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Other Commitments And Contingencies | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | Other Commitments and Contingencies A. Guarantees and Indemnities. We and certain of our subsidiaries enter into various agreements providing financial or performance assurance to third parties on behalf of certain subsidiaries as a part of normal business. Such agreements include guarantees and stand-by letters of credit. These agreements are entered into primarily to support or enhance the creditworthiness otherwise attributed to a subsidiary on a stand-alone basis, thereby facilitating the extension of sufficient credit to accomplish the subsidiaries’ intended commercial purposes. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had issued stand-by letters of credit of $10.2 million. We have provided a guaranty related to our future performance under a BTA for our renewable generation projects. At March 31, 2020, this guarantee totaled $8.5 million. B. Legal Proceedings. On September 13, 2018, a series of fires and explosions occurred in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, Massachusetts related to the delivery of natural gas by Columbia of Massachusetts (the "Greater Lawrence Incident"). The Greater Lawrence Incident resulted in one fatality and a number of injuries, damaged multiple homes and businesses, and caused the temporary evacuation of significant portions of each municipality. The Massachusetts Governor’s Office declared a state of emergency, authorizing the Massachusetts DPU to order another utility company to coordinate the restoration of utility services in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. The incident resulted in the interruption of gas for approximately 7,500 gas meters, the majority of which served residences and approximately 700 of which served businesses, and the interruption of other utility service more broadly in the area. Columbia of Massachusetts has replaced the cast iron and bare steel gas pipeline system in the affected area and restored service to nearly all of the gas meters. See “- D. Other Matters - Greater Lawrence Pipeline Replacement” below for more information. We are subject to inquiries and investigations by government authorities and regulatory agencies regarding the Greater Lawrence Incident, including the Massachusetts DPU and the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, as described below. We are cooperating with all inquiries and investigations. In addition, on February 26, 2020, the Company and Columbia of Massachusetts entered into agreements with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts to resolve the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s investigation relating to the Greater Lawrence Incident, as described below. NTSB Investigation. As previously disclosed, the NTSB concluded its investigation into the Greater Lawrence Incident, and we are implementing the one remaining safety recommendation resulting from the investigation. Massachusetts Investigations. Under Massachusetts law, the DPU is authorized to investigate potential violations of pipeline safety regulations and to assess a civil penalty of up to $218,647 for a violation of federal pipeline safety regulations. A separate violation occurs for each day of violation up to $2.2 million for a related series of violations. The Massachusetts DPU also is authorized to investigate potential violations of the Columbia of Massachusetts emergency response plan and to assess penalties of up to $250,000 per violation per day, or up to $20.0 million per related series of violations. Further, as a result of the declaration of emergency by the Governor, the DPU is authorized to investigate potential violations of the DPU's operational directives during the restoration efforts and assess penalties of up to $1.0 million per violation. Pursuant to these authorities, the DPU is investigating Columbia of Massachusetts as described below. Columbia of Massachusetts will likely be subject to potential compliance actions related to the Greater Lawrence Incident and the restoration work following the incident, the timing and outcomes of which are uncertain at this time. After the Greater Lawrence Incident, the Massachusetts DPU retained an independent evaluator to conduct a statewide examination of the safety of the natural gas distribution system and the operational and maintenance functions of natural gas companies in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Through authority granted by the Massachusetts Governor under the state of emergency, the Chair of the Massachusetts DPU has directed all natural gas distribution companies operating in the Commonwealth to fund the statewide examination. The statewide examination is complete. The Phase I report, which was issued in May 2019, included a program level assessment and evaluation of natural gas distribution companies. The Phase I report's conclusions were statewide and contained no specific conclusions about Columbia of Massachusetts. Phase II, which was focused on field assessments of each Massachusetts gas company, concluded in December 2019. The Phase II report made several observations about and recommendations to