%
 
35.3%
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Successor
 
Exelon
 
Generation(d)
 
ComEd
 
PECO
 
BGE(e)
 
Pepco
 
DPL
 
ACE
 
PHI
U.S. Federal statutory rate
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
Increase (decrease) due to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit
2.3
 
(116.7)
 
4.8
 
0.3
 
2.0
 
3.5
 
4.8
 
5.9
 
6.1
Qualified nuclear decommissioning trust fund income
5.7
 
591.2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of investment tax credit, including deferred taxes on basis difference
(1.8)
 
(157.8)
 
(0.2)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.4)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.6)
 
(1.6)
 
(0.3)
Plant basis differences(f)
(6.9)
 
 
(0.4)
 
(11.3)
 
(20.6)
 
(5.7)
 
(3.5)
 
(7.1)
 
(7.0)
Production tax credits and other credits
(5.8)
 
(603.0)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interest
0.9
 
94.4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statute of limitations expiration

(1.7)
 
(410.8)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Merger expenses

0.2
 
 
 
 
 
0.2
 
3.1
 
 
1.0
Other(g)
(3.3)
 
(52.3)
 
(0.6)
 
(5.2)
 
(1.0)
 
(1.0)
 
1.2
 
7.8
 
1.0
Effective income tax rate
24.6%
 
(620.0)%
 
38.6%
 
18.7%
 
15.0%
 
31.9%
 
40.0%
 
40.0%
 
35.8%
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Successor
 
Exelon
 
Generation
 
ComEd
 
PECO
 
BGE
 
Pepco
 
DPL
 
ACE
 
PHI
U.S. Federal statutory rate
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
Increase (decrease) due to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit
(1.0)
 
(13.6)
 
5.3
 
(0.1)
 
5.1
 
3.8
 
5.1
 
5.6
 
4.6
Qualified nuclear decommissioning trust fund income
5.6
 
51.2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of investment tax credit, including deferred taxes on basis difference
(0.7)
 
(5.4)
 
(0.2)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.2)
 
(0.4)
 
(0.2)
Plant basis differences
(4.3)
 
 
(0.2)
 
(14.3)
 
(0.7)
 
(6.0)
 
(1.8)
 
(3.3)
 
(4.3)
Production tax credits and other credits
(1.4)
 
(12.3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interests
(0.1)
 
(0.5)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Merger expenses(h)
(11.4)
 
(13.7)
 
 
 
 
(16.2)
 
(15.1)
 
(85.3)
 
(23.8)
Fitzpatrick bargain purchase gain
(6.5)
 
(60.0)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Like-kind exchange(c)
(3.7)
 
 
2.9
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
0.3
 
(4.2)
 
0.4
 
(0.1)
 
0.3
 
(0.7)
 
1.0
 
(1.6)
 
Effective income tax rate
11.8%
 
(23.5)%
 
43.2%
 
20.4%
 
39.6%
 
15.8%
 
24.0%
 
(50.0)%
 
11.3%

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Successor
 
Predecessor
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
March 24, 2016 to June 30, 2016
 
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
Exelon
 
Generation
 
ComEd
 
PECO
 
BGE
 
Pepco(i)
 
DPL(i)
 
ACE(i)
 
PHI(i)
 
PHI
U.S. Federal statutory rate
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
Increase (decrease) due to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit(i)
0.8
 
2.6
 
4.9
 
0.7
 
4.6
 
(9.5)
 
(5.2)
 
5.9
 
5.2
 
11.9
Qualified nuclear decommissioning trust fund income
5.6
 
9.8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of investment tax credit, including deferred taxes on basis difference
(1.7)
 
(2.5)
 
(0.2)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.1)
 
0.1
 
0.4
 
0.1
 
0.1
 
(0.9)
Plant basis differences(f)
(6.3)
 
 
(0.3)
 
(10.2)
 
(4.5)
 
12.6
 
2.0
 
1.0
 
1.7
 
(13.5)
Production tax credits and other credits
(5.5)
 
(9.6)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interest
0.7
 
1.2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statute of limitations expiration
(1.0)
 
(3.9)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Merger expenses
14.5
 
 
 
