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Contingencies And Commitments | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Contingencies And Commitments | 4:CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS CMS Energy and Consumers are involved in various matters that give rise to contingent liabilities. Depending on the specific issues, the resolution of these contingencies could have a material effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. In their disclosures of these matters, CMS Energy and Consumers provide an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss when such an estimate can be made. Disclosures that state that CMS Energy or Consumers cannot predict the outcome of a matter indicate that they are unable to estimate a possible loss or range of loss for the matter. CMS Energy Contingencies Gas Index Price Reporting Litigation: CMS Energy, along with CMS MST, CMS Field Services, Cantera Natural Gas, Inc., and Cantera Gas Company, have been named as defendants in five class action lawsuits arising as a result of alleged inaccurate natural gas price reporting to publications that report trade information. Allegations include manipulation of NYMEX natural gas futures and options prices, price-fixing conspiracies, restraint of trade, and artificial inflation of natural gas retail prices in Kansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The following provides more detail on the cases in which CMS Energy or its affiliates remain as parties:
| · |  | In 2005, CMS Energy, CMS MST, and CMS Field Services were named as defendants in a putative class action filed in Kansas state court, Learjet, Inc., et al. v. Oneok, Inc., et al. The complaint alleges that during the putative class period, January 1, 2000 through October 31, 2002, the defendants engaged in a scheme to violate the Kansas Restraint of Trade Act. The plaintiffs are seeking statutory full consideration damages consisting of the full consideration paid by the plaintiffs for natural gas allegedly purchased from the defendants.
| · |  | In 2007, a class action complaint, Heartland Regional Medical Center, et al. v. Oneok, Inc. et al., was filed as a putative class action in Missouri state court alleging violations of Missouri antitrust laws. The defendants, including CMS Energy, CMS Field Services, and CMS MST, are alleged to have violated the Missouri antitrust law in connection with their natural gas reporting activities. The plaintiffs are seeking full consideration damages and treble damages.
| · |  | In 2006, a class action complaint, Arandell Corp., et al. v. XCEL Energy Inc., et al., was filed in Wisconsin state court on behalf of Wisconsin commercial entities that purchased natural gas between January 1, 2000 and October 31, 2002. The defendants, including CMS Energy, CMS ERM, and Cantera Gas Company, are alleged to have violated Wisconsin’s antitrust statute. The plaintiffs are seeking full consideration damages, plus exemplary damages and attorneys’ fees.
| · |  | In 2009, a class action complaint, Newpage Wisconsin System v. CMS ERM, et al., was filed in circuit court in Wood County, Wisconsin, against CMS Energy, CMS ERM, Cantera Gas Company, and others. The plaintiff is seeking full consideration damages, treble damages, costs, interest, and attorneys’ fees.
| · |  | In 2005, J.P. Morgan Trust Company, N.A., in its capacity as t rustee of the FLI Liquidating Trust, filed an action in Kansas state court against CMS Energy, CMS MST, CMS Field Services, and others. The complaint alleges various claims under the Kansas Restraint of Trade Act. The plaintiff is seeking statutory full consideration damages for its purchases of natural gas in 2000 and 2001.
After removal to federal court, all of the cases described above were transferred to the MDL. In 2010 and 2011, all claims against CMS Energy defendants in the MDL cases were dismissed based on FERC preemption. Plaintiffs filed appeals in all of the cases. The issues on appeal were whether the district court erred in dismissing the cases based on FERC preemption and denying the plaintiffs’ motions for leave to amend their complaints to add a federal Sherman Act antitrust claim. The plaintiffs did not appeal the dismissal of CMS Energy as a defendant in these cases, but other CMS Energy entities remain as defendants. In April 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed the MDL decision and remanded the case to the MDL judge for further proceedings. The appellate court found that FERC preemption does not apply under the facts of these cases. The appellate c ourt affirmed the MDL court’s denial of leave to amend to add federal antitrust claims. In August 2013, the joint defense group in these cases, of which CMS Energy defendants are members, filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court in an attempt to overturn the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In July 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear this case. Arguments were heard in early 2015 and an opinion is expe cted in the first half of 2015. These cases involve complex facts, a large number of similarly situated defendants with different factual positions, and multiple jurisdictions. Presently, any estimate of liability would be highly speculative; the amount of CMS Energy’s possible loss would be based on widely varying models previously untested in this context. If the outcome after appeals is unfavorable, these cases could have a material adverse impact on CMS Energy’s liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. Bay Harbor: CMS Energy retained environmental remediation obligations for the collection and treatment of leachate, a liquid consisting of water and other substances, at Bay Harbor after selling its interests in the development in 2002. Leachate is produced when water enters into cement kiln dust piles left over from former cement plant operations at the site. In 2012, CMS Energy and the MDEQ finalized an agreement that established the final remedies and the future water quality criteria at the site. CMS Energy has completed all construction necessary to implement the remedies required by the agreement and will continue to