Massachusetts gas companies, including Columbia of Massachusetts, with regard to safety culture and assets. The final report was issued in late January 2020, and the DPU directed each natural gas distribution company operating in Massachusetts to submit a plan in response to the report no later than February 28, 2020. Columbia of Massachusetts submitted its plan on February 28, 2020. On September 11, 2019, the Massachusetts DPU issued an order directing Columbia of Massachusetts to take several specific actions to address concerns related to service lines abandoned during the restoration work following the Greater Lawrence Incident and to furnish certain information and periodic reports to the DPU. On October 1, 2019, the Massachusetts DPU issued four orders to Columbia of Massachusetts in connection with the service lines abandoned during the Greater Lawrence Incident restoration, which require: (1) the submission of a detailed work plan to the DPU, (2) the completion of quality control work on certain abandoned services, (3) the payment for a third-party independent audit, to be contracted through the DPU, of all gas pipeline work completed as part of the incident restoration effort, and (4) prompt and full response to any requests for information by the third-party auditor. The Massachusetts DPU retained an independent evaluator to conduct this audit, and that third party is currently evaluating compliance with Massachusetts and federal law, as well as any other operational or safety risks that may be posed by the pipeline work. The audit scope also includes Columbia of Massachusetts' operations in the Lawrence Division and other service territories as appropriate. Also in October 2019, the Massachusetts DPU issued three additional orders requiring: (1) daily leak surveillance and reporting in areas where abandoned services are located, (2) completion by November 15, 2019 of the work plan previously submitted describing how Columbia of Massachusetts would address the estimated 2,200 locations at which an inside meter set was moved outside the property as part of the abandoned service work completed during the Greater Lawrence Incident restoration, and (3) submission of a report by December 2, 2019 showing any patterns, trends or correlations among the non-compliant work related to the abandonment of service lines, gate boxes and curb boxes during the incident restoration. On October 3, 2019, the Massachusetts DPU notified Columbia of Massachusetts that, absent DPU approval, it is currently allowed to perform only emergency work on its gas distribution system throughout its service territories in Massachusetts. The restrictions do not apply to Columbia of Massachusetts’ work to address the previously identified issues with abandoned service lines and valve boxes in the Greater Lawrence, Massachusetts area. Columbia of Massachusetts is subject to daily monitoring by the DPU on any work that Columbia of Massachusetts conducts in Massachusetts. Such restrictions on work remain in place until modified by the DPU. On October 25, 2019, the Massachusetts DPU issued two orders opening public investigations into Columbia of Massachusetts with respect to the Greater Lawrence Incident. The Massachusetts DPU opened the first investigation under its authority to determine compliance with federal and state pipeline safety laws and regulations, and to investigate Columbia of Massachusetts’ responsibility for and response to the Greater Lawrence Incident and its restoration efforts following the incident. The Massachusetts DPU opened the second investigation under its authority to determine whether a gas distribution company has violated established standards regarding acceptable performance for emergency preparedness and restoration of service to investigate efforts by Columbia of Massachusetts to prepare for and restore service following the Greater Lawrence Incident. Separate penalties are applicable under each exercise of authority. On December 23, 2019, the Massachusetts DPU issued an order defining the scope of its investigation into the response of Columbia of Massachusetts related to the Greater Lawrence Incident. The DPU identified three distinct time frames in which Columbia of Massachusetts handled emergency response and restoration directly: (1) September 13-14, 2018, (2) September 21 through December 16, 2018 (the Phase I restoration), and (3) September 27, 2019 through completion of restoration of outages resulting from the gas release event in Lawrence, Massachusetts that occurred on September 27, 2019. The DPU determined that it is appropriate to investigate separately, for each time period described above, the areas of response, recovery and restoration for which Columbia of Massachusetts was responsible. The DPU noted that it also may investigate the continued restoration and related repair work that took place after December 16, 2018 and, depending on the outcome of that investigation, may deem it appropriate to consider that period of restoration as an additional separate time period. The DPU also noted that its investigation into all of the above described time periods is ongoing and that if the DPU determines, based on its investigation, that it is appropriate to treat the