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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

☒QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022

OR

☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ________________ to ___________________

Commission File NumberRegistrant; State of Incorporation; Address; and Telephone NumberIRS Employer Identification No.
wec-20220630_g1.jpg
001-09057WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC.39-1391525

(A Wisconsin Corporation)

231 West Michigan Street

P.O. Box 1331

Milwaukee, WI 53201

(414) 221-2345

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each ClassTrading Symbol(s)Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, $.01 Par ValueWECNew York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer☒Accelerated filer☐
Non-accelerated filer☐Smaller reporting company☐
Emerging growth company☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date (June 30, 2022):

Common Stock, $.01 Par Value, 315,434,531 shares outstanding

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WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

For the Quarter Ended June 30, 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION1
PART I.FINANCIAL INFORMATION4
ITEM 1.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)4
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income5
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets6
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows7
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity8
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements10
Page
Note 1General Information10
Note 2Acquisitions10
Note 3Disposition11
Note 4Operating Revenues12
Note 5Credit Losses15
Note 6Regulatory Assets and Liabilities18
Note 7Property, Plant, and Equipment19
Note 8Common Equity19
Note 9Short-Term Debt and Lines of Credit20
Note 10Leases20
Note 11Materials, Supplies, and Inventories21
Note 12Income Taxes22
Note 13Fair Value Measurements22
Note 14Derivative Instruments24
Note 15Guarantees26
Note 16Employee Benefits27
Note 17Goodwill and Intangibles27
Note 18Investment in Transmission Affiliates29
Note 19Segment Information30
Note 20Variable Interest Entities33
Note 21Commitments and Contingencies35
Note 22Supplemental Cash Flow Information39
Note 23Regulatory Environment40
Note 24New Accounting Pronouncements41
ITEM 2.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS43
ITEM 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK80
ITEM 4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES81
PART II.OTHER INFORMATION82
ITEM 1.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS82
ITEM 1A.RISK FACTORS82
ITEM 2.UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS83
ITEM 6.EXHIBITS83
SIGNATURE84
06/30/2022 Form 10-QiWEC Energy Group, Inc.

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

The abbreviations and terms set forth below are used throughout this report and have the meanings assigned to them below:

Subsidiaries and Affiliates
ATCAmerican Transmission Company LLC
ATC HoldcoATC Holdco LLC
Bishop Hill IIIBishop Hill Energy III LLC
Blooming GroveBlooming Grove Wind Energy Center LLC
BluewaterBluewater Natural Gas Holding, LLC
Coyote RidgeCoyote Ridge Wind, LLC
IntegrysIntegrys Holding, Inc.
JayhawkJayhawk Wind, LLC
MERCMinnesota Energy Resources Corporation
MGUMichigan Gas Utilities Corporation
NSGNorth Shore Gas Company
PGLThe Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company
Tatanka RidgeTatanka Ridge Wind LLC
UMERCUpper Michigan Energy Resources Corporation
UpstreamUpstream Wind Energy LLC
WEWisconsin Electric Power Company
We PowerW.E. Power, LLC
WEC Energy GroupWEC Energy Group, Inc.
WECIWEC Infrastructure LLC
WEPCo Environmental TrustWEPCo Environmental Trust Finance I, LLC
WGWisconsin Gas LLC
WisparkWispark LLC
WPSWisconsin Public Service Corporation
Federal and State Regulatory Agencies
CBPUnited States Customs and Border Protection Agency
DOCUnited States Department of Commerce
EPAUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
FERCFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
ICCIllinois Commerce Commission
IEPAIllinois Environmental Protection Agency
IRSUnited States Internal Revenue Service
MPSCMichigan Public Service Commission
MPUCMinnesota Public Utilities Commission
PSCWPublic Service Commission of Wisconsin
SECUnited States Securities and Exchange Commission
WDNRWisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Accounting Terms
ASUAccounting Standards Update
FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board
GAAPUnited States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
LIFOLast-In, First-Out
OPEBOther Postretirement Employee Benefits
VIEVariable Interest Entity
Environmental Terms
ACEAffordable Clean Energy
BATWBottom Ash Transport Water
BTABest Technology Available
CAAClean Air Act
CASACClean Air Scientific Advisory Committee
06/30/2022 Form 10-QiiWEC Energy Group, Inc.