maintain and operate a system to discharge treated leachate into Little Traverse Bay under an NPDES permit issued in 2010. This permit requires renewal every five years. Various claims have been brought against CMS Land or its affiliates, including CMS Energy, alleging environmental damage to property, loss of property value, insufficient disclosure of environmental matters, breach of agreement relating to access, or other matters. CMS Land and other parties have received a demand for payment from the EPA in the amount of $8 million, plus interest. The EPA is seeking recovery under CERCLA of response costs allegedly incurred at Bay Harbor. These costs exceed what was agreed to in a 2005 order between CMS Land and the EPA, and CMS Land has communicated to the EPA that it does not believe that this is a valid claim. In August 2014, the EPA indicated that i t intends to pursue the claim. In September 2014, CMS Energy recorded a charge of $15 million to maintenance and other operating expenses to increase the remaining liability for Bay Harbor as a result of changed cost estimates based on recent experience. Factors leading to the increase included higher water treatment costs, more frequent trucking of water due to system limitations, and increased system maintenance costs. CMS Energy has recorded a cumulative charge related to Bay Harbor of $245 million, which includes accretion expense. At December 31, 2014, CMS Energy had a recorded liability of $62 million for its remaining obligations. CMS Energy calculated this liability based on discounted projected costs, using a discount rate of 4.34 percent and an inflation rate of one percent on annual operating and maintenance costs. The undiscounted amount of the remaining obligation is $80 million. CMS Energy expects to pay $8 million in 2015, $6 million in 2016, $5 million in 2017, $5 million in 2018, and $5 million in 2019, and the remaining amount thereafter on long-term liquid disposal and operating and maintenance costs. CMS Energy’s estimate of response activity costs and the timing of expenditures could change if there are changes in circumstances or assumptions used in calculating the liability. Although a liability for its present estimate of remaining response activity costs has been recorded, CMS Energy cannot predict the ultimate financial impact or outcome of this matter. Equatorial Guinea Tax Claim: In 2002, CMS Energy sold its oil, gas, and methanol investments in Equatorial Guinea. The government of Equatorial Guinea claims that CMS Energy owes $142 million in taxes, plus significant penalties and interest, in connection with the sale and may proceed to formal arbitration. CMS Energy has concluded that the government’s tax claim is without merit. CMS Energy is vigorously contesting the claim but cannot predict the financial impact or outcome of this matter. It is possible that the outcome of this matter could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. Consumers Electric Utility Contingencies Electric Environmental Matters: Consumers’ operations are subject to environmental laws and regulations. Historically, Consumers has generally been able to recover, in customer rates, the costs to operate its facilities in compliance with these laws and regulations. Cleanup and Solid Waste: Consumers expects to incur remediation and other response activity costs at a number of sites under NREPA. Consumers believes that these costs should be recoverable in rates, but cannot guarantee that outcome. Consumers estimates that its liability for NREPA sites for which it can estimate a range of loss will be between $4 million and $6 million. At December 31, 2014, Consumers had a recorded liability of $4 million, the minimum amount in the range of its estimated probable NREPA liability. Consumers is a potentially responsible party at a number of contaminated sites administered under CERCLA. CERCLA liability is joint and several. In 2010, Consumers received official notification from the EPA that identified Consumers as a potentially responsible party for cleanup of PCBs at the Kalamazoo River CERCLA site. The notification claimed that the EPA has reason to believe that Consumers disposed of PCBs and arranged for the disposal and treatment of PCB-containing materials at portions of the site. In 2011, Consumers received a follow‑up letter from the EPA requesting that Consumers agree to participate in a removal action plan along with several other companies for an area of lower Portage Creek, which is connected to the Kalamazoo River. All parties, including Consumers, that were asked to participate in the removal action plan declined to accept liability. Until further information is received from the EPA, Consumers is unable to estimate a range of potential liability for cleanup of the river. Based on its experience, Consumers estimates that its share of the total liability for known CERCLA sites will be between $3 million and $9 million. Various factors, including the number of potentially responsible parties involved with each site, affect Consumers’ share of the total liability. At December 31, 2014, Consumers had a recorded liability of $3 million for its share of the total liability at these sites, the minimum amount in the range of its estimated probable CERCLA liability. The timing of payments related to Consumers’ remediation and other response activities at its CERCLA and NREPA sites is uncertain. Consumers periodically reviews these cost estimates. Any significant change in the underlying assumptions, such as an increase in the number of sites, different remediation techniques, the nature and extent of contamination, and legal and regulatory requirements, could affect its estimates of NREPA and CERCLA liability. Ludington PCB: In 1998, during routine maintenance activities, Consumers identified PCB as a component in certain paint, grout, and sealant materials at Ludington. Consumers removed and replaced part of the PCB material with non‑PCB material. Consumers has had several communications with the EPA regarding this matter. Consumers cannot predict the financial impact or outcome of this matter. Electric Utility Plant Air Permit Issues and Notices of Violation: In 