separate time frames as separate emergency events, it may impose up to the maximum statutory penalty for each event, pursuant to Mass. G.L. c. 164 Section 1J. This provision authorizes the DPU to investigate potential violations of the Columbia of Massachusetts emergency response plan and to assess penalties of up to $250,000 per violation per day, or up to $20 million per related series of violations. The DPU noted that at this preliminary stage of the investigation, it does not have the factual basis to make those determinations. In connection with its investigation related to the Greater Lawrence Incident, on February 4, 2020, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office issued a request for documents primarily focused on the restoration work following the incident. Columbia of Massachusetts is cooperating with the investigations set forth above as well as other inquiries and investigations resulting from an increased amount of enforcement activity, for all of which the outcomes are uncertain at this time. Massachusetts Legislative Matters. Increased scrutiny related to gas system safety and regulatory oversight in Massachusetts, including new legislative proposals, is expected to continue during the current two year legislative session that ends in December 2020. To date, the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy has advanced two separate bills related to gas system safety to the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees for consideration. U.S. Department of Justice Investigation. On February 26, 2020, the Company and Columbia of Massachusetts entered into agreements with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to resolve the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s investigation relating to the Greater Lawrence Incident. Columbia of Massachusetts agreed to plead guilty in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (the “Court”) to violating the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act (the “Plea Agreement”), and the Company entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (the "DPA"). Under the Plea Agreement, which must be approved by the Court, Columbia of Massachusetts will be subject to the following terms, among others: (i) a criminal fine in the amount of $53,030,116 paid within 30 days of sentencing; (ii) a three year probationary period that will early terminate upon a sale of Columbia of Massachusetts or a sale of its gas distribution business to a qualified third-party buyer consistent with certain requirements; (iii) compliance with each of the NTSB recommendations stemming from the Greater Lawrence Incident; and (iv) employment of an in-house monitor during the term of the probationary period. On March 9, 2020, Columbia of Massachusetts entered its guilty plea pursuant to the Plea Agreement, and the Court accepted the plea. Sentencing of Columbia of Massachusetts is scheduled to occur on June 8, 2020. Under the DPA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office agreed to defer prosecution of the Company in connection with the Greater Lawrence Incident for a three-year period (which three-year period may be extended for twelve (12) months upon the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s determination of a breach of the DPA) subject to certain obligations of the Company, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) the Company will use reasonable best efforts to sell Columbia of Massachusetts or Columbia of Massachusetts’ gas distribution business to a qualified third-party buyer consistent with certain requirements, and, upon the completion of any such sale, the Company will cease and desist any and all gas pipeline and distribution activities in the District of Massachusetts; (ii) the Company will forfeit and pay, within 30 days of the later of the sale becoming final or the date on which post-closing adjustments to the purchase price are finally determined in accordance with the agreement to sell Columbia of Massachusetts or its gas distribution business, a fine equal to the total amount of the profit or gain, if any, from any sale of Columbia of Massachusetts or its gas distribution business, with the amount of profit or gain determined as provided in the DPA; and (iii) the Company agrees as to each of the Company’s subsidiaries involved in the distribution of gas through pipeline facilities in Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky and Virginia to implement and adhere to each of the recommendations from the NTSB stemming from the Greater Lawrence Incident. Pursuant to the DPA, if the Company complies with all of its obligations under the DPA, including, but not limited to those identified above, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will not file any criminal charges against the Company related to the Greater Lawrence Incident. If Columbia of Massachusetts withdraws its plea for any reason, if the Court rejects any aspect of the Plea Agreement, or if Columbia of Massachusetts should fail to perform an obligation under the Plea Agreement prior to the sale of Columbia of Massachusetts or its gas distribution business, the U.S. Attorney's Office may, at its sole option, render the DPA null and void. U.S. Congressional Activity. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Pipeline Safety Act expired. There is no effect on PHMSA's authority. Action on past re-authorization bills has extended past the expiration date and action on this re-authorization is expected to continue well into 2020. Pipeline safety jurisdiction resides with the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee and is divided between two committees in the U.S. House of Representatives (Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure). Legislative proposals are currently in various stages of committee development and the timing of further action is uncertain. Certain legislative proposals, if enacted into law, may increase costs for natural gas industry companies, including the Company and Columbia of Massachusetts. Private Actions. Various lawsuits, including several purported class action lawsuits, have been filed by various affected residents or businesses in Massachusetts state courts against the Company and/or Columbia of Massachusetts in connection with the Greater Lawrence Incident. A special judge has been appointed to hear all pending and future cases and the class actions have been consolidated into one class action. On January 14, 2019, the special judge granted the parties’ joint motion to stay all cases until April 30, 2019 to allow mediation, and the parties subsequently agreed to extend the stay until July 25, 2019. The class action lawsuits allege varying causes of action, including those for strict liability for ultra-hazardous activity, negligence, private nuisance, public nuisance, premises liability, trespass, breach of warranty, breach of contract, failure to warn, unjust enrichment, consumer protection act claims, negligent, reckless and intentional infliction of emotional distress and gross negligence, and seek actual compensatory damages, plus treble damages, and punitive damages. On July 26, 2019, the Company, Columbia of Massachusetts and NiSource Corporate Services Company, a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a term sheet with the class action plaintiffs under which they agreed to settle the class action claims in connection with the Greater Lawrence Incident. Columbia of Massachusetts agreed to pay $143 million into a settlement fund to compensate the settlement class and the settlement class agreed to release Columbia of Massachusetts and affiliates from all claims arising out of or related to the Greater Lawrence Incident. The following claims are not covered under the proposed settlement because they are not part of the consolidated class action: (1) physical bodily injury and wrongful death; (2) insurance subrogation, whether equitable, contractual or otherwise; and (3) claims arising out of appliances that are subject to the Massachusetts DPU orders. Emotional distress and similar claims are covered under the proposed settlement unless they are secondary to a physical bodily injury. The settlement class is defined under the term sheet as all persons and businesses in the three municipalities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, Massachusetts, subject to certain limited exceptions. The motion for preliminary approval and the settlement documents were filed on September 25, 2019. The preliminary approval court hearing was held on October 7, 2019 and the court issued an order granting preliminary approval of the settlement on October 11, 2019. The Court granted final approval of the settlement on March 12, 2020. With respect to claims not included in the consolidated class action, many of the asserted wrongful death and bodily injury claims have settled, and we continue to discuss potential settlements with remaining claimants. In addition, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is seeking reimbursement from Columbia of Massachusetts for its expenses incurred in connection with the Greater Lawrence Incident. The outcomes and impacts of such private actions are uncertain at this time. Shareholder Derivative Lawsuit. On April 28, 2020, a shareholder derivative lawsuit was filed by the City of Detroit Police and Fire Retirement System in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware against certain of the Company’s current and former directors, alleging breaches of fiduciary duty with respect to the pipeline safety management systems relating to the distribution of natural gas prior to the Greater Lawrence Incident and also including claims related to the Company’s proxy statement disclosures regarding its safety systems. The remedies sought include damages for the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, corporate governance reforms, and restitution of any unjust enrichment. Because of the preliminary nature of this lawsuit, the Company is not able to estimate a loss or range of loss, if any, that may be incurred in connection with this matter at this time. Financial Impact. Since the Greater Lawrence Incident, we have recorded expenses of approximately $1,041 million for third-party claims and fines, penalties and settlements associated with government investigations. We estimate that total costs related to third-party claims and fines, penalties and settlements associated with government