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Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2020
Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions [Line Items] |
Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions | Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions Nuclear In April 2019, PSEG Power’s Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek nuclear plants were awarded ZECs by the BPU. Pursuant to a process established by the BPU, ZECs are purchased from selected nuclear plants and recovered through a non-bypassable distribution charge in the amount of $0.004 per kilowatt-hour (KWh) used (which is equivalent to approximately $10 per megawatt hour (MWh) generated in payments to selected nuclear plants (ZEC payment)). These nuclear plants are expected to receive ZEC revenue for approximately three years, through May 2022, and will be obligated to maintain operations during that period, subject to exceptions specified in the ZEC legislation. PSEG Power has and will continue to recognize revenue monthly as the nuclear plants generate electricity and satisfy their performance obligations. The ZEC payment may be adjusted by the BPU (a) at any time to offset environmental or fuel diversity payments that a selected nuclear plant may receive from another source or (b) at certain times specified in the ZEC legislation if the BPU determines that the purposes of the ZEC legislation can be achieved through a reduced charge that will nonetheless be sufficient to achieve the state’s air quality and other environmental objectives by preventing the retirement of nuclear plants. For instance, the New Jersey Rate Counsel, in written comments filed with the BPU, has advocated for the BPU to offset market benefits resulting from New Jersey’s rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative from the ZEC payment. PSEG intends to vigorously defend against these arguments. Due to its preliminary nature, PSEG cannot predict the outcome of this matter. The BPU’s decision awarding ZECs has been appealed by the New Jersey Rate Counsel. PSEG cannot predict the outcome of this matter. In October 2020, PSEG Power filed with the BPU its ZEC applications for Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek for the three-year eligibility period starting in June 2022. No other plants applied for ZECs for this eligibility period. The BPU’s schedule to consider these applications includes the BPU Staff issuing their preliminary findings regarding ZEC eligibility and the value of ZEC payments for this period in December 2020, followed by public and evidentiary hearings and a final BPU decision by April 2021. PSEG Power is not aware of any changes from its ZEC application for the first eligibility period that would materially affect its ability to establish eligibility to be awarded ZECs during the second eligibility period. PSEG cannot predict the outcome of either the BPU Staff’s preliminary findings or the BPU’s final determination. In the event that (i) the ZEC program is overturned or is otherwise materially adversely modified through legal process; (ii) the amount of ZEC payments that may be awarded or other terms and conditions of the second ZEC eligibility period proposed by the BPU Staff in the December 2020 preliminary findings or by the BPU in its final decision differ from those of the current ZEC period; or (iii) any of the Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek plants is not awarded ZEC payments by the BPU and does not otherwise experience a material financial change, PSEG Power will take all necessary steps to cease to operate all of these plants. Alternatively, if all of the Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek plants are selected to continue to receive ZEC payments but the financial condition of the plants is materially adversely impacted by changes in commodity prices, FERC’s changes to the capacity market construct (absent sufficient capacity revenues provided under a program approved by the BPU in accordance with a FERC-authorized capacity mechanism), or, in the case of the Salem nuclear plants, decisions by the EPA and state environmental regulators regarding the implementation of Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act and related state regulations, or other factors, PSEG Power will take all necessary steps to cease to operate all of these plants and will incur associated costs and accounting charges. These may include, among other things, one-time impairment charges or accelerated Depreciation and Amortization Expense on the remaining carrying value of the plants, potential penalties associated with the early termination of capacity obligations and fuel contracts, accelerated asset retirement costs, severance costs, environmental remediation costs and, in certain circumstances potential additional funding of the Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Fund, which would be material to both PSEG and PSEG Power. Non-Nuclear In July 2020, PSEG announced that it is exploring strategic alternatives for PSEG Power’s non-nuclear generating fleet, which includes more than 6,750 MW of fossil generation located in New Jersey, Connecticut, New York and Maryland as well as the 467 MW Solar Source portfolio located in various states. PSEG intends to retain ownership of PSEG Power’s existing nuclear fleet. While PSEG is in the preliminary stage of this evaluation, the marketing of a potential transaction in one or a series of steps is anticipated to launch in the fourth quarter of this year, and any potential transaction is expected to be completed sometime in 2021. As a result, PSEG Power performed a recoverability test for impairment of its portfolio of generating assets in the PJM, NYISO and NEPOOL regions using a weighted probability cash flow analysis that considers the likelihood of a potential sale or disposition or continuing to operate the assets through their remaining estimated useful lives. As of September 30, 2020, the estimated undiscounted future cash flows of each of the asset groups exceeded the carrying amount and no impairment was identified. However, certain assumptions are subject to change as the potential sales and marketing process progresses. There is no assurance that the strategic review will result in a sale or other disposition of all or any portion of these assets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. Any transaction would be subject to market conditions and customary closing conditions, including the receipt of all required regulatory approvals. A change in the held-for-use classification of the remaining fossil and solar units may have a material adverse impact on PSEG’s and PSEG Power’s future financial results. In September 2020, PSEG Power completed the sale of its ownership interest in the Yards Creek generation facility. PSEG Power recorded a pre-tax gain on disposition of approximately $122 million in the third quarter of 2020 as the sale price was greater than book value. In September 2019, PSEG Power completed the sale of its ownership interests in the Keystone and Conemaugh generation plants and related assets and liabilities. PSEG Power recorded a pre-tax loss on disposition of approximately $400 million in the second quarter of 2019 as the sale price was less than book value.
