filings.toolsAmeren 10-K 2015-12-31
Filed 2016-02-26. 21 sections, 789K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON
Cover and table of contents
10-K 1 aee201510-k.htm 10-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
| (X) | Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. | |
| OR | ||
| ( ) | Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from to . |
| Commission File Number | Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter; State of Incorporation; Address and Telephone Number | IRS Employer Identification No. | ||
| 1-14756 | Ameren Corporation | 43-1723446 | ||
| (Missouri Corporation) | ||||
| 1901 Chouteau Avenue | ||||
| St. Louis, Missouri 63103 | ||||
| (314) 621-3222 | ||||
| 1-2967 | Union Electric Company | 43-0559760 | ||
| (Missouri Corporation) | ||||
| 1901 Chouteau Avenue | ||||
| St. Louis, Missouri 63103 | ||||
| (314) 621-3222 | ||||
| 1-3672 | Ameren Illinois Company | 37-0211380 | ||
| (Illinois Corporation) | ||||
| 6 Executive Drive | ||||
| Collinsville, Illinois 62234 | ||||
| (618) 343-8150 |
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
The following security is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange:
| Registrant | Title of each class | ||
| Ameren Corporation | Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share |
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
| Registrant | Title of each class | ||
| Union Electric Company | Preferred Stock, cumulative, no par value, stated value $100 per share | ||
| Ameren Illinois Company | Preferred Stock, cumulative, $100 par value per share Depositary Shares, each representing one-fourth of a share of 6.625% Preferred Stock, cumulative, $100 par value per share |
Indicate by checkmark if each registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
| Ameren Corporation | Yes | (X) | No | ( ) |
| Union Electric Company | Yes | ( ) | No | (X) |
| Ameren Illinois Company | Yes | (X) | No | ( ) |
Indicate by checkmark if each registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
| Ameren Corporation | Yes | ( ) | No | (X) |
| Union Electric Company | Yes | ( ) | No | (X) |
| Ameren Illinois Company | Yes | ( ) | No | (X) |
Indicate by checkmark whether the registrants: (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
| Ameren Corporation | Yes | (X) | No | ( ) |
| Union Electric Company | Yes | (X) | No | ( ) |
| Ameren Illinois Company | Yes | (X) | No | ( ) |
Indicate by checkmark whether each registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
| Ameren Corporation | Yes | (X) | No | ( ) |
| Union Electric Company | Yes | (X) | No | ( ) |
| Ameren Illinois Company | Yes | (X) | No | ( ) |
Indicate by checkmark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of each registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
| Ameren Corporation | (X) | |
| Union Electric Company | (X) | |
| Ameren Illinois Company | (X) |
Indicate by checkmark whether each registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large Accelerated Filer | Accelerated Filer | Non-accelerated Filer | Smaller Reporting Company | |||||
| Ameren Corporation | (X) | ( ) | ( ) | ( ) | ||||
| Union Electric Company | ( ) | ( ) | (X) | ( ) | ||||
| Ameren Illinois Company | ( ) | ( ) | (X) | ( ) |
Indicate by checkmark whether each registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
| Ameren Corporation | Yes | ( ) | No | (X) |
| Union Electric Company | Yes | ( ) | No | (X) |
| Ameren Illinois Company | Yes | ( ) | No | (X) |
As of June 30, 2015, Ameren Corporation had 242,634,798 shares of its $0.01 par value common stock outstanding. The aggregate market value of these shares of common stock (based upon the closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2015) held by nonaffiliates was $9,142,479,189. The shares of common stock of the other registrants were held by Ameren Corporation as of June 30, 2015.
The number of shares outstanding of each registrant’s classes of common stock as of January 29, 2016, was as follows:
| Ameren Corporation | Common stock, $0.01 par value per share: 242,634,798 |
| Union Electric Company | Common stock, $5 par value per share, held by Ameren Corporation (parent company of the registrant): 102,123,834 |
| Ameren Illinois Company | Common stock, no par value, held by Ameren Corporation (parent company of the registrant): 25,452,373 |
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the definitive proxy statement of Ameren Corporation and portions of the definitive information statements of Union Electric Company and Ameren Illinois Company for the 2016 annual meetings of shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
This combined Form 10-K is separately filed by Ameren Corporation, Union Electric Company, and Ameren Illinois Company. Each registrant hereto is filing on its own behalf all of the information contained in this annual report that relates to such registrant. Each registrant hereto is not filing any information that does not relate to such registrant, and therefore makes no representation as to any such information.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This report contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements should be read with the cautionary statements and important factors under the heading “Forward-looking Statements.” Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical fact, including those statements that are identified by the use of the words “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” and similar expressions.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
We use the words “our,” “we” or “us” with respect to certain information that relates to Ameren, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois, collectively. When appropriate, subsidiaries of Ameren Corporation are named specifically as their various business activities are discussed.
2006 Incentive Plan - The 2006 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan provides for compensatory stock-based awards to eligible employees and directors. The 2006 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan was replaced prospectively for new grants by the 2014 Incentive Plan.
2014 Incentive Plan - The 2014 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, which became effective in April 2014 and provides for compensatory stock-based awards to eligible employees and directors.
AER - Ameren Energy Resources Company, LLC, a former Ameren Corporation subsidiary that consisted of non-rate-regulated operations. In December 2013, AER contributed substantially all of its assets and liabilities, including its ownership interests in Genco, AERG, and Marketing Company, to New AER. Medina Valley was distributed from AER to Ameren in March 2013.
AERG - Ameren Energy Resources Generating Company, a former AER subsidiary that operated a merchant electric generation business in Illinois. In December 2013, AERG was included in the divestiture of New AER to IPH. Following the New AER divestiture, AERG became Illinois Power Resources Generating, LLC.
Ameren - Ameren Corporation and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. In references to financing activities, acquisition activities, or liquidity arrangements, Ameren is defined as Ameren Corporation, the parent.
Ameren Companies - Ameren Corporation, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois, collectively, which are individual registrants within the Ameren consolidated group.
Ameren Illinois or AIC - Ameren Illinois Company, an Ameren Corporation subsidiary that operates rate-regulated electric and natural gas transmission and distribution businesses in Illinois, doing business as Ameren Illinois. Ameren Illinois is also defined as a financial reporting segment.
Ameren Illinois Merger - In 2010, CILCO and IP merged with and into CIPS, with the surviving corporation renamed Ameren Illinois Company.
Ameren Missouri or AMO - Union Electric Company, an Ameren Corporation subsidiary that operates a rate-regulated electric generation, transmission and distribution business and a rate-regulated natural gas transmission and distribution business in Missouri, doing business as Ameren Missouri. Ameren Missouri is also defined as a financial reporting segment.
Ameren Services - Ameren Services Company, an Ameren Corporation subsidiary that provides support services to Ameren and its subsidiaries.
AMIL - The MISO balancing authority area operated by Ameren, which includes the load of Ameren Illinois and ATXI.
AMMO - The MISO balancing authority area operated by Ameren, which includes the load and energy centers of Ameren Missouri.
ARO - Asset retirement obligations.
ATXI - Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois, an Ameren Corporation subsidiary that is engaged in the construction and
operation of electric transmission assets.
Baseload - The minimum amount of electric power delivered or required over a given period of time at a steady rate.
Btu - British thermal unit, a standard unit for measuring the quantity of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
CCR - Coal combustion residuals, which include fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag and flue gas desulfurization materials generated from burning coal to generate electricity.
CILCO - Central Illinois Light Company, a former Ameren Corporation subsidiary that operated rate-regulated electric and natural gas transmission and distribution businesses in Illinois, before the Ameren Illinois Merger.
CIPS - Central Illinois Public Service Company, an Ameren Corporation subsidiary, renamed Ameren Illinois Company upon the effectiveness of the Ameren Illinois Merger, which operates rate-regulated electric and natural gas transmission and distribution businesses in Illinois.
Clean Power Plan - “Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units,” an EPA rule that establishes emission guidelines for states to follow in developing plans to reduce CO2 emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units.
CO2 - Carbon dioxide.
COL - Nuclear energy center combined construction and operating license.
Cooling degree-days - The summation of positive differences between the average daily temperature and a 65-degree Fahrenheit base. This statistic is useful as an indicator of electricity demand by residential and commercial customers for summer cooling.
Credit Agreements - The Illinois Credit Agreement and the Missouri Credit Agreement, collectively.
CSAPR - Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, an EPA rule that requires states that contribute to air pollution in down-wind states to limit air emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric generating units.
CT - Combustion turbine used primarily for peaking electric generation capacity.
Dekatherm - A standard unit of energy equivalent to one million Btus.
DOE - Department of Energy, a United States government agency.
DRPlus - Ameren Corporation’s dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan.
Dynegy - Dynegy Inc.
EEI - Electric Energy, Inc., a former 80%-owned Genco subsidiary that operated merchant electric generation energy centers and FERC-regulated transmission facilities in Illinois. In December 2013, Genco's ownership interest in EEI was included in the divestiture of New AER to IPH.
EPA - Environmental Protection Agency, a United States government agency.
ERISA - Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
Exchange Act - Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
FAC - Fuel adjustment clause, a fuel and purchased power cost recovery mechanism that allows Ameren Missouri to recover or refund through customer rates 95% of changes in net energy costs greater or less than the amount set in base rates without a traditional rate proceeding, subject to MoPSC prudence reviews.
FASB - Financial Accounting Standards Board, a rulemaking organization that establishes financial accounting and reporting standards in the United States.
FERC - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a United States government agency.
FTRs - Financial transmission rights, financial instruments that specify whether the holder shall pay or receive compensation for certain congestion-related transmission charges between two designated points.
GAAP - Generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
Genco - Ameren Energy Generating Company, a former AER subsidiary that operated a merchant electric generation business in Illinois and held an 80% ownership interest in EEI. In December 2013, Genco was included in the divestiture of New AER to IPH. Following the New AER divestiture, Genco became Illinois Power Generating Company.
Heating degree-days - The summation of negative differences between the average daily temperature and a 65-degree Fahrenheit base. This statistic is useful as an indicator of demand for electricity and natural gas for winter heating by residential and commercial customers.
IBEW - International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, a labor union.
ICC - Illinois Commerce Commission, a state agency that regulates Illinois utility businesses, including Ameren Illinois and ATXI.
IEIMA - Illinois Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act, an Illinois law that established a performance-based formula process for determining electric delivery service rates. By its election to participate in this regulatory framework, Ameren Illinois is required to make incremental capital expenditures to modernize its electric distribution system, meet performance standards, and create jobs in Illinois, among other requirements.
Illinois Credit Agreement - Ameren's and Ameren Illinois' $1.1 billion multiyear senior unsecured credit agreement. The agreement was amended and restated in December 2014 and is currently scheduled to expire on December 11, 2019.
IP - Illinois Power Company, a former Ameren Corporation subsidiary that operated rate-regulated electric and natural gas transmission and distribution businesses in Illinois, before the Ameren Illinois Merger.
IPA - Illinois Power Agency, a state government agency that has broad authority to assist in the procurement of electric power for residential and small commercial customers.
IPH - Illinois Power Holdings, LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Dynegy.
IRS - Internal Revenue Service, a United States government agency.
ISRS - Infrastructure system replacement surcharge, which is a cost recovery mechanism that allows Ameren Missouri to recover natural gas infrastructure replacement costs from utility
customers without a traditional rate proceeding.
IUOE - International Union of Operating Engineers, a labor union.
Kilowatthour - A measure of electricity consumption equivalent to the use of 1,000 watts of power over one hour.
LIUNA - Laborers’ International Union of North America, a labor union.
Marketing Company - Ameren Energy Marketing Company, a former AER subsidiary that marketed power for Genco, AERG, and EEI. Marketing Company was included in the divestiture of New AER to IPH in December 2013. Following the New AER divestiture, Marketing Company became Illinois Power Marketing Company.
MATS - Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, an EPA rule that limits emission of mercury and other air toxics from coal and oil-fired electric generating units.
Medina Valley - AmerenEnergy Medina Valley Cogen, LLC, an Ameren Corporation subsidiary. This company was distributed from AER to Ameren in March 2013.
MEEIA - Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act, a Missouri law that allows electric utilities to recover costs related to MoPSC-approved customer energy efficiency programs.
Megawatthour or MWh - One thousand kilowatthours.
Merchant Generation - A former financial reporting segment that, prior to the divestiture of New AER to IPH in December 2013, consisted primarily of the operations of AER, including Genco, AERG, Marketing Company and, through March 2013, Medina Valley.
MGP - Manufactured gas plant.
MISO - Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., an RTO.
Missouri Credit Agreement - Ameren's and Ameren Missouri's $1 billion multiyear senior unsecured credit agreement. The agreement was amended and restated in December 2014 and is currently scheduled to expire on December 11, 2019.
Missouri Environmental Authority - Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority of the state of Missouri, a governmental body authorized to finance environmental projects by issuing tax-exempt bonds and notes.
Mmbtu - One million Btus.
Money pool - Borrowing agreements among Ameren and its subsidiaries to coordinate and provide for certain short-term cash and working capital requirements.
Moody’s - Moody’s Investors Service Inc., a credit rating agency.
MoPSC - Missouri Public Service Commission, a state agency that regulates Missouri utility businesses, including Ameren Missouri.
MTM - Mark-to-market.
MW - Megawatt.
Native load - End-use retail customers whom we are obligated to serve by statute, franchise, contract, or other regulatory requirement.
NEIL - Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited, which includes all of its affiliated companies.
NERC - North American Electric Reliability Corporation.
Net energy costs - Net energy costs, as defined in the FAC, include fuel and purchased power costs, including transportation, net of off-system sales. As of May 30, 2015, transmission revenues and substantially all transmission charges are excluded from net energy costs as a result of the April 2015 MoPSC
electric rate order.
Net shared benefits - Ameren Missouri's share of the present value of lifetime energy savings, net of program costs, designed to offset sales volume reductions resulting from Ameren Missouri's customer energy efficiency programs. This recovery mechanism was applicable to the MEEIA plan for 2013 through 2015.
New AER - New Ameren Energy Resources Company, LLC, a limited liability company formed as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of AER. New AER, acquired by IPH in December 2013, included substantially all of the assets and liabilities of AER, except for certain assets and liabilities retained by Ameren. Following the New AER divestiture, New AER became Illinois Power Resources, LLC.
NOx - Nitrogen oxides.
Noranda - Noranda Aluminum, Inc.
NPNS - Normal purchases and normal sales.
NRC - Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a United States government agency.
NSPS - New Source Performance Standards, provisions under the Clean Air Act.
NSR - New Source Review provisions of the Clean Air Act, which include Nonattainment New Source Review and Prevention of Significant Deterioration regulations.
NWPA - Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended.
NYMEX - New York Mercantile Exchange.
NYSE - New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
OATT - Open Access Transmission Tariff.
OCI - Other comprehensive income (loss) as defined by GAAP.
Off-system sales revenues - Revenues from other than native load sales, including wholesale sales.
OTC - Over-the-counter.
PGA - Purchased Gas Adjustment tariffs, which permit prudently incurred natural gas costs to be recovered directly from utility customers without a traditional rate proceeding.
PUHCA 2005 - The Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005.
QIP - Qualifying infrastructure plant. Costs of qualifying infrastructure natural gas plant that is included in an Ameren Illinois recovery mechanism.
Rate base - The net value of property on which a public utility is permitted to earn an allowed rate of return.
Regulatory lag - The exposure to differences in costs incurred and actual sales volume levels as compared with the associated amounts included in customer rates. Rate increase requests in traditional rate case proceedings can take up to 11 months to be acted upon by the MoPSC and the ICC. As a result, revenue
increases authorized by regulators will lag behind changing costs and sales volume levels when based on historical periods.
Revenue requirement - The cost of providing utility service to customers, which is calculated as the sum of a utility's recoverable operating and maintenance expenses, depreciation and amortization expense, taxes, and an allowed return on investment.
RFP - Request for proposal.
Rockland Capital - Rockland Capital, LLC, together with the special purpose entity affiliated with, and formed by, Rockland Capital, LLC, that acquired the Elgin, Gibson City, and Grand Tower gas-fired energy centers in January 2014.
RTO - Regional transmission organization.
S&P - Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a credit rating agency.
SEC - Securities and Exchange Commission, a United States government agency.
SERC - SERC Reliability Corporation, one of the regional electric reliability councils organized for coordinating the planning and operation of the nation’s bulk power supply.
SO2 - Sulfur dioxide.
Test year - The selected period of time, typically a 12-month period, for which a utility's historical or forecasted operating results are used to determine the appropriate revenue requirement.
Throughput disincentive - Ameren Missouri's reduced margin caused by the current period's lower sales volume resulting from MEEIA customer energy efficiency programs. Recovery of this disincentive is designed to make Ameren Missouri earnings neutral each period from the lost margins caused by its current MEEIA customer energy efficiency programs. This recovery mechanism is applicable to the MEEIA plan from March 2016 through February 2019.
UA - United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, a labor union.
