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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-K

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013

OR

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

For the transition period from_____to_____

Commission

x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year endedDecember 31, 2010
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ___ to ___
Commission

Registrant; State of Incorporation;

IRS Employer

File Number

Address; and Telephone Number

Identification No.

1-9513

1-9513

CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

38-2726431

(A Michigan Corporation)

One Energy Plaza, Jackson, Michigan 49201
(517) 788-0550

38-2726431

(517) 788-0550

1-5611

1-5611

CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY

38-0442310

(A Michigan Corporation)

One Energy Plaza, Jackson, Michigan 49201

(517) 788-0550

38-0442310

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

Name of Each Exchange

Registrant

Title of Class

on Which Registered

CMS Energy Corporation

Common Stock, $.01$0.01 par value

New York Stock Exchange

Consumers Energy Company

Cumulative Preferred Stocks,Stock, $100 par value: $4.16 Series, $4.50 Series

New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:None

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

CMS Energy Corporation:  CorporationYes x  No oConsumers Energy Company:  CompanyYes x  No o

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

CMS Energy Corporation:  CorporationYes o  No xConsumers Energy Company:Company:  Yes o  No x

Indicate by check mark whether the RegistrantsRegistrant (1) havehas 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 Registrants wereRegistrant was required to file such reports), and (2) havehas been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

CMS Energy Corporation:  CorporationYes x  No oConsumers Energy Company:  CompanyYes x  No o

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

CMS Energy Corporation:  CorporationYes x  No o  Consumers Energy Company:  CompanyYes x  No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 ofRegulation S-K 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 thisForm 10-K or any amendment to thisForm 10-K. [          ]x

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” inRule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

CMS Energy Corporation:Corporation:  Large accelerated filer x  Accelerated filer o  Non-Accelerated filer o  Smaller reporting companyo

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Consumers Energy Company:Company:  Large accelerated filer o  Accelerated filer o  Non-Accelerated filer x  Smaller reporting companyo

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

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

CMS Energy Corporation:Corporation:  Yes o  No xConsumers Energy Company:Company:  Yes o  No x

The aggregate market value of CMS  Energy voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates was $3.326$7.253 billion for the 227,027,288266,947,124 CMS Energy Common Stock shares outstanding on June 30, 201028, 2013 based on the closing sale price of $14.65$27.17 for CMS Energy Common Stock, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on such date.

There were 252,140,618267,207,862 shares of CMS Energy Common Stock outstanding on February 10, 2011.January 9, 2014, including 1,091,320 shares owned by Consumers Energy Company.  On February 24, 2011,January 9, 2014, CMS Energy held all voting and non-voting common equity of Consumers.  Documents incorporated by reference in Part III:  CMS Energy’s proxy statement and Consumers’ information statement relating to the 20112014 annual meeting of stockholders to be held May 20, 2011.

16, 2014.



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CMS Energy Corporation

Consumers Energy Company

Annual Reports onForm 10-K to the Securities and Exchange Commission for the Year Ended

December 31, 2010

2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Glossary

Page

3

3

10

10

PART I:

Item 1.

Business

14

13

Risk Factors

32

31

Unresolved Staff Comments

41

44

Properties

41

44

Legal Proceedings

41

44

Mine Safety Disclosures

Removed and Reserved41

44

PART II:

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

42

45

Selected Financial Data

43

46

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

43

46

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

43

46

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

44

47

Changes in and Disagreements Withwith Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

174

162

Controls and Procedures

174

162

Other Information

175

164

PART III:

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

176

164

Executive Compensation

177

165

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

177

165

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

177

165

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

177

165

PART IV:

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

177
EX-10.34
EX-10.40
EX-12.1
EX-12.2
EX-21.1
EX-23.1
EX-23.2
EX-24.1
EX-24.2
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-31.3
EX-31.4
EX-32.1
EX-32.2
EX-99.1
EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

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GLOSSARY

Certain terms used in the text and financial statements are defined below.

2008 Energy LegislationLaw

Comprehensive energy reform package enacted in OctoberMichigan in 2008 with the approval of Michigan Senate Bill 213 and Michigan House Bill 5524

ABATE

Association of Businesses Advocating Tariff Equity

ABO

Accumulated Benefit Obligation. Thebenefit obligation; the liabilities of a pension plan based on service and pay to date. Thisdate, which differs from the PBO that is typically disclosed in that it does not reflect expected future salary increases.increases

AFUDC

Allowance for borrowed and equity funds used during construction

AOCI

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)other comprehensive income (loss)

ARO

Asset retirement obligation

ASUFASB Accounting Standards Update

Bay Harbor

A residential/commercial real estate area located near Petoskey, Michigan. In 2002,Michigan, in which CMS Energy sold its interest in Bay Harbor.2002

bcf

Billion cubic feet of gas

Big Rock

Big Rock Point nuclear power plant, formerly owned by Consumers

Btu

British thermal unit; one Btu equals the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheitunit

CAIR

The Clean Air Interstate Rule

Cantera Gas Company

Cantera Gas Company LLC, a non-affiliated company, formerly known as CMS Field Services

Cantera Natural Gas, Inc.

Cantera Natural Gas, Inc., a non-affiliated company that purchased CMS Field Services

CAO

Chief Accounting Officer

CATR

CCR

The Clean Air Transport Rule

Coal combustion residual

CCB

CEO

Coal combustion by-product
CEO

Chief Executive Officer

CFO

CERCLA

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980

CFO

Chief Financial Officer

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city-gate contract

C&HR CommitteesThe Compensation and Human Resources Committees of the Boards of Directors of CMS Energy and Consumers
City-gate contract

An arrangement made for the point at which a local distribution company physically receives gas from a supplier or pipeline

CKDCement kiln dust

Clean Air Act

Federal Clean Air Act of 1963, as amended

Clean Water Act

Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, as amended

CMS Capital

CMS Capital, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Energy


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CMS Electric & GasCMS Electric & Gas, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS International Ventures

CMS Energy

CMS Energy Corporation, the parent of Consumers and CMS Enterprises

CMS Energy Brasil S.A. CMS Energy Brasil S.A., a former wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Electric & Gas

CMS Enterprises

CMS Enterprises Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Energy

CMS ERM

CMS Energy Resource Management Company, formerly known as CMS MST, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises

CMS Field Services

CMS Field Services, Inc., a former wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Gas Transmission

CMS Gas Transmission

CMS Gas Transmission Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises

CMS GenerationCMS Generation Co., a former wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises
CMS Generation San Nicolas CompanyCMS Generation San Nicolas Company, a company in which CMS Enterprises formerly owned a 0.1 percent interest
CMS International VenturesCMS International Ventures LLC, a subsidiary of CMS Enterprises in which CMS Enterprises owns a 61.49 percent interest and CMS Gas Transmission owns a 37.01 percent interest

CMS Land

CMS Land Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Capital

CMS MST

CMS Marketing, Services and Trading Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises, whose name was changed to CMS ERM effective Januaryin 2004

CMS Oil and GasCMS Oil and Gas Company, a former wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises

CMS Viron

CMS Viron Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS ERM

Consumers

Consumers Energy Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Energy

Consumers Funding

Consumers Funding LLC, a wholly owned consolidated bankruptcy-remote subsidiary of Consumers and special-purpose entity organized for the sole purpose of purchasing and owning Securitization property, assumingissuing Securitization bonds, and pledging its interest in Securitization property to a trustee to collateralize the Securitization bonds

Customer Choice Act

CSAPR

Customer Choice and Electricity Reliability Act, a Michigan statute

The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule

D.C. 

DB SERP

District of Columbia

Defined Benefit Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

DCCP

Defined Company Contribution Plan

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DC SERP

Defined Contribution Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

DC SERP

DIG

Defined Contribution SERP
Detroit EdisonThe Detroit Edison Company, a non-affiliated company

4


DIGDearborn Industrial Generation, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dearborn Industrial Energy, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Energy

Dodd-Frank Act

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act enacted in Julyof 2010

DOE

U.S. Department of Energy

DOJ

U.S. Department of Justice

EBITDA

DTE Electric

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization

DTE Electric Company, a non-affiliated company

EISP

DTE Gas

Executive Incentive Separation Plan

DTE Gas Company, a non-affiliated company

EnerBank

EBITDA

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization

EGWP

Employer Group Waiver Plan

EnerBank

EnerBank USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Capital

Entergy

Entergy Corporation, a non-affiliated company

EPA

Environmental Mitigation Projects

Environmentally beneficial projects that a party agrees to undertake as part of the settlement of an enforcement action, but which the party is not otherwise legally required to perform

EPA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPS

Earnings per share

Exchange Act

Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

Exeter

FDIC

Exeter Energy Limited Partnership, a limited partnership owned directly and indirectly by HYDRA-CO
FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board
FDIC

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

FERC

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

fine particulate matter

Particulate matter that is 2.5 microns or less in diameter

First Mortgage Bond Indenture

The indenture dated as of September 1, 1945 between Consumers and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, as amended and supplemented

FLI Liquidating Trust

Trust formed in Missouri bankruptcy court to accomplish the liquidation of Farmland Industries, Inc., a non-affiliated entity

FMB

First mortgage bond

FOV

Finding of Violation

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FTR

Financial transmission right

GAAP

U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

GasAtacama

GCC

GasAtacama Holding Limited, a limited liability partnership that manages GasAtacama S.A., which includes Atacama Finance Company, an integrated natural gas pipeline and electric generating plant in Argentina and Chile, in which CMS International Ventures formerly owned a 50 percent interest
GCC

Gas Customer Choice, which allows gas customers to purchase gas from alternative suppliers

GCR

Gas cost recovery

Genesee

Genesee Power Station Limited Partnership, a VIE in which HYDRA-CO Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises, has a 50 percent interest

Grayling

Grayling Generating Station Limited Partnership, a VIE in which HYDRA-CO Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises, has a 50 percent interest

GWh

Gigawatt-hour, (aa unit of energy equal to one million kWh)

5billion watt-hours


Health Care Acts

Comprehensive health care reform enacted in March 2010, comprising the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the related Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act

HYDRA-CO

IRS

HYDRA-CO Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises
IPPIndependent power producer or independent power production
IRS

Internal Revenue Service

ISFSI

kilovolts

Independent spent fuel storage installation
kilovolts

Thousand volts, (unita unit used to measure the difference in electrical pressure along a current)current

kVA

Thousand volt-amperes, (unita unit used to reflect the electrical power capacity rating of equipment or a system)system

kWh

Kilowatt-hour, (aa unit of energy equal to one thousand watt-hours)watt-hours

LIBOR

The London Interbank Offered Rate

Lucid Energy

Ludington

Lucid Energy LLC, a non-affiliated company
Ludington

Ludington pumped storagepumped-storage plant, jointly owned by Consumers and Detroit EdisonDTE Electric

Marathon

MACT

Marathon Oil Company, Marathon E.G. Holding, Marathon E.G. Alba, Marathon E.G. LPG, Marathon Production LTD, and Alba Associates, LLC, each a non-affiliated company

Maximum Achievable Control Technology, which is the emission control that is achieved in practice by the best-controlled similar source

MATS

Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, which limit mercury, acid gases, and other toxic pollution from coal-fueled and oil-fueled power plants

MBT

Michigan Business Tax

mcf

Thousand cubic feet

MCIT

Michigan Corporate Income Tax

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MCV Facility

A 1,5001,647 MW natural gas-fueled, combined-cycle cogeneration facility operated by the MCV Partnership

MCV Partnership

Midland Cogeneration Venture Limited Partnership

MCV PPA

The

PPA between Consumers and the MCV Partnership with a 35-year term commencing in March 1990, as amended and restated in an agreement dated as of June 9, 2008 between Consumers and the MCV Partnership

MD&A

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

MDL

MDEQ

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

MDL

A pending multi-district litigation case in Nevada arising out of several consolidated cases

MDNRE

MGP

Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, which, effective January 17, 2010, is the successor to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
MEIMichigan Energy Investments LLC, an affiliate of Lucid Energy and a non-affiliated company
METCMichigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC, a non-affiliated company
MGP

Manufactured gas plant

Midwest Energy Market

MISO

An energy market developed by the MISO to provide day-ahead and real-time market information and centralized dispatch for market participants
MISO

The MidwestMidcontinent Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.

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MPSC

mothball

To place a generating unit into a state of extended reserve shutdown in which the unit is inactive and unavailable for service for a specified period, during which the unit can be brought back into service after receiving appropriate notification and completing any necessary maintenance or other work; generation owners in MISO must request approval to mothball a unit, and MISO then evaluates the request for reliability impacts

MPSC

Michigan Public Service Commission

MRV

Market-Related Value

Market-related value of Planplan assets

MW

Megawatt, (aa unit of power equal to one million watts)watts

MWh

Megawatt-hour, (aa unit of energy equal to one million watt-hours)watt-hours

NAV

Net asset value

NERC

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation, a non-affiliated company responsible for developing and enforcing reliability standards, monitoring the bulk power system, and educating and certifying industry personnel

NOMECO

NOV

CMS NOMECO Oil & Gas Co., a former wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises
NOV

Notice of Violation

NPDES

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, a permit system for regulating point sources of pollution under the Clean Water Act

NREPA

Part 201 of the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, a statute that covers environmental activities including remediation

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NSR

NSR

New Source Review, a construction-permitting program under the Clean Air Act

NYMEX

The New York Mercantile Exchange

OPEB

Postretirement benefit plans other than pensions

Other Post-Employment Benefits

Palisades

OPEB Plan

Defined benefit postretirement health-care and life insurance plans of CMS Energy, Consumers, and Panhandle

Palisades

Palisades nuclear power plant, sold by Consumers to Entergy in 2007

Panhandle

Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, including its wholly owned subsidiaries Trunkline, Pan Gas Storage Company, Panhandle Storage Company, and Panhandle Holding Company, a former wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Gas Transmission

PBO

Projected benefit obligation

PCB

Polychlorinated biphenyl

Pension Plan

Trusteed, non-contributory, defined benefit pension plan of CMS Energy, Consumers, and Panhandle

PISP

Performance Incentive Stock Plan

PPA

Power purchase agreement

PSCR

Power supply cost recovery

PSD

Prevention of Significant Deterioration

PURPA

REC

Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978
RCPResource Conservation Plan
REC

Renewable energy credit established under the 2008 Energy LegislationLaw

ReEnergy

ReliabilityFirst Corporation

ReEnergy Sterling LLC,

ReliabilityFirst Corporation, a non-affiliated company responsible for the preservation and enhancement of bulk power system reliability and security

RMRR

Renewable Operating Permit

Michigan’s Title V permitting program under the Clean Air Act

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976

RMRR

Routine maintenance, repair, and replacement

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ROA

Retail Open Access, which allows electric generation customers to choose alternative electric suppliers pursuant to the Customer Choice Acta Michigan statute enacted in 2000

S&P

Standard and& Poor’s Financial Services LLC which includes Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services

SEC

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

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Securitization

Securitization

A financing method authorized by statute and approved by the MPSC which allows a utility to sell its right to receive a portion of the rate payments received from its customers for the repayment of securitization bonds issued by a special-purpose entity affiliated with such utility

SENECASistema Electrico del Estado Nueva Esparta C.A., a former wholly owned subsidiary of CMS International Ventures
SERPSupplemental Executive Retirement Plan
SFASStatement of Financial Accounting Standards

Sherman Act

Sherman Antitrust Act enacted inof 1890

Stranded costs

Smart Energy

Costs incurred by utilities in order

Consumers’ Smart Energy grid modernization project, which includes the installation of smart meters that transmit and receive data, a two-way communications network, and modifications to serve their customers in a regulated monopoly environment, which may not be recoverable in a competitive environment because of customers leaving their systemsConsumers’ existing information technology system to manage the data and ceasingenable changes to pay for their costs. These costs could include owned and purchased generation and regulatory assets.key business processes

SuperfundComprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
Supplemental Environmental ProjectsEnvironmentally beneficial projects that a party agrees to undertake as part of the settlement of an enforcement action, but which the party is not otherwise legally required to perform
TAQAAbu Dhabi National Energy Company, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, a non-affiliated company
Terminal Rental Adjustment ClauseA provision of a leasing agreement which permits or requires the rental price to be adjusted upward or downward by reference to the amount realized by the lessor under the agreement upon sale or other disposition of formerly leased property

T.E.S. Filer City

T.E.S. Filer City Station Limited Partnership, a VIE in which HYDRA-CO Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises, has a 50 percent interest

TGNA natural gas transportation and pipeline business located in Argentina, in which CMS Gas Transmission formerly owned a 23.54 percent interest

Title V

A federal program under the Clean Air Act designed to standardize air quality permits and the permitting process for major sources of emissions across the U.S.

Trunkline

Trunkline Gas Company, LLC, a formernon-affiliated company and wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Panhandle Holding, LLC

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Trust Preferred Securities

TSR

Securities representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of statutory business trusts, the interests of which have a preference with respect to certain trust distributions over the interests of either CMS Energy or Consumers, as applicable, as owner of the common beneficial interests of the trusts
TSR

Total shareholder return

TSU

USW

Texas Southern University, a non-affiliated entity

United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO-CLC

Union

UWUA

Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO

U.S. 

VEBA trust

United States
VEBA

Voluntary employees’ beneficiary association trusts accounts established specifically to set aside employer-contributed assets to pay for future expenses of the OPEB planPlan

VIE

Variable interest entity

WolverineWolverine Power Supply Cooperative, Inc., a non-affiliated company
XBRLeXtensible Business Reporting Language
ZeelandA 935 MW gas-fueled power plant located in Zeeland, Michigan

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FILING FORMAT

This combinedForm 10-K is separately filed by CMS Energy and Consumers.  Information in this combinedForm 10-K relating to each individual registrant is filed by such registrant on its own behalf.  Consumers makes no representation regarding information relating to any other companies affiliated with CMS Energy other than its own subsidiaries.  None of CMS Energy, CMS Enterprises, nor any of CMS Energy’s other subsidiaries (other than Consumers) has any obligation in respect of Consumers’ debt securities and holders of such debt securities should not consider the financial resources or results of operations of CMS Energy, CMS Enterprises, nor any of CMS Energy’s other subsidiaries (other than Consumers and its own subsidiaries (in relevant circumstances)) in making a decision with respect to Consumers’ debt securities.  Similarly, none of Consumers nor any other subsidiary of CMS Energy has any obligation in respect of debt securities of CMS Energy.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION

ThisForm 10-K and other written and oral statements that CMS Energy and Consumers make may contain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  The use of “might,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “predicts,” “assumes,” and other similar words is intended to identify forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainty.  This discussion of potential risks and uncertainties is designed to highlight important factors that may impact CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses and financial outlook.  CMS Energy and Consumers have no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements regardless of whether new information, future events, or any other factors affect the information contained in the statements.  These forward-looking statements are subject to various factors that could cause CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in these statements.  These factors include, CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ inabilitybut are not limited to, predict or control the following, all of which are potentially significant:

• the price of CMS Energy common stock, capital and financial market conditions, and the effect of these market conditions on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ postretirement benefit plans, interest costs, and access to the capital markets, including availability of financing (including Consumers’ accounts receivable sales program and CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ revolving credit facilities) to CMS Energy, Consumers, or any of their affiliates, and the energy industry;
• the impact of the economy, particularly in Michigan, and potential future volatility in the financial and credit markets on CMS Energy’s, Consumers’, or any of their affiliates’:
• revenues;
• capital expenditure programs and related earnings growth;
• ability to collect accounts receivable from customers;
• cost of capital and availability of capital; and
• Pension Plan and postretirement benefit plans assets and required contributions;
• changes in the economic and financial viability of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ suppliers, customers, and other counterparties and the continued ability of these third parties, including third parties in bankruptcy, to meet their obligations to CMS Energy and Consumers;
• population decline in the geographic areas where CMS Energy and Consumers conduct business;
• national, regional, and local economic, competitive, and regulatory policies, conditions, and developments;
• changes in applicable laws, rules, regulations, principles or practices, or in their interpretation, including those related to taxes, the environment, and accounting matters, that could have an impact on CMS Energy’s


10


·the impact of new regulation by the MPSC or FERC and other applicable governmental proceedings and regulations, including any associated impact on electric or gas rates or rate structures;

and Consumers’ businesses or financial results, including the impact of any future regulations or lawsuits regarding:
• carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, including potential future legislation to establish a cap and trade system;
• criteria pollutants, such as nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate, and hazardous air pollutants, including impacts of the CAIR and CATR;
• CCBs;
• PCBs;
• cooling water intake or discharge from power plants or other industrial equipment;
• limitations on the use or construction of coal-fueled electric power plants;
• nuclear-related regulation;
• renewable portfolio standards and energy efficiency mandates;
• energy-related derivatives and hedges under the Dodd-Frank Act; and
• any other potential legislative changes, including changes to the ten-percent ROA limit;
• potentially adverse regulatory or legal interpretations or decisions, including those related to environmental laws and regulations, and potential environmental remediation costs associated with these interpretations or decisions, including those that may affect Bay Harbor or Consumers’ RMRR classification under NSR regulations;
• potentially adverse or delayed regulatory treatment or permitting decisions concerning significant matters affecting CMS Energy or Consumers that are presently or soon to be before the MDNRE and/or EPA, including Bay Harbor;
• potentially adverse regulatory treatment or failure to receive timely regulatory orders concerning a number of significant matters affecting Consumers that are presently or potentially before the MPSC, including:
• sufficient and timely recovery of:
• environmental and safety-related expenditures for coal-fueled plants and other utility properties;
• power supply and natural gas supply costs;
• operating and maintenance expenses;
• additional utility rate-based investments;
• costs associated with the proposed retirement and decommissioning of facilities;
• development costs of the proposed coal-fueled plant;
• MISO energy and transmission costs; and
• costs associated with energy efficiency investments and state or federally mandated renewable resource standards;
• actions of regulators with respect to expenditures subject to tracking mechanisms;
• actions of regulators to prevent or curtail shutoffs for non-paying customers;
• actions of regulators with respect to Consumers’ pilot electric and gas decoupling mechanisms;
• regulatory orders preventing or curtailing rights to self-implement rate requests;


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·potentially adverse regulatory treatment or failure to receive timely regulatory orders affecting Consumers that are or could come before the MPSC, FERC, or other governmental authorities;

• regulatory orders potentially requiring a refund of previously self-implemented rates; and
• implementation of new energy legislation or revisions of existing regulations;
• potentially adverse regulatory treatment resulting from pressure on regulators to oppose annual rate increases or to lessen rate impacts upon customers, particularly in difficult economic times;
• loss of customer demand for electric generation supply to alternative energy suppliers;
• the ability of Consumers to recover its regulatory assets in full and in a timely manner;
• the effectiveness of the electric and gas decoupling mechanisms in moderating the impact of sales variability on net revenues;
• the ability of Consumers to recover nuclear fuel storage costs incurred as a result of the DOE’s failure to accept spent nuclear fuel on schedule or at all, and the outcome of pending litigation with the DOE;
• the impact of enforcement powers and investigation activities at FERC;
• federal regulation of electric sales and transmission of electricity, including periodic re-examination by federal regulators of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ market-based sales authorizations in wholesale power markets without price restrictions;
• effects of weather conditions, such as unseasonably warm weather during the winter, on sales;
• the market perception of the energy industry or of CMS Energy, Consumers, or any of their affiliates;
• the credit ratings of CMS Energy or Consumers;
• the impact of credit markets, economic conditions, and any new banking regulations on EnerBank;
• potential effects of the Dodd-Frank Act and related regulations on CMS Energy and Consumers, including regulation of financial institutions such as EnerBank, and shareholder activity that is permitted or may be permitted under the Act;
• disruptions in the normal commercial insurance and surety bond markets that may increase costs or reduce traditional insurance coverage, particularly terrorism and sabotage insurance, performance bonds, and tax-exempt debt insurance, and stability of insurance providers, and the ability of Consumers to recover the costs of any such insurance from customers;
• energy markets, including availability of capacity and the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices for oil, coal, natural gas, natural gas liquids, electricity, and certain related products due to lower or higher demand, shortages, transportation problems, or other developments, and their impact on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ cash flows and working capital;
• the effectiveness of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ risk management policies, procedures, and strategies, including their strategies to hedge risk related to future prices of electricity, natural gas, and other energy-related commodities;
• changes in construction material prices and the availability of qualified construction personnel to implement Consumers’ construction program;
• factors affecting development of generation projects and distribution infrastructure replacement and expansion projects, including those related to project site identification, construction, permitting, and government approvals;
• costs and availability of personnel, equipment, and materials for operating and maintaining existing facilities;
• factors affecting operations, such as unusual weather conditions, catastrophic weather-related damage, unscheduled generation outages, maintenance or repairs, environmental incidents, or electric transmission and distribution or gas pipeline system constraints;


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·changes in the performance of or regulations applicable to MISO, Michigan Electric Transmission Company, pipelines, railroads, or other service providers that CMS Energy, Consumers, or any of their affiliates rely on to serve their customers;


·the adoption of federal or state laws or regulations or changes in applicable laws, rules, regulations, principles, or practices, or in their interpretation, including those related to energy policy and ROA, the environment, regulation or deregulation, health care reforms (including the Health Care Acts), taxes, accounting matters, and other business issues that could have an impact on CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ businesses or financial results, including laws or regulations regarding climate change and air emissions and potential effects of the Dodd-Frank Act and related regulations on CMS Energy, Consumers, or any of their affiliates;

·potentially adverse regulatory or legal interpretations or decisions regarding environmental matters, or delayed regulatory treatment or permitting decisions that are or could come before the MDEQ, EPA, and/or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and potential environmental remediation costs associated with these interpretations or decisions, including those that may affect Bay Harbor or Consumers’ RMRR classification under NSR regulations;

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Table of Contents

·changes in energy markets, including availability and price of electric capacity and the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices and availability of coal, natural gas, natural gas liquids, electricity, oil, and certain related products;

·the price of CMS Energy common stock, the credit ratings of CMS Energy and Consumers, capital and financial market conditions, and the effect of these market conditions on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ interest costs and access to the capital markets, including availability of financing to CMS Energy, Consumers, or any of their affiliates;

·the investment performance of the assets of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ pension and benefit plans and the discount rates used in calculating the plans’ obligations, and the resulting impact on future funding requirements;

·the impact of the economy, particularly in Michigan, and potential future volatility in the financial and credit markets on CMS Energy’s, Consumers’, or any of their affiliates’ revenues, ability to collect accounts receivable from customers, or cost and availability of capital;

·changes in the economic and financial viability of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ suppliers, customers, and other counterparties and the continued ability of these third parties, including third parties in bankruptcy, to meet their obligations to CMS Energy and Consumers;

·population changes in the geographic areas where CMS Energy and Consumers conduct business;

·national, regional, and local economic, competitive, and regulatory policies, conditions, and developments, including municipal bankruptcy filings;

·loss of customer demand for electric generation supply to alternative energy suppliers;

·federal regulation of electric sales and transmission of electricity, including periodic re-examination by federal regulators of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ market-based sales authorizations in wholesale power markets without price restrictions;

·the impact of credit markets, economic conditions, and any new banking regulations on EnerBank;

·the availability, cost, coverage, and terms of insurance, the stability of insurance providers, and the ability of Consumers to recover the costs of any insurance from customers;

·the effectiveness of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ risk management policies, procedures, and strategies, including strategies to hedge risk related to future prices of electricity, natural gas, and other energy-related commodities;

·factors affecting development of electric generation projects and distribution infrastructure replacement and expansion projects, including those related to project site identification, construction material pricing, availability of qualified construction personnel, permitting, and government approvals;

·factors affecting operations, such as costs and availability of personnel, equipment, and materials, unusual weather conditions, catastrophic weather-related damage, scheduled or unscheduled equipment outages, maintenance or repairs, environmental incidents, equipment failures, and electric transmission and distribution or gas pipeline system constraints;

11


• potential disruption or interruption of facilities or operations due to accidents, war, or terrorism, and the ability to obtain or maintain insurance coverage for these events;
• the impact of an accident, explosion, or other physical disaster involving Consumers’ high-or low-pressure gas pipelines, gas storage fields, overhead or underground electrical lines, or other utility infrastructure;
• CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ ability to achieve generation planning goals and the occurrence and duration of scheduled or unscheduled generation or gas compression outages;
• technological developments in energy production, delivery, usage, and storage;
• achievement of capital expenditure and operating expense goals, including the 2011 capital expenditures forecast;
• the impact of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ integrated business software system on their operations, including utility customer billing and collections;
• potential effects of the Health Care Acts on existing or future health care costs;
• adverse outcomes regarding tax positions;
• adverse consequences resulting from any past or future assertion of indemnity or warranty claims associated with assets and businesses previously owned by CMS Energy or Consumers, including claims resulting from attempts by foreign or domestic governments to assess taxes on past operations or transactions;
• the outcome, cost, and other effects of legal or administrative proceedings, settlements, investigations, or claims;
• earnings volatility resulting from the application of fair value accounting to certain energy commodity contracts, such as electricity sales agreements and interest rate and foreign currency contracts;
• changes in financial or regulatory accounting principles or policies;
• a possible future requirement to comply with International Financial Reporting Standards, which differ from GAAP in various ways, including the present lack of special accounting treatment for regulated activities; and
• other business or investment matters that may be disclosed from time to time in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ SEC filings, or in other publicly issued documents.

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·potential disruption to, interruption of, or other impacts on facilities, utility infrastructure, or operations due to accidents, explosions, physical disasters, war, or terrorism, and the ability to obtain or maintain insurance coverage for these events;

·changes or disruption in fuel supply, including but not limited to rail or vessel transport of coal and pipeline transport of natural gas;

·potential costs, lost revenues, or other consequences resulting from misappropriation of assets or sensitive information, corruption of data, or operational disruption in connection with a cyber attack or other cyber incident;

·technological developments in energy production, storage, delivery, usage, and metering, including Smart Energy and the success of its implementation;

·the impact of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ integrated business software system and its operation on their activities, including utility customer billing and collections;

·adverse consequences resulting from any past or future assertion of indemnity or warranty claims associated with assets and businesses previously owned by CMS Energy or Consumers, including claims resulting from attempts by foreign or domestic governments to assess taxes on past operations or transactions;

·the outcome, cost, and other effects of legal or administrative proceedings, settlements, investigations, or claims;

·restrictions imposed by various financing arrangements and regulatory requirements on the ability of Consumers and other subsidiaries of CMS Energy to transfer funds to CMS Energy in the form of cash dividends, loans, or advances;

·earnings volatility resulting from the application of fair value accounting to certain energy commodity contracts or interest rate contracts;

·changes in financial or regulatory accounting principles or policies, including a possible future requirement to comply with International Financial Reporting Standards, which differ from GAAP in various ways, including the present lack of special accounting treatment for regulated activities; and

·other matters that may be disclosed from time to time in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ SEC filings, or in other publicly issued documents.

All forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of the risk and other factors described above and as detailed from time to time in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ SEC filings.  For additional details regarding these and other uncertainties, see Item 1A. Risk Factors; Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, MD&A — Outlook; and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes to the “Outlook” section included in MD&A;Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 5,2, Regulatory Matters and Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments; and Note 6, Regulatory Matters.


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Commitments.


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Table of Contents

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

GENERAL

CMS EnergyC

MS ENERGY

CMS Energy was formed as a corporation in Michigan in 1987 and is an energy company operating primarily in Michigan.  It is the parent holding company of several subsidiaries, including Consumers, an electric and gas utility, and CMS Enterprises, primarily a domestic IPP.independent power producer.  Consumers serves individuals and businesses operating in the alternative energy, automotive, chemical, metal, and food products industries, as well as a diversified group of other industries.  CMS Enterprises, through its subsidiaries and equity investments, is engaged primarily in IPPindependent power production and owns power generation facilities fueled mostly by natural gas and biomass.

CMS Energy manages its businesses by the nature of services each provides, and operates principally in three business segments:  electric utility, gas utility, and enterprises, its non-utility operations and investments.  Consumers’ consolidated operations account for substantially all of CMS Energy’s total assets, income, and operating revenue.  CMS Energy’s consolidated operating revenue was $6.4$6.6 billion in 2010, $6.22013, $6.3 billion in 2009,2012, and $6.8$6.5 billion in 2008.

2011.

For further information about operating revenue, net operating income, and identifiable assets and liabilities attributable to all of CMS Energy’s business segments and operations, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, CMS Energy’s Selected Financial Information, Consolidated Financial Statements, and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

ConsumersC

ONSUMERS

Consumers has served Michigan customers since 1886.  Consumers was incorporated in Maine in 1910 and became a Michigan corporation in 1968.  Consumers owns and operates electric distribution and generation facilities and gas transmission, storage, and distribution facilities.  It provides electricityand/or natural gas to 6.86.5 million of Michigan’s 10 million residents.  Consumers’ rates and certain other aspects of its business are subject to the jurisdiction of the MPSC and FERC, as described in “CMS Energy and Consumers Regulation” in this Item 1.

Consumers’ consolidated operating revenue was $6.2$6.3 billion in 2010,2013, $6.0 billion in 2009,2012, and $6.4$6.3 billion in 2008.2011.  For further information about operating revenue, net operating income, and identifiable assets and liabilities attributable to Consumers’ electric and gas utility operations, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Consumers’ Selected Financial Information, Consolidated Financial Statements, and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Consumers owns its principal properties in fee, except that most electric lines and gas mains are located below public roads or on land owned by others and are accessed by Consumers through easements and other rights.  Almost all of Consumers’ properties are subject to the lien of its First Mortgage Bond Indenture.  For additional information on Consumers’ properties, see Consumers Electric Utility — Electric Utility Properties and Consumers Gas Utility — Gas Utility Properties in the “Business Segments” section of this Item 1.


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Table of Contents

In 2010,2013, Consumers served 1.8million electric customers and 1.7 million gas customers in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.  Presented in the following map is Consumers’ service territory:


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Table of Contents

BUSINESS SEGMENTS

Consumers Electric UtilityC

ONSUMERS ELECTRIC UTILITY

Electric Utility Operations:  Consumers’ electric utility operations, which include the generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity, generated operating revenue of $3.8$4.2 billion in 2010, $3.42013, $4.0 billion in 2009,2012, and $3.6$3.9 billion in 2008.2011.  Consumers’ electric utility customer base consists of a mix of residential, commercial, and diversified industrial customers in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The automotive industry represented six percent of Consumers’ 2010 electric utility operating revenue.

Presented in the following illustration is Consumers’ 20102013 electric utility operating revenue of $3.8$4.2 billion by customer class:

Consumers’ electric utility operations are not dependent on a single customer, or even a few customers, and the loss of any one or even a few of itsConsumers’ largest customers is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on Consumers’ financial condition.

In 2010,2013, Consumers’ electric deliveries excluding intersystem deliveries, were 38 million MWh,37 billion kWh, which included ROA deliveries of four million MWh, consistent with the ten-percent cap. Netbillion kWh, resulting in net bundled sales were 34 million MWh in 2010.of 33 billion kWh.  In 2009,2012, Consumers’ electric deliveries excluding intersystem deliveries, were 36 million MWh,38 billion kWh, which included ROA deliveries of two million MWh,four billion kWh, resulting in net bundled sales of 34 million MWh.

billion kWh.

Consumers’ electric utility operations are seasonal.  The consumption of electric energy typically increases in the summer months, due primarily to the use of air conditioners and other cooling equipment.


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Table of Contents

Presented in the following illustration are Consumers’ monthly weather-adjusted electric deliveries (deliveries adjusted to reflect normal weather conditions) to its customers, including ROA deliveries, during 20102013 and 2009:

2012:

Consumers’ 20102013 summer peak demand was 8,1908,509 MW, which includesincluded ROA demand of 555556 MW.  For the2009-2010 2012-2013 winter period, Consumers’ peak demand was 6,0935,845 MW, which includesincluded ROA demand of 425461 MW.  As required by MISO reserve margin requirements, Consumers owns or controls, through long-term contracts, capacity necessaryrequired to supply most of its projected firm peak load and necessary reserve margin for summer 2011.


17

2014.  Consumers expects to acquire the balance of its 2014 requirements through MISO’s forward capacity auction scheduled to be conducted in April 2014.


Electric Utility Properties:  At December 31, 2010, Consumers’ electric generating system consisted of the following:
           
    2010
    
    Summer Net
    
    Demonstrated
  2010 Net
 
  Number of Units and Year
 Capability(a)
  Generation
 
Name and Location (Michigan)
 Entered Service (MW)  (GWh) 
 
Coal Generation
          
J. H. Campbell 1 & 2 — West Olive 2 Units, 1962-1967  615   4,015 
J. H. Campbell 3 — West Olive(b) 1 Unit, 1980  770   5,419 
B. C. Cobb — Muskegon 2 Units, 1956-1957  310   1,932 
D. E. Karn — Essexville 2 Units, 1959-1961  515   2,810 
J. C. Weadock — Essexville 2 Units, 1955-1958  290   1,739 
J. R. Whiting — Erie 3 Units, 1952-1953  328   1,964 
           
Total coal generation    2,828   17,879 
           
Oil/Gas Generation
          
B. C. Cobb — Muskegon 3 Units, 1999-2000(c)      
D. E. Karn — Essexville 2 Units, 1975-1977  1,276   99 
Zeeland — Zeeland 1 Unit, 2002  538   720 
           
Total oil/gas generation    1,814   819 
           
Hydroelectric
          
Conventional hydro generation 13 Plants, 1906-1949  74   365 
Ludington — Ludington 6 Units, 1973  955(d)  (366)(e)
           
Total hydroelectric    1,029   (1)
           
Gas/Oil Combustion Turbine
          
Various plants 7 Plants, 1966-1971  187   10 
Zeeland — Zeeland 2 Units, 2001  330   235 
           
Total gas/oil combustion turbine    517   245 
           
Total owned generation
    6,188   18,942 
Purchased and Interchange Power(f)
    3,058(g)  18,048(h)
           
Total Supply
    9,246   36,990 
           
Generation and transmission use/loss        (3,373)
           
Total Net Bundled Sales
        33,617 
           
(a)Represents each plant’s electric generating capacity during the critical summer months.
(b)Represents Consumers’ share of the capacity of the J. H. Campbell 3 unit, net of the 6.69 percent ownership interest of the Michigan Public Power Agency and Wolverine.
(c)B. C. Cobb 1-3 are retired coal-fueled units that were converted to gas-fueled units. B. C. Cobb 1-3 were placed back into service in the years indicated, and subsequently taken out of service beginning in April 2009. Consumers plans to reevaluate the status of B. C. Cobb 1-3 in 2011 and may return the units to service in 2012.
(d)Represents Consumers’ 51 percent share of the capacity of Ludington. Detroit Edison owns the remaining 49 percent.
(e)Represents Consumers’ share of net pumped-storage generation. The pumped-storage facility consumes electricity to pump water during off-peak hours for storage in order to generate electricity later during peak-demand hours.
(f)Includes purchases from the Midwest Energy Market, long-term purchase contracts, and seasonal purchases.
(g)Includes 1,240 MW of purchased contract capacity from the MCV Facility and 778 MW of purchased contract capacity from Palisades.
(h)Includes 2,456 GWh of purchased energy from the MCV Facility and 6,241 GWh of purchased energy from Palisades.


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Consumers’ distribution system includes:
• 413 miles of high-voltage distribution radial lines operating at 120 kilovolts or above;
• 4,244 miles of high-voltage distribution overhead lines operating at 23 kilovolts and 46 kilovolts;
• 17 miles of high-voltage distribution underground lines operating at 23 kilovolts and 46 kilovolts;
• 55,933 miles of electric distribution overhead lines;
• 10,058 miles of underground distribution lines; and
• substations with an aggregate transformer capacity of 24 million kVA.
consists of:

·422 miles of high-voltage distribution radial lines operating at 120 kilovolts or above;

·4,259 miles of high-voltage distribution overhead lines operating at 23 kilovolts, 46 kilovolts, and 69 kilovolts;

·18 miles of high-voltage distribution underground lines operating at 23 kilovolts and 46 kilovolts;

·55,996 miles of electric distribution overhead lines;

·10,210 miles of underground distribution lines; and

·substations with an aggregate transformer capacity of 24 million kVA.

Consumers is interconnected to the interstate high-voltage electric transmission system owned by METCMichigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC, a non-affiliated company, and operated by MISO,MISO.  Consumers is also interconnected to neighboring utilities and to other transmission systems.

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Generation

Table of Contents

At December 31, 2013, Consumers’ electric generating system consisted of the following:

 

 

Number of Units and

 

2013 Generation Capacity

1

2013 Net Generation

 

Name and Location (Michigan)

 

Year Entered Service

 

(MW)

 

(GWh)

 

Coal generation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J.H. Campbell 1 & 2 – West Olive

 

2 Units, 1962-1967

 

607

 

3,167

 

J.H. Campbell 3 – West Olive2

 

1 Unit, 1980

 

751

 

5,054

 

B.C. Cobb 4 & 5 – Muskegon3

 

2 Units, 1956-1957

 

312

 

1,801

 

D.E. Karn 1 & 2 – Essexville

 

2 Units, 1959-1961

 

515

 

2,630

 

J.C. Weadock 7 & 8 – Essexville3

 

2 Units, 1955-1958

 

290

 

1,639

 

J.R. Whiting 1-3 – Erie3

 

3 Units, 1952-1953

 

324

 

1,660

 

Total coal generation

 

 

 

2,799

 

15,951

 

Oil/Gas steam generation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.C. Cobb 1-3 – Muskegon4

 

3 Units, 1999-2000

 

-

 

-

 

D.E. Karn 3 & 4 – Essexville

 

2 Units, 1975-1977

 

1,276

 

35

 

Zeeland (combined cycle) – Zeeland

 

1 Unit, 2002

 

519

 

1,209

 

Total oil/gas steam generation

 

 

 

1,795

 

1,244

 

Hydroelectric

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conventional hydro generation

 

13 Plants, 1906-1949

 

76

 

443

 

Ludington – Ludington

 

6 Units, 1973

 

953

5

(371

)6

Total hydroelectric

 

 

 

1,029

 

72

 

Gas/Oil combustion turbine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Various plants

 

7 Plants, 1966-1971

 

40

 

4

 

Zeeland (simple cycle) – Zeeland

 

2 Units, 2001

 

308

 

171

 

Total gas/oil combustion turbine

 

 

 

348

 

175

 

Wind generation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lake Winds® Energy Park

 

56 Turbines, 2012

 

13

 

261

 

Total wind generation

 

 

 

13

 

261

 

Total owned generation

 

 

 

5,984

 

17,703

 

Purchased and interchange power7

 

 

 

2,619

8

16,777

9

Total supply

 

 

 

8,603

 

34,480

 

Generation and transmission use/loss

 

 

 

 

 

1,582

 

Total net bundled sales

 

 

 

 

 

32,898

 

1Represents each plant’s electric generation capacity during the summer months.

2Represents Consumers’ share of the capacity of the J.H. Campbell 3 unit, net of the 6.69-percent ownership interest of the Michigan Public Power Agency and Wolverine Power Purchase CapacitySupply Cooperative, Inc.

3Subject to a successful Securitization transaction, Consumers plans to retire these seven smaller coal-fueled generating units by Fuel Type:April 2016.  For further information, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, MD&A – Outlook, “Consumers Electric Utility Business Outlook and Uncertainties – Balanced Energy Initiative.”

4B.C. Cobb 1-3 were coal-fueled units that were retired and subsequently converted to gas-fueled units.  B.C. Cobb 1-3 were placed back into service in the years indicated and mothballed beginning in April 2009.  Subject to a successful Securitization transaction, Consumers plans to retire these units by April 2016.

5Represents Consumers’ 51-percent share of the capacity of Ludington.  DTE Electric holds the remaining 49-percent ownership interest.

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Table of Contents

6Represents Consumers’ share of net pumped-storage generation.  The pumped-storage facility consumes electricity to pump water during off-peak hours for storage in order to generate electricity later during peak-demand hours.

7Includes purchases from the MISO energy market, long-term purchase contracts, and seasonal purchases.

8Includes 1,240 MW of purchased contract capacity from the MCV Facility and 778 MW of purchased contract capacity from Palisades.

9Includes 2,381 GWh of purchased energy from the MCV Facility and 6,915 GWh of purchased energy from Palisades.

Consumers’ generation capacity is a measure of the maximum electric output that Consumers has available to meet peak load requirements.  As shown in the following illustration, Consumers’ 20102013 generation capacity of 9,2468,603 MW, including purchased capacity of 3,0582,619 MW, purchased under PPAs, relied on a variety of fuel sources:

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Renewable generation capacity includes wind generation resources assumed to provide capacity at eight percent

Table of nameplate rating.


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Contents


Electric Utility Supply:  Over the last five years, Consumers’ Electric Generating System Power Generation:  Consumers generated powerelectric supply came from the following sources:
                     
  GWh 
Power Generated
 2010  2009  2008  2007  2006 
 
Coal  17,879   17,255   17,701   17,903   17,744 
Gas  1,043   565   804   129   161 
Hydro(a)  365   466   454   416   485 
Oil  21   14   41   112   48 
Nuclear           1,781   5,904 
Net pumped storage(b)  (366)  (303)  (382)  (478)  (426)
                     
Total owned generation  18,942   17,997   18,618   19,863   23,916 
Purchased renewable energy(c)  1,582   1,472   1,503   1,480   1,529 
Purchased generation-other(c)  10,421   10,066   12,140   11,022   7,065 
Net interchange power(d)  6,045   6,925   6,653   8,009   7,244 
                     
Net purchased and interchange power  18,048   18,463   20,296   20,511   15,838 
                     
Total Net Power Supply  36,990   36,460   38,914   40,374   39,754 
                     
(a)Represents Consumers’ owned renewable generation.
(b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GWh

 

Net Generation

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

Owned generation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coal

 

15,951

 

14,027

 

15,468

 

17,879

 

17,255

 

Gas

 

1,415

 

3,003

 

1,912

 

1,043

 

565

 

Renewable energy

 

704

 

433

 

425

 

365

 

466

 

Oil

 

4

 

6

 

7

 

21

 

14

 

Net pumped storage1

 

(371

)

(295

)

(365

)

(366

)

(303

)

Total owned generation

 

17,703

 

17,174

 

17,447

 

18,942

 

17,997

 

Purchased and interchange power

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased renewable energy2

 

2,250

 

1,435

 

1,587

 

1,582

 

1,472

 

Purchased generation – other2

 

10,871

 

13,104

 

11,087

 

10,421

 

10,066

 

Net interchange power3

 

3,656

 

4,151

 

6,825

 

6,045

 

6,925

 

Total purchased and interchange power

 

16,777

 

18,690

 

19,499

 

18,048

 

18,463

 

Total supply

 

34,480

 

35,864

 

36,946

 

36,990

 

36,460

 

1Represents Consumers’ share of net pumped-storage generation.  The pumped-storage facility consumes electricity to pump water during off-peak hours for storage in order to generate electricity later during peak-demand hours.

(c)Includes purchases from long-term purchase contracts.
(d)Includes purchases from the Midwest Energy Market and seasonal purchases.
The cost of all fuels consumed, shownpumped-storage facility consumes electricity to pump water during off-peak hours for storage in order to generate electricity later during peak-demand hours.

2Includes purchases from long-term purchase contracts.

3Includes purchases from the following table, fluctuates with the mix of fuel used.

                     
  Cost per Million Btu 
Fuel Consumed
 2010  2009  2008  2007  2006 
 
Coal $2.51  $2.37  $2.01  $2.04  $2.09 
Gas  5.57   6.57   10.94   10.29   8.92 
Oil  10.98   9.59   11.54   8.21   8.68 
Nuclear           0.42   0.24 
                     
All Fuels(a) $2.71  $2.56  $2.47  $2.07  $1.72 
                     
(a)Weighted-average fuel costs
In 2010, Consumers’ four coal-fueled generating sites burned 10 million tons of coalMISO energy market and produced a combined total of 17,879 GWh of electricity, which represented 48seasonal purchases.

During 2013, Consumers purchased 49 percent of the electricity it provided to customers through long-term PPAs, seasonal purchases, and the MISO energy provided by Consumers to meet customer demand.

In order to obtain its coal requirements, Consumers enters into physical coal supply contracts. At December 31, 2010, Consumers had contracts to purchase coal through 2013; these contracts total $315 million. All of Consumers’ coal supply contracts have fixed prices. At December 31, 2010, Consumers had 85 percent of its 2011 expected coal requirements under contract, as well as a41-day supply of coal on hand.
In conjunction with its coal supply contracts, Consumers leases a fleet of rail cars and has long-term transportation contracts with various companies to provide rail and vessel services for delivery of purchased coal to Consumers’ generating facilities. Consumers’ coal transportation contracts expire from 2011 through 2014; these contracts total $445 million.


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Consumers participates in the Midwest Energy Market.market.  Consumers offers its generation into the MISO energy market on a day-ahead and real-time basis and bids for power in the market to serve the demand of its customers.  Consumers is a net purchaser of power and supplements its generation capability with purchases from the MISO energy market to meet its customers’ needs during peak demand periods.

At December 31, 2010,2013, Consumers had unrecognized future commitments (amounts for which liabilities, in accordance with GAAP, have not been recorded on its balance sheet) to purchase capacity and energy under long-term PPAs with various generating plants.  These contracts require monthly capacity payments based on the plants’ availability or deliverability.  TheseThe payments for 20112014 through 20302032 are estimated to total $15.3$12.1 billion and to range from $822$917 million to $1$1.1 billion annually for each of the next five years.  These amounts may vary depending on plant availability and fuel costs.  For further information about Consumers’ future capacity and energy purchase obligations, see Item 7.8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, MD&A “Capital– Capital Resources and Liquidity.”Liquidity and Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments – Contractual Commitments.

During 2013, 46 percent of the energy Consumers provided to customers was generated by its four coal-fueled generating sites, which burned nine million tons of coal and produced a combined total of 15,951 GWh of electricity.

In order to obtain the coal it needs, Consumers enters into physical coal supply contracts.  At December 31, 2013, Consumers had contracts to purchase coal through 2015; payment obligations under these contracts totaled $163 million.  Consumers’ rail-supplied coal contracts have fixed prices with the exception of one contract, which is for the purchase of coal through 2014 and contains market-based pricing.  Consumers’ vessel-supplied coal contracts have fixed base prices that are adjusted monthly to reflect changes to the fuel cost of vessel transportation.  At December 31, 2013, Consumers had

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79 percent of its 2014 expected coal requirements under contract, as well as a 24-day supply of coal on hand.

In conjunction with its coal supply contracts, Consumers leases a fleet of rail cars and has transportation contracts with various companies to provide rail and vessel services for delivery of purchased coal to Consumers’ generating facilities.  Consumers’ coal transportation contracts expire through 2014; payment obligations under these contracts totaled $227 million.

During 2013, four percent of the energy Consumers provided to customers was generated by gas-fueled generating sites, which burned 12 bcf of natural gas and produced a combined total of 1,415 GWh of electricity.

In order to obtain the gas it needs, Consumers’ electric utility purchases gas from the market near the time of consumption, at prices that allow it to compete in the electric generation market.  For D.E. Karn, units 3 and 4, and the Zeeland plant, Consumers purchases gas from the market and transports the gas to the facilities on a firm basis.  For its smaller combustion turbines, Consumers’ electric utility purchases and transports gas to its facilities as a bundled-rate tariff customer of either the gas utility or DTE Gas.

The cost of all fuels consumed, shown in the following table, fluctuates with the mix of fuel used.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost Per Million Btu

 

Fuel Consumed

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

Coal

 

$

2.90

 

$

2.98

 

$

2.94

 

$

2.51

 

$

2.37

 

Gas

 

4.68

 

3.16

 

4.95

 

5.57

 

6.57

 

Oil

 

19.47

 

19.08

 

18.55

 

10.98

 

9.59

 

Weighted average fuel cost

 

$

3.07

 

$

3.05

 

$

3.18

 

$

2.71

 

$

2.56

 

Electric Utility Competition:  Consumers’ electric utility business is subject to actual and potential competition from many sources, in both the wholesale and retail markets, as well as in electric generation, electric delivery, and retail services.

A Michigan statute enacted in 2000 allows Consumers’ electric customers to buy electric generation service from Consumers or from alternative electric suppliers.  The 2008 Energy Law revised the statute by limiting alternative electric supply to ten percent of Consumers’ weather-adjusted retail sales for the preceding calendar year.  At December 31, 2013, Consumers’ electric deliveries under the ROA program were at the ten-percent limit and alternative electric suppliers were providing 787 MW of electric generation service to 310 ROA customers.

In December 2013, a bill was introduced to the Michigan House of Representatives that, if enacted, would revise the 2008 Energy Law by removing the ten-percent limit and allowing all of Consumers’ electric customers to take service from alternative electric suppliers.  Presently, the proportion of Consumers’ electric deliveries under the ROA program and on the ROA waiting list is 25 percent.  The bill also proposes to deregulate electric generation service in Michigan within two years.  No definitive action has been taken on this bill or on a similar bill introduced to the Michigan Senate in February 2013.  The Senate bill, if enacted, would revise the 2008 Energy Law and allow customers on the ROA program waiting list to take service from alternative electric suppliers.  The Senate bill also proposes an increase in the cap of six percentage points per year from 2014 through 2016.

Consumers is unable to predict the outcome of these legislative proposals.  In addition, the Michigan legislature has conducted hearings on the subject of energy competition.  If the ROA limit were increased or if electric generation service in Michigan were deregulated, it could have a material adverse effect on Consumers’ financial results and operations.

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Consumers also has competition or potential competition from:

·industrial customers relocating all or a portion of their production capacity outside of Consumers’ service territory for economic reasons;

·municipalities owning or operating competing electric delivery systems; and

·customer self-generation.

Consumers addresses this competition by monitoring activity in adjacent areas and compliance with the MPSC’s and FERC’s rules, by providing non-energy services and value to customers through Consumers’ rates and service, and by offering tariff-based incentives that support economic development.

Consumers Gas UtilityCONSUMERS GAS UTILITY

Gas Utility Operations:

Consumers’ gas utility operations, which include the purchase, transmission, storage, distribution, and sale of natural gas, generated operating revenue of $2.4$2.1 billion in 2010, $2.62013, $2.0 billion in 2009,2012, and $2.8$2.3 billion in 2008.2011.  Consumers’ gas utility customer base consists of a mix of residential, commercial, and diversified industrial customers in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

Presented in the following illustration is Consumers’ 20102013 gas utility operating revenue of $2.1 billion by customer class:

Consumers’ gas utility operations are not dependent on a single customer, or even a few customers, and the loss of any one or even a few of itsConsumers’ largest customers is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on Consumers’ financial condition.

In 2010,2013, deliveries of natural gas, including off-system transportation deliveries, through Consumers’ pipeline and distribution network, totaled 317352 bcf, which included GCC deliveries of 3663 bcf.  In 2009,2012, deliveries of natural gas, including off-system transportation deliveries, through Consumers’ pipeline and distribution network, totaled 319329 bcf, which included GCC deliveries of 2749 bcf.  Consumers’ gas utility operations are seasonal.  Consumers injects natural gas into storage during the summer months for use

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during the winter months when the demand for natural gas is higher.  Peak demand occurs in the winter due to colder temperatures and the resulting use of natural gas as a heating fuel.  During 2010, 462013, 53 percent of the natural gas supplied to all customers during the winter months


21


was supplied from storage.

Presented in the following illustration are Consumers’ monthly weather-adjusted gas deliveries (deliveries adjusted to reflect normal weather conditions) to its customers, including GCC deliveries, during 20102013 and 2009:

2012:

Gas Utility Properties:  Consumers’ gas distribution and transmission system located in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula consists of:

·26,819 miles of distribution mains;

·1,661 miles of transmission lines;

·seven compressor stations with a total of 150,027 installed and available horsepower; and

·15 gas storage fields with an aggregate storage capacity of 309 bcf and a working storage capacity of 143 bcf.

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• 26,585 miles of distribution mains;
• 1,664 miles of transmission lines;
• seven compressor stations with a total of 150,475 installed and available horsepower; and
• 15 gas storage fields with an aggregate storage capacity of 307 bcf and a working storage capacity of 142 bcf.

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Gas Utility Supply:  In 2010,2013, Consumers purchased 6166 percent of the gas it delivered from U.S. producers and 2110 percent from Canadian producers.  The remaining 1824 percent was purchased from authorized GCC suppliers and


22


delivered by Consumers to customers in the GCC program.  Presented in the following illustration are the supply arrangements for the gas Consumers delivered to GCC and GCR customers during 2010:
2013:

Firm transportation or firm city-gate contracts are those that define a fixed amount, price, and delivery time frame.  Consumers’ firm gas transportation contracts are with ANR Pipeline Company, Great Lakes Gas Transmission, L.P., Panhandle, Trunkline, and Vector Pipeline L.P.Trunkline.  Under these contracts, Consumers purchases and transports gas to Michigan for ultimate delivery to its customers.  Consumers’ firm gas transportation contracts expire through 2017 and provide for the delivery of 7147 percent of Consumers’ total gas supply requirements.

Consumers purchases the balance of its required gas supply under firm city-gate contracts and through authorized suppliers under the GCC program. Consumers may also utilize incremental firm transportation contracts

Gas Utility Competition:  Competition exists in various aspects of Consumers’ gas utility business.  Competition comes from GCC and interruptible transportation contracts to purchase its gas supply. Under interruptible transportation contracts, the transportation provider is permitted to interrupt service. Consumers’ use of incremental firm transportation contractsfrom alternative fuels and interruptible transportation contracts is generally during off-peak summer monthsenergy sources, such as propane, oil, and after Consumers has fully utilized the services under the firm transportation contracts. The amount of interruptible transportation service and its use vary primarily with the price for this service and the availability and price of purchased and transported spot supplies.

electricity.

Enterprises Segment — Non-Utility Operations and InvestmentsE

NTERPRISES SEGMENT – NON-UTILITY OPERATIONS AND INVESTMENTS

CMS Energy’s enterprises segment, through various subsidiaries and certain equity investments, is engaged primarily in domestic IPPindependent power production and the marketing of IPP. In 2007, the enterprises segment made a significant change in business strategy by exiting the international marketplace and refocusing on its independent power business in the U.S.

production.  The enterprises segment’s operating revenue included in Income From Continuing Operations in CMS Energy’s Consolidated Financial Statements was $238$181 million in 2010, $2162013, $183 million in 2009,2012, and $365$204 million in 2008. The enterprises segment’s operating revenue included in Income (Loss) From Discontinued Operations in CMS Energy’s Consolidated Financial Statements was $10 million in 2010, $7 million in 2009, and $14 million in 2008.2011.

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IPP: While owned by CMS Enterprises, CMS Generation invested in and operated non-utility power generation plants in the U.S. and abroad. In 2007, CMS Enterprises sold CMS Generation and all

Table of CMS


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Enterprises’ international assets to third parties and transferred its domestic independent power plant operations to its subsidiary, HYDRA-CO.
The operating revenue from IPP included in Income From Continuing Operations in CMS Energy’s Consolidated Financial Statements was $18 million in 2010, $18 million in 2009, and $22 million in 2008. The operating revenue from IPP included in Income (Loss) From Discontinued Operations in CMS Energy’s Consolidated Financial Statements was $10 million in 2010, $7 million in 2009, and $14 million in 2008.
IPP Properties:Independent Power Production:  At December 31, 2010,2013, CMS Energy had ownership interests in independent power plants totaling 1,1661,135 gross MW or 1,0661,034 net MW.  (Net MW reflects that portion of the gross capacity relating to CMS Energy’s ownership interests.)
Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s interests in independent power plants at December 31, 2010:
               
          Gross Capacity
 
          Under Long-Term
 
  Primary
 Ownership Interest
  Gross Capacity
  Contract
 
Location
 Fuel Type (%)  (MW)  (%) 
 
Connecticut(a) Scrap tire  100   31    
Michigan Natural gas  100   710   88 
Michigan Natural gas  100   224   89 
Michigan Coal  50   73   100 
Michigan Biomass  50   40   100 
Michigan Biomass  50   38   100 
North Carolina Biomass  50   50    
               
Total
        1,166     
               
(a)Represents Exeter. In January 2011, CMS Energy sold its ownership interest in Exeter to ReEnergy.
2013:

 

 

 

 

Gross Capacity

 

Primary

Ownership

Gross Capacity

Under Long-Term

Location

Fuel Type

Interest (%)

(MW)

Contract (%)

Dearborn, Michigan

Natural gas

100

710

61

Gaylord, Michigan

Natural gas

100

156

40

Comstock, Michigan

Natural gas

100

68

40

Filer City, Michigan

Coal

50

73

100

Flint, Michigan

Biomass

50

40

100

Grayling, Michigan

Biomass

50

38

100

New Bern, North Carolina

Biomass

50

50

100

Total

 

 

1,135

 

The operating revenue from independent power production was $17 million in 2013, $16 million in 2012, and $17 million in 2011.  CMS Energy’s independent power production business faces competition from generators, marketers and brokers, and utilities marketing power in the wholesale market.

Energy Resource Management:  CMS ERM purchases and sells energy commodities in support of CMS Energy’s generating facilities.facilities and continues to focus on optimizing CMS Energy’s independent power production portfolio.  In 2010,2013, CMS ERM marketed 1511 bcf of natural gas and 2,3083,596 GWh of electricity.  AllElectricity marketed electricityby CMS ERM was generated by IPPsindependent power production of the enterprises segment.segment and unrelated third parties.  CMS ERM’s operating revenue included in Income From Continuing Operationsincome from continuing operations in CMS Energy’s Consolidated Financial Statementsconsolidated financial statements was $220$164 million in 2010, $1982013, $167 million in 2009,2012, and $343$187 million in 2008.

Natural Gas Transmission: CMS Gas Transmission owned, developed, and managed domestic and international natural gas facilities. In 2007, CMS Gas Transmission sold a portfolio of its businesses in Argentina and its northern Michigan non-utility natural gas assets to Lucid Energy, and its investment in GasAtacama to Endesa S.A. In 2008, CMS Gas Transmission completed the sale of its investment in TGN. CMS Gas Transmission’s operating revenue included in Income From Continuing Operations in CMS Energy’s Consolidated Financial Statements was less than $1 million in each of 2010, 2009, and 2008.
International Energy Distribution: In 2007, CMS Energy exited this line of business when it sold its ownership interests in SENECA and CMS Energy Brasil S.A.
2011.

OTHER BUSINESSESO

THERBUSINESSES

EnerBank:EnerBank a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Energy, is a Utah state-chartered, FDIC-insured industrial bank providing unsecured consumer installment loans for financing home improvements.  EnerBank’s operating revenue included in Income From Continuing Operationsincome from continuing operations in CMS Energy’s Consolidated Financial Statementsconsolidated financial statements was $38$64 million in 2010, $262013, $57 million in 2009,2012, and $21$46 million in 2008.

2011.

CMS ENERGY AND CONSUMERS REGULATION

CMS Energy, Consumers, and their subsidiaries are subject to regulation by various federal, state, local, and foreign governmental agencies, including those described in the following sections.


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MPSC
Consumers is subject to the jurisdiction of the MPSC, which regulates public utilities in Michigan with respect to retail utility rates, accounting, utility services, certain facilities, corporate mergers, and other matters.
The Michigan Attorney General, ABATE, the MPSC staff, and certain other parties typically participate in MPSC proceedings concerning Consumers. The Michigan Attorney General, ABATE, and others often appeal significant MPSC orders.
Rate Proceedings: For information regarding open rate proceedings, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 6, Regulatory Matters.
Michigan Energy Legislation
The 2008 Energy Legislation required that at least ten percent of Consumers’ electric sales volume come from renewable energy sources by 2015, and included requirements for specific capacity additions. The 2008 Energy Legislation also required Consumers to prepare an energy optimization plan and achieve annual sales reduction targets through at least 2015. The targets are incremental with the goal of achieving a six percent reduction in customers’ electricity use and a four percent reduction in customers’ natural gas use by December 31, 2015. For additional information regarding Consumers’ renewable energy and energy optimization plans, see Item 7. MD&A, Outlook, “Consumers’ Electric Utility Business Outlook and Uncertainties.”
The 2008 Energy Legislation also reformed the Customer Choice Act to limit alternative energy suppliers to supplying no more than ten percent of Consumers’ weather-adjusted sales. For additional information regarding the Customer Choice Act, see Item 7. MD&A, Outlook, “Consumers’ Electric Utility Business Outlook and Uncertainties.”
FERC

FERC has exercised limited jurisdiction over several independent power plants and exempt wholesale generators in which CMS Enterprises has ownership interests, as well as over CMS ERM, CMS Gas Transmission, and DIG.  Among other things, FERC has jurisdiction over acquisitions, operations, and disposals of certain assets and facilities, services provided and rates charged, conduct among affiliates, and limited jurisdiction over holding company matters with respect to CMS Energy.  FERC, in connection with NERC and with regional reliability organizations, also regulates generation owners and operators, load serving entities, purchase and sale entities, and others with regard to reliability of the bulk power system.  CertainFERC regulates limited aspects of Consumers’ gas business, are also subject to regulation byprincipally compliance with FERC including a blanket transportation tariff under which Consumers may transport gas in interstate commerce.capacity release rules, shipping rules, the prohibition against certain buy/sell transactions, and the price-reporting rule.

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FERC also regulates certain aspects of Consumers’ electric operations, including compliance with FERC accounting rules, wholesale rates, operation of licensed hydroelectric generating plants, transfers of certain facilities, corporate mergers, and issuances of securities.

Other RegulationMPSC

Consumers is subject to the jurisdiction of the MPSC, which regulates public utilities in Michigan with respect to retail utility rates, accounting, utility services, certain facilities, certain asset transfers, corporate mergers, and other matters.

The Michigan Attorney General, ABATE, the MPSC Staff, and certain other parties typically participate in MPSC proceedings concerning Consumers.  The Michigan Attorney General, ABATE, and others often appeal significant MPSC orders.

Rate Proceedings:  For information regarding open rate proceedings, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, MD&A — Outlook and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 2, Regulatory Matters.

OTHER REGULATION

The U.S. Secretary of Energy regulates imports and exports of natural gas and has delegated various aspects of this jurisdiction to FERC and the DOE’s Office of Fossil Fuels.

Consumers’

The U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Pipeline Safety regulates the safety and security of gas pipelines are subject tothrough the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 and the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002, which regulate the safety of gas pipelines.

subsequent laws.

EnerBank is regulated by the State of Utah and the FDIC.

ENERGY LEGISLATION

CMS Energy, Consumers, and their subsidiaries are subject to various legislative-driven matters, including Michigan’s 2008 Energy Law.  This law requires that at least ten percent of Consumers’ electric sales volume come from renewable energy sources by 2015, and includes requirements for specific capacity additions.  The 2008 Energy Law also requires Consumers to prepare an energy optimization plan and achieve annual sales reduction targets through at least 2015.  The targets increase annually, with the goal of achieving a six percent reduction in customers’ electricity use and a four percent reduction in customers’ natural gas use by December 31, 2015.  The 2008 Energy Law also revised a Michigan statute by limiting alternative energy supply to ten percent of Consumers’ weather-adjusted retail sales of the preceding calendar year.  For additional information regarding Consumers’ renewable energy and energy optimization plans and electric ROA, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, MD&A — Outlook, “Consumers Electric Utility Business Outlook and Uncertainties.”

CMS ENERGY AND CONSUMERS ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

CMS Energy, Consumers, and their subsidiaries are subject to various federal, state, and local regulations for environmental quality, including air and water quality, solid waste management, and other matters.  For additional


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information concerning environmental matters, see Item 1A. Risk Factors and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Note 5,3, Contingencies and Commitments.
CMS Energy

Consumers has recorded a significant liability for its affiliates’ obligations associated with Bay Harbor.at a number of MGP sites.  For additional information, see Item 1A. Risk Factors and Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Note 5,3, Contingencies and Commitments.

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Air:  Consumers continues to installstate-of-the-art emissions control equipment at its electric generating plants and to convert electric generating units to burn cleaner fuels.plants.  Consumers estimates that it will incur expenditures of $1.4 billion$507 million from 20112014 through 2018 to comply with present and future federal and state environmental regulations that will require extensive reductions in nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, particulate matter, and mercury emissions.  Consumers’ estimate may increase if additional or more stringent laws or regulations are adopted or implemented regarding greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide. For additional information concerning estimated capital expenditures related to emissions control, see Item 7. MD&A, Outlook, “Consumers’ Electric Utility Business Outlook and Uncertainties — Electric Environmental Estimates.”

Solid Waste Disposal:  Costs related to the construction, operation, and closure of solid waste disposal facilities for coal ash are significant. Historically, Consumers has worked with others to reuse 30 to 40 percent of ash produced by its coal-fueled plants, and sells ash for use as a Portland cement replacement in concrete products, as feedstock for the manufacture of Portland cement, and for other environmentally-compatible uses.  Consumers’ solid waste disposal areas are regulated under Michigan’s solid waste rules.  Consumers has converted all of its fly ash handling systems to dry systems, which reduce landfill venting substantially.systems.  All of Consumers’ ash facilities have programs designed to protect the environment and are subject to quarterly MDNREMDEQ inspections. Furthermore, an independent consultant has assessed dike integrity and stability. No major deficiencies were identified that could immediately jeopardize continued safe and reliable operation of the project structures. The draft reports of three EPA contractors who have since inspected these facilities with regard to National Dam Safety Program Act requirements comport with this conclusion.  The EPA has proposed new federal regulations for ash disposal areas.  Consumers preliminarily estimates that it will incur expenditures of $320$204 million from 20112014 through 2018 to comply with future regulations relating to ash disposal. For additional information concerning estimated capital expenditures related todisposal, assuming ash is regulated as a non-hazardous solid waste disposal, see Item 7. MD&A, Outlook, “Consumers’ Electric Utility Business Outlook and Uncertainties — Electric Environmental Estimates.”

waste.

Water:  Consumers uses significant amounts of water to operate and cool its electric generating plants.  Water discharge quality is regulated and administered by the MDNREMDEQ under the federal NPDES program.  To comply with such regulation, Consumers’ facilities have discharge monitoring programs.  The EPA is developing new regulations related to cooling water intake systems.systems that likely will be finalized in early 2014.  Consumers estimates that it willdoes not presently expect to incur any major expenditures of $180 million from 2011 through 2018 to comply with future regulations relating to cooling water intake systems. systems through 2018.  Significant expenditures could be required beyond 2018, but until a rule is final, any potential expenditures are difficult to predict.  Consumers also expects the EPA to issue final federal regulations for wastewater discharges from electric generating plants in 2014.  Consumers’ preliminary estimate of expenditures to comply with these expected regulations is $131 million from 2014 through 2018.

For additionalfurther information concerning estimated capital expenditures related to coolingair, solid waste disposal, and water intake systems, see Item 7.8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, MD&A Outlook, “Consumers’“Consumers Electric Utility Business Outlook and Uncertainties — Electric Environmental Estimates.”

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CMS ENERGY AND CONSUMERS COMPETITION

Electric Competition
Consumers’ electric utility business is subject to actual and potential competition from many sources, in both the wholesale and retail markets, as well as in electric generation, electric delivery, and retail services.
• industrial customers relocating all or a portion of their production capacity outside Consumers’ service territory for economic reasons;


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• municipalities owning or operating competing electric delivery systems;
• customer self-generation; and
• adjacent utilities that extend lines to customers in contiguous service territories.
Consumers addresses this competition by monitoring activity in adjacent areas and monitoring compliance with the MPSC’s and FERC’s rules, providing non-energy services, and providing tariff-based incentives that support economic development.
CMS ERM continues to focus on optimizing CMS Energy’s IPP portfolio. CMS Energy’s IPP business faces competition from generators, marketers and brokers, and utilities marketing power in the wholesale market.
Gas Competition
Competition exists in various aspects of Consumers’ gas utility business. Competition comes from other gas suppliers taking advantage of direct access to Consumers’ customers and from alternative fuels and energy sources, such as propane, oil, and electricity.
INSURANCE

CMS Energy and its subsidiaries, including Consumers, maintain insurance coverage generally similar to comparable companies in the same lines of business.  The insurance policies are subject to terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions that might not fully compensate CMS Energy or Consumers for all losses.  A portion of each loss is generally assumed by CMS Energy or Consumers in the form of deductibles and self-insured retentions that, in some cases, are substantial.  As CMS Energy or Consumers renews its policies, it is possible that some of the present insurance coverage may not be renewed or obtainable on commercially reasonable terms due to restrictive insurance markets.

CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ present insurance program does not cover the risks of certain environmental cleanup costs and environmental damages, such as claims for air pollution, damage to sites owned by CMS Energy or Consumers, and some long-term storage or disposal of wastes.

EMPLOYEES

CMS Energy
At December 31, 2010,

Presented in the following table are the number of employees of CMS Energy and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Consumers, had 7,822 full-time equivalent employees. Included in the total are 3,310 full-time operating, maintenance, and constructionConsumers:

December 31

2013

2012

2011

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

Full-time employees

7,736

7,487

7,699

Part-time employees

45

54

55

Total employees1

7,781

7,541

7,754

Consumers

 

 

 

Full-time employees

7,410

7,188

7,418

Part-time employees

25

33

34

Total employees2

7,435

7,221

7,452

1Excluding seasonal employees, and full-time and part-time call center employees who are represented by the Union.

Consumers
At7,460 at December 31, 2010, Consumers2013 and its subsidiaries had 7,522 full-time equivalent employees. Included in the total are 3,310 full-time operating, maintenance,7,503 at December 31, 2012.  There were no seasonal employees at December 31, 2011.

2Excluding seasonal employees, 7,114 at December 31, 2013 and construction7,183 at December 31, 2012.  There were no seasonal employees and full-time and part-time call center employees who are represented by the Union.


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at December 31, 2011.


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Table of Contents

CMS ENERGY EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (as of February(AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 2011)2014)

Name

Age

Position

Period

Name
Age
Position
Period

John G. Russell

56

53

President, CEO, and CEO of CMS Energy

5/2010-Present
President and CEO of Consumers5/2010-Present
Director of CMS Energy

5/2010-Present2010 – Present

President, CEO, and Director of Consumers

5/2010-Present2010 – Present

Director of CMS Enterprises5/2010-Present

Chairman of the Board, President, CEO, and CEODirector of CMS Enterprises

5/2010-Present2010 – Present

President and Chief Operating Officer of Consumers

2004-5/

10/2004 – 5/2010

Thomas J. Webb

61

58

Executive Vice President and CFO of CMS Energy

8/2002 – Present

Executive Vice President and CFO of Consumers

8/2002 – Present

Executive Vice President, CFO, of CMS Energy

2002-Present
Executive Vice President, CFO of Consumers2002-Present
Executive Vice President, CFO of CMS Enterprises2002-Present
and Director of CMS Enterprises

2002-Present

8/2002 – Present

James E. Brunner

61

58

Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel of CMS Energy

10/2013 – Present

Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel of Consumers

10/2013 – Present

Senior Vice President and General Counsel of CMS Enterprises

11/2007 – 1/2014

Director of CMS Enterprises

9/2006 – 1/2014

Senior Vice President and General Counsel of CMS Energy

11/2006-Present

2/2006 – 10/2013

Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Consumers

11/2006-Present

2/2006 – 10/2013

John M. Butler

49

Senior Vice President and General Counsel of CMS Enterprises11/2007-Present
Director of CMS Enterprises2006-Present

Senior Vice President of CMS Enterprises

2006-11/2007

9/2006 – Present

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of CMS Energy5/2006-11/2006
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Consumers5/2006-11/2006
Senior Vice President and General Counsel of CMS Energy2/2006-5/2006
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Interim Chief Compliance Officer of Consumers2/2006-5/2006
Vice President and General Counsel of Consumers7/2004-2/2006
John M. Butler*46

Senior Vice President of CMS Energy

2006-Present

7/2006 – Present

Senior Vice President of Consumers

2006-Present

7/2006 – Present

Senior Vice President of CMS Enterprises2006-Present


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Name
Age
Position
Period
David G. Mengebier

56

53

Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of CMS Energy

11/2006-Present2006 – Present

Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of Consumers

11/2006-Present2006 – Present

Senior Vice President of CMS Enterprises

2003-Present

3/2003 – Present

Catherine M. Reynolds

56

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Director of CMS EnergyEnterprises

2001-11/2006

1/2014 – Present

Senior Vice President and General Counsel of ConsumersCMS Energy

2001-11/2006

10/2013 – Present

Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Consumers

10/2013 – Present

Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of CMS Energy

1/2012 – 10/2013

Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Consumers

1/2012 – 10/2013

Vice President and Corporate Secretary of CMS Energy

9/2006 – 1/2012

Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Consumers

9/2006 – 1/2012

Vice President and Secretary of CMS Enterprises

9/2006 – 1/2014

Glenn P. Barba

48

45

Vice President, Controller, and Chief Accounting OfficerCAO of CMS EnergyEnterprises

2003-Present

11/2007 – Present

Vice President, Controller, and Chief Accounting OfficerCAO of ConsumersCMS Energy

2003-Present

2/2003 – Present

Vice President, Chief Accounting OfficerController, and ControllerCAO of CMS EnterprisesConsumers

11/2007-Present
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of CMS Enterprises2003-11/2007

1/2003 – Present

*From 2004 until June 2006, Mr. Butler was Human Resources Director, Manufacturing and Engineering at Dow Chemical Company, a non-affiliated company.

There are no family relationships among executive officers and directors of CMS Energy.

The term of office of each of the executive officers extends to the first meeting of the Board of Directors of CMS Energy after the next annual election of Directors of CMS Energy (scheduled to be held on May 20, 2011)16, 2014).

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CONSUMERS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (as of February(AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 2011)2014)

Name

Age

Position

Period

Name
Age
Position
Period

John G. Russell

56

53

President, CEO, and CEO of CMS Energy

5/2010-Present
President and CEO of Consumers5/2010-Present
Director of CMS Energy

5/2010-Present2010 – Present

President, CEO, and Director of Consumers

5/2010-Present2010 – Present

Director of CMS Enterprises5/2010-Present

Chairman of the Board, President, CEO, and CEODirector of CMS Enterprises

5/2010-Present2010 – Present

President and Chief Operating Officer of Consumers

2004-5/

10/2004 – 5/2010

Thomas J. Webb

61

58

Executive Vice President and CFO of CMS Energy

8/2002 – Present

Executive Vice President and CFO of Consumers

8/2002 – Present

Executive Vice President, CFO, of CMS Energy

2002-Present
Executive Vice President, CFO of Consumers2002-Present
Executive Vice President, CFO of CMS Enterprises2002-Present
and Director of CMS Enterprises

2002-Present

8/2002 – Present

James E. Brunner

61

58

Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel of CMS Energy

10/2013 – Present

Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel of Consumers

10/2013 – Present

Senior Vice President and General Counsel of CMS Enterprises

11/2007 – 1/2014

Director of CMS Enterprises

9/2006 – 1/2014

Senior Vice President and General Counsel of CMS Energy

11/2006-Present

2/2006 – 10/2013

Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Consumers

11/2006-Present

2/2006 – 10/2013

John M. Butler

49

Senior Vice President and General Counsel of CMS Enterprises11/2007-Present
Director of CMS Enterprises2006-Present

Senior Vice President of CMS Enterprises

2006-11/2007

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9/2006 – Present


Name

Age
Position
Period
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of CMS Energy5/2006-11/2006
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Consumers5/2006-11/2006
Senior Vice President and General Counsel of CMS Energy2/2006-5/2006
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Interim Chief Compliance Officer of Consumers2/2006-5/2006
Vice President and General Counsel of Consumers7/2004-2/2006
John M. Butler*46

Senior Vice President of CMS Energy

2006-Present

7/2006 – Present

Senior Vice President of Consumers

2006-Present

7/2006 – Present

Senior Vice President of CMS Enterprises2006-Present

David G. Mengebier

56

53

Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of CMS Energy

11/2006-Present2006 – Present

Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of Consumers

11/2006-Present2006 – Present

Senior Vice President of CMS Enterprises

2003-Present

3/2003 – Present

Jackson L. Hanson

57

Senior Vice President of CMS Energy2001-11/2006

Senior Vice President of Consumers

2001-11/2006

5/2010 – Present

Vice President of Consumers

11/2006 – 5/2010

William E. Garrity

Daniel J. Malone

53

62

Senior Vice President of Consumers

2005-Present

5/2010 – Present

Jackson L. Hanson54Senior

Vice President of Consumers

6/2008 – 5/2010-Present2010

Catherine M. Reynolds

56

Vice President of Consumers11/2006-5/2010
Plant and Site Business Manager of Consumers4/2006-11/2006
Daniel J. Malone50

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Director of ConsumersCMS Enterprises

5/2010-Present

1/2014 – Present

Senior Vice President and General Counsel of ConsumersCMS Energy

6/2008-5/2010

10/2013 – Present

Site Business Manager

Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Consumers

12/2006-6/2008

10/2013 – Present

Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of CMS Energy

1/2012 – 10/2013

Manager of Equipment Services

Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Consumers

8/2006-12/2006

1/2012 – 10/2013

Vice President and Corporate Secretary of CMS Energy

9/2006 – 1/2012

Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Consumers

9/2006 – 1/2012

Vice President and Secretary of CMS Enterprises

9/2006 – 1/2014

Glenn P. Barba

48

45

Vice President, Controller, and Chief Accounting OfficerCAO of CMS EnergyEnterprises

2003-Present

11/2007 – Present

Vice President, Controller, and Chief Accounting OfficerCAO of ConsumersCMS Energy

2003-Present

2/2003 – Present

Vice President, Controller, and Chief Accounting OfficerCAO of CMS EnterprisesConsumers

11/2007-Present

1/2003 – Present

Patricia K. Poppe

45

Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of CMS EnterprisesConsumers

2003-11/2007

1/2011 – Present

*

Ronn J. Rasmussen

57

From 2004 until June

Vice President of Consumers

11/2006 Mr. Butler was Human Resources Director, Manufacturing and Engineering at Dow Chemical Company, a non-affiliated company.– Present

There are no family relationships among executive officers and directors of Consumers.

The term of office of each of the executive officers extends to the first meeting of the Board of Directors of Consumers after the next annual election of Directors of Consumers (scheduled to be held on May 20, 2011)16, 2014).

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AVAILABLE INFORMATION

CMS Energy’s internet address is www.cmsenergy.com.  Information contained on CMS Energy’s website is not incorporated herein.  All of CMS Energy’s annual reports onForm 10-K, quarterly reports onForm 10-Q, current reports onForm 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act

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are accessible free of charge on CMS Energy’s website.  These reports are available soon after they are filed electronically with the SEC.  Also on CMS Energy’s website are its:
• Corporate Governance Principles;
• Codes of Conduct (CMS Energy Corporation/Consumers Energy Company Board of Directors Code of Conduct — 2010 and Code of Conduct and Guide to Ethical Business Behavior 2010);
• Board committee charters (including the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Human Resources Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Governance and Public Responsibility Committee); and
• Articles of Incorporation (and amendments) and Bylaws.

·Corporate Governance Principles;

·Codes of Conduct:

·CMS Energy Corporation/Consumers Energy Company Board of Directors Code of Conduct January 2013, and

·CMS Energy Corporation/Consumers Energy Company Employees Code of Conduct and Guide to Ethical Business Behavior 2014;

·Committee Charters (including the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Human Resources Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Governance and Public Responsibility Committee); and

·Articles of Incorporation (and amendments) and Bylaws.

CMS Energy will provide this information in print to any stockholder who requests it.

Any materials CMS Energy files with the SEC may also be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE,N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549.  Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at1-800-SEC-0330.  The SEC also maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.  The address is www.sec.gov.


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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Actual results in future periods for CMS Energy and Consumers could differ materially from historical results and the forward-looking statements contained in this report.  Factors that might cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the following sections.  CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses are influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, that involve uncertainties that may materially affect results, and that are often beyond their control.  Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known or that the companies’ management believes to be immaterial may also adversely affect the companies.CMS Energy or Consumers.  The risk factors described in the following sections, as well as the other information included in this report and in other documents filed with the SEC, should be considered carefully before making an investment in securities of CMS Energy or Consumers.  Risk factors of Consumers are also risk factors of CMS Energy.  All of these risk factors are potentially significant.

CMS Energy depends on dividends from its subsidiaries to meet its debt service obligations.

Due to its holding company structure, CMS Energy depends on dividends from its subsidiaries to meet its debt service and other payment obligations.  RestrictionsConsumers’ ability to pay dividends or acquire its own stock from CMS Energy is limited by restrictions contained in Consumers’ preferred stock provisions and potentially by other legal restrictions, such as certain terms in its articles of incorporation and FERC requirements, limit Consumers’ ability to pay dividends or acquire its own stock from CMS Energy.requirements.  At December 31, 2010,2013, under its articles of incorporation, Consumers had $404$662 million of unrestricted retained earnings available to pay common stock dividends.  If sufficient dividends arewere not paid to CMS Energy by its subsidiaries, CMS Energy maymight not be able to generate the funds necessary to fulfill its payment obligations, which could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s liquidity and financial condition.

CMS Energy has indebtedness that could limit its financial flexibility and hence its ability to meet its debt service obligations.

At December 31, 2010,2013, CMS Energy, including Consumers, had $7.2$7.7 billion aggregate principal amount of indebtedness, including $29 million of subordinated indebtedness relating to its convertible preferred securities. CMS Energyindebtedness.  Consumers had $2.3$4.6 billion aggregate principal amount of indebtedness at December 31, 2010. At December 31, 2010, there were no borrowings and $3 million of letters of credit outstanding under CMS Energy’s revolving credit agreement.2013.  CMS Energy and its subsidiaries may incur additional indebtedness in the future.

The level of CMS Energy’s present and future indebtedness could have several important effects on its future operations, including, among others:

• a significant portion of CMS Energy’s cash flow from operations could be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on its indebtedness and would not be available for other purposes;
• covenants contained in CMS Energy’s existing debt arrangements, which require it to meet certain financial tests, could affect its flexibility in planning for, and reacting to, changes in its business;
• CMS Energy’s ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, and general corporate and other purposes could become limited;
• CMS Energy could be placed at a competitive disadvantage to its competitors that are less leveraged;
• CMS Energy’s vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions could increase; and
• CMS Energy’s future credit ratings could fluctuate.

·a significant portion of CMS Energy’s cash flow from operations could be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on its indebtedness and would not be available for other purposes;

·covenants contained in CMS Energy’s existing debt arrangements, which require it to meet certain financial tests, could affect its flexibility in planning for, and reacting to, changes in its business;

·CMS Energy’s ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, and general corporate and other purposes could become limited;

·CMS Energy could be placed at a competitive disadvantage to its competitors that are less leveraged;

·CMS Energy’s vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions could increase; and

·CMS Energy’s future credit ratings could fluctuate.

CMS Energy’s ability to meet its debt service obligations and to reduce its total indebtedness will depend on its future performance, which will be subject to general economic conditions, industry cycles, changes in laws or regulatory decisions, (including with respect to environmental matters), and financial, business, and other factors affecting its operations, many of which are beyond its control.  CMS Energy cannot make assurances that its business will continue to

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generate sufficient cash flow from operations to service its indebtedness.  If CMS Energy iswere unable to generate sufficient cash flows from operations, it maycould be required to sell assets, which might require regulatory approval, or obtain additional financing.  CMS Energy cannot ensure that additional financing will be available on commercially acceptable terms or at all.


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CMS Energy cannot predict the outcome of regulatory reviews and claims regarding its participation in the development of Bay Harbor.
The EPA and the MDNRE have not completed their review of proposals by CMS Land and CMS Capital to remedy the flow of leachate from buried CKD piles at the Bay Harbor site to Lake Michigan and related environmental issues. One of the major issues to be resolved is determining a long-term solution to the disposal of leachate collected at the site. In December 2010, the MDNRE issued a five-year NPDES permit that authorizes CMS Land to discharge treated leachate into Little Traverse Bay. Costs to treat and discharge collected leachate under this permit could exceed those that are presently anticipated. Additionally, CMS Land and CMS Capital could be required to alter their present water disposal strategy upon expiration of this permit if the MDNRE or EPA identify a more suitable option, or if the permit itself is challenged before the MDNRE or the courts. CMS Land and CMS Capital, the MDNRE, the EPA, and other parties continue to negotiate the long-term remedy for the Bay Harbor site. These negotiations are focused on, among other things, issues related to:
• the disposal of leachate;
• the capping and excavation of CKD;
• the location and design of collection lines and upstream water diversion systems;
• application of criteria for various substances such as mercury; and
• other matters that are likely to affect the scope of remedial work that CMS Land and CMS Capital may be obligated to undertake.
Depending on the results of these negotiations, as well as the size of any indemnity obligation or liability under an Administrative Order on Consent signed by CMS Land and CMS Capital or other liability under environmental laws, adverse outcomes of some or all of these matters could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s liquidity and financial condition and could negatively affect CMS Energy’s financial results.
CMS Energy could be affected adversely by a regulatory investigation and civil lawsuits regarding pricing information that CMS MST and CMS Field Services provided to market publications.
In 2002, CMS Energy notified appropriate regulatory and governmental agencies that some employees at CMS MST and CMS Field Services appeared to have provided inaccurate information regarding natural gas trades to various energy industry publications which compile and report index prices. CMS Energy is cooperating with an ongoing investigation by the DOJ regarding this matter. CMS Energy is unable to predict the outcome of the DOJ investigation or the amount of any fines or penalties that may be imposed and what effect, if any, the investigation will have on CMS Energy.
CMS Energy, CMS MST, CMS Field Services, Cantera Natural Gas, Inc., and Cantera Gas Company were named as defendants in various lawsuits arising as a result of alleged false natural gas price reporting. Allegations included manipulation of NYMEX natural gas futures and options prices, price-fixing conspiracies, and artificial inflation of natural gas retail prices in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. CMS Energy cannot predict the outcome of the lawsuits or the amount of damages for which CMS Energy may be liable. It is possible that the outcome in one or more of the lawsuits could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
CMS Energy and Consumers retain contingent liabilities in connection with their asset sales.
The agreements that CMS Energy and Consumers enter into for the sale of assets customarily include provisions whereby they are required to:
• retain specified preexisting liabilities, such as for taxes, pensions, or environmental conditions;
• indemnify the buyers against specified risks, including the inaccuracy of representations and warranties they make; and


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• make payments to the buyers depending on the outcome of post-closing adjustments, litigation, audits, or other reviews, including claims resulting from attempts by foreign or domestic governments to assess taxes on past operations or transactions.
Many of these contingent liabilities can remain open for extended periods of time after the sales are closed. Depending on the extent to which the buyers may ultimately seek to enforce their rights under these contractual provisions, and the resolution of any disputes concerning them, there could be a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
CMS Energy and Consumers have financing needs and could be unable to obtain bank financing or access the capital markets.  Potential disruption in the capital and credit markets could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses, including the availability and cost of short-term funds for liquidity requirements and their ability to meet long-term commitments.  These consequences could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

CMS Energy and Consumers may be subject to liquidity demands under commercial commitments, guarantees, indemnities, and letters of credit.credit, and other contingent liabilities.  Consumers’ capital requirements are expected to be substantial over the next several years as it implementsinvests in the Smart Energy program, construction or acquisition of power generation, environmental controls, decommissioning of older facilities, and environmental projects,other electric and thosegas infrastructure to upgrade delivery systems.  Those requirements may increase if additional laws or regulations are adopted or implemented regarding greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide.

implemented.

CMS Energy and Consumers rely on the capital markets, particularly for publicly offered debt, as well as on bank syndications, to meet their financial commitments and short-term liquidity needs if sufficient internal funds are not available from Consumers’ operations and, in the case of CMS Energy’sEnergy, from dividends paid by Consumers and Consumers’ respective operations.its other subsidiaries.  CMS Energy and Consumers also use letters of credit issued under certain of their revolving credit facilities to support certain operations and investments.

Longer term disruptions in the capital and credit markets as a result of uncertainty, changing or increased regulation, reduced alternatives, or failures of significant financial institutions could adversely affect CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ access to liquidity needed for their respective businesses.businesses, as could Consumers’ inability to obtain prior FERC authorization for any securities issuances, including publicly offered debt, as is required under the Federal Power Act.  Any disruption or inability to obtain FERC authorization could require CMS Energy and Consumers to take measures to conserve cash until the markets stabilize or until alternative credit arrangements or other funding for their business needs can be arranged.  These measures could include deferring capital expenditures, changing CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ commodity purchasing strategy to avoid collateral-posting requirements, and reducing or eliminating future share repurchases, dividend payments, or other discretionary uses of cash.

CMS Energy continues to explore financing opportunities to supplement its financial plan.  These potential opportunities include refinancingand/or issuing new capital markets debt, preferred stockand/or common equity, commercial paper, and bank financing.  Similarly, Consumers plans to seek funds through the capital markets, commercial lenders, and leasing arrangements.  Entering into new financings is subject in part to capital market receptivity to utility industry securities in general and to CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ securities issuances in particular.  CMS Energy and Consumers cannot guarantee the capital markets’ acceptance of their securities or predict the impact of factors beyond their control, such as actions of rating agencies.  If CMS Energy or Consumers is unable to obtain bank financing or access the capital markets to incur or refinance indebtedness, or is unable to obtain commercially reasonable terms for any financing, there could be a material adverse effect on its liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

Certain of CMS Energy’s securities and those of its affiliates, including Consumers, are rated by various credit rating agencies.  Any reduction or withdrawal of one or more of its credit ratings could have a material adverse impact on CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ ability to access capital on acceptable terms and maintain commodity lines of credit, could make its cost of borrowing higher, and could cause CMS Energy or Consumers to reduce its capital expenditures.  If it iswere unable to maintain commodity

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lines of credit, CMS Energy or Consumers maymight have to post collateral or make prepayments to certain of its suppliers under existing contracts.  Further, since Consumers provides dividends to CMS Energy, any adverse developments affecting Consumers that result in a lowering of its credit ratings could have an adverse effect on CMS Energy’s credit ratings.  CMS Energy and Consumers cannot


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guarantee that any of their present ratings will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency.

There are risks associated with Consumers’ significant capital investment program planned for the next five years.

Consumers’ planned investments include the Smart Energy program, construction or acquisition of power generation, gas infrastructure, environmental controls, decommissioning of older facilities, and other electric and gas investments to upgrade delivery systems.  The success of these capital investments depends on or could be affected by a variety of factors that include, but are not limited to:

·effective pre-acquisition evaluation of asset values, future operating costs, potential environmental and other liabilities, and other factors beyond Consumers’ control;

·effective cost and schedule management of new capital projects;

·future changes in commodity and other prices;

·future operational performance;

·future changes in environmental, legislative and regulatory requirements; and

·regulatory cost recovery.

Consumers cannot predict the impact that any of these factors could have on the success of its capital investment program.  It is possible that adverse events associated with these factors could have a material adverse effect on Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

Electric industry legislation in Michigan, coupled with increased competition in gas and electric markets, could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses.

The 2008 Energy Law, among other things, limits alternative electric supply to ten percent of Consumers’ weather-adjusted retail sales of the preceding calendar year.  Lower natural gas prices due to a large supply of natural gas on the market, coupled with low capacity prices in the electric supply market, are placing increasing competitive pressure on the cost of Consumers’ electric supply.  Presently, Consumers’ electric rates are above the Midwest average, while the ROA level on Consumers’ system is at the ten-percent limit and the proportion of Consumers’ electric deliveries under the ROA program and on the ROA waiting list is 25 percent.  Bills have been introduced to the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate to raise or remove the ROA limit.  The House bill also proposes to deregulate electric generation service in Michigan within two years.  In addition, the Michigan legislature has conducted hearings on the subject of energy competition.  If the ROA limit were increased or if electric generation service in Michigan were deregulated, it could have a material adverse effect on Consumers’ financial results and operations.

In 2013, Michigan’s governor instituted a process to prepare a series of reports addressing energy efficiency, renewable energy, the electricity market and ROA, and other subjects.  The process was designed to help the governor and other lawmakers determine the state’s next steps regarding energy policies.  Following a series of public hearings, the chairman of the MPSC and Michigan’s Energy Office Director released four reports summarizing the information gathered.  In December 2013, the governor outlined several key goals for Michigan’s energy policy, including reducing the state’s reliance on coal, increasing the use of renewable energy and natural gas, and improving energy affordability and reliability while protecting the environment.

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Other new legislation or interpretations could change how the businesses of CMS Energy and Consumers could incur additional significantoperate, impact Consumers’ ability to recover costs to comply with environmental requirements.

CMS Energy, Consumers, and their subsidiaries are subject to costly and increasingly stringent environmental regulations. They believe that environmental laws and regulations related to flue gas emissions, ash disposal, and cooling water use will continue to become more stringent and require them to make additional significant capital expenditures for emissions control equipment installation and upgrades.
In 2009, the EPA issued an endangerment finding for greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. In this finding, which has been challenged in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit by numerous parties, the EPA determined that present and projected atmospheric concentrations of six greenhouse gases threaten the public health and welfare of present and future generations. In May 2010, the EPA issued a final rule that addresses greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources under the Clean Air Act permitting programs. The “tailoring rule” sets thresholds for greenhouse gas emissions that define when permits under the NSR and Title V programs are required for new and existing industrial facilities. This regulation took effect in January 2011. Comprehensive federal legislation that addresses greenhouse gases has not advanced in the U.S. Congress. Federal legislation is considered likely to be enacted in some form in the future and could have a significant impact on the operation and cost of existing and future fossil-fueled power plants.
In 2010, a significant percentage of the energy generated by Consumers came from fossil-fueled power plants. The emissions from fossil-fueled power plants would be subject to greenhouse gas regulations. CMS Enterprises also has interests in fossil-fueled power plants and other types of power plants that produce greenhouse gases. Federal laws and rules limiting the emission of greenhouse gasesthrough rate increases, or similar state laws and rules, if enacted, as well as international accords and treaties, could require CMS Energy and Consumers to installincur additional equipmentexpenses.

CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to rate regulation, which could have an adverse effect on financial results.

CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to rate regulation.  Consumers’ electric and gas rates are set by the MPSC and cannot be increased without regulatory authorization.  Consumers is permitted by the 2008 Energy Law to self-implement rate changes six months after a rate filing with the MPSC, subject to certain limitations.  If a final rate order from the MPSC provides for emission controls, purchase carbon emissions allowances, curtail operations, investlower rates than Consumers self-implemented, Consumers must refund the difference, with interest.  Also, the MPSC may delay or deny implementation of a rate increase upon showing of good cause.

In addition, Consumers’ plans for making significant capital investments, including modifications to meet new environmental requirements and investment in non-fossil-fuel generating capacity,the construction or take other significant steps to manageacquisition of power generation, could be affected adversely or lower the emission of greenhouse gases. The following risks related to climate change could also have a material adverse impacteffect on Consumers if rate regulators fail to provide timely rate relief.  Regulators seeking to avoid or minimize rate increases could resist raising customer rates sufficiently to permit Consumers to recover the full cost of modifications to meet environmental requirements and other prudent investments.  In addition, because certain costs are mandated by state requirements for cost recovery, such as resource additions to meet Michigan’s renewable resource standard, regulators could be more inclined to oppose rate increases for other requested items and investments.  Rate regulators could also face pressure to avoid or limit rate increases for a number of reasons, including failure of Michigan’s economy to improve sufficiently or diminishment of Consumers’ customer base.  In addition to potentially affecting Consumers’ investment program, any limitation of cost recovery through rates could have a material adverse effect on Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

Orders of the MPSC could limit recovery of costs of providing service including, but not limited to, environmental and safety related expenditures for coal-fueled plants and other utility properties, regulatory assets, power supply and natural gas supply costs, operating and maintenance expenses, additional utility-based investments, sunk investment in mothballed or retired generating plants, costs associated with the proposed retirement and decommissioning of facilities, depreciation expense, MISO energy and transmission costs, costs associated with energy efficiency investments and state or federally mandated renewable resource standards, Smart Energy program costs, or expenditures subject to tracking mechanisms.  These orders could also result in adverse regulatory treatment of other matters.  For example, the orders could prevent or curtail Consumers from shutting off non-paying customers, could prevent or curtail Consumers from self-implementing rate changes, could prevent or curtail the implementation of a gas revenue mechanism, or could require Consumers to refund previously self-implemented rates.

FERC authorizes certain subsidiaries of CMS Energy to sell electricity at market-based rates.  Failure of these subsidiaries to maintain this FERC authority could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations:

• litigation originated by third parties against CMS Energy, Consumers, or their subsidiaries due to CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ greenhouse gas emissions;
• impairment of CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ reputation due to its greenhouse gas emissions and public perception of its response to potential greenhouse gas regulations, rules, and legislation; and
• extreme weather conditions, such as severe storms, that may affect customer demand, company operations, or assets.
operations.

The EPA is considering regulating CCBs, such as coal ash, as hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Michigan already regulates CCBs as low-hazard industrial waste. If coal ash is regulated as a hazardous waste, Consumers would likely cease the beneficial re-use of this product, resulting in significantly more coal ash requiring costly disposal. Additionally, it is possible that existing landfills could be closed if the upgrades to hazardous waste landfill standards are economically prohibitive. Costsvarious risks associated with this potentialthe MPSC and FERC regulation could be substantial.

The EPA is revising regulations that govern cooling water intake structures aimed at protecting aquatic life. Costs associated with these revisions could be material to CMS Energy, Consumers, and CMS Enterprises and result in operational changes or the retirement of certain generating units.
CMS Energy and Consumers expect to collect fully from their customers, through the ratemaking process, expenditures incurred to comply with environmental regulations. If Consumers were unable to recover these expenditures from customers in rates, it could negatively affect CMS Energy’sand/or Consumers’ liquidity, results of operations, and financial condition and CMS Energyand/or Consumers could be required to seek significant additional financing to fund these expenditures.


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CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses, could be affected adversely bywhich include the risk of adverse decisions in any delay in meeting environmental requirements.
A delay or failure by CMS Energy or Consumers to obtain or maintain any necessary environmental permits or approvals to satisfy any applicable environmental regulatory requirements or install emission control equipment could:
• prevent the construction of new facilities;
• prevent the continued operation and sale of energy from existing facilities;
• prevent the modification of existing facilities; or
• result in significant additional costs that could have a material adverse effect on their liquidity, financial condition, or results of operations.
Market performance and other changes could decrease the value of benefit plan assets, which then could require significant funding.
The performance of the capital markets affects the values of assets that are held in trust to satisfy future obligations under CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ pension and postretirement benefit plans. CMS Energy and Consumers have significant obligations under these plans and hold significant assets in these trusts. These assets are subject to market fluctuations and will yield uncertain returns, which may fall below CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ forecasted return rates. A decline in the market value of the assets or a change in the level of interest rates used to measure the required minimum funding levels may increase the funding requirements of these obligations. Also, changes in demographics, including increased number of retirementsrate or changes in life expectancy assumptions, may increase the funding requirements of the obligations related to the pension and postretirement benefit plans. If CMS Energy and Consumers were unable to manage their pension and postretirement plan assets successfully, itregulatory proceedings before either agency, as well as judicial proceedings challenging any agency decisions, could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, investment plans, and results of operations.

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Utility regulation could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses.

Utility regulation has changed dramatically in the last two decades and could continue to change over the next several years.  These changes could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to, or affected by, extensive federal and state utility regulation.  In CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ business planning and management of operations, they must address the effects of existing and proposed regulations on their businesses and changes in the regulatory framework, including initiatives by federal and state legislatures, regional transmission organizations, utility regulators, and taxing authorities.  Adoption of new regulations by federal or state agencies, or changes to present regulations and interpretations of these regulations, could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

There are multiple FERC-related matters that could impact utility regulation.  These include matters relating to electric industry restructuring, asset reclassification, and gas pipeline capacity matters.  CMS Energy and Consumers cannot predict the impact of these utility matters on their liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

Periodic reviews of the values of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ assets could result in accountingimpairment charges.

CMS Energy and Consumers are required by GAAP to review periodically the carrying value of their assets, including those that may be sold.  Market conditions, the operational characteristics of their assets, and other factors could result in recording impairment charges for their assets, which could have an adverse effect on their stockholders’stockholders equity and their access to additional financing.  In addition, CMS Energy and Consumers may be required to record impairment charges at the time they sell assets, depending on the sale prices they are able to secure and other factors.

CMS Energy and Consumers could incur significant costs to comply with environmental requirements.

CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to costly and increasingly stringent environmental regulations.  They believe that environmental laws and regulations related to their operations will continue to become more stringent and require them to make additional significant capital expenditures for emissions control equipment, CCR disposal, cooling water intake equipment, effluent treatment, and PCB remediation.  Present and reasonably anticipated state and federal environmental statutes and regulations, including but not limited to the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and CERCLA, will continue to have a material effect on CMS Energy and Consumers.

In 2013, 96 percent of the energy generated by Consumers came from fossil-fuel-fired power plants, with 88 percent coming from coal-fueled power plants.  CMS Enterprises also has interests in fossil-fuel-fired power plants and other types of power plants that produce greenhouse gases.  In June 2013, President Obama issued his Climate Action Plan.  The Climate Action Plan, which is to be implemented by the EPA, will regulate greenhouse gas emissions from both new and existing electric generating units.  Federal environmental laws and rules and international accords and treaties could require CMS Energy and Consumers to install additional equipment for emission controls, purchase carbon emissions allowances, curtail operations, invest in non-fossil-fuel-fired generating capacity, or take other significant steps to manage or lower the emission of greenhouse gases.

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The following risks related to climate change and emissions could also have a material adverse impact on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations:

·litigation originated by third parties against CMS Energy, Consumers, or their subsidiaries due to CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ greenhouse gas or other emissions;

·impairment of CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ reputation due to their greenhouse gas or other emissions and public perception of their response to potential environmental regulations, rules, and legislation; and

·extreme weather conditions, such as severe storms, that may affect customer demand, company operations, or assets.

Consumers plans to retire seven smaller coal-fueled electric generating units and three smaller gas-fueled electric generating units by April 2016, subject to a successful Securitization transaction.  Once the facilities and equipment on these sites are taken out of service, Consumers may encounter previously unknown environmental conditions that will need to be addressed in a timely fashion with state and federal environmental regulators.

CMS Energy and Consumers expect to collect fully from their customers, through the ratemaking process, expenditures incurred to comply with environmental regulations, but cannot guarantee this outcome.  If Consumers were unable to recover these expenditures from customers in rates, it could negatively affect CMS Energy’s and/or Consumers’ liquidity, results of operations, and financial condition and CMS Energy and/or Consumers could be required to seek significant additional financing to fund these expenditures.

For additional information regarding compliance with environmental regulations, see Item 1. Business, CMS Energy and Consumers Environmental Compliance and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, MD&A – Outlook, “Consumers Electric Utility Business Outlook and Uncertainties.”

CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses could be affected adversely by any delay in meeting environmental requirements.

A delay or failure by CMS Energy or Consumers to obtain or maintain any necessary environmental permits, approvals under the MISO tariff, or approvals to satisfy any applicable environmental regulatory requirements or install emission control equipment could:

·prevent the construction of new facilities;

·prevent the continued operation and sale of energy from existing facilities;

·prevent the suspension of operations at existing facilities;

·prevent the modification of existing facilities; or

·result in significant additional costs that could have a material adverse effect on their liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

CMS Energy and Consumers expect to incur additional significant costs related to remediation of legacy environmental sites.

Consumers is presently monitoring or remediating 23 former MGP sites.  Consumers is working collaboratively with the MDEQ to agree upon executable remediation plans.  About one-third of the 23 sites have been remediated to the extent possible and are now being monitored.  The MDEQ established a provision for a “No Further Action” status for these sites and others like them in 2010.  Consumers has received the “No Further Action” designation for one of these sites as of December 31, 2013.  The remaining sites are being actively remediated through excavation, treatment at the site, containment, and/or natural reduction; two of these sites require complex remediation plans due to the involvement of surface water.

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CMS Energy and Consumers expect to incur additional significant costs related to the remediation of these former MGP sites.  Based upon prior MPSC orders, Consumers expects to be able to recover the costs of these cleanup activities through its gas rates, but cannot guarantee that outcome.

In addition, CMS Energy retained environmental remediation obligations for the collection and treatment of leachate at Bay Harbor after selling its interests in the development in 2002.  Leachate is produced when water enters into cement kiln dust piles left over from former cement plant operations at the site.  CMS Energy has signed agreements with the EPA and the MDEQ relating to Bay Harbor.  If CMS Energy were unable to meet its commitments under these agreements, or if unanticipated events occurred, CMS Energy could incur additional material costs relating to its Bay Harbor remediation obligations.

Consumers also expects to incur remediation and other response activity costs at a number of other sites under NREPA and CERCLA.  Consumers believes these costs should be recoverable in rates, but cannot guarantee that outcome.

CMS Energy and Consumers could be affected adversely by legacy litigation and retained liabilities.

In 2002, CMS Energy notified appropriate regulatory and governmental agencies that some employees at CMS MST and CMS Field Services appeared to have provided inaccurate information regarding natural gas trades to various energy industry publications which compile and report index prices.  CMS Energy has cooperated with the DOJ’s investigation regarding this matter.  CMS Energy is unable to predict the outcome of the DOJ investigation or the amount of any fines or penalties that may be imposed and what effect, if any, the investigation will have on CMS Energy.

CMS Energy, CMS MST, CMS Field Services, Cantera Natural Gas, Inc., and Cantera Gas Company were named as defendants in various lawsuits arising as a result of alleged false natural gas price reporting.  Allegations included manipulation of NYMEX natural gas futures and options prices, price-fixing conspiracies, and artificial inflation of natural gas retail prices in Kansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin.  CMS Energy cannot predict the outcome of the lawsuits or the amount of damages for which CMS Energy may be liable.  It is possible that the outcome in one or more of the lawsuits could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

The agreements that CMS Energy and Consumers enter into for the sale of assets customarily include provisions whereby they are required to:

·retain specified preexisting liabilities, such as for taxes, pensions, or environmental conditions;

·indemnify the buyers against specified risks, including the inaccuracy of representations and warranties that CMS Energy and Consumers make; and

·make payments to the buyers depending on the outcome of post-closing adjustments, litigation, audits, or other reviews, including claims resulting from attempts by foreign or domestic governments to assess taxes on past operations or transactions.

Many of these contingent liabilities can remain open for extended periods of time after the sales are closed.  Depending on the extent to which the buyers might ultimately seek to enforce their rights under these contractual provisions, and the resolution of any disputes concerning them, there could be a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

In 2002, CMS Energy sold its oil, gas, and methanol investments in Equatorial Guinea.  The government of Equatorial Guinea claims that CMS Energy owes $142 million in taxes, plus significant penalties and interest, in connection with the sale and has requested arbitration.  CMS Energy is vigorously contesting the claim, and cannot predict the financial impact or outcome of this matter.  It is possible that the outcome of this matter could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

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CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ energy sales and operations are affected by seasonal factors and varying weather conditions from year to year.

CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ utility operations are seasonal.  The consumption of electric energy typically increases in the summer months, due primarily to the use of air conditioners and other cooling equipment, while peak demand for natural gas occurs in the winter due to colder temperatures and the resulting use of natural gas as heating fuel.  In addition, Consumers’ electric rates, which follow a seasonal rate design, are higher in the summer months than in the remaining months of the year.  Accordingly, CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ overall results in the future may fluctuate substantially on a seasonal basis.  Mild temperatures during the summer cooling season and winter heating season could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

Consumers is exposed to risks related to general economic conditions in its service territories.

Consumers’ electric and gas utility businesses are affected by the economic conditions impacting the customers they serve.  If the Michigan economy becomes sluggish or declines, Consumers could experience reduced demand for electricity or natural gas that could result in decreased earnings and cash flow.  In addition, economic conditions in Consumers’ service territory affect its collections of accounts receivable and levels of lost or stolen gas, which in turn impact its liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to information security risks, risks of unauthorized access to their systems, and technology failures.

In the regular course of business, CMS Energy and Consumers handle a range of sensitive security and customer information.  CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to laws and rules issued by various agencies concerning safeguarding and maintaining the confidentiality of this information.  A security breach of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ information systems could involve theft or the inappropriate release of certain types of information, such as confidential customer information or, separately, system operating information.  These events could disrupt operations, subject CMS Energy and Consumers to possible financial liability, damage their reputation and diminish the confidence of customers, and have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial conditions, and results of operations.

CMS Energy and Consumers operate in a highly regulated industry that requires the continued operation of sophisticated information technology systems and network infrastructure.  Despite implementation of security measures, CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ technology systems are vulnerable to being disabled, to failures, to cyber crime, and to unauthorized access.  Such events could impact the reliability of electric and gas generation and delivery and also subject CMS Energy and Consumers to financial harm.  Cyber crime, which includes the use of malware, computer viruses, and other means for disruption or unauthorized access against companies, including CMS Energy and Consumers, has increased in frequency, scope, and potential impact in recent years.  While CMS Energy and Consumers have not been subject to cyber crime incidents that have had a material impact on their operations to date, their security measures in place may be insufficient to prevent a major cyber attack in the future.  If CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ technology systems were to fail or be breached, CMS Energy and Consumers might not be able to fulfill critical business functions, and sensitive confidential and proprietary data could be compromised, which could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

A variety of technological tools and systems, including both company-owned information technology and technological services provided by outside parties, support critical functions.  The failure of these technologies, or the inability of CMS Energy and Consumers to have these technologies supported,

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updated, expanded, or integrated into other technologies, could hinder their business operations and materially adversely affect their liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses have safety risks.

Consumers’ electric and gas delivery systems, power plants, gas infrastructure, wind energy equipment, and energy products and the independent power plants owned in whole or in part by CMS Energy could be involved in accidents that result in injury or property loss to customers, employees, or the public.  Although CMS Energy and Consumers have insurance coverage for many potential incidents (subject to deductibles and self-insurance amounts that could be material), depending upon the nature or severity of any incident or accident, CMS Energy or Consumers could suffer financial loss, damage to its reputation, and negative repercussions from regulatory agencies or other public authorities.

CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ revenues and results of operations are subject to risks that are beyond their control, including but not limited to natural disasters, terrorist attacks or related acts of war, hostile cyber intrusions, or other catastrophic events.

The impact of natural disasters, severe weather, wars, terrorist acts, cyber intrusions, pandemics, and other catastrophic events on the facilities and operations of CMS Energy and Consumers could have a material adverse affecteffect on their liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.  A terrorist attack on physical infrastructure or a major natural disaster could result in severe damage to CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ assets beyond what could be recovered through insurance policies.  Hostile cyber intrusions, including those targeting information systems as well as electronic control systems used at the generating plants and for the electric and gas distribution systems, could severely disrupt


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business operations and result in loss of service to customers, as well as significant expense to repair security breaches or system damage.  Terrorist attacks or acts of war could result in the disruption of power and fuel markets that could increase costs or disrupt service.  Widespread outages in Consumers’ systems as a result of storms, floods, or other natural disasters could result in a prolonged loss of service to customers and significant expense to repair system damages.  An outbreak of a pandemic could disrupt business operations and result in the loss of service to customers, as well as have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.  There is a risk that regulators could assess Consumers’ preparedness or response as inadequate and take adverse actions as a result.

Instability in the financial markets as a result of terrorism, war, natural disasters, credit crises, recessions, or other factors, could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

CMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to significant reputational risks.

Consumers is actively engaged in multiple regulatory oversight processes and has a large electric and gas customer base.  As a result, Consumers has a highly visible public profile in Michigan.  Consumers and CMS Energy could suffer negative impacts to their reputations as a result of operational incidents, violations of corporate compliance policies, regulatory violations, or other events.  This could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.  It could also result in negative customer perception and increased regulatory oversight.

The markets for alternative energy and distributed generation could impact financial results.

Technology advances and government incentives and subsidies could reduce or shift the cost of alternative methods of producing electricity, such as fuel cells, microturbines, wind turbines, and photovoltaic (solar) cells, and could place additional system burdens on CMS Energy and Consumers.  It is also possible that electric customers could reduce their electric consumption significantly through demand-side energy conservation and energy efficiency programs.  Changes in technology could also alter the channels through which electric customers buy electricity.  Any of these changes could have a

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material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, or results of operations.

Energy risk management strategies maymight not be effective in managing fuel and electricity pricing risks, which could result in unanticipated liabilities to ConsumersCMS Energy and CMS EnergyConsumers or increased volatility ofin their earnings.

Consumers is exposed to changes in market prices for natural gas, coal, electricity, emission allowances, and RECs.  Prices for natural gas, coal, electricity, emission allowances, and RECs may fluctuate substantially over relatively short periods of time and expose Consumers to commodity price risk.  A substantial portion of Consumers’ operating expenses for its plants consists of the costs of obtaining these commodities.  Consumers manages these risks using established policies and procedures, and it may use various contracts to manage these risks, including swaps, options, futures, and forward contracts.  No assurance can be made that these strategies will be successful in managing Consumers’ pricing risk or that they will not result in net liabilities to Consumers as a result of future volatility in these markets.

Natural gas prices in particular have been historically volatile.  Consumers routinely enters into contracts to mitigate exposure to the risks of demand, market effects of weather, and changes in commodity prices associated with its gas distribution business.  These contracts are executed in conjunction with the GCR mechanism, which is designed to allow Consumers to recover prudently incurred costs associated with those positions.  If the MPSC determined that any of these contracts or related contracting policies were imprudent, recovery of these costs could be disallowed.  Consumers does not always hedge the entire exposure of its operations from commodity price volatility.  Furthermore, the ability to hedge exposure to commodity price volatility depends on liquid commodity markets.  As a result, to the extent the commodity markets are illiquid, Consumers maymight not be able to execute its risk management strategies, which could result in greater unhedged positions than preferred at a given time.  To the extent that unhedged positions exist, fluctuating commodity prices could have a negative effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

Changes in taxation as well as the inherent difficulty in quantifying potential tax effects of business decisions could negatively impact CMS Energy’s andlaws that limit Consumers’ results of operations.
CMS Energy and Consumers are requiredability to make judgments regarding the potential tax effects of various financial transactions and results of operations in order to estimate their obligations to taxing authorities. The tax obligations include income, real estate, sales and use taxes, employment-related taxes, and ongoing issues related to these tax matters. The judgments include determining reserves for potential adverse outcomes regarding tax positions that have been taken and may be subject to challenge by the IRSand/or other taxing authorities. Unfavorable settlements of any of the issues related to these reserves at CMS Energy or Consumershedge could have a material adversenegative effect on its liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to changing tax laws. Increases in local, state, or federal tax rates or other changes in tax laws could have adverse impacts on their liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.


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Consumers is exposed to risks related to general economic conditions in its service territories.
Consumers’ electric and gas utility businesses are affected by the economic conditions of the customers they serve. In Consumers’ service territories in Michigan, the economy has been affected adversely by economic and financial instability in the automotive and real estate sectors and by relatively high unemployment. The Michigan economy also has been affected negatively by the uncertainty in the financial and credit markets. If economic conditions in Michigan decline further, Consumers may experience reduced demand for electricity or natural gas that could result in decreased earnings and cash flow. In addition, economic conditions in Consumers’ service territory affect its collections of accounts receivable and levels of lost or stolen gas, which in turn impact its liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ energy sales and operations are affected by seasonal factors and varying weather conditions from year to year.
CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses are seasonal. Demand for electricity is greater in the summer cooling season and the winter heating season. Demand for natural gas peaks in the winter heating season. Accordingly, their overall results in the future may fluctuate substantially on a seasonal basis. Mild temperatures during the summer cooling season and winter heating season could have a material adverse affect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

Unplanned power plant outagesCMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to credit risk of those with whom they do business.

CMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to credit risk of counterparties with whom they do business.  Adverse economic conditions or financial difficulties experienced by these counterparties could impair the ability of these counterparties to pay for CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ services or fulfill their contractual obligations, including performance and payment of damages.  CMS Energy and Consumers depend on these counterparties to remit payments and perform services timely.  Any delay or default in payment or performance of contractual obligations could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

In recent years, the capital and credit markets have experienced unprecedented high levels of volatility and disruption.  Market volatility and disruption could have a negative impact on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ lenders, suppliers, customers, and other counterparties, causing them to fail to meet their obligations.  Adverse economic conditions could also have a negative impact on the loan portfolio of CMS Energy’s banking subsidiary, EnerBank.

Consumers might not be costly for Consumers.able to obtain an adequate supply of natural gas or coal, which could limit its ability to operate its electric generation facilities or serve its natural gas customers.

Consumers has natural gas and coal supply and transportation contracts in place for the natural gas and coal it requires for its electric generating capacity.  Consumers also has interstate transportation and supply agreements in place to facilitate delivery of natural gas to its customers.  Apart from the contractual and monetary remedies available to Consumers in the event of a counterparty’s failure to

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perform under any of these contracts, there can be no assurances that the counterparties to these contracts will fulfill their obligations to provide natural gas or other equipment, Consumers maycoal to Consumers.  The counterparties under the agreements could experience financial or operational problems that inhibit their ability to fulfill their obligations to Consumers.  In addition, counterparties under these contracts might not be required to incur unplanned expenses andsupply natural gas or coal to make spot market purchasesConsumers under certain circumstances, such as in the event of electricity that exceeda natural disaster or severe weather.

If, for its costs of generation. Ifelectric generating capacity, Consumers were unable to recover anyobtain its natural gas or coal requirements under existing or future natural gas and coal supply and transportation contracts, it could be required to purchase natural gas or coal at higher prices or forced to purchase electricity from higher-cost generating resources in the MISO energy market.  If, for natural gas delivery to its customers, Consumers were unable to obtain its natural gas supply requirements under existing or future natural gas supply and transportation contracts, it could be required to purchase natural gas at higher prices from other sources or implement its natural gas curtailment program filed with the MPSC.  These alternatives could increase Consumers’ working capital requirements and could decrease its revenues.

Market performance and other changes could decrease the value of employee benefit plan assets, which then could require significant funding.

The performance of the capital markets affects the values of assets that are held in trust to satisfy future obligations under CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ pension and postretirement benefit plans.  CMS Energy and Consumers have significant obligations under these plans and hold significant assets in these trusts.  These assets are subject to market fluctuations and will yield uncertain returns, which could fall below CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ forecasted return rates.  A decline in the market value of the assets or a change in the level of interest rates used to measure the required minimum funding levels could significantly increase the funding requirements of these obligations.  Also, changes in demographics, including an increased costsnumber of retirements or changes in rates,life expectancy assumptions, could significantly increase the funding requirements of the obligations related to the pension and postretirement benefit plans.  Additionally, while CMS Energy and Consumers do not expect that the Health Care Acts will significantly increase obligations of their postretirement benefit plans, they cannot guarantee this outcome.  If CMS Energy and Consumers are unable to manage their pension and postretirement plan assets successfully, it could have a material adverse effect on Consumers’their liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

A work interruption or other union actions could adversely affect CMS Energy and Consumers.

Over 40 percent of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ employees are represented by a union.unions.  If these employees were to engage in a strike, work stoppage, or other slowdown, or if the terms and conditions in future labor agreements were renegotiated, CMS Energy and Consumers could experience a significant disruption in theirits operations and higher ongoing labor costs.

  Additionally, while Consumers presently has good relationships with the unions representing its employees, Consumers cannot predict the impact of the expiration of union contracts in 2015.

Failure to attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce could harm CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ results of operations.

The workforce of CMS Energy and Consumers is aging and a number of employees will become eligible to retire within the next few years.  If CMS Energy and Consumers were unable to match skill sets to future needs, they could encounter operating challenges and increased costs.  These challenges could include a lack of resources, loss of knowledge, and delays in skill development.  Additionally, higher costs could result from the use of contractors to replace employees, loss of productivity, and safety incidents.  Failing to train replacement employees adequately and to transfer internal knowledge and expertise could affect CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ ability to manage and operate their businesses.  If CMS Energy and Consumers were unable to attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce, their results of operations could be affected negatively.

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Consumers may notUnplanned power plant outages could be able to obtain an adequate supply of coal or natural gas, which could limit its ability to operate its electric generation facilities or serve its natural gas customers.costly for Consumers.

Consumers is dependent on coal for a significant portion

Unforeseen maintenance of its electric generating capacity. While Consumers has coal supply and transportation contracts in place, there can be no assurance that the counterparties to these agreements will fulfill their obligations to supply coal to Consumers. The suppliers under the agreementsour power plants may experience financial or operational problems that inhibit their ability to fulfill their obligations to Consumers. In addition, suppliers under these agreements may not be required to supply coal to Consumers under certain circumstances,for many reasons, including catastrophic events such as fires, explosions, floods or other acts of God, equipment failure, operator error, or to comply with environmental or safety regulations.  When unplanned maintenance work is required on power plants or other equipment, Consumers will not only incur unexpected maintenance expenses, but it may also have to make spot market purchases of replacement electricity that exceed Consumers’ costs of generation.  Additionally, unplanned maintenance work may reduce the capacity credit Consumers receives from MISO and may cause Consumers to incur additional capacity costs in the event of a natural disaster.future years.  If Consumers were unable to obtain its coal requirements under existing or future coal supply and transportation contracts, it may be required to purchase coal at higher


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prices, or it may be forced to purchase electricity from higher cost generating resources in the Midwest Energy Market, which would increase Consumers’ working capital requirements.
Consumers has firm interstate transportation and supply agreements in place to facilitate deliveries of natural gas to its customers. Apart from the contractual and monetary remedies available to Consumers in the event of a counterparty’s failure to perform, there can be no assurances that the counterparties to these firm interstate transportation and supply agreements will fulfill their obligations to provide natural gas to Consumers. In addition, suppliers under these agreements may not be required to deliver natural gas to Consumers in certain circumstances, such as in the event of a natural disaster. If Consumers were unable to obtain its natural gas supply requirements under existing or future natural gas supply and transportation contracts, it could be required to purchase natural gas at higher prices from other sources or implement its natural gas curtailment program filed with the MPSC, which would increase Consumers’ working capital requirements and decrease its natural gas revenues.
Electric industry regulation could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses.
Federal and state regulation of electric utilities has changed dramatically in the last two decades and could continue to change over the next several years. These changes could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to, or affected by, extensive federal and state utility regulation. In CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ business planning and management of operations, they must address the effects of existing and proposed regulation on their businesses and changes in the regulatory framework, including initiatives by federal and state legislatures, regional transmission organizations, utility regulators, and taxing authorities. Adoption of new regulations by federal or state agencies, or changes to present regulations and interpretationsrecover any of these regulations, could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
There are multiple proceedings pending before FERC involving transmissionincreased costs in rates, regional transmission organizations, and electric bulk power markets and transmission. CMS Energy and Consumers cannot predict the impact of these electric industry restructuring proceedings on their liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Electric industry legislation could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses.
The 2008 Energy Legislation, among other things, limits alternative electric supply to ten percent of weather-adjusted retail sales for the preceding calendar year for ROA. Proposals have been made to raise that limit, which, if enacted, could have a material adverse effect on Consumers’ business. Proposals also have been made to increase the electric sales volume that will be required from renewable energy sources. Other new legislation or interpretations could change how the businesses of CMS Energy and Consumers operate, impact the ability of Consumers to recover costs through rate increases, or require CMS Energy or Consumers to incur additional expenses.
The markets for alternative energy and distributed generation could impact financial results.
Advances in technology could reduce the cost of alternative methods of producing electricity, such as fuel cells, microturbines, windmills, and photovoltaic (solar) cells, to a level that is competitive with that of fossil-fuel technology utilized by CMS Energy and Consumers to produce a majority of their electricity. It is also possible that electric customers could reduce their electric consumption significantly through demand-side energy conservation programs. Changes in technology could also alter the channels through which electric customers buy electricity. Any of these changes could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, or results of operations.


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CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to rate regulation, which could have an adverse effect on financial results.
CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to rate regulation. Electric and gas rates for their utilities are set by the MPSC and cannot be increased without regulatory authorization. While Consumers is permitted by the 2008 Energy Legislation to self-implement rate changes six months after a rate filing with the MPSC, subject to certain limitations, if a final rate order from the MPSC provides for lower rates than Consumers self-implemented, Consumers must refund the difference, with interest. Also, the MPSC may delay or deny implementation of a rate increase upon showing of good cause.
In addition, Consumers’ plans for making significant capital investments, including modifications to meet new environmental requirements and investment in new generation, could be affected adversely or could have a material adverse effect on Consumers if rate regulators fail to provide timely rate relief. Regulators seeking to avoid or minimize rate increases could resist raising customer rates sufficiently to permit Consumers to recover the full cost of modifications to meet environmental requirements and other prudent investments. In addition, because certain costs are mandated by state requirements for cost recovery, such as resource additions to meet Michigan’s renewable resource standard, regulators could be more inclined to oppose rate increases for other required items and investments. Rate regulators could also face pressure to avoid or limit rate increases for a number of reasons, including failure of Michigan’s economy to improve or diminishment of Consumers’ customer base. In addition to potentially affecting Consumers’ investment program, any limitation of cost recovery through ratesit could have a material adverse effect on Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
A further regulatory risk

Changes in taxation as well as the inherent difficulty in quantifying potential tax effects of business decisions could arise from the MPSC’s adoptionnegatively impact CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ results of mechanisms to decouple revenues from electricity and gas sales. The MPSC’s adoption or future treatment of these mechanisms could impact future revenues.

FERC authorizes certain subsidiaries of operations.

CMS Energy and Consumers are required to sell electricitymake judgments regarding the potential tax effects of various financial transactions and results of operations in order to estimate their obligations to taxing authorities.  The tax obligations include income, real estate, sales and use taxes, employment-related taxes, and ongoing issues related to these tax matters.  The judgments include determining reserves for potential adverse outcomes regarding tax positions that have been taken and may be subject to challenge by the IRS and/or other taxing authorities.  Unfavorable settlements of any of the issues related to these reserves at market-based rates. FailureCMS Energy or Consumers could have a material adverse effect on their liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to changing tax laws.  Increases in local, state, or federal tax rates or other changes in tax laws could have adverse impacts on their liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

CMS Energy and its subsidiaries, including Consumers and EnerBank, must comply with the Dodd-Frank Act and its related regulations, which are subject to change and could involve material costs or affect operations.

In 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act was passed into law.  The Dodd-Frank Act is a sweeping piece of legislation, and the financial services industry is still assessing the impacts.  Congress detailed some significant changes, but the Dodd-Frank Act leaves many details to be determined by regulation and further study.  Regulations that are intended to implement the Dodd-Frank Act are being adopted by the appropriate agencies.  The Dodd-Frank Act also created the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, which is part of the Federal Reserve and has been granted significant rule-making authority in the area of consumer financial products and services.  The direction that the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection will take, the regulations it will adopt, and its interpretation of existing laws and regulations are not yet fully known.

The Dodd-Frank Act added a new Section 13 to the Bank Holding Company Act.  Known as the Volcker Rule, it generally restricts certain banking entities (such as EnerBank) and their subsidiaries or affiliates from engaging in proprietary trading activities and from owning equity in or sponsoring any private equity or hedge fund.  The statutory effective date of the Volcker Rule was July 2012, but it is subject to certain transition periods and exceptions for “permitted activities.”  In April 2012, the Federal Reserve Board issued a statement clarifying that banks and other financial institutions have until July 2014 to conform fully their activities and investments to the requirements.  Under the statute, the activities of CMS Energy and Consumersits subsidiaries (including EnerBank) are not expected to obtain adequate ratesbe materially affected; however, they will be restricted from engaging in proprietary trading, investing in third-party hedge or private equity funds, and sponsoring these funds in the future unless CMS Energy qualifies for

42



Table of Contents

an exemption from the rule.  CMS Energy is studying the final regulations, which were issued in December 2013, but cannot predict the full impact of the Volcker Rule on CMS Energy’s or EnerBank’s operations or financial condition.

Furthermore, effective July 2011, all companies that directly or indirectly control an FDIC-insured bank are required to serve as a source of financial strength for that institution.  As a result, CMS Energy could be called upon by the FDIC to infuse additional capital into EnerBank to the extent that EnerBank fails to satisfy its capital requirements.  In addition, CMS Energy is contractually required (i) to make cash capital contributions to EnerBank in the event that EnerBank does not maintain required minimum capital ratios and (ii) to provide EnerBank financial support, in an amount and duration as may be necessary for EnerBank to meet the cash needs of its depositors and other operations.  EnerBank has exceeded these requirements historically and exceeds them as of February 2014.

In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act potentially provides for regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission of certain energy-related contracts.  Although CMS Energy and its subsidiaries qualify for an end-user exception, these regulations could affect the ability of CMS Energy and its subsidiaries to participate in these markets and could add additional regulatory approvalsoversight over their contracting activities.

CMS Energy could be required to pay cash to certain security holders in connection with the optional conversion of their convertible securities.

CMS Energy has outstanding one series of cash-convertible securities, of which an aggregate principal amount of $172 million was outstanding at December 31, 2013.  If the trading price of CMS Energy’s common stock exceeds a timely mannerspecified amount at the end of a particular fiscal quarter, then holders of these convertible securities will have the option to convert their securities in the following fiscal quarter, with the principal amount payable in cash by CMS Energy.  Accordingly, if the trading price minimum is satisfied and security holders exercise their conversion rights, CMS Energy might be required to outlay a significant amount of cash to those security holders and recognize losses, which could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity financial condition, and results of operations.

The various risks associated with the MPSC and FERC regulation of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses, which include the risk of adverse decisions in any number of rate or regulatory proceedings before either agency, could have a substantial negative effect on the companies’ investment plans and results of operations.
trading price minimum was satisfied at December 31, 2013.

CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ financial statements, including their reported earnings, could be significantly impacted by convergence with International Financial Reporting Standards.

The FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board is expected to make broad changes to GAAP as part of an overall initiative to converge U.S. standards with International Financial Reporting Standards.  These changes could have significant impacts on the financial statements of CMS Energy and Consumers.  Also, the SEC ishas been considering incorporating International Financial Reporting Standards into the financial reporting system for U.S. registrants.  A transition to International Financial Reporting Standards could significantly impact CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ financial results, since these standards differ from GAAP in many ways.  One of the major differences is the lack of special accounting treatment for regulated activities under International Financial Reporting Standards, which could result in greater earnings volatility for CMS Energy and Consumers.

43



CMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to credit riskTable of those with whom they do business.Contents

CMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to credit risk of counterparties with whom they do business. Adverse economic conditions or financial difficulties experienced by these counterparties could impair the ability of these counterparties to pay for CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ services or fulfill their contractual obligations, including performance and payment of damages. CMS Energy and Consumers depend on these counterparties to remit payments and perform services timely. Any delay or default in payment or performance of contractual obligations could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.


40


In recent years, the capital and credit markets have experienced unprecedented high levels of volatility and disruption. Market disruption and volatility could have a negative impact on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ lenders, suppliers, customers, and other counterparties, causing them to fail to meet their obligations. Adverse economic conditions could also have a negative impact on the loan portfolio of CMS Energy’s banking subsidiary, EnerBank.
CMS Energy could be required to pay cash to certain security holders in connection with the optional conversion of their convertible securities.
CMS Energy has issued two series of cash-convertible securities, of which an aggregate principal amount of $460 million was outstanding at December 31, 2010. If the trading price of CMS Energy’s common stock exceeds specified amounts at the end of a particular fiscal quarter, then holders of one or more series of these convertible securities will have the option to convert their securities in the following fiscal quarter, with the principal amount payable in cash by CMS Energy. Accordingly, if these trading price minimums are satisfied and security holders exercise their conversion rights, CMS Energy may be required to outlay a significant amount of cash to those security holders, which could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s liquidity and financial condition.
There are risks associated with Consumers’ significant capital investment program planned for the next five years.
Consumers’ planned investments include an advanced metering infrastructure program, renewable power generation, gas compression, environmental controls, other electric and gas infrastructure to upgrade delivery systems, and, potentially, new power plants. The success of these investments depends on or could be affected by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, effective cost and schedule management during implementation, changes in commodity and other prices, operational performance, changes in environmental, legislative and regulatory requirements, and regulatory cost recovery. Consumers cannot predict the impact that any of these factors could have on the success of its capital investment program. It is possible that adverse events associated with these factors could have a material adverse effect on Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Descriptions of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ properties are found in the following sections of Item 1,1. Business, all of which are incorporated by reference in this Item 2:

• Business, Business Segments, Consumers Electric Utility, Electric Utility Properties;
• Business, Business Segments, Consumers Gas Utility, Gas Utility Properties; and
• Business, Business Segments, Enterprises Segment — Non-Utility Operations and Investments, IPP Properties.

·General, “CMS Energy”;

·General, “Consumers”;

·Business Segments, “Consumers Electric Utility – Electric Utility Properties”;

·Business Segments, “Consumers Gas Utility – Gas Utility Properties”; and

·Business Segments, “Enterprises Segment – Non-Utility Operations and Investments – Independent Power Production.”

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

For information regarding CMS Energy’s, Consumers’, and their subsidiaries’ significant pending administrative and judicial proceedings involving regulatory, operating, transactional, environmental, and other matters, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Note 5,2, Regulatory Matters and Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments and Note 6, Regulatory Matters.

Commitments.

CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain of their subsidiaries and affiliates are also parties to routine lawsuits and administrative proceedings incidental to their businesses involving, for example, claims for personal injury and property damage, contractual matters, various taxes, and rates and licensing.

ITEM 4. REMOVED AND RESERVED


41

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES


Not applicable.

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Table of Contents

PART II

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

CMS EnergyE

NERGY

CMS Energy’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.  Market prices for CMS Energy’s common stock and related security holder matters are contained in Item 7. MD&A and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, MD&A and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Note 22,20, Quarterly Financial and Common Stock Information (Unaudited), which are incorporated by reference herein.  At February 10, 2011,January 9, 2014, the number of registered holders of CMS Energy’s common stock totaled 42,360,36,670, based on the number of record holders.  Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s dividends on its common stock:

                 
  Per Share 
  February  May  August  November 
 
2010 $0.150  $0.150  $0.150  $0.210 
2009 $0.125  $0.125  $0.125  $0.125 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Share

 

Period

 

February

 

May

 

August

 

November

 

2013

 

$  0.255

 

$  0.255

 

$  0.255

 

$  0.255

 

2012

 

0.240

 

0.240

 

0.240

 

0.240

 

Information regarding securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans is included in CMS Energy’s definitive proxy statement, which is incorporated by reference herein.  For additional information regarding dividends and dividend restrictions, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Note 7,4, Financings and Capitalization.

ConsumersC

ONSUMERS

Consumers’ common stock is privately held by its parent, CMS Energy, and does not trade in the public market.  Presented in the following table are Consumers’ cash dividends on its common stock:

                 
  In Millions 
  February  May  August  November 
 
2010 $114  $54  $91  $99 
2009 $72  $58  $103  $52 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Period

 

February

 

May

 

August

 

November

 

2013

 

$      93

 

$    101

 

$    106

 

$   106

 

2012

 

115

 

43

 

144

 

91

 

For additional information regarding dividends and dividend restrictions, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Note 7,4, Financings and Capitalization.

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Table of Contents

Issuer Repurchases of Equity SecuritiesI

SSUER REPURCHASESOF EQUITY SECURITIES

Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s repurchases of equity securities for the three months ended December 31, 2010:

                 
        Total Number of
  Maximum Number of
 
        Shares Purchased as
  Shares that May Yet
 
  Total Number of
  Average
  Part of Publicly
  Be Purchased Under
 
  Shares Purchased
  Price Paid
  Announced Plans or
  Publicly Announced
 
Period
 (a)  per Share  Programs  Plans or Programs 
 
October 1, 2010 to October 31, 2010  2,071  $18.54       
November 1, 2010 to November 30, 2010            
December 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010  1,861   18.62       
                 
Total  3,932  $18.58       
                 
(a)Common shares were purchased to satisfy CMS Energy’s minimum statutory income tax withholding obligation for common shares that have vested under the PISP. Shares repurchased have a value based on the market price on the vesting date.


42

2013:


 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Number of

 

Maximum Number of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares Purchased as

 

Shares That May Yet Be

 

 

 

Total Number

 

Average

 

Part of Publicly

 

Purchased Under Publicly

 

 

 

of Shares

 

Price Paid

 

Announced Plans or

 

Announced Plans or

 

Period

 

Purchased1

 

per Share

 

Programs

 

Programs

 

October 1, 2013 to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 31, 2013

 

2,211

 

$  26.57

 

-

 

-

 

November 1, 2013 to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 30, 2013

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

December 1, 2013 to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2013

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Total

 

2,211

 

$  26.57

 

-

 

-

 

Unregistered Sales1 Common shares were purchased to satisfy the minimum statutory income tax withholding obligation for common shares that have vested under the PISP.  The value of Equity Securities
On December 30, 2010, CMS Energy issued 166,930 shares of its common stock and paid $3 million in cash in exchange for $3 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.375 percent Convertible Senior Notes Due 2023, Series B. These convertible notes were tendered for conversion on December 13, 2010 in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Indenture of CMS Energy dated as of September 15, 1992, as supplemented by the Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 16, 2004. Such shares of common stock were issuedrepurchased is based on the conversion value of $2,006.88 per $1,000 principal amount of convertible note. The issuance of these shares of common stock was an exchange of securities with existing shareholders and was exempt from registration pursuant to Section 3(a)(9) ofmarket price on the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
vesting date.

UNREGISTERED SALESOF EQUITY SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

CMS Energy

Selected financial information for CMS Energy and Consumers is contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, CMS Energy’s Selected Financial Information, which is incorporated by reference herein.

Consumers

Selected financial information is contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Consumers’ Selected Financial Information, which is incorporated by reference herein.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
CMS Energy

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for CMS Energy and Consumers is contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, MD&A, which is incorporated by reference herein.

Consumers

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, MD&A, which is incorporated by reference herein.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
CMS Energy

Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk for CMS Energy and Consumers are contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, MD&A Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates, “Financial and Derivative Instruments and Market Risk Information,” which is incorporated by reference herein.

46



Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, MD&A, Critical Accounting Policies, “Financial and Derivative Instruments and Market Risk Information,” which is incorporated by reference herein.


