XML 41 R9.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.22.0.1

Regulatory Matters | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2021
Regulatory Matters [Line Items] |
Regulatory Matters | REGULATORY MATTERS Regulatory Assets - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL assess whether IPL’s and WPL’s regulatory assets are probable of future recovery by considering factors such as applicable regulations, recent orders by the applicable regulatory agencies, historical treatment of similar costs by the applicable regulatory agencies and regulatory environment changes. Based on these assessments, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL believe the regulatory assets recognized as of December 31, 2021 are probable of future recovery. However, no assurance can be made that IPL and WPL will recover all of these regulatory assets in future rates. If future recovery of a regulatory asset ceases to be probable, the regulatory asset will be charged to expense. At December 31, regulatory assets were comprised of the following items (in millions):
| Alliant Energy |  | IPL |  | WPL
| 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2020
Tax-related | $934 |  |  | $890 |  |  | $884 |  |  | $843 |  |  | $50 |  |  | $47 |
Pension and OPEB costs | 462 |  |  | 580 |  |  | 228 |  |  | 291 |  |  | 234 |  |  | 289 |
AROs | 128 |  |  | 119 |  |  | 89 |  |  | 81 |  |  | 39 |  |  | 38 |
Assets retired early | 92 |  |  | 113 |  |  | 66 |  |  | 77 |  |  | 26 |  |  | 36 |
IPL’s DAEC PPA amendment | 90 |  |  | 110 |  |  | 90 |  |  | 110 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
WPL’s Western Wisconsin gas distribution expansion investments | 52 |  |  | 55 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 52 |  |  | 55 |
Commodity cost recovery | 42 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 40 |  |  | 3 |
Derivatives | 8 |  |  | 26 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 13 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 13 |
Other | 132 |  |  | 113 |  |  | 80 |  |  | 67 |  |  | 52 |  |  | 46 |
| $1,940 |  |  | $2,010 |  |  | $1,443 |  |  | $1,483 |  |  | $497 |  |  | $527 |
At December 31, 2021, IPL and WPL had $75 million and $13 million, respectively, of regulatory assets that were not earning a return. IPL’s regulatory assets that were not earning a return consisted primarily of retired analog electric meters, emission allowances and costs for certain construction projects. WPL’s regulatory assets that were not earning a return consisted primarily of amounts related to the wholesale portion of under-collected costs, and costs for future expansion projects. The other regulatory assets reported in the above table either earn a return or the cash has not yet been expended, in which case the assets are offset by liabilities that also do not incur a carrying cost. Tax-related - IPL and WPL record regulatory assets for certain temporary differences (primarily related to utility property, plant and equipment at IPL) that result in a decrease in current rates charged to customers and an increase in future rates charged to customers based on the timing of income tax expense that is used to determine such rates. These temporary differences for IPL include the impacts of qualifying deductions for repairs expenditures, allocation of mixed service costs, and Iowa accelerated tax depreciation, which all contribute to lower current income tax expense during the first part of an asset’s useful life and higher current income tax expense during the latter part of an asset’s useful life. These regulatory assets will be recovered from customers in the future when these temporary differences reverse resulting in additional current income tax expense used to determine customers’ rates. Pension and other postretirement benefits costs - The IUB, PSCW and FERC have authorized IPL and WPL to record the previously unrecognized net actuarial gains and losses, and prior service costs and credits, as regulatory assets in lieu of accumulated other comprehensive loss on the balance sheets, as these amounts are expected to be recovered in future rates. These regulatory assets will be increased or decreased as the net actuarial gains or losses, and prior service costs or credits, are subsequently amortized and recognized as a component of net periodic benefit costs. Regulatory assets are also increased or decreased as a result of the annual defined benefit plan measurement process. Pension and OPEB costs are included within the recoverable cost of service component of rates charged to IPL’s and WPL’s retail and wholesale customers, which are based upon pension and OPEB costs determined in accordance with GAAP and are calculated in accordance with IPL’s and WPL’s respective regulatory jurisdictions. AROs - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL believe it is probable that certain differences between expenses accrued for AROs related to their utility operations and expenses recovered currently in rates will be recoverable in future rates, and are deferring the differences as regulatory assets. Assets retired early - IPL and WPL have retired various natural gas- and coal-fired EGUs, and IPL has retired certain analog electric meters. As a result, the remaining net book value of these assets was reclassified from property, plant and equipment to a regulatory asset on their respective balance sheets. Details regarding the recovery of the remaining net book value of these assets from IPL’s and WPL’s customers are as follows (dollars in millions):
Entity |  | Asset |  | Retirement Date |  | Regulatory Asset Balance as of Dec. 31, 2021 |  | Recovery |  | Regulatory Approval
IPL |  | Sutherland Units 1 and 3 |  | 2017 |  | $19 |  | Return of and return on remaining net book value through 2027 |  | IUB and FERC
IPL |  | M.L. Kapp Unit 2 |  | 2018 |  | 18 |  | Return of and return on remaining net book value through 2029 |  | IUB and FERC
IPL |  | Analog electric meters |  | 2019 |  | 29 |  | Return of remaining net book value through 2028 |  | IUB and FERC
WPL |  | Nelson Dewey Units 1 and 2 and Edgewater Unit 3 |  | 2015 |  | 6 |  | Return of and return on remaining net book value through 2022 |  | PSCW and FERC
WPL |  | Edgewater Unit 4 |  | 2018 |  | 20 |  | Return of and return on remaining net book value through 2028 |  | PSCW and FERC