VBA - A volume balancing adjustment for Ameren Illinois' natural gas operations. As a result of this adjustment, revenues from residential and small nonresidential customers will increase or decrease as billing determinants differ from filed amounts. This adjustment ensures that changes in sales volumes, including deviations from normal weather conditions, do not result in an over- or under-collection of natural gas revenues for these rate classes.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements in this report not based on historical facts are considered “forward-looking” and, accordingly, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. Although such forward-looking statements have been made in good faith and are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that the expected results will be achieved. These statements include (without limitation) statements as to future expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, events, conditions, and financial performance. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are providing this cautionary statement to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The following factors, in addition to those discussed under Risk Factors, and elsewhere in this report and in our other filings with the SEC, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations suggested in such forward-looking statements:
| • | regulatory, judicial, or legislative actions, including changes in regulatory policies and ratemaking determinations, that may result from the complaint cases filed with the FERC seeking a reduction in the allowed base return on common equity under the MISO tariff, Ameren Missouri's appeal of the method and inputs used to calculate its performance incentive under MEEIA for 2014 and 2015, and future regulatory, judicial, or legislative actions designed to change regulatory recovery mechanisms; |
| • | the effect of Ameren Illinois participating in a performance-based formula ratemaking process under the IEIMA, including the direct relationship between Ameren Illinois' return on common equity and 30-year United States Treasury bond yields, the related financial commitments required by the IEIMA, and the resulting uncertain impact on Ameren Illinois' results of operations, financial position, and liquidity; |
| • | our ability to align our overall spending, both operating and capital, with regulatory frameworks established by our regulators in an attempt to earn our allowed return on equity; |
| • | the effects of changes in laws and other governmental actions, including monetary, fiscal, tax, and energy policies; |
| • | the effects of changes in federal, state, or local tax laws, regulations, interpretations, or rates and any challenges to the tax positions taken by the Ameren Companies; |
| • | the effects on demand for our services resulting from technological advances, including advances in customer energy efficiency and distributed generation sources, which generate electricity at the site of consumption and are becoming more cost-competitive; |
| • | the effectiveness of Ameren Missouri's customer energy efficiency programs and the related amount of any revenues and performance incentive earned under the MEEIA plans approved in August 2012 and February 2016 and under any future approved MEEIA plan; |
| • | the timing of increasing capital expenditure and operating expense requirements and our ability to recover these costs in a timely manner; |
| • | the cost and availability of fuel such as coal, natural gas, and enriched uranium used to produce electricity; the cost and availability of purchased power and natural gas for distribution; and the level and volatility of future market prices for such commodities, including our ability to recover the costs for such commodities and our customers' tolerance for the related rate increases; |
| • | disruptions in the delivery of fuel, failure of our fuel suppliers to provide adequate quantities or quality of fuel, or lack of adequate inventories of fuel, including ultra-low-sulfur coal used for Ameren Missouri’s compliance with environmental regulations; |
| • | the effectiveness of our risk management strategies and our use of financial and derivative instruments; |
| • | the ability to obtain sufficient insurance, including insurance relating to Ameren Missouri’s Callaway energy center and insurance for cyber attacks or, in the absence of insurance, the ability to recover uninsured losses from customers; |
| • | business and economic conditions, including their impact on key customers, interest rates, collection of our receivable balances, and demand for our products; |
| • | Noranda's bankruptcy filing, the expected curtailment of operations at its aluminum smelter located in southeast Missouri, and the resulting impacts to Ameren Missouri's ability to recover its revenue requirement; |
| • | revisions to Ameren Missouri’s long-term power supply agreement with Noranda, including Ameren Missouri’s notification to terminate the agreement effective June 1, 2020, and Ameren Missouri’s decision as to whether to seek MoPSC approval to cease providing electricity to Noranda thereafter; |
| • | disruptions of the capital markets, deterioration in credit metrics of the Ameren Companies, or other events that may have an adverse effect on the cost or availability of capital, including short-term credit and liquidity; |
| • | the impact of the adoption of new accounting guidance and the application of appropriate technical accounting rules and guidance; |
| • | actions of credit rating agencies and the effects of such actions; |
| • | the impact of weather conditions and other natural phenomena on us and our customers, including the impact of system outages; |
| • | the construction, installation, performance, and cost recovery of generation, transmission, and distribution assets; |
| • | the effects of breakdowns or failures of equipment in the operation of natural gas distribution and transmission systems and storage facilities, such as leaks, explosions and mechanical problems, and compliance with natural gas safety regulations; |
| • | the effects of our increasing investment in electric transmission projects and the uncertainty as to whether we will achieve our expected returns in a timely fashion; |
| • | operation of Ameren Missouri's Callaway energy center, including planned and unplanned outages, and decommissioning costs; |
| • | the effects of strategic initiatives, including mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, and any related tax |
implications;
| • | the impact of current environmental regulations and new, more stringent, or changing requirements, including those related to CO2, other emissions and discharges, cooling water intake structures, CCR, and energy efficiency, that are enacted over time and that could limit or terminate the operation of certain of our energy centers, increase our costs or investment requirements, result in an impairment of our assets, cause us to sell our assets, reduce our customers' demand for electricity or natural gas, or otherwise have a negative financial effect; |
| • | the impact of complying with renewable energy portfolio requirements in Missouri; |
| • | labor disputes, work force reductions, future wage and employee benefits costs, including changes in discount rates, mortality tables, and returns on benefit plan assets; |
| • | the inability of our counterparties to meet their obligations with respect to contracts, credit agreements, and financial instruments; |
| • | the cost and availability of transmission capacity for the energy generated by Ameren Missouri's energy centers or required to satisfy Ameren Missouri's energy sales; |
| • | legal and administrative proceedings; |
| • | the impact of cyber attacks, which could result in the loss of operational control of energy centers and electric and natural gas transmission and distribution systems and/or the loss of data, such as utility customer data and account information; and |
| • | acts of sabotage, war, terrorism, or other intentionally disruptive acts. |
New factors emerge from time to time; it is not possible for management to predict all such factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in any forward-looking statement. Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events.
PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS
GENERAL
Ameren, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a public utility holding company under PUHCA 2005. Ameren was formed in 1997 by the merger of Ameren Missouri and CIPSCO Inc., which was the parent company of CIPS. Ameren acquired CILCORP Inc., which was the parent company of CILCO, in 2003 and IP in 2004. CIPS, CILCO, and IP were merged to form Ameren Illinois in 2010. Ameren’s primary assets are its equity interests in its subsidiaries, including Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois. Ameren’s subsidiaries are separate, independent legal entities with separate businesses, assets, and liabilities. Dividends on Ameren’s common stock and the payment of expenses by Ameren depend on distributions made to it by its subsidiaries.
Below is a summary description of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois. A more detailed description can be found in Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
| • | Ameren Missouri operates a rate-regulated electric generation, transmission, and distribution business and a rate-regulated natural gas transmission and distribution business in Missouri. |
| • | Ameren Illinois operates rate-regulated electric and natural gas transmission and distribution businesses in Illinois. |
Ameren has various other subsidiaries that conduct activities such as the provision of shared services. Ameren also has a subsidiary, ATXI, that operates a FERC rate-regulated electric transmission business. ATXI is developing MISO-approved electric transmission projects, including the Illinois
Rivers, Spoon River, and Mark Twain projects. Ameren is also pursuing projects to improve electric transmission system reliability within Ameren Missouri's and Ameren Illinois' service territories as well as competitive electric transmission investment opportunities outside of these territories, including investments outside of MISO.
In December 2013, Ameren completed the divestiture of New AER to IPH. In January 2014, Medina Valley completed its sale of the Elgin, Gibson City, and Grand Tower gas-fired energy centers to Rockland Capital. In addition, in 2013, Ameren abandoned the Meredosia and Hutsonville energy centers upon the completion of the divestiture of New AER to IPH. Ameren is demolishing the Hutsonville energy center and expects to demolish the Meredosia energy center beginning in 2016. As a result of these events, Ameren has segregated the operating results, assets, and liabilities for New AER and for the Elgin, Gibson City, Grand Tower, Meredosia, and Hutsonville energy centers and presented them separately as discontinued operations for all periods presented in this report. Unless otherwise stated, the following information presented in Part I, Item 1, of this report excludes discontinued operations for all periods presented. See Note 16 – Divestiture Transactions and Discontinued Operations under Part II, Item 8, of this report for additional information.
The following table presents our total employees at December 31, 2015:
| Ameren Missouri | 3,773 | |
| Ameren Illinois | 3,305 | |
| Ameren Services | 1,449 | |
| Ameren | 8,527 |
At December 31, 2015, the IBEW, the IUOE, the LIUNA, and the UA labor unions collectively represented about 54% of Ameren’s total employees. They represented 63% and 59% of the employees at Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively. The collective bargaining agreements have terms ranging from two to six years and expire between 2016 and 2018.
For additional information about the development of our businesses, our business operations, and factors affecting our operations and financial position, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Part II, Item 7, of this report and Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
Ameren has two reportable segments: Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois each have one reportable segment. The Ameren Missouri segment for both Ameren and Ameren Missouri includes all the operations of Ameren Missouri. The Ameren Illinois segment for both Ameren and Ameren Illinois consists of all of the operations of Ameren Illinois. See Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 17 – Segment Information under Part II, Item 8, of this report for additional information on reporting segments.
RATES AND REGULATION
Rates
The rates that Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI are allowed to charge for their utility services significantly influence the results of operations, financial position, and liquidity of these companies and Ameren. The electric and natural gas utility industry is highly regulated. The utility rates charged to customers are determined by governmental entities, including the MoPSC, the ICC, and the FERC. Decisions by these entities are influenced by many factors, including the cost of providing service, the prudency of expenditures, the quality of service, regulatory staff knowledge and experience, customer intervention, and economic conditions, as well as social and political views. Decisions made by these governmental entities regarding rates are largely outside of our control. These decisions, as well as the regulatory lag involved in filing and getting new rates approved, could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, financial position, and liquidity of the Ameren Companies. The extent of the regulatory lag varies for each of Ameren's electric and natural gas jurisdictions, with the FERC-regulated electric transmission and Illinois electric distribution jurisdictions experiencing the least amount of regulatory lag. Depending on the jurisdiction, the effects of regulatory lag are mitigated through a variety of means, including the use of a future test year, the implementation of trackers and riders, the level and timing of expenditures, and by regulatory frameworks that include annual revenue requirement reconciliations.
The MoPSC regulates rates and other matters for Ameren Missouri. The ICC regulates rates and other matters for Ameren Illinois, as well as non-rate utility matters for ATXI. ATXI does not have retail distribution customers; therefore, the ICC does not have authority to regulate its rates. The FERC regulates Ameren Missouri's, Ameren Illinois', and ATXI's cost-based rates for the wholesale distribution and transmission of energy in interstate commerce and various other matters discussed below under General Regulatory Matters.
The following table summarizes, by rate jurisdiction, the key terms of the rate orders in effect for customer billings for each of Ameren's rate-regulated utilities as of January 1, 2016:
| Regulator | Allowed Return on Equity | Percent of Common Equity | Rate Base (in billions) | Portion of Ameren's 2015 Operating Revenues(a) | |
| Ameren Missouri | |||||
| Electric service(b)(c) | MoPSC | 9.53% | 51.8% | $7.0 | 56% |
| Natural gas delivery service(d) | MoPSC | (d) | 52.9% | $0.2 | 2% |
| Ameren Illinois | |||||
| Electric distribution delivery service(e) | ICC | 9.14% | 50.0% | $2.5 | 25% |
| Natural gas delivery service(f) | ICC | 9.60% | 50.0% | $1.2 | 13% |
| Electric transmission delivery service(g) | FERC | 12.38% | 51.9% | $1.2 | 3% |
| ATXI | |||||
| Electric transmission delivery service(g) | FERC | 12.38% | 56.1% | $0.9 | 1% |
| (a) | Includes pass-through costs recovered from customers, such as purchased power for electric distribution delivery service and gas purchased for resale for natural gas delivery service, and intercompany eliminations. |
| (b) | Ameren Missouri's electric generation, transmission, and delivery service rates are bundled together and charged to retail customers under a combined electric service rate. |
| (c) | Based on the MoPSC's April 2015 rate order. |
| (d) | Based on the MoPSC's January 2011 rate order. This rate order did not specify the allowed return on equity. It includes the impacts on rate base and operating revenues relating to the ISRS for investments after the January 2011 rate order. |
| (e) | Based on the ICC's December 2015 rate order. Ameren Illinois electric distribution delivery service rates are updated annually and become effective each January. The December 2015 rate order was based on 2014 recoverable costs, expected net plant additions for 2015, and the monthly yields during 2014 of the 30-year United States Treasury bonds plus 580 basis points. Ameren Illinois' 2016 electric distribution delivery service revenues will be based on its 2016 actual recoverable costs, rate base, and return on common equity, as calculated under the IEIMA's performance-based formula ratemaking framework. |
| (f) | Based on the ICC's December 2015 rate order. The rate order was based on a 2016 future test year and established the VBA. |
| (g) | Transmission rates are updated annually and become effective each January. They are determined by a company-specific, forward-looking rate formula based on each year's forecasted information. The 12.38% return is the subject of two FERC complaint proceedings that are challenging the allowed return on common equity for MISO transmission owners and would require customer refunds to be issued. |
Ameren Missouri
Electric
Ameren Missouri’s electric operating revenues are subject to regulation by the MoPSC. If certain criteria are met, Ameren Missouri’s electric rates may be adjusted without a traditional rate proceeding. For example, all of Ameren Missouri's MEEIA customer energy efficiency program costs, net shared benefits or throughput disincentive, and any performance incentive, are recoverable through a rider that may be adjusted without a traditional rate proceeding. Likewise, the FAC permits Ameren Missouri to recover or refund, through customer rates, 95% of changes in net energy costs greater than or less than the amount set in base rates without a traditional rate proceeding, subject to MoPSC prudence reviews. Net energy costs, as defined in the FAC, include fuel and purchased power costs, including transportation, net of off-system sales. As of May 30, 2015, transmission revenues and substantially all transmission charges are excluded from net energy costs as a result of the April 2015 MoPSC electric rate order. Under certain conditions, a provision of the FAC allows Ameren Missouri to retain a portion of the revenues from any off-system sales it makes as a result of reduced sales to Noranda.
In addition to the FAC and the MEEIA recovery mechanisms, Ameren Missouri employs other cost recovery mechanisms, including a pension and postretirement benefit cost tracker, an uncertain tax position tracker, a renewable energy standards cost tracker, and a solar rebate program tracker. Each of these trackers allows Ameren Missouri to record the difference between the level of incurred costs under GAAP and the level of such costs included in rates as a regulatory asset or regulatory liability, which will be included in base rates in a future MoPSC rate order.
Ameren Missouri is a member of MISO, and its transmission rate is calculated in accordance with the MISO OATT. The FERC regulates the rates charged and the terms and conditions for electric transmission delivery service. The transmission rate is updated each June based on Ameren Missouri’s filings with the FERC. This rate is not directly charged to Missouri retail customers because, in Missouri, the MoPSC includes transmission-related costs and revenues in bundled retail rates.
Natural Gas
Ameren Missouri’s natural gas operating revenues are subject to regulation by the MoPSC. If certain criteria are met, Ameren Missouri’s natural gas rates may be adjusted without a traditional rate proceeding. PGA clauses permit prudently incurred natural gas supply costs to be passed directly to customers. The ISRS also permits certain prudently incurred natural gas infrastructure replacement costs to be recovered from customers on a more timely basis between rate cases. The return on equity currently used by Ameren Missouri for purposes of the ISRS tariff is 10%.
Ameren Illinois
Electric
Ameren Illinois' electric distribution delivery service operating revenues are regulated by the ICC, while its electric transmission delivery service operating revenues are regulated by the FERC. In 2015, Ameren Illinois' electric distribution delivery service accounted for 91% of its total electric operating revenues. The remainder related to electric transmission delivery service.
Ameren Illinois participates in the performance-based formula ratemaking process established pursuant to the IEIMA. The IEIMA was designed to provide for the recovery of actual costs of electric delivery service that are prudently incurred and to reflect the utility's actual regulated capital structure through a formula for calculating the return on equity component of the cost of capital. The return on equity component of the formula rate is equal to the average for the calendar year of the monthly yields of the 30-year United States Treasury bonds plus 580 basis points. Ameren Illinois' actual return on equity relating to electric delivery service is subject to a collar adjustment on earnings in excess of 50 basis points greater or less than its allowed return. The IEIMA provides for an annual reconciliation of the revenue requirement necessary to reflect the actual costs incurred in a given year with the revenue requirement included in customer rates for that year, including an allowed return on equity. This annual revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment, along with the collar adjustment, if necessary, will be collected from or refunded to customers within the next two years.
Ameren Illinois is also subject to performance standards under the IEIMA. Failure to achieve the standards would result in a reduction in the company's allowed return on equity calculated under the formula. The performance standards include improvements in service reliability to reduce both the frequency
and duration of outages, reduction in the number of estimated bills, reduction of consumption on inactive meters, and a reduction in uncollectible accounts expense. The IEIMA provides for return on equity penalties totaling up to 34 basis points in 2016 through 2018 and 38 basis points in 2019 through 2022 if the performance standards are not met. The current formula ratemaking process is effective until the end of 2019, with a further extension possible through 2022.
Under the IEIMA, Ameren Illinois is also subject to capital spending levels. Between 2012 and 2021, Ameren Illinois is required to invest $625 million incremental to its average electric delivery service capital project investments of $228 million for calendar years 2008 through 2010, on capital projects to modernize its distribution system. Through 2015, Ameren Illinois has invested $277 million in IEIMA capital projects toward its $625 million requirement. As required by the IEIMA, Ameren Illinois met the job creation requirements during the peak program year.
Ameren Illinois employs cost recovery mechanisms for power procurement, customer energy efficiency programs, certain environmental costs, and bad debt expense not recovered in base rates. Ameren Illinois also has a tariff rider to recover the costs of certain asbestos-related claims.
Ameren Illinois is a member of MISO and its transmission rate is calculated in accordance with the MISO OATT. Currently, the FERC-allowed return on common equity in the ratemaking formula for MISO transmission owners is 12.38%. However, the 12.38% return is subject to a November 2013 complaint case and a February 2015 complaint case that challenge the allowed return on common equity for MISO transmission owners. In December 2015, an administrative law judge issued an initial decision in the November 2013 complaint case that would lower the allowed base return on common equity to 10.32% and would require customer refunds to be issued for the 15-month period ending in February 2015. Ameren Illinois has received FERC approval to use a company-specific, forward-looking rate formula framework in setting its transmission rates. These forward-looking rates are updated each January with forecasted information. A reconciliation during the year, which adjusts for the actual revenue requirement and actual sales volumes, is used to adjust billing rates in a subsequent year. In Illinois, the AMIL pricing zone transmission rate is charged directly to wholesale customers and to alternative retail electric suppliers, which serve unbundled retail load. The AMIL pricing zone transmission rate and other MISO-related costs are collected through a rider mechanism in Ameren Illinois' retail distribution tariffs from retail customers who have not chosen an alternative retail electric supplier.
Natural Gas
Ameren Illinois’ natural gas operating revenues are subject to regulation by the ICC. In December 2015, the ICC issued a rate order that approved an increase in revenues for Ameren Illinois' natural gas delivery service that was based on a 2016 future test year. In addition, the rate order approved the VBA for
residential and small nonresidential customers. If certain criteria are met, then Ameren Illinois’ natural gas rates may be adjusted without a traditional rate proceeding. PGA clauses permit prudently incurred natural gas costs to be passed directly to customers. Also, Ameren Illinois employs cost recovery mechanisms for customer energy efficiency programs, certain environmental costs, and bad debt expenses not recovered in base rates.
In July 2013, a state law was enacted, which encourages Illinois natural gas utilities to accelerate modernization of the state's natural gas infrastructure. The law allows natural gas utilities to file for a QIP rider. A QIP rider allows a surcharge to be added to customers' bills to recover depreciation expenses and to earn a return on qualifying natural gas investments that were not previously included in base rates. Recovery begins two months after the natural gas investments are placed in service and continues until the investments are included in base rates in a future natural gas rate order. Ameren Illinois received ICC approval for its QIP rider in January 2015 and subsequently began including qualified investments and recording revenue under this regulatory framework.
ATXI
ATXI is a member of MISO, and its transmission rate is calculated in accordance with the MISO OATT. Accordingly, like Ameren Illinois, ATXI's transmission rate is subject to the November 2013 and February 2015 complaint cases that challenge the allowed return on common equity for MISO transmission owners. ATXI has received FERC approval to use a company-specific, forward-looking rate formula framework in setting its transmission rates. These forward-looking rates are updated each January with forecasted information. A reconciliation during the year, which adjusts for the actual revenue requirement and actual sales volumes, is used to adjust billing rates in a subsequent year. Additionally, the FERC has approved transmission rate incentives relating to the three MISO-approved multi-value projects discussed below, which allow construction work in progress to be included in rate base, thereby improving the timeliness of cash recovery.