 
 
(36.1)
 
(30.5)
 
(17.7)
 
(18.9)
 
11.1
Other(g)
(2.8)
 
(3.8)
 
(0.1)
 
(2.4)
 
0.1
 
(0.5)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.1)
 
 
3.6
Effective income tax rate
39.3%
 
28.8%
 
39.3%
 
23.0%
 
35.1%
 
1.6%
 
1.6%

24.2%

23.1%
 
47.2%

    
(a)
The effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2017 is disproportionately impacted due to the decline in consolidated pre-tax GAAP earnings as compared to the federal and state tax impacts of the Like-kind exchange, tax credits, Plant basis differences, and Qualified nuclear decommissioning trust fund income.
(b)
Generation recognized a loss before income taxes for the three months ended June 30, 2017. As a result, positive percentages represent an income tax benefit for the period presented.
(c)
See Like-Kind Exchange within the Other Income Tax Matters section below for further details.
(d)
The effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2016, is disproportionately impacted due to the decline in pre-tax GAAP earnings as compared to the changes in tax credits and other reconciling items. In three months ended June 30, 2016, due to the expiration of a statute of limitations, Generation recorded an income tax benefit of $16 million. The statute of limitations expired in the third quarter of 2015; therefore, this represents an out of period adjustment.
(e)
The effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2016 is disproportionately impacted due to the decline in pre-tax GAAP earnings and changes in other reconciling items.
(f)
At BGE, includes a cumulative adjustment related to a regulatory asset.
(g)
At PECO, includes a cumulative adjustment related to an anticipated gas repairs tax return accounting method change.
(h)
Includes a remeasurement of uncertain federal and state income tax positions, see below.
(i)
Pepco, DPL and ACE recognized a loss before income taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2016, and PHI recognized a loss before income taxes for the period of March 24, 2016, through June 30, 2016. As a result, positive percentages represent an income tax benefit for the periods presented.
(j)
Includes a remeasurement of uncertain state income tax positions for Pepco and DPL.

Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
The Registrants have the following unrecognized tax benefits as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Successor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon
 
Generation
 
ComEd
 
PECO
 
BGE
 
PHI
 
Pepco
 
DPL
 
ACE
June 30, 2017
$
730

 
$
467

 
$
2

 
$

 
$
120

 
$
112

 
$
59

 
$
21

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Successor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon
 
Generation
 
ComEd
 
PECO
 
BGE
 
PHI
 
Pepco
 
DPL
 
ACE
December 31, 2016
$
916

 
$
490

 
$
(12
)
 
$

 
$
120

 
$
172

 
$
80

 
$
37

 
$
22



Exelon established a liability for an uncertain tax position associated with the tax deductibility of certain merger commitments incurred by Exelon in connection with the acquisitions of Constellation in 2012 and PHI in 2016. In the first quarter 2017, as a part of its examination of Exelon’s return, the IRS National Office issued guidance concurring with Exelon’s position that the merger commitments were deductible. As a result, Exelon, Generation, PHI, Pepco, DPL, and ACE decreased their liability for unrecognized tax benefits by $146 million, $19 million, $59 million, $21 million, $16 million, and $22 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2017, resulting in a benefit to Income taxes on Exelon’s, Generation’s, PHI’s, Pepco’s, DPL’s and ACE’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income and corresponding decreases in their effective tax rates.

Exelon reduced the liability related to the uncertain tax position associated with the like-kind exchange in the second quarter of 2017. Please see the Other Income Tax Matters section below for additional details related to the like-kind exchange adjustments made in the second quarter of 2017.

Reasonably possible the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could significantly increase or decrease within 12 months after the reporting date

Like-Kind Exchange

As of June 30, 2017, Exelon and ComEd have approximately $39 million and $2 million, respectively, of unrecognized federal and state income tax benefits that could significantly decrease within the 12 months after the reporting date due to a final resolution of the like-kind exchange litigation described below. The recognition of these unrecognized tax benefits would decrease Exelon and ComEd's effective tax rate.
 
