UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C.WASHINGTON, DC 20549


FORM 10-K




(Mark One)
[X]ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20172020


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


For the transition period from ________________ to ___________________

Commission
File Number
Registrant; State of Incorporation;
Address; and Telephone Number
IRS Employer
Identification No.
Commission
File Number
001-01245
Registrant; State of Incorporation;
Address; and Telephone Number
IRS Employer
Identification No.
001-01245WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY39-0476280
(A Wisconsin Corporation)
231 West Michigan Street
P. O. Box 2046
Milwaukee, WI 53201
414-221-2345

(A Wisconsin Corporation)
231 West Michigan Street
P.O. Box 2046
Milwaukee, WI 53201
(414) 221-2345

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


None


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Serial Preferred Stock, 3.60% Series, $100 Par Value
Six Per Cent. Preferred Stock, $100 Par Value


Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.


Yes [ ]    No [X]


Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.


Yes [ ]    No [X]


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 [X]    No [ ]





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


Yes [X]    No [ ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]


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 filerAccelerated filer
Non-accelerated filerSmaller reporting company
Large accelerated filer [ ]Accelerated filer [  ]
Non-accelerated filer [X] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of
the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.
7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.    

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


Yes [ ]    No [X]


As of June 30, 20172020 (and currently), all of the common stock of Wisconsin Electric Power Company is held by WEC Energy Group, Inc.

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant.
None.

NaN.
Number of shares outstanding of each class of common stock, as of
January 31, 20182021


Common Stock, $10 par value, 33,289,327 shares outstanding


Documents incorporated by reference:


Portions of Wisconsin Electric Power Company's Definitive information statementInformation Statement on Schedule 14C for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be held on April 26, 2018,29, 2021, are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.






Table of Contents
WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
For the Year Ended December 31, 20172020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

2017 Form 10-KiWisconsin Electric Power Company

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2020 Form 10-KiWisconsin Electric Power Company

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Note 19
Note 20
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Note 21
Regulatory Environment
Note 22
Other Income, Net
Note 23
Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)
Note 2324
New Accounting Pronouncements
ITEM 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
ITEM 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION
PART III
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OF THE REGISTRANT
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANTACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
PART IV
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 16.
FORM 10-K SUMMARY
SCHEDULE II — VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
SIGNATURES



20172020 Form 10-KiiWisconsin Electric Power Company

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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
BluewaterBluewater Natural Gas Holding, LLC
BostcoBostco LLC
UMERCUpper Michigan Energy Resources Corporation
WBSWEC Business Services LLC
WEWisconsin Electric Power Company
We PowerW.E. Power, LLC
WEC Energy GroupWEC Energy Group, Inc.
WGWisconsin Gas LLC
WPSWisconsin Public Service Corporation
Federal and State Regulatory Agencies
EPAUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
FERCFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
IRSUnited States Internal Revenue Service
MPSCMichigan Public Service Commission
PSCWPublic Service Commission of Wisconsin
SECSecurities and Exchange Commission
WDNRWisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Accounting Terms
AFUDCAllowance for Funds Used During Construction
AROAsset Retirement Obligation
ASCAccounting Standards Codification
ASUAccounting Standards Update
CWIPConstruction Work in Progress
FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board
GAAPGenerally Accepted Accounting Principles
OPEBOther Postretirement Employee Benefits
Subsidiaries and AffiliatesEnvironmental Terms
ATCACEAmerican Transmission Company LLCAffordable Clean Energy
BluewaterBluewater Natural Gas Holding, LLC
BostcoBostco LLC
IntegrysIntegrys Holding, Inc. (previously known as Integrys Energy Group, Inc.)
UMERCUpper Michigan Energy Resources Corporation
WBSWEC Business Services LLC
WEWisconsin Electric Power Company
We PowerW.E. Power, LLC
WEC Energy GroupWEC Energy Group, Inc. (previously known as Wisconsin Energy Corporation)
WGWisconsin Gas LLC
WisparkWispark LLC
WPSWisconsin Public Service Corporation
Federal and State Regulatory Agencies
EPAUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
FERCFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
IRSUnited States Internal Revenue Service
MDEQMichigan Department of Environmental Quality
MPSCMichigan Public Service Commission
PSCWPublic Service Commission of Wisconsin
SECSecurities and Exchange Commission
WDNRWisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Accounting Terms
AFUDCAllowance for Funds Used During Construction
AROAsset Retirement Obligation
ASCAccounting Standards Codification
ASUAccounting Standards Update
CWIPConstruction Work in Progress
FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board
GAAPGenerally Accepted Accounting Principles
OPEBOther Postretirement Employee Benefits
Environmental Terms
Act 1412005 Wisconsin Act 141
BATWBottom Ash Transport Water
BSERBest System of Emission Reduction
BTABest Technology Available
CO2
Carbon Dioxide
CPPClean Power Plan
CSAPRCross-State Air Pollution Rule
GHGELGGreenhouse GasSteam Electric Effluent Limitation Guidelines
NAAQSFGDFlue Gas Desulfurization
GHGGreenhouse Gas
NAAQSNational Ambient Air Quality Standards
NOxNitrogen Oxide
NSPSNew Source Performance Standards
SO2
Sulfur Dioxide
Measurements
DthDekatherm
MWMegawatt
MWhMegawatt-hour

2017 Form 10-KMeasurementsiiiWisconsin Electric Power Company

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BcfBillion Cubic Feet
DthDekatherm
MWMegawatt
MWhMegawatt-hour
2020 Form 10-KiiiWisconsin Electric Power Company

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Other Terms and Abbreviations
AIAAffiliated Interest Agreement
ARRsAMIAdvanced Metering Infrastructure
ARRAuction Revenue RightsRight
Badger Hollow IIBadger Hollow Solar Park II
BSGFBlue Sky Green Field Wind Park
CDCCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
CFRCode of Federal Regulations
Compensation CommitteeCompensation Committee of the Board of Directors of WEC Energy Group, Inc.
COVID-19Coronavirus Disease – 2019
D.C. Circuit Court of AppealsUnited States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
ERGSEGUElectric Utility Generating Unit
ERGSElm Road Generating Station
ER 1Elm Road Generating Station Unit 1
ER 2Elm Road Generating Station Unit 2
ESG Progress PlanWEC Energy Group's Capital Investment Plan for Efficiency, Sustainability, and Growth for 2021-2025
Exchange ActSecurities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
FTRsFTRFinancial Transmission RightsRight
GCRMGas Cost Recovery Mechanism
LMPITCInvestment Tax Credit
LIBORLondon Interbank Offered Rate
LMPLocational Marginal Price
MCPPLNGMilwaukee County Power PlantLiquefied Natural Gas
MISOMidcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.
MISO Energy MarketsMISO Energy and Operating Reserves Market
NYMEXNew York Mercantile Exchange
OCPPOak Creek Power Plant
OC 5Oak Creek Power Plant Unit 5
OC 6Oak Creek Power Plant Unit 6
OC 7Oak Creek Power Plant Unit 7
OC 8Oak Creek Power Plant Unit 8
Omnibus Stock Incentive PlanWEC Energy Group 1993 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated Effective as of January 1, 2016
PIPPPresque Isle Power Plant
Point BeachPoint Beach Nuclear Power Plant
PWGSPPAPower Purchase Agreement
PTCProduction Tax Credit
PWGSPort Washington Generating Station
PWGS 1Port Washington Generating Station Unit 1
PWGS 2Port Washington Generating Station Unit 2
ROEReturn on Equity
RTORegional Transmission Organization
SSRSOXSection 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
SSRSystem Support Resource
Supreme CourtUnited States Supreme Court
Tax LegislationTax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
TildenTilden Mining Company
Treasury GrantVAPPSection 1603 Renewable Energy Treasury Grant
VAPPValley Power Plant
WHOWorld Health Organization



20172020 Form 10-KivWisconsin Electric Power Company

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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, andincluding associated compliance costs, legal proceedings, effective tax rate,rates, pension and OPEB plans, fuel costs, sources of electric energy supply, coal and natural gas deliveries, remediation costs, climate-related matters, 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 Item 1A. Risk Factors 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, unusual weather, 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 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, as well as the recovery of the related costs through rates;

The impact of health pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on our business functions, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations;

The impact of recent and future federal, state, and local legislative andand/or regulatory changes, including changes in rate-setting policies or procedures, 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, and energy efficiency mandates;

The uncertainty surroundingmandates, and tax laws, including the recently enacted Tax Legislation including implementing regulationsas well as those that affect our ability to use PTCs and IRS interpretations, the amount to be returned to our ratepayers, and its impact, if any, on our credit ratings;ITCs;


Federal and state 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;

Factors affecting the implementation of WEC Energy Group's generation reshaping plan,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, and the feasibility of competing generation projects;


Increased pressure on us by investorsThe financial and other stakeholder groups to takeoperational feasibility of taking more aggressive action to further reduce future GHG emissions in order to limit future global temperature increases;


The risks associated with changing commodity prices, particularly natural gas and electricity, and the availability of sources of fossil fuel, natural gas and other fossil fuels, purchased power, materials needed to operate environmental controls at our electric
2020 Form 10-K1Wisconsin Electric Power Company

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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;


2017 Form 10-K1Wisconsin Electric Power Company

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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 or us;


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 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 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;concerns and to comply with state notification laws;


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 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;


The timing, costs, and anticipated benefits associated with the remaining integration efforts relating to WEC Energy Group's acquisition of Integrys;

Potential business strategies to acquire and dispose of assets, or businesses, which cannot be assured to be completed timely or within budgets;


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


The ability to maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act,SOX, while both integrating and continuing to integrate and consolidate WEC Energy Group's enterprise systems with those of its other utilities;


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.


WeExcept 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.



20172020 Form 10-K2Wisconsin Electric Power Company

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PART I


ITEM 1. BUSINESS


A. INTRODUCTION


In this report, when we refer to "us," "we," "our," or "ours," we are referring to Wisconsin Electric Power Company andCompany. The term "utility" refers to our subsidiary, Bostco.regulated activities, while the term "non-utility" refers to our activities that are not regulated. References to "Notes" are to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


We are a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group and were incorporated in the state of Wisconsin in 1896. We maintain our principal executive offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and serve customers in Wisconsin and served customers in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan through December 31, 2016. Effective January 1, 2017, we transferred our electric customers and distribution assets located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to UMERC, a stand-alone utility. UMERC became operational effective January 1, 2017. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information on UMERC.

Wisconsin. We conduct our business primarily through our utility reportable segment. Effective January 1, 2017, we transferred our investment in ATC to another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group. See Note 16, Investment in American Transmission Company, for more information. In March 2017, we sold the remaining real estate holdings of Bostco located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which included retail, office, and residential space. See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information on the sale of the remaining real estate holdings of Bostco.


For more information about our utility operations, including financial and geographic information, see Note 17, Segment Information, and Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Results of Operations. For information about our business strategy, see Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Corporate Developments.


Acquisition

On June 29, 2015, Wisconsin Energy Corporation acquired 100% of the outstanding common shares of Integrys and changed its name to WEC Energy Group, Inc. For additional information on this acquisition, see Note 2, Acquisitions.

Available Information


Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and periodic filings with the SECany amendments to those reports are made available free of charge, throughon WEC Energy Group's website, www.wecenergygroup.com, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the SEC.

You may obtain materials we filed with or furnished to the The SEC at the SEC Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. To obtainmaintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room, you may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also viewstatements, and other information filed or furnishedregarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.www.sec.gov.


B. UTILITY SEGMENT


ELECTRIC UTILITY OPERATIONSElectric Utility Operations


We are the largest electric utility in the state of Wisconsin. We generate and distribute electric energy to customers located in southeastern Wisconsin (including the metropolitan Milwaukee area), east central Wisconsin, and northern Wisconsin, and serveWisconsin. We also served an iron ore mine customer, Tilden, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.Michigan, through March 31, 2019 when Tilden became a customer of UMERC.

Through December 31, 2016, we served electric customers in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Effective January 1, 2017, we transferred our electric customers (other than Tilden) and electric distribution assets located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to UMERC, a stand-alone utility owned by WEC Energy Group. See Note 4, Related Parties, and Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information. UMERC currently meets its market obligations through power purchase agreements with us and WPS. UMERC will begin to generate electricity when its new generation solution in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan begins commercial operation, which is expected to occur in 2019.


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Operating Revenues


The following table shows electric utilityFor information about our operating revenues including steam operations,disaggregated by customer class for the past three years:years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, see Note 3, Operating Revenues.
  Year Ended December 31
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
Operating revenues      
Residential $1,178.4
 $1,243.3
 $1,207.6
Small commercial and industrial 1,015.9
 1,046.1
 1,036.8
Large commercial and industrial 657.3
 699.3
 727.7
Other 21.2
 21.0
 22.1
Total retail revenues 2,872.8
 3,009.7
 2,994.2
Wholesale 118.8
 88.7
 101.4
Resale 238.0
 224.4
 228.2
Steam 23.3
 27.2
 41.0
Other operating revenues * 83.3
 90.6
 89.6
Total operating revenues $3,336.2
 $3,440.6
 $3,454.4

*Includes SSR revenues, rent income, and ancillary revenues, partially offset by revenues from Tilden that are being deferred until a future rate proceeding. For more information, see the discussion below under the heading "Large Electric Retail Customers."


Electric Sales


Our electric energy deliveries included supply and distribution sales to retail, wholesale, and wholesale customers and distribution sales to those customers who switched to an alternative electric supplier.resale customers. In 2017,2020, retail electric revenues accounted for 86.1%93.1% of total electric operating revenues, while wholesale and resale electric revenues accounted for 10.7%2.6% of total electric operating revenues, and resale revenues accounted for 3.6% of total electric operating revenues. See Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Results of Operations – Utility Segment Contribution to OperatingNet Income Attributed to Common Shareholder for information on MWh sales by customer class.


We are authorized to provide retail electric service in designated territories in the state of Wisconsin, as established by indeterminate permits and boundary agreements with other utilities. Although we no longer provide electric service in certain territories in the state of Michigan, we continue, on an interim basis, to provide service to the Tilden mine located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. See the discussion below under the heading "Large Electric Retail Customers."


We buy and sell wholesale electric power by participating in the MISO Energy Markets. The cost of our individual generation offered into the MISO Energy Markets compared to our competitors affects how often our generating units are dispatched and whether we buy or sell power based on our customers' needs. We provide wholesale electric service to various customers, including electric cooperatives, municipal joint action agencies, other investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, and sell power.energy marketers. For more information, see D. Regulation.

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The majority of our sales for resale are sold into an energy market operated by MISO at market rates based on availability of our generation and market demand. Retail fuel costs are reduced by the amount that revenue exceeds the costs of sales derived from these opportunity sales.

Steam Sales


We have a steam utility that generates, distributes, and sells steam supplied by the VAPP to customers in metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Steam is used by customers for processing, space heating, domestic hot water, and humidification. Annual sales of steam fluctuate from year to year based on system growth and variations in weather conditions. 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. See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information.


Electric Sales Forecast


Our service territory experienced slightly lower weather-normalized retail electric sales in 2017, driven by2020, as compared with 2019, due to the transferimpact of customers to UMERC and lower use per residential customer.the COVID-19 pandemic. We currently forecast retail electric sales volumes to grow between 1.0% and the associated peak demand, excluding the Tilden mine located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to remain flat1.5% over the next five years, compared with 2020, assuming normal weather. The Tilden mine will no longer be a retail customer of ours once UMERC's new generation solution in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan begins commercial operation, whichElectric peak demand is expected to occur in 2019.grow between 0.5% and 1.0% over the next five years.



Customers
Year Ended December 31
(in thousands)202020192018
Electric customers – end of year
Residential1,028.2 1,022.0 1,016.3 
Small commercial and industrial117.1 116.3 115.3 
Large commercial and industrial0.6 0.7 0.6 
Wholesale and other2.9 2.6 2.6 
Total electric customers – end of year1,148.8 1,141.6 1,134.8 
Steam customers – end of year0.4 0.4 0.4 
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Customers
  Year Ended December 31
(in thousands) 2017 2016 2015
Electric customers – end of year      
Residential 1,009.1
 1,026.0
 1,020.8
Small commercial and industrial 114.5
 116.7
 116.0
Large commercial and industrial 0.7
 0.7
 0.7
Other 2.5
 2.5
 2.6
Total electric customers – end of year 1,126.8
 1,145.9
 1,140.1
       
Steam customers – end of year 0.4
 0.4
 0.4

Large Electric Commercial and Industrial Retail Customers


We provide electric utility service to a diversified base of customers in industries such industries as metals manufacturing, governmental, food products,and other manufacturing, real estate, governmental, health services, mining, retail, and education.food products.


In February 2015, Tilden, along with another affiliated iron ore mine located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, returned as customers after choosing an alternative electric supplier in September 2013. We entered into a contract with each of the mines to provide full requirements electric service through December 31, 2019. Since 2015, we have been deferring, and expect to continue to defer, the revenue less cost of sales from the mine sales and will apply these amounts for the benefit of Wisconsin retail electric customers in a future rate proceeding.

In 2016, one of the iron ore mines closed, and the related contract for full requirements electric service was terminated. In August 2016, WEC Energy Group entered into a new agreement with Tilden under which it will purchase electric power from UMERC for 20 years for the remaining mine, contingent upon UMERC's construction of natural gas-fired generation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Tilden will continue to receive full requirements electric service from us under the existing contract until UMERC's generation solution in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan begins commercial operation, which is expected to occur in 2019. See Note 4, Related Parties, and Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information.

Wholesale Customers

We provide wholesale electric service to various customers, including electric cooperatives, municipal joint action agencies, other investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, and energy marketers. Wholesale sales accounted for 4.6%, 3.2%, and 3.4% of total electric energy sales volumes during 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. Wholesale revenues accounted for 3.6%, 2.6%, and 2.9% of total electric operating revenues during 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

Resale

The majority of our sales for resale are sold into an energy market operated by MISO at market rates based on availability of our generation and market demand. Resale sales accounted for 23.5%, 23.0%, and 23.8% of total electric energy sales volumes during 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. Resale revenues accounted for 7.1%, 6.5%, and 6.6% of total electric operating revenues during 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. Retail fuel costs are reduced by the amount that revenue exceeds the costs of sales derived from these opportunity sales.

Electric Generation and Supply Mix


Our electric supply strategy is to provide our customers with energy from plants using a diverse fuel mix that is expected to maintainbalance a stable, reliable, and affordable supply of electricity.electricity with environmental stewardship. Through our participation in the MISO Energy Markets, we supply a significant amount of electricity to our customers from power plants that we own or lease from We Power. We supplement our internally generated power supply with long-term power purchase agreements,PPAs, including the Point Beach power purchase agreementPPA discussed under the heading "Power Purchase Commitments," and through spot purchases in the MISO Energy Markets. We also sell excess capacitypower supply into the MISO Energy Markets when it is economical, which reduces net fuel costs by offsetting costs of purchased power. All options, including owned generation resources and purchased power opportunities, are continually evaluated on a real-time basis to select and dispatch the lowest-cost resources available to meet system load requirements.



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Our rated capacity by fuel type as of December 31, including the units we lease from We Power, is shown below. For more information on our electric generation facilities, see Item 2. Properties.
  
Rated Capacity in MW (1)
  2017 2016 2015
Coal 3,599
 3,582
 3,589
Natural gas:      
Combined cycle 1,182
 1,140
 1,082
Steam turbine (2)
 240
 240
 240
Natural gas/oil peaking units (3)
 982
 962
 962
Renewables (4)
 191
 190
 187
Total rated capacity 6,194
 6,114
 6,060

(1)
Rated capacity is the net power output under average operating conditions with equipment in an average state of repair as of a given month in a given year. We are a summer peaking electric utility, and amounts are based on expected capacity ratings for the following summer. The values were established by tests and may change slightly from year to year.

(2)
The natural gas steam turbine represents the rated capacity associated with VAPP.

(3)
The dual-fueled facilities generally burn oil only if natural gas is not available due to constraints on the natural gas pipeline and/or at the local natural gas distribution company that delivers natural gas to the plants.

(4)
Includes hydroelectric, biomass, and wind generation.

The table below indicates our sources of electric energy supply as a percentage of sales for the three years ended December 31, as well as estimates for 2018:2021:
Estimate (1)
Actual
2021202020192018
Company-owned or leased generation units:
Coal33.4 %31.4 %36.3 %45.5 %
Natural gas:
Combined cycle25.7 %27.6 %25.1 %17.7 %
Steam turbine1.0 %1.4 %1.2 %0.8 %
Natural gas/oil peaking units0.2 %0.5 %0.6 %0.8 %
Renewables (2)
4.2 %4.6 %4.0 %3.7 %
Total company-owned or leased generation units64.5 %65.5 %67.2 %68.5 %
Power purchase contracts:
Nuclear29.5 %29.6 %28.8 %27.1 %
Natural gas3.7 %2.9 %2.7 %2.3 %
Renewables (2)
1.0 %0.7 %0.7 %1.3 %
Total power purchase contracts34.2 %33.2 %32.2 %30.7 %
Purchased power from MISO1.3 %1.3 %0.6 %0.8 %
Total purchased power35.5 %34.5 %32.8 %31.5 %
Total electric utility supply100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %
  Estimate Actual
  2018 2017 2016 2015
Company-owned or leased generation units:        
Coal 47.5% 50.8% 49.9% 53.5%
Natural gas:        
Combined cycle 16.5% 14.7% 15.9% 13.0%
Steam turbine 0.7% 1.1% 1.2% 1.4%
Natural gas/oil peaking units 0.4% 0.5% 0.7% 0.6%
Renewables 3.6% 3.8% 3.5% 3.5%
Total company-owned or leased generation units 68.7% 70.9% 71.2% 72.0%
Power purchase contracts:        
Nuclear 25.5% 25.2% 24.6% 24.5%
Natural gas 3.0% 1.8% 2.4% 1.7%
Renewables 1.7% 1.8% 1.8% 1.1%
Other % % % 0.7%
Total power purchase contracts 30.2% 28.8% 28.8% 28.0%
Purchased power from MISO 1.1% 0.3% % %
Total purchased power 31.3% 29.1% 28.8% 28.0%
Total electric utility supply 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%


(1)    The values included in the forecast assume a natural gas price based on the December 2020 NYMEX.
Coal-Fired
(2)    Includes hydroelectric, biomass, and wind generation.

Electric Generation Facilities


Our coal-fired generation including the ERGS units weportfolio is a mix of energy resources having different operating characteristics and fuel sources designed to balance providing energy that is stable, reliable, and affordable with environmental stewardship. We own or lease from We Power, consists of four operating plants with a rated capacity of 3,599 MW as of December 31, 2017. For more information about our operating plants, see Item 2. Properties. As a result of WEC Energy Group's generation reshaping plan, we expect to retire 1,5475,059 MW of coal generation by 2020 with a goal of reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 40% below 2005 levels by 2030. For more information about future retirement of ourcapacity, including owned and leased facilities. Our facilities include coal-fired plants, see Note 6, Property, Plant, and Equipment.


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Natural Gas-Fired Generation

Our natural gas-fired generation, including the PWGS units we lease from We Power, consists of four operating plants, including peaking units, with a rated capacity of 2,204 MW as of December 31, 2017. For more information about our operating plants, see Item 2. Properties.

Oil-Fired Generation

Fuel oil is used for combustion turbines at certainand renewable generation. Certain of our natural gas-fired plants as well as for ignition and flame stabilization at one of our coal-fired plants. Our oil-firedgas fired generation had a rated capacity of 200 MW as of December 31, 2017. We also have natural gas-fired peaking units with a rated capacity of 782 MW, which have the ability to burn oil if natural gas is not available due to delivery constraints. For more information about our operating plants,facilities, see Item 2. Properties.


Generation from Leased W.E. Power, LLC Units

We also supply electricity to our customers from power plants that we lease from We Power. These plants include the ERGS units and the PWGS units. Lease payments are billed from We Power to us and then recovered in our rates as authorized by the PSCW and the FERC. We operate the We Power units and are authorized by the PSCW and state law to fully recover prudently incurred operating and maintenance costs in our electric rates. As the operator of the units, we may request We Power to make capital improvements to, or further investments in, the units. Under the lease terms, these capital improvements or further investments will increase lease payments paid by us and should ultimately be recovered in our rates.

Creating a Sustainable Future

WEC Energy Group's ESG Progress Plan includes the retirement of older, fossil-fueled generation, to be replaced with the construction of zero-carbon-emitting renewable generation and natural gas-fired generation. When taken together, the retirements and new investments should better balance our supply with our demand, while maintaining reliable, affordable energy for our customers. The retirements will contribute to meeting WEC Energy Group's goals to reduce CO2 emissions from its electric generation.

In 2019, WEC Energy Group met and surpassed its original goal to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% below 2005 levels. In July 2020, WEC Energy Group announced new goals to reduce CO2 emissions from its electric generation by 70% below 2005 levels by 2030 and to be net carbon neutral by 2050. It also added a near-term goal in November 2020 to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% below 2005 levels by 2025.

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We have already retired approximately 1,500 MW of coal-fired generation since the beginning of 2018, which included the 2019 retirement of the PIPP as well as the the 2018 retirement of the Pleasant Prairie power plant. See Note 5, Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, for more information related to these power plant retirements. As part of the ESG Progress Plan, WEC Energy Group expects to retire approximately 1,800 MW of additional fossil-fueled generation by 2025. See Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Corporate Developments for more information on the ESG Progress Plan.

Renewable Generation


We meet a portion of our electric generation supply with various renewable energy resources.resources, including wind, hydroelectric, and biomass. This helps us maintain compliance with renewable energy legislation in Wisconsin and Michigan.legislation. These renewable energy resources also help us maintain diversity in our generation portfolio, which effectively serves as a price hedge against future fuel costs, and will help mitigate the risk of potential unknown costs associated with any future carbon restrictions for electric generators. ForWe are also constructing solar projects, which are discussed in more information aboutdetail below.

In December 2018, we received approval from the PSCW for the Dedicated Renewable Energy Resource pilot program, a program for customers who wish to access a large-scale renewable project located in Wisconsin that we would operate. The project will contribute toward meeting our peak demand, adding up to 150 MW of renewables to our portfolio, and help these larger customers to meet their sustainability and renewable generation, see Item 2. Properties.energy goals.


HydroelectricWind


Our hydroelectric generating system consistsIn February 2021, we, along with WPS, filed an application with the PSCW for approval to accelerate up to approximately $85 million in capital investments in BSGF, to repower major components. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS issued guidance extending the period for work to be completed on facilities in order to be eligible for PTCs if certain requirements are met. If approved, we expect to receive an additional 10 years of 13 operating plants with bothPTCs, and BSGF would be allowed to continue providing a total installedreliable, cost-effective, zero-fuel-cost, zero-emission capacity and energy resource for customers.

Solar

In February 2021, we, along with WPS and an unaffiliated utility, filed an application with the PSCW for approval to acquire and construct the Paris Solar-Battery Park, a rated capacityutility-scale solar-powered electric generating facility with a battery energy storage system. The project will be located in Kenosha County, Wisconsin and features 200 MW of 90solar generation and 110 MW as of December 31, 2017. Allbattery storage. The joint applicants propose that we would acquire a 75% ownership interest, WPS would acquire a 15% ownership interest, and the unaffiliated utility would acquire the remaining 10% ownership interest. If approved, our share of our hydroelectric facilities follow FERC guidelines and/or regulations.the cost of this project is estimated to be approximately $320 million with construction expected to begin in 2022 and completed by the end of 2023.


Wind

We have four wind sites, consistingAs part of 200 turbines,WEC Energy Group's commitment to invest in zero-carbon generation, we, along with an installed capacity of 339 MWunaffiliated utility, received approval from the PSCW to construct a solar project, Badger Hollow II, that will be located in Iowa County, Wisconsin and a rated capacity of 51 MW as ofis expected to enter commercial operation in December 31, 2017.

Biomass

We have a biomass-fueled power plant at a Rothschild, Wisconsin paper mill site. Wood waste and wood shavings are used to produce a rated capacity of approximately 502022. Once constructed, we will own 100 MW of electric powerthis project.

In December 2018, we received approval from the PSCW for the Solar Now pilot program, which is expected to add 35 MW of solar generation to our portfolio, allowing non-profit and government entities, as well as steamcommercial and industrial customers to support the paper mill's operations. Fuel for the power plant is supplied by both the paper millsite utility owned solar arrays on their property. Under this program, we have energized 13 Solar Now projects and through contracts with biomass suppliers.currently have another five under construction, together totaling more than 15 MW.

Generation from Leased We Power Units

We also supply electricity to our customers from power plants that we lease from We Power. These plants include the ERGS units and the PWGS units. Lease payments are billed from We Power to us and then recovered in our rates as authorized by the PSCW, the MPSC, and the FERC. We operate the We Power units and are authorized by the PSCW and state law to fully recover prudently incurred operating and maintenance costs in our Wisconsin electric rates. As the operator of the units, we may request We Power to make capital improvements to, or further investments in, the units. Under the lease terms, these capital improvements or further investments will increase lease payments paid by us and should ultimately be recovered in our rates.


Electric System Reliability


The PSCW requires us to maintain a planning reserve margin above our projected annual peak demand forecast to help ensure reliability of electric service to our customers. These planning reserve requirements are consistent with the MISO calculated planning reserve margin. In 2008, the PSCW established a 14.5% reserve margin requirement for long-term planning (planning years two through ten). For short-term planning (planning year one), the PSCW requires Wisconsin utilities to follow the planning reserve margin established by MISO. MISO has a 15.8%an 18.0% installed capacity reserve margin requirement for the planning year from June 1, 2017,2020, through May 31, 2018,2021, and a 17.1%an 18.3% installed capacity reserve margin requirement for the planning year from June 1, 2018,2021, through May 31, 2019.2022. MISO's short-term reserve margin requirements experience year-to-year fluctuations, primarily due to changes in the average generation resource mix and forced outage rate of generation within the MISO footprint.


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Michigan recently passed legislation requiring all electric providers to demonstrate to the MPSCWe believe that theywe have enough resources to serve the anticipated needs of their customers for a minimum of four consecutive planning years beginning in the upcoming planning year June 1, 2018, through May 31, 2019. The MPSC has established future planning reserve margin requirements based on the same study conducted by MISO that determines the short-term reserve margin requirements.

In both of our Wisconsin and Michigan jurisdictions, we had adequate capacity through company-owned generation units, leased generating units, and power purchase contracts to meet the MISO calculated planning reserve margin during the current and first upcoming planning years.year. We also fully anticipate that we will have adequate capacity to meet the planning reserve margin requirements for futurethe upcoming planning years in both jurisdictions.However, extremely hot weather, unexpected equipment failure, or unavailability across the 15-state MISO footprint could require us to call upon load management procedures. Load management procedures allow for the reduction of energy use through agreements with customers to directly shut off their equipment or through interruptible service, where customers agree to reduce their load in the case of an emergency interruption.year.


Fuel and Purchased Power Costs


Our retail electric rates in Wisconsin are established by the PSCW and include base amounts for fuel and purchased power costs. 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 exceedbeyond a 2% price variance from the costs included in the rates charged to customers. For more information about the fuel rules, see D. Regulation.


Our average fuel and purchased power costs per MWh by fuel type, including delivery costs, were as follows for the years ended December 31:
202020192018
Coal$18.67 $22.05 $22.39 
Natural gas combined cycle15.84 19.35 22.05 
Natural gas/oil peaking units41.71 53.66 63.29 
Biomass130.76 102.99 97.33 
Purchased power48.90 46.90 45.66 
  2017 2016 2015
Coal $22.26
 $22.68
 $25.25
Natural gas combined cycle 22.85
 19.13
 23.44
Natural gas/oil peaking units 60.44
 46.99
 56.33
Biomass 118.76
 103.24
 168.84
Purchased power 45.50
 43.51
 43.87


We purchase coal under long-term contracts, which helps with price stability. In the past, coal and associated transportation services were exposed to volatility in pricing due to changing domestic and world-wide demand for coal and diesel fuel. To moderate the volatility, we were givenWe have PSCW approval for a hedging program whichto moderate this volatility exposure. This program allows us to hedge, over a 36-month period, up to 75% of our potential risks related to rail transportation fuel surcharge exposure. However, due to decreased volatility over the last two years, we suspended the fuel surchargeThe results of this hedging program, when used, are reflected in 2017.the average costs of purchased power.


We purchase natural gas for our plants on the spot market from natural gas marketers, utilities, and producers, and we arrange for transportation of the natural gas to our plants. We have firm and interruptible transportation, as well as balancing and storage agreements, intended to support our plants' variable usage. We also have PSCW approval for a PSCW-approvedhedging program thatto moderate volatility related to natural gas price risk. This program allows us to hedge, over a 36-month period, up to 75% of our estimated natural gas use for electric generation in order to help manage our natural gas price risk.

Our hedging programs are generally implemented on a 36-month forward-looking basis.generation. The results of these programsthis hedging program are reflected in the average costs of natural gas and purchased power.gas.


Coal Supply


We diversify the coal supply for our leased and owned electric generating facilities by purchasing coal from several mines in Wyoming and Pennsylvania, as well as from various other states. For 2018,2021, approximately 84%98% of our total projected coal requirements of 8.65.8 million tons are contracted under fixed-price contracts. See Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies, for more information on amounts of coal purchases and coal deliveries under contract.


The annual tonnage amounts contracted for the next three2021 and 2022 are set forth below. We have not entered into any coal contracts for years are as follows:after 2022.
(in thousands)Annual Tonnage
20215,670 
20221,500 
(in thousands) Annual Tonnage
2018 7,261
2019 4,536
2020 2,108

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Coal Deliveries


All of our 20182021 and 2022 coal requirements are expected to be shipped by our ownedunit trains that we own or leased unit trainslease under existing transportation agreements. The unit trains transport the coal for electric generating facilities from mines in Wyoming Pennsylvania, and Montana. The coal is transported by train to our rail-served electric-generating facilities and to dock storage in Superior, Wisconsin, until needed by our lake vessel-served facility.Pennsylvania. Additional small volume agreements may also be used to supplement the normal coal supply for our facilities.

Midcontinent Independent System Operator Costs

In connection with its status as a FERC approved RTO, MISO developed and operates the MISO Energy Markets, which include its bid-based energy markets and ancillary services market. We are a participant in the MISO Energy Markets. For more information on MISO, see D. Regulation.


Power Purchase Commitments


We enter into short and long-term power purchase commitments to meet a portion of our anticipated electric energy supply needs. Our power purchase commitments with unaffiliated parties for the next five years are 1,279 MW for 2021 and 1,033 MW per year for 2022 through 2025,
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which exclude planning capacity purchases. This amount includesEach of these amounts include 1,033 MW per year related to a long-term power purchase agreementPPA for electricity generated by Point Beach. Due to the planned retirementAs part of WEC Energy Group's ESG Progress Plan, we retired some of our older, less efficient coal-fired generation resources, we have entered into purchase agreements toin 2018 and 2019. To procure additional planning capacity, in orderwe purchased capacity from the MISO annual auction to ensure that we maintain our compliance with planning reserve requirements as established by the PSCW MPSC, and MISO.

Other Matters


Seasonality


Our electric utility sales are impacted by seasonal factors and varying weather conditions. We sell more electricity during the summer months because of the residential cooling load. We continue to upgrade our electric distribution system, including substations, transformers, and lines, to meet the demand of our customers. OurIn 2020, our generating plants performed as expected during the warmest periods of the summer, and all power purchase commitments under firm contract were received. During this period, we did not require public appeals for conservation, and we did not interrupt or curtail service to non-firm customers who participate in load management programs.


Competition


We face competition from various entities and other forms of energy sources available to customers, including self-generation by large industrial customers and alternative energy sources. We compete with other utilities for sales to municipalities and cooperatives as well as with other utilities and marketers for wholesale electric business.


For more information on competition in our service territories,territory, see Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity, and Capital Resources – Industry Restructuring.Competitive Markets.


Environmental Matters

Natural Gas Utility Operations
For information regarding environmental matters, especially as they relate to coal-fired generating facilities, see Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies.

NATURAL GAS UTILITY OPERATIONS


We are authorized to provide retail natural gas distribution service in designated territories in the state of Wisconsin, as established by indeterminate permits and boundary agreements with other utilities. We also transport customer-owned natural gas. We operate in three distinct service areas including west and south of the City of Milwaukee, the Appleton area, and areas within Iron and Vilas Counties, Wisconsin.


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Natural Gas Utility Operating Statistics

The following table shows certain natural gas utility operating statistics for the past three years:
  Year Ended December 31
  2017 2016 2015
Operating revenues (in millions)
      
Residential $249.0
 $238.6
 $256.6
Commercial and industrial 114.3
 105.0
 118.9
Total retail revenues 363.3
 343.6
 375.5
Transport 13.7
 13.6
 16.0
Other operating revenues * (1.5) (5.0) 8.2
Total $375.5
 $352.2
 $399.7
       
Customers – end of year (in thousands)
      
Residential 445.9
 442.0
 438.7
Commercial and industrial 39.6
 39.4
 39.1
Transport 0.8
 0.7
 0.7
Total customers 486.3
 482.1
 478.5

*Includes amounts (refunded to) collected from customers for purchased gas adjustment costs.

Natural Gas Deliveries

Our gas therm deliveries include customer-owned transported natural gas. Transported natural gas accounted for approximately 36.9% of the total volumes delivered during 2017, 38.0% during 2016, and 36.4% during 2015. Our peak daily send-out during 2017 was 6.8 million therms on December 27, 2017.

Large Natural Gas Customers


We provide natural gas utility service to a diversified base ofresidential, commercial and industrial, customers who are largely within our electric service territory.and transportation customers. Major industries served include real estate, restaurants, food products, governmental, education, restaurants, paper mills, and food products.metals manufacturing. See Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Results of Operations – Utility Segment Contribution to Net Income Attributed to Common Shareholder for information on natural gas sales volumes by customer class.


Operating Revenues

For information about our operating revenues disaggregated by customer class for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, see Note 3, Operating Revenues.

Natural Gas Sales Forecast


Our service territory experienced growth inlower weather-normalized retail natural gas deliveries (excluding natural gas deliveries for electric generation) in 20172020 as compared to 2019 due to positive customer growth, an improving economy, and favorable natural gas prices.the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We currently forecast retail natural gas delivery volumes to grow at a rate between flat1.0% and 0.5%1.3% over the next five years, compared to 2020, assuming normal weather. The forecast projects declining average usage per customer partially offsetting positive customer growth.


Customers
Year Ended December 31
(in thousands)202020192018
Customers – end of year
Residential456.8 452.9 449.4 
Commercial and industrial40.5 40.1 39.9 
Transport0.9 0.9 0.8 
Total customers498.2 493.9 490.1 

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Natural Gas Supply, Pipeline Capacity and Storage


We have been able to meet our contractual obligations with both our suppliers and our customers. For more information on our natural gas utility supply and transportation contracts, see Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies.


Pipeline Capacity and Storage


The interstate pipelines serving Wisconsin originate in major natural gas producing areas of North America: the Oklahoma and Texas basins, western Canada, and the Rocky Mountains. We have contracted for long-term firm capacity from a number of these sources. This strategy reflects management's belief that overall supply security is enhanced by geographic diversification of the supply portfolio.


Due to the daily and seasonal variations in natural gas usage in Wisconsin, we have also contracted for substantial underground storage capacity, primarily in Michigan. We have entered into a long-term service agreement for natural gas storage with a wholly owned subsidiary of Bluewater. Bluewater, a wholly owned subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, owns natural gas storage facilities in Michigan and provides approximately one-third of our current storage needs. We target storage inventory levels at approximately 40% of forecasted winter demand;demand for November through March is considered the winter season. Storage capacity, along with ourMarch. Diversity of natural gas purchase contracts,supply enables us to manage significant changes in daily demand and to optimize our overall natural gas supply and capacity costs. We generally inject natural gas into storage during the spring and summer months when demand is lower and withdraw it in the winter months.

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As a result, we can contract for less long-line pipeline capacity during periods of peak usage than would otherwise be necessary and can purchase natural gas on a more uniform daily basis from suppliers year-round. Each of these capabilities enables us to reduce our overall costs.


We hold daily transportation and storage capacity entitlements with interstate pipeline companies as well as other service providers under varied-length long-term contracts.


Natural gas pipeline capacity and storage and natural gas supplies under contract can be resold in secondary markets. Peak or near-peak demand generally occurs only a few times each year. The secondary markets facilitate utilization of capacity and supply during times when the contracted capacity and supply are in excess of utility demand. The proceeds from these transactions are passed through to customers, subject to our approved GCRM. For information on our GCRM, see Note 1(d), Operating Revenues.

To ensure a reliable supply of natural gas during peak winter conditions, we have liquefied natural gasLNG and propane facilities located within our distribution system. These facilities are typically utilized during extreme demand conditions to ensure reliable supply to our customers.

In June 2017,addition to our parent company completedexisting facilities, we plan to construct an additional LNG facility. Subject to PSCW approval, the acquisitionfacility would provide us with approximately one Bcf of Bluewater. Bluewater owns natural gas storage facilities in Michigan that will provide a portionsupply to meet anticipated peak demand without requiring the construction of additional interstate pipeline capacity. Commercial operation of the currentLNG facility is targeted for the end of 2023.

Combined with our storage needs for ourcapability, management believes that the volume of natural gas utility operations. We have entered into a long-term service agreementunder contract is sufficient to takemeet our forecasted firm peak-day and seasonal demand. Our forecasted design peak-day throughput is 10.4 million therms for the allocated storage. See Note 2, Acquisitions, for more information2020 through 2021 heating season. Our peak daily send-out during 2020 was 6.4 million therms on this transaction.February 13, 2020.


Term Natural Gas Supply


We have contracts for firm supplies with terms of 3–5 months with suppliers for natural gas acquired in the Chicago, Illinois market hub and in the producing areas discussed above. The pricing of the term contracts is based upon first of the month indices.

Combined with our storage capability, management believes that the volume of natural gas under contract is sufficient to meet our forecasted firm peak-day and seasonal demand. Our forecasted design peak-day throughput is 10.2 million therms for the 2017 through 2018 heating season.

Secondary Market Transactions

Pipeline and storage capacity and natural gas supplies under contract can be resold in secondary markets. Local distribution companies, like our natural gas operations, must contract for capacity and supply sufficient to meet the firm peak-day demand of their customers. Peak or near-peak demand days generally occur only a few times each year. The secondary markets facilitate higher utilization of contracted capacity and supply during those times when the full contracted capacity and supply are not needed by the utility, helping to mitigate the fixed costs associated with maintaining peak levels of capacity and natural gas supply. Through pre-arranged agreements and day-to-day electronic bulletin board postings, interested parties can purchase this excess capacity and supply. The proceeds from these transactions are passed through to customers, subject to our approved GCRM. During 2017, we continued to participate in the secondary markets. For information on our GCRM, see Note 1(d), Revenues and Customer Receivables.

Spot Market Natural Gas Supply


We expect to continue to make natural gas purchases in the spot market as price and other circumstances dictate. We have supply relationships with a number of sellers from whom we purchase natural gas in the spot market.


Hedging Natural Gas Supply Prices


We have PSCW approval to hedge up to 60% of planned winter demand and up to 15% of planned summer demand using a mix of NYMEX-based natural gas options and futures contracts. This approval allows us to pass 100% of the hedging costs (premiums, brokerage fees and losses) and proceeds (gains) to customers through our GCRM. Hedge targets (volumes) are provided annually to the PSCW as part of our three-year natural gas supply plan and risk management filing.


To the extent that opportunities develop and physical supply operating plans are supportive, we also have PSCW approval to utilize NYMEX-based natural gas derivatives to capture favorable forward market price differentials. That approval provides for 100% of the related proceeds to accrue to our GCRM.


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Seasonality


Since the majority of our customers use natural gas for heating, customer use is sensitive to weather and is generally higher during the winter months. Accordingly, we are subject to some variations in earnings and working capital throughout the year as a result of changes in weather.

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Our working capital needs are met by cash generated from operations and debt (both long-term and short-term). The seasonality of natural gas revenues causes the timing of cash collections to be concentrated from January through June. A portion of our winter natural gas supply needs is typically purchased and stored from April through November. Also, planned capital spending on our natural gas distribution facilities is concentrated in April through November. Because of these timing differences, the cash flow from customers is typically supplemented with temporary increases in short-term borrowings (from external sources) during the late summer and fall. Short-term debt is typically reduced over the January through June period.


Competition


Competition inWe face varying degrees exists between natural gasof competition from other entities and other forms of energy available to consumers. A number of ourMany large commercial and industrial customers are dual-fuel customers that are equippedhave the ability to switch between natural gas and alternative fuels. We are allowedIn addition, all of our customers have the opportunity to offer lower-pricedchoose a natural gas sales and transportation services to dual-fuel customers. Undersupplier other than us. We offer natural gas transportation agreements,services for customers that elect to purchase natural gas directly from natural gas marketers and arrange with interstate pipelines and usa third-party supplier. We continue to have the natural gas transportedearn distribution revenues from these transportation customers for their use of our distribution systems to their facilities. We earn substantially the same operating income whether we sell and transport natural gas to customers or only transport their natural gas.

Our ability to maintain our sharefacilities. As such, the loss of revenue associated with the industrial dual-fuel market depends on our success and the success of third-party natural gas marketers in obtaining long-term and short-term suppliescost of natural gas at competitive prices comparedthat our transportation customers purchase from third-party suppliers has little impact on our net income, as it is offset by an equal reduction to other sources and in arranging or facilitating competitively priced transportation service for those customers that desire to buy their own natural gas supplies.costs.


FederalFor more information on competition in our service territory, see Item 7. Management's Discussion and state regulators continue to implement policies to bring more competition to the natural gas industry. While the natural gas utility distribution function is expected to remain a highly regulated, monopoly function, the saleAnalysis of the natural gas commodityFinancial Condition and related services are expected to remain subject to competition from third parties for large commercialResults of Operations – Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity, and industrial customers.Capital Resources – Competitive Markets.


C. OTHER SEGMENT


Our other segment includesincluded Bostco, our non-utility subsidiary that was originally formed to develop and invest in real estate. In March 2017, we sold substantially all of the remaining real estate holdingsassets of Bostco, locatedand, in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which included retail, office, and residential space. See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information.October 2018, Bostco no longer has significant operations.was dissolved.


Prior to January 1, 2017, our other segment also included our approximate 23% ownership interest in ATC, a for-profit, electric transmission company regulated by the FERC and certain state regulatory commissions. Effective January 1, 2017, we transferred our investment in ATC to another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group. See Note 16, Investment in American Transmission Company, for more information.

D. REGULATION


In addition to the specific regulations noted below, we are also subject to various other regulations, which primarily consist of regulations, where applicable, of the EPA, the WDNR, the MDEQ, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.