2007, Consumers received an NOV/FOV from the EPA alleging that fourteen utility boilers exceeded the visible emission limits in their associated air permits. Consumers responded formally to the NOV/FOV, denying the allegations. In addition, in 2008, Consumers received an NOV for three of its coal-fueled facilities alleging, among other things, violations of NSR PSD regulations relating to ten projects from 1986 to 1998 purportedly subject to review under the NSR. Additionally, t he EPA has alleged that some utilities have classified incorrectly major plant modifications as RMRR rather than seeking permits from the EPA or state regulatory agencies to modify their plants. Consumers responded to the information requests from the EPA on this subject in t he past. In September 2014, Consumers reached a settlement in this matter with the EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice. Under the settlement, Consumers shall, among other things, install pollution control equipment at some of its coal-fueled electric generating plants and achieve certain emission rates for specific pollutants, surrender emission allowances, invest in $7.7 million of Environmental Mitigation Projects, retire or repower certain coal-fueled units, and pay a civil penalty of $2.75 million. Consumers has accrued an amount sufficient to cover the costs of the civil penalty and some of the Environmental Mitigation Projects. Consumers has recovered or expects that it would be able to recover some or all of the costs in rates, consistent with the recovery of other reasonable costs of complying with environmental laws and regulations, but cannot reasonably estimate the extent of additional cost recovery. The settlement, completed via consent decree, was finalized in November 2014. CCRs: In December 2014, the EPA issued a final rule regulating CCRs, such as coal ash, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The final rule will adopt non-hazardous waste standards for CCRs. The rule will add new requirements for groundwater monitoring, flood protection, storm water design, fugitive dust, and public disclosure of information. The rule will also require closure of non-compliant surface impoundments and landfills within approximately three years, with limited potential for extensions. The rule is expected to be published in early 2015. Consumers expects that planned capital expenditures will likely be accelerated to meet the compliance deadline, but is still evaluating the impacts of this rule. Renewable Energy Matters: In April 2013, a group of landowners filed a lawsuit in Mason County (Michigan) Circuit Court alleging, among other things, personal injury, loss of property value, and impacts to the use and enjoyment of their land as a result of the operations of Lake Winds® Energy Park. In October 2014, Consumers reached a settlement with a majority of the plaintiffs, and in January 2015, reached a settlement with the remaining plaintiffs, neither of which was material to Consumers. Consumers Gas Utility Contingencies Gas Environmental Matters: Consumers expects to incur remediation and other response activity costs at a number of sites under the NREPA. These sites include 23 former MGP facilities. Consumers operated the facilities on these sites for some part of their operating lives. For some of these sites, Consumers has no present ownership interest or may own only a portion of the original site. At December 31, 2014, Consumers had a recorded liability of $115 million for its remaining obligations for these sites. This amount represents the present value of long-term projected costs, using a discount rate of 2.57 percent and an inflation rate of 2.5 percent. The undiscounted amount of the remaining obligation is $131 million. Consumers expects to incur remediation and other response activity costs in each of the next five years as follows:
In Millions
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
Consumers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Remediation and other response activity costs |  | $ | 11 |  | $ | 12 |  | $ | 13 |  | $ | 11 |  | $ | 14 |
Consumers periodically reviews these cost estimates. Any significant change in the underlying assumptions, such as an increase in the number of sites, changes in remediation techniques, or legal and regulatory requirements, could affect Consumers’ estimates of annual response activity costs and the MGP liability. Pursuant to orders issued by the MPSC, Consumers defers its MGP-related remediation costs and recovers them from its customers over a ten-year period. At December 31, 2014, Consumers had a regulatory asset of $147 million related to the MGP sites. Consumers estimates that its liability to perform remediation and other response activities at NREPA sites other than the MGP sites could reach $3 million. At December 31, 2014, Consumers had a recorded liability of less than $1 million, the minimum amount in the range of its estimated probable liability. Guarantees Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ guarantees at December 31, 2014:
In Millions
|  |  | Maximum |  | Carrying |
Guarantee Description | Issue Date | Expiration Date | Obligation |  | Amount |
CMS Energy, including Consumers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Indemnity obligations from asset sales and other agreements | Various | Various through August 2029 |  | $ | 150 | 1 |  | $ | 7 |
Guarantees | Various | Various through March 2021 |  |  | 54 |  |  |  | - |
Consumers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Indemnity obligations and other guarantees | Various | Various through August 2029 |  | $ | 30 |  |  | $ | 1 |
| 1 |  | The majority of this amount arises from stock and asset sale agreements under which CMS Energy or a subsidiary of CMS Energy, other than Consumers, indemnified the purchaser for losses resulting from various matters, including claims related to tax disputes, claims related to PPAs, and defects in title to the assets or stock sold to the purchaser by CMS Energy subsidiaries. Except for items described elsewhere in this Note, CMS Energy believes the likelihood of material loss to be remote for the indemnity obligations not recorded as liabilities.
