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Regulatory Assets and Liabilities (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract] |
Schedule of regulatory assets | The following regulatory assets were reflected on our balance sheets as of December 31:
(in millions) |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | See Note
Regulatory assets (1) (2) |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized pension and OPEB costs (3) |  | $ | 1,142.0 |  |  | $ | 1,252.1 |  |  | 17
Environmental remediation costs (4) |  | 676.6 |  |  | 702.7 |  |  | 21
SSR |  | 298.9 |  |  | 188.1 |  |  | 23
Electric transmission costs |  | 221.0 |  |  | 234.1 |  |  | 23
AROs |  | 192.2 |  |  | 179.2 |  |  | 7
We Power generation (5) |  | 71.3 |  |  | 54.1 |  |  |
Uncollectible expense (6) |  | 35.1 |  |  | 25.6 |  |  | 1(d)
Energy efficiency programs (7) |  | 24.6 |  |  | 36.7 |  |  |
Income tax related items |  | 15.7 |  |  | 285.1 |  |  | 13
Other, net |  | 163.0 |  |  | 180.6 |  |  |
Total regulatory assets |  | $ | 2,840.4 |  |  | $ | 3,138.3 |  |  |
Balance Sheet Presentation |  |  |  |  |  |
Current assets (8) |  | $ | 37.2 |  |  | $ | 50.4 |  |  |
Regulatory assets |  | 2,803.2 |  |  | 3,087.9 |  |  |
Total regulatory assets |  | $ | 2,840.4 |  |  | $ | 3,138.3 |  |  |
(1) | Based on prior and current rate treatment, we believe it is probable that our utilities will continue to recover from customers the regulatory assets in the table.
(2) | As of December 31, 2017, we had $116.9 million of regulatory assets not earning a return and $261.1 million of regulatory assets earning a return based on short-term interest rates. The regulatory assets not earning a return primarily relate to certain environmental remediation costs, the recovery of which depends on the timing of the actual expenditures, as well as certain unrecognized pension and OPEB costs, unamortized loss on reacquired debt, and plant-related costs. The other regulatory assets in the table either earn a return or the cash has not yet been expended, in which case the regulatory assets are offset by liabilities.
(3) | Represents the unrecognized future pension and OPEB costs resulting from actuarial gains and losses on defined benefit and OPEB plans. We are authorized recovery of this regulatory asset over the average remaining service life of each plan.
(4) | As of December 31, 2017, we had not yet made cash expenditures for $617.4 million of these environmental remediation costs.
(5) | Represents amounts recoverable from customers related to WE's costs of the generating units leased from We Power, including subsequent capital additions.
(6) | Represents amounts recoverable from customers related to our uncollectible expense tracking mechanisms and riders. These mechanisms allow us to recover or refund the difference between actual uncollectible write-offs and the amounts recovered in rates.
(7) | Represents amounts recoverable from customers related to programs at the utilities designed to meet energy efficiency standards.
(8) | Short-term regulatory assets are recorded in accounts receivable and unbilled revenues on our balance sheets.
Schedule of regulatory liabilities | The following regulatory liabilities were reflected on our balance sheets as of December 31:
(in millions) |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | See Note
Regulatory liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |
2017 Tax Legislation impact and income tax related |  | $ | 2,134.1 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | 13
Removal costs (1) |  | 1,294.9 |  |  | 1,262.7 |  |  |
Unrecognized pension and OPEB costs (2) |  | 114.2 |  |  | 63.0 |  |  | 17
Mines deferral (3) |  | 95.1 |  |  | 70.2 |  |  |
Energy costs refundable through rate adjustments (4) |  | 42.0 |  |  | 88.7 |  |  |
Uncollectible expense (5) |  | 24.7 |  |  | 36.1 |  |  | 1(d)
Derivatives |  | 11.0 |  |  | 41.1 |  |  | 1(q)
Other, net |  | 44.4 |  |  | 35.4 |  |  |
Total regulatory liabilities |  | $ | 3,760.4 |  |  | $ | 1,597.2 |  |  |
Balance Sheet Presentation |  |  |  |  |  |
Current liabilities |  | $ | 41.8 |  |  | $ | 33.4 |  |  |
Regulatory liabilities |  | 3,718.6 |  |  | 1,563.8 |  |  |
Total regulatory liabilities |  | $ | 3,760.4 |  |  | $ | 1,597.2 |  |  |
(1) | Represents amounts collected from customers to cover the cost of future removal of property, plant, and equipment.
(2) | Represents the unrecognized future pension and OPEB costs resulting from actuarial gains and losses on defined benefit and OPEB plans. We will amortize this regulatory liability into net periodic benefit cost over the average remaining service life of each plan.
(3) | Represents the deferral of revenues less the associated cost of sales related to sales to the mines, which were not included in the 2015 rate order. We intend to request that this deferral be applied for the benefit of Wisconsin retail electric customers in a future rate proceeding.
(4) | Represents energy costs that will be refunded to customers in the future.
(5) | Represents amounts refundable to customers related to our uncollectible expense tracking mechanisms and riders. These mechanisms allow us to recover or refund the difference between actual uncollectible write-offs and the amounts recovered in rates.

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- Definition Tabular disclosure of assets that are created when regulatory agencies permit public utilities to defer certain costs included in rate-setting to the balance sheet. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 340 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499975&loc=d3e44264-110382 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 715 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501251&loc=d3e52485-110419 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 340 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499975&loc=d3e44250-110382 + Details
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- Definition Tabular disclosure of regulatory liabilities. Detailed information about liabilities that result from rate actions of a regulator. Rate actions of a regulator can impose a liability on a regulated enterprise resulting in a regulatory liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 405 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6500807&loc=d3e48068-110394 + Details
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