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CO2Carbon Dioxide
ELGSteam Electric Effluent Limitation Guidelines
FGDFlue Gas Desulfurization
GHGGreenhouse Gas
GMZGroundwater Management Zone
NAAQSNational Ambient Air Quality Standards
NOVNotice of Violation
NOxNitrogen Oxide
VNViolation Notice
WOTUSWaters of the United States
WPDESWisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Measurements
DthDekatherm
MWMegawatt
MWhMegawatt-hour
µg/m3Micrograms Per Cubic Meter
Other Terms and Abbreviations
2007 Junior NotesWEC Energy Group, Inc.'s 2007 Junior Subordinated Notes Due 2067
AD/CVDAntidumping and Countervailing Duties
AGAttorney General
AMIAdvanced Metering Infrastructure
Badger Hollow IBadger Hollow Solar Park I
Badger Hollow IIBadger Hollow Solar Park II
Chicago, IL-IN-WIChicago, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin
CIPConservation Improvement Program
COVID-19Coronavirus Disease – 2019
D.C. Circuit Court of AppealsUnited States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
DarienDarien Solar-Battery Park
EGUElectric Generating Unit
ERGSElm Road Generating Station
ESG Progress PlanWEC Energy Group's Capital Investment Plan for Efficiency, Sustainability, and Growth for 2022-2026
ETBEnvironmental Trust Bond
EVElectric Vehicle
Exchange ActSecurities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Executive Order 13990Executive Order 13990 of January 20, 2021 – Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science To Tackle the Climate Crisis
FTRFinancial Transmission Right
GCRMGas Cost Recovery Mechanism
ITCInvestment Tax Credit
LIBORLondon Interbank Offered Rate
LNGLiquefied Natural Gas
MISOMidcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.
OCPPOak Creek Power Plant
OC 7Oak Creek Power Plant Unit 7
OC 8Oak Creek Power Plant Unit 8
ParisParis Solar-Battery Park
PPAPower Purchase Agreement
PSBPublic Service Building
PTCProduction Tax Credit
PWGSPort Washington Generation Station
QIPQualifying Infrastructure Plant
RICEReciprocating Internal Combustion Engine
RNGRenewable Natural Gas
ROEReturn on Equity
06/30/2022 Form 10-QiiiWEC Energy Group, Inc.

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S&PStandard & Poor's
Sapphire SkySapphire Sky Wind Energy LLC
SMPSafety Modernization Program
SPPSouthwest Power Pool, Inc.
Supreme CourtUnited States Supreme Court
Tax LegislationTax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
TCRTransmission Congestion Right
ThunderheadThunderhead Wind Energy LLC
TPTFAThird-Party Transaction Fee Adjustment
Two CreeksTwo Creeks Solar Park
UFLPAUyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
West RiversideWest Riverside Energy Center
WhitewaterWhitewater Cogeneration Facility
WROWithhold Release Order
06/30/2022 Form 10-QivWEC Energy Group, Inc.

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

In this report, we make statements concerning our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, and future events or performance. These statements are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of terms such as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "goals," "guidance," "intends," "may," "objectives," "plans," "possible," "potential," "projects," "seeks," "should," "targets," "will," or variations of these terms.

Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning management's expectations and projections regarding earnings, completion of capital projects, sales and customer growth, rate actions and related filings with regulatory authorities, environmental and other regulations, including associated compliance costs, legal proceedings, dividend payout ratios, effective tax rates, pension and OPEB plans, fuel costs, sources of electric energy supply, coal and natural gas deliveries, remediation costs, climate-related matters, our ESG Progress Plan, liquidity and capital resources, and other matters.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include those described in risk factors as set forth in our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and those identified below:

  • Factors affecting utility operations such as catastrophic weather-related damage, environmental incidents, unplanned facility outages and repairs and maintenance, and electric transmission or natural gas pipeline system constraints;

  • Factors affecting the demand for electricity and natural gas, including political or regulatory developments, varying, adverse, or unusually severe weather conditions, including those caused by climate change, changes in economic conditions, customer growth and declines, commodity prices, energy conservation efforts, and continued adoption of distributed generation by customers;

  • The timing, resolution, and impact of rate cases and negotiations, including recovery of deferred and current costs and the ability to earn a reasonable return on investment, and other regulatory decisions impacting our regulated operations;

  • The impact of federal, state, and local legislative and/or regulatory changes, including changes in rate-setting policies or procedures, the expiration and non-renewal of the QIP rider, deregulation and restructuring of the electric and/or natural gas utility industries, transmission or distribution system operation, the approval process for new construction, reliability standards, pipeline integrity and safety standards, allocation of energy assistance, energy efficiency mandates, and tax laws, including those that affect our ability to use PTCs and ITCs;