43


ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Page

Index to Financial Statements:Statements

Page

Selected Financial Information

47

48

48

49

49

50

Consolidated Financial Statements

75

82

84

92

92

99

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting FirmsFirm

172

160

173


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161


(This page intentionally left blank)


45


2010 Consolidated Financial Statements
and
2010 Consolidated Financial Statements


46


Selected Financial InformationCMS Energy Corporation
                             
     2010  2009  2008  2007  2006    
 
Operating revenue (in millions)  ($)   6,432   6,205   6,807   6,451   6,117     
Income (loss) from equity method investees
(in millions)
  ($)   11   (2)  5   40   89     
Income (loss) from continuing operations
(in millions)(a)
  ($)   366   220   301   (120)  (242)    
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
(in millions)
  ($)   (23)  20   1   (110)  60     
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders (in millions)  ($)   324   218   284   (234)  (96)    
Average common shares outstanding
(in thousands)
      231,473   227,169   225,671   224,473   221,618     
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations per average common share                            
CMS Energy — Basic  ($)   1.50   0.87   1.25   (0.65)  (0.67)    
- Diluted  ($)   1.36   0.83   1.20   (0.65)  (0.67)    
Earnings (loss) per average common share                            
CMS Energy — Basic  ($)   1.40   0.96   1.25   (1.04)  (0.43)    
- Diluted  ($)   1.28   0.91   1.20   (1.04)  (0.43)    
Cash provided by operations (in millions)  ($)   959   848   557   23   688     
Capital expenditures, excluding assets placed under capital lease (in millions)  ($)   821   818   792   1,263   670     
Total assets (in millions)  ($)   15,616   15,256   14,901   14,180   15,324     
Long-term debt, excluding current portion
(in millions)
  ($)   6,448   5,895   6,015   5,533   6,338     
Non-current portion of capital and finance lease obligations (in millions)  ($)   188   197   206   225   42     
Total preferred stock (in millions)  ($)      239   243   250   261     
Cash dividends declared per common share  ($)   0.66   0.50   0.36   0.20        
Market price of common stock at year-end  ($)   18.60   15.66   10.11   17.38   16.70     
Book value per common share at year-end  ($)   11.19   11.42   10.93   9.54   10.14     
Number of employees at year-end (full-time equivalents)      7,822   8,039   7,970   7,898   8,640     
Electric Utility Statistics
                            
Sales (billions of kWh)      38   36   37   39   38     
Customers (in thousands)      1,792   1,796   1,814   1,799   1,797     
Average sales rate per kWh  (¢)   10.54   9.81   9.48   8.65   8.46     
Gas Utility Statistics
                            
Sales and transportation deliveries (bcf)      317   319   338   340   309     
Customers (in thousands)(b)      1,711   1,708   1,713   1,710   1,714     
Average sales rate per mcf  ($)   10.60   10.73   11.25   10.66   10.44     
(a)Income (loss) from continuing operations includes income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests of $3 million at December 31, 2010, $11 million at December 31, 2009, $7 million at December 31, 2008, $(8) million at December 31, 2007, and $(97) million at December 31, 2006.
(b)Excludes off-system transportation customers.


47

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Table of Contents

Selected Financial InformationS

ELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATIONConsumers Energy Company
                         
     2010  2009  2008  2007  2006 
 
Operating revenue (in millions)  ($)   6,156   5,963   6,421   6,064   5,721 
Income from equity method investees (in millions)  ($)               1 
Net income (in millions)  ($)   434   293   364   312   186 
Net income available to common stockholder (in millions)  ($)   432   291   362   310   184 
Cash provided by operations (in millions)  ($)   910   922   873   440   474 
Capital expenditures, excluding assets placed under capital lease (in millions)  ($)   815   811   789   1,258   646 
Total assets (in millions)  ($)   14,839   14,622   14,246   13,401   12,845 
Long-term debt, excluding current portion (in millions)  ($)   4,488   4,063   3,908   3,692   4,127 
Non-current portion of capital and finance lease obligations (in millions)  ($)   188   197   206   225   42 
Total preferred stock (in millions)  ($)   44   44   44   44   44 
Number of preferred stockholders at year-end      1,496   1,531   1,584   1,641   1,728 
Number of employees at year-end (full-time equivalents)      7,522   7,755   7,697   7,614   8,026 
Electric Utility Statistics
                        
Sales (billions of kWh)      38   36   37   39   38 
Customers (in thousands)      1,792   1,796   1,814   1,799   1,797 
Average sales rate per kWh  (¢)   10.54   9.81   9.48   8.65   8.46 
Gas Utility Statistics
                        
Sales and transportation deliveries (bcf)      317   319   338   340   309 
Customers (in thousands)(a)      1,711   1,708   1,713   1,710   1,714 
Average sales rate per mcf  ($)   10.60   10.73   11.25   10.66   10.44 

CMSENERGY CORPORATION

(a)Excludes off-system transportation customers.


48

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue (in millions)

 

($)

6,566

 

6,253

 

6,503

 

6,432

 

6,205

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from equity method investees (in millions)

 

($)

13

 

17

 

9

 

11

 

(2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations (in millions)1

 

($)

454

 

377

 

415

 

366

 

220

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations (in millions)

 

($)

-

 

7

 

2

 

(23

)

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common stockholders (in millions)

 

($)

452

 

382

 

415

 

324

 

218

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average common shares outstanding (in thousands)

 

 

264,511

 

260,678

 

250,824

 

231,473

 

227,169

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings from continuing operations per average common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CMS Energy

- Basic

 

($)

1.71

 

1.43

 

1.65

 

1.50

 

0.87

 

 

- Diluted

 

($)

1.66

 

1.39

 

1.57

 

1.36

 

0.83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per average common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CMS Energy

- Basic

 

($)

1.71

 

1.46

 

1.66

 

1.40

 

0.96

 

 

- Diluted

 

($)

1.66

 

1.42

 

1.58

 

1.28

 

0.91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash provided by operations (in millions)

 

($)

1,421

 

1,241

 

1,169

 

959

 

848

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures, excluding assets placed under capital lease (in millions)

 

($)

1,325

 

1,227

 

882

 

821

 

818

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets (in millions)

 

($)

17,416

 

17,131

 

16,452

 

15,616

 

15,256

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, excluding current portion (in millions)

 

($)

7,101

 

6,710

 

6,040

 

6,448

 

5,895

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current portion of capital leases and financing obligation (in millions)

 

($)

138

 

153

 

167

 

188

 

197

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total preferred stock (in millions)

 

($)

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

239

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends declared per common share

 

($)

1.02

 

0.96

 

0.84

 

0.66

 

0.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Market price of common stock at year-end

 

($)

26.77

 

24.38

 

22.08

 

18.60

 

15.66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book value per common share at year-end

 

($)

12.98

 

12.09

 

11.92

 

11.19

 

11.42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total employees at year-end

 

 

7,781

 

7,541

 

7,754

 

7,859

 

8,075

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric Utility Statistics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales (billions of kWh)

 

 

37

 

38

 

38

 

38

 

36

 

Customers (in thousands)

 

 

1,793

 

1,786

 

1,791

 

1,792

 

1,796

 

Average sales rate per kWh

 

(¢)

11.52

 

10.94

 

10.80

 

10.54

 

9.81

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas Utility Statistics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and transportation deliveries (bcf)

 

 

352

 

329

 

337

 

317

 

319

 

Customers (in thousands)2

 

 

1,724

 

1,715

 

1,713

 

1,711

 

1,708

 

Average sales rate per mcf

 

($)

8.51

 

9.55

 

9.98

 

10.60

 

10.73

 


1 Income from continuing operations includes income attributable to noncontrolling interests of $2 million in each of 2013, 2012, and 2011, $3 million in 2010, and $11 million in 2009.

2 Excludes off-system transportation customers.

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Table of Contents

SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue (in millions)

 

($)

6,321

 

6,013

 

6,253

 

6,156

 

5,963

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (in millions)

 

($)

534

 

439

 

467

 

434

 

293

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common stockholder (in millions)

 

($)

532

 

437

 

465

 

432

 

291

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash provided by operations (in millions)

 

($)

1,351

 

1,353

 

1,323

 

910

 

922

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures, excluding assets placed under capital lease (in millions)

 

($)

1,320

 

1,222

 

876

 

815

 

811

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets (in millions)

 

($)

16,179

 

16,275

 

15,662

 

14,839

 

14,622

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, excluding current portion (in millions)

 

($)

4,579

 

4,297

 

3,987

 

4,488

 

4,063

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current portion of capital leases and financing obligation (in millions)

 

($)

138

 

153

 

167

 

188

 

197

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total preferred stock (in millions)

 

($)

37

 

44

 

44

 

44

 

44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of preferred stockholders at year-end

 

 

1,248

 

1,378

 

1,428

 

1,496

 

1,531

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total employees at year-end

 

 

7,435

 

7,221

 

7,452

 

7,551

 

7,787

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric Utility Statistics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales (billions of kWh)

 

 

37

 

38

 

38

 

38

 

36

 

Customers (in thousands)

 

 

1,793

 

1,786

 

1,791

 

1,792

 

1,796

 

Average sales rate per kWh

 

(¢)

11.52

 

10.94

 

10.80

 

10.54

 

9.81

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas Utility Statistics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and transportation deliveries (bcf)

 

 

352

 

329

 

337

 

317

 

319

 

Customers (in thousands)1

 

 

1,724

 

1,715

 

1,713

 

1,711

 

1,708

 

Average sales rate per mcf

 

($)

8.51

 

9.55

 

9.98

 

10.60

 

10.73

 

1 Excludes off-system transportation customers.

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Table of Contents

CMS Energy Corporation

Consumers Energy Company

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This MD&A is a combined report of CMS Energy and Consumers.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

CMS Energy is an energy company operating primarily in Michigan.  It is the parent holding company of several subsidiaries, including Consumers, an electric and gas utility, and CMS Enterprises, primarily a domestic IPP.independent power producer.  Consumers’ electric utility operations include the generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity, and Consumers’ gas utility operations include the purchase, transmission, storage, distribution, and sale of natural gas.  Consumers’ customer base consists of a mix of residential, commercial, and diversified industrial customers.  CMS Enterprises, through its subsidiaries and equity investments, owns and operates power generation facilities.

CMS Energy and Consumers manage their businesses by the nature of services each provides.  CMS Energy operates principally in three business segments:  electric utility; gas utility; and enterprises, its non-utility investmentsoperations and operations.investments.  Consumers operates principally in two business segments:  electric utility and gas utility.

CMS Energy and Consumers earn revenue and generate cash from operations by providing electric and natural gas utility services; electric distribution and generation; gas transmission, storage, and distribution; and other energy-related services.  Their businesses are affected primarily by:

• regulation and regulatory matters;
• economic conditions;
• weather;
• energy commodity prices;
• interest rates; and
• CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ securities’ credit ratings.
During the past several years,

·regulation and regulatory matters;

·economic conditions;

·weather;

·energy commodity prices;

·interest rates; and

·CMS Energy���s and Consumers’ securities’ credit ratings.

CMS Energy’s “Growing Forward” business strategy has emphasizedemphasizes the following key elements:elements depicted below:

50



Utility Investment

Consumers expects to make capital investmentsTable of more than $6 billion over the next five years, with a key aspect of its strategy being the balanced energy initiative. The balanced energy initiativeContents

Accountability is a comprehensive energy resource plan to meet Consumers’ projected short-term and long-term electric power requirements with energy efficiency, demand management, expanded use of renewable energy, development of new power plants, pursuit of


49


additional PPAs to complement existing generating sources, potential retirement or mothballing of older generating units, and continued operation of others.
Presented in the following illustration are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ estimated capital expenditures, including lease commitments, for 2011 through 2015:
Renewable energy projects are a major component of Consumers’ planned capital investments. Consumers expects to spend $650 million on renewable energy investments through 2015. The 2008 Energy Legislation requires that at least ten percent of Consumers’ electric sales volume come from renewable energy sources by 2015, and includes requirements for specific capacity additions. Consumers has historically included renewable resources as part of its portfolio, with about five percent of its present power supply coming from such renewable sources as hydroelectric, landfill gas, biomass, and wind. In 2010, Consumers filed with the MPSC its first annual reports and reconciliations for its renewable energy plan and its energy optimization plan, requesting approval of 2009 plan costs. As one of the conditions to the continuation of the electric and gas decoupling mechanisms that were adopted in general rate cases, Consumers must exceed the statutory savings targets specified in the 2008 Energy Legislation for 2011 through 2014. In December 2010, the MPSC approved Consumers’ amended energy optimization plan to recover the additional spending necessary to exceed these savings targets.
In February 2011, Consumers and Detroit Edison together announced an $800 million maintenance and upgrade project at their jointly owned Ludington pumped-storage plant. The project, scheduled to begin in 2013 and extend through 2019, will increase the capacity of Ludington from its present level of 1,872 MW to about 2,172 MW. Consumers expects its share of the project cost to total $400 million.
Consumers’ smart grid program will also represent a significant capital investment. The initial deployment will include advanced metering infrastructure and will follow a phased approach, beginning in early 2012. Consumers expects to spend $355 million on its smart grid program through 2015.
In May 2010, Consumers announced plans to defer the development of its proposed830-MW coal-fueled plant at its Karn/Weadock generating complex. This decision reflects reduced customer demand for electricity resulting from the recession in Michigan, forecasted lower natural gas prices due to recent developments in shale gas recovery technology, and projected surplus generating capacity in the MISO market.


50


Regulation
Regulatory matters are a key aspect of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses, particularly Consumers’ rate cases and regulatory proceedings before the MPSC. Recent significant regulatory events and developments are summarized below.
• Big Rock Decommissioning Refund: In February 2010, the MPSC issued an order requiring that Consumers refund to customers $85 million collected during a rate freeze from 2001 to 2003 plus interest. Consumers completed this refund in January 2011. Consumers has filed an appeal of this order.
• 2009 Gas Rate Case: In May 2010, the MPSC issued a gas rate order authorizing Consumers to increase its gas rates in an annual amount of $66 million based on an authorized return on equity of 10.55 percent. This rate order also adopted a pilot revenue decoupling mechanism. In general, a decoupling mechanism allows a utility to adjust rates due to changes in sales volumes, in order to improve the match between the collection of revenues and the revenue level approved by the utility’s regulator. Consumers’ gas decoupling mechanism, subject to certain conditions, allows Consumers to adjust future gas rates to compensate for changes in sales volumes resulting from energy efficiency, conservation, and other non-weather factors. This mechanism is subject to review at the end of annual periods.
• 2010 Gas Rate Case: In August 2010, Consumers filed an application with the MPSC seeking an annual gas rate increase of $55 million based on an 11 percent authorized return on equity. The filing requested recovery for investments made to enhance safety, system reliability, and operational efficiencies that improve service to customers. In January 2011, Consumers filed testimony and exhibits with the MPSC in support of a self-implemented annual gas rate increase of $48 million, subject to refund with interest. In February 2011, Consumers filed a letter with the MPSC revising the proposed self-implemented increase to $29 million. The MPSC issued an order in February 2011, delaying Consumers’ self-implementation in order to give other parties to the proceeding an opportunity to respond to Consumers’ revised self-implementation filing.
• 2010 Electric Rate Case: In November 2010, the MPSC issued an electric rate order authorizing Consumers to increase its rates in an annual amount of $146 million based on an authorized return on equity of 10.7 percent. This electric rate order continues Consumers’ pilot electric decoupling mechanism, which, subject to certain conditions, was adopted in a November 2009 electric rate order. The electric decoupling mechanism is similar to the gas decoupling mechanism, but also permits rate adjustments to compensate for changes in sales volumes resulting from weather fluctuations. The mechanism is subject to review at the end of annual periods.
Environmental regulation is another area of importance for CMS Energy and Consumers. In 2009, the EPA issued an endangerment finding that greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, contribute to air pollution that may endanger the public health and welfare, thus setting the stage for regulation of carbon dioxide emissions under the Clean Air Act. The EPA also issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in April 2010, indicating that it is considering a variety of regulatory actions with respect to PCBs. In June 2010, the EPA proposed a range of alternatives for regulating CCBs, such as coal ash, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. In July 2010, the EPA released CATR, a proposed rule that would replace CAIR.corporate culture.  CMS Energy and Consumers are monitoring these developments for potential effects oncommitted to making the right choices to serve their planscustomers safely and operations.
affordably and to acting responsibly as corporate citizens.  CMS Energy and Consumers hold themselves accountable to the highest standards of safety, operational performance, and ethical behavior, and work diligently to comply with all laws, rules, and regulations that govern the electric and gas industry.

In October 2013, Consumers released its first-ever accountability report.  The report provides an overview of Consumers’ efforts to continue meeting Michigan’s energy needs safely and efficiently, and highlights Consumers’ commitment to Michigan businesses, its corporate citizenship, and its role in reducing the state’s air emissions.

SafetyS

AFE, EXCELLENT OPERATIONS

The safety and security of employees, customers, and the general public remainremains a priority of CMS Energy and Consumers.  Accordingly, CMS Energy and Consumers have worked to integrate a set of safety principles into their business operations and culture.  These principles include complying with applicable safety, health, and security regulations and implementing programs and processes aimed at continually improving safety and security conditions.


51

  From 2006 through 2013, Consumers achieved a 72 percent reduction in the annual number of recordable safety incidents.


CUSTOMER VALUE

Consumers is undertaking a number of initiatives that reflect its intensified customer focus.  Consumers’ planned investments in reliability are aimed at improving safety, reducing customer outage frequency, reducing repetitive outages, and increasing customer satisfaction.  Also, in order to minimize increases in customer base rates, Consumers has undertaken several additional initiatives to reduce costs.  These initiatives, together with Consumers’ plans to accelerate further cost reductions, should allow Consumers to avoid increasing electric and gas base rates through 2014.  Consumers may reconsider this expectation should its assumptions change regarding the economy or other matters.

Consumers has also worked to lower commodity costs for its customers.  Consumers’ gas commodity costs have declined by 44 percent over the last five years, due in part to Consumers’ improvements to its gas infrastructure and optimization of its gas purchasing and storage strategy.  These savings are all passed on to customers.

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Table of Contents

Financial PerformanceUTILITY INVESTMENT

Consumers expects to make capital investments of about $7 billion from 2014 through 2018, as presented in 2010the following illustration:

Consumers has limited its capital investment program to those investments it believes are needed to provide safe, reliable, and Beyondefficient service to its customers.  Consumers’ capital investment program is expected to result in annual rate base growth of five to seven percent while allowing Consumers to maintain sustainable customer base rate increases (excluding PSCR and GCR charges) at or below the rate of inflation.

Among the key components of Consumers’ investment program are projects that will enhance customer value.  Consumers’ planned base capital investments of $3.5 billion represent projects to maintain Consumers’ system and comprise $2.1 billion at the electric utility to preserve reliability and capacity and $1.4 billion at the gas utility to sustain deliverability and enhance pipeline integrity.  An additional $1.9 billion of planned reliability investments at Consumers are aimed at reducing outages and improving customer satisfaction; these investments comprise $1.0 billion at the electric utility to strengthen circuits and substations, replace poles, and upgrade the Ludington pumped-storage plant and $0.9 billion at the gas utility to replace mains and enhance transmission and storage systems.  Consumers also expects to spend $0.8 billion on environmental investments needed to comply with state and federal laws and regulations.

Consumers’ Smart Energy program, with an estimated total project capital cost of $0.8 billion, also represents a major capital investment.  The full-scale deployment of advanced metering infrastructure began in 2012 and is planned to continue through 2017.  Consumers has spent $0.3 billion through 2013 on its Smart Energy program, and expects to spend an additional $0.5 billion, following a phased approach, from 2014 through 2017.

Renewable energy projects are another major component of Consumers’ planned capital investments.  Consumers expects to spend $0.2 billion on renewable energy investments, under an MPSC-approved

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Table of Contents

renewable energy plan, from 2014 through 2018.  The 2008 Energy Law requires that at least ten percent of Consumers’ electric sales volume come from renewable energy sources by 2015, and it includes requirements for specific capacity additions.  Consumers has historically included renewable resources as part of its portfolio, with about eight percent of its present power supply coming from such renewable sources as hydropower, landfill gas, biomass, wind, anaerobic digestion, and solar.

In December 2013, Consumers signed an agreement to purchase a 540-MW gas-fueled electric generating plant located in Jackson, Michigan for $155 million from AlphaGen Power LLC and DPC Juniper, LLC, affiliates of JPMorgan Chase & Co.  Consumers expects to close the purchase, which is subject to MPSC, FERC, and other approvals, by January 2016.  In January 2014, as a result of this planned purchase, Consumers announced plans to defer the development of its proposed 700-MW gas-fueled electric generating plant at its Thetford complex in Genesee County, Michigan, which Consumers estimated would have cost $700 million.

R

EGULATION

Regulatory matters are a key aspect of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses, particularly Consumers’ rate cases and regulatory proceedings before the MPSC.  In 2010,July 2013, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder appointed Sally Talberg to serve on the three-member MPSC for a six-year term, replacing Orjiakor Isiogu.  Ms. Talberg has served in various energy-related consulting, management, and public service roles during her career.  She represents political independents on the MPSC.  Other important regulatory events and developments are summarized below.

·Electric Rate Case:  Consumers filed a general electric rate case with the MPSC in September 2012, seeking an annual rate increase of $148 million.  In March 2013, Consumers self-implemented an annual rate increase of $110 million, subject to refund with interest.  The MPSC approved a partial settlement agreement in May 2013, authorizing an annual rate increase of $89 million, based on a 10.3 percent authorized rate of return on equity.  In February 2014, the MPSC found that total revenues collected during self-implementation did not exceed those that would have been collected under final rates and that no refund was required.

·Income Tax Benefits Accounting Order:  In September 2013, the MPSC issued an order approving, with modification, Consumers’ request to accelerate the flow-through to electric and gas customers of certain income tax benefits associated primarily with the cost of removal of plant placed in service before 1993.  The order authorized Consumers to implement a regulatory treatment beginning in January 2014 that will allow Consumers to return $211 million of income tax benefits over five years to electric customers and $264 million of income tax benefits over 12 years to gas customers.  Consumers estimates that this new treatment will result in an annual benefit of $42 million to electric customers and $22 million to gas customers.

·Securitization Order:  In September 2013, Consumers filed an application with the MPSC requesting an alternative method to recover its investment in seven smaller coal-fueled electric generating units and three smaller gas-fueled electric generating units.  In December 2013, the MPSC approved Consumers’ application, with modification, authorizing Consumers to proceed, at its sole discretion, with the sale of up to $389 million in Securitization bonds through a newly formed subsidiary.  Under Michigan law, electric utilities are permitted to use highly rated, low-cost Securitization bonds to finance the recovery of qualified costs.  The qualified costs that the MPSC authorized Consumers to securitize are principally the remaining book value of the ten units described above.  Subject to a successful Securitization transaction, Consumers plans to retire these ten units by April 2016.

Consumers expects to proceed with the Securitization financing and issue Securitization bonds in 2014, subject to market conditions.  Upon issuance of the Securitization bonds, Consumers will

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Table of Contents

adjust its retail electric base rates to exclude the revenue requirement associated with these costs.  Consumers will then collect a surcharge to pay the principal and interest on the Securitization bonds, as well as all related costs.  Consumers estimates that employing this recovery mechanism in place of existing ratemaking treatment will provide initial annual cost savings to full-service customers of $15 million.

·Gas Revenue Decoupling Mechanism:  The gas revenue decoupling mechanism, authorized by the MPSC in its 2009 order in Consumers’ gas rate case and extended through April 2012, allowed Consumers to adjust future gas rates to the degree that actual average weather-adjusted sales per customer differed from the rate order.  In August 2012, Consumers filed its final reconciliation of the gas revenue decoupling mechanism, requesting recovery of $17 million from customers for the period June 2011 through April 2012.  In December 2013, the MPSC approved Consumers’ reconciliation for the full amount of its request and authorized recovery over four months beginning in January 2014.

The 2008 Energy Law limits alternative electric supply to ten percent of Consumers’ weather-adjusted retail sales of the preceding calendar year.  At December 31, 2013, Consumers’ electric deliveries under the ROA program were at the ten-percent limit.  Bills have been introduced to the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate to raise or remove the ROA limit.  The House bill also proposes to deregulate electric generation service in Michigan within two years.  Consumers is unable to predict the outcome of these legislative proposals.  In addition, the Michigan legislature has conducted hearings on the subject of energy competition.  If the ROA limit were increased or if electric generation service in Michigan were deregulated, it could have a material adverse effect on Consumers’ financial results and operations.

Environmental regulation is another area of importance for CMS Energy and Consumers, and they are monitoring numerous legislative and regulatory initiatives, including initiatives to regulate greenhouse gases, and related litigation.  CMS Energy and Consumers believe that environmental laws and regulations related to their operations will continue to become more stringent and require them to make additional significant capital expenditures for emissions control equipment, CCR disposal, cooling water intake equipment, effluent treatment, and PCB remediation.  Present and reasonably anticipated state and federal environmental statutes and regulations, including but not limited to the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and CERCLA, will continue to have a material effect on CMS Energy and Consumers.

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN 2013 AND BEYOND

In 2013, CMS Energy’s net income available to common stockholders was $324$452 million, and diluted earnings per shareEPS were $1.28.$1.66.  This compares with net income available to common stockholders of $218$382 million and diluted earnings per shareEPS of $0.91$1.42 in 2009.

Among the most significant2012.  The main factors contributing to CMS Energy’s improved performance in 20102013 were increased gas deliveries, benefits from electric and gas rate orders, and the absence, in 2013, of athe write-off of Consumers’ electric revenue reductiondecoupling mechanism regulatory asset in 2009 associated with2012.

Consumers’ utility operations are seasonal.  The consumption of electric energy typically increases in the Big Rock decommissioning refund order, increased deliveriessummer months, due primarily to the use of electricity,air conditioners and an insurance settlement related to a previously sold investment.

Alsoother cooling equipment, while peak demand for natural gas occurs in 2010, CMS Energy recognized a $40 million charge to increase the recorded liability for its affiliates’ environmental remediation obligation associated with Bay Harbor. This increase waswinter due to several factors, including anticipated cost increases forcolder temperatures and the disposalresulting use of leachate under an NPDES permit issued by the MDNRE; additional costs for the increased scope of remediation to meet EPA and MDNRE requirements; and increased legal, management, and engineering costs due to delays in reaching an agreement with all involved parties.natural gas as heating fuel.  In addition, Consumers recorded charges of $22 millionConsumers’ electric rates, which follow a seasonal rate design, are higher in 2010 to write off previously capitalized development costs associated with its proposed coal-fueled plant. These charges reflected Consumers’ decision to defer the developmentsummer months than in the remaining months of the plant, and the reduced likelihood that the plant will be constructed.
year.  A more detailed discussion of the factors affecting CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ performance in 2010 can be found in the “ResultsResults of Operations”Operations section that follows this Executive Overview.
In 2010, Consumers’ weather-adjusted electric deliveries increased by 1.7 percent over 2009, while Consumers’ weather-adjusted gas deliveries were at similar levels to 2009. These trends support

CMS Energy’s viewEnergy and Consumers believe that economic conditions in Michigan have stabilized. Although Michigan’s economy continues to be affected by the recession and its impact on the state’s automotive industry, by high unemployment rates, and by a modestly shrinking population, there are indications that the recession is easing in Michigan.improving.  Consumers expects its electric salesdeliveries to increase annually by about 1.50.5 to 1.0 percent annuallyon average through 2016,2018, driven largely by the continued rise in industrial production.  Excluding the impacts of energy efficiency

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Table of Contents

programs, Consumers expects its electric deliveries to increase by about 1.5 to 2.0 percent annually through 2018.  Consumers is projecting that its gas salesdeliveries will declineremain stable through 2018.  This outlook reflects growth in gas demand offset by about one percent annually through 2016, due largely to energy efficiency and conservation.

As Consumers continuesseeks to seekcontinue to receive fair and timely regulatory treatment, delivering customer value will remain a key strategic priority.  To keep costs down for its utility customers,In order to minimize increases in customer base rates, Consumers has set aggressive goals forto achieve further annual productivity improvements.  Additionally, Consumers will strive to give priority to capital investments that increase customer value or lower costs.

Consumers expects to continue to have sufficient capacity to fund its investment-based growth plans.  CMS Energy also expects its sources of liquidity to remain sufficient to meet its cash requirements.  CMS Energy and Consumers will continue to monitor developments in the financial and credit markets, as well as government policy responses to those developments, for potential implications for their businesses and their future financial needs.

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Table of Contents

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

CMS Energy’s Consolidated Results of Operations

             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions (except for Per Share Amounts) 
 
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders $324  $218  $284 
Basic Earnings Per Share $1.40  $0.96  $1.25 
Diluted Earnings Per Share $1.28  $0.91  $1.20 


52

ENERGY CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


 

 

In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Net Income Available to Common Stockholders

 

$

452

 

$

382

 

$

415

 

Basic Earnings Per Share

 

$

1.71

 

$

1.46

 

$

1.66

 

Diluted Earnings Per Share

 

$

1.66

 

$

1.42

 

$

1.58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

Change

 

2012

 

2011

 

Change

 

Electric utility

 

$

363

 

$

325

 

$

38

 

$

325

 

$

333

 

$

(8

)

Gas utility

 

168

 

110

 

58

 

110

 

130

 

(20

)

Enterprises

 

2

 

16

 

(14

)

16

 

32

 

(16

)

Corporate interest and other

 

(81

)

(76

)

(5

)

(76

)

(82

)

6

 

Discontinued operations

 

 

7

 

(7

)

7

 

2

 

5

 

Net Income Available to Common Stockholders

 

$

452

 

$

382

 

$

70

 

$

382

 

$

415

 

$

(33

)

                         
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  Change  2009  2008  Change 
  In Millions 
 
Electric Utility $303  $194  $109  $194  $271  $(77)
Gas Utility  127   96   31   96   89   7 
Enterprises  36   (7)  43   (7)  13   (20)
Corporate Interest and Other  (119)  (85)  (34)  (85)  (90)  5 
Discontinued Operations  (23)  20   (43)  20   1   19 
                         
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders $324  $218  $106  $218  $284  $(66)
                         
Presented in the following table are specific after-tax changes to net income available to common stockholders for 20102013 versus 2009:2012:

In Millions  

Reasons for the change

2013 better/(worse) than 2012

 

Gas sales

 

 

67

 

 

 

 

Electric sales

 

 

 

(9

)

 

 

 

Electric and gas rate orders

 

 

 

57

 

 

 

 

Lower employee benefit costs, primarily OPEB

 

 

 

17

 

 

 

 

Absence of contributions related to a 2012 Michigan ballot proposal

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and property tax

 

 

 

(41

)

 

 

 

Distribution and restoration cost

 

 

 

(22

)

 

 

 

Absence of 2012 recovery of development costs related to cancelled coal-fueled plant

 

 

 

(9

)

 

 

 

Gas decoupling

 

 

 

(7

)

 

 

 

Absence of 2012 gain on DOE settlement

 

 

 

(7

)

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

(4

)

53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Higher income tax expense and lower subsidiary earnings of enterprises segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

(13

)

Higher corporate fixed charges and other, offset by higher EnerBank earnings

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5

)

Absence of 2012 charge to write off electric decoupling regulatory asset

 

 

 

 

 

 

36

 

Absence of voluntary separation plan cost in 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

Other, including the absence of the elimination, in 2012, of a liability associated with a prior asset sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

(8

)

Total change

 

 

 

 

 

70

 

56



             
  2010 Over/(Under) 2009 
     (In Millions)    
 
Electric and gas rate orders     $90     
Electric sales:            
Weather $52         
Customer shift to energy-only rates and to ROA  (36)        
Decoupling benefit  11   27     
             
Gas sales, primarily weather      (14)    
2009 net benefits, primarily asset sale gain and tax credit      (17)    
Write-off of proposed coal-fueled plant cost      (14)    
Other, mainly depreciation      (5) $67 
             
Subsidiary earnings of enterprises segment          13 
Cost of debt retirements and preferred stock redemptions, net      (20)    
Interest expense      (9)    
Other, mainly tax adjustments      (6)  (35)
             
2009 Big Rock decommissioning refund      79     
Insurance settlement recovery      31     
2009 gain on indemnity expiration      (31)    
Other, including increase in Bay Harbor environmental liability      (18)  61 
             
Total change         $106 
             

Table of Contents

Presented in the following table are specific after-tax changes to net income available to common stockholders for 20092012 versus 2008:

             
  2009 Over/(Under) 2008 
     (In Millions)    
 
Electric and gas rate orders     $139     
Electric and gas sales:            
Weather $(34)        
Lower deliveries, mainly economic conditions  (14)  (48)    
             
2008 net benefits, primarily sulfur dioxide credits      (23)    
Plant maintenance expense      (20)    
Pension and OPEB expenses      (19)    
Forestry and tree trimming costs      (12)    
Other, mainly higher property tax and interest expense      (19) $(2)
             
Subsidiary earnings of enterprises segment          5 
Gain on early retirement of debt      7     
Other, mainly tax adjustments      3   10 
             
Big Rock decommissioning refund      (79)    
Increase in Bay Harbor environmental liability      (22)    
Gain on indemnity expiration      31     
Other      (9)  (79)
             
Total change         $(66)
             

53

2011:


In Millions  

Reasons for the change

2012 better/(worse) than 2011

 

Electric sales

 

 

19

 

 

 

 

Gas sales

 

 

 

(33

)

 

 

 

Electric and gas rate orders

 

 

 

90

 

 

 

 

Recovery of development costs related to cancelled coal-fueled plant

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and property tax

 

 

 

(31

)

 

 

 

Operating and maintenance expenses and expenses related to a 2012 Michigan ballot proposal

 

 

 

(12

)

 

 

 

Other regulatory impacts (absence of electric decoupling, offset partially by a gain on DOE settlement)

 

 

 

(13

)

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

(13

)

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax benefits and higher subsidiary earnings of enterprises segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

Lower corporate fixed charges, higher EnerBank earnings, and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

Charge to write off electric decoupling regulatory asset

 

 

 

 

 

 

(36

)

Absence of tax benefit related to MCIT enactment in 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

(32

)

Total change

 

 

 

 

 

(33

)

CONSUMERS ELECTRIC UTILITY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Consumers’ Electric Utility Results

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

2013

2012

Change

 

 

2012

2011

Change

 

Net Income Available to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stockholders

363

325

38

 

 

325

333

(8

)

Reasons for the change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric deliveries and rate increases

 

 

 

 

95

 

 

 

 

 

 

81

 

Power supply costs and related revenue

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

Other income, net of expenses

 

 

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16

)

Maintenance and other operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

(24

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

 

 

(25

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(47

)

General taxes

 

 

 

 

 

(5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10

)

Interest charges

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

 

Income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

(16

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(35

)

Total change

 

 

 

 

38

 

 

 

 

 

 

(8

)

Following is a discussion of Operations

                         
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  Change  2009  2008  Change 
  In Millions 
 
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders $303  $194  $109  $194  $271  $(77)
Reasons for the change:                        
Electric deliveries and rate increases         $266          $(6)
Power supply costs and related revenue          (7)          (1)
Other income, net of expenses          (27)          14 
Maintenance and other operating expenses          (59)          (77)
Depreciation and amortization          (9)          (2)
General taxes          2           (10)
Interest charges          23           (42)
Income taxes          (80)          47 
                         
Total change         $109          $(77)
                         
significant changes to net income available to common stockholders for 2013 versus 2012 and for 2012 versus 2011.

Electric deliveries and rate increases:  For 2010,2013, electric delivery revenues increased $266$95 million compared with 2009.2012.  This variance included $84increase reflected a $64 million associated with favorable weather in 2010, offset partially by $40 million of decreased demand revenues and $19 million from lower customer usage. Additionally, revenues increased $32 million due to surcharges from MPSC orders allowing recovery of retirement benefit expenses, and $100 million from authorized rate increases in November 2010 and November 2009. Revenues also increased $99 million due to the absence of a refund ordered in 2009 related to the Big Rock decommissioning case. For more details regarding the Big Rock decommissioning order, see Note 6, Regulatory Matters. Other miscellaneous revenue increases totaled $10 million. Overall, deliveries to end-use customers were 37.7 billion kWh in 2010, an increase of 1.9 billion kWh or 5.3 percent compared with 2009.

For 2009, electric delivery revenues decreased $6 million compared with 2008. This variance resulted from $43 million associated with unfavorable weather in 2009, $10 million from lower customer usage, and $99 million from a refund order related to the Big Rock decommissioning case, offset largely by $146 million of additional revenues from authorizedMay 2013 rate increasesincrease that Consumers self-implemented in June 2008 and November 2009. Overall, deliveries to end-use customers were 35.8 billion kWh in 2009, a decrease of 1.7 billion kWh or 4.5 percent compared with 2008.
Other income, net of expenses: For 2010, other income decreased $27 million compared with 2009, due primarily to a reduction of $8 million in interest income recorded on regulatory assetsMarch 2013, and the absence, in 2010,2013, of $9 million of gains recognized on land sales in 2009.
For 2009, other income increased $14 million compared with 2008, due primarily to $9 million of gains recognized on land sales in 2009 and an $11 million impairment charge recorded on Consumers’ SERP investments in 2008.
Maintenance and other operating expenses: For 2010, maintenance and other operating expenses increaseda $59 million compared with 2009. The increase was due primarilycharge to higher retirement benefit expenses of $32 million and a $22 million impairment charge related towrite off Consumers’ decision to defer the development of its proposed coal-fueled plant.
For 2009, maintenance and other operating expenses increased $77 million compared with 2008. The increase was due primarily to $24 million of higher plant maintenance expenses, $23 million related to energy optimization program costs, and higher benefit expenses of $7 million. In addition, expenses increased $35 millionelectric decoupling regulatory asset in 2009 due to sulfur dioxide credits and RCP savings on Consumers’ MCV PPA contract recorded in 2008.
Interest charges: For 2010, interest charges decreased $23 million compared with 2009. The decrease was due to the absence, in 2010, of $31 million of interest expense associated with the 2009 Big Rock decommissioning order, offset partially by an $8 million increase in other interest charges in 2010.
For 2009, interest charges increased $42 million compared with 2008, due to higher interest expense of $31 million associated with the Big Rock decommissioning order and an $11 million increase in other interest charges.


54


Income taxes: For 2010, income taxes increased $80 million compared with 2009, due to higher electric utility earnings. For 2009, income taxes decreased $47 million compared with 2008, due to lower electric utility earnings.
Consumers’ Gas Utility Results of Operations
                         
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  Change  2009  2008  Change 
  In Millions 
 
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders $127  $96  $31  $96  $89  $7 
Reasons for the change:                        
Gas deliveries and rate increases         $60          $29 
Other income, net of expenses          (2)          13 
Maintenance and other operating expenses          (7)          (32)
Depreciation and amortization          (4)          18 
General taxes          2           (4)
Interest charges          (7)          (5)
Income taxes          (11)          (12)
                         
Total change         $31          $7 
                         
Gas deliveries and rate increases: For 2010, gas delivery revenues increased $60 million compared with 2009, due primarily to additional revenues of $54 million from an authorized rate increase in May 2010. In addition, surcharge and other miscellaneous revenues increased $30 million.2012.  These increases were offset partially by a $24 million reduction in revenues resulting from lower sales in the high-margin summer months due to unfavorablemilder weather in 2010. Gas deliveries, including miscellaneous transportation2013 and a $4 million decrease in other revenue.  Deliveries to end-use customers, excluding deliveries to Consumers’ largest customer, which is on an economic development rate, were 273.1 bcf35.4 billion kWh in 2010, a decrease of 11.2 bcf or 3.9 percent compared with 2009.
2013 and 2012.

For 2009, gas2012, electric delivery revenues increased $29$81 million compared with 2008,2011.  This increase was due to additional revenues of $32$106 million resulting from a June 2012 rate increase that Consumers self-

57



Table of Contents

implemented in December 2011, $19 million from an authorized ratehigher deliveries in 2012, and a $46 million increase in December 2008other revenues, primarily from energy optimization and a self-implemented rate increase in November 2009. In addition, surcharge and other miscellaneous revenues increased $28 million.renewable energy programs.  These increases were offset partially by $10a $59 million associated with unfavorable weathercharge to write off Consumers’ electric decoupling mechanism regulatory asset, and the absence, in 2009 and $212012, of $31 million due to lower customer usage. Gas deliveries, including miscellaneous transportationof electric decoupling revenues recognized in 2011.  Deliveries to end-use customers, excluding deliveries to Consumers’ largest customer, which is on an economic development rate, were 284.3 bcf35.4 billion kWh in 2009, a decrease of 19.4 bcf or 6.4 percent compared with 2008.

2012 and 35.0 billion kWh in 2011.

Other income, net of expenses: Other income in 2010 was not materially different from  For 2013, other income, in 2009.

For 2009, other incomenet of expenses, increased $13$15 million compared with 20082012, and for 2012, other income, net of expenses, decreased $16 million compared with 2011.  These variances were due primarily to $8 million of higher interest income on secured borrowing agreements andcontributions made in 2012 related to a $5 million impairment charge recorded on Consumers’ SERP investments in 2008.
Michigan ballot proposal.

Maintenance and other operating expenses:  For 2010,2013, maintenance and other operating expenses increased $7$24 million compared with 20092012.  This change reflected a $51 million increase in service restoration costs, less $16 million of estimated insurance proceeds, associated with severe storms that occurred in November and December 2013.  Additionally, expenses were higher due primarily to energy optimization program costs.

the absence, in 2013, of a $14 million recovery associated with Consumers’ cancelled coal-fueled plant, and a $12 million benefit related to Consumers’ settlement with the DOE.  These increases were offset partially by an $18 million reduction in OPEB cost resulting from OPEB Plan changes adopted in July 2013, a $5 million reduction in OPEB cost due to favorable OPEB Plan performance, and a $14 million decrease in other distribution operating expenses.

For 2009,2012, maintenance and other operating expenses increased $32decreased $5 million compared with 2008, due primarily to2011.  This decrease reflected the authorized recovery of $14 million associated with Consumers’ cancelled coal-fueled plant, an $11 million decrease in service restoration costs, a $12 million benefit related to Consumers’ settlement with the DOE, and an $8 million decrease in uncollectible accounts expense.  These decreases were offset partially by an $18 million increase in energy optimization program costs, a $14 million increase in other operating expenses, including higher costs related to system reliability, and higher benefit expenses of $12 million.

an $8 million increase associated with voluntary separation program expenses.

Depreciation and amortization:  For 2010,2013, depreciation and amortization expense increased $25 million compared with 2012.  This increase was due primarily to increased plant in service and an increase in depreciation rates authorized in a June 2012 rate order, offset partially by lower amortization expense on certain regulatory assets.

For 2012, depreciation and amortization expense increased $47 million compared with 2011, due primarily to increased plant in service and an increase in depreciation rates authorized in a June 2012 rate order.

General Taxes:  For 2013, general taxes increased $5 million compared with 2012, due primarily to increased property taxes, reflecting higher capital spending.

For 2012, general taxes increased $10 million compared with 2011, due primarily to the absence, in 2012, of a favorable outcome to a Michigan single business tax audit in 2011.

Interest Charges:  For 2012, interest charges decreased $12 million compared with 2011, due to lower average debt levels and lower average interest rates in 2012.

Income taxes:  For 2013, income taxes increased $16 million compared with 2012, primarily reflecting higher electric utility earnings offset partially by the absence, in 2013, of non-deductible contributions related to a 2012 Michigan ballot proposal.

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Table of Contents

For 2012, income taxes increased $35 million compared with 2011.  This increase was due to higher electric utility earnings, a change from the MBT to the MCIT in January 2012, and the absence, in 2012, of a $4 million benefit related to the Medicare Part D subsidy.

CONSUMERS GAS UTILITY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

2013

2012

Change

 

2012

2011

Change

 

Net Income Available to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stockholders

 

168

 

110

58

 

 

110

 

130

 

(20

)

Reasons for the change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas deliveries and rate increases

 

 

 

 

 

 

89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(29

)

Other income, net of expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2

)

Maintenance and other operating expenses

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4

)

General taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7

)

Interest charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

Income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(34

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

Total change

 

 

 

 

 

 

58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(20

)

Following is a discussion of significant changes to net income available to common stockholders for 2013 versus 2012 and for 2012 versus 2011.

Gas deliveries and rate increases:  For 2013, gas delivery revenues increased $89 million compared with 2012.  This increase reflected an $82 million benefit from higher customer deliveries, due primarily to colder weather in 2013, offset partially by the impact on 2012 revenues of the gas revenue decoupling mechanism.  Additionally, revenue increased $7 million due to a June 2012 rate increase that Consumers self-implemented in March 2012.  Deliveries to end-use customers were 307 bcf in 2013 and 259 bcf in 2012.

For 2012, gas delivery revenues decreased $29 million compared with 2011.  This decrease reflected a $43 million reduction resulting from lower customer deliveries, due primarily to milder weather in early 2012, and a $5 million decrease in other revenues.  These decreases were offset partially by $19 million of additional revenues from rate increases.  Gas deliveries, including transportation to end-use customers, were 259 bcf in 2012 and 287 bcf in 2011.

Maintenance and other operating expenses:  For 2013, maintenance and other operating expenses decreased $11 million compared with 2012.  This decrease was due to a $10 million reduction in OPEB cost resulting from OPEB Plan changes adopted in July 2013, and a $5 million reduction in OPEB cost due to favorable OPEB Plan performance.  These decreases were offset partially by a $4 million increase in other operating expenses.

For 2012, maintenance and other operating expenses decreased $8 million compared with 2011.  This decrease was due to an $8 million reduction in uncollectible accounts expense and a $4 million reduction in other operating expenses, offset partially by a $4 million increase associated with voluntary separation program expenses.

Depreciation and amortization:  For 2013, depreciation and amortization expense increased $4 million compared with 2009, due primarily to increased plant in service. For 2009,2012, and for 2012, depreciation and amortization expense decreased $18increased $4 million compared with 2008 due to the December 2008 gas rate order, which reduced depreciation expense.

Income taxes: For 2010, income taxes increased $11 million compared with 2009, and for 2009, income taxes increased $12 million compared with 2008.2011.  Both increases were due to higher gas utility earnings.
Enterprises Results of Operationsdepreciation expense from increased plant in service.
                         
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  Change  2009  2008  Change 
  In Millions 
 
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders $36  $(7) $43  $(7) $13  $(20)


55


General TaxesFor 2010, the enterprises segment reported net income of $362012, general taxes increased $7 million compared with 2011, due primarily to the absence, in 2012, of a net loss of $7 million for 2009. The $43 million change reflected income of $31 million from the settlement of an insurance claim relatedfavorable outcome to a previously sold assetMichigan single business tax audit in 2011.

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Table of Contents

Interest Charges:  For 2012, interest charges decreased $8 million compared with 2011, due to lower average debt levels and lower average interest rates in 2012.

Income taxes:  For 2013, income taxes increased $34 million compared with 2012, due primarily to higher gas utility earnings.

For 2012, income taxes decreased $6 million compared with 2011, due primarily to lower gas utility earnings offset partially by the absence, in 2012, of a $9$2 million tax benefit related to the Michigan Business Tax. Additionally,Medicare Part D subsidy.

ENTERPRISES RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

2013

2012

Change

 

2012

2011

Change

 

Net Income Available to Common Stockholders

 

2

 

16

 

(14

)

 

16

 

32

 

(16

)

For 2013, net income increasedof the enterprises segment decreased $14 million compared with 2012.  This decrease was attributable to the absence, in 2013, of $6 million of tax benefits in 2012 due primarily to law changes related to Medicare Part D, $4 million of additional tax expense in 2013 due to OPEB Plan changes adopted in July 2013, and $4 million in higher gas and power salesafter-tax expenses due primarily to the absence in 2013 of a 2012 insurance settlement.

For 2012, net income of the enterprises segment decreased $16 million compared with 2011, due to the absence, in 2012, of a $28 million income tax benefit resulting from the enactment of the MCIT in May 2011, offset partially by increased maintenance and other operating expenses. These increases were offset by a $3$6 million decrease associated with Bay Harbor; in 2010, the enterprises segment recorded a $25 million after-tax increase in the environmental remediation liability associated with Bay Harbor, compared with a $22 million after-tax increase in 2009. For more details regarding Bay Harbor, see Note 5, Contingencies and Commitments.

For 2009, the enterprises segment reported a net loss of $7 million compared with net income of $13 million for 2008. The $20 million change wastax benefits due primarily to a $22law changes related to Medicare Part D and by $6 million after-tax increaseof additional earnings from an insurance settlement received in 2012 and from improved operating results.

For further details about the environmental remediation liability associated with Bay Harbor.

enactment of the MCIT, see Note 13, Income Taxes.

Corporate Interest and Other Results of OperationsC

                         
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  Change  2009  2008  Change 
  In Millions 
 
Net Loss Available to Common Stockholders $(119) $(85) $(34) $(85) $(90) $5 
ORPORATE INTEREST AND OTHER RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

2013

2012

Change

 

2012

2011

Change

 

Net Income (Reduction) Available to Common Stockholders

 

(81

)

(76

)

(5

)

 

(76

)

(82

)

6

 

For 2010,2013, corporate interest and other net expenses increased $34$5 million compared with 2009, reflecting an $182012, due to a $5 million gain recognizedincrease in 2009 on the early retirement of long-term debt — related parties and $15 million due primarily to higher tax expense in 2010 related to the Michigan Business Tax. Additionally, interest expense, reflecting increased $10 million due to higher debt levels at higher average interest rates. These items were offset partially by $9 million of higher net earnings at EnerBank and lower legal fees.

borrowings.

For 2009,2012, corporate interest and other net expenses decreased $5$6 million reflecting an $18 million gain oncompared with 2011, due primarily to higher net earnings at EnerBank.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

For 2013, the early retirement of long-term debt — related parties, offset partially by $11 million in premiums paid on the early retirement of senior notes.

Discontinued Operations
For 2010, anet loss of $23 million was recorded from discontinued operations comparedwas less than $1 million.  For 2012, income from discontinued operations was $7 million, reflecting the elimination of a liability associated with a prior asset sale.  For 2011, income of $20from discontinued operations was $2 million, for 2009. The $43 million change was due primarily to a $28 million gain recognized in 2009 on the expiration of an indemnity for a 2007 asset sale and $10 million of additional tax expense in 2010 resulting from an IRS audit adjustmentfavorable legal settlement related to a 2003 asset sale.
previously sold business.

For 2009, income of $20 million was recorded fromfurther details regarding discontinued operations, compared with incomesee Note 19, Asset Sales and Discontinued Operations.

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Contents

Cash Position, Investing, and FinancingCASH POSITION, INVESTING, AND FINANCING

At December 31, 2010,2013, CMS Energy had $270$204 million of consolidated cash and cash equivalents, which included $23$32 million of restricted cash and cash equivalents.  At December 31, 2010,2013, Consumers had $94$49 million of consolidated cash and cash equivalents, which included $23$31 million of restricted cash and cash equivalents.


56


OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Operating Activities

Presented in the following table are specific components of net cash provided by operating activities for the years ended December 31, 20102013, 2012, and 2009:

             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  Change 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
•   Net income $343  $240  $103 
•   Non-cash transactions(a)  1,112   877   235 
             
  $1,455  $1,117  $338 
•   Sale of gas purchased in the prior year  756   845   (89)
•   Purchase of gas in the current year  (663)  (718)  55 
•   Accounts receivable sales, net  (50)  (120)  70 
•   Postretirement benefits contributions  (463)  (262)  (201)
•   Change in other core working capital(b)  (22)  (62)  40 
•   Other changes in assets and liabilities, net  (54)  48   (102)
             
Net cash provided by operating activities $959  $848  $111 
             
Consumers
            
•   Net income $434  $293  $141 
•   Non-cash transactions(a)  1,103   841   262 
             
  $1,537  $1,134  $403 
•   Sale of gas purchased in the prior year  756   845   (89)
•   Purchase of gas in the current year  (663)  (718)  55 
•   Accounts receivable sales, net  (50)  (120)  70 
•   Postretirement benefits contributions  (447)  (254)  (193)
•   Change in other core working capital(b)  (19)  (58)  39 
•   Other changes in assets and liabilities, net  (204)  93   (297)
             
Net cash provided by operating activities $910  $922  $(12)
             
(a)Non-cash transactions comprise depreciation and amortization, changes in deferred income taxes, postretirement benefits expense, and other non-cash items.
(b)Other core working capital comprises other changes in accounts receivable and accrued revenues, inventories, and accounts payable.
2011:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions  

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

Change

 

2012

 

2011

 

Change

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

454

 

$

384

 

$

70

 

$

384

 

$

417

 

$

(33

)

Non-cash transactions1

 

 

1,129

 

 

1,085

 

 

44

 

 

1,085

 

 

981

 

 

104

 

 

 

 

1,583

 

 

1,469

 

 

114

 

 

1,469

 

 

1,398

 

 

71

 

Postretirement benefits contributions

 

 

(229

)

 

(72

)

 

(157

)

 

(72

)

 

(323

)

 

251

 

Proceeds from government grant

 

 

69

 

 

-

 

 

69

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

Changes in core working capital2

 

 

88

 

 

(48

)

 

136

 

 

(48

)

 

135

 

 

(183

)

Changes in other assets and liabilities, net

 

 

(90

)

 

(108

)

 

18

 

 

(108

)

 

(41

)

 

(67

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

1,421

 

$

1,241

 

$

180

 

$

1,241

 

$

1,169

 

$

72

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

534

 

$

439

 

$

95

 

$

439

 

$

467

 

$

(28

)

Non-cash transactions1

 

 

1,003

 

 

993

 

 

10

 

 

993

 

 

947

 

 

46

 

 

 

 

1,537

 

 

1,432

 

 

105

 

 

1,432

 

 

1,414

 

 

18

 

Postretirement benefits contributions

 

 

(222

)

 

(68

)

 

(154

)

 

(68

)

 

(315

)

 

247

 

Proceeds from government grant

 

 

69

 

 

-

 

 

69

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

Changes in core working capital2

 

 

103

 

 

(31

)

 

134

 

 

(31

)

 

138

 

 

(169

)

Changes in other assets and liabilities, net

 

 

(136

)

 

20

 

 

(156

)

 

20

 

 

86

 

 

(66

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

1,351

 

$

1,353

 

$

(2

)

$

1,353

 

$

1,323

 

$

30

 

1 Non-cash transactions comprise depreciation and amortization, changes in deferred income taxes, postretirement benefits expense, and other non-cash items.

2 Core working capital comprises accounts receivable and accrued revenues, inventories, and accounts payable.

For the year ended December 31, 2010,2013, net cash provided by operating activities at CMS Energy increased $111$180 million compared with 2009. The increase was2012, and net cash provided by operating activities at Consumers decreased $2 million compared with 2012.  Increases in net cash provided by operating activities were due primarily to higher net income, net of non-cash transactions, the receipt of a $69 million renewable energy grant for Lake Winds® Energy Park, and a reduction in working capital due to higher usage of gas and other fuel from inventory and the collection of PSCR underrecoveries.  At CMS Energy, these increases were offset partially by higher pension contributions.

contributions in 2013.  At Consumers, these increases were offset largely by higher pension contributions, higher tax payments to CMS Energy, a refund to customers of $23 million related to the DOE settlement, and a $24 million premium paid for the early retirement of debt in 2013.

For the year ended December 31, 2010,2012, net cash provided by operating activities at CMS Energy increased $72 million compared with 2011, and net cash provided by operating activities at Consumers decreased $12increased $30 million compared with 2009.2011.  The decrease wasincreases were due primarily to higherthe absence of a pension contributionsfund contribution and refundsthe impact of lower gas prices on inventory purchased in 2012, offset partially by lower cash collections resulting from the increase in accumulated credits applied to customers. These changes were offset largely by increased billings due to recent regulatory actions.


57

customer accounts in 2012.


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Table of Contents

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Presented in the following table are specific components of net cash provided by operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008:

             
Years Ended December 31
 2009  2008  Change 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
•   Net income $240  $302  $(62)
•   Non-cash transactions(a)  877   911   (34)
             
  $1,117  $1,213  $(96)
•   Sale of gas purchased in the prior year  845   915   (70)
•   Purchase of gas in the current year  (718)  (963)  245 
•   Electric sales contract termination payment     (275)  275 
•   Accounts receivable sales, net  (120)  170   (290)
•   Postretirement benefits contributions  (262)  (51)  (211)
•   Change in other core working capital(b)  (62)  (278)  216 
•   Other changes in assets and liabilities, net  48   (174)  222 
             
Net cash provided by operating activities $848  $557  $291 
             
Consumers
            
•   Net income $293  $364  $(71)
•   Non-cash transactions(a)  841   956   (115)
             
  $1,134  $1,320  $(186)
•   Sale of gas purchased in the prior year  845   915   (70)
•   Purchase of gas in the current year  (718)  (963)  245 
•   Accounts receivable sales, net  (120)  170   (290)
•   Postretirement benefits contributions  (254)  (50)  (204)
•   Change in other core working capital(b)  (58)  (289)  231 
•   Other changes in assets and liabilities, net  93   (230)  323 
             
Net cash provided by operating activities $922  $873  $49 
             
(a)Non-cash transactions comprise depreciation and amortization, changes in deferred income taxes, postretirement benefits expense, and other non-cash items.
(b)Other core working capital comprises other changes in accounts receivable and accrued revenues, inventories, and accounts payable.
For the year ended December 31, 2009, net cash provided by operating activities at CMS Energy increased $291 million compared with 2008. This increase was due primarily to the absence in 2009 of a payment made by CMS ERM in 2008 to terminate electricity sales agreements and the changes affecting Consumers’ cash provided by operating activities described in the following paragraph.
For the year ended December 31, 2009, net cash provided by operating activities at Consumers increased $49 million compared with 2008. This increase was due primarily to the impact of lower gas prices on inventory purchased in 2009, increased billings due to recent regulatory actions, the absence, in 2009, of refunds to customers of excess Palisades decommissioning funds, and other timing differences. These changes were offset partially by the pension contribution of $199 million and lower sales of accounts receivable in 2009.


58


Investing Activities
Presented in the following table are specific components of cash used in investing activities for the years ended December 31, 20102013, 2012, and 2009:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  Change 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
•   Capital expenditures $(821) $(818) $(3)
•   Cash effect of deconsolidation of partnerships  (10)     (10)
•   Increase in loans and notes receivable  (131)  (83)  (48)
•   Costs to retire property and other  (41)  (34)  (7)
             
Net cash used in investing activities $(1,003) $(935) $(68)
             
Consumers
            
•   Capital expenditures $(815) $(811) $(4)
•   Costs to retire property and other  (44)  (39)  (5)
             
Net cash used in investing activities $(859) $(850) $(9)
             
2011:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

Change

 

2012

 

2011

 

Change

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

(1,325

)

$

(1,227

)

$

(98

)

$

(1,227

)

$

(882

)

$

(345

)

Increase in EnerBank notes receivable

 

(139

)

(63

)

(76

)

(63

)

(100

)

37

 

Costs to retire property and other

 

(68

)

(60

)

(8

)

(60

)

(76

)

16

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

(1,532

)

$

(1,350

)

$

(182

)

$

(1,350

)

$

(1,058

)

$

(292

)

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

(1,320

)

$

(1,222

)

$

(98

)

$

(1,222

)

$

(876

)

$

(346

)

Costs to retire property and other

 

(67

)

(57

)

(10

)

(57

)

(75

)

18

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

(1,387

)

$

(1,279

)

$

(108

)

$

(1,279

)

$

(951

)

$

(328

)

For the year ended December 31, 2010,2013, net cash used in investing activities at CMS Energy increased $68$182 million compared with 2009. The change was due primarily to an increase in EnerBank consumer lending. For the year ended December 31, 2010,2012, and net cash used in investing activities at Consumers increased $9$108 million compared with 2009,2012.  The increases were due to increases in capital expenditures under Consumers’ capital investment program and, costs to retire property.

Presentedat CMS Energy, faster growth in the following table are specific components of cash used in investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2009  2008  Change 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
•   Capital expenditures $(818) $(792) $(26)
•   Increase in non-current notes receivable  (83)  (19)  (64)
•   Costs to retire property and other  (34)  (28)  (6)
             
Net cash used in investing activities $(935) $(839) $(96)
             
Consumers
            
•   Capital expenditures $(811) $(789) $(22)
•   Costs to retire property and other  (39)  (34)  (5)
             
Net cash used in investing activities $(850) $(823) $(27)
             
EnerBank consumer lending.

For the year ended December 31, 2009,2012, net cash used in investing activities at CMS Energy increased $96$292 million compared with 2008. For the year ended December 31, 2009,2011, and net cash used in investing activities at Consumers increased $27$328 million compared with 2008.2011.  The increases at CMS Energy were due primarily to increases in capital expenditures under Consumers’ capital investment program.  At CMS Energy, these increases were offset partially by slower growth in EnerBank consumer lending and in Consumers’ capital expenditures.


59

lending.


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Table of Contents

Financing ActivitiesF

INANCINGACTIVITIES

Presented in the following table are specific components of net cash provided by (used in) financing activities for the years ended December 31, 20102013, 2012, and 2009:

             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  Change 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
•   Issuance of FMBs, convertible senior notes, senior notes, and other debt $1,704  $1,374  $330 
•   Retirement of debt and other debt maturity payments  (1,033)  (1,271)  238 
•   Payments of common and preferred stock dividends  (162)  (125)  (37)
•   Redemption of preferred stock  (239)  (4)  (235)
•   Changes in EnerBank notes payable  (40)  40   (80)
•   Other financing activities  (28)  (49)  21 
             
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities $202  $(35) $237 
             
Consumers
            
•   Issuance of FMBs $600  $500  $100 
•   Retirement of debt and other debt maturity payments  (482)  (387)  (95)
•   Payments of common and preferred stock dividends  (360)  (287)  (73)
•   Stockholder’s contribution from CMS Energy  250   100   150 
•   Other financing activities  (27)  (28)  1 
             
Net cash used in financing activities $(19) $(102) $83 
             
2011:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

Change

 

2012

 

2011

 

Change

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of FMBs, senior notes, and other debt

 

$

1,456

 

$

2,017

 

$

(561

)

$

2,017

 

$

725

 

$

1,292

 

Retirement of debt

 

(1,047

)

(1,829

)

782

 

(1,829

)

(708

)

(1,121

)

Issuance of common stock

 

36

 

30

 

6

 

30

 

29

 

1

 

Redemption of preferred stock

 

(7

)

-

 

(7

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

Payments of common and preferred stock dividends

 

(273

)

(252

)

(21

)

(252

)

(211

)

(41

)

Other financing activities

 

25

 

75

 

(50

)

75

 

(34

)

109

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

$

190

 

$

41

 

$

149

 

$

41

 

$

(199

)

$

240

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of FMBs

 

$

750

 

$

1,075

 

$

(325

)

$

1,075

 

$

-

 

$

1,075

 

Retirement of debt

 

(466

)

(1,064

)

598

 

(1,064

)

(80

)

(984

)

Payment of common and preferred stock dividends

 

(408

)

(395

)

(13

)

(395

)

(376

)

(19

)

Redemption of preferred stock

 

(7

)

-

 

(7

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

Stockholder contribution from CMS Energy

 

150

 

150

 

-

 

150

 

125

 

25

 

Other financing activities

 

30

 

80

 

(50

)

80

 

(27

)

107

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

$

49

 

$

(154

)

$

203

 

$

(154

)

$

(358

)

$

204

 

For the year ended December 31, 2010,2013, net cash provided by financing activities at CMS Energy increased $237$149 million compared to 2009. The change waswith 2012 and net cash provided by financing activities at Consumers increased $203 million compared with 2012.   These increases were due primarily to an increase in net proceeds from borrowings by CMS Energy,debt issuances, offset partially by an increase in common stock dividends and a decrease in borrowingsproceeds from Consumers’ revolving accounts receivable sales program.

For 2012, net cash provided by EnerBank.

For the year ended December 31, 2010,financing activities at CMS Energy increased $240 million compared with 2011 and net cash used in financing activities at Consumers decreased $83by $204 million compared with 2009. The change was2011.  These changes were due primarily to a stockholder’s contributionproceeds from CMS Energy, offset partially by an increase in common dividend payments.
Presented in the following table are specific components of net cash provided by (used in) financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2009Consumers’ revolving accounts receivable sales program and 2008:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2009  2008  Change 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
•   Issuance of FMBs, convertible senior notes, senior notes, and other debt $1,374  $1,396  $(22)
•   Retirement of debt and other debt maturity payments  (1,271)  (1,130)  (141)
•   Payments of common and preferred stock dividends  (125)  (93)  (32)
•   Changes in EnerBank notes payable  40      40 
•   Other financing activities  (53)  (26)  (27)
             
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities $(35) $147  $(182)
             
Consumers
            
•   Issuance of FMBs $500  $600  $(100)
•   Retirement of debt and other debt maturity payments  (387)  (444)  57 
•   Payments of common and preferred stock dividends  (287)  (299)  12 
•   Stockholder’s contribution from CMS Energy  100      100 
•   Other financing activities  (28)  (33)  5 
             
Net cash used in financing activities $(102) $(176) $74 
             
For the year ended December 31, 2009, net cash used in financing activities at CMS Energy increased by $182 million compared with 2008. The increase in net cash used in financing activities was due primarily to an increase in net debt retirements.


60

issuances to fund Consumers’ capital investment program.


For the year ended December 31, 2009, net cash used in financing activities at Consumers decreased $74 million compared with 2008. This decrease was due primarily to a stockholder’s contribution from CMS Energy, offset partially by a decrease in net proceeds from borrowings.
For additional details on long-term debt activity, see Note 7, Financings and Capitalization.
CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY

CMS Energy uses dividends from its subsidiaries and external financing and capital transactions to invest in its utility and non-utility businesses, retire debt, pay dividends, and fund its other obligations.  The ability of CMS Energy’s subsidiaries, including Consumers, to pay dividends to CMS Energy depends upon each subsidiary’s revenues, earnings, cash needs, and other factors.  In addition, Consumers’ ability to pay dividends is restricted by certain terms included in its debt covenants and articles of incorporation, as well asand potentially by provisions under the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act and FERC requirements.  For additional details on Consumers’ dividend restrictions, see Note 4, Financings and Capitalization – Dividend Restrictions.  For the year ended December 31, 2010,2013, Consumers paid $358$406 million in common stock dividends to CMS Energy.

CMS Energy has entered into two continuous equity offering programs permitting it to sell, from time to time through “at the market” offerings, common stock having an aggregate sales price of up to

63



Table of Contents

$50 million per program.  Under the first program, entered into in 2011, CMS Energy issued common stock and received net proceeds of $20 million in March 2013 and $15 million in each of 2012 and 2011.  In April 2013, CMS Energy entered into the second continuous equity offering program, but has not yet issued any equity under this program.

Consumers uses cash flows generated from operations and external financing transactions, as well as stockholder’sstockholder contributions from CMS Energy, to fund capital expenditures, retire debt, pay dividends, contribute to its employee benefit plans, and fund its other obligations.

  As a result of accelerated pension funding in recent years and several initiatives to reduce costs, Consumers anticipates improved cash flows generated from operations in 2014.

Consumers also expects to issue Securitization bonds in 2014, subject to market conditions.  The MPSC, in a December 2013 order, authorized Consumers to proceed, at its sole discretion, with the sale of up to $389 million in highly rated, low-cost Securitization bonds to finance the recovery of the remaining book value of ten electric generating units that Consumers plans to retire by April 2016, if the Securitization transaction is successful.

CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ access to the financial and capital markets depends on their credit ratings and on market conditions.  As evidenced by past financing transactions, CMS Energy and Consumers have had ready access to these markets and, barring major market dislocations or disruptions, they expect to continue to have such access.  If access to these markets were to become diminisheddiminish or otherwise become restricted, however, CMS Energy and Consumers would implement contingency plans to address debt maturities, which could include reduced capital spending.  CMS Energy and Consumers also havehad the following secured revolving credit facilities available:

             
At December 31, 2010
 Amount of Facility  Amount Available  Expiration Date 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy
            
Revolving credit facility $550  $547   April 2012 
Consumers
            
Revolving credit facility  500   200   March 2012 
Revolving credit facility  150   150   August 2013 
available at December 31, 2013:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

Amount of

 

Amount

 

Letters of Credit

 

Amount

 

 

 

 

 

Facility

 

Borrowed

 

Outstanding

 

Available

 

Expiration Date

 

CMS Energy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving credit facility1

 

$   550

 

$    -

 

$     2

 

$   548

 

December 2018

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving credit facility2

 

$   650

 

$    -

 

$     -

 

$   650

 

December 2018

 

Revolving credit facility2

 

30

 

-

 

30

 

-

 

September 2014

 

1 Obligations under this facility are secured by Consumers common stock.

2 Obligations under this facility are secured by FMBs of Consumers.

CMS Energy and Consumers presently use these credit facilities for general working capital purposes and to issue letters of credit, and they intend to renew these facilities at reasonable terms before their expiration.credit.  An additional source of liquidity is Consumers’ revolving accounts receivable sales program, which allows it to transfer up to $250 million of eligible accounts receivable as a secured borrowing.  At December 31, 2010, $2502013, $170 million of accountaccounts receivable had been transferred and an additional $80 million were eligible for transfer under this program.

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Table of Contents

Certain of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ credit agreements, and debt indentures, and other facilities contain covenants that require CMS Energy and Consumers to maintain certain financial ratios. CMS Energy’s $550 million revolving credit agreement specifies a maximum debt to EBITDA ratio, as defined therein, and a minimum interest coverage ratio, as defined therein. Also, certain of CMS Energy’s senior notes indenture supplements specify a minimum interest coverage ratio, as defined therein. Consumers’ revolving credit agreements specify a maximum debt to capital ratio,ratios, as defined therein.  At December 31, 2010,2013, no events of default had occurred with respect to any debtfinancial covenants contained in CMS EnergyEnergy’s and Consumers’ credit agreements, debt indentures, or debt indentures.other facilities.  CMS Energy and Consumers were each in compliance with these limitscovenants as of December 31, 2010,2013, as presented in the following table:

December 31, 2013

Credit Agreement, Indenture, or Facility

Description

(1)Minimum

Limit

Actual

CMS Energy

(2)Maximum

Ratio at

Credit agreement or facility
Description
Limit
December 31, 2010
CMS Energy’s

$550 million revolving credit agreement and

$180 million term loan credit agreement

Debt to EBITDA

(2)7.0

6.0 to 1.0

4.70

4.6 to 1.0

CMS Energy’s revolving

$180 million term loan credit agreement

Interest Coverage

(1)1.2

2.0 to 1.0

3.62

4.5 to 1.0

CMS Energy’s senior notes indenture

Consumers

Interest Coverage

(1)1.7 to 1.0

3.70 to 1.0

Consumers’

$650 million and $30 million revolving credit agreements,

$35 million and $68 million reimbursement agreements, and

$250 million revolving accounts receivable sales agreement

Debt to Capital

(2)0.7

0.65 to 1.0

0.51

0.49 to 1.0


61


Components of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ cash management plan include controlling operating expenses and capital expenditures and evaluating market conditions for financing and refinancing opportunities.  CMS Energy and Consumers believe that their present level of cash and their expected cash flows from operating activities, together with their access to sources of liquidity, will be sufficient to fund their contractual obligations for 20112014 and beyond.

