filings.toolsItem 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
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Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
A. REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of WEC Energy Group, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and statements of capitalization of WEC Energy Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes and the schedules listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 26, 2019, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
February 26, 2019
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2002.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 74 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
A. REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of WEC Energy Group, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of WEC Energy Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “ Company”) as of December 31, 2018, based on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018, of the Company and our report dated February 26, 2019. expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
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 (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) 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 (3) 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/DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
February 26, 2019
| 2018 Form 10-K | 75 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
B. CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
| Year Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||
| (in millions, except per share amounts) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 7,679.5 | $ | 7,648.5 | $ | 7,472.3 | ||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||
| Cost of sales | 2,897.9 | 2,822.8 | 2,647.4 | |||||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 2,270.5 | 2,056.1 | 2,171.3 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 845.8 | 798.6 | 762.6 | |||||||||
| Property and revenue taxes | 196.9 | 194.9 | 194.7 | |||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 6,211.1 | 5,872.4 | 5,776.0 | |||||||||
| Operating income | 1,468.4 | 1,776.1 | 1,696.3 | |||||||||
| Equity in earnings of transmission affiliates | 136.7 | 154.3 | 146.5 | |||||||||
| Other income, net | 70.3 | 73.7 | 66.6 | |||||||||
| Interest expense | 445.1 | 415.7 | 402.7 | |||||||||
| Other expense | (238.1 | ) | (187.7 | ) | (189.6 | ) | ||||||
| Income before income taxes | 1,230.3 | 1,588.4 | 1,506.7 | |||||||||
| Income tax expense | 169.8 | 383.5 | 566.5 | |||||||||
| Net income | 1,060.5 | 1,204.9 | 940.2 | |||||||||
| Preferred stock dividends of subsidiary | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | |||||||||
| Net income attributed to common shareholders | $ | 1,059.3 | $ | 1,203.7 | $ | 939.0 | ||||||
| Earnings per share | ||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 3.36 | $ | 3.81 | $ | 2.98 | ||||||
| Diluted | $ | 3.34 | $ | 3.79 | $ | 2.96 | ||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding | ||||||||||||
| Basic | 315.5 | 315.6 | 315.6 | |||||||||
| Diluted | 316.9 | 317.2 | 316.9 |
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 76 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
C. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
| Year Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Net income | $ | 1,060.5 | $ | 1,204.9 | $ | 940.2 | ||||||
| Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax | ||||||||||||
| Derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges | ||||||||||||
| Net derivative losses, net of tax | (2.1 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Reclassification of net gains to net income, net of tax | (1.2 | ) | (1.3 | ) | (1.3 | ) | ||||||
| Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of ASU 2018-02 | 1.6 | — | — | |||||||||
| Cash flow hedges, net | (1.7 | ) | (1.3 | ) | (1.3 | ) | ||||||
| Defined benefit plans | ||||||||||||
| Pension and OPEB adjustments arising during the period, net of tax of $(1.2), $0.6, and $0.1, respectively | (3.1 | ) | 0.9 | (0.8 | ) | |||||||
| Amortization of pension and OPEB costs included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | |||||||||
| Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of ASU 2018-02 | (1.0 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Defined benefit plans, net | (3.8 | ) | 1.3 | (0.4 | ) | |||||||
| Other comprehensive loss, net of tax | (5.5 | ) | — | (1.7 | ) | |||||||
| Comprehensive income | 1,055.0 | 1,204.9 | 938.5 | |||||||||
| Preferred stock dividends of subsidiary | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | |||||||||
| Comprehensive income attributed to common shareholders | $ | 1,053.8 | $ | 1,203.7 | $ | 937.3 |
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 77 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
D. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| At December 31 | ||||||||
| (in millions, except share and per share amounts) | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 84.5 | $ | 38.9 | ||||
| Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, net of reserves of $149.2 and $143.2, respectively | 1,280.9 | 1,350.7 | ||||||
| Materials, supplies, and inventories | 548.2 | 539.0 | ||||||
| Prepayments | 256.8 | 210.0 | ||||||
| Other | 77.2 | 74.9 | ||||||
| Current assets | 2,247.6 | 2,213.5 | ||||||
| Long-term assets | ||||||||
| Property, plant, and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $8,515.9 and $8,618.5, respectively | 22,000.9 | 21,347.0 | ||||||
| Regulatory assets | 3,805.1 | 2,803.2 | ||||||
| Equity investment in transmission affiliates | 1,665.3 | 1,553.4 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 3,052.8 | 3,053.5 | ||||||
| Other | 704.1 | 619.9 | ||||||
| Long-term assets | 31,228.2 | 29,377.0 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 33,475.8 | $ | 31,590.5 | ||||
| Liabilities and Equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||
| Short-term debt | $ | 1,440.1 | $ | 1,444.6 | ||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | 365.0 | 842.1 | ||||||
| Accounts payable | 876.4 | 859.9 | ||||||
| Accrued payroll and benefits | 185.4 | 169.1 | ||||||
| Other | 464.8 | 553.6 | ||||||
| Current liabilities | 3,331.7 | 3,869.3 | ||||||
| Long-term liabilities | ||||||||
| Long-term debt | 9,994.0 | 8,746.6 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 3,388.1 | 2,999.8 | ||||||
| Deferred revenue, net | 520.4 | 543.3 | ||||||
| Regulatory liabilities | 4,251.6 | 3,718.6 | ||||||
| Environmental remediation liabilities | 616.4 | 617.4 | ||||||
| Pension and OPEB obligations | 422.8 | 397.4 | ||||||
| Other | 1,108.1 | 1,206.3 | ||||||
| Long-term liabilities | 20,301.4 | 18,229.4 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 22) | ||||||||
| Common shareholders' equity | ||||||||
| Common stock – $0.01 par value; 325,000,000 shares authorized; 315,523,192 and 315,574,624 shares outstanding, respectively | 3.2 | 3.2 | ||||||
| Additional paid in capital | 4,250.1 | 4,278.5 | ||||||
| Retained earnings | 5,538.2 | 5,176.8 | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income | (2.6 | ) | 2.9 | |||||
| Common shareholders' equity | 9,788.9 | 9,461.4 | ||||||
| Preferred stock of subsidiary | 30.4 | 30.4 | ||||||
| Noncontrolling interests | 23.4 | — | ||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 33,475.8 | $ | 31,590.5 |
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 78 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
E. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| Year Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Operating activities | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 1,060.5 | $ | 1,204.9 | $ | 940.2 | ||||||
| Reconciliation to cash provided by operating activities | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 845.8 | 798.6 | 762.6 | |||||||||
| Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits, net | 297.3 | 271.7 | 493.8 | |||||||||
| Contributions and payments related to pension and OPEB plans | (77.6 | ) | (120.5 | ) | (28.7 | ) | ||||||
| Equity income in transmission affiliates, net of distributions | (18.6 | ) | (4.8 | ) | (46.6 | ) | ||||||
| Change in – | ||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues | 23.5 | (86.4 | ) | (180.7 | ) | |||||||
| Materials, supplies, and inventories | (8.8 | ) | 49.3 | 100.0 | ||||||||
| Other current assets | (10.0 | ) | (7.1 | ) | 103.2 | |||||||
| Accounts payable | 110.6 | 8.5 | 34.4 | |||||||||
| Other current liabilities | (67.6 | ) | 161.8 | (20.8 | ) | |||||||
| Other, net | 290.4 | (197.4 | ) | (53.6 | ) | |||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 2,445.5 | 2,078.6 | 2,103.8 | |||||||||
| Investing activities | ||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | (2,115.7 | ) | (1,959.5 | ) | (1,423.7 | ) | ||||||
| Acquisition of Bishop Hill III, net of restricted cash acquired of $4.5 | (162.9 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Acquisition of Forward Wind Energy Center | (77.1 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Acquisition of Coyote Ridge | (61.4 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Acquisition of Bluewater | — | (226.0 | ) | — | ||||||||
| Capital contributions to transmission affiliates | (53.5 | ) | (109.6 | ) | (42.3 | ) | ||||||
| Proceeds from the sale of assets and businesses | 12.1 | 24.0 | 166.3 | |||||||||
| Proceeds from the sale of investments held in rabbi trust | 118.6 | 8.7 | 1.7 | |||||||||
| Purchase of investments held in rabbi trust | (65.0 | ) | (3.7 | ) | (59.2 | ) | ||||||
| Other, net | 20.5 | 12.0 | 3.0 | |||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (2,384.4 | ) | (2,254.1 | ) | (1,354.2 | ) | ||||||
| Financing activities | ||||||||||||
| Exercise of stock options | 29.1 | 30.8 | 41.6 | |||||||||
| Purchase of common stock | (72.4 | ) | (71.3 | ) | (108.0 | ) | ||||||
| Dividends paid on common stock | (697.3 | ) | (656.5 | ) | (624.9 | ) | ||||||
| Issuance of long-term debt | 1,740.0 | 435.0 | 400.0 | |||||||||
| Retirement of long-term debt | (953.3 | ) | (154.5 | ) | (306.0 | ) | ||||||
| Change in short-term debt | (4.5 | ) | 584.4 | (234.8 | ) | |||||||
| Other, net | (15.2 | ) | (6.5 | ) | (13.6 | ) | ||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 26.4 | 161.4 | (845.7 | ) | ||||||||
| Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | 87.5 | (14.1 | ) | (96.1 | ) | |||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year | 58.6 | 72.7 | 168.8 | |||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year | $ | 146.1 | $ | 58.6 | $ | 72.7 |
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 79 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
F. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
| WEC Energy Group Common Shareholders' Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | Additional Paid In Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Total Common Shareholders' Equity | Preferred Stock of Subsidiary | Non-controlling Interests | Total Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions, expect per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2015 | $ | 3.2 | $ | 4,347.2 | $ | 4,299.8 | $ | 4.6 | $ | 8,654.8 | $ | 30.4 | $ | — | $ | 8,685.2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributed to common shareholders | — | — | 939.0 | — | 939.0 | — | — | 939.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | (1.7 | ) | (1.7 | ) | — | — | (1.7 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock dividends of $1.98 per share | — | — | (624.9 | ) | — | (624.9 | ) | — | — | (624.9 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise of stock options | — | 41.6 | — | — | 41.6 | — | — | 41.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase of common stock | — | (108.0 | ) | — | — | (108.0 | ) | — | — | (108.0 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation and other | — | 29.0 | — | — | 29.0 | — | — | 29.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2016 | $ | 3.2 | $ | 4,309.8 | $ | 4,613.9 | $ | 2.9 | $ | 8,929.8 | $ | 30.4 | $ | — | $ | 8,960.2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributed to common shareholders | — | — | 1,203.7 | — | 1,203.7 | — | — | 1,203.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock dividends of $2.08 per share | — | — | (656.5 | ) | — | (656.5 | ) | — | — | (656.5 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise of stock options | — | 30.8 | — | — | 30.8 | — | — | 30.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase of common stock | — | (71.3 | ) | — | — | (71.3 | ) | — | — | (71.3 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Cumulative effect adjustment from ASU 2016-09 adoption | — | — | 15.7 | — | 15.7 | — | — | 15.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation and other | — | 9.2 | — | — | 9.2 | — | — | 9.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | 3.2 | $ | 4,278.5 | $ | 5,176.8 | $ | 2.9 | $ | 9,461.4 | $ | 30.4 | $ | — | $ | 9,491.8 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributed to common shareholders | — | — | 1,059.3 | — | 1,059.3 | — | — | 1,059.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | (6.1 | ) | (6.1 | ) | — | — | (6.1 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock dividends of $2.21 per share | — | — | (697.3 | ) | — | (697.3 | ) | — | — | (697.3 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise of stock options | — | 29.1 | — | — | 29.1 | — | — | 29.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase of common stock | — | (72.4 | ) | — | — | (72.4 | ) | — | — | (72.4 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Cumulative effect adjustment from ASU 2018-02 adoption | — | — | (0.6 | ) | 0.6 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of noncontrolling interests | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23.8 | 23.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation and other | — | 14.9 | — | — | 14.9 | — | (0.4 | ) | 14.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | 3.2 | $ | 4,250.1 | $ | 5,538.2 | $ | (2.6 | ) | $ | 9,788.9 | $ | 30.4 | $ | 23.4 | $ | 9,842.7 |
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 80 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
G. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITALIZATION
| At December 31 | ||||||||||||
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||
| Common shareholder's equity (see accompanying statement) | $ | 9,788.9 | $ | 9,461.4 | ||||||||
| Preferred stock of subsidiary (Note 11) | 30.4 | 30.4 | ||||||||||
| Long-term debt | Interest Rate | Year Due | ||||||||||
| WEC Energy Group Senior Notes (unsecured) | 1.65% | 2018 | — | 300.0 | ||||||||
| 2.45% | 2020 | 400.0 | 400.0 | |||||||||
| 3.375% | 2021 | 600.0 | — | |||||||||
| 3.55% | 2025 | 500.0 | 500.0 | |||||||||
| 6.20% | 2033 | 200.0 | 200.0 | |||||||||
| WEC Energy Group Junior Notes (unsecured) (1) | 4.853% | 2067 | 500.0 | 500.0 | ||||||||
| WE Debentures (unsecured) | 1.70% | 2018 | — | 250.0 | ||||||||
| 4.25% | 2019 | 250.0 | 250.0 | |||||||||
| 2.95% | 2021 | 300.0 | 300.0 | |||||||||
| 3.10% | 2025 | 250.0 | 250.0 | |||||||||
| 6.50% | 2028 | 150.0 | 150.0 | |||||||||
| 5.625% | 2033 | 335.0 | 335.0 | |||||||||
| 5.70% | 2036 | 300.0 | 300.0 | |||||||||
| 3.65% | 2042 | 250.0 | 250.0 | |||||||||
| 4.25% | 2044 | 250.0 | 250.0 | |||||||||
| 4.30% | 2045 | 250.0 | 250.0 | |||||||||
| 4.30% | 2048 | 300.0 | — | |||||||||
| 6.875% | 2095 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |||||||||
| WPS Senior Notes (unsecured) | 1.65% | 2018 | — | 250.0 | ||||||||
| 3.35% | 2021 | 400.0 | — | |||||||||
| 6.08% | 2028 | 50.0 | 50.0 | |||||||||
| 5.55% | 2036 | 125.0 | 125.0 | |||||||||
| 3.671% | 2042 | 300.0 | 300.0 | |||||||||
| 4.752% | 2044 | 450.0 | 450.0 | |||||||||
| WG Debentures (unsecured) | 3.53% | 2025 | 200.0 | 200.0 | ||||||||
| 5.90% | 2035 | 90.0 | 90.0 | |||||||||
| 3.71% | 2046 | 200.0 | 200.0 | |||||||||
| PGL First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds (secured) (2) | 8.00% | 2018 | — | 5.0 | ||||||||
| 4.63% | 2019 | 75.0 | 75.0 | |||||||||
| 3.87% | 2028 | 150.0 | — | |||||||||
| 3.90% | 2030 | 50.0 | 50.0 | |||||||||
| 1.875% | 2033 | 50.0 | 50.0 | |||||||||
| 4.00% | 2033 | 50.0 | 50.0 | |||||||||
| 3.98% | 2042 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |||||||||
| 3.96% | 2043 | 220.0 | 220.0 | |||||||||
| 4.21% | 2044 | 200.0 | 200.0 | |||||||||
| 3.65% | 2046 | 50.0 | 50.0 | |||||||||
| 3.65% | 2046 | 150.0 | 150.0 | |||||||||
| 3.77% | 2047 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |||||||||
| NSG First Mortgage Bonds (secured) (3) | 3.43% | 2027 | 28.0 | 28.0 | ||||||||
| 3.87% | 2028 | 50.0 | — | |||||||||
| 3.96% | 2043 | 54.0 | 54.0 | |||||||||
| MGU Senior Notes (unsecured) | 3.11% | 2027 | 30.0 | 30.0 | ||||||||
| 3.41% | 2032 | 30.0 | 30.0 | |||||||||
| 4.01% | 2047 | 30.0 | 30.0 | |||||||||
| MERC Senior Notes (unsecured) | 3.11% | 2027 | 40.0 | 40.0 | ||||||||
| 3.41% | 2032 | 40.0 | 40.0 | |||||||||
| 4.01% | 2047 | 40.0 | 40.0 | |||||||||
| Bluewater Gas Storage Senior Notes (unsecured) | 3.76% | 2019-2047 | 122.7 | 125.0 |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 81 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
| Long-term debt (continued) | Interest Rate | Year Due | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
| We Power Subsidiaries Notes (secured, nonrecourse) | 4.91% | (4) | 2019-2030 | 95.1 | 101.0 | |||||||
| 5.209% | (5) | 2019-2030 | 182.7 | 194.1 | ||||||||
| 4.673% | (5) | 2019-2031 | 153.5 | 162.4 | ||||||||
| 6.00% | (4) | 2019-2033 | 116.6 | 121.5 | ||||||||
| 6.09% | (5) | 2030-2040 | 275.0 | 275.0 | ||||||||
| 5.848% | (5) | 2031-2041 | 215.0 | 215.0 | ||||||||
| WECC Notes (unsecured) | 6.94% | 2028 | 50.0 | 50.0 | ||||||||
| Integrys Senior Notes (unsecured) | 4.17% | 2020 | 250.0 | 250.0 | ||||||||
| Integrys Junior Notes (unsecured) | 3.60% | 2066 | — | 114.9 | ||||||||
| 6.00% | 2073 | 400.0 | 400.0 | |||||||||
| ATC Holding Senior Notes (unsecured) | 4.18% | 2025 | 85.0 | — | ||||||||
| 4.37% | 2028 | 56.5 | — | |||||||||
| 4.47% | 2030 | 98.5 | — | |||||||||
| Obligations under capital leases | 23.3 | 27.0 | ||||||||||
| Total | 10,410.9 | 9,627.9 | ||||||||||
| Integrys acquisition fair value adjustment | 20.6 | 26.9 | ||||||||||
| Unamortized debt issuance costs | (44.7 | ) | (38.0 | ) | ||||||||
| Unamortized discount, net and other | (27.8 | ) | (28.1 | ) | ||||||||
| Total long-term debt, including current portion | 10,359.0 | 9,588.7 | ||||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations | (365.0 | ) | (842.1 | ) | ||||||||
| Total long-term debt | 9,994.0 | 8,746.6 | ||||||||||
| Total long-term capitalization | $ | 19,813.3 | $ | 18,238.4 |
| (1) | Variable interest rate reset quarterly. The rate was 4.73% as of December 31, 2018. On July 12, 2018 we executed two interest rate swaps that provided a fixed rate of 4.9765% on $250.0 million of the outstanding notes. The effective rate of 4.853% is a blended rate of of the variable and fixed portions. The rate was 3.53% as of December 31, 2017 and, prior to May 15, 2017, the fixed rate was 6.25%. |
| (2) | PGL's First Mortgage Bonds are subject to the terms and conditions of PGL's First Mortgage Indenture dated January 2, 1926, as supplemented. Under the terms of the Indenture, substantially all property owned by PGL is pledged as collateral for these outstanding debt securities. |
PGL has used certain First Mortgage Bonds to secure tax exempt interest rates. The Illinois Finance Authority has issued Tax Exempt Bonds, and the proceeds from the sale of these bonds were loaned to PGL. In return, PGL issued equal principal amounts of certain collateralized First Mortgage Bonds.
| (3) | NSG's First Mortgage Bonds are subject to the terms and conditions of NSG's First Mortgage Indenture dated April 1, 1955, as supplemented. Under the terms of the Indenture, substantially all property owned by NSG is pledged as collateral for these outstanding debt securities. |
| (4) | We Power senior notes, secured by a collateral assignment of the leases between PWGS and WE related to PWGS 1 and PWGS 2. |
| (5) | We Power senior notes, secured by a collateral assignment of the leases between Elm Road Generating Station Supercritical, LLC and WE related to ER 1 and ER 2. |
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 82 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
H. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a) Nature of Operations—WEC Energy Group serves approximately 1.6 million electric customers and 2.9 million natural gas customers, and it owns approximately 60% of ATC.
As used in these notes, the term "financial statements" refers to the consolidated financial statements. This includes the income statements, statements of comprehensive income, balance sheets, statements of cash flows, statements of equity, and statements of capitalization, unless otherwise noted. On our financial statements, we consolidate our majority-owned subsidiaries and reflect noncontrolling interests for the portion of entities that we do not own as a component of consolidated equity separate from the equity attributable to our shareholders. The noncontrolling interests that we reported as equity on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 related to the minority interests at Bishop Hill III and Coyote Ridge held by third parties.
Our financial statements include the accounts of WEC Energy Group, a diversified energy holding company, and the accounts of our subsidiaries in the following reportable segments:
| • | Wisconsin segment – Consists of WE, WG, and WPS, which are engaged primarily in the generation of electricity and the distribution of electricity and natural gas in Wisconsin, and UMERC, which includes WE's former electric operations and WPS's former electric and natural gas operations in the state of Michigan that were transferred to UMERC effective January 1, 2017. |
| • | Illinois segment – Consists of PGL and NSG, which are engaged primarily in the distribution of natural gas in Illinois. |
| • | Other states segment – Consists of MERC and MGU, which are engaged primarily in the distribution of natural gas in Minnesota and Michigan, respectively. |
| • | Electric transmission segment – Consists of our approximate 60% ownership interest in ATC, a for-profit, electric transmission company regulated by the FERC and certain state regulatory commissions, and our approximate 75% ownership interest in ATC Holdco, which invests in transmission-related projects outside of ATC's traditional footprint. |
| • | Non-utility energy infrastructure segment – Consists of We Power, which is principally engaged in the ownership of electric power generating facilities for long-term lease to WE, and Bluewater, which owns underground natural gas storage facilities in Michigan. Our 90% membership interest in Bishop Hill III, a wind generating facility located in Henry County, Illinois, and our 80% membership interest in Coyote Ridge, a wind generating facility under construction in Brookings County, South Dakota, are also included in this segment. See Note 2, Acquisitions, for more information on Coyote Ridge, Bishop Hill III, and Bluewater. |
| • | Corporate and other segment – Consists of the WEC Energy Group holding company, the Integrys holding company, the PELLC holding company, Wispark, Bostco, Wisvest, WECC, WBS, PDL, and ITF. In the first quarter of 2017, we sold substantially all of the remaining assets of Bostco, and, in October 2018, Bostco was dissolved. In the second quarter of 2016, we sold certain assets of Wisvest, which no longer has significant operations, and, in the first quarter of 2016, the sale of ITF was completed. See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information on these sales. |
Our financial statements also reflect our proportionate interests in certain jointly owned utility facilities. See Note 7, Jointly Owned Utility Facilities, for more information. Investments in companies not controlled by us, but over which we have significant influence regarding the operating and financial policies of the investee, are accounted for using the equity method.
(b) Basis of Presentation—We prepare our financial statements in conformity with GAAP. We make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
(c) Cash and Cash Equivalents—Cash and cash equivalents include marketable debt securities with an original maturity of three months or less.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 83 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
(d) Operating Revenues—The following discussion includes our significant accounting policies related to operating revenues, including our adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenues from Contracts with Customers. For additional required disclosures on disaggregation of operating revenues as required by this ASU, see Note 4, Operating Revenues.
Adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenues from Contracts with Customers
On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenues from Contracts with Customers, and the related amendments. In accordance with the guidance, we recognize revenues when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services. These revenues include unbilled revenues, which are estimated using the amount of energy delivered to our customers but not billed until after the end of the period.
We adopted this standard using the modified retrospective method. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018, are presented under the new standard. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. Adoption of the standard did not result in an adjustment to our opening retained earnings balance as of January 1, 2018, and we do not expect the adoption of the standard to have a material impact on our net income in future periods.
We adopted the following practical expedients and optional exemptions for the implementation of this standard:
| • | We elected to exclude from the transaction price any amounts collected from customers for all sales taxes and other similar taxes. |
| • | When applicable, we elected to apply the standard to a portfolio of contracts with similar characteristics, primarily our tariff-based contracts, as we reasonably expect that the effects on the financial statements of applying this guidance to the portfolio would not differ materially from applying this guidance to the individual contracts. |
| • | We elected to recognize revenue in the amount we have the right to invoice for performance obligations satisfied over time when the consideration received from a customer corresponds directly with the value provided to the customer during the same period. |
| • | We elected to not disclose the remaining performance obligations of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less. |
| • | We elected to apply this standard only to contracts that are not completed as of the date of initial application. |
Revenues from Contracts with Customers
Electric Utility Operating Revenues
Electricity sales to residential and commercial and industrial customers are generally accomplished through requirements contracts, which provide for the delivery of as much electricity as the customer needs. These contracts represent discrete deliveries of electricity and consist of one distinct performance obligation satisfied over time, as the electricity is delivered and consumed by the customer simultaneously. For our Wisconsin residential and commercial and industrial customers and the majority of our Michigan residential and commercial and industrial customers, our performance obligation is bundled to consist of both the sale and the delivery of the electric commodity. In our Michigan service territory, a limited number of residential and commercial and industrial customers can purchase the commodity from a third party. In this case, the delivery of the electricity represents our sole performance obligation.