IPL’s DAEC PPA Amendment - In September 2020, IPL made a buyout payment of $110 million in exchange for shortening the term of its DAEC PPA by 5 years. The payment was included in “DAEC PPA amendment buyout payment” in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s cash flows used for operating activities in 2020. The buyout payment, including a return on, will be recovered from IPL’s retail and wholesale customers from 2021 through the end of 2025, and is currently being amortized to “Electric production fuel and purchased power” in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income statements. WPL’s Western Wisconsin gas distribution expansion investments - WPL made contributions in aid of construction to a third party for investments as part of its Western Wisconsin gas distribution expansion project. Pursuant to authorization by the PSCW, Alliant Energy and WPL have recorded a regulatory asset for these costs, and are authorized by the PSCW to recover these amounts from WPL’s retail gas customers in base rates from 2021 through the end of 2040. Commodity cost recovery - Refer to Note 1(g) for details of IPL’s and WPL’s commodity cost recovery mechanisms. The cost recovery mechanism for WPL’s retail electric customers is based on forecasts of certain fuel-related costs expected to be incurred during forward-looking test periods and fuel monitoring ranges determined by the PSCW during each retail electric rate proceeding or in a separate fuel cost plan approval proceeding. In 2021, WPL’s actual fuel-related costs fell outside these fuel monitoring ranges, resulting in a $37 million deferral as of December 31, 2021. Derivatives - In accordance with IPL’s and WPL’s fuel and natural gas recovery mechanisms, prudently incurred costs from derivative instruments are recoverable from customers in the future after any losses are realized, and gains from derivative instruments are refundable to customers in the future after any gains are realized. Based on these recovery mechanisms, the changes in the fair value of derivative liabilities/assets resulted in comparable changes to regulatory assets/liabilities on the balance sheets. Regulatory Liabilities - At December 31, regulatory liabilities were comprised of the following items (in millions):
| Alliant Energy |  | IPL |  | WPL
| 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2020
Tax-related | $585 |  | $732 |  | $312 |  | $331 |  | $273 |  | $401
Cost of removal obligations | 384 |  | 367 |  | 252 |  | 238 |  | 132 |  | 129
Derivatives | 166 |  | 28 |  | 77 |  | 25 |  | 89 |  | 3
Electric transmission cost recovery | 51 |  | 68 |  | 27 |  | 39 |  | 24 |  | 29
WPL’s West Riverside liquidated damages | 36 |  | 38 |  | — |  | — |  | 36 |  | 38
Other | 49 |  | 73 |  | 23 |  | 43 |  | 26 |  | 30
| $1,271 |  | $1,306 |  | $691 |  | $676 |  | $580 |  | $630
Tax-related regulatory liabilities reduce revenue requirement calculations utilized in IPL’s and WPL’s respective rate proceedings. Cost of removal obligations, to the extent expensed through depreciation rates, reduce rate base. A significant portion of the remaining regulatory liabilities is not used to adjust revenue requirement calculations. Tax-related - Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s tax-related regulatory liabilities are primarily related to excess deferred tax benefits resulting from the remeasurement of accumulated deferred income taxes caused by Federal Tax Reform. The majority of these benefits related to accelerated depreciation are subject to tax normalization rules. These rules limit the rate at which these tax benefits are allowed to be passed on to customers. In 2021, Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s tax-related regulatory liabilities decreased primarily due to returning a portion of these excess deferred tax benefits back to customers. Cost of removal obligations - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL collect in rates future removal costs for many assets that do not have associated AROs or that have removal costs in addition to AROs. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL record a regulatory liability for the amounts collected in rates for these future removal costs and reduce the regulatory liability for amounts spent on removal activities. Cash payments related to cost of removal obligations are included in “Other” in cash flows used for investing activities. Electric transmission cost recovery - Refer to Note 1(g) for details of IPL’s and WPL’s electric transmission cost recovery mechanisms. In 2020, pursuant to an IUB order, IPL issued $42 million of credits to its retail electric customers through its transmission cost rider for amounts previously collected in rates, which resulted in a reduction to “Electric transmission service” expense in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income statements in 2020. WPL’s West Riverside liquidated damages - Pursuant to terms included in the related West Riverside construction procurement contracts, WPL reached agreement with the contractor on liquidated damages in 2020. A significant portion of the liquidated damages was settled by WPL offsetting amounts owed to the contractor that were previously withheld for payment, which were non-cash investing activities. In December 2020, the PSCW authorized WPL to record the liquidated damages as a regulatory liability, which the PSCW authorized to be returned to WPL’s retail customers in 2022 and 2023. Derecho Windstorm - In August 2020, a derecho windstorm caused considerable damage to IPL’s electric distribution system in its service territory, and over 250,000 of its customers lost power. IPL completed its initial restoration and rebuilding efforts in August 2020 and permanent repairs to the system continue. As of December 31, 2021, approximately $140 million of costs from the windstorm were recorded substantially to “Property, plant and equipment, net” on Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s balance sheets. In December 2020, IPL received approval from the IUB for utilization of a regulatory account to track certain incremental costs and benefits incurred resulting from the windstorm. These incremental costs and benefits were not addressed in the IUB’s order for IPL’s 2020 forward-looking Test Period electric subsequent proceeding, and are expected to be addressed in future regulatory proceedings. Tax benefits and the incremental operation and maintenance expenses resulting from the windstorm were deferred and recorded as a net regulatory liability of $8 million as of December 31, 2021, which is included in “Other” regulatory liabilities in the above table. Rate Reviews - IPL’s Retail Electric Rate Review (2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In March 2019, IPL filed a request with the IUB to increase annual