65



Table of Contents

Contractual Obligations:  Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ contractual cash obligations for each of the periods presented.  The table excludes all amounts classified as current liabilities on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Consolidated Balance Sheets,consolidated balance sheets, other than the current portion of long-term debt, capital leases, and capitalfinancing obligation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

Payments Due

 

 

 

 

 

Less Than

 

One to

 

Three to

 

More Than

 

December 31, 2013

 

Total

 

One Year

 

Three Years

 

Five Years

 

Five Years

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

$

7,654

 

$

368

 

$

1,207

 

$

1,443

 

$

4,636

 

Interest payments on long-term debt

 

3,335

 

364

 

694

 

573

 

1,704

 

Capital leases and financing obligation

 

159

 

23

 

43

 

38

 

55

 

Interest payments on capital leases and financing obligation

 

64

 

10

 

17

 

15

 

22

 

Operating leases

 

164

 

26

 

45

 

37

 

56

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

1,215

 

11

 

37

 

36

 

1,131

 

Deferred investment tax credit

 

40

 

3

 

6

 

5

 

26

 

Environmental liabilities

 

198

 

14

 

34

 

36

 

114

 

Purchase obligations1

 

12,068

 

1,879

 

2,015

 

2,007

 

6,167

 

Purchase obligations – related parties2

 

1,244

 

89

 

170

 

175

 

810

 

Total contractual obligations

 

$

26,141

 

$

2,787

 

$

4,268

 

$

4,365

 

$

14,721

 

Consumers

��

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

$

4,625

 

$

43

 

$

449

 

$

848

 

$

3,285

 

Interest payments on long-term debt

 

2,259

 

225

 

441

 

370

 

1,223

 

Capital leases and financing obligation

 

159

 

23

 

43

 

38

 

55

 

Interest payments on capital leases and financing obligation

 

64

 

10

 

17

 

15

 

22

 

Operating leases

 

164

 

26

 

45

 

37

 

56

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

1,214

 

11

 

37

 

36

 

1,130

 

Deferred investment tax credit

 

40

 

3

 

6

 

5

 

26

 

Environmental liabilities

 

127

 

8

 

24

 

28

 

67

 

Purchase obligations1

 

11,838

 

1,803

 

1,960

 

1,953

 

6,122

 

Purchase obligations – related parties2

 

1,244

 

89

 

170

 

175

 

810

 

Total contractual obligations

 

$

21,734

 

$

2,241

 

$

3,192

 

$

3,505

 

$

12,796

 

1 Long-term contracts for purchase of commodities and finance leases.

                     
  Payments Due 
     Less Than
  One to
  Three to
  More Than
 
At December 31, 2010
 Total  One Year  Three Years  Five Years  Five Years 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                    
Long-term debt(a) $7,206  $439  $1,019  $976  $4,772 
Interest payments on long-term debt(b)  2,909   357   662   587   1,303 
Capital and finance leases(c)  212   23   50   42   97 
Interest payments on capital and finance leases(d)  98   14   22   18   44 
Operating leases(e)  260   29   57   51   123 
Purchase obligations(f)  15,794   1,996   2,613   1,751   9,434 
Purchase obligations — related parties(f)  1,735   87   180   193   1,275 
                     
Total contractual obligations $28,214  $2,945  $4,603  $3,618  $17,048 
                     
Consumers
                    
Long-term debt(a) $4,529  $37  $755  $567  $3,170 
Interest payments on long-term debt(b)  1,899   238   436   365   860 
Capital and finance leases(c)  212   23   50   42   97 
Interest payments on capital and finance leases(d)  98   14   22   18   44 
Operating leases(e)  260   29   57   51   123 
Purchase obligations(f)  15,794   1,996   2,613   1,751   9,434 
Purchase obligations — related parties(f)  1,735   87   180   193   1,275 
                     
Total contractual obligations $24,527  $2,424  $4,113  $2,987  $15,003 
                     
(a)Principal amounts due on outstanding debt obligations, current and long-term, at December 31, 2010. For additional details on long-term debt, see Note 7, Financings and Capitalization.
(b)Scheduled interest payments on both variable-rate and fixed-rate long-term debt, current and long-term. Variable interest payments are based on contractual rates in effect at December 31, 2010.
(c)Principal portion of lease payments under capital and finance leases, comprising mainly leased service vehicles and certain PPAs.
(d)Imputed interest on capital and finance leases.
(e)Minimum noncancelable lease payments under leases of railroad cars and miscellaneous office buildings and equipment, which are accounted for as operating leases.
(f)Long-term contracts for purchase of commodities and services. These obligations include operating contracts used for the purchase of capacity and energy from PURPA qualifying facilities. These commodities and services include natural gas and associated transportation, electricity, and coal and associated transportation.
related services, and construction and service agreements.  The commodities and related services include natural gas and associated transportation, electricity, and coal and associated transportation.

2 Long-term power purchase agreements from certain affiliates of CMS Enterprises.

CMS Energy and Consumers also have recognized non-current liabilities for which the timing of payments cannot be reasonably estimated.  These items, which are excluded from the table above, include regulatory liabilities, deferred income taxes, workers compensation liabilities, accrued liabilities under renewable energy programs, and other liabilities.  Retirement benefits are also excluded from the table above.  For details related to benefit payments, see Note 11, Retirement Benefits.


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Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements:  CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain of their subsidiaries also enter into various arrangements in the normal course of business to facilitate commercial transactions with third parties.  These arrangements include indemnities, surety bonds, letters of credit, and financial and performance guarantees.  Indemnities are usually agreements to reimburse a counterparty that may incur losses due to outside claims or breach of contract terms.  The maximum payment that could be required under a number of these indemnity obligations is not estimable.estimable; the maximum obligation under

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indemnities for which such amounts were estimable was $471 million at December 31, 2013.  While CMS Energy and Consumers believe it is unlikely that they will incur any material losses related to indemnities they have not recorded as liabilities, they cannot predict the impact of these contingent obligations on their liquidity and financial condition.  For additional details on these and other guarantee arrangements, see Note 5,3, Contingencies and Commitments “Guarantees.”

– Guarantees.

Capital Expenditures:  Over the next five years, CMS Energy and Consumers expect to make capital investments of more than $6about $7 billion.  CMS Energy and Consumers may revise their forecasts of capital expenditures periodically due to a number of factors, including environmental regulations, business opportunities, market volatility, economic trends, and the ability to access capital.  Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ estimated capital expenditures, including lease commitments, for 20112014 through 2015:

                         
                 Five Years
 
  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015  Total 
        In Millions    
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                        
Consumers $1,070  $1,290  $1,280  $1,530  $1,260  $6,430 
Enterprises  6   8   1   1   1   17 
                         
Total CMS Energy $1,076  $1,298  $1,281  $1,531  $1,261  $6,447 
                         
Consumers
                        
Electric utility operations(a)(b) $790  $1,060  $1,060  $1,310  $1,030  $5,250 
Gas utility operations(b)  280   230   220   220   230   1,180 
                         
Total Consumers $1,070  $1,290  $1,280  $1,530  $1,260  $6,430 
                         
(a)These amounts include estimates for capital expenditures that may be required by environmental laws, regulations, or potential consent decrees.
(b)These amounts include estimates for capital expenditures related to information technology projects, facility improvements, and vehicle leasing.


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2018:


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

2014

 

2015

 

2016

 

2017

 

2018

 

Total

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumers

 

$

1,650

 

$

1,500

 

$

1,450

 

$

1,250

 

$

1,250

 

$

7,100

 

Enterprises

 

12

 

12

 

11

 

11

 

11

 

57

 

Total CMS Energy

 

$

1,662

 

$

1,512

 

$

1,461

 

$

1,261

 

$

1,261

 

$

7,157

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility operations1,2

 

$

1,200

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

$

800

 

$

800

 

$

4,800

 

Gas utility operations2

 

450

 

500

 

450

 

450

 

450

 

2,300

 

Total Consumers

 

$

1,650

 

$

1,500

 

$

1,450

 

$

1,250

 

$

1,250

 

$

7,100

 

1 These amounts include estimates for capital expenditures that may be required by environmental laws, regulations, or potential consent decrees.

Presented in the following illustration are the components of CMS Energy’s (including Consumers’) planned

2 These amounts include estimates for capital spending for 2011 through 2015:

expenditures related to information technology projects, facility improvements, and vehicle leasing.

OUTLOOK

Several business trends and uncertainties may affect CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ financial condition and results of operations.  These trends and uncertainties could have a material impact on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ consolidated income, cash flows, or financial position.  For additional details regarding these and other uncertainties, see “Forward-LookingForward-Looking Statements and Information;” Note 5, Contingencies and Commitments; and Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Factors; and Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments.

CONSUMERSELECTRICUTILITYANDGASUTILITYBUSINESSOUTLOOKANDUNCERTAINTIES

Rate Matters:  Rate matters are critical to Consumers’ Electric Utility Business Outlookelectric and Uncertaintiesgas utility businesses.  For additional details on rate matters, see Note 2, Regulatory Matters.

Future Rate Cases:  In order to minimize increases in customer base rates, Consumers has undertaken several initiatives to reduce costs through voluntary separation plans, accelerated pension funding, employee and retiree health-care cost sharing, negotiated labor agreements, information system efficiencies, and productivity improvement programs.  Consumers has also received approval from the MPSC for certain applications, including the accounting application described in the following paragraph, that will result in cost savings for customers.  These initiatives, together with Consumers’ plans to accelerate further cost reductions, should allow Consumers to avoid increasing electric and gas base rates through 2014.  Consumers may reconsider this expectation should its assumptions change regarding the economy or other matters.

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Income Tax Benefits Accounting Order:  In August 2013, Consumers filed an application with the MPSC requesting approval to accelerate the flow-through to electric and gas customers of certain income tax benefits associated primarily with the cost of removal of plant placed in service before 1993.  Under the regulatory treatment that Consumers has been using, Consumers has estimated that it would take at least 50 years to flow through these income tax benefits to customers.  In September 2013, the MPSC approved Consumers’ application with modification, authorizing Consumers to return $211 million of income tax benefits over five years to electric customers and $264 million of income tax benefits over 12 years to gas customers.  The MPSC authorized Consumers to implement this regulatory treatment effective January 2014.  Consumers estimates that this new treatment will result in an annual benefit of $42 million to electric customers and $22 million to gas customers.

Smart Energy:  Consumers’ grid modernization effort continues.  In 2012, Consumers began installing smart meters in Muskegon County, Michigan.  One of the functions of smart meters is to allow customers to monitor and manage their energy usage, which Consumers expects will help reduce demand during critical peak times, resulting in lower peak capacity requirements.  The installation of smart meters should also provide for both operational and customer benefits.  As of December 31, 2013, Consumers had upgraded 160,000 electric residential and small business customers in western Michigan to smart meters.  Of the customers scheduled for the upgrade, 0.6 percent have chosen not to participate in the smart meter program.

Consumers is able to read and bill from smart meters remotely; further functionality will continue to be added through mid-2015.  Consumers expects to have installed 385,000 smart meters throughout western Michigan by the end of 2014.  Consumers also plans to install communication modules on gas meters in areas where Consumers provides both electricity and natural gas to customers.

C

ONSUMERSELECTRICUTILITYBUSINESSOUTLOOKANDUNCERTAINTIES

Balanced Energy Initiative: Consumers’  Consumers continues to experience increasing demand for electricity due to Michigan’s recovering economy and increased use of air conditioning, consumer electronics, and other electric devices, offset partially by the predicted effects of energy efficiency and conservation.  In July 2012, customers set a peak demand record of 9,006 MW.

Subject to a successful Securitization transaction, as discussed below, Consumers plans to retire seven smaller coal-fueled electric generating units and three smaller gas-fueled electric generating units by April 2016.  Consumers had previously announced plans to mothball the seven coal-fueled units effective April 2016 and had received approval from MISO to do so.  The three gas-fueled units were mothballed in April 2009.  For additional details on the Securitization financing order, see Note 2, Regulatory Matters.

With the planned retirement of these units and the potential tightening of the MISO capacity market, Consumers could experience a shortfall in generation capacity of up to 1,500 MW in 2016.  In order to address future capacity requirements and growing electric demand in Michigan, Consumers updated its balanced energy initiative, is a comprehensive energy resource plan designed to meet its projectedthe short-term and long-term electricity needs of its customers through:

·energy efficiency;

·demand management;

·expanded use of renewable energy;

·construction or purchase of electric power requirements through:

• energy efficiency;
• demand management;
• expanded use of renewable energy;
• development of new power plants;
• pursuit of additional PPAs to complement existing generating sources;
• continued operation of existing units; and
• potential retirement or mothballing of older generating units.
generating units; and

·continued operation or upgrade of existing units.

In May 2010,December 2013, Consumers signed an agreement to purchase a 540-MW gas-fueled electric generating plant located in Jackson, Michigan for $155 million from AlphaGen Power LLC and DPC Juniper, LLC, affiliates of JPMorgan Chase & Co.  Consumers expects to close the purchase, which is subject to MPSC,

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FERC, and other approvals, by January 2016.  In January 2014, as a result of this planned purchase, Consumers announced plans to defer the development of its proposed 830 MW coal-fueled700-MW gas-fueled electric generating plant at its Karn/WeadockThetford complex in Genesee County, Michigan, which Consumers estimated would have cost $700 million.

Electric Rate Matters:  In August and September 2013, Consumers filed two applications with the MPSC to propose alternative methods to recover its investment in the seven smaller coal-fueled electric generating complex. This decision reflects reduced customer demand for electricity dueunits and three smaller gas-fueled electric generating units discussed above.

In the first of these applications, filed in August 2013, Consumers requested MPSC advanced approval to use standard utility plant retirement accounting in the recession, forecasted lower natural gas prices dueevent of early retirement of these ten units.  Specifically, Consumers requested the MPSC to recent developmentsprovide assurance that the full amount of the undepreciated investment, demolition costs, and cost of removal, including a return on the assets, would, upon their early retirement, be recovered through retail electric base rates.

The second application, which Consumers filed in shale gasSeptember 2013, requested approval to issue up to $454 million in Securitization bonds through a newly formed subsidiary.  Under Michigan law, electric utilities are permitted to use highly rated, low-cost Securitization bonds to finance the recovery technology,of qualified costs.  The qualified costs that Consumers requested approval to securitize were principally the remaining book value and projected surplus generating capacitydemolition costs of the ten units described above.

The MPSC approved, with modification, Consumers’ Securitization application in December 2013 and issued a Securitization financing order that authorizes Consumers to proceed, at its sole discretion, with the MISO market.sale of up to $389 million in Securitization bonds to finance the recovery of the remaining book value of the ten units described above.  Consumers has been monitoring customer demand, fuelexpects to proceed with the Securitization financing and power prices,issue Securitization bonds in 2014, subject to market conditions.  Upon issuance of the Securitization bonds, Consumers will adjust its retail electric base rates to exclude the revenue requirement associated with the securitized costs.  Consumers will then collect a surcharge to pay the principal and other market conditions, and has not set a timetable for a future decision aboutinterest on the project; however, the likelihood that the plant will be constructed has diminished significantly. Consumers’ alternatives to


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constructing the proposed coal-fueled plant include constructing new gas-fueled generation, relying on additional market purchases,Securitization bonds, as well as continued operationall related costs.  Consumers estimates that employing this recovery mechanism in place of several existing generatingratemaking treatment will provide initial annual cost savings to full-service customers of $15 million.

As a result of the MPSC’s issuance of the Securitization financing order, Consumers has taken action to suspend and extend indefinitely the schedule in the case related to the application Consumers filed in August 2013 requesting MPSC advanced approval to use standard utility plant retirement accounting in the event of early retirement of these ten units.

Pending Power Supply Cost Recovery Plan:  Consumers submitted its 2014 PSCR plan to the MPSC in September 2013, and in accordance with its proposed plan, self-implemented the 2014 PSCR charge beginning in January 2014.

For additional details on rate matters, see Note 2, Regulatory Matters.

Renewable Energy Plan: Consumers’ renewable energy plan details how Consumers willexpects to meet REC and capacity standards prescribed by the 2008 Energy Legislation.Law.  This legislationlaw requires Consumers to obtainuse RECs, in an amount equal to at least ten percent of its electric sales volume (estimated to be 3.6 million RECs annually) by 2015. RECswhich represent proof that the associated electricity was generated from a renewable energy resource. The legislation also requires Consumersresource, to obtain 500 MW of capacity fromachieve certain renewable energy resources bytargets through at least 2015.  The targets increase annually, with a goal of using RECs in an amount equal to at least ten percent of Consumers’ electric sales volume (estimated to be 3.3 million RECs annually) in 2015 either through generation resources owned by Consumers or through agreements to purchase capacity from other parties.

and each year thereafter.  Under its renewable energy plan, Consumers expects to securemeet its required RECsrenewable energy requirement each year with a combination of newly generated RECs and previously generated RECs carried over from prior years. Presently,

The 2008 Energy Law also requires Consumers generates or purchases 1.6 million RECs per year, which represents 44 percent of the 2015 renewable energy requirement. In 2010, Consumers contracted for the purchase of 900,000 RECs per year, which represents an additional 25 percent of the 2015 renewable energy requirement. In addition, at December 2010, Consumers held three million RECs in inventory for use over the next 15 years beginning in 2015. This inventory will provide 200,000 RECs per year, or 5.5 percent of the 2015 renewable energy requirement.

To meet its renewable capacity requirements, Consumers expects to add more thanobtain 500 MW of new capacity from renewable energy resources by the end of 2015, either through generation resources owned by Consumers or contracted renewablethrough

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agreements to purchase capacity by 2015.from other parties.  Through December 2010,2013, Consumers has contracted for the purchase of 296302 MW of nameplate capacity from renewable energy suppliers which represents 59 percentand owns 100 MW of the 2015 renewablenameplate capacity requirement.

Consumers has secured more than 79,000 acres of land easements in Michigan’s Huron, Mason, and Tuscola Counties for the potential development of wind generation, and is presently collecting wind speed and other meteorological data at those sites. Consumers has entered into construction and supply contracts as well as a contract to purchase wind turbine generators for the construction of a100-MW wind farm in Mason County, theits Lake Winds® Energy Park, which Park.

Consumers expects to be operational in late 2012. Consumers will continue to seek opportunities for wind generation development in supportmeet the balance of the renewable capacity standards.

requirement through the completion of its Cross Winds® Energy Park, a 105-MW wind park in Tuscola County, Michigan.  Consumers began construction of Cross Winds® Energy Park in October 2013 and expects to begin operations in late 2014.  Cross Winds® Energy Park will qualify for certain federal production tax credits that should reduce significantly the cost of meeting the renewable requirements of the 2008 Energy Law.  Consumers expects to qualify for $100 million to $120 million of federal production tax credits, which will be based on the wind project’s production over its first ten years of operation.  These cost savings will be passed on to customers.

Energy Optimization Plan:  The 2008 Energy Law requires Consumers to achieve energy savings equivalent to annual sales reduction targets through at least 2015.  The targets increase annually, with the goal of achieving a six percent reduction in customers’ electricity use and a four percent reduction in customers’ natural gas use by December 31, 2015.  Under its energy optimization plan, Consumers provides its customers with incentives to reduce usage by offering energy audits, rebates and discounts on purchases of highly efficient appliances, and other incentives and programs.  Consumers estimates that, through its gas and electric energy optimization programs, its customers realized $211 million in energy savings during 2013.

Electric Customer Deliveries and Revenue:  Consumers’ electric customer deliveries are largely dependent on Michigan’s economy, which has suffered from economic and financial instability in the automotive and real estate sectors.

sectors in recent years.  Consumers believes that economic conditions in Michigan are improving and expects weather-adjusted electric deliveries to increase in 20112014 by two1.5 percent compared with 2010. Consumers’ outlook for 2011 includes continuing growth in deliveries to its largest customer, which produces energy-related and computer components. Consumers has a long-term contract with this customer to provide electricity at a discounted rate for economic development purposes. Excluding this customer’s growth,2013.

Over the next five years, Consumers expects weather-adjusted electric deliveries in 2011 to be at a similar level to 2010. Consumers’ outlook reflects the impact of reduced deliveries associated with its investment in energy efficiency programs prescribed by the 2008 Energy Legislation, as well as recent projections of Michigan’s economic conditions.

Consumers believes economic conditions have stabilized. Consumers’ present outlook foraverage electric delivery growth isof about 1.50.5 to 1.0 percent annually on average through 2016.annually.  This increase reflects growth in electric deliveriesdemand, offset partially by the predicted effects of energy efficiency programs and appliance efficiency standards.  Actual deliveriesdelivery levels will depend on:
• 

·energy conservation measures and results of energy efficiency programs;

• fluctuations in weather; and
• changes in economic conditions, including utilization and expansion or contraction of manufacturing facilities, population trends, and housing activity.
A decoupling mechanism, authorized by the MPSC in Consumers’ 2009 electric rate case order and extended in the 2010 electric rate case order, allows Consumers to adjust future electric rates to compensate for changes in sales volumes resulting from weather fluctuations, energy efficiency programs;

·fluctuations in weather; and

·Michigan economic conditions, including utilization, expansion, or contraction of manufacturing facilities, population trends, and conservation. Consumers expects this mechanism to reduce volatility of electric utility revenue.


65

housing activity.


Electric ROA: The Customer Choice Act  A Michigan statute enacted in 2000 allows all of Consumers’ electric customers to buy electric generation service from Consumers or from an alternative electric supplier.suppliers.  The 2008 Energy LegislationLaw revised the Customer Choice Actstatute by limiting alternative electric supply to ten percent of Consumers’ weather-adjusted retail sales of the preceding calendar year.  At December 31, 2010,2013, Consumers’ electric deliveries under the ROA program were at the ten percentten-percent limit and alternative electric suppliers were providing 807787 MW of electric generation service to ROA customers.  Based on 2010 weather-adjusted retail sales,Of Consumers’ 1.8 million electric customers, 310 customers, or 0.02 percent, purchased electric generation service under the ROA program.  Consumers expects 20112014 electric deliveries under the ROA program to be at a similar level to 2010.
2013.

In May 2010,December 2013, a bill was introduced to the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives that, if enacted, would increaserevise the 2008 Energy Law by removing the ten-percent limit and allowing all of Consumers’ electric customers to take service from ten percent to 25 percent the proportion of an electric utility’s sales for which service may be provided by an alternative electric supplier.  Presently, the proportion of Consumers’ electric deliveries under the ROA program and on the ROA waiting list is 25 percent.  The 2010 legislative session ended without anybill also proposes to deregulate electric generation service in Michigan within two years.  No definitive action beinghas been taken on this bill.bill or on a similar bill introduced to the Michigan Senate in February 2013.  The Senate bill, if enacted, would revise the 2008 Energy Law and allow customers on the ROA program

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waiting list to take service from alternative electric suppliers.  The Senate bill also proposes an increase in the cap of six percentage points per year from 2014 through 2016.

Consumers is unable to predict the outcome of these legislative proposals. In addition, the Michigan legislature has conducted hearings on the subject of energy competition.  If the ROA limit were increased or if electric generation service in Michigan were deregulated, it could have a material adverse effect on Consumers’ financial results and operations.

Governor’s Energy Initiative:  In 2013, Michigan’s governor instituted a process to prepare a series of reports addressing energy efficiency, renewable energy, the electricity market and ROA, and other subjects.  The process was designed to help the governor and other lawmakers determine the state’s next steps regarding energy policies.  Following a series of public hearings, the chairman of the MPSC and Michigan’s Energy Office Director released four reports summarizing the information gathered.  In December 2013, the governor outlined several key goals for Michigan’s energy policy, including reducing the state’s reliance on coal, increasing the use of renewable energy and natural gas, and improving energy affordability and reliability while protecting the environment.

Electric Transmission:  In 2011, FERC issued an order in a rulemaking proceeding concerning regional electric transmission planning and cost allocations.  Consumers and several other electric utilities filed a joint petition seeking clarification/rehearing of FERC’s order and opposing the allocation methodology.  In 2012, following FERC’s denial of their requests for clarification/rehearing, Consumers and several other electric utilities filed a petition for review of FERC’s order with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.  In May 2013, Consumers, along with other electric utilities, filed briefs in this matter.

In a related matter, in 2010, MISO filed and FERC approved a tariff revision proposing a cost allocation methodology for a new category of transmission projects.  Under this tariff revision, the cost of these new transmission projects will be spread proportionally across the MISO energy market.  Consumers believes that Michigan customers will bear additional costs under MISO’s tariff without receiving comparable benefits from these projects.  In 2011, Consumers, along with the Michigan Attorney General, ABATE, DTE Electric, and other parties, filed a petition for review of FERC’s order with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.  In June 2013, the Court of Appeals issued an opinion largely affirming FERC’s orders regarding the cost allocation methodology.  In October 2013, the Michigan Attorney General filed, and Consumers and other parties joined, a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking review of the Court of Appeals’ opinion.  Regardless of the final outcome of these appeals, Consumers expects to continue to recover transmission expenses, including those associated with the MISO tariff revision, through the PSCR process.

In 2012, ReliabilityFirst Corporation informed Consumers that Consumers may not be properly registered to meet certain NERC electric reliability standards.  Consumers has assessed its registration status, taking into consideration FERC’s December 2012 order on the definition of a bulk electric system, and in August 2013 notified ReliabilityFirst Corporation that it is preparing to change its registration.  In light of this order, Consumers is reviewing the classification of its electric distribution assets under FERC’s modified definition of the bulk electric system.

Electric Environmental Estimates:  Consumers’ operations are subject to various state and federal environmental laws and regulations.  Consumers continuesestimates that it will incur expenditures of $0.8 billion from 2014 through 2018 to focus on complyingcontinue to comply with the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and numerous state and federal environmental regulations. Consumers estimates that it will incur expenditures of $1.9 billion from 2011 through 2018 to comply with these regulations.  Consumers expects to recover these costs in customer rates, but cannot guarantee this result.  Consumers’ primary environmental compliance focus includes, but is not limited to, the following matters:

Clean Air Interstate Rule/Clean Air Transport Rule:Quality: Due to a December 2008 court decision that remanded CAIR back to  In 2011, the EPA released CSAPR, a final replacement rule for CAIR, remainswhich requires Michigan and 27 other states to improve air quality by reducing power plant emissions that, according to

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EPA computer models, contribute to ground-level ozone and fine particle pollution in effect at this time, pendingother downwind states.  In 2012, the EPA’s finalizationU.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit voided CSAPR and held that CAIR would remain in place until the EPA promulgated a new rule.  This matter was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and a decision is expected in 2014.

In July 2010,2012, the EPA released CATR, a proposed rule that would replace CAIR. Consumers is evaluating this proposed rule. If adopted inpublished its present form, CATR could result in additional or accelerated environmental compliance costs related to Consumers’ fossil-fueled power plants and retirement of some or all of the older, smaller generating units in Consumers’ fleet. Presently, Consumers’ strategy to comply with CAIR involves the installation ofstate-of-the-art emission control equipment.

Federal Hazardous Air Pollutant Regulation: The EPA is developing Maximum Achievable Control Technologyfinal MACT emission standards for electric generating units, based on Section 112 of the Clean Air Act.Act, calling the final rule MATS.  Under MATS, all of Consumers’ existing coal-fueled electric generating units are required to add additional controls for hazardous air pollutants.  Compliance is required by April 2015, unless a one-year extension is granted by the MDEQ.  Consumers has received the extension for ten of its coal-fueled units and expects to meet the extended deadline for three units it intends to continue operating.  Subject to a successful Securitization transaction, Consumers expects to retire the remaining seven units by the extended deadline.  Consumers expects to meet the April 2015 deadline for its two other coal-fueled units.  MATS is presently being litigated in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.  A decision is expected in 2014.

In 2012, the EPA finalized a rule that strengthens the air quality standard for fine particulate matter.  Consumers expects short-term impacts to be limited, but this new standard could give rise to air quality concerns in states downwind of Michigan and put pressure on Michigan and other Midwestern states to reduce emissions further.  Given its present strategy for CAIR and MATS compliance, however, Consumers will already be achieving significant reductions in emissions that contribute to the formation of fine particulate matter.

Presently, Consumers’ strategy to comply with air quality regulations, including CAIR and MATS, involves the installation of emission control equipment at some facilities and the suspension of operations at others; however, Consumers continues to evaluate these rules in conjunction with other EPA rulemakings, litigation, and congressional action.  This evaluation could result in:

·changes in environmental compliance costs related to Consumers’ coal-fueled power plants;

·a change in the fuel mix at coal-fueled and oil-fueled power plants;

·changes in how certain plants are used; and

·the retirement, mothballing, or repowering with an alternative fuel of some of Consumers’ generating units.

The MDEQ renewed and issued the Renewable Operating Permit for B.C. Cobb in August 2011 and for J.H. Campbell in July 2013 after an extensive review and a public comment period.  The Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council filed separate petitions with the EPA to object to the MDEQ’s issuance of the state Renewable Operating Permit for both of these facilities, alleging that the facilities are not in compliance with certain provisions of the Clean Air Act, including NSR and Title V.  Consumers has responded to these allegations.  The EPA could either deny the petition outright or grant the petition and remand the matter to the MDEQ for further action.  The Sierra Club or the Natural Resources Defense Council could also file suit in federal district court seeking EPA action on the petition.  Consumers is unable to predict the impactoutcome of this proposed regulation, but expects tothese actions.

Greenhouse Gases:  In the recent past, there have a better understanding of the potential impact upon the release a proposed rule, which is expected in March 2011. Existing sources must meet the standards generally within three years of issuance of the final rule. The final rule is expected to be issued in November 2011.

Greenhouse Gases: There arebeen numerous legislative and regulatory initiatives at the state, regional, and national levels that involve the regulation of greenhouse gases.  Consumers monitorscontinues to monitor and commentscomment on these initiatives and also followsto follow litigation involving greenhouse gases.  Consumers believes Congress may eventually pass greenhouse gas legislation, but is unable to predict the form and timing of any final legislation.

In May 2010,January 2014, the EPA releasedpublished proposed rules pursuant to Section 111 of the Clean Air Act to limit  carbon dioxide emissions from new gas-fueled electric generating units.  New coal-fueled units would not be able to meet this limit without installing carbon dioxide control equipment using such methods as carbon capture and sequestration.  The proposed rules for new sources are expected to be finalized in 2014.  President Obama has also directed the EPA to address existing, modified, and reconstructed fossil-

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fuel-fired steam electric generating units with proposed standards, regulations, or guidelines to be completed by June 1, 2014, and final standards, regulations, or guidelines to be completed by June 1, 2015.  Subsequent state implementation plans are due by June 30, 2016.  Consumers believes that its Preventionbalanced energy initiative, its present carbon reduction target, and its emphasis on supply diversity will position it favorably to deal with the impact of Significant Deterioration and Title V Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule. The final rule, which numerous parties have challenged incarbon regulation, but cannot predict the U.S. Courtnature or outcome of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, sets limits forthese proposals.  Consumers will continue to monitor regulatory activity regarding greenhouse gas emissions standards that define when permits are required for new and existing industrial facilities under NSR PSD and Title V Operating Permit programs. Consumers does not expect that this regulation will require it to incur significant expenditures for efficiency upgrades for modified or new facilities at this time.

may affect electric generating units.

Litigation, as well as federal laws, EPA regulations regarding greenhouse gases, or similar treaties, state laws, or rules, if enacted or ratified, could require Consumers to replace equipment, install additional equipment for emission controls,control equipment, purchase emission allowances, curtail operations, arrange for alternative sources of supply, or take other steps to manage or lower the emission of greenhouse gases.  Although associated capital or operating costs relating to greenhouse gas regulation or legislation could be material and cost recovery cannot be assured, Consumers expects to recover these costs and capital expenditures in rates consistent with the recovery of other reasonable costs of complying with environmental laws and regulations.

In 2010,2013, carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fueledfossil-fuel-fired power plants owned by Consumers, excluding the portion of J.H. Campbell Unit 3 that is owned by others, exceeded 18were 17 million metric tons.  During the same period, coal-fueled plants owned by the enterprises segment emitted about 700,000four million metric tons of carbon dioxide.


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Coal Combustion By-Products:CCRs:  In June 2010, the EPA proposed rules regulating CCBs,CCRs, such as coal ash, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.  Recent communications from the EPA stress the need to coordinate CCR rulemaking guidelines for steam electric generating plants under the Clean Water Act.  A final CCR rule could be issued in 2014.  Michigan already regulates CCBsCCRs as low-hazard industrial waste.  The EPA proposed a range of alternatives for regulating CCBs,CCRs, including regulation as either a non-hazardous waste or a hazardous waste.  If coal ash were regulated as a hazardous waste, Consumers would likely cease the beneficial re-usereuse of this product, resultingwhich would result in significantly morea significant increase in the amount of coal ash requiring costly disposal.  Additionally, it is possible thatif the cost of upgrading existing coal ash disposal areas to meet hazardous waste landfill standards were to become economically prohibitive, existing coal ash disposal areas could be closed andclose, requiring Consumers to find costly alternative arrangements for coal ash disposal could be required if the upgrades to hazardous waste landfill standards are economically prohibitive.disposal.  Consumers is unable to predict accurately the full impacts from this wide range of possible outcomes, but significant expenditures are likely.

Water: In 2004, theThe EPA issued rules that governis expected to issue a final rule in early 2014 to regulate existing electric generating plant cooling water intake systems. These rules require a significant reduction in the number of fish harmed by cooling water intake structures at existing power plants. The EPA compliance options in the rule were challenged before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which remanded the bulksystems under Section 316(b) of the rule back toClean Water Act aimed at reducing alleged harmful impacts on fish and shellfish.  Consumers also expects the EPA for reconsideration in 2007. In April 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the utility industry’s position that the EPA can rely on a cost-benefit analysis in setting the national performance standards for fish protection. The EPA is scheduled to issue a draft rulefinal regulations in the first half2014 that may require physical and/or chemical treatment of 2011wastewater discharges from electric generating plants.  Consumers will evaluate these rules and a final rule in 2012.

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemakingtheir potential impacts on Consumers’ electric generating plants once they are final.

PCBs:In April 2010, the EPA issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, indicating that it is considering a variety of regulatory actions with respect to PCBs.  One proposal aimsapproach would aim to phase out equipment containing PCBs by 2025.  Another proposal eliminatesapproach would eliminate an exemption for small equipment containing PCBs.  To comply with any such regulatory actions, Consumers could incur substantial costs associated with the regulation of PCBs due to prior installation ofexisting electrical equipment potentially containing PCBs.

  A proposed rule is expected in 2014.

Other electric environmental matters could have a major impact on Consumers’ outlook.  For additional details on other electric environmental matters, see Note 5,3, Contingencies and Commitments “Consumers’– Consumers Electric Utility Contingencies, — Electric“Electric Environmental Matters.”

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Consumers’ Gas Utility Business Outlook and UncertaintiesC

ONSUMERS GAS UTILITY BUSINESS OUTLOOK AND UNCERTAINTIES

Gas Deliveries: Consumers expects 2011 weather-adjusted gas deliveries to decline by one percent compared with 2010, due to continuing conservation and overall economic conditions in Michigan. In addition,  Consumers expects weather-adjusted gas deliveries in 2014 and over the next five years  to decline an average of one percent annually from 2012 through 2016, which includes expectedremain stable relative to 2013.  This outlook reflects modest growth in gas demand offset by the predicted effects of energy efficiency programs and continued conservation.  Actual delivery levels from year to year may vary from this trendexpectation due to:

• fluctuations in weather;
• use by IPPs;


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·fluctuations in weather;

• availability and development of renewable energy sources;
• changes in gas prices;
• Michigan economic conditions, including population trends and housing activity;
• the price of competing energy sources or fuels; and
• energy efficiency and conservation.
A decoupling mechanism,·use by power producers;

·availability and development of renewable energy sources;

·changes in gas prices;

·Michigan economic conditions, including population trends and housing activity;

·the price of competing energy sources or fuels; and

·energy efficiency and conservation impacts.

Gas Transmission:  In May 2013, the MPSC approved Consumers’ application to build a 24-mile, 36-inch natural gas pipeline in St. Joseph and Branch Counties, Michigan, and Consumers began construction in October 2013.  Consumers expects that it will spend about $120 million for this project, and that the pipeline will be operational by the end of 2014.

Gas Transportation:  In 2012, Trunkline filed a proposal with FERC to cease transporting natural gas through one of its two main transmission pipelines serving Michigan.  More than 60 percent of the natural gas supplied to Consumers’ gas customers is delivered by Trunkline’s two main transmission pipelines.  In August 2012, Consumers filed a motion with FERC to protest against the proposed abandonment on the grounds that it would negatively impact customers and that it could hamper the development of gas-fueled electric generation in Michigan.  In its motion, Consumers stated that if Trunkline’s proposal is granted, the abandonment could result in higher gas prices and reduced availability for Michigan gas customers.  Michigan’s governor, the MPSC, and various other parties also filed protests with FERC.  In November 2013, however, FERC issued an order granting the abandonment request.  Consumers filed a request for rehearing of FERC’s order in December 2013.  In January 2014, FERC issued an order indicating that it would take Consumers’ request for rehearing under advisement.

Gas Rate Case:  In February 2013, Consumers filed an application with the MPSC seeking an annual rate increase of $49 million, based on a 10.5 percent authorized byreturn on equity.  Subsequent to this filing, Consumers’ projection of non-fuel costs decreased and Consumers filed a petition with the MPSC to close the docket or, alternatively, to suspend and extend indefinitely the schedule in this case.  In June 2013, the MPSC approved Consumers’ petition to suspend and extend indefinitely the schedule.  In November 2013, Consumers filed an application with the MPSC requesting to withdraw the case and close the docket.  The MPSC approved Consumers’ request and closed the docket in December 2013.

Pending Gas Cost Recovery Plan:  Consumers submitted its 2014-2015 GCR plan to the MPSC in Consumers’ 2009 gasDecember 2013, and in accordance with its proposed plan, expects to self-implement the 2014-2015 GCR charge beginning in April 2014.

For additional details on rate case order, allows Consumers to adjust future gas rates to compensate for changes in sales volumes by class arising frommatters, see Note 2, Regulatory Matters.

Gas Pipeline Safety:  In 2012, President Obama signed the difference betweenPipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011.  The law reauthorizes existing federal pipeline safety programs of the level of average sales per customer adoptedPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration through 2015 and it contains provisions mandating:

·an increase in the order and actual average weather-adjusted sales per customer. The mechanism will not provide rate adjustmentsmaximum fine for changes in sales volumes arising from weather fluctuations. Consumers expects this mechanism to mitigate the impacts of energy efficiency programs, conservation, and changes in economic conditions on its gas revenue.

Gas Pipeline Safety: In September 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Corporate Liability and Emergency Accident Notification Act, which would require oil and natural gas pipeline operators to notify regulators within one hour following the discovery of certain oil spills or natural gas leaks. The bill also would increase civil fines for delayed reporting of oil spills and natural gas leaks and would establish an online database of safety violations searchable byto $2 million;

·an increase in the number of pipeline ownerinspectors;

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·a study regarding application of integrity management requirements outside of “high consequence areas”;

·a survey regarding existing plans for safe management and replacement of cast iron pipelines;

·prescribed notification and on-site incident response times;

·installation of automatic or operator.

In responseremotely controlled shut-off valves on new or replaced pipelines where feasible;

·historical design and construction documentation to the natural gas pipeline explosion that occurredverify maximum allowable operating pressures; and

·establishment of new regulations for testing (pressure tests or equivalent methods) of previously untested pipelines in San Bruno, California in September 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have proposed bills stipulating stricter regulation of natural gas pipelines nationwide. These proposed bills affect primarily transmission pipelines and contain provisions mandating:

• the use of internal inspection devices or comparable methods effective in detecting pipeline deterioration;
• the installation of automatic shutoff equipment in high-consequence areas; and
• certain disclosures to homeowners and regulatory agencies.
high-consequence areas.

Consumers continues to comply with laws and regulations governing natural gas pipeline safety.  If these proposedThese laws are put into effect,and regulations could cause Consumers couldto incur significant additional costs related to its natural gas pipeline safety programs.  Consumers expects that it would be able to recover the costs in rates, consistent with the recovery of other reasonable costs of complying with laws and regulations.

Gas Environmental Estimates:  Consumers expects to incur response activity costs at a number of sites, including 23 former MGP sites.  For additional details, see Note 5,3, Contingencies and Commitments “Consumers’– Consumers Gas Utility Contingencies, — Gas“Gas Environmental Matters.”

The Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule requires facilities engaging in the distribution of natural gas to collect data on greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the combustion of natural gas. In 2010, Consumers estimated that carbon dioxide emissions from its customers were 15 million metric tons.
Gas Rate Matters: Rate matters are critical to Consumers’ gas utility business. For details on Consumers’ gas rate cases and GCR, see Note 6, Regulatory Matters, “Consumers’ Gas Utility.”

Consumers’ Other Outlook and UncertaintiesE

Smart Grid:NTERPRISES Consumers’ grid modernization effort continues to move forward. The foundation of this effort is the installation of advanced metering and the infrastructure to support it. The installation will include smart meters that are capable of transmitting and receiving data, a two-way communications network, and modifications to Consumers’ existing information technology systems to manage the data and enable changes to key business processes. It is intended to allow customers to monitor and manage their energy usage and help reduce demand during critical peak times, resulting in lower peak capacity requirements. Due to this system’s complexity and relative market immaturity, Consumers intends to continue its phased implementation approach. Consumers has concluded the testing and assessment phase of the project and will begin full deployment of meters in early 2012.


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OUTLOOK AND UNCERTAINTIES


Enterprises Outlook and Uncertainties
The primary focus with respect to CMS Energy’s remaining non-utility businesses is to optimize cash flow and maximize the value of their assets.

Trends, uncertainties, and other matters that could have a material impact on CMS Energy’s consolidated income, cash flows, or financial position include:

• indemnity and environmental remediation obligations at Bay Harbor;
• the outcome of certain legal proceedings;
• impacts of declines in electricity prices on the profitability of the enterprises segment’s generating units;
• representations, warranties, and indemnities provided by CMS Energy or its subsidiaries in connection with previous sales of assets;
• changes in commodity prices and interest rates on certain derivative contracts that do not qualify for hedge accounting and must be marked to market through earnings;
• changes in various environmental laws, regulations, principles, practices, or in their interpretation; and
• economic conditions in Michigan, including population trends and housing activity.

·indemnity and environmental remediation obligations at Bay Harbor;

·obligations related to a tax claim from the government of Equatorial Guinea;

·the outcome of certain legal proceedings;

·impacts of declines in electricity prices on the profitability of the enterprises segment’s generating units;

·representations, warranties, and indemnities provided by CMS Energy or its subsidiaries in connection with previous sales of assets;

·changes in commodity prices and interest rates on certain derivative contracts that do not qualify for hedge accounting and must be marked to market through earnings;

·changes in various environmental laws, regulations, principles, or practices, or in their interpretation; and

·economic conditions in Michigan, including population trends and housing activity.

For additional details regarding the enterprises segment’s uncertainties, see Note 5,3, Contingencies and Commitments.

Other OutlookOTHER OUTLOOK AND UNCERTAINTIES

EnerBank:  EnerBank is a Utah state-chartered, FDIC-insured industrial bank providing unsecured consumer installment loans for financing home improvements.  EnerBank represented two percent of CMS Energy’s net assets at December 31, 2013, and Uncertaintiesfour percent of CMS Energy’s net income available to common stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2013.  The carrying value of EnerBank’s loan portfolio was $683 million at December 31, 2013.  Its loan portfolio was funded primarily by deposit liabilities of $652 million.  The twelve-month rolling average default rate on loans held by EnerBank has declined from 0.8 percent at December 31, 2012 to 0.6 percent at December 31, 2013.  CMS Energy is

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required both by law and by contract to provide financial support, including infusing additional capital, to ensure that EnerBank satisfies mandated capital requirements and has sufficient liquidity to operate.  With its self-funding plan, EnerBank has exceeded these requirements historically and exceeded them as of December 31, 2013.

Litigation:

Litigation:  CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain of their subsidiaries are named as parties in various litigation matters, as well as in administrative proceedings before various courts and governmental agencies, arising in the ordinary course of business.  For additional details regarding these and other legal matters, see Note 5,2, Regulatory Matters and Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments and Note 6, Regulatory Matters.
EnerBank: EnerBank, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Capital that represents one percent of CMS Energy’s net assets and three percent of CMS Energy’s Net Income Available to Common Stockholders, is a Utah state-chartered, FDIC-insured industrial bank providing unsecured home improvement loans. The carrying value of EnerBank’s loan portfolio was $385 million at December 31, 2010. Its loan portfolio was funded primarily by deposit liabilities of $363 million. Twelve-month rolling average default rates on loans held by EnerBank have declined from 2.1 percent at December 31, 2009 to 1.4 percent at December 31, 2010. EnerBank expects the rate of loan defaults to decline further, and to level out at about 1.0 percent. CMS Energy is required to ensure that EnerBank remains well capitalized.
Commitments.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The following accounting policies and related information are important to an understanding of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ results of operations and financial condition and should be considered an integral part of their MD&A.condition.  For additional accounting policies, see Note 1, Significant Accounting Policies.

Use of Estimates and AssumptionsU

SE OF ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS

In the preparation of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Consolidated Financial Statements,consolidated financial statements, estimates and assumptions are used that may affect reported amounts and disclosures.  CMS Energy and Consumers use accounting estimates for asset valuations, unbilled revenue, depreciation, amortization, financial and derivative instruments, employee benefits, stock-based compensation, the effects of regulation, indemnities, and contingencies.  Actual results may differ from estimated results due to changes in the regulatory environment, regulatory decisions, lawsuits, competition, and other factors.  CMS Energy and Consumers consider all relevant factors in making these assessments.

Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts:  CMS Energy and Consumers make ongoing estimates related to the collectibility of their accounts receivable and establish an allowance for uncollectible accounts based on historical losses, management’s assessment of existing economic conditions, customer trends, and other factors.  Actual future losses from uncollectible accounts may differ from those estimated by CMS Energy and Consumers.

Asset Retirement Obligations:  CMS Energy and Consumers are required to record the fair value of the cost to remove assets at the end of their useful lives if there is a legal obligation to remove them.  CMS Energy and Consumers have legal obligations to remove some of their assets at the end of their useful lives.  CMS Energy and Consumers calculate the fair value of ARO liabilities using an expected present-value technique that reflects assumptions about costs, inflation, and profit margin that third parties would require to assume the obligation.  CMS Energy’s ARO liabilities are primarily at Consumers.  As a regulated entity, Consumers defers the effects of any changes in assumptions on the fair values of its ARO liabilities, adjusting the associated regulatory assets or liabilities rather than recognizing such effects in earnings.  For additional details, see Note 10, Asset Retirement Obligations.

Contingencies:  CMS Energy and Consumers make judgments regarding the future outcome of various matters that give rise to contingent liabilities.  For such matters, they record liabilities when they are considered probable and reasonably estimable, based on all available information.  In particular, CMS Energy and Consumers are participating in various environmental remediation projects for which they have recorded liabilities.  The recorded amounts represent estimates that may take into account such considerations as the number of sites, the anticipated scope, cost, and timing of remediation work, the available technology, applicable regulations, and the requirements of governmental authorities.  For remediation projects in which the timing of estimated expenditures is considered reliably determinable, CMS Energy and Consumers record the liability at its net present value, using a discount rate equal to the interest rate on monetary assets that are essentially risk-free and have maturities comparable to that of the environmental liability.  The amount recorded for any contingency may differ from actual costs incurred when the contingency is resolved.  For additional details, see Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments.

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Fair Value Measurements:  CMS Energy and Consumers have assets and liabilities that are accounted for or disclosed at fair value.  Fair value measurements incorporate assumptions that market participants would use in


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pricing an asset or liability, including assumptions about risk.  Development of these assumptions may require significant judgment.  For a detailed discussion of the valuation techniques and inputs used to calculate fair value measurements, see Note 4,5, Fair Value Measurements.  Details about the fair value measurements for the Pension Plan and OPEB planPlan assets are included in Note 11, Retirement Benefits.

Income Taxes:  The amount of income taxes paid by CMS Energy is subject to ongoing audits by federal, state, and foreign tax authorities, which can result in proposed assessments.  An estimate of the potential outcome of any uncertain tax issue is highly judgmental.  CMS Energy believes adequate reserves have been provided for these exposures; however, future results may include favorable or unfavorable adjustments to the estimated tax liabilities in the period the assessments are made or resolved or when statutes of limitation on potential assessments expire.  Additionally, CMS Energy’s judgment as to the ability to recover its deferred tax assets may change.  CMS Energy believes the valuation allowances related to its deferred tax assets are adequate, but future results may include favorable or unfavorable adjustments.  As a result, CMS Energy’s effective tax rate may fluctuate significantly over time.

  For additional details, see Note 13, Income Taxes.

Long-Lived Assets and Equity Method Investments:  CMS Energy and Consumers assess the recoverability of their long-lived assets and equity method investments by performing impairment tests if certain triggering events occur or if there has been a decline in value that may be other than temporary.  CMS Energy and Consumers base their evaluations of impairment on such indicators as:

• the nature of the assets;
• projected future economic benefits;
• regulatory and political environments;
• historical and future cash flow and profitability measurements; and
• other external market conditions and factors.

·the nature of the assets;

·projected future economic benefits;

·regulatory and political environments;

·historical and future cash flow and profitability measurements; and

·other external market conditions and factors.

The estimates CMS Energy and Consumers use may change over time, which could have a material impact on their Consolidated Financial Statements. For additional details, see Note 20, Asset Sales, Discontinued Operations, and Impairment Charges.

consolidated financial statements.

Unbilled Revenues:  CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ customers are billed monthly in cycles having billing dates that do not generally coincide with the end of a calendar month.  This results in customers having received electricity or gas that they have not been billed for as of the month-end.  Consumers estimates its unbilled revenues by applying an average billed rate to total unbilled deliveries for each customer class.  Unbilled revenues, which are recorded as Accountsaccounts receivable on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Consolidated Balance Sheets,consolidated balance sheets, were $439$434 million at December 31, 20102013 and $477$403 million at December 31, 2009.

2012.

Accounting for the Effects of Industry RegulationA

CCOUNTING FOR THE EFFECTS OF INDUSTRY REGULATION

Because Consumers has regulated operations, it uses regulatory accounting to recognize the effects of the regulators’ decisions on its financial statements.  Consumers continually assesses whether future recovery of its regulatory assets is probable by considering communications and experience with its regulators and changes in the regulatory environment.  If Consumers determined that recovery of a regulatory asset were not probable, Consumers would be required to write off the asset and immediately recognize the expense toin earnings.

Under electric and gas rate orders issued

Alternative-Revenue Program:  In 2009, the MPSC approved an energy optimization incentive mechanism that provides a financial incentive if the energy savings of Consumers’ customers exceed annual targets established by the MPSC in 2009 and 2010, Consumers was granted authority to implement revenue decoupling mechanisms. The electric decoupling mechanism adjusts customer rates to collect or refund the change in marginal revenue arising from the difference between the level of average sales per customer adopted in the electric rate order and actual average sales per customer. The gas decoupling mechanism is similar, but does not adjust customer rates for changes in sales volumes resulting from weather fluctuations.MPSC.  Consumers accounts for these programsthis program as an alternative-revenue programsprogram that meetmeets the criteria for recognizing revenue related to the effectsincentive as soon as energy savings

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Table of decoupling adjustments onContents

exceed the annual targets established by the MPSC.  Consumers recognized revenue as electricityunder this program of $22 million in 2013, $13 million in 2012, and gas are delivered.

$15 million in 2011.

Revenue Subject to Refund: Unless prohibited by the MPSC upon a showing of good cause, Consumers is allowed to self-implement new energy rates six months after a new rate case filing; however, the rates that Consumers self-implements may be


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subject to refund, with interest.  Consumers recognizes revenue associated with self-implemented rates.  If Consumers considers it probable that it will be required to refund a portion of its self-implemented rates, it records a provision for revenue subject to refund.  A final rate order could differ materially from Consumers’ estimates underlying its self-implemented rates, giving rise to accounting adjustments.  Under accounting rules for prior period adjustments, CMS Energy and Consumers may need to record such differences, if they are specifically identifiable to prior interim periods, as revisions to those periods.
For additional details, see Note 6, Regulatory Matters.
  At December 31, 2012, Consumers had a $2 million regulatory liability recorded, which represented a provision for revenue subject to refund associated with self-implemented gas rates.  Consumers refunded this amount during 2013.  At December 31, 2013, Consumers had no regulatory liability recorded related to self-implemented rates.

FINANCIAL AND DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND MARKET RISK INFORMATION

Financial and Derivative Instruments and Market Risk InformationInstruments:

Financial Instruments:  Debt and equity securities classified as available for sale are reported at fair value as determined from quoted market prices or other observable, market-based inputs.  Unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value of the equitythese securities are reported, net of tax, in equity as part of AOCI, except that unrealized losses determined to be other than temporary are reported in earnings. Unrealized gains resulting from changes in fair value of the debt securities are reported, net of tax, in equity as part of AOCI. Unrealized losses on the debt securities, if significant, are considered other than temporary and reported in earnings since these securities are managed by an independent investment manager that can sell the securities at its own discretion.

Derivative Instruments:CMS Energy and Consumers account for certain contracts as derivative instruments. The criteria used to determine if an instrument qualifies for derivative accounting are complex and often require significant judgment in application.  If a contract is a derivative and does not qualify for the normal purchases and sales exception, it is recorded on the consolidated balance sheetsheets at its fair value.  Each quarter, the resulting asset or liability is adjusted to reflect any change in the fair value of the contract.

The criteria used to determine if an instrument qualifies for derivative accounting or for an exception from derivative accounting are complex and often require significant judgment in application.  Changes in business strategies or market conditions, as well as a requirement to apply different interpretations of the derivative accounting literature, could result in significant changes in accounting for a single contract or groups of contracts, which could have a material impact on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ financial statements.  For additional details on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ derivatives see Note 10, Derivative Instruments.

CMS Energy and Consumers generally use information from external sources, such as quoted market prices and other valuation information to determine the fair value of their derivatives. For certain contracts, this information is not available and mathematical models are used to value the derivatives. The most material of CMS Energy’s derivative liabilities, an electricity sales agreement held by CMS ERM, extends beyond the term for which quoted electricity prices are available. Thus, to value this derivative, CMS Energy uses a valuation model that incorporates a proprietary forward pricing curve for electricity based on forward natural gas prices and an implied heat rate. The model incorporates discounting, credit, and modeling risks. The model is sensitive to electricity and natural gas forward prices, and the fair value of this derivative liability will increase as these forward prices increase. The model is adjusted each quarter to incorporate market data as it becomes available.
The fair values calculated for CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ derivatives may change significantly as commodity prices and volatilities change. The cash returns actually realized on derivatives may be different from their estimated fair values. For derivatives in an asset position, calculations of fair value include reserves of less than $1 million to reflect the credit risk of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ counterparties. For derivatives in a liability position, calculations include reserves of less than $1 million to reflect CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ own credit risk. For additional details on how the fair values of derivatives are determined, see Note 4,5, Fair Value Measurements.
The types of contracts typically classified as derivatives are interest rate swaps, financial transmission rights, fixed price fuel contracts, natural gas futures, electricity swaps, and forward and option contracts for electricity, natural gas, and foreign currencies. Most of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ commodity purchase and sale contracts are not subject to derivative accounting because:
• they do not have a notional amount (that is, a number of units specified in a derivative instrument, such as MWh of electricity or bcf of natural gas);
• they qualify for the normal purchases and sales exception; or
• there is not an active market for the commodity.
CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ coal purchase contracts are not derivatives because there is not an active market for the coal they purchase. If an active market for coal develops in the future, some of these contracts may


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qualify as derivatives. For Consumers, which is subject to regulatory accounting, the resultingmark-to-market gains and losses would be offset by changes in regulatory assets and liabilities and would not affect net income. For other subsidiaries, CMS Energy does not believe the resultingmark-to-market impact on earnings would be material.
Market Risk Information:  CMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to market risks including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates, commodity prices, and investment security prices.  They may enter into various risk management contracts to limitmitigate exposure to these risks, including swaps, options, futures, and forward contracts.  CMS Energy and Consumers enter into these contracts using established policies and procedures, under the direction of an executive oversight committee consisting of senior management representatives and a risk committee consisting of business unit managers.
These contracts contain credit risk, which is the risk that the counterparties will fail to meet their contractual obligations. CMS Energy and Consumers reduce this risk using established policies and procedures, such as evaluating counterparties’ credit quality and setting collateral requirements as necessary. If terms permit, standard agreements are used that allow for the netting of positive and negative exposures associated with the same counterparty. Given these policies, present exposures, and credit reserves, CMS Energy and Consumers do not expect a material adverse effect on their financial position or future earnings because of counterparty nonperformance.

The following risk sensitivities illustrate the potential loss in fair value, cash flows, or future earnings from financial instruments, including derivative contracts, assuming a hypothetical adverse change in market rates or prices of ten percent.  Potential losses could exceed the amounts shown in the sensitivity analyses if changes in market rates or prices were to exceed ten percent.

Interest-Rate Risk:Risk:  CMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to interest-rate risk resulting from issuing fixed-rate and variable-rate financing instruments.  CMS Energy and Consumers use a combination of these instruments, and may also enter into interest-rate swap agreements, in order to manage this risk and to achieve a reasonable cost of capital.

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Interest-Rate Risk Sensitivity Analysis (assuming an adverse change in market interest rates of ten percent):

         
December 31
 2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
Fixed-rate financing — potential loss in fair value
CMS Energy, including Consumers
 $187  $183 
Consumers  113   122 

 

 

In Millions  

 

December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

Fixed-rate financing - potential loss in fair value

 

 

 

 

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

$      187

 

$      127

 

Consumers

 

129

 

84

 

The fair value losses in the above table could be realized only if CMS Energy and Consumers transferred all of their fixed-rate financing to other creditors.  The annual earnings exposure related to variable-rate financing was insignificant for both CMS Energy and Consumers at December 31, 20102013 and 2009,2012, assuming an adverse change in market interest rates of ten percent.

Commodity Price Risk: CMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to commodity price risk, which arises from fluctuations in the price of electricity, natural gas, coal, and other commodities. Commodity prices are influenced by a number of factors, including weather, changes in supply and demand, and liquidity of commodity markets. In order to manage commodity price risk, they may enter into various non-trading derivative contracts, such as forward purchase and sale contracts, options, and swaps.

An adverse change in market prices of ten percent would result in a potential reduction in fair value of less than $1 million for CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ derivative contracts.
Investment Securities Price Risk:  Through investments in debt and equity securities, CMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to changes in interest rates andequity price fluctuations in equity markets.fluctuations.  The following table shows the potential effect of adverse changes in interest rates and fluctuations in equity prices on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’available-for-sale investments. investments.


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Investment Securities Price Risk Sensitivity Analysis (assuming an adverse change in market interest rates or prices of ten percent):
         
December 31
 2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
        
Potential reduction in fair value ofavailable-for-sale:
        
SERP:        
Mutual fund $6  $ 
State & municipal bonds     1 
Consumers
        
Potential reduction in fair value ofavailable-for-sale:
        
SERP:        
Mutual fund $4  $ 
CMS Energy common stock  3   3 
Shares in the mutual fund were acquired during the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

 

In Millions

 

December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Potential reduction in fair value of available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

DB SERP

 

 

 

 

 

Mutual funds

 

$       14

 

$       13

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Potential reduction in fair value of available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

DB SERP

 

 

 

 

 

Mutual funds

 

$       10

 

$       9

 

CMS Energy common stock

 

3

 

3

 

Notes Receivable Risk:  CMS Energy is exposed to interest-rate risk resulting from EnerBank’s fixed-rate installment loans.  EnerBank provides these loans to homeowners to finance home improvements.

Notes Receivable Sensitivity Analysis (assuming an adverse change in market interest rates of ten percent):

         
December 31
 2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
        
Potential reduction in fair value:        
Notes receivable $6  $5 

 

 

In Millions

 

December 31

 

2013

 

2012

��

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Potential reduction in fair value

 

 

 

 

 

Notes receivable

 

$       12

 

$       9

 

The fair value losses in the above table could be realized only if EnerBank sold its loans to other parties.  For additional details on market risk, financial instruments, and derivatives, see Note 9,6, Financial Instruments and Note 10, Derivative Instruments.

Retirement BenefitsR

ETIREMENT BENEFITS

Pension:  CMS Energy and Consumers have external trust funds to provide retirement pension benefits to their employees under a non-contributory, defined benefit Pension Plan.  On September 1, 2005, the defined benefit Pension Plan was closed to new participants and CMS Energy and Consumers

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implemented the qualified DCCP, which provides an employer contribution of six percent of base pay to the existing 401(k) plan.  An employee contribution is not required to receive the plan’s employer cash contribution.  All employees hired on or after September 1, 2005 participate in this plan as part of their retirement benefit program.  Previous cash balance Pension Plan participants also participate in the DCCP as of September 1, 2005.  Additional pay credits under the cash balance Pension Plan were discontinued as of that date.

401(k):CMS Energy and Consumers provide an employer match in their 401(k) plan equal to 60 percent on eligible contributions up to the first six percent of an employee’s wages.

OPEB:  CMS Energy and Consumers provide postretirement health and life benefits under their OPEB planPlan to qualifying retired employees.

CMS Energy and Consumers record liabilities for pension and OPEB on their Consolidated Balance Sheetsconsolidated balance sheets at the present value of the future obligations, net of any plan assets.  The calculation of the liabilities and associated expenses requires the expertise of actuaries, and requires many assumptions, including:

• life expectancies;
• discount rates;


73


·life expectancies;

• expected long-term rate of return on plan assets;
• rate of compensation increases; and
• anticipated health care costs.
·discount rates;

·expected long-term rate of return on plan assets;

·rate of compensation increases; and

·expected health care costs.

A change in these assumptions could change significantly CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ recorded liabilities and associated expenses.

Presented in the following table are estimates of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ pension cost, OPEB cost, and cash contributions through 2013:

                 
  Pension Cost  OPEB Cost  Pension Contribution  OPEB Contribution 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                
2011 $104  $49  $  $65 
2012  106   57      49 
2013  102   53   154   57 
Consumers
                
2011 $101  $51  $  $64 
2012  103   59      48 
2013  99   55   149   56 
2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

Pension

 

OPEB

 

Pension

 

OPEB

 

 

 

Cost

 

Cost (Credit

)

Contribution

 

Contribution

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

$     63

 

$     (51

)

$       -

 

$     75

 

2015

 

68

 

(44

)

-

 

25

 

2016

 

58

 

(45

)

-

 

-

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

$     62

 

$     (46

)

$       -

 

$     74

 

2015

 

66

 

(38

)

-

 

25

 

2016

 

56

 

(39

)

-

 

-

 

Contribution estimates include amountsboth required and discretionary contributions.  Consumers’ pension and OPEB costs are recoverable through its general ratemaking process.  Actual future pension cost and contributions will depend on future investment performance, changes in future discount rates, and various other factors related to the populations participating in the Pension Plan.

Lowering the expected long-term rate of return on the Pension Plan assets by 0.25 percentage point (from 8.07.50 percent to 7.757.25 percent) would increase estimated pension cost for 20112014 by $4 million for both CMS Energy and Consumers.  Lowering the discount rate by 0.25 percentage point (from 5.404.90 percent to 5.154.65 percent) would increase estimated pension cost for 20112014 by $5 million for both CMS Energy and Consumers.

For additional details on postretirement benefits, see Note 11, Retirement Benefits.

80



Asset Retirement Obligations

Contents

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

For details regarding the implementation of new accounting standards and

There are no new accounting standards issued that arebut not yet effective see Note 2, New Accounting Standards.that are expected to have a material impact on CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ consolidated financial statements.

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CMS Energy Corporation
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
             
  Years Ended December 31 
  2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Operating Revenue
 $6,432  $6,205  $6,807 
Operating Expenses
            
Fuel for electric generation  604   541   600 
Purchased and interchange power  1,239   1,163   1,335 
Purchased power — related parties  85       
Cost of gas sold  1,590   1,866   2,277 
Maintenance and other operating expenses  1,206   1,163   1,019 
Depreciation and amortization  576   570   588 
General taxes  210   217   203 
Insurance settlement  (50)      
Gain on asset sales, net  (6)  (13)  (9)
             
Total operating expenses  5,454   5,507   6,013 
             
Operating Income
  978   698   794 
Other Income (Expense)
            
Interest and dividends  19   18   24 
Allowance for equity funds used during construction  5   6   6 
Income (loss) from equity method investees  11   (2)  5 
Other income  32   80   48 
Other expense  (24)  (30)  (37)
             
Total other income  43   72   46 
             
Interest Charges
            
Interest on long-term debt  394   383   371 
Other interest  40   56   33 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction  (3)  (4)  (4)
             
Total interest charges  431   435   400 
             
Income Before Income Taxes
  590   335   440 
Income Tax Expense
  224   115   139 
             
Income From Continuing Operations
  366   220   301 
Income (Loss) From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax
Expense of $2, $13, and $1
  (23)  20   1 
             
Net Income
  343   240   302 
Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
  3   11   7 
             
Net Income Attributable to CMS Energy
  340   229   295 
Charge for Deferred Issuance Costs on Preferred Stock
  8       
Preferred Stock Dividends
  8   11   11 
             
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders
 $324  $218  $284 
             


75


Consolidated Statements of Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

$   6,566

 

$   6,253

 

$   6,503

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel for electric generation

 

621

 

598

 

636

 

Purchased and interchange power

 

1,387

 

1,364

 

1,282

 

Purchased power – related parties

 

90

 

87

 

82

 

Cost of gas sold

 

1,228

 

1,150

 

1,512

 

Maintenance and other operating expenses

 

1,236

 

1,224

 

1,237

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

628

 

598

 

546

 

General taxes

 

234

 

229

 

205

 

Total operating expenses

 

5,424

 

5,250

 

5,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

1,142

 

1,003

 

1,003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

3

 

5

 

9

 

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

 

6

 

8

 

6

 

Income from equity method investees

 

13

 

17

 

9

 

Other income

 

10

 

11

 

16

 

Other expense

 

(20

)

(33

)

(22

)

Total other income

 

12

 

8

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on long-term debt

 

385

 

372

 

396

 

Other interest expense

 

16

 

21

 

23

 

Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction

 

(3

)

(4

)

(4

)

Total interest charges

 

398

 

389

 

415

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Before Income Taxes

 

756

 

622

 

606

 

Income Tax Expense

 

302

 

245

 

191

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income From Continuing Operations

 

454

 

377

 

415

 

Income From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax of $-, $4, and $-

 

-

 

7

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

454

 

384

 

417

 

Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

 

2

 

2

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income Available to Common Stockholders

 

$      452

 

$      382

 

$      415

 

82



             
  Years Ended December 31 
  2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions, Except Per
 
  Share Amounts 
 
Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders
            
Amounts Attributable to Continuing Operations $347  $198  $283 
Amounts Attributable to Discontinued Operations  (23)  20   1 
             
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders $324  $218  $284 
             
Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
            
Amounts Attributable to Continuing Operations $3  $11  $7 
Amounts Attributable to Discontinued Operations         
             
Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests $3  $11  $7 
             
Basic Earnings Per Average Common Share
            
Basic Earnings from Continuing Operations $1.50  $0.87  $1.25 
Basic Earnings (Loss) from Discontinued Operations  (0.10)  0.09    
             
Basic Earnings Attributable to Common Stock $1.40  $0.96  $1.25 
            ��
Diluted Earnings Per Average Common Share
            
Diluted Earnings from Continuing Operations $1.36  $0.83  $1.20 
Diluted Earnings (Loss) from Discontinued Operations  (0.08)  0.08    
             
Diluted Earnings Attributable to Common Stock $1.28  $0.91  $1.20 
             
Dividends Declared Per Common Share
 $0.66  $0.50  $0.36 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts attributable to continuing operations

 

       $

452

 

       $

375

 

       $

413

 

Amounts attributable to discontinued operations

 

-

 

7

 

2

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

       $

452

 

       $

382

 

       $

415

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts attributable to continuing operations

 

       $

2

 

       $

2

 

       $

2

 

Amounts attributable to discontinued operations

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

       $

2

 

       $

2

 

       $

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic Earnings Per Average Common Share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings from continuing operations

 

       $

1.71

 

       $

1.43

 

       $

1.65

 

Basic earnings from discontinued operations

 

-

 

0.03

 

0.01

 

Basic earnings attributable to common stock

 

       $

1.71

 

       $

1.46

 

       $

1.66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted Earnings Per Average Common Share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings from continuing operations

 

       $

1.66

 

       $

1.39

 

       $

1.57

 

Diluted earnings from discontinued operations

 

-

 

0.03

 

0.01

 

Diluted earnings attributable to common stock

 

       $

1.66

 

       $

1.42

 

       $

1.58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends Declared Per Common Share

 

       $

1.02

 

       $

0.96

 

       $

0.84

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.


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CMS Energy Corporation

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
             
  Years Ended December 31 
  2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
            
Net Income $343  $240  $302 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities
            
Depreciation and amortization  576   570   589 
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credit  227   122   126 
Postretirement benefits expense  213   181   144 
Capital lease and other amortization  40   42   44 
Bad debt expense  57   54   51 
Gain due to expiration of indemnification obligation     (50)   
Other non-cash operating activities  (1)  (42)  (43)
Postretirement benefits contributions  (463)  (262)  (51)
Electric sales contract termination payment        (275)
Changes in other assets and liabilities:            
Increase in accounts receivable, notes receivable, and accrued revenue  (105)  (91)  (80)
Decrease (increase) in accrued power supply revenue  33   (41)  35 
Decrease (increase) in inventories  133   86   (71)
Decrease in accounts payable  (7)  (50)  (5)
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses  22   (6)  (31)
Decrease (increase) in other current and non-current assets  (28)  59   12 
Increase (decrease) in current and non-current regulatory liabilities  (69)  102   (178)
Decrease in other current and non-current liabilities  (12)  (66)  (12)
             
Net cash provided by operating activities  959   848   557 
             
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
            
Capital expenditures (excludes assets placed under capital lease)  (821)  (818)  (792)
Cost to retire property  (43)  (49)  (34)
Cash effect of deconsolidation of partnerships  (10)      
Increase in loans and notes receivable  (131)  (83)  (19)
Other investing activities  2   15   6 
             
Net cash used in investing activities  (1,003)  (935)  (839)
             


77


Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$   454

 

$   384

 

$   417

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retirement Benefits Liability

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) arising during the period, net of tax (tax benefit) of $16, $(7), and $(7)

 

26

 

(10

)

(11

)

Prior service credit adjustment, net of tax of $3, $-, and $-

 

5

 

-

 

-

 

Amortization of net actuarial loss, net of tax of $3, $1, and $1

 

4

 

2

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax (tax benefit) of $(1), $1, and $-

 

(2

)

2

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

33

 

(6

)

(9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive Income

 

487

 

378

 

408

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

 

2

 

2

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive Income Attributable to CMS Energy

 

$   485

 

$   376

 

$   406

 

             
  Years Ended December 31 
  2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
            
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt  1,400   1,218   1,265 
Proceeds from EnerBank notes, net  149   39   23 
Issuance of common stock  10   9   9 
Retirement of long-term debt  (878)  (1,154)  (1,022)
Payment of common stock dividends  (154)  (114)  (82)
Payment of preferred stock dividends  (8)  (11)  (11)
Redemption of preferred stock  (239)  (4)  (1)
Payment of capital and finance lease obligations  (23)  (23)  (26)
Increase (decrease) in notes payable  (40)  40    
Other financing costs  (15)  (35)  (8)
             
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities  202   (35)  147 
             
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Assets Held for Sale
  158   (122)  (135)
Decrease (Increase) in Cash and Cash Equivalents Included in Assets Held for Sale
  (1)  5   (2)
             
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents
  157   (117)  (137)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period
  90   207   344 
             
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period
 $247  $90  $207 
             
Other cash flow activities and non-cash investing and financing activities were:
            
Cash transactions
            
Interest paid (net of amounts capitalized) $405  $422  $372 
Income taxes paid (net of refunds of $-, $-, and $2)  14   17   3 
Non-cash transactions
            
Capital expenditures not paid $56  $15  $31 
Other assets placed under capital lease  16   16   5 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

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CMS Energy Corporation
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
         
  December 31 
  2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
ASSETS
        
Current Assets
        
Cash and cash equivalents $247  $90 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents  23   32 
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue,
less allowances of $25 in 2010 and $23 in 2009
  981   948 
Notes receivable  70   81 
Accounts receivable — related parties  10    
Accrued power supply revenue  15   48 
Inventories at average cost        
Gas in underground storage  946   1,043 
Materials and supplies  104   118 
Generating plant fuel stock  125   158 
Deferred property taxes  180   172 
Regulatory assets  19   19 
Assets held for sale  2   2 
Prepayments and other current assets  37   31 
         
Total current assets  2,759   2,742 
         
Plant, Property & Equipment (at cost)
        
Plant, property & equipment, gross  14,145   13,716 
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization  4,646   4,540 
         
Plant, property & equipment, net  9,499   9,176 
Construction work in progress  570   506 
         
Total plant, property & equipment  10,069   9,682 
         
Non-current Assets
        
Regulatory assets  2,093   2,291 
Notes receivable, less allowances of $5 in 2010 and $6 in 2009  397   297 
Investments  49   9 
Assets held for sale  4   9 
Other non-current assets  245   226 
         
Total non-current assets  2,788   2,832 
         
Total Assets
 $15,616  $15,256 
         


79


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

454

 

$

384

 

$

417

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

628

 

598

 

546

 

Deferred income taxes and investment tax credit

 

268

 

227

 

167

 

Postretirement benefits expense

 

144

 

187

 

161

 

Bad debt expense

 

67

 

57

 

74

 

Other non-cash operating activities

 

22

 

16

 

33

 

Postretirement benefits contributions

 

(229

)

(72

)

(323

)

Proceeds from government grant

 

69

 

-

 

-

 

Cash provided by (used in) changes in assets and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, notes receivable, and accrued revenue

 

(120

)

(147

)

119

 

Inventories

 

202

 

104

 

(14

)

Accounts payable

 

6

 

(5

)

30

 

Accrued expenses

 

16

 

(38

)

(34

)

Other current and non-current assets and liabilities

 

(106

)

(70

)

(7

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

1,421

 

1,241

 

1,169

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures (excludes assets placed under capital lease)

 

(1,325

)

(1,227

)

(882

)

Cost to retire property

 

(56

)

(49

)

(54

)

Increase in EnerBank notes receivable

 

(139

)

(63

)

(100

)

Other investing activities

 

(12

)

(11

)

(22

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(1,532

)

(1,350

)

(1,058

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

 

1,025

 

1,650

 

375

 

Proceeds from EnerBank notes, net

 

125

 

65

 

98

 

Issuance of common stock

 

36

 

30

 

29

 

Retirement of long-term debt

 

(741

)

(1,527

)

(413

)

Payment of DOE liability

 

-

 

-

 

(43

)

Payment of common and preferred stock dividends

 

(273

)

(252

)

(211

)

Redemption of preferred stock

 

(7

)

-

 

-

 

Payment of capital lease obligations and other financing costs

 

(35

)

(35

)

(34

)

Increase in notes payable

 

60

 

110

 

-

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

190

 

41

 

(199

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Assets Held for Sale

 

79

 

(68

)

(88

)

Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents included in Assets Held for Sale

 

-

 

-

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

79

 

(68

)

(86

)

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

 

93

 

161

 

247

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

 

$

172

 

$

93

 

$

161

 

86



         
  December 31 
  2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
        
Current Liabilities
        
Current portion of long-term debt, capital and finance lease obligations $750  $694 
Notes payable     40 
Accounts payable  492   509 
Accounts payable — related parties  9    
Accrued rate refunds  19   21 
Accrued interest  102   96 
Accrued taxes  302   283 
Deferred income taxes  180   43 
Regulatory liabilities  22   145 
Liabilities held for sale  1    
Other current liabilities  144   123 
         
Total current liabilities  2,021   1,954 
         
Non-current Liabilities
        
Long-term debt  6,448   5,895 
Non-current portion of capital and finance lease obligations  188   197 
Regulatory liabilities  1,988   1,991 
Postretirement benefits  1,135   1,460 
Asset retirement obligations  245   229 
Deferred investment tax credit  49   51 
Deferred income taxes  438   231 
Other non-current liabilities  267   310 
         
Total non-current liabilities  10,758   10,364 
         
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10)        
Equity
        
Common stockholders’ equity        
Common stock, authorized 350.0 shares; outstanding 249.6 shares in 2010 and 227.9 shares in 2009  2   2 
Other paid-in capital  4,588   4,560 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (40)  (33)
Accumulated deficit  (1,757)  (1,927)
         
Total common stockholders’ equity  2,793   2,602 
Preferred stock     239 
Noncontrolling interests  44   97 
         
Total equity  2,837   2,938 
         
Total Liabilities and Equity
 $15,616  $15,256 
         

Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other cash flow activities and non-cash investing and financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash transactions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid (net of amounts capitalized)

 

$

382

 

$

377

 

$

397

 

Income taxes paid

 

34

 

19

 

27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash transactions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures not paid

 

176

 

110

 

92

 

Other assets placed under capital lease

 

6

 

9

 

4

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.