investigations resulting from the incident will range from $1,041 million to $1,055 million, depending on the number, nature, final outcome and value of third-party claims and the final outcome of government investigations. With regard to third-party claims, these costs include, but are not limited to, personal injury and property damage claims, damage to infrastructure, business interruption claims, and mutual aid payments to other utilities assisting with the restoration effort. These costs do not include costs of certain third-party claims and fines, penalties or settlements associated with government investigations that we are not able to estimate, nor do they include non-claims related and government investigation-related legal expenses resulting from the incident and the capital cost of the pipeline replacement, which are set forth in " - D. Other Matters - Greater Lawrence Incident Restoration" and "- Greater Lawrence Incident Pipeline Replacement," respectively, below. The process for estimating costs associated with third-party claims and fines, penalties, and settlements associated with government investigations relating to the Greater Lawrence Incident requires management to exercise significant judgment based on a number of assumptions and subjective factors. As more information becomes known, including additional information regarding ongoing investigations, management’s estimates and assumptions regarding the financial impact of the Greater Lawrence Incident may change. The aggregate amount of third-party liability insurance coverage available for losses arising from the Greater Lawrence Incident is $800 million. We have collected the entire $800 million. Total expenses related to the incident have exceeded the total amount of insurance coverage available under our policies. Refer to "- D. Other Matters - Greater Lawrence Incident Restoration," below for a summary of third-party claims-related expense activity and associated insurance recoveries recorded since the Greater Lawrence Incident. We are also party to certain other claims, regulatory and legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business in each state in which we have operations, none of which we believe to be individually material at this time. Due to the inherent uncertainty of litigation, there can be no assurance that the outcome or resolution of any particular claim, proceeding or investigation related to the Greater Lawrence Incident or otherwise would not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity. Certain matters in connection with the Greater Lawrence Incident have had or may have a material impact as described above. If one or more of such additional or other matters were decided against us, the effects could be material to our results of operations in the period in which we would be required to record or adjust the related liability and could also be material to our cash flows in the periods that we would be required to pay such liability. C. Environmental Matters. Our operations are subject to environmental statutes and regulations related to air quality, water quality, hazardous waste and solid waste. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with the environmental regulations currently applicable to our operations. It is management's continued intent to address environmental issues in cooperation with regulatory authorities in such a manner as to achieve mutually acceptable compliance plans. However, there can be no assurance that fines and penalties will not be incurred. Management expects a significant portion of environmental assessment and remediation costs to be recoverable through rates for certain of our companies. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had recorded a liability of $91.4 million and $104.4 million, respectively, to cover environmental remediation at various sites. The current portion of this liability is included in "Legal and environmental" in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited). The noncurrent portion is included in "Other noncurrent liabilities." We recognize costs associated with environmental remediation obligations when the incurrence of such costs is probable and the amounts can be reasonably estimated. The original estimates for remediation activities may differ materially from the amount ultimately expended. The actual future expenditures depend on many factors, including currently enacted laws and regulations, the nature and extent of impact and the method of remediation. These expenditures are not currently estimable at some sites. We periodically adjust our liability as information is collected and estimates become more refined. Electric Operations' compliance estimates disclosed below are reflective of NIPSCO's Integrated Resource Plan submitted to the IURC on October 31, 2018. See section D, "Other Matters NIPSCO 2018 Integrated Resource Plan," below for additional information. Air Future legislative and regulatory programs could significantly limit allowed GHG emissions or impose a cost or tax on GHG emissions. Additionally, rules that require further GHG reductions or impose additional requirements for natural gas facilities could impose additional costs. NiSource will carefully monitor all