electric base rates for its Iowa retail electric customers based on a 2020 forward-looking Test Period. The key drivers for IPL’s request included recovery of capital projects, including new wind generation. IPL concurrently filed for interim retail electric rates based on 2018 historical data as adjusted for certain known and measurable changes occurring in the first quarter of 2019. An interim retail electric base rate increase of $90 million, on an annual basis, was implemented effective April 1, 2019. In October 2019, IPL reached a settlement agreement with certain intervenor groups for an annual retail electric base rate increase of $127 million. In January 2020, the IUB issued an order approving the settlement with final rates, which were effective February 26, 2020. The agreement includes both the recovery of and a return on IPL’s early retired EGUs, and the recovery of IPL’s retired analog electric meters. In addition, as discussed in Note 1(g), the net impact of certain costs and benefits resulting from IPL’s 1,000 MW expansion of wind generation in 2019 and 2020 is being recovered from its retail electric customers through the renewable energy rider. The agreement also includes IPL providing retail electric billing credits, which began in the third quarter of 2020 through June 2021, and in aggregate include $27 million of excess deferred tax benefits and $8 million from a partial refund of interim rates implemented in 2019. In 2021, the IUB issued an order for IPL’s 2020 forward-looking Test Period electric subsequent proceeding, which compared actual revenues and costs to those initially forecasted by IPL, and authorized IPL to maintain its current retail electric rates. IPL’s Retail Gas Rate Review (2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In March 2019, IPL filed a request with the IUB to increase annual gas base rates for its Iowa retail gas customers based on a 2020 forward-looking Test Period. In October 2019, IPL reached a settlement agreement with intervenor groups for an annual retail gas base rate increase of $12 million. In December 2019, the IUB issued an order approving the settlement with final rates, which were effective January 10, 2020. In 2021, the IUB issued an order for IPL’s 2020 forward-looking Test Period gas subsequent proceeding, which compared actual revenues and costs to those initially forecasted by IPL, and authorized IPL to maintain its current retail gas rates. WPL’s Retail Electric and Gas Rate Review (2019/2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In December 2018, the PSCW issued an order approving WPL’s proposed settlement for its retail electric and gas rate review covering the 2019/2020 Test Period, which was based on a stipulated agreement between WPL and intervenor groups. Under the settlement, WPL retail electric and gas base rates did not change from then current levels through the end of 2020. In September 2020, pursuant to an August 2020 PSCW order, WPL refunded $12 million of 2019 fuel-related cost over-collections to its retail electric customers. In addition, WPL’s amortization of excess deferred taxes resulting from the remeasurement of accumulated deferred income taxes caused by Federal Tax Reform was used to offset increases in WPL’s 2020 increased revenue requirements. WPL’s Retail Electric and Gas Rate Review (2021 Forward-looking Test Period) - In December 2020, the PSCW issued an order authorizing WPL to maintain its then current retail electric and gas base rates, authorized return on common equity, regulatory capital structure and earnings sharing mechanism through the end of 2021. WPL utilized anticipated fuel-related cost savings and excess deferred income tax benefits in 2021 to offset the revenue requirement impacts of increasing electric and gas rate base, including the Kossuth wind farm, which was placed in service in October 2020, and the expansion of its gas distribution system in Western Wisconsin, which was placed in service in November 2020. WPL’s Retail Fuel-related Rate Filing (2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In December 2019, WPL received an order from the PSCW authorizing an annual retail electric rate decrease of $29 million, or approximately 2%, effective January 1, 2020. The decrease primarily reflected a change in expected fuel-related costs in 2020.
IPL [Member] |
Regulatory Matters [Line Items] |
Regulatory Matters | REGULATORY MATTERS Regulatory Assets - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL assess whether IPL’s and WPL’s regulatory assets are probable of future recovery by considering factors such as applicable regulations, recent orders by the applicable regulatory agencies, historical treatment of similar costs by the applicable regulatory agencies and regulatory environment changes. Based on these assessments, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL believe the regulatory assets recognized as of December 31, 2021 are probable of future recovery. However, no assurance can be made that IPL and WPL will recover all of these regulatory assets in future rates. If future recovery of a regulatory asset ceases to be probable, the regulatory asset will be charged to expense. At December 31, regulatory assets were comprised of the following items (in millions):
| Alliant Energy |  | IPL |  | WPL
| 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2020
Tax-related | $934 |  |  | $890 |  |  | $884 |  |  | $843 |  |  | $50 |  |  | $47 |
Pension and OPEB costs | 462 |  |  | 580 |  |  | 228 |  |  | 291 |  |  | 234 |  |  | 289 |
AROs | 128 |  |  | 119 |  |  | 89 |  |  | 81 |  |  | 39 |  |  | 38 |
Assets retired early | 92 |  |  | 113 |  |  | 66 |  |  | 77 |  |  | 26 |  |  | 36 |
IPL’s DAEC PPA amendment | 90 |  |  | 110 |  |  | 90 |  |  | 110 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
WPL’s Western Wisconsin gas distribution expansion investments | 52 |  |  | 55 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 52 |  |  | 55 |
Commodity cost recovery | 42 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 40 |  |  | 3 |
Derivatives | 8 |  |  | 26 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 13 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 13 |
Other | 132 |  |  | 113 |  |  | 80 |  |  | 67 |  |  | 52 |  |  | 46 |
| $1,940 |  |  | $2,010 |  |  | $1,443 |  |  | $1,483 |  |  | $497 |  |  | $527 |
