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Income Taxes (All Registrants)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 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 September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Successor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon

Generation

ComEd

PECO

BGE
 
PHI
 
Pepco
 
DPL
 
ACE
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
2.2
 
5.6
 
6.6
 
(0.1)
 
5.3
 
5.1
 
2.2
 
5.3
 
5.6
Qualified nuclear decommissioning trust fund income
2.6
 
5.8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of investment tax credit, including deferred taxes on basis difference
(1.1)
 
(2.2)
 
(0.2)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.2)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.2)
 
(0.4)
Plant basis differences
(2.6)
 
 
(0.3)
 
(14.6)
 
(0.8)
 
(4.9)
 
(6.7)
 
(1.9)
 
(3.4)
Production tax credits and other credits
(2.2)
 
(4.8)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interests
0.5
 
1.0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FitzPatrick bargain purchase gain
(0.2)
 
(0.4)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
(0.1)
 
0.3
 
(0.2)
 
(0.2)
 
(0.2)
 
0.2
 
 
(0.2)
 
0.1
Effective income tax rate
34.1%
 
40.3%
 
40.9%
 
20.0%
 
39.2%
 
35.2%
 
30.4%
 
38.0%
 
36.9%
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Successor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon
 
Generation
 
ComEd
 
PECO
 
BGE
 
PHI
 
Pepco
 
DPL
 
ACE
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
3.8
 
2.6
 
7.3
 
2.4
 
5.2
 
5.6
 
5.6
 
5.2
 
6.1
Qualified nuclear decommissioning trust fund income
4.0
 
7.8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of investment tax credit, including deferred taxes on basis difference
(0.9)
 
(1.6)
 
(0.6)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.2)
 
(0.1)
 
 
(0.2)
 
(0.1)
Plant basis differences
(3.0)
 
 
(1.9)
 
(6.7)
 
(0.5)
 
(5.0)
 
(6.7)
 
(1.3)
 
(4.6)
Production tax credits and other credits
(2.9)
 
(5.7)
 
(0.1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interest
0.2
 
0.5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statute of limitations expiration

(0.1)
 
0.3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Penalties
4.3
 
 
27.2
 
 
 
 
 
 
Merger expenses

(0.6)
 
 
 
 
 
(5.7)
 
(2.3)
 
(8.6)
 
(2.9)
Other
(0.8)
 
(0.5)
 
0.1
 
0.1
 
(0.4)
 
(0.7)
 
(0.9)
 
0.1
 
(0.6)
Effective income tax rate
39.0%
 
38.4%
 
67.0%
 
30.7%
 
39.1%
 
29.1%
 
30.7%
 
30.2%
 
32.9%
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Successor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon
 
Generation
 
ComEd
 
PECO
 
BGE
 
PHI
 
Pepco
 
DPL
 
ACE
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
0.7
 
2.1
 
5.9
 
(0.1)
 
5.2
 
4.9
 
3.0
 
5.1
 
5.6
Qualified nuclear decommissioning trust fund income
4.0
 
14.0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of investment tax credit, including deferred taxes on basis difference
(0.9)
 
(2.7)
 
(0.2)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.2)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.2)
 
(0.4)
Plant basis differences
(3.4)
 
 
(0.3)
 
(14.4)
 
(0.8)
 
(4.6)
 
(6.3)
 
(1.8)
 
(3.4)
Production tax credits and other credits
(1.8)
 
(6.2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interests
0.2
 
0.7
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Merger expenses
(5.4)
 
(2.5)
 
 
 
 
(11.8)
 
(8.0)
 
(10.0)
 
(23.0)
FitzPatrick bargain purchase gain
(3.2)
 
(11.2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Like-kind exchange(a)
(1.7)
 
 
1.7
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
 
(0.4)
 
0.2
 
 
0.2
 
 
(0.3)
 
0.6
 
(0.3)
Effective income tax rate
23.5%
 
28.8%
 
42.3%
 
20.4%
 
39.5%
 
23.3%
 
23.3%
 
28.7%
 
13.5%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Successor
 
Predecessor
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
March 24, 2016 to September 30, 2016
 
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
Exelon
 
Generation
 
ComEd
 
PECO
 
BGE
 
Pepco
 
DPL(b)
 
ACE(b)
 
PHI(b)
 
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(c)
2.5
 
2.6
 
5.4
 
1.3
 
4.8
 
23.0
 
310.5
 
5.5
 
4.4
 
11.9
Qualified nuclear decommissioning trust fund income
4.8
 
8.8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of investment tax credit, including deferred taxes on basis difference
(1.3)
 