The three MISO-approved multi-value projects being developed by ATXI are the Illinois Rivers, Spoon River, and Mark Twain projects. The first project, Illinois Rivers, involves the construction of a 345-kilovolt line from western Indiana across the state of Illinois to eastern Missouri. ATXI has obtained a certificate of public convenience and necessity and project approval from the ICC and the MoPSC for each state's portion of the Illinois Rivers project. The last section of this project is expected to be completed in 2019. The Spoon River project is located in northwest Illinois, and the Mark Twain project is located in northeast Missouri; each of these projects involves the construction of 345-kilovolt lines and one new substation. In September 2015, the ICC granted ATXI a certificate of public convenience and necessity and project approval for the Spoon River project. In June 2015, ATXI made a filing with the MoPSC requesting a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the Mark Twain project. A decision is expected from the MoPSC
in 2016. These two projects are expected to be completed in 2018. The total investment by ATXI in all three projects is expected to be more than $1.6 billion.
For additional information on Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI rate matters, including the MoPSC's February 2016 MEEIA order, Noranda's usage reduction and bankruptcy filing, and the FERC complaint cases challenging the allowed return on common equity for MISO transmission owners, see Results of Operations and Outlook in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Part II, Item 7, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk under Part II, Item 7A, and Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
General Regulatory Matters
Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI must receive FERC approval to enter into various transactions, such as issuing short-term debt securities and conducting certain acquisitions, mergers, and consolidations involving electric utility holding companies. In addition, Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI must receive authorization from the applicable state public utility regulatory agency to issue stock and long-term debt securities (with maturities of more than 12 months) and to conduct mergers, affiliate transactions, and various other activities.
Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI are also subject to mandatory reliability standards, including cybersecurity standards adopted by the FERC, to ensure the reliability of the bulk power electric system. These standards are developed and enforced by NERC pursuant to authority delegated to it by the FERC. If Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, or ATXI are determined not to be in compliance with any of these mandatory reliability standards, they could incur substantial monetary penalties and other sanctions.
Under PUHCA 2005, the FERC and any state public utility regulatory agency may access books and records of Ameren and its subsidiaries that are determined to be relevant to costs incurred by Ameren’s rate-regulated subsidiaries that may affect jurisdictional rates. PUHCA 2005 also permits the MoPSC and the ICC to request that the FERC review cost allocations by Ameren Services to other Ameren companies.
Operation of Ameren Missouri’s Callaway energy center is subject to regulation by the NRC. In March 2015, the NRC extended the Callaway energy center's operating license from 2024 to 2044. Ameren Missouri’s Osage hydroelectric energy center and Taum Sauk pumped-storage hydroelectric energy center, as licensed projects under the Federal Power Act, are subject to FERC regulations affecting, among other aspects, the general operation and maintenance of the projects. The license for the Osage hydroelectric energy center expires in 2047. The license for the Taum Sauk pumped-storage hydroelectric energy center expires in 2044. Ameren Missouri’s Keokuk energy center and its dam in the Mississippi River between Hamilton, Illinois, and Keokuk, Iowa, are operated under authority granted by an Act of Congress in 1905.
For additional information on regulatory matters, see Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters, Note 10 – Callaway Energy Center, and Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
Environmental Matters
Certain of our operations are subject to federal, state, and local environmental statutes and regulations relating to the safety and health of personnel, the public, and the environment. These environmental statutes and regulations include requirements relating to identification, generation, storage, handling, transportation, disposal, recordkeeping, labeling, reporting, and emergency response in connection with hazardous and toxic materials; safety and health standards; and environmental protection requirements, including standards and limitations relating to the discharge of air and water pollutants and the management of waste and byproduct materials. Failure to comply with these statutes or regulations could have material adverse effects on us. We could be subject to criminal or civil penalties by regulatory agencies or we could be ordered by the courts to pay private parties. Except as indicated in this report, we believe that we are in material compliance with existing statutes and regulations that currently apply to our operations.
The EPA has promulgated several environmental regulations that will have a significant impact on the electric utility industry. Over time, compliance with these regulations could be costly for certain companies, including Ameren Missouri, that operate coal-fired power plants. Significant new rules include the regulation of CO2 emissions from existing power plants through the Clean Power Plan and from new power plants through the revised NSPS; the CSAPR, which requires further reductions of SO2 emissions and NOx emissions from power plants; a regulation governing management and storage of CCR; the MATS, which require reduction of emissions of mercury, toxic metals, and acid gases from power plants; revised NSPS for particulate matter, SO2, and NOx emissions from new sources; new effluent standards applicable to wastewater discharges from power plants and new regulations under the Clean Water Act that could require significant capital expenditures, such as modifications to water intake structures or new cooling towers at Ameren Missouri’s energy centers. The EPA also periodically reviews and revises national ambient air quality standards, including those standards associated with emissions from power plants, such as particulate matter, ozone, SO2 and NOx. Certain of these new regulations are being or are likely to be challenged through litigation, so their ultimate implementation, as well as the timing of any such implementation, is uncertain. Although many details of future regulations are unknown, individually or the combined effects of new environmental regulations could result in significant capital expenditures and increased operating costs for Ameren and Ameren Missouri. Compliance with all of these environmental laws and regulations could be prohibitively expensive, result in the closure or alteration of the operation of some of Ameren Missouri’s energy centers, or require capital investment. Ameren and Ameren Missouri expect that these costs would be recoverable through rates, subject to MoPSC prudence review, but the nature and timing of costs could result in
regulatory lag. These new and proposed environmental regulations could also impact the availability, cost of, and demand for power and natural gas, which is acquired for Ameren Missouri's natural gas customers and Ameren Illinois' electric and natural gas customers.
For additional discussion of environmental matters, including NOx, SO2, and mercury emission reduction requirements, reductions to CO2 emissions, wastewater discharge standards, remediation efforts, CCR management regulations, and a discussion of the EPA’s allegations of violations of the Clean Air Act and Missouri law in connection with projects at Ameren Missouri's Rush Island energy center, see Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
TRANSMISSION AND SUPPLY OF ELECTRIC POWER
Ameren owns an integrated transmission system that is comprised of the transmission assets of Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI. Ameren also operates two balancing authority areas: AMMO and AMIL. During 2015, the peak demand was 8,071 megawatts in AMMO and 8,642 megawatts in AMIL. The Ameren transmission system directly connects with 15 other balancing authority areas for the exchange of electric energy.
Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI are transmission-owning members of MISO. Ameren Missouri is authorized by the MoPSC to participate in MISO through May 2018. Ameren Missouri is required to file a study with the MoPSC in November 2017, as it has done periodically since it began participating in MISO, that evaluates the costs and benefits of Ameren Missouri's continued participation in MISO beyond May 2018.
The Ameren Companies are members of the SERC. The SERC is responsible for the bulk electric power system in all or portions of 16 central and southeastern states. Owners and operators, including the Ameren Companies, of the bulk electric power system are subject to mandatory reliability standards promulgated by the NERC and its regional entities, such as the SERC, which are all enforced by the FERC.
Ameren Missouri
Ameren Missouri’s electric supply is primarily generated from its energy centers. Factors that could cause Ameren Missouri to purchase power include, among other things, absence of sufficient owned generation, energy center outages, the fulfillment of renewable energy portfolio requirements, the failure of suppliers to meet their power supply obligations, extreme weather conditions, and the availability of power at a cost lower than its generation cost.
Ameren Missouri continues to evaluate its longer-term needs for new generating capacity. The potential need for new energy center construction is dependent on several key factors,
including continuation of, and customer participation in, energy efficiency programs, load growth, and more stringent environmental regulation of coal-fired power plants, which could lead to the retirement of current baseload assets or alterations in the manner in which those assets operate. Because of the significant time required to plan, acquire permits for, and build a baseload energy center, Ameren Missouri continues to study alternatives and it is taking steps to preserve options to meet future demand. Steps include evaluating the potential for additional customer energy efficiency programs and options for renewable energy generation, and potential sites for natural-gas-fired generation to further diversify its generation portfolio. During 2015, Ameren Missouri discontinued its efforts to license and build a second nuclear unit at its existing Callaway site and has withdrawn its COL application with the NRC.
Ameren Missouri filed its nonbinding integrated resource plan with the MoPSC in October 2014, prior to the issuance of the Clean Power Plan. The integrated resource plan is a 20-year plan that supports a more fuel-diverse energy portfolio in Missouri, including coal, solar, wind, hydro, natural gas and nuclear power. The plan includes expanding renewable generation, retiring coal-fired generation as energy centers reach the end of their useful lives, continuation and expansion of the then-existing energy efficiency programs, and adding natural-gas-fired combined cycle generation.
See also Outlook in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Part II, Item 7, Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters, Note 10 – Callaway Energy Center, and Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
Ameren Illinois
In Illinois, electric transmission and distribution service rates are regulated but power supply prices are not regulated. Although electric customers are allowed to purchase power from an alternative retail electric supplier, Ameren Illinois is required to serve as the provider of last resort for its electric customers. In 2015, Ameren Illinois supplied power for approximately 26% of its kilowatthour sales. Power purchased by Ameren Illinois for its retail customers comes either through procurement processes conducted by the IPA or through markets operated by MISO. The IPA administers an RFP process through which Ameren Illinois procures its expected supply obligation. The power and related procurement costs incurred by Ameren Illinois are passed directly to its customers through a cost recovery mechanism. Ameren Illinois charges transmission and distribution service rates to customers who purchase electricity from alternative retail electric suppliers.
See Note 14 – Related Party Transactions and Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies under Part II, Item 8, of this report for additional information on power procurement in Illinois.
POWER GENERATION
The following table presents the source of Ameren's and Ameren Missouri's electric generation, excluding purchased power, for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013:
| Coal | Nuclear | Natural Gas/Oil | Renewables(a) | ||||
| 2015 | 71% | 25% | (b) | 4% | |||
| 2014 | 76 | 21 | (b) | 3 | |||
| 2013 | 77 | 20 | (b) | 3 |
| (a) | Renewable power generation includes production from Ameren Missouri's hydroelectric, methane gas, and solar energy centers, but it excludes purchased renewable energy credits. |
| (b) | Less than 1% of total fuel supply. |
The following table presents the cost of fuels for electric generation for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013:
| Cost of Fuels (dollars per mmbtu) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||
| Coal(a) | $ | 2.193 | $ | 2.151 | $ | 2.050 | |||||
| Nuclear(b) | 0.928 | 0.918 | 0.942 | ||||||||
| Natural gas(c) | 7.422 | 11.226 | 7.907 | ||||||||
| Weighted average – all fuels(d) | $ | 1.910 | $ | 1.936 | $ | 1.874 |
| (a) | The cost of coal and the costs for transportation, which include hedges for railroad diesel fuel surcharges. |
| (b) | The cost of uranium and its processing to become nuclear fuel. |
| (c) | The cost of natural gas and fixed and variable costs for transportation, storage, balancing, and fuel losses for delivery to the energy center. |
| (d) | All costs, including transportation, for fuels used in our energy centers, including coal, nuclear, natural gas, methane gas, and oil. Methane gas and oil are not individually listed in this table because their use is minimal. |
Coal
Ameren Missouri has an ongoing need for coal for generation, so it pursues a price-hedging strategy consistent with this requirement. Ameren Missouri has agreements in place to purchase coal and to transport it to energy centers. Most of Ameren Missouri's coal supply agreements expire at the end of 2017, and its existing coal transport agreements expire at the end of 2019. Ameren Missouri has additional coal supply contracts in place to provide a portion of its coal supply in 2018. Ameren Missouri has coal transport agreements with Union Pacific Railroad and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. As of December 31, 2015, Ameren Missouri had price-hedged 100% of its expected coal supply and coal transportation requirements for generation in 2016. Ameren Missouri burned 18 million tons of coal in 2015.
About 98% of Ameren Missouri’s coal is purchased from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. The remaining coal is typically purchased from the Illinois Basin. Inventory may be adjusted because of generation levels or uncertainties of supply due to potential work stoppages, delays in coal deliveries, equipment breakdowns, and other factors. Deliveries from the Powder River Basin have occasionally been restricted because of rail congestion and maintenance, derailments, and weather. As of December 31, 2015, coal inventories for Ameren Missouri were near targeted levels. Disruptions in coal deliveries could cause Ameren Missouri to pursue a strategy that could include reducing sales of power during low-margin periods, buying higher-cost fuels to generate required electricity, and purchasing power from other sources.
Nuclear
The production of nuclear fuel involves the mining and milling of uranium ore to produce uranium concentrates, the conversion of uranium concentrates to uranium hexafluoride gas, the enrichment of that gas, the conversion of the enriched uranium hexafluoride gas into uranium dioxide fuel pellets, and the fabrication into usable fuel assemblies. Ameren Missouri has entered into uranium, uranium conversion, uranium enrichment, and fabrication contracts to procure the fuel supply for its Callaway nuclear energy center.
The Callaway energy center requires refueling at 18-month intervals. The last refueling was completed in November 2014. The next refuelings are scheduled for the spring of 2016 and the fall of 2017. As of December 31, 2015, Ameren Missouri has agreements or inventories to price-hedge 100% of Callaway's 2016 spring refueling requirements. Ameren Missouri has uranium (concentrate and hexafluoride) inventories and supply contracts sufficient to meet all of its uranium and conversion requirements at least through 2018. Ameren Missouri has enriched uranium inventories and enrichment supply contracts sufficient to satisfy enrichment requirements through at least 2020 and fuel fabrication service contracts through at least 2022.
Natural Gas Supply for Generation
To maintain deliveries to natural-gas-fired energy centers throughout the year, especially during the summer peak demand, Ameren Missouri’s portfolio of natural gas supply resources includes firm transportation capacity and firm no-notice storage capacity leased from interstate pipelines. Ameren Missouri primarily uses the interstate pipeline systems of Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, Trunkline Gas Company, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, and Mississippi River Transmission Corporation to transport natural gas to energy centers. In addition to physical transactions, Ameren Missouri uses financial instruments, including some in the NYMEX futures market and some in the OTC financial markets, to hedge the price paid for natural gas.
Ameren Missouri’s natural gas procurement strategy is designed to ensure reliable and immediate delivery of natural gas to its energy centers. This strategy is accomplished by optimizing transportation and storage options and by minimizing cost and price risk through various supply and price-hedging agreements that allow access to multiple gas pools, supply basins, and storage services. As of December 31, 2015, Ameren Missouri had price-hedged about 22% of its expected natural gas supply requirements for generation in 2016.
Renewable Energy
The states of Illinois and Missouri have enacted laws requiring electric utilities to include renewable energy resources in their portfolios. Illinois required renewable energy resources to equal or exceed 2% of the total electricity that Ameren Illinois supplied to its eligible retail customers as of June 1, 2008, with that percentage increasing to 11.5% by June 1, 2016, and to 25% by June 1, 2025. For the 2015 plan year, Ameren Illinois met its requirement that 10% of its total electricity for eligible retail customers be procured from renewable energy resources. Approximately 77% of the 2016 plan year renewable energy requirement is expected to be met through long-term agreements that Ameren Illinois has entered into to obtain renewable energy credits through 2032. The remaining requirement will be met through previous IPA procurements of additional renewable energy credits and an IPA procurement scheduled for spring 2016.
In Missouri, utilities are required to purchase or generate electricity equal to at least 2% of native load sales from renewable sources, with that percentage increasing to at least 15% by 2021, subject to a 1% annual limit on customer rate impacts. At least 2% of each renewable energy portfolio requirement must be derived from solar energy. In 2015, Ameren Missouri met its requirement to purchase or generate at least 5% of its native load sales from renewable energy resources. Ameren Missouri expects to satisfy the nonsolar requirement into 2018 with its Keokuk energy center, its Maryland Heights energy center, and through a 102-megawatt power purchase agreement with a wind farm operator. The Maryland Heights energy center generates electricity by burning methane gas collected from a landfill. Ameren Missouri is meeting the solar energy requirement
through the purchase of solar-generated renewable energy credits from customer-installed systems and from its own solar generation from the O'Fallon energy center and its headquarters building.
Under the same Missouri statute that requires utilities to purchase or generate electricity from renewable sources, Ameren Missouri was required to offer a rebate program to provide an incentive for customers to install solar generation on their premises. In accordance with the statute and a 2013 MoPSC order, Ameren Missouri was required to provide $92 million of solar rebates by 2020, which has been substantially fulfilled. In its 2013 order, the MoPSC also authorized Ameren Missouri to employ a tracker to record the costs it incurred under its solar rebate program as a regulatory asset. Ameren Missouri is recovering the costs of these rebates, along with the estimated $9 million in carrying cost of the regulatory asset, over a three-year period beginning in June 2015.
Energy Efficiency
Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois have implemented energy efficiency programs to educate and help their customers become more efficient users of energy. In Missouri, the MEEIA established a regulatory framework that, among other things, allows electric utilities to recover costs related to MoPSC-approved customer energy efficiency programs. The law requires the MoPSC to ensure that a utility’s financial incentives are aligned to help customers use energy more efficiently, to provide timely cost recovery, and to provide earnings opportunities associated with cost-effective energy efficiency programs. Missouri does not have a law mandating energy efficiency standards.
In August 2012, the MoPSC approved Ameren Missouri’s customer energy efficiency programs, net shared benefits, and performance incentive for 2013 through 2015. From 2013 through 2015, Ameren Missouri invested $134 million in customer energy efficiency programs and realized $174 million of net shared benefits. The MoPSC also established a performance incentive that would give Ameren Missouri the potential to earn additional revenues by achieving certain customer energy efficiency goals, including $19 million if 100% of the goals were achieved during the three-year period, with the potential to earn a larger performance incentive if Ameren Missouri's energy savings exceeded those goals.
In June 2015, the MoPSC staff filed a complaint case with the MoPSC regarding the method and inputs used in calculating the performance incentive for 2014 and 2015. In November 2015, the MoPSC issued an order that adopted the MoPSC staff’s method and inputs used in calculating the performance incentive for 2014 and 2015. Ameren Missouri filed an appeal of the order with the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. If the Missouri Court of Appeals upholds the MoPSC order, the performance incentive from the 2014 and 2015 MEEIA programs will be significantly less than the performance incentive calculated using Ameren Missouri’s interpretation.
In February 2016, the MoPSC issued an order approving
Ameren Missouri's March 2016 to February 2019 MEEIA plan. See Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters under Part II, Item 8, of this report for additional information.
State law requires Ameren Illinois to offer customer energy efficiency programs. The law also allows for recovery of the programs’ costs. The ICC has issued orders approving Ameren Illinois’ electric and natural gas energy efficiency plans as well as mechanisms by which program costs can be recovered from customers. Additionally, as part of its IEIMA capital project investments, Ameren Illinois expects to invest $360 million in smart grid infrastructure from 2012 to 2021, including smart meters that enable customers to improve their energy efficiency.