Presented in the following table is additional information regarding CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ guarantees:
Guarantee Description | How Guarantee Arose | Events That Would Require Performance |
CMS Energy, including Consumers |  |  |
Indemnity obligations from asset | Stock and asset sale | Findings of misrepresentation, |
sales and other agreements | agreements | breach of warranties, tax claims, and |
|  | other specific events or |
|  | circumstances |
Guarantees | Normal operating | Nonperformance or non-payment by a |
| activity | subsidiary under a related contract |
Consumers |  |  |
Indemnity obligations and | Normal operating | Nonperformance or claims made by a third |
other guarantees | activity | party under a related contract |
CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain other subsidiaries of CMS Energy also enter into various agreements containing tax and other indemnity provisions for which they are unable to estimate the maximum potential obligation. These factors include unspecified exposure under certain agreements. CMS Energy and Consumers consider the likelihood that they would be required to perform or incur substantial losses related to these indemnities to be remote. Other Contingencies Other: In addition to the matters disclosed in this Note and Note 3, Regulatory Matters, there are certain other lawsuits and administrative proceedings before various courts and governmental agencies arising in the ordinary course of business to which CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain other subsidiaries of CMS Energy are parties. These other lawsuits and proceedings may involve personal injury, property damage, contracts, environmental matters, federal and state taxes, rates, licensing, employment, and other matters. Further, CMS Energy and Consumers occasionally self-report certain regulatory non‑compliance matters that may or may not eventually result in administrative proceedings. CMS Energy and Consumers believe that the outcome of any one of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on their consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity. Contractual Commitments Purchase Obligations: Purchase obligations arise from long-term contracts for the purchase of commodities and related services, and construction and service agreements. The commodities and related services include long-term PPAs, natural gas and associated transportation, and coal and associated transportation. R elated part y PPAs are between Consumers and certain affiliates of CMS Enterprises. Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ contractual purchase obligations at December 31, 2014 for each of the periods shown:
In Millions
| Payments Due |
| Total | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Beyond 2019 |
CMS Energy, including Consumers
MCV PPA |  | $ | 3,425 |  | $ | 370 |  | $ | 384 |  | $ | 312 |  | $ | 301 |  | $ | 316 |  | $ | 1,742 |
Palisades PPA |  |  | 2,661 |  |  | 331 |  |  | 342 |  |  | 352 |  |  | 364 |  |  | 375 |  |  | 897 |
Related party PPAs |  |  | 1,135 |  |  | 83 |  |  | 83 |  |  | 85 |  |  | 85 |  |  | 88 |  |  | 711 |
Other PPAs |  |  | 3,915 |  |  | 254 |  |  | 244 |  |  | 245 |  |  | 247 |  |  | 224 |  |  | 2,701 |
Other |  |  | 1,812 |  |  | 755 |  |  | 418 |  |  | 330 |  |  | 80 |  |  | 76 |  |  | 153 |
Consumers
MCV PPA |  | $ | 3,425 |  | $ | 370 |  | $ | 384 |  | $ | 312 |  | $ | 301 |  | $ | 316 |  | $ | 1,742 |
Palisades PPA |  |  | 2,661 |  |  | 331 |  |  | 342 |  |  | 352 |  |  | 364 |  |  | 375 |  |  | 897 |
Related party PPAs |  |  | 1,135 |  |  | 83 |  |  | 83 |  |  | 85 |  |  | 85 |  |  | 88 |  |  | 711 |
Other PPAs |  |  | 3,915 |  |  | 254 |  |  | 244 |  |  | 245 |  |  | 247 |  |  | 224 |  |  | 2,701 |
Other |  |  | 1,546 |  |  | 721 |  |  | 389 |  |  | 301 |  |  | 51 |  |  | 47 |  |  | 37 |
MCV PPA: Consumers has a 35‑year PPA that began in 1990 with the MCV Partnership to purchase 1,240 MW of electricity. The MCV PPA, as amended and restated, provides for:
| · |  | a capacity charge of $10.14 per MWh of available capacity;
| · |  | a fixed energy charge based on Consumers’ annual average baseload coal generating plant operating and maintenance cost, fuel inventory, and administrative and general expenses;
| · |  | a variable energy charge based on the MCV Partnership’s cost of production when the plant is dispatched;
| · |  | a $5 million annual contribution by the MCV Partnership to a renewable resources program; and
| · |  | an option for Consumers to extend the MCV PPA for five years or purchase the MCV Facility at the conclusion of the MCV PPA’s term in March 2025.
Capacity and energy charges under the MCV PPA were $300 million in 2014, $278 million in 2013, and $319 million in 2012. Palisades PPA: Consumers has a PPA expiring in 2022 with Entergy to purchase all of the capacity and energy produced by Palisades, up to the annual average capacity of 798 MW. For all delivered energy, the Palisades PPA has escalating capacity and variable energy charges. Total c apacity and energy charges under the Palisades PPA were $302 million in 2014, $3 38 million in 2013, and $331 million in 2012. For further details about Palisades, see Note 10, Leases. Other PPA s: Consumers has PPA s expiring between 2015 and 20 36 with various counterparties. The majority of the PPAs have capacity and energy charges for delivered energy. Capacity and energy charges under these PPAs were $354 million in 2014, $345 million in 2013, and $314 million in 2012.