Rates

Our retail electric, natural gas, and steam rates are regulated by the various commissions shownPSCW, and the FERC regulates our wholesale electric rates. Decisions by these regulators can significantly impact our liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. The following table compares our utility operating revenues by regulatory jurisdiction for each of the three years ended December 31:
202020192018
(in millions)AmountPercentAmountPercentAmountPercent
Electric
Wisconsin$2,814.5 93.6 %$2,840.7 91.7 %$2,876.8 89.4 %
Michigan (1)
  %26.1 0.9 %83.8 2.6 %
FERC – Wholesale (1)
193.2 6.4 %229.9 7.4 %258.2 8.0 %
Total3,007.7 100.0 %3,096.7 100.0 %3,218.8 100.0 %
Natural Gas – Wisconsin359.3 100.0 %400.0 100.0 %406.2 100.0 %
Total utility operating revenues$3,367.0 $3,496.7 $3,625.0 

(1)    Tilden was our customer through March 31, 2019. Tilden became a customer of UMERC when UMERC's new natural gas-fired generation in the table below. These commissions haveUpper Peninsula of Michigan began commercial operation. Prior to its new generating units achieving commercial operation, UMERC purchased
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a portion of its power from us. The revenues received from UMERC are primarily included in the FERC – Wholesale line above. See Note 2, Related Parties, for additional information.

Retail Rates

The PSCW has general supervisory and regulatory powers over public utilities in their respective jurisdictions.its jurisdiction including, but not limited to, approval of retail utility rates and standards of service, security issuances, mergers, affiliate transactions, location and construction of electric generating units and natural gas facilities, and certain other additions and extensions to utility facilities.

Regulated RatesRegulatory Commission
Retail electric, natural gas, and steamPSCW
Retail electricMPSC *
Wholesale powerFERC
Historically, retail rates approved by the PSCW have been designed to provide utilities the opportunity to generate revenues to recover all prudently-incurred costs, along with a return on investment sufficient to pay interest on debt and provide a reasonable ROE. Rates charged to customers vary according to customer class and rate jurisdiction. We are subject to an earnings sharing mechanism in which a portion of our earnings are required to be refunded to customers if we earn above our authorized ROE. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information on our earnings sharing mechanism. The table below reflects our approved ROE and capital structure during 2020.

*Effective January 1, 2017, we transferred all of our electric distribution assets and customers located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to UMERC, with the exception of the Tilden. See Note 4, Related Parties, and Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information.

Regulated Retail RatesRegulatory CommissionAuthorized ROEAverage Common Equity Component
Electric, natural gas, and steamPSCW10.0%52.5%


In addition to amounts collected from customers through approved base rates, we have certain recovery mechanisms in place that allow us to recover or refund prudently incurred costs that differ from those approved in base rates.
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Embedded within our electric rates is an amount to recover fuel and purchased power costs. The Wisconsin retail fuel rules require us to defer, for subsequent rate recovery or refund, any under-collection or over-collection of fuel and purchased power costs that are outside of our symmetrical fuel cost tolerance, which the PSCW typically sets at plus or minus 2% of our approved fuel and purchased power cost plan. Our deferred fuel and purchased power costs are subject to an excess revenues test. If our ROE in a given year exceeds the ROE authorized by the PSCW, the recovery of under-collected fuel and purchased power costs would be reduced by the amount by which our return exceeds the authorized amount. Prudently incurred fuel and purchased power costs are recovered dollar-for-dollar from our Michigan retail electric customer and our wholesale electric customers.


Our natural gas utility operates under a GCRM as approved by the PSCW. Generally, the GCRM allows for a dollar-for-dollar recovery of prudently incurred natural gas costs.


In May 2015, the PSCW approved the acquisition of Integrys on the condition that we are subject to an earnings sharing mechanism for three years beginning January 1, 2016. See Note 2, Acquisitions,1(d), Operating Revenues, for more information on this earnings sharing mechanism.the significant mechanisms we had in place during 2020 that allowed us to recover or refund changes in prudently incurred costs from rate case-approved amounts.


We file periodic requests with the PSCW to request changes in retail rates. Our rate requests are based on forward looking test years, which reflect additions to infrastructure and changes in costs incurred or expected to be incurred. For information on how our rates are set,regulatory proceedings, see Note 21, Regulatory Environment. Orders from our respective regulatorsthe PSCW can be viewed at the following websites:
Regulatory CommissionWebsite
PSCW https://psc.wi.gov/
MPSChttp://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/
FERChttp://www.ferc.gov/

https://psc.wi.gov/. The material and information contained on these websitesthis website are not intended to be a part of, nor are they incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


Wholesale Rates

The following table comparesFERC regulates our utility operating revenues by regulatory jurisdiction for eachwholesale sales of electric energy, capacity, and ancillary services. We have received market-based rate authority from the FERC. Market-based rate authority allows wholesale electric sales to be made in the MISO market and directly to third parties based on the negotiated market value of the three years ended December 31:transaction. We also make wholesale sales pursuant to cost-based formula rates. Cost-based formula rates provide for recovery of our costs and an approved rate of return. The predetermined formula is initially based on our expenses from the previous year, but is eventually trued up to reflect actual, current-year costs.
  2017 2016 2015
(in millions) Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent
Electric            
Wisconsin $2,901.2
 87.0% $2,973.3
 86.4% $2,961.9
 85.7%
Michigan * 78.2
 2.3% 154.2
 4.5% 163.0
 4.7%
FERC – Wholesale * 356.8
 10.7% 313.1
 9.1% 329.5
 9.6%
Total 3,336.2
 100.0% 3,440.6

100.0% 3,454.4
 100.0%
             
Natural Gas – Wisconsin 375.5
 100.0% 352.2
 100.0% 399.7
 100.0%
             
Total utility operating revenues $3,711.7
 

 $3,792.8
 

 $3,854.1
 


*Effective January 1, 2017, we transferred all of our electric distribution assets and customers located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to UMERC, with the exception of Tilden. UMERC currently purchases a portion of its power from us. The revenues received from UMERC are primarily included in the FERC - Wholesale line above. See Note 4, Related Parties, and Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for additional information on UMERC.


Electric Transmission, Capacity, and Energy Markets


In connection with its status as a FERC approvedFERC-approved RTO, MISO developedoperates bid-based energy markets, which were implemented on April 1, 2005. In January 2009,markets. MISO enhanced the energy market by including an ancillary services market. In the MISO ancillary services market, we buy/sell regulationis responsible for monitoring and contingency reserves from/ensuring equal access to the market. The MISO ancillary services market has been able to reduce overall ancillary services costselectric transmission system in the MISO footprint, and has enabled MISO to assume significant balancing area responsibilities such as frequency control and disturbance control.its footprint.


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In MISO, base transmission costs are currently being paid by load-serving entities located in the service territories of each MISO transmission owner. The FERC has previously confirmed the use of the current transmission cost allocation methodology. Certain additional costs for new transmission projects are allocated throughout the MISO footprint.


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As part of MISO, a market-based platform was developedis used for valuing transmission congestion premised upon thean LMP system that has been implemented in certain northeastern and mid-Atlantic states.system. The LMP system includes the ability to hedge transmission congestion costs through ARRs and FTRs. ARRs are allocated to market participants by MISO, and FTRs are purchased through auctions. A new allocation and auction were completed for the period of June 1, 2017,2020, through May 31, 2018.2021. The resulting ARR valuationallocation and the secured FTRs are expected to mitigate our transmission congestion risk for that period.


MISO has instituted an annual zonal resource adequacy requirement to ensure there is sufficient generation capacity to serve the MISO market. To meet this requirement, capacity resources can be acquired through MISO's annual capacity auction, bilateral contracts for capacity, or provided from generating or demand response resources. OurAll of our capacity requirements during the 2017 planning year from June 1, 2020, through May 31, 2021 were fulfilled using our own capacity resources.met.


Other Electric Regulations


We are subject to the Federal Power Act and the corresponding regulations developed by certain federal agencies. The Energy Policy Act amended the Federal Power Act in 2005 to, among other things, make electric utility industry consolidation more feasible, authorize the FERC to review proposed mergers and the acquisition of generation facilities, change the FERC regulatory scheme applicable to qualifying cogeneration facilities, and modify certain other aspects of energy regulations and Federalfederal tax policies applicable to us. Additionally, the Energy Policy Act created an Electric Reliability Organization to be overseen by the FERC, which established mandatory electric reliability standards and which has the authority to levy monetary sanctions for failure to comply with these standards.


We are subject to Act 141 in Wisconsin and Public Acts 295 and 342 in Michigan, which containcontains certain minimum requirements for renewable energy generation. See Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies, for more information.


All of our hydroelectric facilities follow FERC guidelines and/or regulations.


Other Natural Gas Regulations


Almost all of the natural gas we distribute is transported to our distribution systems by interstate pipelines. The pipelines' transportation and storage services are regulated by the FERC under the Natural Gas Act and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978. In addition, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the PSCW are responsible for monitoring and enforcing requirements governing our natural gas safety compliance programs for our pipelines under United States Department of Transportation regulations. These regulations include 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)CFR Part 191 (Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline; Annual Reports, Incident Reports, and Safety-Related Condition Reports), 49 CFR Part 192 (Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline: Minimum Federal Safety Standards), and 49 CFR Part 195 (Transportation of Hazardous Liquids by Pipeline).


We are required to provide natural gas service and grant credit (with applicable deposit requirements) to customers within our service territory. We are generally not allowed to discontinue natural gas service during winter moratorium months to residential heating customers who do not pay their bills. Federal and certain state governments have programs that provide for a limited amount of funding for assistance to our low-income customers.


Compliance Costs

The regulations and oversight described above significantly influence our operating environment, and may cause us to incur compliance and other related costs and may affect our ability to recover these costs from our utility customers. Any anticipated capital expenditures for compliance with government regulations for the next three years are included in the estimated capital expenditures described in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Capital Requirements.

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E. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE


Our operations, especially as they relate to our coal-fired generating facilities, are subject to extensive environmental regulation by state and federal environmental agencies governing air and water quality, hazardous and solid waste management, environmental remediation, and management of natural resources. Costs associated with complying with these requirements are significant. Additional future environmental regulations or revisions to existing laws, including for example, additional regulation ofrelated to GHG emissions, coal combustion products, air emissions, water use, or wastewater discharges and other climate change issues, could significantly increase these environmental compliance costs.


Anticipated expenditures for environmental compliance and certain remediation issues for the next three years are included in the estimated capital expenditures described in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Capital Requirements. For a discussion of certain environmental matters relatedaffecting us, including rules and regulations relating to manufactured gas plant sites and air andquality, water quality, land quality, and climate change, see Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies.



F. HUMAN CAPITAL

We believe our employees are among our most important resources, so investing in human capital is critical to our success. We strive to foster a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace; attract, retain and develop talented personnel; and keep our employees safe and healthy.

WEC Energy Group's Board of Directors retains collective responsibility for comprehensive risk oversight of WEC Energy Group and its subsidiaries, including critical areas that could impact our sustainability, such as human capital. Management regularly reports to WEC Energy Group's Board of Directors on human capital management topics, including corporate culture, diversity and inclusion, employee development, and safety and health. WEC Energy Group's Board of Directors delegates specified duties to its committees. In addition to its responsibilities relative to executive compensation, the Compensation Committee has oversight responsibility for reviewing organizational matters that could significantly impact us, including succession planning. The Compensation Committee reviews recruiting and development programs and priorities, receives updates on key talent, and assesses workforce diversity across WEC Energy Group and its subsidiaries.

Workforce

As of December 31, 2020, we had 2,460 employees, including 1,923 that are represented under union agreements in Wisconsin. We believe we have very good overall relations with our workforce. In order to attract and retain talent, we provide competitive wages and benefits to our employees based on their performance, role, location, and market data.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to fostering a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace. Our commitment is a core strategic competency and an integral part of our culture. As of December 31, 2020, females and minorities represented approximately 26% and 18% of our workforce, respectively. WEC Energy Group has a number of initiatives that promote diverse workforce contributions, educate employees about diversity and inclusion, and make its companies, including us, attractive employers for persons of diverse backgrounds. These initiatives include eight business resource groups (voluntary, employee-led groups organized around a particular shared background or interest), mentoring programs, and training for leaders on countering unconscious bias, building inclusive teams, and preventing workplace harassment. We also support external leadership and educational programs that support, train, and promote women and minorities in the communities we serve.

Safety and Health

WEC Energy Group's Executive Safety Committee directs our safety and health strategy, works to ensure consistency across groups, and reinforces our ongoing safety commitment that we refer to as “Target Zero.” Under our Target Zero commitment, we have an ultimate goal of zero incidents, accidents, and injuries. Our corporate safety program provides a forum for addressing employee concerns, training employees and contractors on current safety standards, and recognizing those who demonstrate a safety focus. We monitor and set goals for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-recordable and lost-time incidents, as well as leading indicators, which together raise awareness about employee safety and guide injury-prevention activities.

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F. EMPLOYEES

As of December 31, 2017, we had 2,945 employees.

As of December 31, 2017, we had employees represented under labor agreements with the following bargaining units:
2020 Form 10-K13Number of EmployeesExpiration Date of Current Labor Agreement
Local 2150 of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO1,627
August 15, 2020
Local 420 of International Union of Operating Engineers, AFL-CIO443
September 30, 2021
Local 2006 Unit 1 of United Steel Workers of America, AFL-CIO124
October 31, 2021
Local 510 of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO89
October 31, 2020
Total2,283
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We also provide employees various benefits and resources designed to promote healthy living, both at work and at home. We encourage employees to receive preventive examinations and to proactively care for their health through free health screenings, wellness challenges, and other resources.

During 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented safety protocols and new procedures to protect our employees and customers. See Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity, and Capital Resources – Coronavirus Disease – 2019, for additional information.

Development and Training

Employee training and development of both technical and leadership skills are integral aspects of our human capital strategy. We provide employees with a wide range of development opportunities, including online training, simulations, live classes, and mentoring to assist with their career advancement. These programs include safety and technical job skill training as well as soft-skill programs focused on relevant subjects, including communication and change management. Development of leadership skills remains a top priority and is specialized for all levels of employees. We have specific leadership programs for aspiring leaders and new supervisors, managers, and directors. This development of our employees is an integral part of our succession planning and provides continuity for our senior leadership.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS


We are subject to a variety of risks, many of which are beyond our control, that may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. You should carefully consider the following risk factors, as well as the other information included in this report and other documents filed by us with the SEC from time to time, when making an investment decision.


Risks Related to Legislation and Regulation


Our business is significantly impacted by governmental regulation.regulation and oversight.


We are subject to significant state, local, and federal governmental regulation,regulations, including regulationregulations by the PSCW MPSC, and the FERC. These regulations significantly influence our operating environment, may affect our ability to recover costs from utility customers, and cause us to incur substantial compliance and other costs. Changes in regulations, interpretations of regulations, or the imposition of new regulations could also significantly impact us, including requiring us to change our business operations. Many aspects of our operations are regulated and impacted by government regulation, including, but not limited to: the rates we charge our retail electric, natural gas, and steam customers; our authorized ratesrate of return; construction and operation of electric generating facilities and electric and natural gas distribution systems, andincluding the ability to recover such costs; decommissioning generating facilities, and the ability to recover the related costs, and continuing to recover the return on the carryingnet book value of these facilities; wholesale power service practices; electric reliability requirements and accounting; participation in the interstate natural gas pipeline capacity market; standards of service; issuance of securities; short-term debt obligations; transactions with affiliates; and billing practices. Failure to comply with any applicable rules or regulations may lead to customer refunds, penalties, and other payments, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.


The rates we are allowed to charge our customers for retail and wholesale services have the most significant impact on our financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity. Rate regulation provides us an opportunity to recover prudently incurred costs and earn a reasonable rate of return on invested capital. However, our ability to obtain rate adjustments in the future is dependent onupon regulatory action, and there is no assurance that our regulators will consider all of our costs to have been prudently incurred. In addition, our rate proceedings may not always result in rates that fully recover our costs or provide for a reasonable ROE. We defer certain costs and revenues as regulatory assets and liabilities for future recovery from or refund to customers, as authorized by our regulators. Future recovery of regulatory assets is not assured and is subject to review and approval by our regulators. If recovery of regulatory assets is not approved or is no longer deemed probable, these costs would be recognized in current period expense and could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition.


We believe we have obtained the necessary permits, approvals, authorizations, certificates, and licenses for our existing operations, have complied in all material respects with all of their associated terms, and that our business is conducted in accordance with applicable laws. These permits, approvals, authorizations, certificates, and licenses may be revoked or modified by the agencies that granted them if facts develop that differ significantly from the facts assumed when they were issued. In addition, discharge permits and other approvals and licenses are often granted for a term that is less than the expected life of the associated facility. Licenses and permits may require periodic renewal, which may result in additional requirements being imposed by the granting agency. In addition, existing regulations may be revised or reinterpreted by federal, state, and local agencies, or these agencies may adopt new laws and regulations that apply to us. We cannot predict the impact on our business and operating results of any such actions by these agencies.


If we are unable to recover costs of complying with regulations or other associated costs in customer rates in a timely manner, or if we are unable to obtain, renew, or comply with these governmental permits, approvals, authorizations, certificates, or licenses, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.


We face significant costs to comply with existing and future environmental laws and regulations.


Our operations are subject to numerousextensive and evolving federal, state, and statelocal environmental laws, regulations, and regulations. These laws and regulations govern,permit requirements related to, among other things, air emissions (including, but not limited to: CO2, methane, mercury, SO2, and NOx), protection of natural resources, water quality, wastewater discharges, and management of hazardous, toxic, and solid wastes and substances. We incur significant costs to comply with these environmental requirements, including costs associated withFor example, the installation of pollution control equipment, environmental monitoring, emissions fees, and permits at our facilities. In addition, if we fail to comply with environmental laws and regulations, even if caused by factors beyond our control, that failure may result in the assessment of civil or criminal penalties and fines.


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The EPA adopted and implemented (or is in the process of implementing) regulations governing the emission of NOx, SO2, fine particulate matter, mercury, and other air pollutants under the Clean Air Act through the NAAQS, climate change regulations including the Mercury and Air Toxics StandardsACE rule, the CPP, the CSAPR, and other air quality regulations. In addition, theThe EPA also finalized regulations under the Clean Water Act that govern cooling water intake structures at our power plants and revised the effluent guidelines for steam electric generating plants. The EPASeveral of these rules are being challenged, which creates additional uncertainty. For example, the D.C. Court of Appeals
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vacated the ACE rule in January 2021. In addition, existing environmental laws and regulations may be revised or new laws or regulations may be adopted at the federal, state, or local level. In particular, it is uncertain how the change in the United States Army Corpspresidential administration will impact the final resolution of Engineers (Army Corps) haveseveral environmental standards or the adoption of new environmental laws and regulations.

We incur significant capital and operating resources to comply with these environmental laws, regulations, and requirements, including costs associated with the installation of pollution control equipment to further limit GHG emissions from our operations; operating restrictions on our facilities; and environmental monitoring, emissions fees, and permits at our facilities. The operation of emission control equipment and compliance with rules regulating our intake and discharge of water could also adopted a final rule that would expand traditional federal jurisdiction over navigable watersincrease our operating costs and related wetlands for permittingreduce the generating capacity of our power plants. These regulations may create substantial additional costs in the form of taxes or emission allowances and other regulatory matters; however, this rule has been stayed,could affect the availability and/or cost of fossil fuels. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations, and requirements, even if caused by factors beyond our control, may result in the EPAassessment of civil or criminal penalties and the Army Corps have proposed rescinding it.fines. We continue to assess the potential cost of complying, and to explore different alternatives in order to comply, with these and other environmental regulations. In addition, as

As a result of the new Federal Executive Administration taking office in January 2017 and the actions it has taken to date, as well as other factors, there is uncertainty as to what capital expenditures or additional costs may ultimately be required to comply with existing and future environmental laws and regulations.

Existing environmental laws and regulations may be revised or new laws or regulations may be adopted at the federal or state level that could result in significant additional expenditures for our generation units or distribution systems, including, without limitation, costs to further limit GHG emissions from our operations; operating restrictions on our facilities; and increasedthese compliance costs. In addition, the operation of emission control equipment and compliance with rules regulating our intake and discharge of water could increase our operating costs and reduce the generating capacity of our power plants. Any such regulation may also create substantial additional costs in the form of taxes or emission allowances and could affect the availability and/or cost of fossil fuels.

As a result,other factors, certain of our coal-fired electric generating facilities mayhave become uneconomical to maintain and operate, which could resulthas resulted in some of these units being retired or converted to an alternative type of fuel. For example,As part of WEC Energy Group's commitment to a cleaner energy future, we expecthave already retired approximately 1,500 MW of coal-fired generation since the beginning of 2018. Under the ESG Progress Plan, WEC Energy Group expects to retire 1,547approximately 1,800 MW of coaladditional fossil-fueled generation by 2020, including Pleasant Prairie power plant2025, to be replaced with the construction of zero-carbon emitting renewable generation and PIPP. If other generation facility owners in the Midwest retire a significant number of older coal-fired generation facilities, a potential reduction in the region's capacity reserve margin below acceptable risk levels may result. This could impair the reliability of the grid in the Midwest, particularly during peak demand periods. A reduction in available future capacity could also adversely affect our ability to serve our customers' needs.natural gas-fired generation.


We are also subject to significant liabilities related to the investigation and remediation of environmental impacts at certain of our current and former facilities and at third-party owned sites. We accrue liabilities and defer costs (recorded as regulatory assets) incurred in connection with our former manufactured gas plant sites. These costs include all costs incurred to date that we expect to recover, management's best estimates of future costs for investigation and remediation and related legal expenses, and are net of amounts recovered by or(or that may be recoveredrecovered) from insurance or other third parties. Due to the potential for the imposition of stricter standards and greater regulation in the future, the possibility that other potentially responsible parties may not be willing or financially able to contribute to cleanup costs, a change in conditions or the discovery of additional contamination, our remediation costs could increase, and the timing of our capital and/or operating expenditures in the future may accelerate or could vary from the amounts currently accrued.

In the event we are not able to recover all of our environmental expenditures and related costs from our customers in the future, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. Further, increased costs recovered through rates could contribute to reduced demand for electricity, which could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition.


Litigation over environmental issues and claims of various types, including property damage, personal injury, common law nuisance, and citizen enforcement of environmental laws and regulations has increased generallybecome more frequent throughout the United States. In particular, personal injury, property damage, and other claims for damages alleged to have been caused by environmental impacts and alleged exposure to hazardous materials have become more frequent. In addition to claims relating to our current facilities, we may also be subject to potential liability in connection with the environmental condition of facilities that we previously owned and operated, regardless of whether the liabilities arose before, during, or after the time we owned or operated these facilities. If we fail to comply with environmental laws and regulations or cause (or caused) harm to the environment or persons, that failure or harm may result in the assessment of civil penalties and damages against us. The incurrence of a material environmental liability or a material judgment in any action for personal injury or property damage related to environmental matters could have a significantmaterial adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.


WeIn the event we are not able to recover all of our environmental expenditures and related costs from our customers in the future, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. Further, increased costs recovered through rates could contribute to reduced demand for electricity and natural gas, which could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition.

Our operations, capital expenditures, and financial results may face significant costs to comply withbe affected by the regulationimpact of greenhouse gas emissions.legislation, regulation, and emission reduction goals.


Federal, state, regional,There is continued scientific and international authorities have undertaken effortspolitical attention to limit GHG emissions. In 2015,issues concerning the EPA issued a final rule regulating GHG emissions from existing generating units, referredexistence and extent of climate change. Management expects this attention to ascontinue, particularly with the CPP, a proposed federal plan and model trading rules as alternatives or guides to state compliance plans, and final performance standards for modified and reconstructed generating units

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and new fossil-fueled power plants. With the January 2017 change in the Federal Executive Administration,United States presidential administration. Although the legal and regulatory futurepreviously issued ACE rule was vacated in January 2021 adding additional uncertainty, President Biden has indicated that climate change will become one of federal GHG regulations, including the CPP, faces increased uncertainty. We are continuing to analyze the GHG emission profile of our electric generation resources and to workhis primary initiatives, with other stakeholders to determine the potential impacts to our operations of the CPP, any successor rule, and federal GHG regulationssignificant actions expected by his administration during his term in general.

In October 2015, numerous states (including Wisconsin and Michigan) and other parties, filed lawsuits challenging the final rule, including a request to stay the implementation of the final rule pending the outcome of these legal challenges. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the stay request, but in February 2016, the Supreme Court stayed the effectiveness of the CPP until disposition of the litigation in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and to the extent that further appellate review is sought, at the Supreme Court. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals heard one case in September 2016, and the other case is still pending. In April 2017, pursuant to motions made by the EPA, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the cases to be held in abeyance. Supplemental briefs were provided addressing whether the cases should be remanded to the EPA rather than held in abeyance. The EPA argued that the cases should continue to be held in abeyance pending the conclusion of the EPA's review of the CPP and any resulting rulemaking.

In March 2017, President Trump issued an executive order that, among other things, specifically directs the EPA to review, and if appropriate, initiate proceedings to suspend, revise, or rescind the CPP and related GHG regulations for new, reconstructed, or modified fossil-fueled power plants.office. As a result, we expect the EPA and states to adopt and implement additional regulations to restrict emissions of this orderGHGs.

Costs associated with such legislation, regulation, and related EPA review, as well as the ongoing legal proceedings, the timelines for the GHG emission reduction goals and all other aspects of the CPP are uncertain. In April 2017, the EPA withdrew the proposed rule for a federal plan and model trading rules that were published in October 2015 for use in developing state plans to implement the CPP or for use in states where a plan is not submitted or approved. In October 2017, the EPA issued a proposed rulemaking to repeal the CPP. In December 2017, the EPA issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit input on whether it is appropriate to replace the CPP. In addition, the Governor of Wisconsin issued an executive order in February 2016, which prohibits state agencies, departments, boards, commissions, or other state entities from developing or promoting the development of a state plan to implement the CPP.

There is no guarantee that we willcould be allowed to fully recover costs incurred to comply with the CPP or other federal regulations, or that cost recovery will not be delayed or otherwise conditioned. The CPP and any other relatedsignificant. GHG regulations that may be adopted in the future, at either the federal or state level, may cause our environmental compliance spending to differ materially
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from the amounts currently estimated. In December 2016, Michigan enacted Act 342, which retains the 10% renewable energy portfolio requirement for years 2016 through 2018, increases the requirement to 12.5% for years 2019 through 2020, and increases the requirement to 15.0% for 2021. These regulations, as well as changes in the fuel markets and advances in technology, could make some of ouradditional electric generating units uneconomic to maintain or operate, may impact how we operate our existing fossil-fueled power plants and biomass facility, and could affect unit retirement and replacement decisions in the future.future under the ESG Progress Plan. These regulations could also adversely affect our future results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition. There is no guarantee that we will be allowed to fully recover costs incurred to comply with these and other federal and state regulations or that cost recovery will not be delayed or otherwise conditioned.


In addition, our natural gas delivery systems may generate fugitive gas as a result of normal operations and as a result of excavation, construction, and repair. Fugitive gas typically vents to the atmosphere and consists primarily of methane. CO2 is also a byproduct of natural gas consumption. As a result, future regulation ofCertain states outside our service territories have passed legislation banning natural gas used in new construction in order to limit these GHG emissions. Future statewide or nationwide actions like these to regulate GHG emissions could increase the price of natural gas, restrict the use of natural gas, cause us to accelerate the replacement and/or updating of our natural gas delivery systems, and adversely affect our ability to operate our natural gas facilities. A significant increase in the price of natural gas may increase rates for our natural gas customers, which could reduce natural gas demand.


We also continue to monitor efforts by investorsthe financial and other stakeholders to increase pressure on us and others to takeoperational feasibility of taking more aggressive action to further reduce future GHG emissions in order to limit future global temperature increasesincreases. Our plan to less than two degrees Celsius.replace older, fossil-fueled generation with zero-carbon emitting renewable generation and natural gas-fired generation will contribute to the achievement of our goals related to reducing CO2 and methane emissions. However, our ability to achieve such goals depends on many external factors, including the development of relevant energy technologies. These efforts could impact how we operate our electric generating units and natural gas facilities and lead to increased competition and regulation, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.


Recent changesChanges in federal income tax policylegislation, IRS audits, or our inability to use certain tax benefits and carryforwards, may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows, as well as our credit ratings.


Recently enacted United States federal income taxTax legislation significantly changed the United States Internal Revenue Code, including taxation of United States corporations, by,and regulations can adversely affect, among other things, reducingour financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, and credit ratings. Future changes to corporate tax rates or policies, including under the new United States presidential administration, could require us to take material charges against earnings. Such changes include, among other things, increasing the federal corporate income tax rate, disallowing use of certain tax benefits and carryforwards, limiting interest deductions, and altering the expensing of capital expenditures. The Tax Legislation is unclear in certain respects and will requireOur inability to manage these changes, an adverse determination by one of the applicable taxing jurisdictions, or additional interpretations, and implementing regulations, amendments, or technical corrections by the Treasury Department, and the IRS, as well asor state income tax authorities, could significantly impact our financial results and cash flows.

We have significantly reduced our federal and state income tax liabilities in the Tax Legislationpast through tax credits, net operating losses, and charitable contribution deductions. A reduction in or disallowance of these tax benefits could be subjectadversely affect our earnings and cash flows. We have not fully used these allowed tax benefits in our previous tax filings and have carried them forward to potential amendmentsuse against future taxable income. Our inability to generate sufficient taxable income in the future to fully use these tax carryforwards before they expire, could significantly affect our tax obligations and technical corrections, anyfinancial results.

In addition, we have invested, or plan to invest, in renewable energy generating facilities. These facilities generate PTCs or ITCs that we use to reduce our federal tax obligations. The amount of which could lessentax credits we earn depends on the amount of electricity produced, the applicable tax credit rate, or increase certain adverse impactsthe amount of the Tax Legislation. In addition,investment in qualifying property. A variety of operating and economic factors, including transmission constraints, adverse weather conditions, and breakdown or failure of equipment, could significantly reduce the regulatory treatmentPTCs generated by the wind parks we have invested in, resulting in a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of the impacts of the Tax Legislation will be subjectoperations.

We are also uncertain as to the discretion of the FERC and state public utility commissions. State and local taxing authorities are in the early stages

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of evaluating the impact of federal income tax reform, and any changes on the state or local level could lessen or increase the impacts of the Tax Legislation.

Although it is unclear when or how capital markets, credit rating agencies, capital markets, the FERC, or state public utility commissions may ultimately respondwill treat any future changes to the Tax Legislation, we do expect thatfederal or state tax legislation. These impacts could subject us to credit rating downgrades. In addition, certain financial metrics used by credit rating agencies, such as our funds from operations-to-debt percentage, could be negatively impacted as a result of certain limitations onby changes in federal or state income tax deductions. It is uncertain how credit rating agencies will treat the impacts of the Tax Legislation on their credit ratings and metrics, and whether additional opportunities will evolve for companies to manage the adverse aspects of the Tax Legislation, including the impacts on certain credit metrics.legislation.

In addition, the FERC and state public utility commissions have started to engage with us to determine how any tax savings will be returned to customers. We expect that we will return the tax benefits to our customers through refunds, bill credits, or reductions in regulatory assets. The amount of tax benefits to be returned to customers will ultimately be determined by our regulators. If the amounts our regulators order us to return to customers exceeds the actual amount of tax savings realized, or our regulators require the tax savings to be applied in a manner other than we had expected, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flow.

While our analysis and interpretation of the Tax Legislation is preliminary and ongoing, based on our current evaluation, we do not expect the limitations on interest deductions to materially adversely affect our earnings. Any amendments to the Tax Legislation or interpretations or implementing regulations by the Treasury Department and/or the IRS contrary to our interpretation of the Tax Legislation could limit our ability to deduct the interest on some of our outstanding debt.

There may be other material adverse effects resulting from the Tax Legislation that we have not yet identified. If we are unable to successfully take actions to manage any adverse impacts of the Tax Legislation, or if additional interpretations, regulations, amendments or technical corrections exacerbate the adverse impacts of the Tax Legislation, the Tax Legislation could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and on the value of investments in our debt securities, and could result in credit rating agencies placing our credit ratings on negative outlook or downgrading our credit ratings. Any such actions by credit rating agencies may make it more difficult and costly for us to issue future debt securities and certain other types of financing and could increase borrowing costs under our credit facility.

Failure to maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have a material effect on our results of operations.

We are subject to reporting, disclosure control, and other obligations under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). SOX contains provisions requiring our management to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. We have undertaken, or will undertake, a variety of initiatives to integrate, standardize, centralize, and streamline our operations with technology, including, but not limited to, an enterprise resource planning system and a customer information and billing system. There is a risk that we will not be able to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective because of the discovery of material weaknesses, with either our current controls and processes or with the implementation of new controls and processes around these new technologies. Any failure to maintain effective internal controls could cause investors to lose confidence in the accuracy or completeness of our financial reports, restrict our access to the capital markets, or subject us to investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities.


We could be subject to higher costs and penalties as a result of mandatory reliability standards.


We are subject to mandatory reliability and critical infrastructure protection standards established by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and enforced by the FERC. The critical infrastructure protection standards focus on controlling access to critical physical and cyber security assets. Compliance with the mandatory reliability standards could subject us to higher operating
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costs. If we were ever found to be in noncompliance with the mandatory reliability standards, we could be subject to sanctions, including substantial monetary penalties.penalties, or damage to our reputation.


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Risks Related to the Operation of Our Business


The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could adversely affect our business functions, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations.

The global outbreak of COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the WHO and the CDC and has spread globally, including throughout the United States. There is still considerable uncertainty regarding the extent and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic itself, as well as the measures currently in place to try to contain the virus, such as travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, limitations on business operations, and the timing of widespread availability of the vaccines. Although the shelter-in-place order that was in effect for Wisconsin has expired, other orders limiting the capacity of various businesses have been adopted at the state and local levels. In addition, similar or more restrictive orders could be adopted in the future depending on how the virus continues to spread and/or mutate. Although no longer mandated by the PSCW, we are continuing to temporarily suspend disconnections.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related government responses have significantly disrupted economic activity in our service territories. Such effects have included, and may continue to include, extended disruptions to supply chains and capital markets, reduced labor availability and productivity, and a prolonged reduction in economic activity. These effects could continue to have a variety of adverse impacts on us, including continued reductions in demand for energy, particularly from commercial and industrial customers; impairment of long-lived assets; increased bad debt expense; increases in past due accounts receivable balances, impairment of our ability to develop, construct, and operate facilities; and impaired ability to successfully access funds from credit and capital markets.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also caused significant disruption and volatility in the United States capital markets, and any additional or lingering effects on the capital markets may significantly impact us. For example, the costs related to our pension and other post-retirement benefit plans are based in part on the value of the plans’ assets. Adverse investment performance for these assets or the failure to maintain sustained growth in pension investments over time could increase our plan costs and funding requirements. Similarly, we rely on access to the capital markets to fund some of our operations and capital requirements. To the extent that access to the capital markets is adversely affected by COVID-19, we may need to consider alternative sources of funding for our operations and for working capital, which may increase our cost of, as well as adversely impact our access to, capital.

We have taken precautions with regard to employee hygiene and facility cleanliness, imposed travel limitations on our employees, provided additional employee benefits, and implemented remote work policies where appropriate. Additional protocols have been implemented for our field employees who travel to customer premises in order to protect them, our customers, and the public.

As a reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is possible that federal and state fiscal spending to fund COVID-19 relief measures, coupled with a drop in tax revenue from pandemic-related reductions in economic activity, may add to the pressure to raise more tax revenue from federal and state corporate income, other taxes including payroll or property taxes, to enact new types of taxes on businesses and their customers, or to disallow certain deductions.

Despite our efforts to manage the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the extent to which COVID-19 may continue to affect us depends on factors beyond our knowledge or control. Therefore, we are currently unable to determine what additional impact the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our business plans and operations, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations, but will continue to monitor COVID-19 developments and modify our plans as conditions change.

Our operations are subject to risks arising from the reliability of our electric generation, transmission, and distribution facilities, natural gas infrastructure facilities, renewable energy facilities, and other facilities, as well as the reliability of third-party transmission providers.


Our financial performance depends on the successful operation of our electric generation, and natural gas and electric distribution facilities, and renewable energy facilities. The operation of these facilities involves many risks, including operator error and the breakdown or failure of equipment or processes. Potential breakdown or failure may occur due to severe weather; catastrophic events (i.e., fires, earthquakes, explosions, tornadoes, floods, droughts, pandemic health events, etc.); significant changes in water levels in waterways; fuel supply or transportation disruptions; accidents; employee labor disputes; construction delays or cost overruns; shortages of or delays in obtaining equipment, material, and/or labor; performance below expected levels; operating limitations that may be imposed by environmental or other regulatory requirements; terrorist attacks; or cyber security intrusions.
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Any of these events could lead to substantial financial losses.losses, including increased maintenance costs, and unanticipated capital expenditures.


Because our electric generation and renewable energy facilities are interconnected with third-party transmission facilities, the operation of our facilities could also be adversely affected by events impacting their systems. Unplanned outages at our power plants may reduce our revenues, or cause us to incur significant costs if we are required to operate our higher cost electric generators or purchase replacement power to satisfy our obligations, and could result in additional maintenance expenses.


Insurance, warranties, performance guarantees, or recovery through the regulatory process may not cover any or all of these lost revenues or increased expenses, which could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.


Our operations are subject to various conditions that can result in fluctuations in energy sales to customers, including customer growth and general economic conditions in our service areas, varying weather conditions, and energy conservation efforts.


Our results of operations and cash flows are affected by the demand for electricity and natural gas, which can vary greatly based upon:


Fluctuations in customer growth and general economic conditions in our service areas. Customer growth and energy use can be negatively impacted by population declines as well as economic factors in our service territories, including job losses, decreasesworkforce reductions, stagnant wage growth, changing levels of support from state and local government for economic development, business closings, and reductions in income, andthe level of business closings.investment. We are impacted by economic cycles and the competitiveness of the commercial and industrial customers we serve. Any economic downturn, or disruption of financial markets, or reduced incentives by state government for economic development could adversely affect the financial condition of our customers and demand for their products.products or services. These risks could directly influence the demand for electricity and natural gas as well as the need for additional power generation and generating facilities. We could also be exposed to greater risks of accounts receivable write-offs if customers are unable to pay their bills.
Weather conditions. Demand for electricity is greater in the summer and winter months associated withwhen cooling and heating.heating is necessary. In addition, demand for natural gas peaks in the winter heating season. As a result, our overall results may fluctuate substantially on a seasonal basis. In addition, milder temperatures during the summer cooling season and during the winter heating season, as a result of climate change or otherwise, may result in lower revenues and net income.
Our customers' continued focus on energy conservation and ability to meet their own energy needs. Our customers' use of electricity and natural gas has decreased as a result of continued individual conservation efforts, including the use of more energy efficient technologies. Customers could also voluntarily reduce their consumption of energy in response to decreases in their disposable income and increases in energy prices. Conservation of energy can be influenced by certain federal and state programs that are intended to influence how consumers use energy. For example, several states, including Wisconsin, and Michigan, have adopted energy efficiency targets to reduce energy consumption by certain dates.
consumption.


As part of our planning process, we estimate the impacts of changes in customer growth and general economic conditions, weather, and customer energy conservation efforts, but risks still remain. Any of these matters, as well as any regulatory delay in adjusting rates as a result of reduced sales from effective conservation measures or the adoption of new technologies, could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.


We are actively involved with several significant capital projects, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect project costs and completion of construction projects.


Our business requires substantial capital expenditures for investments in, among other things, capital improvements to our electric generating facilities, electric and natural gas distribution infrastructure, and other projects, including projects for environmental compliance. We also expect to continue constructing and investing in renewable energy generating facilities as part of the ESG Progress Plan, including repowering existing wind generation projects in our generation portfolio.

Achieving the intended benefits of any large construction project is subject to many uncertainties, some of which we will

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have limited or no control over, that could adversely affect project costs and completion time. TheseAdditional risks include, but are not limited to, the ability to adhere to established budgets and time frames; the availability of labor or materials at estimated costs; the ability of contractors to perform under their contracts; strikes; adverse weather conditions; potential legal challenges; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the impact on global supply chains of pandemic health events; other governmental actions; continued public and policymaker support for such projects; and events in the global economy. In addition, certain of these projects require the approval of our regulators. If construction of commission-approved projects should materially and adversely deviate from the
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schedules, estimates, and projections on which the approval was based, our regulators may deem the additional capital costs as imprudent and disallow recovery of them through rates. rates, and otherwise available PTCs and ITCs for renewable energy projects could be lost or lose value.

To the extent that delays occur, costs become unrecoverable, tax credits are lost or lose value, or we (or third parties with whom we invest and/or partner) otherwise become unable to effectively manage and complete our (or their) capital projects, our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition may be adversely affected.

Advances in technology could make our electric generating facilities less competitive.

Research and development activities are ongoing for new technologies that produce power or reduce power consumption. These technologies include renewable energy, customer-oriented generation, energy storage, and energy efficiency. We generate power at central station power plants to achieve economies of scale and produce power at a competitive cost. There are distributed generation technologies that produce power, including fuel cells, microturbines, wind turbines, and solar cells, which have become more cost competitive. It is possible that legislation or regulations could be adopted supporting the use of these technologies. There is also a risk that advances in technology will continue to reduce the costs of these alternative methods of producing power to a level that is competitive with that of central station power production. If these technologies become cost competitive and achieve economies of scale, our market share could be eroded, and the value of our generating facilities could be reduced. Advances in technology could also change the channels through which our electric customers purchase or use power, which could reduce our sales and revenues or increase our expenses.


Our operations are subject to risks beyond our control, including but not limited to, cyber security intrusions, terrorist attacks, acts of war, or unauthorized access to personally identifiable information.


We face on-going threatshave been subject to attempted cyber attacks from time to time, but these attacks have not had a material impact on our assets and technology systems.system or business operations. Despite the implementation of strong security measures, all assets and systems are potentially vulnerable to disability, failures, or unauthorized access due to human error, terrorist attacks, and physical or cyber security intrusions.intrusions caused by human error, vendor bugs, terrorist attacks, or other malicious acts. These threats against our generation facilities, electric and natural gas distribution infrastructure, our information and technology systems, and network infrastructure, including that of third parties on which we rely, could result in a full or partial disruption of our ability to generate, transmit, purchase, or distribute electricity or natural gas or cause environmental repercussions. If our assets or systems were to fail, be physically damaged, or be breached, and were not recovered in a timely manner, we may be unable to perform critical business functions, and data, including sensitive and other datainformation, could be compromised.


We operate in an industry that requires the use of sophisticated information technology systems and network infrastructure, which control an interconnected system of generation, distribution, and transmission systems shared with third parties. A successful physical or cyber security intrusion may occur despite our security measures or those that we require our vendors to take, which include compliance with reliability standards and critical infrastructure protection standards. Successful cyber security intrusions, including those targeting the electronic control systems used at our generating facilities and electric and natural gas transmission and distribution systems, could disrupt our operations and result in loss of service to customers. These intrusions may cause unplanned outages at our power plants, which may reduce our revenues or cause us to incur significant costs if we are required to operate our higher cost electric generators or purchase replacement power to satisfy our obligations, and could result in additional maintenance expenses. The risk of such intrusions may also increase our capital and operating costs as a result of having to implement increased security measures for protection of our information technology and infrastructure.


Our continued efforts to integrate, consolidate, and streamline our operations have also resulted in increased reliance on current and recently completed projects for technology systems, including an enterprise resource planning system,but not limited to, a customer information and billing system, automated meter reading systems, and other similar technological tools and initiatives. We implement procedures to protect our systems, but we cannot guarantee that the procedures we have implemented to protect against unauthorized access to secured data and systems are adequate to safeguard against all security breaches. The failure of any of these or other similarly important technologies, or our inability to support, update, expand, and/or integrate these technologies with those of our affiliates could materially and adversely impact our operations, diminish customer confidence and our reputation, materially increase the costs we incur to protect against these risks, and subject us to possible financial liability or increased regulation or litigation.


Our business requires the collection and retention of personally identifiable information of our customers and employees, who expect that we will adequately protect such information. Security breaches may expose us to a risk of loss or misuse of confidential and proprietary information. A significant theft, loss, or fraudulent use of personally identifiable information may lead to potentially

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large costs to notify and protect the impacted persons, and/or could cause us to become subject to significant litigation, costs, liability, fines, or penalties, any of which could materially and adversely impact our results of operations as well as our reputation with customers and regulators, among others. In addition, we may be required to incur significant costs associated with governmental actions in response to such intrusions or to strengthen our information and electronic control systems. We may also need to obtain additional insurance coverage related to the threat of such intrusions.


Any operational disruption or environmental repercussions caused by these on-going threats to our assets and technology systems could result in a significant decrease in our revenues or significant reconstruction or remediation costs, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows. The costs of repairing damage to our facilities, operational disruptions, protecting personally identifiable information, and notifying impacted persons, as well as related legal claims, may also not be recoverable in rates, may exceed the insurance limits on our insurance policies, or, in some cases, may not be covered by insurance.


Transporting
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Advances in technology, and distributinglegislation or regulations supporting such technology, could make our electric generating facilities less competitive.

Advances in new technologies that produce power or reduce power consumption are ongoing and include renewable energy technologies, customer-oriented generation, energy storage devices, and energy efficiency technologies. We generate power at central station power plants and utility-scale renewable generation facilities to achieve economies of scale and produce power at a competitive cost. There are distributed generation technologies that produce power, including fuel cells, microturbines, wind turbines, and solar cells, which have become more cost competitive than they were in the past. It is possible that legislation or regulations could be adopted supporting the use of these technologies. There is also a risk that advances in technology will continue to reduce the costs of these alternative methods of producing power to a level that is competitive with that of central station and utility-scale renewable power production. If these technologies become cost competitive and achieve economies of scale, our market share could be eroded, and the value of our generating facilities could be reduced. Advances in technology could also change the channels through which our electric customers purchase or use power, which could reduce our sales and revenues or increase our expenses.

We transport and distribute natural gas, which involves numerous risks that may result in accidents and other operating risks and costs.


Inherent in natural gas distribution activities are a variety of hazards and operational risks, such as leaks, accidental explosions, including third party damages, and mechanical problems, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows. In addition, these risks could result in serious injury to employees and non-employees, loss of human life, significant damage to property, environmental pollution, impairment of operations, and substantial losses to us. The location of natural gas pipelines near populated areas, including residential areas, commercial business centers, and industrial sites, could increase the level of damages resulting from these risks. These activities may subject us to litigation and/or administrative proceedings from time to time, which could result in substantial monetary judgments, fines, or penalties against us, or be resolved on unfavorable terms.


We may fail to attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce.


We operate in an industry that requires many of our employees to possess unique technical skill sets. Events such as an aging workforce without appropriate replacements, the mismatch of skill sets to future needs, or the unavailability of contract resources may lead to operating challenges or increased costs. These operating challenges include lack of resources, loss of knowledge, and a lengthy time period associated with skill development. In addition, current and prospective employees may determine that they do not wish to work for us. Failure to hire and obtain replacement employees, including the ability to transfer significant internal historical knowledge and expertise to the new employees, may adversely affect our ability to manage and operate our business. If we are unable to successfully attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce, our results of operations could be adversely affected.


Failure of ourOur counterparties may fail to meet their obligations, including obligations under power purchase, agreements, could have an adverse impact on our results of operations.natural gas supply, natural gas pipeline capacity, and transportation agreements.


We are exposed to the risk that counterparties to various arrangements who owe us money, electricity, natural gas, or other commodities or services will not be able to perform their obligations. Should the counterparties to these arrangements fail to perform or if capacity is inadequate, we may be required to replace the underlying commitment at current market prices or we may be unable to meet all of our customers' electric and natural gas requirements unless or until alternative supply arrangements are put in place. In such event, we may incur losses, and our results of operations, financial position, or liquidity could be adversely affected.