The transaction price of the performance obligations for residential and commercial and industrial customers is valued using the rates, charges, terms, and conditions of service included in the tariffs of our regulated electric utilities, which have been approved by state regulators. These rates often have a fixed component customer charge and a usage-based variable component charge. We recognize revenue for the fixed component customer charge monthly using a time-based output method. We recognize revenue for the usage-based variable component charge using an output method based on the quantity of electricity delivered each month. Our retail electric rates in Wisconsin include base amounts for fuel and purchased power costs, which also impact our revenues. The electric fuel rules set by the PSCW allow us to defer, for subsequent rate recovery or refund, under- or over-collections of actual fuel and purchased power costs that exceed a 2% price variance from the costs included in the rates charged to customers. Our electric utilities monitor the deferral of under-collected costs to ensure that it does not cause them to earn a greater ROE than authorized by the PSCW. In contrast, the rates of our Michigan retail electric customers include recovery of fuel and purchased power costs on a one-for-one basis. In addition, the Wisconsin residential tariffs of WE include a mechanism for cost recovery or refund of uncollectible expense based on the difference between actual uncollectible write-offs and the amounts recovered in rates.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 84 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
Wholesale customers who resell power can choose to either bundle capacity and electricity services together under one contract with a supplier or purchase capacity and electricity separately from multiple suppliers. Furthermore, wholesale customers can choose to have our utilities provide generation to match the customer's load, similar to requirements contracts, or they can purchase specified quantities of electricity and capacity. Contracts with wholesale customers that include capacity bundled with the delivery of electricity contain two performance obligations, as capacity and electricity are often transacted separately in the marketplace at the wholesale level. When recognizing revenue associated with these contracts, the transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price. Revenue is recognized as control of each individual component is transferred to the customer. Electricity is the primary product sold by our electric utilities and represents a single performance obligation satisfied over time through discrete deliveries to a customer. Revenue from electricity sales is generally recognized as units are produced and delivered to the customer within the production month. Capacity represents the reservation of an electric generating facility and conveys the ability to call on a plant to produce electricity when needed by the customer. The nature of our performance obligation as it relates to capacity is to stand ready to deliver power. This represents a single performance obligation transferred over time, which generally represents a monthly obligation. Accordingly, capacity revenue is recognized on a monthly basis.
The transaction price of the performance obligations for wholesale customers is valued using the rates, charges, terms, and conditions of service, which have been approved by the FERC. These wholesale rates include recovery of fuel and purchased power costs from customers on a one-for-one basis. For the majority of our wholesale customers, the price billed for energy and capacity is a formula-based rate. Formula-based rates initially set a customer's current year rates based on the previous year’s expenses. This is a predetermined formula derived from the utility's costs and a reasonable rate of return. Because these rates are eventually trued up to reflect actual, current-year costs, they represent a form of variable consideration in certain circumstances. The variable consideration is estimated and recognized over time as wholesale customers receive and consume the capacity and electricity services.
We are an active participant in the MISO Energy Markets, where we bid our generation into the Day Ahead and Real Time markets and procure electricity for our retail and wholesale customers at prices determined by the MISO Energy Markets. Purchase and sale transactions are recorded using settlement information provided by MISO. These purchase and sale transactions are accounted for on a net hourly position. Net purchases in a single hour are recorded as purchased power in cost of sales and net sales in a single hour are recorded as resale revenues on our income statements. For resale revenues, our performance obligation is created only when electricity is sold into the MISO Energy Markets.
For all of our customers, consistent with the timing of when we recognize revenue, customer billings generally occur on a monthly basis, with payments typically due in full within 30 days.
Natural Gas Utility Operating Revenues
We recognize natural gas utility operating revenues under requirements contracts with residential, commercial and industrial, and transportation customers served under the tariffs of our regulated utilities. Tariffs provide our customers with the standard terms and conditions, including rates, related to the services offered. Requirements contracts provide for the delivery of as much natural gas as the customer needs. These requirements contracts represent discrete deliveries of natural gas and constitute a single performance obligation satisfied over time. Our performance obligation is both created and satisfied with the transfer of control of natural gas upon delivery to the customer. For most of our customers, natural gas is delivered and consumed by the customer simultaneously. A performance obligation can be bundled to consist of both the sale and the delivery of the natural gas commodity. In certain of our service territories, customers can purchase the commodity from a third party. In this case, the performance obligation only includes the delivery of the natural gas to the customer.
The transaction price of the performance obligations for our natural gas customers is valued using the rates, charges, terms, and conditions of service included in the tariffs of our regulated utilities, which have been approved by state regulators. These rates often have a fixed component customer charge and a usage-based variable component charge. We recognize revenue for the fixed component customer charge monthly using a time-based output method. We recognize revenue for the usage-based variable component charge using an output method based on natural gas delivered each month.
The tariffs of our natural gas utilities include various rate mechanisms that allow them to recover or refund changes in prudently incurred costs from rate case-approved amounts. The rates for all of our natural gas utilities include one-for-one recovery mechanisms for natural gas commodity costs. We defer any difference between actual natural gas costs incurred and costs recovered through rates as a current asset or liability. The deferred balance is returned to or recovered from customers at intervals throughout the year. In addition, the rates of PGL and NSG, and the residential tariffs of WE and WG, include riders or other mechanisms for cost
| 2018 Form 10-K | 85 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
recovery or refund of uncollectible expense based on the difference between actual uncollectible write-offs and the amounts recovered in rates. The rates of PGL and NSG include riders for cost recovery of both environmental cleanup costs, energy conservation and management program costs, and income tax expense changes resulting from the Tax Legislation. Finally, PGL's rates include a cost recovery mechanism for SMP costs.
Consistent with the timing of when we recognize revenue, customer billings generally occur on a monthly basis, with payments typically due in full within 30 days.
Other Non-Utility Operating Revenues
As part of the construction of the We Power electric generating units, we capitalized interest during construction, which is included in property, plant, and equipment. As allowed by the PSCW, we collected these carrying costs from WE's utility customers during construction. The equity portion of these carrying costs was recorded as deferred revenue, and we continually amortize the deferred carrying costs to revenues over the life of the related lease term that We Power has with WE. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, we recorded $25.3 million of revenue related to these deferred carrying costs, which were included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period. This contract liability is presented as deferred revenue, net on our balance sheets.
Non-utility operating revenues are also derived from servicing appliances for customers at MERC. These contracts customarily have a duration of one year or less and consist of a single performance obligation satisfied over time. We use a time-based output method to recognize revenues monthly for the service fee.
Revenues from distributed renewable solar projects consist primarily of sales of renewable energy and solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) generated by PDL. The sale of SRECs is a distinct performance obligation as they are often sold separately from the renewable energy generated. Although the performance obligation for the sale of renewable energy is recognized over time and the performance obligation for SRECs is recognized at a point-in-time, the timing of revenue recognition is the same, as the generation of renewable energy and sales of SREC's occur concurrently.
On August 31, 2018, we completed the acquisition of an 80% membership interest in a commercially operational 132 MW wind generating facility located in Henry County, Illinois, known as Bishop Hill III. In December 2018, we completed the purchase of an additional 10% membership interest in Bishop Hill III. See Note 2, Acquisitions, for more information on this acquisition. Bishop Hill III has a 22-year offtake agreement with an unaffiliated company for the sale of all energy produced by the facility. The contract consists of one distinct performance obligation satisfied over time, as the electricity is delivered and consumed by the customer simultaneously. We recognize revenue as energy is produced and delivered to the customer within the production month.
Other Operating Revenues
Alternative Revenues
Alternative revenues are created from programs authorized by regulators that allow our utilities to record additional revenues by adjusting rates in the future, usually as a surcharge applied to future billings, in response to past activities or completed events. Alternative revenue programs allow compensation for the effects of weather abnormalities, other external factors, or demand side management initiatives. Alternative revenue programs can also provide incentive awards if the utility achieves certain objectives and in other limited circumstances. We record alternative revenues when the regulator-specified conditions for recognition have been met. We reverse these alternative revenues as the customer is billed, at which time this revenue is presented as revenues from contracts with customers.
Below is a summary of the alternative revenue programs at our utilities:
| • | The rates of PGL, NSG, and MERC include decoupling mechanisms. These mechanisms differ by state and allow the utilities to recover or refund the differences between actual and authorized margins for certain customer classes. See Note 24, Regulatory Environment, for more information. |
| • | MERC’s rates include a conservation improvement program rider, which includes a financial incentive for meeting energy savings goals. |
| • | WE and WPS provide wholesale electric service to customers under market-based rates and FERC formula rates. The customer is charged a base rate each year based upon a formula using prior year actual costs and customer demand. A true-up is calculated based on the difference between the amount billed to customers for the demand component of their rates and what the actual |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 86 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
cost of service was for the year. The true-up can result in an amount that we will recover from or refund to the customer. We consider the true-up portion of the wholesale electric revenues to be alternative revenues.
(e) Materials, Supplies, and Inventories—Our inventory as of December 31 consisted of:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
| Natural gas in storage | $ | 232.9 | $ | 209.0 | ||||
| Materials and supplies | 226.6 | 211.2 | ||||||
| Fossil fuel | 88.7 | 118.8 | ||||||
| Total | $ | 548.2 | $ | 539.0 |
PGL and NSG price natural gas storage injections at the calendar year average of the costs of natural gas supply purchased. Withdrawals from storage are priced on the LIFO cost method. Inventories stated on a LIFO basis represented approximately 16% and 15% of total inventories at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The estimated replacement cost of natural gas in inventory at December 31, 2018 and 2017, exceeded the LIFO cost by $72.4 million and $152.1 million, respectively. In calculating these replacement amounts, PGL and NSG used a Chicago city-gate natural gas price per Dth of $3.08 at December 31, 2018, and $4.68 at December 31, 2017.
Substantially all other natural gas in storage, materials and supplies, and fossil fuel inventories are recorded using the weighted-average cost method of accounting.
(f) Regulatory Assets and Liabilities—The economic effects of regulation can result in regulated companies recording costs and revenues that have been or are expected to be allowed in the rate-making process in a period different from the period in which the costs or revenues would be recognized by a nonregulated company. When this occurs, regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are recorded on the balance sheet. Regulatory assets represent probable future revenues associated with certain costs or liabilities that have been deferred and are expected to be recovered through rates charged to customers. Regulatory liabilities represent amounts that are expected to be refunded to customers in future rates or amounts that are collected in rates for future costs.
Recovery or refund of regulatory assets and liabilities is based on specific periods determined by the regulators or occurs over the normal operating period of the assets and liabilities to which they relate. If at any reporting date a previously recorded regulatory asset is no longer probable of recovery, the regulatory asset is reduced to the amount considered probable of recovery with the reduction charged to expense in the reporting period the determination is made. See Note 5, Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, for more information.
(g) Property, Plant, and Equipment—We record property, plant, and equipment at cost. Cost includes material, labor, overhead, and both debt and equity components of AFUDC. Additions to and significant replacements of property are charged to property, plant, and equipment at cost; minor items are charged to other operation and maintenance expense. The cost of depreciable utility property less salvage value is charged to accumulated depreciation when property is retired.
We record straight-line depreciation expense over the estimated useful life of utility property using depreciation rates approved by the applicable regulators. Annual utility composite depreciation rates are shown below:
| Annual Utility Composite Depreciation Rates | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||
| WE | 3.18% | 2.95% | 3.00% | |||
| WPS | 2.50% | 2.55% | 2.58% | |||
| WG | 2.30% | 2.30% | 2.34% | |||
| UMERC (1) | 2.50% | 2.46% | N/A | |||
| PGL | 3.25% | 3.29% | 3.31% | |||
| NSG | 2.45% | 2.43% | 2.44% | |||
| MERC (2) | 1.95% | 2.51% | 2.53% | |||
| MGU | 2.61% | 2.61% | 2.63% |
| (1) | UMERC became operational effective January 1, 2017. See Note 1(a), Nature of Operations, for more information. |
| (2) | The 2018 rate reflects the impact of a new depreciation study approved by the MPUC in May 2018. The rates approved were effective retroactive to January 2017. An approximate $1.4 million reduction in depreciation expense was recorded in 2018 related to this depreciation study. |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 87 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
We depreciate our We Power assets over the estimated useful life of the various property components. The components have useful lives of between 10 to 45 years for PWGS 1 and PWGS 2 and 10 to 55 years for ER 1 and ER 2.
We capitalize certain costs related to software developed or obtained for internal use and record these costs to amortization expense over the estimated useful life of the related software, which ranges from 3 to 15 years. If software is retired prior to being fully amortized, the difference is recorded as a loss on the income statement.
Third parties reimburse the utilities for all or a portion of expenditures for certain capital projects. Such contributions in aid of construction costs are recorded as a reduction to property, plant, and equipment.
See Note 6, Property, Plant, and Equipment, for more information.
(h) Allowance for Funds Used During Construction—AFUDC is included in utility plant accounts and represents the cost of borrowed funds (AFUDC – Debt) used during plant construction, and a return on shareholders' capital (AFUDC – Equity) used for construction purposes. AFUDC – Debt is recorded as a reduction of interest expense, and AFUDC – Equity is recorded in other income, net.
The majority of AFUDC is recorded at WE, WPS, WBS, UMERC and WG. Approximately 50% of WE's, WPS's, WBS's, UMERC's, and WG's retail jurisdictional CWIP expenditures are subject to the AFUDC calculation. The AFUDC calculation for WBS uses the WPS AFUDC retail rate, while our other utilities' AFUDC rates are determined by their respective state commissions, each with specific requirements. Based on these requirements, the other utilities did not record significant AFUDC for 2018, 2017, or 2016. Average AFUDC rates are shown below:
| 2018 | ||||
| Average AFUDC Retail Rate | Average AFUDC Wholesale Rate | |||
| WE | 8.45% | 3.63% | ||
| WPS | 7.72% | 1.96% | ||
| WBS | 7.72% | N/A | ||
| WG | 8.33% | N/A | ||
| UMERC | 6.28% | N/A |
Our regulated utilities and WBS recorded the following AFUDC for the years ended December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| AFUDC – Debt | ||||||||||||
| WE | $ | 1.5 | $ | 1.2 | $ | 1.7 | ||||||
| WPS | 1.9 | 1.6 | 8.1 | |||||||||
| WBS | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.3 | |||||||||
| WG | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | |||||||||
| UMERC | 2.4 | 0.1 | N/A | |||||||||
| Other | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | |||||||||
| Total AFUDC – Debt | $ | 6.9 | $ | 4.9 | $ | 10.9 | ||||||
| AFUDC – Equity | ||||||||||||
| WE | $ | 3.9 | $ | 3.1 | $ | 4.2 | ||||||
| WPS | 4.6 | 4.1 | 19.5 | |||||||||
| WBS | 0.6 | 3.0 | 0.9 | |||||||||
| WG | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.5 | |||||||||
| UMERC | 5.4 | 0.2 | N/A | |||||||||
| Other | 0.1 | 0.1 | — | |||||||||
| Total AFUDC – Equity | $ | 15.2 | $ | 11.4 | $ | 25.1 |
(i) Asset Impairment—Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are subject to an annual impairment test. Interim impairment tests are performed when impairment indicators are present. Our reporting units containing goodwill perform annual goodwill impairment tests during the third quarter of each year. The carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill is considered
| 2018 Form 10-K | 88 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
not recoverable if the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the reporting unit's fair value. An impairment loss is recorded for the excess of the carrying amount of the goodwill over its implied fair value. See Note 9, Goodwill, for more information. Intangible assets with definite lives are reviewed for impairment on a quarterly basis.
We periodically assess the recoverability of certain long-lived assets when factors indicate the carrying value of such assets may be impaired or such assets are planned to be sold. These assessments require significant assumptions and judgments by management. The long-lived assets assessed for impairment generally include certain assets within regulated operations that may not be fully recovered from our customers as a result of regulatory decisions that will be made in the future, as well as assets within nonregulated operations that are proposed to be sold or are currently generating operating losses. An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable and exceeds the fair value of the asset. The carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. An impairment loss is measured as the excess of the carrying amount of the asset in comparison to the fair value of the asset.
When it becomes probable that a generating unit will be retired before the end of its useful life, we assess whether the generating unit meets the criteria for abandonment accounting. Generating units that are considered probable of abandonment are expected to cease operations in the near term, significantly before the end of their original estimated useful lives. If a generating unit meets the applicable criteria to be considered probable of abandonment, and the unit has been abandoned, we assess the likelihood of recovery of the remaining carrying value of that generating unit at the end of each reporting period. If it becomes probable that regulators will disallow full recovery as well as a return on the remaining net book value of a generating unit that is either abandoned or probable of being abandoned, an impairment loss may be required. An impairment loss would be recorded if the remaining carrying value of the generating unit is greater than the present value of the amount expected to be recovered from ratepayers. See Note 6, Property, Plant, and Equipment, for more information.
The carrying amounts of equity method investments are assessed for impairment by comparing the fair values of these investments to their carrying amounts if a fair value assessment was completed or by reviewing for the presence of impairment indicators. If an impairment exists, and it is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the investment's fair value.
(j) Asset Retirement Obligations—We recognize, at fair value, legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development, and normal operation of the assets. An ARO liability is recorded, when incurred, for these obligations as long as the fair value can be reasonably estimated, even if the timing or method of settling the obligation is unknown. The associated retirement costs are capitalized as part of the related long-lived asset and are depreciated over the useful life of the asset. The ARO liabilities are accreted each period using the credit-adjusted risk-free interest rates associated with the expected settlement dates of the AROs. These rates are determined when the obligations are incurred. Subsequent changes resulting from revisions to the timing or the amount of the original estimate of undiscounted cash flows are recognized as an increase or a decrease to the carrying amount of the liability and the associated capitalized retirement costs. For our regulated entities, we recognize regulatory assets or liabilities for the timing differences between when we recover an ARO in rates and when we recognize the associated retirement costs. See Note 8, Asset Retirement Obligations, for more information.
(k) Stock-Based Compensation— In accordance with the shareholder approved Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan, we provide long-term incentives through our equity interests to our non-employee directors, officers, and other key employees. The plan provides for the granting of stock options, restricted stock, performance shares, and other stock-based awards. Awards may be paid in common stock, cash, or a combination thereof. The number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the plan is 34.3 million.
We recognize stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Awards classified as equity awards are measured based on their grant-date fair value. Awards classified as liability awards are recorded at fair value each reporting period.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which modified certain aspects of the accounting for stock-based compensation awards. This ASU became effective for us on January 1, 2017. Under the new guidance, all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies are recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement on a prospective basis. Prior to January 1, 2017, these amounts were recorded in additional paid in capital on the balance sheet, and excess tax benefits could only be recognized to the extent they reduced taxes payable. In the first quarter of 2017, we recorded a $15.7 million cumulative-effect adjustment to increase retained earnings for excess tax benefits that had not been recognized in prior years as they did not reduce taxes payable.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 89 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
ASU 2016-09 also requires excess tax benefits to be classified as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows. As we elected to apply this provision on a prospective basis, the 2016 excess tax benefits continue to be reflected as a financing activity. As allowed under this ASU, we also elected to account for forfeitures as they occur, rather than estimating potential future forfeitures and recording them over the vesting period.
Stock Options
We grant non-qualified stock options that generally vest on a cliff-basis after a three-year period. The exercise price of a stock option under the plan cannot be less than 100% of our common stock's fair market value on the grant date. Historically, all stock options have been granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of the grant. Options may not be exercised within six months of the grant date except in the event of a change in control. Options expire no later than 10 years from the date of the grant.
Our stock options are classified as equity awards. The fair value of our stock options was calculated using a binomial option-pricing model. The following table shows the estimated weighted-average fair value per stock option granted along with the weighted-average assumptions used in the valuation models:
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||
| Stock options granted | 710,710 | 552,215 | 794,764 | |||||||||
| Estimated weighted-average fair value per stock option | $ | 7.71 | $ | 7.45 | $ | 5.14 | ||||||
| Assumptions used to value the options: | ||||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 1.6% – 2.8% | 0.7% – 2.5% | 0.4% – 2.2% | |||||||||
| Dividend yield | 3.5 | % | 3.5 | % | 4.0 | % | ||||||
| Expected volatility | 18.0 | % | 19.0 | % | 18.1 | % | ||||||
| Expected life (years) | 5.9 | 6.8 | 6.1 |
The risk-free interest rate was based on the United States Treasury interest rate with a term consistent with the expected life of the stock options. The dividend yield was based on our dividend rate at the time of the grant and historical stock prices. Expected volatility and expected life assumptions were based on our historical experience.
Restricted Shares
Restricted shares granted to employees generally have a three-year vesting period with one-third of the award vesting on each anniversary of the grant date. This same vesting schedule is followed for restricted shares that were granted to non-employee directors prior to 2017. Restricted shares granted to certain officers and all non-employee directors after January 1, 2017, fully vest on the one-year anniversary of the grant date.
Our restricted shares are classified as equity awards.
Performance Units
Officers and other key employees are granted performance units under the WEC Energy Group Performance Unit Plan. Under the plan, the ultimate number of units that will be awarded is dependent on our total shareholder return (stock price appreciation plus dividends) as compared to the total shareholder return of a peer group of companies over a three-year period, and beginning in 2017, other performance metrics as determined by the Compensation Committee. Under the terms of the award, participants may earn between 0% and 175% of the performance unit award, as adjusted pursuant to the terms of the plan. Performance units also accrue forfeitable dividend equivalents in the form of additional performance units.
All grants of performance units are settled in cash and are accounted for as liability awards accordingly. The fair value of the performance units reflects our estimate of the final expected value of the awards, which is based on our stock price and performance achievement under the terms of the award. Stock-based compensation costs are recorded over the three-year performance period.
See Note 10, Common Equity, for more information on our stock-based compensation plans.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 90 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
(l) Earnings Per Share—We compute basic earnings per share by dividing our net income attributed to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed in a similar manner, but includes the exercise and/or conversion of all potentially dilutive securities. Such dilutive securities include in-the-money stock options. The calculation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2016 excluded 181,709 stock options that had an anti-dilutive effect. There were no securities that had an anti-dilutive effect for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
(m) Income Taxes—We follow the liability method in accounting for income taxes. Accounting guidance for income taxes requires the recording of deferred assets and liabilities to recognize the expected future tax consequences of events that have been reflected in our financial statements or tax returns and the adjustment of deferred tax balances to reflect tax rate changes. We are required to assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets would expire before being realized. If we conclude that certain deferred tax assets are likely to expire before being realized, a valuation allowance would be established against those assets. GAAP requires that, if we conclude in a future period that it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets would be realized before expiration, we reverse the related valuation allowance in that period. Any change to the allowance, as a result of a change in judgment about the realization of deferred tax assets, is reported in income tax expense.
Investment tax credits associated with regulated operations are deferred and amortized over the life of the assets. Production tax credits are recognized in the period in which such credits are generated. The amount of the credit is based upon power production from our qualifying generation facilities. We file a consolidated Federal income tax return. Accordingly, we allocate Federal current tax expense benefits and credits to our subsidiaries based on their separate tax computations and our ability to monetize all credits on our consolidated Federal return. See Note 14, Income Taxes, for more information.
We recognize interest and penalties accrued, related to unrecognized tax benefits, in income tax expense in our income statements.
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income. The amendments in this update allow entities to reclassify the income tax effects that are stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income as a result of the Tax Legislation to retained earnings. These amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We early adopted the amendments in the fourth quarter of 2018 and reclassified the stranded tax effects associated with the Tax Legislation from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. As of December 31, 2018, our accumulated other comprehensive income decreased $0.6 million as a result of adopting ASU 2018-02. The adoption of this guidance had no impact on our results of operations or cash flows.
(n) Fair Value Measurements—Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price).
Fair value accounting rules provide a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurement). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:
Level 1 – Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
Level 2 – Pricing inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly, but are not quoted prices included within Level 1. Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued using external inputs within models or other valuation methods.
Level 3 – Pricing inputs include significant inputs that are generally less observable from objective sources. These inputs may be used with internally developed methods that result in management's best estimate of fair value. Level 3 instruments include those that may be more structured or otherwise tailored to customers' needs.
Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. We use a mid-market pricing convention (the mid-point price between bid and ask prices) as a practical measure for valuing certain derivative assets and liabilities. We primarily use a market approach for recurring fair value measurements and attempt to use valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 91 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
When possible, we base the valuations of our derivative assets and liabilities on quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets. These valuations are classified in Level 1. The valuations of certain contracts not classified as Level 1 may be based on quoted market prices received from counterparties and/or observable inputs for similar instruments. Transactions valued using these inputs are classified in Level 2. Certain derivatives are categorized in Level 3 due to the significance of unobservable or internally-developed inputs.
We recognize transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy at their value as of the end of the reporting period.
See Note 15, Fair Value Measurements, for more information.
(o) Derivative Instruments—We use derivatives as part of our risk management program to manage the risks associated with the price volatility of interest rates, purchased power, generation, and natural gas costs for the benefit of our customers and shareholders. Our approach is non-speculative and designed to mitigate risk. Regulated hedging programs are approved by our state regulators.
We record derivative instruments on our balance sheets as assets or liabilities measured at fair value unless they qualify for the normal purchases and sales exception, and are so designated. We continually assess our contracts designated as normal and will discontinue the treatment of these contracts as normal if the required criteria are no longer met. Changes in the derivative's fair value are recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met or we receive regulatory treatment for the derivative. For most energy-related physical and financial contracts in our regulated operations that qualify as derivatives, our regulators allow the effects of fair value accounting to be offset to regulatory assets and liabilities.
We classify derivative assets and liabilities as current or long-term on our balance sheets based on the maturities of the underlying contracts. Cash flows from derivative activities are presented in the same category as the item being hedged within operating activities on our statements of cash flows.
Derivative accounting rules provide the option to present certain asset and liability derivative positions net on the balance sheets and to net the related cash collateral against these net derivative positions. We elected not to net these items. On our balance sheets, cash collateral provided to others is reflected in other current assets, and cash collateral received is reflected in other current liabilities. See Note 16, Derivative Instruments, for more information.
(p) Guarantees— We follow the guidance of the Guarantees Topic of the FASB ASC, which requires, under certain circumstances, that the guarantor recognize a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee at its inception. See Note 17, Guarantees, for more information.
(q) Employee Benefits—The costs of pension and OPEB are expensed over the periods during which employees render service. These costs are distributed among our subsidiaries based on current employment status and actuarial calculations, as applicable. Our regulators allow recovery in rates for the utilities' net periodic benefit cost calculated under GAAP. See Note 18, Employee Benefits, for more information.
(r) Customer Deposits and Credit Balances—When utility customers apply for new service, they may be required to provide a deposit for the service. Customer deposits are recorded within other current liabilities on our balance sheets.
Utility customers can elect to be on a budget plan. Under this type of plan, a monthly installment amount is calculated based on estimated annual usage. During the year, the monthly installment amount is reviewed by comparing it to actual usage. If necessary, an adjustment is made to the monthly amount. Annually, the budget plan is reconciled to actual annual usage. Payments in excess of actual customer usage are recorded within other current liabilities on our balance sheets.
(s) Environmental Remediation Costs—We are subject to federal and state environmental laws and regulations that in the future may require us to pay for environmental remediation at sites where we have been, or may be, identified as a potentially responsible party. Loss contingencies may exist for the remediation of hazardous substances at various potential sites, including coal combustion product landfill sites and manufactured gas plant sites. See Note 8, Asset Retirement Obligations, for more information regarding coal combustion product landfill sites and Note 22, Commitments and Contingencies, for more information regarding manufactured gas plant sites.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 92 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
We record environmental remediation liabilities when site assessments indicate remediation is probable and we can reasonably estimate the loss or a range of losses. The estimate includes both our share of the liability and any additional amounts that will not be paid by other potentially responsible parties or the government. When possible, we estimate costs using site-specific information but also consider historical experience for costs incurred at similar sites. Remediation efforts for a particular site generally extend over a period of several years. During this period, the laws governing the remediation process may change, as well as site conditions, potentially affecting the cost of remediation.
Our utilities have received approval to defer certain environmental remediation costs, as well as estimated future costs, through a regulatory asset. The recovery of deferred costs is subject to the applicable state Commission's approval.
We review our estimated costs of remediation annually for our manufactured gas plant sites and coal combustion product landfill sites. We adjust the liabilities and related regulatory assets, as appropriate, to reflect the new cost estimates. Any material changes in cost estimates are adjusted throughout the year.
(t) Customer Concentrations of Credit Risk—We provide regulated electric service to customers in Wisconsin and Michigan and regulated natural gas service to customers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. The geographic concentration of our customers did not contribute significantly to our overall exposure to credit risk. We periodically review customers' credit ratings, financial statements, and historical payment performance and require them to provide collateral or other security as needed. Credit risk exposure at WE, WG, PGL, and NSG is mitigated by their recovery mechanisms for uncollectible expense discussed in Note 1(d), Operating Revenues. As a result, we did not have any significant concentrations of credit risk at December 31, 2018. In addition, there were no customers that accounted for more than 10% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018.
NOTE 2—ACQUISITIONS
On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business (ASU 2017-01). The amendments in this update clarify the definition of a business and provide guidance on evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. ASU 2017-01 also clarifies that transaction costs are capitalized in an asset acquisition but expensed in a business combination.
Acquisition of a Wind Generation Facility in South Dakota
In December 2018, we acquired an 80% ownership interest in Coyote Ridge, a 97.5 MW wind generating facility under construction in Brookings County, South Dakota, for $61.4 million, which includes transaction costs. This wind generating facility is expected to be in service by the end of 2019. The project has a 12-year offtake agreement with an unaffiliated third party for all of the energy produced. Under the Tax Legislation, our investment in Coyote Ridge is expected to qualify for production tax credits and 100% bonus depreciation. We are entitled to 99% of the tax benefits related to this facility. Coyote Ridge is included in the non-utility energy infrastructure segment.
The table below shows the allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired at the date of the acquisition.
| (in millions) | ||||
| Net property, plant, and equipment | $ | 66.4 | ||
| Noncontrolling interest | (5.0 | ) | ||
| Total purchase price | $ | 61.4 |
Acquisition of a Wind Generation Facility in Illinois
In August 2018, we completed the acquisition of an 80% membership interest in a commercially operational 132 MW wind generating facility located in Henry County, Illinois, known as Bishop Hill III, for $144.7 million, which includes transaction costs and is net of restricted cash acquired of $4.5 million. In December 2018, we completed the acquisition of an additional 10% membership interest in Bishop Hill III, for $18.2 million. Bishop Hill III has a 22-year offtake agreement with an unaffiliated company for the sale of all energy produced by the facility. Under the Tax Legislation, our investment in Bishop Hill III qualifies for production tax credits and 100% bonus depreciation. Bishop Hill III is included in the non-utility energy infrastructure segment.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 93 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
The table below shows the allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the acquisition.
| (in millions) | ||||
| Current assets | $ | 1.4 | ||
| Net property, plant, and equipment | 190.2 | |||
| Other long-term assets * | 4.5 | |||
| Current liabilities | (1.6 | ) | ||
| Long-term liabilities | (8.3 | ) | ||
| Noncontrolling interest | (18.8 | ) | ||
| Total purchase price | $ | 167.4 |
| * | Represents restricted cash. |
Acquisition of a Wind Generation Facility in Wisconsin
In April 2018, WPS, along with two unaffiliated utilities, completed the purchase of Forward Wind Energy Center, which consists of 86 wind turbines located in Wisconsin with a total capacity of 138 MW. The aggregate purchase price was $172.9 million of which WPS’s proportionate share was 44.6%, or $77.1 million. In addition, we incurred transaction costs that are recorded to a regulatory asset. Since 2008 and up until the acquisition, WPS purchased 44.6% of the facility’s energy output under a power purchase agreement.
The table below shows the allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired at the date of the acquisition, which are included in rate base.
| (in millions) | ||||
| Current assets | $ | 0.2 | ||
| Net property, plant, and equipment | 76.9 | |||
| Total purchase price | $ | 77.1 |
Under a joint ownership agreement with the two other utilities, WPS is entitled to its share of generating capability and output of the facility equal to its ownership interest. WPS is also paying its ownership share of additional capital expenditures and operating expenses. Forward Wind Energy Center is included in the Wisconsin segment.
Acquisition of Natural Gas Storage Facilities in Michigan
In June 2017, we completed the acquisition of Bluewater for $226.0 million. Bluewater owns natural gas storage facilities in Michigan that provide approximately one-third of the current storage needs for our Wisconsin natural gas utilities. In addition, we incurred $4.9 million of acquisition related costs that are recorded as a regulatory asset.
The table below shows the allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed was recognized as goodwill. Bluewater is included in the non-utility energy infrastructure segment.
| (in millions) | ||||
| Current assets | $ | 2.0 | ||
| Net property, plant, and equipment | 217.6 | |||
| Goodwill | 7.3 | |||
| Current liabilities | (0.9 | ) | ||
| Total purchase price | $ | 226.0 |
Acquisition of a Wind Generation Facility in Nebraska
In January 2019, we completed the acquisition of an 80% membership interest in Upstream, a commercially operational 202.5 MW wind generating facility, for $276.0 million. Upstream is located in Antelope County, Nebraska and supplies energy to the Southwest Power Pool. Upstream's revenue will be substantially fixed over a 10-year period through an agreement with an unaffiliated third party. Under the Tax Legislation, our investment in Upstream qualifies for production tax credits and 100% bonus depreciation. Upstream is included in the non-utility energy infrastructure segment.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 94 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
NOTE 3—DISPOSITIONS
Wisconsin Segment
Sale of Milwaukee County Power Plant
In April 2016, we sold the MCPP steam generation and distribution assets, located in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. MCPP primarily provided steam to the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center hospitals and other campus buildings. During the second quarter of 2016, we recorded a pre-tax gain on the sale of $10.9 million ($6.5 million after tax), which was included in other operation and maintenance on our income statements. The assets included in the sale were not material and, therefore, were not presented as held for sale. The results of operations of this plant remained in continuing operations through the sale date as the sale did not represent a shift in our corporate strategy and did not have a major effect on our operations and financial results.
Corporate and Other Segment
Sale of Bostco LLC Real Estate Holdings
In March 2017, we sold the remaining real estate holdings of Bostco located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which included retail, office, and residential space, and in October 2018, Bostco was dissolved. During the first quarter of 2017, we recorded an insignificant gain on the sale, which was included in other income, net on our income statements. The assets included in the sale were not material and, therefore, were not presented as held for sale. The results of operations associated with these assets remained in continuing operations through the sale date as the sale did not represent a shift in our corporate strategy and did not have a major effect on our operations and financial results.
Sale of Certain Assets of Wisvest LLC
In April 2016, as part of the MCPP sale transaction, we sold the chilled water generation and distribution assets of Wisvest, which are used to provide chilled water services to the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center hospitals and other campus buildings. During the second quarter of 2016, we recorded a pre-tax gain on the sale of $19.6 million ($11.8 million after tax), which was included in other income, net on our income statements. The assets included in the sale were not material and, therefore, were not presented as held for sale. The results of operations associated with these assets remained in continuing operations through the sale date as the sale did not represent a shift in our corporate strategy and did not have a major effect on our operations and financial results.
Sale of Integrys Transportation Fuels, LLC
Through a series of transactions in the fourth quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, we sold ITF, a provider of CNG fueling services and a single-source provider of CNG fueling facility design, construction, operation, and maintenance. There was no gain or loss recorded on the sales, as ITF's assets and liabilities were adjusted to fair value through purchase accounting. The results of operations of ITF remained in continuing operations through the sale date as the sale of ITF did not represent a shift in our corporate strategy and did not have a major effect on our operations and financial results. The pre-tax profit or loss of this component was not material through the sale date in 2016.
NOTE 4—OPERATING REVENUES
Disaggregation of Operating Revenues
The following tables present our operating revenues disaggregated by revenue source. We disaggregate revenues into categories that depict how the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors. For our segments, revenues are further disaggregated by electric and natural gas operations and then by customer class. Each customer class within our electric and natural gas operations have different expectations of service, energy and demand requirements, and are impacted by regulatory activities within their jurisdictions.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 95 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
Comparable amounts have not been presented for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, due to our adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenues from Contracts with Customers, under the modified retrospective method. See Note 1(d), Operating Revenues, for more information about our significant accounting policies related to operating revenues.
| (in millions) | Wisconsin | Illinois | Other States | Total Utility Operations | Electric Transmission | Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure | Corporate and Other | Reconciling Eliminations | WEC Energy Group Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electric | $ | 4,432.4 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,432.4 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,432.4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Natural gas | 1,350.6 | 1,406.9 | 428.4 | 3,185.9 | — | 45.4 | * | — | (36.4 | ) | 3,194.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total utility revenues | 5,783.0 | 1,406.9 | 428.4 | 7,618.3 | — | 45.4 | — | (36.4 | ) | 7,627.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other non-utility revenues | — | 0.2 | 16.1 | 16.3 | — | 34.6 | 7.9 | (5.8 | ) | 53.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues from contracts with customers | 5,783.0 | 1,407.1 | 444.5 | 7,634.6 | — | 80.0 | 7.9 | (42.2 | ) | 7,680.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other operating revenues | 11.7 | (7.1 | ) | (6.3 | ) | (1.7 | ) | — | 388.4 | 0.8 | (388.3 | ) | (0.8 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | $ | 5,794.7 | $ | 1,400.0 | $ | 438.2 | $ | 7,632.9 | $ | — | $ | 468.4 | $ | 8.7 | $ | (430.5 | ) | $ | 7,679.5 |
- Represents natural gas operating revenues from Bluewater.
Revenues from Contracts with Customers
Electric Utility Operating Revenues
The following table disaggregates electric utility operating revenues into customer class:
| Electric Utility Operating Revenues | ||||
| (in millions) | Year ended December 31, 2018 | |||
| Residential | $ | 1,636.3 | ||
| Small commercial and industrial | 1,408.6 | |||
| Large commercial and industrial | 912.2 | |||
| Other | 29.9 | |||
| Total retail revenues | 3,987.0 | |||
| Wholesale | 210.1 | |||
| Resale | 192.2 | |||
| Steam | 24.1 | |||
| Other utility revenues | 19.0 | |||
| Total electric utility operating revenues | $ | 4,432.4 |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 96 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
Natural Gas Utility Operating Revenues
The following table disaggregates natural gas utility operating revenues into customer class:
| (in millions) | Wisconsin | Illinois | Other States | Total Natural Gas Utility Operating Revenues | ||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
| Residential | $ | 834.5 | $ | 877.5 | $ | 263.3 | $ | 1,975.3 | ||||||||
| Commercial and industrial | 436.7 | 266.9 | 140.0 | 843.6 | ||||||||||||
| Total retail revenues | 1,271.2 | 1,144.4 | 403.3 | 2,818.9 | ||||||||||||
| Transport | 70.8 | 244.1 | 31.8 | 346.7 | ||||||||||||
| Other utility revenues * | 8.6 | 18.4 | (6.7 | ) | 20.3 | |||||||||||
| Total natural gas utility operating revenues | $ | 1,350.6 | $ | 1,406.9 | $ | 428.4 | $ | 3,185.9 |
| * | Includes amounts collected from (refunded to) customers for purchased gas adjustment costs. |
Other Non-Utility Operating Revenues
Other non-utility operating revenues consist primarily of the following:
| (in millions) | Year Ended December 31, 2018 | |||
| We Power revenues | $ | 25.3 | ||
| Appliance service revenues | 15.9 | |||
| Distributed renewable solar project revenues | 8.0 | |||
| Wind generation revenues | 3.6 | |||
| Other | 0.2 | |||
| Total other non-utility operating revenues | $ | 53.0 |
Other Operating Revenues
Other operating revenues consist primarily of the following:
| (in millions) | Year Ended December 31, 2018 | |||
| Alternative revenues * | $ | (45.6 | ) | |
| Late payment charges | 40.3 | |||
| Leases | 4.5 | |||
| Total other operating revenues | $ | (0.8 | ) |
| * | Negative amounts can result from alternative revenues being reversed to revenues from contracts with customers as the customer is billed for these alternative revenues. Negative amounts can also result from revenues to be refunded to customers subject to decoupling mechanisms and wholesale true-ups, as discussed in Note 1(d), Operating Revenues. |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 97 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
NOTE 5—REGULATORY ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
The following regulatory assets were reflected on our balance sheets as of December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | See Note | |||||||
| Regulatory assets (1) (2) | ||||||||||
| Pension and OPEB costs (3) | $ | 1,193.5 | $ | 1,142.0 | 18 | |||||
| Plant retirements | 832.3 | 15.1 | 6 | |||||||
| Environmental remediation costs (4) | 687.1 | 676.6 | 22 | |||||||
| Income tax related items (5) | 369.1 | 15.7 | 14 | |||||||
| SSR | 316.7 | 298.9 | 24 | |||||||
| AROs | 185.4 | 192.2 | 8 | |||||||
| Electric transmission costs | 58.1 | 221.0 | 24 | |||||||
| We Power generation (6) | 43.0 | 71.3 | ||||||||
| Uncollectible expense (7) | 38.7 | 35.1 | 1(d) | |||||||
| Energy efficiency programs (8) | 14.0 | 24.6 | ||||||||
| Other, net | 117.9 | 147.9 | ||||||||
| Total regulatory assets | $ | 3,855.8 | $ | 2,840.4 | ||||||
| Balance Sheet Presentation | ||||||||||
| Current assets | $ | 50.7 | $ | 37.2 | ||||||
| Regulatory assets | 3,805.1 | 2,803.2 | ||||||||
| Total regulatory assets | $ | 3,855.8 | $ | 2,840.4 |
| (1) | Based on prior and current rate treatment, we believe it is probable that our utilities will continue to recover from customers the regulatory assets in this table. In accordance with GAAP, our regulatory assets do not include the allowance for ROE that is capitalized for regulatory purposes. This allowance was $18.2 million and $17.7 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
| (2) | As of December 31, 2018, we had $125.4 million of regulatory assets not earning a return, $104.1 million of regulatory assets earning a return based on short-term interest rates, and $316.7 million of regulatory assets earning a return based on long-term interest rates. The regulatory assets not earning a return primarily relate to certain environmental remediation costs, the recovery of which depends on the timing of the actual expenditures, as well as uncollectible expense, unamortized loss on reacquired debt, and our electric real-time market pricing program. The other regulatory assets in the table either earn a return or the cash has not yet been expended, in which case the regulatory assets are offset by liabilities. |
| (3) | Primarily represents the unrecognized future pension and OPEB costs related to our defined benefit pension and OPEB plans. We are authorized recovery of these regulatory assets over the average remaining service life of each plan. |
| (4) | As of December 31, 2018, we had made cash expenditures of $70.7 million related to these environmental remediation costs. The remaining $616.4 million represents our estimated future cash expenditures. |
| (5) | For information on the flow through of tax repairs and the regulatory treatment of the impacts of the Tax Legislation in our various jurisdictions, see Note 24, Regulatory Environment. |
| (6) | Represents amounts recoverable from customers related to WE's costs of the generating units leased from We Power, including subsequent capital additions. |
| (7) | Represents amounts recoverable from customers related to our uncollectible expense tracking mechanisms and riders. These mechanisms allow us to recover or refund the difference between actual uncollectible write-offs and the amounts recovered in rates. |
| (8) | Represents amounts recoverable from customers related to programs at the utilities designed to meet energy efficiency standards. |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 98 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
The following regulatory liabilities were reflected on our balance sheets as of December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | See Note | |||||||
| Regulatory liabilities | ||||||||||
| Income tax related items (1) | $ | 2,406.6 | $ | 2,134.1 | 14 | |||||
| Removal costs (2) | 1,329.6 | 1,294.9 | ||||||||
| Pension and OPEB costs (3) | 238.3 | 114.2 | 18 | |||||||
| Mines deferral (4) | 120.8 | 95.1 | ||||||||
| Energy costs refundable through rate adjustments (5) | 39.6 | 42.0 | ||||||||
| Energy efficiency programs (6) | 31.7 | 21.1 | ||||||||
| Uncollectible expense (7) | 30.5 | 24.7 | 1(d) | |||||||
| Decoupling | 30.5 | 1.8 | 24 | |||||||
| Earnings sharing mechanisms | 30.0 | 2.5 | 24 | |||||||
| Derivatives | 16.4 | 11.0 | 1(o) | |||||||
| Other, net | 14.4 | 19.0 | ||||||||
| Total regulatory liabilities | $ | 4,288.4 | $ | 3,760.4 | ||||||
| Balance Sheet Presentation | ||||||||||
| Current liabilities | $ | 36.8 | $ | 41.8 | ||||||
| Regulatory liabilities | 4,251.6 | 3,718.6 | ||||||||
| Total regulatory liabilities | $ | 4,288.4 | $ | 3,760.4 |
| (1) | For information on the regulatory treatment of the impacts of the Tax Legislation in our various jurisdictions, see Note 24, Regulatory Environment. |
| (2) | Represents amounts collected from customers to cover the future cost of property, plant, and equipment removals that are not legally required. Legal obligations related to the removal of property, plant, and equipment are recorded as AROs. |
| (3) | Primarily represents the unrecognized future pension and OPEB benefits related to our defined benefit pension and OPEB plans. We will amortize these regulatory liabilities into net periodic benefit cost over the average remaining service life of each plan. |
| (4) | Represents the deferral of revenues less the associated cost of sales related to Tilden, which were not included in the PSCW's 2015 rate order. We intend to request that this deferral be applied for the benefit of Wisconsin retail electric customers in a future rate proceeding. |
| (5) | Represents an over-collection of energy costs that will be refunded to customers in the future. When the rates we charge to customers include energy costs that are higher than our actual energy costs, any over-collection outside of the allowable energy cost price variance is refunded to customers. |
| (6) | Represents amounts refundable to customers related to programs at the utilities designed to meet energy efficiency standards. |
| (7) | Represents amounts refundable to customers related to our uncollectible expense tracking mechanisms and riders. These mechanisms allow us to recover or refund the difference between actual uncollectible write-offs and the amounts recovered in rates. |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 99 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
NOTE 6—PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant, and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
| Electric – generation | $ | 6,410.6 | $ | 6,071.8 | ||||
| Electric – distribution | 6,534.6 | 6,137.5 | ||||||
| Natural gas – distribution, storage, and transmission | 10,766.3 | 10,055.9 | ||||||
| Property, plant, and equipment to be retired, net | 174.8 | 930.6 | ||||||
| Other | 1,649.1 | 1,381.5 | ||||||
| Less: Accumulated depreciation | 7,573.6 | 7,021.8 | ||||||
| Net | 17,961.8 | 17,555.5 | ||||||
| CWIP | 707.5 | 508.2 | ||||||
| Net utility property, plant, and equipment | 18,669.3 | 18,063.7 | ||||||
| We Power generation | 3,244.4 | 3,215.9 | ||||||
| Renewable generation | 193.3 | — | ||||||
| Natural gas storage | 244.8 | 244.8 | ||||||
| Net non-utility energy infrastructure | 3,682.5 | 3,460.7 | ||||||
| Corporate services | 171.0 | 169.6 | ||||||
| Other | 127.1 | 166.9 | ||||||
| Less: Accumulated depreciation | 731.5 | 671.3 | ||||||
| Net | 3,249.1 | 3,125.9 | ||||||
| CWIP | 82.5 | 157.4 | ||||||
| Net non-utility and other property, plant, and equipment | 3,331.6 | 3,283.3 | ||||||
| Total property, plant, and equipment | $ | 22,000.9 | $ | 21,347.0 |
Wisconsin Segment Plant to be Retired
We have evaluated future plans for our older and less efficient fossil fuel generating units and have either retired or announced the retirement of the plants identified below. In December 2017, a severance liability in the amount of $29.4 million was recorded in other current liabilities on our balance sheets within the Wisconsin segment related to these plant retirements.
| (in millions) | ||||
| Severance liability at December 31, 2017 | $ | 29.4 | ||
| Severance payments | (10.7 | ) | ||
| Other | (3.0 | ) | ||
| Total severance liability at December 31, 2018 | $ | 15.7 |
Pleasant Prairie Power Plant
The Pleasant Prairie power plant was retired effective April 10, 2018. The carrying value of this plant was $645.9 million at December 31, 2018. This amount included the net book value of $749.5 million, which was classified as a regulatory asset on our balance sheet. In addition, a $103.6 million cost of removal reserve related to the Pleasant Prairie power plant was classified as a regulatory liability at December 31, 2018. WE continues to amortize this regulatory asset on a straight-line basis using the composite depreciation rates approved by the PSCW before this plant was retired. Amortization is included in depreciation and amortization in the income statement. WE has FERC approval to continue to collect the carrying value of the Pleasant Prairie power plant using the approved composite depreciation rates, in addition to a return on the remaining carrying value. However, this approval is subject to refund while the FERC completes its prudency review. WE will address the accounting and regulatory treatment related to the retirement of Pleasant Prairie with the PSCW in conjunction with its anticipated 2019 rate case. The physical dismantlement of the plant will not occur immediately. It may take several years to finalize long-term plans for the site. See Note 22, Commitments and Contingencies, for more information.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 100 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
Presque Isle Power Plant
In October 2017, the MPSC approved UMERC’s application to construct and operate approximately 180 MW of natural gas-fired generation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Upon receiving this approval, retirement of the PIPP generating units became probable. Pursuant to MISO's April 2018 approval of the retirement of the plant, the PIPP units are required to be retired on or before May 31, 2019. The carrying value of the PIPP units was $174.8 million at December 31, 2018. This amount included net book value of $185.4 million, which was classified as plant to be retired within property, plant, and equipment on our balance sheet. In addition, a $10.6 million cost of removal reserve related to the PIPP units was classified as a regulatory liability at December 31, 2018. These units are included in rate base, and WE continues to depreciate them on a straight-line basis using the composite depreciation rates approved by the PSCW. Upon retirement of PIPP, WE will file with the FERC for approval to continue to collect the carrying value of the PIPP using the current approved composite depreciation rates, in addition to a return on the remaining carrying value. WE will address the accounting and regulatory treatment related to the retirement of the PIPP with the PSCW in conjunction with its anticipated 2019 Wisconsin rate case, and also expects that the retirement will be addressed by the MPSC. See Note 24, Regulatory Environment, for more information regarding the new natural gas-fired generation.