Consumers Energy Company [Member] |
Contingencies And Commitments | 4:CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS CMS Energy and Consumers are involved in various matters that give rise to contingent liabilities. Depending on the specific issues, the resolution of these contingencies could have a material effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. In their disclosures of these matters, CMS Energy and Consumers provide an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss when such an estimate can be made. Disclosures that state that CMS Energy or Consumers cannot predict the outcome of a matter indicate that they are unable to estimate a possible loss or range of loss for the matter. CMS Energy Contingencies Gas Index Price Reporting Litigation: CMS Energy, along with CMS MST, CMS Field Services, Cantera Natural Gas, Inc., and Cantera Gas Company, have been named as defendants in five class action lawsuits arising as a result of alleged inaccurate natural gas price reporting to publications that report trade information. Allegations include manipulation of NYMEX natural gas futures and options prices, price-fixing conspiracies, restraint of trade, and artificial inflation of natural gas retail prices in Kansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The following provides more detail on the cases in which CMS Energy or its affiliates remain as parties:
| · |  | In 2005, CMS Energy, CMS MST, and CMS Field Services were named as defendants in a putative class action filed in Kansas state court, Learjet, Inc., et al. v. Oneok, Inc., et al. The complaint alleges that during the putative class period, January 1, 2000 through October 31, 2002, the defendants engaged in a scheme to violate the Kansas Restraint of Trade Act. The plaintiffs are seeking statutory full consideration damages consisting of the full consideration paid by the plaintiffs for natural gas allegedly purchased from the defendants.
| · |  | In 2007, a class action complaint, Heartland Regional Medical Center, et al. v. Oneok, Inc. et al., was filed as a putative class action in Missouri state court alleging violations of Missouri antitrust laws. The defendants, including CMS Energy, CMS Field Services, and CMS MST, are alleged to have violated the Missouri antitrust law in connection with their natural gas reporting activities. The plaintiffs are seeking full consideration damages and treble damages.
| · |  | In 2006, a class action complaint, Arandell Corp., et al. v. XCEL Energy Inc., et al., was filed in Wisconsin state court on behalf of Wisconsin commercial entities that purchased natural gas between January 1, 2000 and October 31, 2002. The defendants, including CMS Energy, CMS ERM, and Cantera Gas Company, are alleged to have violated Wisconsin’s antitrust statute. The plaintiffs are seeking full consideration damages, plus exemplary damages and attorneys’ fees.
| · |  | In 2009, a class action complaint, Newpage Wisconsin System v. CMS ERM, et al., was filed in circuit court in Wood County, Wisconsin, against CMS Energy, CMS ERM, Cantera Gas Company, and others. The plaintiff is seeking full consideration damages, treble damages, costs, interest, and attorneys’ fees.
| · |  | In 2005, J.P. Morgan Trust Company, N.A., in its capacity as t rustee of the FLI Liquidating Trust, filed an action in Kansas state court against CMS Energy, CMS MST, CMS Field Services, and others. The complaint alleges various claims under the Kansas Restraint of Trade Act. The plaintiff is seeking statutory full consideration damages for its purchases of natural gas in 2000 and 2001.
After removal to federal court, all of the cases described above were transferred to the MDL. In 2010 and 2011, all claims against CMS Energy defendants in the MDL cases were dismissed based on FERC preemption. Plaintiffs filed appeals in all of the cases. The issues on appeal were whether the district court erred in dismissing the cases based on FERC preemption and denying the plaintiffs’ motions for leave to amend their complaints to add a federal Sherman Act antitrust claim. The plaintiffs did not appeal the dismissal of CMS Energy as a defendant in these cases, but other CMS Energy entities remain as defendants. In April 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed the MDL decision and remanded the case to the MDL judge for further proceedings. The appellate court found that FERC preemption does not apply under the facts of these cases. The appellate c ourt affirmed the MDL court’s denial of leave to amend to add federal antitrust claims. In August 2013, the joint defense group in these cases, of which CMS Energy defendants are members, filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court in an attempt to overturn the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In July 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear this case. Arguments were heard in early 2015 and an opinion is expe cted in the first half of 2015. These cases involve complex facts, a large number of similarly situated defendants with different factual positions, and multiple jurisdictions. Presently, any estimate of liability would be highly speculative; the amount of CMS Energy’s possible loss would be based on widely varying models previously untested in this context. If the outcome after appeals is unfavorable, these cases could have a material adverse impact on CMS Energy’s liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. Bay Harbor: CMS Energy retained environmental remediation obligations for the collection and treatment of leachate, a liquid consisting of water and other substances, at Bay Harbor after selling its interests in the development in 2002. Leachate is produced when water enters into cement kiln dust piles left over from former cement plant operations at the site. In 2012, CMS Energy and the MDEQ finalized an agreement that established the final remedies and the future water quality criteria at the site. CMS Energy has completed all construction necessary to implement the remedies required by the agreement and will continue to maintain and operate a system to discharge treated leachate into Little