80


87



Table of Contents

CMS Energy Corporation

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
                         
  Years Ended December 31 
  2010  2009  2008  2010  2009  2008 
  Number of Shares in Thousands  In Millions 
 
Common Stock
                        
At beginning and end of period             $2  $2  $2 
                         
Other Paid-in Capital
                        
At beginning of period  227,891   226,414   225,146   4,560   4,533   4,517 
Common stock issued  22,090   1,793   1,751   22   17   17 
Common stock repurchased  (148)  (78)  (38)  (2)  (1)  (1)
Common stock reacquired  (205)  (238)  (445)         
Conversion option on convertible debt              11    
Charge for deferred issuance costs           8       
                         
At end of period  249,628   227,891   226,414   4,588   4,560   4,533 
                         
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
                        
Retirement benefits liability                        
At beginning of period              (32)  (27)  (15)
Net loss arising during the period(a)              (9)  (6)  (12)
Amortization of net actuarial loss(a)              1   1    
Prior service credit adjustment(a)              1       
                         
At end of period              (39)  (32)  (27)
                         
Investments                        
At beginning of period                     
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments(a)                 5   (15)
Reclassification adjustments included in net income(a)                 (5)  15 
                         
At end of period                     
                         
Derivative instruments                        
At beginning and end of period              (1)  (1)  (1)
                         
Foreign currency translation                        
At beginning of period                    (128)
Sale of interests in TGN(a)                    128 
                         
At end of period                     
                         
At end of period              (40)  (33)  (28)
                         
Accumulated Deficit
                        
At beginning of period              (1,927)  (2,031)  (2,227)
Effects of changing the retirement plans measurement date                        
Service cost, interest cost, and expected return on plan assets for December 1 through December 31, 2007, net of tax                    (4)
Additional loss from December 1 through December 31, 2007, net of tax                    (2)
Net income attributable to CMS Energy(a)              340   229   295 
Common stock dividends declared              (154)  (114)  (82)
Preferred stock dividends declared              (8)  (11)  (11)
Charge for deferred issuance costs              (8)      
                         
At end of period              (1,757)  (1,927)  (2,031)
                         
Preferred Stock
                        
At beginning of period              239   243   250 
Conversion of preferred stock              (239)  (4)  (7)
                         
At end of period                 239   243 
                         
Noncontrolling Interests
                        
At beginning of period              97   96   97 
Income attributable to noncontrolling interests              3   11   7 
Distributions and other changes in noncontrolling interests              (56)  (10)  (8)
                         
At end of period              44   97   96 
                         
Total Equity
             $2,837  $2,938  $2,815 
                         


81


Consolidated Balance Sheets

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

172

 

$

93

 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

 

32

 

29

 

Accounts receivable and accrued revenue, less allowances of $33 in 2013 and $32 in 2012

 

914

 

855

 

Notes receivable

 

63

 

41

 

Accounts receivable – related parties

 

10

 

10

 

Accrued power supply revenue

 

-

 

32

 

Inventories at average cost

 

 

 

 

 

Gas in underground storage

 

660

 

820

 

Materials and supplies

 

107

 

96

 

Generating plant fuel stock

 

114

 

168

 

Deferred income taxes

 

126

 

-

 

Deferred property taxes

 

202

 

190

 

Regulatory assets

 

40

 

35

 

Prepayments and other current assets

 

86

 

53

 

Total current assets

 

2,526

 

2,422

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plant, Property, and Equipment

 

 

 

 

 

Plant, property, and equipment, gross

 

16,184

 

15,592

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

5,087

 

5,121

 

Plant, property, and equipment, net

 

11,097

 

10,471

 

Construction work in progress

 

1,149

 

1,080

 

Total plant, property, and equipment

 

12,246

 

11,551

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Non-current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory assets

 

1,530

 

2,287

 

Accounts and notes receivable, less allowances of $5 in 2013 and 2012

 

646

 

521

 

Investments

 

59

 

57

 

Other

 

409

 

293

 

Total other non-current assets

 

2,644

 

3,158

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

17,416

 

$

17,131

 

88



             
  Years Ended December 31 
  2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
(a) Disclosure of Comprehensive Income:
            
Net income $343  $240  $302 
Income attributable to noncontrolling interests  3   11   7 
             
Net income attributable to CMS Energy $340  $229  $295 
Retirement benefits liability:            
Net loss arising during the period, net of tax benefit of ($6) in 2010, ($3) in 2009, and ($6) in 2008  (9)  (6)  (12)
Amortization of net actuarial loss, net of tax of $- in 2010 and 2009  1   1    
Prior service credit adjustment, net of tax of $1 in 2010  1       
Investments:            
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax (tax benefit) of $- in 2010, $3 in 2009, and ($9) in 2008     5   (15)
Reclassification adjustments included in net income (loss), net of tax (tax benefit) of $- in 2010, ($3) in 2009, and $9 in 2008     (5)  15 
Foreign currency translation:            
Sale of interests in TGN, net of tax of $69        128 
             
Total Comprehensive Income $333  $224  $411 
             

Table of Contents

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt, capital leases, and financing obligation

 

$

562

 

$

541

 

Notes payable

 

170

 

110

 

Accounts payable

 

585

 

512

 

Accounts payable – related parties

 

10

 

9

 

Accrued rate refunds

 

12

 

6

 

Accrued interest

 

96

 

95

 

Accrued taxes

 

297

 

279

 

Deferred income taxes

 

-

 

68

 

Regulatory liabilities

 

67

 

25

 

Other current liabilities

 

146

 

152

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,945

 

1,797

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

7,101

 

6,710

 

Non-current portion of capital leases and financing obligation

 

138

 

153

 

Regulatory liabilities

 

2,215

 

2,101

 

Postretirement benefits

 

239

 

1,451

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

325

 

312

 

Deferred investment tax credit

 

40

 

43

 

Deferred income taxes

 

1,616

 

1,015

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

306

 

311

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

11,980

 

12,096

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 2, 3, 4, and 6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common stockholders equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, authorized 350.0 shares; outstanding 266.1 shares in 2013 and 264.1 shares in 2012

 

3

 

3

 

Other paid-in capital

 

4,715

 

4,669

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(22

)

(55

)

Accumulated deficit

 

(1,242

)

(1,423

)

Total common stockholders equity

 

3,454

 

3,194

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

37

 

44

 

Total equity

 

3,491

 

3,238

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Equity

 

$

17,416

 

$

17,131

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

89



82


Table of Contents


CMS Energy Corporation

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83

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

Number of Shares

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Equity at Beginning of Period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

3,238

 

$

3,072

 

$

2,837

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

3

 

2

 

Common stock issued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

-

 

1

 

At end of period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

3

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Paid-in Capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

264,072

 

254,100

 

249,628

 

4,669

 

4,627

 

4,588

 

Common stock issued

 

2,238

 

10,107

 

4,541

 

51

 

45

 

40

 

Common stock reissued

 

205

 

272

 

269

 

5

 

6

 

5

 

Common stock repurchased

 

(356

)

(389

)

(323

)

(10

)

(9

)

(6

)

Common stock reacquired

 

(22

)

(18

)

(15

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

At end of period

 

266,137

 

264,072

 

254,100

 

4,715

 

4,669

 

4,627

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(55

)

(49

)

(40

)

Retirement benefits liability

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(56

)

(48

)

(39

)

Net gain (loss) arising during the period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26

 

(10

)

(11

)

Prior service credit adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

-

 

-

 

Amortization of net actuarial loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

2

 

2

 

At end of period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(21

)

(56

)

(48

)

Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

-

 

-

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2

)

2

 

-

 

At end of period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

2

 

-

 

Derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning and end of period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

(1

)

(1

)

At end of period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(22

)

(55

)

(49

)

90



Table of Contents

Consumers Energy Company
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
             
  Years Ended December 31 
  2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Operating Revenue
 $6,156  $5,963  $6,421 
Operating Expenses
            
Fuel for electric generation  520   460   483 
Purchased and interchange power  1,224   1,151   1,313 
Purchased power — related parties  84   81   75 
Cost of gas sold  1,516   1,778   2,079 
Maintenance and other operating expenses  1,109   1,045   935 
Depreciation and amortization  572   559   574 
General taxes  205   209   195 
Loss (gain) on asset sales, net     (9)  1 
             
Total operating expenses  5,230   5,274   5,655 
             
Operating Income
  926   689   766 
Other Income (Expense)
            
Interest and dividends  18   17   20 
Allowance for equity funds used during construction  5   6   6 
Other income  31   47   45 
Other expense  (15)  (11)  (28)
             
Total other income  39   59   43 
             
Interest Charges
            
Interest on long-term debt  246   250   229 
Other interest  34   46   22 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction  (3)  (4)  (4)
             
Total interest charges  277   292   247 
             
Income Before Income Taxes
  688   456   562 
Income Tax Expense
  254   163   198 
             
Net Income
  434   293   364 
Preferred Stock Dividends
  2   2   2 
             
Net Income Available to Common Stockholder
 $432  $291  $362 
             

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Deficit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

(1,423

)

(1,553

)

(1,757

)

Net income attributable to CMS Energy

 

452

 

382

 

415

 

Common stock dividends declared

 

(271

)

(252

)

(211

)

At end of period

 

(1,242

)

(1,423

)

(1,553

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling Interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

44

 

44

 

44

 

Income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

2

 

2

 

2

 

Distributions, redemptions, and other changes in noncontrolling interests

 

(9

)

(2

)

(2

)

At end of period

 

37

 

44

 

44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Equity at End of Period

 

$

3,491

 

$

3,238

 

$

3,072

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.


84


91



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85


Consumers Energy Company
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
             
  Years Ended December 31 
  2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
            
Net Income $434  $293  $364 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities            
Depreciation and amortization  572   559   574 
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credit  246   67   196 
Postretirement benefits expense  208   177   141 
Capital lease and other amortization  24   26   30 
Bad debt expense  53   47   47 
Other non-cash operating activities     (35)  (32)
Postretirement benefits contributions  (447)  (254)  (50)
Changes in other assets and liabilities:            
Increase in accounts receivable, notes receivable, and accrued revenue  (92)  (92)  (79)
Decrease (increase) in accrued power supply revenue  33   (41)  35 
Decrease (increase) in inventories  132   91   (89)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable  (16)  (50)  1 
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses  (83)  2   (79)
Decrease (increase) in other current and non-current assets  (21)  60   14 
Increase (decrease) in current and non-current regulatory liabilities  (69)  101   (178)
Decrease in other current and non-current liabilities  (64)  (29)  (22)
             
Net cash provided by operating activities  910   922   873 
             
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
            
Capital expenditures (excludes assets placed under capital lease)  (815)  (811)  (789)
Cost to retire property  (43)  (49)  (34)
Other investing activities  (1)  10    
             
Net cash used in investing activities  (859)  (850)  (823)
             


86


Consolidated Statements of Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

$

6,321

 

$

6,013

 

$

6,253

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel for electric generation

 

541

 

517

 

559

 

Purchased and interchange power

 

1,361

 

1,339

 

1,267

 

Purchased power – related parties

 

89

 

86

 

81

 

Cost of gas sold

 

1,187

 

1,110

 

1,438

 

Maintenance and other operating expenses

 

1,174

 

1,162

 

1,175

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

622

 

592

 

542

 

General taxes

 

229

 

223

 

206

 

Total operating expenses

 

5,203

 

5,029

 

5,268

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

1,118

 

984

 

985

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

2

 

4

 

7

 

Interest and dividend income – related parties

 

1

 

1

 

2

 

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

 

6

 

8

 

6

 

Other income

 

14

 

16

 

19

 

Other expense

 

(16

)

(33

)

(20

)

Total other income (expense)

 

7

 

(4

)

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on long-term debt

 

237

 

232

 

251

 

Other interest expense

 

11

 

16

 

18

 

Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction

 

(3

)

(4

)

(4

)

Total interest charges

 

245

 

244

 

265

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Before Income Taxes

 

880

 

736

 

734

 

Income Tax Expense

 

346

 

297

 

267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

534

 

439

 

467

 

Preferred Stock Dividends and Distribution

 

2

 

2

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income Available to Common Stockholder

 

$

532

 

$

437

 

$

465

 

             
  Years Ended December 31 
  2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
            
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt  600   500   600 
Retirement of long-term debt  (482)  (387)  (444)
Payment of common stock dividends  (358)  (285)  (297)
Payment of preferred stock dividends  (2)  (2)  (2)
Stockholder’s contribution  250   100    
Payment of capital and finance lease obligations  (23)  (23)  (26)
Other financing costs  (4)  (5)  (7)
             
Net cash used in financing activities  (19)  (102)  (176)
             
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents
  32   (30)  (126)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period
  39   69   195 
             
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period
 $71  $39  $69 
             
Other cash flow activities and non-cash investing and financing activities were:
            
Cash transactions
            
Interest paid (net of amounts capitalized) $259  $276  $223 
Income taxes paid  149   104   84 
Non-cash transactions
            
Capital expenditures not paid $56  $15  $31 
Other assets placed under capital lease  16   16   5 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.


87


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Consumers Energy Company

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
         
  December 31 
  2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
ASSETS
        
Current Assets
        
Cash and cash equivalents $71  $39 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents  23   22 
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue,
less allowances of $23 in 2010 and $21 in 2009
  963   935 
Notes receivable  55   79 
Accrued power supply revenue  15   48 
Accounts receivable — related parties  1   2 
Inventories at average cost        
Gas in underground storage  941   1,038 
Materials and supplies  100   111 
Generating plant fuel stock  124   148 
Deferred property taxes  180   172 
Regulatory assets  19   19 
Prepayments and other current assets  27   23 
         
Total current assets  2,519   2,636 
         
Plant, Property & Equipment (at cost)
        
Plant, property & equipment, gross  14,022   13,352 
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization  4,593   4,386 
         
Plant, property & equipment, net  9,429   8,966 
Construction work in progress  566   505 
         
Total plant, property & equipment  9,995   9,471 
         
Non-current Assets
        
Regulatory assets  2,093   2,291 
Investments  34   29 
Other non-current assets  198   195 
         
Total non-current assets  2,325   2,515 
         
Total Assets
 $14,839  $14,622 
         


88


Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

534

 

$

439

 

$

467

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retirement Benefits Liability

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) arising during the period, net of tax (tax benefit) of $4, $(5), and $(3)

 

5

 

(8

)

(4

)

Amortization of net actuarial loss, net of tax of $2, $1, and $1

 

3

 

2

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain on investments, net of tax of $-, $2, and $-

 

1

 

3

 

1

 

Reclassification adjustments included in net income, net of tax of $(1), $(2), and $-

 

(3

)

(3

)

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

6

 

(6

)

(2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive Income

 

$

540

 

$

433

 

$

465

 

         
  December 31 
  2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
        
Current Liabilities
        
Current portion of long-term debt, capital and finance lease obligations $61  $365 
Accounts payable  471   490 
Accounts payable — related parties  11   11 
Accrued rate refunds  19   21 
Accrued interest  74   70 
Accrued taxes  199   277 
Deferred income taxes  209   206 
Regulatory liabilities  22   145 
Other current liabilities  95   86 
         
Total current liabilities  1,161   1,671 
         
Non-current Liabilities
        
Long-term debt  4,488   4,063 
Non-current portion of capital and finance lease obligations  188   197 
Regulatory liabilities  1,988   1,991 
Postretirement benefits  1,076   1,396 
Asset retirement obligations  244   228 
Deferred investment tax credit  49   51 
Deferred income taxes  1,289   926 
Other non-current liabilities  176   241 
         
Total non-current liabilities  9,498   9,093
 
         
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10)
        
Equity
        
Common stockholder’s equity        
Common stock, authorized 125.0 shares; outstanding 84.1 shares for both periods  841   841 
Other paid-in capital  2,832   2,582 
Accumulated other comprehensive income     2 
Retained earnings  463   389 
         
Total common stockholder’s equity  4,136   3,814 
Preferred stock  44   44 
         
Total equity  4,180   3,858 
         
Total Liabilities and Equity
 $14,839  $14,622 
         
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

93



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Consumers Energy Company
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
             
  Years Ended December 31 
  2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Common Stock
            
At beginning and end of period(a) $841  $841  $841 
             
Other Paid-in Capital
            
At beginning of period  2,582   2,482   2,482 
Stockholder’s contribution  250   100    
             
At end of period  2,832   2,582   2,482 
             
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
            
Retirement benefits liability            
At beginning of period  (11)  (7)  (15)
Retirement benefits liability adjustments(b)        6 
Net gain (loss) arising during the period(b)  (5)  (4)  2 
             
At end of period  (16)  (11)  (7)
             
Investments            
At beginning of period  13   6   15 
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments(b)  3   10   (19)
Reclassification adjustments included in net income(b)     (3)  10 
             
At end of period  16   13   6 
             
At end of period     2   (1)
             
Retained Earnings
            
At beginning of period  389   383   324 
Effects of changing the retirement plans measurement date            
Service cost, interest cost, and expected return on plan assets for
December 1 through December 31, 2007, net of tax
        (4)
Additional loss from December 1 through December 31, 2007, net of tax        (2)
Net income(b)  434   293   364 
Common stock dividends declared  (358)  (285)  (297)
Preferred stock dividends declared  (2)  (2)  (2)
             
At end of period  463   389   383 
             
Preferred Stock
            
At beginning and end of period  44   44   44 
             
Total Equity
 $4,180  $3,858  $3,749 
             


90


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

534

 

$

439

 

$

467

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

622

 

592

 

542

 

Deferred income taxes and investment tax credit

 

164

 

150

 

161

 

Postretirement benefits expense

 

142

 

184

 

158

 

Bad debt expense

 

63

 

53

 

70

 

Other non-cash operating activities

 

12

 

14

 

16

 

Postretirement benefits contributions

 

(222

)

(68

)

(315

)

Proceeds from government grant

 

69

 

-

 

-

 

Cash provided by (used in) changes in assets and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, notes receivable, and accrued revenue

 

(116

)

(145

)

112

 

Inventories

 

205

 

107

 

(17

)

Accounts payable

 

14

 

7

 

43

 

Accrued expenses

 

(27

)

51

 

74

 

Other current and non-current assets and liabilities

 

(109

)

(31

)

12

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

1,351

 

1,353

 

1,323

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures (excludes assets placed under capital lease)

 

(1,320

)

(1,222

)

(876

)

Cost to retire property

 

(56

)

(49

)

(56

)

Other investing activities

 

(11

)

(8

)

(19

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(1,387

)

(1,279

)

(951

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

 

750

 

1,075

 

-

 

Retirement of long-term debt

 

(466

)

(1,064

)

(37

)

Payment of DOE liability

 

-

 

-

 

(43

)

Payment of common and preferred stock dividends

 

(408

)

(395

)

(376

)

Redemption of preferred stock

 

(7

)

-

 

-

 

Stockholder contribution

 

150

 

150

 

125

 

Payment of capital lease obligations and other financing costs

 

(30

)

(30

)

(27

)

Increase in notes payable

 

60

 

110

 

-

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

49

 

(154

)

(358

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

13

 

(80

)

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

 

5

 

85

 

71

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

 

$

18

 

$

5

 

$

85

 

94

             
  Years Ended December 31 
  2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
(a) Number of shares of common stock outstanding was 84,108,789 for all periods presented.
            
(b) Disclosure of Comprehensive Income:
            
Net income $434  $293  $364 
Retirement benefits liability            
Retirement benefits liability adjustments, net of tax of $2 in 2008        6 
Net gain (loss) arising during the period, net of tax (tax benefit) of $(3) in 2010, $(2) in 2009 and $1 in 2008  (5)  (4)  2 
Investments            
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax (tax benefit) of $2 in 2010, $6 in 2009, and $(10) in 2008  3   10   (19)
Reclassification adjustments included in net income, net of tax (tax benefit) of $- in 2010, $(2) in 2009 and $6 in 2008     (3)  10 
             
Total Comprehensive Income $432  $296  $363 
             


Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other cash flow activities and non-cash investing and financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash transactions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid (net of amounts capitalized)

 

$

236

 

$

224

 

$

253

 

Income taxes paid

 

225

 

63

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash transactions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures not paid

 

176

 

110

 

92

 

Other assets placed under capital lease

 

6

 

9

 

4

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

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Table of Contents

Consumers Energy Company

Consolidated Balance Sheets

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

18

 

$

5

 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

 

31

 

28

 

Accounts receivable and accrued revenue, less allowances of $31 in 2013 and $30 in 2012

 

902

 

844

 

Notes receivable

 

14

 

-

 

Accounts receivable – related parties

 

4

 

1

 

Accrued power supply revenue

 

-

 

32

 

Inventories at average cost

 

 

 

 

 

Gas in underground storage

 

653

 

816

 

Materials and supplies

 

103

 

92

 

Generating plant fuel stock

 

113

 

167

 

Deferred property taxes

 

202

 

190

 

Regulatory assets

 

40

 

35

 

Prepayments and other current assets

 

77

 

45

 

Total current assets

 

2,157

 

2,255

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plant, Property, and Equipment

 

 

 

 

 

Plant, property, and equipment, gross

 

16,044

 

15,456

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

5,022

 

5,061

 

Plant, property, and equipment, net

 

11,022

 

10,395

 

Construction work in progress

 

1,147

 

1,080

 

Total plant, property, and equipment

 

12,169

 

11,475

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Non-current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory assets

 

1,530

 

2,287

 

Accounts and notes receivable

 

11

 

17

 

Investments

 

29

 

32

 

Other

 

283

 

209

 

Total other non-current assets

 

1,853

 

2,545

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

16,179

 

$

16,275

 

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Table of Contents

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt, capital leases, and financing obligation

 

$

64

 

$

63

 

Notes payable

 

170

 

110

 

Accounts payable

 

571

 

501

 

Accounts payable – related parties

 

13

 

11

 

Accrued rate refunds

 

12

 

6

 

Accrued interest

 

63

 

65

 

Accrued taxes

 

353

 

376

 

Deferred income taxes

 

55

 

144

 

Regulatory liabilities

 

67

 

25

 

Other current liabilities

 

112

 

109

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,480

 

1,410

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

4,579

 

4,297

 

Non-current portion of capital leases and financing obligation

 

138

 

153

 

Regulatory liabilities

 

2,215

 

2,101

 

Postretirement benefits

 

179

 

1,385

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

324

 

311

 

Deferred investment tax credit

 

40

 

43

 

Deferred income taxes

 

2,115

 

1,741

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

252

 

252

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

9,842

 

10,283

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 2, 3, 4, and 6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common stockholder equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, authorized 125.0 shares; outstanding 84.1 shares for both periods

 

841

 

841

 

Other paid-in capital

 

3,257

 

3,107

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(2

)

(8

)

Retained earnings

 

724

 

598

 

Total common stockholder equity

 

4,820

 

4,538

 

Preferred stock

 

37

 

44

 

Total equity

 

4,857

 

4,582

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Equity

 

$

16,179

 

$

16,275

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

97



Table of Contents

Consumers Energy Company

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Equity at Beginning of Period

 

$

4,582

 

$

4,394

 

$

4,180

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning and end of period

 

841

 

841

 

841

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Paid-in Capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

3,107

 

2,957

 

2,832

 

Stockholder contribution

 

150

 

150

 

125

 

At end of period

 

3,257

 

3,107

 

2,957

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

(8

)

(2

)

-

 

Retirement benefits liability

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

(25

)

(19

)

(16

)

Net gain (loss) arising during the period

 

5

 

(8

)

(4

)

Amortization of net actuarial loss

 

3

 

2

 

1

 

At end of period

 

(17

)

(25

)

(19

)

Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

17

 

17

 

16

 

Unrealized gain on investments

 

1

 

3

 

1

 

Reclassification adjustments included in net income

 

(3

)

(3

)

-

 

At end of period

 

15

 

17

 

17

 

At end of period

 

(2

)

(8

)

(2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retained Earnings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

598

 

554

 

463

 

Net income

 

534

 

439

 

467

 

Common stock dividends declared

 

(406

)

(393

)

(374

)

Preferred stock dividends and distribution declared

 

(2

)

(2

)

(2

)

At end of period

 

724

 

598

 

554

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

44

 

44

 

44

 

Preferred stock redeemed

 

(7

)

-

 

-

 

At end of period

 

37

 

44

 

44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Equity at End of Period

 

$

4,857

 

$

4,582

 

$

4,394

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

98



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Table of Contents


CMS Energy Corporation

Consumers Energy Company

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1:SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1: 

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Corporate Structure: CMS Energy is an energy company operating primarily in Michigan. It is the parent holding company of several subsidiaries, including Consumers, an electric and gas utility, and CMS Enterprises, primarily a domestic IPP. CMS Energy and Consumers manage their businesses by the nature of services each provides. CMS Energy operates principally in three business segments: electric utility; gas utility; and enterprises, its non-utility investments and operations. Consumers operates principally in two business segments: electric utility and gas utility.
Principles of Consolidation: CMS Energy and Consumers prepare their Consolidated Financial Statementsconsolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP.  CMS Energy’s Consolidated Financial Statementsconsolidated financial statements comprise CMS Energy, Consumers, CMS Enterprises, and all other entities in which CMS Energy has a controlling financial interest or is the primary beneficiary.  Consumers’ Consolidated Financial Statementsconsolidated financial statements comprise Consumers and all other entities in which it has a controlling financial interest or is the primary beneficiary.  CMS Energy uses the equity method of accounting for investments in companies and partnerships that are not consolidated, where they have significant influence over operations and financial policies but are not the primary beneficiary.  CMS Energy and Consumers eliminate intercompany transactions and balances.

Use of Estimates:  CMS Energy and Consumers are required to make estimates using assumptions that may affect reported amounts and disclosures.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

CMS Energy and Consumers record estimated liabilities for contingencies in their Consolidated Financial Statements when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and when the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. For additional details, see Note 5, Contingencies and Commitments.

Revenue Recognition Policy:  CMS Energy and Consumers recognize revenue from deliveries of electricity and natural gas, and from the transportation, processing, and storage of natural gas, when services are provided.  CMS Energy and Consumers record unbilled revenue for the estimated amount of energy delivered to customers but not yet billed.  CMS Energy and Consumers record sales tax net and exclude it from revenue.  CMS Energy recognizes revenue on sales of marketed electricity, natural gas, and other energy products at delivery.

Alternative-Revenue Programs:  The MPSC’s 2009 order in Consumers’ gas rate case authorized Consumers to implement a gas revenue decoupling mechanism.  This mechanism, which the MPSC extended through April 2012 in its 2010 order in Consumers’ gas rate case, allowed Consumers to adjust future gas rates to the degree that actual average weather-adjusted sales per customer differed from the rate order.  Consumers accounted for this program as an alternative-revenue program that met the criteria for recognizing the effects of decoupling adjustments on revenue as gas was delivered.

In September 2009, the MPSC approved an energy optimization incentive mechanism that provides a financial incentive if the energy savings of Consumers’ customers exceed annual targets established by the MPSC.  Consumers accounts for this program as an alternative-revenue program that meets the criteria for recognizing revenue related to the incentive as soon as energy savings exceed the annual targets established by the MPSC.

Under electric and gas rate orders issued by the MPSC in 2009 and 2010, Consumers was granted authority to implement revenue decoupling mechanisms. The electric decoupling mechanism adjusts customer rates to collect or refund the change in marginal revenue arising from the difference between the level of average sales per customer adopted in the electric rate order and actual average sales per customer. The gas decoupling mechanism is similar, but does not adjust customer rates for changes in sales volumes resulting from weather fluctuations. Consumers accounts for these programs as alternative-revenue programs that meet the criteria for recognizing the effects of decoupling adjustments on revenue as electricity and gas are delivered. For details on Consumers’ decoupling mechanisms, see Note 6, Regulatory Matters.

Self-Implemented Rates:  Unless prohibited by the MPSC upon a showing of good cause, Consumers is allowed to self-implement new energy rates six months after a new rate case filing if the MPSC has not issued an order in the case.  The MPSC then has another six months to issue a final order.  If the MPSC does not issue ana final order within that period, the filed rates are considered approved.  If the MPSC issues ana final order within that period, the rates that Consumers self-implemented may be subject to refund, with interest.  Consumers recognizes revenue associated with self-implemented rates.  If Consumers considers it probable that it will be required to refund a portion of its self-implemented rates, then


92


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Consumers records a provision for revenue subject to refund. For details

Accounts Receivable:  Accounts receivable comprise trade receivables and unbilled receivables.  CMS Energy and Consumers record their accounts receivable at cost, which approximates fair value.  CMS Energy and Consumers establish an allowance for uncollectible accounts based on Consumers’ self-implemented rates, see Note 6, Regulatory Matters.historical losses, management’s assessment of existing economic conditions, customer trends, and other factors.  CMS Energy and Consumers assess late payment fees on trade receivables based on contractual past-due

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terms established with customers.  CMS Energy and Consumers charge off accounts deemed uncollectible to operating expense.

AccountingCash and Cash Equivalents:  Cash and cash equivalents include short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Contingencies:  CMS Energy and Consumers record estimated liabilities for Legal Fees:contingencies on their consolidated financial statements when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and when the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated.  CMS Energy and Consumers expense legal fees as incurred; fees incurred but not yet billed are accrued based on estimates of work performed.  This policy also applies to any fees incurred on behalf of employees and officers under indemnification agreements; such fees are billed directly to CMS Energy or Consumers.

Accounting for MISO Transactions: MISO requires the submission of hourly day-aheadDebt Issuance Costs, Discounts, Premiums, and real-time bids and offers for energy at locations across the MISO region. Consumers and CMS ERM account for MISO transactions on a net hourly basis in each of the real-time and day-ahead markets, and they net transactions across all MISO energy market locations.Refinancing Costs:  CMS Energy and Consumers record net purchases in a single hour in Purchaseddefer issuance costs, discounts, and interchange powerpremiums associated with long-term debt and net sales in a single hour in Operating Revenue onamortize those amounts over the Consolidated Statementsterms of Income. They record net sale billing adjustments upon invoice receipt, record expense accruals for future net purchases adjustments based on historical experience,the debt issues.  For the non-regulated portions of CMS Energy’s and reconcile accrualsConsumers’ businesses, refinancing costs are expensed as incurred.  For the regulated portions of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses, any remaining unamortized issuance costs, discounts, and premiums associated with refinanced debt are amortized over the term of the newly issued debt.

Derivative Instruments:  In order to actual expenses upon invoice receipt.

Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable comprise trade receivables and unbilled receivables.support ongoing operations, CMS Energy and Consumers record theirenter into contracts for the future purchase and sale of various commodities, such as electricity, natural gas, and coal.  These forward contracts are generally long-term in nature and result in physical delivery of the commodity at a contracted price.  Most of these contracts are not subject to derivative accounting because:

·they do not have a notional amount (that is, a number of units specified in a derivative instrument, such as MWh of electricity or bcf of natural gas);

·             ��   they qualify for the normal purchases and sales exception; or

·there is not an active market for the commodity.

Consumers’ coal purchase contracts are not derivatives because there is not an active market for the coal it purchases.  If an active market for coal develops in the future, some of these contracts may qualify as derivatives.  Since Consumers is subject to regulatory accounting, the resulting fair value gains and losses would be deferred as regulatory assets or liabilities and would not affect net income.

Consumers also uses FTRs to manage price risk related to electricity transmission congestion.  An FTR is a financial instrument that entitles its holder to receive compensation or requires its holder to remit payment for congestion-related transmission charges.  Consumers accounts receivable at cost, which approximatesfor FTRs as derivatives.  All changes in fair value. CMS Energyvalue associated with FTRs are deferred as regulatory assets and Consumers establish an allowance for uncollectible accounts and loan losses based on historical losses, management’s assessment of existing economic conditions, customer trends, and other factors. CMS Energy and Consumers assess late payment fees on trade receivables based on contractual past-due terms established with customers. CMS Energy and Consumers charge off accounts deemed uncollectible to operating expense.

Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
Derivative Instruments:liabilities until the instruments are settled.

CMS Energy and Consumers record derivative contracts that do not qualify for the normal purchases and sales exception at fair value on their Consolidated Balance Sheets. If a derivative qualifies for cash flow hedge accounting, changesconsolidated balance sheets.  Each reporting period, the resulting asset or liability is adjusted to reflect any change in the fair value of the contract.  Since none of CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ derivatives has been designated as an accounting hedge, all changes in fair value are recorded in AOCI; otherwise, changes areeither reported in earnings. For additional details regardingearnings or deferred as regulatory assets or liabilities.  CMS Energy and Consumers did not have significant amounts recorded as derivative instruments, see Note 10, Derivative Instruments.

assets or liabilities at December 31, 2013 or 2012.  Additionally, the gains and losses recognized in earnings were not significant for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, or 2011.

Determination of Pension and OPEB MRV of Plan Assets:  CMS Energy and Consumers determine the MRV for pension planPension Plan assets as the fair value of plan assets on the measurement date, adjusted by the gains or losses that will not be admitted into the MRV until future years.  CMS Energy and Consumers

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reflect each year’s gain or loss in the MRV in equal amounts over a five-year period beginning on the date the original amount was determined.  CMS Energy and Consumers determine the MRV for OPEB planPlan assets as the fair value of assets on the measurement date.  CMS Energy and Consumers use the MRV in the calculation of net pension and OPEB costs.

  For further details, see Note 11, Retirement Benefits.

Earnings Per Share:  CMS Energy calculates basic and diluted EPS using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock and dilutive potential common stock outstanding during the period.  Potential common stock, for purposes of determining diluted EPS, includes the effects of dilutive stock options, warrants,non-vested stock awards, and convertible securities.  CMS Energy computes the effect on potential common stock using the treasury stock method or the if-converted method, as applicable.  Diluted EPS excludes the impact of antidilutive securities, which are those securities resulting in an increase in EPS or a decrease in loss per share.  For EPS computations, see Note 8,14, Earnings Per Share CMS Energy.

Financial Instruments:  CMS Energy and Consumers record debt and equity securities classified as available for sale at fair value as determined from quoted market prices or other observable, market-based inputs.  Unrealized gains and losses onresulting from changes in fair value of these securities are determined on a specific-identification basis.  CMS Energy and Consumers report unrealized gains and losses from changes in fair value of the equityon these securities, net of tax, in equity as part of AOCI, except that unrealized losses determined to be other than temporary are reported in earnings.  CMS Energy


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CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
and Consumers report unrealized gains resulting from changes in fair value of the debt securities, net of tax, in equity as part of AOCI. Unrealized losses on the debt securities, if significant, are considered other than temporary and reported in earnings since these securities are managed by an independent investment manager that can sell the securities at its own discretion. For additional details regarding financial instruments, see Note 9,6, Financial Instruments.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Equity Method Investments:CMS Energy and Consumers perform tests of impairment if certain triggering events occur or if there has been a decline in value that may be other than temporary.

CMS Energy and Consumers evaluate long-lived assets held in use for impairment by calculating the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition.  If the undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying amount, CMS Energy and Consumers recognize an impairment loss equal to the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value.  CMS Energy and Consumers estimate the fair value of the asset using quoted market prices, market prices of similar assets, or discounted future cash flow analyses.

CMS Energy also assesses equity method investments for impairment whenever there has been a decline in value that is other than temporary.  This assessment requires CMS Energy to determine the fair value of the equity method investment.  CMS Energy determines fair value using valuation methodologies, including discounted cash flows, and assesses the ability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity that justifies the carrying amount of the investment.  CMS Energy records an impairment if the fair value is less than the carrying amount and the decline in value is considered to be other than temporary.

For additional details, see Note 20, Asset Sales, Discontinued Operations, and Impairment Charges.

Inventory:  CMS Energy and Consumers use the weighted-average cost method for valuing working gas, recoverable base gas in underground storage facilities, and materials and supplies inventory.  CMS Energy and Consumers also use this method for valuing coal inventory, and they classify these amounts as Generatinggenerating plant fuel stock on their Consolidated Balance Sheets.

consolidated balance sheets.

CMS Energy and Consumers classifyaccount for RECs and emission allowances as materials and supplies inventory and use the averageweighted-average cost method to remove amounts from inventory.  RECs and emission allowances are used to satisfy compliance obligations related to the generation of power.

CMS Energy and Consumers use thelower-of-cost-or-market method to evaluate inventory for impairment.

MaintenanceMISO Transactions:  MISO requires the submission of hourly day-ahead and Depreciation:real-time bids and offers for energy at locations across the MISO region.  CMS Energy and Consumers account for MISO

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transactions on a net hourly basis in each of the real-time and day-ahead markets, netted across all MISO energy market locations.  CMS Energy and Consumers record property repairsnet hourly purchases in purchased and minor property replacement as maintenance expense. CMS Energyinterchange power and Consumersnet hourly sales in operating revenue on their consolidated statements of income.  They record planned major maintenance activities as operating expense unless the cost represents the acquisitionnet billing adjustments upon receipt of additional long-lived assets or the replacementsettlement statements, record accruals for future net purchases and sales adjustments based on historical experience, and reconcile accruals to actual expenses and sales upon receipt of an existing long-lived asset.

Consumers depreciates utility property on an asset-group basis, in which it applies a single MPSC-approved depreciation rate to the gross investment in a particular class of property within the electric and gas segments. Consumers performs depreciation studies periodically to determine appropriate group lives. Presented in the following table are the composite depreciation rates for Consumers’ segment properties:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010 2009 2008
 
Electric utility property  3.0%  3.0%  3.0%
Gas utility property  2.9%  2.9%  3.6%
Other property  7.4%  7.6%  8.5%


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settlement statements.


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Notes Receivable: EnerBank provides unsecured consumer installment loans for financing home improvements. These loans totaled $385 million, net of an allowance for loan losses of $5 million, at December 31, 2010, and $269 million, net of an allowance for loan losses of $6 million, at December 31, 2009. At December 31, 2010, $10 million of EnerBank’s loans were classified as current Notes receivable and $375 million were classified as non-current Notes receivable on CMS Energy’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2009, $1 million of EnerBank’s loans were classified as current Notes receivable and $268 million were classified as non-current Notes receivable on CMS Energy’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The allowance for loan losses is a valuation allowance to reflect probable credit losses. The allowance is increased by the provision for loan losses and decreased by loan charge-offs net of recoveries. Management estimates the allowance balance required using historical loan loss experience, the nature and volume of the portfolio, economic conditions, and other factors. Loans losses are charged against the allowance when the loss is confirmed, but no later than the point at which a loan becomes 120 days past due.
Loans that are 30 days or more past due are considered delinquent. Presented in the following table is the delinquency status of EnerBank’s consumer loans at December 31, 2010:
           
Past Due
 Past Due
 Past Due
 Total
   Total
30-59 Days 60-89 Days Over 90 Days Delinquent Current Outstanding
In Millions
 
$1 $1 $— $2 $383 $385
Plant, Property, and Equipment: CMS Energy and Consumers record plant, property, and equipment at original cost when placed into service. The cost includes labor, material, applicable taxes, overhead such as pension and other benefits, and AFUDC, if applicable. Consumers’ plant, property, and equipment is generally recoverable through its general rate making process. For additional details see Note 6, Regulatory Matters.
When utility property is retired or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business, Consumers records the original cost to accumulated depreciation, along with associated cost of removal, net of salvage. CMS Energy and Consumers recognize gains or losses on the retirement or disposal of non-regulated assets in income. Cost of removal collected from customers, but not spent, is recorded as a regulatory liability.
Consumers capitalizes AFUDC on regulated major construction projects, except pollution control facilities on its fossil-fueled power plants, and where financing costs are specifically approved by the MPSC in rates. AFUDC represents the estimated cost of debt and authorizedreturn-on-equity funds used to finance construction additions. Consumers records the offsetting credit as a reduction of interest for the amount representing the borrowed funds component and as Other income for the equity funds component on the Consolidated Statements of Income. When construction is completed and the property is placed in service, Consumers depreciates and recovers the capitalized AFUDC from customers over the life of the related asset. Presented in the following table are Consumers’ composite AFUDC capitalization rates:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010 2009 2008
 
AFUDC capitalization rate  7.6%  7.6%  7.7%
CMS Energy and Consumers capitalize the purchase and development of internal-use computer software. These costs are expensed evenly over the estimated useful life of the internal-use computer software. If computer software is integral to computer hardware, then its cost is capitalized and depreciated with the hardware.
The types of costs capitalized are consistent for all periods presented by the financial statements. For additional details on plant, property, and equipment see Note 15, Plant, Property, and Equipment.
Property Taxes:  Property taxes are based on the taxable value of Consumers’ real and personal property assessed by local taxing authorities.  Consumers records property tax expense over the fiscal year of the taxing


95


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
authority for which the taxes are levied based on Consumers’ budgeted customer sales.  The deferred property tax balance represents the amount of Consumers’ accrued property tax that will be recognized over future governmental fiscal periods.

Reclassifications:  CMS Energy and Consumers have reclassified certain prior-period amounts on their Consolidated Financial Statementsconsolidated financial statements to conform to the presentation for the current period.  These reclassifications did not affect consolidated net income or cash flows for the periods presented.

Renewable Energy Grant:  In January 2013, Consumers received a $69 million renewable energy cash grant for Lake Winds® Energy Park under Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009.  Upon receipt of the grant, Consumers recorded a regulatory liability for $69 million, which Consumers is amortizing over the life of Lake Winds® Energy Park.  Consumers presents the amortization as a reduction to maintenance and other operating expense.  Consumers recorded the deferred income taxes related to the grant as a reduction of the book basis of Lake Winds® Energy Park.

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents:CMS Energy and Consumers have restricted cash and cash equivalents dedicated for repayment of Securitization bonds and for payment under performance guarantees.  CMS Energy and Consumers classify these amounts as a current asset asif they relate to payments that could or will occur within one year.

Unamortized Debt Premium, Discount,2:REGULATORY MATTERS

Regulatory matters are critical to Consumers.  The Michigan Attorney General, ABATE, the MPSC Staff, and Expense: CMS Energycertain other parties typically participate in MPSC proceedings concerning Consumers, such as Consumers’ rate cases and Consumers defer premiums, discounts,PSCR and issuance costsGCR processes.  These parties often challenge various aspects of long-term debtthose proceedings, including the prudence of Consumers’ policies and amortize those costs overpractices, and seek cost disallowances and other relief.  The parties also have appealed significant MPSC orders.  Depending upon the termsspecific issues, the outcomes of the debt issues. For the non-regulated portions ofrate cases and proceedings, including judicial proceedings challenging MPSC orders or other actions, could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses, refinancing costsliquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.  Consumers cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings.

There are expensed as incurred. Formultiple appeals pending that involve various issues concerning cost allocation among customers, the regulated portionsallocation of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses, any remaining unamortized premiums, discounts, and issuance costs associated with refinanced debt are amortized overrefunds among customer groups, the termadequacy of the newly issued debt.

2: NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
record evidence supporting the recovery of Smart Energy investments, and other matters.  Consumers is unable to predict the outcome of these appeals.

Implementation of New Accounting StandardsR

SFAS No. 166, Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140,codified throughASUNo. 2009-16,EGULATORY Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860): Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets:This standard, which was effective for CMS Energy andASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Because Consumers January 1, 2010, removesis subject to the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity from guidance relating to transfers of financial assets and extinguishments of liabilities. It also removes the exceptions from applying guidance relating to VIEs to qualifying special-purpose entities. This standard revises and clarifies when an entity is required to derecognize a financial asset that it has transferred to another entity. It further clarifies how to measure beneficial interests received as proceeds in connection with a transfer of a financial asset, and introduces the concept of a “participating interest,” the conditions of which must be met for a partial asset transfer to qualify for sale accounting treatment. The standard also requires enhanced disclosures related to continuing involvement with financial assets. Under this standard, transactions entered into under Consumers’ revolving accounts receivable sales program, discussed in Note 7, Financings and Capitalization, are accounted for as secured borrowings rather than as sales. CMS Energy and Consumers present outstanding amounts under the program as short-term debt collateralized by accounts receivable.

SFAS No. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R),codified throughASUNo. 2009-17, Consolidations (Topic 810): Improvements to Financial Reporting by Enterprises Involved with Variable Interest Entities:This standard, which was effective for CMS Energy and Consumers January 1, 2010, amends the criteria used to determine which entity, if any, has a controlling financial interest in a VIE. It replaces the quantitative calculation of risks and rewards with a qualitative approach focused on identifying which entity (1) has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (2) has the obligation to absorb lossesactions of the VIEMPSC and FERC, Consumers prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with the provisions of regulatory accounting.  A utility must apply regulatory accounting when its rates are designed to recover specific costs of providing regulated services.  Under regulatory accounting, Consumers records regulatory assets or the right to receive benefits from the VIE. This standard also requires ongoing assessments of whether an entity is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. Upon implementation of this guidance, CMS Energy concluded that it is the primary beneficiary of CMS Energy Trust I and consolidated the trust in its Consolidated Financial Statements on January 1, 2010. CMS Energy also concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of T.E.S. Filer City, Grayling, or Genesee and deconsolidated these partnerships in its Consolidated Financial Statements on January 1, 2010. CMS Energy consolidated CMS Energy Trust I at the carrying valueliabilities for certain transactions that would be recorded had this guidancehave been effective when CMS Energy initially became involved


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treated as expense or revenue by non-regulated businesses.


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CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
with CMS Energy Trust I. CMS Energy recorded its retained interest in the deconsolidated partnerships at the carrying value that would be recorded had this guidance been effective when CMS Energy initially became involved with the partnerships. CMS Energy and Consumers have chosen not to adjust previously reported balances. No cumulative effect adjustments were required. For additional details, see Note 18, Variable Interest Entities.
3: OTHER INCOME AND OTHER EXPENSE

Presented in the following table are the components of Other income and Other expense at CMS Energy and Consumers:

             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Other income:            
Gain on early retirement of long-term debt $  $28  $ 
Regulatory return on capital expenditures  17   26   33 
Gain on SERP investment     8    
Return on stranded and security costs  4   5   5 
Electric restructuring return        1 
Foreign currency gain        2 
All other  11   13   7 
             
Total other income $32  $80  $48 
             
Other expense:            
Loss on reacquired and extinguished debt $(8) $(18) $ 
Unrealized investment loss        (24)
Donations  (6)      
Civic and political expenditures  (3)  (3)  (5)
All other  (7)  (9)  (8)
             
Total other expense $(24) $(30) $(37)
             
Consumers
            
Other income:            
Regulatory return on capital expenditures $17  $26  $33 
Gain on SERP investment     5    
Return on stranded and security costs  4   5   5 
Electric restructuring return        1 
All other  10   11   6 
             
Total other income $31  $47  $45 
             


97


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Other expense:            
Unrealized investment loss $  $  $(16)
Donations  (6)      
Civic and political expenditures  (3)  (3)  (5)
All other  (6)  (8)  (7)
             
Total other expense $(15) $(11) $(28)
             
4: FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Accounting standards define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. When measuring fair value, CMS Energy and Consumers are required to incorporate all assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. A fair value hierarchy prioritizes inputs used to measure fair value according to their observability in the market. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
• Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
• Level 2 inputs are observable, market-based inputs, other than Level 1 prices. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices in inactive markets, interest rates and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, credit risks, default rates, and inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data.
• Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs that reflect CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ own assumptions about how market participants would value their assets and liabilities.
To the extent possible, CMS Energy and Consumers use quoted market prices or other observable market pricing data in valuingregulatory assets and liabilities measuredon Consumers’ consolidated balance sheets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

December 31

 

End of Recovery
or Refund Period

 

2013

 

2012

 

Regulatory assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy optimization plan incentive1

 

2014

 

$

17

 

$

15

 

Gas revenue decoupling mechanism1

 

2014

 

17

 

16

 

Cancelled coal-fueled plant costs2

 

2014

 

5

 

4

 

Other2

 

2014

 

1

 

-

 

Total current regulatory assets

 

 

 

$

40

 

$

35

 

Non-current

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Postretirement benefits3

 

various

 

$

634

 

$

1,700

 

Costs of electric generating units to be retired and securitized2

 

2029

 

362

 

-

 

MGP sites4

 

various

 

148

 

152

 

Other securitized costs2

 

2016

 

129

 

192

 

ARO4

 

various

 

129

 

123

 

Unamortized debt costs4

 

various

 

74

 

55

 

Gas storage inventory adjustments4

 

various

 

23

 

15

 

Energy optimization plan incentive1

 

2015

 

18

 

17

 

Major maintenance2

 

various

 

10

 

5

 

Cancelled coal-fueled plant costs2

 

2015

 

2

 

7

 

Gas revenue decoupling mechanism1

 

2014

 

-

 

17

 

Other2

 

various

 

1

 

4

 

Total non-current regulatory assets

 

 

 

$

1,530

 

$

2,287

 

Total regulatory assets

 

 

 

$

1,570

 

$

2,322

 

Regulatory liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes, net

 

2014

 

$

64

 

$

-

 

Renewable energy grant

 

2014

 

2

 

-

 

DOE settlement

 

2013

 

-

 

23

 

Other

 

2014

 

1

 

2

 

Total current regulatory liabilities

 

 

 

$

67

 

$

25

 

Non-current

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of removal

 

various

 

$

1,599

 

$

1,441

 

Renewable energy plan

 

2028

 

159

 

175

 

Income taxes, net

 

various

 

157

 

336

 

Postretirement benefits

 

various

 

98

 

-

 

ARO

 

various

 

93

 

103

 

Renewable energy grant

 

2043

 

65

 

-

 

Energy optimization plan

 

2015

 

31

 

34

 

Other

 

various

 

13

 

12

 

Total non-current regulatory liabilities

 

 

 

$

2,215

 

$

2,101

 

Total regulatory liabilities

 

 

 

$

2,282

 

$

2,126

 

1 These regulatory assets have arisen from alternative revenue programs and are not associated with incurred costs or capital investments.  Therefore, the MPSC has provided for recovery without a return.

2 These regulatory assets either are included in rate base (or are expected to be included, for costs incurred subsequent to the most recently approved rate case), thereby providing a return on expenditures, or provide a specific return on investment authorized by the MPSC.

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3 This regulatory asset is offset partially by liabilities.  The net amount is included in rate base, thereby providing a return.

4 These regulatory assets represent incurred costs for which the MPSC has provided, or Consumers expects, recovery without a return on investment.

REGULATORY ASSETS

Energy Optimization Plan Incentive:  In May 2013, Consumers filed its fourth annual report and reconciliation for its energy optimization plan, requesting approval of its energy optimization plan costs for 2012.  In November 2013, the MPSC approved a settlement agreement authorizing Consumers to collect $17 million from customers during 2014 as an incentive payment for exceeding statutory targets under both its gas and electric energy optimization plans during 2012.

During 2013, Consumers achieved 140 percent of its electric savings target and 122 percent of its gas savings target.  For achieving these savings levels, Consumers will request the MPSC’s approval to collect $18 million, the maximum incentive, in the energy optimization reconciliation to be filed in 2014.

Gas Revenue Decoupling Mechanism:  The MPSC’s 2009 order in Consumers’ gas rate case authorized Consumers to implement a gas revenue decoupling mechanism.  This mechanism, which the MPSC extended through April 2012 in its 2010 order in Consumers’ gas rate case, allowed Consumers to adjust future gas rates to the degree that actual average weather-adjusted sales per customer differed from the rate order.  This mechanism was not affected by a separate Michigan Court of Appeals decision on electric revenue decoupling.

In August 2012, Consumers filed its final reconciliation of the gas revenue decoupling mechanism, requesting recovery of $17 million from customers for the period June 2011 through April 2012.  In December 2013, the MPSC approved Consumers’ reconciliation for the full amount of its request and authorized recovery over four months beginning in January 2014.

Cancelled Coal-Fueled Plant Costs:  In its June 2012 order in Consumers’ electric rate case, the MPSC authorized recovery over a three-year period of $14 million of development costs associated with Consumers’ cancelled 830-MW coal-fueled plant.  In September 2012, a party in Consumers’ electric rate case filed an appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals to dispute the MPSC’s conclusion that authorized Consumers to recover these costs.

Postretirement Benefits:  As part of the ratemaking process, the MPSC allows Consumers to defer the impact of actuarial losses and prior service costs associated with postretirement benefits as a regulatory asset and to recover these costs from customers.  Conversely, Consumers defers the impact of actuarial gains as a regulatory liability and refunds these amounts to customers.  The asset and liability will decrease as the deferred items are amortized and recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost.

Costs of Electric Generating Units to be Retired and Securitized:  In December 2013, the MPSC issued a Securitization financing order that authorizes Consumers to proceed, at fair value. Ifits sole discretion, with the sale of up to $389 million in Securitization bonds through a newly formed subsidiary.  Under Michigan law, electric utilities are permitted to use highly rated, low-cost Securitization bonds to finance the recovery of qualified costs.  The qualified costs that Consumers intends to securitize are principally the remaining book value of seven smaller coal-fueled electric generating units and three smaller gas-fueled electric generating units that Consumers plans to retire in 2016 if the Securitization transaction is successful.

Upon receipt of the Securitization financing order from the MPSC, Consumers removed the book value of the ten units from plant, property, and equipment and recorded this informationamount as a regulatory asset.  Consumers will amortize the regulatory asset in accordance with current depreciation rates while the assets remain in rate base.  Upon issuance of the Securitization bonds, Consumers will remove the book

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value of the units from rate base and amortize the regulatory asset over the life of the related Securitization bonds.

MGP SitesConsumers expects to incur environmental remediation and other response activity costs at 23 former MGP facilities.  The MPSC allows Consumers to recover from its natural gas customers over a ten-year period the costs incurred to remediate the MGP sites.

Other Securitized Costs:  In 2000, the MPSC authorized Consumers to securitize certain qualified costs incurred as a result of electric utility restructuring legislation.  This regulatory asset is unavailable, they use market-corroborated data or reasonable estimates about market participant assumptions. CMSamortized over the life of the related Securitization bonds.

ARO:  The recovery of the underlying asset investments and related removal costs of recorded AROs are approved by the MPSC in depreciation rate cases.  Consumers records a regulatory asset and a regulatory liability for timing differences between the recognition of AROs for financial reporting purposes and the recovery of these costs from customers.

Unamortized Debt Costs:  Under regulatory accounting, any unamortized debt costs related to debt redeemed with the proceeds of new debt are capitalized and amortized over the life of the new debt.

Gas Storage Inventory Adjustments:  Consumers incurs inventory expenses related to the loss of gas from its natural gas storage fields.  The MPSC allows Consumers to recover these costs from its natural gas customers over a five-year period.

Major Maintenance:  In its June 2012 order in Consumers’ electric rate case, the MPSC allowed Consumers to defer major maintenance costs associated with certain plants in excess of the costs approved in the rate order and recover these excess costs from customers, subject to MPSC approval.

REGULATORY LIABILITIES

Income Taxes, Net:  These costs represent the difference between deferred income taxes recognized for financial reporting purposes and amounts previously reflected in Consumers’ rates.  This net balance will decrease over the remaining life of the related temporary differences and flow through current income tax benefit.

Renewable Energy Grant:  In January 2013, Consumers received a $69 million renewable energy grant for Lake Winds® Energy Park, which began operations in November 2012.  The grant was received from the U.S. Department of Treasury under Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009.

As reflected in Consumers’ 2011 biennial renewable energy plan, which the MPSC approved in 2012, this grant reduces Consumers’ cost of complying with the renewable portfolio standards prescribed by the 2008 Energy Law and, accordingly, reduces the overall renewable energy surcharge to be collected from customers.  The regulatory liability recorded for the grant will be amortized over the life of Lake Winds® Energy Park.

DOE Settlement:  In 2011, Consumers classify fair value measurements withinentered into an agreement with the fair value hierarchyDOE to settle, for $120 million, a complaint filed by Consumers against the DOE in 2002 for nuclear storage costs incurred as a result of the DOE’s failure to accept spent nuclear fuel.  In December 2012, the MPSC approved Consumers’ proposed treatment of this settlement amount, including a refund to customers of $23 million for spent nuclear fuel costs previously collected through rates.  Consumers refunded this amount to customers during 2013.  In March 2013, a party filed an appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals to dispute the MPSC’s December 2012 order.

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Cost of Removal:  These amounts have been collected from customers to fund future asset removal activities.  This regulatory liability is reduced as costs of removal are incurred.

Renewable Energy Plan:  At December 31, 2013 and 2012, surcharges collected from customers to fund Consumers’ renewable energy plan exceeded Consumers’ spending.  This regulatory liability is amortized as incremental costs are incurred to operate and depreciate Consumers’ wind parks and to purchase RECs under renewable energy purchase agreements.  Incremental costs represent costs incurred in excess of amounts recovered through the PSCR process.

Energy Optimization Plan:  At December 31, 2013 and 2012, surcharges collected from customers to fund Consumers’ energy optimization plan exceeded Consumers’ spending.  The associated regulatory liability is amortized as costs are incurred under Consumers’ energy optimization plan.

CONSUMERS’ ELECTRIC UTILITY

Electric Rate Case:  In September 2012, Consumers filed an application with the MPSC seeking an annual rate increase of $148 million, based on a 10.5 percent authorized return on equity.  In January 2013, Consumers supplemented its electric rate case application to reflect certain changes, which reduced its requested annual rate increase to $145 million.  In March 2013, Consumers self-implemented an annual rate increase of $110 million out of its requested $145 million, subject to refund with interest.  The MPSC approved a partial settlement agreement in May 2013, authorizing an annual rate increase of $89 million, based on a 10.3 percent authorized rate of return on equity.  In June 2013, in connection with this electric rate case, the lowest level of inputMPSC approved Consumers’ application for authority to continue the advanced metering infrastructure program and implement a non-transmitting meter provision.

Consumers filed an application in July 2013 requesting that is significantthe MPSC find that the total revenues collected during self-implementation did not exceed those that would have been collected under final rates.  In February 2014, the MPSC approved Consumers’ application, finding that no refund was required.

Electric Revenue Decoupling Mechanism:  The MPSC’s 2009 order in Consumers’ electric rate case authorized Consumers to implement an electric revenue decoupling mechanism.  This decoupling mechanism allowed Consumers to adjust future electric rates to the fair value measurementdegree that actual average sales per customer differed from the rate order.  The MPSC extended the electric revenue decoupling mechanism for a second year in its entirety.


98

2010 order in Consumers’ electric rate case.


In April 2012, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that the MPSC lacks statutory authority to approve or direct the use of a revenue decoupling mechanism for electric providers.  Subsequently, in November 2012, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in an appeal of the MPSC’s 2010 order in Consumers’ electric rate case.  The Court reversed the portion of the 2010 order related to Consumers’ electric revenue decoupling mechanism and remanded the case to the MPSC for further proceedings related to the revenue decoupling mechanism.  In 2013, the MPSC issued an order reversing its prior approval of Consumers’ authority to implement a revenue decoupling mechanism.

CMS Energy Corporation

POWER SUPPLY COST RECOVERY AND GAS COST RECOVERY

The PSCR and GCR processes are designed to allow Consumers Energy Company

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Assetsto recover all of its power supply and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basispurchased natural gas costs if incurred under reasonable and prudent policies and practices.  The MPSC reviews these costs, policies, and practices in annual plan and reconciliation proceedings.  Consumers adjusts its PSCR and GCR billing factors monthly in order to minimize the overrecovery or underrecovery amount in the annual reconciliations.

PSCR Plans:  In January 2014, the MPSC approved Consumers’ 2012 PSCR plan, authorizing the 2012 PSCR charge that Consumers self-implemented beginning in January 2012.

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Consumers submitted its 2013 PSCR plan to the MPSC in September 2012, and in accordance with its proposed plan, self-implemented the 2013 PSCR charge beginning in January 2013.

PSCR Reconciliations: Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’sdetails about the PSCR reconciliation filing pending with the MPSC:

PSCR Year

 

Date Filed

 

Net
Underrecovery
(In Millions)

 

PSCR Cost of
Power Sold
(In Billions)

 

2012

 

March 2013

 

$

18

 

$

1.9

 

In May 2013, the MPSC issued an order in Consumers’ 2011 PSCR reconciliation, approving full recovery of $1.8 billion of power costs and authorizing Consumers to roll into its 2012 PSCR plan the overrecovery of $8 million.

GCR Plans:  In February 2013, the MPSC approved Consumers’ assets2012-2013 GCR plan, authorizing the 2012-2013 GCR charge that Consumers self-implemented beginning in April 2012.

Consumers submitted its 2013-2014 GCR plan to the MPSC in December 2012, and liabilities, by level withinin accordance with its proposed plan, self-implemented the fair value hierarchy, reported at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2010:

                 
  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                
Assets:                
Cash equivalents $183  $183  $  $ 
Restricted cash equivalents  6   6       
Nonqualified deferred compensation plan assets  6   6       
SERP:
                
Cash equivalents  1   1       
Mutual fund  62   62       
State and municipal bonds  28      28    
Derivative instruments:                
Commodity contracts(a)  1         1 
                 
Total(b) $287  $258  $28  $1 
                 
Liabilities:                
Nonqualified deferred compensation plan liabilities $6  $6  $  $ 
Derivative instruments:                
Commodity contracts(c)  4         4 
                 
Total(d) $10  $6  $  $4 
                 
Consumers
                
Assets:                
Cash equivalents $19  $19  $  $ 
Restricted cash equivalents  6   6       
CMS Energy common stock  34   34       
Nonqualified deferred compensation plan assets  4   4       
SERP:
                
Cash equivalents  1   1       
Mutual fund  39   39       
State and municipal bonds  17      17    
Derivative instruments:                
Commodity contracts  1         1 
                 
Total(e) $121  $103  $17  $1 
                 
Liabilities:                
Nonqualified deferred compensation plan liabilities $4  $4  $  $ 
                 
Total $4  $4  $  $ 
                 


99

2013-2014 GCR charge beginning in April 2013.


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(a)This amount is gross and excludes the impact of offsetting derivative assets and liabilities under master netting arrangements, which was less than $1 million at December 31, 2010.
(b)At December 31, 2010, CMS Energy’s assets classified as Level 3 represented less than one percent of CMS Energy’s total assets measured at fair value.
(c)This amount is gross and excludes the impact of offsetting derivative assets and liabilities under master netting arrangements and offsetting cash margin deposits paid by CMS ERM to other parties, which was less than $1 million at December 31, 2010.
(d)At December 31, 2010, CMS Energy’s liabilities classified as Level 3 represented 40 percent of CMS Energy’s total liabilities measured at fair value. The Level 3 liabilities consisted primarily of an electricity sales agreement held by CMS ERM.
(e)At December 31, 2010, Consumers’ assets classified as Level 3 represented one percent of Consumers’ total assets measured at fair value.
GCR Reconciliations:Presented in the following table are details about the GCR reconciliation filing pending with the MPSC:

GCR Year

 

Date Filed

 

Net
Underrecovery
(In Millions)

 

GCR Cost of
Gas Sold
(In Billions)

 

2012-2013

 

June 2013

 

$

22

 

$

0.9

 

In May 2013, the MPSC issued an order in Consumers’ 2011-2012 GCR reconciliation, approving full recovery of $0.9 billion in gas costs and authorizing Consumers to roll into its 2012-2013 GCR plan the overrecovery of $2 million.

Consumers’ PSCR and GCR mechanisms also represent probable future revenues that will be recovered from customers or previously collected revenues that will be refunded to customers through the ratemaking process.  Underrecoveries are included in accrued power supply and overrecoveries are included in accrued rate refunds on Consumers’ consolidated balance sheets.

Consumers reflected the following assets and liabilities for PSCR and GCR underrecoveries and overrecoveries on its consolidated balance sheets:

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

Accrued power supply revenue

 

$

-

 

$

32

 

Accrued rate refunds

 

12

 

6

 

3:CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS

CMS Energy and Consumers are involved in various matters that give rise to contingent liabilities.  Depending on the specific issues, the resolution of these contingencies could have a material effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ assetsliquidity, financial condition, and liabilities, by level within the fair value hierarchy, reported at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2009:

                 
  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                
Assets:                
Cash equivalents $57  $57  $  $ 
Restricted cash equivalents  12   12       
Nonqualified deferred compensation plan assets  5   5       
SERP:
                
Cash equivalents  49   49       
State and municipal bonds  27      27    
Derivative instruments:                
Commodity contracts(a)  1      1    
                 
Total $151  $123  $28  $ 
                 
Liabilities:                
Nonqualified deferred compensation plan liabilities $5  $5  $  $ 
Derivative instruments:         ��      
Commodity contracts(b)  9   1   1   7 
Interest rate contracts  1         1 
                 
Total(c) $15  $6  $1  $8 
                 


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CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                 
  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
  In Millions 
 
Consumers
                
Assets:                
Cash equivalents $31  $31  $  $ 
Restricted cash equivalents  5   5       
CMS Energy common stock  29   29       
Nonqualified deferred compensation plan assets  4   4       
SERP:
                
Cash equivalents  30   30       
State and municipal bonds  16      16    
                 
Total $115  $99  $16  $ 
                 
Liabilities:                
Nonqualified deferred compensation plan liabilities $4  $4  $  $ 
                 
Total $4  $4  $  $ 
                 
(a)This amount is gross and excludes the $1 million impact of offsetting derivative assets and liabilities under master netting arrangements.
(b)This amount is gross and excludes the $1 million impact of offsetting derivative assets and liabilities under master netting arrangements and the $1 million impact of offsetting cash margin deposits paid by CMS ERM to other parties.
(c)At December 31, 2009, CMS Energy’s liabilities classified as Level 3 represented 53 percent of CMS Energy’s total liabilities measured at fair value. The Level 3 liabilities consisted primarily of an electricity sales agreement held by CMS ERM.
Cash Equivalents: Cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents consistresults of money market funds with daily liquidity. The funds invest in U.S. Treasury notes, other government-backed securities, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Treasury notes.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan Assets: CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ nonqualified deferred compensation plan assets are invested in various mutual funds.operations.  In their disclosures of these matters, CMS Energy and Consumers value these assets using a market approach, using the daily quoted NAVs provided by the fund managers that are the basis for transactions to buy or sell shares in each fund. CMS Energy and Consumers report these assets in Other non-current assets on their Consolidated Balance Sheets.
SERP Assets: CMS Energy and Consumers value their SERP assets using a market approach, incorporating prices and other relevant information from market transactions. The SERP cash equivalents consist of a money market fund with daily liquidity, which invests in state and municipal securities.
The SERP invests in a short-term, fixed-income mutual fund that holds a variety of debt securities with average maturities of one to three years. The fund invests primarily in investment-grade debt securities but, in order to achieve its investment objective, it may invest a portion of its assets in high-yield securities, foreign debt, and derivative instruments. The fair valueprovide an estimate of the fund is determined using the daily published NAV, which is the basis for transactions to buypossible loss or sell shares in the fund.
The SERPrange of loss when such an estimate can be made.  Disclosures that state and municipal bonds are investment grade securities that are valued using a matrix pricing model that incorporates Level 2 market-based information. The fair value of the bonds is derived from various

101


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
observable inputs, including benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, bond ratings, and general information on market movements normally considered by market participants when pricing such debt securities. CMS Energy and Consumers report their SERP assets in Other non-current assets on their Consolidated Balance Sheets. For additional details about SERP securities, see Note 9, Financial Instruments.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan Liabilities: CMS Energy and Consumers value their non-qualified deferred compensation plan liabilities based on the fair values of the plan assets, as they reflect what is owed to the plan participants in accordance with their investment elections. CMS Energy and Consumers report these liabilities in Other non-current liabilities on their Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Derivative Instruments: CMS Energy and Consumers value their derivative instruments using either a market approach that incorporates information from market transactions, or an income approach that discounts future expected cash flows to a present value amount. They use various inputs to value the derivatives depending on the type of contract and the availability of market data. CMS Energy has exchange-traded derivative contracts that are valued based on Level 1 quoted prices in actively traded markets, as well as derivatives that are valued using Level 2 inputs, including commodity market prices, interest rates, credit ratings, default rates, and market-based seasonality factors. CMS Energy and Consumers have classified certain derivatives as Level 3 since the fair value measurements incorporate pricing assumptions that cannot be observed or confirmed through market transactions.
CMS Energy’s derivatives include an electricity sales agreement held by CMS ERM that extends beyond the term for which quoted electricity prices are available. To value this agreement, CMS Energy uses an internally developed model to project future prices. This method incorporates a proprietary forward power pricing curve that is based on forward gas prices and an implied heat rate. CMS Energy also increases the fair value of the liability for this agreement by an amount that reflects the uncertainty of its model. Since the modeling technique is significant to the overall fair value measurement, this agreement is classified as Level 3.
For all fair values other than Level 1 prices, CMS Energy and Consumers incorporate adjustments for the risk of nonperformance. For derivative assets, a credit adjustment is applied against the asset based on the published default rate for the credit rating that CMS Energy andor Consumers assign

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cannot predict the outcome of a matter indicate that they are unable to the counterparty based on an internal credit-scoring model. This model considers various inputs, including the counterparty’s financial statements, credit reports, trade press, and other information that would be available to market participants. To the extent that the internal ratings are comparable to credit ratings published by independent rating agencies, the resulting credit adjustment is classified within Level 2. If the internal model results inestimate a rating that is outside of thepossible loss or range of ratings given by the independent agencies and the credit adjustment is significant to the overall valuation, the derivative fair value is classified as Level 3. CMS Energy and Consumers adjust their derivative liabilities downward to reflect the risk of their own nonperformance, based on their published credit ratings. Adjustments for credit risk using the approach outlined within this paragraph are not materially different from the adjustments that would result from using credit default swap ratesloss for the contracts presently held. For additional details about derivative contracts, see Note 10, Derivative Instruments.