Pulliam Power Plant
In connection with a MISO ruling, WPS retired Pulliam Units 7 and 8 effective October 21, 2018. The carrying value of the Pulliam units was $33.8 million at December 31, 2018. This amount included the net book value of $57.2 million, which was classified as a regulatory asset on our balance sheet. In addition, a $23.4 million cost of removal reserve related to the Pulliam units was classified as a regulatory liability at December 31, 2018. WPS continues to amortize this regulatory asset on a straight-line basis using the composite depreciation rates approved by the PSCW before these generating units were retired. Amortization is included in depreciation and amortization in the income statement. WPS has FERC approval to continue to collect the carrying value of the Pulliam power plant using the approved composite depreciation rates, in addition to a return on the remaining carrying value. FERC has completed its prudency review of Pulliam, concluding that the retirement of this plant was prudent. WPS will address the accounting and regulatory treatment related to the retirement of the Pulliam power plant with the PSCW in conjunction with its anticipated 2019 rate case. See Note 22, Commitments and Contingencies, for more information.
Edgewater Unit 4
The Edgewater 4 generating unit was retired effective September 28, 2018. The carrying value of the generating unit was $8.1 million at December 31, 2018. This amount included the net book value of WPS's ownership share of this generating unit of $10.0 million, which was classified as a regulatory asset on our balance sheet. In addition, a $1.9 million cost of removal reserve related to the Edgewater 4 generating unit was classified as a regulatory liability at December 31, 2018. WPS continues to amortize this regulatory asset on a straight-line basis using the composite depreciation rates approved by the PSCW before this generating unit was retired. Amortization is included in depreciation and amortization in the income statement. WPS has FERC approval to continue to collect the carrying value of the Edgewater 4 generating unit using the approved composite depreciation rates, in addition to a return on the remaining carrying value. FERC has completed its prudency review of Edgewater 4, concluding that the retirement of this plant was prudent. WPS will address the accounting and regulatory treatment related to the retirement of the Edgewater 4 generating unit with the PSCW in conjunction with its anticipated 2019 rate case. See Note 22, Commitments and Contingencies, for more information.
NOTE 7—JOINTLY OWNED UTILITY FACILITIES
We Power and WPS hold joint ownership interests in certain electric generating facilities. They are entitled to their share of generating capability and output of each facility equal to their respective ownership interest. They pay their ownership share of additional construction costs and have supplied their own financing for all jointly owned projects. We record We Power's and WPS's proportionate share of significant jointly owned electric generating facilities as property, plant, and equipment on the balance sheets.
We Power leases its ownership interest in ER 1 and ER 2 to WE, and WE operates these units. WE and WPS record their respective share of fuel inventory purchases and operating expenses, unless specific agreements have been executed to limit their maximum exposure to additional costs. WE's and WPS's proportionate share of direct expenses for the joint operation of these plants is recorded in operating expenses in the income statements.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 101 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
Information related to jointly owned utility facilities at December 31, 2018 was as follows:
| We Power | WPS | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions, except for percentages and MW) | Elm Road Generating Station Units 1 and 2 | Weston Unit 4 | Columbia Energy Center Units 1 and 2 (2) | Forward Wind Energy Center | ||||||||||||
| Ownership | 83.34 | % | 70.0 | % | 28.1 | % | 44.6 | % | ||||||||
| Share of rated capacity (MW) (1) | 1,056.8 | 384.9 | 314.8 | 8.7 | ||||||||||||
| In-service date | 2010 and 2011 | 2008 | 1975 and 1978 | 2008 | ||||||||||||
| Property, plant, and equipment | $ | 2,450.6 | $ | 615.4 | $ | 438.8 | $ | 123.7 | ||||||||
| Accumulated depreciation | $ | (394.1 | ) | $ | (205.2 | ) | $ | (132.2 | ) | $ | (43.7 | ) | ||||
| CWIP | $ | 1.8 | $ | 1.9 | $ | 0.3 | $ | 0.1 |
| (1) | Values are primarily based on the net dependable capacity ratings for summer 2019 using historical generation. The summer period is the most relevant for capacity planning purposes. This is a result of continually reaching demand peaks in the summer months, primarily due to air conditioning demand. |
| (2) | Columbia Energy Center (Columbia) is jointly owned by Wisconsin Power and Light (WPL), Madison Gas and Electric (MGE), and WPS. In October 2016, WPL received an order from the PSCW approving amendments to the Columbia joint operating agreement between the parties allowing WPS and MGE to forgo certain capital expenditures at Columbia. As a result, WPL will incur these capital expenditures in exchange for a proportional increase in its ownership share of Columbia. Based upon the additional capital expenditures WPL expects to incur through June 1, 2020, WPS's ownership interest would decrease to 27.5%. |
NOTE 8—ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
Our utilities have recorded AROs primarily for the removal of natural gas distribution mains and service pipes (including asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs]); asbestos abatement at certain generation and substation facilities, office buildings, and service centers; the removal and dismantlement of biomass and hydro generation facilities; the dismantling of wind generation projects; the disposal of PCB-contaminated transformers; the closure of fly-ash landfills at certain generation facilities; and the removal of above ground storage tanks. Regulatory assets and liabilities are established by our utilities to record the differences between ongoing expense recognition under the ARO accounting rules and the rate-making practices for retirement costs authorized by the applicable regulators.
AROs have also been recorded at Bishop Hill III and PDL for the dismantling of wind generation projects and the removal of solar equipment components, respectively.
On our balance sheets, AROs are recorded within other long-term liabilities. The following table shows changes to our AROs during the years ended December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Balance as of January 1 | $ | 573.7 | $ | 557.7 | $ | 571.2 | ||||||
| Accretion | 28.0 | 27.5 | 28.3 | |||||||||
| Additions and revisions to estimated cash flows | (104.5 | ) | (1) | 26.5 | (2) | — | ||||||
| Liabilities settled | (35.8 | ) | (38.0 | ) | (41.8 | ) | ||||||
| Balance as of December 31 | $ | 461.4 | $ | 573.7 | $ | 557.7 |
| (1) | AROs decreased $127.3 million in 2018 due to revisions made to estimated cash flows primarily for changes in the cost to retire natural gas distribution pipe at PGL. Also in 2018, AROs increased $10.7 million as a result of revisions made to estimated cash flows for the abatement of asbestos at WPS's Pulliam power plant, and a $10.9 million ARO was recorded for the legal requirement to dismantle, at retirement, the wind generation projects known as Forward Wind Energy Center and Bishop Hill III. See Note 2, Acquisitions, for more information on Forward Wind Energy Center and Bishop Hill III. |
| (2) | AROs increased $20.5 million in 2017 due to revisions made to estimated cash flows primarily for changes in the cost to retire natural gas distribution pipe at PGL and NSG. |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 102 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
NOTE 9—GOODWILL
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. The following table shows changes to our goodwill balances by segment during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:
| Wisconsin | Illinois | Other States | Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goodwill balance as of January 1 | $ | 2,104.3 | $ | 2,104.3 | $ | 758.7 | $ | 758.7 | $ | 183.2 | $ | 183.2 | $ | 7.3 | $ | — | $ | 3,053.5 | $ | 3,046.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of Bluewater (1) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7.3 | — | 7.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjustment to Bluewater purchase price allocation (1) | — | — | — | — | — | — | (0.7 | ) | — | (0.7 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goodwill balance as of December 31 (2) | $ | 2,104.3 | $ | 2,104.3 | $ | 758.7 | $ | 758.7 | $ | 183.2 | $ | 183.2 | $ | 6.6 | $ | 7.3 | $ | 3,052.8 | $ | 3,053.5 |
| (1) | See Note 2, Acquisitions, for more information on the acquisition of Bluewater. |
| (2) | We had no accumulated impairment losses related to our goodwill as of December 31, 2018. |
In the third quarter of 2018, annual impairment tests were completed at all of our reporting units that carried a goodwill balance as of July 1, 2018. No impairments resulted from these tests.
NOTE 10—COMMON EQUITY
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
The following table summarizes our pre-tax stock-based compensation expense and the related tax benefit recognized in income for the years ended December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Stock options | $ | 5.2 | $ | 3.4 | $ | 3.5 | ||||||
| Restricted stock | 10.7 | 5.4 | 5.8 | |||||||||
| Performance units | 20.2 | 20.2 | 8.7 | |||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | $ | 36.1 | $ | 29.0 | $ | 18.0 | ||||||
| Related tax benefit | $ | 9.9 | $ | 11.6 | $ | 7.2 |
Stock-based compensation costs capitalized during 2018, 2017, and 2016 were not significant.
Stock Options
The following is a summary of our stock option activity during 2018:
| Stock Options | Number of Options | Weighted-Average Exercise Price | Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years) | Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions) | |||||||||
| Outstanding as of January 1, 2018 | 4,644,214 | $ | 43.11 | ||||||||||
| Granted | 710,710 | $ | 65.59 | ||||||||||
| Exercised | (899,391 | ) | $ | 32.39 | |||||||||
| Forfeited | (3,000 | ) | $ | 57.99 | |||||||||
| Outstanding as of December 31, 2018 | 4,452,533 | $ | 48.86 | 6.1 | $ | 90.8 | |||||||
| Exercisable as of December 31, 2018 | 2,838,609 | $ | 42.77 | 4.9 | $ | 75.2 |
The aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding and exercisable options in the above table represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value that would have been received by the option holders had they exercised all of their options on December 31, 2018. This is calculated as the difference between our closing stock price on December 31, 2018, and the option exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money stock options. The intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 was $32.4 million, $33.8 million, and $55.4 million, respectively. The actual tax benefit from option exercises for the same periods was approximately $8.9 million, $13.5 million, and $22.2 million, respectively.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 103 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
As of December 31, 2018, approximately $3.0 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested and outstanding stock options was expected to be recognized over the next 1.7 years on a weighted-average basis.
During the first quarter of 2019, the Compensation Committee awarded 476,418 non-qualified stock options with a weighted-average exercise price of $68.18 and a weighted-average grant date fair value of $8.60 per option to certain of our officers and other key employees under its normal schedule of awarding long-term incentive compensation.
Restricted Shares
The following restricted stock activity occurred during 2018:
| Restricted Shares | Number of Shares | Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value | |||||
| Outstanding and unvested as of January 1, 2018 | 204,488 | $ | 54.94 | ||||
| Granted | 156,340 | $ | 64.20 | ||||
| Released | (121,060 | ) | $ | 54.97 | |||
| Forfeited | (5,141 | ) | $ | 58.68 | |||
| Outstanding and unvested as of December 31, 2018 | 234,627 | $ | 61.01 |
The intrinsic value of restricted stock released was $7.9 million, $5.4 million, and $7.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. The actual tax benefit from released restricted shares for the same years was $2.2 million, $2.1 million, and $3.1 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2018, approximately $3.2 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested and outstanding restricted stock was expected to be recognized over the next 1.5 years on a weighted-average basis.
During the first quarter of 2019, the Compensation Committee awarded 73,571 restricted shares to certain of our directors, officers, and other key employees under its normal schedule of awarding long-term incentive compensation. The grant date fair value of these awards was $68.18 per share.
Performance Units
During 2018, 2017, and 2016, the Compensation Committee awarded 217,560; 237,650; and 297,305 performance units, respectively, to officers and other key employees under the WEC Energy Group Performance Unit Plan.
Performance units with an intrinsic value of $9.7 million, $6.7 million, and $19.1 million were settled during 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. The actual tax benefit from the distribution of performance units for the same years was $2.2 million, $2.1 million, and $6.8 million, respectively.
At December 31, 2018, we had 618,822 performance units outstanding, including dividend equivalents. A liability of $38.1 million was recorded on our balance sheet at December 31, 2018 related to these outstanding units. As of December 31, 2018, approximately $18.4 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested and outstanding performance units was expected to be recognized over the next 1.3 years on a weighted-average basis.
During the first quarter of 2019, we settled performance units with an intrinsic value of $18.6 million. The actual tax benefit from the distribution of these awards was $4.3 million. In January 2019, the Compensation Committee also awarded 148,036 performance units to certain of our officers and other key employees under its normal schedule of awarding long-term incentive compensation.
Restrictions
Our ability as a holding company to pay common stock dividends primarily depends on the availability of funds received from our utility subsidiaries and our non-utility subsidiaries, We Power and ATC Holding. Various financing arrangements and regulatory requirements impose certain restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to transfer funds to us in the form of cash dividends, loans, or advances. All of our utility subsidiaries, with the exception of UMERC and MGU, are prohibited from loaning funds to us, either directly or indirectly.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 104 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
In accordance with their most recent rate orders, WE, WG, and WPS may not pay common dividends above the test year forecasted amounts reflected in their respective rate cases, if it would cause their average common equity ratio, on a financial basis, to fall below their authorized levels of 51%, 49.5%, and 51%, respectively. A return of capital in excess of the test year amount can be paid by each company at the end of the year provided that their respective average common equity ratios do not fall below the authorized levels.
WE may not pay common dividends to us under WE's Restated Articles of Incorporation if any dividends on its outstanding preferred stock have not been paid. In addition, pursuant to the terms of WE's 3.60% Serial Preferred Stock, WE's ability to declare common dividends would be limited to 75% or 50% of net income during a twelve month period if its common stock equity to total capitalization, as defined in the preferred stock designation, is less than 25% and 20%, respectively.
NSG's long-term debt obligations contain provisions and covenants restricting the payment of cash dividends and the purchase or redemption of its capital stock.
ATC Holding's and Bluewater Gas Storage's long-term debt obligations contain a provision requiring them to maintain a total funded debt to capitalization ratio of 65% or less.
WEC Energy Group and Integrys have the option to defer interest payments on their junior subordinated notes, from time to time, for one or more periods of up to 10 consecutive years per period. During any period in which they defer interest payments, they may not declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, repurchase or acquire, their respective common stock.
See Note 12, Short-Term Debt and Lines of Credit, for discussion of certain financial covenants related to short-term debt obligations.
As of December 31, 2018, restricted net assets of our consolidated subsidiaries totaled approximately $6.8 billion. Our equity in undistributed earnings of investees accounted for by the equity method were approximately $383 million.
We do not believe that these restrictions will materially affect our operations or limit any dividend payments in the foreseeable future.
Share Purchases
We have instructed our independent agents to purchase shares on the open market to fulfill obligations under various stock-based employee benefit and compensations plans and to provide shares to participants in our dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan. As a result, no new shares of common stock were issued in 2018, 2017, or 2016.
The following is a summary of shares purchased to fulfill exercised stock options and restricted stock awards during the years ended December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Shares purchased | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.8 | |||||||||
| Cost of shares purchased | $ | 72.4 | $ | 71.3 | $ | 108.0 |
Common Stock Dividends
During the year ended December 31, 2018, our Board of Directors declared common stock dividends which are summarized below:
| Date Declared | Date Payable | Per Share | Period | |||
| January 18, 2018 | March 1, 2018 | $0.5525 | First quarter | |||
| April 19, 2018 | June 1, 2018 | $0.5525 | Second quarter | |||
| July 19, 2018 | September 1, 2018 | $0.5525 | Third quarter | |||
| October 18, 2018 | December 1, 2018 | $0.5525 | Fourth quarter |
On January 17, 2019, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.59 per share, which equates to an annual dividend of $2.36 per share. The dividend is payable on March 1, 2019, to shareholders of record on February 14, 2019. In addition, the Board of Directors affirmed our dividend policy that continues to target a dividend payout ratio of 65-70% of earnings.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 105 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
NOTE 11—PREFERRED STOCK
The following table shows preferred stock authorized and outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017:
| (in millions, except share and per share amounts) | Shares Authorized | Shares Outstanding | Redemption Price Per Share | Total | ||||||||||
| WEC Energy Group | ||||||||||||||
| $.01 par value Preferred Stock | 15,000,000 | — | — | $ | — | |||||||||
| WE | ||||||||||||||
| $100 par value, Six Per Cent. Preferred Stock | 45,000 | 44,498 | — | 4.4 | ||||||||||
| $100 par value, Serial Preferred Stock | 2,286,500 | |||||||||||||
| 3.60% Series | 260,000 | $ | 101 | 26.0 | ||||||||||
| $25 par value, Serial Preferred Stock | 5,000,000 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| WPS | ||||||||||||||
| $100 par value, Preferred Stock | 1,000,000 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| PGL | ||||||||||||||
| $100 par value, Cumulative Preferred Stock | 430,000 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| NSG | ||||||||||||||
| $100 par value, Cumulative Preferred Stock | 160,000 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 30.4 |
NOTE 12—SHORT-TERM DEBT AND LINES OF CREDIT
The following table shows our short-term borrowings and their corresponding weighted-average interest rates as of December 31:
| (in millions, except percentages) | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
| Commercial paper | ||||||||
| Amount outstanding at December 31 | $ | 1,440.1 | $ | 1,444.6 | ||||
| Average interest rate on amounts outstanding at December 31 | 2.92 | % | 1.77 | % |
Our average amount of commercial paper borrowings based on daily outstanding balances during 2018, was $1,350.7 million with a weighted-average interest rate during the period of 2.32%.
WEC Energy Group, WE, WPS, WG, and PGL have entered into bank back-up credit facilities to maintain short-term credit liquidity which, among other terms, require them to maintain, subject to certain exclusions, a total funded debt to capitalization ratio of 70.0%, 65.0%, 65.0%, 65.0%, and 65.0% or less, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, all companies were in compliance with their respective ratio.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 106 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
The information in the table below relates to our revolving credit facilities used to support our commercial paper borrowing program, including remaining available capacity under these facilities as of December 31:
| (in millions) | Maturity | 2018 | ||||
| WEC Energy Group | October 2022 | $ | 1,200.0 | |||
| WE | October 2022 | 500.0 | ||||
| WPS | October 2022 | 400.0 | ||||
| WG | October 2022 | 350.0 | ||||
| PGL | October 2022 | 350.0 | ||||
| Total short-term credit capacity | $ | 2,800.0 | ||||
| Less: | ||||||
| Letters of credit issued inside credit facilities | $ | 3.0 | ||||
| Commercial paper outstanding | 1,440.1 | |||||
| Available capacity under existing agreements | $ | 1,356.9 |
Each of these facilities has a renewal provision for two one-year extensions, subject to lender approval.
The bank back-up credit facilities contain customary covenants, including certain limitations on the respective companies' ability to sell assets. The credit facilities also contain customary events of default, including payment defaults, material inaccuracy of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, bankruptcy proceedings, certain judgments, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 defaults, and change of control. In addition, pursuant to the terms of our credit agreement, we must ensure that certain of our subsidiaries comply with several of the covenants contained therein.
NOTE 13—LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS
See our statements of capitalization for details on our long-term debt.
WEC Energy Group, Inc.
In July 2018, we executed two interest rate swaps with a combined notional value of $250.0 million to hedge the variable interest rate risk associated with our 2007 Junior Notes. The swaps will provide a fixed interest rate of 4.9765% on $250.0 million of the $500.0 million outstanding of 2007 Junior Notes through November 15, 2021.
In June 2018, we issued $600.0 million of 3.375% Senior Notes due June 15, 2021. We used the net proceeds to repay short-term debt, including short-term debt used to redeem at par all $114.9 million outstanding principal amount of Integrys's 2006 Junior Notes, to repay all $300.0 million of our 1.65% Senior Notes that matured in June 2018, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.
Wisconsin Electric Power Company
In October 2018, WE issued $300.0 million of 4.30% Debentures due October 15, 2048, and used the net proceeds to repay short-term debt and for working capital and other corporate purposes.
In July 2018, WE redeemed all $80.0 million of its series of tax-exempt pollution control refunding bonds. From August 2009 until they were called, the bonds were not reported in our long-term debt because they were previously repurchased by WE.
In June 2018, WE's $250.0 million of 1.70% Debentures matured, and the outstanding principal was paid with proceeds received from issuing commercial paper.
Integrys Holding, Inc.
In May 2018, Integrys redeemed at par all $114.9 million outstanding of its 2006 Junior Notes.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 107 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
In November 2018, WPS issued $400.0 million of 3.35% Senior Notes due November 21, 2021. WPS used the net proceeds to pay all $250.0 million outstanding principal amount of its 1.65% Senior Notes at maturity in December 2018, to repay short-term debt, and for working capital and other corporate purposes.
The Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company
In November 2018, PGL issued $150.0 million of 3.87% Series FFF Bonds due November 1, 2028. The net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including funding capital expenditures and the refinancing of short-term debt.
In November 2018, PGL's $5.0 million of 8.00% Series TT Bonds matured, and the outstanding principal was repaid with proceeds from issuing commercial paper.
North Shore Gas Company
In November 2018, NSG issued $50.0 million of 3.87% Series R Bonds due November 1, 2028. The net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including funding capital expenditures and the refinancing of short-term debt.
ATC Holding LLC
In December 2018, ATC Holding issued $240.0 million of senior notes. The senior notes were issued in three tranches: $85.0 million of 4.18% Senior Notes due December 20, 2025; $56.5 million of 4.37% Senior Notes due December 20, 2028; and $98.5 million of 4.47% Senior Notes due December 20, 2030. Net proceeds were used to make a special distribution to WEC Energy Group in order to balance ATC Holding's capital structure.
Bluewater Gas Storage, LLC
The long-term debt of Bluewater Gas Storage, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bluewater, amortizes on a mortgage-style basis. During 2019, $2.4 million of Bluewater Gas Storage's outstanding $122.7 million of 3.76% Senior Notes will mature. As a result, this balance was included in the current portion of long-term debt on our balance sheet at December 31, 2018.
W.E. Power, LLC
We Power's outstanding long-term debt below amortizes on a mortgage-style basis.
During 2019, $6.2 million of We Power's outstanding $95.1 million of 4.91% secured notes will mature. As a result, this balance was included in the current portion of long-term debt on our balance sheet at December 31, 2018.
During 2019, $5.2 million of We Power's outstanding $116.6 million of 6.00% secured notes will mature. As a result, this balance was included in the current portion of long-term debt on our balance sheet at December 31, 2018.
During 2019, $12.0 million of We Power's outstanding $182.7 million of 5.209% secured notes will mature. As a result, this balance was included in the current portion of long-term debt on our balance sheet at December 31, 2018.
During 2019, $9.3 million of We Power's outstanding $153.5 million of 4.673% secured notes will mature. As a result, this balance was included in the current portion of long-term debt on our balance sheet at December 31, 2018.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 108 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
Bonds and Notes
The following table shows the future maturities of our long-term debt outstanding (excluding obligations under capital leases) as of December 31, 2018:
| (in millions) | Payments | |||
| 2019 | $ | 360.1 | ||
| 2020 | 686.9 | |||
| 2021 | 1,338.8 | |||
| 2022 | 40.8 | |||
| 2023 | 42.8 | |||
| Thereafter | 7,918.2 | |||
| Total | $ | 10,387.6 |
We amortize debt premiums, discounts, and debt issuance costs over the life of the debt and we include the costs in interest expense.
In connection with our outstanding 2007 Junior Notes, we executed a Replacement Capital Covenant dated May 11, 2007 (RCC), which we amended on June 29, 2015, for the benefit of persons that buy, hold, or sell a specified series of our long-term indebtedness (covered debt). Our 6.20% Senior Notes due April 1, 2033 have been designated as the covered debt under the RCC. The RCC provides that we may not redeem, defease, or purchase, and that our subsidiaries may not purchase, any 2007 Junior Notes on or before May 15, 2037, unless, subject to certain limitations described in the RCC, we have received a specified amount of proceeds from the sale of qualifying securities.
Effective August 2023, Integrys's $400.0 million of 2013 6.00% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2073 will bear interest at the three-month LIBOR plus 322 basis points and will reset quarterly.
Certain long-term debt obligations contain financial and other covenants. Failure to comply with these covenants could result in an event of default, which could result in the acceleration of outstanding debt obligations.
Obligations Under Capital Leases
In 1997, WE entered into a 25-year power purchase contract with an unaffiliated independent power producer. The contract, for 236 MW of firm capacity from a natural gas-fired cogeneration facility, includes zero minimum energy requirements. When the contract expires in 2022, WE may, at its option and with proper notice, renew for another 10 years or purchase the generating facility at fair value or allow the contract to expire. We account for this contract as a capital lease and recorded the leased facility and corresponding obligation under the capital lease at the estimated fair value of the plant's electric generating facilities. We are amortizing the leased facility on a straight-line basis over the original 25-year term of the contract.
We treat the long-term power purchase contract as an operating lease for rate-making purposes and we record our minimum lease payments as cost of sales on our income statements. We paid a total of $7.7 million, $7.2 million, and $37.6 million in minimum lease payments during 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. We record the difference between the minimum lease payments and the sum of imputed interest and amortization costs calculated under capital lease accounting as a deferred regulatory asset on our balance sheets. Minimum lease payments are a function of the 236 MW of firm capacity we receive from the plant and the fixed monthly capacity rate published in the lease. Due to the timing and the amounts of the minimum lease payments, the regulatory asset increased to approximately $78.5 million during 2009, at which time the regulatory asset began to be reduced to zero over the remaining life of the contract. The total obligation under the capital lease was $23.3 million as of December 31, 2018, and will decrease to zero over the remaining life of the contract.
For information on how the implementation of ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), is expected to impact the classification of lease expense effective January 1, 2019, for this capital lease, see Note 27, New Accounting Pronouncements.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 109 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
The following is a summary of our capitalized leased facilities as of December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
| Long-term power purchase commitment | $ | 140.3 | $ | 140.3 | ||||
| Accumulated amortization | (120.9 | ) | (115.2 | ) | ||||
| Total leased facilities | $ | 19.4 | $ | 25.1 |
Future minimum lease payments under our capital lease and the present value of our net minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2018 are as follows:
| (in millions) | Payments | |||
| 2019 | $ | 15.5 | ||
| 2020 | 16.4 | |||
| 2021 | 17.2 | |||
| 2022 | 7.6 | |||
| Thereafter | — | |||
| Total minimum lease payments | 56.7 | |||
| Less: Estimated executory costs | (26.1 | ) | ||
| Net minimum lease payments | 30.6 | |||
| Less: Interest | (7.3 | ) | ||
| Present value of net minimum lease payments | 23.3 | |||
| Less: Due currently | (4.9 | ) | ||
| Long-term obligations under capital lease | $ | 18.4 |
NOTE 14—INCOME TAXES
Income Tax Expense
The following table is a summary of income tax expense for the years ended December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Current tax (benefit) expense | $ | (127.5 | ) | $ | 111.8 | $ | 72.7 | |||||
| Deferred income taxes, net | 300.1 | 274.4 | 498.7 | |||||||||
| Investment tax credit, net | (2.8 | ) | (2.7 | ) | (4.9 | ) | ||||||
| Total income tax expense | $ | 169.8 | $ | 383.5 | $ | 566.5 |
Statutory Rate Reconciliation
The provision for income taxes for each of the years ended December 31 differs from the amount of income tax determined by applying the applicable United States statutory federal income tax rate to income before income taxes as a result of the following:
| 2018 | 2017 (2) | 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Effective | Effective | Effective | |||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | Amount | Tax Rate | Amount | Tax Rate | Amount | Tax Rate | |||||||||||||||
| Expected tax at statutory federal tax rates | $ | 258.1 | 21.0 | % | $ | 555.5 | 35.0 | % | $ | 526.4 | 35.0 | % | |||||||||
| State income taxes net of federal tax benefit | 71.8 | 5.8 | % | 100.8 | 6.4 | % | 72.8 | 4.8 | % | ||||||||||||
| Tax repairs (1) | (120.7 | ) | (9.8 | )% | — | — | % | — | — | % | |||||||||||
| Federal excess amortization | (16.8 | ) | (1.4 | )% | — | — | % | — | — | % | |||||||||||
| Production tax credits | (12.1 | ) | (1.0 | )% | (16.8 | ) | (1.1 | )% | (15.7 | ) | (1.1 | )% | |||||||||
| AFUDC – Equity | (3.2 | ) | (0.3 | )% | (4.0 | ) | (0.3 | )% | (8.8 | ) | (0.6 | )% | |||||||||
| Investment tax credit restored | (2.8 | ) | (0.2 | )% | (2.7 | ) | (0.2 | )% | (4.9 | ) | (0.3 | )% | |||||||||
| Federal tax reform | — | — | % | (226.9 | ) | (14.3 | )% | — | — | % | |||||||||||
| Other, net | (4.5 | ) | (0.3 | )% | (22.4 | ) | (1.4 | )% | (3.3 | ) | (0.2 | )% | |||||||||
| Total income tax expense | $ | 169.8 | 13.8 | % | $ | 383.5 | 24.1 | % | $ | 566.5 | 37.6 | % |
| (1) | In accordance with a settlement agreement with the PSCW, WE will flow through the tax benefit of its repair related deferred tax liabilities in 2018 and 2019, to maintain certain regulatory asset balances at their December 31, 2017 levels. The flow through treatment of the repair |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 110 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
related deferred tax liabilities offsets the negative income statement impact of holding the regulatory assets level, resulting in no change to net income. See Note 24, Regulatory Environment, for more information about the impact of the Tax Legislation and the Wisconsin rate settlement
| (2) | In 2017, the net impact of tax reform in the amount of $206.7 million is represented in both the Federal tax reform and State income taxes net of federal tax benefit lines above. |
Deferred Income Tax Assets and Liabilities
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Legislation was signed into law. For businesses, the Tax Legislation reduced the corporate federal tax rate from a maximum of 35% to a 21% rate effective January 1, 2018. In December 2017, we recorded a tax benefit related to the re-measurement of our deferred taxes in the amount of $2,657 million. Accordingly, the tax benefit related to our regulated utilities was recorded as both an increase to regulatory liabilities as well as a decrease to certain existing regulatory assets as of December 31, 2017. The effects of the Tax Legislation primarily at our non-utility energy infrastructure and corporate and other segments resulted in the recording of an income tax benefit of approximately $206.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. This tax benefit was primarily due to a re-measurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities.
On December 22, 2017, the SEC staff issued guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 (SAB 118), Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which provided for a measurement period of up to one year from the enactment date to complete accounting under GAAP for the tax effects of the legislation. Due to the complex and comprehensive nature of the enacted tax law changes, and their application under GAAP, certain amounts related to bonus depreciation and future tax benefit utilization recorded in the financial statements as a result of the Tax Legislation were considered "provisional" and subject to revision at December 31, 2017, and through 2018, as discussed in SAB 118.
In 2018, we considered all available guidance from industry and income tax authorities related to these tax items, and revised our Alternative Minimum Tax Credit valuation allowance, and revised our estimates for re-measurement of deferred income taxes related to guidance on bonus depreciation. At December 31, 2018, we no longer considered any amounts related to bonus depreciation and future tax benefit utilization "provisional." However, any further amendments or technical corrections to the Tax Legislation could subject these tax items to revision.
The components of deferred income taxes as of December 31 were as follows:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
| Deferred tax assets | ||||||||
| Tax gross up – regulatory items | $ | 579.2 | $ | 585.8 | ||||
| Deferred revenues | 129.3 | 128.8 | ||||||
| Future tax benefits | 70.6 | 303.9 | ||||||
| Employee benefits and compensation | — | 164.2 | ||||||
| Property-related | — | 24.4 | ||||||
| Other | 194.4 | 185.0 | ||||||
| Total deferred tax assets | 973.5 | 1,392.1 | ||||||
| Valuation allowance | (11.4 | ) | (15.7 | ) | ||||
| Net deferred tax assets | $ | 962.1 | $ | 1,376.4 | ||||
| Deferred tax liabilities | ||||||||
| Property-related | $ | 3,436.9 | $ | 3,464.6 | ||||
| Investment in transmission affiliate | 420.6 | 321.2 | ||||||
| Deferred costs – Pleasant Prairie | 176.0 | — | ||||||
| Employee benefits and compensation | 121.2 | 285.8 | ||||||
| Deferred transmission costs | 55.4 | 60.1 | ||||||
| Other | 140.1 | 244.5 | ||||||
| Total deferred tax liabilities | 4,350.2 | 4,376.2 | ||||||
| Deferred tax liability, net | $ | 3,388.1 | $ | 2,999.8 |
Consistent with rate-making treatment, deferred taxes related to our regulated utilities in the table above are offset for temporary differences that have related regulatory assets and liabilities.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 111 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
The components of net deferred tax assets associated with federal and state tax benefit carryforwards as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are summarized in the tables below:
| 2018 (in millions) | Gross Value | Deferred Tax Effect | Valuation Allowance | Earliest Year of Expiration | ||||||||||
| Future tax benefits as of December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||
| Federal foreign tax credit | $ | — | $ | 9.7 | $ | (9.7 | ) | 2018 | ||||||
| Other federal tax credit | — | 39.3 | (1.7 | ) | 2038 | |||||||||
| State net operating loss | 275.9 | 17.0 | — | 2023 | ||||||||||
| State tax credit | — | 4.6 | — | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2018 | $ | 275.9 | $ | 70.6 | $ | (11.4 | ) |
| 2017 (in millions) | Gross Value | Deferred Tax Effect | Valuation Allowance | Earliest Year of Expiration | ||||||||||
| Future tax benefits as of December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||
| Federal foreign tax credit | $ | — | $ | 13.5 | $ | (13.5 | ) | 2018 | ||||||
| Other federal tax credit | — | 259.6 | (0.1 | ) | 2025 | |||||||||
| Charitable contribution and capital loss | 21.7 | 8.6 | (2.1 | ) | 2017 | |||||||||
| State net operating loss | 282.7 | 17.2 | — | 2025 | ||||||||||
| State tax credit | — | 5.0 | — | 2017 | ||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2017 | $ | 304.4 | $ | 303.9 | $ | (15.7 | ) |
Valuation allowances of $11.4 million have been established for certain tax benefit carryforwards obtained in the Integrys acquisition based on our projected ability to realize such benefits by offsetting future tax liabilities. Realization is dependent on generating sufficient tax liabilities prior to expiration of the tax benefit carryforwards.
Unrecognized Tax Benefits
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
| Balance as of January 1 | $ | 17.3 | $ | 14.5 | ||||
| Additions for tax positions of prior years | 2.8 | 7.9 | ||||||
| Additions based on tax positions related to the current year | 0.1 | 0.5 | ||||||
| Reductions for tax positions of prior years | (0.2 | ) | (5.6 | ) | ||||
| Balance as of December 31 | $ | 20.0 | $ | 17.3 |
The amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, excludes deferred tax assets related to uncertainty in income taxes of $2.0 million and $2.1 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the net amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate for continuing operations was $18.0 million and $15.2 million, respectively.
For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, we recognized $0.5 million of interest expense, $0.6 million of interest income, and $0.2 million of interest expense, respectively, related to unrecognized tax benefits in our income statements. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, we recognized no penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in our income statements. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we had $0.7 million of interest accrued and no penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits on our balance sheets. For the year ended December 31, 2017, we had $0.2 million of interest accrued and no penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits on our balance sheets.
Although analysis of our unrecognized tax benefits is ongoing, the potential estimated decrease in the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months are approximately $3.0 million associated with statutes of limitations on certain tax years. We do not anticipate any significant increases in the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months.
We file income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and state tax returns based on income in our major state operating jurisdictions of Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota. We also file tax returns in other state and local jurisdictions
| 2018 Form 10-K | 112 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
with varying statutes of limitations. As of December 31, 2018, with a few exceptions, we were subject to examination by federal and state or local tax authorities for the 2013 through 2018 tax years in our major operating jurisdictions as follows:
| Jurisdiction | Years | |
| Federal | 2015–2018 | |
| Illinois | 2013–2018 | |
| Michigan | 2014–2018 | |
| Minnesota | 2014–2018 | |
| Wisconsin | 2014–2018 |
NOTE 15—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The following tables summarize our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis, categorized by level within the fair value hierarchy:
| December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
| Derivative assets | ||||||||||||||||
| Natural gas contracts | $ | 6.3 | $ | 1.8 | $ | — | $ | 8.1 | ||||||||
| FTRs | — | — | 7.4 | 7.4 | ||||||||||||
| Coal contracts | — | 0.4 | — | 0.4 | ||||||||||||
| Total derivative assets | $ | 6.3 | $ | 2.2 | $ | 7.4 | $ | 15.9 | ||||||||
| Investments held in rabbi trust | $ | 65.0 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 65.0 | ||||||||
| Derivative liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
| Natural gas contracts | $ | 4.7 | $ | 0.8 | $ | — | $ | 5.5 | ||||||||
| Coal contracts | — | 0.1 | — | 0.1 | ||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps | — | 2.3 | — | 2.3 | ||||||||||||
| Total derivative liabilities | $ | 4.7 | $ | 3.2 | $ | — | $ | 7.9 |
| December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
| Derivative assets | ||||||||||||||||
| Natural gas contracts | $ | 1.8 | $ | 3.9 | $ | — | $ | 5.7 | ||||||||
| Petroleum products contracts | 1.2 | — | — | 1.2 | ||||||||||||
| FTRs | — | — | 4.4 | 4.4 | ||||||||||||
| Coal contracts | — | 1.1 | — | 1.1 | ||||||||||||
| Total derivative assets | $ | 3.0 | $ | 5.0 | $ | 4.4 | $ | 12.4 | ||||||||
| Investments held in rabbi trust | $ | 120.7 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 120.7 | ||||||||
| Derivative liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
| Natural gas contracts | $ | 7.0 | $ | 3.8 | $ | — | $ | 10.8 | ||||||||
| Coal contracts | — | 0.8 | — | 0.8 | ||||||||||||
| Total derivative liabilities | $ | 7.0 | $ | 4.6 | $ | — | $ | 11.6 |
The derivative assets and liabilities listed in the tables above include options, swaps, futures, physical commodity contracts, and other instruments used to manage market risks related to changes in commodity prices and interest rates. They also include FTRs, which are used to manage electric transmission congestion costs in the MISO Energy Markets.
We hold investments in the Integrys rabbi trust. These investments are restricted as they can only be withdrawn from the trust to fund participants' benefits under the Integrys deferred compensation plan and certain Integrys non-qualified pension plans. These investments are included in other long-term assets on our balance sheets. The net unrealized gains included in earnings related to the investments held at the end of the period were $18.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The net unrealized gains included in earnings for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2016 were not significant.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 113 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
The following table summarizes the changes to derivatives classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy at December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Balance at the beginning of the period | $ | 4.4 | $ | 5.1 | $ | 3.6 | ||||||
| Realized and unrealized losses | — | — | (0.2 | ) | ||||||||
| Purchases | 18.4 | 13.8 | 15.2 | |||||||||
| Sales | — | — | (0.2 | ) | ||||||||
| Settlements | (15.4 | ) | (14.5 | ) | (13.3 | ) | ||||||
| Balance at the end of the period | $ | 7.4 | $ | 4.4 | $ | 5.1 |
Unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 derivatives are deferred as regulatory assets or liabilities. Therefore, these fair value measurements have no impact on earnings. Realized gains and losses on these instruments flow through cost of sales on the income statements.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The following table shows the financial instruments included on our balance sheets that are not recorded at fair value at December 31:
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | Carrying Amount | Fair Value | Carrying Amount | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
| Preferred stock | $ | 30.4 | $ | 28.3 | $ | 30.4 | $ | 30.5 | ||||||||
| Long-term debt, including current portion * | 10,335.7 | 10,554.9 | 9,561.7 | 10,341.9 |
| * | The carrying amount of long-term debt excludes capital lease obligations of $23.3 million and $27.0 million at December 31, 2018 and |
December 31, 2017, respectively.
The fair values of long-term debt and preferred stock are categorized within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
NOTE 16—DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
None of our derivatives are designated as hedging instruments, with the exception of our interest rate swaps, which have been designated as cash flow hedges. The following table shows our derivative assets and derivative liabilities:
| December 31, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | Derivative Assets | Derivative Liabilities | Derivative Assets | Derivative Liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Other current | ||||||||||||||||
| Natural gas contracts | $ | 7.7 | $ | 5.3 | $ | 5.6 | $ | 9.4 | ||||||||
| Petroleum products contracts | — | — | 1.2 | — | ||||||||||||
| FTRs | 7.4 | — | 4.4 | — | ||||||||||||
| Coal contracts | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.6 | ||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps | — | 0.4 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Total other current | $ | 15.3 | $ | 5.8 | $ | 11.8 | $ | 10.0 | ||||||||
| Other long-term | ||||||||||||||||
| Natural gas contracts | $ | 0.4 | $ | 0.2 | $ | 0.1 | $ | 1.4 | ||||||||
| Coal contracts | 0.2 | — | 0.5 | 0.2 | ||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps | — | 1.9 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Total other long-term | $ | 0.6 | $ | 2.1 | $ | 0.6 | $ | 1.6 | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 15.9 | $ | 7.9 | $ | 12.4 | $ | 11.6 |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 114 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
Realized gains (losses) on derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are primarily recorded in cost of sales on the income statements. Our estimated notional sales volumes and realized gains (losses) were as follows for the years ended:
| December 31, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | Volume | Gains | Volume | Gains (Losses) | Volume | Gains (losses) | ||||||||||||
| Natural gas contracts | 173.2 Dth | $ | 24.6 | 123.1 Dth | $ | (8.0 | ) | 151.1 Dth | $ | (59.6 | ) | |||||||
| Petroleum products contracts | 6.0 gallons | 1.6 | 18.0 gallons | (1.3 | ) | 14.7 gallons | (3.2 | ) | ||||||||||
| FTRs | 30.5 MWh | 15.9 | 36.2 MWh | 14.0 | 33.7 MWh | 13.3 | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 42.1 | $ | 4.7 | $ | (49.5 | ) |
The following table shows derivative assets and derivative liabilities if derivative instruments by counterparty were presented net on our balance sheets:
| December 31, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | Derivative Assets | Derivative Liabilities | Derivative Assets | Derivative Liabilities | |||||||||||||
| Gross amount recognized on the balance sheet | $ | 15.9 | $ | 7.9 | $ | 12.4 | $ | 11.6 | |||||||||
| Gross amount not offset on the balance sheet | (4.0 | ) | (1) | (4.9 | ) | (2) | (4.9 | ) | (9.0 | ) | (3) | ||||||
| Net amount | $ | 11.9 | $ | 3.0 | $ | 7.5 | $ | 2.6 |
| (1) | Includes cash collateral received of $0.2 million. |
| (2) | Includes cash collateral posted of $1.1 million. |
| (3) | Includes cash collateral posted of $4.1 million. |
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, we had posted cash collateral of $2.7 million and $16.2 million, respectively, in our margin accounts. At December 31, 2018, we had also received cash collateral of $0.2 million in our margin accounts. Certain of our derivative and non-derivative commodity instruments contain provisions that could require "adequate assurance" in the event of a material change in our creditworthiness, or the posting of additional collateral for instruments in net liability positions, if triggered by a decrease in credit ratings. We did not have any derivative instruments with specific credit risk-related contingent features that were in a net liability position at December 31, 2018. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with these features that were in a net liability position at December 31, 2017 was $3.7 million. At December 31, 2017, we had not posted any cash collateral related to the credit risk-related contingent features of these commodity instruments. If all of the credit risk-related contingent features contained in derivative instruments in a net liability position had been triggered at December 31, 2017, we would have been required to post collateral of $2.7 million.
Cash Flow Hedges
In July 2018, we executed two interest rate swap agreements with a combined notional value of $250.0 million to hedge the variable interest rate risk associated with our 2007 Junior Notes. The swap agreements will provide a fixed interest rate of 4.9765% on $250.0 million of the $500.0 million of outstanding 2007 Junior Notes through November 15, 2021. As these agreements qualified for cash flow hedge accounting treatment, the related gains and losses are being deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income (OCI) and are being amortized to interest expense as interest is accrued on the 2007 Junior Notes.
During 2015, we settled several forward interest rate swap agreements entered into to mitigate interest rate risk associated with the issuance of $1.2 billion of long-term debt related to the acquisition of Integrys. As these agreements qualified for cash flow hedge accounting treatment, the proceeds of $19.0 million received upon settlement were deferred in accumulated OCI and are being amortized as a decrease to interest expense over the periods in which the interest costs are recognized in earnings.
The table below shows the amounts related to these cash flow hedges recorded in OCI and in earnings at December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Amount of net derivative loss recognized in OCI | $ | (2.9 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||
| Amount of net derivative gain reclassified from accumulated OCI to interest expense | 1.6 | 2.2 | 2.2 |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 115 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
We estimate that during the next twelve months, $1.8 million will be reclassified from accumulated OCI as a reduction to interest expense.
Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted ASU 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The amendments in this update expand the strategies that qualify for hedge accounting, amend the presentation and disclosure requirements related to hedging activities, and provide overall targeted improvements to simplify hedge accounting in certain situations. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.
NOTE 17—GUARANTEES
The following table shows our outstanding guarantees:
| Expiration | ||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | Total Amounts Committed at December 31, 2018 | Less Than 1 Year | 1 to 3 Years | Over 3 Years | ||||||||||||
| Guarantees | ||||||||||||||||
| Guarantees supporting commodity transactions of subsidiaries (1) | $ | 5.6 | $ | 5.6 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
| Standby letters of credit (2) | 92.6 | 13.9 | 0.2 | 78.5 | ||||||||||||
| Surety bonds (3) | 9.2 | 9.1 | 0.1 | — | ||||||||||||
| Other guarantees (4) | 11.9 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 10.5 | ||||||||||||
| Total guarantees | $ | 119.3 | $ | 29.1 | $ | 1.2 | $ | 89.0 |
| (1) | Consists of $5.6 million to support the business operations of Bluewater. |
| (2) | At our request or the request of our subsidiaries, financial institutions have issued standby letters of credit for the benefit of third parties that have extended credit to our subsidiaries. These amounts are not reflected on our balance sheets. |
| (3) | Primarily for workers compensation self-insurance programs and obtaining various licenses, permits, and rights-of-way. These amounts are not reflected on our balance sheets. |
| (4) | Consists of $11.9 million related to other indemnifications, for which a liability of $10.5 million related to workers compensation coverage was recorded on our balance sheets. |
NOTE 18—EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefits
We and our subsidiaries have defined benefit pension plans that cover substantially all of our employees, as well as several unfunded non-qualified retirement plans. In addition, we and our subsidiaries offer multiple OPEB plans to employees. The benefits for a portion of these plans are funded through irrevocable trusts, as allowed for income tax purposes. We also offer medical, dental, and life insurance benefits to active employees and their dependents. We expense the costs of these benefits as incurred.
Generally, former Wisconsin Energy Corporation employees who started with the company after 1995 receive a benefit based on a percentage of their annual salary plus an interest credit, while employees who started before 1996 receive a benefit based upon years of service and final average salary. New Wisconsin Energy Corporation management employees hired after December 31, 2014, and certain new represented employees hired after May 1, 2017, receive an annual company contribution to their 401(k) savings plan instead of being enrolled in the defined benefit plans.
For former Integrys employees, the defined benefit pension plans are closed to all new hires. In addition, the service accruals for the defined benefit pension plans were frozen for non-union employees as of January 1, 2013. These employees receive an annual company contribution to their 401(k) savings plan, which is calculated based on age, wages, and full years of vesting service as of December 31 each year.
