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Regulatory Assets and Liabilities (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Regulated Operations [Abstract]  
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
The Company has recorded regulatory assets and liabilities (in millions) that it expects to pass through to its customers in accordance with, and subject to, regulatory provisions as follows:
December 31,
2015
 
2014
 
Recovery/Refund Period
REGULATORY ASSETS
 
 
 
Current regulatory assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Brazil tariff recoveries:(1)
 
 
 
 
 
Energy purchases/sales
$
416

 
$
424

 
Annually as part of the tariff adjustment
Transmission costs, regulatory fees and other
264

 
63

 
Annually as part of the tariff adjustment
El Salvador tariff recoveries(2)
43

 
92

 
Quarterly as part of the tariff adjustment
Other(3) 
23

 
58

 
Various
Total current regulatory assets
746

 
637

 
 
Noncurrent regulatory assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Defined benefit pension obligations at IPL and DPL(4)(5)
227

 
329

 
Various
Income taxes recoverable from customers(4)(6)
36

 
74

 
Various
Brazil tariff recoveries:(1)
 
 
 
 
 
Energy purchases/sales
147

 
266

 
Annually as part of the tariff adjustment
Transmission costs, regulatory fees and other
140

 
14

 
Annually as part of the tariff adjustment
Deferred Midwest ISO costs(7)
129

 
111

 
To be determined
Other(3)
239

 
78

 
Various
Total noncurrent regulatory assets
918

 
872

 
 
TOTAL REGULATORY ASSETS
$
1,664

 
$
1,509

 
 
REGULATORY LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
 
Current regulatory liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Brazil tariff reset adjustment(8)
$

 
$
76

 
Two years
Efficiency program costs(9)
12

 
22

 
Annually as part of the tariff adjustment
Brazil regulatory asset base adjustment(13)
169

 
123

 
Up to four tariff periods
Brazil tariff refunds:(1)
 
 
 
 
 
Energy purchases/sales
105

 
144

 
Annually as part of the tariff adjustment
Transmission costs, regulatory fees and other
120

 
174

 
Annually as part of the tariff adjustment
Other(10) 
59

 
66

 
Various
Total current regulatory liabilities
465

 
605

 
 
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Asset retirement obligations(11)
759

 
727

 
Over life of assets
Brazil regulatory asset base adjustment(13)
86

 
61

 
Up to four tariff periods
Brazil special obligations(12)
370

 
484

 
To be determined
Brazil tariff refunds:(1)
 
 
 
 
 
Energy purchases/sales
30

 
128

 
Annually as part of the tariff adjustment
Transmission costs, regulatory fees and other
29

 
97

 
Annually as part of the tariff adjustment
Efficiency program costs(9)
5

 
11

 
Annually as part of the tariff adjustment
Other(10) 
7

 
1

 
Various
Total noncurrent regulatory liabilities
1,286

 
1,509

 
 
TOTAL REGULATORY LIABILITIES
$
1,751

 
$
2,114

 
 