NATURAL GAS SUPPLY FOR DISTRIBUTION
Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois are responsible for the purchase and delivery of natural gas to their utility customers. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois each develop and manage a portfolio of natural gas supply resources. These resources include firm gas supply under term agreements with producers, interstate and intrastate firm transportation capacity, firm no-notice storage capacity leased from interstate pipelines, and on-system storage facilities to maintain natural gas deliveries to customers throughout the year, and especially during peak demand periods. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois primarily use Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, Trunkline Gas Company, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, Mississippi River Transmission Corporation, Northern Border Pipeline Company, and Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation interstate pipeline systems to transport natural gas to their systems. In addition to transactions requiring physical delivery, certain financial instruments, including those entered into in the NYMEX futures market and in the OTC financial markets, are used to hedge the price paid for natural gas. Natural gas purchase costs are passed on to customers of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois under PGA clauses, subject to prudence reviews by the MoPSC and the ICC. As of December 31, 2015, Ameren Missouri had price-hedged 75% and Ameren Illinois had price-hedged 97% of their expected 2016 natural gas supply requirements.
For additional information on our fuel and purchased power supply, see Results of Operations and Liquidity and Capital Resources in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Part II, Item 7, of this report. Also see Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Note 7 – Derivative Financial Instruments, Note 14 – Related Party Transactions, and Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies under Part II, Item 8 of this report.
INDUSTRY ISSUES
We are facing issues common to the electric and natural gas utility industry. These issues include:
| • | political, regulatory, and customer resistance to higher rates; |
| • | the potential for changes in laws, regulations, and policies at the state and federal levels; |
| • | corporate tax law changes that accelerate depreciation deductions, which reduce current tax payments and improve cash flow, but also result in rate base reductions and limit the ability to claim other deductions and use carryforward tax benefits; |
| • | cybersecurity risks, including loss of operational control of energy centers and electric and natural gas transmission and distribution systems and/or loss of data, such as utility customer data and account information; |
| • | the potential for more intense competition in generation, supply, and distribution, including new technologies and their declining costs; |
| • | net metering rules and other changes in existing regulatory frameworks and recovery mechanisms to address the allocation of costs to customers who own generation resources that enable those customers to both sell power to and to purchase power from us through the use of our distribution and transmission assets; |
| • | pressure on customer growth and usage in light of economic conditions and energy efficiency initiatives; |
| • | changes in the structure of the industry as a result of changes in federal and state laws, including the formation and growth of independent transmission entities; |
| • | the likely reduction in the allowed return on common equity on FERC-regulated electric transmission assets; |
| • | the availability of fuel and fluctuations in fuel prices; |
| • | the availability of qualified labor and material, and rising costs; |
| • | the availability of a skilled workforce, including retaining the specialized skills of those who are nearing retirement; |
| • | regulatory lag; |
| • | the influence of macroeconomic factors, such as yields on United States Treasury securities and allowed rates of return on equity provided by regulators; |
| • | higher levels of infrastructure investments that are expected to result in negative or decreased free cash flows, defined as cash flows from operating activities less cash flows from investing activities and dividends paid; |
| • | public concern about the siting of new facilities; |
| • | complex new and proposed environmental laws, regulations, and requirements, including air and water quality standards, mercury emissions standards, CCR management requirements, and CO2 limitations, which may reduce the frequency that electric generating units are dispatched based upon their CO2 emissions; |
| • | public concern about the potential impacts to the environment from the combustion of fossil fuels; |
| • | aging infrastructure and the need to construct new power generation, transmission, and distribution facilities, which have long time frames for completion, with little long-term ability to predict power and commodity prices and regulatory requirements; |
| • | legislation or proposals for programs to encourage or mandate energy efficiency and renewable sources of power, such as solar, and the debate over who should pay for those programs; |
| • | public concern about nuclear generation, decommissioning and the disposal of nuclear waste; and |
| • | consolidation of electric and natural gas utility companies. |
We are monitoring these issues. Except as otherwise noted in this report, we are unable to predict what impact, if any, these issues will have on our results of operations, financial position, or liquidity. For additional information, see Risk Factors under Part I, Item 1A, Outlook in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Part II, Item 7, Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters, Note 10 – Callaway Energy Center, and Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
OPERATING STATISTICS
The following tables present key electric and natural gas operating statistics for Ameren for the past three years:
| Electric Operating Statistics – Year Ended December 31, | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||
| Electric Sales – kilowatthours (in millions): | |||||||||||
| Ameren Missouri: | |||||||||||
| Residential | 12,903 | 13,649 | 13,562 | ||||||||
| Commercial | 14,574 | 14,649 | 14,634 | ||||||||
| Industrial | 8,273 | 8,600 | 8,709 | ||||||||
| Off-system | 7,380 | 6,170 | 6,128 | ||||||||
| Other | 126 | 124 | 125 | ||||||||
| Ameren Missouri total | 43,256 | 43,192 | 43,158 | ||||||||
| Ameren Illinois: | |||||||||||
| Residential | |||||||||||
| Power supply and delivery service | 4,797 | 4,662 | 5,474 | ||||||||
| Delivery service only | 6,757 | 7,222 | 6,310 | ||||||||
| Commercial | |||||||||||
| Power supply and delivery service | 2,837 | 2,535 | 2,606 | ||||||||
| Delivery service only | 9,443 | 9,643 | 9,541 | ||||||||
| Industrial | |||||||||||
| Power supply and delivery service | 1,589 | 1,674 | 1,613 | ||||||||
| Delivery service only | 10,274 | 10,576 | 10,861 | ||||||||
| Other | 524 | 518 | 522 | ||||||||
| Ameren Illinois total | 36,221 | 36,830 | 36,927 | ||||||||
| Eliminate affiliate sales | (385 | ) | (67 | ) | (82 | ) | |||||
| Ameren total | 79,092 | 79,955 | 80,003 | ||||||||
| Electric Operating Revenues (in millions): | |||||||||||
| Ameren Missouri: | |||||||||||
| Residential | $ | 1,464 | $ | 1,417 | $ | 1,428 | |||||
| Commercial | 1,258 | 1,203 | 1,216 | ||||||||
| Industrial | 469 | 475 | 491 | ||||||||
| Off-system | 195 | 173 | 183 | ||||||||
| Other | 84 | 120 | 61 | ||||||||
| Ameren Missouri total | $ | 3,470 | $ | 3,388 | $ | 3,379 | |||||
| Ameren Illinois: | |||||||||||
| Residential | |||||||||||
| Power supply and delivery service | $ | 495 | $ | 468 | $ | 501 | |||||
| Delivery service only | 363 | 308 | 282 | ||||||||
| Commercial | |||||||||||
| Power supply and delivery service | 247 | 233 | 215 | ||||||||
| Delivery service only | 227 | 185 | 184 | ||||||||
| Industrial | |||||||||||
| Power supply and delivery service | 71 | 87 | 68 | ||||||||
| Delivery service only | 53 | 42 | 44 | ||||||||
| Other | 227 | 199 | 167 | ||||||||
| Ameren Illinois total | $ | 1,683 | $ | 1,522 | $ | 1,461 | |||||
| ATXI: | |||||||||||
| Transmission services | $ | 70 | $ | 33 | $ | 19 | |||||
| Other and intercompany eliminations | (43 | ) | (30 | ) | (27 | ) | |||||
| Ameren total | $ | 5,180 | $ | 4,913 | $ | 4,832 |
| Electric Operating Statistics – Year Ended December 31, | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||
| Electric Generation – Ameren Missouri – kilowatthours (in millions) | 42,424 | 43,474 | 43,213 | ||||||||
| Price per ton of delivered coal (average) – Ameren Missouri | $ | 37.88 | $ | 37.36 | $ | 36.19 | |||||
| Source of Ameren Missouri energy supply: | |||||||||||
| Coal | 67.1 | % | 73.5 | % | 74.1 | % | |||||
| Nuclear | 23.3 | 20.6 | 18.6 | ||||||||
| Hydroelectric | 3.6 | 2.2 | 2.9 | ||||||||
| Natural gas | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.4 | ||||||||
| Methane gas and solar | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | ||||||||
| Purchased – Wind | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | ||||||||
| Purchased – Other | 4.8 | 2.6 | 3.2 | ||||||||
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
| Gas Operating Statistics – Year Ended December 31, | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||
| Natural Gas Sales – dekatherms (in millions): | |||||||||||
| Ameren Missouri: | |||||||||||
| Residential | 7 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||
| Commercial | 3 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| Industrial | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Transport | 7 | 7 | 6 | ||||||||
| Ameren Missouri total | 18 | 20 | 19 | ||||||||
| Ameren Illinois: | |||||||||||
| Residential | 55 | 66 | 62 | ||||||||
| Commercial | 18 | 23 | 21 | ||||||||
| Industrial | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||
| Transport | 89 | 91 | 87 | ||||||||
| Ameren Illinois total | 165 | 183 | 176 | ||||||||
| Ameren total | 183 | 203 | 195 | ||||||||
| Natural Gas Operating Revenues (in millions): | |||||||||||
| Ameren Missouri: | |||||||||||
| Residential | $ | 84 | $ | 102 | $ | 102 | |||||
| Commercial | 34 | 40 | 42 | ||||||||
| Industrial | 5 | 7 | 8 | ||||||||
| Transport and other | 14 | 15 | 9 | ||||||||
| Ameren Missouri total | $ | 137 | $ | 164 | $ | 161 | |||||
| Ameren Illinois: | |||||||||||
| Residential | $ | 550 | $ | 675 | $ | 611 | |||||
| Commercial | 163 | 208 | 185 | ||||||||
| Industrial | 13 | 23 | 26 | ||||||||
| Transport and other | 57 | 70 | 25 | ||||||||
| Ameren Illinois total | $ | 783 | $ | 976 | $ | 847 | |||||
| Other and intercompany eliminations | (2 | ) | — | (2 | ) | ||||||
| Ameren total | $ | 918 | $ | 1,140 | $ | 1,006 |
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Ameren Companies make available free of charge through Ameren’s website (www.ameren.com) their annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) documents, and any amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably possible after such reports are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. These documents are also available through an Internet website maintained by the SEC (www.sec.gov). Ameren also uses its website as a channel of distribution for material information about the Ameren Companies. Financial and other material information regarding the Ameren Companies is routinely posted to and accessible at Ameren’s website.
The Ameren Companies also make available free of charge through Ameren’s website the charters of Ameren’s board of directors’ audit and risk committee, human resources committee, nominating and corporate governance committee, finance committee, and nuclear oversight and environmental committee; the corporate governance guidelines; a policy regarding communications to the board of directors; a policy and procedures with respect to related-person transactions; a code of ethics for principal executive and senior financial officers; a code of business conduct applicable to all directors, officers and employees; and a director nomination policy that applies to the Ameren Companies. The information on Ameren’s website, or any other website referenced in this report, is not incorporated by reference into this report.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
Investors should review carefully the following material risk factors and the other information contained in this report. The risks that the Ameren Companies face are not limited to those in this section. There may be further risks and uncertainties that are not presently known or that are not currently believed to be material that may adversely affect the results of operations, financial position, and liquidity of the Ameren Companies.
REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE RISKS
We are subject to extensive regulation of our businesses, which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
We are subject to extensive federal, state, and local regulation. This extensive regulatory framework, some of which is more specifically identified in the following risk factors, regulates, among other matters, the electric and natural gas utility industries; rate and cost structure of utilities; operation of nuclear energy centers; construction and operation of generation, transmission, and distribution facilities; acquisition, disposal, depreciation and amortization of assets and facilities; transmission reliability; and wholesale and retail competition. In the planning and management of our operations, we must address the effects of existing and proposed laws and regulations and potential changes in the regulatory framework, including
initiatives by federal and state legislatures, RTOs, utility regulators, and taxing authorities. Significant changes in the nature of the regulation of our businesses could require changes to our business planning and management of our businesses and could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity. Failure to obtain adequate rates or regulatory approvals in a timely manner; failure to obtain necessary licenses or permits from regulatory authorities; the impact of new or modified laws, regulations, standards, interpretations, or other legal requirements; or increased compliance costs could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
The electric and natural gas rates that we are allowed to charge are determined through regulatory proceedings, which are subject to intervention and appeal, and are also subject to legislative actions, which are largely outside of our control. Any events that prevent us from recovering our costs or from earning adequate returns on our investments could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
The rates that we are allowed to charge for our utility services significantly influence our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity. The electric and natural gas utility industries are extensively regulated. The utility rates charged to our customers are determined by governmental entities, including the MoPSC, the ICC, and the FERC. Many factors influence decisions by these entities, including the cost of providing service, the prudency of expenditures, the quality of service, regulatory staff knowledge and experience, customer intervention, and economic conditions as well as social and political views. Decisions made by these governmental entities regarding rates are largely outside of our control. We are exposed to regulatory lag to varying degrees by jurisdiction, which, if unmitigated, could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity. Rate orders are also subject to appeal, which creates additional uncertainty as to the rates that we will ultimately be allowed to charge for our services. From time to time, our regulators will approve trackers, riders, or other mechanisms that allow electric or natural gas rates to be adjusted without a traditional rate proceeding. These mechanisms are not permanent and could be changed or terminated.
Ameren Missouri's electric and natural gas utility rates and Ameren Illinois' natural gas utility rates are typically established in regulatory proceedings that take up to 11 months to complete. Ameren Missouri's rates established in those proceedings are primarily based on historical costs and revenues. Ameren Illinois' natural gas rates established in those proceedings may be based on historical or estimated future costs and revenues. Thus the rates that a utility is allowed to charge may not match its costs at any given time.
Rates include an allowed rate of return on investments established by the regulator. Although rate regulation is premised on providing an opportunity to earn a reasonable rate of return on invested capital, there can be no assurance that the regulator will
determine that our costs were prudently incurred or that the regulatory process will result in rates that will produce full recovery of such costs or provide for an opportunity to earn a reasonable return on those investments.
In years when capital investments and operations costs rise or customer usage declines below those levels reflected in rates, we may not be able to earn the allowed return established by the regulator. This could result in the deferral or cancellation of planned capital investments, which could reduce the rate base investments on which we earn a rate of return. Additionally, increasing rates could result in regulatory or legislative actions, as well as competitive or political pressures, all of which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
As a result of its participation in the performance-based formula ratemaking process established pursuant to the IEIMA, Ameren Illinois’ return on equity for its electric distribution business is directly correlated to yields on United States Treasury bonds. Additionally, Ameren Illinois is required to achieve certain performance standards and capital spending levels. Failure to meet these requirements could adversely affect Ameren's and Ameren Illinois' results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
Ameren Illinois is participating in the performance-based formula ratemaking process established pursuant to the IEIMA for its electric distribution business. The ICC annually reviews Ameren Illinois’ rate filings under the IEIMA for reasonableness and prudency. If the ICC were to conclude that Ameren Illinois’ incurred costs were not prudently incurred, the ICC would disallow recovery of such costs.
The return on equity component of the formula rate is equal to the average for the calendar year of the monthly yields of 30-year United States Treasury bonds plus 580 basis points. Therefore, Ameren Illinois’ annual return on equity under the formula ratemaking process for its electric distribution business is directly correlated to the yields on such bonds, which are outside of Ameren Illinois’ control. A 50 basis point change in the average monthly yields of the 30-year United States Treasury bonds would result in an estimated $6 million change in Ameren's and Ameren Illinois' net income based on its 2016 projected rate base.
Ameren Illinois is also subject to performance standards. Failure to achieve the standards would result in a reduction in the company’s allowed return on equity calculated under the formula. The IEIMA provides for return on equity penalties totaling 34 basis points in each year from 2016 through 2018 and 38 basis points in each year from 2019 through 2022 if the performance standards are not met.
Between 2012 and 2021, Ameren Illinois is required to invest $625 million in capital projects incremental to its average electric delivery capital projects investments of $228 million for calendar years 2008 through 2010, in order to modernize its distribution system.
Unless extended through 2022, the IEIMA performance-based formula ratemaking process will expire in 2019. When it expires, Ameren Illinois will be required to establish future rates through a traditional rate proceeding with the ICC, which might not result in rates that produce a full or timely recovery of costs or provide for an adequate return on investments.
We are subject to various environmental laws and regulations. Significant capital expenditures are required to achieve and to maintain compliance with these laws and regulations. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in facility closures, alterations to the manner in which these facilities operate, increased operating costs, or exposure to fines and liabilities, all of which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
We are subject to various environmental laws and regulations enforced by federal, state, and local authorities. From the beginning phases of siting and development to the operation of electric generation, transmission and distribution facilities and natural gas storage, transmission and distribution facilities, our activities involve compliance with diverse environmental laws and regulations. These laws and regulations address emissions; discharges to water; water usage; impacts to air, land, and water; and chemical and waste handling. Complex and lengthy processes are required to obtain and renew approvals, permits, or licenses for new, existing, or modified facilities. Additionally, the use and handling of various chemicals or hazardous materials require release prevention plans and emergency response procedures.
We are also subject to liability under environmental laws that address the remediation of environmental contamination of property currently or formerly owned by us or by our predecessors, as well as property contaminated by hazardous substances that we generated. Such properties include MGP sites and third-party sites, such as landfills. Additionally, private individuals may seek to enforce environmental laws and regulations against us. They could allege injury from exposure to hazardous materials, seek to compel remediation of environmental contamination, or seek to recover damages resulting from that contamination.
The EPA has promulgated several environmental regulations that will have a significant impact on the electric utility industry. Over time, compliance with these regulations could be costly for certain companies, including Ameren Missouri, that operate coal-fired power plants. Significant new rules include the regulation of CO2 emissions from existing power plants through the Clean Power Plan and from new power plants through the revised NSPS; the CSAPR, which requires further reductions of SO2 emissions and NOx emissions from power plants; a regulation governing management and storage of CCR; the MATS, which require reduction of emissions of mercury, toxic metals, and acid gases from power plants; revised NSPS for particulate matter, SO2, and NOx emissions from new sources; new effluent standards applicable to wastewater discharges from power plants; and new regulations under the Clean Water Act
that could require significant capital expenditures, such as modifications to water intake structures or new cooling towers at Ameren Missouri’s energy centers. The EPA also periodically reviews and revises national ambient air quality standards, including those standards associated with emissions from power plants such as particulate matter, ozone, SO2 and NOx. Certain of these new regulations are being or are likely to be challenged through litigation, so their ultimate implementation, as well as the timing of any such implementation, is uncertain. Although many details of future regulations are unknown, individually or the combined effects of new environmental regulations could result in significant capital expenditures and increased operating costs for Ameren and Ameren Missouri.
Ameren is also subject to risks from changing or conflicting interpretations of existing laws and regulations. The EPA is engaged in an enforcement initiative to determine whether coal-fired power plants failed to comply with the requirements of the NSR and NSPS provisions under the Clean Air Act when the power plants implemented modifications. In January 2011, the Department of Justice, on behalf of the EPA, filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri alleging that Ameren Missouri violated provisions of the Clean Air Act and Missouri law. An outcome in this matter adverse to Ameren Missouri could require substantial capital expenditures, which cannot be determined at this time. Such expenditures could also affect unit retirement and replacement decisions.