We use a year-end measurement date to measure the funded status of all of our pension and OPEB plans. Due to the regulated nature of our business, we have concluded that substantially all of the unrecognized costs resulting from the recognition of the funded status of our pension and OPEB plans qualify as a regulatory asset.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 116 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in our plans' benefit obligations and fair value of assets:
| Pension Costs | OPEB Costs | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
| Change in benefit obligation | ||||||||||||||||
| Obligation at January 1 | $ | 3,163.7 | $ | 3,058.8 | $ | 818.5 | $ | 818.4 | ||||||||
| Service cost | 47.1 | 44.6 | 23.7 | 24.1 | ||||||||||||
| Interest cost | 114.3 | 121.8 | 29.9 | 32.9 | ||||||||||||
| Participant contributions | — | — | 15.5 | 13.4 | ||||||||||||
| Plan amendments | — | — | (3.5 | ) | (36.4 | ) | ||||||||||
| Actuarial loss (gain) | (171.8 | ) | 162.6 | (222.6 | ) | 12.9 | ||||||||||
| Benefit payments | (226.1 | ) | (224.1 | ) | (55.4 | ) | (48.8 | ) | ||||||||
| Federal subsidy on benefits paid | N/A | N/A | 1.0 | 2.0 | ||||||||||||
| Transfer | — | — | 1.1 | — | ||||||||||||
| Obligation at December 31 | $ | 2,927.2 | $ | 3,163.7 | $ | 608.2 | $ | 818.5 | ||||||||
| Change in fair value of plan assets | ||||||||||||||||
| Fair value at January 1 | $ | 2,966.8 | $ | 2,709.2 | $ | 841.5 | $ | 773.5 | ||||||||
| Actual return on plan assets | (122.2 | ) | 368.7 | (35.2 | ) | 95.9 | ||||||||||
| Employer contributions | 72.3 | 113.0 | 5.3 | 7.5 | ||||||||||||
| Participant contributions | — | — | 15.5 | 13.4 | ||||||||||||
| Benefit payments | (226.1 | ) | (224.1 | ) | (55.4 | ) | (48.8 | ) | ||||||||
| Fair value at December 31 | $ | 2,690.8 | $ | 2,966.8 | $ | 771.7 | $ | 841.5 | ||||||||
| Funded status at December 31 | $ | (236.4 | ) | $ | (196.9 | ) | $ | 163.5 | $ | 23.0 |
The amounts recognized on our balance sheets at December 31 related to the funded status of the benefit plans were as follows:
| Pension Costs | OPEB Costs | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
| Other long-term assets | $ | 139.1 | $ | 143.0 | $ | 210.8 | $ | 80.5 | ||||||||
| Pension and OPEB obligations | 375.5 | 339.9 | 47.3 | 57.5 | ||||||||||||
| Total net (liabilities) assets | $ | (236.4 | ) | $ | (196.9 | ) | $ | 163.5 | $ | 23.0 |
The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $2,804.9 million and $3,057.7 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The following table shows information for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets. Amounts presented are as of December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
| Projected benefit obligation | $ | 1,930.8 | $ | 679.5 | ||||
| Accumulated benefit obligation | 1,882.2 | 630.3 | ||||||
| Fair value of plan assets | 1,572.7 | 339.6 |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 117 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
The following table shows the amounts that have not yet been recognized in our net periodic benefit cost as of December 31:
| Pension Costs | OPEB Costs | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
| Pre-tax accumulated other comprehensive loss (income) (1) | ||||||||||||||||
| Net actuarial loss (gain) | $ | 14.5 | $ | 10.0 | $ | (1.6 | ) | $ | (1.0 | ) | ||||||
| Prior service credits | — | — | (0.1 | ) | (0.1 | ) | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 14.5 | $ | 10.0 | $ | (1.7 | ) | $ | (1.1 | ) | ||||||
| Net regulatory assets (liabilities) (2) | ||||||||||||||||
| Net actuarial loss (gain) | $ | 1,184.1 | $ | 1,136.8 | $ | (133.0 | ) | $ | (4.7 | ) | ||||||
| Prior service costs (credits) | 4.9 | 7.5 | (100.0 | ) | (111.8 | ) | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,189.0 | $ | 1,144.3 | $ | (233.0 | ) | $ | (116.5 | ) |
| (1) | Amounts related to the nonregulated entities are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss (income). |
| (2) | Amounts related to the utilities and WBS are recorded as net regulatory assets or liabilities. |
The following table shows the estimated amounts that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost during 2019:
| (in millions) | Pension Costs | OPEB Costs | ||||||
| Net actuarial loss (gain) | $ | 76.1 | $ | (5.7 | ) | |||
| Prior service costs (credits) | 2.2 | (15.4 | ) | |||||
| Total 2019 – estimated amortization | $ | 78.3 | $ | (21.1 | ) |
The components of net periodic benefit cost (including amounts capitalized to our balance sheets) for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
| Pension Costs | OPEB Costs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Service cost | $ | 47.1 | $ | 44.6 | $ | 45.4 | $ | 23.7 | $ | 24.1 | $ | 26.1 | ||||||||||||
| Interest cost | 114.3 | 121.8 | 130.8 | 29.9 | 32.9 | 37.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Expected return on plan assets | (196.5 | ) | (195.7 | ) | (195.9 | ) | (59.5 | ) | (55.5 | ) | (52.7 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Plan settlement | 1.0 | 9.0 | 16.5 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of prior service cost (credit) | 2.7 | 2.9 | 3.4 | (15.4 | ) | (12.3 | ) | (9.4 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Amortization of net actuarial loss | 94.0 | 86.1 | 82.9 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 8.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net periodic benefit cost (credit) | $ | 62.6 | $ | 68.7 | $ | 83.1 | $ | (20.3 | ) | $ | (7.7 | ) | $ | 9.5 |
Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which modifies certain aspects of the accounting for employee benefit costs. Under the new guidance, only the service cost component can be included in total operating expenses. The remaining components of net periodic benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component, outside of operating income. As required, this change was applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented. Accordingly, for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, we have presented the service cost component of our retirement benefit plans in other operation and maintenance on the income statements, while presenting the non-service cost components in other income, net.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 118 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
As required by ASU 2017-07, our income statements for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, were retroactively restated from what was previously presented in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The impacts to our income statements from adoption of this standard are reflected in the table below.
| Year Ended December 31, 2017 | Year Ended December 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | Form 10-K Income Statement | Impact of ASU 2017-07 | Income Statement After Adoption | Form 10-K Income Statement | Impact of ASU 2017-07 | Income Statement After Adoption | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | $ | 2,047.0 | $ | 9.1 | $ | 2,056.1 | $ | 2,185.5 | $ | (14.2 | ) | $ | 2,171.3 | |||||||||||
| Other expense | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income, net | 64.6 | 9.1 | 73.7 | 80.8 | (14.2 | ) | 66.6 |
In addition, under ASU 2017-07, only the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost is eligible for capitalization to property, plant, and equipment. In prior periods, a portion of all net benefit cost components was capitalized to property, plant, and equipment. As required, this amendment was applied prospectively, beginning January 1, 2018. As a result of the application of accounting principles for rate regulated entities, the non-service cost components of the net benefit cost that are no longer eligible for capitalization under this standard, but are capitalized under the regulatory framework, will be presented as regulatory assets or liabilities rather than property, plant, and equipment.
The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations for the plans were as follows for the years ended December 31:
| Pension | OPEB | |||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||
| Discount rate | 4.30% | 3.66% | 4.27% | 3.63% | ||||
| Rate of compensation increase | 3.66% | 3.61% | N/A | N/A | ||||
| Assumed medical cost trend rate (Pre 65) | N/A | N/A | 6.25% | 6.50% | ||||
| Ultimate trend rate (Pre 65) | N/A | N/A | 5.00% | 5.00% | ||||
| Year ultimate trend rate is reached (Pre 65) | N/A | N/A | 2024 | 2024 | ||||
| Assumed medical cost trend rate (Post 65) | N/A | N/A | 6.01% | 6.09% | ||||
| Ultimate trend rate (Post 65) | N/A | N/A | 5.00% | 5.00% | ||||
| Year ultimate trend rate is reached (Post 65) | N/A | N/A | 2028 | 2028 |
The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost for the plans were as follows for the years ended December 31:
| Pension Costs | ||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||
| Discount rate | 3.71% | 4.11% | 4.35% | |||
| Expected return on plan assets | 7.12% | 7.11% | 7.12% | |||
| Rate of compensation increase | 3.66% | 3.60% | 3.75% |
| OPEB Costs | ||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||
| Discount rate | 3.63% | 4.04% | 4.38% | |||
| Expected return on plan assets | 7.25% | 7.25% | 7.25% | |||
| Assumed medical cost trend rate (Pre 65) | 6.50% | 7.00% | 7.50% | |||
| Ultimate trend rate (Pre 65) | 5.00% | 5.00% | 5.00% | |||
| Year ultimate trend rate is reached (Pre 65) | 2024 | 2021 | 2021 | |||
| Assumed medical cost trend rate (Post 65) | 6.09% | 7.00% | 7.50% | |||
| Ultimate trend rate (Post 65) | 5.00% | 5.00% | 5.00% | |||
| Year ultimate trend rate is reached (Post 65) | 2028 | 2021 | 2021 |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 119 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
We consult with our investment advisors on an annual basis to help us forecast expected long-term returns on plan assets by reviewing historical returns as well as calculating expected total trust returns using the weighted-average of long-term market returns for each of the major target asset categories utilized in the fund. For 2019, the expected return on assets assumption is 7.12% for the pension plans and 7.25% for the OPEB plans.
Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported by us for health care plans. For the year ended December 31, 2018, a one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have had the following effects:
| (in millions) | 1% Increase | 1% Decrease | ||||||
| Effect on total of service and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement health care benefit cost | $ | 7.5 | $ | (5.9 | ) | |||
| Effect on health care component of the accumulated postretirement benefit obligations | 44.3 | (37.1 | ) |
Plan Assets
Current pension trust assets and amounts which are expected to be contributed to the trusts in the future are expected to be adequate to meet pension payment obligations to current and future retirees.
The Investment Trust Policy Committee oversees investment matters related to all of our funded benefit plans. The Committee works with external actuaries and investment consultants on an on-going basis to establish and monitor investment strategies and target asset allocations. Forecasted cash flows for plan liabilities are regularly updated based on annual valuation results. Target allocations are determined utilizing projected benefit payment cash flows and risk analyses of appropriate investments. They are intended to reduce risk, provide long-term financial stability for the plans and maintain funded levels which meet long-term plan obligations while preserving sufficient liquidity for near-term benefit payments.
The legacy Wisconsin Energy Corporation pension trust target asset allocations are 35% equity investments, 55% fixed income investments, and 10% private equity and real estate investments. The legacy Integrys pension trust target asset allocation is 45% equity investments, 45% fixed income investments, and 10% private equity and real estate investments. The two legacy Wisconsin Energy Corporation OPEB trusts' target asset allocations are 50% equity investments and 50% fixed income investments, and 70% equity investments and 30% fixed income investments, respectively. The two largest legacy OPEB trusts for Integrys have target asset allocations of 45% equity investments and 55% fixed income, and 50% equity investments and 50% fixed income, respectively. Equity securities include investments in large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap companies. Fixed income securities include corporate bonds of companies from diversified industries, mortgage and other asset backed securities, commercial paper, and United States Treasuries.
Pension and OPEB plan investments are recorded at fair value. See Note 1(n), Fair Value Measurements, for more information regarding the fair value hierarchy and the classification of fair value measurements based on the types of inputs used.
The following tables provide the fair values of our investments by asset class:
| December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pension Plan Assets | OPEB Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States Equity | $ | 281.7 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 281.7 | $ | 88.2 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 88.2 | ||||||||||||||||
| International Equity | 279.7 | 0.7 | — | 280.4 | 92.2 | 0.2 | — | 92.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed income securities: * | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States Bonds | 123.7 | 838.8 | — | 962.5 | 119.6 | 150.8 | — | 270.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International Bonds | 16.1 | 85.5 | — | 101.6 | 7.1 | 8.9 | — | 16.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 701.2 | $ | 925.0 | $ | — | $ | 1,626.2 | $ | 307.1 | $ | 159.9 | $ | — | $ | 467.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Investments measured at net asset value | $ | 1,064.6 | $ | 304.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 701.2 | $ | 925.0 | $ | — | $ | 2,690.8 | $ | 307.1 | $ | 159.9 | $ | — | $ | 771.7 |
| * | This category represents investment grade bonds of United States and foreign issuers denominated in United States dollars from diverse industries. |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 120 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
| December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pension Plan Assets | OPEB Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | — | $ | 53.6 | $ | — | $ | 53.6 | $ | 19.6 | $ | 2.3 | $ | — | $ | 21.9 | ||||||||||||||||
| Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States Equity | 345.0 | 0.1 | — | 345.1 | 101.0 | — | — | 101.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International Equity | 352.1 | — | 0.8 | 352.9 | 115.3 | — | 0.2 | 115.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed income securities: * | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States Bonds | 138.6 | 892.9 | — | 1,031.5 | 121.0 | 148.1 | — | 269.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International Bonds | 17.8 | 86.8 | — | 104.6 | 7.2 | 9.1 | — | 16.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Equity and Real Estate | — | 154.1 | 100.1 | 254.2 | — | 6.6 | 7.7 | 14.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 853.5 | $ | 1,187.5 | $ | 100.9 | $ | 2,141.9 | $ | 364.1 | $ | 166.1 | $ | 7.9 | $ | 538.1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Investments measured at net asset value | $ | 824.9 | $ | 303.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 853.5 | $ | 1,187.5 | $ | 100.9 | $ | 2,966.8 | $ | 364.1 | $ | 166.1 | $ | 7.9 | $ | 841.5 |
| * | This category represents investment grade bonds of United States and foreign issuers denominated in United States dollars from diverse industries. |
The following tables set forth a reconciliation of changes in the fair value of pension and OPEB plan assets categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy:
| Private Equity and Real Estate | International Equity | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | Pension | OPEB | Pension | OPEB | ||||||||||||
| Beginning balance at January 1, 2018 | $ | 100.1 | $ | 7.7 | $ | 0.8 | $ | 0.2 | ||||||||
| Realized and unrealized gains (losses) | 8.0 | 1.1 | (0.1 | ) | — | |||||||||||
| Purchases | 18.3 | 1.5 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Liquidations | (1.7 | ) | (0.2 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||
| Transfers out of level 3 | (124.7 | ) | (10.1 | ) | (0.7 | ) | (0.2 | ) | ||||||||
| Ending balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — |
| Private Equity and Real Estate | International Equity | U.S. Bonds | ||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | Pension | OPEB | Pension | OPEB | Pension | |||||||||||||||
| Beginning balance at January 1, 2017 | $ | 14.6 | $ | 1.3 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 0.8 | ||||||||||
| Realized and unrealized gains (losses) | 2.8 | 0.3 | (0.2 | ) | — | (0.8 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Purchases | 55.5 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Transfers into level 3 | 27.2 | 2.5 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Ending balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | 100.1 | $ | 7.7 | $ | 0.8 | $ | 0.2 | $ | — |
Cash Flows
We expect to contribute $11.9 million to the pension plans and $0.7 million to the OPEB plans in 2019, dependent upon various factors affecting us, including our liquidity position and the effects of the new Tax Legislation.
The following table shows the payments, reflecting expected future service, that we expect to make for pension and OPEB:
| (in millions) | Pension Costs | OPEB Costs | ||||||
| 2019 | $ | 239.0 | $ | 35.4 | ||||
| 2020 | 233.0 | 39.6 | ||||||
| 2021 | 230.9 | 41.3 | ||||||
| 2022 | 225.7 | 41.6 | ||||||
| 2023 | 215.8 | 42.5 | ||||||
| 2024-2028 | 985.5 | 213.6 |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 121 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
Savings Plans
We sponsor 401(k) savings plans which allow employees to contribute a portion of their pre-tax and/or after-tax income in accordance with plan-specified guidelines. A percentage of employee contributions are matched by us through a contribution into the employee's savings plan account, up to certain limits. The 401(k) savings plans include an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Certain employees receive an employer retirement contribution, in which amounts are contributed to the employee's savings plan account based on the employee's wages, age, and years of service. Total costs incurred under all of these plans were $49.3 million, $47.9 million, and $44.3 million in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.
NOTE 19—INVESTMENT IN TRANSMISSION AFFILIATES
We own approximately 60% of ATC, a for-profit, transmission-only company regulated by the FERC for cost of service and certain state regulatory commissions for routing and siting of transmission projects. We also own approximately 75% of ATC Holdco, a separate entity formed in December 2016 to invest in transmission-related projects outside of ATC's traditional footprint. The corporate managers for ATC and ATC Holdco each have an eleven-member board of directors. We have one representative on each board. Each member of the board has only one vote. Due to voting requirements, each individual board member has less than 10% of the voting control. The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in our investments in ATC and ATC Holdco:
| 2018 | ||||||||||||
| (in millions) | ATC | ATC Holdco | Total | |||||||||
| Balance at January 1 | $ | 1,515.8 | $ | 37.6 | $ | 1,553.4 | ||||||
| Add: Earnings (loss) from equity method investment | 139.6 | (2.9 | ) | 136.7 | ||||||||
| Add: Capital contributions | 48.2 | 5.3 | 53.5 | |||||||||
| Less: Distributions | 78.2 | — | 78.2 | |||||||||
| Less: Other | 0.1 | — | 0.1 | |||||||||
| Balance at December 31 | $ | 1,625.3 | $ | 40.0 | $ | 1,665.3 |
| 2017 | ||||||||||||
| (in millions) | ATC | ATC Holdco | Total | |||||||||
| Balance at January 1 | $ | 1,443.9 | $ | — | $ | 1,443.9 | ||||||
| Add: Earnings (loss) from equity method investment | 166.0 | (11.7 | ) | 154.3 | ||||||||
| Add: Capital contributions | 60.3 | 49.3 | 109.6 | |||||||||
| Less: Distributions | 154.2 | * | — | 154.2 | ||||||||
| Less: Other | 0.2 | — | 0.2 | |||||||||
| Balance at December 31 | $ | 1,515.8 | $ | 37.6 | $ | 1,553.4 |
| * | Of this amount, $39.9 million was recorded as a receivable from ATC in other current assets at December 31, 2017. |
| ATC | ||||
| (in millions) | 2016 | |||
| Balance at January 1 | $ | 1,380.9 | ||
| Add: Earnings from equity method investment | 146.5 | |||
| Add: Capital contributions | 42.3 | |||
| Add: Acquisition of Integrys's investment in ATC | (1.0 | ) | ||
| Add: Equity method goodwill from the acquisition of Integrys (1) | 10.4 | |||
| Less: Distributions (2) | 135.1 | |||
| Less: Other | 0.1 | |||
| Balance at December 31 | $ | 1,443.9 |
| (1) | Represents an adjustment to the purchase price allocated to Integrys's investment in ATC in excess of the recorded value. |
| (2) | Of this amount, $35.2 million was recorded as a receivable from ATC in other current assets at December 31, 2016. |
We pay ATC for network transmission and other related services it provides. In addition, we provide a variety of operational, maintenance, and project management work for ATC, which is reimbursed by ATC. We are required to pay the cost of needed transmission infrastructure upgrades for new generation projects while the projects are under construction. ATC reimburses us for these costs when the new generation is placed in service.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 122 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
The following table summarizes our significant related party transactions with ATC during the years ended December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Charges to ATC for services and construction | $ | 21.8 | $ | 17.1 | $ | 18.5 | ||||||
| Charges from ATC for network transmission services | 338.1 | 349.3 | 357.3 | |||||||||
| Refund from ATC related to a FERC audit | 22.0 | — | — | |||||||||
| Refund from ATC per FERC ROE order | — | 28.3 | — |
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, our balance sheets included the following receivables and payables related to ATC:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
| Accounts receivable | ||||||||
| Services provided to ATC | $ | 3.4 | $ | 1.5 | ||||
| Other current assets | ||||||||
| Dividends receivable from ATC | — | 39.9 | ||||||
| Accounts payable | ||||||||
| Services received from ATC | 28.2 | 31.2 |
Summarized financial data for ATC is included in the tables below:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Income statement data | ||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 690.5 | $ | 721.7 | $ | 650.8 | ||||||
| Operating expenses | 358.7 | 345.0 | 322.5 | |||||||||
| Other expense, net | 108.3 | 104.1 | 95.5 | |||||||||
| Net income | $ | 223.5 | $ | 272.6 | $ | 232.8 |
| (in millions) | December 31, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | ||||||
| Balance sheet data | ||||||||
| Current assets | $ | 87.2 | $ | 87.7 | ||||
| Noncurrent assets | 4,928.8 | 4,598.9 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 5,016.0 | $ | 4,686.6 | ||||
| Current liabilities | $ | 640.0 | $ | 767.2 | ||||
| Long-term debt | 2,014.0 | 1,790.6 | ||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | 295.3 | 240.3 | ||||||
| Shareholders' equity | 2,066.7 | 1,888.5 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 5,016.0 | $ | 4,686.6 |
NOTE 20—SEGMENT INFORMATION
We use operating income to measure segment profitability and to allocate resources to our businesses. At December 31, 2018, we reported six segments, which are described below.
| • | The Wisconsin segment includes the electric and natural gas utility operations of WE, WG, WPS, and UMERC. |
| • | The Illinois segment includes the natural gas utility and non-utility operations of PGL and NSG. |
| • | The other states segment includes the natural gas utility and non-utility operations of MERC and MGU. |
| • | The electric transmission segment includes our approximate 60% ownership interest in ATC, a for-profit, transmission-only company regulated by the FERC for cost of service and certain state regulatory commissions for routing and siting of transmission projects, and our approximate 75% ownership interest in ATC Holdco, which invests in transmission-related projects outside of ATC's traditional footprint. |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 123 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
| • | The non-utility energy infrastructure segment includes We Power, which owns and leases generating facilities to WE, Bluewater, which owns underground natural gas storage facilities in Michigan that provide approximately one-third of the current storage needs for our Wisconsin natural gas utilities, our 90% membership interest in Bishop Hill III, a wind generating facility located in Henry County, Illinois, and our 80% membership interest in Coyote Ridge, a wind generating facility under construction in Brookings County, South Dakota. See Note 2, Acquisitions, for more information on Bluewater, Bishop Hill III, and Coyote Ridge. |
| • | The corporate and other segment includes the operations of the WEC Energy Group holding company, the Integrys holding company, the PELLC holding company, Wispark, Bostco, Wisvest, WECC, WBS, PDL, and ITF. In the first quarter of 2017, we sold substantially all of the remaining assets of Bostco, and, in October 2018, Bostco was dissolved. In the second quarter of 2016, we sold certain assets of Wisvest, which no longer has significant operations, and in the first quarter of 2016, the sale of ITF was completed. See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information on these sales. |
All of our operations and assets are located within the United States. The following tables show summarized financial information related to our reportable segments for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016.
| Utility Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 (in millions) | Wisconsin | Illinois | Other States | Total Utility Operations | Electric Transmission | Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure | Corporate and Other | Reconciling Eliminations | WEC Energy Group Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| External revenues | $ | 5,794.7 | $ | 1,400.0 | $ | 438.2 | $ | 7,632.9 | $ | — | $ | 37.9 | $ | 8.7 | $ | — | $ | 7,679.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Intersegment revenues | — | — | — | — | — | 430.5 | — | (430.5 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 2,076.1 | 472.3 | 101.0 | 2,649.4 | — | 12.6 | 1.8 | (393.3 | ) | 2,270.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 546.6 | 170.3 | 24.1 | 741.0 | — | 75.7 | 29.1 | — | 845.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | 800.2 | 255.8 | 68.8 | 1,124.8 | — | 365.8 | (22.2 | ) | — | 1,468.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in earnings of transmission affiliates | — | — | — | — | 136.7 | — | — | — | 136.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 200.7 | 51.2 | 8.7 | 260.6 | 0.3 | 63.7 | 125.8 | (5.3 | ) | 445.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures and asset acquisitions | 1,466.1 | 547.1 | 103.6 | 2,116.8 | — | 260.6 | 39.7 | — | 2,417.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets * | 23,407.0 | 6,483.3 | 1,147.9 | 31,038.2 | 1,665.3 | 3,227.2 | 959.6 | (3,414.5 | ) | 33,475.8 |
| * | Total assets at December 31, 2018 reflect an elimination of $1,968.5 million for all lease activity between We Power and WE. |
| Utility Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 (in millions) | Wisconsin | Illinois | Other States | Total Utility Operations | Electric Transmission | Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure | Corporate and Other | Reconciling Eliminations | WEC Energy Group Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| External revenues | $ | 5,829.2 | $ | 1,355.5 | $ | 411.2 | $ | 7,595.9 | $ | — | $ | 38.9 | $ | 13.7 | $ | — | $ | 7,648.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Intersegment revenues | — | — | — | — | — | 446.3 | — | (446.3 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other operation and maintenance (1) | 1,923.2 | 464.2 | 101.1 | 2,488.5 | — | 7.3 | 1.4 | (441.1 | ) | 2,056.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 523.9 | 152.6 | 24.8 | 701.3 | — | 71.4 | 25.9 | — | 798.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) (1) | 1,055.2 | 279.9 | 54.4 | 1,389.5 | — | 400.5 | (13.9 | ) | — | 1,776.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in earnings of transmission affiliates | — | — | — | — | 154.3 | — | — | — | 154.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 193.7 | 45.0 | 8.7 | 247.4 | — | 62.8 | 107.3 | (1.8 | ) | 415.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | 1,152.3 | 545.2 | 74.5 | 1,772.0 | — | 35.4 | 152.1 | — | 1,959.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets (2) | 22,237.1 | 6,144.7 | 1,067.8 | 29,449.6 | 1,593.4 | 2,992.8 | 953.6 | (3,398.9 | ) | 31,590.5 |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 124 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
| (1) | Includes the retroactive restatement impacts of the implementation of ASU 2017-07. See Note 18, Employee Benefits, for more information on this new standard. |
| (2) | Total assets at December 31, 2017 reflect an elimination of $2,038.1 million for all lease activity between We Power and WE. |
| Utility Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 (in millions) | Wisconsin | Illinois | Other States | Total Utility Operations | Electric Transmission | Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure | Corporate and Other | Reconciling Eliminations | WEC Energy Group Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| External revenues | $ | 5,805.4 | $ | 1,242.2 | $ | 376.5 | $ | 7,424.1 | $ | — | $ | 24.9 | $ | 23.3 | $ | — | $ | 7,472.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Intersegment revenues | 0.3 | — | — | 0.3 | — | 423.3 | — | (423.6 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other operation and maintenance (1) | 2,034.6 | 463.6 | 108.8 | 2,607.0 | — | 4.3 | (16.4 | ) | (423.6 | ) | 2,171.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 496.6 | 134.0 | 21.1 | 651.7 | — | 68.3 | 42.6 | — | 762.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) (1) | 1,017.8 | 261.1 | 51.2 | 1,330.1 | — | 375.6 | (9.4 | ) | — | 1,696.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in earnings of transmission affiliate | — | — | — | — | 146.5 | — | — | — | 146.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 180.9 | 38.9 | 8.5 | 228.3 | — | 62.1 | 120.9 | (8.6 | ) | 402.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | 910.9 | 293.2 | 59.5 | 1,263.6 | — | 62.3 | 97.8 | — | 1,423.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets (2) | 21,730.7 | 5,714.6 | 995.1 | 28,440.4 | 1,476.9 | 2,777.1 | 778.0 | (3,349.2 | ) | 30,123.2 |
| (1) | Includes the retroactive restatement impacts of the implementation of ASU 2017-07. See Note 18, Employee Benefits, for more information on this new standard. |
| (2) | Total assets at December 31, 2016 reflect an elimination of $2,029.5 million for all lease activity between We Power and WE. |
NOTE 21—VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
The primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity must consolidate the entity's assets and liabilities. In addition, certain disclosures are required for significant interest holders in variable interest entities.