At December 31, 2021, IPL and WPL had $75 million and $13 million, respectively, of regulatory assets that were not earning a return. IPL’s regulatory assets that were not earning a return consisted primarily of retired analog electric meters, emission allowances and costs for certain construction projects. WPL’s regulatory assets that were not earning a return consisted primarily of amounts related to the wholesale portion of under-collected costs, and costs for future expansion projects. The other regulatory assets reported in the above table either earn a return or the cash has not yet been expended, in which case the assets are offset by liabilities that also do not incur a carrying cost. Tax-related - IPL and WPL record regulatory assets for certain temporary differences (primarily related to utility property, plant and equipment at IPL) that result in a decrease in current rates charged to customers and an increase in future rates charged to customers based on the timing of income tax expense that is used to determine such rates. These temporary differences for IPL include the impacts of qualifying deductions for repairs expenditures, allocation of mixed service costs, and Iowa accelerated tax depreciation, which all contribute to lower current income tax expense during the first part of an asset’s useful life and higher current income tax expense during the latter part of an asset’s useful life. These regulatory assets will be recovered from customers in the future when these temporary differences reverse resulting in additional current income tax expense used to determine customers’ rates. Pension and other postretirement benefits costs - The IUB, PSCW and FERC have authorized IPL and WPL to record the previously unrecognized net actuarial gains and losses, and prior service costs and credits, as regulatory assets in lieu of accumulated other comprehensive loss on the balance sheets, as these amounts are expected to be recovered in future rates. These regulatory assets will be increased or decreased as the net actuarial gains or losses, and prior service costs or credits, are subsequently amortized and recognized as a component of net periodic benefit costs. Regulatory assets are also increased or decreased as a result of the annual defined benefit plan measurement process. Pension and OPEB costs are included within the recoverable cost of service component of rates charged to IPL’s and WPL’s retail and wholesale customers, which are based upon pension and OPEB costs determined in accordance with GAAP and are calculated in accordance with IPL’s and WPL’s respective regulatory jurisdictions. AROs - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL believe it is probable that certain differences between expenses accrued for AROs related to their utility operations and expenses recovered currently in rates will be recoverable in future rates, and are deferring the differences as regulatory assets. Assets retired early - IPL and WPL have retired various natural gas- and coal-fired EGUs, and IPL has retired certain analog electric meters. As a result, the remaining net book value of these assets was reclassified from property, plant and equipment to a regulatory asset on their respective balance sheets. Details regarding the recovery of the remaining net book value of these assets from IPL’s and WPL’s customers are as follows (dollars in millions):
Entity |  | Asset |  | Retirement Date |  | Regulatory Asset Balance as of Dec. 31, 2021 |  | Recovery |  | Regulatory Approval
IPL |  | Sutherland Units 1 and 3 |  | 2017 |  | $19 |  | Return of and return on remaining net book value through 2027 |  | IUB and FERC
IPL |  | M.L. Kapp Unit 2 |  | 2018 |  | 18 |  | Return of and return on remaining net book value through 2029 |  | IUB and FERC
IPL |  | Analog electric meters |  | 2019 |  | 29 |  | Return of remaining net book value through 2028 |  | IUB and FERC
WPL |  | Nelson Dewey Units 1 and 2 and Edgewater Unit 3 |  | 2015 |  | 6 |  | Return of and return on remaining net book value through 2022 |  | PSCW and FERC
WPL |  | Edgewater Unit 4 |  | 2018 |  | 20 |  | Return of and return on remaining net book value through 2028 |  | PSCW and FERC
IPL’s DAEC PPA Amendment - In September 2020, IPL made a buyout payment of $110 million in exchange for shortening the term of its DAEC PPA by 5 years. The payment was included in “DAEC PPA amendment buyout payment” in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s cash flows used for operating activities in 2020. The buyout payment, including a return on, will be recovered from IPL’s retail and wholesale customers from 2021 through the end of 2025, and is currently being amortized to “Electric production fuel and purchased power” in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income statements. WPL’s Western Wisconsin gas distribution expansion investments - WPL made contributions in aid of construction to a third party for investments as part of its Western Wisconsin gas distribution expansion project. Pursuant to authorization by the PSCW, Alliant Energy and WPL have recorded a regulatory asset for these costs, and are authorized by the PSCW to recover these amounts from WPL’s retail gas customers in base rates from 2021 through the end of 2040. Commodity cost recovery - Refer to Note 1(g) for details of IPL’s and WPL’s commodity cost recovery mechanisms. The cost recovery mechanism for WPL’s retail electric customers is based on forecasts of certain fuel-related costs expected to be incurred during forward-looking test periods and fuel monitoring ranges determined by the PSCW during each retail electric rate proceeding or in a separate fuel cost plan approval proceeding. In 2021, WPL’s actual fuel-related costs fell outside these fuel monitoring ranges, resulting in a $37 million deferral as of December 31, 2021. Derivatives - In accordance with IPL’s and WPL’s fuel and natural gas recovery mechanisms, prudently incurred costs from derivative instruments are recoverable from customers in the future after any losses are realized, and gains from derivative instruments are refundable to customers in the future after any gains are realized. Based on these recovery mechanisms, the changes in the fair value of derivative liabilities/assets resulted in comparable changes to regulatory assets/liabilities on the balance sheets. Regulatory Liabilities - At December 31, regulatory liabilities were comprised of the following items (in millions):
| Alliant Energy |  | IPL |  | WPL
| 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2020
Tax-related | $585 |  | $732 |  | $312 |  | $331 |  | $273 |  | $401
Cost of removal obligations | 384 |  | 367 |  | 252 |  | 238 |  | 132 |  | 129
Derivatives | 166 |  | 28 |  | 77 |  | 25 |  | 89 |  | 3
Electric transmission cost recovery | 51 |  | 68 |  | 27 |  | 39 |  | 24 |  | 29
WPL’s West Riverside liquidated damages | 36 |  | 38 |  | — |  | — |  | 36 |  | 38
Other | 49 |  | 73 |  | 23 |  | 43 |  | 26 |  | 30
| $1,271 |  | $1,306 |  | $691 |  | $676 |  | $580 |  | $630
Tax-related regulatory liabilities reduce revenue requirement calculations utilized in IPL’s and WPL’s respective rate proceedings. Cost of removal obligations, to the extent expensed through depreciation rates, reduce rate base. A significant portion of the remaining regulatory liabilities is not used to adjust revenue requirement calculations. Tax-related - Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s tax-related regulatory liabilities are primarily related to excess deferred tax benefits resulting from the remeasurement of accumulated deferred income taxes caused by Federal Tax Reform. The majority of these benefits related to accelerated depreciation are subject to tax normalization rules. These rules limit the rate at which these tax benefits are allowed to be passed on to customers. In 2021, Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s tax-related regulatory liabilities decreased primarily due to returning a portion of these excess deferred tax benefits back to customers. Cost of removal obligations - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL collect in rates future removal costs for many assets that do not have associated AROs or that have removal costs in addition to AROs. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL record a regulatory liability for the amounts collected in rates for these future removal costs and reduce the regulatory liability for amounts spent on removal activities. Cash payments related to cost of removal obligations are included in “Other” in cash flows used for investing activities. Electric transmission cost recovery - Refer to Note 1(g) for details of IPL’s and WPL’s electric transmission cost recovery mechanisms. In 2020, pursuant to an IUB order, IPL issued $42 million of credits to its retail electric customers through its transmission cost rider for amounts previously collected in rates, which resulted in a reduction to “Electric transmission service” expense in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income statements in 2020. WPL’s West Riverside liquidated damages - Pursuant to terms included in the related West Riverside construction procurement contracts, WPL reached agreement with the contractor on liquidated damages in 2020. A significant portion of the liquidated damages was settled by WPL offsetting amounts owed to the contractor that were previously withheld for payment, which were non-cash investing activities. In December 2020, the PSCW authorized WPL to record the liquidated damages as a regulatory liability, which the PSCW authorized to be returned to WPL’s retail customers in 2022 and 2023. Derecho Windstorm - In August 2020, a derecho windstorm caused considerable damage to IPL’s electric distribution system in its service territory, and over 250,000 of its customers lost power. IPL completed its initial restoration and rebuilding efforts in August 2020 and permanent repairs to the system continue. As of December 31, 2021, approximately $140 million of costs from the windstorm were recorded substantially to “Property, plant and equipment, net” on Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s balance sheets. In December 2020, IPL received approval from the IUB for utilization of a regulatory account to track certain incremental costs and benefits incurred resulting from the windstorm. These incremental costs and benefits were not addressed in the IUB’s order for IPL’s 2020 forward-looking Test Period electric subsequent proceeding, and are expected to be addressed in future regulatory proceedings. Tax benefits and the incremental operation and maintenance expenses resulting from the windstorm were deferred and recorded as a net regulatory liability of $8 million as of December 31, 2021, which is included in “Other” regulatory liabilities in the above table. Rate Reviews - IPL’s Retail Electric Rate Review (2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In March 2019, IPL filed a request with the IUB to increase annual electric base rates for its Iowa retail electric customers based on a 2020 forward-looking Test Period. The key drivers for IPL’s request included recovery of capital projects, including new wind generation. IPL concurrently filed for interim retail electric rates based on 2018 historical data as adjusted for certain known and measurable changes occurring in the first quarter of 2019. An interim retail electric base rate increase of $90 million, on an annual basis, was implemented effective April 1, 2019. In October 2019, IPL reached a settlement agreement with certain intervenor groups for an annual retail electric base rate increase of $127 million. In January 2020, the IUB issued an order approving the settlement with final rates, which were effective February 26, 2020. The agreement includes both the recovery of and a return on IPL’s early retired EGUs, and the recovery of IPL’s retired analog electric meters. In addition, as discussed in Note 1(g), the net impact of certain costs and benefits resulting from IPL’s 1,000 MW expansion of wind generation in 2019 and 2020 is being recovered from its retail electric customers through the renewable energy rider. The agreement also includes IPL providing retail electric billing credits, which began in the third quarter of 2020 through June 2021, and in aggregate include $27 million of excess deferred tax benefits and $8 million from a partial refund of interim rates implemented in 2019. In 2021, the IUB issued an order for IPL’s 2020 forward-looking Test Period electric subsequent proceeding, which compared actual revenues and costs to those initially forecasted by IPL, and authorized IPL to maintain its current retail electric rates. IPL’s Retail Gas Rate Review (2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In March 2019, IPL filed a request with the IUB to increase annual gas base rates for its Iowa retail gas customers based on a 2020 forward-looking Test Period. In October 2019, IPL reached a settlement agreement with intervenor groups for an annual retail gas base rate increase of $12 million. In December 2019, the IUB issued an order approving the settlement with final rates, which were effective January 10, 2020. In 2021, the IUB issued an order for IPL’s 2020 forward-looking Test Period gas subsequent proceeding, which compared actual revenues and costs to those initially forecasted by IPL, and authorized IPL to