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Early Plant Retirements Early Plant Retirements | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |
Early Plant Retirements [Text Block] | 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. 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. A final BPU decision is expected in April 2021. PSEG cannot predict the outcome of this matter. 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 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 (CWA) 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 D&A 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 NDT 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. The marketing of a potential transaction in one or a series of steps launched in the fourth quarter of 2020, and any potential transaction is expected to be completed sometime in 2021. As a result of the strategic review of PSEG Power’s non-nuclear generating assets, and the launch in the fourth quarter of 2020 of an associated marketing process for their potential disposition, PSEG Power performed an impairment assessment of its PJM, NYISO and ISO-NE asset groupings, as well as for its solar assets, as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020. The assessments included probability weightings assigned to undiscounted cash flow scenarios of retaining the assets through the end of their estimated useful lives and a successful disposition of the non-nuclear assets in 2021. Estimates of cash flows associated with a sale scenario were based on management’s expectations of the fair value of such assets. The probability weighted aggregation of undiscounted cash flows for each of the asset groupings expected to result from the use and potential disposition of the asset groups exceeded their carrying value at the above mentioned September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020 assessment dates. As such, it demonstrated that no impairment exists for any of the asset groupings and they continue to remain classified as held-for-use as of December 31, 2020. However, certain assumptions are subject to change as the potential sales and marketing process progresses. The carrying value of the fossil generation and of the solar assets (net of eligible investment tax credits (ITC)) was $4.5 billion and $560 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2020. 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. Management expects that a change in the probability of a successful disposition based upon further progression in the marketing process, but prior to meeting all necessary held-for-sale classification criteria, would result in an impairment of the ISO-NE asset grouping, which would be material. Furthermore, a change to a held-for-sale classification from a held-for-use classification would result in an impairment of the PJM, NYISO and ISO-NE asset groupings, which would be material. 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. In December 2018, PSEG Power completed the sale of the sites of the retired Hudson and Mercer units. PSEG Power transferred all land rights and structures on the sites to a third-party purchaser, along with the assumption of the environmental liabilities for the sites. As a result of the sale and transfer of liabilities, PSEG Power recorded a pre-tax gain in 2018 of $54 million.
PSEG Power LLC |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |
Early Plant Retirements [Text Block] | 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. 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. A final BPU decision is expected in April 2021. PSEG cannot predict the outcome of this matter. 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 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 (CWA) 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 D&A 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 NDT 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. The marketing of a potential transaction in one or a series of steps launched in the fourth quarter of 2020, and any potential transaction is expected to be completed sometime in 2021. As a result of the strategic review of PSEG Power’s non-nuclear generating assets, and the launch in the fourth quarter of 2020 of an associated marketing process for their potential disposition, PSEG Power performed an impairment assessment of its PJM, NYISO and ISO-NE asset groupings, as well as for its solar assets, as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020. The assessments included probability weightings assigned to undiscounted cash flow scenarios of retaining the assets through the end of their estimated useful lives and a successful disposition of the non-nuclear assets in 2021. Estimates of cash flows associated with a sale scenario were based on management’s expectations of the fair value of such assets. The probability weighted aggregation of undiscounted cash flows for each of the asset groupings expected to result from the use and potential disposition of the asset groups exceeded their carrying value at the above mentioned September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020 assessment dates. As such, it demonstrated that no impairment exists for any of the asset groupings and they continue to remain classified as held-for-use as of December 31, 2020. However, certain assumptions are subject to change as the potential sales and marketing process progresses. The carrying value of the fossil generation and of the solar assets (net of eligible investment tax credits (ITC)) was $4.5 billion and $560 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2020. 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. Management expects that a change in the probability of a successful disposition based upon further progression in the marketing process, but prior to meeting all necessary held-for-sale classification criteria, would result in an impairment of the ISO-NE asset grouping, which would be material. Furthermore, a change to a held-for-sale classification from a held-for-use classification would result in an impairment of the PJM, NYISO and ISO-NE asset groupings, which would be material. 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. In December 2018, PSEG Power completed the sale of the sites of the retired Hudson and Mercer units. PSEG Power transferred all land rights and structures on the sites to a third-party purchaser, along with the assumption of the environmental liabilities for the sites. As a result of the sale and transfer of liabilities, PSEG Power recorded a pre-tax gain in 2018 of $54 million.

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