We assess our relationships with potential variable interest entities, such as our coal suppliers, natural gas suppliers, coal transporters, natural gas transporters, and other counterparties related to power purchase agreements, investments, and joint ventures. In making this assessment, we consider, along with other factors, the potential that our contracts or other arrangements provide subordinated financial support, the obligation to absorb the entity's losses, the right to receive residual returns of the entity, and the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance.
Investment in Transmission Affiliates
We own approximately 60% of ATC, a for-profit, electric transmission company regulated by the FERC and certain state regulatory commissions. We have determined that ATC is a variable interest entity but that consolidation is not required since we are not ATC's primary beneficiary. As a result of our limited voting rights, we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact ATC's economic performance. Therefore, we account for ATC as an equity method investment. The significant assets and liabilities related to ATC recorded on our balance sheets were our equity investment, distributions receivable, and accounts payable. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, our equity investment was $1,625.3 million and $1,515.8 million, respectively, which approximates our maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement with ATC. In addition, we had a receivable of $39.9 million recorded at December 31, 2017 for distributions from ATC. We also had $28.2 million and $31.2 million of accounts payable due to ATC at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, for network transmission services.
We also own approximately 75% of ATC Holdco, a separate entity formed in December 2016 to invest in transmission-related projects outside of ATC's traditional footprint. We have determined that ATC Holdco is a variable interest entity but that consolidation is not required since we are not ATC Holdco's primary beneficiary. As a result of our limited voting rights, we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact ATC Holdco's economic performance. Therefore, we account for ATC Holdco as an
| 2018 Form 10-K | 125 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
equity method investment. The only significant asset or liability related to ATC Holdco recorded on our balance sheets was our equity investment of $40.0 million and $37.6 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Our equity investment approximates our maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement with ATC Holdco.
See Note 19, Investment in Transmission Affiliates, for more information.
Purchased Power Agreement
We have a purchased power agreement that represents a variable interest. This agreement is for 236 MW of firm capacity from a natural gas-fired cogeneration facility, and we account for it as a capital lease. The agreement includes no minimum energy requirements over the remaining term of approximately three years. We have examined the risks of the entity, including operations, maintenance, dispatch, financing, fuel costs, and other factors, and have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of the entity. We do not hold an equity or debt interest in the entity, and there is no residual guarantee associated with the purchased power agreement.
We have $56.7 million of required capacity payments over the remaining term of this agreement. We believe that the required capacity payments under this contract will continue to be recoverable in rates, and our maximum exposure to loss is limited to the capacity payments under the contract.
NOTE 22—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
We and our subsidiaries have significant commitments and contingencies arising from our operations, including those related to unconditional purchase obligations, operating leases, environmental matters, and enforcement and litigation matters.
Unconditional Purchase Obligations
Our electric utilities have obligations to distribute and sell electricity to their customers, and our natural gas utilities have obligations to distribute and sell natural gas to their customers. The utilities expect to recover costs related to these obligations in future customer rates. In order to meet these obligations, we routinely enter into long-term purchase and sale commitments for various quantities and lengths of time.
Our non-utility energy infrastructure generation facilities have obligations to distribute and sell electricity through long-term offtake agreements with their customers for all of the energy produced. These projects also enter into related easements and other agreements associated with the generating facilities.
The following table shows our minimum future commitments related to these purchase obligations as of December 31, 2018, including those of our subsidiaries.
| Payments Due By Period | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | Date Contracts Extend Through | Total Amounts Committed | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Later Years | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electric utility: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nuclear | 2033 | $ | 8,764.4 | $ | 445.4 | $ | 475.1 | $ | 501.1 | $ | 531.2 | $ | 563.0 | $ | 6,248.6 | |||||||||||||||
| Purchased power | 2043 | 494.0 | 92.8 | 62.6 | 58.4 | 51.5 | 46.6 | 182.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coal supply and transportation | 2024 | 1,123.8 | 348.6 | 228.5 | 177.8 | 182.4 | 185.8 | 0.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Natural gas utility: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supply and transportation | 2048 | 1,564.7 | 324.1 | 258.3 | 162.1 | 116.7 | 75.0 | 628.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-utility energy infrastructure: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchased power | 2049 | 55.9 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 49.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 12,002.8 | $ | 1,211.9 | $ | 1,025.9 | $ | 900.8 | $ | 883.3 | $ | 871.9 | $ | 7,109.0 |
Operating Leases
We lease property, plant, and equipment under various terms. The operating leases generally require us to pay property taxes, insurance premiums, and maintenance costs associated with the leased property. Many of our leases contain one of the following options upon the end of the lease term: (a) purchase the property at the current fair market value, or (b) exercise a renewal option, as set forth in the lease agreement.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 126 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
Rental expense attributable to operating leases was $11.7 million, $13.2 million, and $15.1 million in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.
Future minimum payments under noncancelable operating leases are payable as follows:
| Year Ending December 31 | Payments (in millions) | |||
| 2019 | $ | 8.7 | ||
| 2020 | 8.7 | |||
| 2021 | 6.8 | |||
| 2022 | 6.9 | |||
| 2023 | 7.1 | |||
| Later years | 48.7 | |||
| Total | $ | 86.9 |
Environmental Matters
Consistent with other companies in the energy industry, we face significant ongoing environmental compliance and remediation obligations related to current and past operations. Specific environmental issues affecting us include, but are not limited to, current and future regulation of air emissions such as SO2, NOx, fine particulates, mercury, and GHGs; water intake and discharges; disposal of coal combustion products such as fly ash; and remediation of impacted properties, including former manufactured gas plant sites.
We have continued to pursue a proactive strategy to manage our environmental compliance obligations, including:
| • | the development of additional sources of renewable electric energy supply; |
| • | the addition of improvements for water quality matters such as treatment technologies to meet regulatory discharge limits and improvements to our cooling water intake systems; |
| • | the addition of emission control equipment to existing facilities to comply with ambient air quality standards and federal clean air rules; |
| • | the protection of wetlands and waterways, threatened and endangered species, and cultural resources associated with utility construction projects; |
| • | the retirement of old coal-fired power plants and conversion to modern, efficient, natural gas generation, super-critical pulverized coal generation, and/or replacement with renewable generation; |
| • | the beneficial use of ash and other products from coal-fired and biomass generating units; and |
| • | the remediation of former manufactured gas plant sites. |
Air Quality
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
After completing its review of the 2008 ozone standard, the EPA released a final rule in October 2015, which lowered the limit for ground-level ozone, creating a more stringent standard than the 2008 NAAQS. The EPA issued final nonattainment area designations on May 1, 2018. The following counties within our service territories were designated as partial nonattainment: Door, Kenosha, Manitowoc, Northern Milwaukee/Ozaukee, and Sheboygan shorelines. The state of Wisconsin will need to develop a state implementation plan to bring these areas back into attainment. We will be required to comply with this state implementation plan no earlier than 2020. We believe we are well positioned to meet the requirements associated with the ozone standard and do not expect to incur significant costs to comply.
Mercury and Air Toxics Standards
In December 2018, the EPA proposed to revise the Supplemental Cost Finding for the mercury and air toxics standards (MATS) rule as well as the CAA required risk and technology review (RTR). The EPA was required by the Supreme Court to review both costs and benefits of complying with the MATS rule. After its review of costs, the EPA determined that it is not appropriate and necessary to regulate hazardous air pollutant emissions from power plants under Section 112 of the CAA. As a result, under the proposed rule, the emission standards and other requirements of the MATS rule first enacted in 2012 would remain in place. The EPA is not proposing to
| 2018 Form 10-K | 127 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
remove coal and oil fired power plants from the list of sources that are regulated under Section 112. The EPA also proposes that no revisions to MATS are warranted based on the results of the RTR. As a result, we do not expect the proposed rule to have a material impact on our financial condition or operations.
Climate Change
In 2015, the EPA issued a final rule regulating GHG emissions from existing generating units, referred to as the Clean Power Plan, and final performance standards for modified and reconstructed generating units and new fossil-fueled power plants. In February 2016, the Supreme Court stayed the effectiveness of the CPP until disposition of certain litigation in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the rule and, to the extent that further appellate review is sought, at the Supreme Court. In April 2017, pursuant to motions made by the EPA, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the challenges to the CPP, as well as related performance standards for new, reconstructed, and modified fossil-fueled power plants, to be held in abeyance, which remains the case.
In December 2017, the EPA issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit input on whether it is appropriate to replace the CPP. Then, in August 2018, the EPA issued a proposed replacement rule for the CPP, the ACE rule. The proposed ACE rule would require the EPA to develop emission guidelines for states to use to develop their individual state plans. The state plans would focus on reducing GHG emissions by improving the efficiency of fossil-fueled power plants.
In December 2018, the EPA proposed to revise the New Source Performance Standards for GHG emissions from new, modified, and reconstructed fossil fueled power plants. The EPA determined that the best system of emission reduction (BSER) for new, modified, and reconstructed coal units is highly efficient generation that would be equivalent to supercritical steam conditions for larger units and subcritical steam conditions for smaller units. This proposed BSER would replace the determination from the 2015 rule, which identified BSER as partial carbon capture and storage.
In addition, we are evaluating our goals, and possible subsequent actions, with respect to national and international efforts to reduce future GHG emissions in order to limit future global temperature increases to less than two degrees Celsius. We are working with industry members to evaluate potential GHG reduction pathways.
We continue to evaluate opportunities and actions that preserve fuel diversity, lower costs for our customers, and contribute towards long-term GHG reductions. Our plan is to work with our industry partners, environmental groups, and the State of Wisconsin, with goals of reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 40% and 80% below 2005 levels by 2030 and 2050, respectively. We have implemented and continue to evaluate numerous options in order to meet our CO2 reduction goals. As a result of our generation reshaping plan, we expect to retire approximately 1,800 MW of coal generation by 2020, including PIPP, which we are required to retire by May 31, 2019. This plan included the 2018 retirement of the Pleasant Prairie power plant, the Pulliam power plant, and the jointly-owned Edgewater Unit 4 generation units. See Note 6, Property, Plant, and Equipment, for more information.
We are required to report our CO2 equivalent emissions from our electric generating facilities under the EPA Greenhouse Gases Reporting Program. For 2017, we reported aggregated CO2 equivalent emissions of approximately 29.2 million metric tonnes to the EPA. Based upon our preliminary analysis of the data, we estimate that we will report CO2 equivalent emissions of approximately 26.4 million metric tonnes to the EPA for 2018. The level of CO2 and other GHG emissions varies from year to year and is dependent on the level of electric generation and mix of fuel sources, which is determined primarily by demand, the availability of the generating units, the unit cost of fuel consumed, and how our units are dispatched by MISO.
We are also required to report CO2 equivalent amounts related to the natural gas that our natural gas utilities distribute and sell. For 2017, we reported aggregated CO2 equivalent emissions of approximately 26.5 million metric tonnes to the EPA. Based upon our preliminary analysis of the data, we estimate that we will report CO2 equivalent emissions of approximately 29.5 million metric tonnes to the EPA for 2018.
Water Quality
Clean Water Act Cooling Water Intake Structure Rule
In August 2014, the EPA issued a final regulation under Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act, that requires the location, design, construction, and capacity of cooling water intake structures at existing power plants to reflect the Best Technology Available (BTA) for minimizing adverse environmental impacts. The rule became effective in October 2014 and applies to all of our existing generating facilities with cooling water intake structures, except for the ERGS units, which were permitted under the rules governing new facilities.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 128 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
The rule requires state permitting agencies to make BTA determinations, subject to EPA oversight, over the next several years as facility permits are reissued. Based on our assessment, we believe that existing technologies at our generating facilities, except for Weston Unit 2, satisfy the BTA requirements. WPS retired Pulliam Units 7 and 8 effective October 21, 2018. See Note 6, Property, Plant, and Equipment, for more information on the retirement of the Pulliam generating units. Therefore, WPS will not be required to make alterations to the existing water intake at these units. Based on the March 2018 reissued WPDES permit for Weston, the WDNR will not require physical modifications to the Weston Unit 2 intake structure to meet the BTA requirements based on low capacity use of the unit.
We have received a BTA determination by the WDNR, with EPA concurrence, for our intake modification at the VAPP. There has also been an interim BTA determination made by the WDNR as part of the March 2018 reissued WPDES permit for Weston Units 3 and 4. We expect that the WDNR will conclude, in the next permit reissuance, that the existing cooling tower systems for Weston Units 3 and 4 are BTA. Due to the retirements of the Pleasant Prairie power plant, Pulliam Units 7 and 8, and our plans to retire PIPP, we do not believe that BTA determinations will be necessary for these units. Although we currently believe that existing technologies at PWGS and OC 5 through OC 8 satisfy the BTA requirements, final determinations will not be made until discharge permits are renewed for these units. Until that time, we cannot determine what, if any, intake structure or operational modifications will be required to meet the new BTA requirements for these units.
We also have provided information to the WDNR and the MDEQ about planned unit retirements. Following discussions with the MDEQ, in January 2019, we submitted a signed certification stating that PIPP will be retired no later than June 1, 2019. Based on this submittal, the MDEQ has authority to waive any remaining BTA requirements applicable to the PIPP units.
As a result of past capital investments completed to address 316(b) compliance at WE and WPS, we believe our fleet overall is well positioned to meet the new regulation and do not expect to incur significant costs to comply with this regulation.
Steam Electric Effluent Limitation Guidelines
The EPA's final steam electric effluent limitation guidelines (ELG) rule took effect in January 2016. This rule created new requirements for several types of power plant wastewaters. The two new requirements that affect WE and WPS relate to discharge limits for bottom ash transport water (BATW) and wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater. Various petitions challenging the rule were consolidated and are pending in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. In April 2017, the EPA issued an administrative stay of certain compliance deadlines while further reviewing the rule. In September 2017, the EPA issued a final rule (Postponement Rule) to postpone the earliest compliance date to November 1, 2020 for the BATW and wet FGD wastewater requirements. The latest ELG rule compliance date remains December 31, 2023 for any new wastewater treatment requirements contained in power plant discharge permits. This rule applies to wastewater discharges from our power plant processes in Wisconsin. Litigation over various aspects of the final ELG rule and the Postponement Rule is pending in several federal courts.
As a result of past capital investments completed to address ELG compliance at WE and WPS, we believe our fleet overall is well positioned to meet this new regulation. Our power plant facilities already have advanced wastewater treatment technologies installed that meet many of the discharge limits established by this rule. However, as currently constructed, the ELG rule will require additional wastewater treatment retrofits as well as installation of other equipment to minimize process water use. Due to completed and pending generating unit retirements, we believe the only facilities that will require bottom ash system modifications are Weston Unit 3 and Oak Creek Units 7 and 8. One wastewater treatment system modification may be required for the wet FGD discharges from the six units that make up the OCPP and ERGS. Based on preliminary engineering, the estimated rule compliance cost is approximately $70 million.
Land Quality
Manufactured Gas Plant Remediation
We have identified sites at which our utilities or a predecessor company owned or operated a manufactured gas plant or stored manufactured gas. We have also identified other sites that may have been impacted by historical manufactured gas plant activities. Our natural gas utilities are responsible for the environmental remediation of these sites, some of which are in the EPA Superfund Alternative Approach Program. We are also working with various state jurisdictions in our investigation and remediation planning. These sites are at various stages of investigation, monitoring, remediation, and closure.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 129 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
In addition, we are coordinating the investigation and cleanup of some of these sites subject to the jurisdiction of the EPA under what is called a "multisite" program. This program involves prioritizing the work to be done at the sites, preparation and approval of documents common to all of the sites, and use of a consistent approach in selecting remedies. At this time, we cannot estimate future remediation costs associated with these sites beyond those described below.
The future costs for detailed site investigation, future remediation, and monitoring are dependent upon several variables including, among other things, the extent of remediation, changes in technology, and changes in regulation. Historically, our regulators have allowed us to recover incurred costs, net of insurance recoveries and recoveries from potentially responsible parties, associated with the remediation of manufactured gas plant sites. Accordingly, we have established regulatory assets for costs associated with these sites.
We have established the following regulatory assets and reserves related to manufactured gas plant sites as of December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
| Regulatory assets | $ | 687.1 | $ | 676.6 | ||||
| Reserves for future remediation | 616.4 | 617.2 |
Renewables, Efficiency, and Conservation
Wisconsin Legislation
In 2005, Wisconsin enacted Act 141, which established a goal that 10% of all electricity consumed in Wisconsin be generated by renewable resources by December 31, 2015. WE and WPS have achieved renewable energy percentages of 8.27% and 9.74%, respectively, and met their compliance requirements by constructing various wind parks, a biomass facility, and by also relying on renewable energy purchases. WE and WPS continue to review their renewable energy portfolios and acquire cost-effective renewables as needed to meet their requirements on an ongoing basis. The PSCW administers the renewable program related to Act 141, and each utility funds the program based on 1.2% of its annual operating revenues.
Michigan Legislation
In 2008, Michigan enacted Act 295, which required 10% of the state's electric energy to come from renewables by 2015 and energy optimization (efficiency) targets up to 1% annually by 2015. In December 2016, Michigan revised this legislation with Act 342, which requires additional renewable energy requirements beyond 2015. The revised legislation retained the 10% renewable energy portfolio requirement through 2018, increased the requirement to 12.5% for years 2019 through 2020, and increased the requirement to 15.0% for 2021. WE and UMERC were in compliance with these requirements as of December 31, 2018. The revised legislation continues to allow recovery of costs incurred to meet the standards and provides for ongoing review and revision to assure the measures taken are cost-effective. Upon the commercial operation of the new generating solution in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Tilden becoming a customer of UMERC, WE will no longer be subject to Michigan's renewable energy requirements. See Note 24, Regulatory Environment, for more information regarding the new natural gas-fired generation.
Enforcement and Litigation Matters
We and our subsidiaries are involved in legal and administrative proceedings before various courts and agencies with respect to matters arising in the ordinary course of business. Although we are unable to predict the outcome of these matters, management believes that appropriate reserves have been established and that final settlement of these actions will not have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Consent Decrees
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation Consent Decree – Weston and Pulliam Power Plants
In November 2009, the EPA issued an NOV to WPS, which alleged violations of the CAA's New Source Review requirements relating to certain projects completed at the Weston and Pulliam power plants from 1994 to 2009. WPS entered into a Consent Decree with the EPA resolving this NOV. This Consent Decree was entered by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in March 2013.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 130 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
The final Consent Decree includes:
| • | the installation of emission control technology, including ReACT™ on Weston 3, |
| • | changed operating conditions, |
| • | limitations on plant emissions, |
| • | beneficial environmental projects totaling $6.0 million, and |
| • | a civil penalty of $1.2 million. |
The Consent Decree also contains requirements to refuel, repower, and/or retire certain Weston and Pulliam units. Effective June 1, 2015, WPS retired Weston Unit 1 and Pulliam Units 5 and 6. In May 2016, the EPA approved WPS's proposed revision to update requirements reflecting the conversion of Weston Unit 2 from coal to natural gas fuel, and also proposed revisions to the list of beneficial environmental projects required by the Consent Decree. WPS retired Pulliam Units 7 and 8 on October 21, 2018. See Note 6, Property, Plant, and Equipment, for more information about the retirement. WPS completed the mitigation projects required and received a completeness letter from the EPA in October 2018. We plan to request termination of the WPS Consent Decree during 2019.
WPS received approval from the PSCW in its 2015 rate order to defer and amortize the undepreciated book value of the retired plant related to Weston Unit 1 and Pulliam Units 5 and 6 starting June 1, 2015, and concluding by 2023. Therefore, in June 2015, WPS recorded a regulatory asset of $11.5 million for the undepreciated book value. In addition, WPS received approval from the PSCW in its rate orders to recover prudently incurred costs as a result of complying with the terms of the Consent Decree, with the exception of the civil penalty.
Joint Ownership Power Plants Consent Decree – Columbia and Edgewater
In December 2009, the EPA issued an NOV to Wisconsin Power and Light, the operator of the Columbia and Edgewater plants, and the other joint owners of these plants, including Madison Gas and Electric, WE (former co-owner of an Edgewater unit), and WPS. The NOV alleged violations of the CAA's New Source Review requirements related to certain projects completed at those plants. WPS, along with Wisconsin Power and Light, Madison Gas and Electric, and WE, entered into a Consent Decree with the EPA resolving this NOV. This Consent Decree was entered by the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin in June 2013. WE paid an immaterial portion of the assessed penalty but has no further obligations under the Consent Decree.
The final Consent Decree includes:
| • | the installation of emission control technology, including scrubbers at the Columbia plant, |
| • | changed operating conditions, |
| • | limitations on plant emissions, |
| • | beneficial environmental projects, with WPS's portion totaling $1.3 million, and |
| • | WPS's portion of a civil penalty and legal fees totaling $0.4 million. |
As a result of the continued implementation of the Consent Decree related to the jointly owned Columbia and Edgewater plants, the Edgewater 4 generating unit was retired on September 28, 2018. See Note 6, Property, Plant, and Equipment, for more information about the retirement.