The Clean Power Plan, which sets forth CO2 emissions standards applicable to existing power plants, was issued by the EPA but stayed by the United States Supreme Court pending the outcome of various appeals, as discussed below. If the Clean Power Plan is ultimately upheld as issued, Ameren Missouri expects to incur increased fuel and operating costs, and make new or accelerated capital expenditures, in addition to the costs of making modifications to existing operations in order to achieve compliance. The Clean Power Plan required Missouri and Illinois to reduce CO2 emissions from power plants within their states significantly below 2005 levels by 2030. The rule contains interim compliance periods commencing in 2022 that require each state to demonstrate progress in achieving its CO2 reduction target. Ameren is evaluating the Clean Power Plan's potential impacts to its operations, including those related to electric system reliability, and its level of investment in customer energy efficiency programs, renewable energy, and other forms of generation investment. Significant uncertainty exists regarding the impact of the Clean Power Plan, as its implementation will depend upon plans to be developed by the states. Numerous legal challenges are pending which could result in the rule being declared invalid or the nature and timing of CO2 emissions reductions being revised. In February 2016, the United States Supreme Court stayed the Clean Power Plan and all implementation requirements until such time as legal appeals are concluded. Appeals are not expected to conclude prior to 2018. We cannot predict the outcome of the legal challenges or their impact on our results of operations, financial position, or liquidity. If the rule is ultimately upheld and implemented in substantially similar form to the rule when issued, compliance measures could result in the closure or alteration of the operation of some of Ameren
Missouri’s coal and natural-gas-fired energy centers, which could result in increased operating costs.
Ameren and Ameren Missouri have incurred and expect to incur significant costs related to environmental compliance and site remediation. New or revised environmental regulations, enforcement initiatives, or legislation could result in a significant increase in capital expenditures and operating costs, decreased revenues, increased financing requirements, penalties or fines, or reduced operations of some of Ameren Missouri's coal-fired energy centers, which, in turn, could lead to increased liquidity needs and higher financing costs. Actions required to ensure that our facilities and operations are in compliance with environmental laws and regulations could be prohibitively expensive if the costs are not fully recovered through rates. Environmental laws could require Ameren Missouri to close or to alter significantly the operation of its energy centers. Moreover, if Ameren Missouri requests recovery of these capital expenditures and costs through rates, the MoPSC could deny recovery of all or a portion of these costs, prevent timely recovery, or make changes to the regulatory framework in an effort to minimize rate volatility and customer rate increases. Capital expenditures and costs to comply with future legislation or regulations that are not recoverable through rates might result in Ameren Missouri closing coal-fired energy centers earlier than planned, which would lead to an impairment of assets and reduced revenues. We are unable to predict the ultimate impact of these matters on our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
We may not be able to fully utilize net operating loss, tax credit, or charitable contribution carryforwards, which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
We have significantly reduced our consolidated federal and state income tax obligations in the past through tax planning strategies. Additionally, our consolidated income tax obligations have been reduced due to the continued use of bonus depreciation provisions that allow for an acceleration of deductions for tax purposes and recent IRS guidance on tax deductions for repairs. We estimate our ability to use tax benefits, including those in the form of net operating loss, tax credit and charitable contribution carryforwards, that are recorded as deferred tax assets on our balance sheets. A disallowance of these tax benefits resulting from a legislative change or adverse determination by one of the applicable taxing jurisdictions could have an adverse impact on our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity. Additionally, changes in corporate income tax rate or policy changes as well as any inability to generate enough taxable income in the future to use all of our tax benefits before they expire could have an adverse impact on our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
Customers’, legislators’, and regulators’ opinions of us are affected by many factors, including system reliability, implementation of our investment plans, protection of customer information, rates, and media coverage. To the extent that customers, legislators, or regulators have or
develop a negative opinion of us, our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity could be adversely affected.
Service interruptions due to failures of equipment or facilities as a result of severe or destructive weather or other causes, and the ability of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois to promptly respond to such failures, can affect customer satisfaction. In addition to system reliability issues, the success of modernization efforts, such as those being undertaken for Ameren Illinois’ electric and natural gas delivery systems, our ability to safeguard sensitive customer information, and other actions can affect customer satisfaction. The timing and magnitude of rate increases and volatility of rates can also affect customer satisfaction. Customers', legislators', and regulators' opinions of us can also be affected by media coverage, including the proliferation of social media, which may include information, whether factual or not, that damages our brand and reputation.
If customers, legislators, or regulators have or develop a negative opinion of us and our utility services, this could result in increased regulatory oversight and could affect the returns on common equity we are allowed to earn. Additionally, negative opinions about us could make it more difficult for our utilities to achieve favorable legislative or regulatory outcomes. Negative opinions could also result in sales volume reductions or increased use of distributed generation. Any of these consequences could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
We are subject to federal regulatory compliance and proceedings, which exposes us to the potential for regulatory penalties and other sanctions.
The FERC can impose civil penalties of $1 million per violation per day for violation of FERC statutes, rules, and orders, including mandatory NERC reliability standards. As owners and operators of bulk power transmission systems and electric energy centers, we are subject to mandatory NERC reliability standards, including cybersecurity standards. Compliance with these mandatory reliability standards may subject us to higher operating costs and may result in increased capital expenditures. If we were found not to be in compliance with these mandatory reliability standards or the FERC statutes, rules, and orders, we could incur substantial monetary penalties and other sanctions, which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity. The FERC also conducts audits and reviews of Ameren Missouri's, Ameren Illinois', and ATXI's accounting records to assess the accuracy of its formula ratemaking process and has the ability to require retroactive refunds to customers for previously billed amounts, with interest.
OPERATIONAL RISKS
The construction of and capital improvements to our electric and natural gas utility infrastructure involve substantial risks. These risks include escalating costs, unsatisfactory performance by the projects when completed, the inability to complete projects as scheduled, cost disallowances by regulators, and the inability to earn an adequate return on invested capital, any of which could
result in higher costs and facility closures.
We expect to incur significant capital expenditures in order to make investments to maintain and improve our electric and natural gas utility infrastructure and to comply with existing environmental regulations. We estimate that we will incur up to $11.5 billion (Ameren Missouri – up to $4.3 billion; Ameren Illinois – up to $6.2 billion; ATXI – up to $1.0 billion) of capital expenditures during 2016 through 2020, excluding the impacts of the Clean Power Plan. These estimates include allowance for equity funds used during construction. Investments in Ameren’s rate-regulated operations are expected to be recoverable from ratepayers, but are subject to prudence reviews and are exposed to regulatory lag to varying degrees by jurisdiction.
Our ability to complete construction projects successfully within projected estimates is contingent upon many variables and subject to substantial risks. These variables include, but are not limited to, project management expertise and escalating costs for materials, labor, and environmental compliance. Delays in obtaining permits, shortages in materials and qualified labor, suppliers and contractors who do not perform as required under their contracts, changes in the scope and timing of projects, the inability to raise capital on reasonable terms, or other events beyond our control could affect the schedule, cost, and performance of these projects. With respect to capital expenditures for pollution control equipment, there is a risk that a power plant may not be permitted to continue to operate if pollution control equipment is not installed by prescribed deadlines or does not perform as expected. Should any such pollution control equipment not be installed on time or perform as expected, Ameren Missouri could be subject to additional costs and to the loss of its investment in the project or facility. All of these project and construction risks could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
Ameren and Ameren Illinois may not be able to execute their electric transmission investment plans or to realize the expected return on those investments.
Ameren, through ATXI and Ameren Illinois, is investing significant capital resources in electric transmission. These investments are based on the FERC's regulatory framework and a rate of return on common equity, that is currently higher than that allowed by our state commissions. However, the FERC regulatory framework and rate of return is subject to change, including changes as a result of third-party complaints and challenges at the FERC. The regulatory framework may not be as favorable, or the rate of return may be lower, in the future. Currently, the FERC-allowed return on common equity for MISO transmission owners is 12.38%. In November 2013, a complaint case was filed with the FERC seeking a reduction in the allowed return on common equity under the MISO tariff. In December 2015, a FERC administrative law judge issued an initial decision in the November 2013 complaint case that would lower the allowed base return on common equity to 10.32%. The FERC is expected to issue a final order on the November 2013 complaint case by October 2016. A second complaint case was filed in February 2015. The outcome of these complaint cases could
negatively affect Ameren Illinois' and ATXI's allowed return. Any such reduction would also result in a refund of transmission service revenues earned since the filing of the initial complaint case in November 2013. As of December 31, 2015, Ameren and Ameren Illinois had current regulatory liabilities of $45 million and $32 million, respectively, representing their estimates of the potential refunds from the refund effective date. A 50 basis point reduction in the FERC-allowed return on common equity would reduce Ameren's and Ameren Illinois' earnings by an estimated $6 million and $3 million, respectively, based on each company's 2016 projected rate base.
A significant portion of Ameren's electric transmission investments consists of three separate projects to be constructed by ATXI, which have been approved by MISO as multi-value projects. The total investment by ATXI in all three projects is expected to be more than $1.6 billion. The last of these projects is expected to be completed in 2019. A failure by ATXI to complete these three projects on time and within projected cost estimates could adversely affect Ameren's results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
The FERC has issued orders, which are subject to ongoing litigation, eliminating the right of first refusal for an electric utility to construct within its service territory certain new transmission projects for which there will be regional cost sharing. If these orders are upheld by the courts, Ameren would need to compete to build certain future electric transmission projects in its subsidiaries' service territories. Such competition could limit Ameren's future transmission investment. Conversely, if such FERC orders are not upheld by the courts, the right of first refusal would be expected to be reinstated. In such event, Ameren may lose opportunities outside of its subsidiaries' service territories and outside of MISO to construct electric transmission assets.
Our electric generation, transmission, and distribution facilities are subject to operational risks that could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
Our financial performance depends on the successful operation of electric generation, transmission, and distribution facilities. Operation of electric generation, transmission, and distribution facilities involves many risks, including:
| • | facility shutdowns due to operator error or a failure of equipment or processes; |
| • | longer-than-anticipated maintenance outages; |
| • | aging infrastructure that may require significant expenditures to operate and maintain; |
| • | disruptions in the delivery of fuel, failure of our fuel suppliers to provide adequate quantities or quality of fuel, or lack of adequate inventories of fuel, including ultra-low-sulfur coal used for Ameren Missouri’s compliance with environmental regulations; |
| • | lack of adequate water required for cooling plant operations; |
| • | labor disputes; |
| • | inability to comply with regulatory or permit requirements, including those relating to environmental laws; |
| • | disruptions in the delivery of electricity that affect our customers; |
| • | handling, storage, and disposition of CCR; |
| • | unusual or adverse weather conditions or other natural disasters, including severe storms, droughts, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, solar flares, and electromagnetic pulses; |
| • | accidents that might result in injury or loss of life, extensive property damage, or environmental damage; |
| • | cybersecurity risks, including loss of operational control of Ameren Missouri's energy centers and our transmission and distribution systems and loss of data, such as customer data and account information through insider or outsider actions; |
| • | failure of other operators' facilities and the effect of that failure on our electric system and customers; |
| • | the occurrence of catastrophic events such as fires, explosions, acts of sabotage or terrorism, pandemic health events, or other similar occurrences; |
| • | limitations on amounts of insurance available to cover losses that might arise in connection with operating our electric generation, transmission, and distribution facilities; and |
| • | other unanticipated operations and maintenance expenses and liabilities. |
Ameren Missouri’s ownership and operation of a nuclear energy center creates business, financial, and waste disposal risks.
Ameren Missouri’s ownership of the Callaway energy center subjects it to the risks associated with nuclear generation, which include the following:
| • | potential harmful effects on the environment and human health resulting from the operation of nuclear facilities and the storage, handling, and disposal of radioactive materials; |
| • | continued uncertainty regarding the federal government's plan to permanently store spent nuclear fuel and the risk of being required to provide for long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel at the Callaway energy center; |
| • | limitations on the amounts and types of insurance available to cover losses that might arise in connection with the Callaway energy center or other United States nuclear facilities; |
| • | uncertainties with respect to contingencies and retrospective premium assessments relating to claims at the Callaway energy center or any other United States nuclear facilities; |
| • | public and governmental concerns about the adequacy of security at nuclear facilities; |
| • | uncertainties with respect to the technological and financial aspects of decommissioning nuclear facilities at the end of their licensed lives; |
| • | limited availability of fuel supply; |
| • | costly and extended outages for scheduled or unscheduled maintenance and refueling; and |
| • | potential adverse effects of a natural disaster, acts of sabotage or terrorism, or any accident leading to release of nuclear contamination. |
The NRC has broad authority under federal law to impose licensing and safety requirements for nuclear facilities. In the event of noncompliance, the NRC has the authority to impose fines or to shut down a unit, or both, depending upon its assessment of the severity of the situation, until compliance is achieved. Revised safety requirements promulgated from time to time by the NRC could necessitate substantial capital expenditures at nuclear facilities such as the Callaway energy center. In addition, if a serious nuclear incident were to occur, it could adversely affect Ameren's and Ameren Missouri’s results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity. A major incident at a nuclear facility anywhere in the world could cause the NRC to limit or prohibit the operation of any domestic nuclear unit and could also cause the NRC to impose additional conditions or requirements on the industry, which could increase costs and result in additional capital expenditures. NRC standards relating to seismic risk require Ameren Missouri to further evaluate the impact of an earthquake on its Callaway energy center due its proximity to a fault line, which could require the installation of additional capital equipment.
Our natural gas distribution and storage activities involve numerous risks that may result in accidents and other operating risks and costs that could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
Inherent in our natural gas distribution and storage activities are a variety of hazards and operating risks, such as leaks, accidental explosions, mechanical problems and cybersecurity risks, which could cause substantial financial losses. In addition, these hazards could result in serious injury, loss of human life, significant damage to property, environmental impacts, and impairment of our operations, which in turn could lead us to incur substantial losses. In accordance with customary industry practice, we maintain insurance against some, but not all, of these risks and losses. The location of distribution mains and storage facilities near populated areas, including residential areas, business centers, industrial sites, and other public gathering places, could increase the level of damages resulting from these risks. A major domestic incident involving natural gas systems could lead to additional capital expenditures and increased regulation of natural gas utilities. The occurrence of any of these events could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
Significant portions of our electric generation, transmission, and distribution facilities and natural gas transmission and distribution facilities are aging. This aging infrastructure may require additional maintenance expenditures or may require replacement, which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
Our aging infrastructure may pose risks to system reliability and expose us to expedited or unplanned capital expenditures and operating costs. All of Ameren Missouri’s coal-fired energy centers were constructed prior to 1978, and the Callaway nuclear energy center began operating in 1984. The age of these energy centers increases the risks of unplanned outages, reduced
generation output, and higher maintenance expense. If, at the end of its life, an energy center's cost has not been fully recovered, Ameren Missouri may be adversely affected if such cost is not allowed in rates by the MoPSC. Aging transmission and distribution facilities are more prone to failure than new facilities, which results in higher maintenance expense and the need to replace these facilities with new infrastructure. Even if the system is properly maintained, its reliability may ultimately deteriorate and negatively affect our ability to serve our customers, which could result in additional oversight by our regulators. The frequency and duration of customer outages are IEIMA performance standards and therefore, if these standards are not achieved, it will result in a reduction in Ameren Illinois' allowed return on equity. The higher maintenance costs associated with aging infrastructure and capital expenditures for new replacement infrastructure could cause additional rate volatility for our customers, resistance by our regulators to allow customer rate increases, and/or regulatory lag in some of our jurisdictions, any of which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
Energy conservation, energy efficiency, distributed generation, energy storage, and other factors that reduce energy demand could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
Requirements and incentives to reduce energy consumption have been proposed by regulatory agencies and introduced by legislatures. Conservation and energy efficiency programs are designed to reduce energy demand. Without a regulatory mechanism to ensure recovery, a decline in usage will result in an under-recovery of our revenue requirement. Ameren Missouri, even if it sponsors customer energy efficiency programs under the MEEIA, is exposed to declining usage losses from energy efficiency efforts not related to its specific programs, as well as from distributed generation sources such as solar panels. Additionally, macroeconomic factors resulting in low economic growth or contraction within our service territories could reduce energy demand.
Technological advances could reduce or change customer electricity consumption. Ameren Missouri generates power at utility-scale energy centers to achieve economies of scale and to produce power at a competitive cost. Some distributed generation technologies have become more cost-competitive, with decreasing costs expected in the future. We expect that the costs of these distributed generation technologies will decline over time to a level that is competitive with that of Ameren Missouri's energy centers. Additionally, technological advances related to energy storage may be coupled with distributed generation to reduce the demand for our electric utility services. Increased adoption of these technologies could decrease our revenues if customers cease to use our generation, transmission, and distribution services at current levels. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois might incur stranded costs, which ultimately might not be recovered through rates.
We are subject to employee work force factors that could adversely affect our operations.
Our businesses depend upon our ability to employ and retain key officers and other skilled professional and technical employees. A significant portion of our work force is nearing retirement, including many employees with specialized skills, such as maintaining and servicing our electric and natural gas infrastructure and operating our energy centers. We are also subject to collective bargaining agreements that collectively represent about 54% of Ameren’s total employees. Any work stoppage experienced in connection with negotiations of collective bargaining agreements could adversely affect our operations.
Our operations are subject to acts of sabotage, war, terrorism, cyber attacks, and other intentionally disruptive acts.
Like other electric and natural gas utilities, our energy centers, fuel storage facilities, transmission and distribution facilities, and information systems may be targets of terrorist activities, including cyber attacks, which could disrupt our ability to produce or distribute our energy products. Any such disruption could result in a significant decrease in revenues or significant costs for repair, which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
Our industry has seen an increase in volume and sophistication of cybersecurity incidents from international activist organizations, countries, and individuals. A security breach at our physical assets or in information systems could affect the reliability of the transmission and distribution system, disrupt electric generation, and/or subject us to financial harm associated with theft or inappropriate release of certain types of information, including sensitive customer and employee data. If a significant breach occurred, our reputation could be adversely affected, customer confidence could be diminished, or we could be subject to legal claims, any of which could result in a significant decrease in revenues or significant costs for remedying the impacts of such a breach. Our generation, transmission, and distribution systems are part of an interconnected system. Therefore, a disruption caused by a cybersecurity incident at another utility, electric generator, RTO, or commodity supplier could also adversely affect our businesses. We maintain insurance against some, but not all, of these risks and losses. In addition, new regulations could require changes in our security measures and could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND MARKET RISKS
Our businesses are dependent on our ability to access the capital markets successfully. We might not have access to sufficient capital in the amounts and at the times needed.
We rely on short-term and long-term debt as significant sources of liquidity and funding for capital requirements not satisfied by our operating cash flow, as well as to refinance long-term debt. The inability to raise debt or equity capital on reasonable terms, or at all, could negatively affect our ability to maintain and to expand our businesses. Events beyond our control, such as a recession or extreme volatility in the debt,
equity, or credit markets, might create uncertainty that could increase our cost of capital or impair or eliminate our ability to access the debt, equity, or credit markets, including our ability to draw on bank credit facilities. Any adverse change in our credit ratings could reduce access to capital and trigger additional collateral postings and prepayments. Such changes could also increase the cost of borrowing and fuel, power, and natural gas supply, among other things, which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity. Certain Ameren subsidiaries, such as ATXI, rely on Ameren for access to capital. Circumstances that limit Ameren’s access to capital could impair its ability to provide those subsidiaries with needed capital.
