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Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
Income Tax Expense. The components of income tax expense (benefit) were as follows: 
Year Ended December 31, (in millions)
202020192018
Income Taxes
Current
Federal$0.2 $— $— 
State11.7 5.2 8.2 
Total Current11.9 5.2 8.2 
Deferred
Federal(0.4)110.7 (209.4)
State(27.4)9.0 22.2 
Total Deferred(27.8)119.7 (187.2)
Deferred Investment Credits(1.2)(1.4)(1.0)
Income Taxes$(17.1)$123.5 $(180.0)
Statutory Rate Reconciliation. The following table represents a reconciliation of income tax expense at the statutory federal income tax rate to the actual income tax expense from continuing operations:
Year Ended December 31, (in millions)
202020192018
Book income (loss) before income taxes$(31.3)$506.6 $(230.6)
Tax expense (benefit) at statutory federal income tax rate(6.6)21.0 %106.5 21.0 %(48.4)21.0 %
Increases (reductions) in taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit(11.7)37.4 10.1 2.0 24.7 (10.7)
Amortization of regulatory liabilities(38.4)122.7 (29.4)(5.8)(29.3)12.7 
Goodwill impairment— — 43.0 8.5 — — 
Fines and penalties11.8 (37.7)11.5 2.3 0.2 (0.1)
Charitable contribution carryover— — (2.5)(0.5)— — 
State regulatory proceedings— — (9.5)(1.9)(127.8)55.4 
Employee stock ownership plan dividends and other compensation(1.3)4.2 (2.0)(0.4)(2.2)1.0 
Deferred taxes on TCJA regulatory liability divested23.3 (74.5)— — — — 
Tax accrual adjustments8.9 (28.4)— — — — 
Federal tax credits(2.5)8.0 — — — — 
Other adjustments(0.6)1.9 (4.2)(0.8)2.8 (1.2)
Income Taxes$(17.1)54.6 %$123.5 24.4 %$(180.0)78.1 %
The effective income tax rates were 54.6%, 24.4% and 78.1% in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The difference in tax expense year-over-year has a relative impact on the effective tax rate proportional to pretax income or loss. The 30.2% increase in effective tax rate in 2020 versus 2019 was primarily the result of lower pre-tax income, state jurisdictional mix of pre-tax loss in 2020 tax effected at statutory tax rates and increased amortization of excess deferred federal income taxes in 2020 compared to 2019. These items were offset by increased deferred tax expense recognized on the sale of Columbia of Massachusetts' regulatory liability, established due to TCJA in 2017, that would have otherwise been recognized over the amortization period, non-deductible penalties as described in Note 1, "Company Structure and Principles of Consolidation" and non-cash impairment of goodwill related to Columbia of Massachusetts in 2019 (see Note 7, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" for additional information), and one-time tax accrual adjustments.
The 53.7% decrease in effective tax rate in 2019 versus 2018 was primarily the result of not having significant income tax decreases resulting from state regulatory proceedings as in 2018. Additionally, there was an increase in the effective tax rate related to the non-cash impairment of goodwill in 2019 related to Columbia of Massachusetts (see Note 7, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" for additional information) and non-deductible fines and penalties related to the Greater Lawrence Incident (see Note 20, "Legal Proceedings" for additional information). The rate is also impacted by the relative impact of permanent differences on higher pre-tax income.
Net Deferred Income Tax Liability Components. Deferred income taxes result from temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities. The principal components of our net deferred tax liability were as follows: 
At December 31, (in millions)
20202019
Deferred tax liabilities
Accelerated depreciation and other property differences$2,339.3 $2,516.9 
Other regulatory assets331.8 381.5 
Total Deferred Tax Liabilities2,671.1 2,898.4 
Deferred tax assets
Other regulatory liabilities and deferred investment tax credits (including TCJA)287.8 336.1 
Pension and other postretirement/postemployment benefits118.1 152.1 
Net operating loss carryforward and AMT credit carryforward602.1 765.9 
Environmental liabilities22.6 25.4 
Other accrued liabilities41.5 35.3 
Other, net128.4 98.3 
Total Deferred Tax Assets1,200.5 1,413.1 
Net Deferred Tax Liabilities$1,470.6 $1,485.3 
At December 31, 2020, we have federal net operating loss carryforwards of $520.8 million. The federal net operating loss carryforwards are available to offset taxable income and will begin to expire in 2037. In addition, we have $7.8 million in charitable contribution carryforwards to offset future taxable income, which begin to expire in 2023. We believe it is more likely than not that we will realize the benefit from the federal net operating loss carryforwards.
We also have $81.4 million (net) of state net operating loss carryforwards. Depending on the jurisdiction in which the state net operating loss was generated, the carryforwards will begin to expire in 2028.
We believe it is more likely than not that a portion of the benefit from certain state NOL carryforwards will not be realized. In recognition of this risk, we have provided a valuation allowance of $6.4 million (net) on the deferred tax assets related to sale of Massachusetts Business assets (see Note 1, "Company Structure and Principles of Consolidation" for additional information) reflected in the state net operating loss carryforward presented above.
Unrecognized Tax Benefits. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (in millions)
202020192018
Unrecognized Tax Benefits - Opening Balance$23.2 $1.2 $1.4 
Gross decreases - tax positions in prior period(1.5)(0.6)(0.4)
Gross increases - current period tax positions— 22.6 0.2 
Unrecognized Tax Benefits - Ending Balance$21.7 $23.2 $1.2 
Offset for net operating loss carryforwards(21.7)(22.6)— 
Balance - Less Net Operating Loss Carryforwards$— $0.6 $1.2 
In 2020, we resolved prior unrecognized tax benefits of $1.5 million.
We present accrued interest on unrecognized tax benefits, accrued interest on other income tax liabilities and tax penalties in "Income Taxes" on our Statements of Consolidated Income (Loss). Interest expense recorded on unrecognized tax benefits and other income tax liabilities was immaterial for all periods presented. There were no accruals for penalties recorded in the Statements of Consolidated Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, and there were no balances for accrued penalties recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
We are subject to income taxation in the United States and various state jurisdictions, primarily Indiana, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland and Virginia.
We participate in the IRS CAP, which provides the opportunity to resolve tax matters with the IRS before filing each year's consolidated federal income tax return. As of December 31, 2020, tax years through 2019 have been audited and are effectively closed to further assessment. The audit of tax year 2020 under the CAP program is expected to be completed in 2021. The statute of limitations in each of the state jurisdictions in which we operate remains open until the years are settled for federal income tax purposes, at which time amended state income tax returns reflecting all federal income tax adjustments are filed. As of December 31, 2020, there were no state income tax audits in progress that would have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.