_____________________________
(1)
Recoverable or refundable per Brazilian National Electric Energy Agency ("ANEEL") regulations through the Annual Tariff Adjustment ("IRT"). These costs are generally non-controllable and primarily consist of purchased electricity, energy transmission, and sector costs that are considered volatile. The costs are passed through for a period of 12 months as part of the IRT. Any remaining balance is considered in the subsequent IRT, which results in a total of 24 months to recover or refund the costs. Favorable spot market sales are also subject to customer refunds through the IRT over the course of these time periods.
(2)
Deferred fuel costs incurred by our El Salvador subsidiaries associated with purchase of energy from the El Salvador spot market and power generation plants. In El Salvador, the deferred fuel adjustment represents the variance between the actual fuel costs and the fuel costs recovered in the tariffs. The variance is recovered quarterly in the tariff reset period.
(3)
Includes assets with and without a rate of return. Other current regulatory assets that did not earn a rate of return were $8 million and $22 million, as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Other noncurrent regulatory assets that did not earn a rate of return were $237 million and $73 million, as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Other current and noncurrent regulatory assets primarily consist of:
Unamortized losses on long-term debt reacquired or redeemed in prior periods at IPL and DPL, which are amortized over the lives of the original issues in accordance with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") and PUCO rules.
Unamortized carrying charges and certain other costs related to Petersburg unit 4 at IPL.
Deferred storm costs incurred primarily in 2008 to repair storm damage at DPL; recovery was approved via order from the PUCO on December 17, 2014 and began January 2015.
Additional Regulatory Asset Base ("RAB") from a favorable decision on tariff reset (administrative appeal) at Eletropaulo.
(4)
Past expenditures on which the Company does not earn a rate of return.
(5)
The regulatory accounting standards allow the defined pension and postretirement benefit obligation to be recorded as a regulatory asset equal to the previously unrecognized actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs that are expected to be recovered through future rates. Pension expense is recognized based on the plan's actuarially determined pension liability. Recovery of costs is probable, but not yet determined. Pension contributions made by our Brazilian subsidiaries are not included in regulatory assets as those contributions are not covered by the established tariff in Brazil.
(6)
Probable recovery through future rates, based upon established regulatory practices, which permit the recovery of current taxes. This amount is expected to be recovered, without interest, over the period as book-tax temporary differences reverse and become current taxes.
(7)
Transmission service costs and other administrative costs from IPL's participation in the Midwest ISO market, which are recoverable but do not earn a rate of return. Recovery of costs is probable, but the timing is not yet determined.
(8)
In July 2012, the Brazilian energy regulator (the "Regulator") approved the periodic review and reset of a component of Eletropaulo's regulated tariff, which determines the margin to be earned by Eletropaulo. The review and reset of this tariff component was retroactive to July 2011 and applied to customers' invoices from July 2012 to June 2015. From July 2011 through June 2012, Eletropaulo invoiced customers under the then-existing tariff rate, as required by the Regulator. As the new tariff rate was lower than the previous rate, Eletropaulo was required to reduce customer tariffs for the difference over the next year. Accordingly, from July 2011 through June 2012, Eletropaulo recognized a regulatory liability for the estimated future refunds, subsequently adjusted as of June 30, 2012 upon the finalization of the new tariff with the Regulator. The refund to customers was considered in the 2013 tariff adjustment, which contemplated an amortization of 67.55% from July 4, 2013. The remaining balance, representing 32.45%, was considered in the next annual tariff adjustment. There was no recorded current regulatory liability at Eletropaulo as of December 31, 2015.
(9)
Amounts received for costs expected to be incurred to improve the efficiency of our plants in Brazil as part of the IRT.
(10)
Other current and noncurrent regulatory liabilities primarily consist of liabilities owed to electricity generators due to variance in energy prices during rationing periods ("Free Energy"). Our Brazilian subsidiaries are authorized to refund this cost associated with monthly energy price variances between the wholesale energy market prices owed to the power generation plants producing Free Energy and the capped price reimbursed by the local distribution companies which are passed through to the final customers through energy tariffs. The balance excludes asset retirement obligations that were reclassified out of Other.
(11)
Obligations for removal costs which do not have an associated legal retirement obligation as defined by the accounting standards on asset retirement obligations.
(12)
Obligations established by ANEEL in Brazil associated with electric utility concessions and represent amounts received from customers or donations not subject to return. These donations are allocated to support energy network expansion and to improve utility operations to meet customers' needs. The term of the obligation is established by ANEEL. Settlement shall occur when the concession ends.
(13) 
Represents adjustments to the RAB resulting from an administrative ruling in December 2013 compelling Eletropaulo to refund customers beginning July 2014.
Schedule of Regulatory Assets by Region
The following table summarizes regulatory assets and liabilities by reportable segment in millions as of the periods indicated:
December 31,
2015
 
2014
 
Regulatory Assets
 
Regulatory Liabilities
 
Regulatory Assets
 
Regulatory Liabilities
Brazil SBU
$
971

 
$
932

 
$
787

 
$
1,347

US SBU
650

 
819

 
631

 
767

MCAC SBU (El Salvador)
43

 

 
91

 

Total
$
1,664

 
$
1,751

 
$
1,509

 
$
2,114