maintain its current retail gas rates. WPL’s Retail Electric and Gas Rate Review (2019/2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In December 2018, the PSCW issued an order approving WPL’s proposed settlement for its retail electric and gas rate review covering the 2019/2020 Test Period, which was based on a stipulated agreement between WPL and intervenor groups. Under the settlement, WPL retail electric and gas base rates did not change from then current levels through the end of 2020. In September 2020, pursuant to an August 2020 PSCW order, WPL refunded $12 million of 2019 fuel-related cost over-collections to its retail electric customers. In addition, WPL’s amortization of excess deferred taxes resulting from the remeasurement of accumulated deferred income taxes caused by Federal Tax Reform was used to offset increases in WPL’s 2020 increased revenue requirements. WPL’s Retail Electric and Gas Rate Review (2021 Forward-looking Test Period) - In December 2020, the PSCW issued an order authorizing WPL to maintain its then current retail electric and gas base rates, authorized return on common equity, regulatory capital structure and earnings sharing mechanism through the end of 2021. WPL utilized anticipated fuel-related cost savings and excess deferred income tax benefits in 2021 to offset the revenue requirement impacts of increasing electric and gas rate base, including the Kossuth wind farm, which was placed in service in October 2020, and the expansion of its gas distribution system in Western Wisconsin, which was placed in service in November 2020. WPL’s Retail Fuel-related Rate Filing (2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In December 2019, WPL received an order from the PSCW authorizing an annual retail electric rate decrease of $29 million, or approximately 2%, effective January 1, 2020. The decrease primarily reflected a change in expected fuel-related costs in 2020.
WPL [Member] |
Regulatory Matters [Line Items] |
Regulatory Matters | REGULATORY MATTERS Regulatory Assets - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL assess whether IPL’s and WPL’s regulatory assets are probable of future recovery by considering factors such as applicable regulations, recent orders by the applicable regulatory agencies, historical treatment of similar costs by the applicable regulatory agencies and regulatory environment changes. Based on these assessments, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL believe the regulatory assets recognized as of December 31, 2021 are probable of future recovery. However, no assurance can be made that IPL and WPL will recover all of these regulatory assets in future rates. If future recovery of a regulatory asset ceases to be probable, the regulatory asset will be charged to expense. At December 31, regulatory assets were comprised of the following items (in millions):
| Alliant Energy |  | IPL |  | WPL
| 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2020
Tax-related | $934 |  |  | $890 |  |  | $884 |  |  | $843 |  |  | $50 |  |  | $47 |
Pension and OPEB costs | 462 |  |  | 580 |  |  | 228 |  |  | 291 |  |  | 234 |  |  | 289 |
AROs | 128 |  |  | 119 |  |  | 89 |  |  | 81 |  |  | 39 |  |  | 38 |
Assets retired early | 92 |  |  | 113 |  |  | 66 |  |  | 77 |  |  | 26 |  |  | 36 |
IPL’s DAEC PPA amendment | 90 |  |  | 110 |  |  | 90 |  |  | 110 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
WPL’s Western Wisconsin gas distribution expansion investments | 52 |  |  | 55 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 52 |  |  | 55 |
Commodity cost recovery | 42 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 40 |  |  | 3 |
Derivatives | 8 |  |  | 26 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 13 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 13 |
Other | 132 |  |  | 113 |  |  | 80 |  |  | 67 |  |  | 52 |  |  | 46 |
| $1,940 |  |  | $2,010 |  |  | $1,443 |  |  | $1,483 |  |  | $497 |  |  | $527 |
At December 31, 2021, IPL and WPL had $75 million and $13 million, respectively, of regulatory assets that were not earning a return. IPL’s regulatory assets that were not earning a return consisted primarily of retired analog electric meters, emission allowances and costs for certain construction projects. WPL’s regulatory assets that were not earning a return consisted primarily of amounts related to the wholesale portion of under-collected costs, and costs for future expansion projects. The other regulatory assets reported in the above table either earn a return or the cash has not yet been expended, in which case the assets are offset by liabilities that also do not incur a carrying cost. Tax-related - IPL and WPL record regulatory assets for certain temporary differences (primarily related to utility property, plant and equipment at IPL) that result in a decrease in current rates charged to customers and an increase in future rates charged to customers based on the timing of income tax expense that is used to determine such rates. These temporary differences for IPL include the impacts of qualifying deductions for repairs expenditures, allocation of mixed service costs, and Iowa accelerated tax depreciation, which all contribute to lower current income tax expense during the first part of an asset’s useful life and higher current income tax expense during the latter part of an asset’s useful life. These regulatory assets will be recovered from customers in the future when these temporary differences reverse resulting in additional current income tax expense used to determine customers’ rates. Pension and other postretirement benefits costs - The IUB, PSCW and FERC have authorized IPL and WPL to record the previously unrecognized net actuarial gains and losses, and prior service costs and credits, as regulatory assets in lieu of accumulated other comprehensive loss on the balance sheets, as these amounts are expected to be recovered in future rates. These regulatory assets will be increased or decreased as the net actuarial gains or losses, and prior service costs or credits, are subsequently amortized and recognized as a component of net periodic benefit costs. Regulatory assets are also increased or decreased as a result of the annual defined benefit plan measurement process. Pension and OPEB costs are included within the recoverable cost of service component of rates charged to IPL’s and WPL’s retail and wholesale customers, which are based upon pension and OPEB costs determined in accordance with GAAP and are calculated in accordance with IPL’s and WPL’s respective regulatory jurisdictions. AROs - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL believe it is probable that certain differences between expenses accrued for AROs related to their utility operations and expenses recovered currently in rates will be recoverable in future rates, and are deferring the differences as regulatory assets. Assets retired early - IPL and WPL have retired various natural gas- and coal-fired EGUs, and IPL has retired certain analog electric meters. As a result, the remaining net book value of these assets was reclassified from property, plant and equipment to a regulatory asset on their respective balance sheets. Details regarding the recovery of the remaining net book value of these assets from IPL’s and WPL’s customers are as follows (dollars in millions):