102

matter.


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis using Significant Level 3 Inputs
Presented in the following table is a reconciliation of changes in the fair values of Level 3 assets and liabilities at CMS Energy, which includes Level 3 assets and liabilities at Consumers:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Balance at January 1 $(8) $(16) $(19)
Total gains included in earnings(a)  8   17   2 
Purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (net)  (3)  (9)  1 
             
Balance at December 31 $(3) $(8) $(16)
             
Unrealized gains included in earnings for the years ended December 31 relating to assets and liabilities still held at December 31(a) $4  $6  $3 
(a)CMS Energy records realized and unrealized gains and losses for Level 3 recurring fair values in earnings as a component of Operating Revenue, Other income, or Maintenance and other operating expenses on its Consolidated Statements of Income.
Presented in the following table is a reconciliation of changes in the fair values of Level 3 assets and liabilities at Consumers:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Balance at January 1 $  $  $ 
Total gains (losses) included in earnings(a)  4   10   (1)
Purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (net)  (3)  (10)  1 
             
Balance at December 31 $1  $  $ 
             
Unrealized gains included in earnings for the years ended December 31 relating to assets and liabilities still held at December 31(a) $1  $  $ 
(a)Consumers records realized and unrealized gains and losses for Level 3 recurring fair values in earnings as a component of Other income on its Consolidated Statements of Income.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s assets, by level within the fair value hierarchy, reported at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the year ended December 31, 2010:
                 
        Gains
  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (Losses)
  In Millions
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                
Assets held for sale $  $5  $  $(6)
In 2010, CMS Energy wrote down assets held for sale from their carrying amount of $11 million to their fair value of $5 million, resulting in a loss of $6 million, which was recorded in earnings as part of discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2010. The fair value was determined based on the price that CMS Energy received for the sale of these assets, which closed in January 2011. The reduction in fair value was due primarily to declines in forward electricity prices. For further information, refer to the discussion of Exeter in Note 20, Asset Sales, Discontinued Operations, and Impairment Charges. Consumers did not have any nonrecurring


103


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
fair value measurements during the year ended December 31, 2010. Neither CMS Energy nor Consumers had any nonrecurring fair value measurements during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.
5: CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS
CMS Energy Contingencies
ENERGY CONTINGENCIES

Gas Index Price Reporting Investigation:  In 2002, CMS Energy notified appropriate regulatory and governmental agencies that some employees at CMS MST and CMS Field Services appeared to have provided inaccurate information regarding natural gas trades to various energy industry publications which compile and report index prices. CMS Energy cooperated with an investigation by the DOJ regarding this matter.  Although CMS Energy has not received any formal notification that the DOJ has completed its investigation, the DOJ’s last request for information occurred in 2003, and CMS Energy completed its response to this request in 2004.  CMS Energy is unable to predict the outcome of the DOJ investigation and what effect, if any, the investigation will have on CMS Energy.

Gas Index Price Reporting Litigation:  CMS Energy, along with CMS MST, CMS Field Services, Cantera Natural Gas, Inc., and Cantera Gas Company, arehave been named as defendants in various class action and individual lawsuits arising as a result of alleged inaccurate natural gas price reporting to publications that report trade information.  Allegations include manipulation of NYMEX natural gas futures and options prices, price-fixing conspiracies, restraint of trade, and artificial inflation of natural gas retail prices in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin.  The following provides more detail on these proceedings:

• In 2005, CMS MST was served with a summons and complaint that named CMS Energy, CMS MST, and CMS Field Services as defendants in a putative class action filed in Kansas state court, Learjet, Inc., et al. v. Oneok, Inc., et al. The complaint alleges that during the putative class period, January 1, 2000 through October 31, 2002, the defendants engaged in a scheme to violate the Kansas Restraint of Trade Act. The plaintiffs, who allege they purchased natural gas from the defendants and others for their facilities, are seeking statutory full consideration damages consisting of the full consideration paid by plaintiffs for natural gas.
• In 2007, a class action complaint, Heartland Regional Medical Center, et al. v. Oneok, Inc. et al., was filed in Missouri state court alleging violations of Missouri antitrust laws. Defendants, including CMS Energy, CMS Field Services, and CMS MST, are alleged to have violated the Missouri antitrust law in connection with their natural gas price reporting activities.
• Breckenridge Brewery of Colorado, LLC and BBD Acquisition Co. v. Oneok, Inc., et al., a class action complaint brought on behalf of retail direct purchasers of natural gas in Colorado, was filed in Colorado state court in May 2006. Defendants, including CMS Energy, CMS Field Services, and CMS MST, are alleged to have violated the Colorado Antitrust Act of 1992 in connection with their natural gas price reporting activities. Plaintiffs are seeking full refund damages.
• A class action complaint, Arandell Corp., et al. v. XCEL Energy Inc., et al., was filed in 2006 in Wisconsin state court on behalf of Wisconsin commercial entities that purchased natural gas between January 1, 2000 and October 31, 2002. The defendants, including CMS Energy, CMS ERM, and Cantera Gas Company, are alleged to have violated Wisconsin’s antitrust statute. The plaintiffs are seeking full consideration damages, plus exemplary damages, and attorneys’ fees. After dismissal on jurisdictional grounds in 2009, plaintiffs filed a new case in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. In November 2010, the MDL judge issued an opinion and order granting the CMS Energy defendants’ motion to dismiss the new Michigan case onstatute-of-limitations grounds and all CMS Energy defendants have been dismissed from the Arandell Michigan case.


104


the cases in which CMS Energy Corporation
Consumersor its affiliates remain as parties:

·In 2005, CMS Energy, CMS MST, and CMS Field Services were named as defendants in a putative class action filed in Kansas state court, Learjet, Inc., et al. v. Oneok, Inc., et al.  The complaint alleges that during the putative class period, January 1, 2000 through October 31, 2002, the defendants engaged in a scheme to violate the Kansas Restraint of Trade Act.  The plaintiffs are seeking statutory full consideration damages consisting of the full consideration paid by the plaintiffs for natural gas allegedly purchased from the defendants.

·In 2007, a class action complaint, Heartland Regional Medical Center, et al. v. Oneok, Inc. et al., was filed as a putative class action in Missouri state court alleging violations of Missouri antitrust laws.  The defendants, including CMS Energy, CMS Field Services, and CMS MST, are alleged to have violated the Missouri antitrust law in connection with their natural gas reporting activities.  The plaintiffs are seeking full consideration damages and treble damages.

·In 2006, a class action complaint, Arandell Corp., et al. v. XCEL Energy Inc., et al., was filed in Wisconsin state court on behalf of Wisconsin commercial entities that purchased natural gas between January 1, 2000 and October 31, 2002.  The defendants, including CMS Energy, CMS ERM, and Cantera Gas Company,

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
• Another class action complaint, Newpage Wisconsin System v. CMS ERM, CMS Energy, and Cantera Gas Company, was filed in 2009 in circuit court in Wood County, Wisconsin, against CMS Energy defendants and 19 other non-CMS Energy companies. The plaintiff is seeking full consideration damages, treble damages, costs, interest, and attorneys’ fees.
• In 2005, J.P. Morgan Trust Company, in its capacity as Trustee of the FLI Liquidating Trust, filed an action in Kansas state court against a number of energy companies, including CMS Energy, CMS MST, and CMS Field Services. The complaint alleges various claims under the Kansas Restraint of Trade Act. The plaintiff is seeking statutory full consideration damages for its purchases of natural gas between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2001. This case is not a class action.
are alleged to have violated Wisconsin’s antitrust statute.  The plaintiffs are seeking full consideration damages, plus exemplary damages and attorneys’ fees.

·In 2009, a class action complaint, Newpage Wisconsin System v. CMS ERM, et al., was filed in circuit court in Wood County, Wisconsin, against CMS Energy, CMS ERM, Cantera Gas Company, and others.  The plaintiff is seeking full consideration damages, treble damages, costs, interest, and attorneys’ fees.

·In 2005, J.P. Morgan Trust Company, N.A., in its capacity as Trustee of the FLI Liquidating Trust, filed an action in Kansas state court against CMS Energy, CMS MST, CMS Field Services, and others.  The complaint alleges various claims under the Kansas Restraint of Trade Act.  The plaintiff is seeking statutory full consideration damages for its purchases of natural gas in 2000 and 2001.

After removal to federal court, all of the Learjet, Heartland, Breckenridge, both Arandell cases Newpage, and J.P. Morgan casesdescribed above were transferred to the MDL case. CMS Energy was dismissed from the Learjet, Heartland, and J.P. Morgan cases in 2009, but other CMS Energy defendants remain parties. All CMS Energy defendants were dismissed from the Breckenridge case in 2009. It is expected that the plaintiffs in this case will appeal this decision after all claims against defendants have been dismissed. At this time, there is no pending appeal.MDL.  In June 2010, CMS Energy and Cantera Gas Company were dismissed from the Newpage case;case.  In 2011, all claims

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against remaining CMS Energy defendants in the Arandell (Wisconsin) case was reinstated against CMS ERM; and the Arandell (Wisconsin) case was consolidated with the Newpage case. These two consolidatedMDL cases remain pending only against CMS ERM. Pending before the courtwere dismissed based on FERC preemption.  Plaintiffs filed appeals in all of the MDLcases.  The issues on appeal were whether the district court erred in dismissing the cases are the defendants’ renewed motions for summary judgment based on FERC preemption. In all but the J.P. Morgan case, there are also pending plaintiffs’ motions for class certification. These motions are not yet decided. In October 2010, the MDL court entered an orderpreemption and denying the plaintiffs’ motionmotions for leave to amend their complaintcomplaints to add a federal Sherman Act antitrust claim.

  The plaintiffs did not appeal the dismissal of CMS Energy as a defendant in these cases, but other CMS Energy entities remain as defendants.

In April 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed the MDL decision and remanded the case to the MDL judge for further proceedings.  The appellate court found that FERC preemption does not apply under the facts of these cases.  The Court affirmed the MDL court’s denial of leave to amend to add federal antitrust claims.

In August 2013, the joint defense group in these cases, of which CMS Energy defendants are members, filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court in an attempt to overturn the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  The petition is pending action by the U.S. Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court has asked the Solicitor General for an opinion regarding this matter and may follow his guidance on whether to grant the petition.

These cases involve complex facts, a large number of similarly situated defendants with different factual positions, and multiple jurisdictions.  Presently, any estimate of liability would be highly speculative; the amount of CMS Energy’s possible loss would be based on widely varying models previously untested in this context.  Defenses are being pursued vigorously, which could result in the dismissal of the cases completely, but CMS Energy is unable to predictIf the outcome of these matters. If the outcomeafter appeals is unfavorable, these cases could have a material adverse impact on CMS Energy’s liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

Bay Harbor: As part  CMS Energy retained environmental remediation obligations for the collection and treatment of leachate, a liquid consisting of water and other substances, at Bay Harbor after selling its interests in the development of Bay Harbor by certain subsidiaries of CMS Energy, and under an agreement with the MDNRE, third parties constructed a golf course and park over several abandoned CKD piles left over from the former cement plant operations on the Bay Harbor site. The third parties also undertook a series of response activities, including constructing a leachate collection system in one area where CKD-impacted groundwater was entering Little Traverse Bay.2002.  Leachate is produced when water enters into cement kiln dust piles left over from former cement plant operations at the CKD piles.site.  In 2002,2012, CMS Energy sold its interest in Bay Harbor, but retained its obligations under environmental indemnities entered intoand the MDEQ finalized an agreement that established the final remedies and the future release criteria at the start of the project.

In 2005, the EPA, along with CMS Land and CMS Capital, voluntarily executed an Administrative Order on Consent under Superfund, and the EPA approved a Removal Action Work Plan to address contamination issues. Collection systems required under the plan have been installed and effectiveness monitoring of the systems at the shoreline is ongoing. CMS Land, CMS Capital, and the EPA agreed upon augmentation measures to address areas where pH measurements were not satisfactory. Several augmentation measures were implemented and completed in 2009, with the remaining measure completed in 2010.
In December 2010,site.  CMS Energy recorded a charge of $40 millionhas completed all construction necessary to increaseimplement the remaining liability for Bay Harbor as a result of recent developments. The factors that contributed to this revision of estimated costs include anticipated cost increases for the disposal of leachate under an NPDES permit issuedremedies required by the MDNRE in December 2010, additional costs for the scope of remediationagreement and will continue to meet EPAmaintain and MDNRE requirements, and increased legal, management, and engineering costs anticipated to reach agreement with all parties on the long-term remedy for the


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CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Bay Harbor site. The NPDES permit issued by the MDNRE authorizes CMS Landoperate a system to discharge treated leachate into Little Traverse Bay.Bay under an NPDES permit issued in 2010.  This permit requires renewal every five years. CMS Land also completed mercury modeling studies as required by the EPA in November 2010. The completion of these studies was necessary to finalize the scope of remedies that was submitted to the EPA in December 2010. Additionally, CMS Land has committed to investigate the potential for a deep injection well on the Bay Harbor site as an alternative long-term solution to the leachate disposal issue. In 2008, the MDNRE and the EPA granted permits for CMS Land or its wholly owned subsidiary, Beeland Group LLC, to construct and operate an off-site deep injection well in Antrim County, Michigan, to dispose of leachate from Bay Harbor. Certain environmental groups, a local township, and a local county filed lawsuits appealing the permits. The legal proceeding was stayed in 2009 and can be renewed by either party at any time.

Various claims have been brought against CMS Land or its affiliates, including CMS Energy, alleging environmental damage to property, loss of property value, insufficient disclosure of environmental matters, breach of agreement relating to access, or other matters.  There is presently one lawsuit (Jankowski v. CMS Energy, CMS Capital, and CMS Land) pending that was filed in June 2010 in Emmet County Circuit Court in Michigan relating to such subjects. Resolution of this lawsuit is not expected to have a material impact on CMS Energy’s consolidated income, cash flows, or financial position. In October 2010, CMS Land and other parties received a demand for payment from the EPA in the amount of $7 million, plus interest, whereby the EPA is seeking recovery as allowed under Superfund,CERCLA of the EPA’s response costs incurred at the Bay Harbor site.  CMS Land believeshas communicated to the EPA that it does not believe that this is not a valid claim and intends to dispute it.

CMS Land and CMS Capital, the MDNRE, the EPA, and other parties continue to negotiate the long-term remedy for the Bay Harbor site, including:
• the disposal of leachate;
• the capping and excavation of CKD;
• the location and design of collection lines and upstream water diversion systems;
• application of criteria for various substances such as mercury; and
• other matters that are likely to affect the scope of response activities that CMS Land and CMS Capital may be obligated to undertake.
claim.

CMS Energy has recorded a cumulative charge related to Bay Harbor of $222$229 million, which withincludes accretion expense, includes $43 million recorded in 2010, $37 million in 2009, and $1 million in 2008, in Other operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income.expense.  At December 31, 2010,2013, CMS Energy had a recorded liability of $98$52 million for its remaining obligations.  CMS Energy calculated this liability based on discounted projected costs, using a discount rate of 4.34 percent and an inflation rate of one percent on annual operating and maintenance costs.  CMS Energy based the discount rate on the interest rate for30-year U.S. Treasury securities at December 31, 2010. The undiscounted amount of the remaining obligation is $121$71 million.  CMS Energy expects to pay $34 million during 2011, $12$6 million in 2012,2014, $5 million in 2013,2015, $5 million in 2014,2016, $4 million in 2015,2017, and $4 million in 2018, and the remaining amount thereafter on long-term liquid disposal and operating and maintenance costs.

CMS Energy’s estimate of response activity costs and the timing of expenditures could change if there are additional major changes in circumstances or assumptions, including but not limited to:

• inability to complete the present long-term water disposal strategy at a reasonable cost;
• delays in implementing the present long-term water disposal strategy;
• requirements to alter the present long-term water disposal strategy upon expiration of the NPDES permit if the MDNRE or EPA identify a more suitable alternative;


106


·a significant increase in the cost of the present long-term water disposal strategy;

·requirements to alter the present long-term water disposal strategy upon expiration of the NPDES permit if the MDEQ or EPA identify a more suitable alternative;

·an increase in the number of contamination areas;

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CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
• an increase in the number of contamination areas;
• different remediation techniques;
• the nature and extent of contamination;
• inability to reach agreement with the MDNRE or the EPA over additional response activities;
• delays in the receipt of requested permits;
• delays following the receipt of any requested permits due to legal appeals of third parties;
• additional or new legal or regulatory requirements; or
• new or different landowner claims.

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·the nature and extent of contamination;

·delays in the receipt of requested permits;

·delays following the receipt of any requested permits due to legal appeals of third parties;

·unanticipated difficulties in meeting the technical commitments in the agreement with the MDEQ;

·additional or new legal or regulatory requirements; or

·new or different landowner claims.

Depending on the size of any indemnity obligation or liability under environmental laws, an adverse outcome of this matter could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s liquidity and financial condition and could negatively affect CMS Energy’s financial results.  Although a liability for its present estimate of remaining response activity costs has been recorded, CMS Energy cannot predict the ultimate financial impact or outcome of this matter.

State Street Bank and TSU Litigation: In 2002, State Street Bank sued CMS Viron in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, claiming primarily a breach of representations and warranties and seeking $9 million plus interest from CMS Viron. During the same year, CMS Viron filed a counterclaim, as well as third-party actions against TSU, Academic Capital Group, Inc., and Academic Services, Inc. for breach of contract and fiduciary duties and conversion. At December 31, 2010, CMS Energy had a recorded liability of $3 million for its potential obligation related to this matter. This case was resolved in January 2011 for an amount that will not have a material impact on CMS Energy’s consolidated income, cash flows, or financial position.

Equatorial Guinea Tax Claim:  In 2004,January 2002, CMS Energy received a request for indemnification from the purchaser of CMS Oil and Gas. The indemnity claim relates to the sale of CMS Energy’ssold its oil, gas, and methanol projectsinvestments in Equatorial Guinea and the claim of theGuinea.  The government of Equatorial Guinea claims that CMS Energy owes $142 million in taxes, plus significant penalties and interest, in connection with that sale.the sale and has requested arbitration.  CMS Energy has concluded that the government’s tax claim is without merit and the purchaser of CMS Oil and Gas submitted a response to the government rejecting the claim. The government of Equatorial Guinea has indicated that it still intends to pursue its claim.merit.  CMS Energy is vigorously contesting the claim, and cannot predict the financial impact or outcome of this matter.
Marathon Indemnity Claim regarding F.T. Barr Claim: In 2001, F.T. Barr filed a lawsuit in Harris County District Court in Texas against CMS Energy, CMS Oil and Gas, and other defendants alleging that his overriding royalty payments related to Alba field production were improperly calculated. In 2004, all parties signed a confidential settlement agreement that resolved claims between Barr and the defendants. The CMS Energy defendants reserved all defenses to any indemnity claim relating to the settlement.
In April 2009, certain Marathon entities filed a case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas against CMS Enterprises for indemnification in connection with this matter. In December 2010, CMS Energy and Marathon signed a confidential settlement agreement that resolved this matter. This settlement did not have a material impact on CMS Energy’s consolidated income, cash flows, or financial position.
Former NOMECO Employees’ Litigation: In June 2010, eight former employees of NOMECO filed a lawsuit in Ingham County Circuit Court in Michigan against CMS Energy and three Marathon entities (Richard Rulewicz, Trustee of the Richard Rulewicz Revocable Living Trust, et al. v. CMS Energy) alleging underpayment of the former employees’ overriding royalty payments related to the Alba field production in Equatorial Guinea, to which the plaintiffs claim to be entitled. CMS Oil and Gas sold its interests in the Alba field to Marathon in 2002. CMS Energy believes that it may be entitled to full or partial indemnification from Marathon for monetary damages


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CONSUMERS ELECTRIC UTILITY CONTINGENCIES

CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
that may arise from this lawsuit. Although CMS Energy cannot predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of this litigation, the resolution of this matter is not expected to have a material adverse impact on CMS Energy’s consolidated income, cash flows, or financial position.

Consumers’ Electric Utility Contingencies

Electric Environmental Matters:  Consumers’ operations are subject to environmental laws and regulations.  Generally,Historically, Consumers has generally been able to recover, in customer rates, the costs to operate its facilities in compliance with these laws and regulations.

Cleanup and Solid Waste:  Consumers expects to incur remediation and other response activity costs at a number of sites under NREPA.  Consumers believes that these costs should be recoverable in rates, but cannot guarantee that outcome.  Consumers estimates that its liability for NREPA sites will be between $4 million and $6 million.  At December 31, 2010,2013, Consumers had a recorded liability of $2$4 million, the minimum amount in the range of its estimated probable NREPA liability.

Consumers is a potentially responsible party at a number of contaminated sites administered under the Superfund. SuperfundCERCLA.  CERCLA liability is joint and several.  In addition to Consumers, many other creditworthy parties with substantial assets are potentially responsible with respect to the individual sites. In November 2010, Consumers received official notification from the EPA that identified Consumers as a potentially responsible party for cleanup of PCBs at the Kalamazoo River SuperfundCERCLA site.  The notification claimed that the EPA has reason to believe that Consumers disposed of PCBs and arranged for the disposal and treatment of PCB-containing materials at portions of the site.  In April 2011, Consumers responded to the EPA in December 2010, stating that it has no information showing that it disposed of PCBs or arranged for disposal or treatment of PCB-containing material at portions of the site and requesting further informationreceived a follow-up letter from the EPA beforerequesting that Consumers would commitagree to perform or finance cleanup activities atparticipate in a removal action plan along with several other companies for an area of lower Portage Creek, which is connected to the site.Kalamazoo River.  All parties, including Consumers, that were asked to participate in the removal action plan declined to accept liability.  Until further information is received from the EPA, Consumers is unable to estimate a range of potential liability for cleanup of the river.

Based on its experience, Consumers estimates that its share of the total liability for other known SuperfundCERCLA sites will be between $2$3 million and $8$9 million.  Various factors, including the number of potentially responsible parties involved with each site, affect Consumers’ share of the total liability.  At December 31, 2010,2013, Consumers had a recorded liability of $2$3 million for its share of the total liability at these sites, the minimum amount in the range of its estimated probable SuperfundCERCLA liability.

The timing of payments related to Consumers’ remediation and other response activities at its SuperfundCERCLA and NREPA sites is uncertain.  Consumers periodically reviews these cost estimates.  Any significant change in the underlying assumptions, such as an increase in the number of sites, different remediation

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techniques, the nature and extent of contamination, and legal and regulatory requirements, could affect its estimates of NREPA and SuperfundCERCLA liability.

Ludington PCB:  In 1998, during routine maintenance activities, Consumers identified PCB as a component in certain paint, grout, and sealant materials at Ludington.  Consumers removed and replaced part of the PCB material with non-PCB material.  Since proposing a plan to take action with respect to the remaining materials, Consumers has had several communications with the EPA.EPA regarding this matter.  Although Consumers is not able to predict when the EPA will issue a final ruling and cannot predict the financial impact or outcome of this matter.


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matter, it does not expect future remediation costs to be material.


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Electric Utility Plant Air Permit Issues and Notices of Violation:In 2007, Consumers received an NOV/FOV from the EPA alleging that fourteen utility boilers exceeded the visible emission limits in their associated air permits.  Consumers has responded formally to the NOV/FOV denying the allegations.  In addition, in 2008, Consumers received an NOV for three of its coal-fueled facilities alleging, among other things, violations of NSR PSD regulations relating to ten projects from 1986 to 1998 allegedly subject to NSR review.review under the NSR.  The EPA has alleged that some utilities have classified incorrectly major plant modifications as RMRR rather than seeking permits from the EPA or state regulatory agencies to modify their plants.  Consumers responded to the information requests from the EPA on this subject in the past.  Consumers believes that it has properly interpreted the requirements of RMRR.

Consumers is engaged in discussions with the EPA on all of these matters.  Depending upon the outcome of these discussions, the EPA could bring legal action against Consumersand/or Consumers could be required to install additional pollution control equipment at some or all of its coal-fueled electric generating plants, surrender emission allowances, engage in Supplemental Environmental Mitigation Projects,and/or pay fines.  Additionally, Consumers would need to assess the viability of continuing operations at certain plants.  The potential costs relating to these matters could be material and the extent of cost recovery cannot be reasonably estimated. Although Consumers cannot predict the financial impact or outcome of these matters,material.  Consumers expects that it would be able to recover some or all of the costs in rates, consistent with the recovery of other reasonable costs of complying with environmental laws and regulations.

regulations, but cannot reasonably estimate the extent of cost recovery.  Although Consumers cannot predict the financial impact or outcome of the entirety of these discussions, it does not expect any future loss from civil penalties and/or Environmental Mitigation Projects to be material.

Nuclear Matters:Matters

DOE Litigation:: In 1997,  The matters discussed in this section relate to Consumers’ previously owned nuclear generating plants.  Consumers no longer owns or operates any nuclear generating facilities.

Consumers filed a U.S. Court of Appeals decision confirmed that the DOE was to begin accepting deliveries of spent nuclear fuelcomplaint in 2002 for disposal by January 1998. Subsequent U.S. Court of Appeals litigation, in which Consumers and other utilities participated, has not been successful in producing more specific relief fordamages resulting from the DOE’s failure to accept the spent nuclear fuel.

A number of court decisions support the right of utilities to pursue damage claims in the U.S. Court of Claims against the DOE for failure to take delivery of spent nuclear fuel. Consumers filed a complaint in 2002. If Consumers’ litigation against the DOE is successful, Consumers plans to use any recoveries as reimbursement for the incurred costs of spent nuclear fuel storage during Consumers’ ownership offrom Palisades and Big Rock.  The sale of Palisades and the Big Rock ISFSI did not transfer the right to any recoveries fromIn 2011, Consumers entered into an agreement with the DOE related to costssettle its claims for $120 million.  As part of spent nuclear fuel storage incurred during Consumers’ ownership of Palisades and Big Rock.
Nuclear Fuel Disposal Cost:this agreement, Consumers has a recordedalso settled its liability of $163 millionto the DOE to fund the disposal of spent nuclear fuel used at Palisades and Big Rock before 1983.  This balance comprisesIn December 2012, the principal amountMPSC issued an order establishing the regulatory treatment of $44 million collected from customers for spent nuclear fuel disposal fees and $119 million of interest accrued on those collections. The liability, which is classified in Long-term debt on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Consolidated Balance Sheets, is payable to the DOE when it begins to accept delivery of spent nuclear fuel.settlement amount.  In conjunction with the sale of Palisades and the Big Rock ISFSI in 2007, Consumers retained this obligation and provided a letter of credit to Entergy as security for this obligation. In its November 2010 electric rate order, the MPSC directedalso relieved Consumers of its obligation to establish within six months of the date of the order, an independent trust fund for the amount that was payable to the DOE.DOE prior to the settlement.  In March 2013, a party in this case filed an appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals to dispute the December 2010, Consumers2012 MPSC order.  For further information, see Note 2, Regulatory Matters.

Renewable Energy Matters:  In April 2013, a group of landowners filed a Petition for Rehearinglawsuit in Mason County (Michigan) Circuit Court alleging, among other things, personal injury, loss of property value, and Clarification, requesting thatimpacts to use and enjoyment of their land as a result of the MPSC modify its conclusion thatoperations of Lake Winds® Energy Park.  Consumers cannot predict the ultimate financial impact or outcome of this amount be placed in a trust.

matter.

Consumers’ Gas Utility ContingenciesC

ONSUMERS GAS UTILITY CONTINGENCIES

Gas Environmental Matters:  Consumers expects to incur remediation and other response activity costs at a number of sites under the NREPA.  These sites include 23 former MGP facilities.  Consumers

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operated the facilities on these sites for some part of their operating lives.  For some of these sites, Consumers has no present ownership interest or may own only a portion of the original site.

At December 31, 2010,2013, Consumers estimatedhad a recorded liability of $117 million for its remaining obligations for these sites.  This amount represents the present value of long-term projected costs, using a discount rate of 2.57 percent and an inflation rate of 2.5 percent.  The undiscounted amount of the remaining obligation is $127 million.  Consumers expects to incur remediation and other response activity costs to be between $31 million and


109


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
$46 million. Generally, Consumers has been able to recover mostin each of its costs to date through proceeds from insurance settlements and customer rates.
At December 31, 2010, Consumers had a recorded liability of $31 million and a regulatory asset of $58 million that included $27 million of deferred MGP expenditures. The timing of payments related to the remediation and other response activity at Consumers’ former MGP sites is uncertain. Consumers expects its remediation and other response activity costs to average $6 million annually over the next five years. years as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

2014

 

2015

 

2016

 

2017

 

2018

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remediation and other response activity costs

 

$

8

 

$

12

 

$

12

 

$

9

 

$

19

 

Consumers periodically reviews these cost estimates.  Any significant change in the underlying assumptions, such as an increase in the number of sites, changes in remediation techniques, or legal and regulatory requirements, could affect Consumers’ estimates of annual response activity costs and the MGP liability.

Pursuant to orders issued by the MPSC, Consumers defers its MGP-related remediation costs and recovers them from its customers over a ten-year period.  At December 31, 2013, Consumers had a regulatory asset of $148 million related to the MGP sites.

Consumers estimates that its liability to perform remediation and other response activities at NREPA sites other than the MGP sites will be up to $3 million.  At December 31, 2013, Consumers had a recorded liability of less than $1 million, the minimum amount in the range of its estimated probable liability.

GuaranteesC

ONSUMERS OTHER CONTINGENCIES

Other Environmental Matters:  Consumers initiated preliminary investigations during 2012 at a number of potentially contaminated sites it owns with the intention of determining whether any contamination existed and the extent of any identified contamination.  The sites investigated included combustion turbine sites, generating sites, compressor stations, and above-ground fuel storage tank locations.  Consumers completed the investigations in 2013 and found no additional risk associated with contamination that would warrant further investigation.

GUARANTEES

Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ guarantees at December 31, 2010:

             
      Maximum
  Carrying
 
Guarantee Description
 Issue Date Expiration Date Obligation  Amount 
  In Millions 
 
Indemnity obligations from asset sales and other agreements Various


 Various through
June 2022
 $512(a) $21 
Guarantees and put options(b) Various


 Various through
December 2011
  36   1 
(a)The majority of this amount arises from stock and asset sales2013:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum

 

Carrying

 

Guarantee Description

 

Issue Date

 

Expiration Date

 

Obligation

 

Amount

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indemnity obligations from asset sales and other agreements

 

Various

 

Various through
September 2029

 

$

471

1

$

16

 

Guarantees

 

Various

 

Various through
March 2021

 

57

 

-

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indemnity obligations and other guarantees

 

Various

 

Various through
September 2029

 

$

30

 

$

1

 

1 The majority of this amount arises from stock and asset sale agreements under which CMS Energy or a subsidiary of CMS Energy, other than Consumers, indemnified the purchaser for losses resulting from various matters, including claims related to tax disputes, claims related to PPAs, and defects in title to the assets or stock sold to the purchaser by CMS Energy subsidiaries. Except for items described elsewhere in this Note, CMS Energy believes the likelihood of material loss to be remote for the indemnity obligations not recorded as liabilities.

(b)At December 31, 2010, the carrying amount of CMS Land’s put option agreements with certain Bay Harbor property owners was $1 million. If CMS Land is required to purchase a Bay Harbor property under a put option agreement, it may sell the property to recover the amount paid under the put option agreement.
At December 31, 2010, the maximum obligationpurchaser for losses resulting from various

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matters, including claims related to tax disputes, claims related to power purchase agreements, and carrying amountsdefects in title to the assets or stock sold to the purchaser by CMS Energy subsidiaries.  Except for Consumers’ guarantees were less than $1 million.

items described elsewhere in this Note, CMS Energy believes the likelihood of material loss to be remote for the indemnity obligations not recorded as liabilities.

Presented in the following table is additional information regarding CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ guarantees:

Guarantee Description

How Guarantee Arose

Events That Would Require Performance

CMS Energy, including Consumers

Indemnity obligations from asset

Stock and asset sale

Findings of misrepresentation,

sales and other agreements

Stock and asset sales

agreements

Findings of misrepresentation,

breach of warranties, tax claims, and

other specific events or circumstances

Guarantees and put options

circumstances

Guarantees

Normal operating activity

Nonperformance or non-payment by a

activity

subsidiary under a related contract

Consumers

Bay Harbor remediation efforts

Owners exercising put options requiring CMS Land to purchase property

Indemnity obligations and

Normal operating

Nonperformance or claims made by a third

other guarantees

activity

party under a related contract

CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain other subsidiaries of CMS Energy also enter into various agreements containing tax and other indemnity provisions for which they are unable to estimate the maximum potential


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CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
obligation.  These factors include unspecified exposure under certain agreements.  CMS Energy and Consumers consider the likelihood that they would be required to perform or incur substantial losses related to these indemnities to be remote.

Other ContingenciesO

THER CONTINGENCIES

Other:In addition to the matters disclosed in this Note and Note 6,2, Regulatory Matters, there are certain other lawsuits and administrative proceedings before various courts and governmental agencies arising in the ordinary course of business to which CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain other subsidiaries of CMS Energy are parties.  These other lawsuits and proceedings may involve personal injury, property damage, contracts, environmental issues,matters, federal and state taxes, rates, licensing, employment, and other matters.  Further, CMS Energy and Consumers occasionally self-report certain regulatory non-compliance matters that may or may not eventually result in administrative proceedings.  CMS Energy and Consumers believe that the outcome of any one of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on their consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity.

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Contractual CommitmentsC

ONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS

Purchase Obligations:  Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ contractual cashpurchase obligations at December 31, 20102013 for each of the periods shown.  CMS Energy did not have any contractual cash obligations at December 31, 2010 that were not included in Consumers’ reported amounts.

                     
     Payments Due 
     Less Than
  One to
  Three to
  More Than
 
  Total  One Year  Three Years  Five Years  Five Years 
  In Millions 
 
Consumers
                    
Purchase obligations $15,794  $1,996  $2,613  $1,751  $9,434 
Purchase obligations — related parties  1,735   87   180   193   1,275 
Purchase obligations arearise from long-term contracts for the purchase of commodities and services. These obligations include operating contracts used to ensure adequate supply with generating facilities that meet PURPA requirements.related services, and construction and service agreements.  The commodities and related services include natural gas and associated transportation, electricity, and coal and associated transportation.
  Purchase obligations – related parties arise from long-term power purchase agreements from certain affiliates of CMS Enterprises.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

Payments Due

 

 

 

Total

 

2014

 

2015

 

2016

 

2017

 

2018

 

Beyond 
2018

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase obligations

 

$

12,068

 

$

1,879

 

$

983

 

$

1,032

 

$

1,001

 

$

1,006

 

$

6,167

 

Purchase obligations – related parties

 

1,244

 

89

 

84

 

86

 

88

 

87

 

810

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase obligations

 

$

11,838

 

$

1,803

 

$

955

 

$

1,005

 

$

974

 

$

979

 

$

6,122

 

Purchase obligations – related parties

 

1,244

 

89

 

84

 

86

 

88

 

87

 

810

 

The MCV PPA:  Consumers has a35-year PPA that began in 1990 with the MCV Partnership to purchase 1,240 MW of electricity.  The MCV PPA, as amended and restated, provides for:

• a capacity charge of $10.14 per MWh of available capacity;
• a fixed energy charge based on Consumers’ annual average baseload coal generating plant operating and maintenance cost, fuel inventory, and average administrative and general expenses;
• a variable energy charge for all delivered energy that reflects the MCV Partnership’s cost of production;
• a $5 million annual contribution by the MCV Partnership to a renewable resources program; and
• an option for Consumers to extend the MCV PPA for five years or purchase the MCV Facility at the conclusion of the MCV PPA’s term in March 2025.

·a capacity charge of $10.14 per MWh of available capacity;

·a fixed energy charge based on Consumers’ annual average baseload coal generating plant operating and maintenance cost, fuel inventory, and average administrative and general expenses;

·a variable energy charge for all delivered energy that reflects the MCV Partnership’s cost of production;

·a $5 million annual contribution by the MCV Partnership to a renewable resources program; and

·an option for Consumers to extend the MCV PPA for five years or purchase the MCV Facility at the conclusion of the MCV PPA’s term in March 2025.

Capacity and energy charges net of RCP replacement energy and benefits, under the MCV PPA were $285$278 million in 2010, $2462013, $319 million in 2009,2012, and $320$292 million in 2008. Based on a 2008 contract amendment and approval by the MPSC that allows Consumers to manage the contract more cost effectively,2011.  Consumers estimates that capacity and energy charges under the MCV PPA will average $320 million annually.  These amounts are included in the table above.


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CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
The Palisades PPA:  Consumers has a PPA expiring in 2022 with Entergy to purchase all of the capacity and energy produced by Palisades, up to the annual average capacity of 798 MW.  Consumers estimates that capacity and energy payments under the Palisades PPA will average $342$370 million annually.  A portion of these amounts is included in the table above.  Consumers’ total purchases of capacity and energy under the PPA were $286$338 million in 2010, $2762013, $331 million in 2009,2012, and $298$311 million in 2008.2011.  For further details about Palisades, see Note 14,9, Leases.

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6: REGULATORY MATTERS

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Rate Matters

Rate matters are critical to Consumers. Depending upon the specific issues, the outcomes of rate cases and proceedings could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. Consumers cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings.
Consumers’ Electric Utility
Electric Rate Cases: The MPSC, through a final order and rehearing in Consumers’ 2009 electric rate case, directed Consumers to refund to customers the difference between the rates it self-implemented in May 2009 and the rates authorized in the order, plus interest, subject to a reconciliation proceeding. In August 2010, the MPSC ordered Consumers to refund self-implemented revenue of $16 million to customers. Consumers refunded this amount in September 2010.
In January 2010, Consumers filed an application with the MPSC seeking an annual increase in revenue of $178 million based on an 11 percent authorized return on equity. The filing requested authority to recover new investments in system reliability, environmental compliance, and technology advancements.
In July 2010, Consumers self-implemented an annual electric rate increase of $150 million, subject to refund with interest. Consumers self-implemented $28 million less than it originally requested in order to respond to concerns raised by the MPSC Staff and other intervenors and to provide a balance between the need for investment in Michigan’s infrastructure, which will support economic recovery in the state, and the resulting rate impacts on customers. In its July 2010 order allowing Consumers to self-implement the $150 million increase, the MPSC expressed concern about utilities repeatedly self-implementing rate increases over short time periods, and before the return of previous overcollections of self-implemented rate increases. In August 2010, the Attorney General filed a claim for appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals regarding the MPSC’s July 2010 order.
In November 2010, the MPSC issued its order in this case, authorizing Consumers to increase its rates in an annual amount of $146 million based on an authorized return on equity of 10.7 percent. Presented in the following table are the components of the electric rate increase authorized by the MPSC and Consumers’ self-implemented increase:
             
     Consumers’
    
  Increase Authorized
  Self-Implemented
    
Components of the increase in revenue by the MPSC  Increase  Difference 
  In Millions 
 
Investment in rate base $102  $106  $(4)
Recovery of operating and maintenance costs  25   21   4 
Cost of capital     18   (18)
Impact of sales declines  19   5   14 
             
Total $146  $150  $(4)
             
The MPSC directed Consumers to refund to customers the difference between the rates it self-implemented in July 2010 and the rates authorized in the November 2010 order, plus interest, subject to a reconciliation proceeding.


112


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
In February 2011, Consumers filed an application to reconcile the total revenues collected under its self-implemented rates with those that would have been collected under the rates authorized by the MPSC. This reconciliation found that no refund is required.
Power Supply Cost Recovery: The PSCR process is designed to allow Consumers to recover all of its power supply costs if incurred under reasonable and prudent policies and practices. The MPSC reviews these costs, policies, and practices in annual plan and reconciliation proceedings. Consumers adjusts its PSCR billing factor monthly in order to minimize the overrecovery or underrecovery amount in the annual PSCR reconciliation.
PSCR Plans: In September 2009, Consumers submitted its 2010 PSCR plan to the MPSC. In accordance with its proposed plan, Consumers self-implemented the 2010 PSCR charge beginning in January 2010. In February 2011, the MPSC issued an order approving Consumers’ 2010 PSCR plan with the exception of $5 million of gas supply costs related to Zeeland.
In September 2010, Consumers submitted its 2011 PSCR plan to the MPSC. In accordance with its proposed plan, Consumers self-implemented the 2011 PSCR charge beginning in January 2011.
PSCR Reconciliations: Presented in the following table is the PSCR reconciliation filing pending with the MPSC:
PSCR Cost of
PSCR YearDate FiledNet UnderrecoveryPower Sold
2009March 2010$39 million(a)$1.6 billion
(a)In 2005, the MPSC approved an economic development discount for a large industrial customer to promote long-term investments in the industrial infrastructure of Michigan. It was determined in the November 2009 electric rate case order that recovery of this discount should be provided through the electric general rates that Consumers self-implemented in May 2009. That order, however, did not address the recovery of the power-supply component of the discount provided from January 2009 through self-implementation, which totaled $4 million. Consumers has requested recovery of this amount through its 2009 PSCR reconciliation. In this reconciliation, intervenors are seeking disallowances ranging from $11 million to $43 million.
The MPSC issued an order in Consumers’ 2007 PSCR reconciliation in March 2010. In April 2010, Consumers filed for a rehearing in its reconciliation, asking the MPSC to reconsider its decision to disallow recovery of a $2 million economic development discount provided in 2007 to the large industrial customer. In June 2010, the MPSC denied Consumers’ petition for rehearing. In July 2010, Consumers filed a claim for appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals regarding the MPSC’s decision to disallow recovery of the economic development discount. In January 2011, the Michigan Court of Appeals dismissed Consumers’ claim.
The MPSC issued an order in Consumers’ 2008 PSCR reconciliation in June 2010. In July 2010, Consumers filed for a rehearing in its 2008 PSCR reconciliation, asking the MPSC to reconsider its decision to disallow recovery of a $3 million economic development discount. In January 2011, the MPSC denied Consumers’ petition for rehearing.
Electric Operation and Maintenance Expenditures Show-Cause Order: In December 2005, the MPSC authorized Consumers to increase its electric rates. In the same order, the MPSC ordered Consumers to spend certain amounts on future tree-trimming and line-clearing activities, as well as on the operation and maintenance of Consumers’ fossil-fueled power plants. At that time, the MPSC also ordered Consumers to establish mechanisms to track these expenditures and stated that the rate increase was subject to refund with interest if the specified amounts were not spent on these activities.


113


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
In October 2009, the MPSC issued a show-cause order alleging that, in 2007, Consumers spent $14 million less on forestry and fossil-fueled plant operation and maintenance activity than the amount ordered by the MPSC and that Consumers had not refunded this amount to customers. The order directed Consumers to explain why it should not be found in violation of the MPSC’s December 2005 order and subjected to applicable sanctions, and why the refunds required by that order had not yet occurred. Consumers’ response indicated that the total amount it spent on forestry and fossil-fueled plant operation and maintenance activity for the years 2006 through 2009 exceeded the total amounts included in rates for these activities.
In March 2010, the MPSC Staff requested that the MPSC find Consumers in violation of the December 2005 order and that the MPSC order Consumers to refund $27 million for failure to meet annual spending requirements during 2007 and 2008. Consumers filed a response, stating that it would be unreasonable and unlawful to order a refund of this amount and that Consumers’ expenditures were consistent with the MPSC’s orders. In March 2010, the administrative law judge’s proposal for decision found Consumers’ expenditures to be prudent and that Consumers did not violate the December 2005 order. The administrative law judge recommended that the MPSC find that no violation of the December 2005 order occurred and that no refunds be made to customers.
Electric Depreciation: In February 2010, Consumers filed an electric depreciation case related to its wholly owned electric utility property. As ordered by the MPSC, Consumers prepared a traditionalcost-of-removal study, which supported a $46 million increase in annual depreciation expense.
Also in February 2010, Consumers filed an electric depreciation case for Ludington, the pumped-storage plant jointly owned by Consumers and Detroit Edison. This case, filed jointly with Detroit Edison, requests an increase in annual depreciation expense. Consumers’ share of this increase is $9 million annually.
Wind Plant Depreciation: In January 2011, Consumers filed an application with the MPSC seeking approval of depreciation rates for facilities to be installed in connection with Consumers’ plans to construct a100-MW wind farm, Lake Winds Energy Park, in Mason County, Michigan. This case requests an increase of $10 million in annual depreciation expense associated with these wind power production facilities.
Renewable Energy Plan: In June 2010, Consumers filed its first annual report and reconciliation for its renewable energy plan with the MPSC, requesting approval of Consumers’ reconciliation of renewable energy plan costs for 2009.
In February 2011, Consumers filed an amended renewable energy plan to reduce the amount recoverable from customers. Consumers proposed the amendment as a result oflower-than-anticipated costs to comply with the renewable energy requirements prescribed by the 2008 Energy Legislation.
Energy Optimization Plan: In April 2010, Consumers filed its first annual report and reconciliation for its energy optimization plan with the MPSC, requesting approval of Consumers’ reconciliation of energy optimization plan costs for 2009. Consumers also requested approval to collect $6 million from customers as an incentive payment for achieving savings targets under both its gas and electric energy optimization plans during 2009.
During 2010, Consumers achieved 137 percent of its electric savings target and 124 percent of its gas savings target. For achieving these savings levels, Consumers will request the MPSC’s approval to collect $8 million, the maximum incentive, in the energy optimization reconciliation to be filed in April 2011.
As one of the conditions to the continuation of the electric and gas decoupling mechanisms, Consumers must exceed the statutory savings targets specified in the 2008 Energy Legislation for 2011 through 2014. In December 2010, the MPSC approved Consumers’ amended energy optimization plan to recover the additional spending necessary to exceed these savings targets.


114


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Consumers’ Gas Utility
Gas Rate Cases: In May 2010, the MPSC authorized Consumers to implement an annual rate increase of $66 million, based on an authorized return on equity of 10.55 percent. In December 2010, the MPSC directed Consumers to refund $11 million to customers for the difference between the rates it self-implemented in November 2009 and the rates authorized by the MPSC in its order, plus interest, in January 2011.
In August 2010, Consumers filed an application with the MPSC seeking an annual increase in revenue of $55 million based on an 11 percent authorized return on equity. The filing requested recovery for investments made to enhance safety, system reliability, and operational efficiencies that improve service to customers. In January 2011, the MPSC Staff recommended a revenue increase of $5 million, based on a 10.1 percent return on equity.
In January 2011, Consumers filed testimony and exhibits with the MPSC in support of a self-implemented annual gas rate increase of $48 million, subject to refund with interest. In February 2011, Consumers filed a letter with the MPSC revising the proposed self-implemented increase to $29 million. The MPSC issued an order in February 2011, delaying Consumers’ self-implementation in order to give other parties to the proceeding an opportunity to respond to Consumers’ revised self-implementation filing.
Presented in the following table are the components of the rate increase recommended by the MPSC Staff and the self-implemented increase proposed by Consumers:
             
     Consumers’
    
     Proposed
    
  Increase Recommended
  Self-Implemented
    
Components of the increase in revenue by the MPSC Staff  Increase  Difference 
  In Millions 
 
Investment in rate base $25  $28  $(3)
Recovery of operating and maintenance costs  2   7   (5)
Cost of capital  (20)  (9)  (11)
Impact of sales declines  (2)  3   (5)
             
Total $5  $29  $(24)
             
Gas Cost Recovery: The GCR process is designed to allow Consumers to recover all of its purchased natural gas costs if incurred under reasonable and prudent policies and practices. The MPSC reviews these costs, policies, and practices in annual plan and reconciliation proceedings. Consumers adjusts its GCR billing factor monthly in order to minimize the overrecovery or underrecovery amount in the annual GCR reconciliation.
GCR Plans: In March 2010, the MPSC authorized Consumers to implement its2009-2010 base GCR factor and generally approved Consumers’ plan.
In December 2010, the MPSC authorized Consumers to implement its2010-2011 base GCR factor with certain adjustments to its purchasing guidelines and contingent cost recovery methodology.
In December 2010, Consumers filed an application with the MPSC seeking approval of its GCR plan for the2011-2012 GCR plan year. Consumers plans to self-implement its filed GCR plan factor in April 2011.
GCR Reconciliation: Presented in the following table is the GCR reconciliation filing pending with the MPSC:
GCR Cost of
GCR YearDate FiledNet OverrecoveryGas Sold
2009-2010June 2010$1 million$1.3 billion


115


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
In November 2010, the MPSC issued an order in Consumers’2008-2009 GCR reconciliation approving full recovery of $1.8 billion in gas costs, and authorized Consumers to roll into its2009-2010 GCR plan the underrecovery of $16 million.
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
Consumers is subject to the actions of the MPSC and FERC and prepares its Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with the provisions of regulatory accounting. A utility must apply regulatory accounting when its rates are designed to recover specific costs of providing regulated services. Under regulatory accounting, Consumers records regulatory assets or liabilities for certain transactions that would have been treated as expense or revenue by non-regulated businesses.
Consumers reflected the following regulatory assets and liabilities, which included both current and non-current amounts, on its Consolidated Balance Sheets:
           
  End of
      
  Recovery
      
  or Refund
      
December 31
 Period 2010  2009 
    In Millions 
 
Regulatory Assets:          
Postretirement benefits (Note 11)(a) various $1,383  $1,464 
Securitized costs (Note 7)(b) 2015  310   364 
ARO (Note 16)(b) various  107   100 
Big Rock nuclear decommissioning and related costs(b)(c) n/a  85   85 
MGP sites (Note 5)(a) 2020  58   63 
Unamortized debt costs(b) n/a  52   56 
Stranded costs(d) 2013  46   67 
Decoupling mechanisms(d)(e) n/a  39   5 
Energy optimization plan incentive(b)(f) various  14   6 
Uncollectible expense tracking mechanism(d)(g) n/a  3   6 
Customer Choice Act(d) 2013  2   42 
Other(d)(h) various  13   52 
           
Total regulatory assets(i)   $2,112  $2,310 
           
Regulatory Liabilities:          
Cost of removal(j) various $1,311  $1,247 
Income taxes, net (Note 12) various  410   529 
ARO (Note 16) various  122   130 
Renewable energy plan(k) n/a  101   25 
Energy optimization plan(k) n/a  34   6 
Self-implemented rate refunds(l) 2011  14   18 
Refund of revenue in excess of nuclear decommissioning costs(m) 2011  7   86 
Palisades refund(n) 2011  2   85 
Other(h) various  9   10 
           
Total regulatory liabilities(i)   $2,010  $2,136 
           


116


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(a)The regulatory assets associated with postretirement benefits and MGP sites are offset partially by liabilities. The net amount is included in rate base (or is expected to be included, for costs incurred subsequent to the most recently approved rate case), thereby providing a return.
(b)These regulatory assets represent incurred costs for which the MPSC has provided, or Consumers expects, recovery without a return on investment.
(c)Consumers paid $30 million to Entergy to assume ownership and responsibility for the Big Rock ISFSI, and incurred $55 million for nuclear fuel storage costs as a result of the DOE’s failure to accept spent nuclear fuel. Consumers is seeking recovery of these costs from the DOE.
(d)These regulatory assets either are included in rate base (or are expected to be included, for costs incurred subsequent to the most recently approved rate case), thereby providing a return on incurred costs, or provide a specific return on investment authorized by the MPSC.
(e)A decoupling mechanism, authorized by the MPSC in Consumers’ 2009 electric rate case order and extended in the 2010 electric rate case order, allows Consumers to adjust future electric rates to compensate for changes in sales volumes resulting from weather fluctuations, energy efficiency, and conservation. Various parties have filed appeals concerning the electric decoupling mechanism. At December 31, 2010, Consumers had a $28 million non-current regulatory asset recorded for electric decoupling. At December 31, 2009, Consumers had a $5 million non-current regulatory asset recorded for electric decoupling. Consumers plans to file its first annual electric decoupling mechanism reconciliation in March 2011.
Also, in its May 2010 gas rate order, the MPSC authorized Consumers to adopt a gas decoupling mechanism, which is similar to the electric decoupling mechanism except that it does not compensate for changes in sales volumes resulting from weather fluctuations. At December 31, 2010, Consumers had an $11 million non-current regulatory asset recorded for gas decoupling. Consumers plans to file its first annual gas decoupling mechanism reconciliation in September 2011.
(f)In 2009 and 2010, Consumers exceeded annual energy savings targets established by the MPSC and, therefore, qualified for financial incentives. For achieving 2009 targets, Consumers requested $6 million from the MPSC through the energy optimization reconciliation case filed in April 2010. Consumers will request $8 million, the maximum incentive for achieving 2010 targets, from the MPSC through the energy optimization reconciliation to be filed in April 2011. Consumers reported the 2009 and 2010 incentives in non-current regulatory assets.
(g)In its November 2009 electric rate order, the MPSC authorized an uncollectible expense tracking mechanism, which allowed future rates to be adjusted to collect or refund 80 percent of the difference between the level of electric uncollectible expense included in rates and actual uncollectible expense. Various parties have filed appeals concerning the uncollectible expense tracking mechanism. In its November 2010 electric rate order, the MPSC terminated the uncollectible expense tracking mechanism as of November 2010 and ordered Consumers to file its reconciliation for the entire period of the tracker in March 2011.
(h)At December 31, 2010 and 2009, other regulatory assets included electric restructuring implementation costs, a gas inventory regulatory asset, and OPEB and pension expense incurred in excess of the MPSC-approved amounts. Consumers will recover these regulatory assets from its customers. Other regulatory liabilities included AFUDC collected in excess of the MPSC-approved amount.
(i)At December 31, 2010, Consumers had $19 million of regulatory assets classified as current regulatory assets and $22 million of regulatory liabilities classified as current regulatory liabilities. At December 31, 2009, Consumers had $19 million of regulatory assets classified as current regulatory assets and $145 million of regulatory liabilities classified as current regulatory liabilities.


117


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(j)Consumers records a non-current regulatory liability for the amounts collected from customers to fund future asset removal costs.
(k)At December 31, 2010 and 2009, surcharges collected from customers to fund Consumers’ renewable energy plan and energy optimization plan exceeded Consumers’ spending. These excess amounts are reported in the non-current portion of regulatory liabilities, as the period in which Consumers will spend the surcharges collected is beyond one year. The regulatory liability related to the renewable energy plan will be amortized as costs are incurred to operate and depreciate Consumers’ planned wind farms and as Consumers purchases RECs under renewable energy purchase agreements. Consumers expects its first wind farm, Lake Winds Energy Park, to be operational in late 2012. Delivery of RECs under the majority of Consumers’ renewable energy purchase agreements is also expected to begin during 2012.
(l)At December 31, 2010, Consumers had a $3 million regulatory liability recorded related to its self-implemented electric rates and an $11 million regulatory liability recorded related to its self-implemented gas rates. At December 31, 2009, Consumers had a $17 million regulatory liability recorded related to its self-implemented electric rates.
(m)The MPSC and FERC regulate the recovery of Consumers’ costs to decommission Big Rock. Subsequent to 2000, Consumers stopped funding a Big Rock trust fund because the collection period for an MPSC-authorized decommissioning surcharge expired on that date. The level of funds provided by the trust fell short of the amount needed to complete decommissioning and Consumers provided $44 million of corporate contributions for decommissioning costs.
In an order issued in February 2010, the MPSC concluded that certain revenues collected during a statutory rate freeze from 2001 through 2003 should have been deposited in a decommissioning trust fund. The MPSC agreed that Consumers was entitled to recover $44 million of decommissioning costs, but concluded that Consumers had collected this amount previously through the rates in effect during the rate freeze. In April 2010, the MPSC ordered Consumers to refund $85 million of revenue collected in excess of decommissioning costs plus interest, over seven months beginning in July 2010. At December 31, 2010, a $7 million regulatory liability remained to be refunded. Consumers completed this refund in January 2011. Consumers filed an appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals in March 2010 to dispute the MPSC’s conclusion that the collections received during the rate freeze should be subject to refund.
(n)In 2009, the MPSC required Consumers to distribute to customers proceeds from the Palisades and Big Rock ISFSI sale transaction and Palisades decommissioning fund balances.
Consumers’ PSCR and GCR mechanisms also represent probable future revenues that will be recovered from customers or previously collected revenues that will be refunded to customers through the ratemaking process. Underrecoveries are included in Accrued power supply and overrecoveries are included in Accrued rate refunds on Consumers’ Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Consumers reflected the following regulatory assets and liabilities for PSCR and GCR underrecoveries and overrecoveries on its Consolidated Balance Sheets:
         
Years Ended December 31
 2010 2009
  In Millions
 
Regulatory assets for PSCR and GCR underrecoveries $15  $48 
Regulatory liabilities for PSCR and GCR overrecoveries $19  $21 


118


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
7:4:    FINANCINGS AND CAPITALIZATION

Presented in the following table is CMS Energy’s Long-termlong-term debt at December 31:

               
  Interest Rate (%)  Maturity 2010  2009 
       In Millions 
 
CMS Energy
              
Senior notes  7.750  2010 $  $67 
   8.500  2011  146   214 
   6.300  2012  50   150 
   Variable(a) 2013  150   150 
   6.875  2015  125   125 
   4.250  2015  250    
   6.550  2017  250   250 
   5.050  2018  250    
   8.750  2019  300   300 
   6.250  2020  300    
   3.375(b) 2023  4   140 
   2.875(b) 2024  288   288 
   5.500(b) 2029  172   172 
               
        $2,285  $1,856 
Revolving credit facility           25 
               
Total — CMS Energy       $2,285  $1,881 
Consumers
       $4,529  $4,411 
Other CMS Energy Subsidiaries
              
EnerBank brokered certificates of deposit  1.707(c) 2011-2018  363   214 
Genesee tax exempt bonds(e)  7.500  2011-2021     54 
Grayling tax exempt bonds(e)  Variable(d) 2011-2012     15 
Trust Preferred Securities  7.750  2027  29    
               
Total — other CMS Energy subsidiaries       $392  $283 
Long-term debt — related parties
  7.750  2027 $  $34 
Total CMS Energy principal amount outstanding       $7,206  $6,609 
Current amounts        (726)  (672)
Net unamortized discount        (32)  (42)
               
Total CMS Energy Long-term debt       $6,448  $5,895 
               
(a)CMS Energy’s variable-rate senior notes bear interest at three-month LIBOR plus 95 basis points (1.239 percent at December 31, 2010 and 1.234 percent at December 31, 2009).
(b)CMS Energy’s contingently convertible notes. See the “Contingently Convertible Securities” section in this Note for further discussion of the conversion features.
(c)The weighted-average interest rate for EnerBank’s brokered certificates of deposit was 1.707 percent at December 31, 2010 and 2.727 percent at December 31, 2009. EnerBank sells these deposits through investment brokers in large pools, with each certificate within the pool having a face value of $1,000. They cannot be withdrawn until maturity, except in the case of death or incompetence of the holder.
(d)The interest rate for Grayling’s variable-rate tax-exempt bonds was 0.270 percent at December 31, 2009.
(e)Genesee and Grayling were deconsolidated as of January 1, 2010. For details, see Note 18, Variable Interest Entities.


119


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

Interest Rate
(%)

 

Maturity

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

CMS Energy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior notes

 

2.750

1

2014

 

 

$

-

 

$

250

 

 

 

6.875

 

2015

 

 

125

 

125

 

 

 

4.250

 

2015

 

 

250

 

250

 

 

 

6.550

 

2017

 

 

250

 

250

 

 

 

5.050

 

2018

 

 

250

 

250

 

 

 

8.750

 

2019

 

 

300

 

300

 

 

 

6.250

 

2020

 

 

300

 

300

 

 

 

5.050

 

2022

 

 

300

 

300

 

 

 

5.500

2

2029

 

 

172

 

172

 

 

 

4.700

 

2043

 

 

250

 

-

 

Total CMS Energy senior notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,197

 

$

2,197

 

Term loan facility

 

variable

3

2016

 

 

180

 

180

 

Total CMS Energy parent

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,377

 

$

2,377

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

4,625

 

$

4,341

 

Other CMS Energy subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EnerBank certificates of deposits

 

1.095

4

2014-2021

 

 

$

652

 

$

527

 

Total other CMS Energy subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

652

 

$

527

 

Total CMS Energy principal amount outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

7,654

 

$

7,245

 

Current amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

(541

)

(519

)

Net unamortized discounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12

)

(16

)

Total CMS Energy long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

7,101

 

$

6,710

 

In September 2013, CMS Energy Corporationretired its 2.75 percent senior notes.

CMS Energy’s contingently convertible notes.  See the “Contingently Convertible Securities” section in this Note for further discussion of the conversion features.

Outstanding borrowings bear interest at an annual interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.75 percent (1.92 percent at December 31, 2013).

The weighted-average interest rate for EnerBank’s certificates of deposit was 1.09 percent at December 31, 2013 and 1.16 percent at December 31, 2012.  EnerBank’s primary deposit product consists of brokered certificates of deposit with varying maturities and having a face value of $1,000.

115



Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Table of Contents

Presented in the following table is Consumers’ Long-termlong-term debt at December 31:

               
  Interest Rate (%)  Maturity 2010  2009 
       In Millions 
 
Consumers
              
FMBs(a)  4.000  2010 $  $250 
   5.000  2012  300   300 
   5.375  2013  375   375 
   6.000  2014  200   200 
   5.000  2015  225   225 
   2.600  2015  50    
   5.500  2016  350   350 
   5.150  2017  250   250 
   3.210  2017  100    
   5.650  2018  250   250 
   6.125  2019  350   350 
   6.700  2019  500   500 
   5.650  2020  300   300 
   3.770  2020  100    
   5.300  2022  250    
   5.650  2035     139 
   5.800  2035  175   175 
   6.170  2040  50    
   4.970  2040  50    
               
        $3,875  $3,664 
Senior notes  6.875  2018  180   180 
Securitization bonds  5.613(b) 2011-2015  208   243 
Nuclear fuel disposal liability to DOE  (c) (c)  163   163 
Tax-exempt pollution control revenue bonds  Various  2018-2035  103   161 
               
Total Consumers principal amount outstanding       $4,529  $4,411 
Current amounts        (37)  (343)
Net unamortized discount        (4)  (5)
               
Total Consumers Long-term debt       $4,488  $4,063 
               
(a)The weighted-average interest rate for Consumers’ FMBs was 5.517 percent at December 31, 2010 and 5.583 percent at December 31, 2009.
(b)The weighted-average interest rate for Consumers’ Securitization bonds was 5.613 percent at December 31, 2010 and 5.566 percent at December 31, 2009.
(c)The interest rate for Consumers’ nuclear fuel disposal liability was 0.132 percent at December 31, 2010 and 0.117 percent at December 31, 2009. The interest rate is based on the 13-week Treasury Bill rate. The maturity date of the nuclear fuel disposal liability is uncertain. For additional details, see the “Consumers’ Electric Utility Contingencies — Nuclear Matters — Nuclear Fuel Disposal Cost” section included in Note 5, Contingencies and Commitments.


120


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

Interest Rate
(%)

 

Maturity

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FMBs1

 

6.000

2

2014

 

 

$

-

 

$

200

 

 

 

5.000

2

2015

 

 

-

 

225

 

 

 

2.600

 

2015

 

 

50

 

50

 

 

 

5.500

 

2016

 

 

350

 

350

 

 

 

5.150

 

2017

 

 

250

 

250

 

 

 

3.210

 

2017

 

 

100

 

100

 

 

 

5.650

 

2018

 

 

250

 

250

 

 

 

6.125

 

2019

 

 

350

 

350

 

 

 

6.700

 

2019

 

 

500

 

500

 

 

 

5.650

 

2020

 

 

300

 

300

 

 

 

3.770

 

2020

 

 

100

 

100

 

 

 

5.300

 

2022

 

 

250

 

250

 

 

 

2.850

 

2022

 

 

375

 

375

 

 

 

3.375

 

2023

 

 

325

 

-

 

 

 

3.190

 

2024

 

 

52

 

52

 

 

 

3.390

 

2027

 

 

35

 

35

 

 

 

5.800

 

2035

 

 

175

 

175

 

 

 

6.170

 

2040

 

 

50

 

50

 

 

 

4.970

 

2040

 

 

50

 

50

 

 

 

4.310

 

2042

 

 

263

 

263

 

 

 

3.950

 

2043

 

 

425

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

4,250

 

$

3,925

 

Senior notes

 

6.875

 

2018

 

 

180

 

180

 

Securitization bonds

 

5.760

3

2015

 

 

92

 

133

 

Tax-exempt pollution control revenue bonds

 

various

 

2018-2035

 

 

103

 

103

 

Total Consumers principal amount outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

4,625

 

$

4,341

 

Current amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

(43

)

(41

)

Net unamortized discounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3

)

(3

)

Total Consumers long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

4,579

 

$

4,297

 

The weighted-average interest rate for Consumers’ FMBs was 4.90 percent at December 31, 2013 and 5.19 percent at December 31, 2012.

CMS Energy Corporation

In June 2013, Consumers Energy Companyretired its 6.00 percent and 5.00 percent FMBs.

The weighted-average interest rate for Consumers’ Securitization bonds was 5.76 percent at December 31, 2013 and 5.72 percent at December 31, 2012.

116



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Table of Contents

Financings:  Presented in the following table is a summary of significantmajor long-term debt transactions during 2010:

                 
  Principal  Interest Rate  Issue/Retirement Date  Maturity Date 
  (In Millions)          
 
Debt Issuances:
                
CMS Energy
                
Senior notes $300   6.25%  January 2010   February 2020 
Senior notes  250   4.25%  September 2010   September 2015 
Senior notes(a)  250   5.05%  November 2010   February 2018 
Consumers
                
FMBs  250   5.30%  September 2010   September 2022 
FMBs  50   6.17%  September 2010   September 2040 
FMBs  50   2.60%  October 2010   October 2015 
FMBs  100   3.21%  October 2010   October 2017 
FMBs  100   3.77%  October 2010   October 2020 
FMBs  50   4.97%  October 2010   October 2040 
Debt Retirements:
                
CMS Energy
                
Senior notes $67   7.75%  August 2010   August 2010 
Senior notes(b)  100   6.30%  December 2010   February 2012 
Senior notes(c)  68   8.50%  December 2010   April 2011 
Contingently convertible senior notes(a)  136   3.375%  August and
December 2010
   July 2023 
Consumers
                
FMBs  250   4.00%  May 2010   May 2010 
FMBs  137   5.65%  October 2010   April 2035 
Tax-exempt pollution control revenue bonds  58   Various   June 2010   June 2010 
(a)In conjunction with the issuance of the 5.05 percent senior notes due 2018, CMS Energy called for redemption on December 20, 2010 all of its outstanding 3.375 percent contingently convertible senior notes due 2023. In December 2010, holders tendered for conversion $132 million of the 3.375 percent contingently convertible senior notes due 2023. In December 2010, CMS Energy used a portion of the net proceeds from the issuance of the 5.05 percent senior notes to pay $128 million principal amount of the conversion value and issued 6,715,073 shares of its common stock to pay the common stock portion of the conversion value. In January 2011, CMS Energy paid $4 million principal amount of the conversion value and issued 197,472 shares of its common stock to pay the common stock portion of the conversion value, which completed the redemption of the 3.375 percent contingently convertible senior notes due 2023.
(b)CMS Energy retired this debt at a premium, and recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $6 million in Other expense on its Consolidated Statements of Income.
(c)CMS Energy retired this debt at a premium, and recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $2 million in Other expense on its Consolidated Statements of Income.
the year ended December 31, 2013:

 

 

Principal

 

 

 

Issue/Retirement

 

 

 

 

(In Millions)

 

Interest Rate

 

Date

 

Maturity Date 

 

Debt issuances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CMS Energy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior notes

 

$

250

 

4.700

%

March 2013

 

March 2043

 

Total CMS Energy parent

 

$

250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FMBs

 

$

425

 

3.950

%

May 2013

 

May 2043

 

FMBs

 

325

 

3.375

%

August 2013

 

August 2023

 

Total Consumers

 

$

750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total debt issuances

 

$

1,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt retirements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CMS Energy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior notes

 

$

250

 

2.750

%

September 2013

 

May 2014

 

Total CMS Energy parent

 

$

250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FMBs

 

$

200

 

6.000

%

June 2013

 

February 2014 

 

FMBs

 

225

 

5.000

%

June 2013

 

March 2015

 

Total Consumers

 

$

425

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total debt retirements

 

$

675

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FMBs: Consumers secures its FMBs by a mortgage and lien on substantially all of its property.  Consumers’ ability to issue FMBs is restricted by certain provisions in the First Mortgage Bond Indenture and the need for


121


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
regulatory approvals under federal law.  Restrictive issuance provisions in the First Mortgage Bond Indenture include achieving a two-times interest coverage ratio and having sufficient unfunded net property additions.

Regulatory Authorization for Financings:FERC has authorized Consumers to have outstanding at any one time, up to $1.0 billion$500 million of secured and unsecured short-term securities for general corporate purposes.  The remaining availability is $670was $200 million at December 31, 2010.2013.  FERC has also authorized Consumers to issue and sell up to $1.1$1.9 billion of secured and unsecured long-term securities for general corporate purposes.  The remaining availability is $650was $800 million at December 31, 2010.2013.  The authorizations are for the period ending June 30, 2012.2014.  Any long-term issuances during the authorization period are exempt from FERC’s competitive bidding and negotiated placement requirements.

Securitization Bonds:Certain regulatory assets owned by Consumers’ subsidiary Consumers Funding collateralize Consumers’ Securitization bonds.  The bondholders have no recourse to Consumers’ other assets.  Through its rate structure, Consumers bills customers for Securitization surcharges to fund the payment of principal, interest, and other related expenses.  The surcharges collected are remitted to a trustee and are not available to creditors of Consumers or creditors of Consumers’ affiliates other than Consumers Funding. Securitization surcharges totaled $49 million in 2010 and $46 million in 2009.

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Contents

Debt Maturities:At December 31, 2010,2013, the aggregate annual contractual maturities for long-term debt for the next five years were:

                     
  Payments Due 
  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                    
Long-term debt $439  $429  $590  $262  $714 
Consumers
                    
Long-term debt $37  $339  $416  $243  $324 


122


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

2014

 

2015

 

2016

 

2017

 

2018

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

$

368

 

$

599

 

$

608

 

$

657

 

$

786

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

$

43

 

$

99

 

$

350

 

$

350

 

$

498

 

CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Revolving Credit Facilities:  The following secured revolving credit facilities with banks were available at December 31, 2010:
                   
          Letters of
    
    Amount of
  Amount
  Credit
  Amount
 
Company
 Expiration Date Facility  Borrowed  Outstanding  Available 
    In Millions 
 
CMS Energy(a) April 2, 2012 $550  $  $3  $547 
Consumers(b) September 21, 2011  30      30    
Consumers March 30, 2012  500      300   200 
Consumers August 9, 2013  150         150 
(a)CMS Energy’s average borrowings during the year ended December 31, 2010, totaled $1 million, with a weighted-average annual interest rate of 1.0 percent, at LIBOR plus 0.75 percent.
(b)Secured revolving letter of credit facility.
2013:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

 

Letters of Credit

 

 

Expiration Date

Amount of Facility

Amount Borrowed

Outstanding

Amount Available

 

CMS Energy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 20, 20181

 

$

550

 

$

-

 

$

2

 

$

548

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 20, 20182

 

$

650

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

650

 

September 9, 20142

 

30

 

-

 

30

 

-

 

Obligations under this facility are secured by Consumers common stock.  CMS Energy’s average borrowings during the year ended December 31, 2013 were $4 million, with a weighted-average annual interest rate of 1.67 percent, representing LIBOR plus 1.50 percent.

Obligations under this facility are secured by FMBs of Consumers.

Short-term Borrowings:  Under Consumers’ revolving accounts receivable sales program, Consumers may transfer up to $250 million of accounts receivable, subject to certain eligibility requirements, to a wholly owned, consolidated, bankruptcy-remote special-purpose entity. In turn, the special purpose entity may transfer an undivided interest in the receivables. Under accounting rules effective January 1, 2010,requirements.  These transactions entered into under this program are accounted for as short-term secured borrowings rather than as sales.borrowings.  At December 31, 2010, $2502013, $170 million of accounts receivable were eligible for transfer, and no accounts receivable had been transferred under the program.  Prior to 2010, Consumers accounted for these transfers as sales. At December 31, 2009, $250 million of accounts receivable were eligible for sale, of which $50 million were sold.

During the year ended December 31, 2010,2013, Consumers’ maximum short-term borrowings totaled $50 million, and its average short-term borrowings totaled $1$10 million, with a weighted-average annual interest rate of 0.20.9 percent.

Contingently Convertible Securities:  Presented in the following table are the significant terms of CMS Energy’s contingently convertible securities at December 31, 2010:

                 
     Outstanding
  Adjusted
  Adjusted
 
Security
 Maturity  (In Millions)  Conversion Price  Trigger Price 
 
2.875% senior notes  2024  $288  $13.09  $15.70 
3.375% senior notes  2023   4   9.47   11.36 
5.50% senior notes  2029   172   14.46   18.80 
The holders of the 2.875 percent senior notes have the right to require CMS Energy to purchase the notes at par on December 1, 2011, 2014, and 2019.
2013:

 

 

 

Outstanding

Adjusted

Adjusted

 

Security

 

Maturity

(In Millions)

Conversion Price

Trigger Price

 

5.50% senior notes

 

2029

 

$

172

 

$

13.55

 

$

17.61

 

The securities become convertible for a calendar quarter if the price of CMS Energy’s common stock remains at or above the trigger price for 20 of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the previous quarter.  The trigger price at which these securities become convertible is 120130 percent of the conversion price for the 2.875 percent senior notes and 130 percent for the 5.5 percent senior notes.price.  The conversion and trigger prices are subject to adjustmentadjustments in certain circumstances, including payments or distributions to CMS Energy’s common stockholders.  The conversion and trigger price adjustment is made when the cumulative change in conversion and trigger prices is one percent or more.  During 20 of the last 30 trading days ended December 2010, trigger price31, 2013, the adjusted trigger-price contingencies were met for the 2.875 percentcontingently convertible senior notes.

Allnotes, and as a result, the senior notes are convertible at the option of the note holders for the three months ending March 31, 2014.

118



Table of Contents

CMS Energy’s contingently convertible securities, if converted, require CMS Energy to pay cash up to the principal amount of the securities.  Any conversion value in excess of thatthe principal amount iscan be paid in cash or in shares of CMS Energy’s common stock.


123

stock, at the election of CMS Energy.


In December 2013, a holder tendered for conversion $17 million principal amount of the 5.50 percent contingently convertible senior notes.  The conversion value per $1,000 principal amount of the convertible note was $1,968. CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Presentedissued 605,531 shares of its common stock and paid $17 million cash on settlement of conversion in the following tables are details about conversions of contingently convertible securities during 2010:
                   
4.5 percent
      Conversion
  Common Stock
  Cash Paid on
 
cumulative convertible
 Conversion
 Shares
  Value
  Issued
  Settlement
 
preferred stock(a)
 Date Converted  per Share  on Settlement  (In Millions) 
 
Voluntary conversion June 2010  100  $84.75   228  $ 
Voluntary conversion July 2010  250,000  $89.43   614,940   13 
Voluntary conversion October 2010  1,000  $102.32   2,852    
Voluntary conversion October 2010  632,971  $103.88   1,831,604   32 
Mandatory conversion October 2010  3,884,929  $104.22   11,276,277   194 
                   
     4,769,000       13,725,901  $239 
                   
                   
       Conversion
       
3.375 percent
   Principal
  Value
  Common Stock
  Cash Paid on
 
contingently convertible
 Conversion
 Converted
  per $1,000 of
  Issued
  Settlement
 
senior notes due 2023(b)
 Date (In Millions)  principal  on Settlement  (In Millions) 
 
Voluntary conversion August 2010 $8  $1,666.57   331,008  $8 
Voluntary conversion December 2010  75  $1,982.59   3,941,770   75 
Voluntary conversion December 2010  21  $1,987.87   1,102,299   21 
Voluntary conversion December 2010  29  $1,996.32   1,504,074   29 
Voluntary conversion December 2010  3  $2,006.88   166,930   3 
                   
    $136       7,046,081  $136 
                   
(a)In September 2010, CMS Energy exercised its mandatory conversion rights for all of its outstanding 4.50 percent cumulative convertible preferred stock. Also in September 2010, holders voluntarily tendered 633,971 shares of the 4.50 percent cumulative convertible preferred stock for conversion. In October 2010, CMS Energy paid $226 million in cash and issued 13,110,733 shares of its common stock upon conversion of 4,518,900 shares of its 4.50 percent cumulative convertible preferred stock.
(b)In December 2010, CMS Energy called all of its outstanding 3.375 percent contingently convertible senior notes for redemption. In response to the call, holders voluntarily tendered $128 million aggregate principal amount of the notes for conversion in December 2010. In December 2010, holders also voluntarily tendered $4 million aggregate principal amount of the notes for conversion in January 2011. The conversion value per $1,000 principal amount of convertible notes was $1,994.21. In January 2011, CMS Energy paid $4 million in cash and issued 197,472 shares of its common stock in exchange for the $4 million aggregate principal amount of notes tendered.
February 2014.

Dividend Restrictions:  Under provisions of CMS Energy’s senior notes indenture,the Michigan Business Corporation Act of 1972, as amended, at December 31, 2010,2013, payment of common stock dividends by CMS Energy was limited to $959 million.

$3.5 billion.

Under the provisions of its articles of incorporation, at December 31, 2010,2013, Consumers had $404$662 million of unrestricted retained earnings available to pay common stock dividends to CMS Energy.  Provisions of the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act appear to restrict dividends payable by Consumers to the amount of Consumers’ retained earnings.  Several decisions from FERC suggest that under a variety of circumstances common stock dividends from Consumers would not be limited to amounts in Consumers’ retained earnings.  Any decision by Consumers to pay common stock dividends in excess of retained earnings would be based on specific facts and circumstances and would result only after a formal regulatory filing process.

During 2010,

For the year ended December 31, 2013, CMS Energy received $358$406 million of common stock dividends from Consumers.


124


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Capitalization:The authorized capital stock of CMS Energy consists of:

·350 million shares of CMS Energy Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and

·10 million shares of CMS Energy Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

Issuance of Common Stock:  CMS Energy has entered into two continuous equity offering programs permitting it to sell, from time to time in “at the market” offerings, common stock having an aggregate sales price of up to $50 million per program.

Presented in the following table are the transactions that CMS Energy entered into under the first program:

 

 

Number of

Average

Proceeds

 

 

 

Shares Issued

Price per Share

(In Millions)

 

June 2011

 

762,925

 

$

19.66

 

$

15

 

June 2012

 

650,235

 

23.07

 

15

 

March 2013

 

735,873

 

27.18

 

20

 

Total

 

2,149,033

 

$

23.27

 

$

50

 

In April 2013, CMS Energy entered into the second continuous equity offering program, but has not yet issued any equity under this program.

119



• 350 million shares of CMS Energy Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and
• 10 million shares of CMS Energy Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

Table of Contents

Preferred Stock of Subsidiary:  In July 2013, Consumers redeemed all of its $4.16 preferred stock at a redemption price of $103.25 per share, which represented an aggregate redemption price of $7 million paid to redeem 68,451 outstanding shares.

Presented in the following table are details about Consumers’ preferred stock outstanding:

 

 

 

 

Optional

 

Number of

 

Balance

 

 

 

 

 

Redemption

 

Shares

 

Outstanding

 

 

 

Series

 

Price

 

Outstanding

 

(In Millions)

 

December 31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013

2012

 

Cumulative, $100 par value, authorized 7,500,000 shares, with no mandatory redemption

 

$

4.50 

 

$

110.00

 

373,148

 

$   37

$   37

 

 

 

 

4.16 

 

 

103.25

 

68,451

 

-

7

 

Total preferred stock of Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$   37

$   44

 

5:FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Accounting standards define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants.  When measuring fair value, CMS Energy and Consumers are required to incorporate all assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, including assumptions about risk.  A fair value hierarchy prioritizes inputs used to measure fair value according to their observability in the market.  The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

·Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

·Level 2 inputs are observable, market-based inputs, other than Level 1 prices.  Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices in inactive markets, and inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data.

·Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs that reflect CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ own assumptions about how market participants would value their assets and liabilities.

To the extent possible, CMS Energy and Consumers use quoted market prices or other observable market pricing data in valuing assets and liabilities measured at fair value.  If this information is unavailable, they use market-corroborated data or reasonable estimates about market participant assumptions.  CMS Energy and Consumers classify fair value measurements within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

120



Table of Contents

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE ON A RECURRING BASIS

Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ assets and liabilities, by level within the fair value hierarchy, recorded at fair value on a recurring basis:

 

 

 

In Millions

 

December 31, 2013

 

December 31, 2012

 

 

 

Level

 

 

 

Level

 

 

Total

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

Total

 

1

 

2

 

3

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents

 

$

87

 

$

87

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

53

 

$

53

 

$

-

 

$

-

Restricted cash equivalents

 

16

 

16

 

-

 

-

 

14

 

14

 

-

 

-

Nonqualified deferred compensation plan assets

 

6

 

6

 

-

 

-

 

5

 

5

 

-

 

-

DB SERP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

2

 

2

 

-

 

-

Mutual funds

 

136

 

136

 

-

 

-

 

126

 

126

 

-

 

-

Derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity contracts

 

5

 

-

 

1

 

4

 

3

 

-

 

-

 

3

Total

 

$

250

 

$

245

 

$

1

 

$

4

 

$

203

 

$

200

 

$

-

 

$

3

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonqualified deferred compensation plan liabilities

 

$

6

 

$

6

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

5

 

$

5

 

$

-

 

$

-

Derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity contracts

 

1

 

-

 

1

 

-

 

4

 

-

 

3

 

1

Total

 

$

7

 

$

6

 

$

1

 

$

-

 

$

9

 

$

5

 

$

3

 

$

1

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

��

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted cash equivalents

 

$

15

 

$

15

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

13

 

$

13

 

$

-

 

$

-

CMS Energy common stock

 

29

 

29

 

-

 

-

 

32

 

32

 

-

 

-

Nonqualified deferred compensation plan assets

 

4

 

4

 

-

 

-

 

4

 

4

 

-

 

-

DB SERP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

1

 

1

 

-

 

-

Mutual funds

 

95

 

95

 

-

 

-

 

85

 

85

 

-

 

-

Derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity contracts

 

4

 

-

 

-

 

4

 

2

 

-

 

-

 

2

Total

 

$

147

 

$

143

 

$

-

 

$

4

 

$

137

 

$

135

 

$

-

 

$

2

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonqualified deferred compensation plan liabilities

 

$

4

 

$

4

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

4

 

$

4

 

$

-

 

$

-

Total

 

$

4

 

$

4

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

4

 

$

4

 

$

-

 

$

-

Cash Equivalents:  Cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents consist of money market funds with daily liquidity.  Short-term debt instruments classified as restricted cash equivalents on the consolidated balance sheets are not included since they are recorded at amortized cost.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan Assets and Liabilities:  The nonqualified deferred compensation plan assets consist of mutual funds, which are valued using the daily quoted NAVs that are publicly available and are the basis for transactions to buy or sell shares in each fund.  CMS Energy and Consumers value their nonqualified deferred compensation plan liabilities based on the fair values of the plan assets, as they reflect what is owed to the plan participants in accordance with their investment

121


                 
     Optional
       
     Redemption
  Number of
    
December 31, 2010 and 2009
 Series  Price  Shares  In Millions 
 
Cumulative $100 par value, authorized 7,500,000 shares, with no mandatory redemption $4.16  $103.25   68,451  $7 
  $4.50  $110.00   373,148   37 
                 
Total preferred stock of Consumers             $44 
                 

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elections.  CMS Energy and Consumers report the assets in other non-current assets and the liabilities in other non-current liabilities on their consolidated balance sheets.

DB SERP Assets:  CMS Energy and Consumers value their DB SERP assets using a market approach that incorporates quoted market prices.  The DB SERP cash equivalents consist of a money market fund with daily liquidity.  The DB SERP invests in mutual funds that hold primarily fixed-income instruments of varying maturities.  In order to meet their investment objectives, the funds hold investment-grade debt securities, and may invest a portion of their assets in high-yield securities, foreign debt, and derivative instruments.  CMS Energy and Consumers value these funds using the daily quoted NAVs that are publicly available and are the basis for transactions to buy or sell shares in each fund.  CMS Energy and Consumers report their DB SERP assets in other non-current assets on their consolidated balance sheets.  For additional details about DB SERP securities, see Note 6, Financial Instruments.

Derivative Instruments:  CMS Energy and Consumers value their derivative instruments using either a market approach that incorporates information from market transactions, or an income approach that discounts future expected cash flows to a present value amount.  CMS Energy values its exchange-traded derivative contracts based on Level 1 quoted prices and values other derivatives using Level 2 inputs, including commodity forward prices and credit risk factors.  CMS Energy and Consumers have classified certain derivatives as Level 3 since the fair value measurements incorporate assumptions that cannot be observed or confirmed through market transactions.

The most significant derivatives classified as Level 3 are FTRs held by Consumers.  Due to the lack of quoted pricing information, Consumers determines the fair value of its FTRs based on Consumers’ average historical settlements.

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE ON A RECURRING BASIS USING SIGNIFICANT LEVEL 3INPUTS

Presented in the following table are reconciliations of changes in the fair values of Level 3 assets and liabilities at CMS Energy and Consumers:

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

2

 

$

(2

)

$

(3

)

Total gains included in earnings1

 

-

 

3

 

2

 

Total gains offset through regulatory accounting

 

3

 

6

 

2

 

Purchases

 

-

 

1

 

1

 

Sales

 

-

 

-

 

(4

)

Settlements

 

(1

)

(6

)

-

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

4

 

$

2

 

$

(2

)

Unrealized gains (losses) included in earnings relating to assets and liabilities still held at end of period1

 

$

(1

)

$

2

 

$

2

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

2

 

$

2

 

$

1

 

Total gains offset through regulatory accounting

 

3

 

6

 

2

 

Purchases

 

-

 

1

 

1

 

Settlements

 

(1

)

(7

)

(2

)

Balance at end of period

 

$

4

 

$

2

 

$

2

 

1CMS Energy records realized and unrealized gains and losses for Level 3 recurring fair value measurements in earnings as a component of operating revenue or maintenance and other operating expenses on its consolidated statements of income.

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6:FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Presented in the following table are the carrying amounts and fair values, by level within the fair value hierarchy, of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ financial instruments that are not recorded at fair value.  The table does not include information on cash, cash equivalents, short-term accounts and notes receivable, short-term investments, and current liabilities since the carrying amounts of these items approximate their fair values because of their short-term nature.  For information about assets and liabilities recorded at fair value and for additional details regarding the fair value hierarchy, see Note 5, Fair Value Measurements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2013

 

December 31, 2012

 

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Carrying

 

 

 

Level

 

Carrying

 

 

 

Level

 

 

Amount

 

Total

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

Amount

 

Total

 

1

 

2

 

3

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities held to maturity

 

$       10

 

$

10

 

$

-

 

$

10

 

$

-

 

$

9

 

$

10

 

$

-

 

$

10

 

$

-

Notes receivable1

 

683

 

724

 

-

 

-

 

724

 

544

 

581

 

-

 

-

 

581

Long-term debt2

 

7,642

 

8,368

 

-

 

7,406

 

962

 

7,229

 

8,347

 

-

 

7,321

 

1,026

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt3

 

$  4,622

 

$

4,940

 

$

-

 

$

3,978

 

$

962

 

$

4,338

 

$

5,015

 

$

-

 

$

3,989

 

$

1,026

1    Includes current portion of notes receivable of $48 million at December 31, 2013 and $40 million at December 31, 2012.

2    Includes current portion of long-term debt of $541 million at December 31, 2013 and $519 million at December 31, 2012.

3    Includes current portion of long-term debt of $43 million at December 31, 2013 and $41 million at December 31, 2012.

Notes receivable consist of EnerBank’s fixed-rate installment loans.  EnerBank estimates the fair value of these loans using a discounted cash flows technique that incorporates market interest rates as well as assumptions about the remaining life of the loans and credit risk.

CMS Energy and Consumers estimate the fair value of their long-term debt using quoted prices from market trades of the debt, if available.  In the absence of quoted prices, CMS Energy and Consumers calculate market yields and prices for the debt using a matrix method that incorporates market data for similarly rated debt.  Depending on the information available, other valuation techniques and models may be used that rely on assumptions that cannot be observed or confirmed through market transactions.  CMS Energy includes the value of the conversion features in estimating the fair value of its convertible debt, and incorporates, as appropriate, information on the market prices of CMS Energy common stock.

The effects of third-party credit enhancements are excluded from the fair value measurements of long-term debt.  At December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, CMS Energy’s long-term debt included $103 million principal amount that was supported by third-party credit enhancements.  This entire principal amount was at Consumers.

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Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ investment securities classified as available for sale or held to maturity:

 

In Millions

 

December 31, 2013

 

December 31, 2012

 

 

Unrealized

Unrealized

Fair

 

 

Unrealized

Unrealized

Fair

 

Cost

Gains

Losses

Value

 

Cost

Gains

Losses

Value

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available for sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DB SERP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mutual funds

 

$

136

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

136

 

 

$

123

 

$

3

 

$

-

 

$

126

Held to maturity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt securities

 

10

 

 -

 

 -

 

10

 

 

 9

 

 1

 

 -

 

 10

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available for sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DB SERP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mutual funds

 

$

95

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

95

 

 

$

 83

 

$

2

 

$

-

 

$

85

CMS Energy common stock

 

 5

 

 24

 

 -

 

29

 

 

 6

 

 26

 

 -

 

 32

The mutual funds classified as available for sale hold primarily fixed-income instruments of varying maturities.  During the year ended December 31, 2013, CMS Energy contributed $16 million to the DB SERP, which included a contribution of $13 million by Consumers.  The contributions were used to acquire additional shares in the mutual funds.  Debt securities classified as held to maturity consist primarily of mortgage-backed securities and Utah Housing Corporation bonds held by EnerBank.

Presented in the following table is a summary of the sales activity for CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ investment securities:

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sales of investment securities

 

     $

3

 

    $

3

 

    $

29

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sales of investment securities

 

     $

2

 

    $

2

 

    $

19

 

The sales proceeds for all periods represent sales of investments that were held within the DB SERP and classified as available for sale.  Realized gains and losses on the sales were not significant for either CMS Energy or Consumers during each period.  In 2011, CMS Energy and Consumers sold their DB SERP investments in state and municipal bonds, and reinvested the proceeds in mutual funds that hold fixed-income instruments of varying maturities.

Consumers recognized gains of $4 million in 2013, $5 million in 2012, and $4 million in 2011 from transferring shares of CMS Energy common stock to a related charitable foundation.  The gains reflected the excess of fair value over cost of the stock donated and were included in income.

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7:NOTES RECEIVABLE

Presented in the following table are details of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ current and non-current notes receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

December 31, 2013

December 31, 2012

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

 

 

 

 

EnerBank notes receivable, net of allowance for loan losses

$

48

$

40

 

Other

 

15

 

1

 

Non-current

 

 

 

 

 

EnerBank notes receivable, net of allowance for loan losses

 

635

 

504

 

Other

 

-

 

16

 

Total notes receivable

$

698

$

561

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

 

 

 

 

Other

$

 14

$

-

 

Non-current

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

-

 

16

 

Total notes receivable

$

 14

$

16

 

EnerBank notes receivable are unsecured consumer installment loans for financing home improvements.

The allowance for loan losses is a valuation allowance to reflect estimated credit losses.  The allowance is increased by the provision for loan losses and decreased by loan charge-offs net of recoveries.  Management estimates the allowance balance required by taking into consideration historical loan loss experience, the nature and volume of the portfolio, economic conditions, and other factors.  Loan losses are charged against the allowance when the loss is confirmed, but no later than the point at which a loan becomes 120 days past due.

Presented in the following table are the changes in the allowance for loan losses:

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

      $

5

 

      $

5

 

Charge-offs

 

(5

)

(5

)

Recoveries

 

1

 

1

 

Provision for loan losses

 

4

 

4

 

Balance at end of period

 

      $

5

 

      $

5

 

Loans that are 30 days or more past due are considered delinquent.  The balance of EnerBank’s delinquent consumer loans was $4 million at December 31, 2013, and $3 million at December 31, 2012.

At December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, $1 million of EnerBank’s loans had been modified as troubled debt restructurings.

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8:        ��      PLANT, PROPERTY, AND EQUIPMENT

Presented in the following table are details of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ plant, property, and equipment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

Estimated
Depreciable
Life in Years

 

2013

 

2012

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Generation

 

22

-

125

 

$

3,992

 

$

4,254

 

Distribution

 

23

-

75

 

6,140

 

5,831

 

Other

 

5

-

50

 

770

 

677

 

Assets under capital leases and other arrangements

 

 

 

 

 

284

 

279

 

Gas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution

 

28

-

80

 

3,015

 

2,861

 

Transmission

 

17

-

75

 

821

 

770

 

Underground storage facilities1

 

29

-

65

 

535

 

339

 

Other

 

5

-

50

 

465

 

424

 

Capital leases

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

6

 

Enterprises

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent power production

 

3

-

30

 

89

 

89

 

Other

 

3

-

40

 

26

 

24

 

Other

 

1

-

51

 

40

 

38

 

Construction work in progress

 

 

 

 

 

1,149

 

1,080

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

 

 

(5,087

)

(5,121

)

Net plant, property, and equipment2

 

 

 

 

 

$

12,246

 

$

11,551

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Generation

 

22

-

125

 

$

3,992

 

$

4,254

 

Distribution

 

23

-

75

 

6,140

 

5,831

 

Other

 

5

-

50

 

770

 

677

 

Assets under capital leases and other arrangements

 

 

 

 

 

284

 

279

 

Gas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution

 

28

-

80

 

3,015

 

2,861

 

Transmission

 

17

-

75

 

821

 

770

 

Underground storage facilities1

 

29

-

65

 

535

 

339

 

Other

 

5

-

50

 

465

 

424

 

Capital leases

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

6

 

Other non-utility property

 

8

-

51

 

15

 

15

 

Construction work in progress

 

 

 

 

 

1,147

 

1,080

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

 

 

(5,022

)

(5,061

)

Net plant, property, and equipment2

 

 

 

 

 

$

12,169

 

$

11,475

 

1Underground storage includes base natural gas of $26 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012.  Base natural gas is not subject to depreciation.

2For the year ended December 31, 2013, utility plant additions were $1.3 billion and utility plant retirements were $156 million.  Subject to a successful Securitization transaction, Consumers plans to retire seven smaller coal-fueled electric generating units and three smaller gas-fueled electric generating units by April 2016.  Accordingly, Consumers removed the net book value of the ten units from plant, property, and equipment and recorded this amount as a regulatory asset at December 31, 2013.  As a result, net plant, property, and equipment decreased by $362 million.  For additional details, see Note 2, Regulatory Matters.

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For the year ended December 31, 2012, utility plant additions were $999 million and utility plant retirements were $168 million.

Presented in the following table is further detail on changes in Consumers’ assets under capital leases and other arrangements:

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

285

 

$

280

 

Additions

 

12

 

9

 

Net retirements and other adjustments

 

(6

)

(4

)

Balance at end of period

 

$

291

 

$

285

 

Assets under capital leases and other arrangements are presented as gross amounts.  Accumulated amortization of assets under capital leases and other arrangements was $124 million at December 31, 2013 and $108 million at December 31, 2012 for Consumers.

Presented in the following table is further detail on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ accumulated depreciation and amortization:

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Utility plant assets

 

   $

5,021

 

   $

5,060

 

Non-utility plant assets

 

66

 

61

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Utility plant assets

 

   $

5,021

 

   $

5,060

 

Non-utility plant assets

 

1

 

1

 

Maintenance and Depreciation:  CMS Energy and Consumers record property repairs and minor property replacement as maintenance expense.  CMS Energy and Consumers record planned major maintenance activities as operating expense unless the cost represents the acquisition of additional long-lived assets or the replacement of an existing long-lived asset.

Consumers depreciates utility property on an asset-group basis, in which it applies a single MPSC-approved depreciation rate to the gross investment in a particular class of property within the electric and gas segments.  Consumers performs depreciation studies periodically to determine appropriate group lives.  Presented in the following table are the composite depreciation rates for Consumers’ segment properties:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Electric utility property

 

3.5

 %

3.2

 %

3.0

 %

Gas utility property

 

2.8

 %

2.9

 %

2.9

 %

Other property

 

7.0

 %

7.2

 %

7.4

 %

CMS Energy and Consumers record plant, property, and equipment at original cost when placed into service.  The cost includes labor, material, applicable taxes, overhead such as pension and other benefits, and AFUDC, if applicable.  Consumers’ plant, property, and equipment is generally recoverable through its general rate making process.  For additional details, see Note 2, Regulatory Matters.

When utility property is mothballed, the property stays in rate base and continues to be depreciated at the same rate as before the mothball period.  When utility property is retired or otherwise disposed of in the

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ordinary course of business, Consumers records the original cost to accumulated depreciation, along with associated cost of removal, net of salvage.  CMS Energy and Consumers recognize gains or losses on the retirement or disposal of non-regulated assets in income.  Consumers records cost of removal collected from customers, but not spent, as a regulatory liability.

Consumers capitalizes AFUDC on regulated major construction projects, except pollution control facilities on its fossil-fuel-fired power plants.  AFUDC represents the estimated cost of debt and authorized return-on-equity funds used to finance construction additions.  Consumers records the offsetting credit as a reduction of interest for the amount representing the borrowed funds component and as other income for the equity funds component on the consolidated statements of income.  When construction is completed and the property is placed in service, Consumers depreciates and recovers the capitalized AFUDC from customers over the life of the related asset.  Presented in the following table are Consumers’ composite AFUDC capitalization rates:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

 2012

 

 2011

 

AFUDC capitalization rate

 

7.3

%

 7.3

%

 7.6

%

CMS Energy and Consumers capitalize the purchase and development of internal-use computer software.  These costs are expensed evenly over the estimated useful life of the internal-use computer software.  If computer software is integral to computer hardware, then its cost is capitalized and depreciated with the hardware.  The types of costs capitalized are consistent for all periods presented by the financial statements.

Intangible Assets:  Included in net plant, property, and equipment are intangible assets.  Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

 

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Description

 

Amortization Life in years

 

Gross Cost1

 

Accumulated Amortization

 

Gross Cost1

 

Accumulated Amortization

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Software development

 

3

-

15

 

     $

508

 

       $

174

 

       $

466

 

         $

172

 

Plant acquisition adjustments

 

40

-

46

 

216

 

32

 

214

 

27

 

Rights of way

 

50

-

75

 

135

 

42

 

130

 

40

 

Leasehold improvements

 

various2

 

14

 

11

 

13

 

10

 

Franchises and consents

 

5

-

30

 

15

 

7

 

14

 

6

 

Other intangibles

 

various

 

21

 

14

 

18

 

14

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

     $

909

 

       $

280

 

       $

855

 

         $

269

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Software development

 

3

-

15

 

     $

506

 

       $

173

 

       $

464

 

         $

172

 

Plant acquisition adjustments

 

40

-

46

 

216

 

32

 

214

 

27

 

Rights of way

 

50

-

75

 

135

 

42

 

130

 

40

 

Leasehold improvements

 

various2

 

14

 

11

 

13

 

10

 

Franchises and consents

 

5

-

30

 

15

 

7

 

14

 

6

 

Other intangibles

 

various

 

20

 

14

 

18

 

14

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

     $

906

 

       $

279

 

       $

853

 

         $

269

 

1     Net intangible asset additions for Consumers’ utility plant were $53 million during 2013 and $108 million during 2012 and primarily represented software development costs.

2     Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the lease, which may change whenever the lease is renewed or extended.

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Presented in the following table is CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ amortization expense related to intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

Consumers

 

Years Ended December 31

 

Total
Amortization
Expense

 

Software
Amortization
Expense

 

Total
Amortization
Expense

 

Software
Amortization
Expense

 

2013

 

                  $

48

 

                  $

39

 

                  $

47

 

                $

39

 

2012

 

39

 

31

 

38

 

30

 

2011

 

32

 

24

 

32

 

24

 

Amortization of intangible assets is expected to range between $54 million and $73 million per year over the next five years.

JOINTLYOWNEDREGULATEDUTILITYFACILITIES

Presented in the following table are Consumers’ investments in jointly owned regulated utility facilities at December 31, 2013:

 

 

In Millions, Except Ownership Share

 

 

 

J.H. Campbell Unit 3

 

Ludington

 

Distribution

 

Ownership share

 

93.3

  %

51.0

  %

various

 

Utility plant in service

 

               $

1,073

 

           $

193

 

       $

190

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

(456

)

(152

)

(59

)

Construction work-in-progress

 

81

 

71

 

2

 

Net investment

 

               $

698

 

           $

112

 

       $

133

 

Consumers includes its share of the direct expenses of the jointly owned plants in operating expenses.  Consumers shares operation, maintenance, and other expenses of these jointly owned utility facilities in proportion to each participant’s undivided ownership interest.  Consumers is required to provide only its share of financing for the jointly owned utility facilities.

9:LEASES

CMS Energy and Consumers lease various assets, including railcars, service vehicles, gas pipeline capacity, and buildings.  In addition, CMS Energy and Consumers account for a number of their PPAs as capital and operating leases.

Operating leases for coal-carrying railcars have lease terms, which range from three to 15 years, expiring without extension provisions over the next ten years and with extension provisions over the next 13 years.  These leases contain fair market value extension and buyout provisions, with some providing for predetermined extension period rentals.  Capital leases for Consumers’ vehicle fleet operations have a maximum term of 120 months with some having end-of-lease rental adjustment clauses based on the proceeds received from the sale or disposition of the vehicles, and others having fixed percentage purchase options.

Consumers has capital leases for gas transportation pipelines to the D.E. Karn generating complex and Zeeland.  The capital lease for the gas transportation pipeline into the D.E. Karn generating complex has a term of 15 years with a provision to extend the contract from month to month.  The remaining term of the contract was eight years at December 31, 2013.  The capital lease for the gas transportation pipeline to Zeeland was extended in 2012 for five years pursuant to the renewal provision at the end of the contract.  At December 31, 2013, the remaining term of the contract was four years with a renewal provision of an

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additional five years at the end of the contract.  The remaining terms of Consumers’ long-term PPAs accounted for as leases range between two and 19 years.  Most of these PPAs contain provisions at the end of the initial contract terms to renew the agreements annually.

Presented in the following table are Consumers’ minimum lease expense and contingent rental expense.  For each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, all of CMS Energy’s minimum lease expense and contingent rental expense were attributable to Consumers.

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum operating lease expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PPAs

 

       $

6

 

        $

6

 

        $

10

 

Other agreements

 

21

 

23

 

22

 

Contingent rental expense1

 

77

 

33

 

11

 

1Contingent rental expense is related to capital and operating lease PPAs and is based on delivery of energy and capacity in excess of minimum lease payments.

Consumers is authorized by the MPSC to record operating lease payments as operating expense and recover the total cost from customers.

Presented in the following table are the minimum annual rental commitments under Consumers’ non-cancelable leases at December 31, 2013.  All of CMS Energy’s non-cancelable leases at December 31, 2013 were attributable to Consumers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

Capital Leases

 

Financing1

 

 

Operating Leases

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

             $

14

 

          $

19

 

 

                 $

26

 

2015

 

14

 

18

 

 

25

 

2016

 

11

 

17

 

 

20

 

2017

 

10

 

17

 

 

20

 

2018

 

10

 

16

 

 

17

 

2019 and thereafter

 

31

 

46

 

 

56

 

Total minimum lease payments

 

             $

90

 

          $

133

 

 

                 $

164

 

Less imputed interest

 

39

 

25

 

 

 

 

Present value of net minimum lease payments

 

             $

51

 

          $

108

 

 

 

 

Less current portion

 

8

 

13

 

 

 

 

Non-current portion

 

             $

43

 

          $

95

 

 

 

 

1 In 2007, Consumers sold Palisades to Entergy and entered into a 15-year PPA to buy all of the capacity and energy then capable of being produced by Palisades.  Consumers has continuing involvement with Palisades through security provided to Entergy for Consumers’ PPA obligation and other arrangements.  Because of these ongoing arrangements, Consumers accounted for the transaction as a financing of Palisades and not a sale.  Accordingly, no gain on the sale of Palisades was recognized on the consolidated statements of income.  Consumers accounted for the remaining non-real-estate assets and liabilities associated with the transaction as a sale.

Palisades remains on Consumers’ consolidated balance sheets and Consumers continues to depreciate it.  Consumers recorded the related proceeds as a finance obligation with payments recorded to interest expense and the finance obligation based on the amortization of the obligation over the life of the Palisades PPA.  The value of the finance obligation was determined based on an allocation of the transaction proceeds to the fair values of the net assets sold and fair value of the plant asset under the financing.  Total amortization and interest

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charges under the financing were $20 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and $21 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

10:ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

CMS Energy and Consumers record the fair value of the cost to remove assets at the end of their useful lives, if there is a legal obligation to remove them.  No market risk premiums were included in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ ARO fair value estimates since reasonable estimates could not be made.  If a five percent market risk premium were assumed, CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ ARO liabilities would be $16 million higher at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012.  In 2012, Consumers updated the ARO for coal ash disposal areas to reflect a revised estimate of future obligations and recorded the initial estimate for the Lake Winds® Energy Park ARO.

If a reasonable estimate of fair value cannot be made in the period in which the ARO is incurred, such as for assets with indeterminate lives, the liability is recognized when a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made.  CMS Energy and Consumers have not recorded liabilities for assets that have insignificant cumulative disposal costs, such as substation batteries.

Presented below are the categories of assets that CMS Energy and Consumers have legal obligations to remove at the end of their useful lives and for which they have an ARO liability recorded:

In-Service

Company and ARO Description

Date

Long-Lived Assets

8: CMS Energy, including Consumers

Closure of gas treating plant and gas wells

Various

Gas transmission and storage

Closure of coal ash disposal areas

Various

Generating plants coal ash areas

Closure of wells at gas storage fields

Various

Gas storage fields

Asbestos abatement

1973

Electric and gas utility plant

Gas distribution cut, purge, and cap

Various

Gas distribution mains and services

Closure of wind park

2012

Wind generation facilities

EARNINGS PER SHARE — CMS ENERGYConsumers

Closure of coal ash disposal areas

Various

Generating plants coal ash areas

Closure of wells at gas storage fields

Various

Gas storage fields

Asbestos abatement

1973

Electric and gas utility plant

Gas distribution cut, purge, and cap

Various

Gas distribution mains and services

Closure of wind park

2012

Wind generation facilities

No assets have been restricted for purposes of settling AROs.

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Presented in the following tables are the changes in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ ARO liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

ARO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARO

 

 

 

Liability

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow

 

Liability

 

Company and ARO Description

 

12/31/2012

 

Incurred

 

Settled1

 

Accretion

 

Revisions

 

12/31/2013

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

��

 

 

 

 

 

Gas treating plant and gas wells

 

          $

1

 

          $

-

 

          $

-

 

          $

-

 

          $

-

 

          $

1

 

Consumers

 

311

 

(3

)

(6

)

18

 

4

 

324

 

Total CMS Energy

 

          $

312

 

          $

(3

)

          $

(6

)

          $

18

 

          $

4

 

          $

325

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coal ash disposal areas

 

          $

114

 

          $

-

 

          $

(1

)

          $

5

 

          $

-

 

          $

118

 

Asbestos abatement

 

43

 

-

 

(1

)

3

 

4

 

49

 

Gas distribution cut, purge, and cap

 

151

 

(3

)

(4

)

10

 

-

 

154

 

Wind park

 

3

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

3

 

Total Consumers

 

          $

311

 

          $

(3

)

          $

(6

)

          $

18

 

          $

4

 

          $

324

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

ARO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARO

 

 

 

Liability

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow

 

Liability

 

Company and ARO Description

 

12/31/2011

 

Incurred

 

Settled

1

Accretion

 

Revisions

 

12/31/2012

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas treating plant and gas wells

 

           $

1

 

           $

-

 

           $

-

 

          $

-

 

          $

-

 

          $

1

 

Consumers

 

253

 

7

 

(8

)

19

 

40

 

311

 

Total CMS Energy

 

           $

254

 

           $

7

 

           $

(8

)

          $

19

 

          $

40

 

          $

312

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coal ash disposal areas

 

           $

70

 

           $

-

 

           $

(3

)

          $

7

 

          $

40

 

          $

114

 

Wells at gas storage fields

 

1

 

-

 

(1

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

Asbestos abatement

 

42

 

-

 

(1

)

2

 

-

 

43

 

Gas distribution cut, purge, and cap

 

140

 

4

 

(3

)

10

 

-

 

151

 

Wind park

 

-

 

3

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

3

 

Total Consumers

 

           $

253

 

           $

7

 

           $

(8

)

          $

19

 

          $

40

 

          $

311

 

1Cash payments of $6 million in 2013 and $8 million in 2012 were included in other current and non-current assets and liabilities as a component of net cash provided by operating activities in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ consolidated statements of cash flow.

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11:RETIREMENT BENEFITS

CMS Energy and Consumers provide pension, OPEB, and other retirement benefits to employees under a number of different plans.  These plans include:

·a non-contributory, qualified defined benefit Pension Plan (closed to new non-union participants as of July 1, 2003 and closed to new union participants as of September 1, 2005);

·a qualified cash balance Pension Plan for certain employees hired between July 1, 2003 and August 31, 2005;

·a non-contributory, qualified DCCP for employees hired on or after September 1, 2005;

·benefits to certain management employees under a non-contributory, nonqualified DB SERP (closed to new participants as of March 31, 2006);

·a non-contributory, non-qualified DC SERP for certain management employees hired or promoted on or after April 1, 2006;

·health care and life insurance benefits under an OPEB Plan; and

·a contributory, qualified defined contribution 401(k) plan.

Pension Plan:  Participants in the Pension Plan include CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ present employees, employees of their subsidiaries, and employees of Panhandle.  Pension Plan trust assets are not distinguishable by company.

CMS Energy and Consumers provide an employer contribution of six percent of base pay to the DCCP 401(k) plan for employees hired on or after September 1, 2005.  Employees are not required to contribute in order to receive the plan’s employer contribution.

Participants in the cash balance Pension Plan, effective July 1, 2003 to August 31, 2005, also participate in the DCCP as of September 1, 2005.  Additional pay credits under the cash balance Pension Plan were discontinued as of September 1, 2005.  DCCP expense for CMS Energy and Consumers was $10 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, $8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, and $7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

DB SERP:  The DB SERP is a non-qualified plan as defined by the Internal Revenue Code.  DB SERP benefits are paid from a rabbi trust established in 1988.  DB SERP rabbi trust earnings are taxable.  Presented in the following table are the fair value of trust assets, ABO, and contributions for CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ DB SERP:

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Trust assets

 

         $

136

 

        $

128

 

ABO

 

122

 

130

 

Contributions

 

16

 

13

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Trust assets

 

         $

96

 

        $

87

 

ABO

 

82

 

86

 

Contributions

 

13

 

9

 

DC SERP:  On April 1, 2006, CMS Energy and Consumers implemented a DC SERP and froze further new participation in the DB SERP.  The DC SERP provides participants benefits ranging from 5 percent to 15 percent of total compensation.  The DC SERP requires a minimum of five years of participation before vesting.  CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ contributions to the plan, if any, are placed in a grantor trust.  For CMS Energy and Consumers, trust assets were $1 million at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012.  DC SERP assets are included in other non-current assets on CMS Energy’s and

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Consumers’ consolidated balance sheets.  CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ DC SERP expense was less than $1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011.

401(k):  The 401(k) plan employer match equals 60 percent of eligible contributions up to the first six percent of an employee’s wages.  The total 401(k) plan cost for CMS Energy, including Consumers, and for Consumers was $17 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $16 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.

OPEB:  Participants in the OPEB Plan include all regular full-time employees covered by the employee health care plan on the day before retirement from either CMS Energy or Consumers at age 55 or older with at least ten full years of applicable continuous service.  Regular full-time employees who qualify for Pension Plan disability retirement and have 15 years of applicable continuous service may also participate in the OPEB Plan.  Retiree health care costs were based on the assumption that costs would increase 6.5 percent for those under 65 and 6.5 percent for those over 65 in 2014 and 8.0 percent for those under 65 and 7.5 percent for those over 65 in 2013.  The rate of increase was assumed to decline to 4.75 percent for all retirees by 2024 and thereafter.

In July 2013, CMS Energy and Consumers approved certain amendments to their OPEB Plan.  Accordingly, CMS Energy and Consumers performed a remeasurement of the OPEB Plan as of July 1, 2013.  As a result of these changes, CMS Energy’s (including Consumers’) OPEB liability decreased by $638 million, its OPEB regulatory asset of $580 million was eliminated, and an OPEB regulatory liability of $34 million was established as of July 1, 2013.  CMS Energy’s accumulated other comprehensive loss decreased by $24 million.  Consumers’ OPEB liability decreased by $614 million, its OPEB regulatory asset of $580 million was eliminated, and an OPEB regulatory liability of $34 million was established as of July 1, 2013.

CMS Energy and Consumers also remeasured certain deferred tax assets as a result of the approved change to the Medicare drug program.  Effective January 2015, CMS Energy and Consumers will no longer receive Medicare Part D drug subsidies.  Accordingly, CMS Energy (including Consumers) decreased its deferred tax assets by $148 million, reduced its regulatory income tax liabilities by $144 million, and increased its income tax expense by $4 million.  Consumers decreased its deferred tax assets by $144 million, and reduced its regulatory income tax liabilities by an equal amount.

The assumptions used in the health care cost-trend rate affect service, interest, and PBO costs.  Presented in the following table are the effects of a one-percentage-point change in the health care cost-trend assumption:

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

One Percentage

 

One Percentage

 

Years Ended December 31

 

Point Increase

 

Point Decrease

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Effect on total service and interest cost component

 

            $

16

 

              $

(14

)

Effect on PBO

 

151

 

(133

)

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Effect on total service and interest cost component

 

            $

16

 

              $

(13

)

Effect on PBO

 

147

 

(130

)

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Assumptions:  Presented in the following table are the weighted-average assumptions used in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ retirement benefits plans to determine benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost:

 

 

Pension and DB SERP

 

OPEB

 

December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average for benefit obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount rate1

 

4.90

  %

4.10

  %

4.90

  %

5.10

 %

4.40

 %

5.10

 %

Mortality table2

 

2000

 

2000

 

2000

 

2000

 

2000

 

2000

 

Rate of compensation increase

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension

 

3.00

  %

3.00

  %

3.50

  %

 

 

 

 

 

 

DB SERP

 

5.50

  %

5.50

  %

5.50

  %

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average for net periodic benefit cost obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount rate1

 

4.10

  %

4.90

  %

5.40

  %

4.40

 %

5.10

 %

5.60

 %

Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets3

 

7.75

  %

7.75

  %

8.00

  %

7.25

 %

7.25

 %

7.50

 %

Mortality table2

 

2000

 

2000

 

2000

 

2000

 

2000

 

2000

 

Rate of compensation increase

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension

 

3.00

  %

3.50

  %

4.00

  %

 

 

 

 

 

 

DB SERP

 

5.50

  %

5.50

  %

5.50

  %

 

 

 

 

 

 

1The discount rate reflects the rate at which benefits could be effectively settled and is equal to the equivalent single rate resulting from a yield curve analysis.  This analysis incorporated the projected benefit payments specific to CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Pension Plan and OPEB Plan and the yields on high quality corporate bonds rated Aa or better.

2The mortality assumption was based on the RP-2000 mortality tables with projection of future mortality improvements using Scale AA, which aligned with the IRS prescriptions for cash funding valuations under the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

3CMS Energy and Consumers determined the long-term rate of return using historical market returns, the present and expected future economic environment, the capital market principles of risk and return, and the expert opinions of individuals and firms with financial market knowledge.  CMS Energy and Consumers considered the asset allocation of the portfolio in forecasting the future expected total return of the portfolio.  The goal was to determine a long-term rate of return that could be incorporated into the planning of future cash flow requirements in conjunction with the change in the liability.  Annually, CMS Energy and Consumers review for reasonableness and appropriateness the forecasted returns for various classes of assets used to construct an expected return model.  CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ expected long-term rate of return on Pension Plan assets was 7.75 percent in 2013.  The actual return on Pension Plan assets was 12.5 percent in 2013, 14.1 percent in 2012, and 4.0 percent in 2011.

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Costs:  Presented in the following table are the costs (credits) and other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations incurred in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ retirement benefits plans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

Pension and DB SERP

 

OPEB

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net periodic cost (credit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

   $

54

 

   $

49

 

   $

49

 

   $

29

 

   $

32

 

   $

27

 

Interest expense

 

100

 

105

 

106

 

65

 

82

 

77

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(127

)

(125

)

(112

)

(77

)

(66

)

(66

)

Amortization of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

101

 

79

 

65

 

26

 

46

 

30

 

Prior service cost (credit)

 

3

 

5

 

5

 

(31

)

(20

)

(20

)

Net periodic cost (credit)

 

   $

131

 

   $

113

 

   $

113

 

   $

12

 

   $

74

 

   $

48

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net periodic cost (credit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

   $

52

 

   $

48

 

   $

48

 

   $

28

 

   $

31

 

   $

26

 

Interest expense

 

96

 

100

 

101

 

63

 

79

 

74

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(124

)

(122

)

(109

)

(72

)

(61

)

(61

)

Amortization of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

98

 

77

 

63

 

27

 

47

 

31

 

Prior service cost (credit)

 

3

 

5

 

5

 

(30

)

(20

)

(20

)

Net periodic cost (credit)

 

   $

125

 

   $

108

 

   $

108

 

   $

16

 

   $

76

 

   $

50

 

For CMS Energy, the estimated net loss and prior service cost for the defined benefit Pension Plans that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost in 2014 from the regulatory asset is $57 million and from AOCI is $2 million.  For Consumers, the estimated net loss and prior service cost for the defined benefit Pension Plans that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost in 2014 from the regulatory asset is $57 million.  For CMS Energy, the estimated net loss and prior service credit for the OPEB Plan that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost in 2014 from the regulatory liability is $37 million, with a decrease from AOCI of $1 million.  For Consumers, the estimated net loss and prior service credit for the OPEB Plan that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost in 2014 from the regulatory liability is $37 million.

CMS Energy and Consumers amortize net gains and losses in excess of ten percent of the greater of the PBO or the MRV over the average remaining service period.  The estimated period of amortization of gains and losses for CMS Energy and Consumers was ten years for pension for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 11 years for pension for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 and 13 years for OPEB for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011.  Prior service cost (credit) amortization is established in the year in which the prior service cost (credit) first occurred, and is based on the same amortization period for all future years until the prior service cost (credit) is fully amortized.  CMS Energy and Consumers had a new prior service credit for OPEB in 2013.  The estimated period of amortization of this new prior service credit for CMS Energy and Consumers is ten years for OPEB for the year ended December 31, 2013.

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Reconciliations:  Presented in the following table are reconciliations of the funded status of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ retirement benefits plans with their retirement benefits plans’ liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

Pension

 

DB SERP

 

OPEB

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at beginning of period

 

$

2,354

 

$

2,072

 

$

144

 

$

127

 

$

1,729

 

$

1,641

 

Service cost

 

53

 

48

 

1

 

1

 

29

 

32

 

Interest cost

 

94

 

99

 

6

 

6

 

65

 

82

 

Plan amendments

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(208

)2

-

 

Actuarial (gain) loss

 

(308

)

249

 

(12

)

16

 

(440

)

25

 

Benefits paid

 

(120

)

(114

)

(7

)

(6

)

(52

)3

(51

)3

Benefit obligation at end of period

 

$

2,073

 

$

2,354

 

$

132

 

$

144

 

$

1,123

 

$

1,729

 4

Plan assets at fair value at beginning of period

 

$

1,727

 

$

1,626

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

1,047

 

$

924

 

Actual return on plan assets

 

206

 

215

 

-

 

-

 

150

 

108

 

Company contribution

 

150

 

-

 

7

 

6

 

72

 

65

 

Actual benefits paid

 

(119

)

(114

)

(7

)

(6

)

(51

)3

(50

)3

Plan assets at fair value at end of period

 

$

1,964

 

$

1,727

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

1,218

 

$

1,047

 

Funded status

 

$

(109

)1

$

(627

)1

$

(132

)

$

(144

)

$

95

 

$

(682

)

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at beginning of period

 

 

 

 

 

$

100

 

$

85

 

$

1,670

 

$

1,585

 

Service cost

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

1

 

28

 

31

 

Interest cost

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

4

 

63

 

79

 

Plan amendments

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

-

 

(200

)2

-

 

Actuarial (gain) loss

 

 

 

 

 

(8

)

13

 

(424

)

24

 

Benefits paid

 

 

 

 

 

(4

)

(3

)

(49

)3

(49

)3

Benefit obligation at end of period

 

 

 

 

 

$

93

 

$

100

 

$

1,088

 

$

1,670

 4

Plan assets at fair value at beginning of period

 

 

 

 

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

978

 

$

861

 

Actual return on plan assets

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

-

 

141

 

101

 

Company contribution

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

3

 

71

 

64

 

Actual benefits paid

 

 

 

 

 

(4

)

(3

)

(49

)3

(48

)3

Plan assets at fair value at end of period

 

 

 

 

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

1,141

 

$

978

 

Funded status

 

 

 

 

 

$

(93

)

$

(100

)

$

53

 

$

(692

)

1 At December 31, 2013, $86 million of the total funded status of the Pension Plan was attributable to Consumers based on an allocation of expenses.  At December 31, 2012, $590 million of the total funded status of the Pension Plan was attributable to Consumers based on an allocation of expenses.

2 Plan amendments resulted from changing the Medicare drug program provided through the OPEB Plan from an employer-sponsored prescription drug plan with a retiree drug subsidy to an EGWP to begin on January 1, 2015, and from certain benefit changes to the OPEB Plan, to begin on January 1, 2016.

3 CMS Energy received payments of $5 million in each of 2013, 2012, and 2011 for the Medicare Part D subsidies.  Consumers received payments of $4 million in 2013 and $5 million in each of 2012 and 2011 for the Medicare Part D subsidies.  The Medicare Part D subsidy payments are used to pay OPEB Plan benefits.

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4 The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 established a prescription drug benefit under Medicare (Medicare Part D) and a federal subsidy, which is tax-exempt, to sponsors of retiree health care benefit plans that provide a benefit that is actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D.  In 2010, the Health Care Acts repealed these tax-exempt deductions for years beginning after December 31, 2012.  The Medicare Part D subsidy annualized reduction in net OPEB cost for CMS Energy was $20 million for 2012 and $26 million for 2011.  Consumers’ Medicare Part D subsidy annualized reduction in net OPEB costs was $19 million for 2012 and $25 million for 2011.  The reduction for CMS Energy and Consumers included $7 million for 2012 and $9 million for 2011 in capitalized OPEB costs.

Presented in the following table is the classification of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ retirement benefit plans’ assets (liabilities):

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets (liabilities)

 

 

 

 

 

DB SERP

 

$

(8

)

$

(7

)

Non-current assets (liabilities)

 

 

 

 

 

DB SERP

 

(124

)

(137

)

OPEB

 

95

 

(682

)

Pension

 

(109

)

(627

)

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets (liabilities)

 

 

 

 

 

DB SERP

 

$

(5

)

$

(4

)

Non-current assets (liabilities)

 

 

 

 

 

DB SERP

 

(88

)

(96

)

OPEB

 

53

 

(692

)

Pension

 

(86

)

(590

)

Presented in the following table are the Pension Plan PBO, ABO, and fair value of plan assets:

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Pension PBO

 

$

2,073

 

$

2,354

 

Pension ABO

 

1,843

 

2,054

 

Fair value of Pension Plan assets

 

1,964

 

1,727

 

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Items Not Yet Recognized as a Component of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:  Presented in the following table are the amounts recognized in regulatory assets, regulatory liabilities, and AOCI that have not been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost.  For additional details on regulatory assets and liabilities, see Note 2, Regulatory Matters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

Pension and DB SERP

 

OPEB

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory assets (liabilities)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

625

 

$

1,095

 

$

184

 

$

704

 

Prior service cost (credit)

 

9

 

13

 

(282

)

(112

)

Regulatory assets (liabilities)

 

$

634

 

$

1,108

 

$

(98

)

$

592

 

AOCI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss (gain)

 

69

 

98

 

(26

)

(7

)

Prior service cost (credit)

 

-

 

-

 

(10

)

(3

)

Total amounts recognized in regulatory assets (liabilities) and AOCI

 

$

703

 

$

1,206

 

$

(134

)

$

582

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory assets (liabilities)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

625

 

$

1,095

 

$

184

 

$

704

 

Prior service cost (credit)

 

9

 

13

 

(282

)

(112

)

Regulatory assets (liabilities)

 

$

634

 

$

1,108

 

$

(98

)

$

592

 

AOCI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

25

 

38

 

-

 

-

 

Total amounts recognized in regulatory assets (liabilities) and AOCI

 

$

659

 

$

1,146

 

$

(98

)

$

592

 

Plan Assets:  Presented in the following tables are the fair values of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Pension Plan and OPEB Plan assets, by asset category and by level within the fair value hierarchy.  For additional details regarding the fair value hierarchy, see Note 5, Fair Value Measurements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

Pension Plan

 

 

 

December 31, 2013

 

December 31, 2012

 

 

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asset category

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and short-term investments

 

$

109

 

$

109

 

$

-

 

$

33

 

$

33

 

$

-

 

U.S. government and agencies securities

 

25

 

-

 

25

 

26

 

-

 

26

 

Corporate debt

 

188

 

-

 

188

 

277

 

-

 

277

 

State and municipal bonds

 

5

 

-

 

5

 

8

 

-

 

8

 

Foreign corporate bonds

 

20

 

-

 

20

 

27

 

-

 

27

 

Mutual funds

 

449

 

449

 

-

 

319

 

319

 

-

 

Pooled funds

 

1,168

 

-

 

1,168

 

1,037

 

-

 

1,037

 

Total

 

$

1,964

 

$

558

 

$

1,406

 

$

1,727

 

$

352

 

$

1,375

 

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In Millions

 

 

 

OPEB Plan

 

 

 

December 31, 2013

 

December 31, 2012

 

 

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asset category

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and short-term investments

 

$

44

 

$

44

 

$

-

 

$

118

 

$

118

 

$

-

 

U.S. government and agencies securities

 

3

 

-

 

3

 

4

 

-

 

4

 

Corporate debt

 

26

 

-

 

26

 

38

 

-

 

38

 

State and municipal bonds

 

1

 

-

 

1

 

1

 

-

 

1

 

Foreign corporate bonds

 

3

 

-

 

3

 

4

 

-

 

4

 

Common stocks

 

71

 

71

 

-

 

75

 

75

 

-

 

Mutual funds

 

343

 

343

 

-

 

300

 

300

 

-

 

Pooled funds

 

727

 

-

 

727

 

507

 

-

 

507

 

Total

 

$

1,218

 

$

458

 

$

760

 

$

1,047

 

$

493

 

$

554

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asset category

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and short-term investments

 

$

41

 

$

41

 

$

-

 

$

111

 

$

111

 

$

-

 

U.S. government and agencies securities

 

3

 

-

 

3

 

3

 

-

 

3

 

Corporate debt

 

25

 

-

 

25

 

35

 

-

 

35

 

State and municipal bonds

 

1

 

-

 

1

 

1

 

-

 

1

 

Foreign corporate bonds

 

3

 

-

 

3

 

3

 

-

 

3

 

Common stocks

 

66

 

66

 

-

 

70

 

70

 

-

 

Mutual funds

 

321

 

321

 

-

 

281

 

281

 

-

 

Pooled funds

 

681

 

-

 

681

 

474

 

-

 

474

 

Total

 

$

1,141

 

$

428

 

$

713

 

$

978

 

$

462

 

$

516

 

Cash and Short-term Investments:  Cash and short-term investments consist of money market funds with daily liquidity.

U.S. Government and Agencies Securities:  U.S. government and agencies securities consist of U.S. Treasury notes and other debt securities backed by the U.S. government and related agencies.  These securities were valued based on quoted market prices.

Corporate Debt:  At December 31, 2013, corporate debt investments in the Pension Plan and OPEB Plan comprised investment grade bonds of U.S. issuers from diverse industries.  At December 31, 2012, corporate debt investments in the Pension Plan and OPEB Plan comprised investment grade bonds (68 percent) and non-investment grade, high-yield bonds (32 percent) of U.S. issuers from diverse industries.  These securities are valued based on quoted market prices, when available, or yields presently available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings.

State and Municipal Bonds:  State and municipal bonds were valued using a matrix-pricing model that incorporates Level 2 market-based information.  The fair value of the bonds was derived from various observable inputs, including benchmark yields, reported securities trades, broker/dealer quotes, bond ratings, and general information on market movements for investment grade state and municipal securities normally considered by market participants when pricing such debt securities.

Foreign Corporate Bonds:  Foreign corporate debt securities were valued based on quoted market prices, when available, or on yields available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings.

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Common Stocks:  Common stocks in the OPEB Plan consist of equity securities with low transaction costs that were actively managed and tracked by the S&P 500 Index.  These securities were valued at their quoted closing prices.

Mutual Funds:  Mutual funds represent shares in registered investment companies that are priced based on the daily quoted NAVs that are publicly available and are the basis for transactions to buy or sell shares in the funds.

Pooled Funds:  Pooled funds in the Pension Plan and OPEB Plan include both common and collective trust funds as well as special funds that contain only employee benefit plan assets from two or more unrelated benefit plans.  At December 31, 2013, these funds comprised investments in U.S. equity securities (Pension: 61 percent; OPEB: 60 percent), foreign equity securities (Pension: 28 percent; OPEB: 20 percent), foreign fixed-income securities (Pension: three percent; OPEB: four percent), U.S. fixed-income securities (Pension: four percent; OPEB: 14 percent), and alternative investments (Pension: four percent; OPEB: two percent).

At December 31, 2012, these funds comprised investments in U.S. equity securities (Pension: 51 percent; OPEB: 65 percent), foreign equity securities (Pension: 26 percent; OPEB: 21 percent), foreign fixed-income securities (Pension: 14 percent; OPEB: nine percent), U.S. fixed-income securities (Pension: four percent; OPEB: three percent), and alternative investments (Pension: five percent; OPEB: two percent).  These investments were valued at the quoted NAV provided by the fund managers that is the basis for transactions to buy or sell shares in the funds.

Presented in the following table are the contributions to CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ OPEB Plan and Pension Plan:

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

OPEB1

 

 

 

 

 

VEBA trust

 

$

55

 

$

45

 

401(h) component

 

17

 

20

 

 

 

$

72

 

$

65

 

Pension2

 

$

150

 

$

-

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

OPEB1

 

 

 

 

 

VEBA trust

 

$

55

 

$

45

 

401(h) component

 

16

 

19

 

 

 

$

71

 

$

64

 

Pension2

 

$

147

 

$

-

 

1 CMS Energy, including Consumers, plans to contribute $75 million to the OPEB Plan in 2014, of which Consumers plans to contribute $74 million.

2 CMS Energy, including Consumers, does not presently plan to contribute to the Pension Plan in 2014.

Contributions include required and discretionary amounts.  Actual future contributions will depend on future investment performance, changes in discount rates, and various factors related to the populations participating in the plans.

In 2011, CMS Energy reached its target asset allocation for Pension Plan assets of 50 percent equity, 30 percent fixed income, and 20 percent alternative-strategy investments.  This target asset allocation is expected to continue to maximize the long-term return on plan assets, while maintaining a prudent level of risk.  The level of acceptable risk is a function of the liabilities of the plan.  Equity investments are

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diversified mostly across the S&P 500 Index, with lesser allocations to the S&P MidCap and SmallCap Indexes and Foreign Equity Funds.  Fixed-income investments are diversified across investment grade instruments of government and corporate issuers as well as high-yield and global bond funds.  Alternative strategies are diversified across absolute return investment approaches and global tactical asset allocation.  CMS Energy and Consumers use annual liability measurements, quarterly portfolio reviews, and periodic asset/liability studies to evaluate the need for adjustments to the portfolio allocation.

CMS Energy and Consumers established union and non-union VEBA trusts to fund their future retiree health and life insurance benefits.  These trusts are funded through the ratemaking process for Consumers and through direct contributions from the non-utility subsidiaries.  In 2012, CMS Energy and Consumers adjusted their target asset allocation to 50 percent equity, 20 percent fixed income, and 30 percent alternative-strategy investments.  This target allocation is expected to continue to maximize the long-term return on plan assets, while maintaining a prudent level of risk.  The level of acceptable risk is a function of the liabilities of the plan.  Equity investments are diversified mostly across the S&P 500 Index, with lesser allocations to the S&P SmallCap Index and Foreign Equity Funds.  Fixed-income investments are diversified across investment grade instruments of government and corporate issuers.  Alternative strategies are diversified across absolute return investment approaches and global tactical asset allocation.  CMS Energy and Consumers use annual liability measurements, quarterly portfolio reviews, and periodic asset/liability studies to evaluate the need for adjustments to the portfolio allocation.

Benefit Payments:  Presented in the following table are the expected benefit payments for each of the next five years and the five-year period thereafter:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

Pension

 

DB SERP

 

OPEB

1

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

$

119

 

$

8

 

$

58

 

2015

 

127

 

8

 

59

 

2016

 

134

 

8

 

61

 

2017

 

139

 

8

 

64

 

2018

 

144

 

8

 

66

 

2019-2023

 

760

 

48

 

364

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

$

116

 

$

4

 

$

56

 

2015

 

124

 

5

 

57

 

2016

 

131

 

5

 

59

 

2017

 

136

 

5

 

61

 

2018

 

140

 

5

 

64

 

2019-2023

 

740

 

27

 

349

 

1 CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ OPEB benefit payments are net of employee contributions and expected Medicare Part D subsidy payments for 2014.  CMS Energy and Consumers plan to change the Medicare drug program provided through the OPEB Plan from an employer-sponsored drug plan to an EGWP to begin on January 1, 2015; therefore, no Medicare Part D subsidy is expected after 2014.  For CMS Energy, subsidies to be received are estimated to be $6 million for 2014.  For Consumers, subsidies to be received are estimated to be $5 million for 2014.

Collective Bargaining Agreements:  At December 31, 2013, unions represented 43 percent of CMS Energy’s employees and 45 percent of Consumers’ employees.  The UWUA represents Consumers’ operating, maintenance, construction, and call center employees.  The USW represents Zeeland employees.  Union contracts expire in 2015.

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12:STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

CMS Energy and Consumers provide a PISP to key employees and non-employee directors based on their contributions to the successful management of the company.  The PISP has a five-year term, expiring in May 2014.

All grants under the PISP for 2013, 2012, and 2011 were in the form of TSR restricted stock and time-lapse restricted stock.  Of the restricted stock awards granted to officers in 2013 and 2012, 75 percent were TSR restricted stock and 25 percent were time-lapse restricted stock.  Restricted stock award recipients receive shares of CMS Energy common stock that have dividend and voting rights.  In lieu of cash dividend payments, however, the TSR restricted stock shares receive additional restricted shares equal to the value of the dividend.  These additional restricted shares are subject to the same vesting conditions as the underlying restricted stock shares.

TSR restricted stock vesting is contingent on meeting a three-year service requirement and a specific market condition.  The market condition is based entirely on a comparison of CMS Energy’s TSR with the median TSR of a peer group over the same three-year period.  Depending on the outcome of the market condition, a recipient may earn a total award ranging from zero to 200 percent of the initial grant.  Time-lapse restricted stock vests after a service period of three years.

All restricted stock awards vest fully upon death.  Upon a change of control of CMS Energy or termination under an officer separation agreement, restricted stock awards will vest in accordance with specific officer agreements.  For restricted stock award recipients who terminate employment due to retirement or disability, a pro-rata portion of the award equal to the portion of the service period served between the award grant date and the employee’s termination date will vest upon termination with any TSR award also contingent upon the outcome of the market condition.  The remaining portion of the award will be forfeited.  Restricted shares are forfeited fully if employment terminates for any other reason or if the minimum service requirements are not met or waived.

The PISP also allows for stock options, stock appreciation rights, phantom shares, performance units, and incentive options, none of which was granted in 2013, 2012, or 2011.

Shares awarded or subject to stock options, phantom shares, or performance units may not exceed 6 million shares from June 2009 through May 2014, nor may such awards to any recipient exceed 500,000 shares in any fiscal year.  CMS Energy and Consumers may issue awards of up to 2,068,751 shares of common stock under the PISP at December 31, 2013.  Shares for which payment or exercise is in cash, as well as shares or stock options forfeited for any reason other than failure to meet a market condition, may be awarded or granted again under the PISP.

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Presented in the following table is restricted stock activity under the PISP:

Year Ended December 31, 2013

 

Number of Shares

 

Weighted-Average Grant Date
 Fair Value per Share

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Nonvested at beginning of period

 

1,654,776

 

$

19.15

 

Granted1

 

920,587

 

16.65

 

Vested

 

(927,164

)

10.85

 

Forfeited

 

(22,343

)

22.33

 

Nonvested at end of period

 

1,625,856

 

$

22.42

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Nonvested at beginning of period

 

1,547,123

 

$

19.22

 

Granted1

 

879,150

 

16.76

 

Vested

 

(841,728

)

10.84

 

Forfeited

 

(22,343

)

22.33

 

Nonvested at end of period

 

1,562,202

 

$

22.31

 

1 During 2013, CMS Energy granted 326,518 TSR shares, 271,250 time-lapse shares, 45,486 shares from dividends paid on TSR shares, and 277,333 shares granted as a result of the outcome of the TSR awards’ market condition.  During 2013, Consumers granted 310,454 TSR shares, 264,283 time-lapse shares, 43,450 shares from dividends paid on TSR shares, and 260,963 shares granted as a result of the outcome of the TSR awards’ market condition.

CMS Energy and Consumers charge the fair value of the awards to expense over the required service period.  TSR restricted stock awards have graded vesting features for retirement-eligible employees, and CMS Energy and Consumers recognize expense for those awards on a graded vesting schedule over the required service period.  Expense for TSR restricted stock awards for non-retirement-eligible employees and time-lapse awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the required service period.

The fair value of time-lapse restricted stock is based on the price of CMS Energy’s common stock on the grant date.  The fair value of TSR restricted stock awards is calculated on the grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation.  CMS Energy and Consumers base expected volatilities on the historical volatility of the price of CMS Energy common stock.  The risk-free rate for valuation of the TSR restricted stock awards was based on the three-year U.S. Treasury yield at the award grant date.

Presented in the following table are the significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the TSR restricted stock awards:

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Expected volatility

 

17.4

 %

20.3

 %

29.6

 %

Expected dividend yield

 

3.9

 

4.1

 

4.6

 

Risk-free rate

 

0.4

 

0.3

 

1.0

 

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Presented in the following table is the weighted-average grant-date fair value of all awards under the PISP:

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average grant-date fair value per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted stock granted

 

$

16.65

 

$

12.32

 

$

13.89

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average grant-date fair value per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted stock granted

 

$

16.76

 

$

12.28

 

$

14.17

 

Presented in the following table are amounts related to all restricted stock awards:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of shares that vested during the year

 

$

10

 

$

10

 

$

7

 

Compensation expense recognized

 

14

 

12

 

10

 

Income tax benefit recognized

 

5

 

5

 

4

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of shares that vested during the year

 

$

9

 

$

8

 

$

7

 

Compensation expense recognized

 

14

 

11

 

10

 

Income tax benefit recognized

 

5

 

4

 

4

 

At December 31, 2013, $10 million of total unrecognized compensation cost was related to restricted stock for CMS Energy, including Consumers, and $10 million of total unrecognized compensation cost was related to restricted stock for Consumers.  CMS Energy and Consumers expect to recognize this cost over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years.

Since CMS Energy has utilized tax loss carryforwards, CMS Energy was unable to realize excess tax benefits upon vesting of restricted stock.  Therefore, CMS Energy did not recognize the related excess tax benefits in equity.  As of December 31, 2013, CMS Energy has $58 million of unrealized excess tax benefits.

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13:INCOME TAXES

CMS Energy and its subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return and a unitary Michigan income tax return.  Income taxes are allocated based on each company’s separate taxable income in accordance with the CMS Energy tax sharing agreement.

Presented in the following table is the difference between actual income tax expense on continuing operations, excluding noncontrolling interests, and income tax expense computed by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate:

 

 

In Millions, Except Tax Rate 

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

$

754

 

$

620

 

$

604

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense at statutory rate

 

264

 

217

 

211

 

Increase (decrease) in income taxes from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MCIT law change, net of federal effect1

 

-

 

-

 

(32

)

State and local income taxes, net of federal effect

 

37

 

27

 

21

 

Other, net

 

1

 

1

 

(9

)

Income tax expense

 

$

302

 

$

245

 

$

191

 

Effective tax rate

 

40.1

 %

39.5

 %

31.6

 %

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

$

880

 

$

736

 

$

734

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense at statutory rate

 

308

 

258

 

257

 

Increase (decrease) in income taxes from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State and local income taxes, net of federal effect

 

43

 

36

 

24

 

Other, net

 

(5

)

3

 

(14

)

Income tax expense

 

$

346

 

$

297

 

$

267

 

Effective tax rate

 

39.3

 %

40.4

 %

36.4

 %

1 For the year ended December 31, 2011, CMS Energy and Consumers remeasured their Michigan deferred income tax assets and liabilities due to the enactment in May 2011 of the MCIT, which became effective January 1, 2012.  The MCIT, a simplified six percent corporate income tax, replaced the MBT, a complex multi-part tax.  CMS Energy recognized a one-time non-cash deferred tax benefit of $32 million as a result of this remeasurement.  Consumers recognized a $128 million regulatory asset (not including the effects of income tax gross-ups) related to this change in tax law.