GHG reduction proposals and regulations. ACE Rule. On July 8, 2019, the EPA published the final ACE rule, which establishes emission guidelines for states to use when developing plans to limit carbon dioxide at coal-fired electric generating units based on heat rate improvement measures. The coal-fired units at NIPSCO’s R.M. Schahfer Generating Station and Michigan City Generating Station are potentially affected sources, and compliance requirements for these units which NIPSCO plans to retire by 2023 and 2028, respectively, will be determined by future Indiana rulemaking. The ACE rule notes that states have “broad flexibility in setting standards of performance for designated facilities” and that a state may set a “business as usual” standard for sources that have a remaining useful life “so short that imposing any costs on the electric generating unit is unreasonable.” State plans are due by 2022, and the EPA will have six months to determine completeness and then one additional year to determine whether to approve the submitted plan. States have the discretion to determine the compliance period for each source. As a result, NIPSCO will continue to monitor this matter and cannot estimate its impact at this time. Waste CERCLA. Our subsidiaries are potentially responsible parties at waste disposal sites under the CERCLA (commonly known as Superfund) and similar state laws. Under CERCLA, each potentially responsible party can be held jointly, severally and strictly liable for the remediation costs as the EPA, or state, can allow the parties to pay for remedial action or perform remedial action themselves and request reimbursement from the potentially responsible parties. Our affiliates have retained CERCLA environmental liabilities, including remediation liabilities, associated with certain current and former operations. These liabilities are not material to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited). MGP. A program has been instituted to identify and investigate former MGP sites where Gas Distribution Operations subsidiaries or predecessors may have liability. The program has identified 63 such sites where liability is probable. Remedial actions at many of these sites are being overseen by state or federal environmental agencies through consent agreements or voluntary remediation agreements. We utilize a probabilistic model to estimate our future remediation costs related to MGP sites. The model was prepared with the assistance of a third party and incorporates our experience and general industry experience with remediating MGP sites. We complete an annual refresh of the model in the second quarter of each fiscal year. No material changes to the estimated future remediation costs were noted as a result of the refresh completed as of June 30, 2019. Our total estimated liability related to the facilities subject to remediation was $86.8 million and $102.2 million at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The liability represents our best estimate of the probable cost to remediate the facilities. We believe that it is reasonably possible that remediation costs could vary by as much as $20 million in addition to the costs noted above. Remediation costs are estimated based on the best available information, applicable remediation standards at the balance sheet date and experience with similar facilities. CCRs. On April 17, 2015, the EPA issued a final rule for regulation of CCRs. The rule regulates CCRs under the RCRA Subtitle D, which determines them to be nonhazardous. The rule is implemented in phases and requires increased groundwater monitoring, reporting, recordkeeping and posting of related information to the Internet. The rule also establishes requirements related to CCR management and disposal. The rule allows NIPSCO to continue its byproduct beneficial use program. To comply with the rule, NIPSCO completed capital expenditures to modify its infrastructure and manage CCRs during 2019. The CCR rule also resulted in revisions to previously recorded legal obligations associated with the retirement of certain NIPSCO facilities. The actual asset retirement costs related to the CCR rule may vary substantially from the estimates used to record the increased asset retirement obligation due to the uncertainty about the requirements that will be established by environmental authorities, compliance strategies that will be used, and the preliminary nature of available data used to estimate costs. As allowed by the rule, NIPSCO will continue to collect data over time to determine the specific compliance solutions and associated costs and, as a result, the actual costs may vary. NIPSCO has filed initial CCR closure plans for R.M. Schahfer Generating Station and Michigan City Generating Station with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Water ELG. On November 3, 2015, the EPA issued a final rule to amend the ELG and standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating category. Based upon a study performed in 2016 of the final rule, capital compliance costs were expected to be approximately $170 million. The EPA has proposed revisions to the final rule. NIPSCO does not anticipate material ELG compliance costs based on the preferred option