We have entered into several power purchase, natural gas supply, natural gas pipeline capacity, and transportation agreements with non-affiliated companies, and continue to look for additional opportunities to enter into these agreements.companies. Revenues are dependent on the continued performance by the purchaserscounterparties of their obligations under the power purchasethese agreements. Although we have a comprehensive credit evaluation process and contractual protections, it is possible that one or more purchaserscounterparties could fail to perform their obligations under the power purchase agreements.obligations. If this were to occur, we generally would expect that any operating and other costs that were initially allocated to a defaulting customer's power purchase, natural gas supply, natural gas pipeline capacity, or transportation agreement would be reallocated among our retail customers. To the extent these costs are not allowed to be reallocated by our regulators or there is any regulatory delay in adjusting rates, a customercounterparty default under a power purchase agreementthese agreements could have a negative impact on our results of operations and cash flows.



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Risks Related to Economic and Market Volatility


Our business is dependent on our ability to successfully access capital markets.


We rely on access to credit and capital markets to support our capital requirements, including expenditures for our utility infrastructure and to comply with future regulatory requirements, to the extent not satisfied by the cash flow generated by our operations. We have historically secured funds from a variety of sources, including the issuance of short-term and long-term debt securities. Successful implementation of our long-term business strategies, including capital investment, is dependent upon our ability to access the capital markets, including the banking and commercial paper markets, on competitive terms and rates. In addition, we rely on a committed bank credit agreement as back-up liquidity, which allows us to access the low cost commercial paper markets.


Our access to the credit and capital markets could be limited, or our cost of capital significantly increased, due to any of the following risks and uncertainties:


A rating downgrade;
Failure to comply with debt covenants;
An economic downturn or uncertainty;
Prevailing market conditions and rules;
Concerns over foreign economic conditions;
Changes in tax policy;
Changes in investment criteria of institutional investors;
War or the threat of war; and
The overall health and view of the utility and financial institution industries.industries; and

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

Our bank credit agreement provides for interest at variable interest rates, primarily based on LIBOR. LIBOR is the subject of recent national, international, and other regulatory guidance and proposals for reform, which may cause LIBOR to cease to exist after June 2023 or to perform differently than in the past. While we expect that reasonable alternatives to LIBOR will be implemented prior to the 2023 target date, we cannot predict the consequences and timing of the development of alternative reference rates. The transition to alternative reference rates could include an increase in our interest expense.

If any of these risks or uncertainties limit our access to the credit and capital markets or significantly increase our cost of capital, it could limit our ability to implement, or increase the costs of implementing, our business plan, which, in turn, could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition.


A downgrade in our credit ratings could negatively affect our ability to access capital at reasonable costs and/or require the posting of collateral.


There are a number of factors that impact our credit ratings, including, but not limited to, capital structure, regulatory environment, the ability to cover liquidity requirements, and other requirements for capital. We could experience a downgrade in our ratings if the rating agencies determine that the level of business or financial risk of us or the utility industry has deteriorated. Changes in rating methodologies by the rating agencies could also have a negative impact on credit ratings.


Any downgrade by the rating agencies could:


Increase borrowing costs under our existing credit facility;
Require the payment of higher interest rates in future financings and possibly reduce the pool of creditors;
Decrease funding sources by limiting our access to the commercial paper market;
Limit the availability of adequate credit support for our operations; and
Trigger collateral requirements in various contracts.

See the risk factor titled "Recent changes in federal income tax policy may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows, as well as our credit ratings" above for information about how the Tax Legislation could impact our credit ratings.


Fluctuating commodity prices could negatively impact our electric and natural gas utility operations.


Our operating and liquidity requirements are impacted by changes in the forward and current market prices of natural gas, coal, electricity, renewable energy credits, and ancillary services.


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We burn natural gas in several of our electric generation plants and as a supplemental fuel at several coal-fired plants. In many instances the cost of purchased power is tied to the cost of natural gas. The cost of natural gas may increase because of disruptions in the supply of natural gas due to a curtailment in production or distribution, international market conditions, the demand for natural gas, and the availability of shale gas and potential regulations affecting its accessibility.


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For Wisconsin retail electric customers, we bear the risk for the recovery of fuel and purchased power costs within a symmetrical 2% fuel tolerance band compared to the forecast of fuel and purchased power costs established in our rate structure. Prudently incurred fuel and purchased power costs are recovered dollar-for-dollar from our wholesale electric customers. We receive dollar-for-dollar recovery of prudently incurred natural gas costs from our natural gas customers.


Changes in commodity prices could result in:


Higher working capital requirements, particularly related to natural gas inventory, accounts receivable, and cash collateral postings;
Reduced profitability to the extent that lower revenues, increased bad debt, and higher interest expense are not recovered through rates;
Higher rates charged to our customers, which could impact our competitive position;
Reduced demand for energy, which could impact revenues and operating expenses; and
Shutting down of generation facilities if the cost of generation exceeds the market price for electricity.


We may not be able to obtain an adequate supply of coal, which could limit our ability to operate our coal-fired facilities.


We own, lease, and operate several coal-fired electric generating units. Although we generally carry sufficient coal inventory at our generating facilities to protect against an interruption or decline in supply, there can be no assurance that the inventory levels will be adequate. While we have coal supply and transportation contracts in place, we cannot assure that the counterparties to these agreements will be able to fulfill their obligations to supply coal to us or that we will be able to take delivery of all the coal volume contracted for. The suppliers under these agreements may experience financial or operational problems that inhibit their ability to fulfill their obligations to us, or we may experience operational problems or constraints that prevent us from taking delivery. In addition, suppliers under these agreements may not be required to supply coal to us under certain circumstances, such as in the event of a natural disaster. Furthermore, demand for coal can impact its availability and cost. If we are unable to obtain our coal requirements under our coal supply and transportation contracts, we may be required to purchase coal at higher prices or we may be forced to reduce generation at our coal-fired units, which could lead to increased fuel costs. The increase in fuel costs could result fromin either reduced margins on net sales into the MISO Energy Markets, a reduction in the volume of net sales into the MISO Energy Markets, and/or an increase in net power purchases in the MISO Energy Markets. There is no guarantee that we would be able to fully recover any increased costs in rates or that recovery would not otherwise be delayed, either of which could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.


TheOur use of derivative contracts could result in financial losses.


We use derivative instruments such as swaps, options, futures, and forwards to manage commodity price exposure. We could recognize financial losses as a result of volatility in the market value of these contracts or if a counterparty fails to perform. These risks are managed through risk management policies, which might not work as planned and cannot entirely eliminate the risks associated with these activities. In addition, although our hedging programs must be approved by the PSCW, derivative contracts entered into for hedging purposes might not offset the underlying exposure being hedged as expected, resulting in financial losses. In the absence of actively quoted market prices and pricing information from external sources, the value of these financial instruments can involve management's judgment or use of estimates. Changes in the underlying assumptions or use of alternative valuation methods could affect the reported fair value of these contracts.


Restructuring in the regulated energy industry and competition in the retail and wholesale markets could have a negative impact on our business and revenues.


The regulated energy industry continues to experience significant structural changes. IncreasedDeregulation or other changes in law in the states where we serve our customers could allow third-party suppliers to contract directly with customers for their natural gas and electric supply requirements. This increased competition in the retail and wholesale markets which may result from restructuring efforts, could have a significantmaterial adverse financial impact on us.


The FERC continues to support the existing RTOs that affect the structure of the wholesale market within these RTOs. In connection with its status as a FERC approvedFERC-approved RTO, MISO implemented bid-based energy markets that are part of the MISO Energy Markets. All market participants, including us, must submit day-ahead and/or real-time bids and offers for energy at locations across the MISO region. MISO then calculates the most efficient solution for all of the bids and offers made into the market that day and establishes an LMP that reflects the market price for energy. We are required to follow MISO's instructions when dispatching generating units to
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support MISO's responsibility for maintaining the stability of the transmission system. MISO also implemented an ancillary services market for operating reserves that schedules energy and ancillary services at the same time as part of the energy market, allowing for more efficient use of generation assets in the MISO Energy Markets. These market designs continue to have the potential to

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increase the costs of transmission, the costs associated with inefficient generation dispatching, the costs of participation in the MISO Energy Markets, and the costs associated with estimated payment settlements.


The FERC rules related to transmission are designed to facilitate competition in the wholesale electricity markets among regulated utilities, non-utility generators, wholesale power marketers, and brokers by providing greater flexibility and more choices to wholesale customers, including initiatives designed to encourage the integration of renewable sources of supply. In addition, along with transactions contemplating physical delivery of energy, financial laws and regulations impact hedging and trading based on futures contracts and derivatives that are traded on various commodities exchanges, as well as over-the-counter. Technology changes in the power and fuel industries also have significant impacts on wholesale transactions and related costs. We currently cannot predict the impact of these and other developments or the effect of changes in levels of wholesale supply and demand, which are driven by factors beyond our control.


We may experience poor investment performance of benefit plan holdings due to changes in assumptions and market conditions.


We have significant obligations related to pension and OPEB plans. If WEC Energy Group is unable to successfully manage our benefit plan assets and medical costs, our cash flows, financial condition, or results of operations could be adversely impacted. Our cost of providing these plans is dependent upon a number of factors, including actual plan experience, changes made to the plans, and assumptions concerning the future. Types of assumptions include earnings on plan assets, discount rates, the level of interest rates used to measure the required minimum funding levels of the plans, future government regulation, estimated withdrawals by retirees, and our required or voluntary contributions to the plans. Plan assets are subject to market fluctuations and may yield returns that fall below projected return rates. In addition, medical costs for both active and retired employees may increase at a rate that is significantly higher than we currently anticipate. Our funding requirements could be impacted by a decline in the market value of plan assets, changes in interest rates, changes in demographics (including the number of retirements) or changes in life expectancy assumptions.


General Risks

We may fail to maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

We are subject to reporting, disclosure control, and other obligations under SOX. SOX contains provisions requiring our management to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. We have undertaken, and will continue to undertake, a variety of initiatives to integrate, standardize, centralize, and streamline our operations with technology, including, but not limited to, the implementation of several different enterprise resource planning systems. There is a risk that we will not be able to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective because of the discovery of material weaknesses, with either our current controls and processes or with the implementation of new controls and processes around these new technologies. Any failure to maintain effective internal controls could cause investors to lose confidence in the accuracy or completeness of our financial reports, restrict our access to the capital markets, or subject us to investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities.

We may be unable to obtain insurance on acceptable terms or at all, and the insurance coverage we do obtain may not provide protection against all significant losses.


Our ability to obtain insurance, as well as the cost and coverage of such insurance, could be affected by developments affecting our business; international, national, state, or local events; and the financial condition of insurers.insurers and our contractors that are required to acquire and maintain insurance for our benefit. Insurance coverage may not continue to be available at all or at rates or terms similar to those presently available to us. In addition, our insurance may not be sufficient or effective under all circumstances and against all hazards or liabilities to which we may be subject. Any losses for which we are not fully insured or that are not covered by insurance at all could materially adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows, and financial position.


ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS


None.



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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES


We own our principal properties outright, except thatoutright. However, the major portion of our electric utility distribution lines, steam utility distribution mains and natural gas utility distribution mains and services are located for the most part, on or under streets and highways, and on land owned by others, and are generally subject to granted easements, consents, or permits. In addition, we lease the ERGS and PWGS generating units from We Power.


As of December 31, 2017,Electric Facilities

The following table summarizes information on generating assets we owned or leased from We Power as of December 31, 2020:
NameLocationFuelNumber of Generating Units
Capacity In MW (1)
Coal-fired plants
ERGSOak Creek, WICoal1,059 (2)
OCPPOak Creek, WICoal1,076 
Total coal-fired plants2,135 
Natural gas-fired plants
ConcordWatertown, WINatural Gas/Oil362 
GermantownGermantown, WINatural Gas/Oil268 
ParisUnion Grove, WINatural Gas/Oil364 
PWGSPort Washington, WINatural Gas1,228 
VAPPMilwaukee, WINatural Gas268 
Total natural gas-fired plants17 2,490 
Renewables
Hydro plants (13 in number)WI and MIHydro30 52 (3)
Rothschild Biomass PlantRothschild, WIBiomass45 (4)
Wind sites (3 in number)WIWind198 337 
Total renewables229 434 
Total system252 5,059 

(1)    Capacity for our electric generation facilities, other than wind generating facilities, is based on rated capacity, which is the followingnet power output under average operating conditions with equipment in an average state of repair as of a given month in a given year. Values are primarily based on the net dependable expected capacity ratings for summer 2021 established by tests and may change slightly from year to year. 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. Capacity for wind generating assets:facilities is based on nameplate capacity, which is the amount of energy a turbine should produce at optimal wind speeds.

Name Location Fuel Number of Generating Units 
Rated Capacity In MW (1)
 
Coal-fired plants         
ERGS Oak Creek, WI Coal 2
 1,057
(2) 
Pleasant Prairie Pleasant Prairie, WI Coal 2
 1,188
(3) 
PIPP Marquette, MI Coal 5
 359
(3) 
OCPP Oak Creek, WI Coal 4
 995
 
Total coal-fired plants     13
 3,599
 
Natural gas-fired plants         
Concord Combustion Turbines Watertown, WI Natural Gas/Oil 4
 352
 
Germantown Combustion Turbines Germantown, WI Natural Gas/Oil 5
 278
 
Paris Combustion Turbines Union Grove, WI Natural Gas/Oil 4
 352
 
PWGS Port Washington, WI Natural Gas 2
 1,182
 
VAPP Milwaukee, WI Natural Gas 2
 240
 
Total natural gas-fired plants     17
 2,404
 
Renewables         
Hydro Plants (13 in number) WI and MI Hydro 30
 90
 
Rothschild Biomass Plant Rothschild, WI Biomass 1
 50
 
Blue Sky Green Field Fond du Lac, WI Wind 88
 21
 
Byron Wind Turbines Fond du Lac, WI Wind 2
 
 
Glacier Hills Cambria, WI Wind 90
 28
 
Montfort Wind Energy Center Montfort, WI Wind 20
 2
 
Total renewables     231
 191
 
Total system     261
 6,194
 
(2)    This facility is jointly owned by We Power and two other unaffiliated entities. Our share of capacity is equal to We Power's ownership interest of 83.34%.


(1)
Based on expected capacity ratings for summer 2018, which can differ from nameplate capacity, especially on wind projects. 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.

(3)     All of our hydroelectric facilities follow FERC guidelines and/or regulations.
(2)
This facility is jointly owned by We Power and two other unaffiliated entities. The capacity indicated for the facility is equal to We Power's portion of total plant capacity based on its 83.34% ownership.


(3)
We have announced plans for retirement of Pleasant Prairie power plant and PIPP. The Pleasant Prairie power plant is scheduled to be shut down in April 2018; therefore, rated capacity on that plant is based on capacity ratings for summer 2017. See Note 6, Property, Plant, and Equipment, for more information on the plant retirements.

(4)    We have a biomass power plant that uses wood waste and wood shavings to produce electric power as well as steam to support the paper mill's operations. Fuel for the power plant is supplied by both the paper mill and through contracts with biomass suppliers. The plant also has the ability to burn natural gas if wood waste and wood shavings are not available.

As of December 31, 2017,2020, we operated approximately 19,80019,700 miles of overhead distribution lines and 24,600approximately 25,600 miles of underground distribution cable, as well as 310approximately 300 electric distribution substations and approximately 287,200293,200 line transformers.


Natural Gas Facilities

As of December 31, 2017,2020, our natural gas distribution system included approximately 11,100properties were located in three distinct service areas including west and south of the City of Milwaukee, the Appleton area, and areas within Iron and Vilas Counties, Wisconsin, and consisted of the following:

Approximately 12,100 miles of natural gas distribution mains,
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Approximately 418,400 natural gas lateral services,
Approximately 30 gas distribution gate stations, and
An LNG storage plant with a total send-out capability of 70,000 Dth per day.

Our natural gas distribution and gas storage systems included distribution mains connected at 25 gate stations to the pipeline transmission systems of ANR Pipeline Company, Great Lakes Transmission Company, Guardian Pipeline L.L.C., Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, and Northern Natural Pipeline Company and Great Lakes Transmission Company, and approximately 412,000 natural gas lateral services. We have a liquefied natural gasGas Company. Our LNG storage plant that converts and stores, in liquefied form, natural gas received during periods of low consumption. The liquefied natural gas storage plant has a send-out capability of 70,000 Dth per day. Our natural gas distribution system consists almost entirely of plastic and coated steel pipe.


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We also own office buildings, natural gas regulating and metering stations, and major service centers, including garage and warehouse facilities, in certain communities we serve. Where distribution lines and services and natural gas distribution mains and services occupy private property, we have in some, but not all instances, obtained consents, permits or easements for these installations from the apparent owners or those in possession of those properties, generally without an examination of ownership records or title.


Steam Facilities

As of December 31, 2017,2020, the steam system supplied by the VAPP consisted of approximately 40 miles of both high pressure and low pressure steam piping, approximately four miles of walkable tunnels, and other pressure regulating equipment.


ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS


In addition to those legal proceedings discussed in Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies, and Note 21, Regulatory Environment, we are currently, and from time to time, subject to claims and suits arising in the ordinary course of business. Although the results of these additional legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes, after consultation with legal counsel, that the ultimate resolution of these proceedings will not have a material effect on our financial statements.


ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES


Not Applicable.applicable.



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INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT


The names, ages, and positions of our executive officers at December 31, 2017 are listed below along with their business experience during the past five years. All officers are appointed until they resign, die, or are removed pursuant to our Bylaws. There are no family relationships among these officers, nor is there any agreement or understanding between any officer and any other person pursuant to which the officer was selected.


Allen L. Leverett. (1)J. Kevin Fletcher.   Age 51.62.
WEC Energy Group — President since August 2013.Director and Chief Executive Officer from May 2016 tosince February 2019. President since October 2017. Director since January 2016. Executive Vice President from May 2004 to July 2013. Chief Financial Officer from July 2003 to February 2011.2018.
WE — Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since February 2019. President from May 2016 to December 31, 2017. Director from June 2015 to JanuaryNovember 2018. President from June 2015 to May 2016. Executive Vice President from May 2004 to June 2015. Chief Financial Officer from July 2003 to February 2011.

J. Kevin Fletcher.   Age 59.
WE — President since May 2016. Director since June 2015. Executive Vice President - Customer Service and Operations from June 2015 to April 2016. Senior Vice President - Customer Operations from October 2011 to JuneDirector since 2015.


Robert M. Garvin.   Age 51.54.
WEC Energy Group — Executive Vice President - External Affairs since June 2015. Senior Vice President - External Affairs from April 2011 to June 2015.
WE — Executive Vice President - External Affairs since June 2015. Senior Vice President - External Affairs from April 2011 to June 2015.


William J. Guc.   Age 48.51.
WEC Energy Group — Controller since October 2015. Vice President since June 2015.
WE — Vice President and Controller since October 2015.
Integrys Energy Group — Vice President and Treasurer from December 2010 to June 2015.

Margaret C. Kelsey.   (2)Age 53.56.
WEC Energy Group — Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel since January 2018. Executive Vice President from September 2017.2017 to January 2018.
WE — Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel since January 2018. Director since January 2018.
Modine Manufacturing Company General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Vice President - Legal from April 2008 to August 2017. Vice President - Corporate Communications from April 2014 to August 2017. Modine Manufacturing Company is a manufacturer of thermal management systems and components.


Scott J. Lauber.   Age 52.55.
WEC Energy Group — Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since June 2020. Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from October 2019 to June 2020. Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from February 2019 to October 2019. Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from October 2018 to February 2019. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from April 2016 to October 2018. Vice President and Treasurer from February 2013 to March 2016.
WE — Executive Vice President since June 2020. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from October 2019 to June 2020, and from April 2016 to October 2018. Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from October 2018 to October 2019. Vice President and Treasurer from February 2013 to March 2016. Director since April 2016.

Xia Liu.   Age 51.
WEC Energy Group — Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since April 2016. Vice President and Treasurer from February 2013 to March 2016. Assistant Treasurer from March 2011 to January 2013.June 2020.
WE — Director and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since June 2020. Director since June 2020.
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. – Senior Advisor from April 2016. Vice President and Treasurer from February 20132020 to March 2016. Assistant Treasurer from March 2011 to January 2013.

Susan H. Martin. (2)Age 65.
WEC Energy Group —May 2020. Executive Vice President and General Counsel since March 2012. Corporate Secretary since December 2007. Vice PresidentChief Financial Officer from April 2019 to April 2020. CenterPoint Energy, Inc. is a public utility holding company whose operating subsidiaries provide electric and Associate General Counsel from December 2007natural gas service to February 2012.customers in parts of the South and Midwest.
WE — Director since June 2015.Georgia Power Company – Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel since March 2012. Corporate Secretary since December 2007.Treasurer from October 2017 to April 2019. Georgia Power Company is a utility subsidiary of The Southern Company that provides electric service to customers throughout Georgia.
Gulf Power Company – Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Associate General CounselTreasurer from December 2007July 2015 to February 2012.October 2017. Gulf Power Company, previously a utility subsidiary of The Southern Company, serves customers in northwest Florida.


Tom Metcalfe.   (3)Age 50.53.
WE — President since November 2018. Executive Vice President - Generation sincefrom April 2016.2016 to November 2018. Senior Vice President - Power Generation from January 2014 to March 2016. Vice President - Oak Creek Campus from February 2011 to December 2013.Director since January 2018.


James A. Schubilske.   
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Anthony L. Reese.   Age 52.39.
WEC Energy Group — Vice President and Treasurer since April 2016. Assistant Treasurer from June 2000 to January 2013.October 2019.
WE — Vice President and Treasurer since April 2016. Vice PresidentOctober 2019.
Controller - State Regulatory AffairsIllinois from February 2013September 2015 to March 2016. Assistant Treasurer from June 2000 to January 2013.September 2019.

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Joan M. Shafer. (4)Age 64.
WE — Executive Vice President - Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness since June 2015. Senior Vice President - Customer Services from January 2012 to June 2015.


Certain executive officers also hold officer and/or director positions at WEC Energy Group's other significant subsidiaries of WEC Energy Group.

(1)
On October 12, 2017, we filed a Form 8-K to disclose that Mr. Leverett had suffered a stroke. The Board of Directors of WEC Energy Group appointed Gale E. Klappa to act as Chief Executive Officer of WEC Energy Group until such time as Mr. Leverett is able to resume those responsibilities. Mr. Klappa then became Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of WE effective January 1, 2018. Mr. Klappa was also appointed to the WE Board of Directors effective January 1, 2018.

(2)
In July 2017, we announced Ms. Martin's intent to retire in early 2018. As part of that transition, effective January 1, 2018, Ms. Kelsey was appointed Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of WEC Energy Group and WE, and Ms. Martin was appointed Executive Vice President of WEC Energy Group and WE. Also effective January 1, 2018, Ms. Kelsey became a Director of WE and Ms. Martin resigned as a Director of WE.

(3)
Mr. Metcalfe was elected to the WE Board of Directors effective January 15, 2018.

(4)
Ms. Shafer announced that she will be retiring effective May 1, 2018.


subsidiaries.
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PART II


ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES


Dividends

Dividends declared on our common stock during the two most recent fiscal years are set forth below. Dividends were paid entirely in cash to our sole common shareholder, WEC Energy Group. There is no established public trading market for our common stock.
Quarter    
(in millions) 2017 2016
First $60.0
 $160.0
Second 60.0
 60.0
Third 60.0
 100.0
Fourth 60.0
 135.0
Total $240.0
 $455.0

Subject to any regulatory restriction or other limitations on the payment of dividends, future dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon, among other factors, our earnings, financial condition, and other requirements.

Various financing arrangements and regulatory requirements impose certain restrictions on our ability to transfer funds tostock, as WEC Energy Group in the formowns all of cash dividends, loans or advances. Under Wisconsin law, we are prohibited from loaning funds, either directly or indirectly, to WEC Energy Group.our outstanding common stock. See Note 8, Common Equity, for more information regarding restrictions on our ability to pay dividends.information.



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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA


WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
COMPARATIVE FINANCIAL DATA AND OTHER STATISTICS
As of or for Year Ended December 31
(in millions)202020192018
2017 (1)
2016
Operating revenues$3,367.0 $3,496.7 $3,625.0 $3,711.7 $3,792.8 
Net income attributed to common shareholder365.6 362.1 358.3 335.6 364.3 
Total assets13,605.2 13,360.8 13,538.3 13,121.6 13,371.5 
Long-term debt and finance and capital lease obligations (excluding current portion)5,235.6 5,542.3 5,266.8 5,236.1 5,417.6 
As of or for Year Ended December 31          
(in millions) 
2017 (1)
 2016 2015 2014 2013
Operating revenues $3,711.7
 $3,792.8
 $3,854.1
 $4,059.4
 $3,800.2
Net income attributed to common shareholder 335.6
 364.3
 375.7
 376.7
 360.0
Total assets 13,121.6
 13,371.5
 13,139.6
 12,597.2
 12,207.2
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations (excluding current portion) 5,236.1
 5,417.6
 5,351.3
 4,875.2
 4,876.7


(1)
Includes the impact of the transfer of our investment in ATC to another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group and the impact of the transfer of net assets to UMERC. See Note 4, Related Parties, for more information on these transactions.

(1)    Reflects the impact of the transfer of our investment in ATC to another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group and the transfer of net assets to UMERC in 2017. See Note 2, Related Parties, for more information on these transactions.


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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS


Introduction


We are a wholly owned subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, and derive revenues primarily from the distribution and sale of electricity and natural gas to retail customers in Wisconsin. We have combined common functions with WGalso provide wholesale electric service to numerous utilities and operate under the trade name of "We Energies."cooperatives for resale. We conduct our business primarily through our utility reportable segment. See Note 17, Segment Information, for more information on our reportable business segments.


Effective JanuaryPrior to April 1, 2017, our customers (other than Tilden) and2019, we provided electric distribution assets locatedservice to Tilden, who owns an iron ore mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This customer was transferred to UMERC on April 1, 2019 after UMERC's new natural gas-fired generation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan were transferred to UMERC, a new stand-alone utility. See Note 4, Related Parties, and Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information.began commercial operation.


Effective January 1, 2017, we transferred our investment in ATC to another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group. See Note 16, Investment in American Transmission Company, for more information. In March 2017, we sold the remaining real estate holdings of Bostco located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which included retail, office, and residential space. See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information.

Corporate Strategy


Our goal is to continue to build and sustain long-term value for our customers and WEC Energy Group's shareholders by focusing on the fundamentals of our business: environmental stewardship; reliability; operating efficiency; financial discipline; exceptional customer care; and safety. WEC Energy Group's 2021-2025 capital investment plan for efficiency, sustainability and growth, referred to as its ESG Progress Plan, provides a roadmap to achieve this goal. It is an aggressive plan to cut emissions, maintain superior reliability, deliver significant savings for customers, and grow WEC Energy Group's and our investment in the future of energy.


Reshaping Our Generation FleetThroughout its strategic planning process, WEC Energy Group takes into account important developments, risks and opportunities, including new technologies, customer preferences and commodity prices, energy resiliency efforts, and sustainability. WEC Energy Group published the results of a priority sustainability issue assessment in 2020, identifying the issues that are most important to the company and its stakeholders over the short and long terms. This risk and priority assessment has formed WEC Energy Group's direction as a company.


Creating a Sustainable Future

WEC Energy Group's ESG Progress Plan includes the retirement of older, fossil-fueled generation, to be replaced with the construction of zero-carbon-emitting renewable generation and clean natural gas-fired generation at its electric utilities including us. When taken together, the retirements and new investments should better balance supply with demand, while maintaining reliable, affordable energy for our customers. The retirements will contribute to meeting WEC Energy Group's and our goals to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from electric generation.

In 2019, WEC Energy Group met and surpassed its original goal to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% below 2005 levels. In July 2020, WEC Energy Group announced new goals to reduce CO2 emissions from its electric generation by 70% below 2005 levels by 2030 and to be net carbon neutral by 2050. It also added a near-term goal in November 2020 to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% below 2005 levels by 2025.

WEC Energy Group has developedalready retired more than 1,800 megawatts (MW) of coal-fired generation since the beginning of 2018, which included the 2019 retirement of the Presque Isle power plant as well as the 2018 retirement of the Pleasant Prairie power plant. See See Note 5, Regulatory Assets and is executing a planLiabilities, for more information related to reshape its generation portfolio. This plan will balance reliability and customer cost with environmental stewardship. Taken as a whole, this plan should reduce costs to customers, preserve fuel diversity, and lower carbon emissions. Generation reshaping includes retiring older fossil fuel generation units, building state-of-the-art natural gas generation, and investing in cost-effective zero-carbon generation with a goalthese power plant retirements. As part of reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 40% below 2005 levels by 2030.the ESG Progress Plan, WEC Energy Group expects to retire approximately 1,800 MW of coaladditional fossil-fueled generation by 2020 across its electric utilities, and add additional natural gas-fired generating units and2025.

In addition to retiring these older, fossil-fueled plants, WEC Energy Group expects to invest approximately $2 billion from 2021-2025 in low-cost renewable generation, including utility-scale solar projects. See Note 6, Property, Plant, and Equipment, for information related to the planned retirements of our Pleasant Prairie power plant and PIPP as part ofenergy in Wisconsin. WEC Energy Group's plan.plan is to replace a portion of the retired capacity by building and owning a combination of clean, natural gas-fired generation and zero-carbon-emitting renewable generation facilities that are anticipated to include the following new investments made by either us or WPS based on specific customer needs:


800 MW of utility-scale solar;
600 MW of battery storage;
100 MW of wind;
100 MW of reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) natural gas-fueled generation; and
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the planned purchase of 200 MW of capacity in the West Riverside Energy Center – a new, combined-cycle natural gas plant recently completed by Alliant Energy in Wisconsin.

These new investments discussed above are in addition to the renewable projects currently underway.

We have partnered with an unaffiliated utility to construct Badger Hollow Solar Park II that is expected to enter commercial operation in December 2022. Once constructed, we will own 100 MW of this project.

In December 2018, we received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) for two renewable energy pilot programs. The Solar Now pilot is expected to add 35 MW of solar generation to our portfolio, allowing non-profit and government entities, as well as commercial and industrial customers to site utility owned solar arrays on their property. Under this program, we have energized 13 Solar Now projects and currently have another five under construction, together totaling more than 15 MW. The second program, the Dedicated Renewable Energy Resource pilot, would allow large commercial and industrial customers to access renewable resources that we would operate, adding up to 150 MW of renewables to our portfolio, and allowing these larger customers to meet their sustainability and renewable energy goals.

WEC Energy Group also has a goal to decrease the rate of methane emissions from the natural gas distribution lines in its networks by 30% per mile by the year 2030 from a 2011 baseline. WEC Energy Group was over half way toward meeting that goal at the end of 2019.

Reliability


We have made significant reliability-related investments in recent years, and planin accordance with the ESG Progress Plan, expect to continue strengthening and modernizing our generation fleet and distribution networks to further improve reliability. Our investments, coupled with our commitment to operating efficiency and customer care, resulted in We Energies being recognized in 2020 by PA Consulting Group, an independent consulting firm, asfor superior reliability of its electric delivery network. This was the 10th consecutive year that We Energies has been named the most reliable utility in the United StatesMidwest. We Energies is the trade name under which we and Wisconsin Gas LLC, another wholly owned subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, operate.

Below are a few examples of reliability projects that are proposed or currently underway.

We are constructing approximately 46 miles of natural gas transmission main to increase the quantity and reliability of natural gas service in 2017 and,southeastern Wisconsin. This project, called the Lakeshore Lateral Project, is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

We plan to construct a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility to meet anticipated peak demand. Subject to PSCW approval, commercial operation of the LNG facility is targeted for the seventh year in a row, as the most reliable utility in the Midwest.end of 2023.


Operating Efficiency


We continually look for ways to optimize the operating efficiency of our company.company and will continue to do so under the ESG Progress Plan. For example, we received approval from the PSCW to make changes at the Elm Road Generating Station to enable the facility to burn coal from the Powder River Basin located in the western United States. The plant was originally designed to burn coal mined from the eastern United States. This project is creating flexibility and has enabled the plant to operate at lower costs, placing it in a better position to be called upon in the MISO Energy Markets, resulting in lower fuel costs for our customers.


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We also madeare making progress on our Advanced Metering Infrastructure program, replacing aging meter-reading equipment on both our network and customer property. An integrated system of smart meters, communication networks, and data management programs enables two-way communication between us and our customers. This program reduces the manual effort for disconnects and reconnects and enhances outage management capabilities.


WEC Energy Group continues to focus on integrating and improving business processes and consolidating its IT infrastructure acrossthe resources of all of its companies. We expect these efforts to continue to drive operational efficiencybusinesses and to put us in position to effectively support plans for future growth.finding the best and most efficient processes while meeting all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.


Financial Discipline


A strong adherence to financial discipline is essential to earningmeeting our authorized ROEearnings projections and maintaining a strong balance sheet, stable cash flows, and quality credit ratings.


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We follow an asset management strategy that focuses on investing in and acquiring assets consistent with our strategic plans, as well as disposing of assets, including property, plants, and equipment, that are no longer strategic to operations, are not performing as intended, or have an unacceptable risk profile. See Note 3, Dispositions, for information on the sale of the MCPP and Bostco's remaining real estate holdings.


Exceptional Customer Care


Our approach is driven by an intense focus on delivering exceptional customer care every day. We strive to provide the best value for our customers by embracing constructive change, demonstrating personal responsibility for results, leveraging our capabilities and expertise, and using creative solutions to meet or exceed our customers’ expectations.


One example of how we obtain feedback from our customersA multiyear effort is through our "We Care" calls, where our employees contact customers afterdriving a completedstandardized, seamless approach to digital customer service call. Customer satisfaction is a priority, and making "We Care" calls is oneacross all of the main methods we useWEC Energy Group companies. It has moved all utilities, including us, to gauge our performancea common platform for all customer-facing self-service options. Using common systems and processes reduces costs, provides greater flexibility and enhances the consistent delivery of exceptional service to improve customer satisfaction.customers.


Safety


We have a long-standing commitmentAcross the organization, we monitor the integrity of our networks and conduct comprehensive incident response planning to both workplace and publicenhance the safety and underof our operations.

Under our "Target Zero" mission, we have an ultimate goal of zero incidents, accidents, and injuries. We also set goals around injury-prevention activities that raise awareness and facilitate conversations about employee safety. WEC Energy Group'sOur corporate safety program provides a forum for addressing employee concerns, training employees and contractors on current safety standards, and recognizing those who demonstrate a safety focus.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


Consolidated Earnings

Our consolidated earningsThe following discussion and analysis of our Results of Operations includes comparisons of our results for the year ended December 31, 2020 with the year ended December 31, 2019. Effective December 31, 2020, we changed our measure of segment profitability from operating income to net income attributed to common shareholder. As no items were reported in our other segment during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2019 and 20152018, a similar discussion that compares our results for these years can be found in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Results of Operations in Part II of our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Consolidated Earnings

Our earnings for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $335.6$365.6 million, $364.3compared to $362.1 million and $375.7 million, respectively.for the year ended December 31, 2019. See below for additional information on the year-over year changes$3.5 million increase in consolidated earnings.


Non-GAAP Financial Measures


The discussion below addresses the operating income contribution of our utility segment andto net income attributed to common shareholder. The discussion includes financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as electric margins and natural gas margins, which are not measures of financial performance under GAAP. Electric margin (electric revenues less fuel and purchased power costs) and natural gas margin (natural gas revenues less cost of natural gas sold) are non-GAAP financial measures because they exclude other operation and maintenance expense, depreciation and amortization, and property and revenue taxes.


We believe that electric and natural gas margins provide a more meaningfuluseful basis for evaluating utility operations than operating revenues since the majority of prudently incurred fuel and purchased power costs, as well as prudently incurred natural gas costs, are passed through to customers in current rates. As a result, management uses electric and natural gas margins internally when assessing the operating performance of our utility segment as these measures exclude the majority of revenue fluctuations caused

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by changes in these expenses. Similarly, the presentation of electric and natural gas margins herein is intended to provide supplemental information for investors regarding our operating performance.


Our electric margins and natural gas margins may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Furthermore, these measures are not intended to replace operating income as determined in accordance with GAAP as an indicator
2020 Form 10-K32Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Table of our utility segmentContents
of operating performance. Our utility segment operating income for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2020 and 20152019 was $625.6 million, $629.5$860.5 million and $648.9$760.2 million, respectively. The operating income discussion below includes a table that provides the calculation of electric margins and natural gas margins, along with a reconciliation to utility segmentthe most directly comparable GAAP measure, operating income.


Utility Segment Contribution to OperatingNet Income Attributed to Common Shareholder

Year Ended December 31
(in millions)20202019B (W)
Electric revenues$3,007.7 $3,096.7 $(89.0)
Fuel and purchased power887.2 949.7 62.5 
Total electric margins2,120.5 2,147.0 (26.5)
Natural gas revenues359.3 400.0 (40.7)
Cost of natural gas sold187.5 241.0 53.5 
Total natural gas margins171.8 159.0 12.8 
Total electric and natural gas margins2,292.3 2,306.0 (13.7)
Other operation and maintenance902.0 1,053.1 151.1 
Depreciation and amortization426.9 384.4 (42.5)
Property and revenue taxes102.9 108.3 5.4 
Operating income860.5 760.2 100.3 
Other income, net18.5 22.7 (4.2)
Interest expense467.5 477.4 9.9 
Income before income taxes411.5 305.5 106.0 
Income tax expense (benefit)44.7 (57.8)(102.5)
Preferred stock dividends of subsidiary1.2 1.2 — 
Net income attributed to common shareholder$365.6 $362.1 $3.5 
Effective January 1, 2017, we transferred our electric customers (other than Tilden) located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to UMERC. See Note 4, Related Parties, for more information.
  Year Ended December 31
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
Electric revenues $3,336.2
 $3,440.6
 $3,454.4
Fuel and purchased power 1,064.3
 1,091.8
 1,154.4
Total electric margins 2,271.9
 2,348.8
 2,300.0
       
Natural gas revenues 375.5
 352.2
 399.7
Cost of natural gas sold 222.1
 200.3
 244.6
Total natural gas margins 153.4
 151.9
 155.1
       
Total electric and natural gas margins 2,425.3
 2,500.7
 2,455.1
       
Other operation and maintenance 1,358.5
 1,430.2
 1,384.9
Depreciation and amortization 331.6
 325.4
 304.0
Property and revenue taxes 109.6
 115.6
 117.3
Operating income $625.6
 $629.5
 $648.9


The following table shows a breakdown of other operation and maintenance:
Year Ended December 31
(in millions)20202019B (W)
Operation and maintenance not included in line items below$373.9 $381.5 $7.6 
Transmission (1)
337.8 254.8 (83.0)
We Power (2)
119.3 140.9 21.6 
Regulatory amortizations and other pass through expenses (3)
65.4 98.2 32.8 
Transmission expense related to the flow through of tax repairs (4)
 67.2 67.2 
Transmission expense related to Tax Legislation (5)
 65.2 65.2 
Earnings sharing mechanism (6)
 38.6 38.6 
Other5.6 6.7 1.1 
Total other operation and maintenance$902.0 $1,053.1 $151.1 
  Year Ended December 31
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
Operation and maintenance not included in lines items below $488.3
 $500.2
 $502.9
We Power (1)
 513.0
 513.2
 510.7
Transmission (2)
 251.9
 273.8
 272.3
Regulatory amortizations and other pass through expenses (3)
 96.7
 96.6
 99.0
Earnings sharing mechanism 0.1
 21.1
 
Other 8.5
 25.3
 
Total other operation and maintenance $1,358.5
 $1,430.2
 $1,384.9


(1)
Represents costs associated with the We Power generation units, including operating and maintenance, as well as the lease payments that are billed from We Power to us and then recovered in our rates. During 2017, 2016, and 2015, $535.1 million, $528.4 million, and $483.4 million, respectively, of both lease and operating and maintenance costs were billed to us, with the difference in costs billed or incurred and expenses recognized, either deferred or deducted from the regulatory asset.

(2)
The PSCW has approved escrow accounting for our ATC and MISO network transmission expenses. As a result, we defer as a regulatory asset or liability the differences between actual transmission costs and those included in rates until recovery or refund is authorized in a future rate proceeding. During 2017, 2016, and 2015, $303.8 million, $335.3 million, and $319.3 million, respectively, of costs were billed to us by transmission providers.

(3)
Regulatory amortizations and other pass through expenses are substantially offset in margins and therefore do not have a significant impact on operating income.

(1)    Represents transmission expense that we are authorized to collect in rates, in accordance with the PSCW's approval of escrow accounting for ATC and MISO network transmission expenses. As a result, we defer as a regulatory asset or liability, the difference between actual transmission costs and those included in rates until recovery or refund is authorized in a future rate proceeding. During 2020 and 2019, $314.6 million and $329.4 million, respectively, of costs were billed to us by transmission providers.


(2)    Represents costs associated with the We Power generation units, including operating and maintenance costs we recognized. During 2020 and 2019, $115.1 million and $134.8 million, respectively, of costs were billed to or incurred by us related to the We Power generation units, with the difference in costs billed or incurred and expenses recognized, either deferred or deducted from the regulatory asset.

(3)    Regulatory amortizations and other pass through expenses are substantially offset in margins and therefore do not have a significant impact on net income.

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(4)    Represents additional transmission expense recorded in 2019 associated with the flow through of tax benefits of our repair-related deferred tax liabilities starting in 2018 in accordance with a settlement agreement with the PSCW, to maintain certain regulatory asset balances at their December 31, 2017 levels. This decrease in expenses was offset in income taxes. Since our transmission regulatory asset was eliminated at December 31, 2019, there were no tax benefits used in 2020.

(5)    Represents additional transmission expense recorded in 2019 associated with the May 2018 PSCW order requiring us to use 80% of our current 2018 tax benefit, including the amortization associated with the revaluation of deferred taxes, to reduce our transmission regulatory asset balance. Since our transmission regulatory asset was eliminated at December 31, 2019, there were no tax benefits used in 2020.

(6)    See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more informationabout our earnings sharing mechanism.

The following tables provide information on delivered volumes by customer class and weather statistics:
Year Ended December 31
MWh (in thousands)
Electric Sales Volumes20202019B (W)
Customer class
Residential8,239.4 7,818.1 421.3 
Small commercial and industrial8,216.9 8,701.4 (484.5)
Large commercial and industrial6,422.9 7,221.8 (798.9)
Other129.1 134.8 (5.7)
Total retail23,008.3 23,876.1 (867.8)
Wholesale1,052.5 1,298.4 (245.9)
Resale5,382.6 5,213.8 168.8 
Total sales in MWh29,443.4 30,388.3 (944.9)
  Year Ended December 31
  
MWh (in thousands)
Electric Sales Volumes 2017 2016 2015
Customer class      
Residential 7,648.5
 8,136.6
 7,789.3
Small commercial and industrial 8,768.4
 9,061.1
 8,835.9
Large commercial and industrial 8,340.3
 9,217.6
 9,492.0
Other 144.9
 143.4
 147.7
Total retail 24,902.1
 26,558.7
 26,264.9
Wholesale 1,600.2
 1,134.2
 1,234.0
Resale 8,144.5
 8,282.1
 8,577.6
Total sales in MWh 34,646.8
 35,975.0
 36,076.5


Year Ended December 31
Therms (in millions)
Natural Gas Sales Volumes20202019B (W)
Customer class
Residential367.6 404.7 (37.1)
Commercial and industrial198.0 224.6 (26.6)
Total retail565.6 629.3 (63.7)
Transport311.1 343.4 (32.3)
Total sales in therms876.7 972.7 (96.0)

  Year Ended December 31
  
Therms (in millions)
Natural Gas Sales Volumes 2017 2016 2015
Customer class      
Residential 344.3
 341.7
 341.2
Commercial and industrial 193.4
 186.3
 194.5
Total retail 537.7
 528.0
 535.7
Transport 314.2
 323.8
 306.9
Total sales in therms 851.9
 851.8
 842.6
Year Ended December 31
Degree Days
Weather (1)
20202019B (W)
Heating (6,618 normal)6,092 6,835 (10.9)%
Cooling (737 normal)938 727 29.0 %


(1)    Normal degree days are based on a 20-year moving average of monthly temperatures from Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
  Year Ended December 31
  Degree Days
Weather * 2017 2016 2015
Heating (6,574 normal) 5,908
 6,068
 6,468
Cooling (714 normal) 772
 991
 622


*Normal degree days are based on a 20-year moving average of monthly temperatures from Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

20172020 Compared with 20162019


Electric Utility Margins


Electric utility margins decreased $76.9$26.5 million during 2017,2020, compared with 2016.2019. The significant factors impacting the lower electric utility margins were:


An $82.8 million net decrease in margins related to the impact of our rate order approved by the PSCW, effective January 1, 2020. This decrease in margins includes a $62.8 million negative impact related to unprotected excess deferred taxes, which we agreed to return to customers and is offset in income taxes.

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A $74.1$23.9 million decrease in margins from other revenues, primarily related to lower revenues from third party use of our assets.

A $12.4 million net decrease in margins related to lower sales volumes, during 2017, primarilyincluding the impact of weather. We recognized a $27.6 million net reduction in margins related to lower retail sales volumes driven by unfavorable weather, lower overall retail use per customer,the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales volumes for our commercial and industrial customers decreased, primarily related to business interruptions and closings, while residential sales volumes increased. These changes in volumes were both driven, in large part, by a shelter-in-place order issued by the transferstate of customers and their related sales to UMERC. Cooler summer and warmer winter weatherWisconsin, which was in 2017,effect from March 25, 2020 through April 24, 2020, as well as an additional daythe continued impacts of sales during 2016 due to leap year, contributed to the decrease.COVID-19 pandemic. This net decrease in margins was partially offset by a $15.2 million increase in margins driven by warmer summer weather. As measured by cooling degree days, 20172020 was 22.1% cooler than 2016. As measured by heating degree days, 2017 was 2.6%29.0% warmer than 2016.
2019.


A $25.9 million decrease related to SSR payments we refunded to MISO as directed by a FERC order received in October 2017. The FERC order reduced the costs eligible for reimbursement to us for the operation and maintenance of our PIPP units under an SSR agreement we have with MISO. A portion of these payments was returned to us through the MISO allocation process and reduced transmission expense as discussed below. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information.

A $4.3$6.8 million decrease in margins related to lower wholesale sales volumes, driven by lower sales to UMERC. UMERC's new natural gas-fired generating units in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan began commercial operation on March 31, 2019, at which time we stopped providing wholesale services to UMERC.

A $4.8 million decrease in margins from our steam operations driven by lower sales volumes, including the impact of weather.

A $4.4 million decrease in margins related to Tilden, who owns an iron ore mines locatedmine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In November 2016, oneTilden was our customer but became a customer of the iron ore mines closed. With the return of the mines as retail customers in 2015, we continue to defer the majority of the margin from those sales and intend to apply these amounts for the benefit of Wisconsin retail electric customers in a future rate proceeding.UMERC after UMERC's new natural gas-fired generating units began commercial operation on March 31, 2019.