Ameren’s holding company structure could limit its ability to pay common stock dividends and to service its debt obligations.
Ameren is a holding company; therefore, its primary assets are its investments in the common stock of its subsidiaries, including Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI. As a result, Ameren’s ability to pay dividends on its common stock depends on the earnings of its subsidiaries and the ability of its subsidiaries to pay dividends or otherwise transfer funds to Ameren. Similarly, Ameren’s ability to service its debt obligations is dependent upon the earnings of operating subsidiaries and the distribution of those earnings and other payments, including payments of principal and interest under intercompany indebtedness. The payment of dividends to Ameren by its subsidiaries in turn depends on their results of operations and available cash and other items affecting retained earnings. Ameren’s subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any dividends or make any other distributions (except for payments required pursuant to the terms of intercompany borrowing arrangements and cash payments under the tax allocation agreement) to Ameren. Certain financing agreements, corporate organizational documents, and certain statutory and regulatory requirements may impose restrictions on the ability of Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI to transfer funds to Ameren in the form of cash dividends, loans, or advances.
Noranda's bankruptcy filing, the expected curtailment of operations at its aluminum smelter, and the resulting significant reduction in sales volumes to Noranda will adversely affect Ameren’s and Ameren Missouri’s results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
Ameren Missouri supplies electricity to Noranda’s aluminum smelter in southeast Missouri under a long-term power supply contract. In its April 2015 electric rate order, the MoPSC approved a rate design that established $78 million in annual revenues, net of fuel and purchased power costs, as Noranda’s portion of Ameren Missouri’s revenue requirement. The portion of Ameren Missouri’s annual revenue requirement reflected in Noranda’s electric rate is based on the assumption that the smelter will use approximately 4.2 million megawatthours annually, which is almost 100% of its operating capacity.
On January 8, 2016, Noranda announced that production had been idled at two of its three pot lines at the smelter following
an electric supply circuit failure on assets not owned by Ameren Missouri. On January 13, 2016, Noranda announced that the smelter’s “remaining operations will be curtailed on or before March 12, 2016, unless [Noranda] is able to secure a substantially more sustainable power rate for the smelter and materially improve [Noranda’s] overall liquidity.” On February 8, 2016, Noranda filed voluntary petitions for a court-supervised restructuring process under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. In the filing, Noranda reaffirmed that the remaining pot line will continue to operate at the smelter until March 2016, at which time operation of the line will be curtailed. Noranda stated it would maintain the flexibility to restart operations at the smelter should conditions allow.
As a result of these events in 2016, actual sales volumes to Noranda will be significantly below the sales volumes reflected in rates and therefore, Ameren Missouri will not fully recover its revenue requirement until rates are adjusted by the MoPSC in a future electric rate case to accurately reflect Noranda’s actual sales volumes. In light of the Noranda announcements described above, Ameren Missouri expects to employ a provision in its FAC tariff that, under certain circumstances, allows Ameren Missouri to retain a portion of any revenues from any off-system sales it makes as a result of the reduced tariff sales to Noranda. The current market price of electricity is less than Noranda’s electric rate, and Ameren Missouri expects market prices to remain below Noranda's electric rate during 2016. Accordingly, this FAC provision would not enable Ameren Missouri to fully recover its revenue requirement under current market conditions.
Ameren Missouri will continue to monitor Noranda’s sales volumes and evaluate its regulatory and legislative options to mitigate adverse financial impacts. The reduction in Noranda’s sales volumes will adversely affect Ameren’s and Ameren Missouri’s results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity until customer rates are adjusted in a future rate case.
Increasing costs associated with our defined benefit retirement and postretirement plans, health care plans, and other employee benefits could adversely affect our financial position and liquidity.
Ameren offers defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans covering substantially all of its union employees. Ameren offers defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all of its non-union employees and postretirement benefit plans covering non-union employees hired before October 2015. Assumptions related to future costs, returns on investments, interest rates, timing of employee retirements, and mortality, as well as other actuarial matters, have a significant impact on our customers' rates and our plan funding requirements. Ameren's total unfunded obligation under its pension and postretirement benefit plans was $567 million as of December 31, 2015. Ameren expects to fund its pension plans at a level equal to the greater of the pension expense or the legally required minimum contribution. Considering Ameren’s assumptions at December 31, 2015, its investment performance in 2015, and its pension funding policy, Ameren expects to make annual contributions of $40 million to $70 million in each of the
next five years, with aggregate estimated contributions of $280 million. We expect Ameren Missouri’s and Ameren Illinois’ portions of the future funding requirements to be 40% and 50%, respectively. These amounts are estimates. They may change with actual investment performance, changes in interest rates, changes in our assumptions, changes in government regulations, and any voluntary contributions.
In addition to the costs of our retirement plans, the costs of providing health care benefits to our employees and retirees have increased in recent years. We believe that our employee benefit costs, including costs of health care plans for our employees and former employees, will continue to rise. The increasing costs and funding requirements associated with our defined benefit retirement plans, health care plans, and other employee benefits could increase our financing needs and otherwise adversely affect our financial position and liquidity.
Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
For information on our principal properties, see the energy center table below. See also Liquidity and Capital Resources and Regulatory Matters in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Part II, Item 7, of this report for a discussion of planned additions, replacements or transfers. See also Note 5 – Long-term Debt and Equity Financings, and Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
The following table shows the anticipated capability of Ameren Missouri's energy centers at the time of Ameren Missouri's expected 2016 peak summer electrical demand:
| Primary Fuel Source | Energy Center | Location | Net Kilowatt Capability(a) | |
| Coal | Labadie | Franklin County, Missouri | 2,372,000 | |
| Rush Island | Jefferson County, Missouri | 1,178,000 | ||
| Sioux | St. Charles County, Missouri | 970,000 | ||
| Meramec | St. Louis County, Missouri | 591,000 | ||
| Total coal | 5,111,000 | |||
| Nuclear | Callaway | Callaway County, Missouri | 1,193,000 | |
| Hydroelectric | Osage | Lakeside, Missouri | 240,000 | |
| Keokuk | Keokuk, Iowa | 140,000 | ||
| Total hydroelectric | 380,000 | |||
| Pumped-storage | Taum Sauk | Reynolds County, Missouri | 440,000 | |
| Oil (CTs) | Meramec | St. Louis County, Missouri | 54,000 | |
| Fairgrounds | Jefferson City, Missouri | 54,000 | ||
| Mexico | Mexico, Missouri | 53,000 | ||
| Moberly | Moberly, Missouri | 53,000 | ||
| Moreau | Jefferson City, Missouri | 53,000 | ||
| Total oil | 267,000 | |||
| Natural gas (CTs) | Audrain(b) | Audrain County, Missouri | 600,000 | |
| Venice(c) | Venice, Illinois | 487,000 | ||
| Goose Creek | Piatt County, Illinois | 432,000 | ||
| Pinckneyville | Pinckneyville, Illinois | 316,000 | ||
| Raccoon Creek | Clay County, Illinois | 300,000 | ||
| Meramec(c)(d) | St. Louis County, Missouri | 282,000 | ||
| Kinmundy(c) | Kinmundy, Illinois | 206,000 | ||
| Peno Creek(b)(c) | Bowling Green, Missouri | 188,000 | ||
| Kirksville | Kirksville, Missouri | 13,000 | ||
| Total natural gas | 2,824,000 | |||
| Methane gas (CT) | Maryland Heights | Maryland Heights, Missouri | 8,000 | |
| Solar | O'Fallon | O'Fallon, Missouri | 3,000 | |
| Total Ameren and Ameren Missouri | 10,226,000 |
| (a) | Net kilowatt capability is the generating capacity available for dispatch from the energy center into the electric transmission grid. |
| (b) | There are economic development lease arrangements applicable to these CTs. |
| (c) | These CTs have the capability to operate on either oil or natural gas (dual fuel). |
| (d) | Includes capability of two coal units that will burn natural gas beginning in April 2016. |
The following table presents in-service electric and natural gas utility-related properties for Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois as of December 31, 2015:
| Ameren Missouri | Ameren Illinois | ||||
| Circuit miles of electric transmission lines(a) | 2,957 | 4,569 | |||
| Circuit miles of electric distribution lines | 33,252 | 45,881 | |||
| Percentage of circuit miles of electric distribution lines underground | 23 | % | 15 | % | |
| Miles of natural gas transmission and distribution mains | 3,330 | 18,294 | |||
| Underground gas storage fields | — | 12 | |||
| Total working capacity of underground gas storage fields in billion cubic feet | — | 24 |
| (a) | ATXI owns 29 miles of transmission lines not reflected in this table. |
Our other properties include office buildings, warehouses, garages, and repair shops.
With only a few exceptions, we have fee title to all principal energy centers and other units of property material to the operation of our businesses, and to the real property on which such facilities are located (subject to mortgage liens securing our outstanding first mortgage bonds and to certain permitted liens and judgment liens). The exceptions are as follows:
| • | A portion of Ameren Missouri’s Osage energy center reservoir, certain facilities at Ameren Missouri’s Sioux energy center, most of Ameren Missouri’s Peno Creek and Audrain CT energy centers, certain substations, and most transmission and distribution lines and natural gas mains are situated on lands occupied under leases, easements, franchises, licenses, or permits. The United States or the state of Missouri may own or may have paramount rights to certain lands lying in the bed of the Osage River or located between the inner and outer harbor lines of the Mississippi River on which certain of Ameren Missouri’s energy centers |
and other properties are located.
| • | The United States, the state of Illinois, the state of Iowa, or the city of Keokuk, Iowa, may own or may have paramount rights with respect to certain lands lying in the bed of the Mississippi River on which a portion of Ameren Missouri’s Keokuk energy center is located. |
Substantially all of the properties and plant of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois are subject to the first liens of the indentures securing their mortgage bonds.
Ameren Missouri has conveyed most of its Peno Creek CT energy center to the city of Bowling Green, Missouri, and leased the energy center back from the city through 2022. Under the terms of this capital lease, Ameren Missouri is responsible for all operation and maintenance for the energy center. Ownership of the energy center will transfer to Ameren Missouri at the expiration of the lease, at which time the property and plant will become subject to the lien of any Ameren Missouri first mortgage bond indenture then in effect.
Ameren Missouri operates a CT energy center located in Audrain County, Missouri. Ameren Missouri has rights and obligations as lessee of the CT energy center under a long-term lease with Audrain County. The lease will expire on December 1, 2023. Under the terms of this capital lease, Ameren Missouri is responsible for all operation and maintenance for the energy center. Ownership of the energy center will transfer to Ameren Missouri at the expiration of the lease, at which time the property and plant will become subject to the lien of any Ameren Missouri first mortgage bond indenture then in effect.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are involved in legal and administrative proceedings before various courts and agencies with respect to matters that
arise in the ordinary course of business, some of which involve substantial amounts of money. We believe that the final disposition of these proceedings, except as otherwise disclosed in this report, will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, or liquidity. Risk of loss is mitigated, in some cases, by insurance or contractual or statutory indemnification. We believe that we have established appropriate reserves for potential losses. Material legal and administrative proceedings, which are discussed in Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters, Note 10 – Callaway Energy Center and Note 15 – Commitment and Contingencies under Part II, Item 8, of this report and are incorporated herein by reference, include the following:
| • | Ameren Missouri's appeal to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, regarding the method and inputs used to calculate its performance incentive under MEEIA for 2014 and 2015; |
| • | ATXI’s request for a certificate of convenience and necessity from the MoPSC for the Mark Twain project; |
| • | the complaint cases filed with the FERC seeking a reduction in the allowed base return on common equity under the MISO tariff; |
| • | the EPA's Clean Air Act-related litigation against Ameren Missouri; |
| • | remediation matters associated with former MGP and waste disposal sites of the Ameren Companies; |
| • | asbestos-related litigation associated with the Ameren Companies; and |
| • | class action lawsuit against Ameren Missouri relating to municipal taxes. |
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANTS (ITEM 401(b) OF REGULATION S-K):
The executive officers of the Ameren Companies, including major subsidiaries, are listed below, along with their ages as of December 31, 2015, all positions and offices held with the Ameren Companies as of February 15, 2016, tenure as officer, and business background for at least the last five years. Some executive officers hold multiple positions within the Ameren Companies; their titles are given in the description of their business experience.
AMEREN CORPORATION:
| Name | Age | Positions and Offices Held | ||
| Warner L. Baxter | 54 | Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Director | ||
| Baxter joined Ameren Missouri in 1995. Baxter was elected to the positions of executive vice president and chief financial officer of Ameren, Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and Ameren Services in 2003. He was elected chairman, president, chief executive officer, and chief financial officer of Ameren Services in 2007. In 2009, Baxter was elected chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ameren Missouri. In February 2014, Baxter was elected president of Ameren and was appointed to the Ameren board. In April 2014, he relinquished his positions at Ameren Missouri and was elected chief executive officer of Ameren. In July 2014, Baxter was elected chairman of the Ameren board. | ||||
| Martin J. Lyons, Jr. | 49 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
| Lyons joined Ameren Services in 2001. In 2008, Lyons was elected senior vice president and principal accounting officer of the Ameren Companies. In 2009, Lyons was also elected chief financial officer of the Ameren Companies. In 2013, Lyons was elected executive vice president and chief financial officer of the Ameren Companies, and relinquished his duties as principal accounting officer. Lyons has also been elected chairman and president of Ameren Services, effective upon the retirement of Daniel F. Cole on March 1, 2016. | ||||
| Gregory L. Nelson | 58 | Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary | ||
| Nelson joined Ameren Missouri in 1995. Nelson was elected vice president and tax counsel of Ameren Services in 1999 and vice president of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois in 2003. In 2010, Nelson was elected vice president, tax and deputy general counsel of Ameren Services. He remained vice president of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois. In 2011, Nelson was elected senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of the Ameren Companies. | ||||
| Bruce A. Steinke | 54 | Senior Vice President, Finance, and Chief Accounting Officer | ||
| Steinke joined Ameren Services in 2002. In 2008, he was elected vice president and controller of Ameren, Ameren Illinois, and Ameren Services. In 2009, Steinke relinquished his positions at Ameren Illinois. In 2013, Steinke was elected senior vice president, finance, and chief accounting officer of the Ameren Companies. |
SUBSIDIARIES:
| Name | Age | Positions and Offices Held | ||
| Mark C. Birk | 51 | Senior Vice President, Corporate Safety, Planning and Operations Oversight (Ameren Services) | ||
| Birk joined Ameren Missouri in 1986. In 2005, Birk was elected vice president, power operations, of Ameren Missouri. In 2012, Birk was elected senior vice president, corporate planning, of Ameren Services. In 2014, he was also elected senior vice president, oversight, of Ameren Services, and in 2015, he was elected senior vice president, corporate safety, planning and operations oversight. | ||||
| Maureen A. Borkowski | 58 | Chairman and President (ATXI) | ||
| Borkowski joined Ameren Missouri in 1981. She left the company in 2000 and rejoined Ameren in 2005 as vice president, transmission, of Ameren Services. In 2011, Borkowski was elected chairman and president of ATXI. In 2011, she was also elected senior vice president, transmission, of Ameren Services. | ||||
| Daniel F. Cole | 62 | Chairman and President (Ameren Services) | ||
| Cole joined Ameren Missouri in 1976. He was elected senior vice president of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Services in 1999 and of Ameren Illinois in 2001. In 2009, Cole was elected chairman and president of Ameren Services; he remained senior vice president of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois. Cole will retire from all of his positions effective March 1, 2016. | ||||
| Fadi M. Diya | 53 | Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer (Ameren Missouri) | ||
| Diya joined Ameren Missouri in 2005. In 2008, Diya was elected vice president, nuclear operations, of Ameren Missouri. In January 2014, Diya was elected senior vice president and chief nuclear officer of Ameren Missouri. | ||||
| Mary P. Heger | 59 | Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer (Ameren Services) | ||
| Heger joined Ameren Missouri in 1976. In 2009, Heger was elected vice president, information technology, of Ameren Services, and in 2012, she was also elected chief information officer of Ameren Services. In 2015, Heger was elected senior vice president and chief information officer of Ameren Services. | ||||
| Mark C. Lindgren | 48 | Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Chief Human Resources Officer (Ameren Services) | ||
| Lindgren joined Ameren Services in 1998. In 2009, Lindgren was elected vice president, human resources, of Ameren Services, and in 2012, he was also elected chief human resources officer of Ameren Services. In 2015, Lindgren was elected senior vice president, corporate communications, and chief human resources officer of Ameren Services. | ||||
| Richard J. Mark | 60 | Chairman and President (Ameren Illinois) | ||
| Mark joined Ameren Services in 2002. He was elected senior vice president, customer operations, of Ameren Missouri in 2005. In 2012, Mark relinquished his position at Ameren Missouri and was elected chairman and president of Ameren Illinois. | ||||
| Michael L. Moehn | 46 | Chairman and President (Ameren Missouri) | ||
| Moehn joined Ameren Services in 2000. In 2008, he was elected senior vice president, corporate planning and business risk management, of Ameren Services. In 2012, Moehn was elected senior vice president, customer operations, of Ameren Missouri. In April 2014, Moehn was elected chairman and president of Ameren Missouri. |
Officers are generally elected or appointed annually by the respective board of directors of each company, following the election of board members at the annual meetings of shareholders. No special arrangement or understanding exists between any of the above-named executive officers and the Ameren Companies nor, to our knowledge, with any other person or persons pursuant to which any executive officer was selected as an officer. There are no family relationships among the executive officers or between any executive officers and any directors of the Ameren Companies. All of the above-named executive officers have been employed by an Ameren company for more than five years in executive or management positions.
PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS' COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, AND ISSUER PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Ameren’s common stock is listed on the NYSE (ticker symbol: AEE). Ameren common shareholders of record totaled 52,277 on January 29, 2016. The following table presents the price ranges, closing prices, and dividends declared per Ameren common share for each quarter during 2015 and 2014:
| High | Low | Close | Dividends Declared | ||||||||||||
| 2015 Quarter Ended: | |||||||||||||||
| March 31 | $ | 46.81 | $ | 40.51 | $ | 42.20 | $ | 0.41 | |||||||
| June 30 | 43.00 | 37.26 | 37.68 | 0.41 | |||||||||||
| September 30 | 43.85 | 37.55 | 42.27 | 0.41 | |||||||||||
| December 31 | 44.71 | 41.33 | 43.23 | 0.425 | |||||||||||
| 2014 Quarter Ended: | |||||||||||||||
| March 31 | $ | 42.24 | $ | 35.22 | $ | 41.20 | $ | 0.40 | |||||||
| June 30 | 41.92 | 37.67 | 40.88 | 0.40 | |||||||||||
| September 30 | 40.96 | 36.65 | 38.33 | 0.40 | |||||||||||
| December 31 | 48.14 | 38.25 | 46.13 | 0.41 |
There is no trading market for the common stock of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois. Ameren holds all outstanding common stock of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois.