Entity |  | Asset |  | Retirement Date |  | Regulatory Asset Balance as of Dec. 31, 2021 |  | Recovery |  | Regulatory Approval
IPL |  | Sutherland Units 1 and 3 |  | 2017 |  | $19 |  | Return of and return on remaining net book value through 2027 |  | IUB and FERC
IPL |  | M.L. Kapp Unit 2 |  | 2018 |  | 18 |  | Return of and return on remaining net book value through 2029 |  | IUB and FERC
IPL |  | Analog electric meters |  | 2019 |  | 29 |  | Return of remaining net book value through 2028 |  | IUB and FERC
WPL |  | Nelson Dewey Units 1 and 2 and Edgewater Unit 3 |  | 2015 |  | 6 |  | Return of and return on remaining net book value through 2022 |  | PSCW and FERC
WPL |  | Edgewater Unit 4 |  | 2018 |  | 20 |  | Return of and return on remaining net book value through 2028 |  | PSCW and FERC
IPL’s DAEC PPA Amendment - In September 2020, IPL made a buyout payment of $110 million in exchange for shortening the term of its DAEC PPA by 5 years. The payment was included in “DAEC PPA amendment buyout payment” in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s cash flows used for operating activities in 2020. The buyout payment, including a return on, will be recovered from IPL’s retail and wholesale customers from 2021 through the end of 2025, and is currently being amortized to “Electric production fuel and purchased power” in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income statements. WPL’s Western Wisconsin gas distribution expansion investments - WPL made contributions in aid of construction to a third party for investments as part of its Western Wisconsin gas distribution expansion project. Pursuant to authorization by the PSCW, Alliant Energy and WPL have recorded a regulatory asset for these costs, and are authorized by the PSCW to recover these amounts from WPL’s retail gas customers in base rates from 2021 through the end of 2040. Commodity cost recovery - Refer to Note 1(g) for details of IPL’s and WPL’s commodity cost recovery mechanisms. The cost recovery mechanism for WPL’s retail electric customers is based on forecasts of certain fuel-related costs expected to be incurred during forward-looking test periods and fuel monitoring ranges determined by the PSCW during each retail electric rate proceeding or in a separate fuel cost plan approval proceeding. In 2021, WPL’s actual fuel-related costs fell outside these fuel monitoring ranges, resulting in a $37 million deferral as of December 31, 2021. Derivatives - In accordance with IPL’s and WPL’s fuel and natural gas recovery mechanisms, prudently incurred costs from derivative instruments are recoverable from customers in the future after any losses are realized, and gains from derivative instruments are refundable to customers in the future after any gains are realized. Based on these recovery mechanisms, the changes in the fair value of derivative liabilities/assets resulted in comparable changes to regulatory assets/liabilities on the balance sheets. Regulatory Liabilities - At December 31, regulatory liabilities were comprised of the following items (in millions):
| Alliant Energy |  | IPL |  | WPL
| 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2020
Tax-related | $585 |  | $732 |  | $312 |  | $331 |  | $273 |  | $401
Cost of removal obligations | 384 |  | 367 |  | 252 |  | 238 |  | 132 |  | 129
Derivatives | 166 |  | 28 |  | 77 |  | 25 |  | 89 |  | 3
Electric transmission cost recovery | 51 |  | 68 |  | 27 |  | 39 |  | 24 |  | 29
WPL’s West Riverside liquidated damages | 36 |  | 38 |  | — |  | — |  | 36 |  | 38
Other | 49 |  | 73 |  | 23 |  | 43 |  | 26 |  | 30
| $1,271 |  | $1,306 |  | $691 |  | $676 |  | $580 |  | $630
Tax-related regulatory liabilities reduce revenue requirement calculations utilized in IPL’s and WPL’s respective rate proceedings. Cost of removal obligations, to the extent expensed through depreciation rates, reduce rate base. A significant portion of the remaining regulatory liabilities is not used to adjust revenue requirement calculations. Tax-related - Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s tax-related regulatory liabilities are primarily related to excess deferred tax benefits resulting from the remeasurement of accumulated deferred income taxes caused by Federal Tax Reform. The majority of these benefits related to accelerated depreciation are subject to tax normalization rules. These rules limit the rate at which these tax benefits are allowed to be passed on to customers. In 2021, Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s tax-related regulatory liabilities decreased primarily due to returning a portion of these excess deferred tax benefits back to customers. Cost of removal obligations - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL collect in rates future removal costs for many assets that do not have associated AROs or that have removal costs in addition to AROs. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL record a regulatory liability for the amounts collected in rates for these future removal costs and reduce the regulatory liability for amounts spent on removal activities. Cash payments related to cost of removal obligations are included in “Other” in cash flows used for investing activities. Electric transmission cost recovery - Refer to Note 1(g) for details of IPL’s and WPL’s electric transmission cost recovery mechanisms. In 2020, pursuant to an IUB order, IPL issued $42 million of credits to its retail electric customers through its transmission cost rider for amounts previously collected in rates, which resulted in a reduction to “Electric transmission service” expense in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income statements in 2020. WPL’s West Riverside liquidated damages - Pursuant to terms included in the related West Riverside construction procurement contracts, WPL reached agreement with the contractor on liquidated damages in 2020. A significant portion of the liquidated damages was settled by WPL offsetting amounts owed to the contractor that were previously withheld for payment, which were non-cash investing activities. In December 2020, the PSCW authorized WPL to record the liquidated damages as a regulatory liability, which the PSCW authorized to be returned to WPL’s retail customers in 2022 and 2023. Derecho Windstorm - In August 2020, a derecho windstorm caused considerable damage to IPL’s electric distribution system in its service territory, and over 250,000 of its customers lost power. IPL completed its initial restoration and rebuilding efforts in August 2020 and permanent repairs to the system continue. As of December 31, 2021, approximately $140 million of costs from the windstorm were recorded substantially to “Property, plant and equipment, net” on Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s balance sheets. In December 2020, IPL received approval from the IUB for utilization of a regulatory account to track certain incremental costs and benefits incurred resulting from the windstorm. These incremental costs and benefits were not addressed in the IUB’s order for IPL’s 2020 forward-looking Test Period electric subsequent proceeding, and are expected to be addressed in future regulatory proceedings. Tax benefits and the incremental operation and maintenance expenses resulting from the windstorm were deferred and recorded as a net regulatory liability of $8 million as of December 31, 2021, which is included in “Other” regulatory liabilities in the above table. Rate Reviews - IPL’s Retail Electric Rate Review (2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In March 2019, IPL filed a request with the IUB to increase annual electric base rates for its Iowa retail electric customers based on a 2020 forward-looking Test Period. The key drivers for IPL’s request included recovery of capital projects, including new wind generation. IPL concurrently filed for interim retail electric rates based on 2018 historical data as adjusted for certain known and measurable changes occurring in the first quarter of 2019. An interim retail electric base rate increase of $90 million, on an annual basis, was implemented effective April 1, 2019. In October 2019, IPL reached a settlement agreement with certain intervenor groups for an annual retail electric base rate increase of $127 million. In January 2020, the IUB issued an order approving the settlement with final rates, which were effective February 26, 2020. The agreement includes both the recovery of and a return on IPL’s early retired EGUs, and the recovery of IPL’s retired analog electric meters. In addition, as discussed in Note 1(g), the net impact of certain costs and benefits resulting from IPL’s 1,000 MW expansion of wind generation in 2019 and 2020 is being recovered from its retail electric customers through the renewable energy rider. The agreement also includes IPL providing retail electric billing credits, which began in the third quarter of 2020 through June 2021, and in aggregate include $27 million of excess deferred tax benefits and $8 million from a partial refund of interim rates implemented in 2019. In 2021, the IUB issued an order for IPL’s 2020 forward-looking Test Period electric subsequent proceeding, which compared actual revenues and costs to those initially forecasted by IPL, and authorized IPL to maintain its current retail electric rates. IPL’s Retail Gas Rate Review (2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In March 2019, IPL filed a request with the IUB to increase annual gas base rates for its Iowa retail gas customers based on a 2020 forward-looking Test Period. In October 2019, IPL reached a settlement agreement with intervenor groups for an annual retail gas base rate increase of $12 million. In December 2019, the IUB issued an order approving the settlement with final rates, which were effective January 10, 2020. In 2021, the IUB issued an order for IPL’s 2020 forward-looking Test Period gas subsequent proceeding, which compared actual revenues and costs to those initially forecasted by IPL, and authorized IPL to maintain its current retail gas rates. WPL’s Retail Electric and Gas Rate Review (2019/2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In December 2018, the PSCW issued an order approving WPL’s proposed settlement for its retail electric and gas rate review covering the 2019/2020 Test Period, which was based on a stipulated agreement between WPL and intervenor groups. Under the settlement, WPL retail electric and gas base rates did not change from then current levels through the end of 2020. In September 2020, pursuant to an August 2020 PSCW order, WPL refunded $12 million of 2019 fuel-related cost over-collections to its retail electric customers. In addition, WPL’s amortization of excess deferred taxes resulting from the remeasurement of accumulated deferred income taxes caused by Federal Tax Reform was used to offset increases in WPL’s 2020 increased revenue requirements. WPL’s Retail Electric and Gas Rate Review (2021 Forward-looking Test Period) - In December 2020, the PSCW issued an order authorizing WPL to maintain its then current retail electric and gas base rates, authorized return on common equity, regulatory capital structure and earnings sharing mechanism through the end of 2021. WPL utilized anticipated fuel-related cost savings and excess deferred income tax benefits in 2021 to offset the revenue requirement impacts of increasing electric and gas rate base, including the Kossuth wind farm, which was placed in service in October 2020, and the expansion of its gas distribution system in Western Wisconsin, which was placed in service in November 2020. WPL’s Retail Fuel-related Rate Filing (2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In December 2019, WPL received an order from the PSCW authorizing an annual retail electric rate decrease of $29 million, or approximately 2%, effective January 1, 2020. The decrease primarily reflected a change in expected fuel-related costs in 2020.

X
- Definition Regulatory Matters [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lnt_RegulatoryMattersLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | lnt_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for public utilities. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2156578 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=lnt_IplMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=lnt_WplMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |