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REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2024
Regulated Operations [Abstract] |
REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT | REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT Wisconsin Electric Power Company, Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, and Wisconsin Gas LLC 2025 and 2026 Rate Case On April 12, 2024, WE, WPS, and WG filed requests with the PSCW to increase their retail electric, natural gas, and steam rates, as applicable, effective January 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026. The requests reflected the following:
|  | WE |  | WPS |  | WG
Proposed 2025 rate increase |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Electric |  | $ | 240.7 | million | / | 6.9% |  | $ | 110.1 | million | / | 8.5% |  | N/A
Gas |  | $ | 57.5 | million | / | 10.0% |  | $ | 26.8 | million | / | 6.8% |  | $ | 67.7 | million | / | 8.2%
Steam |  | $ | 2.5 | million | / | 8.4% |  | N/A |  | N/A
Proposed 2026 rate increase (1) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Electric |  | $ | 177.9 | million | / | 4.6% |  | $ | 64.3 | million | / | 4.5% |  | N/A
Gas |  | $ | 31.0 | million | / | 4.6% |  | $ | 16.1 | million | / | 3.7% |  | $ | 30.6 | million | / | 3.3%
Proposed ROE |  | 10.0% |  | 10.0% |  | 10.0%
Proposed common equity component average on a financial basis |  | 53.5% |  | 53.5% |  | 53.5%
(1) The proposed 2026 rate increases are incremental to the currently authorized revenue plus the requested rate increases for 2025. The primary drivers of the requested increases in electric rates are continued capital investments to transition our generation fleets from coal to renewables and natural gas-fueled generation, increased costs driven by higher inflation and interest rates, and the recovery of regulatory assets previously approved by the PSCW. The requested increases in natural gas rates are driven by the companies' ongoing capital investments in reliability and safety projects, including LNG storage facilities, as well as the impacts from higher inflation and increased interest rates. The utilities also proposed retaining their current earnings sharing mechanism. Under the current earnings sharing mechanism, if the utility earns above its authorized ROE: (i) the utility retains 100.0% of earnings for the first 15 basis points above the authorized ROE; (ii) 50.0% of the next 60 basis points is required to be refunded to ratepayers; and (iii) 100.0% of any remaining excess earnings is required to be refunded to ratepayers. A decision is expected in the fourth quarter of 2024, with any rate adjustments expected to be effective January 1, 2025. The Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company and North Shore Gas Company 2023 Rate Order In January 2023, PGL and NSG filed requests with the ICC to increase their natural gas base rates. The requested rate increases were primarily driven by capital investments made to strengthen the safety and reliability of each utility’s natural gas distribution system. PGL was also seeking to recover costs incurred to upgrade its natural gas storage field and operations facilities and to continue improving customer service. PGL did not request an extension of the QIP rider as PGL returned to the traditional rate making process to recover the costs of necessary infrastructure improvements. On November 16, 2023, the ICC issued final written orders approving base rate increases for PGL and NSG. The written orders were subsequently amended for various technical corrections. The amended written orders approved the following base rate increases: •A $304.6 million (43.5%) base rate increase for PGL’s natural gas customers. This amount includes the recovery of costs related to PGL’s SMP that were previously being recovered under its QIP rider. PGL's new rates were effective December 1, 2023. •An $11.0 million (11.6%) base rate increase for NSG’s natural gas customers. The new rates at NSG were not effective until February 1, 2024 as changes were required to NSG's billing system as a result of the final rate order. The ICC approved an authorized ROE of 9.38% for both PGL and NSG, and set the common equity component average at 50.79% and 52.58% for PGL and NSG, respectively. As part of its decisions, the ICC, among other things, disallowed $236.2 million of capital costs related to the construction and improvement of PGL’s shops and facilities and $1.7 million of capital costs related to NSG's construction of a gas infrastructure project. In addition, the ICC ordered PGL to pause spending on its SMP until the ICC has a proceeding to determine the optimal method for replacing aging natural gas infrastructure and a prudent investment level. In accordance with the written order, the ICC initiated the proceeding on January 31, 2024. On December 15, 2023, PGL and NSG filed an application for rehearing with the ICC requesting reconsideration of various issues in the ICC's November 16, 2023 written orders. On January 3, 2024, the ICC granted PGL and NSG a limited-scope rehearing. The rehearing is limited to the authorized spending for the completion of SMP projects that started in 2023 and the authorized spending for emergency repairs needed to ensure the safety and reliability of our delivery system. As the ICC did not grant a rehearing on the disallowance of PGL's and NSG's capital costs, we recorded a $178.9 million non-cash impairment of our property, plant, and equipment during the fourth quarter of 2023. This amount included $177.2 million of previously incurred disallowed costs at PGL related to its shops and facilities, and the $1.7 million of capital costs disallowed at NSG. The remaining disallowance of capital costs at PGL related to expected future spend. We anticipate appealing the ICC’s disallowance of PGL's and NSG's capital costs to the Illinois