  • Federal, state, and local legislative and regulatory changes relating to the environment, including climate change and other environmental regulations impacting generation facilities and renewable energy standards, the enforcement of these laws and regulations, changes in the interpretation of regulations or permit conditions by regulatory agencies, and the recovery of associated remediation and compliance costs;

  • The ability to obtain and retain customers, including wholesale customers, due to increased competition in our electric and natural gas markets from retail choice and alternative electric suppliers, and continued industry consolidation;

  • The timely completion of capital projects within budgets and the ability to recover the related costs through rates;

  • The risk of delays and shortages, and increased costs of equipment, materials, or other resources that are critical to our business operations and corporate strategy, as a result of supply chain disruptions (including disruptions from rail congestion), inflation, and other factors;

  • The impact of health pandemics, including any new developments relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, on our business functions, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations;

  • Factors affecting the implementation of our CO2 emission and/or methane emission reduction goals and opportunities and actions related to those goals, including related regulatory decisions, the cost of materials, supplies, and labor, technology advances, the feasibility of competing generation projects, and our ability to execute our capital plan;

06/30/2022 Form 10-Q1WEC Energy Group, Inc.

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  • The financial and operational feasibility of taking more aggressive action to further reduce GHG emissions in order to limit future global temperature increases;

  • The risks associated with inflation and changing commodity prices, including natural gas and electricity;

  • The availability and cost of sources of natural gas and other fossil fuels, purchased power, materials needed to operate environmental controls at our electric generating facilities, or water supply due to high demand, shortages, transportation problems, nonperformance by electric energy or natural gas suppliers under existing power purchase or natural gas supply contracts, or other developments;

  • Any impacts on the global economy, supply chains and fuel prices, generally, from the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and related sanctions;

  • Changes in credit ratings, interest rates, and our ability to access the capital markets, caused by volatility in the global credit markets, our capitalization structure, and market perceptions of the utility industry, us, or any of our subsidiaries;

  • Changes in the method of determining LIBOR or the replacement of LIBOR with an alternative reference rate;

  • Costs and effects of litigation, administrative proceedings, investigations, settlements, claims, and inquiries;

  • The direct or indirect effect on our business resulting from terrorist attacks and cyber security intrusions, as well as the threat of such incidents, including the failure to maintain the security of personally identifiable information, the associated costs to protect our utility assets, technology systems, and personal information, and the costs to notify affected persons to mitigate their information security concerns and to comply with state notification laws;

  • Restrictions imposed by various financing arrangements and regulatory requirements on the ability of our subsidiaries to transfer funds to us in the form of cash dividends, loans or advances, that could prevent us from paying our common stock dividends, taxes, and other expenses, and meeting our debt obligations;

  • The risk of financial loss, including increases in bad debt expense, associated with the inability of our customers, counterparties, and affiliates to meet their obligations;

  • Changes in the creditworthiness of the counterparties with whom we have contractual arrangements, including participants in the energy trading markets and fuel suppliers and transporters;

  • The financial performance of ATC and its corresponding contribution to our earnings;

  • The investment performance of our employee benefit plan assets, as well as unanticipated changes in related actuarial assumptions, which could impact future funding requirements;

  • Factors affecting the employee workforce, including loss of key personnel, internal restructuring, work stoppages, and collective bargaining agreements and negotiations with union employees;

  • Advances in technology, and related legislation or regulation supporting the use of that technology, that result in competitive disadvantages and create the potential for impairment of existing assets;

  • Risks related to our non-utility renewable energy facilities, including unfavorable weather, the ability to replace expiring long-term PPAs under acceptable terms, and the availability of reliable interconnection and electricity grids;

  • The risk associated with the values of goodwill, other intangible assets, long-lived assets, and equity method investments, and their possible impairment;

  • Potential business strategies to acquire and dispose of assets or businesses, which cannot be assured to be completed timely or within budgets, and legislative or regulatory restrictions or caps on non-utility acquisitions, investments or projects, including the State of Wisconsin's public utility holding company law;

06/30/2022 Form 10-Q2WEC Energy Group, Inc.

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  • The timing and outcome of any audits, disputes, and other proceedings related to taxes;

  • The effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by standard-setting bodies; and

  • Other considerations disclosed elsewhere herein and in other reports we file with the SEC or in other publicly disseminated written documents.

Except as may be required by law, we expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

06/30/2022 Form 10-Q3WEC Energy Group, Inc.

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Next: Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS