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Note 4 - Regulatory Assets and Liabilities | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019
Notes to Financial Statements |
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Text Block] | 4. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities As a regulated entity, OTP accounts for the financial effects of regulation in accordance with ASC 980. This accounting standard allows for the recording of a regulatory asset or liability for costs that will be collected or refunded in the future as required under regulation. Additionally, ASC 980-605-25 provides for the recognition of revenues authorized for recovery outside of a general rate case under alternative revenue programs which provide for recovery of costs and incentives or returns on investment in such items as transmission infrastructure, renewable energy resources or conservation initiatives. The following tables indicate the amount of regulatory assets and liabilities recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets:
|  | December 31, 2019 |  |  | Remaining Recovery/ |
(in thousands) |  | Current |  |  | Long-Term |  |  | Total |  |  | Refund Period (months) |
Regulatory Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Prior Service Costs and Actuarial Losses on Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits1 |  | $ | 9,090 |  |  | $ | 129,102 |  |  | $ | 138,192 |  |  | see below |
Accumulated Asset Retirement Obligation (ARO) Accretion/Depreciation Adjustment1 |  |  | - |  |  |  | 7,772 |  |  |  | 7,772 |  |  | asset lives |
Conservation Improvement Program Costs and Incentives2 |  |  | 4,024 |  |  |  | 2,844 |  |  |  | 6,868 |  |  |  | 21 |
Minnesota Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Revenues2 |  |  | 4,208 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 4,208 |  |  |  | 12 |
MISO Schedule 26/26A Transmission Cost Recovery Rider True-ups1 |  |  | 2,033 |  |  |  | 968 |  |  |  | 3,001 |  |  |  | 24 |
Nonservice Costs Components of Postretirement Benefits Capitalized for Ratemaking Purposes and Subject to Deferred Recovery1 |  |  | - |  |  |  | 1,681 |  |  |  | 1,681 |  |  | asset lives |
Big Stone II Unrecovered Project Costs – Minnesota1 |  |  | 715 |  |  |  | 225 |  |  |  | 940 |  |  |  | 16 |
Debt Reacquisition Premiums1 |  |  | 201 |  |  |  | 548 |  |  |  | 749 |  |  |  | 153 |
Deferred Marked-to-Market Losses1 |  |  | 743 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 743 |  |  |  | 12 |
Big Stone II Unrecovered Project Costs – South Dakota1 |  |  | 144 |  |  |  | 253 |  |  |  | 397 |  |  |  | 33 |
South Dakota Deferred Rate Case Expenses Subject to Recovery1 |  |  | 138 |  |  |  | 245 |  |  |  | 383 |  |  |  | 34 |
North Dakota Deferred Rate Case Expenses Subject to Recovery1 |  |  | 122 |  |  |  | 244 |  |  |  | 366 |  |  |  | 36 |
Minnesota SPP Transmission Cost Recovery Tracker1 |  |  | - |  |  |  | 202 |  |  |  | 202 |  |  | see below |
Minnesota Renewable Resource Rider Accrued Revenues2 |  |  | 131 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 131 |  |  |  | 12 |
South Dakota Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Revenues2 |  |  | 97 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 97 |  |  |  | 2 |
Deferred Lease Expenses1 |  |  | - |  |  |  | 54 |  |  |  | 54 |  |  |  | 39 |
Minnesota Environmental Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Revenues2 |  |  | 4 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  | 12 |
Total Regulatory Assets |  | $ | 21,650 |  |  | $ | 144,138 |  |  | $ | 165,788 |  |  |  |  |
Regulatory Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred Income Taxes |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 141,707 |  |  | $ | 141,707 |  |  | asset lives |
Accumulated Reserve for Estimated Removal Costs – Net of Salvage |  |  | - |  |  |  | 97,726 |  |  |  | 97,726 |  |  | asset lives |
Refundable Fuel Clause Adjustment Revenues |  |  | 3,982 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 3,982 |  |  |  | 12 |
North Dakota Renewable Resource Recovery Rider Accrued Refund |  |  | 1,515 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 1,515 |  |  |  | 12 |
North Dakota Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Refund |  |  | 700 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 700 |  |  |  | 12 |
Prior Service Costs and Actuarial Gains on Postretirement Benefits |  |  | 471 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 471 |  |  |  | 12 |
Revenue for Rate Case Expenses Subject to Refund – Minnesota |  |  | - |  |  |  | 401 |  |  |  | 401 |  |  | see below |
South Dakota Phase-In Rate Plan Rider Accrued Refund |  |  | 355 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 355 |  |  |  | 9 |
North Dakota Generation Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Refund |  |  | 287 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 287 |  |  |  | 6 |
Minnesota Energy Intensive Trade Exposed Rider Accrued Refund |  |  | 164 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 164 |  |  |  | 12 |
Other |  |  | 6 |  |  |  | 72 |  |  |  | 78 |  |  |  | 168 |
Total Regulatory Liabilities |  | $ | 7,480 |  |  | $ | 239,906 |  |  | $ | 247,386 |  |  |  |  |
Net Regulatory Asset/(Liability) Position |  | $ | 14,170 |  |  | $ | (95,768 | ) |  | $ | (81,598 | ) |  |  |  |
1Costs subject to recovery without a rate of return. 2Amount eligible for recovery under an alternative revenue program which includes an incentive or rate of return.
| December 31, 2018 | Remaining Recovery/ |
(in thousands) |  | Current |  |  | Long-Term |  |  | Total | Refund Period (months) |
Regulatory Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Prior Service Costs and Actuarial Losses on Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits1 |  | $ | 6,346 |  |  | $ | 118,433 |  |  | $ | 124,779 |  |  | see below |
Accumulated ARO Accretion/Depreciation Adjustment1 |  |  | - |  |  |  | 7,169 |  |  |  | 7,169 |  |  | asset lives |
Conservation Improvement Program Costs and Incentives2 |  |  | 5,995 |  |  |  | 3,285 |  |  |  | 9,280 |  |  |  | 21 |
Minnesota Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Revenues2 |  |  | 444 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 444 |  |  |  | 12 |
MISO Schedule 26/26A Transmission Cost Recovery Rider True-up1 |  |  | 240 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 240 |  |  |  | 12 |
Nonservice Costs Components of Postretirement Benefits Capitalized for Ratemaking Purposes and Subject to Deferred Recovery1 |  |  | - |  |  |  | 986 |  |  |  | 986 |  |  | asset lives |
Big Stone II Unrecovered Project Costs – Minnesota1 |  |  | 681 |  |  |  | 947 |  |  |  | 1,628 |  |  |  | 28 |
Debt Reacquisition Premiums1 |  |  | 207 |  |  |  | 753 |  |  |  | 960 |  |  |  | 165 |
Deferred Marked-to-Market Losses1 |  |  | 1,661 |  |  |  | 743 |  |  |  | 2,404 |  |  |  | 24 |
Big Stone II Unrecovered Project Costs – South Dakota1 |  |  | 100 |  |  |  | 342 |  |  |  | 442 |  |  |  | 53 |
South Dakota Deferred Rate Case Expenses Subject to Recovery1 |  |  | 178 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 178 |  |  |  | 12 |
North Dakota Deferred Rate Case Expenses Subject to Recovery1 |  |  | 455 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 455 |  |  |  | 12 |
Minnesota SPP Transmission Cost Recovery Tracker1 |  |  | - |  |  |  | 176 |  |  |  | 176 |  |  | see below |
Minnesota Renewable Resource Recovery Rider Accrued Revenues2 |  |  | 452 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 452 |  |  |  | 12 |
Minnesota Environmental Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Revenues2 |  |  | 121 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 121 |  |  |  | 12 |
Deferred Income Taxes1 |  |  | - |  |  |  | 2,423 |  |  |  | 2,423 |  |  | asset lives |
Minnesota Energy Intensive Trade Exposed Rider Accrued Revenues1 |  |  | 328 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 328 |  |  |  | 4 |
North Dakota Environmental Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Revenues2 |  |  | 17 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 17 |  |  |  | 12 |
Total Regulatory Assets |  | $ | 17,225 |  |  | $ | 135,257 |  |  | $ | 152,482 |  |  |  |  |
Regulatory Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred Income Taxes |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 142,779 |  |  | $ | 142,779 |  |  | asset lives |
Accumulated Reserve for Estimated Removal Costs – Net of Salvage |  |  | - |  |  |  | 83,229 |  |  |  | 83,229 |  |  | asset lives |
Refundable Fuel Clause Adjustment Revenues |  |  | 121 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 121 |  |  |  | 12 |
North Dakota Renewable Resource Recovery Rider Accrued Refund |  |  | 177 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 177 |  |  |  | 12 |
North Dakota Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Refund |  |  | 60 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 60 |  |  |  | 12 |
Revenue for Rate Case Expenses Subject to Refund – Minnesota |  |  | - |  |  |  | 166 |  |  |  | 166 |  |  | see below |
MISO Schedule 26/26A Transmission Cost Recovery Rider True-up |  |  | - |  |  |  | 187 |  |  |  | 187 |  |  |  | 24 |
South Dakota Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Refund |  |  | 168 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 168 |  |  |  | 12 |
South Dakota Environmental Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Refund |  |  | 207 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 207 |  |  |  | 12 |
Other |  |  | 5 |  |  |  | 108 |  |  |  | 113 |  |  |  | 180 |
Total Regulatory Liabilities |  | $ | 738 |  |  | $ | 226,469 |  |  | $ | 227,207 |  |  |  |  |
Net Regulatory Asset/(Liability) Position |  | $ | 16,487 |  |  | $ | (91,212 | ) |  | $ | (74,725 | ) |  |  |  |
1Costs subject to recovery without a rate of return. 2Amount eligible for recovery under an alternative revenue program which includes an incentive or rate of return. The regulatory asset and liability related to prior service costs and actuarial losses on pensions and other postretirement benefits represents benefit costs and actuarial losses and gains subject to recovery or refund through rates as they are expensed. These unrecognized benefit costs and actuarial losses and gains are required to be recognized as components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in equity under ASC Topic 715, Compensation—Retirement Benefits, but are eligible for treatment as regulatory assets or liabilities based on their probable inclusion in future retail electric rates. The Accumulated ARO Accretion/Depreciation Adjustment will accrete and be amortized over the lives of property with asset retirement obligations. Conservation Improvement Program Costs and Incentives represent mandated conservation expenditures and incentives recoverable through retail electric rates. The Minnesota Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Revenues relate to revenues earned on qualifying transmission system facilities and operating costs incurred to serve Minnesota customers that were recoverable from Minnesota customers as of the balance sheet date. MISO Schedule 26/26A Transmission Cost Recovery Rider True-ups relate to the over/under collection of revenue based on comparison of the expected versus actual construction on eligible projects in the period. The true-ups also include the state jurisdictional portion of MISO Schedule 26/26A for regional transmission cost recovery that was included in the calculation of the state transmission riders and subsequently adjusted to reflect actual billing amounts in the schedule. The Nonservice Costs Components of Postretirement Benefits Capitalized for Ratemaking Purposes and Subject to Deferred Recovery are employee benefit-related costs that are required to be capitalized for ratemaking purposes and are recovered over the depreciable lives of the assets to which the related labor costs were applied. Big Stone II Unrecovered Project Costs – Minnesota are the Minnesota share of generation and transmission plant-related costs incurred by OTP related to its participation in the abandoned Big Stone II project. Debt Reacquisition Premiums are being recovered from OTP customers over the remaining original lives of the reacquired debt issues, the longest of which is 153 months. All Deferred Marked-to-Market Losses recorded as of the balance sheet date relate to forward purchases of energy scheduled for delivery through December 2020. Big Stone II Unrecovered Project Costs – South Dakota are the South Dakota share of generation and transmission plant-related costs incurred by OTP related to its participation in the abandoned Big Stone II project. South Dakota Deferred Rate Case Expenses Subject to Recovery relate to costs incurred in conjunction with OTP’s most recent rate case in South Dakota and are currently being recovered beginning with the establishment of interim rates in October 2018. North Dakota Deferred Rate Case Expenses Subject to Recovery relate to costs incurred in conjunction with OTP’s most recent rate case in North Dakota currently being recovered beginning with the establishment of interim rates in January 2018. The Minnesota SPP Transmission Cost Recovery Tracker regulatory asset relates to costs incurred to serve Minnesota customers that are subject to recovery but that had not been billed to Minnesota customers as of the balance sheet date. The Minnesota Renewable Resource Recovery Rider Accrued Revenues relate to revenues earned on qualifying renewable resource costs incurred to serve Minnesota customers that were recoverable from Minnesota customers as of the balance sheet date. The South Dakota Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Revenues relate to revenues earned on qualifying transmission system facilities and operating costs incurred to serve South Dakota customers that were recoverable from South Dakota customers as of the balance sheet date. Deferred Lease Expenses: Under ASC 842 accounting rules, for leases with scheduled escalating payments, rent expense is required to be recognized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease based on the sum of those payments. Rate-regulated entities are generally only allowed to recover the amount of actual cash payments on leases and FERC accounting rules require that rent expense be recognized on the basis of cash payments. The balance in the deferred lease expense regulatory asset account represents operating lease right of use asset cumulative amortization and interest costs in excess of cumulative lease payments that are subject to recovery in future periods under regulatory accounting treatment as cash payments are rendered. The Minnesota Environmental Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Revenues relate to revenues earned on the Minnesota share of OTP’s investment in the Big Stone Plant AQCS project that were recoverable from Minnesota customers as of the balance sheet date. The regulatory asset and liability related to Deferred Income Taxes results from changes in statutory tax rates accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. Minnesota Energy Intensive Trade Exposed Rider Accrued Revenues relate to revenues recorded for fuel and purchased power costs reductions provided to customers in energy intensive trade exposed industries that were subject to recovery from other Minnesota customers as of the balance sheet date. North Dakota Environmental Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Revenues relate to revenues earned on the North Dakota share of OTP’s investments in the Big Stone Plant AQCS and Hoot Lake Plant MATS projects and for reagent and emission allowances costs that were recoverable from North Dakota customers as of the balance sheet date. The Accumulated Reserve for Estimated Removal Costs – Net of Salvage is reduced as actual removal costs, net of salvage revenues, are incurred. The North Dakota Renewable Resource Recovery Rider Accrued Refund relates to amounts collected for qualifying renewable resource costs incurred to serve North Dakota customers that were refundable to North Dakota customers as of the balance sheet date. The North Dakota Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Refund relates to amounts collected for qualifying transmission system facilities and operating costs incurred to serve North Dakota customers that were refundable to North Dakota customers as of the balance sheet date. Revenue for Rate Case Expenses Subject to Refund – Minnesota relates to revenues collected under general rates to recover costs related to prior rate case proceedings in excess of the actual costs incurred. The South Dakota Phase-In Rate Plan Rider Accrued Refund relates to amounts collected for actual and forecasted costs for Astoria Station, Merricourt, and additional load growth that were refundable to South Dakota customers as of the balance sheet date. The North Dakota Generation Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Refund relates to revenues collected under the rider in excess of returns allowed on recoverable costs incurred for the North Dakota share of OTP’s investment in Astoria Station, a natural gas-fired combustion turbine generation facility under construction near Astoria, South Dakota. The balance represents amounts subject to refund to North Dakota customers that had been billed to North Dakota customers as of the balance sheet date. The Minnesota Energy Intensive Trade Exposed Rider Accrued Refund relates to over-collected amounts from Minnesota retail customers for fuel and purchased power costs reductions provided to customers in energy intensive trade exposed industries that were subject to refund to Minnesota customers as of the balance sheet date. The South Dakota Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Refund relates to amounts collected for qualifying transmission system facilities and operating costs incurred to serve South Dakota customers that were refundable to South Dakota customers as of the balance sheet date. The South Dakota Environmental Cost Recovery Rider Accrued Refund relates to amounts collected on the South Dakota share of OTP’s investments in the Big Stone Plant AQCS and Hoot Lake Plant MATS projects that were refundable to South Dakota customers as of the balance sheet date. If for any reason OTP ceases to meet the criteria for application of guidance under ASC 980 for all or part of its operations, the regulatory assets and liabilities that no longer meet such criteria would be removed from the consolidated balance sheet and included in the consolidated statement of income as an expense or income item in the period in which the application of guidance under ASC 980 ceases.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for detailed information about regulatory assets and liabilities, including current and noncurrent assets created when regulatory agencies permit the deferral of costs to the balance sheet that would otherwise be required to appear on the company's income statement and would be charged against current expenses or revenues, as well as current and noncurrent liabilities created when regulatory agencies permit. + References No definition available. + Details
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