Appellate Court after the rehearing process is complete. An ICC decision on our limited-scope rehearing is expected by June 1, 2024. Uncollectible Expense Adjustment Rider The rates of PGL and NSG include a UEA rider for cost recovery or refund of uncollectible expense based on the difference between actual uncollectible write-offs and the amounts recovered in rates. The UEA rider is subject to an annual reconciliation whereby costs are reviewed for accuracy and prudency by the ICC. In May 2023, the ICC issued a written order on PGL's and NSG's 2018 UEA rider reconciliation. The order requires a $15.4 million and $0.7 million refund to ratepayers at PGL and NSG, respectively. These amounts are being refunded over a period of nine months, which began on September 1, 2023. In June 2023, the ICC denied PGL's and NSG's application requesting a rehearing of the ICC's May 2023 order. In July 2023, PGL and NSG petitioned the Illinois Appellate Court for review of the ICC orders. Their appeal is still pending. As of March 31, 2024, there can be no assurance that all costs incurred under the UEA rider during the open reconciliation years, which include 2019 through 2023, will be deemed recoverable by the ICC. The combined annual costs of PGL and NSG included in the rider, which reflect uncollectible write-offs in excess of what is recovered in base rates, have ranged from $10 million to $40 million during these open reconciliation years. Disallowances by the ICC, if any, could be material and have a material adverse impact on our results of operations. Qualifying Infrastructure Plant Rider In July 2013, Illinois Public Act 98-0057, The Natural Gas Consumer, Safety & Reliability Act, became law. This law provides natural gas utilities with a cost recovery mechanism that allows collection, through a surcharge on customer bills, of prudently incurred costs to upgrade Illinois natural gas infrastructure. In January 2014, the ICC approved a QIP rider for PGL, which was in effect until December 1, 2023. As discussed above, PGL has returned to the traditional rate-making process for recovery of these costs, and they are now included in PGL's base rates. Costs previously incurred under PGL's QIP rider are still subject to an annual reconciliation whereby costs are reviewed for accuracy and prudency. In March 2024, PGL filed its 2023 reconciliation with the ICC, which, along with the reconciliations from 2016 through 2022, are still pending. Annual costs included in the rider have ranged from $192 million to $348 million during these open reconciliation years. As of March 31, 2024, there can be no assurance that all costs incurred under PGL's QIP rider during the open reconciliation years, which include 2016 through 2023, will be deemed recoverable by the ICC. Disallowances by the ICC, if any, could be material and have a material adverse impact on our results of operations. Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation 2023 Rate Order In November 2022, MERC initiated a rate proceeding with the MPUC to increase its retail natural gas base rates. In December 2022, the MPUC approved MERC's request for interim rates totaling $37.0 million, subject to refund. The interim rates went into effect on January 1, 2023. In November 2023, the MPUC issued a written order approving a settlement agreement MERC reached with certain intervenors. The settlement agreement reflects a natural gas base rate increase of $28.8 million (7.1%), along with a 9.65% ROE and a common equity component average of 53.0%. The natural gas rate increase was primarily driven by increased capital investments as well as inflationary pressure on operating costs. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, MERC will continue the use of its decoupling mechanism for residential customers, and it will be expanded to include certain small commercial and industrial customers. Final rates went into effect on March 1, 2024. MERC’s customers are entitled to a refund to the extent the interim rate increase exceeded the final approved rate increase. As of March 31, 2024, MERC had recorded a regulatory liability of $10.8 million for refunds due to customers. These amounts will be refunded to customers during the second quarter of 2024. Michigan Gas Utilities Corporation 2024 Rate Case On March 1, 2024, MGU filed a request with the MPSC to increase its retail natural gas base rates by $17.6 million (9.7%). The request reflects a 10.25% ROE and a common equity component average of 50.9%. The proposed natural gas rate increase is primarily driven by inflationary pressure on capital projects and operating and maintenance costs and the significant increase in interest rates over the past few years. The proposed rate increase also includes the expected impacts of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's proposed rulemaking titled "Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair." An MPSC decision is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2024, with any rate adjustments expected to be effective January 1, 2025. Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corporation 2024 Rate Case On May 1, 2024, UMERC filed a request with the MPSC to increase its electric base rates for non-mine customers by $11.2 million (13.8%). The request reflects a 10.25% ROE and a common equity component average of 50.0%. The proposed rate increase is primarily driven by the construction of the now in-service RICE generation facilities and a reduction in sales volumes resulting from the implementation of limited retail choice since UMERC’s predecessor utilities last reset rates. A reduction of operation and maintenance costs partially offset these impacts. An MPSC decision is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2024, with any rate adjustments expected to be effective January 1, 2025.

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