Traverse Bay under an NPDES permit issued in 2010. This permit requires renewal every five years. Various claims have been brought against CMS Land or its affiliates, including CMS Energy, alleging environmental damage to property, loss of property value, insufficient disclosure of environmental matters, breach of agreement relating to access, or other matters. CMS Land and other parties have received a demand for payment from the EPA in the amount of $8 million, plus interest. The EPA is seeking recovery under CERCLA of response costs allegedly incurred at Bay Harbor. These costs exceed what was agreed to in a 2005 order between CMS Land and the EPA, and CMS Land has communicated to the EPA that it does not believe that this is a valid claim. In August 2014, the EPA indicated that i t intends to pursue the claim. In September 2014, CMS Energy recorded a charge of $15 million to maintenance and other operating expenses to increase the remaining liability for Bay Harbor as a result of changed cost estimates based on recent experience. Factors leading to the increase included higher water treatment costs, more frequent trucking of water due to system limitations, and increased system maintenance costs. CMS Energy has recorded a cumulative charge related to Bay Harbor of $245 million, which includes accretion expense. At December 31, 2014, CMS Energy had a recorded liability of $62 million for its remaining obligations. CMS Energy calculated this liability based on discounted projected costs, using a discount rate of 4.34 percent and an inflation rate of one percent on annual operating and maintenance costs. The undiscounted amount of the remaining obligation is $80 million. CMS Energy expects to pay $8 million in 2015, $6 million in 2016, $5 million in 2017, $5 million in 2018, and $5 million in 2019, and the remaining amount thereafter on long-term liquid disposal and operating and maintenance costs. CMS Energy’s estimate of response activity costs and the timing of expenditures could change if there are changes in circumstances or assumptions used in calculating the liability. Although a liability for its present estimate of remaining response activity costs has been recorded, CMS Energy cannot predict the ultimate financial impact or outcome of this matter. Equatorial Guinea Tax Claim: In 2002, CMS Energy sold its oil, gas, and methanol investments in Equatorial Guinea. The government of Equatorial Guinea claims that CMS Energy owes $142 million in taxes, plus significant penalties and interest, in connection with the sale and may proceed to formal arbitration. CMS Energy has concluded that the government’s tax claim is without merit. CMS Energy is vigorously contesting the claim but cannot predict the financial impact or outcome of this matter. It is possible that the outcome of this matter could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. Consumers Electric Utility Contingencies Electric Environmental Matters: Consumers’ operations are subject to environmental laws and regulations. Historically, Consumers has generally been able to recover, in customer rates, the costs to operate its facilities in compliance with these laws and regulations. Cleanup and Solid Waste: Consumers expects to incur remediation and other response activity costs at a number of sites under NREPA. Consumers believes that these costs should be recoverable in rates, but cannot guarantee that outcome. Consumers estimates that its liability for NREPA sites for which it can estimate a range of loss will be between $4 million and $6 million. At December 31, 2014, Consumers had a recorded liability of $4 million, the minimum amount in the range of its estimated probable NREPA liability. Consumers is a potentially responsible party at a number of contaminated sites administered under CERCLA. CERCLA liability is joint and several. In 2010, Consumers received official notification from the EPA that identified Consumers as a potentially responsible party for cleanup of PCBs at the Kalamazoo River CERCLA site. The notification claimed that the EPA has reason to believe that Consumers disposed of PCBs and arranged for the disposal and treatment of PCB-containing materials at portions of the site. In 2011, Consumers received a follow‑up letter from the EPA requesting that Consumers agree to participate in a removal action plan along with several other companies for an area of lower Portage Creek, which is connected to the Kalamazoo River. All parties, including Consumers, that were asked to participate in the removal action plan declined to accept liability. Until further information is received from the EPA, Consumers is unable to estimate a range of potential liability for cleanup of the river. Based on its experience, Consumers estimates that its share of the total liability for known CERCLA sites will be between $3 million and $9 million. Various factors, including the number of potentially responsible parties involved with each site, affect Consumers’ share of the total liability. At December 31, 2014, Consumers had a recorded liability of $3 million for its share of the total liability at these sites, the minimum amount in the range of its estimated probable CERCLA liability. The timing of payments related to Consumers’ remediation and other response activities at its CERCLA and NREPA sites is uncertain. Consumers periodically reviews these cost estimates. Any significant change in the underlying assumptions, such as an increase in the number of sites, different remediation techniques, the nature and extent of contamination, and legal and regulatory requirements, could affect its estimates of NREPA and CERCLA liability. Ludington PCB: In 1998, during routine maintenance activities, Consumers identified PCB as a component in certain paint, grout, and sealant materials at Ludington. Consumers removed and replaced part of the PCB material with non‑PCB material. Consumers has had several communications with the EPA regarding this matter. Consumers cannot predict the financial impact or outcome of this matter. Electric Utility Plant Air Permit Issues and Notices of Violation: In 2007, Consumers received an NOV/FOV