NOTE 23—SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
| Year Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Cash (paid) for interest, net of amount capitalized | $ | (441.5 | ) | $ | (413.7 | ) | $ | (411.9 | ) | |||
| Cash (paid) received for income taxes, net | (16.3 | ) | 5.2 | 39.7 | ||||||||
| Significant non-cash transactions: | ||||||||||||
| Accounts payable related to construction costs | 65.9 | 169.2 | 170.1 | |||||||||
| Receivable related to corporate-owned life insurance proceeds | 7.7 | — | — | |||||||||
| Portion of Bostco real estate holdings sale financed with note receivable * | — | 7.0 | — |
| * | See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information on this sale. |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 131 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash. Under this ASU, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents are included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-the period and end-of-the period total amounts shown on the statements of cash flows. As a result, we no longer present transfers between cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statements of cash flows. Instead, changes in restricted cash are classified as either operating activities, investing activities, or financing activities.
The majority of our restricted cash consists of amounts held in the Integrys rabbi trust, which are used to fund participants' benefits under the Integrys deferred compensation plan and certain Integrys non-qualified pension plans. All assets held within the rabbi trust are restricted as they can only be withdrawn from the trust to make qualifying benefit payments.
Our statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were retroactively restated from what was previously presented in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K to reflect the adoption of ASU 2016-18. The impacts to our statements of cash flows from adoption of this standard are reflected in the table below.
| Year Ended December 31, 2017 | Year Ended December 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | 2017 Form 10-K Cash Flows | Impact of ASU 2016-18 | Cash Flows After Adoption | 2017 Form 10-K Cash Flows | Impact of ASU 2016-18 | Cash Flows After Adoption | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Activities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other current assets | $ | (6.0 | ) | $ | (1.1 | ) | $ | (7.1 | ) | $ | 103.1 | $ | 0.1 | $ | 103.2 | |||||||||
| Other, net | (197.5 | ) | 0.1 | (197.4 | ) | (53.8 | ) | 0.2 | (53.6 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 2,079.6 | (1.0 | ) | 2,078.6 | 2,103.5 | 0.3 | 2,103.8 | |||||||||||||||||
| Investing Activities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Withdrawal of restricted cash from rabbi trust for qualifying payments | 19.5 | (19.5 | ) | — | 26.6 | (26.6 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from the sale of investments held in rabbi trust | — | 8.7 | 8.7 | — | 1.7 | 1.7 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase of investments held in rabbi trust | — | (3.7 | ) | (3.7 | ) | — | (59.2 | ) | (59.2 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (2,239.6 | ) | (14.5 | ) | (2,254.1 | ) | (1,270.1 | ) | (84.1 | ) | (1,354.2 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | 1.4 | (15.5 | ) | (14.1 | ) | (12.3 | ) | (83.8 | ) | (96.1 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year | 37.5 | 35.2 | 72.7 | 49.8 | 119.0 | 168.8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year | $ | 38.9 | $ | 19.7 | $ | 58.6 | $ | 37.5 | $ | 35.2 | $ | 72.7 |
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the balance sheets to the sum of the total of the same amounts shown in the statements of cash flows at December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 84.5 | $ | 38.9 | $ | 37.5 | ||||||
| Restricted cash included in other current assets | 2.5 | — | 0.8 | |||||||||
| Restricted cash included in other long term assets | 59.1 | 19.7 | 34.4 | |||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | $ | 146.1 | $ | 58.6 | $ | 72.7 |
Effective January 1, 2018, we retrospectively adopted ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. There are eight main provisions of this ASU for which current GAAP either was unclear or did not include specific guidance. The adoption of this guidance had no impact on our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016.
ASU 2016-15 provides an accounting policy election for classifying distributions received from equity method investments. We adopted the cumulative earnings approach for classifying distributions received in the statements of cash flows. Under the cumulative earnings approach, we compare the distributions received to cumulative equity method earnings since inception. Any distributions received up to the amount of cumulative equity earnings are considered a return on investment and classified in operating activities. Any excess distributions are considered a return of investment and classified in investing activities. We did not receive any excess distributions during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 132 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
NOTE 24—REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
In December 2017, our regulated utilities deferred for return to ratepayers, through future refunds, bill credits, riders, or reductions in other regulatory assets, the estimated tax benefit of $2,450 million related to the Tax Legislation that was signed into law in December 2017. This tax benefit resulted from the revaluation of deferred taxes. The Tax Legislation also reduced the corporate federal tax rate from a maximum of 35% to a 21% rate, effective January 1, 2018. We have received written orders from the PSCW and the MPSC addressing the refunding of certain of these tax benefits to ratepayers in Wisconsin and Michigan, respectively. The ICC has approved the VITA in Illinois, and the MPUC addressed the impacts to MERC in its 2018 rate order. See the Variable Income Tax Adjustment Rider discussion and the 2018 Minnesota Rate Case discussion below for more information. A summary of the Wisconsin and Michigan orders is outlined below.
Wisconsin
In May 2018, the PSCW issued an order regarding the benefits associated with the Tax Legislation. The PSCW order requires WE's and WPS’s electric utility operations to use 80% and 40%, respectively, of the current 2018 and 2019 tax benefits to reduce certain regulatory assets. The remaining 20% and 60% at WE and WPS, respectively, is to be returned to electric customers in the form of bill credits. For our Wisconsin natural gas utility operations, the PSCW indicated that 100% of the current 2018 and 2019 tax benefits should be returned to natural gas customers in the form of bill credits. Regarding the net tax benefit associated with the revaluation of deferred taxes, amortization required in accordance with normalization accounting is to be used to reduce certain regulatory assets for our electric utilities and is being deferred at our natural gas utilities. The timing and method of returning the remaining net tax benefit associated with the revaluation of deferred taxes at our electric and natural gas utilities was not addressed and will be determined in a future rate proceeding.
Michigan
In February 2018, the MPSC issued an order requiring Michigan utilities to make three filings related to the Tax Legislation. The first of those filings, which was filed in March 2018, prospectively addressed the impact on base rates for the change in tax expense resulting from the federal tax rate reduction from 35% to 21%. UMERC and MGU proposed providing a volumetric bill credit, subject to reconciliation and true up. In May 2018, the MPSC issued orders approving settlements that resulted in volumetric bill credits for all of UMERC's and MGU's customers effective July 1, 2018.
The second filing, which was filed in July 2018, addressed the impact on base rates for the change in tax expense resulting from the federal tax rate reduction from 35% to 21% from January 1, 2018 until July 1, 2018. UMERC and MGU proposed to return the tax savings from these months to customers via volumetric bill credits over multiple months. The MPSC issued orders approving settlements in September 2018. In accordance with the settlement orders, the savings were returned to UMERC's and MGU's customers via volumetric bill credits that were in effect from October 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.
The third filing was filed in October 2018 and addressed the remaining impacts of the Tax Legislation on base rates – most notably the re-measurement of deferred tax balances. UMERC and MGU proposed providing a volumetric bill credit, subject to reconciliation and true up, to return these remaining impacts of the Tax Legislation to customers. The MPSC has not yet issued an order with respect to this filing.
WE, which serves one retail electric customer in Michigan, has reached a settlement with that customer. That settlement was approved by the MPSC in May 2018 and addressed all base rate impacts of the Tax Legislation, which are being returned to the customer through bill credits.
Wisconsin Electric Power Company, Wisconsin Gas LLC, and Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
2018 and 2019 Rates
During April 2017, WE, WG, and WPS filed an application with the PSCW for approval of a settlement agreement they made with several of their commercial and industrial customers regarding 2018 and 2019 base rates. In September 2017, the PSCW issued an order that approved the settlement agreement, which freezes base rates through 2019 for electric, natural gas, and steam customers
| 2018 Form 10-K | 133 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
of WE, WG, and WPS. Based on the PSCW order, the authorized ROE for WE, WG, and WPS remains at 10.2%, 10.3%, and 10.0%, respectively, and the current capital cost structure for all of our Wisconsin utilities will remain unchanged through 2019.
In addition to freezing base rates, the settlement agreement extends and expands the electric real-time market pricing program options for large commercial and industrial customers and mitigates the continued growth of certain escrowed costs at WE during the base rate freeze period by accelerating the recognition of certain tax benefits. WE will flow through the tax benefit of its repair-related deferred tax liabilities in 2018 and 2019, to maintain certain regulatory asset balances at their December 31, 2017 levels. While WE would typically follow the normalization accounting method and utilize the tax benefits of the deferred tax liabilities in rate-making as an offset to rate base, benefiting customers over time, the federal tax code does allow for passing these tax repair-related benefits to ratepayers much sooner using the flow through accounting method. The flow through treatment of the repair-related deferred tax liabilities offsets the negative income statement impact of holding the regulatory assets level, resulting in no change to net income.
The agreement also allows WPS to extend through 2019, the deferral for the revenue requirement of ReACT™ costs above the authorized $275.0 million level, and other deferrals related to WPS's electric real-time market pricing program and network transmission expenses. The total cost of the ReACT™ project, excluding $51 million of AFUDC, was $342 million.
Pursuant to the settlement agreement, WPS also agreed to adopt, beginning in 2018, the earnings sharing mechanism that has been in place for WE and WG since January 2016, and all three utilities agreed to keep the mechanism in place through 2019. Under this earnings sharing mechanism, if WE, WG, or WPS earns above its authorized ROE, 50% of the first 50 basis points of additional utility earnings must be shared with customers. All utility earnings above the first 50 basis points must also be shared with customers.
As required in the settlement agreement, WE, WG, and WPS anticipate initiating a rate proceeding with the PSCW by April 1, 2019.
Acquisition of a Wind Energy Generation Facility in Wisconsin
In October 2017, WPS, along with two other unaffiliated utilities, entered into an agreement to purchase Forward Wind Energy Center, which consists of 86 wind turbines located in Wisconsin with a total capacity of 138 MW. The FERC approved the transaction in January 2018, and the PSCW approved the transaction in March 2018. The transaction closed on April 2, 2018. See Note 2, Acquisitions, for more information.
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation Proposed Solar Generation Projects
On May 31, 2018, WPS, along with an unaffiliated utility, filed an application with the PSCW for approval to acquire ownership interests in two proposed solar projects in Wisconsin. Badger Hollow Solar Farm will be located in Iowa County, Wisconsin, and Two Creeks Solar Project will be located in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Subject to receipt of the PSCW's approval, WPS will own 100 MW of the output of each project for a total of 200 MW. WPS's share of the cost of both projects is estimated to be $260 million.
Natural Gas Storage Facilities in Michigan
In January 2017, we signed an agreement for the acquisition of Bluewater. Bluewater owns natural gas storage facilities in Michigan that provide approximately one-third of the current storage needs for the natural gas operations of WE, WG, and WPS. As a result of this agreement, WE, WG, and WPS filed a request with the PSCW in February 2017 for a declaratory ruling on various items associated with the storage facilities. In the filing, WE, WG, and WPS requested that the PSCW review and confirm the reasonableness and prudency of their potential long-term storage service agreements and interstate natural gas transportation contracts related to the storage facilities. WE, WG, and WPS also requested approval to amend our Affiliated Interest Agreement to ensure WBS and our other subsidiaries could provide services to the storage facilities. During June 2017, the PSCW granted, subject to various conditions, these declarations and approvals, and we acquired Bluewater on June 30, 2017. In September 2017, WE, WG, and WPS entered into the long-term service agreements for the natural gas storage, which were approved by the PSCW in November 2017. See Note 2, Acquisitions, for more information.
2016 Wisconsin Public Service Corporation Rate Order
In April 2015, WPS initiated a rate proceeding with the PSCW. In December 2015, the PSCW issued a final written order for WPS, effective January 1, 2016. The order, which reflected a 10.0% ROE and a common equity component average of 51.0%, authorized a net retail electric rate decrease of $7.9 million (-0.8%) and a net retail natural gas rate decrease of $6.2 million (-2.1%). The decrease
| 2018 Form 10-K | 134 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
in retail electric rates was due to lower monitored fuel costs in 2016 compared with 2015. Absent the adjustment for electric fuel costs, WPS would have realized an electric rate increase. Based on the order, the PSCW allowed WPS to escrow ATC and MISO network transmission expenses through 2016. In addition, SSR payments are escrowed until a future rate proceeding. The order directed WPS to defer as a regulatory asset or liability the differences between actual transmission expenses and those included in rates. In addition, the PSCW approved a deferral for ReACT™, which required WPS to defer the revenue requirement of ReACT™ costs above the authorized $275.0 million level through 2016. Fuel costs will continue to be monitored using a 2% tolerance window.
In March 2016, WPS requested extensions from the PSCW through 2017 for the deferral of the revenue requirement of ReACT™ costs above the authorized $275.0 million level as well as escrow accounting of ATC and MISO network transmission expenses. In April 2016, WPS also requested to extend through 2017 the previously approved deferral of the revenue requirement difference between the Real Time Market Pricing and the standard tariffed rates for any of WPS's large commercial and industrial customers who entered into a service agreement with WPS under Real Time Market Pricing prior to April 15, 2016. These requests were approved by the PSCW in June 2016.
The Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company and North Shore Gas Company
Illinois Proceedings
In December 2015, the ICC ordered a series of stakeholder workshops to evaluate PGL's SMP. This ICC action did not impact PGL's ongoing work to modernize and maintain the safety of its natural gas distribution system, but it instead provided the ICC with an opportunity to analyze long-term elements of the program through the stakeholder workshops. The workshops were completed in March 2016. In July 2016, the ICC initiated a proceeding to review, among other things, the planning, reporting, and monitoring of the program, including the target end date for the program, and issued a final order in January 2018. The order did not have a significant impact on PGL's existing SMP design and execution. An appeal related to the final order was filed by the Illinois Attorney General in April 2018.
Qualifying Infrastructure Plant Rider
In July 2013, Illinois Public Act 98-0057, The Natural Gas Consumer, Safety & Reliability Act, became law. This law provides PGL with a cost recovery mechanism that allows collection, through a surcharge on customer bills, of prudently incurred costs to upgrade Illinois natural gas infrastructure. In September 2013, PGL filed with the ICC requesting the proposed rider, which was approved in January 2014.
PGL's QIP rider is subject to an annual reconciliation whereby costs are reviewed for accuracy and prudency. In March 2018, PGL filed its 2017 reconciliation with the ICC, which, along with the 2016 and 2015 reconciliations, are still pending. In February 2018, PGL agreed to a settlement of the 2014 reconciliation, which included a rate base reduction of $5.4 million and a $4.7 million refund to ratepayers.
As of December 31, 2018, there can be no assurance that all costs incurred under PGL's QIP rider during the open reconciliation years will be deemed recoverable by the ICC.
Variable Income Tax Adjustment Rider
In April 2018, the ICC approved the VITA proposed by PGL and NSG. The VITA recovers or refunds changes in income tax expense resulting from differences in income tax rates and amortization of deferred tax excesses and deficiencies (in accordance with the Tax Legislation) from the amounts used in the last PGL and NSG rate case, effective January 25, 2018.
Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation
2018 Minnesota Rate Case
In October 2017, MERC initiated a rate proceeding with the MPUC. In November 2017, the MPUC approved an interim rate order, effective January 1, 2018, authorizing a retail natural gas rate increase of $9.5 million (3.78%). In March 2018, to reflect changes in MERC's effective tax rate as a result of the enactment of the Tax Legislation, the MPUC approved a $2.5 million reduction in interim
| 2018 Form 10-K | 135 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
retail natural gas rates to $7.0 million (2.81%), effective April 1, 2018. The interim rates reflect a 9.11% ROE and a common equity component average of 50.9%.
In December 2018, the MPUC issued a final written order for MERC. The order authorized a retail natural gas rate increase of $3.1 million (1.26%). The rates reflect a 9.7% ROE and a common equity component average of 50.9%. In January 2019, the Minnesota Attorney General filed a petition for reconsideration requesting the MPUC reconsider its decision to set the ROE at 9.7%. The MPUC’s order is stayed while the petition for rehearing is pending, and interim rates remain in effect. MERC’s customers will be entitled to a refund to the extent the interim rate increase exceeds the final approved rate increase.
The final order addressed the various impacts of the Tax Legislation, including the remeasurement of deferred tax balances. All of the impacts from the Tax Legislation will be included in base rates. The order also approved MERC's continued use of its decoupling mechanism for residential customers. Effective January 1, 2019, MERC's small commercial and industrial customers will no longer be included in the decoupling mechanism.
2016 Minnesota Rate Order
In September 2015, MERC initiated a rate proceeding with the MPUC. In October 2016, the MPUC issued a final written order for MERC, effective March 1, 2017. The order authorized a retail natural gas rate increase of $6.8 million (3.0%). The rates reflected a 9.11% ROE and a common equity component average of 50.32%. The order approved MERC's request to continue the use of its decoupling mechanism for another three years. The final approved rate increase was lower than the interim rates collected from customers during 2016. Therefore, we refunded $4.1 million to MERC's customers in 2017.
Michigan Gas Utilities Corporation
2016 Michigan Rate Order
In June 2015, MGU initiated a rate proceeding with the MPSC. In December 2015, the MPSC issued a final written order, effective January 1, 2016, approving a settlement agreement for MGU. The order authorized a retail natural gas rate increase of $3.4 million (2.4%), a 9.9% ROE, and a common equity component average of 52.0%. Based on the settlement agreement, MGU discontinued the use of its decoupling mechanism after December 31, 2015. In addition, since bonus depreciation was in effect in 2016, MGU established a regulatory liability for the resulting cost savings and must refund the liability in its next general rate case.
Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corporation
Formation of Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corporation
In December 2016, both the MPSC and the PSCW approved the operation of UMERC as a stand-alone utility in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and UMERC became operational effective January 1, 2017. This utility holds the electric and natural gas distribution assets, previously held by WE and WPS, located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
In August 2016, we entered into an agreement with Tilden under which Tilden will purchase electric power from UMERC for its iron ore mine for 20 years, contingent upon UMERC's construction of approximately 180 MW of natural gas-fired generation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
In October 2017, the MPSC approved both the agreement with Tilden and UMERC's application for a certificate of necessity to begin construction of the proposed generation. The estimated cost of this project is $266 million ($277 million with AFUDC), 50% of which is expected to be recovered from Tilden, with the remaining 50% expected to be recovered from UMERC's other utility customers. The new units are expected to begin commercial operation during the second quarter of 2019. Upon receiving the MPSC's approval, retirement of WE's PIPP generating units became probable. Pursuant to MISO's April 2018 approval of the retirement of the plant, the PIPP units are required to be retired on or before May 31, 2019. Tilden will remain a customer of WE until this new generation begins commercial operation.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 136 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
NOTE 25—OTHER INCOME, NET
Total other income, net was as follows for the years ended December 31:
| (in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| AFUDC – Equity | $ | 15.2 | $ | 11.4 | $ | 25.1 | ||||||
| Non-service credit (cost) components of net periodic benefit costs | 26.0 | 9.1 | (14.2 | ) | ||||||||
| Gain on repurchase of notes | — | — | 23.6 | |||||||||
| Other, net | 29.1 | 53.2 | 32.1 | |||||||||
| Other income, net | $ | 70.3 | $ | 73.7 | $ | 66.6 |
NOTE 26—QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)
| (in millions, except per share amounts) | First Quarter | Second Quarter | Third Quarter | Fourth Quarter | Total | |||||||||||||||
| 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 2,286.5 | $ | 1,672.5 | $ | 1,643.7 | $ | 2,076.8 | $ | 7,679.5 | ||||||||||
| Operating income | 545.1 | 330.8 | 302.7 | 289.8 | 1,468.4 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income attributed to common shareholders | 390.1 | 231.0 | 233.2 | 205.0 | 1,059.3 | |||||||||||||||
| Earnings per share (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.24 | $ | 0.73 | $ | 0.74 | $ | 0.65 | $ | 3.36 | ||||||||||
| Diluted | 1.23 | 0.73 | 0.74 | 0.65 | 3.34 | |||||||||||||||
| 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 2,304.5 | $ | 1,631.5 | $ | 1,657.5 | $ | 2,055.0 | $ | 7,648.5 | ||||||||||
| Operating income (2) | 614.7 | 362.2 | 392.2 | 407.0 | 1,776.1 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income attributed to common shareholders | 356.6 | 199.1 | 215.4 | 432.6 | 1,203.7 | |||||||||||||||
| Earnings per share (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.13 | $ | 0.63 | $ | 0.68 | $ | 1.37 | $ | 3.81 | ||||||||||
| Diluted | 1.12 | 0.63 | 0.68 | 1.36 | 3.79 |
| (1) | Earnings per share for the individual quarters may not total the year ended earnings per share amount because of changes to the average number of shares outstanding and changes in incremental issuable shares throughout the year. |
| (2) | Includes the retroactive restatement impacts of the implementation of ASU 2017-07. See Note 18, Employee Benefits, for more information on this new standard. |
NOTE 27—NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Leases
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which revised the previous guidance (Topic 840) regarding accounting for leases. Revisions include requiring a lessee to recognize a lease asset and a lease liability on its balance sheet for each lease, including operating leases with an initial term greater than 12 months. In addition, required quantitative and qualitative disclosures related to lease agreements were expanded. For lessors however, accounting for leases was largely unchanged from previous provisions of GAAP.
We have finalized our inventory of leases, documented our technical accounting issues, and implemented required changes to internal controls and processes as a result of the new lease guidance. In addition, we continue to finalize the related financial disclosures that will be incorporated into our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.
As required, we adopted Topic 842 for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2019. We utilized the following practical expedients, which were available under ASU 2016-02, in our adoption of the new lease guidance.
| • | We did not reassess whether any expired or existing contracts were leases or contained leases. |
| • | We did not reassess the lease classification for any expired or existing leases (that is, all leases that were classified as operating leases in accordance with Topic 840 continue to be classified as operating leases, and all leases that were classified as capital leases in accordance with Topic 840 continue to be classified as capital leases). |
| 2018 Form 10-K | 137 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
| • | We did not reassess the accounting for initial direct costs for any existing leases. |
We did not elect the practical expedient allowing entities to account for the nonlease components in lease contracts as part of the single lease component to which they were related. Instead, in accordance with ASC 842-10-15-31, our policy is to account for each lease component separately from the nonlease components of the contract.
We did not elect the practical expedient to use hindsight in determining the lease term and in assessing impairment of our right-of-use assets. No impairment losses were included in the measurement of our right-of-use assets upon our adoption of Topic 842.
In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-01, Leases (Topic 842): Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842, which is an amendment to ASU 2016-02. Land easements (also commonly referred to as rights of way) represent the right to use, access or cross another entity's land for a specified purpose. This new guidance permits an entity to elect a transitional practical expedient, to be applied consistently, to not evaluate under Topic 842 land easements that were already in existence or had expired at the time of the entity's adoption of Topic 842. Once Topic 842 is adopted, an entity is required to apply Topic 842 prospectively to all new (or modified) land easements to determine whether the arrangement should be accounted for as a lease. We elected this practical expedient upon our adoption of Topic 842, resulting in none of our land easements being treated as leases.
In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which amends ASU 2016-02 and allows entities the option to initially apply Topic 842 at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption, if required. We used the optional transition method to apply the new guidance as of January 1, 2019, rather than as of the earliest period presented.
While we are still refining our estimates, we expect that the right of use asset and related lease liability that we will record related to our operating leases will be in the range of $40 million to $60 million. Regarding our capital lease, while the adoption of Topic 842 changed the classification of expense related to this lease on a prospective basis, it had no impact on the total amount of lease expense recorded, and did not impact the capital lease asset and related liability amounts recorded on our balance sheets. Prior to January 1, 2019, all lease expense related to our capital lease, which relates to a long-term power purchase commitment, was recorded in cost of sales, as a component of operating income. Subsequent to our adoption of Topic 842, lease expense related to this capital lease is divided between depreciation and amortization and interest expense, as required by the new guidance. We did not require a cumulative-effect adjustment upon adoption of Topic 842, and the new guidance is not expected to have any impact on future net income or cash flows.
Financial Instruments Credit Losses
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. This ASU introduces a new impairment model known as the current expected credit loss model. The ASU requires a financial asset measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. Previously, recognition of the full amount of credit losses was generally delayed until the loss was probable of occurring. We are currently assessing the effects this guidance may have on our financial statements.
Cloud Computing
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The standard allows entities who are customers in hosting arrangements that are service contracts to apply the existing internal-use software guidance to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset related to the service contract and which costs to expense. The guidance specifies classification for capitalizing implementation costs and related amortization expense within the financial statements and requires additional disclosures. The guidance will be effective for annual reporting periods, including interim reporting within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted and can be applied either retrospectively or prospectively. We are currently evaluating the transition methods and the impact the adoption of this standard may have on our consolidated financial statements.
| 2018 Form 10-K | 138 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. |
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