PSEG Power [Member] |
Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions [Line Items] |
Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions | Early Plant Retirements/Asset Dispositions Nuclear In April 2019, PSEG Power’s Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek nuclear plants were awarded ZECs by the BPU. Pursuant to a process established by the BPU, ZECs are purchased from selected nuclear plants and recovered through a non-bypassable distribution charge in the amount of $0.004 per kilowatt-hour (KWh) used (which is equivalent to approximately $10 per megawatt hour (MWh) generated in payments to selected nuclear plants (ZEC payment)). These nuclear plants are expected to receive ZEC revenue for approximately three years, through May 2022, and will be obligated to maintain operations during that period, subject to exceptions specified in the ZEC legislation. PSEG Power has and will continue to recognize revenue monthly as the nuclear plants generate electricity and satisfy their performance obligations. The ZEC payment may be adjusted by the BPU (a) at any time to offset environmental or fuel diversity payments that a selected nuclear plant may receive from another source or (b) at certain times specified in the ZEC legislation if the BPU determines that the purposes of the ZEC legislation can be achieved through a reduced charge that will nonetheless be sufficient to achieve the state’s air quality and other environmental objectives by preventing the retirement of nuclear plants. For instance, the New Jersey Rate Counsel, in written comments filed with the BPU, has advocated for the BPU to offset market benefits resulting from New Jersey’s rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative from the ZEC payment. PSEG intends to vigorously defend against these arguments. Due to its preliminary nature, PSEG cannot predict the outcome of this matter. The BPU’s decision awarding ZECs has been appealed by the New Jersey Rate Counsel. PSEG cannot predict the outcome of this matter. In October 2020, PSEG Power filed with the BPU its ZEC applications for Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek for the three-year eligibility period starting in June 2022. No other plants applied for ZECs for this eligibility period. The BPU’s schedule to consider these applications includes the BPU Staff issuing their preliminary findings regarding ZEC eligibility and the value of ZEC payments for this period in December 2020, followed by public and evidentiary hearings and a final BPU decision by April 2021. PSEG Power is not aware of any changes from its ZEC application for the first eligibility period that would materially affect its ability to establish eligibility to be awarded ZECs during the second eligibility period. PSEG cannot predict the outcome of either the BPU Staff’s preliminary findings or the BPU’s final determination. In the event that (i) the ZEC program is overturned or is otherwise materially adversely modified through legal process; (ii) the amount of ZEC payments that may be awarded or other terms and conditions of the second ZEC eligibility period proposed by the BPU Staff in the December 2020 preliminary findings or by the BPU in its final decision differ from those of the current ZEC period; or (iii) any of the Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek plants is not awarded ZEC payments by the BPU and does not otherwise experience a material financial change, PSEG Power will take all necessary steps to cease to operate all of these plants. Alternatively, if all of the Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek plants are selected to continue to receive ZEC payments but the financial condition of the plants is materially adversely impacted by changes in commodity prices, FERC’s changes to the capacity market construct (absent sufficient capacity revenues provided under a program approved by the BPU in accordance with a FERC-authorized capacity mechanism), or, in the case of the Salem nuclear plants, decisions by the EPA and state environmental regulators regarding the implementation of Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act and related state regulations, or other factors, PSEG Power will take all necessary steps to cease to operate all of these plants and will incur associated costs and accounting charges. These may include, among other things, one-time impairment charges or accelerated Depreciation and Amortization Expense on the remaining carrying value of the plants, potential penalties associated with the early termination of capacity obligations and fuel contracts, accelerated asset retirement costs, severance costs, environmental remediation costs and, in certain circumstances potential additional funding of the Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Fund, which would be material to both PSEG and PSEG Power. Non-Nuclear In July 2020, PSEG announced that it is exploring strategic alternatives for PSEG Power’s non-nuclear generating fleet, which includes more than 6,750 MW of fossil generation located in New Jersey, Connecticut, New York and Maryland as well as the 467 MW Solar Source portfolio located in various states. PSEG intends to retain ownership of PSEG Power’s existing nuclear fleet. While PSEG is in the preliminary stage of this evaluation, the marketing of a potential transaction in one or a series of steps is anticipated to launch in the fourth quarter of this year, and any potential transaction is expected to be completed sometime in 2021. As a result, PSEG Power performed a recoverability test for impairment of its portfolio of generating assets in the PJM, NYISO and NEPOOL regions using a weighted probability cash flow analysis that considers the likelihood of a potential sale or disposition or continuing to operate the assets through their remaining estimated useful lives. As of September 30, 2020, the estimated undiscounted future cash flows of each of the asset groups exceeded the carrying amount and no impairment was identified. However, certain assumptions are subject to change as the potential sales and marketing process progresses. There is no assurance that the strategic review will result in a sale or other disposition of all or any portion of these assets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. Any transaction would be subject to market conditions and customary closing conditions, including the receipt of all required regulatory approvals. A change in the held-for-use classification of the remaining fossil and solar units may have a material adverse impact on PSEG’s and PSEG Power’s future financial results. In September 2020, PSEG Power completed the sale of its ownership interest in the Yards Creek generation facility. PSEG Power recorded a pre-tax gain on disposition of approximately $122 million in the third quarter of 2020 as the sale price was greater than book value. In September 2019, PSEG Power completed the sale of its ownership interests in the Keystone and Conemaugh generation plants and related assets and liabilities. PSEG Power recorded a pre-tax loss on disposition of approximately $400 million in the second quarter of 2019 as the sale price was less than book value.

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