announced as part of NIPSCO's 2018 Integrated Resource Plan (discussed below). D. Other Matters. NIPSCO 2018 Integrated Resource Plan. Multiple factors, but primarily economic ones, including low natural gas prices, advancing cost effective renewable technology and increasing capital and operating costs associated with existing coal plants, have led NIPSCO to conclude in its October 2018 Integrated Resource Plan submission that NIPSCO’s current fleet of coal generation facilities will be retired earlier than previous Integrated Resource Plan’s had indicated. The Integrated Resource Plan evaluated demand-side and supply-side resource alternatives to reliably and cost effectively meet NIPSCO customers' future energy requirements over the ensuing 20 years. The preferred option within the Integrated Resource Plan retires R.M. Schahfer Generating Station (Units 14, 15, 17, and 18) by 2023 and Michigan City Generating Station (Unit 12) by 2028. These units represent 2,080 MW of generating capacity, equal to 72% of NIPSCO’s remaining generating capacity and 100% of NIPSCO's remaining coal-fired generating capacity. The current replacement plan includes lower-cost, reliable, cleaner energy resources to be obtained through a combination of NIPSCO ownership and PPAs. In January 2019, NIPSCO executed a 20 year PPA, referred to as the Jordan Creek PPA, to purchase 100% of the output from renewable generation facilities at a fixed price per MWh. NIPSCO submitted the Jordan Creek PPA to the IURC for approval in February 2019 and the IURC approved the Jordan Creek PPA on June 5, 2019. Payments under the Jordan Creek PPA will not begin until the associated generation facility is constructed by the owner / seller, which is currently scheduled to be complete by the end of 2020. NIPSCO is monitoring any possible impact COVID-19 may have on the expected completion date of this project. Also in January 2019, NIPSCO executed a BTA, referred to as the Rosewater BTA, with a developer to construct a renewable generation facility with a nameplate capacity of approximately 100 MW. Once complete, ownership of the facility would be transferred to a joint venture whose members include NIPSCO, the developer and an unrelated tax equity partner. The aforementioned joint venture is expected to be fully owned by NIPSCO after the wind PTCs are monetized from the project (approximately 10 years after the facility goes into service). NIPSCO's purchase requirement under the Rosewater BTA is dependent on satisfactory approval of the Rosewater BTA by the IURC, successful execution of an agreement with a tax equity partner and timely completion of construction. NIPSCO submitted the Rosewater BTA to the IURC for approval in February 2019 and the IURC approved the Rosewater BTA on August 7, 2019. The required FERC approvals for the project were received in December 2019. Construction of the facility is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2020; however, this project could experience a construction delay due to COVID-19. NIPSCO is continuing to monitor the impact of COVID-19. On October 1, 2019, NIPSCO announced the opening of its next round of RFP to consider potential resources to meet the future electric needs of its customers. The RFP closed on November 20, 2019, and NIPSCO continues to evaluate the results. NIPSCO is considering all sources in the RFP process and is expecting to obtain adequate resources to facilitate the retirement of the R.M. Schahfer Generation Station in 2023. The planned replacement in 2023 of approximately 1,600 MW from this coal-fired generation station will provide incremental capital investment opportunities for 2022 and 2023. Currently, half of the capacity in the replacement plan is targeted to be owned by joint ventures that will include NIPSCO and unrelated financial investors as the members. The remaining new capacity is expected to be primarily in the form of PPAs. NIPSCO expects to begin the appropriate regulatory compliance filings related to the new capacity as agreements are finalized with counterparties in 2020 and 2021. In October 2019, NIPSCO executed a BTA, referred to as the Indiana Crossroads BTA, with a developer to construct an additional renewable generation facility with a nameplate capacity of approximately 300 MW. Once complete, ownership of the facility would be transferred to a joint venture whose members include NIPSCO, the developer and an unrelated tax equity partner. The aforementioned joint venture is expected to be fully owned by NIPSCO after the wind PTCs are monetized from the project (approximately 10 years after the facility goes into service). NIPSCO's purchase requirement under the Indiana Crossroads BTA is dependent on satisfactory approval of the Indiana Crossroads BTA by the IURC, successful execution of an agreement with a tax equity partner, and timely completion of construction. NIPSCO submitted the Indiana Crossroads BTA to the IURC for approval on October 22, 2019, and the IURC approved the Indiana Crossroads BTA on February 19, 2020. Required FERC filings are expected to be filed by the end of June 2020. Construction of the facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. On May 1, 2020, President Donald Trump issued an executive