The following table sets forth the quarterly common stock dividend payments made by Ameren and its registrant subsidiaries during 2015 and 2014:
| 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | Quarter Ended | Quarter Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Registrant | December 31 | September 30 | June 30 | March 31 | December 31 | September 30 | June 30 | March 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ameren Missouri | $ | 85 | $ | 75 | $ | 100 | $ | 315 | $ | 72 | (a) | $ | 113 | $ | 78 | $ | 77 | |||||||||||||||
| Ameren Illinois | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ameren | 104 | 99 | 100 | 99 | 99 | 97 | 97 | 97 |
| (a) | Additionally, during the fourth quarter of 2014, Ameren Missouri returned capital of $215 million to Ameren (parent). |
On February 12, 2016, the board of directors of Ameren declared a quarterly dividend on Ameren’s common stock of 42.5 cents per share. The common share dividend is payable March 31, 2016, to shareholders of record on March 9, 2016.
For a discussion of restrictions on the Ameren Companies’ payment of dividends, see Liquidity and Capital Resources in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Part II, Item 7, of this report.
Purchases of Equity Securities
| Period | (a) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased(a) | (b) Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit) | (c) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | (d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs | ||||||||
| October 1 – October 31, 2015 | — | $ | — | — | — | |||||||
| November 1 – November 30, 2015 | 2,277 | 43.80 | — | — | ||||||||
| December 1 – December 31, 2015 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Total | 2,277 | $ | 43.80 | — | — |
| (a) | These shares of Ameren common stock were purchased in open-market transactions to fund Ameren’s obligations for its directors’ stock compensation awards, which were granted under the 2014 Incentive Plan. Ameren does not have any publicly announced equity securities purchase plans or programs. |
Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois did not purchase any equity securities reportable under Item 703 of Regulation S-K during the period from October 1, 2015, to December 31, 2015.
Performance Graph
The following graph shows Ameren’s cumulative total shareholder return during the five years ended December 31, 2015. The graph
also shows the cumulative total returns of the S&P 500 Index and the Edison Electric Institute Index (EEI Index), which comprises most investor-owned electric utilities in the United States. The comparison assumes that $100 was invested on December 31, 2010, in Ameren common stock and in each of the indices shown, and it assumes that all of the dividends were reinvested.
| December 31, | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||||
| Ameren (AEE) | $ | 100.00 | $ | 123.92 | $ | 120.78 | $ | 148.94 | $ | 197.69 | $ | 193.00 | |||||||||||
| S&P 500 Index | 100.00 | 102.11 | 118.45 | 156.81 | 178.28 | 180.74 | |||||||||||||||||
| EEI Index | 100.00 | 119.99 | 122.50 | 138.43 | 178.46 | 171.50 |
Ameren management cautions that the stock price performance shown in the graph above should not be considered indicative of potential future stock price performance.
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
| For the years ended December 31, (In millions, except per share amounts) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||
| Ameren(a): | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 6,098 | $ | 6,053 | $ | 5,838 | $ | 5,781 | $ | 6,148 | |||||||||
| Operating income(b) | 1,259 | 1,254 | 1,184 | 1,188 | 1,033 | ||||||||||||||
| Income from continuing operations | 585 | 593 | 518 | 522 | 437 | ||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes(c) | 51 | (1 | ) | (223 | ) | (1,496 | ) | 89 | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Ameren common shareholders | 630 | 586 | 289 | (974 | ) | 519 | |||||||||||||
| Common stock dividends | 402 | 390 | 388 | 382 | 375 | ||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations earnings per share – basic | 2.39 | 2.42 | 2.11 | 2.13 | 1.79 | ||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations earnings per share – diluted | 2.38 | 2.40 | 2.10 | 2.13 | 1.79 | ||||||||||||||
| Common stock dividends per share | 1.655 | 1.61 | 1.60 | 1.60 | 1.555 | ||||||||||||||
| As of December 31: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets(d)(e) | $ | 23,640 | $ | 22,289 | $ | 20,907 | $ | 22,022 | $ | 23,667 | |||||||||
| Long-term debt, excluding current maturities(f) | 6,880 | 6,085 | 5,475 | 5,765 | 5,817 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Ameren Corporation shareholders’ equity | 6,946 | 6,713 | 6,544 | 6,616 | 7,919 | ||||||||||||||
| Ameren Missouri: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 3,609 | $ | 3,553 | $ | 3,541 | $ | 3,272 | $ | 3,383 | |||||||||
| Operating income(b) | 742 | 785 | 803 | 845 | 609 | ||||||||||||||
| Net income available to common shareholder | 352 | 390 | 395 | 416 | 287 | ||||||||||||||
| Dividends to parent | 575 | 340 | 460 | 400 | 403 | ||||||||||||||
| As of December 31: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets(e) | $ | 13,851 | $ | 13,474 | $ | 12,867 | $ | 12,998 | $ | 12,731 | |||||||||
| Long-term debt, excluding current maturities(f) | 3,844 | 3,861 | 3,631 | 3,782 | 3,754 | ||||||||||||||
| Total shareholders' equity | 4,082 | 4,052 | 3,993 | 4,054 | 4,037 | ||||||||||||||
| Ameren Illinois: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 2,466 | $ | 2,498 | $ | 2,311 | $ | 2,525 | $ | 2,787 | |||||||||
| Operating income | 466 | 450 | 415 | 377 | 458 | ||||||||||||||
| Net income available to common shareholder | 214 | 201 | 160 | 141 | 193 | ||||||||||||||
| Dividends to parent | — | — | 110 | 189 | 327 | ||||||||||||||
| As of December 31: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets(e) | $ | 8,903 | $ | 8,204 | $ | 7,397 | $ | 7,186 | $ | 7,144 | |||||||||
| Long-term debt, excluding current maturities(f) | 2,342 | 2,224 | 1,844 | 1,566 | 1,646 | ||||||||||||||
| Total shareholders' equity | 2,897 | 2,661 | 2,448 | 2,401 | 2,452 |
| (a) | Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries and intercompany eliminations. |
| (b) | Includes a $69 million provision recorded in 2015 for all of the previously capitalized COL costs relating to the second nuclear unit at its existing Callaway energy center. Also includes regulatory disallowance associated with the Taum Sauk breach of $89 million in 2011. |
| (c) | See Note 16 – Divestiture Transactions and Discontinued Operations under Part II, Item 8, of this report for additional information. |
| (d) | Includes total assets from discontinued operations of $14 million, $15 million, $165 million, $1,611 million, and $3,721 million at December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively. |
| (e) | Reflects the adoption of the new authoritative accounting guidance for the presentation of debt issuance costs and deferred income taxes. See Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies under Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional information. |
| (f) | Reflects the adoption of the new authoritative accounting guidance for the presentation of debt issuance costs. See Note 1 –Summary of Significant Accounting Policies under Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional information. |
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Ameren, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a public utility holding company under PUHCA 2005. Ameren’s primary assets are its equity interests in its subsidiaries, including Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois. Ameren’s subsidiaries are separate, independent legal entities with separate businesses, assets, and liabilities. Dividends on Ameren’s common stock and the payment of expenses by Ameren depend on distributions made to it by its subsidiaries.
Below is a summary description of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois. A more detailed description can be found in Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
| • | Ameren Missouri operates a rate-regulated electric generation, transmission, and distribution business and a rate-regulated natural gas transmission and distribution business in Missouri. |
| • | Ameren Illinois operates rate-regulated electric and natural gas transmission and distribution businesses in Illinois. |
Ameren has various other subsidiaries that conduct activities such as the provision of shared services. Ameren also has a subsidiary, ATXI, that operates a FERC rate-regulated electric transmission business. ATXI is developing MISO-approved electric transmission projects, including the Illinois Rivers, Spoon River, and Mark Twain projects. Ameren is also pursuing projects to improve electric transmission system reliability within Ameren Missouri's and Ameren Illinois' service territories as well as competitive electric transmission investment opportunities outside of these territories, including investments outside of MISO.
Unless otherwise stated, the following sections of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations exclude discontinued operations for all periods presented. See Note 16 – Divestiture Transactions and Discontinued Operations under Part II, Item 8, of this report for additional information regarding that presentation.
Ameren's financial statements are prepared on a consolidated basis, and therefore include the accounts of its majority-owned subsidiaries. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois have no subsidiaries, and therefore their financial statements are not prepared on a consolidated basis. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. All tabular dollar amounts are in millions, unless otherwise indicated.
In addition to presenting results of operations and earnings amounts in total, we present certain information in cents per share. These amounts reflect factors that directly affect Ameren’s earnings. We believe this per share information helps readers to understand the impact of these factors on Ameren’s earnings per share. All references in this report to earnings per share are based on average diluted common shares outstanding.
OVERVIEW
Ameren’s strategic plan includes investing in and operating its utilities in a manner consistent with existing regulatory frameworks, enhancing those frameworks and advocating for responsible energy policies, as well as creating and capitalizing on opportunities for investment for the benefit of its customers and shareholders. In 2015, Ameren continued to successfully execute its strategy to invest in and to grow its utilities through investment in rate-regulated infrastructure while remaining focused on operational improvement and disciplined cost management. Ameren continues to allocate significant amounts of capital to those businesses that are supported by constructive regulatory frameworks, investing $1.3 billion in its FERC-regulated electric transmission and Illinois electric and natural gas delivery businesses. Reflecting confidence in Ameren’s long-term strategy and outlook, Ameren’s board of directors increased the quarterly dividend rate in October 2015.
With respect to the FERC-regulated electric transmission businesses, there are currently two complaint cases filed with the FERC seeking a reduction in the allowed base return on common equity under the MISO tariff. In December 2015, an administrative law judge issued an initial decision in the November 2013 complaint case that would lower the allowed base return on common equity to 10.32%. The FERC is expected to issue a final order on the November 2013 complaint case by October 2016. An initial decision from an administrative law judge in the February 2015 complaint case, which will subsequently require FERC approval, is expected to be issued by June 30, 2016. In January 2015, a FERC-approved incentive adder of up to 50 basis points on the allowed base return on common equity for our participation in an RTO became effective. Beginning with its January 2015 effective date, the incentive adder will reduce any refund to customers relating to a reduction of the allowed base return on common equity from the complaint cases.
In December 2015, the ICC issued an order in Ameren Illinois’ annual update filing approving a $106 million increase in Ameren Illinois’ electric delivery service revenue requirement beginning in January 2016. Additionally, in December 2015, the ICC issued a rate order that approved an increase in revenues for Ameren Illinois' natural gas delivery service of $45 million. The rate order also approved the VBA for residential and small nonresidential customers beginning in 2016.
Ameren is evaluating the Clean Power Plan's potential impacts to its operations, including those related to electric system reliability, and its level of investment in customer energy efficiency programs, renewable energy, and other forms of generation investment. In February 2016, the United States Supreme Court stayed the Clean Power Plan and all implementation requirements until such time as legal appeals are concluded. The District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals has scheduled hearings for June 2016 on the legality of the rule. A decision by the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to be issued later this year and additional appeals before the United States Supreme Court are likely. Appeals are
not expected to conclude prior to 2018. Ameren will continue to advocate for responsible energy policies related to the Clean Power Plan while working with key stakeholders to address important issues associated with the Missouri and Illinois state implementation plans should the Clean Power Plan ultimately be upheld.
Ameren Missouri continues to seek legislative solutions to address regulatory lag and to support investment in its utility infrastructure for the benefit of its customers, including through its advocacy for a legislative solution to support Noranda's operations. On January 8, 2016, Ameren Missouri’s largest customer, Noranda, announced that production had been idled at two of its three pot lines at the smelter following an electric supply circuit failure on assets not owned by Ameren Missouri. On February 8, 2016, Noranda filed voluntary petitions for a court-supervised restructuring process under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. In the filing, Noranda reaffirmed that the remaining pot line will continue to operate at the smelter until March 2016, at which time operation of the line will be curtailed. Noranda stated it would maintain the flexibility to restart operations at the smelter should conditions allow. In January 2016, Ameren Missouri filed a notice with the MoPSC that would enable Ameren Missouri to file an electric rate case after 60 days. Ameren Missouri expects to file an electric rate case in 2016 and expects the resulting new rates to reflect Noranda’s actual sales volumes which would prospectively eliminate the impact of the current revenue shortfall. Ameren Missouri may seek recovery of lost revenues in a filing with the MoPSC for certain costs incurred but not contemporaneously recovered as a result of Noranda’s reduced operations. Ameren Missouri will continue to monitor Noranda’s sales volumes and to eval
Showing the first 8K of 175K characters. Open the full section
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market risk is the risk of changes in value of a physical asset or a financial instrument, derivative or nonderivative, caused by fluctuations in market variables such as interest rates, commodity prices, and equity security prices. A derivative is a contract whose value is dependent on, or derived from, the value of some underlying asset or index. The following discussion of our risk management activities includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. We handle market risks in accordance with established policies, which may include entering into various derivative transactions. In the normal course of business, we also face risks that are either nonfinancial or nonquantifiable. Such risks, principally business, legal, and operational risks, are not part of the following discussion.
Our risk management objectives are to optimize our physical generating assets and to pursue market opportunities within prudent risk parameters. Our risk management policies are set by a risk management steering committee, which is composed of senior-level Ameren officers, with Ameren board of directors oversight.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to market risk through changes in interest rates associated with:
| • | long-term and short-term variable-rate debt; |
| • | fixed-rate debt; |
| • | United States Treasury bonds; and |
| • | defined pension and postretirement benefit plans. |
We manage our interest rate exposure by controlling the amount of debt instruments within our total capitalization portfolio and by monitoring the effects of market changes on interest rates. For defined pension and postretirement benefit plans, we control the duration and the portfolio mix of our plan assets.
The following table presents the estimated increase in our annual interest expense and decrease in net income if interest rates were to increase by 1% on variable-rate debt outstanding at December 31, 2015:
| Interest Expense | Net Income(a) | |||||
| Ameren | $ | 5 | $ | (3 | ) | |
| Ameren Missouri | 2 | (1 | ) | |||
| Ameren Illinois | (b) | (b) |
| (a) | Calculations are based on an estimated tax rate of 38%, 37%, and 37% for Ameren, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois, respectively. |
| (b) | Less than $1 million. |
Ameren Illinois’ annual return on equity under the formula ratemaking process for its electric distribution business is directly correlated to the average monthly yields of 30-year United States Treasury bonds plus 580 basis points for a calendar year. The yields on such bonds are outside of Ameren Illinois’ control. A 50
basis point change in the average monthly yields of the 30-year United States Treasury bonds would result in an estimated $6 million change in Ameren's and Ameren Illinois' net income, based on its 2016 projected rate base.
Credit Risk
Credit risk represents the loss that would be recognized if counterparties should fail to perform as contracted. Exchange-traded contracts are supported by the financial and credit quality of the clearing members of the respective exchanges and carry only a nominal credit risk. In all other transactions, we are exposed to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties to the transaction. See Note 7 – Derivative Financial Instruments under Part II, Item 8, of this report for information on the potential loss on counterparty exposure as of December 31, 2015.
Our revenues are primarily derived from sales or delivery of electricity and natural gas to customers in Missouri and Illinois. Our physical and financial instruments are subject to credit risk consisting of trade accounts receivables and executory contracts with market risk exposures. The risk associated with trade receivables is mitigated by the large number of customers in a broad range of industry groups who make up our customer base. At December 31, 2015, no nonaffiliated customer represented more than 10%, in the aggregate, of our accounts receivable. Additionally, Ameren Illinois faces risks associated with the purchase of receivables. The Illinois Public Utilities Act requires Ameren Illinois to establish electric utility consolidated billing and purchase of receivables services. At the option of an alternative retail electric supplier, Ameren Illinois may be required to purchase the supplier's receivables relating to Ameren Illinois' delivery service customers who elected to receive power supply from the alternative retail electric supplier. When that option is selected, Ameren Illinois produces consolidated bills for the applicable retail customers reflecting charges for electric delivery service and purchased receivables. As of December 31, 2015, Ameren Illinois' balance of purchased accounts receivable associated with the utility consolidated billing and purchase of receivables services was $25 million. The risk associated with Ameren Illinois' electric and natural gas trade receivables is also mitigated by a rate adjustment mechanism that allows Ameren Illinois to recover the difference between its actual net bad debt write-offs under GAAP and the amount of net bad debt write-offs included in its base rates. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois continue to monitor the impact of increasing rates on customer collections. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois make adjustments to their respective allowance for doubtful accounts as deemed necessary to ensure that such allowances are adequate to cover estimated uncollectible customer account balances.
Equity Price Risk
Our costs for providing defined benefit retirement and postretirement benefit plans are dependent upon a number of factors, including the rate of return on plan assets. Ameren manages plan assets in accordance with the “prudent investor”
guidelines contained in ERISA. Ameren’s goal is to ensure that sufficient funds are available to provide benefits at the time they are payable, while also maximizing total return on plan assets and minimizing expense volatility consistent with its tolerance for risk. Ameren delegates investment management to specialists. Where appropriate, Ameren provides the investment manager with guidelines that specify allowable and prohibited investment types. Ameren regularly monitors manager performance and compliance with investment guidelines.
The expected return on plan assets assumption is based on historical and projected rates of return for current and planned asset classes in the investment portfolio. Projected rates of return for each asset class are estimated after an analysis of historical experience, future expectations, and the volatility of the various asset classes. After considering the target asset allocation for each asset class, we adjust the overall expected rate of return for the portfolio for historical and expected experience of active portfolio management results compared with benchmark returns, and for the effect of expenses paid from plan assets. Contributions to the plans and future costs could increase materially if we do not achieve pension and postretirement asset portfolio investment returns equal to or in excess of our 2016 assumed return on plan assets of 7.00%.
Ameren Missouri also maintains a trust fund, as required by the NRC and Missouri law, to fund certain costs of nuclear plant decommissioning. As of December 31, 2015, this fund was invested in domestic equity securities (66%) and debt securities (34%). By maintaining a portfolio that includes long-term equity investments, Ameren Missouri seeks to maximize the returns to be used to fund nuclear decommissioning costs within acceptable parameters of risk. However, the equity securities included in the portfolio are exposed to price fluctuations in equity markets. The debt securities are exposed to changes in interest rates. Ameren Missouri actively monitors the portfolio by benchmarking the performance of its investments against certain indices and by maintaining and periodically reviewing established target allocation percentages of the trust assets to various investment options. Ameren Missouri’s exposure to equity price market risk is in large part mitigated because Ameren Missouri is currently allowed to recover its decommissioning costs, which would include unfavorable investment results, through electric rates.
Additionally, Ameren has company-owned life insurance contracts that are used to support Ameren’s deferred compensation plans. These life insurance contracts include equity and debt investments that are exposed to price fluctuations in equity markets and to changes in interest rates.
Commodity Price Risk
With regard to Ameren Missouri’s and Ameren Illinois’ electric and natural gas distribution businesses, exposure to changing market prices is in large part mitigated by the fact that there are cost recovery mechanisms in place. These cost recovery mechanisms allow Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois to pass on to retail customers prudently incurred costs for fuel, purchased power, and natural gas supply.
Ameren Missouri’s and Ameren Illinois’ strategy is designed to reduce the effect of market fluctuations for their regulated customers. The effects of price volatility cannot be eliminated. However, procurement and sales strategies involve risk management techniques and instruments, as well as the management of physical assets.
Ameren Missouri has a FAC, a fuel and purchased power cost recovery mechanism that allows it to recover or refund through customer rates 95% of changes in net energy costs greater or less than the amount set in base rates without a traditional rate proceeding, subject to MoPSC prudence reviews. Ameren Missouri remains exposed to the remaining 5% of such changes.
Ameren Illinois has a cost recovery mechanism for power purchased on behalf of its customers. Ameren Illinois is required to serve as the provider of last resort for electric customers in its service territory who have not chosen an alternative retail electric supplier. Ameren Illinois does not generate earnings based on the resale of power but rather on the delivery of energy. Ameren Illinois purchases power primarily through MISO, with additional procurement events administered by the IPA. The IPA has proposed and the ICC has approved multiple procurement events covering portions of years through 2018. In 2015, acting in its role as provider of last resort, Ameren Illinois supplied approximately 26% of its kilowatthour sales to its electric customers. Ameren Illinois expects full recovery of its purchased power costs.
Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois have PGA clauses that permit costs incurred for natural gas to be recovered directly from utility customers without a traditional rate proceeding, subject to prudence review.
With regard to our exposure for commodity price risk for construction and maintenance activities, Ameren is exposed to changes in market prices for metal commodities and to labor availability.
See Transmission and Supply of Electric Power under Part I, Item 1, of this report for the percentages of our historical needs satisfied by coal, nuclear, natural gas, oil, and renewables. Also see Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies under Part II, Item 8, of this report for additional information.
Commodity Supplier Risk
The use of ultra-low-sulfur coal is part of Ameren Missouri's environmental compliance strategy. Ameren Missouri has a multiyear agreement to purchase ultra-low-sulfur coal through 2018 to comply with environmental regulations. The coal contract is with a single supplier. Disruptions to the deliveries of that ultra-low-sulfur coal from the supplier could compromise Ameren Missouri's ability to operate in compliance with emission standards. Other sources of ultra-low-sulfur coal are limited, and the construction of pollution control equipment requires significant lead time. If Ameren Missouri were to experience a temporary disruption of ultra-low-sulfur coal deliveries that caused it to exhaust its existing inventory, and if other sources of ultra-low-sulfur coal were not available, Ameren Missouri would use its
existing emission allowances or purchase emission allowances to achieve compliance with environmental regulations.
Currently, the Callaway energy center uses nuclear fuel assemblies of a design fabricated by only a single supplier. That supplier is currently the only NRC-licensed supplier able to provide fuel assemblies to the Callaway energy center. If Ameren
Missouri should decide to change fuel suppliers or to change the type of fuel assembly design that is currently licensed for use at the Callaway energy center, up to three years of analysis and licensing effort would be required to fully implement such a change.
Fair Value of Contracts
We use derivatives principally to manage the risk of changes in market prices for natural gas, power, and uranium, as well as the risk of changes in rail transportation surcharges through fuel oil hedges. The following table presents the favorable (unfavorable) changes in the fair value of all derivative contracts marked-to-market during the year ended December 31, 2015. We use various methods to determine the fair value of our contracts. In accordance with authoritative accounting guidance for fair value hierarchy levels, the sources we used to determine the fair value of these contracts were active quotes (Level 1), inputs corroborated by market data (Level 2), and other modeling and valuation methods that are not corroborated by market data (Level 3). See Note 8 – Fair Value Measurements under Part II, Item 8, of this report for additional information regarding the methods used to determine the fair value of these contracts.
| Ameren Missouri | Ameren Illinois | Ameren | |||||||||
| Fair value of contracts at beginning of year, net | $ | (28 | ) | $ | (185 | ) | $ | (213 | ) | ||
| Contracts realized or otherwise settled during the period | 15 | 41 | 56 | ||||||||
| Fair value of new contracts entered into during the period | 6 | (19 | ) | (13 | ) | ||||||
| Other changes in fair value | (20 | ) | (56 | ) | (76 | ) | |||||
| Fair value of contracts outstanding at end of year, net | $ | (27 | ) | $ | (219 | ) | $ | (246 | ) |
The following table presents maturities of derivative contracts as of December 31, 2015, by the hierarchy levels used to determine the fair value of the contracts:
| Sources of Fair Value | Maturity Less Than 1 Year | Maturity 1 – 3 Years | Maturity 3 – 5 Years | Maturity in Excess of 5 Years | Total Fair Value | ||||||||||||||
| Ameren Missouri: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | $ | (23 | ) | $ | (6 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (29 | ) | ||||||
| Level 2(a) | (5 | ) | (6 | ) | (2 | ) | — | (13 | ) | ||||||||||
| Level 3(b) | 15 | — | — | — | 15 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | (13 | ) | $ | (12 | ) | $ | (2 | ) | $ | — | $ | (27 | ) | |||||
| Ameren Illinois: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | $ | — | $ | (1 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (1 | ) | |||||||
| Level 2(a) | (31 | ) | (17 | ) | — | — | (48 | ) | |||||||||||
| Level 3(b) | (12 | ) | (24 | ) | (24 | ) | (110 | ) | (170 | ) | |||||||||
| Total | $ | (43 | ) | $ | (42 | ) | $ | (24 | ) | $ | (110 | ) | $ | (219 | ) | ||||
| Ameren: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | $ | (23 | ) | $ | (7 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (30 | ) | ||||||
| Level 2(a) | (36 | ) | (23 | ) | (2 | ) | — | (61 | ) | ||||||||||
| Level 3(b) | 3 | (24 | ) | (24 | ) | (110 | ) | (155 | ) | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | (56 | ) | $ | (54 | ) | $ | (26 | ) | $ | (110 | ) | $ | (246 | ) |
| (a) | Principally fixed-price vs. floating over-the-counter power swaps, power forwards, and fixed-price vs. floating over-the-counter natural gas swaps. |
| (b) | Principally power forward contract values based on information from external sources, historical results, and our estimates. Level 3 also includes option contract values based on an option valuation model. |
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
of Ameren Corporation:
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(1) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Ameren Corporation and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedules listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedules, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedules, and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
St. Louis, Missouri
February 26, 2016
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
of Union Electric Company:
In our opinion, the financial statements listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(1) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Union Electric Company at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related financial statements. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
St. Louis, Missouri
February 26, 2016
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
of Ameren Illinois Company:
In our opinion, the financial statements listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(1) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Ameren Illinois Company at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related financial statements. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCooper
Showing the first 8K of 346K characters. Open the full section
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
| (a) | Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures |
As of December 31, 2015, evaluations were performed under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of each of the Ameren Companies, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of such registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act). Based on those evaluations, as of December 31, 2015, the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of each of the Ameren Companies concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide assurance that information required to be disclosed in such registrant’s reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to its management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
| (b) | Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting |
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision of and with the participation of management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, an evaluation was conducted of the effectiveness of each of the Ameren Companies’ internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). After making that evaluation, management concluded that each of the Ameren Companies’ internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2015. The effectiveness of Ameren’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report herein under Part II, Item 8. This annual report does not include an attestation report of Ameren Missouri’s or Ameren Illinois’ (the Subsidiary Registrants) independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report for each of the Subsidiary Registrants is not subject to attestation by an independent registered public accounting firm.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness into future periods are subject to the risk that internal controls might become inadequate because of changes in conditions, and to the risk that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures might deteriorate.
| (c) | Change in Internal Control |
There has been no change in the Ameren Companies’ internal control over financial reporting during their most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, their internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
The Ameren Companies have no information reportable under this item that was required to be disclosed in a report on SEC Form 8-K during the fourth quarter of 2015 that has not previously been reported on an SEC Form 8-K.
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information required by Items 401, 405, 406 and 407(c)(3),(d)(4) and (d)(5) of SEC Regulation S-K for Ameren will be included in its definitive proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders filed pursuant to SEC Regulation 14A; it is incorporated herein by reference. Information required by these SEC Regulation S-K items for Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois will be included in each company’s definitive information statement for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders filed pursuant to SEC Regulation 14C; it is incorporated herein by reference. Specifically, reference is made to the following sections of Ameren’s definitive proxy statement and to each of Ameren Missouri’s and Ameren Illinois’ definitive information statements: “Information Concerning Nominees to the Board of Directors,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” “Corporate Governance” and “Board Structure.”
Information concerning executive officers of the Ameren Companies required by Item 401 of SEC Regulation S-K is reported under a separate caption entitled “Executive Officers of
the Registrants” in Part I of this report.
Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois do not have separately designated standing audit committees, but instead use Ameren’s audit and risk committee to perform such committee functions for their boards of directors. These companies do not have securities listed on the NYSE and therefore are not subject to the NYSE listing standards. Walter J. Galvin serves as chairman of Ameren’s audit and risk committee and Catherine S. Brune, J. Edward Coleman, and Ellen M. Fitzsimmons serve as members. The board of directors of Ameren has determined that each of Walter J. Galvin and J. Edward Coleman qualifies as an audit committee financial expert and that each is “independent” as that term is used in SEC Regulation 14A.
Also, on the same basis as reported above, the boards of directors of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois use the nominating and corporate governance committee of Ameren’s board of directors to perform such committee functions. This committee is responsible for the nomination of directors and for corporate governance practices. Ameren’s nominating and corporate governance committee will consider director
nominations from shareholders in accordance with its Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors, which can be found on Ameren’s website: www.ameren.com.
To encourage ethical conduct in its financial management and reporting, Ameren has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the principal executive officer, the president, the principal financial officer, the principal accounting officer, the controller, and the treasurer of each of the Ameren Companies. Ameren has also adopted a code of business conduct that applies to the directors, officers, and employees of the Ameren Companies. It is referred to as the Principles of Business Conduct. The Ameren
Companies make available free of charge through Ameren’s website (www.ameren.com) the Code of Ethics and the Principles of Business Conduct. Any amendment to the Code of Ethics or the Principles of Business Conduct and any waiver from a provision of the Code of Ethics or the Principles of Business Conduct as it relates to the principal executive officer, the president, the principal financial officer, the principal accounting officer, the controller, or the treasurer of each of the Ameren Companies will be posted on Ameren’s website within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver.
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information required by Items 402 and 407(e)(4) and (e)(5) of SEC Regulation S-K for Ameren will be included in its definitive proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders filed pursuant to SEC Regulation 14A; it is incorporated herein by reference. Information required by these SEC Regulation S-K items for Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois will be included in each company’s definitive information statement for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders filed pursuant to SEC Regulation 14C; it is incorporated herein by reference. Specifically, reference is made to the following sections of Ameren’s definitive proxy statement and to each of Ameren Missouri’s and Ameren Illinois’ definitive information statements: “Executive Compensation” and “Human Resources Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation.”
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table presents information as of December 31, 2015, with respect to the shares of Ameren’s common stock that may be issued under its existing equity compensation plans.
| Plan Category | Column A Number of Securities To Be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights(b) | Column B Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | Column C Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Equity Compensation Plans (excluding securities reflected in Column A) | ||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(a) | 3,186,287 | (c) | 6,423,549 | ||||||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | — | — | — | ||||||
| Total | 3,186,287 | (c) | 6,423,549 |
| (a) | Consists of the 2006 Incentive Plan and the 2014 Incentive Plan. The 2014 Plan replaced the 2006 Plan for any new grants made after April 24, 2014. |
| (b) | Pursuant to grants of performance share units (PSUs) under the 2006 Plan, 1,763,644 of the securities represent the estimated number of PSUs that were vested as of December 31, 2015 (including accrued and reinvested dividends), and 1,371,732 of the securities represent the target number of PSUs granted but not vested (including accrued and reinvested dividends) as of December 31, 2015 (including outstanding awards under the 2014 Plan as of December 31, 2015). The actual number of shares issued in respect of the PSUs will vary from 0% to 200% of the target level, depending upon the achievement of total shareholder return objectives established for such awards. For additional information about the PSUs, including payout calculations, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Long-Term Incentives: Performance Share Unit Program ("PSUP")” in Ameren’s definitive proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, which will be filed pursuant to SEC Regulation 14A. 50,911 of the securities represent shares that may be issued as of December 31, 2015, to satisfy obligations under the Ameren Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for members of the board of directors. |
| (c) | Earned PSUs and deferred compensation stock units are paid in shares of Ameren common stock on a one-for-one basis. Accordingly, the PSUs and deferred compensation stock units do not have a weighted-average exercise price. |
Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois do not have separate equity compensation plans.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The information required by Item 403 of SEC Regulation S-K for Ameren will be included in its definitive proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders filed pursuant to SEC Regulation 14A; it is incorporated herein by reference. Information required by this SEC Regulation S-K item for Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois will be included in each company’s definitive information statement for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders filed pursuant to SEC Regulation 14C; it is incorporated herein by reference. Specifically, reference is made to the following section of Ameren’s definitive proxy statement and each of Ameren Missouri’s and Ameren Illinois’ definitive information statement: “Security Ownership.”
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information required by Items 404 and 407(a) of SEC Regulation S-K for Ameren will be included in its definitive proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders filed pursuant to SEC Regulation 14A; it is incorporated herein by reference. Information required by these SEC Regulation S-K items for Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois will be included in each company’s definitive information statement for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders filed pursuant to SEC Regulation 14C; it is incorporated herein by reference. Specifically, reference is made to the following sections of Ameren’s definitive proxy statement and to each of Ameren Missouri’s and Ameren Illinois’ definitive information statements: “Policy and Procedures With Respect to Related Person Transactions” and “Director Independence.”
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Information required by Item 9(e) of SEC Schedule 14A for the Ameren Companies will be included in the definitive proxy statement of Ameren and the definitive information statements of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois for their 2016 annual meetings of shareholders filed pursuant to SEC Regulations 14A and 14C, respectively; it is incorporated herein by reference. Specifically, reference is made to the following section of Ameren’s definitive proxy statement and each of Ameren Missouri’s and Ameren Illinois’ definitive information statement: “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”
PART IV
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
| Page No. | |
| (a)(1) Financial Statements | |
| Ameren | |
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 67 |
| Consolidated Statement of Income (Loss) – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 | 69 |
| Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 | 70 |
| Consolidated Balance Sheet – December 31, 2015 and 2014 | 71 |
| Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 | 72 |
| Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 | 73 |
| Ameren Missouri | |
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 67 |
| Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 | 74 |
| Balance Sheet – December 31, 2015 and 2014 | 75 |
| Statement of Cash Flows – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 | 76 |
| Statement of Shareholders’ Equity – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 | 77 |
| Ameren Illinois | |
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 68 |
| Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 | 78 |
| Balance Sheet – December 31, 2015 and 2014 | 79 |
| Statement of Cash Flows – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 | 80 |
| Statement of Shareholders’ Equity – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 | 81 |
| (a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules | |
| Schedule I – Condensed Financial Information of Parent – Ameren: | |
| Condensed Statement of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 | 144 |
| Condensed Balance Sheet – December 31, 2015 and 2014 | 145 |
| Condensed Statement of Cash Flows – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 | 146 |
| Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 | 149 |
Schedule I and II should be read in conjunction with the aforementioned financial statements. Certain schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or because the required data is shown in the aforementioned financial statements.
| (a)(3) | Exhibits – reference is made to the Exhibit Index | 153 | |
| (b) | Exhibit Index | 153 |
| SCHEDULE I – CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF PARENT AMEREN CORPORATION CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME For the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 | |||||||||||
| (In millions) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||
| Operating expenses | 14 | 11 | 26 | ||||||||
| Operating loss | (14 | ) | (11 | ) | (26 | ) | |||||
| Equity in earnings of subsidiaries | 600 | 607 | 546 | ||||||||
| Interest income from affiliates | 6 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| Total other income (expense), net | (5 | ) | 2 | (5 | ) | ||||||
| Interest charges | 3 | 16 | 42 | ||||||||
| Income tax (benefit) | 5 | (2 | ) | (36 | ) | ||||||
| Net Income Attributable to Ameren Common Shareholders – Continuing Operations | 579 | 587 | 512 | ||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Ameren Common Shareholders – Discontinued Operations | 51 | (1 | ) | (223 | ) | ||||||
| Net Income Attributable to Ameren Common Shareholders | $ | 630 | $ | 586 | $ | 289 | |||||
| Net Income Attributable to Ameren Common Shareholders – Continuing Operations | $ | 579 | $ | 587 | $ | 512 | |||||
| Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Taxes: | |||||||||||
| Pension and other postretirement benefit plan activity, net of income taxes (benefit) of $3, $(7), and $16, respectively | 6 | (12 | ) | 30 | |||||||
| Comprehensive Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to Ameren Common Shareholders | 585 | 575 | 542 | ||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Ameren Common Shareholders – Discontinued Operations | 51 | (1 | ) | (223 | ) | ||||||
| Other Comprehensive Loss from Discontinued Operations, Net of Income taxes | — | — | (19 | ) | |||||||
| Comprehensive Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Ameren Common Shareholders | 51 | (1 | ) | (242 | ) | ||||||
| Comprehensive Income Attributable to Ameren Common Shareholders | $ | 636 | $ | 574 | $ | 300 |
| SCHEDULE I – CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF PARENT AMEREN CORPORATION CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET | |||||||
| (In millions) | December 31, 2015 | December 31, 2014 | |||||
| Assets: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | — | $ | 1 | |||
| Advances to money pool | — | 55 | |||||
| Accounts receivable – affiliates | 53 | 28 | |||||
| Notes receivable – affiliates | — | 94 | |||||
| Miscellaneous accounts and notes receivable | 3 | 39 | |||||
| Other current assets | 9 | 14 | |||||
| Total current assets | 65 | 231 | |||||
| Investments in subsidiaries – continuing operations | 7,231 | 6,680 | |||||
| Investment in subsidiary – discontinued operations | (4 | ) | (4 | ) | |||
| Note receivable – ATXI | 290 | 100 | |||||
| Accumulated deferred income taxes, net | 426 | 407 | |||||
| Other assets | 158 | 152 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 8,166 | $ | 7,566 | |||
| Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity: | |||||||
| Short-term debt | 301 | 585 | |||||
| Borrowings from money pool | 14 | — | |||||
| Accounts payable – affiliates | 75 | 88 | |||||
| Other current liabilities | 22 | 52 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 412 | 725 | |||||
| Long-term debt | 694 | — | |||||
| Pension and other postretirement benefits | 33 | 47 | |||||
| Other deferred credits and liabilities | 81 | 81 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 1,220 | 853 | |||||
| Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 4 and 5) | |||||||
| Shareholders’ Equity: | |||||||
| Common stock, $.01 par value, 400.0 shares authorized – shares outstanding of 242.6 | 2 | 2 | |||||
| Other paid-in capital, principally premium on common stock | 5,616 | 5,617 | |||||
| Retained earnings | 1,331 | 1,103 | |||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (3 | ) | (9 | ) | |||
| Total shareholders’ equity | 6,946 | 6,713 | |||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 8,166 | $ | 7,566 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Showing the first 8K of 62K characters. Open the full section