(2.0)
 
(0.3)
 
(0.1)
 
(0.2)
 
(0.2)
 
(17.9)
 
0.5
 
0.5
 
(0.9)
Plant basis differences
(4.5)
 
 
(0.6)
 
(8.8)
 
(3.3)
 
(29.0)
 
(98.6)
 
7.8
 
17.5
 
(13.5)
Production tax credits and other credits
(4.1)
 
(7.6)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interest
0.5
 
0.9
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statute of limitations expiration
(0.5)
 
(1.7)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Penalties
2.3
 
 
5.6
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Merger expenses
6.2
 
 
 
 
 
36.7
 
635.9
 
(35.4)
 
(49.8)
 
11.1
Other
(1.8)
 
(2.1)
 
 
(1.5)
 
 
(2.5)
 
35.1
 
0.4
 
1.4
 
3.6
Effective income tax rate
39.1%
 
33.9%
 
45.1%
 
25.9%
 
36.3%
 
63.0%
 
900.0%

13.8%

9.0%
 
47.2%

_________
(a)
See Like-Kind Exchange within the Other Income Tax Matters section below for further details.
(b)
DPL and ACE recognized a loss before income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, and PHI recognized a loss before income taxes for the period of March 24, 2016, through September 30, 2016. As a result, positive percentages represent an income tax benefit for the periods presented.
(c)
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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Successor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon
 
Generation
 
ComEd
 
PECO
 
BGE
 
PHI
 
Pepco
 
DPL
 
ACE
September 30, 2017
$
738

 
$
468

 
$
2

 
$

 
$
120

 
$
120

 
$
59

 
$
21

 
$
8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 September 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 September 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 Positions
As of September 30, 2017, Exelon, Generation, BGE, PHI, Pepco, DPL, and ACE have approximately $676 million, $469 million, $120 million, $88 million, $59 million, $21 million, and $8 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, potential settlements, and the outcomes of pending court cases. Of the above unrecognized tax benefits, Exelon and Generation have $462 million that, if recognized, would decrease the effective tax rate. The unrecognized tax benefits related to BGE, DPL, ACE, 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. 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 September of 2017, Exelon appealed this decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
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, an additional $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. As of June 30, 2017, ComEd had a total receivable from Exelon pursuant to the hold harmless agreement of $369 million, which was included in Current Receivables from Affiliates on ComEd’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Exelon expects to pay the tax, penalties and interest of approximately $1.3 billion related to the like-kind exchange, including $300 million attributable to ComEd, in the fourth quarter 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. Following a final appellate decision, which is expected in 2018, 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. Any remaining amounts due to the IRS will be paid by Exelon in the fourth quarter of 2017. 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. In the third quarter of 2017, the $300 million payable discussed above attributable to ComEd, net of ComEd’s receivable pursuant to the hold harmless agreement, was settled with Exelon. 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, PHI and Pepco)
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's, PHI's and Pepco's long-term marginal state income tax rate were revised in the first quarter of 2017 as a result of a statutory rate change in Washington, D.C. As a result, Exelon, PHI and Pepco recorded a one-time decrease to Deferred income tax liability of $28 million, $8 million, and $8 million, respectively, on their Consolidated Balance Sheets. Because income taxes are recovered through customer rates, Exelon, PHI and Pepco recorded a corresponding regulatory liability of $8 million, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In addition, Exelon recorded a decrease to Income tax expense of $20 million, net of federal taxes, in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2017.
In the third quarter of 2017, Exelon reviewed and updated its marginal state income tax rates based on 2016 state apportionment rates. In addition, Exelon, Generation and ComEd recorded the impacts of Illinois’ statutory rate change, which increased the total corporate income tax rate from 7.75% to 9.5% effective July 1, 2017. As a result of the rate changes, in the third quarter of 2017, Exelon, Generation and ComEd recorded a one-time increase to Deferred income taxes of approximately $250 million, $20 million and $270 million, respectively, on their Consolidated Balance Sheets. Because income taxes are recovered through customer rates, each of Exelon and ComEd recorded a corresponding regulatory asset of $272 million. Further, Exelon recorded a decrease to Income tax expense of approximately $20 million and Generation recorded an increase to Income tax expense of approximately $ 20 million (each net of federal taxes) in their Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. The Illinois statutory rate increase is not expected to have a material ongoing impact to Exelon’s, Generation’s or ComEd’s future results of operations.