from the EPA alleging that fourteen utility boilers exceeded the visible emission limits in their associated air permits. Consumers responded formally to the NOV/FOV, denying the allegations. In addition, in 2008, Consumers received an NOV for three of its coal-fueled facilities alleging, among other things, violations of NSR PSD regulations relating to ten projects from 1986 to 1998 purportedly subject to review under the NSR. Additionally, t he EPA has alleged that some utilities have classified incorrectly major plant modifications as RMRR rather than seeking permits from the EPA or state regulatory agencies to modify their plants. Consumers responded to the information requests from the EPA on this subject in t he past. In September 2014, Consumers reached a settlement in this matter with the EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice. Under the settlement, Consumers shall, among other things, install pollution control equipment at some of its coal-fueled electric generating plants and achieve certain emission rates for specific pollutants, surrender emission allowances, invest in $7.7 million of Environmental Mitigation Projects, retire or repower certain coal-fueled units, and pay a civil penalty of $2.75 million. Consumers has accrued an amount sufficient to cover the costs of the civil penalty and some of the Environmental Mitigation Projects. Consumers has recovered or expects that it would be able to recover some or all of the costs in rates, consistent with the recovery of other reasonable costs of complying with environmental laws and regulations, but cannot reasonably estimate the extent of additional cost recovery. The settlement, completed via consent decree, was finalized in November 2014. CCRs: In December 2014, the EPA issued a final rule regulating CCRs, such as coal ash, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The final rule will adopt non-hazardous waste standards for CCRs. The rule will add new requirements for groundwater monitoring, flood protection, storm water design, fugitive dust, and public disclosure of information. The rule will also require closure of non-compliant surface impoundments and landfills within approximately three years, with limited potential for extensions. The rule is expected to be published in early 2015. Consumers expects that planned capital expenditures will likely be accelerated to meet the compliance deadline, but is still evaluating the impacts of this rule. Renewable Energy Matters: In April 2013, a group of landowners filed a lawsuit in Mason County (Michigan) Circuit Court alleging, among other things, personal injury, loss of property value, and impacts to the use and enjoyment of their land as a result of the operations of Lake Winds® Energy Park. In October 2014, Consumers reached a settlement with a majority of the plaintiffs, and in January 2015, reached a settlement with the remaining plaintiffs, neither of which was material to Consumers. Consumers Gas Utility Contingencies Gas Environmental Matters: Consumers expects to incur remediation and other response activity costs at a number of sites under the NREPA. These sites include 23 former MGP facilities. Consumers operated the facilities on these sites for some part of their operating lives. For some of these sites, Consumers has no present ownership interest or may own only a portion of the original site. At December 31, 2014, Consumers had a recorded liability of $115 million for its remaining obligations for these sites. This amount represents the present value of long-term projected costs, using a discount rate of 2.57 percent and an inflation rate of 2.5 percent. The undiscounted amount of the remaining obligation is $131 million. Consumers expects to incur remediation and other response activity costs in each of the next five years as follows:
In Millions
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
Consumers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Remediation and other response activity costs |  | $ | 11 |  | $ | 12 |  | $ | 13 |  | $ | 11 |  | $ | 14 |
Consumers periodically reviews these cost estimates. Any significant change in the underlying assumptions, such as an increase in the number of sites, changes in remediation techniques, or legal and regulatory requirements, could affect Consumers’ estimates of annual response activity costs and the MGP liability. Pursuant to orders issued by the MPSC, Consumers defers its MGP-related remediation costs and recovers them from its customers over a ten-year period. At December 31, 2014, Consumers had a regulatory asset of $147 million related to the MGP sites. Consumers estimates that its liability to perform remediation and other response activities at NREPA sites other than the MGP sites could reach $3 million. At December 31, 2014, Consumers had a recorded liability of less than $1 million, the minimum amount in the range of its estimated probable liability. Guarantees Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ guarantees at December 31, 2014:
In Millions
|  |  | Maximum |  | Carrying |
Guarantee Description | Issue Date | Expiration Date | Obligation |  | Amount |
CMS Energy, including Consumers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Indemnity obligations from asset sales and other agreements | Various | Various through August 2029 |  | $ | 150 | 1 |  | $ | 7 |
Guarantees | Various | Various through March 2021 |  |  | 54 |  |  |  | - |
Consumers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Indemnity obligations and other guarantees | Various | Various through August 2029 |  | $ | 30 |  |  | $ | 1 |
| 1 |  | The majority of this amount arises from stock and asset sale agreements under which CMS Energy or a subsidiary of CMS Energy, other than Consumers, indemnified the purchaser for losses resulting from various matters, including claims related to tax disputes, claims related to PPAs, and defects in title to the assets or stock sold to the purchaser by CMS Energy subsidiaries. Except for items described elsewhere in this Note, CMS Energy believes the likelihood of material loss to be remote for the indemnity obligations not recorded as liabilities.
Presented in the following table is additional information regarding CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ guarantees:
Guarantee Description | How Guarantee Arose | Events That Would Require Performance |
CMS Energy, including Consumers |  |  |
Indemnity obligations from asset | Stock and asset sale | Findings of misrepresentation, |
sales and other agreements | agreements | breach of warranties, tax claims, and |
|  | other specific events or |
|  | circumstances |
Guarantees | Normal operating | Nonperformance or non-payment by a |
| activity | subsidiary under a related contract |
Consumers |  |  |
Indemnity obligations and | Normal operating | Nonperformance or claims made by a third |
other guarantees | activity | party under a related contract |
CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain other subsidiaries of CMS Energy also enter into various agreements containing tax and other indemnity provisions for which they are unable to estimate the maximum potential obligation. These factors include unspecified exposure under certain agreements. CMS Energy and Consumers consider the likelihood that they would be required to perform or incur substantial losses related to these indemnities to be remote. Other Contingencies Other: In addition to the matters disclosed in this Note and Note 3, Regulatory Matters, there are certain other lawsuits and administrative proceedings before various courts and governmental agencies arising in the ordinary course of business to which CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain other subsidiaries of CMS Energy are parties. These other lawsuits and proceedings may involve personal injury, property damage, contracts, environmental matters, federal and state taxes, rates, licensing, employment, and other matters. Further, CMS Energy and Consumers occasionally self-report certain regulatory non‑compliance matters that may or may not eventually result in administrative proceedings. CMS Energy and Consumers believe that the outcome of any one of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on their consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity. Contractual Commitments Purchase Obligations: Purchase obligations arise from long-term contracts for the purchase of commodities and related services, and construction and service agreements. The commodities and related services include long-term PPAs, natural gas and associated transportation, and coal and associated transportation. R elated part y PPAs are between Consumers and certain affiliates of CMS Enterprises. Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ contractual purchase obligations at December 31, 2014 for each of the periods shown:
In Millions
| Payments Due |
| Total | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Beyond 2019 |
CMS Energy, including Consumers
MCV PPA |  | $ | 3,425 |  | $ | 370 |  | $ | 384 |  | $ | 312 |  | $ | 301 |  | $ | 316 |  | $ | 1,742 |
Palisades PPA |  |  | 2,661 |  |  | 331 |  |  | 342 |  |  | 352 |  |  | 364 |  |  | 375 |  |  | 897 |
Related party PPAs |  |  | 1,135 |  |  | 83 |  |  | 83 |  |  | 85 |  |  | 85 |  |  | 88 |  |  | 711 |
Other PPAs |  |  | 3,915 |  |  | 254 |  |  | 244 |  |  | 245 |  |  | 247 |  |  | 224 |  |  | 2,701 |
Other |  |  | 1,812 |  |  | 755 |  |  | 418 |  |  | 330 |  |  | 80 |  |  | 76 |  |  | 153 |
Consumers
MCV PPA |  | $ | 3,425 |  | $ | 370 |  | $ | 384 |  | $ | 312 |  | $ | 301 |  | $ | 316 |  | $ | 1,742 |
Palisades PPA |  |  | 2,661 |  |  | 331 |  |  | 342 |  |  | 352 |  |  | 364 |  |  | 375 |  |  | 897 |
Related party PPAs |  |  | 1,135 |  |  | 83 |  |  | 83 |  |  | 85 |  |  | 85 |  |  | 88 |  |  | 711 |
Other PPAs |  |  | 3,915 |  |  | 254 |  |  | 244 |  |  | 245 |  |  | 247 |  |  | 224 |  |  | 2,701 |
Other |  |  | 1,546 |  |  | 721 |  |  | 389 |  |  | 301 |  |  | 51 |  |  | 47 |  |  | 37 |
MCV PPA: Consumers has a 35‑year PPA that began in 1990 with the MCV Partnership to purchase 1,240 MW of electricity. The MCV PPA, as amended and restated, provides for:
| · |  | a capacity charge of $10.14 per MWh of available capacity;
| · |  | a fixed energy charge based on Consumers’ annual average baseload coal generating plant operating and maintenance cost, fuel inventory, and administrative and general expenses;
| · |  | a variable energy charge based on the MCV Partnership’s cost of production when the plant is dispatched;
| · |  | a $5 million annual contribution by the MCV Partnership to a renewable resources program; and
| · |  | an option for Consumers to extend the MCV PPA for five years or purchase the MCV Facility at the conclusion of the MCV PPA’s term in March 2025.
Capacity and energy charges under the MCV PPA were $300 million in 2014, $278 million in 2013, and $319 million in 2012. Palisades PPA: Consumers has a PPA expiring in 2022 with Entergy to purchase all of the capacity and energy produced by Palisades, up to the annual average capacity of 798 MW. For all delivered energy, the Palisades PPA has escalating capacity and variable energy charges. Total c apacity and energy charges under the Palisades PPA were $302 million in 2014, $3 38 million in 2013, and $331 million in 2012. For further details about Palisades, see Note 10, Leases. Other PPA s: Consumers has PPA s expiring between 2015 and 20 36 with various counterparties. The majority of the PPAs have capacity and energy charges for delivered energy. Capacity and energy charges under these PPAs were $354 million in 2014, $345 million in 2013, and $314 million in 2012.

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