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A $3.5 million decrease in steam margins driven by the sale of the MCPP in April 2016. See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information.

These decreases in margins were partially offset by:

A $101.8 million increase in margins associated with the 2019 negative impact of the flow through of tax benefits of our repair-related deferred tax liabilities, in accordance with a settlement agreement with the PSCW to maintain certain regulatory assets at their December 31, 2017 levels. These tax benefits were no longer in effect for 2020. This increase in margins was offset in income taxes. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information.

An $8.6 million year-over-year positive impact from collections of fuel and purchased power costs compared with costs approved in rates. Under the Wisconsin fuel rules, our margins are impacted by $36.5 millionunder- or over-collections of lower capacity paymentscertain fuel and purchased power costs that are within a 2% price variance from the costs included in rates, and the remaining variance beyond the 2% variance is deferred for future recovery or refund to a counterparty during 2017, related to improved contract terms.customers.


Natural Gas Utility Margins


Natural gas utility margins increased $1.5$12.8 million during 2017,2020, compared with 2016.2019. The most significant factor impacting the higher natural gas utility margins was higher retail sales volumes, primarily drivena $20.5 million increase related to the impact of our rate order approved by higher overall retail use per customerthe PSCW, effective January 1, 2020. This increase in margins includes a $5.3 million positive impact related to unprotected excess deferred taxes, which we agreed to collect from customers and customer growth. The higheris offset in income taxes.

This increase in margins werewas partially offset by an additional day ofa $10.5 million net reduction in margins related to lower sales volumes, driven primarily by warmer winter weather during 2016 due to leap year.

Operating Income

Operating income at the2020. As measured by heating degree days, 2020 was 10.9% warmer than 2019. Natural gas utility segment decreased $3.9 million during 2017, compared with 2016. This decrease was drivenmargins were not impacted significantly by the $75.4 million net decrease in margins discussed above, partially offset by $71.5 million of lower operating expenses (which includeCOVID-19 pandemic.

Other Operating Expenses (includes other operation and maintenance, depreciation and amortization, and property and revenuesrevenue taxes).


We experienced lower overallOther operating expenses related to synergy savings resulting from WEC Energy Group's acquisition of Integrys.at the utility segment decreased $114.0 million during 2020, compared with 2019. The significant factors impacting the decrease in operating expenses during 2017, compared with 2016, were:


A $21.9$67.2 million decrease in transmission expenses, driven by a FERC order to reduce SSR costsexpense related to PIPP,the flow through of tax repairs during 2019, as discussed in the notes under electric utility margins.the other operation and maintenance table above.This decrease in transmission expense was offset in income taxes.


A $21.0$65.2 million decrease in expensestransmission expense associated with the May 2018 order from the PSCW related to our required treatment of the tax benefits associated with the Tax Legislation, as discussed in the notes under the other operation and maintenance table above. This decrease in transmission expense was offset by a corresponding decrease in margins.
2020 Form 10-K35Wisconsin Electric Power Company


A $38.6 million decrease in expense related to our earnings sharing mechanism in place.mechanism. See the PSCW conditions of approval related to the Integrys acquisition in Note 2, Acquisitions,21, Regulatory Environment, for more information.


A $19.1$32.8 million decrease in regulatory amortizations and other pass through expenses, as discussed in the notes under the other operation and maintenance table above.

A $21.7 million decrease in electric and natural gas distribution expenses, primarilydriven by lower maintenance and storm restoration expense, as well as our focus on operating efficiency.

A $21.6 million decrease in other operation and maintenance expense related to the transfer of electric customersWe Power leases, as discussed in the notes under the other operation and their related sales to UMERC, lower metering costs, and other cost savings.maintenance table above.


A $16.8$15.6 million decrease in expenses relatedbenefit costs, primarily due to charitable projects supporting our customerslower deferred compensation costs, stock-based compensation, and the communities within our service territories.medical costs.


These decreases in operating expenses were partially offset by a $10.9 million gain recorded in April 2016 related to the sale of the MCPP. See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information on the sale of the MCPP.by:


2016 Compared with 2015

Electric Utility Margins

Electric utility margins increased $48.8 million during 2016, compared with 2015. The significant factors impacting the higher electric utility margins were:

A $38.9 million increase related to higher retail sales volumes during 2016, primarily driven by warmer summer weather. As measured by cooling degree days, 2016 was 59.3% warmer than 2015.

The expiration of $12.5 million of bill credits refunded to customers in 2015 related to the Treasury Grant we received in connection with our biomass facility.

Natural Gas Utility Margins

Natural gas utility margins decreased $3.2 million during 2016, compared with 2015. The most significant factor impacting the lower natural gas utility margins was a decrease in sales volumes during 2016, primarily driven by warmer winter weather. As measured by heating degree days, 2016 was 6.2% warmer than 2015.


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Operating Income

Operating income at the utility segment decreased $19.4 million during 2016, compared with 2015. The decrease was driven by the $65.0 million of higher operating expenses, partially offset by the $45.6 million net increase in margins discussed above.

The significant factors impacting the increase in operating expenses during 2016, compared with 2015, were:

A $25.3An $83.0 million increase in expenses related to charitable projects supporting our customerstransmission expense as approved in the PSCW's 2019 rate order, which was effective January 1, 2020. See the notes under the other operation and the communities within our service territories.maintenance table above for more information.


A $21.4$42.5 million increase in depreciation and amortization, driven by assets being placed into service as we continue to execute on our capital plan as well as an overallincrease related to the We Power leases.

A $15.3 million net increase in utility plant in service. In November 2015, we completed the conversion of the fuel source for VAPP from coal to natural gas.

A $21.1 millionother operation and maintenance expense related to our earnings sharing mechanism in place, effective January 1, 2016.

An $11.1 million increase in expenses related to various regulatory matters.

These increases in operating expenses were partially offset by a $16.4 million positive impact from the sale of the MCPP in April 2016, including a gain on sale and lower operating costs in 2016.

Equity in Earnings of Transmission Affiliate
  Year Ended December 31
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
Equity in earnings of transmission affiliate $
 $55.5
 $47.8

2017 Compared with 2016

At December 31, 2016, we owned approximately 23% of ATC. Effective January 1, 2017, we transferred our investment in ATC to another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group. See Note 16, Investment in American Transmission Company, for more information.

2016 Compared with 2015

Earnings from our ownership interest in ATC increased $7.7 million during 2016, compared with 2015. This increase was primarily due to the negative impact on our 2015 earnings from a decision issued by an administrative law judge in December 2015 regarding complaints related to ATC's ROE.

Consolidated Other Income, Net
  Year Ended December 31
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
AFUDC – Equity $3.1
 $4.2
 $5.7
Interest income 2.3
 2.2
 2.2
Other, net 14.3
 2.7
 3.3
Other income, net $19.7
 $9.1
 $11.2

2017 Compared with 2016

Other income, net increased $10.6 million during 2017, compared with 2016. The increase waspower plants, driven by higher gains on property sales during 2017, comparedchanges to 2016, andcertain plant-related regulatory assets resulting from decisions included in the expenses we incurred in 2016 related to the disposition of certain non-utility real estate assets. These increases were partially offset by lower AFUDC during 2017.

Consolidated Interest Expense
  Year Ended December 31
(in millions) 2017
2016
2015
Interest expense $117.3
 $117.6
 $119.0

2017 Form 10-K37December 2019 Wisconsin Electric Power Company

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Income Tax Expense
  Year Ended December 31
  2017
2016
2015
Effective tax rate 36.2% 36.6% 36.0%

2017 Compared with 2016

Our effective tax rate was 36.2% in 2017 compared to 36.6% in 2016. This decrease in our effective tax rate was primarily due to increased renewable energy credits related to wind projects and favorable compensation expense. Preliminarily, we expect our 2018 annual effective tax rate to be between -5% and -4%, which includes an estimated 27% effective tax rate benefit due to the flow through of tax repairs in connection with the Wisconsin settlement.order. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information on the Wisconsin settlement. Excludingrate orders. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in other operation and maintenance at our plants, driven by the retirement of PIPP in March 2019 and reduced operation of the OCPP.

Costs incurred of $12.5 million related to facility damage resulting from a significant rain event in May 2020. See Note 6, Property, Plant, and Equipment, for more information on the significant rain event.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased $9.9 million during 2020, compared with 2019, primarily due to the lower interest rate on the long-term debt issued in December 2019, which was used to repay maturing long-term debt that had a higher interest rate. Also contributing to the decrease was lower interest expense on finance lease liabilities.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net decreased $4.2 million during 2020, compared with 2019. The decrease was primarily driven by the impact from the 2019 deferral of costs that were offset in other income statement line items and had no impact on net income attributed to common shareholder. Partially offsetting this decrease were higher AFUDC–Equity due to continued capital investment and higher net credits from the non-service components of our net periodic pension and OPEB costs. See Note 16, Employee Benefits, for more information on our benefit costs.

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Income tax expense increased $102.5 million as $44.7 million of income tax expense was recorded during 2020, compared with $57.8 million of income tax benefit recorded during 2019. The increase was primarily due to the benefit from the flow through of tax repairs during 2019, in connection with the 2017 Wisconsin rate settlement, partially offset by the 2020 amortization of the unprotected excess deferred tax benefits from the Tax Legislation in connection with our Wisconsin rate order approved by the PSCW, effective January 1, 2020. The impacts due to the benefit from the flow through of tax repairs and the 2018 range would be between 22%amortization of the unprotected excess deferred tax benefits from the Tax Legislation were offset in operating income and 23%.did not impact earnings. See Note 12,13, Income Taxes, and Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information.


2016 Compared with 2015

2020 Form 10-K36Wisconsin Electric Power Company
Our effective tax rate was 36.6% in 2016 compared with 36.0% in 2015. This increase in our effective tax rate was primarily due to Treasury Grant activity in 2015.


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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES


The following discussion and analysis of our Liquidity and Capital Resources includes comparisons of our cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2020 with the year ended December 31, 2019. For a similar discussion that compares our cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2019 with the year ended December 31, 2018, see Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources in Part II of our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Cash Flows


The following table summarizes our cash flows forduring the years ended December 31:
(in millions)20202019Change in 2020 Over 2019
Cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities$767.1 $854.4 $(87.3)
Investing activities(630.8)(576.9)(53.9)
Financing activities(148.2)(278.6)130.4 
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015 Change in 2017 Over 2016 Change in 2016 Over 2015
Cash provided by (used in):          
Operating activities $698.0
 $848.4
 $674.4
 $(150.4) $174.0
Investing activities (568.2) (436.8) (520.2) (131.4) 83.4
Financing activities (132.9) (423.3) (151.1) 290.4
 (272.2)


Operating Activities


20172020 Compared with 20162019


Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $150.4$87.3 million during 2017,2020, compared with 2016,2019, driven by:


A $171.9 million net decrease in cash related to $71.7 million of cash paid for income taxes during 2017, compared with $100.2 million of cash received during 2016. This decrease in cash was primarily due to the extension of bonus depreciation in December 2015, which resulted in the receipt of an income tax refund during 2016.

A $149.8$158.2 million decrease in cash related to lower overall collections from customerscustomers. This decrease was driven by the impact of our rate order approved by the PSCW, effective January 1, 2020, including a negative impact related to unprotected excess deferred tax benefits, which we agreed to return to customers. Other contributing factors include lower sales volumes related to business interruptions and closings during 2017, compared with 2016. Collections from customers decreased primarily because of unfavorable weather and the loss of sales fromCOVID-19 pandemic, an increase in past due balances due to a moratorium on disconnections, as well as the transfer of customersTilden as a customer to UMERC on March 31, 2019.

A $55.4 million decrease in 2017.cash related to an increase in cash paid for income taxes during 2020, compared with 2019. This increase in cash paid for income taxes was primarily due to a one-time tax deduction for the retirement of a coal plant that occurred in 2019.

Cash distributions provided by ATC of $38.4 million during 2016. Effective January 1, 2017, we transferred our investment in ATC to another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group. See Note 16, Investment in American Transmission Company, for more information.


These decreases in net cash provided by operating activities were partially offset by:


CashA $74.9 million increase in cash related to lower payments for fuel used at our plants during 2020, compared with 2019, due to lower natural gas costs. The average per-unit cost of $116.0 million for transfersnatural gas decreased 13.4% during 2020, compared with 2019. Lower fuel costs were also driven by the retirement of certain benefit-related liabilities to WBSPIPP in March 2019 and lower sales volumes. The lower sales volumes were driven by business interruptions and closings during 2016.the COVID-19 pandemic.



2017 Form 10-K38Wisconsin Electric Power Company


A $56.9An $11.3 million increase in cash from lower payments for operatingother operation and maintenance costs. During 2017, ourexpenses. Our payments related to transmission,were lower for electric and natural gas distribution expenses, benefits, and charitable projects decreased.transmission during 2020, compared with 2019. See Results of Operations – Utility Segment Contribution to Net Income Attributed to Common Shareholder for more information.


A $32.5$10.5 million net increase in cash resulting from lower payments for fuel and purchased power due to the transfer of electric customers to UMERC. This increase in cash was partially offset by higher payments for natural gas,primarily due to higher commodity prices. The average per-unit cost of natural gas sold increased 8.9%interest during 2017,2020, compared with 2016.

2016 Compared with 2015

Net cash provided by operating activities increased $174.0 million during 2016, driven by:

A $158.7 million net increase in cash related to $100.2 million of cash received for income taxes during 2016, compared with $58.5 million of cash paid for income taxes during 2015. The increase in cash received was due to a federal income tax refund received in 2016, primarily the result of the extension of bonus depreciation2019. Long-term debt issued in December 2015.2019 had a lower interest rate than the long-term debt that matured. Proceeds from the December 2019 debt issuance were used to repay the maturing debt.


A $144.2 million increase in cash resulting from lower payments for natural gas and fuel and purchased power, due to lower commodity prices and warmer weather during the 2016 heating season. The average per-unit cost of natural gas sold decreased 17.4% in 2016.

A $99.6 million decrease in contributions and payments to our pension and OPEB plans during 2016, compared with 2015.

A $29.1$9.0 million increase in cash due to lower collateral requirements, during 2016, compared with 2015, driven by an increase in the fair value of our natural gas derivative instruments. See Note 14, Derivative Instruments, for more information.
assets during 2020, compared with 2019.


These increases in net cash provided by operating activities were partially offset by:

Cash payments of $116.0An $8.9 million for transfers of certain benefit-related liabilities to WBS during 2016.

A $91.6 million decreaseincrease in cash related tofrom lower overall collections from customers. Collections from customers decreasedpayments for property and revenue taxes, primarily because of lower commodity prices and warmer weather during the 2016 heating season.

A $55.8 million decrease in cash driven by higher payments for operating and maintenance costs during 2016.the Wisconsin gross receipts tax.


2020 Form 10-K37Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Table of Contents
Investing Activities


20172020 Compared with 20162019


Net cash used in investing activities increased $131.4$53.9 million during 2017,2020, compared with 2016,2019, driven by:

A $126.6by a $73.0 million increase in cash paid for capital expenditures, during 2017, compared with 2016, which is discussed in more detail below.

Cash of $13.1 million received during 2016 related to transfers of certain software to WBS. There were no similar transfers in 2017.

An $8.8 million decrease in the proceeds received from the sale of assets during 2017, compared with 2016. See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information.

These increasesThis increase in net cash used in investing activities werewas partially offset by $16.1$22.2 million of capital contributions paid to ATCinsurance proceeds received for property damage during 2016. Effective January 1, 2017, we transferred our investment in ATC to another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group.

2016 Compared with 2015

Net cash used in investing activities decreased $83.4 million during 2016, compared with 2015, driven by:

A $49.7 million decrease in cash paid for capital expenditures during 2016, compared with 2015, which is discussed in more detail below.

2017 Form 10-K39Wisconsin Electric Power Company



Proceeds of $31.7 million received from the sale of MCPP in April 2016. 2020. See Note 3, Dispositions,6, Property, Plant, and Equipment, for more information.
information.


Cash received of $13.1 million during 2016 related to transfers of certain software to WBS.

These decreases in net cash used in investing activities were partially offset by an $11.5 million increase in capital contributions to ATC during 2016, compared with 2015, driven by the continued investment in equipment and facilities by ATC to improve reliability.

Capital Expenditures


Capital expenditures for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
(in millions)20202019Change in 2020 Over 2019
Capital expenditures$663.6 $590.6 $73.0 
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015 Change in 2017 Over 2016 Change in 2016 Over 2015
Capital expenditures $596.1
 $469.5
 $519.2
 $126.6
 $(49.7)


20172020 Compared with 20162019


The increase in cash paid for capital expenditures during 2017,2020, compared with 2016,2019, was primarily driven by upgrades to our electric and natural gas distribution systems including main replacement projects and an advanced metering infrastructure program, as well as various projects atcapital expenditures related to Badger Hollow II and the OCPP.Solar Now program.


See Capital Resources and Requirements – Capital Requirements – Capital Expenditures and Significant Capital Projects below for more information.

2016 Compared with 2015

The decrease in cash paid for capital expenditures during 2016 was partially related to the completion in November 2015 of the coal to natural gas conversion project at VAPP. Also contributing to the decrease were lower payments during 2016 for environmental compliance projects and electric distribution upgrades.


Financing Activities


20172020 Compared with 20162019


Net cash used in financing activities decreased $290.4$130.4 million during 2017,2020, compared with 2016,2019, driven by:


A $215.0 million decrease in dividends paid to our parent during 2017, compared with 2016. During 2016, we paid special dividends to our parent to balance our capital structure.

A $75.0 million equity contribution received from our parent to balance our capital structure in 2017.

A $36.9$250.0 million increase in net borrowings of commercial paper during 2017, compared with 2016.

These decreases in net cash used in financing activities were partially offset by a $17.4 million increase in repayments provided to our parent during 2017 related to our subsidiary's note payable, compared with 2016.

2016 Compared with 2015

Net cash used in financing activities increased $272.2 million during 2016, compared with 2015, driven by:

A $250.0 million net decrease in cash due to the issuance of $500.0 millionrepayment of long-term debt during 2015, partially offset by the repayment of $250.0 million2019. There were no repayments of long-term debt during 2015. 2020.

A portion of this issuance was also used to repay short-term debt during 2015. We did not issue or repay any long-term debt in 2016.

A $215.0$195.9 million increase in dividends paidcash related to our parent during 2016, compared with 2015. During 2016, we paid special dividends to our parent to balance our capital structure.

2017 Form 10-K40Wisconsin Electric Power Company



These increases in net cash used for financing activities were partially offset by a $177.8 million net increase in cash due to $15.0$176.5 million of net borrowings of commercial paper during 2016,2020, compared with $162.8$19.4 million of net repayments of commercial paper during 2015.2019.


A $25.0 million increase in equity contributions received from our parent during 2020, compared with 2019, to balance our capital structure.

These increases in cash were partially offset by:

A $300.0 million decrease in cash related to an issuance of long-term debt during 2019. There were no issuances of long-term debt during 2020.

A $35.0 million decrease in cash related to higher dividends paid to our parent during 2020, compared with 2019, to balance our capital structure.

A $7.8 million increase in our principal payments for finance lease obligations during 2020, compared with 2019.

Significant Financing Activities


For more information on our financing activities, see Note 10, Short-Term Debt and Lines of Credit, and Note 11, Long-Term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations.Debt.


2020 Form 10-K38Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Table of Contents
Capital Resources and Requirements


Capital Resources


Liquidity


We anticipate meeting our capital requirements for our existing operations through internally generated funds and short-term borrowings, supplemented by the issuance of intermediate or long-term debt securities, depending on market conditions and other factors, and equity contributions from our parent.


We currently have access to the capital markets and have been able to generate funds both internally and externally to meet our capital requirements. Our ability to attract the necessary financial capital at reasonable terms is critical to our overall strategic plan. We currently believe that we have adequate capacity to fund our operations for the foreseeable future through our existing borrowing arrangements, access to capital markets, and internally generated cash. See Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity, and Capital Resources – Coronavirus Disease – 2019, for additional information on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.


We maintain a bank back-up credit facility, which provides liquidity support for our obligations with respect to commercial paper and for general corporate purposes. We review our bank back-up credit facility needs on an ongoing basis and expect to be able to maintain adequate credit facilities to support our operations. See Note 10, Short-Term Debt and Lines of Credit, for more information on our credit facility.


At December 31, 2017,2020, we were in compliance with all covenants related to outstanding short-term and long-term debt. We expect to be in compliance with all such debt covenants for the foreseeable future. See Note 11, Long-Term Debt, and Capital Lease Obligations, for more information on our long-term debt.information.


Working Capital


As of December 31, 2017,2020, our current liabilities exceeded our current assets by $148.0$361.8 million. We do not expect this to have any impact on our liquidity since we believe we have adequate back-up lines of credit in place for our ongoing operations. We also believe that we can access the capital markets to finance our construction programs and to refinance current maturities of long-term debt, if necessary.


Credit Rating Risk


We do not have any credit agreements that would require material changes in payment schedules or terminations as a result of a credit rating downgrade. However, we have certain agreements in the form of commodity contracts and employee benefit plans that could require collateral or a termination payment in the event of a credit rating change to below BBB- at S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and/or Baa3 at Moody's Investors Service.Service, Inc. We also have other commodity contracts that, in the event of a credit rating downgrade, could result in a reduction of our unsecured credit granted by counterparties.


In addition, access to capital markets at a reasonable cost is determined in large part by credit quality. Any credit ratings downgrade could impact our ability to access capital markets.

In July 2017, Moody's downgraded our senior unsecured rating to A2 from A1 and affirmed our P-1 commercial paper rating. We do not believe the change in rating will have a material impact on our ability to access capital markets.


2017 Form 10-K41Wisconsin Electric Power Company



Subject to other factors affecting the credit markets as a whole, we believe our current ratings should provide a significant degree of flexibility in obtaining funds on competitive terms. However, these security ratings reflect the views of the rating agency only. An explanation of the significance of these ratings may be obtained from the rating agency. Such ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold securities. Any rating can be revised upward or downward or withdrawn at any time by a rating agency.


If we are unable to successfully take actions to continue to manage any adverse impacts ofimpact from the Tax Legislation, or if additional interpretations, regulations, amendments or technical corrections exacerbateCOVID-19 pandemic, the adverse impacts of the Tax Legislation, the legislation could result in credit rating agencies placingcould place our credit ratings on negative outlook or downgradingdowngrade our credit ratings. Any such actions by credit rating agencies may make it more difficult and costly for us to issue future debt securities and certain other types of financing and could increase borrowing costs under our credit facility.


See Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity, and Capital Resources – Coronavirus Disease – 2019, for additional information.

2020 Form 10-K39Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Table of Contents
Capital Requirements


Contractual Obligations


We have the following contractual obligations and other commercial commitments as of December 31, 2017:2020:
Payments Due by Period (1)
(in millions)TotalLess than 1 year1-3 years3-5 yearsMore than 5 years
Long-term debt obligations (2)
$5,018.4 $416.1 $219.7 $758.8 $3,623.8 
Finance lease obligations (3)
6,962.2 407.0 799.4 794.9 4,960.9 
Operating lease obligations (4)
15.4 0.7 1.0 1.0 12.7 
Energy and transportation purchase obligations (5)
9,035.3 805.1 1,557.9 1,307.8 5,364.5 
Purchase orders (6)
499.2 254.2 165.5 38.6 40.9 
Pension and OPEB funding obligations (7)
10.3 3.6 6.7 — — 
Total contractual obligations$21,540.8 $1,886.7 $2,750.2 $2,901.1 $14,002.8 
  
Payments Due by Period (1)
(in millions) Total Less than 1 year 1-3 years 3-5 years More than 5 years
Long-term debt obligations (2)
 $4,873.3
 $362.8
 $460.8
 $491.3
 $3,558.4
Capital lease obligations (3)
 7,878.1
 398.7
 799.9
 792.7
 5,886.8
Operating lease obligations (4)
 34.7
 3.5
 5.3
 2.9
 23.0
Energy and transportation purchase obligations (5)
 9,954.9
 647.0
 1,132.0
 1,105.1
 7,070.8
Purchase orders (6)
 248.9
 42.8
 62.1
 46.7
 97.3
Pension and OPEB funding obligations (7)
 11.9
 4.0
 7.9
 
 
Total contractual obligations $23,001.8
 $1,458.8
 $2,468.0
 $2,438.7
 $16,636.3


(1)    The amounts included in the table are calculated using current market prices, forward curves, and other estimates.
(1)
The amounts included in the table are calculated using current market prices, forward curves, and other estimates.


(2)
Principal and interest payments on long-term debt (excluding capital lease obligations).

(2)    Principal and interest payments on long-term debt (excluding finance lease obligations).
(3)
Capital lease obligations for power purchase commitments and the leases with We Power.


(4)
Operating lease obligations for power purchase commitments and rail car leases.

(3)    Finance lease obligations for power purchase commitments, leases with We Power, and land leases related to Badger Hollow II. See Note 12, Leases, for more information.
(5)
Energy and transportation purchase obligations under various contracts for the procurement of fuel, power, gas supply, and associated transportation related to utility operations.


(6)
Purchase obligations related to normal business operations, information technology, and other services.

(4)    Operating lease obligations for land, rail cars, and office space leases. See Note 12, Leases, for more information.
(7)
Obligations for pension and OPEB plans cannot reasonably be estimated beyond 2020.


(5)    Energy and transportation purchase obligations under various contracts for the procurement of fuel, power, gas supply, and associated transportation related to utility operations. Also includes construction obligations related to Badger Hollow II.

(6)    Purchase obligations related to normal business operations, information technology, and other services.

(7)    Obligations for pension and OPEB plans cannot reasonably be estimated beyond 2023.

The table above does not reflect estimated future payments related to the manufactured gas plant remediation liability of $18.5$10.3 million at December 31, 2017,2020, as the amount and timing of payments are uncertain. We expect to incur costs annually to remediate these sites. See Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies, for more information about environmental liabilities.


AROs in the amount of $68.3$54.5 million are not included in the above table. Settlement of these liabilities cannot be determined with certainty, but we believe the majority of these liabilities will be settled in more than five years. See Note 7, Asset Retirement Obligations, for more information.


Obligations for utility operations have historically been included as part of the rate-making process and therefore are generally recoverable from customers.


Capital Expenditures and Significant Capital Projects


We have several capital projects that will require significant capital expenditures over the next three years and beyond. All projected capital requirements are subject to periodic review and may vary significantly from estimates, depending on a number of factors. These factors include environmental requirements, regulatory restraints and requirements, impacts from the Tax Legislation,

2017 Form 10-K42Wisconsin Electric Power Company


changes in tax laws and regulations, acquisition and development opportunities, market volatility, economic trends, and economic trends.the COVID-19 pandemic. Our estimated capital expenditures for the next three years are as follows:
(in millions)
2021$933.5 
20221,032.0 
20231,375.3 
Total$3,340.8 

(in millions)  
2018 $598.5
2019 552.5
2020 807.5
Total $1,958.5

2020 Form 10-K40Wisconsin Electric Power Company

The majority of spending consists of upgrading our electric and natural gas distribution systems to enhance reliability. These upgrades include the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)AMI program. AMI is an integrated system of smart meters, communication networks, and data management systems that enable two-way communication between utilities and customers.


Additionally,WEC Energy Group is committed to investing in solar, wind, and battery storage. Below are examples of renewable projects that are proposed or currently underway.

We have partnered with an unaffiliated utility to construct a utility-scale solar project, Badger Hollow II, that will be located in Iowa County, Wisconsin. Once constructed, we will own 100MW of this project. Our share of the cost of this project is estimated to be $130million. Commercial operation of Badger Hollow II is targeted for December 2022.

In February 2021, we, along with WPS and an unaffiliated utility, filed an application with the PSCW for approval to acquire and construct the Paris Solar-Battery Park, a utility-scale solar-powered electric generating facility with a battery energy storage system. The project will be located in Kenosha County, Wisconsin and features 200 MW of solar generation and 110 MW of battery storage. The joint applicants propose that we would acquire a 75% ownership interest, WPS would acquire a 15% ownership interest, and the unaffiliated utility would acquire the remaining 10% ownership interest. If approved, our share of the cost of this project is estimated to be approximately $320 million with construction expected to begin in 2022 and completed by the end of 2023.

In February 2021, we, along with WPS, filed an application with the PSCW for approval to accelerate capital investments in two wind parks. Our share of the investment is expected to be approximately $85 million to repower major components of BSGF, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

We are constructing approximately 46 miles of natural gas transmission main to increase the quantity and reliability of natural gas service in southeastern Wisconsin. This project, which was approved in a written order by the PSCW in June 2020, has been designated as partthe Lakeshore Lateral Project. The cost of our commitmentthe project is estimated to investbe between $174 and $180 million. Construction for the project began in zero-carbon generation, weDecember 2020, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

We plan to invest in utility scale solarconstruct a LNG facility. Subject to PSCW approval, the facility would provide us with approximately one Bcf of upnatural gas supply to 150 MW. Solar generation technology has greatly improved, has become more cost-effective,meet anticipated peak demand without requiring the construction of additional interstate pipeline capacity. The facility is expected to reduce the likelihood of constraints on our natural gas system during the highest demand days of winter. The project is estimated to cost approximately $185million. Commercial operation of the LNG facility is targeted for the end of 2023.

See Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity, and it complementsCapital Resources – Coronavirus Disease – 2019, for information on the impacts to our summer demand curve.capital projects as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Common Stock Matters


For information related to our common stock matters, see Note 8, Common Equity.


Investments in Outside Trusts


We use outside trusts to fund our pension and certain OPEB obligations. These trusts had investments of approximately $1.4billion as of December 31, 2017.2020. These trusts hold investments that are subject to the volatility of the stock market and interest rates. We contributed $8.3 million, $8.0 $3.9million and $107.6 $5.5million to our pension and OPEB plans in 2017, 2016,2020 and 2015,2019, respectively. Future contributions to the plans will be dependent upon many factors, including the performance of existing plan assets and long-term discount rates. For additional information, see Note 15,16, Employee Benefits.


Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements


We are a party to various financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk as a part of our normal course of business, including letters of credit that primarily support our commodity contracts. We believe that these agreements do not have, and are not reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources. For additional information, seeSee Note 1(q), Guarantees, Note 10, Short-Term Debt and Lines of Credit, and Note 18, Variable Interest Entities.Entities, for more information.


2020 Form 10-K41Wisconsin Electric Power Company


FACTORS AFFECTING RESULTS, LIQUIDITY, AND CAPITAL RESOURCES


Coronavirus Disease – 2019

The global outbreak of COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the WHO and the CDC and has spread globally, including throughout the United States. There is still considerable uncertainty regarding the extent and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic itself, as well as the measures currently in place to try to contain the virus, such as travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, limitations on business operations, and the timing of widespread availability of the vaccines. Although the shelter-in-place order that was in effect for Wisconsin has expired, other orders limiting the capacity of various businesses have been adopted at the state and local levels. In addition, similar or more restrictive orders could be adopted in the future depending on how the virus continues to spread and/or mutate. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related government responses have significantly disrupted economic activity in our service territory. See Item 1A. Risk Factors for more information on our risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Liquidity and Financial Markets

Volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets and global economy have impacted us in a number of ways. Upon the initial enactment of certain COVID-19 related shelter-in-place orders in early to mid-March 2020, commercial paper markets became more expensive and related terms became less flexible. In response to these signs of market instability, the Federal Reserve implemented certain measures, including a reduction in its benchmark Federal Funds rate and the establishment of various programs to restore liquidity and stability into the short-term funding markets. These measures have had a mitigating effect on commercial paper rates and availability. In addition, the initial disruption in the long-term debt markets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided.

Our overall liquidity position remains strong. As of December 31, 2020, we had $207.0 million available under our credit facility, providing sufficient backing for our commercial paper program.

Pensions and Other Benefits

Our pension and OPEB plans were 96.7% funded at December 31, 2020, with total plan assets of $1,372.1 million and total benefit obligations of $1,419.2 million. There has been significant volatility in global capital markets during the COVID-19 pandemic, although the market losses seen during the early stages of the pandemic in the first quarter of 2020 reversed course throughout the remainder of the year in response to government stimulus and relief efforts and the gradual reopening of businesses. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we recognized a $135.3 million increase in the value of long-term investments held in our pension and OPEB plan trusts as gains recognized during the last three quarters of 2020 more than offset first quarter losses.

We could still see earnings volatility associated with certain other benefit plans maintained by our parent, WEC Energy Group, primarily related to performance units granted to certain of our employees, and deferred compensation plans. Certain of the liabilities associated with the deferred compensation plans are indexed to mutual funds and WEC Energy Group common stock, and the liabilities associated with outstanding performance units are indexed to WEC Energy Group common stock. These liabilities are marked to fair value through earnings each period, with earnings increasing as market prices decrease.

Allowance for Credit Losses

We evaluate the collectability of our accounts receivable and unbilled revenue balances considering a combination of factors. Risks identified that we do not believe are reflected in historical reserve percentages are assessed on a quarterly basis to determine whether further adjustments are required. Economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including higher unemployment rates and the inability of some businesses to recover from the pandemic, could cause a higher percentage of accounts receivable to become uncollectible. Although impacts on our results of operations related to uncollectible receivable balances are mitigated by a regulatory mechanism and certain COVID-19 specific regulatory orders we have received, the increase in past due receivables we have experienced has resulted in higher working capital requirements. At December 31, 2020, accounts receivables, net of reserves for credit losses, that were greater than 90 days past due, totaled $56.3 million, a $33.9 million increase compared to December 31, 2019.

Our exposure to credit losses for certain regulated utility customers is mitigated by a regulatory mechanism we have in place. Specifically, our residential tariffs 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. In addition, we have received specific orders related to the deferral of certain costs (including credit losses) and foregone revenues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The additional
2020 Form 10-K42Wisconsin Electric Power Company


protections provided by these COVID-19 specific regulatory orders are still being assessed and will be subject to prudency reviews. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information.

Loss of Business

We have seen a decrease in the consumption of electricity and natural gas by some of our commercial and industrial customers as they continue to experience lower demand for their products and services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many businesses in our service territory still are not operating at full capacity. The extent to which this decrease in consumption will impact our results of operations and liquidity is dependent upon the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ability of our customers to resume and continue normal operations.

Supply Chain and Capital Projects

We have not yet experienced a significant disruption in our supply chain as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, if the pandemic significantly impacts our key suppliers’ ability to manufacture or deliver critical equipment and supplies or provide services, we could experience delays in our ability to perform certain maintenance and capital project activities.

We are not currently aware of any major delays or changes related to our capital plan as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, although we are continuing to monitor potential impacts on an ongoing basis.

Employee Safety

The health and safety of our employees during the COVID-19 pandemic is paramount and enables us to continue to provide critical services to our customers.

We are following CDC guidelines and have taken precautions with regard to employee hygiene and facility cleanliness, imposed travel limitations on our employees, provided additional employee benefits, and implemented remote work policies where appropriate. We have activated an incident management team and updated our pandemic continuity plan, which includes identifying critical work groups and ensuring safe harbor plans are in place. We have minimized the unnecessary risk of exposure to COVID-19 by implementing self-quarantine measures and have adopted additional precautionary measures for our critical work groups.

Additional protocols have been implemented for our field employees who travel to customer premises in order to protect them, our customers, and the public. We have modified our work protocols to ensure compliance with social distancing and face covering recommendations.

All of these safety measures have caused us to incur additional costs, and depending upon the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, could have a material impact on our results of operations and liquidity.

Regulatory Environment

We have taken actions to ensure that essential utility services are available to our customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the PSCW has issued written orders requiring certain actions by all public utilities in the state of Wisconsin. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information on these orders and the potential recovery of expenditures incurred as a result of the measures being taken.

Market Risks and Other Significant Risks


We are exposed to market and other significant risks as a result of the nature of our businesses and the environments in which those businesses operate. These risks, described in further detail below, include but are not limited to:


Regulatory Recovery


We account for our regulated operations in accordance with accounting guidance under the Regulated Operations Topic of the FASB ASC. Our rates are determined by various regulatory commissions. Our primary regulator is the PSCW.PSCW and the FERC. See Item 1. Business – D. Regulation for more information on our rates. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for additional information regarding recent rate proceedings and orders.

2020 Form 10-K43Wisconsin Electric Power Company


Regulated entities are allowed to defer certain costs that would otherwise be charged to expense if the regulated entity believes the recovery of thethose costs is probable. We record regulatory assets pursuant to generic and/or specific orders or by a generic order issued by our regulators. Recovery of the deferred costs in future rates is subject to the review and approval by our regulators. We assume the risks and benefits of ultimate recovery of these items in future rates. If the recovery of the deferred costs is not approved by our regulators, the costs would be charged to income in the current period. In general, our regulatory assets are recovered over a period of between one to six years. Regulators can impose liabilities on a prospective basis for amounts previously collected from customers

2017 Form 10-K43Wisconsin Electric Power Company


and for amounts that are expected to be refunded to customers. We record these items as regulatory liabilities. As of December 31, 2017,2020, our regulatory assets were $1,984.9$2,803.3 million, and our regulatory liabilities were $1,721.1$1,707.9 million.


Due to the Tax Legislation, signed into law in December 2017, we remeasured our deferred taxes and recorded an estimateda tax benefit of $1,065$1,102 million. ThisWe have been returning this tax benefit will be returned to ratepayers through future refunds, bill credits orand reductions to other regulatory assets.assets, which we expect to continue. See Note 12,13, Income Taxes, and Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information.


Commodity Costs

In the normal course of providing energy, we are subject to market fluctuations in the costs of coal, natural gas, purchased power, and fuel oil used in the delivery of coal. We manage our fuel and natural gas supply costs through a portfolio of short and long-term procurement contracts with various suppliers for the purchase of coal, natural gas, and fuel oil. In addition, we manage the risk of price volatility through natural gas and electric hedging programs.


Embedded within our rates are amounts to recover fuel, natural gas, and purchased power costs. We have recovery mechanisms in place that allow us to recover or refund all or a portion of the changes in prudently incurred fuel, natural gas, and purchased power costs from rate case-approved amounts. See Item 1. Business – D. Regulation for more information on these mechanisms.


Higher commodity costs can increase our working capital requirements, result in higher gross receipts taxes, and lead to increased energy efficiency investments by our customers to reduce utility usage and/or fuel substitution. Higher commodity costs combined with slower economic conditions also expose us to greater risks of accounts receivable write-offs as more customers are unable to pay their bills. See Note 1(d), Operating Revenues, and Customer Receivables, for more information on our mechanism that allows for cost recovery or refund of uncollectible expense.


Due to the cold temperatures, wind, snow and ice throughout the central part of the country during February 2021, the cost of gas purchased for our natural gas utility customers was temporarily driven higher than our normal winter weather expectations. We have a regulatory mechanism in place for recovering all prudently incurred gas costs. In addition, we have adequate liquidity and access to capital markets to manage any short-term increase in working capital resulting from the lag in recovery. For information on our GCRM, see Note 1(d), Operating Revenues.

Weather


Our utility rates are based upon estimated normal temperatures. Our electric utility margins are unfavorably sensitive to below normal temperatures during the summer cooling season and, to some extent, to above normal temperatures during the winter heating season. Our natural gas utility margins are unfavorably sensitive to above normal temperatures during the winter heating season. A summary of actual weather information in our service territory during 2017, 20162020 and 2015,2019, as measured by degree days, may be found in Results of Operations.


Interest Rates


We are exposed to interest rate risk resulting from our short-term borrowings and projected near-term debt financing needs. We manage exposure to interest rate risk by limiting the amount of our variable rate obligations and continually monitoring the effects of market changes on interest rates. When it is advantageous to do so, we enter into long-term fixed rate debt.


Based on our variable rate debt outstanding at December 31, 2017,2020 and December 31, 2016,2019, a hypothetical increase in market interest rates of one percentage point would have increased annual interest expense by $2.1 $2.9million and $1.6 $1.2million in 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively. This sensitivity analysis was performed assuming a constant level of variable rate debt during the period and an immediate increase in interest rates, with no other changes for the remainder of the period.


2020 Form 10-K44Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Marketable Securities Return


We use various trusts to fund our pension and OPEB obligations. These trusts invest in debt and equity securities. Changes in the market prices of these assets can affect future pension and OPEB expenses. Additionally, future contributions can also be affected by the investment returns on trust fund assets. We believe that the financial risks associated with investment returns would be partially mitigated through future rate actions by the PSCW.


The fair value of our trust fund assets and expected long-term returns were approximately:
(in millions)As of December 31, 2020Expected Return on Assets in 2021
Pension trust funds$1,127.2 6.75 %
OPEB trust funds$244.9 7.00 %
(in millions) As of December 31, 2017 Expected Return on Assets in 2018
Pension trust funds $1,134.1
 7.00%
OPEB trust funds $220.1
 7.25%

2017 Form 10-K44Wisconsin Electric Power Company




Fiduciary oversight of the pension and OPEB trust fund investments is the responsibility of an Investment Trust Policy Committee. The Committee works with external actuaries and investment consultants on an ongoing 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 asset allocations are determined utilizing projected benefit payment cash flows and risk analyses of appropriate investments. The targeted asset allocations 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. Investment strategies utilize a wide diversification of asset types and qualified external investment managers.


WEC Energy Group consults with its investment advisors on an annual basis to help it forecast expected long-term returns on plan assets by reviewing actual historical returns and 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 funds.


Economic Conditions


Our service territories are primarily within the state of Wisconsin. As such, we are exposed to market risks in the regional Midwest economy. In addition, any economic downturn or disruption of national or international markets could adversely affect the financial condition of our customers and demand for their products, which could affect their demand for our products.


Inflation


We continue to monitor the impact of inflation, especially with respect to the costs of medical plans, fuel, transmission access, construction costs, and regulatory and environmental compliance in order to minimize its effects in future years through pricing strategies, productivity improvements, and cost reductions. We do not believe the impact of general inflation will have a material impact on our future results of operations.


For additional information concerning risk factors, including market risks, see the Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information at the beginning of this report and Item 1A. Risk Factors.


Industry RestructuringCompetitive Markets


Electric Utility Industry


The regulated energy industry continues to experience significant changes. The FERC continues to supportsupports large RTOs, which affectsdirectly impacts the structure of the wholesale electric market. To this end,Due to the FERC's support of RTOs, MISO implementeduses the MISO Energy Markets to carry out its operations, including the use of LMP to value electric transmission congestion and losses. Increased competition in the retail and wholesale markets, which may result from restructuring efforts, could have a significant and adverse financial impact on us.


Electric utility revenues in Wisconsin are regulated by the PSCW. The PSCW continues to maintain the position that the question of whether to implement electric retail competition in Wisconsin should ultimately be decided by the Wisconsin legislature. No such legislation has been introduced in Wisconsin to date, and it is uncertain when, if at all, retail choice might be implemented in Wisconsin.


2020 Form 10-K45Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Natural Gas Utility Industry


The PSCW previously instituted genericDue to the PSCW's previous proceedings to consider how its regulation ofon natural gas distribution utilities should change to reflectindustry regulation in a competitive environment, in the natural gas industry. To date, the PSCW has made a policy decision to providecurrently provides all Wisconsin customer classes with competitive market choicesmarkets the option to choose an alternative retaila third-party natural gas supplier. The PSCW has also adopted standards for transactions between a utility and its natural gas marketing affiliates. All of our Wisconsin customer classes have competitive market choices and, therefore, can purchase natural gas directly from either an alternative retaila third-party supplier or us. Since third-party suppliers can be used in Wisconsin, the PSCW has also adopted standards for transactions between a utility and its natural gas supplier or their localmarketing affiliates.

We offer both natural gas utility.

transportation service and interruptible natural gas sales to enable customers to better manage their energy costs. Customers continue to switch between firm system supply, interruptible system supply, and transportation service each year as the economics and service options change. We offer natural gas transportation services to our customers that elect to purchase natural gas directly from an alternative retail natural gasa third-party supplier. Since these transportation customers continue to use our distribution systems to transport natural gas to their facilities, we earn distribution revenues from them. As such, there isthe loss of revenue associated with the cost of natural gas that our transportation customers purchase from third-party suppliers has little impact on our net income, from customers purchasingas it is substantially offset by an equal reduction to natural gas from an alternative retail natural gas supplier as natural gas costscosts. We are passed through to customers in rates on a one-for-one basis.

2017 Form 10-K45Wisconsin Electric Power Company


Currently, we arecurrently unable to predict the impact, if any, of potential future industry restructuring on our results of operations or financial position.


Environmental Matters


See Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies, for a discussion of certain environmental matters affecting us, including rules and regulations relating to air quality, water quality, land quality, and climate change.


Other Matters


Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017


OnIn December 22, 2017, the Tax Legislation was signed into law. In May 2018, the PSCW issued a written order regarding how to refund certain tax savings from the Tax Legislation to our ratepayers in Wisconsin. The various remaining impacts of the Tax Legislation on our Wisconsin operations were addressed in the rate order issued by the PSCW in December 2019. The MPSC also approved a settlement in May 2018 with Tilden that addressed all base rate impacts of the Tax Legislation. Tilden owns the iron ore mine located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan that we provided retail electric service to prior to April1, 2019. In addition, the FERC approved our revised formula rate tariff that incorporated the impacts of the Tax Legislation in August 2020. See Note 12, Income Taxes, and Note 21, Regulatory Environment,
for more information regarding its impact on us.

Bonus Depreciation Provisions

Bonus depreciation is an additional amount of first-year tax deductible depreciation that is awarded above what would normally be available. Based on the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, a 50% bonus depreciation deduction was available for assets placed in service during 2017. The increase in our federal tax depreciation from this deduction significantly reduced our 2017 federal income tax payment.

On December 22, 2017,PSCW's and MPSC's response to the Tax Legislation was signed into law. This legislation modified the bonus depreciation deduction available for public utility property subject to rate-making by a government entity or public utility commission. See Note 12, Income Taxes, for more information.Legislation.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates


Preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in compliance with GAAP requires the application of appropriate technical accounting rules and guidance as well as the use of estimates. The application of these policies necessarily involves judgments regarding future events, including the likelihood of success of particular projects, legal and regulatory challenges, and anticipated recovery of costs. These judgments, in and of themselves, could materially impact the financial statements and disclosures based on varying assumptions. In addition, the financial and operating environment may also have a significant effect, not only on the operation of our business, but on our results reported through the application of accounting measures used in preparing the financial statements and related disclosures, even if the nature of the accounting policies applied have not changed.


The following is a list of accounting policies that are most significant to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and that require management's most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments:judgments.


Regulatory Accounting

Our utility operations follow the guidance under the Regulated Operations Topic of the FASB ASC (Topic980). Our financial statements reflect the effects of the rate-making principles followed by the jurisdictions regulating us. Certain items that would otherwise be immediately recognized as revenues and expenses are deferred as regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities for future recovery or refund to customers, as authorized by our regulators.

2020 Form 10-K46Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Future recovery of regulatory assets, including the timeliness of recovery and our ability to earn a reasonable return, is not assured and is generally subject to review by regulators in rate proceedings for matters such as prudence and reasonableness. Once approved, the regulatory assets and liabilities are amortized into earnings over the rate recovery or refund period. If recovery or refund of costs is not approved or is no longer considered probable, these regulatory assets or liabilities are recognized in current period earnings. Management regularly assesses whether these regulatory assets and liabilities are probable of future recovery or refund by considering factors such as changes in the regulatory environment, earnings from our electric and natural gas utility operations, and the status of any pending or potential deregulation legislation.

The application of the Regulated Operations Topic of the FASB ASC would be discontinued if all or a separable portion of our utility operations no longer met the criteria for application. Our regulatory assets and liabilities would be written off to income as an unusual or infrequently occurring item in the period in which discontinuation occurred. As of December 31, 2020, we had $2,803.3 million in regulatory assets and $1,707.9 million in regulatory liabilities. See Note 5, Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, for more information.

Long-Lived Assets


WeIn accordance with ASC 980-360, Regulated Operations – Property, Plant, and Equipment, we periodically assess the recoverability of certain long-lived assets when factorsevents or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying valueamount of suchthose long-lived assets may not be impairedrecoverable. Examples of events or such assetschanges in circumstances include, but are plannednot limited to, a significant decrease in the market price, a significant change in use, adverse legal factors or a change in business climate, operating or cash flow losses, or an expectation that the asset might be sold. These assessments require significant assumptions and judgments by management. The long-livedLong-lived assets assessed forthat would be subject to an impairment assessment would generally include certainany 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.


We have evaluated future plans for our older fossil fuel generating units and have announced our plans for the retirement of certain older and less-efficient generating units. WhenIn accordance with ASC 980-360, 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. As a result, the remaining net book value of these assets can be significant. If a generating unit meets applicable criteria to be considered probable of abandonment, and the unit has been abandoned, we assess the likelihood of recovery of the remaining carryingnet book value of that generating unit at the end of each reporting period. If it becomes probable that regulators will not allowdisallow full recovery as well asor a return on the remaining net book value of the abandoneda generating unit that is either abandoned or probable of being abandoned, an impairment chargeloss may be required. An impairment chargeloss would be recorded if the remaining carryingnet book value of the abandoned generating unit is greater than the present value of the amount expected to be recovered from ratepayers.


2017 Form 10-K46Wisconsin Electric Power Company



and on the entire net book value of the PIPP. We concluded thatwill collect a full return of the net book value of the Pleasant Prairie power plant, and PIPP met the criteria to be considered probable of abandonment as of December 31, 2017. We plan to ask for full cost recovery of and a full return on all but $100 million of the net book value. In accordance with our PSCW rate order received in December 2019, we filed an application with the PSCW on July 20, 2020 requesting a financing order to securitize the remaining $100 million of the Pleasant Prairie power plant's book value of the generating units and have concluded that no impairment was required related to these assets as of December 31, 2017.

certain environmental controls, plus the carrying costs accrued on the $100 million during the securitization process and related fees. On November 17, 2020, the PSCW issued a written order approving the application. See Note 6, Property, Plant,5, Regulatory Assets and Equipment,Liabilities, and Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information on our retired generating units, including various approvals we received from the units to be retired.FERC and the PSCW.


Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefits


The costs of providing non-contributory defined pension benefits and OPEB, described in Note 15,16, Employee Benefits, are dependent upon numerous factors resulting from actual plan experience and assumptions of future experience.


Pension and OPEB costs are impacted by actual employee demographics (including age, compensation levels, and employment periods), the level of contributions made to the plans, and earnings on plan assets. Pension and OPEB costs may also be significantly affected by changes in key actuarial assumptions, including anticipated rates of return on plan assets, mortality and discount rates, and expected health care cost trends. Changes made to the plan provisions may also impact current and future pension and OPEB costs.


2020 Form 10-K47Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Pension and OPEB plan assets are primarily made up of equity and fixed income investments. Fluctuations in actual equity and fixed income market returns, as well as changes in general interest rates, may result in increased or decreased benefit costs in future periods. We believe that such changes in costs would be recovered or refunded through the ratemakingrate-making process.


The following table shows how a given change in certain actuarial assumptions would impact the projected benefit obligation and the reported net periodic pension cost. Each factor below reflects an evaluation of the change based on a change in that assumption only.
Actuarial Assumption
(in millions, except percentages)
Percentage-Point Change in AssumptionImpact on Projected Benefit ObligationImpact on 2020
Pension Cost
Discount rate(0.5)$69.8 $3.9 
Discount rate0.5(60.1)(3.1)
Rate of return on plan assets(0.5)N/A5.1 
Rate of return on plan assets0.5N/A(5.1)
Actuarial Assumption
(in millions, except percentages)
 Percentage-Point Change in Assumption Impact on Projected Benefit Obligation 
Impact on 2017
Pension Cost
Discount rate (0.5) $68.9
 $5.0
Discount rate 0.5 (60.2) (4.2)
Rate of return on plan assets (0.5) N/A
 5.5
Rate of return on plan assets 0.5 N/A
 (5.5)


The following table shows how a given change in certain actuarial assumptions would impact the accumulated OPEB obligation and the reported net periodic OPEB cost. Each factor below reflects an evaluation of the change based on a change in that assumption only.
Actuarial Assumption
(in millions, except percentages)
Percentage-Point Change in AssumptionImpact on Postretirement
Benefit Obligation
Impact on 2020 Postretirement
Benefit Cost
Discount rate(0.5)$14.2 $2.1 
Discount rate0.5(12.3)(1.8)
Health care cost trend rate(0.5)(6.0)(1.6)
Health care cost trend rate0.57.0 1.9 
Rate of return on plan assets(0.5)N/A1.1 
Rate of return on plan assets0.5N/A(1.1)
Actuarial Assumption
(in millions, except percentages)
 Percentage-Point Change in Assumption 
Impact on Postretirement
Benefit Obligation
 
Impact on 2017 Postretirement
Benefit Cost
Discount rate (0.5) $22.6
 $0.6
Discount rate 0.5 (19.9) (0.1)
Health care cost trend rate (0.5) (12.4) (1.2)
Health care cost trend rate 0.5 14.3
 1.4
Rate of return on plan assets (0.5) N/A
 1.0
Rate of return on plan assets 0.5 N/A
 (1.0)


The discount rates are selected based on hypothetical bond portfolios consisting of noncallable, (or callable with make-whole provisions), noncollateralized, high-quality corporate bonds across the full maturity spectrum. The bonds are generally rated "Aa" with a minimum amount outstanding of $50.0 million. From the hypothetical bond portfolios, a single rate is determined that equates the market value of the bonds purchased to the discounted value of the plans' expected future benefit payments.


We establish our expected return on asset assumptionassets based on consideration of historical and projected asset class returns, as well as the target allocations of the benefit trust portfolios. The assumed long-term rate of return on pension plan assets was 6.75% in 2020, and 7.00% in 2017, 2016,2019 and 2015.2018. The actual rate of return on pension plan assets, net of fees, was 11.48%10.72%, 6.91%15.83%, and (0.6)(2.91)%, in 2017, 2016,2020, 2019, and 2015,2018, respectively.


2017 Form 10-K47Wisconsin Electric Power Company



In selecting assumed health care cost trend rates, past performance and forecasts of health care costs are considered. For more information on health care cost trend rates and a table showing future payments that we expect to make for our pension and OPEB, see Note 15,16, Employee Benefits.


Regulatory Accounting

Our utility operations follow the guidance under the Regulated Operations Topic of the FASB ASC. Our financial statements reflect the effects of the ratemaking principles followed by the jurisdictions regulating us. Certain items that would otherwise be immediately recognized as revenues and expenses are deferred as regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities for future recovery or refund to customers, as authorized by our regulators.

Future recovery of regulatory assets is not assured and is generally subject to review by regulators in rate proceedings for matters such as prudence and reasonableness. Once approved, the regulatory assets and liabilities are amortized into earnings over the rate recovery period. If recovery or refund of costs is not approved or is no longer considered probable, these regulatory assets or liabilities are recognized in current period earnings. Management regularly assesses whether these regulatory assets and liabilities are probable of future recovery or refund by considering factors such as changes in the regulatory environment, earnings from our electric and natural gas utility operations, and the status of any pending or potential deregulation legislation.

The application of the Regulated Operations Topic of the FASB ASC would be discontinued if all or a separable portion of our utility operations no longer met the criteria for application. Our regulatory assets and liabilities would be written off to income as an unusual or infrequently occurring item in the period in which discontinuation occurred. As of December 31, 2017, we had $1,984.9 million in regulatory assets and $1,721.1 million in regulatory liabilities. See Note 5, Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, for more information.

Unbilled Revenues


We record utility operating revenues when energy is delivered to our customers. However, the determination of energy sales to individual customers is based upon the reading of their meters, which occurs on a systematic basis throughout the month. At the end of each month, amounts of energy delivered to customers since the date of their last meter reading are estimated and corresponding unbilled revenues are calculated. This unbilled revenue is estimated each month based upon actual generation and throughput volumes, recorded sales, estimated customer usage by class, weather factors, estimated line losses, and applicable customer rates. Significant fluctuations in energy demand for the unbilled period or changes in the composition of customer classes could impact the accuracy of the unbilled revenue estimate. Total utility operating revenues during 20172020 of approximately $3.7 $3.4billion included accruedunbilled utility revenues of $217.5 $203.0million as of December 31, 2017.2020.


Income Tax Expense


We are required to estimate income taxes for each of the jurisdictions in which we operate as part of the process of preparing consolidated financial statements. This process involves estimating current income tax liabilities together with assessing temporary
2020 Form 10-K48Wisconsin Electric Power Company

differences resulting from differing treatment of items, such as depreciation, for income tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred income tax assets and liabilities, which are included within our balance sheets. We also assess the likelihood that our deferred income tax assets will be recovered through future taxable income. To the extent we believe that realization is not likely, we establish a valuation allowance, which is offset by an adjustment to the provision for income taxestax expense in our income statements.


Uncertainty associated with the application of tax statutes and regulations and the outcomes of tax audits and appeals requires that judgments and estimates be made in the accrual process and in the calculation of effective tax rates. Only income tax benefits that meet the "more likely than not" recognition threshold may be recognized or continue to be recognized. Unrecognized tax benefits are re-evaluated quarterly and changes are recorded based on new information, including the issuance of relevant guidance by the courts or tax authorities and developments occurring in the examinations of our tax returns.


Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, deferred income tax assets and liabilities, the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, and any valuation allowance recorded against deferred income tax assets. The assumptions involved are supported by historical data, reasonable projections, and interpretations of applicable tax laws and regulations across multiple taxing jurisdictions. Significant changes in these assumptions could have a material impact on our

2017 Form 10-K48Wisconsin Electric Power Company


financial condition and results of operations. See Note 1(l)1(n), Income Taxes, and Note 12,13, Income Taxes, for a discussion of accounting for income taxes.


We expect our 2021 annual effective tax rate to be between 12.5% and 13.5%, which includes an estimated 10.5% effective tax rate benefit due to the amortization of unprotected excess deferred taxes in connection with our 2019 Wisconsin rate order. Excluding this estimated effective tax rate benefit, the expected 2021 range would be between 23% and 24%.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK


See Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity, and Capital Resources – Market Risks and Other Significant Risks, as well as Note 1(m)1(o), Fair Value Measurements, and
Note 1(n)1(p), Derivative Instruments, and Note 1(q), Guarantees, for information concerning potential market risks to which we are exposed.



20172020 Form 10-K49Wisconsin Electric Power Company


ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA


A. REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


To the shareholdersshareholder and the Board of Directors of Wisconsin Electric Power Company


Opinion on the Financial Statements


We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and statements of capitalization of Wisconsin Electric Power Company and subsidiary (the “Company”"Company") as of December 31, 20172020 and 2016,2019, the related consolidated statements of income, equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017,2020, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”"financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 20172020 and 2016,2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017,2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.


Basis for Opinion


These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’sCompany's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’sCompany's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (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 auditaudits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.


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 statement presentation.statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.


Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities - Impact of rate regulation on financial statements — Refer to Notes 5 and 21 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

The Company is subject to regulation by state and federal regulatory bodies (collectively the “Commissions”) which have jurisdiction with respect to the rates of electric and gas distribution. Management has determined the Company meets the requirements under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America to prepare its financial statements applying the Regulated Operations Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standard Codification.

2020 Form 10-K50Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Rates are determined and approved in regulatory proceedings based on an analysis of the Company’s costs to provide utility service and a return on, and recovery of, the Company’s investment in the utility business. Regulatory decisions can have an impact on the recovery of costs, the rate of return earned on investment, and the timing and amount of assets to be recovered by rates. The Commissions’ regulation of rates is premised on the full recovery of prudently incurred costs and a reasonable rate of return on invested capital. Certain items that would otherwise be immediately recognized as revenues and expenses are deferred as regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities for future recovery or refund to customers, as authorized by the Company’s regulators. Future decisions of the Commissions will impact the accounting for regulated operations, including decisions about the amount of allowable costs and return on invested capital included in rates, and any refunds that may be required.

While the Company has indicated it expects to recover costs from customers through regulated rates, there is a risk that the Commissions will not approve: (1) full recovery of the costs of providing utility service, (2) full recovery of all amounts invested in the utility business and a reasonable return on that investment or (3) timely recovery of costs incurred. The Company had $2,803.3 million and $1,707.9 million of regulatory assets and liabilities, respectively, as of December 31, 2020.

We identified the impact of rate regulation as a critical audit matter due to the significant judgments made by management to support its assertions about impacted account balances and disclosures and the subjectivity involved in assessing the impact of future regulatory orders on the financial statements. Given that management’s accounting judgements can be based on assumptions about the outcome of future decisions by the Commissions, auditing these judgments required specialized knowledge of accounting for rate regulation and the rate setting process due its inherent complexities.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the uncertainty of future decisions by the Commissions included the following procedures, among others:

We tested the effectiveness of management’s controls over regulatory assets and liabilities, including management’s controls over the identification of costs recorded as regulatory assets and the monitoring and evaluation of regulatory developments that may affect the likelihood of recovering costs in future rates.

We inquired of Company management and independently obtained and read: (1) relevant regulatory orders issued by the state and federal Commissions for the Company and other public utilities, (2) company filings, (3) filings made by intervenors and (4) other publicly available information to assess the likelihood of recovery in future rates or of a future reduction in rates based on precedents of the Commissions’ treatment of similar costs under similar circumstances. To assess completeness, we evaluated the information obtained and compared it to management’s recorded regulatory asset and liability balances.

For regulatory matters in process, we inspected the Company’s filings with the Commissions and the filings with the Commissions by intervenors that may impact the Company’s future rates, for any evidence that might contradict management’s assertions.

We obtained management’s analysis regarding probability of recovery for regulatory assets or refund or future reduction in rates for regulatory liabilities not yet addressed in a regulatory order to assess management’s assertion that amounts are probable of recovery or a future reduction in rates.

We evaluated the Company’s disclosures related to the impacts of rate regulation, including the balances recorded and regulatory developments.


/s/DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP


Milwaukee, Wisconsin
February 28, 201825, 2021


We have served as the Company's auditor since 2002.



20172020 Form 10-K5051Wisconsin Electric Power Company


B. CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS

Year Ended December 31
(in millions)202020192018
Operating revenues$3,367.0 $3,496.7 $3,625.0 
Operating expenses
Cost of sales1,074.7 1,190.7 1,262.1 
Other operation and maintenance902.0 1,053.1 1,502.4 
Depreciation and amortization426.9 384.4 348.1 
Property and revenue taxes102.9 108.3 109.9 
Total operating expenses2,506.5 2,736.5 3,222.5 
Operating income860.5 760.2 402.5 
Other income, net18.5 22.7 20.2 
Interest expense467.5 477.4 120.1 
Other expense(449.0)(454.7)(99.9)
Income before income taxes411.5 305.5 302.6 
Income tax expense (benefit)44.7 (57.8)(56.9)
Net income366.8 363.3 359.5 
Preferred stock dividend requirements1.2 1.2 1.2 
Net income attributed to common shareholder$365.6 $362.1 $358.3 
Year Ended December 31      
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
Operating revenues $3,711.7
 $3,792.8
 $3,854.1
       
Operating expenses      
Cost of sales 1,286.4
 1,292.1
 1,399.0
Other operation and maintenance 1,358.5
 1,430.2
 1,384.9
Depreciation and amortization 331.6
 325.4
 304.0
Property and revenue taxes 109.6
 115.6
 117.3
Total operating expenses 3,086.1
 3,163.3
 3,205.2
       
Operating income 625.6
 629.5
 648.9
       
Equity in earnings of transmission affiliate 
 55.5
 47.8
Other income, net 19.7
 9.1
 11.2
Interest expense 117.3
 117.6
 119.0
Other expense (97.6) (53.0) (60.0)
       
Income before income taxes 528.0
 576.5
 588.9
Income tax expense 191.2
 211.0
 212.0
Net income 336.8
 365.5
 376.9
       
Preferred stock dividend requirements 1.2
 1.2
 1.2
Net income attributed to common shareholder $335.6
 $364.3
 $375.7


The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.



20172020 Form 10-K5152Wisconsin Electric Power Company


C. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

At December 31
(in millions, except share and per share amounts)20202019
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents$7.2 $19.1 
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, net of reserves of $59.3 and $38.1 respectively466.1 434.6 
Accounts receivable from related parties67.9 86.5 
Materials, supplies, and inventories219.5 229.8 
Prepaid taxes98.5 104.4 
Other36.4 33.6 
Current assets895.6 908.0 
Long-term assets
Property, plant, and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $4,849.2 and $4,564.0, respectively9,789.9 9,586.7 
Regulatory assets2,803.3 2,755.2 
Other116.4 110.9 
Long-term assets12,709.6 12,452.8 
Total assets$13,605.2 $13,360.8 
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities
Short-term debt$292.0 $115.5 
Current portion of long-term debt300.0 
Current portion of finance lease obligations66.8 57.8 
Accounts payable261.2 267.6 
Accounts payable to related parties172.0 184.5 
Accrued payroll and benefits43.3 51.3 
Accrued taxes25.0 12.3 
Other97.1 105.6 
Current liabilities1,257.4 794.6 
Long-term liabilities
Long-term debt2,461.2 2,759.2 
Finance lease obligations2,774.4 2,783.1 
Deferred income taxes1,357.2 1,347.4 
Regulatory liabilities1,703.7 1,744.2 
Pension and OPEB obligations85.9 59.8 
Other272.8 281.0 
Long-term liabilities8,655.2 8,974.7 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 19)00
Common shareholder's equity
Common stock – $10 par value; 65,000,000 shares authorized; 33,289,327 shares outstanding332.9 332.9 
Additional paid in capital1,060.1 929.5 
Retained earnings2,269.2 2,298.7 
Common shareholder's equity3,662.2 3,561.1 
Preferred stock30.4 30.4 
Total liabilities and equity$13,605.2 $13,360.8 
At December 31    
(in millions, except share and per share amounts) 2017 2016
Assets    
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents $12.3
 $15.4
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, net of reserves of $39.5 and $40.9, respectively 513.8
 503.2
Accounts receivable from related parties 109.1
 58.2
Materials, supplies, and inventories 250.7
 271.0
Prepayments 144.3
 138.0
Other 9.4
 24.6
Current assets 1,039.6
 1,010.4
     
Long-term assets    
Property, plant, and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $3,741.8 and $3,619.6, respectively 10,007.7
 9,832.3
Regulatory assets 1,984.9
 2,036.6
Equity investment in transmission affiliate 
 402.0
Other 89.4
 90.2
Long-term assets 12,082.0
 12,361.1
Total assets $13,121.6
 $13,371.5
     
Liabilities and Equity    
Current liabilities    
Short-term debt $210.9
 $159.0
Current portion of long-term debt 250.0
 
Current portion of capital lease obligations 42.5
 28.5
Subsidiary note payable to WEC Energy Group 
 18.5
Accounts payable 329.3
 297.9
Accounts payable to related parties 131.5
 112.9
Accrued payroll and benefits 53.4
 51.8
Accrued taxes 58.2
 46.0
Other 111.8
 100.1
Current liabilities 1,187.6
 814.7
     
Long-term liabilities    
Long-term debt 2,412.3
 2,661.1
Capital lease obligations 2,823.8
 2,756.5
Deferred income taxes 1,155.5
 2,333.3
Regulatory liabilities 1,708.0
 853.9
Pension and OPEB obligations 143.2
 167.6
Other 276.9
 260.2
Long-term liabilities 8,519.7
 9,032.6
     
Commitments and contingencies (Note 19) 
 
     
Common shareholder's equity    
Common stock - $10 par value; 65,000,000 shares authorized; 33,289,327 shares outstanding 332.9
 332.9
Additional paid in capital 802.7
 1,020.1
Retained earnings 2,248.3
 2,140.8
Common shareholder's equity 3,383.9
 3,493.8
     
Preferred stock 30.4
 30.4
Total liabilities and equity $13,121.6
 $13,371.5


The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.


20172020 Form 10-K5253Wisconsin Electric Power Company


D. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Year Ended December 31
(in millions)202020192018
Operating activities
Net income$366.8 $363.3 $359.5 
Reconciliation to cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization426.9 384.4 348.1 
Deferred income taxes and ITCs, net(63.7)(131.2)(0.7)
Contributions and payments related to pension and OPEB plans(3.9)(5.5)(6.3)
Payments for liabilities transferred to affiliates0 (4.5)(10.1)
Change in –
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues(8.7)60.3 34.8 
Materials, supplies, and inventories10.3 11.6 9.3 
Prepaid taxes5.9 34.0 (28.3)
Other current assets1.4 (5.2)13.5 
Accounts payable(25.9)(22.4)13.2 
Accrued taxes12.7 (1.3)(41.1)
Other current liabilities(11.6)(1.1)(5.2)
Other, net56.9 172.0 275.5 
Net cash provided by operating activities767.1 854.4 962.2 
Investing activities
Capital expenditures(663.6)(590.6)(603.2)
Payments for assets transferred from affiliates0 (59.8)
Insurance proceeds received for property damage22.2 
Other, net10.6 13.7 22.6 
Net cash used in investing activities(630.8)(576.9)(640.4)
Financing activities
Change in short-term debt176.5 (19.4)(76.0)
Issuance of long-term debt0 300.0 300.0 
Retirement of long-term debt0 (250.0)(250.0)
Payments for finance lease obligations(58.3)(50.5)
Equity contribution from parent130.0 105.0 28.0 
Payment of dividends to parent(395.0)(360.0)(310.0)
Other, net(1.4)(3.7)(5.9)
Net cash used in financing activities(148.2)(278.6)(313.9)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents(11.9)(1.1)7.9 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year19.1 20.2 12.3 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year$7.2 $19.1 $20.2 
Year Ended December 31      
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
Operating activities      
Net income $336.8
 $365.5
 $376.9
Reconciliation to cash provided by operating activities      
Depreciation and amortization 331.6
 325.4
 323.7
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits, net 109.7
 206.2
 178.9
Contributions and payments related to pension and OPEB plans (8.3) (8.0) (107.6)
Equity income in transmission affiliate, net of distributions 
 (17.2) (4.9)
Payments for liabilities transferred to WBS (0.3) (116.0) 
Change in –      
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues (64.9) (59.0) (2.9)
Materials, supplies, and inventories 20.3
 30.6
 18.8
Prepaid taxes 0.5
 39.4
 (2.8)
Other current assets (11.8) 9.3
 0.3
Accounts payable 45.8
 31.3
 (5.9)
Accrued taxes 12.8
 30.4
 (42.1)
Other current liabilities 12.2
 10.7
 (1.2)
Other, net (86.4) (0.2) (56.8)
Net cash provided by operating activities 698.0
 848.4
 674.4
       
Investing activities      
Capital expenditures (596.1) (469.5) (519.2)
Capital contributions to transmission affiliate 
 (16.1) (4.6)
Proceeds from the sale of assets 22.9
 31.7
 0.2
Proceeds from assets transferred to WBS 
 13.1
 
Other, net 5.0
 4.0
 3.4
Net cash used in investing activities (568.2) (436.8) (520.2)
       
Financing activities      
Change in short-term debt 51.9
 15.0
 (162.8)
Repayment of subsidiary note to parent (18.5) (1.1) (2.9)
Issuance of long-term debt 
 
 500.0
Retirement of long-term debt 
 
 (250.0)
Equity contribution from parent 75.0
 
 
Payment of dividends to parent (240.0) (455.0) (240.0)
Payment of preferred stock dividends (1.2) (1.2) (1.2)
Other, net (0.1) 19.0
 5.8
Net cash used in financing activities (132.9) (423.3) (151.1)
       
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (3.1) (11.7) 3.1
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 15.4
 27.1
 24.0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $12.3
 $15.4
 $27.1


The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.



20172020 Form 10-K5354Wisconsin Electric Power Company


E. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

Wisconsin Electric Power Company Common Shareholder's Equity
Common StockAdditional Paid-In CapitalRetained EarningsTotal Common Shareholder's EquityPreferred StockTotal Equity
(in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2017$332.9 $802.7 $2,248.3 $3,383.9 $30.4 $3,414.3 
Net income attributed to common shareholder358.3 358.3 358.3 
Payment of dividends to parent(310.0)(310.0)(310.0)
Equity contribution from parent28.0 28.0 28.0 
Stock-based compensation and other0.6 0.6 0.6 
Balance at December 31, 2018$332.9 $831.3 $2,296.6 $3,460.8 $30.4 $3,491.2 
Net income attributed to common shareholder362.1 362.1 362.1 
Payment of dividends to parent(360.0)(360.0)(360.0)
Equity contribution from parent105.0 105.0 105.0 
Transfer of net assets to UMERC(7.3)(7.3)(7.3)
Stock-based compensation and other0.5 0.5 0.5 
Balance at December 31, 2019$332.9 $929.5 $2,298.7 $3,561.1 $30.4 $3,591.5 
Net income attributed to common shareholder0 0 365.6 365.6 0 365.6 
Payment of dividends to parent0 0 (395.0)(395.0)0 (395.0)
Equity contribution from parent0 130.0 0 130.0 0 130.0 
Stock-based compensation and other0 0.6 (0.1)0.5 0 0.5 
Balance at December 31, 2020$332.9 $1,060.1 $2,269.2 $3,662.2 $30.4 $3,692.6 
  Wisconsin Electric Power Company Common Shareholder's Equity    
  Common Stock Additional Paid-In Capital Retained Earnings Total Common Shareholder's Equity Preferred Stock Total Equity
(in millions)      
Balance at December 31, 2014 $332.9
 $984.4
 $2,095.5
 $3,412.8
 $30.4
 $3,443.2
Net income 
 
 376.9
 376.9
 
 376.9
Dividends            
Common stock 
 
 (240.0) (240.0) 
 (240.0)
Preferred stock 
 
 (1.2) (1.2) 
 (1.2)
Tax benefit of exercised stock options allocated from parent 
 12.1
 
 12.1
 
 12.1
Stock-based compensation and other 
 3.2
 0.2
 3.4
 
 3.4
Balance at December 31, 2015 $332.9
 $999.7
 $2,231.4
 $3,564.0
 $30.4
 $3,594.4
Net income 
 
 365.5
 365.5
 
 365.5
Dividends            
Common stock 
 
 (455.0) (455.0) 
 (455.0)
Preferred stock 
 
 (1.2) (1.2) 
 (1.2)
Tax benefit of exercised stock options allocated from parent 
 19.3
 
 19.3
 
 19.3
Stock-based compensation and other 
 1.1
 0.1
 1.2
 
 1.2
Balance at December 31, 2016 $332.9
 $1,020.1
 $2,140.8
 $3,493.8
 $30.4
 $3,524.2
Net income 
 
 336.8
 336.8
 
 336.8
Dividends            
Common stock 
 
 (240.0) (240.0) 
 (240.0)
Preferred stock 
 
 (1.2) (1.2) 
 (1.2)
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of ASU 2016-09 
 
 11.9
 11.9
 
 11.9
Equity contribution from parent 
 75.0
 
 75.0
 
 75.0
Transfer of net assets to UMERC 
 (61.1) 
 (61.1) 
 (61.1)
Transfer of ATC ownership interest and related taxes 
 (228.6) 
 (228.6) 
 (228.6)
Settlement of a short-term note receivable between Bostco and our parent company 
 (4.8) 
 (4.8) 
 (4.8)
Stock-based compensation and other 
 2.1
 
 2.1
 
 2.1
Balance at December 31, 2017 $332.9
 $802.7
 $2,248.3
 $3,383.9
 $30.4
 $3,414.3


The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.



20172020 Form 10-K5455Wisconsin Electric Power Company


F. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITALIZATION

At December 31
(in millions)
     2017 2016
Common shareholder's equity (see accompanying statement) 3,383.9
 3,493.8
Preferred stock (Note 9) 30.4
 30.4
Long-term debt Interest Rate Year Due    
Debentures (unsecured) 1.70% 2018 250.0
 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
  6.875% 2095 100.0
 100.0
Note (secured, nonrecourse) 4.81% 2030 
 2.0
Obligations under capital leases     2,866.3
 2,785.0
Total     5,551.3
 5,472.0
Unamortized debt issuance costs     (3.2) (3.6)
Unamortized discount, net     (19.5) (22.3)
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations, including current portion     5,528.6
 5,446.1
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations     (292.5) (28.5)
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations     5,236.1
 5,417.6
Total long-term capitalization     $8,650.4
 $8,941.8

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.


2017 Form 10-K55Wisconsin Electric Power Company


G. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


NOTE 1—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES


(a) Nature of OperationsOn June 29, 2015, our parent company, Wisconsin Energy Corporation, acquired Integrys and changed its name to WEC Energy Group, Inc. See Note 2, Acquisitions, for more information on this acquisition.

We are an electric, natural gas, and steam utility company that serves electric customers in Wisconsin and an iron ore mine owned by Tilden in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, natural gas customers in Wisconsin, and steam customers in metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In December 2016, both Prior to April1, 2019, we also provided electric service to Tilden, who owns an iron ore mine in the MPSC and the PSCW approved the operationUpper Peninsula of Michigan. This customer was transferred to UMERC as a stand-alone utilityon April 1, 2019 after UMERC's new natural gas-fired generation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and it became operational effective January 1, 2017. This utility holds the electric assets previously held by us and the electric and natural gas distribution assets previously held by WPS, located in the Upper Peninsulabegan commercial operation. WEC Energy Group owns all of Michigan. The existing contract between us and Tilden will remain in place until a new power generation solution for the region is commercially operational, which is expected to occur in 2019.our outstanding common stock.


As used in these notes, the term "financial statements" refers to the consolidated financial statements. This includes the income statements, balance sheets, statements of cash flows, statements of equity, and statements of capitalization,equity, unless otherwise noted.


Through December 31, 2017,October 2018, we had one1 wholly owned subsidiary, Bostco. At December 31, 2016, Bostco had total assets of $24.4 million. In March 2017, we sold substantially all of the remaining assets of Bostco. See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information.Bostco, and, in October 2018, Bostco was dissolved. The financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our former wholly owned subsidiary. The cost method of accounting is used for investments when we do not have significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee. 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.


(d) Operating Revenues—The following discussion includes our significant accounting policies related to operating revenues. For additional required disclosures on disaggregation of operating revenues, see Note 3, Operating Revenues.

Revenues from Contracts with Customers

Electric Utility Operating Revenues

Electricity sales to residential and Customer Receivablescommercial 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 1 distinct performance obligation satisfied over time, as the electricity is delivered and consumed by the customer simultaneously. For our residential and commercial and industrial customers, our performance obligation is bundled to consist of both the sale and the delivery of the electric commodity.

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 our tariffs, which have been approved by the PSCW. These rates often have a fixed component customer charge and a usage-based variable component charge. We recognize revenues related torevenue for the sale of energyfixed 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 accrual basis and include estimated amounts for services provided but not yet billed to customers.

We present revenues netquantity of pass-through taxes on the income statements.

Below is a summary of the significant mechanisms we had in place that allowed us to recover or refund changes in prudently incurred costs from rate case-approved amounts:

Fuel and purchased power costs were recovered from customers on a one-for-one basis by our Wisconsin wholesale electric operations and our Michigan retail electric operations.

electricity delivered each month. Our retail electric rates in Wisconsin are established by the PSCW and include base amounts for fuel and purchased power costs.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 exceedbeyond a 2% price variance from the costs included in the rates charged to customers. We monitor the deferral of under-collected costs to ensure that it does not cause us to earn a greater ROE than authorized by the PSCW.

We received payments from MISO under an SSR agreement In addition, our residential tariffs include a mechanism for our PIPP units through February 1, 2015. We recorded revenue for these payments to recover costs for operatingcost recovery or refund of uncollectible expense based on the difference between actual uncollectible write-offs and maintaining these units.the amounts recovered in rates. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment,, for more information.
information on how COVID-19 has affected our cost recovery mechanism.



Wholesale customers who resell power can choose to either bundle capacity and electricity services together under 1 contract with a supplier or purchase capacity and electricity separately from multiple suppliers. Furthermore, wholesale customers can choose to have us 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
20172020 Form 10-K56Wisconsin Electric Power Company


of electricity contain 2 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 operations 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.
Our
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 our tariffs. 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 rates, charges, terms, and conditions of service included in our tariffs, which have been approved by the PSCW. 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.

Our tariffs include various rate mechanisms that allow us to recover or refund changes in prudently incurred costs from rate case-approved amounts. Our rates include a one-for-one recovery mechanism 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.

Our In addition, our residential rates includedtariffs 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. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information on how COVID-19 has affected our cost recovery mechanism.


2020 Form 10-K57Wisconsin Electric Power Company

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 Operating Revenues

Alternative Revenues

Alternative revenues are also impactedcreated from programs authorized by otherregulators that allow us 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. 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.

Our only alternative revenue program relates to the wholesale electric service that we provide 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 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) Credit Losses—The following discussion includes our significant accounting policies related to credit losses. For additional required disclosures on credit losses, see Note 4, Credit Losses.

Effective January 1, 2020, we adopted FASB ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, using the modified retrospective transition method. This ASU amends the impairment model to utilize an expected loss methodology in place of the incurred loss methodology for financial instruments, including trade receivables. The amendment requires entities to consider a broader range of information to estimate expected credit losses, which may result in earlier recognition of loss. The cumulative effect of adopting this standard was not significant to our participationfinancial statements.

Our exposure to credit losses is related to our accounts receivable and unbilled revenue balances, which are generated from the sale of electricity and natural gas by our regulated utility operations. Our regulated utility operations are included in our utility segment. NaN accounts receivable and unbilled revenue balances were reported in the MISO Energy Markets. other segment at December 31, 2020.

We sellevaluate the collectability of our accounts receivable and purchase powerunbilled revenue balances considering a combination of factors. For some of our larger customers and also in circumstances where we become aware of a specific customer's inability to meet its financial obligations to us, we record a specific allowance for credit losses against amounts due in order to reduce the net recognized receivable to the amount we reasonably believe will be collected. For all other customers, we use the accounts receivable aging method to calculate an allowance for credit losses. Using this method, we classify accounts receivable into different aging buckets and calculate a reserve percentage for each aging bucket based upon historical loss rates. The calculated reserve percentages are updated on at least an annual basis, in order to ensure recent macroeconomic, political, and regulatory trends are captured in the MISO Energy Markets, which operate under both day-ahead and real-time markets. We record energy transactionscalculation, to the extent possible. Risks identified that we do not believe are reflected in the MISO Energy Marketscalculated reserve percentages, are assessed on a netquarterly basis for each hour. If we were a net seller in a particular hour, the net amount was reported as operating revenues. If we were a net purchaser in a particular hour, the net amount was recorded as cost of sales on our income statements.to determine whether further adjustments are required.


We provide regulated electric, natural gas,monitor our ongoing credit exposure through active review of counterparty accounts receivable balances against contract terms and steam servicedue dates. Our activities include timely account reconciliation, dispute resolution and payment confirmation. To the extent possible, we work with customers with past due balances to negotiate payment plans, but will disconnect customers for non-payment as allowed by the PSCW if necessary, and employ collection agencies and legal counsel to pursue recovery of defaulted receivables. For our larger customers, detailed credit review procedures may be performed in Wisconsin andadvance of any sales being made. We sometimes require letters of credit, parental guarantees, prepayments or other forms of credit assurance from our larger customers to Tilden located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and provided electric service to other customers in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan through December 31, 2016.mitigate credit risk. See Note 4, Related Parties, and Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for information regardingon certain regulatory actions that were and/or are being taken for the transferpurpose of ensuring that essential utility services are available to our customers located induring the Upper PeninsulaCOVID-19 pandemic.

2020 Form 10-K58Wisconsin Electric Power Company


(e)(f) Materials, Supplies, and Inventories—Our inventory as of December 31 consisted of:
(in millions)20202019
Materials and supplies$136.5 $148.3 
Fossil fuel57.1 51.1 
Natural gas in storage25.9 30.4 
Total$219.5 $229.8 
(in millions) 2017 2016
Materials and supplies $140.7
 $148.1
Fossil fuel 74.8
 91.1
Natural gas in storage 35.2
 31.8
Total $250.7
 $271.0


Substantially all materials and supplies, fossil fuel, and natural gas in storage inventories are recorded using the weighted-average cost method of accounting.


(f)(g) 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 revenuesthey would behave been recognized by a nonregulated company. When this occurs, regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are recorded on the balance sheet. Regulatory assets represent deferred costs probable future revenues associated with certain costs or liabilitiesof recovery from customers that would have otherwise been deferred and are expected to be recovered through rates charged to customers.expense. Regulatory liabilities represent amounts that are expected to be refunded to customers in future rates or amounts that arefuture costs already collected from customers in rates for future costs.rates.


RecoveryThe recovery or refund of regulatory assets and liabilities is based on specific periods determined by theour regulators or occurs over the normal operating period of the related assets and liabilities to which they relate.liabilities. 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, withand the reduction is charged to expense in the reporting period the determination is made.current period. See Note 5, Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, for more information.


(g)(h) 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 PSCW and MPSC that include estimates for salvage value and removal costs. Depreciation as a percent of average depreciableAnnual utility plant was 2.95%composite depreciation rates were 3.19%, 3.00%3.11%, and 3.01%3.18% in 2017, 2016,2020, 2019, and 2015,2018, respectively.


2017 Form 10-K57Wisconsin Electric Power Company



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 5 to 15 years. If software is retired prior to being fully amortized, the difference is recorded as a loss on the income statement.

For assets other than our regulated assets and leased equipment, we accrue depreciation expense at straight-line rates over the estimated useful lives of the assets, or over the non-cancellable lease term for leased equipment.


Third parties reimburse us 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)(i) 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.


Approximately 50% of our retail jurisdictional CWIP expenditures are subject to the AFUDC calculation. Our average AFUDC retail rates were 8.68% for 2020, and 8.45% for 2017, 2016,2019 and 2015.2018. Our average AFUDC wholesale rates were 5.94%5.39%, 2.73%5.11%, and 1.72%3.63% for 2017, 2016,2020, 2019, and 2015,2018, respectively.


We recorded the following AFUDC for the years ended December 31:
(in millions)202020192018
AFUDC – Debt$2.6 $1.5 $1.5 
AFUDC – Equity7.0 3.7 3.9 

(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
AFUDC – Debt $1.2
 $1.7
 $2.2
AFUDC – Equity $3.1
 $4.2
 $5.7

2020 Form 10-K59Wisconsin Electric Power Company

(i)(j) Asset Impairment—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. Long-lived assets that would be subject to an impairment assessment generally include any 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. 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 net book 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 net book value of the generating unit is greater than the present value of the amount expected to be recovered from ratepayers, using an incremental borrowing rate. See Note 5, Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, for more information.

(k) 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. 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 7, Asset Retirement Obligations, for more information.


(j) Asset Impairment—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.

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 applicable criteria to be considered probable of abandonment, 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 not allow full recovery as well as a return on the remaining net book value of the abandoned generating unit, an impairment charge may be required. An impairment charge would be recorded if the remaining carrying value of the abandoned 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.

(k)(l) Stock-Based Compensation—Our employees participate in the WEC Energy Group stock-based compensation plans. In accordance with the WEC Energy Group shareholder approved Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan, WEC Energy Group provides long-term incentives through its equity interests to its non-employee directors, selected 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 WEC Energy Group common stock, cash, or a combination thereof. The number of shares of WEC Energy Group common stock authorized for issuance under the plan iswas 34.3 million.

2017 Form 10-K58Wisconsin Electric Power Company




Stock-based compensation expense is allocated to us based on the outstanding awards held by our employees and our allocation of labor costs. 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 modifies 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 an $11.9 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.

ASU 2016-09 also requires excess tax benefits to be classified as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows. As we have elected to apply this provision on a prospective basis, the prior year amounts will continue to be reflected as a financing activity. As allowed under this ASU, we have also elected to We account for forfeitures as they occur, rather than estimating potential future forfeitures and recording them over the vesting period.

As we did not record any excess tax benefits in 2017, adoption of ASU 2016-09 had no impact on our financial statements other than the cumulative-effect adjustment discussed above.


Stock Options


Our employees are granted WEC Energy Group non-qualified stock options that generally vest on a cliff-basis after a three-year period.three years. The exercise price of a stock option under the plan cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of WEC Energy Group common stock on the grant date. Historically, all stock options have been granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of WEC Energy Group common stock on the date of the grant. Options vest immediately upon retirement, death, or disability; however, they 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 grant.


2020 Form 10-K60Wisconsin Electric Power Company

WEC Energy Group stock options are classified as equity awards. The fair value of each stock option was calculated using a binomial option-pricing model. The following table shows the estimated weighted-average fair value per stock option granted to our employees along with the weighted-average assumptions used in the valuation models:
202020192018
Stock options granted59,511 59,404 81,730 
Estimated weighted-average fair value per stock option$10.82 $8.60 $7.26 
Assumptions used to value the options:
Risk-free interest rate1.6% – 1.9%2.5% – 2.7%1.6% – 2.5%
Dividend yield3.0 %3.6 %3.5 %
Expected volatility16.0 %17.0 %18.0 %
Expected life (years)8.68.55.1
  2017
2016
2015
Stock options granted * 80,770
 92,880
 495,550
       
Estimated weighted-average fair value per stock option $7.12
 $4.92
 $5.29
       
Assumptions used to value the options:      
Risk-free interest rate 0.7% – 2.5%
 0.5% – 2.2%
 0.1% – 2.1%
Dividend yield 3.5% 4.0% 3.7%
Expected volatility 19.0% 18.0% 18.0%
Expected life (years) 6.2
 5.8
 5.8

*
Effective January 1, 2016, certain employees were transferred into WBS.See Note 4, Related Parties, for more information.

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 WEC Energy Group's dividend rate at the time of the grant and historical stock prices. Expected volatility and expected life assumptions were based on WEC Energy Group's historical experience.


Restricted Shares


WEC Energy Group restricted shares granted to our employees have a three-year vesting period of three years with one-third of the award vesting on each anniversary of the grant date. The restricted shares are classified as equity awards.


2017 Form 10-K59Wisconsin Electric Power Company



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 WEC Energy Group's 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,three years, as well as other performance metrics as may be determined by the Compensation Committee. Participants may earn between 0% and 175% of the base performance unit award as adjusted pursuantbased on WEC Energy Group's total shareholder return. Pursuant to the terms of the plan.plan, these percentages can be adjusted upwards or downwards based on WEC Energy Group's performance against additional performance measures, if any, adopted by the Compensation Committee. Performance units granted on or after January 1, 2016 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 WEC Energy Group's stock price and performance achievement under the terms of the award. Stock-based compensation costs are generally recorded over the three-year performance period.period, which is three years.


See Note 8, Common Equity, for more information on WEC Energy Group's stock-based compensation plans.


(l)(m) Leases—In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic842), which revised the previous guidance (Topic840) 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.

As required, we adopted Topic 842 effective January1, 2019. We utilized the following practical expedients, which were available under ASU2016-02, 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 are classified as finance leases).
We did not reassess the accounting for initial direct costs for any existing leases.

2020 Form 10-K61Wisconsin Electric Power Company

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 ASC842-10-15-31, 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. NaN impairment losses were included in the measurement of our right of use assets upon our adoption of Topic842.

In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU2018-01, Leases (Topic842): Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic842, which is an amendment to ASU2016-02. 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 guidance permits an entity to elect a transitional practical expedient, to be applied consistently, to not evaluate under Topic842 land easements that were already in existence or had expired at the time of the entity's adoption of Topic842. Once Topic842 is adopted, an entity is required to apply Topic842 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, resulting in NaN of our land easements being treated as leases upon our adoption of Topic842.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic842): Targeted Improvements, which amends ASU2016-02 and allows entities the option to initially apply Topic842 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 this guidance as of January1, 2019, rather than as of the earliest period presented. We did not require a cumulative-effect adjustment upon adoption of Topic842.

Right of use assets and related lease liabilities related to our operating leases that were recorded upon adoption of Topic 842 were each $13.0 million. Regarding our finance leases, while the adoption of Topic842 changed the classification of expense related to these leases on a prospective basis, it had 0 impact on the total amount of lease expense recorded, and did not impact the finance lease assets and related liability amounts recorded on our balance sheets.

Significant Judgments and Other Information

We are currently party to several easement agreements that allow us access to land we do not own for the purpose of constructing and maintaining certain electric power and natural gas equipment. The majority of payments we make related to easements relate to our wind parks. We have not classified our easements as leases because we view the entire parcel of land specified in our easement agreements to be the identified asset, not just that portion of the parcel that contains our easement. As such, we have concluded that we do not control the use of an identified asset related to our easement agreements, nor do we obtain substantially all of the economic benefits associated with these shared-use assets.

As of February 25, 2021, we have not entered into any material leases that have not yet commenced.

See Note 12, Leases, for more information.

(n) 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 creditsITCs associated with regulated operations are deferred and amortized over the life of the assets. We are included in WEC Energy Group's consolidated Federalfederal and state income tax returns. In accordance with our tax allocation agreement with WEC Energy Group, we are allocated income tax payments and refunds based upon our separate tax computation. See Note 12,13, Income Taxes, for more information.


We recognize interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense in our income statements.


(m)
2020 Form 10-K62Wisconsin Electric Power Company

(o) 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.


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

2017 Form 10-K60Wisconsin Electric Power Company


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.

Due to the short-term nature of cash and cash equivalents, net accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, accounts payable, and short-term debt, the carrying amount of each such item approximates fair value. The fair value of our preferred stock is estimated based on the quoted market value for the same issue, or by using a dividend discount model. The fair value of our long-term debt is estimated based upon the quoted market value for the same or similar issues. The fair values of long-term debt and preferred stock are categorized within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.


See Note 13,14, Fair Value Measurements, for more information.


(n)(p) Derivative Instruments—We use derivatives as part of our risk management program to manage the risks associated with the price volatility of purchased power, generation, and natural gas costs for the benefit of our customers. Our approach is non-speculative and designed to mitigate risk. Our regulated hedging programs are approved by the PSCW.


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, the PSCW allows 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. Realized gains and losses on derivative instruments are primarily recorded in cost of sales on our income statements. 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.assets. See Note 14,15, Derivative Instruments, for more information.


(o)(q) 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. As of December 31, 2020, we had $26.0 million of standby letters of credit issued by financial institutions for the benefit of third parties that extended credit to us which automatically renew each year unless proper termination notice is given. These amounts are not reflected on our balance sheets.
2020 Form 10-K63Wisconsin Electric Power Company


(r) Employee Benefits—The costs of pension and OPEB plans are expensed over the periods during which employees render service. These costs are distributed among WEC Energy Group's subsidiaries based on current employment status and actuarial calculations, as applicable. Our regulators allow recovery in rates for our net periodic benefit cost calculated under GAAP. See Note 15,16, Employee Benefits, for more information.


(p)(s) 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.

(q)(t) 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 sitesresidual landfills and manufactured gas plant sites. See Note 7, Asset Retirement Obligations, for more information regarding coal combustion product landfill sitesresidual landfills and Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies, for more information regarding manufactured gas plant sites.


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

2017 Form 10-K61Wisconsin Electric Power Company


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.


We 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 PSCW's approval.


We review our estimated costs of remediation annually for our manufactured gas plant sites and coal combustion product landfill sites.residual landfills. 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.


NOTE 2—ACQUISITIONS

Parent Company's Acquisition(u) Customer Concentrations of Natural Gas Storage FacilitiesCredit Risk—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. Our credit risk exposure is mitigated by our recovery mechanisms for uncollectible expense discussed in Michigan

On June 30, 2017, our parent company completed the acquisitionNote 1(d), Operating Revenues. As a result, we did not have any significant concentrations of Bluewater for $226.0 million. Bluewater owns natural gas storage facilities in Michigancredit risk at December 31, 2020. In addition, there were 0 customers that will provide a portion of the current storage needs for our natural gas utility operations. In September 2017, we entered into a long-term service agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of Bluewater to take the allocated storage, which was then approved by the PSCW in November 2017. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment,accounted for more information.

Parent Company's Acquisitionthan 10% of Integrys

On June 29, 2015, our parent company acquired 100% ofrevenues for the outstanding common shares of Integrys and changed its name to WEC Energy Group, Inc. Integrys is a provider of regulated natural gas and electricity, as well as nonregulated renewable energy.

The acquisition was subject to the approvals of various government agencies, including the PSCW. Approvals were obtained from all agencies subject to several conditions. The PSCW order includes the following conditions:

We are subject to an earnings sharing mechanism for three years beginning January 1, 2016. Under the earnings sharing mechanism, if we earn over our authorized rate of return, 50% of the first 50 basis points of additional utility earnings will be shared with customers and will reduce our transmission escrow. All utility earnings above the first 50 basis points will be solely used to reduce the transmission escrow. For the yearsyear ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, we recorded $0.1 million and $21.1 million of expense related to this earnings sharing mechanism, respectively.
2020.


Any future electric generation projects affecting Wisconsin ratepayers submitted by WEC Energy Group or its subsidiaries will first consider the extent to which existing intercompany resources can meet energy and capacity needs. In September 2015, we and WPS filed a joint integrated resource plan with the PSCW for our combined loads, which indicated that no new generation was needed at the time.

In 2015, we recorded $6.6 million of severance expense that resulted from employee reductions related to the post-acquisition integration. The severance expense was recorded in our utility segment and is included in the other operation and maintenance line item on the income statements. Severance expense incurred after 2015 was not significant. Severance payments made during 2017 were not significant. Severance payments of $4.6 million and $1.2 million were made during 2016 and 2015, respectively. The severance accrual on our balance sheets at December 31, 2017 and 2016 related to the acquisition of Integrys was not significant.

NOTE 3—DISPOSITIONS

Utility 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

2017 Form 10-K62Wisconsin Electric Power Company


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.

Other Segment

Sale of Bostco 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. 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.

NOTE 4—2—RELATED PARTIES


We routinely enter into transactions with related parties, including WEC Energy Group, its other subsidiaries, ATC, and other affiliated entities.


We provide and receive services, property, and other items of value to and from our parent, WEC Energy Group, and other subsidiaries of WEC Energy Group.

Following the acquisition of Integrys by Wisconsin Energy Corporation on June 29, 2015,Group pursuant to an AIA (Non-WBS AIA) went into effect.that became effective in 2017. The Non-WBS AIA governedwas approved by the provision and receipt of services by WEC Energy Group's subsidiaries, except thatappropriate regulators, including the PSCW. In accordance with the AIA, WBS continued to provide services to Integrys and its subsidiaries only under the existing WBS AIAs. WBS provided services to WEC Energy Group and the former Wisconsin Energy Corporation subsidiaries, including us, under interim WBS AIAs. The PSCW and all other relevant state commissions approved the Non-WBS AIA or granted appropriate waivers related to the Non-WBS AIA.

Services under the Non-WBSAIA were subject to various pricing methodologies. All services provided by any regulated subsidiary to another regulated subsidiary were priced at cost. All services provided by any regulated subsidiary to any nonregulated subsidiary were priced at the greater of cost or fair market value. All services provided by any nonregulated subsidiary to any regulated subsidiary were priced at the lesser of cost or fair market value. All services provided by any regulated or nonregulated subsidiary to WBS were priced at cost.

WBSprovidedprovides several categories of services to us (including financial, human resource, and administrative services) to us pursuant to the interim WBSAIAs, which were approved, or from which we were granted appropriate waivers, by the appropriate regulators, including the PSCW. As required by FERC regulations for centralized service companies, WBS renders services at cost. The PSCW must be notified prior to making changes to the services offered under and the allocation methods specified in the interim WBS AIAs. Other modifications or amendments to the interim WBS AIAs would require PSCW approval. Recovery of allocated costs is addressed in our rate cases..

A new AIA took effect January 1, 2017. The new agreement replaced the previous agreements. The pricing methodology and services under this new agreement are substantially identical to those under the agreements that were replaced. All of the applicable state commissions approved modifications to the new AIA to incorporate WEC Energy Group's acquisition of Bluewater. See Note 2, Acquisitions, for more information on the acquisition.

Effective January 1, 2016, 485 of our employees were transferred into WBS. In connection with this transfer of employees, certain benefit-related liabilities were also transferred to WBS. In addition, we transferred certain software assets to WBS in 2016.

Bostco, our consolidated subsidiary, had a note payable to our parent company, WEC Energy Group. The balance of this note payable was $18.5 million at December 31, 2016, which was paid off in the first half of 2017.

In connection with the sale of Bostco’s remaining real estate holdings, Wispark, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, provided $7.0 million of financing to the buyer and established a corresponding note receivable. Bostco had a $7.0 million related party receivable from Wispark that was paid in April 2017. See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information on the real estate sale.


2017 Form 10-K63Wisconsin Electric Power Company


Effective January 1, 2017, based upon input we received from the PSCW, we transferred our $415.4 million investment in ATC, and the related receivable for distributions approved and recorded in December 2016, to another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group. In addition, we transferred $186.8 million of related deferred income tax liabilities. These transactions were non-cash equity transfers recorded to additional paid in capital between entities under common control, and therefore, did not result in the recognition of a gain or loss.


We pay ATC for 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. Services are billed to and from ATC under agreements approved by the PSCW, at each of our fully allocated costs. We are also required to initially fund the construction of transmission

2020 Form 10-K64Wisconsin Electric Power Company

infrastructure upgrades needed for new generation projects. ATC owns these transmission assets and reimburses us for these costs when the new generation is placed in service.

Our balance sheets included the following receivables and payables for services provided to or received from ATC:
(in millions)20202019
Accounts receivable
Services provided to ATC$1.2 $1.7 
Amounts due from ATC for transmission infrastructure upgrades1.6 (1)
Accounts payable
Services received from ATC19.2 19.9 

(1)     The transmission infrastructure upgrades related to transactions entered into with ATC:the construction of our new solar project, Badger Hollow II.
(in millions) 2017 2016
Accounts receivable    
Services provided to ATC $0.8
 $1.1
Accounts payable    
Services received from ATC 22.2
 20.0


The following table shows activity associated with our related party transactions for the years ended December 31:
(in millions)202020192018
Transactions with WPS
Natural gas related purchases from WPS (1)
$1.5 $2.0 $1.9 
Charges to WPS for services and other items (2)
12.5 13.2 17.8 
Charges from WPS for services and other items (2)
8.3 9.3 10.9 
Transactions with WG
Natural gas related purchases from WG (1)
5.7 5.4 5.3 
Charges to WG for services and other items (2)
42.3 41.1 59.0 (6)
Charges from WG for services and other items (2)
31.7 30.1 32.6 
Transactions with UMERC
Electric sales to UMERC (3)
0 7.9 29.6 
Charges to UMERC for services and other items (2)
9.8 10.5 15.8 
Transactions with Bluewater
Storage service fees12.9 14.2 15.0 
Natural gas related sales to Bluewater (1)
2.6 2.3 
Charges to Bluewater for services and other items (2)
3.0 0.2 
Transactions with We Power
Lease payments and other lease-related charges from We Power (4)
404.3 401.1 396.5 
Charges to We Power for services and other items (2)
4.5 7.1 10.6 
Transactions with WBS
Charges to WBS for services and other items (2)
67.8 102.6 61.5 
Charges from WBS for services and other items (2)
152.9 205.3 243.4 (5)
Transactions with ATC
Charges to ATC for services and construction15.6 14.9 13.9 
Charges from ATC for network transmission services229.3 230.6 232.0 
Net refund from ATC related to FERC ROE orders7.3 
Refund from ATC related to a FERC audit0 15.4 
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
Lease agreements  
  
  
Lease payments to We Power (1)
 $420.5
 $412.2
 $410.5
CWIP billed to We Power 57.3
 37.9
 58.8
Transactions with WBS (2)
      
Billings to WBS (3)
 255.7
 213.8
 11.1
Billings from WBS (4)
 215.4
 310.6
 1.3
Transactions with WPS (2)
      
Natural gas purchases from WPS 1.6
 1.9
 0.4
Billings to WPS 28.2
 9.0
 13.4
Billings from WPS 4.5
 4.2
 4.9
Transactions with WG      
Natural gas purchases from WG 5.3
 5.3
 5.3
Billings to WG 64.0
 60.6
 79.4
Billings from WG 23.1
 21.5
 23.5
Transactions with UMERC (5)
      
Electric sales to UMERC 30.8
 
 
Billings to UMERC (2)
 125.5
 
 
Transactions with Bluewater (6)
      
Storage service fees 2.7
 
 
Transactions with ATC      
Charges to ATC for services and construction 10.9
 10.0
 9.7
Charges from ATC for network transmission services 241.4
 247.8
 238.5
Refund from ATC per FERC ROE order (19.4) 
 


(1)    Includes amounts related to the purchase or sale of natural gas and/or pipeline capacity.
(1)
We make lease payments to We Power, another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, for PWGS Units 1 and 2 and ERGS Units 1 and 2.


(2)
Includes amounts billed for services, pass through costs, and other items in accordance with the approved AIAs.

(2)    Includes amounts charged for services, pass through costs, asset and liability transfers, and other items in accordance with the approved AIAs. As required by FERC regulations for centralized service companies, WBS renders services at cost. Services provided by any regulated subsidiary to another regulated subsidiary or WBS are priced at cost, and any services provided by a regulated subsidiary to a nonregulated subsidiary are priced at the greater of cost or fair market value.
(3)
Includes $1.2 million, for the transfer of certain benefit-related liabilities from WBS for the year ended December 31, 2017. For the year ended December 31, 2016, includes $13.1 million for the transfer of certain software assets to WBS. There were no transfers of assets to WBS during the year ended December 31, 2017, and there were no transfers of liabilities from WBS for the year ended December 31, 2016.


(4)
For the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, includes $1.5 million and $116.0 million, respectively, for the transfer of certain benefit-related liabilities to WBS.

(3)    On March 31, 2019, UMERC's new natural gas-fired generation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan began commercial operation. Prior to its generating units achieving commercial operation, UMERC purchased a portion of its power from us.
(5)
UMERC became operational effective January 1, 2017. See below for more information.


(6)
The acquisition of Bluewater was completed on June 30, 2017. See below for more information.

(4)    We make lease payments to We Power, another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, for PWGS Units 1 and 2 and ERGS Units 1 and 2. See Note 12, Leases, for more information.

(5)     Includes $10.0 million for the transfer of certain benefit-related liabilities to WBS and $59.8 million for the transfer of certain software assets from WBS.
20172020 Form 10-K6465Wisconsin Electric Power Company




(6)     Includes $5.3 million for the transfer of certain software assets to WG.

Transfer of Net Assets to Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corporation


In December 2016, bothWe retired the MPSC andPIPP generating units on March 31, 2019. As a result, the PSCW approved the operation of UMERC as a stand-alone utility in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. UMERC, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, became operational effective January 1, 2017, and we transferred customers and property, plant, and equipment as of that date. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information. We transferred approximately 27,500 retail electric customers and 50 electric distribution-only customers to UMERC, along with approximately 2,500 miles of electric distribution lines. We also transferred related electric distribution substations in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and all property rights for the distribution assets to UMERC. Thenet book value of net assets, includingthe PIPP was reclassified as a regulatory asset on our balance sheet. In the second quarter of 2019, $12.5 million of the regulatory asset, along with the related deferred income tax liabilities,taxes and a portion of the cost of removal reserve, was transferred to UMERC for recovery from us as of January 1, 2017, was $61.1 million.its retail customers. This transaction was a non-cash equity transfer recorded to additional paid in capitalcapital. See Note 5, Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, for more information on the retirement of the PIPP.

NOTE 3—OPERATING REVENUES

For more information about our significant accounting policies related to operating revenues, see Note 1(d), Operating Revenues.

Disaggregation of Operating Revenues

The following tables present our operating revenues disaggregated by revenue source for our utility segment. We do not have any revenues associated with our other segment. We disaggregate revenues into categories that depict how the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows are affected by economic factors. For our utility segment, 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 can be impacted differently by regulatory activities within their jurisdictions.
Wisconsin Electric Power Company Consolidated
Year Ended December 31
(in millions)202020192018
Electric utility$3,000.2 $3,088.3 $3,212.7 
Natural gas utility358.6 399.0 405.1 
Total revenues from contracts with customers3,358.8 3,487.3 3,617.8 
Other operating revenues8.2 9.4 7.2 
Total operating revenues$3,367.0 $3,496.7 $3,625.0 

Revenues from Contracts with Customers

Electric Utility Operating Revenues

The following table disaggregates electric utility operating revenues into customer class:
Electric Utility Operating Revenues
Year Ended December 31
(in millions)202020192018
Residential$1,289.2 $1,206.7 $1,220.8 
Small commercial and industrial955.4 1,010.9 1,020.0 
Large commercial and industrial527.3 583.9 656.6 
Other19.9 20.6 20.7 
Total retail revenues2,791.8 2,822.1 2,918.1 
Wholesale78.8 93.8 108.5 
Resale108.4 132.7 153.7 
Steam21.3 23.3 24.1 
Other utility revenues(0.1)16.4 8.3 
Total electric utility operating revenues$3,000.2 $3,088.3 $3,212.7 

2020 Form 10-K66Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Natural Gas Utility Operating Revenues

The following table disaggregates natural gas utility operating revenues into customer class:
Natural Gas Utility Operating Revenues
Year Ended December 31
(in millions)202020192018
Residential$238.4 $261.7 $264.3 
Commercial and industrial97.1 121.2 126.3 
Total retail revenues335.5 382.9 390.6 
Transport16.3 13.6 13.4 
Other utility revenues (1)
6.8 2.5 1.1 
Total natural gas utility operating revenues$358.6 $399.0 $405.1 

(1)    Includes amounts collected from customers for purchased gas adjustment costs.

Other Operating Revenues

Other operating revenues consist of the following:
Year Ended December 31
(in millions)202020192018
Late payment charges (1)
$5.6 $8.2 $8.2 
Rental revenues2.9 2.9 2.9 
Alternative revenues (2)
(0.3)(1.7)(3.9)
Total other operating revenues$8.2 $9.4 $7.2 

(1)    The reduction in late payment charges is a result of a regulatory order from the PSCW in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes the suspension of late payment charges during a designated time period. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information.

(2)    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 wholesale true-ups, as discussed in Note 1(d), Operating Revenues.

NOTE 4—CREDIT LOSSES

The table below shows our gross third-party receivable balances and related allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2020.
(in millions)
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues$525.4
Allowance for credit losses59.3
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, net (1)
$466.1
Total accounts receivable, net – past due greater than 90 days (1)
$56.3
Past due greater than 90 days – collection risk mitigated by regulatory mechanisms (1)
98.2%

(1)    Our exposure to credit losses for certain regulated utility customers is mitigated by a regulatory mechanism we have in place. Specifically, our residential tariffs include a mechanism for cost recovery or refund of uncollectible expense based on the difference between entities under common control,actual uncollectible write-offs and therefore, didthe amounts recovered in rates. As a result, at December 31, 2020, $239.8 million, or 51.4%, of our net accounts receivable and unbilled revenues balance had regulatory protections in place to mitigate the exposure to credit losses. In addition, we have received specific orders related to the deferral of certain costs (including credit losses) incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The additional protections related to our December 31, 2020 accounts receivable and unbilled revenue balances provided by these orders are subject to prudency reviews and are still being assessed. They are not resultreflected in the recognitionpercentage in the above table or this note. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information on these orders.

2020 Form 10-K67Wisconsin Electric Power Company

A rollforward of the allowance for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2020, is included below:

(in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2019$38.1
Provision for credit losses24.6
Provision for credit losses deferred for future recovery or refund14.8
Write-offs charged against the allowance(38.8)
Recoveries of amounts previously written off20.6
Balance at December 31, 2020$59.3

The increase in the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2020, compared to December 31, 2019, was driven by higher past due accounts receivable balances, primarily related to our residential customers. This increase in accounts receivable balances in arrears was driven by economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including higher unemployment rates. Also, as a gain or loss. UMERC currently meets its market obligations through power purchase agreements with usresult of the COVID-19 pandemic and WPS.related regulatory orders we have received, we were unable to disconnect any of our customers during the year ended December 31, 2020. See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information.


NOTE 5—REGULATORY ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

We recorded a $1,065 million change in our deferred taxes due to the enactment of the Tax Legislation, which resulted in both an increase to income tax related regulatory liabilities as well as a decrease to certain existing income tax related regulatory assets represented in Income tax related items in the table below. The $1,065 million change in our deferred taxes represents our estimate of the tax benefit that will be returned to ratepayers through future refunds, bill credits, or reductions in other regulatory assets. See Note 12, Income Taxes, for more information on the Tax Legislation.


The following regulatory assets were reflected on our balance sheets as of December 31:
(in millions)20202019See Note
Regulatory assets (1) (2)
Finance leases$985.5 $930.5 12
Plant retirements669.8 688.8 
Pension and OPEB costs (3)
477.0 459.4 16
Income tax related items392.6 403.2 13
SSR (4)
135.6 151.5 21
Securitization105.2 100.0 21
Other, net37.6 21.8 
Total regulatory assets$2,803.3 $2,755.2 
(in millions) 2017 2016 See Note
Regulatory assets (1) (2)
      
Plant related – capital leases $801.3
 $724.8
 11
Unrecognized pension and OPEB costs (3)
 484.4
 520.3
 15
SSR 298.9
 188.1
 21
Electric transmission costs 220.7
 231.9
 21
We Power generation (4)
 71.3
 54.1
  
AROs 41.4
 39.7
 7
Environmental remediation costs (5)
 30.4
 29.9
 19
Energy efficiency programs (6)
 28.2
 38.5
  
Income tax related items 
 200.8
 12
Other, net 8.3
 8.5
  
Total regulatory assets $1,984.9
 $2,036.6
  


(1)
Based on prior and current rate treatment, we believe it is probable that we will continue to recover from customers the regulatory assets in the table.

(2)
As of December 31, 2017, we had $11.4 million of regulatory assets not earning a return and $254.0 million of regulatory assets earning a return based on short-term interest rates. The regulatory assets not earning a return relate to certain environmental remediation costs, the recovery of which depends on the timing of the actual expenditures. 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)
Represents the unrecognized future pension and OPEB costs resulting from actuarial gains and losses on defined benefit and OPEB plans. We are authorized recovery of this regulatory asset over the average remaining service life of each plan.

(4)
Represents amounts recoverable from customers related to our costs of the generating units leased from We Power, including subsequent capital additions. See Note 11, Long-Term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, for more information on the Tax Legislation impacts on the lease payments.

(5)
As of December 31, 2017, we had not yet made cash expenditures for $18.5 million of these environmental remediation costs.

(6)
Represents amounts recoverable from customers related to programs designed to meet energy efficiency standards.

(1)    Based on prior and current rate treatment, we believe it is probable that we 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 $14.5 million and $9.9 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.



(2)    As of December 31, 2020, we had $8.1 million of regulatory assets not earning a return, $8.9 million of regulatory assets earning a return based on short-term interest rates, and $135.6 million of regulatory assets earning a return based on long-term interest rates. The regulatory assets not earning a return relate to certain environmental remediation costs. The other regulatory assets in the table either earn a return at our weighted average cost of capital 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)    The rate order we received from the PSCW in December 2019 authorized recovery of the SSR regulatory asset over a 15-year period that began on January 1, 2020.

20172020 Form 10-K6568Wisconsin Electric Power Company


The following regulatory liabilities were reflected on our balance sheets as of December 31:
(in millions)20202019See Note
Regulatory liabilities
Income tax related items$806.7 $888.1 13
Removal costs (1)
677.2 654.7 
Pension and OPEB benefits (2)
132.1 120.4 16
Electric transmission costs (3) (4)
61.7 38.6 
Uncollectible expense15.5 28.8 4
Energy efficiency programs (5)
2.9 15.8 
Other, net11.8 9.8 
Total regulatory liabilities$1,707.9 $1,756.2 
Balance sheet presentation
Other current liabilities$4.2 $12.0 
Regulatory liabilities1,703.7 1,744.2 
Total regulatory liabilities$1,707.9 $1,756.2 
(in millions) 2017 2016 See Note
Regulatory liabilities      
2017 Tax Legislation impact and income tax related $849.1
 $
 12
Removal costs (1)
 730.0
 722.9
  
Mines deferral (2)
 95.1
 70.2
  
Other, net 46.9
 71.0
  
Total regulatory liabilities $1,721.1
 $864.1
  
       
Balance Sheet Presentation      
Current liabilities $13.1
 $10.2
  
Regulatory liabilities 1,708.0
 853.9
  
Total regulatory liabilities $1,721.1
 $864.1
  


(1)
(1)    Represents amounts collected from customers to cover the future cost of future removal of property, plant, and equipment.

(2)
Represents the deferral of revenues less the associated cost of sales related to the mines, which were not included in the 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.

NOTE 6—PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant, and equipment consisted of the following utility and non-utility and other assets at December 31:
(in millions) 2017 2016
Utility property, plant, and equipment (1)
 $9,870.7
 $11,232.9
Less: Accumulated depreciation 2,970.3
 3,606.9
Net 6,900.4
 7,626.0
CWIP 159.5
 111.5
Plant to be retired, net 872.7
 
Net utility property, plant, and equipment 7,932.6
 7,737.5
     
Property under capital leases 3,009.1
 2,898.0
Less: Accumulated amortization 945.9
 837.8
Net leased facilities 2,063.2
 2,060.2
     
Non-utility and other property, plant, and equipment 11.9
 46.4
Less: Accumulated depreciation 
 12.7
Net (2)
 11.9
 33.7
CWIP 
 0.9
Net non-utility and other property, plant, and equipment 11.9
 34.6
     
Total property, plant, and equipment $10,007.7
 $9,832.3

(1)
Effective January 1, 2017, we transferred 2,500 miles of electric distribution lines and related electric distribution substations in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to UMERC. The net book value of the property, plant, and equipment we transferred to UMERC was $61.1 million. See Note 4, Related Parties, for more information.

(2)
In March 2017, we sold the remaining real estate holdings of Bostco located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which included retail, office, and residential space.

Utility Segment Plant to be Retired

We have evaluated future plans for our older and less efficient fossil fuel generating units and have announced our plans for the retirement of the plants identified below. The net book value of these plants was classified as plant to be retired within 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. See Note 7, Asset Retirement Obligations, for more information on our balance sheetlegal obligations.

(2)    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.

(3)    Based on orders received from the PSCW, we were required to apply the refunds due to customers from our earnings sharing mechanism to our electric transmission escrow during 2019. As a result, $38.6 million of our earnings sharing refunds were reflected in our electric transmission regulatory liability at December 31, 2017. 2019. We had 0 refunds due to customers from our earnings sharing mechanism at December 31, 2020.

(4)    In addition, severance expenseaccordance with the PSCW's approval of escrow accounting for our ATC and MISO network transmission expenses, we defer as a regulatory asset or liability the difference between actual transmission costs and those included in the amount of $25.8 million was recorded within the utility segmentrates until recovery or refund is authorized in 2017a future rate proceeding.

(5)    Represents amounts refundable to customers related to these announced plant retirements.programs designed to meet energy efficiency standards.

2017 Form 10-K66Wisconsin Electric Power Company




Pleasant Prairie Power Plant


As a result of a MISO ruling in December 2017,The Pleasant Prairie must be shut down no later thanpower plant was retired on April 10, 2018. Because we had an obligation at December 31, 2017 to shut down the Pleasant Prairie plant in April 2018, retirement of the plant was probable at December 31, 2017. The net book value of this generating unitplant was $681.3$602.7 million at December 31, 2017. This2020, representing book value less cost of removal and accumulated depreciation. In addition, previously deferred unprotected tax benefits from the Tax Legislation related to the unrecovered balance of this plant were $19.6 million. The net amount of $583.1 million was classified as plant to be retired within property, plant, and equipmenta regulatory asset on our balance sheet.sheets as a result of the retirement of the plant. This unit is includedregulatory asset does not include certain other previously recorded deferred tax liabilities of $168.7 million related to the retired Pleasant Prairie power plant. Pursuant to our rate order issued by the PSCW in rate base, andDecember 2019, we will continue to depreciate itamortize this regulatory asset on a straight-line basis through 2039, using the composite depreciation rates approved by the PSCW. The physical dismantlementPSCW before this plant was retired. Amortization is included in depreciation and amortization in the income statement. We have FERC approval to continue to collect the net book value of the Pleasant Prairie power plant will not occur immediately.  It may take several yearsusing the approved composite depreciation rates, in addition to finalize long-term plans fora return on the site. See Note 19, Commitmentsremaining net book value. Collection of the return of and Contingencies, for more information.on the net book value is no longer subject to refund as the FERC completed its prudency review and concluded that the retirement of this plant was prudent. We received approval from the PSCW in December 2019 to collect a full return of the net book value of the Pleasant Prairie power plant, and a return on all but $100 million of the net book value. In accordance with our PSCW rate order received in December 2019, we filed an application with the PSCW on July 20, 2020 requesting a financing order to securitize the remaining $100 million of the Pleasant Prairie power plant's book value, plus the carrying costs accrued on the $100 million during the securitization process and related fees. On November 17, 2020, the PSCW issued a written order approving this application.


Presque Isle Power Plant


In October 2017,Pursuant to MISO's April 2018 approval of 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, generatingthese units became probable. The new units are expected to begin commercial operation inwere retired on March 31, 2019, and should allow forthe plant was reclassified to a regulatory asset on our balance sheets. After the retirement of the PIPP, no later than 2020. Thea portion of the regulatory asset and
2020 Form 10-K69Wisconsin Electric Power Company

related cost of removal reserve was transferred to UMERC for recovery from its retail customers. On our balance sheet, the net book value of these unitsthe PIPP was $191.4$149.1 million at December 31, 2017. These2020, representing book value less cost of removal and accumulated depreciation. In addition, previously deferred unprotected tax benefits from the Tax Legislation related to our unrecovered balance of these units are includedwere $6.0 million, resulting in a net amount of $143.1 million at December 31, 2020. This regulatory asset does not include certain other previously recorded deferred tax liabilities of $42.8 million related to the retired PIPP. Effective with our rate base,order issued by the PSCW in December 2019, we received approval to collect a return of and weon our share of the net book value of the PIPP, and as a result, will continue to depreciate themamortize the regulatory assets on a straight-line basis through 2037, using the composite depreciation rates approved by the PSCW. ThePSCW before the units were retired. Amortization is included in depreciation and amortization in the income statement. We have FERC approval to continue to collect the net book value of the PIPP using the approved composite depreciation rates, in addition to a return on the net book value. However, this approval is subject to refund pending the outcome of settlement proceedings.

Severance Liability for Plant Retirements

In December 2017, a severance liability of $25.8 million was recorded in other current liabilities on our balance sheets related to these assetsplant retirements. Activity related to this severance liability for the years ended December 31 was transferredas follows:
(in millions)202020192018
Severance liability at January 1$2.1 $12.9 $25.8 
Severance payments(0.1)(5.7)(9.9)
Other(1.3)(5.1)(3.0)
Total severance liability at December 31$0.7 $2.1 $12.9 

NOTE 6—PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant, and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:
(in millions)20202019
Electric – generation$3,612.8 $3,623.4 
Electric – distribution5,328.4 5,086.4 
Natural gas – distribution, storage, and transmission1,444.2 1,358.0 
Other864.6 814.7 
Less: Accumulated depreciation3,568.5 3,397.0 
Net7,681.5 7,485.5 
CWIP253.2 190.8 
Net utility and non-utility property, plant, and equipment7,934.7 7,676.3 
Property under finance leases3,135.9 3,077.4 
Less: Accumulated amortization1,280.7 1,167.0 
Net leased facilities1,855.2 1,910.4 
Total property, plant, and equipment$9,789.9 $9,586.7 

Public Service Building

During a significant rain event in May 2020, an underground steam tunnel in downtown Milwaukee flooded and steam vented into our Public Service Building. The damage to the building from plantthe flooding and steam was extensive and will require significant repairs and restorations. As of December 31, 2020, we have incurred $35.2 million of costs related to these repairs and restorations. We received $20.0 million of insurance proceeds to cover a portion of these costs and $2.7 million was recorded as a receivable for future insurance recoveries. The remaining $12.5 million of costs were included in serviceother operation and maintenance expense. We anticipate that the majority of future capital expenditures required to plantrestore the Public Service Building will either be covered by insurance or recovery will be requested from the PSCW. As such, we do not currently expect a significant impact to be retired. See Note 19, Commitmentsour future results of operations, and Contingencies, for more information.although we may experience differences between periods in the timing of cash flows, we also do not currently expect a significant impact to our long-term cash flows from this event.


2020 Form 10-K70Wisconsin Electric Power Company

NOTE 7—ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS


We have recorded AROs primarily for asbestos abatement at certain generation and substation facilities,facilities; the removal and dismantlement of biomass and hydro generation facilities,facilities; the dismantling of wind generation projects; and the closure of fly-ashcoal combustion residual landfills at our generation facilities. We establish regulatory assets and liabilities 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. PSCW.

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)202020192018
Balance as of January 1$65.0 $70.7 $68.3 
Accretion2.3 3.6 3.3 
Additions and revisions to estimated cash flows(11.1)(1)(8.4)(1)1.0 
Liabilities settled(1.7)(0.9)(1.9)
Balance as of December 31$54.5 $65.0 $70.7 
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015 
Balance as of January 1 $61.5
 $58.7
 $40.5
 
Accretion 3.2
 3.0
 2.3
 
Additions 5.5
(1) 

 15.9
(2) 
Liabilities settled (1.9) (0.2) 
 
Balance as of December 31 $68.3
 $61.5
 $58.7
 


(1)
During 2017, an ARO was recorded related to the removal and dismantlement of the Rothschild Biomass Plant.

(2)
During 2015, an ARO was recorded for the fly-ash landfills located at our generation facilities.

(1)    The decreases in AROs during 2020 and 2019 were primarily due to revisions made to estimated cash flows for the abatement of asbestos.

NOTE 8—COMMON EQUITY


Stock-Based Compensation Plans


The following table summarizes our pre-tax stock-based compensation expense, including amounts allocated from WBS, and the related tax benefit recognized in income for the years ended December 31:
(in millions)202020192018
Stock options$2.1 $1.7 $2.0 
Restricted stock2.7 2.7 3.0 
Performance units9.7 17.9 9.6 
Stock-based compensation expense$14.5 $22.3 $14.6 
Related tax benefit$4.0 $6.1 $4.0 
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
Stock options $1.3
 $1.8
 $3.2
Restricted stock 0.8
 1.8
 2.1
Performance units 9.9
 3.9
 7.5
Stock-based compensation expense $12.0
 $7.5
 $12.8
Related tax benefit $4.8
 $3.0
 $5.1


2017 Form 10-K67Wisconsin Electric Power Company



Stock-based compensation costs capitalized during 2017, 2016,2020, 2019, and 20152018 were not significant.


Stock Options


The following is a summary of our employees' WEC Energy Group stock option activity during 2017:2020:
Stock OptionsNumber of OptionsWeighted-Average Exercise Price
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life
(in years)
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
(in millions)
Outstanding as of January 1, 2020626,261 $48.98 
Granted59,511 $91.49 
Exercised(121,624)$42.60 
Transferred(75,668)$47.30 
Forfeited(3,367)$67.33 
Outstanding as of December 31, 2020485,113 $55.93 5.1$17.5 
Exercisable as of December 31, 2020330,010 $46.45 3.7$15.0 
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, 2017 1,285,806
 $33.41
    
Granted 80,770
 $58.31
    
Exercised (300,064) $25.54
    
Transferred 129,635
 $35.48
    
Outstanding as of December 31, 2017 1,196,147
 $37.29
 4.6 $34.9
Exercisable as of December 31, 2017 971,547
 $33.43
 3.8 $32.1


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, 2017.2020. This is calculated as the difference between WEC Energy Group's closing stock price on December 31, 2017,2020, 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, 2017, 2016,2020, 2019, and 20152018 was $11.2$7.1 million, $14.1$8.0 million, and $34.6$12.9 million, respectively. Cash received by WEC Energy Group from exercises of
2020 Form 10-K71Wisconsin Electric Power Company

its options by our employees was $7.7$5.2 million, $12.1$6.3 million, and $29.2$10.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2020, 2019, and 2015,2018, respectively. The actual tax benefit from option exercises for the same periods was approximately $4.5$1.9 million, $5.6$2.2 million, and $14.0$2.7 million, respectively.


As of December 31, 2017,2020, we expected to recognize approximately $0.9$0.8 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested and outstanding WEC Energy Group stock options over the next 1.71.8 years on a weighted-average basis.


During the first quarter of 2018,2021, the Compensation Committee awarded 81,73060,108 non-qualified WEC Energy Group stock options with an exercise price of $66.02$91.06 and a weighted-average grant date fair value of $7.26$13.20 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 is a summary of our employees' WEC Energy Group restricted stock activity during 2017:2020:
Restricted SharesNumber of SharesWeighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding and unvested as of January 1, 20209,736 $65.58 
Granted4,371 $91.49 
Released(4,791)$63.95 
Transferred64 $66.78 
Forfeited(748)$73.02 
Outstanding and unvested as of December 31, 20208,632 $78.97 
Restricted Shares Number of Shares Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding as of January 1, 2017 16,261
 $50.39
Granted 8,001
 $58.10
Released (8,018) $48.78
Transferred (379) $57.77
Forfeited (582) $53.83
Outstanding as of December 31, 2017 15,283
 $54.96


The intrinsic value of WEC Energy Group restricted stock held by our employees that was released was $0.5 million, $0.4 million and $2.7 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2020, 2019, and 2015, respectively.2018. The actual tax benefit from released restricted shares was $0.1 million for each of the same years was $0.2 million, $0.2 million,ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and $1.1 million, respectively.2018.


As of December 31, 2017,2020, we expected to recognize approximately $1.2$1.1 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested and outstanding WEC Energy Group restricted stock over the next 1.71.8 years on a weighted-average basis.


During the first quarter of 2018,2021, the Compensation Committee awarded 7,5184,183 WEC Energy Group restricted shares to our officers and other key employees under its normal schedule of awarding long-term incentive compensation. The grant date fair value of these awards was $64.99$91.06 per share.


2017 Form 10-K68Wisconsin Electric Power Company



Performance Units


During 2017, 2016,2020, 2019, and 2015,2018, the Compensation Committee awarded 34,765; 35,700;18,952; 22,452; and 187,45032,650 WEC Energy Group performance units, respectively, to our officers and other key employees under the WEC Energy Group Performance Unit Plan.

In 2016, we transferred 573,499 performance units to WBS in connection with the transfer of certain employees. See Note 4, Related Parties, for more information.


Performance units with an intrinsic value of $1.4$3.9 million, $3.4$2.3 million, and $11.6$2.0 million were settled during 2017, 2016,2020, 2019, and 2015,2018, respectively. The actual tax benefit from the distribution of performance units for the same years was approximately $0.4$0.9 million, $0.5 million, and $4.2$0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.


At December 31, 2017, we had 96,5772020, our employees held 59,530 WEC Energy Group performance units, outstanding, including dividend equivalents. A liability of $4.9$5.5 million was recorded on our balance sheet at December 31, 20172020 related to these outstanding units. As of December 31, 2017,2020, we expected to recognize approximately $3.6$7.3 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested and outstanding WEC Energy Group performance units over the next 1.41.6 years on a weighted-average basis.


During the first quarter of 2018,2021, performance units held by our employees with an intrinsic value of $1.8$3.0 million were settled. The actual tax benefit from the distribution of these awards was $0.4$0.7 million. In January 2018,2021, the Compensation Committee also awarded 32,65018,138 WEC Energy Group performance units to our officers and other key employees under its normal schedule of awarding long-term incentive compensation.


2020 Form 10-K72Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Restrictions


Various financing arrangements and regulatory requirements impose certain restrictions on our ability to transfer funds to WEC Energy Group in the form of cash dividends, loans, or advances. In addition, Wisconsin law prohibits us from making loans to or guaranteeing obligations of WEC Energy Group or its subsidiaries.


In accordance with our most recent rate order, we may not pay common dividends above the test year forecasted amount reflected in our rate case, if it would cause our average common equity ratio, on a financial basis, to fall below our authorized level of 51%52.5%. A return of capital in excess of the test year amount can be paid by us at the end of the year provided that our average common equity ratio does not fall below the authorized level.


We may not pay common dividends to WEC Energy Group under our Restated Articles of Incorporation if any dividends on our outstanding preferred stock have not been paid. In addition, pursuant to the terms of our 3.60% Serial Preferred Stock, our ability to declare common dividends would be limited to 75% or 50% of net income during a twelve month period if our common stock equity to total capitalization, as defined in the preferred stock designation, is less than 25% and 20%, respectively.


See Note 10, Short-Term Debt and Lines of Credit, for a discussion of certain financial covenants related to our short-term debt obligations.


As of December 31, 2017,2020, our restricted retained earnings totaled $2.2 billion.were fully restricted.


Except for the restrictions described above and subject to applicable law, weWe do not havebelieve that these restrictions will materially affect our operations or limit any other significant dividend restrictions.payments in the foreseeable future.


NOTE 9—PREFERRED STOCK


The following table shows preferred stock authorized and outstanding at December 31, 20172020 and 2016:2019:
(in millions, except share and per share amounts)Shares AuthorizedShares OutstandingRedemption Price Per ShareTotal
$100 par value, Six Per Cent. Preferred Stock45,000 44,498 0 $4.4 
$100 par value, Serial Preferred Stock 3.60% Series2,286,500 260,000 $101 26.0 
$25 par value, Serial Preferred Stock5,000,000 0 0 0 
Total$30.4 
(in millions, except share and per share amounts) Shares Authorized Shares Outstanding Redemption Price Per Share Total
$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
 
 
 
Total       $30.4



2017 Form 10-K69Wisconsin Electric Power Company


NOTE 10—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)20202019
Commercial paper
Amount outstanding at December 31$292.0 $115.5 
Average interest rate on amounts outstanding at December 310.21 %2.03 %
(in millions, except percentages) 2017 2016
Commercial paper    
Amount outstanding at December 31 $210.9
 $159.0
Average interest rate on amounts outstanding at December 31 1.81% 0.87%


Our average amount of commercial paper borrowings based on daily outstanding balances during 20172020 was $53.3$72.7 million, with a weighted-average interest rate during the period of 1.38%1.16%.


We have entered into a bank back-up credit facility to maintain short-term credit liquidity which, among other terms, requires us to maintain, subject to certain exclusions, a minimum total funded debt to capitalization ratio of less than 65%.

or less. As of December 31, 2017,2020, we had approximately $287.9 million of available capacity under our bank back-up credit facility and $210.9 million of commercial paper outstanding that was supported by the credit facility.were in compliance with this ratio.


In April 2017, our consolidated subsidiary, Bostco, paid off a note payable to our parent, WEC Energy Group.

2020 Form 10-K73Wisconsin Electric Power Company

The information in the table below relates to our revolving credit facility used to support our commercial paper borrowing program, including remaining available capacity under this facility as of December 31:
(in millions)Maturity2020
Revolving credit facilityOctober 2022$500.0
Less:
Letters of credit issued inside credit facility$1.0
Commercial paper outstanding292.0
Available capacity under existing agreement$207.0
(in millions) Maturity 2017
Revolving credit facility October 2022 $500.0
     
Less:    
Letters of credit issued inside credit facility   $1.2
Commercial paper outstanding   210.9
     
Available capacity under existing agreement   $287.9


This facility has a renewal provision for two one-year2 extensions, subject to lender approval. Each extension is for a period of one year.


Our bank back-up credit facility contains customary covenants, including certain limitations on our ability to sell assets. The credit facility also contains 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.


NOTE 11—LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS

See our statements of capitalization for details on our long-term debt.

Debentures and Notes


The following table shows the future maturitiesis a summary of our long-term debt outstanding (excluding obligations under capital leases) as of December 31, 2017:31:
(in millions)Interest RateYear Due20202019
Debentures (unsecured)2.95%2021300.0 300.0 
2.05%2024300.0 300.0 
3.10%2025250.0 250.0 
6.50%2028150.0 150.0 
5.625%2033335.0 335.0 
5.70%2036300.0 300.0 
3.65%2042250.0 250.0 
4.25%2044250.0 250.0 
4.30%2045250.0 250.0 
4.30%2048300.0 300.0 
6.875%2095100.0 100.0 
Total2,785.0 2,785.0 
Unamortized debt issuance costs(7.4)(8.0)
Unamortized discount, net(16.4)(17.8)
Total long-term debt, including current portion2,761.2 2,759.2 
Current portion of long-term debt(300.0)
Total long-term debt2,461.2 2,759.2 
(in millions)  
2018 $250.0
2019 250.0
2020 
2021 300.0
2022 
Thereafter 1,885.0
Total $2,685.0


2017 Form 10-K70Wisconsin Electric Power Company



We amortize debt premiums, discounts and debt issuance costs over the life of the debt using the straight-line method and we include the costs in interest expense.


We areThe following table shows the obligor under a seriesfuture maturities of tax-exempt pollution control refunding bonds with anour long-term debt outstanding principal amount of
$80.0 million. In August 2009, we terminated a letter of credit that provided credit and liquidity support for the bonds, which resulted in a mandatory tender of the bonds. We purchased the bonds at par plus accrued interest to the date of purchase. Asas of December 31, 2017, the repurchased bonds were still outstanding, but are not reported in our2020:
(in millions)
2021$300.0 
2022
2023
2024300.0 
2025250.0 
Thereafter1,935.0 
Total$2,785.0 

2020 Form 10-K74Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Our long-term debt or includedobligations contain covenants related to payment of principal and interest when due and various other obligations. Failure to comply with these covenants could result in our capitalization statements since they are held by us. Depending on market conditions and other factors, we may changean event of default, which could result in the method used to determine the interest rate on this bond series and have it remarketed to third parties. A related bond series that had anacceleration of outstanding principal amount of $67.0 million matured on August 1, 2016.debt obligations.


NOTE 12—LEASES

Obligations Under CapitalOperating Leases


We have recorded right of use assets and lease liabilities associated with the following operating leases.

Land we are leasing related to our Rothschild biomass plant through June 2051.
Rail cars we are leasing to transport coal to various generating facilities through February 2021.
Various office space leases.

The operating leases generally require us to pay property taxes, insurance premiums, and operating and maintenance costs associated with the leased property. Many of our leases contain options to renew past the initial term, as set forth in the lease agreement.

Obligations Under Finance Leases

We are the obligor under a power purchase contract with an unaffiliated third party and we lease power plants from We Power. Under capitalfinance lease accounting, we have recorded the leased plants and corresponding obligations under the capital leasesas right of use assets and lease liabilities on our balance sheets. We treat these agreements as operating leases for rate-making purposes.

Prior to our adoption of Topic 842 on January 1, 2019, we accounted for these finance leases under Topic980-840, Regulated Operations – Leases, as follows:

We recordrecorded our minimum lease payments under the power purchase contract as purchased power expense in cost of sales on our income statements.
We record therecorded our minimum lease payments under our leases with We Power as rent expense in other operation and maintenance in our income statements.
We recordrecorded the difference between the minimum lease payments and the sum of imputed interest and amortization costs calculated under capitalfinance lease accounting rules as a deferred regulatory asset on our balance sheets. See Note 5, Regulatory Assets

In conjunction with our adoption of Topic 842, while the timing of expense recognition related to our finance leases did not change, the classification of the lease expense changed as follows:

Effective January 1, 2019, the minimum lease payments under the power purchase contract were no longer classified within cost of sales in our income statements, but were instead recorded as a component of depreciation and Liabilities,amortization and interest expense in accordance with Topic980-842, Regulated Operations – Leases.
Similarly, the lease payments related to our leases with We Power were no longer classified within other operation and maintenance in our income statements, but were also divided between depreciation and amortization expense and interest expense in accordance with Topic980-842.
In accordance with Topic 980-842, the timing of lease expense did not change for more informationthese finance leases upon adoption of Topic 842, and still resembled the expense recognition pattern of an operating lease, as the amortization of the right of use assets was modified from what would typically be recorded for a finance lease under Topic842.
We continue to record the difference between the minimum lease payments and the sum of imputed interest and unadjusted amortization costs calculated under the finance lease accounting rules as a deferred regulatory asset on our plant related capital leases.balance sheets.


Power Purchase Commitment


In 1997, we entered into a 25-year power purchase contract with an unaffiliated independent power producer. The contract, for 236 MWMWs of firm capacity from a natural gas-fired cogeneration facility, includes zero0 minimum energy requirements. When the contract expires in 2022, we may, at our option and with proper notice, renew for another ten years, or purchase the generating facility at fair market value, or allow the contract to expire. We account forAt lease inception we recorded this contract as a capital lease and recorded the leased facility and corresponding obligation under the capital leaseon our balance sheets 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
2020 Form 10-K75Wisconsin Electric Power Company


As previously discussed, 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.purposes. We record the difference between the minimum lease payments and the sum of imputed interest and amortization costs calculated under capitalfinance lease accounting rules as a deferred regulatory asset on our balance sheets. Minimum lease payments are a function of the 236MWs 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$78.5 million duringin 2009, at which time the regulatory asset began to be reduced to zero0 over the remaining life of the contract. The total obligation under the capitalfinance lease was $27.0$12.1 million as ofat December 31, 2017,2020, and will decrease to zero0 over the remaining life of the contract.