Settlement of Income Tax Audits

As of June 30, 2017, Exelon, Generation, BGE, PHI, Pepco, and DPL have approximately $257 million, $57 million, $120 million, $80 million, $59 million, and $21 million of unrecognized federal and state tax benefits that could significantly decrease within the 12 months after the reporting date as a result of completing audits and potential settlements. Of the above unrecognized tax benefits, Exelon and Generation have $50 million that, if recognized, would decrease the effective tax rate. The unrecognized tax benefits related to BGE, DPL, and a portion of Pepco, if recognized, may be included in future regulated base rates and that portion would have no impact to the effective tax rate.

Other Income Tax Matters
    
Like-Kind Exchange (Exelon and ComEd)
 
Exelon, through its ComEd subsidiary, took a position on its 1999 income tax return to defer approximately $1.2 billion of tax gain on the sale of ComEd’s fossil generating assets. The gain was deferred by reinvesting a portion of the proceeds from the sale in qualifying replacement property under the like-kind exchange provisions of the IRC. The like-kind exchange replacement property purchased by Exelon included interests in three municipal-owned electric generation facilities which were properly leased back to the municipalities.

The IRS disagreed with this position and asserted that the entire gain of approximately $1.2 billion was taxable in 1999. Exelon was unable to reach agreement with the IRS regarding the dispute over the like-kind exchange position. The IRS asserted that the Exelon purchase and leaseback transaction was substantially similar to a leasing transaction, known as a SILO, which the IRS does not respect as the acquisition of an ownership interest in property. A SILO is a “listed transaction” that the IRS has identified as a potentially abusive tax shelter under guidance issued in 2005. Accordingly, the IRS asserted that the sale of the fossil plants followed by the purchase and leaseback of the municipal owned generation facilities did not qualify as a like-kind exchange and the gain on the sale is fully subject to tax. The IRS also asserted a penalty of approximately $90 million for a substantial understatement of tax.

On September 30, 2013, the IRS issued a notice of deficiency to Exelon for the like-kind exchange position. Exelon filed a petition on December 13, 2013 to initiate litigation in the United States Tax Court (Tax Court) and the trial took place in August of 2015. Exelon was not required to remit any part of the asserted tax or penalty in order to litigate the issue.

On September 19, 2016, the Tax Court rejected Exelon’s position in the case and ruled that Exelon was not entitled to defer gain on the transaction. In addition, contrary to Exelon’s evaluation that the penalty was unwarranted, the Tax Court ruled that Exelon is liable for the penalty and interest due on the asserted penalty. Exelon expects to timely appeal this decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in the second half of 2017. In June of 2017, the IRS finalized its computation of tax, penalties and interest owed by Exelon pursuant to the Tax Court’s decision.

In the first quarter of 2013, Exelon concluded that it was no longer more likely than not that the like-kind exchange position would be sustained and recorded charges to earnings representing the amount of interest expense (after-tax) and incremental state income tax expense that would be payable in the event Exelon is unsuccessful in litigation. Exelon agreed to hold ComEd harmless from any unfavorable impacts on ComEd’s equity of the after-tax interest and penalty amounts.

Prior to the Tax Court’s decision, however, Exelon did not believe it was likely a penalty would be assessed based on applicable case law and the facts of the transaction.  As a result, no charge had been recorded for the penalty or for after-tax interest on the penalty. While it has strong arguments on appeal with respect to both the merits and the penalty, Exelon has determined that, pursuant to accounting standards, it is no longer more likely than not to avoid ultimate imposition of the penalty. As a result, in the third quarter of 2016, Exelon and ComEd recorded a charge to earnings of approximately $106 million and $86 million, respectively, of penalty and approximately $94 million and $64 million, respectively, of after-tax interest. Exelon and ComEd recorded the penalty and pre-tax interest due on the asserted penalty to Other, net and Interest expense, net, respectively, on their Consolidated Statements of Operations. Consistent with Exelon’s agreement to continue to hold ComEd harmless from any unfavorable impact on its equity from the like-kind exchange position, ComEd recorded on its Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016, a $150 million receivable and non-cash equity contributions from Exelon.

As a result of the IRS’s finalization of its computation in the second quarter 2017, Exelon recorded a benefit to earnings of approximately $26 million, consisting of an income tax benefit of $50 million and a reduction of penalties of $2 million, partially offset by after-tax interest expense of $26 million, while ComEd recorded a charge to earnings of approximately $23 million, consisting of income tax expense of $15 million and after-tax interest expense of $8 million.

In the second quarter of 2017, Exelon amended its agreement with ComEd to also hold ComEd harmless for the unfavorable impacts on its equity from the additional income tax amounts owed by ComEd as a result of the IRS’s finalization of its computation related to the like-kind exchange position. Accordingly, in the second quarter of 2017, ComEd recorded an additional receivable and non-cash equity contribution from Exelon for the total $23 million.

In order to appeal the decision, Exelon is required to pay the tax, penalties and interest at the time Exelon files its appeal (expected in the second half of 2017). Exelon expects that a payment of approximately $1.3 billion related to the like-kind exchange will be due, including $300 million from ComEd, in the second half of 2017. While Exelon will receive a tax benefit of approximately $350 million associated with the deduction for the interest, Exelon currently has a net operating loss carryforward and thus does not expect to realize the cash benefit until 2018. After taking into account these interest deduction tax benefits, the total estimated net cash outflow for the like-kind exchange is approximately $950 million, of which approximately $300 million is attributable to ComEd after giving consideration to Exelon’s agreement to hold ComEd harmless from any unfavorable impacts on ComEd’s equity from the like-kind exchange position. Upon a final appellate decision, which could take up to several years, Exelon expects to receive approximately $60 million related to final interest computations.

Of the above amounts payable, Exelon deposited with the IRS $1.25 billion in October of 2016. The remaining amount will be paid in the second half of 2017 at the time Exelon files its appeal of the Tax Court decision. Exelon funded the $1.25 billion deposit with a combination of cash on hand and short-term borrowings. The deposit is reflected as a current asset and the related liabilities for the tax, penalty, and interest are included on Exelon’s balance sheet as current obligations.

As of June 30, 2017, ComEd has a total receivable from Exelon pursuant to the hold harmless agreement of $369 million, which is included in Current Receivables from Affiliates on ComEd’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. Under the agreement, Exelon will settle this receivable with ComEd no later than the time that the payments related to the like-kind exchange are due to the IRS, currently anticipated in the second half of 2017. No recovery will be sought from ComEd customers for any interest, penalty or additional income tax payment amounts resulting from the like-kind exchange tax position.

As previously disclosed, in the first quarter of 2014, Exelon entered into an agreement to terminate its investment in one of the three municipal-owned electric generation properties in exchange for a net early termination amount of $335 million. In the first quarter of 2016, Exelon terminated its interests in the remaining two municipal-owned electric generation properties in exchange for $360 million.

Long-Term Marginal State Income Tax Rate (Exelon, Generation, ComEd, and PHI)

 Exelon, Generation and PHI periodically review events that may significantly impact how income is apportioned among the states and, therefore, the calculation of their respective deferred state income taxes. Events that may require Exelon, Generation and PHI to update their long-term state tax apportionment include significant changes in tax law and/or significant operational changes. Exelon and PHI's long-term marginal state income tax rate was revised in the first quarter of 2017 as a result of a statutory rate change pursuant to Exelon's marginal state income tax rate policy, resulting in the recording of a deferred state tax benefit for Exelon of $21 million, net of tax.

On July 6, 2017, Illinois enacted Senate Bill 9, which permanently increased Illinois’ total corporate income tax rate from 7.75% to 9.50% effective July 1, 2017. As a result of the rate change, in the third quarter of 2017, after taking into account regulatory recovery of tax increases at Exelon, Generation and ComEd expect to record an estimated one-time increase to deferred income taxes of approximately $180 million, $15 million and $250 million, respectively. At ComEd, the increase to the Illinois deferred income tax liability will be offset by a regulatory asset. Exelon expects to record a decrease to income tax expense of approximately $70 million (net of federal taxes) and Generation expects to record an increase to income tax expense of approximately $15 million (net of federal taxes). The rate increase is not expected to have a material ongoing impact to Exelon’s, Generation’s and ComEd’s future results of operations.