order (the “EO”) prohibiting any transaction initiated after that day that (i) involves bulk-power system equipment designed, developed, manufactured or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a foreign adversary and (ii) poses an unacceptable risk to national security. The EO directs the U.S. Secretary of Energy to issue implementing regulations by September 28, 2020. The EO also requires the U.S. Secretary of Energy to review the risk of existing bulk-power system equipment sourced from foreign adversaries and to establish a task force to review and recommend federal procurement policies and procedures consistent with the considerations identified in the EO. In the future certain bulk-power system equipment owned or operated by NiSource could possibly be considered to be sourced from a foreign adversary within the meaning of the EO. Greater Lawrence Incident Restoration. In addition to the amounts estimated for third-party claims and fines, penalties and settlements associated with government investigations described above, since the Greater Lawrence Incident, we have recorded expenses of approximately $429 million for other incident-related costs. We estimate that total other incident-related costs will range from $450 million and $460 million, depending on the incurrence of costs associated with resolving outstanding inquiries and investigations discuss above in " - B. Legal Proceedings." Such costs include certain consulting costs, legal costs, vendor costs, claims center costs, labor and related expenses incurred in connection with the incident, and insurance-related loss surcharges. The amounts set forth above do not include the capital cost of the pipeline replacement, which is set forth below, or any estimates for fines and penalties, which are discussed above in " - B. Legal Proceedings." As discussed in "- B. Legal Proceedings," the aggregate amount of third-party liability insurance coverage available for losses arising from the Greater Lawrence Incident is $800 million. We have collected the entire $800 million. Expenses related to the incident have exceeded the total amount of insurance coverage available under our policies. The following table summarizes expenses incurred and insurance recoveries recorded since the Greater Lawrence Incident. This activity is presented within "Operation and maintenance" and "Other, net' in our Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income (unaudited).
| Total Costs Incurred through |  | Costs Incurred during the Three Months Ended |  |
(in millions) | December 31, 2019 |  | March 31, 2020 |  | Incident to Date
Third-party claims | $ | 1,041 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,041 |
Other incident-related costs | 420 |  |  | 9 |  |  | 429 |
Total | 1,461 |  |  | 9 |  |  | 1,470 |
Insurance recoveries recorded | (800 | ) |  | — |  |  | (800 | )
Total costs incurred | $ | 661 |  |  | $ | 9 |  |  | $ | 670 |
Greater Lawrence Pipeline Replacement. In connection with the Greater Lawrence Incident, Columbia of Massachusetts, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Governor’s office, replaced the entire affected 45-mile cast iron and bare steel pipeline system that delivers gas to approximately 7,500 gas meters, the majority of which serve residences and approximately 700 of which serve businesses impacted in the Greater Lawrence Incident. This system was replaced with plastic distribution mains and service lines, as well as enhanced safety features such as pressure regulation and excess flow valves at each premise. We have invested approximately $258 million of capital spend for the pipeline replacement; this work was completed in 2019. We maintain property insurance for gas pipelines and other applicable property. Columbia of Massachusetts has filed a proof of loss with its property insurer for the full cost of the pipeline replacement. In January 2020, we filed a lawsuit against the property insurer, seeking payment of our property claim. We are currently unable to predict the timing or amount of any insurance recovery under the property policy. This pipeline replacement cost is part of the Massachusetts Business that is classified as held for sale at March 31, 2020. The assets and liabilities of the Massachusetts Business have been recorded at fair value, less costs to sell, which has resulted in a loss being recorded as of March 31, 2020. See Note 7, "Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale," for additional information. State Income Taxes Related to Greater Lawrence Incident Expenses. As of December 31, 2018, expenses related to the Greater Lawrence Incident were $1,023 million. In the fourth quarter of 2019, we filed an application for Alternative Apportionment with the MA DOR to request an allocable approach to these expenses for purposes of Massachusetts state income taxes, which, if approved, would result in a state deferred tax asset of approximately $50 million, net. The MA DOR issued a denial during the first quarter of 2020. We are filing an application for abatement in the second quarter of 2020 and believe it is reasonably possible that the application will be accepted, or an alternative method proposed.

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