Port Washington Generating Station


We are leasing PWGS 1 and PWGS 2, two2 545 MW natural gas-fired generation units, which were placed in service in July 2005 and May 2008, respectively, from We Power under PSCW approved leases. The leased units and corresponding obligations for the units have been recorded at the estimated fair value of $727.4 million. We are amortizing the leased units on a straight-line basis over the original 25-year term of the leases. The lease payments are expected to be recovered through our rates, as supported by theWisconsin's 2001 leased generation law. Due to the timing and the amounts of the minimum lease payments, we expect the regulatory asset to increase to approximately $129.1$129.5 million in the year 2021 for PWGS 1 and to approximately $124.4$126.8 million in the year 2023 for PWGS 2, at which time the regulatory assets will be reduced to zero0 over the remaining lives of the contracts. The total obligation under the capitalfinance leases for the units was $644.7$598.9 million as of December 31, 2017,2020, and will decrease to zero0 over the remaining lives of the contracts.


The only variability associated with the PWGS lease payments relates to the potential for future changes in We Power's tax or interest rates, as the positive or negative impact of these changes is generally passed along to us, and subsequently to our customers. Because variability in the lease payments is dependent upon a rate (interest rate or tax rate), the lease payments are considered unavoidable under Topic 842, and are included in the measurement of the right of use asset and lease liability, consistent with how they were treated under Topic840.

When the PWGS 1 and PWGS 2 contracts expire in 2030 and 2033, respectively, we may, at our option and with proper notice, choose to renew 1 or both contracts for up to 3 consecutive renewal terms (each renewal term would approximate 80% of the then remaining economic useful life of the respective generation unit), purchase 1 or both generating facilities at fair market value, or allow the contracts to expire.

Elm Road Generating Station


We are leasing ER 1, ER 2, and the common facilities, which are also utilized by our OC5 through OC8 generating units, from We Power under PSCW approved leases. We are amortizing the leased units on a straight-line basis over the 30-year term of the leases. ER1 and ER2 were placed in service in February 2010 and January 2011, respectively. The leased units and corresponding capital lease obligations have

2017 Form 10-K71Wisconsin Electric Power Company


been recorded at the estimated fair value of $2,141.4 million. The lease payments are expected to be recovered through our rates, as supported by theWisconsin's 2001 leased generation law. Due to the timing and the amounts of the minimum lease payments, we expect the regulatory asset to increase to approximately $517.9$528.2 million in the year 2028 for ER1 and to approximately $425.0$436.1 million in the year 2029 for ER2, at which time the regulatory assets will be reduced to zero0 over the remaining lives of the contracts. The total obligation under the capitalfinance leases was $2,194.6$2,207.1 million as of December 31, 2017,2020, and will decrease to zero0 over the remaining lives of the contracts.


The only variability associated with the ERGS lease payments relates to the potential for future changes in We Power's tax or interest rates, as the positive or negative impact of these changes are generally passed along to us, and subsequently to our customers. Because variability in the lease payments is dependent upon a rate (interest rate or tax rate), the lease payments are considered unavoidable under Topic842, and are included in the measurement of the right of use asset and lease liability, consistent with how they were treated under Topic 840.

When the ER 1 and ER 2 contracts expire in 2040 and 2041, respectively, we may, at our option and with proper notice, choose to renew 1 or both contracts for up to 3 consecutive renewal terms (each renewal term would approximate 80% of the then remaining economic useful life of the respective generation unit), purchase 1 or both generating facilities at fair market value, or allow the contracts to expire.

2020 Form 10-K76Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Badger Hollow Solar Park II

Related to our investment in Badger Hollow II, we, along with an unaffiliated utility, entered into several land leases in Iowa County, Wisconsin that commenced in the second quarter of 2020. The leases are for a total of approximately 1,500 acres of land. Each lease has an initial construction term that ends upon achieving commercial operation, then automatically extends for 25 years with an option for an additional 25-year extension. We expect the optional extension to be exercised, and, as a result, the land leases are being amortized over the extended term of the leases. The lease payments will be recovered through rates.

We paidtreat these land lease contracts as operating leases for rate-making purposes. Our total obligation under the following lease payments during 2017, 2016,finance leases for Badger Hollow II was $23.1 million as of December 31, 2020, and 2015:
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
Long-term power purchase commitment $7.2
 $37.6
 $36.2
PWGS  85.0
 82.4
 103.8
ERGS 335.5
 329.8
 306.7
Total $427.7
 $449.8
 $446.7

As a resultwill decrease to 0 over the remaining lives of the Tax Legislation, futureleases.

Amounts Recognized in the Financial Statements

The components of lease expense and supplemental cash flow information related to our leases for the year ended December 31 are as follows:
(in millions)202020192018
Finance lease expense
Amortization of right of use assets (1)
$59.2 $20.6 
Interest on lease liabilities (2)
347.1 350.9 
Capital lease expense (3)
$371.0 
Operating lease expense (4)
2.6 2.6 2.7 
Total lease expense$408.9 $374.1 $373.7 
Other information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows for finance/capital leases (5)
$347.1 $350.9 $381.4 
Operating cash flows for operating leases$2.6 $2.6 $2.7 
Financing cash flows for finance leases (5)
$58.3 $50.5 
Non-cash activities:
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for finance lease liabilities$22.8 $
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities$0 $13.0 
Weighted-average remaining lease term – finance leases18.0 years18.6 years
Weighted-average remaining lease term – operating leases29.9 years25.0 years
Weighted-average discount rate – finance leases (6)
13.8 %13.9 %
Weighted average discount rate – operating leases (6)
4.6 %4.5 %

(1)    Amortization of right of use assets was included as a component of depreciation and amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

(2)    Interest on lease liabilities was included as a component of interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

(3)    Capital lease expense related to the long-term PPA was included in cost of sales and total capital lease cost related to the PWGS and ERGS units was included in other operation and maintenance for the year ended December 31, 2018.

(4)    Operating lease paymentsexpense was included as a component of operation and maintenance for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

(5)    Prior to our adoption of Topic 842 on January 1, 2019, all cash flows related to finance leases were recalculated and are expected to decrease by approximately $50.0 million annually beginning in 2018. The reduction in lease payments is not expected to impact earnings as it will be recorded as a reduction to regulatory assets untilcomponent of operating cash flows.

(6)    Because our nextoperating leases do not provide an implicit rate case. See Note 5, Regulatory Assetsof return, we used the fully collateralized incremental borrowing rates based upon information available for similarly rated companies in determining the present value of lease payments for our operating leases. For our PPA and Liabilities,the PWGS and Note 12, Income Taxes,ERGS units that meet the definition of a finance lease, the rate implicit in the lease was readily determinable. For our solar land leases that are finance leases, we used the fully collateralized incremental borrowing rates based upon information available for more information onsimilarly rated companies in determining the Tax Legislation.present value of lease payments.


2020 Form 10-K77Wisconsin Electric Power Company

The following table summarizes our capitalized leased facilities asfinance lease right of use assets, which were included in property, plant and equipment on our balance sheets:
(in millions)December 31, 2020December 31, 2019
Long-term power purchase commitment
Under finance lease$140.3 $140.3 
Accumulated amortization(132.3)(126.6)
Total long-term power purchase commitment$8.0 $13.7 
PWGS
Under finance lease$749.4 $742.7 
Accumulated amortization(399.6)(367.6)
Total PWGS$349.8 $375.1 
ERGS
Under finance lease$2,223.4 $2,194.4 
Accumulated amortization(748.6)(672.8)
Total ERGS$1,474.8 $1,521.6 
Badger Hollow II land leases
Under finance leases$22.8 $
Accumulated amortization(0.2)
Total Badger Hollow II land leases$22.6 $
Total finance lease right of use assets$1,855.2 $1,910.4 

Right of use assets related to operating leases were $8.4 million and $10.6 million at December 31:31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and were included in other long-term assets on our balance sheets.
(in millions) 2017 2016
Long-term power purchase commitment    
Under capital lease $140.3
 $140.3
Accumulated amortization (115.2) (109.5)
Total long-term power purchase commitment $25.1
 $30.8
     
PWGS     
Under capital lease $727.4
 $704.2
Accumulated amortization (305.1) (274.7)
Total PWGS  $422.3
 $429.5
     
ERGS    
Under capital lease $2,141.4
 $2,053.5
Accumulated amortization (525.6) (453.6)
Total ERGS $1,615.8
 $1,599.9
     
Total leased facilities $2,063.2
 $2,060.2


2017 Form 10-K72Wisconsin Electric Power Company



Future minimum lease payments under our capitalfinance and operating leases and the present value of our net minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2017 are2020, were as follows:
(in millions)Total Operating LeasesPower Purchase CommitmentPWGSERGSBadger Hollow IITotal Finance Leases
2021$0.7 9.4 $99.4 $297.9 $0.3 $407.0 
20220.5 4.2 99.4 297.8 0.3 401.7 
20230.5 99.4 297.6 0.7 397.7 
20240.5 99.3 297.6 0.7 397.6 
20250.5 99.1 297.5 0.7 397.3 
Thereafter12.7 589.4 4,316.5 55.0 4,960.9 
Total minimum lease payments15.4 13.6 1,086.0 5,804.9 57.7 6,962.2 
Less: Interest(7.0)(1.5)(487.1)(3,597.8)(34.6)(4,121.0)
Present value of minimum lease payments8.4 12.1 598.9 2,207.1 23.1 2,841.2 
Less: Short-term lease liabilities(0.3)(8.1)(28.9)(29.8)(66.8)
Long-term lease liabilities$8.1 $4.0 $570.0 $2,177.3 $23.1 $2,774.4 

Short-term and long-term lease liabilities related to operating leases were included in other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities on the balance sheets, respectively.

(in millions) Power Purchase Commitment PWGS ERGS Total
2018 $14.7
 $96.3
 $287.7
 $398.7
2019 15.5
 96.3
 287.7
 399.5
2020 16.4
 96.3
 287.7
 400.4
2021 17.2
 96.3
 287.7
 401.2
2022 7.6
 96.3
 287.6
 391.5
Thereafter 
 857.3
 5,029.5
 5,886.8
Total minimum lease payments 71.4
 1,338.8
 6,467.9
 7,878.1
Less: Estimated executory costs (33.1) 
 
 (33.1)
Net minimum lease payments 38.3
 1,338.8
 6,467.9
 7,845.0
Less: Interest (11.3) (694.1) (4,273.3) (4,978.7)
Present value of minimum lease payments 27.0
 644.7
 2,194.6
 2,866.3
Less: Due currently (3.7) (19.4) (19.4) (42.5)
Long-term obligations under capital lease $23.3
 $625.3
 $2,175.2
 $2,823.8

2020 Form 10-K78Wisconsin Electric Power Company

NOTE 12—13—INCOME TAXES


Income Tax Expense (Benefit)


The following table is a summary of income tax expense (benefit) for each of the years ended December 31:
(in millions)202020192018
Current tax expense (benefit)$112.2 $73.4 $(56.2)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit), net(66.0)(128.9)0.1 
ITC, net(1.5)(2.3)(0.8)
Total income tax expense (benefit)$44.7 $(57.8)$(56.9)
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
Current tax expense $81.5
 $4.8
 $33.1
Deferred income taxes, net 110.6
 207.3
 180.0
Investment tax credit, net (0.9) (1.1) (1.1)
Total income tax expense $191.2
 $211.0
 $212.0


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 and preferred dividend as a result of the following:
202020192018
(in millions)AmountEffective Tax RateAmountEffective Tax RateAmountEffective Tax Rate
Statutory federal income tax$86.2 21.0 %$63.9 21.0 %$63.3 21.0 %
State income taxes net of federal tax benefit26.5 6.5 %20.2 6.6 %19.6 6.5 %
Federal excess deferred tax amortization – Wisconsin unprotected (1)
(42.7)(10.4)%%%
Federal excess deferred tax amortization (2)
(23.2)(5.7)%(16.1)(5.3)%(15.5)(5.1)%
Wind PTCs(11.1)(2.7)%(9.3)(3.0)%(9.4)(3.1)%
AFUDC – Equity(1.5)(0.4)%(0.8)(0.3)%(0.8)(0.3)%
ITC restored(1.5)(0.4)%(2.3)(0.8)%(0.8)(0.3)%
Domestic production activities deferral6.3 1.5 %6.1 2.0 %6.1 2.0 %
Tax repairs (3)
3.3 0.8 %(122.9)(40.1)%(120.7)(39.9)%
Other, net2.4 0.7 %3.4 1.0 %1.3 0.4 %
Total income tax expense (benefit)$44.7 10.9 %$(57.8)(18.9)%$(56.9)(18.8)%

(1)    In accordance with the rate order received from the PSCW in December 2019, we are amortizing these unprotected deferred tax benefits over periods ranging from two years to four years, to reduce near-term rate impacts to our customers. The decrease in income tax expense related to the amortization of the deferred tax benefits is offset by a decrease in revenue as the benefits are returned to customers, resulting in 0 impact on net income.

(2)    The Tax Legislation required us to remeasure our deferred income taxes and we began to amortize the resulting excess protected deferred income taxes beginning in 2018 in accordance with normalization requirements. The decrease in income tax expense related to the amortization of the deferred tax benefits is offset by a decrease in revenue as the benefits are returned to customers, resulting in 0 impact on net income.

(3)    In accordance with a settlement agreement with the PSCW, we flowed through the tax benefit of our 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 related deferred tax liabilities offsets the negative income statement impact of holding the regulatory assets level, resulting in 0 impact to net income. In 2020, in accordance with the settlement agreement, we started collecting the payback of the tax repairs benefit that was flowed through to customers. Customers will pay back all of the benefits over the next fifty years.

See Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for more information about the impact of the Tax Legislation and the Wisconsin rate order.

  2017 2016 2015
(in millions) Amount Effective Tax Rate Amount Effective Tax Rate Amount Effective Tax Rate
Expected tax at statutory federal tax rates $184.4
 35.0 % $201.4
 35.0 % $205.7
 35.0 %
State income taxes net of federal tax benefit 27.9
 5.3 % 31.8
 5.5 % 31.0
 5.3 %
Production tax credits (17.6) (3.3)% (16.5) (2.8)% (17.8) (3.0)%
Domestic production activities deduction (7.8) (1.5)% (7.8) (1.4)% (7.8) (1.3)%
AFUDC – Equity (1.1) (0.2)% (1.5) (0.3)% (2.0) (0.3)%
Investment tax credit restored (0.9) (0.2)% (1.1) (0.2)% (1.1) (0.2)%
Other, net 6.3
 1.1 % 4.7
 0.8 % 4.0
 0.5 %
Total income tax expense $191.2
 36.2 % $211.0
 36.6 % $212.0
 36.0 %

2020 Form 10-K79Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Deferred Income Tax Assets and Liabilities

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Legislation was signed into law. For businesses, the Tax Legislation reduces the corporate federal tax rate from a maximum of 35% to a 21% rate effective January 1, 2018. We estimated a preliminary tax benefit related to the re-measurement of our deferred taxes in the amount of approximately $1,065 million. Accordingly, this amount has been recorded as both an increase to regulatory liabilities as well as a decrease to certain existing regulatory assets as of December 31, 2017. Our revaluation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities is subject to further clarification of the new law that cannot be estimated at this

2017 Form 10-K73Wisconsin Electric Power Company


time. The impact of the Tax Legislation could materially differ from this estimate due to, among other things, changes in interpretations and assumptions we have made.

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 provides 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 are to be considered "provisional" as discussed in SAB 118 and subject to revision. We are awaiting additional guidance from industry and income tax authorities in order to finalize our accounting.


The components of deferred income taxes as of December 31 were as follows:
(in millions)20202019
Deferred tax assets
Tax gross up – regulatory items$132.6 $152.7 
Deferred revenues124.6 126.8 
Future tax benefits14.8 41.0 
Other82.3 64.5 
Total deferred tax assets$354.3 $385.0 
Deferred tax liabilities
Property-related$1,334.4 $1,368.9 
Deferred costs – Plant retirements237.4 215.5 
Employee benefits and compensation49.3 55.8 
Deferred costs – SSR47.7 51.1 
Other42.7 41.1 
Total deferred tax liabilities1,711.5 1,732.4 
Deferred tax liability, net$1,357.2 $1,347.4 
(in millions) 2017 2016
Deferred tax assets    
Tax gross up – regulatory items $240.1
 $
Future tax benefits 133.1
 143.7
Deferred revenues 128.8
 207.2
Employee benefits and compensation 50.2
 77.6
Construction advances 15.0
 20.0
Uncollectible account expense 12.5
 16.1
Emission allowances 0.1
 0.2
Other 54.8
 70.9
Total deferred tax assets 634.6
 535.7
     
Deferred tax liabilities    
Property-related 1,487.0
 2,257.3
Employee benefits and compensation 117.4
 179.3
Deferred transmission costs 60.1
 93.1
Prepaid tax, insurance, and other 33.8
 50.2
Investment in transmission affiliate 
 195.1
Other 91.8
 94.0
Total deferred tax liabilities 1,790.1
 2,869.0
Deferred tax liability, net $1,155.5
 $2,333.3


Consistent with rate-making treatment, deferred taxes in the table above are offset for temporary differences that have related regulatory assets and liabilities.


AsThe components of net deferred tax assets associated with federal and state tax benefit carryforwards as of December 31, 2017, we had $4.0 million and $125.6 million of federal charitable contribution and tax credit carryforwards resulting in deferred tax assets of $0.8 million and $125.6 million, respectively. These federal charitable contribution carryforwards begin to expire in 2020 and tax credit carryforwards begin to expire2019 are summarized in 2031. We expect to have future taxable income sufficient to utilize these deferred tax assets. As of December 31, 2016, we had approximately $82.8 million and $107.2 million of federal net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards resulting in deferred tax assets of $29.0 million and $107.2 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2017 we had $74.7 million and $31.9 million of state net operating loss and state charitable contribution carryforwards resulting in deferred tax assets of $4.7 million and $2.0 million, respectively. These state net operating loss carryforwards begin to expire in 2035 and state charitable contribution carryforwards begin to expire in 2017. We expect to have future taxable income sufficient to utilize these deferred tax assets. As of December 31, 2016 we had $149.9 million state net operating loss carryforwards resulting in deferred tax assets of $7.5 million.the tables below:

2020
(in millions)
Gross ValueDeferred Tax EffectEarliest Year of Expiration
Future tax benefits as of December 31, 2020
Federal tax credit$0 $14.8 2040
Balance as of December 31, 2020$0 $14.8 

2019
(in millions)
Gross ValueDeferred Tax EffectEarliest Year of Expiration
Future tax benefits as of December 31, 2019
Federal tax credit$$37.1 2037
State net operating loss52.4 3.3 2035
Other state benefits0.6 2019
Balance as of December 31, 2019$52.4 $41.0 

Unrecognized Tax Benefits


We previously adopted accounting guidance related to uncertainty in income taxes. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount ofhad 0 unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

(in millions) 2017 2016
Balance as of January 1 $5.1
 $6.1
Reductions for tax positions of prior years (5.1) (1.0)
Balance as of December 31 $
 $5.1

2017 Form 10-K74Wisconsin Electric Power Company



The amount ofWe do not expect any unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 excludes deferred tax assets related to uncertainty in income taxes of zero and $5.1 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, there were no unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact theaffect our effective tax rate for continuing operations.in periods after December 31, 2020.


We recognize interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2020, 2019, and 2015,2018, we recognized $0.7 million of interest income, $0.2 million of0 interest expense and $0.1 million of interest income, respectively,related to unrecognized tax benefits in our income statements. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2020, 2019, and 2015,2018, we recognized no0 penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in our income statements. As ofFor the years ended December 31, 2017,2020 and 2019, we had no0 interest accrued and no0 penalties accrued on our balance sheets. As of December 31, 2016, we had $0.7 million of accrued interest and no penalties accruedrelated to unrecognized tax benefits on our balance sheets.


We do not anticipate any significant increases or decreases in the total amountsamount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months.


2020 Form 10-K80Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Our primary tax jurisdictions include Federalfederal and the state of Wisconsin. With a few exceptions we are no longer subject to federal income tax examinationexaminations by the IRS for years prior to 2014.2017. As of December 31, 2017,2020, we were subject to examination by the Wisconsin taxing authority for tax years 20132016 through 2017.2020.


NOTE 13—14—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, 2020
(in millions)Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Derivative assets
Natural gas contracts$3.0 $0.8 $0 $3.8 
FTRs0 0 1.1 1.1 
Coal contracts0 1.4 0 1.4 
Total derivative assets$3.0 $2.2 $1.1 $6.3 
Derivative liabilities
Natural gas contracts$2.9 $0.6 $0 $3.5 
Coal contracts0 0.6 0 0.6 
Total derivative liabilities$2.9 $1.2 $0 $4.1 
  December 31, 2017
(in millions) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Derivative assets        
Natural gas contracts $0.5
 $0.1
 $
 $0.6
   Petroleum products contracts 0.9
 
 
 0.9
FTRs 
 
 2.4
 2.4
Coal contracts 
 0.7
 
 0.7
Total derivative assets $1.4
 $0.8
 $2.4
 $4.6
         
Derivative liabilities        
Natural gas contracts $2.0
 $0.1
 $
 $2.1
Coal contracts 
 0.3
 
 0.3
Total derivative liabilities $2.0
 $0.4
 $
 $2.4


December 31, 2019
(in millions)Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Derivative assets    
Natural gas contracts$0.4 $$$0.4 
FTRs1.5 1.5 
Coal contracts0.1 0.1 
Total derivative assets$0.4 $0.1 $1.5 $2.0 
Derivative liabilities
Natural gas contracts$5.2 $$$5.2 
Coal contracts0.2 0.2 
Total derivative liabilities$5.2 $0.2 $$5.4 
  December 31, 2016
(in millions) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Derivative assets        
Natural gas contracts $6.0
 $0.8
 $
 $6.8
   Petroleum products contracts 0.2
 
 
 0.2
FTRs 
 
 3.1
 3.1
Coal contracts 
 1.9
 
 1.9
Total derivative assets $6.2
 $2.7
 $3.1
 $12.0
         
Derivative liabilities        
Natural gas contracts $0.1
 $
 $
 $0.1
   Petroleum products contracts 0.1
 
 
 0.1
Coal contracts 
 0.5
 
 0.5
Total derivative liabilities $0.2
 $0.5
 $
 $0.7


The derivative assets and liabilities listed in the tables above include options, futures, physical commodity contracts, and other instruments used to manage market risks related to changes in commodity prices. They also include FTRs, which are used to manage electric transmission congestion costs in the MISO Energy Markets. See Note 14, Derivative Instruments, for more information.


2017 Form 10-K75Wisconsin Electric Power Company



The following table summarizes the changes to derivatives classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy:hierarchy at December31:
(in millions)202020192018
Balance at the beginning of the period$1.5 $4.4 $2.4 
Purchases3.1 6.8 9.4 
Settlements(3.5)(9.7)(7.4)
Balance at the end of the period$1.1 $1.5 $4.4 

(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
Balance at the beginning of the period $3.1
 $1.6
 $7.0
Purchases 6.9
 8.1
 3.9
Settlements (7.6) (6.6) (9.3)
Balance at the end of the period $2.4
 $3.1
 $1.6

2020 Form 10-K81Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Fair Value of Financial Instruments


The following table shows the financial instruments included on our balance sheets that are not recorded at fair value:
December 31, 2020December 31, 2019
(in millions)Carrying AmountFair ValueCarrying AmountFair Value
Preferred stock$30.4 $32.3 $30.4 $29.5 
Long-term debt, including current portion2,761.2 3,451.8 2,759.2 3,209.5 
  December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016
(in millions) Carrying Amount Fair Value Carrying Amount Fair Value
Preferred stock $30.4
 $30.5
 $30.4
 $28.8
Long-term debt, including current portion 2,662.3
 2,976.3
 2,661.1
 2,923.4


The fair values of our long-term debt and preferred stock are categorized within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

NOTE 14—15—DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS


The following table shows our derivative assets and derivative liabilities:liabilities, along with their classification on our balance sheets. NaN of our derivatives are designated as hedging instruments.
December 31, 2020December 31, 2019
(in millions)Derivative AssetsDerivative LiabilitiesDerivative AssetsDerivative Liabilities
Other current
Natural gas contracts$3.7 $3.2 $0.4 $5.1 
FTRs1.1 0 1.5 
Coal contracts1.4 0.5 0.2 
Total other current6.2 3.7 1.9 5.3 
Other long-term
Natural gas contracts0.1 0.3 0.1 
Coal contracts0 0.1 0.1 
Total other long-term0.1 0.4 0.1 0.1 
Total$6.3 $4.1 $2.0 $5.4 
  December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016
(in millions) Derivative Assets Derivative Liabilities Derivative Assets Derivative Liabilities
Other current        
   Natural gas contracts $0.6
 $1.9
 $6.3
 $0.1
   Petroleum products contracts 0.9
 
 0.2
 0.1
   FTRs 2.4
 
 3.1
 
   Coal contracts 0.6
 0.1
 1.5
 0.5
   Total other current $4.5
 $2.0
 $11.1
 $0.7
         
Other long-term        
   Natural gas contracts $
 $0.2
 $0.5
 $
   Coal contracts 0.1
 0.2
 0.4
 
   Total other long-term $0.1
 $0.4
 $0.9
 $
Total $4.6
 $2.4
 $12.0
 $0.7


Realized gains (losses) on derivatives are primarily recorded in cost of sales on the income statements. Our estimated notional sales volumes and realized gains (losses) were as follows:follows for the years ended:
December 31, 2020December 31, 2019December 31, 2018
(in millions)VolumesGains (Losses)VolumesGains (Losses)VolumesGains
Natural gas contracts62.1 Dth$(15.1)61.6 Dth$(11.3)53.4 Dth$9.7 
Petroleum products contracts0 gallons0 
0 gallons
4.2 gallons1.2 
FTRs20.9 MWh2.5 21.7 MWh8.7 21.2 MWh3.4 
Total $(12.6) $(2.6) $14.3 
  December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015
(in millions) Volume Gains (Losses) Volume Gains (Losses) Volume Gains (Losses)
Natural gas contracts 26.9 Dth $(1.0) 35.3 Dth $(12.3) 24.0 Dth $(12.6)
Petroleum products contracts 16.7 gallons (1.4) 10.3 gallons (2.6) 4.0 gallons (0.2)
FTRs 27.1 MWh 7.6
 25.3 MWh 7.3
 22.8 MWh 3.2
Total   $5.2
   $(7.6)   $(9.6)


At December 31, 2017,2020 and 2019, we had posted cash collateral of $4.9$6.7 million in our margin accounts, and at December 31, 2016, we had received cash collateral of $3.4$8.5 million, respectively, in our margin accounts.



2017 Form 10-K76Wisconsin Electric Power Company


The following table shows derivative assets and derivative liabilities if derivative instruments by counterparty were presented net on our balance sheets:
December 31, 2020December 31, 2019
(in millions)Derivative AssetsDerivative LiabilitiesDerivative AssetsDerivative Liabilities
Gross amount recognized on the balance sheet$6.3 $4.1 $2.0 $5.4 
Gross amount not offset on the balance sheet(2.9)(2.9)(0.4)(5.2)(1)
Net amount$3.4 $1.2 $1.6 $0.2 

(1)     Includes cash collateral posted of $4.8 million.

  December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016
(in millions) 
Derivative
Assets
 Derivative Liabilities 
Derivative
Assets
 Derivative Liabilities
Gross amount recognized on the balance sheet $4.6
 $2.4
 $12.0
 $0.7
Gross amount not offset on the balance sheet (1.3) (2.0)
(1) 
(3.6)
(2) 
(0.2)
Net amount $3.3
 $0.4
 $8.4
 $0.5

(1)
2020 Form 10-K
Includes cash collateral posted of $0.7 million at December 31, 2017.82Wisconsin Electric Power Company

(2)
Includes cash collateral received of $3.4 million at December 31, 2016.


NOTE 15—16—EMPLOYEE BENEFITS


Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefits


We participate in WEC Energy Group's defined benefit pension plans and OPEB plans that cover substantially all of our employees. We are responsible for our share of the plan assets and obligations. The benefits for a portion of these plans are funded through irrevocable trusts, as allowed for income tax purposes. Our balance sheets reflect only the liabilities associated with our past and current employees and our share of the plan assets and obligations. 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, employees who started with us 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 managementManagement employees hired after December31, 2014, and certain new represented employees hired after May1, 2017, receive a 6%an annual company contribution to their 401(k) savings plan instead of being enrolled in the defined benefit plans.


We use a year-end measurement date to measure the funded status of all of the 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 the pension and OPEB plans qualify as a regulatory asset.


2017 Form 10-K77Wisconsin Electric Power Company



The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in our share of the plans' benefit obligations and fair value of assets:
Pension BenefitsOPEB Benefits
(in millions)2020201920202019
Change in benefit obligation
Obligation at January 1$1,148.3 $1,099.4 $207.3 $227.7 
Service cost12.5 12.6 4.2 4.5 
Interest cost37.7 45.2 6.8 9.5 
Participant contributions0 6.9 6.1 
Plan amendments0 (2.5)2.7 
Net transfer from/to affiliates0.5 (1)(5.3)(1)0.2 (1)
Actuarial loss (gain)94.1 81.5 (1.9)(29.8)
Benefit payments(80.0)(85.1)(17.5)(16.2)
Federal subsidy on benefits paidN/AN/A1.2 1.1 
Transfer0 0 1.4 (2)1.7 (2)
Obligation at December 31$1,213.1 $1,148.3 $206.1 $207.3 
Change in fair value of plan assets
Fair value at January 1$1,094.6 $1,019.8 $228.5 $201.5 
Actual return on plan assets108.3 156.7 27.0 35.4 
Employer contributions3.9 3.8 0 1.7 
Participant contributions0 6.9 6.1 
Net transfer from/to affiliates0.4 (1)(0.6)(1)0 
Benefit payments(80.0)(85.1)(17.5)(16.2)
Fair value at December 31$1,127.2 $1,094.6 $244.9 $228.5 
Funded status at December 31$(85.9)$(53.7)$38.8 $21.2 

(1)    Benefit obligations and plan assets were moved along with our employees who were transferred from/to affiliated entities.

(2)    Represents a premium medical account that was transferred into the OPEB benefit obligation.

In 2020 and 2019, we had actuarial losses related to our pension benefit obligations of $94.1 million and $81.5 million, respectively, which were primarily due to decreases in our discount rates. The discount rate for our pension benefits was 2.63%, 3.39%, and 4.30% in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

The 2020 actuarial gain related to our OPEB benefit obligation was not significant. In 2019, we had an actuarial gain related to our OPEB benefit obligation of $29.8 million, which was primarily due to better than expected claims and premiums experience, the use
  Pension Costs OPEB Costs 
(in millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016 
Change in benefit obligation         
Obligation at January 1 $1,177.0
 $1,290.6
 $298.5
 $313.8
 
Service cost 12.2
 10.5
 7.0
 7.3
 
Interest cost 47.0
 49.7
 12.1
 13.2
 
Participant contributions 
 
 5.7
 8.8
 
Plan amendments 
 (2.6) (6.8) 
 
Net transfer to/from affiliates (13.4)
(1) 
(121.1)
(2) 
(3.3)
(1) 
(17.0)
(2) 
Actuarial loss (gain) 53.1
 25.3
 5.1
 (9.7) 
Benefit payments (82.0) (75.4) (16.5) (19.0) 
Federal subsidy on benefits paid N/A
 N/A
 1.7
 1.1
 
Obligation at December 31 $1,193.9
 $1,177.0
 $303.5
 $298.5
 
          
Change in fair value of plan assets         
Fair value at January 1 $1,102.8
 $1,179.3
 $205.1
 $216.1
 
Actual return on plan assets 121.9
 73.0
 25.9
 13.5
 
Employer contributions 5.1
 5.3
 3.2
 2.7
 
Participant contributions 
 
 5.7
 8.8
 
Net transfer to/from affiliates (13.7)
(1) 
(79.4)
(2) 
(3.3)
(1) 
(17.0)
(2) 
Benefit payments (82.0) (75.4) (16.5) (19.0) 
Fair value at December 31 $1,134.1
 $1,102.8
 $220.1
 $205.1
 
Funded status at December 31 $(59.8) $(74.2) $(83.4) $(93.4) 

(1)
2020 Form 10-K
Benefit obligations and plan assets were moved along with our employees who were transferred to/from affiliated entities, primarily a result of our customer service employees being transferred to WBS.83Wisconsin Electric Power Company


(2)
Benefit obligations and plan assets were moved along with our employees who were transferred to/from affiliated entities. See Note 4, Related Parties, for more information.

of new mortality tables, and the repeal of certain health insurance related taxes. These gains were partially offset by a decrease in our discount rate. The discount rate for our OPEB benefits was 3.40% and 4.30%, in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The amounts recognized on our balance sheets at December 31 related to the funded status of the benefit plans were as follows:
Pension BenefitsOPEB Benefits
(in millions)2020201920202019
Other long-term assets$0 $6.1 $38.8 $21.2 
Pension and OPEB obligations85.9 59.8 0 
Total net (liabilities) assets$(85.9)$(53.7)$38.8 $21.2 
  Pension Costs OPEB Costs
(in millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016
Pension and OPEB obligations $(59.8) $(74.2) $(83.4) $(93.4)


The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $1,192.4$1,212.0 million and $1,175.8$1,147.0 million as of December 31, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively.


The following table shows information for the pension plans for which we havewith an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets. Amounts presented are as of December31:
(in millions)20202019
Accumulated benefit obligation$1,212.0 $1,039.5 
Fair value of plan assets1,127.2 980.9 

The following table shows information for pension plans with a projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets. Amounts presented are as of December 31:
(in millions)20202019
Projected benefit obligation$1,213.1 $1,040.7 
Fair value of plan assets1,127.2 980.9 
(in millions) 2017 2016
Projected benefit obligation $1,193.9
 $1,177.0
Accumulated benefit obligation 1,192.4
 1,175.8
Fair value of plan assets 1,134.1
 1,102.8


We do not have any OPEB plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets.

The following table shows the amounts that have not yet been recognized in our net periodic benefit cost as of December31:
Pension BenefitsOPEB Benefits
(in millions)2020201920202019
Net regulatory assets (liabilities)
Net actuarial loss (gain)$475.1 $460.1 $(117.9)$(115.3)
Prior service credits(2.2)(2.3)(3.4)(1.5)
Total$472.9 $457.8 $(121.3)$(116.8)
  Pension Costs OPEB Costs
(in millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016
Net regulatory assets        
Net actuarial loss (gain) $485.4
 $518.5
 $(1.6) $4.6
Prior service costs (credits) (1.0) 0.2
 (8.4) (3.0)
Total $484.4
 $518.7
 $(10.0) $1.6



2017 Form 10-K78Wisconsin Electric Power Company


The following table shows the estimated amounts that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost during 2018:
(in millions) Pension Costs OPEB Costs
Net actuarial loss $37.5
 $
Prior service costs (credits) 0.9
 (2.3)
Total 2018  estimated amortization
 $38.4
 $(2.3)

The components of net periodic benefit cost (credit) (including amounts capitalized to our balance sheets) for the years ended December31 were as follows:
Pension BenefitsOPEB Benefits
(in millions)202020192018202020192018
Service cost$12.5 $12.6 $13.2 $4.2 $4.5 $6.9 
Interest cost37.7 45.2 42.3 6.8 9.5 11.1 
Expected return on plan assets(69.4)(72.4)(75.2)(15.7)(14.3)(15.5)
Plan settlement2.4 0 
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)(0.1)0.5 0.8 (0.6)(1.9)(2.2)
Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)37.8 28.0 38.0 (10.6)(2.1)
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)$20.9 $13.9 $19.1 $(15.9)$(4.3)$0.3 

  Pension Costs OPEB Costs
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
Service cost $12.2
 $10.5
 $14.7
 $7.0
 $7.3
 $9.0
Interest cost 47.0
 49.7
 52.9
 12.1
 13.2
 13.4
Expected return on plan assets (76.6) (77.7) (83.6) (14.7) (14.0) (16.0)
Plan settlement 4.1
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of prior service cost (credit) 1.1
 1.6
 2.0
 (1.4) (1.1) (1.1)
Amortization of net actuarial loss 35.4
 32.4
 35.6
 
 1.0
 1.0
Net periodic benefit cost $23.2
 $16.5
 $21.6
 $3.0
 $6.4
 $6.3

2020 Form 10-K84Wisconsin Electric Power Company

The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations for the plans were as follows for the years ended December31:
Pension BenefitsOPEB Benefits
2020201920202019
Discount rate2.63%3.39%2.65%3.40%
Rate of compensation increase4.00%4.00%N/AN/A
Interest credit rate5.16%5.16%N/AN/A
Assumed medical cost trend rate (Pre 65)N/AN/A5.85%6.00%
Ultimate trend rate (Pre 65)N/AN/A5.00%5.00%
Year ultimate trend rate is reached (Pre 65)N/AN/A20282028
Assumed medical cost trend rate (Post 65)N/AN/A5.86%6.04%
Ultimate trend rate (Post 65)N/AN/A5.00%5.00%
Year ultimate trend rate is reached (Post 65)N/AN/A20282028
  Pension OPEB
  2017 2016 2017 2016
Discount rate 3.65% 4.15% 3.65% 4.20%
Rate of compensation increase 3.20% 3.20% N/A N/A
Assumed medical cost trend rate (pre 65) N/A N/A 6.50% 7.00%
Ultimate trend rate N/A N/A 5.00% 5.00%
Year ultimate trend rate is reached N/A N/A 2024 2021
Assumed medical cost trend rate (post 65) N/A N/A 6.18% 7.00%
Ultimate trend rate N/A N/A 5.00% 5.00%
Year ultimate trend rate is reached N/A N/A 2028 2021


The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost for the plans were as follows for the years ended December31:
Pension Benefits
202020192018
Discount rate3.37%4.30%3.65%
Expected return on plan assets6.75%7.00%7.00%
Rate of compensation increase4.00%3.40%3.40%
Interest credit rate5.16%5.18%5.18%
  Pension Costs
  2017 2016 2015
Discount rate 4.12% 4.45% 4.15%
Expected return on plan assets 7.00% 7.00% 7.00%
Rate of compensation increase 3.20% 3.50% 4.00%


OPEB Benefits
202020192018
Discount rate3.40%4.30%3.65%
Expected return on plan assets7.00%7.25%7.25%
Assumed medical cost trend rate (Pre 65)6.00%6.25%6.50%
Ultimate trend rate (Pre 65)5.00%5.00%5.00%
Year ultimate trend rate is reached (Pre 65)202820242024
Assumed medical cost trend rate (Post 65)6.04%6.12%6.18%
Ultimate trend rate (Post 65)5.00%5.00%5.00%
Year ultimate trend rate is reached (Post 65)202820282028
  OPEB Costs
  2017 2016 2015
Discount rate 4.10% 4.45% 4.20%
Expected return on plan assets 7.25% 7.25% 7.25%
Assumed medical cost trend rate (Pre 65/Post 65) 7.00% 7.50% 7.50%
Ultimate trend rate 5.00% 5.00% 5.00%
Year ultimate trend rate is reached 2021 2021 2021


WEC Energy Group consults with its investment advisors on an annual basis to help 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 2018,2021, the expected return on assetsasset assumption is 7.00%6.75% for the pension plan and 7.25%7.00% for the OPEB plan.


2017 Form 10-K79Wisconsin Electric Power Company


Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported by us for the health care plans. For the year ended December 31, 2017, 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 $2.9
 $(2.3)
Effect on the health care component of the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation 29.3
 (24.2)


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.


Our pension trust target asset allocation isallocations are 35% equity investments, 55% fixed income investments, and 10% private equity and real estate investments. The two OPEB trusts' target asset allocations are 60%50% equity investments and 40%50% fixed income investments.investments, and 70% equity investments and 30% fixed income investments, respectively. Equity securities include investments in
2020 Form 10-K85Wisconsin Electric Power Company

large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap companies primarily located in the United States.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(m)1(o), 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 summarize the fair values of our investments by asset class:
December 31, 2020
Pension Plan AssetsOPEB Assets
(in millions)Level 1Level 2Level 3TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3Total
Asset Class
Equity securities:
United States equity$134.5 $0 $0 $134.5 $36.5 $0 $0 $36.5 
International equity106.0 0 0 106.0 31.4 0 0 31.4 
Fixed income securities: (1)
United States bonds0 516.5 0 516.5 26.3 58.8 0 85.1 
International bonds0 43.6 0 43.6 0 4.3 0 4.3 
$240.5 $560.1 $0 $800.6 $94.2 $63.1 $0 $157.3 
Investments measured at net asset value$326.6 $87.6 
Total$240.5 $560.1 $0 $1,127.2 $94.2 $63.1 $0 $244.9 
  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 $
 $6.6
 $
 $6.6
 $2.1
 $0.5
 $
 $2.6
Equity securities:                
Unites States Equity 109.4
 0.1
 
 109.5
 29.0
 
 
 29.0
International Equity 114.4
 
 
 114.4
 32.2
 
 
 32.2
Fixed income securities: *                
United States Bonds 75.9
 467.8
 
 543.7
 24.4
 46.3
 
 70.7
International Bonds 9.7
 32.8
 
 42.5
 1.7
 2.9
 
 4.6
Private Equity and Real Estate 
 20.6
 55.3
 75.9
 
 1.4
 3.8
 5.2
  $309.4
 $527.9
 $55.3
 $892.6
 $89.4
 $51.1
 $3.8
 $144.3
Investments measured at net asset value       $241.5
       $75.8
Total $309.4
 $527.9
 $55.3
 $1,134.1
 $89.4
 $51.1
 $3.8
 $220.1


*This category represents investment grade bonds of United States and foreign issuers denominated in United States dollars from diverse industries.

(1)    This category represents investment grade bonds of United States and foreign issuers denominated in United States dollars from diverse industries.
December 31, 2019
Pension Plan AssetsOPEB Assets
(in millions)Level 1Level 2Level 3TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3Total
Asset Class
Equity securities:
United States equity$103.3 $$$103.3 $27.9 $$$27.9 
International equity98.4 98.4 28.5 28.5 
Fixed income securities: (1)
United States bonds49.1 438.9 488.0 23.1 52.6 75.7 
International bonds27.7 29.2 56.9 5.8 2.9 8.7 
$278.5 $468.1 $$746.6 $85.3 $55.5 $$140.8 
Investments measured at net asset value$348.0 $87.7 
Total$278.5 $468.1 $$1,094.6 $85.3 $55.5 $$228.5 
2017 Form 10-K80Wisconsin Electric Power Company


United States and foreign issuers denominated in United States dollars from diverse industries.

  December 31, 2016
  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 $1.1
 $19.2
 $
 $20.3
 $6.5
 $1.3
 $
 $7.8
Equity securities:                
United States equity 85.5
 0.1
 
 85.6
 10.5
 
 
 10.5
International equity 17.7
 
 
 17.7
 1.3
 
 
 1.3
Fixed income securities: *                
United States bonds 
 455.3
 
 455.3
 
 44.0
 
 44.0
International bonds 
 31.6
 
 31.6
 
 2.8
 
 2.8
Private Equity and Real Estate 
 
 11.0
 11.0
 
 
 0.7
 0.7
  $104.3
 $506.2
 $11.0
 $621.5
 $18.3
 $48.1
 $0.7
 $67.1
Investments measured at net asset value       $481.3
       $138.0
Total $104.3
 $506.2
 $11.0
 $1,102.8
 $18.3
 $48.1
 $0.7
 $205.1

*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
(in millions) Pension OPEB
Beginning balance at January 1, 2017 $11.0
 $0.7
Realized and unrealized gains 1.9
 0.2
Purchases 22.3
 1.5
Transfers into level 3 20.1
 1.4
Ending balance at December 31, 2017 $55.3
 $3.8

  Private Equity and Real Estate
(in millions) Pension OPEB
Beginning balance at January 1, 2016 $4.5
 $0.3
Purchases 6.5
 0.4
Ending balance at December 31, 2016 $11.0
 $0.7


Cash Flows


We expect to contribute $3.9$3.5 million to the pension plans and $0.1 million to the OPEB plans in 2018,2021, dependent upon various factors affecting us, including our liquidity position and the effects of the new Tax Legislation.possible tax law changes.


2020 Form 10-K86Wisconsin Electric Power Company

The following table shows the payments, reflecting expected future service, that we expect to make for pension and OPEB:OPEB over the next 10 years:
(in millions)Pension BenefitsOPEB Benefits
2021$87.8 $11.4 
202284.5 11.3 
202383.5 11.4 
202480.0 11.1 
202577.9 11.0 
2026-2030342.9 54.4 
(in millions) Pension Costs OPEB Costs
2018 $92.4
 $13.5
2019 90.1
 14.2
2020 89.2
 14.9
2021 86.0
 15.7
2022 82.3
 16.2
2023-2027 368.2
 85.5


2017 Form 10-K81Wisconsin Electric Power Company



Savings Plans


We sponsorWEC Energy Group sponsors 401(k) savings plans whichthat allow substantially all of our full-time 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, which amounts are contributed to an employee's savings plan account. Total costs incurred under all of these plans were $11.7was $11.4 million in 2017, $10.42020 and $11.9 million in 2016,both 2019 and $13.0 million in 2015.2018.


NOTE 16—INVESTMENT IN AMERICAN TRANSMISSION COMPANY

At December 31, 2016, we owned approximately 23% 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. Effective January 1, 2017, based upon input we received from the PSCW, we transferred our investment in ATC to another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group. This transaction was a non-cash equity transfer between entities under common control, and therefore, did not result in the recognition of a gain or loss. The following table provides a reconciliation of our investment in ATC during the years ended December 31:
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
Balance at January 1 $402.0
 $382.2
 $372.9
Less: Transfer of ownership interest 402.0
 
 
Add: Earnings from equity method investment 
 55.5
 47.8
Add: Capital contributions 
 16.1
 4.6
Less: Distributions 
 51.7
*42.9
Less: Other 
 0.1
 0.2
Balance at December 31 $
 $402.0
 $382.2

*Of this amount, $13.4 million was recorded as a receivable from ATC at December 31, 2016.

See Note 4, Related Parties, for more information on transactions with ATC.

NOTE 17—SEGMENT INFORMATION


We useEffective December 31, 2020, we changed our measure of segment profitability from operating income to measure segment profitability andnet income attributed to allocate resources to our businesses.common shareholder. At December 31, 2017,2020, we reported two2 segments, which are described below.


Our utility segment includes our electric utility operations, including steam operations, and our natural gas utility operations.

Our electric utility operations are engaged in the generation, distribution, and sale of electricity to customers in southeastern Wisconsin (including metropolitan Milwaukee), east central Wisconsin, and northern Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Effective January 1, 2017, we transferred all of our electric distribution assets and customers located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to UMERC, with the exception of Tilden. See Note 4, Related Parties, and Note 21, Regulatory Environment, for additional information. Our electric utility operations also includeWisconsin. In addition, our steam operations which produce, distribute, and sell steam to customers in metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee. Prior to April 1, 2019, we also provided electric service to Tilden, who owns an iron ore mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This customer was transferred to UMERC on April1, 2019.

Our natural gas utility operations are engaged in the purchase, distribution, and sale of natural gas to retail customers and the transportation of customer-owned natural gas in our three service areas within southeastern, east central, and northern Wisconsin.


Our non-utility operations are reported in the other segment. NaN items were reported in the other segment includesfor any of the years presented. Prior to October 2018, our other segment included Bostco, our non-utility subsidiary that was originally formed to develop and invest in real estate. In March 2017, we sold substantially all of the remaining assets of Bostco. See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information. Prior to January 1, 2017, our other segment also included our approximate 23% ownership interestBostco, and Bostco was dissolved in ATC, a for-profit, electric transmission company regulated by the FERC and certain state regulatory commissions. Effective January 1, 2017, we transferred our investment in ATC to another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group. See Note 16, Investment in American Transmission Company, for more information.October 2018.


2017 Form 10-K82Wisconsin Electric Power Company



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, 2017, 2016, and 2015.

2017 (in millions)
 Utility Other Wisconsin Electric Power Company Consolidated
Operating revenues $3,711.7
 $
 $3,711.7
Other operation and maintenance 1,358.5
 
 1,358.5
Depreciation and amortization 331.6
 
 331.6
Operating income 625.6
 
 625.6
Interest expense 117.0
 0.3
 117.3
Capital expenditures 596.1
 
 596.1
Total assets 13,121.6
 
 13,121.6

2016 (in millions)
 Utility Other 
Wisconsin Electric Power
Company Consolidated
Operating revenues $3,792.8
 $
 $3,792.8
Other operation and maintenance 1,430.2
 
 1,430.2
Depreciation and amortization 325.4
 
 325.4
Operating income 629.5
 
 629.5
Equity in earnings of transmission affiliate 
 55.5
 55.5
Interest expense 116.6
 1.0
 117.6
Capital expenditures 468.9
 0.6
 469.5
Total assets 12,945.1
 426.4
 13,371.5

2015 (in millions)
 Utility Other 
Wisconsin Electric Power
Company Consolidated
Operating revenues $3,854.1
 $
 $3,854.1
Other operation and maintenance 1,384.9
 
 1,384.9
Depreciation and amortization 304.0
 
 304.0
Operating income 648.9
 
 648.9
Equity in earnings of transmission affiliate 
 47.8
 47.8
Interest expense 117.7
 1.3
 119.0
Capital expenditures 518.8
 0.4
 519.2
Total assets 12,727.6
 412.0
 13,139.6

NOTE 18—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,PPAs, 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.

American Transmission Company

As of December 31, 2016, we owned approximately 23% of ATC, a for-profit, electric transmission company regulated by the FERC and certain state regulatory commissions. However, effective January 1, 2017, we transferred our investment in ATC to another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group. ATC was a variable interest entity, but consolidation was not required since we were not ATC's primary beneficiary. We did not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impacted ATC's economic performance. At December 31, 2016, we accounted for ATC as an equity method investment. See Note 16, Investment in American Transmission Company, for more information.



20172020 Form 10-K8387Wisconsin Electric Power Company


Purchased Power Purchase Agreement


We have a purchased power agreementPPA that represents a variable interest. This agreement is for 236 MWMWs of firm capacity from a natural gas-fired cogeneration facility, and we account for it as a capitalfinance lease. The agreement includes no0 minimum energy requirements over the remaining term of approximately four years.one year. 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 no0 residual guarantee associated with the purchased power agreement.PPA.


We have approximately $71.4$13.6 million of required capacity payments over the remaining term of this agreement. We believe that the required leasecapacity payments under this contract will continue to be recoverable in rates. Total capacityrates, and lease payments under this contract for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 were $18.0 million, $54.2 million, and $53.6 million, respectively. Ourour maximum exposure to loss is limited to thethese capacity payments under the contract.payments.


NOTE 19—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES


We 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


We have obligations to distribute and sell electricity and natural gas to our customers and 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.


The following table shows our minimum future commitments related to these purchase obligations as of December 31, 2017.2020.
Payments Due By Period
(in millions)Date Contracts Extend ThroughTotal Amounts Committed20212022202320242025Later Years
Electric utility:
Nuclear2033$7,843.9 $501.1 $531.2 $563.1 $596.8 $632.6 $5,019.1 
Coal supply and transportation2023548.9 226.8 176.4 145.7 
Purchased power205159.6 12.3 10.5 7.6 3.6 2.3 23.3 
Natural gas utility supply and transportation2048582.9 64.9 66.0 57.4 47.3 25.2 322.1 
Total$9,035.3 $805.1 $784.1 $773.8 $647.7 $660.1 $5,364.5 
      Payments Due By Period
(in millions) Date Contracts Extend Through Total Amounts Committed 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Later Years
Electric utility:                
Nuclear 2033 $9,184.5
 $420.1
 $445.4
 $475.1
 $501.1
 $531.2
 $6,811.6
Coal supply and transportation 2020 215.0
 132.2
 53.9
 28.9
 
 
 
Purchased power 2031 93.1
 29.1
 16.6
 13.7
 10.9
 9.0
 13.8
Natural gas utility supply and transportation 2048 462.3
 65.6
 54.8
 43.6
 30.3
 22.6
 245.4
Total   $9,954.9
 $647.0
 $570.7
 $561.3
 $542.3
 $562.8
 $7,070.8

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.

Rental expense attributable to operating leases was $4.0 million, $5.0 million, and $6.7 million in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.


2017 Form 10-K84Wisconsin Electric Power Company


Future minimum payments under noncancelable operating leases are payable as follows:

Year Ending December 31
 
Payments
(in millions)
2018 $3.5
2019 3.4
2020 1.9
2021 1.4
2022 1.5
Later years 23.0
Total $34.7


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; disposalmanagement 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 oldolder coal-fired power plants and conversion to modern, efficient, natural gas generation, super-critical pulverized coal generation, and/or replacement with renewable generation;
2020 Form 10-K88Wisconsin Electric Power Company

the beneficial use of ash and other products from coal-fired and biomass generating units; and
the remediation of former manufactured gas plant sites.sites; and

the reduction of methane emissions across our natural gas distribution system by upgrading infrastructure.

Air Quality


8-Hour Ozone 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 2015 ozone standard lowered the 8-hour limit for ground-level ozone. In December 2017,2020, the EPA completed its 5-year review of the ozone standard and issued a final decision to retain, without any changes, the existing 2015 standard.

The EPA issued final nonattainment area designations for the 2015 standard in April 2018. The following counties within our service territory were designated allas partial nonattainment: Kenosha, Sheboygan, and Northern Milwaukee/Ozaukee. This re-designation was challenged in the counties along Wisconsin's Lake Michigan shoreline, except Brown, Kewaunee, Marinette, and Oconto Counties, as either partial or full nonattainment.D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in Clean Wisconsin et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Petitioners in that case have argued that additional portions of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties were also included dueCounties (among others) should be designated as nonattainment for ozone. In November 2019, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments for that case. A decision was issued in July 2020 remanding the rule to the counties beingEPA for further evaluation. We expect that any subsequent EPA re-designation, if necessary, would take place in the Milwaukee combined statistical area. For nonattainment areas, the state2021.The State of Wisconsin will have to develop asubmitted the "infrastructure" portion of its state implementation plan to bring the areas back into attainment. Weoutlining how it will be required to comply with this state implementation plan no earlier than 2020. Although we will not know the potential impacts for complying withimplement, maintain, and enforce the 2015 ozone NAAQS untilstandard. The plan is subject to EPA review and approval. Additionally, in January 2021, the designations are final, which is expected fromWDNR issued a notice that it had prepared a draft economic impact analysis for proposed rules related to incorporating the EPA in April 2018, and until2015 standards into the state prepares a draft attainment plan, weadministrative code. 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.comply with associated state or federal rules.


In addition to the 2015 ozone standard, in December 2020, the EPA completed its 5-year review of the 2012 standard for particulate matter, including fine particulate matter. The EPA determined that no revisions were necessary to the current standard. All counties within our service territory are in attainment with the 2012 standards; however, we expect that the decision to retain the 2012 standards with no changes will be challenged by certain states and non-governmental organizations.

Climate Change


In 2015, the EPA issued a finalThe ACE rule, regulating GHG emissions from existing generating units, referred to as the CPP, a proposed federal plan and model trading rules as alternatives or guides to state compliance plans, and final performance standards for modified and reconstructed generating units and new fossil-fueled power plants. In October 2015, following publication of the CPP, numerous states (including Wisconsin and Michigan) and other parties, filed lawsuits challenging the final rule, including a request to stay the implementation of the final rule pending the outcome of these legal challenges. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the stay request, but in February 2016, the Supreme Court stayed the effectiveness of the CPP until disposition of the litigation ineffective since September 2019, was vacated by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in January 2021. The ACE rule replaced the CPP and provided existing coal-fired generating units with standards for achieving GHG emission reductions. It is unclear what steps the EPA will take next. The EPA could either revive an updated version of the CPP or draft a new rule to regulate GHG emissions.

In December 2018, the EPA proposed to revise the NSPS for GHG emissions from new, modified, and reconstructed fossil-fueled power plants. In the proposed rule, the EPA determined that the 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 previous rule, which identified BSER as partial carbon capture and storage.

In January 2021, the EPA finalized the NSPS but did not address the BSER as proposed in 2018. Instead, the EPA shifted the focus to finalizing a significant contribution finding for purposes of regulating source categories for GHG emissions. While the EPA confirmed that EGUs remain a listed source category, the EPA concluded that no other source category should be listed. The EPA based its conclusion on the fact that no other source category, except for EGUs, should contribute to GHG emissions above a 3% threshold. BSER may be addressed in a future action by the EPA. If the rule is not repealed, it will become effective in March 2021. Despite this uncertainty, WEC Energy Group continues to move forward on the ESG Progress Plan which is heavily focused on reducing GHG emissions.

The ESG Progress Plan, which includes us, includes the retirement of older, fossil-fueled generation, to be replaced with the construction of zero-carbon-emitting renewable generation and natural gas-fired generation. In 2019, WEC Energy Group met and surpassed its original goal to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030. In July 2020, WEC Energy Group announced new goals to reduce CO2 emissions from its electric generation by 70% below 2005 levels by 2030 and to the extent that further appellate review is sought, at the Supreme Court. The D.C. Circuit Court of

be net carbon neutral by
20172020 Form 10-K8589Wisconsin Electric Power Company


Appeals heard one case2050. WEC Energy Group added a near-term goal in September 2016, and the other case is still pending. In April 2017, pursuant to motions made by the EPA, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the cases to be held in abeyance. Supplemental briefs were provided addressing whether the cases should be remanded to the EPA rather than held in abeyance. The EPA argued that the cases should continue to be held in abeyance pending the conclusion of the EPA's review of the CPP and any resulting rulemaking.

The CPP seeks to achieve state-specific GHG emission reduction goals by 2030, and would have required states to submit plans by September 2016. The goal of the final rule isNovember 2020 to reduce nationwide GHG CO2 emissions by 32% from 2005 levels. The rule is seeking GHG emission reductions in Wisconsin and Michigan of 41% and 39%, respectively, below 2012 levels by 2030. Interim goals starting in 2022 would require states to achieve about two-thirds of the 2030 required reduction.

In March 2017, President Trump issued an executive order that, among other things, specifically directs the EPA to review, and if appropriate, initiate proceedings to suspend, revise, or rescind the CPP and related GHG regulations for new, reconstructed, or modified fossil-fueled power plants. As a result of this order and related EPA review, as well as the ongoing legal proceedings, the timelines for the GHG emission reduction goals and all other aspects of the CPP are uncertain. In April 2017, the EPA withdrew the proposed rule for a federal plan and model trading rules that were published in October 2015 for use in developing state plans to implement the CPP or for use in states where a plan is not submitted or approved. In October 2017, the EPA issued a proposed rulemaking to repeal the CPP. In December 2017, the EPA issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit input on whether it is appropriate to replace the CPP. In addition, the Governor of Wisconsin issued an executive order in February 2016, which prohibits state agencies, departments, boards, commissions, or other state entities from developing or promoting the development of a state plan to implement the CPP.

Notwithstanding the uncertain future of the CPP, and given current fuel and technology markets, 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 a goal of reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 40%55% below 2005 levels by 2030.2025. We have implementedalready retired approximately 1,500 MW of coal-fired generation since the beginning of 2018. As part of the ESG Progress Plan, WEC Energy Group expects to retire approximately 1,800 MW of additional fossil-fueled generation by 2025 and continue to evaluate numerous optionsinvest in order to meet our CO2 reduction goal, such as increased use of existing natural gas combined cycle units, co-firing or switching to natural gas in existing coal-fired units, reduced operation or retirement of existing coal-fired units, addition of newlow-cost renewable energy resources (wind, solar), and consideration of supply and demand-side energy efficiency and distributed generation. As a result ofin Wisconsin. WEC Energy Group's plan is to replace a portion of the retired capacity by building and owning a combination of natural gas-fired generation reshaping plan, we expectand zero-carbon-emitting renewable generation facilities.

WEC Energy Group also has a goal to retire approximately 1,547 MWdecrease the rate of coal generationmethane emissions from the natural gas distribution lines in its network by 2020, including Pleasant Prairie power plant and PIPP. See Note 6, Property, Plant, and Equipment, for more information. In addition, we are evaluating our30% per mile by the year 2030 from a 2011 baseline. WEC Energy Group was over half way toward meeting that goal 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.at the end of 2020.


We are required to report our CO2 equivalent emissions from ourthe electric generating facilities we operate under the EPA Greenhouse Gases Reporting Program. For 2016, we reported aggregated CO2 equivalent emissions of approximately 23.9 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 23.514.7 million metric tonnes to the EPA for 2017.2020. 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 amountsemissions related to the natural gas that our natural gas operations distribute and sell. For 2016, we reported aggregated CO2 equivalent emissions of approximately 3.7 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 3.83.9 million metric tonnes to the EPA for 2017.2020.


National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants – Major Source Classification

In November 2020, the EPA published a final rule to eliminate the "once-in-always-in" policy regarding major and area source classifications under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. The final rule revised the definition of "major source" to allow for the reclassification as an area source when the source's potential to emit hazardous air pollutants meets certain criteria. Technical corrections to this final rule were published in December 2020. We do not expect the revisions to the major source classification will have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update Rule Revision

In 2015, the EPA determined that several upwind states had failed to submit state implementation plans that addressed their "Good Neighbor" obligations (i.e., the states projected NOx emissions significantly contribute to a continuing downwind nonattainment and/or maintenance problem); therefore, by statute, the EPA was required to issue a federal implementation plan. In October 2020, the EPA proposed a CSAPR update rule revision that keeps 9 of the 21 CSAPR affected states (including Wisconsin) as a Group 2 NOx ozone season trading program source and found that the prior CSAPR update is sufficient to meet its "Good Neighbor" obligations. No further NOx reductions would be needed within these 9 states. We do not expect that the proposed rule, if finalized, will have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

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 whichthat requires that the location, design, construction, and capacity of cooling water intake structures at existing power plants to reflect the Best Technology Available (BTA)BTA for minimizing adverse environmental impacts from both impingement (entrapping organisms on water intake screens) and entrainment (drawing organisms into water intake).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.



2017 Form 10-K86Wisconsin Electric Power Company


Facility owners must select from seven compliance options available to meet the impingement mortality (IM) reduction standard. The rule requires state permitting agencies to make BTA determinations, subject to EPA oversight, for IM reduction over the next several years as facility permits are reissued. Based on our assessment, we believe that existing technologies at our generating facilities satisfy the IM BTA requirements.

BTA determinations must also be made by the WDNR and MDEQ to address entrainment mortality (EM) reduction on a site-specific basis taking into consideration several factors. We have received an EM BTA determination by the WDNR, with EPA concurrence, for our intake modification at VAPP. Due to our plans to retire PIPP and Pleasant Prairie power plant, we do not believe that BTA determinations for EM will be necessary for these facilities.OC 5 through OC 8 and VAPP. Although we currently believe that existing technologiestechnology at the PWGS and OC 5 through OC 8 satisfysatisfies the EM BTA requirements, BTAfinal determinations to address EM reduction requirements will not be made until the discharge permits arepermit is renewed for these facilities. Untilthis facility, which is expected to be in 2021. We anticipate that time, we cannot yet determine what, if any, intake structure or operational modificationsthe permit renewal will be required to meet the new EMinclude a final BTA requirements at these other facilities. During 2018, we will continue to evaluate optionsdetermination to address the EM BTA requirements at these plants.

We have also provided information to the WDNR and the MDEQ about planned unit retirements. Based on discussions with the MDEQ, if we submit a signed certification stating that PIPP will be retired no later than the endall of the next permit cycle (assumedSection 316(b) rule requirements.

As a result of past capital investments completed to be October 1, 2023), the EM BTA requirements will be waived. We expect to submit the letter identifying the last operating date for PIPP to the MDEQ during 2018, ahead of when the agency begins processing our pending application for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit reissuance.

Weaddress Section 316(b) compliance, we believe our fleet overall is well positioned to meet the new regulation and do not expect to incur significant additional costs to comply with this regulation.

2020 Form 10-K90Wisconsin Electric Power Company


Steam Electric Effluent Limitation Guidelines


The EPA's final steam electric effluent limitation guidelines (ELG)2015 ELG rule took effect in January 2016. Various petitions challenging2016 and was modified in 2020 to revise the rule were consolidated and are pending in the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. 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 ruletreatment technology requirements related to postpone the earliest compliance dates for the bottom ash transport waterBATW and wet flue gas desulfurization wastewater requirements.FGD wastewaters at existing facilities. The latest compliance date under the ELG rule is December 31, 2023. This rule applies to wastewater discharges from ourcreated new requirements for several types of power plant processes in Wisconsin and Michigan. While the ELG compliance deadlines are postponed, the WDNR and the MDEQ have indicated that they will refrain from incorporating certainwastewaters. The 2 new requirements into any reissuedthat affect us relate to discharge permits between 2018limits for BATW and 2023.

Afterwet FGD wastewater. As a final ruleresult of past capital investments, we believe our fleet is back in effect,well positioned to meet the WDNR and MDEQ have indicated that they will modify the state rules as necessary and incorporate the new requirements into our facility permits, which are renewed every five years.existing ELG regulations. 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,There will, however, need to be modifications to the BATW systems at OC7 and OC8. Wastewater treatment system modifications will be required for wet FGD discharges and site wastewater from the OCPP and ERGS units. Based on engineering cost estimates, we expect that compliance with the ELG rule will require additional wastewater treatment retrofits as well as installation of other equipment to minimize process water use.approximately $100 million in capital investment.

The final rule would phase in new or more stringent requirements related to limits of arsenic, mercury, selenium, and nitrogen in wastewater discharged from wet scrubber systems. New requirements for wet scrubber wastewater treatment would require additional zero liquid discharge or other advanced treatment capital improvements for the OCPP and ERGS. The rule also would require dry fly ash handling, which is already in place at all of our power plants. Dry bottom ash transport systems are required by the new rule, and modifications would be required at OC 7 and OC 8. We are beginning preliminary engineering for compliance with the rule and estimate approximately $50 million will be required to design and install these advanced treatment and bottom ash transport systems. This estimate reflects the planned retirements of certain of our generation plants as a result of WEC Energy Group's generation reshaping plan discussed in Climate Change above.


Land Quality


Manufactured Gas Plant Remediation


We have identified sites at which we 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. We are responsible for the environmental remediation of these sites. 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.


2017 Form 10-K87Wisconsin Electric Power Company



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 tofor manufactured gas plant sites as of December31:
(in millions)20202019
Regulatory assets$18.5 $22.1 
Reserves for future environmental remediation (1)
10.3 12.1 
(in millions) 2017 2016
Regulatory assets $30.4
 $29.9
Reserves for future remediation 18.5
 19.0

(1)    Recorded within other long-term liabilities on our balance sheets.

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.annually. We have achieved aour required renewable energy percentage of 8.27% and met our compliance requirements by constructing various wind parks, a biomass facility, and by also relying on renewable energy purchases. We continue to review our renewable energy portfolio and acquire cost-effective renewables as needed to meet our requirements on an ongoing basis. The PSCW administers the renewable program related to Act 141, and we fund the program, along with other utilities, based on 1.2% of our annual retail 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 new legislation retains the 10% renewable energy portfolio requirement for years 2017 through 2018, increases the requirement to 12.5% for years 2019 through 2020, and increases the requirement to 15.0% for 2021. We were in compliance with these requirements as of December 31, 2017. 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.


Enforcement and Litigation Matters


We 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 effectimpact on our financial condition or results of operations.


2020 Form 10-K91Wisconsin Electric Power Company

NOTE 20—SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Year Ended December 31
(in millions)202020192018
Cash paid for interest, net of amount capitalized (1)
$464.7 $475.2 $115.0 
Cash paid for income taxes, net101.2 45.8 17.7 
Significant non-cash investing and financing transactions:
Accounts payable related to construction costs43.0 36.1 14.0 
Receivable related to insurance proceeds for property damage (2)
2.7 

(1)    On January 1, 2019, we adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This ASU required us to prospectively change the classification of our finance lease payments on the income statement. As a result, during 2020 and 2019, we classified the interest component of our finance lease payments as cash paid for interest since it was included in interest expense on the income statement. However, prior to our adoption of Topic 842, the interest component was not considered cash paid for interest since it was not included in interest expense on the income statement. See Note 12, Leases, for more information on Topic 842 and our finance leases.

(2)    See Note 6, Property, Plant, and Equipment, for more information.

NOTE 21—REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
(in millions) 2017 2016 2015
Cash (paid) for interest, net of amount capitalized $(115.1) $(116.2) $(116.2)
Cash (paid) received for income taxes, net (71.7) 100.2
 (58.5)
Significant non-cash transactions:      
Accounts payable related to construction costs 13.2
 9.1
 11.7
Transfer of investment in ATC to another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group (1) (2)
 415.4
 
 
Transfer of net assets to UMERC (1)
 61.1
 
 
Equity settlement of a short-term note receivable between Bostco and our parent company 4.8
 
 


(1)
See Note 4, Related Parties, for more information on these transactions.

(2)
The amount transferred includes a $13.4 million receivable for distributions approved and recorded in December 2016.

Coronavirus Disease – 2019


The global outbreak of COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the WHO and the CDC. COVID-19 has spread globally, including throughout the United States and, in turn, our service territory. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wisconsin declared a public health emergency and issued a shelter-in-place order, which has since been lifted. On March 24, 2020, the PSCW issued 2 orders requiring certain actions to ensure that essential utility services were, and continue to be, available to our customers. The first order required all public utilities in the state of Wisconsin, including us, to temporarily suspend disconnections, the assessment of late fees, and deposit requirements for all customer classes. In addition, it required utilities to reconnect customers that were previously disconnected, offer deferred payment arrangements to all customers, and streamline the application process for customers applying for utility service.

In the second order issued on March 24, 2020, the PSCW authorized Wisconsin utilities to defer expenditures and certain foregone revenues resulting from compliance with the first order, and expenditures as otherwise incurred to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable access to utility services during the declared public health emergency. The PSCW has affirmed that this authorization for deferral includes the incremental increase in uncollectible expense above what is currently being recovered in rates. As we already have a cost recovery mechanism in place to recover uncollectible expense for residential customers, this new deferral only impacts the recovery of uncollectible expense for our commercial and industrial customers. See Note 4, Credit Losses, for information regarding changes to our allowance for credit losses related to COVID-19. As of December 31, 2020, amounts deferred related to the COVID-19 pandemic were not significant. The PSCW will review the recoverability and examine the prudency of any deferred amounts in future rate proceedings.

On June 26, 2020, the PSCW issued a written order providing a timeline for the lifting of the temporary provisions required in the first March 24, 2020 order. Utilities were allowed to disconnect commercial and industrial customers and require deposits for new service as of July 25, 2020 and July 31, 2020, respectively. After August 15, 2020, utilities were no longer required to offer deferred payment arrangements to all customers. Additionally, utilities were authorized to reinstate late fees except for the period between the first order and this supplemental order. We resumed charging late payment fees in late August 2020. Late payment fees were not charged on outstanding balances that were billed between the first order and late August 2020.

The PSCW extended the moratorium on disconnections of residential customers until November 1, 2020. In accordance with Wisconsin regulations, utilities are generally not allowed to disconnect residential customers for non-payment during the winter moratorium, which began on November 1 and ends on April 15. Utilities are allowed to continue assessing late fees during the winter moratorium.

20172020 Form 10-K8892Wisconsin Electric Power Company


NOTE 21—REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017


As ordered byDue to the PSCW,Tax Legislation, we deferred for return to ratepayers, through future refunds, bill credits, or reductions in other regulatory assets, the estimated tax benefit of $1,065$1,102 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.

In May 2018, the PSCW issued an order regarding the benefits associated with the Tax Legislation. The PSCW order required our electric utility operations to use 80% of the current 2018 and 2019 tax benefits to reduce our transmission regulatory asset. The remaining 20% was returned to electric customers in the form of bill credits. For our 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 was used to reduce our transmission regulatory asset for our electric utility operations and was deferred for our natural gas utility operations. The timing and method of returning the remaining net tax benefit associated with the revaluation of deferred taxes was addressed in our rate order issued by the PSCW in December 2019. See Note 12, Income Taxes,the 2020 and 2021 Rates discussion below for more information.


We previously served 1 retail electric customer in Michigan, and we 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 were returned to the customer through bill credits.

2020 and 2021 Rates

In March 2019, we filed an application with the PSCW to increase our retail electric, natural gas, and steam rates, effective January1, 2020. In August 2019, we filed an application with the PSCW for approval of a settlement agreement entered into with certain intervenors to resolve several outstanding issues in our rate case. In December 2019, the PSCW issued a written order that approved the settlement agreement without material modification and addressed the remaining outstanding issues that were not included in the settlement agreement. The new rates became effective January1, 2020. The final order reflects the following:
2020 Effective rate increase
Electric (1)
$15.3  million/0.5%
Gas (2)
$10.4  million/2.8%
Steam$1.9  million/8.6%
ROE10.0%
Common equity component average on a financial basis52.5%

(1)    Amount is net of certain deferred tax benefits from the Tax Legislation that were utilized to reduce near-term rate impact. The rate order reflects the majority of the unprotected deferred tax benefits from the Tax Legislation being amortized evenly over two years, which results in approximately $65 million of tax benefits being amortized in each of 2020 and 2021. The unprotected deferred tax benefits related to the unrecovered balances of our recently retired plants and our SSR regulatory asset were used to reduce the related regulatory asset. Unprotected deferred tax benefits by their nature are eligible to be returned to customers in a manner and timeline determined to be appropriate by the PSCW.

(2)    Amount includes certain deferred tax expense from the Tax Legislation. The rate order reflects all of the unprotected deferred tax expense from the Tax Legislation being amortized evenly over four years, which results in approximately $5 million of previously deferred tax expense being amortized each year. Unprotected deferred tax expense by its nature is eligible to be recovered from customers in a manner and timeline determined to be appropriate by the PSCW.

In accordance with our rate order, we filed an application with the PSCW on July 20, 2020 requesting a financing order to securitize $100 million of Pleasant Prairie power plant's book value, plus the carrying costs accrued on the $100 million during the securitization process and related fees. On November 17, 2020, the PSCW issued a written order approving the application. The securitization will reduce the carrying costs for the $100 million, benefiting customers.

We will continue having an earnings sharing mechanism through 2021. The earnings sharing mechanism was modified from its previous structure to one that is consistent with other Wisconsin investor-owned utilities. Under the new earnings sharing mechanism, if we earn above our authorized ROE: (i) we retain 100.0% of earnings for the first 25 basis points above the authorized ROE; (ii) 50.0% of the next 50 basis points is refunded to customers; and (iii) 100.0% of any remaining excess earnings is refunded to
2020 Form 10-K93Wisconsin Electric Power Company

customers. In addition, the rate order also requires us to maintain residential and small commercial electric and natural gas customer fixed charges at previously authorized rates and to maintain the status quo for our electric market-based rate programs for large industrial customers through 2021.

2018 and 2019 Rates


During April 2017, we, along with WGWPS and WPS,WG, filed an application with the PSCW for approval of a settlement agreement we made with several of our commercial and industrial customers regarding 2018 and 2019 base rates. In September 2017, the PSCW issued an order that approved the settlement agreement, which freezesfroze base rates through 2019 for our electric, and natural gas, and steam customers. Based on the PSCW order, our authorized ROE remainsremained at 10.2%, and our current capital cost structure will remainremained unchanged through 2019. Various intervenors had filed requests for rehearing, all of which have been denied.


In addition to freezing base rates, the settlement agreement extendsextended and expandsexpanded the electric real-time market pricing program options for large commercial and industrial customers and mitigatesmitigated the continued growth of certain escrowed costs during the base rate freeze period by accelerating the recognition of certain tax benefits. We were flowing through the tax benefit of our repair-related deferred tax liabilities in 2018 and 2019, to maintain certain regulatory asset balances at their December31, 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 offset the negative income statement impact of holding the regulatory assets level, resulting in 0 change to net income.


Pursuant to the settlement agreement, we also agreed to keep our earnings sharing mechanism in place through 2019. Under this earnings sharing mechanism, if we earnearned above our authorized ROE, 50% of the first 50 basis points of additional utility earnings mustwere required to be shared withrefunded to customers. All utility earnings above the first 50 basis points mustwere also required to be shared withrefunded to customers.


Liquefied Natural Gas Storage Facilities in MichiganFacility


In January 2017, WEC Energy Group signedNovember, 2019, we filed an agreementapplication with the PSCW requesting approval to construct a LNG facility. If approved, the facility would provide us with approximately 1 Bcf of natural gas supply to meet anticipated peak demand without requiring the construction of additional interstate pipeline capacity. This facility is expected to reduce the likelihood of constraints on our natural gas system during the highest demand days of winter. The project is estimated to cost approximately $185 million. A decision from the PSCW is expected in 2021, and commercial operation of the LNG facility is targeted for the end of 2023.

Solar Generation Project

In August 2019, we, along with an unaffiliated utility, filed an application with the PSCW for approval to acquire an ownership interest in a proposed solar project, Badger Hollow II, that will be located in Iowa County, Wisconsin. Once constructed, we will own 100MW of this project. Our share of the cost of this project is estimated to be $130 million. The PSCW issued a written order approving the acquisition of Bluewater. Bluewater owns natural gas storage facilitiesthis project in Michigan that would provide a portionMarch 2020. Commercial operation of the current storage needsBadger Hollow II is targeted for our natural gas utility operations. As a result of this agreement, we, along with 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 requested that the PSCW review and confirm the reasonableness and prudency of our potential long-term storage service agreement and interstate natural gas transportation contracts related to the storage facilities. We also requested approval to amend WEC Energy Group's AIA to ensure WBS and WEC Energy Group'sDecember 2022.

NOTE 22—OTHER INCOME, NET

Total other subsidiaries could provide services to the storage facilities. During June 2017, the PSCW granted, subject to various conditions, these declarations and approvals, and WEC Energy Group acquired Bluewater on June 30, 2017. In September 2017, we entered into the long-term service agreementincome, net was as follows for the natural gas storage, which was then approved by the PSCW in November 2017.years ended December 31:

(in millions)202020192018
Non-service components of net periodic benefit costs$11.8 $9.2 $5.7 
AFUDC – Equity7.0 3.7 3.9 
Other, net(0.3)9.8 10.6 
Other income, net$18.5 $22.7 $20.2 
Formation of Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corporation

In December 2016, both the MPSC and the PSCW approved the operation of UMERC, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, 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 WPS and us, located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

In August 2016, WEC Energy Group 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 new units are expected to begin commercial operation in 2019 and should allow for the retirement of PIPP no later than 2020. Tilden will remain our customer until this new generation begins commercial operation.


20172020 Form 10-K8994Wisconsin Electric Power Company



2015 Wisconsin Rate Order

In May 2014, we applied to the PSCW for a biennial review of costs and rates. In December 2014, the PSCW approved the following rate adjustments, effective January 1, 2015:

A net bill increase related to non-fuel costs for our retail electric customers of approximately $2.7 million (0.1%) in 2015. This amount reflected the receipt of SSR payments from MISO that were higher than we anticipated when we filed our rate request in May 2014, as well as an offset of $26.6 million related to a refund of prior fuel costs and the remainder of the proceeds from a Treasury Grant that we received in connection with our biomass facility. The majority of this $26.6 million was returned to customers in the form of bill credits in 2015.
A rate increase for our retail electric customers of $26.6 million (0.9%) in 2016, related to the expiration of the bill credits provided to customers in 2015.
A rate decrease of $13.9 million (-0.5%) in 2015 related to a forecasted decrease in fuel costs.
A rate decrease of $10.7 million (-2.4%) for our natural gas customers in 2015, with no rate adjustment in 2016.
A rate increase of approximately $0.5 million (2.0%) for our Downtown Milwaukee (Valley) steam utility customers in 2015, with no rate adjustment in 2016.
A rate increase of approximately $1.2 million (7.3%) for our Milwaukee County steam utility customers in 2015, with no rate adjustment in 2016. As a result of the sale of the MCPP, we no longer have any Milwaukee County steam utility customers. See Note 3, Dispositions, for more information about the sale of the MCPP.

Our authorized ROE was set at 10.2%, and our common equity component remained at an average of 51%. The PSCW order reaffirmed the deferral of our transmission costs, and it verified that 2015 and 2016 fuel costs should continue to be monitored using a 2% tolerance window. The PSCW order also authorized escrow accounting for SSR revenues because of the uncertainty of the actual revenues we will receive under the PIPP SSR agreements. Under escrow accounting, we record SSR revenues of $90.7 million a year. If actual SSR payments from MISO exceed $90.7 million a year, the difference is deferred and returned to customers, with interest, in a future rate case. If actual SSR payments from MISO are less than $90.7 million a year, the difference is deferred and is expected to be recovered from customers with interest, in a future rate case.

Earnings Sharing Agreement

In May 2015, the PSCW approved the acquisition of Integrys subject to the condition of an earnings sharing mechanism for us. See Note 2, Acquisitions, for more information on this earnings sharing mechanism.

NOTE 22—23—QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)
(in millions)First QuarterSecond QuarterThird QuarterFourth QuarterTotal
2020
Operating revenues$871.0 $769.5 $900.2 $826.3 $3,367.0 
Operating income247.0 188.6 244.6 180.3 860.5 
Net income attributed to common shareholder118.7 70.6 114.6 61.7 365.6 
2019
Operating revenues$960.8 $791.7 $884.1 $860.1 $3,496.7 
Operating income222.9 182.6 201.1 153.6 760.2 
Net income attributed to common shareholder114.7 84.9 100.6 61.9 362.1 
(in millions) First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Total
2017          
Operating revenues $972.0
 $855.4
 $943.8
 $940.5
 $3,711.7
Operating income 185.1
 142.8
 163.4
 134.3
 625.6
Net income attributed to common shareholder 101.8
 75.3
 89.4
 69.1
 335.6
           
2016          
Operating revenues $975.5
 $877.2
 $1,023.8
 $916.3
 $3,792.8
Operating income 181.5
 146.9
 196.4
 104.7
 629.5
Net income attributed to common shareholder 107.3
 82.6
 115.2
 59.2
 364.3


Due to various factors, the quarterly results of operations are not necessarily comparable.


2017 Form 10-K90Wisconsin Electric Power Company


NOTE 23—24—NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS


Revenue RecognitionCloud Computing


In May 2014, the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board issued their joint revenue recognition standard, ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Several amendments were issued subsequent to the standard to clarify the guidance. The core principle of the guidance is to recognize revenue in an amount that an entity is entitled to receive in exchange for goods and services. The guidance also requires additional disclosures about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenues and the related cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

We have completed the review of our contracts with customers and are finalizing the related financial disclosures to evaluate the impact of the amended guidance on our existing revenue recognition policies and procedures. We have evaluated the nature of our operating revenues and do not expect that there will be a significant shift in the timing or pattern of revenue recognition. Most of our revenues are from regulated tariff sales, which are in the scope of the new standard, excluding the revenue component related to alternative revenue programs. The revenues from these contracts are recorded at the amount of the electricity or natural gas delivered to the customer during the period.

We adopted this standard for interim and annual periods beginning January 1,August 2018, as required, and used the modified retrospective method of adoption. The most significant impact to the financial statements is expected to be in the form of additional disclosures. However, we do not expect to have a cumulative-effect adjustment to record on the balance sheet as of the beginning of 2018; and therefore, do not expect to include a reconciliation of results under the new revenue recognition guidance compared with what would have been reported in 2018 under the old revenue recognition guidance. We will include disaggregated revenue disclosures by segment, major products (electric and natural gas), and customer class in the combined notes to the financial statements, starting in the first quarter of 2018.

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Instruments

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Recognition2018-15, 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 Measurementwhich costs to expense. The guidance specifies classification for capitalizing implementation costs and related amortization expense within the financial statements and requires additional disclosures. The adoption of Financial Assets and Liabilities. This guidance requires equity investments, including other ownership interests such as partnerships, unincorporated joint ventures, and limited liability companies, to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. It also simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values and amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. This ASU does not apply to investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting. As required, we adopted this ASU for interim and annual periods beginning2018-15, effective January 1, 2018. We do2020, did not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a significant impact on our financial statements.statements and related disclosures.


LeasesDisclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans


In February 2016,August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. This2018-14, Disclosure Framework: Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans. The pronouncement modifies the disclosure requirements for defined benefit pension and OPEB plans. The guidance isremoves disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial, clarifies the specific requirements of disclosures and adds disclosure requirements identified as relevant. The modifications affect annual period disclosures and must be applied on a retrospective basis to all periods presented. We adopted the disclosure provisions of ASU 2018-14, effective December 31, 2020. These disclosure modifications are included in Note 16, Employee Benefits.

Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The new standard removes certain exceptions for performing intraperiod allocation and calculating income taxes in interim periods and also adds guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including recognizing deferred taxes for tax goodwill and allocating taxes to members of a consolidated group. The guidance was effective for fiscal years,annual and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018,2020. The adoption of ASU 2019-12, effective January 1, 2021, did not have a significant impact on our financial statements and willrelated disclosures.

Reference Rate Reform

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be applied using a modified retrospective approach.discontinued because of reference rate reform. The main provisionamendments are effective for all entities as of this ASU is that lessees will be required to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for most leases, including those classified as operating leases under GAAP.March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. We are currently assessingevaluating the effectsimpact this guidance may have on our financial statements.

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,statements 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.


related disclosures.
20172020 Form 10-K9195Wisconsin Electric Power Company


Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. There are eight main provisions of this ASU for which current GAAP either is unclear or does not include specific guidance. As required, we adopted this ASU for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2018 and used a retrospective transition method. We do not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a significant impact on our financial statements.

Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. Under this ASU, an employer is required to disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of the net benefit cost. The amendments provide explicit guidance on how to present the service cost component and the other components of the net benefit cost in the income statement and allow only the service cost component of the net benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization. As required, we adopted this ASU for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2018. The amendments will be applied retrospectively for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of the net benefit cost in the income statement, and prospectively for the capitalization of the service cost component in assets. As a result of the application of accounting principles for rate regulated entities, a similar amount of net benefit cost (including non-service components) will be recognized in our financial statements consistent with the current rate-making treatment. The impacts of adoption will be limited to changes in classification of non-service costs in the income statements.


2017 Form 10-K92Wisconsin Electric Power Company


ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE


None.


ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES


Disclosure Controls and Procedures


Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon such evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, our disclosure controls and procedures are effectiveeffective: (i) in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange ActAct; and (ii) to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.


Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting


Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on its evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2017.2020.


Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.


This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management's report was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the SEC that permit us to provide only management's report in this annual report.


Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting


There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) during the fourth quarter of 20172020 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION


None.



20172020 Form 10-K9396Wisconsin Electric Power Company


PART III


ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OF THE REGISTRANT


The information under "Election of Directors," "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance," "Corporate Governance – Frequently Asked Questions: What is the process used to identify director nominees and how do I recommend a nominee to WEC Energy Group's Corporate Governance Committee?," "Corporate Governance – Frequently Asked Questions: Are the WEC Energy Group Audit and Oversight and Compensation Committees comprised solely of independent directors?," "Corporate Governance – Frequently Asked Questions: Are all the members of the WEC Energy Group Audit Committee financially literate and does the committee have an 'audit committee financial expert'?," "Corporate Governance – Frequently Asked Questions: Does the Board have a nominating committee?,"Questions, and "Committees of the WEC Energy Group Board of Directors – Audit and Oversight"Directors" in our Definitive Information Statement on Schedule 14C to be filed with the SEC for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held April 26, 201829, 2021 (the "2018"2021 Annual Meeting Information Statement") is incorporated herein by reference. Also see "Executive Officers of the Registrant""Information about our Executive Officers" in Part I of this report.


WEC Energy Group has adopted a written code of ethics, referred to as its Code of Business Conduct. We are a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, and as such, all of our directors, executive officers, and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, have a responsibility to comply with WEC Energy Group's Code of Business Conduct. WEC Energy Group has posted its Code of Business Conduct in the "Governance" section on its website, www.wecenergygroup.com. WEC Energy Group has not provided any waiver to the Code for any director, executive officer, or other employee. Any amendments to, or waivers for directors and executive officers from, the Code of Business Conduct will be disclosed on WEC Energy Group's website or in a current report on Form 8-K.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


The information under "Compensation Discussion and Analysis," "Executive Compensation," "Director Compensation," "Committees of the WEC Energy Group Board of Directors, – Compensation," "Compensation Committee Report," "Pay Ratio Disclosure," "Risk Analysis of Compensation Policies and Practices," and "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions – Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation"Transactions" in the 20182021 Annual Meeting Information Statement is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS


All of our Common Stock is owned by our parent company, WEC Energy Group, 231 West Michigan Street, P.O. Box 1331, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201. Our directors and director nominees, who are all executive officers of WE, as well as our other executive officers, do not own any of our voting securities. The information concerning their beneficial ownership in WEC Energy Group common stock set forth under "Owners of More Than 5% of Preferred Stock" and "Stock Ownership of Directors, Nominees and Executive Officers" in the 20182021 Annual Meeting Information Statement is incorporated herein by reference.


We do not have any equity compensation plans under which our equity securities may be issued. Our directors, officers and certain employees participate in the compensation plans of WEC Energy Group.


ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE


The information under "Corporate Governance – Frequently Asked Questions: Who are the independent directors?," "Corporate Governance – Frequently Asked Questions: What are the WEC Energy Group Board's standards of independence?," "Corporate Governance – Frequently Asked Questions: Are the WEC Energy Group Audit and Oversight and Compensation Committees comprised solely of independent directors?," "Corporate Governance – Frequently Asked Questions: Does the Company have policies and procedures in place to review and approve related party transactions?,"Questions" and "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" in the 20182021 Annual Meeting Information Statement is incorporated herein by reference. A full description of the guidelines the WEC Energy Group Board uses to determine director independence is located in Appendix A of WEC Energy Group's Corporate Governance Guidelines, which can be found on its website, www.wecenergygroup.com.



2017 Form 10-K94Wisconsin Electric Power Company


ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANTACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES


The information regarding the fees paid to, and services performed by, our independent auditors and the pre-approval policy of our audit and oversight committee under "Independent Auditors' Fees and Services" in the 20182021 Annual Meeting Information Statement is incorporated herein by reference.



20172020 Form 10-K9597Wisconsin Electric Power Company


PART IV


ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
1.Financial Statements and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Included in Part II of This Report
DescriptionPage in 10-K
2.Financial Statement Schedules Included in Part IV of This Report
Other schedules are omitted because of the absence of conditions under which they are required or because the required information is given in the financial statements or notes thereto.
3.Exhibits and Exhibit Index
The following exhibits are filed or furnished with or incorporated by reference in the report with respect to Wisconsin Electric Power Company (File No. 001-01245). An asterisk (*) indicates incorporationthat the exhibit has previously been filed with the SEC and is incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 12b-32.reference. Each management contract and compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this report pursuant to Item 15(b) of Form 10-K is identified below by two asterisks (**) following the description of the exhibit.

2017 Form 10-K96Wisconsin Electric Power Company


2020 Form 10-KNumber98Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Exhibit
NumberExhibit
Certain agreements and instruments with respect to unregistered long-term debt not exceeding 10 percent of the total assets of the Registrant and its subsidiary on a consolidated basis have been omitted as permitted by related instructions. The Registrant agrees pursuant to Item 601(b)(4) of Regulation S-K to furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, a copy of all such agreements and instruments.
10
Material Contracts
2020 Form 10-K99Wisconsin Electric Power Company


2017 Form 10-K97Wisconsin Electric Power Company


NumberExhibit

2017 Form 10-K98Wisconsin Electric Power Company



NumberExhibit
2331
Consents of experts and counsel
31
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications
32
Section 1350 Certifications
101
Interactive Data File
101.INSInline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCHInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CALInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEFInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LABInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PREInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)


ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY


None.



20172020 Form 10-K99101Wisconsin Electric Power Company


SCHEDULE II
WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
(in millions)
Balance at Beginning of Period
Expense (1)
Deferral
Net
Write-offs (2)
Balance at End of Period
December 31, 2020$38.1 $24.6 $14.8 $(18.2)$59.3 
December 31, 201940.9 32.7 (12.6)(22.9)38.1 
December 31, 201839.5 32.3 (9.1)(21.8)40.9 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
(in millions)
 Balance at Beginning of Period 
Transfer of Net Assets to UMERC (1)
 
Expense (2)
 Deferral 
Net Write-offs (3)
 Balance at End of Period
December 31, 2017 $40.9
 $(0.3) $31.2
 $(6.4) $(25.9) $39.5
December 31, 2016 43.0
 
 31.1
 (5.7) (27.5) 40.9
December 31, 2015 46.8
 
 30.6
 0.3
 (34.7) 43.0
(1)    Net of recoveries.


(1)
See Note 4, Related Parties, for more information.

(2)    Represents amounts written off to the reserve, net of adjustments to regulatory assets.
(2)
Net of recoveries

(3)
Represents amounts written off to the reserve, net of adjustments to regulatory assets.


20172020 Form 10-K100102Wisconsin Electric Power Company


SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
By  WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
By  /s/ GALE E. KLAPPAJ. KEVIN FLETCHER
Date:February 28, 201825, 2021Gale E. Klappa, J. Kevin Fletcher
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

/s/ J. KEVIN FLETCHERFebruary 25, 2021
J. Kevin Fletcher, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer and Director -- Principal Executive Officer
/s/ GALE E. KLAPPAXIA LIUFebruary 28, 201825, 2021
Gale E. Klappa, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer and Director -- Principal Executive Officer
/s/ SCOTT J. LAUBERFebruary 28, 2018
Scott J. Lauber,Xia Liu, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Financial Officer and Director -- Principal Financial Officer
/s/ WILLIAM J. GUCFebruary 28, 2018
William J. Guc, Vice President and
Controller -- Principal Accounting Officer
/s/ J. KEVIN FLETCHERFebruary 28, 2018
J. Kevin Fletcher, Director
/s/ MARGARET C. KELSEYFebruary 28, 2018
Margaret C. Kelsey, Director
/s/ TOM METCALFEFebruary 28, 2018
Tom Metcalfe, Director


2017/s/ WILLIAM J. GUCFebruary 25, 2021
William J. Guc, Vice President, Controller, and Assistant
Corporate Secretary -- Principal Accounting Officer
/s/ MARGARET C. KELSEYFebruary 25, 2021
Margaret C. Kelsey, Director
/s/ GALE E. KLAPPAFebruary 25, 2021
Gale E. Klappa, Director
/s/ SCOTT J. LAUBERFebruary 25, 2021
Scott J. Lauber, Director
/s/ TOM METCALFEFebruary 25, 2021
Tom Metcalfe, Director

2020 Form 10-K101103Wisconsin Electric Power Company