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Presented in the following table are the significant components of income tax expense on continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

-

 

$

1

 

$

2

 

State and local

 

34

 

21

 

24

 

 

 

$

34

 

$

22

 

$

26

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

248

 

$

205

 

$

207

 

State and local

 

23

 

21

 

11

 

MCIT law change

 

-

 

-

 

(49

)

 

 

$

271

 

$

226

 

$

169

 

Deferred income tax credit

 

(3

)

(3

)

(4

)

Tax expense

 

$

302

 

$

245

 

$

191

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

137

 

$

110

 

$

74

 

State and local

 

45

 

37

 

32

 

 

 

$

182

 

$

147

 

$

106

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

147

 

$

134

 

$

159

 

State and local

 

20

 

19

 

6

 

 

 

$

167

 

$

153

 

$

165

 

Deferred income tax credit

 

(3

)

(3

)

(4

)

Tax expense

 

$

346

 

$

297

 

$

267

 

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Presented in the following table are the principal components of deferred income tax assets (liabilities) recognized:

 

 

 

In Millions

 

December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Employee benefits

 

$

(99

)

$

3

 

Gas inventory

 

(130

)

(147

)

Plant, property, and equipment

 

(1,856

)

(1,783

)

Net regulatory tax liability

 

86

 

131

 

Reserves and accruals

 

57

 

71

 

Securitized costs

 

(190

)

(73

)

Tax loss and credit carryforwards

 

629

 

733

 

Other

 

15

 

(15

)

 

 

$

(1,488

)

$

(1,080

)

Less valuation allowance

 

(2

)

(3

)

Total net deferred income tax liabilities

 

$

(1,490

)

$

(1,083

)

Deferred tax assets, net of valuation reserves

 

$

785

 

$

935

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

(2,275

)

(2,018

)

Total net deferred income tax liabilities

 

$

(1,490

)

$

(1,083

)

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

Employee benefits

 

$

(119

)

$

(36

)

Gas inventory

 

(130

)

(147

)

Plant, property, and equipment

 

(1,911

)

(1,848

)

Net regulatory tax liability

 

86

 

131

 

Reserves and accruals

 

31

 

41

 

Securitized costs

 

(190

)

(73

)

Tax loss and credit carryforwards

 

48

 

61

 

Other

 

16

 

(13

)

 

 

$

(2,169

)

$

(1,884

)

Less valuation allowance

 

(1

)

(1

)

Total net deferred income tax liabilities

 

$

(2,170

)

$

(1,885

)

Deferred tax assets, net of valuation reserves

 

$

180

 

$

232

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

(2,350

)

(2,117

)

Total net deferred income tax liabilities

 

$

(2,170

)

$

(1,885

)

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax effect of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets or liabilities and the reported amounts on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ consolidated financial statements.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as current or non-current according to the classification of the related assets or liabilities.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities not related to assets or liabilities are classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary differences.

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Presented in the following table are the tax loss and credit carryforwards at December 31, 2013:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

 

 

Gross Amount

 

Tax Attribute

 

Expiration

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal net operating loss carryforward

 

$

900

 

$

315

 

2026 – 2031

 

Local net operating loss carryforwards

 

 

420

 

 

4

 

2023 – 2031

 

State capital loss carryforward

 

 

18

 

 

1

 

2014

 

Alternative minimum tax credits

 

 

270

 

 

270

 

No expiration

 

Charitable contribution carryover

 

 

5

 

 

2

 

2016

 

General business credits

 

 

37

 

 

37

 

2018 – 2033

 

Total tax attributes

 

 

 

 

$

629

 

 

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal net operating loss carryforward

 

$

129

 

$

45

 

2026 – 2031

 

State capital loss carryforward

 

 

10

 

 

1

 

2014

 

Charitable contribution carryover

 

 

5

 

 

2

 

2016

 

Total tax attributes

 

 

 

 

$

48

 

 

 

CMS Energy has provided a valuation allowance of $1 million for the local tax loss carryforward, and a valuation allowance of $1 million for the state capital loss carryforward.  Consumers has provided a valuation allowance of $1 million for the state capital loss carryforward.  CMS Energy and Consumers expect to utilize fully tax loss and credit carryforwards for which no valuation has been provided.  It is reasonably possible that further adjustments will be made to the valuation allowances within one year.

Presented in the following table is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of uncertain tax benefits:

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

1

 

$

4

 

$

4

 

Reductions for prior-year tax positions

 

-

 

(4

)

(1

)

Additions for prior-year tax positions

 

3

 

1

 

1

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

4

 

$

1

 

$

4

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

1

 

$

4

 

$

3

 

Reductions for prior-year tax positions

 

-

 

(4

)

-

 

Additions for prior-year tax positions

 

3

 

1

 

1

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

4

 

$

1

 

$

4

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers, had uncertain tax benefits of $4 million at December 31, 2013, $1 million at December 31, 2012 and $4 million at December 31, 2011 that, if recognized, would affect the annual effective tax rate in future years.  Consumers had uncertain tax benefits of $4 million at December 31, 2013, $1 million at December 31, 2012, and $4 million at December 31, 2011 that, if recognized, would affect the annual effective tax rate in future years.

CMS Energy and Consumers recognize accrued interest and penalties, where applicable, as part of income tax expense.  CMS Energy, including Consumers, recognized no interest for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, or 2011.

In May 2012, the IRS completed its audit of CMS Energy and its subsidiaries for 2008 and 2009, as well as its audit of research and development tax credit claims for 2001 through 2009.  The audits resulted in a

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$45 million increase in the net operating loss carryforward.  The impact to net income as a result of the completion of the audits was a decrease of $1 million.

CMS Energy’s federal income tax returns for 2010 and subsequent years remain subject to examination by the IRS.  CMS Energy’s MCIT and MBT returns for 2008 and subsequent years remain subject to examination by the State of Michigan.

The amount of income taxes paid is subject to ongoing audits by federal, state, local, and foreign tax authorities, which can result in proposed assessments.  CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ estimate of the potential outcome for any uncertain tax issue is highly judgmental.  CMS Energy and Consumers believe that their accrued tax liabilities at December 31, 2013 were adequate for all years.

14:EARNINGS PER SHARE – CMS ENERGY

Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s basic and diluted EPS computations based on Incomeincome from Continuing Operations:

             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts 
 
Income Available to Common Stockholders
            
Income from Continuing Operations $366  $220  $301 
Less Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests  (3)  (11)  (7)
Less Charge for Deferred Issuance Costs on Preferred Stock  (8)      
Less Preferred Stock Dividends  (8)  (11)  (11)
             
Income from Continuing Operations Available to Common Stockholders — Basic and Diluted $347  $198  $283 
             
Average Common Shares Outstanding
            
Weighted average shares — basic  231.5   227.2   225.7 
Add dilutive contingently convertible securities  21.3   10.6   10.3 
Add dilutive non-vested stock awards, options, and warrants  0.1   0.1   0.2 
             
Weighted average shares — diluted  252.9   237.9   236.2 
Income from Continuing Operations per Average Common Share Available to Common Stockholders
            
Basic $1.50  $0.87  $1.25 
Diluted $1.36  $0.83  $1.20 
continuing operations:

In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Income available to common stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

454

 

$

377

 

$

415

 

Less income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

2

 

2

 

2

 

Income from continuing operations available to
common stockholders – basic and diluted

 

$

452

 

$

375

 

$

413

 

Average common shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares – basic

 

264.5

 

260.7

 

250.8

 

Add dilutive contingently convertible securities

 

6.4

 

6.8

 

12.2

 

Add dilutive non-vested stock awards and options

 

1.0

 

1.1

 

0.4

 

Weighted-average shares – diluted

 

271.9

 

268.6

 

263.4

 

Income from continuing operations per average
common share available to common stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

1.71

 

$

1.43

 

$

1.65

 

Diluted

 

1.66

 

1.39

 

1.57

 

Contingently Convertible Securities:CONTINGENTLY CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES

When CMS Energy has earnings from continuing operations, its contingently convertible securities dilute EPS to the extent that the conversion value of a security, which is based on the average market price of CMS Energy’sEnergy common stock, exceeds the principal value of that security.

In September 2010, CMS Energy exercised its mandatory conversion rights for all of its outstanding 4.50 percent cumulative convertible preferred stock and charged unamortized issuance costs of $8 million to Charge for Deferred Issuance Costs on Preferred Stock, in Accumulated Deficit, which reduced Net Income Available to Common Stockholders on its Consolidated Statements of Income. In October 2010, CMS Energy


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NON-VESTED STOCK AWARDS

CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
issued 11,276,277 shares of its common stock upon conversion. For additional details on contingently convertible securities, see Note 7, Financings and Capitalization.
Stock Options and Warrants: For the year ended December 31, 2010, outstanding options to purchase 0.4 million shares of CMS Energy common stock had no impact on diluted EPS, since the exercise price was greater than the average market price of CMS Energy common stock. These stock options have the potential to dilute EPS in the future.
Non-vested Stock Awards:

CMS Energy’s non-vested stock awards are composed of participating and non-participating securities.  The participating securities accrue cash dividends when common stockholders receive dividends.  Since the recipient is not required to return the dividends to CMS Energy if the recipient forfeits the award, the non-vested stock awards are considered participating securities.  As such, the participating non-vested stock awards were included in the computation of basic EPS.  The non-participating securities accrue stock dividends that vest concurrently with the stock award.  If the recipient forfeits the award, the stock dividends accrued on the non-participating securities are also forfeited.  Accordingly, the non-participating awards and stock dividends were included in the computation of diluted EPS, but not basic EPS.

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Convertible Debentures: For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, there was no impact on diluted EPS from CMS Energy’s 7.75 percent convertible subordinated debentures. Using the if-converted method, the debentures would have:
• increased the numerator of diluted EPS by $1 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, by $5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, and by $9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, from an assumed reduction of interest expense, net of tax; and
• increased the denominator of diluted EPS by 0.7 million shares for the year ended December 31, 2010, by 2.3 million shares for the year ended December 31, 2009, and by 4.2 million shares for the year ended December 31, 2008.
CMS Energy can revoke the conversion rights if certain conditions are met.
9: FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
                 
  2010  2009 
  Cost or
     Cost or
    
  Carrying
     Carrying
    
December 31
 Amount  Fair Value  Amount  Fair Value 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                
Securities held to maturity $5  $6  $4  $4 
Securities available for sale  90   90   26   27 
Notes receivable(a)  386   407   269   279 
Long-term debt(b)  7,174   7,861   6,567   7,013 
Consumers
                
Securities available for sale $64  $90  $24  $45 
Long-term debt(c)  4,525   4,891   4,406   4,635 


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15:OTHER INCOME AND OTHER EXPENSE

CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(a)Includes current portion of notes receivable of $11 million at December 31, 2010 and less than $1 million at December 31, 2009.
(b)Includes current portion of long-term debt of $726 million at December 31, 2010 and $672 million at December 31, 2009.
(c)Includes current portion of long-term debt of $37 million at December 31, 2010 and $343 million at December 31, 2009.
Notes receivable consist of EnerBank’s fixed-rate installment loans. EnerBank estimates the fair value of these loans using a discounted cash flows technique that incorporates market interest rates as well as assumptions about the remaining life of the loans and credit risk. Fair values for impaired loans are estimated using discounted cash flows or underlying collateral values.
CMS Energy and Consumers estimate the fair value of their long-term debt using quoted prices from market trades of the debt, if available. In the absence of quoted prices, CMS Energy and Consumers calculate market yields and prices for the debt using a matrix method that incorporates market data for similarly rated debt. Depending on the information available, other valuation techniques may be used that rely on internal assumptions and models. CMS Energy includes the value of the conversion features in estimating the fair value of its convertible debt, and incorporates, as appropriate, information on the market prices of CMS Energy’s common stock.
The effects of third-party credit enhancements are excluded from the fair value measurements of long-term debt. At December 31, 2010, CMS Energy’s long-term debt included $103 million principal amount that was supported by third-party credit enhancements. This entire principal amount was at Consumers. At December 31, 2009, CMS Energy’s long-term debt included $286 million principal amount that was supported by third-party insurance or other credit enhancements. Of this amount, $271 million principal amount was at Consumers.
Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ investment securities:
                                 
  2010  2009 
     Unrealized
  Unrealized
  Fair
     Unrealized
  Unrealized
  Fair
 
December 31
 Cost  Gains  Losses  Value  Cost  Gains  Losses  Value 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                                
Available for sale:                                
SERP:                                
Mutual fund $62  $  $  $62  $  $  $  $ 
State and municipal bonds  28         28   26   1      27 
Held to maturity:                                
Debt securities  5   1      6   4         4 
Consumers
                                
Available for sale:                                
SERP:                                
Mutual fund $39  $  $  $39  $  $  $  $ 
State and municipal bonds  17         17   16         16 
CMS Energy common stock  8   26      34   8   21      29 


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CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
The mutual fund classified as available for sale is a short-term, fixed-income fund. Shares in this fund were acquired during the year ended December 31, 2010. State and municipal bonds classified as available for sale consist of investment grade state and municipal bonds. Debt securities classified as held to maturity consist primarily of mortgage-backed securities held by EnerBank, as well as state and municipal bonds held by EnerBank.
Presented in the following table is the sales activity for CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ investment securities:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers:
            
Proceeds from sales of investment securities $1  $53  $2 
Realized gains     8    
Net gains from AOCI recognized in net income     5    
Consumers:
            
Proceeds from sales of investment securities $  $32  $2 
Realized gains     5    
Net gains from AOCI recognized in net income     3    
The amounts for all periods represent sales of SERP securities classified as available for sale. The activity during 2009 related primarily to the sale of a SERP investment in a mutual fund, while the remainder of the activity for all three years related to sales of state and municipal bonds held within the SERP.
During 2008, the fair value of CMS Energy’s SERP investment in a mutual fund declined from $63 million to $39 million. These amounts include the decline in fair value of Consumers’ SERP investment in the mutual fund from $41 million to $25 million. CMS Energy and Consumers determined that these declines in fair value were other than temporary. Accordingly, CMS Energy recognized net unrealized losses of $24 million ($15 million net of tax) in Other expense on its Consolidated Statements of Income. Consumers recognized net unrealized losses of $16 million ($10 million net of tax) in Other expense on its Consolidated Statements of Income. These losses had been recorded in AOCI, in accordance with applicable accounting standards, before they were determined to be other than temporary.
Presented in the following table are the fair values of the SERP state and municipal bonds by contractual maturity at December 31, 2010:
         
  CMS Energy,
    
  including
    
  Consumers  Consumers 
  In Millions 
 
Due one year or less $1  $ 
Due after one year through five years  12   7 
Due after five years through ten years  9   6 
Due after ten years  6   4 
         
Total $28  $17 
         
10: DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
In order to limit exposure to certain market risks, primarily changes in commodity prices, interest rates, and foreign exchange rates, CMS Energy and Consumers may enter into various risk management contracts, such as forward contracts, futures, options, and swaps. In entering into these contracts, they follow established policies and procedures under the direction of an executive oversight committee consisting of senior management


128


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
representatives and a risk committee consisting of business unit managers. Neither CMS Energy nor Consumers enters into any derivatives for trading purposes.
The contracts used to manage market risks may qualify as derivative instruments. If a contract is a derivative and does not qualify for the normal purchases and sales exception, the contract is recorded on the balance sheet at its fair value. Each reporting period, the resulting asset or liability is adjusted to reflect any change in the fair value of the contract. Since none of CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ derivatives have been designated as accounting hedges, all changes in fair value are reported in earnings.
For a discussion of how CMS Energy and Consumers determine the fair value of their derivatives, see Note 4, Fair Value Measurements.
Commodity Price Risk: In order to support ongoing operations, CMS Energy and Consumers enter into contracts for the future purchase and sale of various commodities, such as electricity, natural gas, and coal. These forward contracts are generally long-term in nature and result in physical delivery of the commodity at a contracted price. Most of these contracts are not subject to derivative accounting because:
• they do not have a notional amount (that is, a number of units specified in a derivative instrument, such as MWh of electricity or bcf of natural gas);
• they qualify for the normal purchases and sales exception; or
• there is not an active market for the commodity.
CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ coal purchase contracts are not derivatives because there is not an active market for the coal they purchase. If an active market for coal develops in the future, some of these contracts may qualify as derivatives. For Consumers, which is subject to regulatory accounting, the resulting fair value gains and losses would be offset by changes in regulatory assets and liabilities and would not affect net income. No other subsidiaries of CMS Energy enter into coal purchase contracts.
CMS ERM has not designated its contracts to purchase and sell electricity and natural gas as normal purchases and sales and, therefore, CMS Energy accounts for those contracts as derivatives. To manage commodity price risks associated with these forward purchase and sale contracts, CMS ERM uses various financial instruments, such as futures, options, and swaps. At December 31, 2010, CMS ERM held the following derivative contracts:
• a forward contract for the physical sale of 675 GWh of electricity through 2015 on behalf of one of CMS Energy’s non-utility generating plants;
• futures contracts through 2011 as an economic hedge of 20 percent of the generating plant’s natural gas requirements needed to serve a steam sales contract, for a total of 0.2 bcf of natural gas;
• a forward contract for the physical sale of 50 GWh of electricity in January 2011;
• forward contracts to purchase 2.1 bcf and sell 2.1 bcf of natural gas through October 2011 in CMS ERM’s role as a marketer of natural gas for third-party producers; and
• an option to sell 612 GWh of electricity, and as an economic hedge, contracts to purchase 0.8 bcf of natural gas through 2011.


129


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Presented in the following table are the fair values of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ derivative instruments:
                         
  Derivative Assets  Derivative Liabilities 
  Balance Sheet
  Fair Value at December 31  Balance Sheet
  Fair Value at December 31 
  Location  2010  2009  Location  2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                        
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
                        
Commodity contracts(a)  Other assets  $1  $1   Other liabilities(b) $4  $9 
Interest rate contracts(c)  Other assets         Other liabilities      1 
                         
Total CMS Energy     $1  $1      $4  $10 
                         
Consumers
                        
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
                        
Commodity contracts  Other assets  $1  $   Other liabilities  $  $ 
                         
(a)Assets and liabilities are presented gross and exclude the impact of offsetting derivative assets and liabilities under master netting agreements, which was less than $1 million at December 31, 2010 and was $1 million at December 31, 2009.
(b)Liabilities exclude the impact of offsetting cash margin deposits paid by CMS ERM to other parties, which was less than $1 million at December 31, 2010 and was $1 million at December 31, 2009. CMS Energy presents these liabilities net of these impacts on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(c)At December 31, 2009, CMS Energy’s derivatives included an interest rate collar held by Grayling as an economic hedge of the variable interest rate charged on its outstanding revenue bonds. Effective January 1, 2010, CMS Energy deconsolidated Grayling. CMS Energy reflected its share of the loss on the interest rate collar, which was less than $1 million at December 31, 2010, in Income (loss) from equity method investees on its Consolidated Statements of Income. For additional details about the deconsolidation of Grayling, see Note 18, Variable Interest Entities.


130


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Presented in the following table is the effect of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ derivative instruments on their Consolidated Statements of Income:
           
    Amount of Gain (Loss)
 
  Location of Gain (Loss)
 on Derivatives
 
  on Derivatives
 Recognized in Income 
Twelve Months Ended December 31
 Recognized in Income 2010  2009 
    In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
          
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
          
Commodity contracts Operating Revenue $4  $7 
  Fuel for electric generation  4   (3)
  Cost of gas sold     (2)
  Purchased and interchange power  2    
  Other income  4   9 
Interest rate contracts Other expense     (1)
Foreign exchange contracts(a) Other expense     (1)
           
Total CMS Energy   $14  $9 
           
Consumers
          
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
          
Commodity contracts Other income $4  $9 
           
(a)This derivative loss relates to a foreign-exchange forward contract that CMS Energy settled in January 2009.
CMS Energy’s derivative liabilities subject to credit-risk-related contingent features were $1 million at December 31, 2010 and less than $1 million at December 31, 2009.
Credit Risk: CMS Energy’s swaps, options, and forward contracts contain credit risk, which is the risk that a counterparty will fail to meet its contractual obligations. CMS Energy reduces this risk through established policies and procedures. CMS Energy assesses credit quality by considering credit ratings, financial condition, and other available information for counterparties. A credit limit is established for each counterparty based on the evaluation of its credit quality. Exposure to potential loss under each contract is monitored and action is taken when appropriate.
CMS ERM enters into contracts primarily with companies in the electric and gas industry. This industry concentration may have a positive or negative impact on CMS Energy’s exposure to credit risk based on how similar changes in economic conditions, the weather, or other conditions affect these counterparties. CMS ERM reduces its credit risk exposure by using industry-standard agreements that allow for netting positive and negative exposures associated with the same counterparty. Typically, these agreements also allow each party to demand adequate assurance of future performance from the other party, when there is reason to do so.
At December 31, 2010, if counterparties within this industry concentration all failed to meet their contractual obligations, the loss to CMS Energy on contracts accounted for as derivatives would be less than $1 million.
CMS Energy does not expect a material adverse effect on its Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Income as a result of counterparty nonperformance, given CMS Energy’s credit policies, current exposures, and credit reserves.


131


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
11: RETIREMENT BENEFITS
CMS Energy and Consumers provide pension, OPEB, and other retirement benefits to employees under a number of different plans. These plans include:
• a non-contributory, qualified defined benefit Pension Plan (closed to new non-union participants as of July 1, 2003 and closed to new union participants as of September 1, 2005);
• a qualified cash balance Pension Plan for certain employees hired between July 1, 2003 and August 31, 2005;
• a non-contributory, qualified DCCP for employees hired on or after September 1, 2005;
• benefits to certain management employees under a non-contributory, nonqualified defined benefit SERP (closed to new participants as of March 31, 2006);
• a non-contributory, nonqualified DC SERP for certain management employees hired or promoted on or after April 1, 2006;
• health care and life insurance benefits under an OPEB plan;
• benefits to a selected group of management under a non-contributory, nonqualified EISP; and
• a contributory, qualified defined contribution 401(k) plan.
Pension Plan: Participants in the Pension Plan include CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ present employees, employees of their subsidiaries, and employees of Panhandle, a former CMS Energy subsidiary. Pension Plan trust assets are not distinguishable by company.
CMS Energy and Consumers provide an employer contribution of five percent of base pay to the DCCP 401(k) plan for employees hired on or after September 1, 2005. On January 1, 2011, the employer contribution was increased to six percent. Employees are not required to contribute in order to receive the plan’s employer contribution.
Participants in the cash balance Pension Plan, effective July 1, 2003 to September 1, 2005, also participate in the DCCP as of September 1, 2005. Additional pay credits under the cash balance Pension Plan were discontinued as of September 1, 2005. DCCP expense for CMS Energy and Consumers was $5 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, $4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, and $3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.
SERP: The SERP is a non-qualified plan as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. SERP benefits are paid from a trust established in 1988. SERP trust earnings are taxable. Presented in the following table are the funded status and fair value of trust assets for CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ SERP:
         
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
        
Trust assets(a) $91  $77 
ABO  107   93 
Contributions  17   2 
Consumers
        
Trust assets(a) $57  $50 
ABO  66   54 
Contributions  11   1 
(a)Trust assets are included in Other non-current assets on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Consolidated Balance Sheets.


132


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
On April 1, 2006, CMS Energy and Consumers implemented a DC SERP and froze further new participation in the SERP. The DC SERP provides participants benefits ranging from 5 percent to 15 percent of total compensation. The DC SERP requires a minimum of five years of participation before vesting. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ contributions to the plan, if any, are placed in a grantor trust. For CMS Energy and Consumers, trust assets were less than $1 million at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. DC SERP assets are included in Other non-current assets on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Consolidated Balance Sheets. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ DC SERP expense was less than $1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008.
401(k): The 401(k) plan employer match equals 60 percent of eligible contributions up to the first six percent of an employee’s wages. The total 401(k) plan cost for CMS Energy, including Consumers, was $16 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008. The total 401(k) plan cost for Consumers was $15 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008.
EISP: In 2002, CMS Energy and Consumers implemented a nonqualified EISP to provide flexibility in separation of employment by officers, a selected group of management, or other highly compensated employees. Terms of the plan include payment of a lump sum, payment of monthly benefits for life, payment of premiums for continuation of health care, or any other legally permissible term deemed to be in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ best interest. EISP expense for CMS Energy and Consumers was less than $1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008. The ABO for the EISP for CMS Energy, including Consumers, was $5 million at December 31, 2010 and $4 million at December 31, 2009. The ABO for the EISP for Consumers was $1 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009.
OPEB: Participants in the OPEB plan include all regular full-time employees covered by the employee health care plan on the day before retirement from either CMS Energy or Consumers at age 55 or older with at least ten full years of applicable continuous service. Regular full-time employees who qualify for Pension Plan disability retirement and have 15 years of applicable continuous service may also participate in the OPEB plan. Retiree health care costs were based on the assumption that costs would increase 8.0 percent in 2011 for all retirees. In 2010, the assumption was 8.5 percent for those under 65 and 8.0 percent for those over 65. The rate of increase was assumed to decline to five percent for all retirees by 2017 and thereafter.
The assumptions used in the health care cost-trend rate affect service, interest, and PBO costs. Presented in the following table are the effects of a one-percentage-point change in the health care cost-trend assumption:
         
  One Percentage
  One Percentage
 
  Point Increase  Point Decrease 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
        
Effect on total service and interest cost component $19  $(16)
Effect on PBO $201  $(175)
Consumers
        
Effect on total service and interest cost component $18  $(15)
Effect on PBO $196  $(170)
In 1992, Consumers recorded a liability of $466 million for the accumulated transition obligation and a corresponding regulatory asset for anticipated recovery in utility rates. The MPSC authorized recovery of the electric utility portion of these costs in 1994 over 18 years and the gas utility portion in 1996 over 16 years.


133


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Assumptions:Presented in the following tables are the weighted-average assumptions used in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ retirement benefits plans to determine benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost:
Weighted Average for Benefit Obligations:
                         
  Pension and SERP  OPEB 
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008  2010  2009  2008 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                        
Discount rate(a)  5.40%  5.85%  6.50%  5.60%  6.00%  6.50%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets(b)  8.00%  8.00%  8.25%  7.50%  7.50%  7.75%
Mortality table(c)  2000   2000   2000   2000   2000   2000 
Rate of compensation increase:                        
Pension  4.00%  4.00%  4.00%            
SERP  5.50%  5.50%  5.50%            
Weighted Average for Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
                         
  Pension and SERP  OPEB 
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008  2010  2009  2008 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                        
Discount rate(a)  5.85%  6.50%  6.40%  6.00%  6.50%  6.50%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets(b)  8.00%  8.25%  8.25%  7.50%  7.75%  7.75%
Mortality table(c)  2000   2000   2000   2000   2000   2000 
Rate of compensation increase:                        
Pension  4.00%  4.00%  4.00%            
SERP  5.50%  5.50%  5.50%            
(a)The discount rate reflects the rate at which benefits could be effectively settled and is equal to the equivalent single rate resulting from a yield curve analysis. This analysis incorporated the projected benefit payments specific to CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Pension Plan and OPEB plan and the yields on high quality corporate bonds rated Aa or better.
(b)CMS Energy and Consumers determined the long-term rate of return using historical market returns, the present and expected future economic environment, the capital market principles of risk and return, and the expert opinions of individuals and firms with financial market knowledge. CMS Energy and Consumers considered the asset allocation of the portfolio in forecasting the future expected total return of the portfolio. The goal was to determine a long-term rate of return that could be incorporated into the planning of future cash flow requirements in conjunction with the change in the liability. Annually, CMS Energy and Consumers review for reasonableness and appropriateness the forecasted returns for various classes of assets used to construct an expected return model. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ expected long-term rate of return on Pension Plan assets was eight percent in 2010. In 2010, the actual return on Pension Plan assets was 13 percent, in 2009 the actual return was 21 percent, and in 2008 the actual return was a negative 23 percent.
(c)The mortality assumption was based on the RP-2000 mortality tables with projection of future mortality improvements using Scale AA, which aligned with the IRS prescriptions for cash funding valuations under the Pension Protection Act of 2006.


134


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Costs: Presented in the following tables are the costscomponents of other income and other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations incurred in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ retirement benefits plans:
             
  Pension and SERP 
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Net periodic pension cost            
Service cost $45  $41  $43 
Interest expense  104   102   101 
Expected return on plan assets  (92)  (86)  (81)
Amortization of:            
Net loss  52   41   41 
Prior service cost  5   6   6 
             
Net periodic pension cost $114  $104  $110 
Regulatory adjustment(a)  30      4 
             
Net periodic pension cost after regulatory adjustment $144  $104  $114 
             
Consumers
            
Net periodic pension cost            
Service cost $44  $40  $41 
Interest expense  99   97   96 
Expected return on plan assets  (89)  (83)  (78)
Amortization of:            
Net loss  50   40   40 
Prior service cost  5   5   6 
             
Net periodic pension cost $109  $99  $105 
Regulatory adjustment(a)  30      4 
             
Net periodic pension cost after regulatory adjustment $139  $99  $109 
             


135


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
             
  OPEB 
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Net periodic OPEB cost            
Service cost $26  $24  $22 
Interest expense  80   80   72 
Expected return on plan assets  (60)  (50)  (66)
Amortization of:            
Net loss  32   33   9 
Prior service credit  (17)  (10)  (10)
             
Net periodic OPEB cost $61  $77  $27 
Regulatory adjustment(a)  5      3 
             
Net periodic OPEB cost after regulatory adjustment $66  $77  $30 
             
Consumers
            
Net periodic OPEB cost            
Service cost $25  $24  $21 
Interest expense  77   77   69 
Expected return on plan assets  (56)  (46)  (61)
Amortization of:            
Net loss  33   33   10 
Prior service credit  (16)  (10)  (10)
             
Net periodic OPEB cost $63  $78  $29 
Regulatory adjustment(a)  5      3 
             
Net periodic OPEB cost after regulatory adjustment $68  $78  $32 
             
(a)Regulatory adjustments are the differences between amounts included in rates and the periodic benefit cost calculated. These regulatory adjustments were offset by surcharge revenues, which resulted in no impact to net income for the years presented. The pension and OPEB regulatory liability was less than $1 millionexpense at December 31, 2010. The pension and OPEB regulatory asset was $34 million at December 31, 2009.
The estimated net loss and prior service cost for the defined benefit Pension Plans that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost in 2011 for CMS Energy from the regulatory asset is $66 million and from AOCI is $2 million. The estimated net loss and prior service cost for the defined benefit Pension Plans that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost in 2011 for Consumers from the regulatory asset is $66 million. The estimated net loss and prior service credit for OPEB plans that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost in 2011 for CMS Energy from the regulatory asset is $21 million, with a decrease from AOCI of $1 million. The estimated net loss and prior service credit for OPEB plans that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost in 2011 for Consumers from the regulatory asset is $21 million.
CMS Energy and Consumers amortize net gains and losses in excessConsumers:

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Other income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory return on capital expenditures

 

$

-

 

$

1

 

$

-

 

Return on stranded costs

 

-

 

1

 

3

 

Fee income

 

7

 

7

 

8

 

All other

 

3

 

2

 

5

 

Total other income

 

$

10

 

$

11

 

$

16

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory return on capital expenditures

 

$

-

 

$

1

 

$

-

 

Gain on CMS Energy common stock

 

4

 

5

 

4

 

Return on stranded costs

 

-

 

1

 

3

 

Fee income

 

7

 

7

 

8

 

All other

 

3

 

2

 

4

 

Total other income

 

$

14

 

$

16

 

$

19

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Other expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss on reacquired and extinguished debt

 

$

(4

)

$

-

 

$

(1

)

Donations

 

(4

)

(11

)

(11

)

Civic and political expenditures

 

(5

)

(17

)

(3

)

All other

 

(7

)

(5

)

(7

)

Total other expense

 

$

(20

)

$

(33

)

$

(22

)

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donations

 

$

(4

)

$

(11

)

$

(11

)

Civic and political expenditures

 

(5

)

(17

)

(3

)

All other

 

(7

)

(5

)

(6

)

Total other expense

 

$

(16

)

$

(33

)

$

(20

)

151



136

Contents


16:REPORTABLE SEGMENTS

CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
occurred, and is based on the same amortization period for all future years until the prior service costs are fully amortized. The estimated time of amortization of new prior service costs for CMS Energy and Consumers was 12 years for pension and ten years for OPEB for each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008.
Reconciliations: Presented in the following tables are reconciliations of the funded status of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ retirement benefits plans with their retirement benefits plans’ liabilities:
         
  Pension Plan 
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
Benefit obligation at beginning of period $1,717  $1,524 
Service cost  44   40 
Interest cost  98   96 
Actuarial loss  150   145 
Benefits paid  (113)  (88)
         
Benefit obligation at end of period(a) $1,896  $1,717 
         
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of period $1,007  $724 
Actual return on plan assets  132   165 
Company contribution  375   206 
Actual benefits paid(b)  (113)  (88)
         
Plan assets at fair value at end of period $1,401  $1,007 
         
Funded status at December 31(c)(d) $(495) $(710)
         
                 
  SERP  OPEB 
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                
Benefit obligation at beginning of period $106  $95  $1,423  $1,266 
Service cost  1   1   26   24 
Interest cost  6   6   80   80 
Plan amendments(e)        (101)   
Actuarial loss  11   9   36   106 
Benefits paid  (6)  (5)  (54)  (53)
                 
Benefit obligation at end of period(a) $118  $106  $1,410  $1,423 
                 
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of period $  $  $782  $662 
Actual return on plan assets        88   117 
Company contribution  6   5   71   56 
Actual benefits paid(b)  (6)  (5)  (54)  (53)
                 
Plan assets at fair value at end of period $  $  $887  $782 
                 
Funded status at December 31(c) $(118) $(106) $(523) $(641)
                 


137


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                 
  SERP  OPEB 
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
Consumers
                
Benefit obligation at beginning of period $67  $62  $1,373  $1,219 
Service cost  1   1   25   24 
Interest cost  4   4   77   77 
Plan amendments(e)        (100)   
Actuarial loss  8   6   34   104 
Transfer     (4)      
Benefits paid  (3)  (2)  (51)  (51)
                 
Benefit obligation at end of period(a) $77  $67  $1,358  $1,373 
                 
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of period $  $  $725  $612 
Actual return on plan assets        81   108 
Company contribution  3   2   70   55 
Actual benefits paid(b)  (3)  (2)  (51)  (50)
                 
Plan assets at fair value at end of period $  $  $825  $725 
                 
Funded status at December 31(c) $(77) $(67) $(533) $(648)
                 
(a)The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 established a prescription drug benefit under Medicare (Medicare Part D) and a federal subsidy, which is tax-exempt, to sponsors of retiree health care benefit plans that provide a benefit that is actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D. In 2010, the Health Care Acts repealed these tax-exempt deductions for years beginning after December 31, 2012. The Medicare Part D annualized reduction in net OPEB cost for CMS Energy was $28 million for 2010, $19 million for 2009, and $25 million for 2008. Consumers’ Medicare Part D annualized reduction in net OPEB costs was $26 million for 2010, $18 million for 2009, and $24 million for 2008. The reduction for CMS Energy and Consumers includes $10 million for 2010, $6 million for 2009, and $7 million for 2008 in capitalized OPEB costs.
(b)CMS Energy received payments of $5 million in 2010, $4 million in 2009, and $6 million in 2008 for the Medicare Part D subsidies. Consumers received payments of $5 million in 2010, $4 million in 2009, and $5 million in 2008 for the Medicare Part D subsidies.
(c)At December 31, 2010, CMS Energy classified $7 million as current liabilities and $1.1 billion as non-current liabilities on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2009, CMS Energy classified $6 million as current liabilities and $1.5 billion as non-current liabilities on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.
At December 31, 2010, Consumers classified $4 million as current liabilities and $1.1 billion as non-current liabilities on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2009, Consumers classified $3 million as current liabilities and $1.4 billion as non-current liabilities on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(d)At December 31, 2010, $463 million of the total funded status of the Pension Plan was attributable to Consumers based on an allocation of expenses. At December 31, 2009, $675 million of the funded status of the Pension Plan was attributable to Consumers based on an allocation of expenses.
(e)Plan amendments reflect changes resulting from an agreement reached with the Union in April 2010 on a new five-year contract for Union members.

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CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Presented in the following table are the Pension Plan PBO, ABO, and fair value of plan assets:
         
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
        
Pension PBO $1,896  $1,717 
Pension ABO  1,517   1,393 
Fair value of Pension Plan assets  1,401   1,007 
Items Not Yet Recognized as a Component of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:Presented in the following table are the amounts recognized in regulatory assets and AOCI that have not been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost. For additional details on regulatory assets, see Note 6, Regulatory Matters.
                 
  Pension and
    
  SERP  OPEB 
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                
Regulatory assets                
Net loss $914  $860  $579  $604 
Prior service cost (credit)  23   27   (152)  (68)
AOCI                
Net loss (gain)  72   58   (9)  (11)
Prior service cost (credit)  2   3   (4)  (3)
                 
Total amounts recognized in regulatory assets and AOCI $1,011  $948  $414  $522 
                 
Consumers
                
Regulatory assets                
Net loss $914  $860  $579  $604 
Prior service cost (credit)  23   27   (152)  (68)
AOCI                
Net loss  22   14       
Prior service cost  1   1       
                 
Total amounts recognized in regulatory assets and AOCI $960  $902  $427  $536 
                 


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CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Plan Assets: Presented in the following tables are the fair values of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Pension Plan and OPEB plan assets at December 31, 2010 and 2009, by asset category and by level within the fair value hierarchy. For additional details regarding the fair value hierarchy, see Note 4, Fair Value Measurements.
             
  Pension Plan 
Year Ended December 31, 2010
 Total  Level 1  Level 2 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Asset Category:            
Cash and short-term investments(a) $248  $248  $ 
U.S. government and agencies securities(b)  57      57 
Corporate debt(c)  161      161 
State and municipal bonds(e)  8      8 
Foreign corporate debt(f)  17      17 
Mutual funds(h)  183   183    
Pooled funds(i)  727      727 
             
Total $1,401  $431  $970 
             
             
  Pension Plan 
Year Ended December 31, 2009
 Total  Level 1  Level 2 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Asset Category:            
Cash and short-term investments(a) $65  $65  $ 
U.S. government and agencies securities(b)  40      40 
Corporate debt(c)  145      145 
State and municipal bonds(e)  4      4 
Foreign corporate debt(f)  17      17 
Mutual funds(h)  117   117    
Pooled funds(i)  619      619 
             
Total $1,007  $182  $825 
             


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CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
             
  OPEB Plan 
Year Ended December 31, 2010
 Total  Level 1  Level 2 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Asset Category:            
Cash and short-term investments(a) $56  $56  $ 
U.S. government and agencies securities(b)  181      181 
Corporate debt(d)  20      20 
State and municipal bonds(e)  36      36 
Foreign corporate debt(f)  2      2 
Common stocks(g)  154   154    
Mutual funds(h)  23   23    
Pooled funds(j)  415      415 
             
Total $887  $233  $654 
             
             
  OPEB Plan 
Year Ended December 31, 2009
 Total  Level 1  Level 2 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Asset Category:            
Cash and short-term investments(a) $29  $29  $ 
U.S. government and agencies securities(b)  157      157 
Corporate debt(d)  21      21 
State and municipal bonds(e)  51      51 
Foreign corporate debt(f)  2      2 
Common stocks(g)  134   134    
Mutual funds(h)  17   17    
Pooled funds(j)  371      371 
             
Total $782  $180  $602 
             
(a)Cash and short-term investments consist of money market funds with daily liquidity.
(b)U.S. government and agencies securities consist of U.S. Treasury notes and other debt securities backed by the U.S. government and related agencies. These securities were valued based on quoted market prices.
(c)At December 31, 2010, corporate debt investments in the Pension Plan included investment grade bonds (61 percent) and non-investment grade, high-yield bonds (39 percent) of U.S. issuers from diverse industries. At December 31, 2009, corporate debt investments in the Pension Plan included investment grade bonds (63 percent) and non-investment grade, high-yield bonds (37 percent) of U.S. issuers from diverse industries. These securities are valued based on quoted market prices, when available, or yields presently available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings.
(d)At December 31, 2010, corporate debt investments in the OPEB plan included investment grade bonds (61 percent) and non-investment grade, high-yield bonds (39 percent) of U.S. issuers from diverse industries. At December 31, 2009, corporate debt investments in the OPEB plan included investment grade bonds (62 percent) and non-investment grade, high-yield bonds (38 percent) of U.S. issuers from diverse industries.

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CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
These securities are valued based on quoted market prices, when available, or yields presently available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings.
(e)State and municipal bonds were valued using a matrix-pricing model that incorporates Level 2 market-based information. The fair value of the bonds was derived from various observable inputs, including benchmark yields, reported securities trades, broker/dealer quotes, bond ratings, and general information on market movements for investment grade state and municipal securities normally considered by market participants when pricing such debt securities.
(f)Foreign corporate debt securities were valued based on quoted market prices, when available, or on yields available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings.
(g)Common stocks in the OPEB plan consist of equity securities with low transaction costs that were actively managed and tracked by the S&P 500 Index. These securities were valued at their quoted closing prices.
(h)Mutual funds represent shares in registered investment companies that are priced based on the quoted NAV that is the basis for transactions to buy or sell shares in the funds.
(i)Pooled funds in the Pension Plan include both common and collective trust funds as well as special funds that contain only employee benefit plan assets from two or more unrelated benefit plans. At December 31, 2010, these funds included investments in U.S. equity securities (55 percent), foreign equity securities (24 percent), foreign fixed-income securities (14 percent), U.S. fixed-income securities (four percent), and alternative investments (three percent). At December 31, 2009, these funds included investments in U.S. equity securities (56 percent), foreign equity securities (22 percent), foreign fixed-income securities (16 percent), U.S. fixed-income securities (three percent), and alternative investments (three percent). These investments were valued at the quoted NAV provided by the fund managers that is the basis for transactions to buy or sell shares in the funds.
(j)Pooled funds in the OPEB plan include both common and collective trust funds as well as special funds that contain only employee benefit plan assets from two or more unrelated benefit plans. At December 31, 2010, these funds included investments in U.S. equity securities (89 percent), foreign equity securities (six percent), foreign fixed-income securities (three percent), U.S. fixed-income securities (one percent), and alternative investments (one percent). At December 31, 2009, these funds included investments in U.S. equity securities (89 percent), foreign equity securities (five percent), foreign fixed-income securities (four percent), U.S. fixed-income securities (one percent), and alternative investments (one percent). These investments are valued at the quoted NAV provided by the fund managers that is the basis for transactions to buy or sell shares in the funds.
The fair value of Pension Plan and OPEB plan assets classified as Level 3 at December 31, 2010 and 2009 was less than $1 million.


142


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Presented in the following table are the contributions to CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ OPEB plan and Pension Plan:
         
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
        
OPEB:(a)
        
VEBA trust $57  $40 
401(h) component  14   16 
         
  $71  $56 
Pension(b) $375  $206 
         
Consumers
        
OPEB:(a)
        
VEBA trust $57  $39 
401(h) component  13   16 
         
  $70  $55 
Pension(b) $366  $199 
         
(a)CMS Energy, including Consumers, plans to contribute $65 million to the OPEB plan in 2011 and Consumers plans to contribute $64 million to the OPEB plan in 2011.
(b)CMS Energy, including Consumers, does not plan to contribute to the Pension Plan in 2011.
Contributions include required and discretionary amounts. Actual future contributions will depend on future investment performance, changes in discount rates, and various factors related to the populations participating in the plans.
In 2008, CMS Energy adjusted its target asset allocation for Pension Plan assets to 50 percent equity, 30 percent fixed income, and 20 percent alternative-strategy investments. This adjustment is being made gradually by the allocation of contributions into alternative assets and the drawdown of equities to cover plan benefit payments and distributions. This revised target asset allocation is expected to continue to maximize the long-term return on plan assets, while maintaining a prudent level of risk. The level of acceptable risk is a function of the liabilities of the plan. Equity investments are diversified mostly across the S&P 500 Index, with lesser allocations to the S&P MidCap and SmallCap Indexes and Foreign Equity Funds. Fixed-income investments are diversified across investment grade instruments of government and corporate issuers as well as high-yield and global bond funds. Alternative strategies are diversified across absolute return investment approaches and global tactical asset allocation. CMS Energy and Consumers use annual liability measurements, quarterly portfolio reviews, and periodic asset/liability studies to evaluate the need for adjustments to the portfolio allocation.
CMS Energy and Consumers established union and non-union VEBA trusts to fund their future retiree health and life insurance benefits. These trusts are funded through the ratemaking process for Consumers and through direct contributions from the non-utility subsidiaries. CMS Energy and Consumers have a target asset allocation of 60 percent equity and 40 percent fixed-income investments.
CMS Energy and Consumers invest the equity portions of the union and non-union health care VEBA trusts in an S&P 500 Index fund. CMS Energy and Consumers invest the fixed-income portion of the union health care VEBA trust in domestic investment grade taxable instruments. CMS Energy and Consumers invest the fixed-income portion of the non-union health care VEBA trust in a diversified mix of domestic tax-exempt securities. The


143


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
investment selections of each VEBA trust are influenced by the tax consequences, as well as the objective of generating asset returns that will meet the medical and life insurance costs of retirees.
Benefit Payments: Presented in the following table are the expected benefit payments for each of the next five years and the five-year period thereafter:
             
  Pension SERP OPEB(a)
  In Millions
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
2011 $86  $7  $62 
2012  96   7   64 
2013  106   6   67 
2014  115   7   71 
2015  126   8   74 
2016-2020  764   42   428 
Consumers
            
2011 $83  $4  $59 
2012  93   4   61 
2013  103   3   64 
2014  112   4   67 
2015  122   4   71 
2016-2020  741   22   407 
(a)CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ OPEB benefit payments are net of employee contributions and expected Medicare Part D prescription drug subsidy payments. For CMS Energy, subsidies to be received are estimated to be $6 million for 2011, $7 million for 2012 and 2013, $8 million for 2014 and 2015, and $51 million combined for 2016 through 2020. For Consumers, subsidies to be received are estimated to be $6 million for 2011 and 2012, $7 million for 2013 and 2014, $8 million for 2015, and $49 million combined for 2016 through 2020.
Collective Bargaining Agreements: At December 31, 2010, the Union represented 42 percent of CMS Energy’s employees and 44 percent of Consumers’ employees. The Union represents Consumers’ operating, maintenance, construction, and call center employees. Union contracts expire in 2015. In October 2010, the United Steelworkers ratified a new agreement with Consumers for Zeeland employees, which became effective in January 2011.
12: INCOME TAXES
CMS Energy and its subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return and a unitary Michigan income tax return. Income taxes are allocated based on each company’s separate taxable income in accordance with the CMS Energy tax sharing agreement.


144


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Presented in the following table is the difference between actual income tax expense on continuing operations, excluding noncontrolling interests, and income tax expense computed by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Income from continuing operations before income taxes $587  $324  $433 
Income tax expense at statutory rate  205   114   152 
Increase (decrease) in income taxes from:            
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit  26   21   3 
Income tax credit amortization  (4)  (4)  (4)
Medicare Part D exempt income(a)  (6)  (6)  (9)
Property differences  2   1   3 
Research and development credit, net  (3)  (9)   
Valuation allowance  1   2   (6)
Other, net  3   (4)   
             
Income tax expense $224  $115  $139 
             
Effective tax rate  38.2%  35.5%  32.1%
Consumers
            
Income from continuing operations before income taxes $688  $456  $562 
Income tax expense at statutory rate  241   160   197 
Increase (decrease) in income taxes from:            
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit  26   19   8 
Income tax credit amortization  (4)  (4)  (4)
Medicare Part D exempt income(a)  (9)  (6)  (8)
Property differences  2   1   3 
Research and development credit, net  (3)  (7)   
Other, net  1      2 
             
Income tax expense $254  $163  $198 
             
Effective tax rate  36.9%  35.7%  35.2%
(a)For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, the Health Care Acts prospectively repealed the tax deduction for the portion of health care costs that are reimbursed by the Medicare Part D subsidy. To reflect the law change, CMS Energy recognized deferred tax expense of $3 million during 2010. Consumers expects to recover this lost benefit through the ratemaking process and therefore continued to recognize the tax benefit during 2010. The total anticipated recovery was recorded as a regulatory asset of $74 million (not including the effects of ratemaking tax gross-ups) at December 31, 2010.


145


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Presented in the following table are the significant components of income tax expense on continuing operations:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Current income taxes:            
Federal $(21) $(12) $4 
State and local  26   17   9 
             
  $5  $5  $13 
Deferred income taxes:            
Federal $210  $86  $134 
State and local  13   28   (4)
             
  $223  $114  $130 
Deferred income tax credit, net  (4)  (4)  (4)
             
Tax expense $224  $115  $139 
             
Consumers
            
Current income taxes:            
Federal $(17) $72  $(10)
State and local  25   24   12 
             
  $8  $96  $2 
Deferred income taxes:            
Federal $236  $66  $200 
State and local  14   5    
             
  $250  $71  $200 
Deferred income tax credit, net  (4)  (4)  (4)
             
Tax expense $254  $163  $198 
             


146


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Presented in the following table are the principal components of deferred income tax assets (liabilities) recognized:
         
December 31
 2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
        
Employee benefits $(76) $65 
Gas inventory  (177)  (201)
Plant, property, and equipment  (1,382)  (1,145)
Regulatory tax liability  162   209 
Reserves and accruals  101   83 
Securitized costs  (120)  (141)
Tax loss and credit carryforwards  996   919 
Other  (103)  (29)
         
  $(599) $(240)
Less: valuation allowance  (19)  (34)
         
Total net deferred income tax liabilities $(618) $(274)
         
         
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation reserves $1,240  $1,242 
Deferred tax liabilities  (1,858)  (1,516)
         
Total net deferred income tax liabilities $(618) $(274)
         
Consumers
        
Employee benefits $(110) $28 
Gas inventory  (177)  (201)
Plant, property, and equipment  (1,464)  (1,237)
Regulatory tax liability  162   209 
Reserves and accruals  45   29 
Securitized costs  (120)  (141)
Tax loss and credit carryforwards  281   232 
Other  (115)  (51)
         
Total net deferred income tax liabilities $(1,498) $(1,132)
         
         
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation reserves $488  $498 
Deferred tax liabilities  (1,986)  (1,630)
         
Total net deferred income tax liabilities $(1,498) $(1,132)
         
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax effect of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets or liabilities and the reported amounts in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Consolidated Financial Statements. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as current or non-current according to the classification of the related assets or liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities not related to assets or liabilities are classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary differences.


147


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Presented in the following table are the loss and credit carryforwards at December 31, 2010:
           
  Gross Amount Tax Attribute  Expiration
  In Millions
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
          
Federal net operating loss carryforward  $1,466  $513  2023 - 2030
State and local net operating loss carryforwards(a)  450   5  2023 - 2030
Future state tax deductions(b)     170  No expiration
Alternative minimum tax credits  269   269  No expiration
General business credits(a)  39   39  2011 - 2030
         
Total tax attributes     $996   
         
Consumers
          
Federal net operating loss carryforward  $184  $64  2023 - 2030
State capital loss carryforward  10   1  2014
Future state tax deductions(b)     203  No expiration
General business credits  13   13  2011 - 2030
         
Total tax attributes     $281   
         
(a)CMS Energy has provided a valuation allowance of $2 million for the local loss carryforward and a valuation allowance of $2 million for general business credits. CMS Energy and Consumers expect to utilize fully loss and credit carryforwards for which no valuation has been provided. It is reasonably possible that further adjustments will be made to the valuation allowances within one year.
(b)This State of Michigan tax deduction was granted as part of the enactment of the Michigan Business Tax. Under the Michigan Business Tax, the amount of future deduction is intended to offset the financial statement impact that would have been recognized upon enactment in 2007. Utilization of the deduction begins in 2015. Due to various limitations, the gross amount of this deduction is not meaningful.
Presented in the following table is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of uncertain tax benefits:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Balance at beginning of period $62  $65  $51 
Reductions for prior year tax positions  (58)  (6)   
Additions for prior year tax positions     2   12 
Additions for current year tax positions     1   2 
             
Balance at end of period $4  $62  $65 
             
Consumers
            
Balance at beginning of period $57  $55  $41 
Reductions for prior year tax positions  (54)  (1)   
Additions for prior year tax positions     2   12 
Additions for current year tax positions     1   2 
             
Balance at end of period $3  $57  $55 
             


148


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
CMS Energy, including Consumers, had uncertain tax benefits of $4 million at December 31, 2010, $8 million at December 31, 2009, and $10 million at December 31, 2008 that, if recognized, would affect the annual effective tax rate in future years. Consumers had uncertain tax benefits of $3 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009. There were no uncertain tax benefits that would reduce Consumers’ effective tax rate at December 31, 2008.
CMS Energy and Consumers recognize accrued interest and penalties, where applicable, as part of income tax expense. CMS Energy, including Consumers, recognized no interest for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, and $1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. In 2010, CMS Energy settled with the IRS and, as a result, paid $6 million of accrued interest in December. At that time, a remaining accrued interest balance of $3 million was eliminated. Consumers recognized no interest for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, and $1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Upon settlement with the IRS, Consumers paid $4 million to CMS Energy and eliminated a remaining accrued interest balance of $1 million.
In November 2010, the IRS concluded its most recent audit of CMS Energy and its subsidiaries, and proposed changes of $132 million to taxable income for the years ended December 31, 2002 through December 31, 2007. Of this amount, $82 million resulted in an adjustment to the existing net operating loss carryforward; the remaining $50 million increased taxable income. Most of the adjustments related to the timing of deductions, not the disallowance of deductions. CMS Energy accepted the proposed adjustments to taxable income, which resulted in the payment of $15 million of tax and accrued interest. The tax adjustments were allocated based on the companies’ separate taxable income, in accordance with CMS Energy’s tax sharing agreement. The impact to net income was less than $1 million.
In December 2010, the IRS began its audit of CMS Energy and its subsidiaries’ 2008 and 2009 federal tax returns. The IRS also is auditing CMS Energy’s research and development tax credit claims for 2001 through 2009. These credits are part of CMS Energy’s overall general business credit carryforward. It is reasonably possible that, within the next twelve months, a settlement will be reached with the IRS on CMS Energy’s research and development tax credit claim. The total claimed credit is $21 million.
The amount of income taxes paid is subject to ongoing audits by federal, state, and foreign tax authorities, which can result in proposed assessments. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ estimate of the potential outcome for any uncertain tax issue is highly judgmental. CMS Energy and Consumers believe that their accrued tax liabilities at December 31, 2010 were adequate for all years.
13: STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
CMS Energy and Consumers provide a PISP to key employees and non-employee directors based on their contributions to the successful management of the company. The PISP has a five-year term, expiring in May 2014.
All grants under the PISP for 2010, 2009, and 2008 were in the form of TSR restricted stock and time-lapse restricted stock. Restricted stock recipients receive shares of CMS Energy common stock. Restricted stock shares granted prior to August 1, 2010 have full dividend and voting rights. The TSR restricted stock shares granted in 2010 have full voting rights. In lieu of cash dividend payments, however, the TSR restricted stock shares granted in 2010 receive additional restricted shares equal to the value of the dividend. These additional restricted shares are subject to the same vesting conditions as the underlying restricted stock shares.
TSR restricted stock vesting is contingent on meeting a three-year service requirement and specific market conditions. For awards granted in 2008, half of the market condition is based on the achievement of specified levels of TSR over a three-year period and half is based on a comparison of CMS Energy’s TSR with the median TSR of a peer group over the same three-year period. Depending on the outcome of the market condition, a recipient may earn a total award ranging from zero to 150 percent of the initial grant. For awards granted in 2010 and 2009, the market condition is based entirely on a comparison of CMS Energy’s TSR with the median TSR of a peer group over the same three-year period. Depending on the outcome of the market condition, a recipient may earn a total award


149


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
ranging from zero to 200 percent of the initial grant. Time-lapse restricted stock vests after a service period of three years.
Restricted stock awards granted to officers in 2008 were 80 percent TSR restricted stock and 20 percent time-lapsed restricted stock. Awards granted to officers in 2010 and 2009 were 67 percent TSR restricted stock and 33 percent time-lapse restricted stock.
For awards granted prior to August 1, 2010, restricted shares may vest fully upon retirement, disability, or change of control of CMS Energy if certain minimum service requirements are met or are waived by action of the C&HR Committees. If employment terminates for any other reason (other than death) or the minimum service requirements are not met or waived, the restricted shares will be fully forfeited. For awards granted after August 1, 2010, a pro-rata portion of the award equal to the portion of the service period served between the award grant date and the employee’s termination date will vest upon termination of an employee due to retirement, disability, or change of control of CMS Energy. The remaining portion of the award will be forfeited. All awards vest fully upon death.
The PISP also allows for stock options, stock appreciation rights, phantom shares, performance units, and incentive options, none of which was granted in 2010, 2009, or 2008.
Shares awarded or subject to stock options, phantom shares, or performance units may not exceed 6 million shares from June 2009 through May 2014, nor may such awards to any recipient exceed 500,000 shares in any fiscal year. CMS Energy and Consumers may issue awards of up to 4,650,719 shares of common stock under the PISP at December 31, 2010. Shares for which payment or exercise is in cash, as well as shares or stock options forfeited for any reason other than failure to meet a market condition, may be awarded or granted again under the PISP.
Presented in the following table is restricted stock activity under the PISP:
         
     Weighted-Average Grant
 
Restricted Stock
 Number of Shares  Date Fair Value per Share 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
        
Nonvested at December 31, 2009  2,019,777  $12.52 
Granted(a)  636,273   16.22 
Vested  (457,430)  14.41 
Forfeited(b)  (205,155)  12.62 
         
Nonvested at December 31, 2010  1,993,465   13.26 
         
Consumers
        
Nonvested at December 31, 2009  1,809,987  $12.50 
Granted(a)  575,895   16.27 
Vested  (396,760)  14.38 
Forfeited(b)  (184,099)  12.62 
         
Nonvested at December 31, 2010  1,805,023   13.28 
         
(a)During 2010, CMS Energy granted 285,212 TSR shares and 351,061 time-lapse shares of restricted stock. During 2010, Consumers granted 254,234 TSR shares and 321,661 time-lapse shares of restricted stock.
(b)During 2010, 204,155 TSR shares granted by CMS Energy in 2007 were forfeited due to the failure to meet the specific market conditions. During 2010, 183,099 TSR shares granted by Consumers in 2007 were forfeited due to the failure to meet the specific market conditions.


150


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
CMS Energy and Consumers charge the fair value of the awards to expense over the required service period. As a result, for awards granted prior to August 1, 2010, CMS Energy and Consumers recognize all compensation expense for share-based awards that have accelerated service provisions upon retirement by the period in which the employee becomes eligible to retire. TSR restricted stock awards granted after August 1, 2010 have graded vesting features, and CMS Energy and Consumers recognize expense for those awards on a graded vesting schedule over the required service period. Expense for time-lapse awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the required service period. CMS Energy and Consumers calculate the fair value of time-lapse restricted stock based on the price of CMS Energy’s common stock on the grant date. CMS Energy and Consumers calculate the fair value of TSR restricted stock awards on the grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation. CMS Energy and Consumers base expected volatilities on the historical volatility of the price of CMS Energy common stock.
The risk-free rate for each valuation was based on the three-year U.S. Treasury yield at the award grant date. Presented in the following table are the significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the TSR restricted stock awards:
             
  2010  2009  2008 
 
Expected volatility  30.1%  29.8%  19.7%
Expected dividend yield  2.4%  2.0%  2.7%
Risk-free rate  0.9%  1.8%  2.8%
Presented in the following table are amounts related to restricted stock awards:
             
  2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Fair value of shares that vested during the year $7  $4  $2 
Compensation expense recognized  9   9   8 
Income tax benefit recognized  4   3   3 
Consumers
            
Fair value of shares that vested during the year $6  $4  $2 
Compensation expense recognized  9   8   7 
Income tax benefit recognized  3   3   2 
At December 31, 2010, $10 million of total unrecognized compensation cost was related to restricted stock for CMS Energy, including Consumers, and $9 million of total unrecognized compensation cost was related to restricted stock for Consumers. CMS Energy and Consumers expect to recognize this cost over a weighted-average period of 2.1 years.


151


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Presented in the following table is stock option activity under the PISP:
                 
  Options
  Weighted-
  Weighted-
  
  Outstanding,
  Average
  Average
 Aggregate
  Fully Vested,
  Exercise
  Remaining
 Intrinsic
  and
  Price per
  Contractual
 Value
Stock Options
 Exercisable  Share  Term (in millions)
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                
Outstanding at December 31, 2009  581,040  $19.79   2.0 years   $(2) 
Granted              
Exercised  (74,000) $6.59         
Cancelled or Expired  (69,960) $17.86         
             
Outstanding at December 31, 2010  437,080  $22.34   1.1 years   $(2) 
             
Consumers
                
Outstanding at December 31, 2009  378,786  $17.74   2.3 years   $(1) 
Granted              
Exercised  (68,818) $6.61         
Cancelled or Expired  (42,500) $17.52         
             
Outstanding at December 31, 2010  267,468  $20.64   1.2 years   $(1) 
             
Stock options give the holder the right to purchase common stock at the market price on the grant date. Stock options are exercisable upon grant, and expire up to ten years and one month from the grant date. CMS Energy and Consumers issue new shares when recipients exercise stock options. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised for CMS Energy was $1 million in 2010, less than $1 million in 2009, and $1 million in 2008. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised for Consumers was $1 million in 2010 and less than $1 million in 2009 and 2008. Cash received from exercise of these stock options in 2010 was less than $1 million for CMS Energy and Consumers.
Since CMS Energy has utilized tax loss carryforwards, CMS Energy was unable to realize excess tax benefits upon exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock. Therefore, CMS Energy did not recognize the related excess tax benefits in equity. As of December 31, 2010, CMS Energy has $20 million of unrealized excess tax benefits.
Presented in the following table is the weighted-average grant-date fair value of awards under the PISP:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Weighted-average grant-date fair value per share            
Restricted stock granted $16.22  $13.49  $10.38 
Consumers
            
Weighted-average grant-date fair value per share            
Restricted stock granted $16.27  $13.44  $10.43 
14: LEASES
CMS Energy and Consumers lease various assets, including service vehicles, railcars, gas pipeline capacity, and buildings. In addition, CMS Energy and Consumers account for a number of their PPAs as capital and operating leases.


152


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Operating leases for coal-carrying railcars have lease terms expiring without extension provisions over the next 13 years and with extension provisions over the next 16 years. These leases contain fair market value extension and buyout provisions, with some providing for predetermined extension period rentals. Capital leases for Consumers’ vehicle fleet operations have a maximum term of 120 months with some having Terminal Rental Adjustment Clauseend-of-life provisions and others having fixed percentage purchase options.
Consumers has capital leases for gas transportation pipelines to the Karn generating complex and Zeeland. The capital lease for the gas transportation pipeline into the Karn generating complex has a term of 15 years with a provision to extend the contract from month to month. The remaining term of the contract was 11 years at December 31, 2010. The capital lease for the gas transportation pipeline to Zeeland has a term of 12 years with a renewal provision at the end of the contract. The remaining term of the contract was one year at December 31, 2010. The remaining terms of Consumers’ long-term PPAs range between two and 20 years. Most of these PPAs contain provisions at the end of the initial contract terms to renew the agreements annually.
Consumers is authorized by the MPSC to record operating lease payments as operating expense and recover the total cost from customers. Presented in the following table is CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ operating lease expense:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Operating lease expense $28  $34  $28 
Income from subleases        (1)
Consumers
            
Operating lease expense $28  $34  $27 
Presented in the following table are the minimum annual rental commitments under Consumers’ non-cancelable leases at December 31, 2010. CMS Energy did not have any non-cancelable leases at December 31, 2010 that were not included in Consumers’ amounts.
             
  Capital
  Finance
  Operating
 
  Leases  Lease(a)  Leases 
  In Millions 
 
Consumers
            
2011 $17  $21  $29 
2012  20   20   30 
2013  12   20   27 
2014  11   19   26 
2015  12   18   25 
2016 and thereafter  44   96   123 
             
Total minimum lease payments $116  $194  $260 
             
Less imputed interest  52   46     
             
Present value of net minimum lease payments $64  $148     
Less current portion  11   13     
             
Non-current portion $53  $135     
             


153


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(a)In 2007, Consumers sold Palisades to Entergy and entered into a15-year PPA to buy all of the capacity and energy then capable of being produced by Palisades. Consumers has continuing involvement with Palisades through security provided to Entergy for Consumers’ PPA obligation, Consumers’ DOE liability, and other forms of involvement. Because of these ongoing arrangements, Consumers accounted for the transaction as a financing of Palisades and not a sale. Accordingly, no gain on the sale of Palisades was recognized on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Consumers accounted for the remaining non-real-estate assets and liabilities associated with the transaction as a sale.
Palisades remains on Consumers’ Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consumers continues to depreciate it. Consumers recorded the related proceeds as a finance obligation with payments recorded to interest expense and the finance obligation based on the amortization of the obligation over the life of the Palisades PPA. The value of the finance obligation was determined based on an allocation of the transaction proceeds to the fair values of the net assets sold and fair value of the plant asset under the financing. Total amortization and interest charges under the financing were $22 million and $23 million, respectively, for each of the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.
15: PLANT, PROPERTY, AND EQUIPMENT
Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ plant, property, and equipment:
             
  Estimated
       
  Depreciable
       
Years Ended December 31
 Life in Years  2010  2009 
     In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Electric:            
Generation  18-85  $3,812  $3,671 
Distribution  12-75   5,250   4,991 
Other  7-40   609   574 
Capital and finance leases(a)      273   289 
Gas:            
Underground storage facilities(b)  30-65   311   299 
Transmission  13-75   713   573 
Distribution  30-80   2,654   2,557 
Other  5-50   380   366 
Capital leases(a)      5   17 
Enterprises:            
IPP  5-30   85   329 
Other  3-40   17   16 
Other:  1-71   36   34 
Construction work in progress      570   506 
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization(c)      4,646   4,540 
             
Net plant, property, and equipment(d)     $10,069  $9,682 
             


154


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
             
  Estimated
       
  Depreciable
       
Years Ended December 31
 Life in Years  2010  2009 
     In Millions 
 
Consumers
            
Electric:            
Generation  18-85  $3,812  $3,671 
Distribution  12-75   5,250   4,991 
Other  7-40   609   574 
Capital and finance leases(a)      273   289 
Gas:            
Underground storage facilities(b)  30-65   311   299 
Transmission  13-75   713   573 
Distribution  30-80   2,654   2,557 
Other  5-50   380   366 
Capital leases(a)      5   17 
Other non-utility property  7-71   15   15 
Construction work in progress      566   505 
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization(c)      4,593   4,386 
             
Net plant, property, and equipment(d)     $9,995  $9,471 
             
(a)Capital and finance leases presented are gross amounts. Presented in the following table are changes in Consumers’ capital and finance leases:
         
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
Consumers
        
Balance at beginning of period $306  $312 
Additions  15   16 
Net retirements and other adjustments  (43)  (22)
         
Balance at end of period $278  $306 
         
Accumulated amortization of capital and finance leases was $65 million at December 31, 2010 and $84 million at December 31, 2009 for Consumers. There were no significant capital and finance leases at CMS Energy.
(b)Underground storage includes base natural gas of $26 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009. Base natural gas is not subject to depreciation.
(c)Presented in the following table is CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization:
         
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
        
Utility plant assets $4,592  $4,385 
Non-utility plant assets  54   155 
Consumers
        
Utility plant assets $4,592  $4,385 
Non-utility plant assets  1   1 
(d)For the year ended December 31, 2010, utility plant additions were $783 million and utility plant retirements were $85 million. For the year ended December 31, 2009, utility plant additions were $928 million and utility plant retirements were $171 million.

155


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Intangible Assets:  Included in net plant, property, and equipment are intangible assets. Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ intangible assets:
                     
Years Ended December 31
               
  Amortization
  2010  2009 
  Life
     Accumulated
     Accumulated
 
Description
 in years  Gross Cost(a)  Amortization  Gross Cost(a)  Amortization 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                    
Software development  3-15  $323  $125  $303  $105 
Plant acquisition adjustments  40   213   16   214   11 
Rights of way  50-75   140   37   134   35 
Leasehold improvements  various(b)  13   9   13   9 
Franchises and consents  5-30   15   6   15   6 
Other intangibles(c)  various   20   14   28   21 
                     
Total     $724  $207  $707  $187 
                     
Consumers
                    
Software development  3-15  $323  $125  $303  $105 
Plant acquisition adjustments  40   213   16   214   11 
Rights of way  50-75   140   37   134   35 
Leasehold improvements  various(b)  13   9   13   9 
Franchises and consents  5-30   15   6   15   6 
Other intangibles  various   18   14   18   13 
                     
Total     $722  $207  $697  $179 
                     
(a)Intangible asset additions for Consumers’ utility plant were $25 million during 2010 and $62 million during 2009. Retirements were less than $1 million in 2010 and were $110 million during 2009.
(b)Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the lease, which may change whenever the lease is renewed or extended.
(c)Effective January 1, 2010, CMS Energy deconsolidated Genesee. As a result of the deconsolidation, other intangible assets were reduced by $8 million.
Presented in the following table is CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ amortization expense related to intangible assets:
                 
  CMS Energy
    
  (including Consumers)  Consumers 
  Total
  Software
  Total
  Software
 
  Amortization
  Amortization
  Amortization
  Amortization
 
Years Ended December 31
 Expense  Expense  Expense  Expense 
  In Millions 
 
2010 $28  $19  $27  $19 
2009  30   22   30   22 
2008  32   27   32   23 
Amortization of intangible assets is expected to range between $34 million and $40 million per year over the next five years.


156


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
At December 31, 2010 and 2009, CMS Energy had less than $1 million of goodwill recorded on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.
16: ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
CMS Energy and Consumers record the fair value of the cost to remove assets at the end of their useful lives, if there is a legal obligation to remove them. No market risk premiums were included in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ ARO fair value estimates since reasonable estimates could not be made. If a five percent market risk premium were assumed, CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ ARO liabilities at December 31, 2010 would increase by $12 million and at December 31, 2009 would increase by $11 million, respectively.
If a reasonable estimate of fair value cannot be made in the period in which the ARO is incurred, such as for assets with indeterminate lives, the liability is recognized when a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. CMS Energy and Consumers have not recorded liabilities for assets that have insignificant cumulative disposal costs, such as substation batteries.
Presented below are the categories of assets that CMS Energy and Consumers have legal obligations to remove at the end of their useful lives and for which they have an ARO liability recorded:
In-Service
Company and ARO Description
Date
Long-Lived Assets
CMS Energy, Including Consumers
Close gas treating plant and gas wellsVariousGas transmission and storage
Closure of coal ash disposal areasVariousGenerating plants coal ash areas
Closure of wells at gas storage fieldsVariousGas storage fields
Indoor gas services equipment relocationsVariousGas meters located inside structures
Asbestos abatement1973Electric and gas utility plant
Gas distribution cut, purge and capVariousGas distribution mains and services
Consumers
Closure of coal ash disposal areasVariousGenerating plants coal ash areas
Closure of wells at gas storage fieldsVariousGas storage fields
Indoor gas services equipment relocationsVariousGas meters located inside structures
Asbestos abatement1973Electric and gas utility plant
Gas distribution cut, purge and capVariousGas distribution mains and services
No assets have been restricted for purposes of settling AROs.


157


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Presented in the following tables are the changes in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ ARO liabilities:
                         
  ARO
              ARO
 
  Liability
           Cash flow
  Liability
 
Company and ARO Description
 12/31/09  Incurred  Settled(a)  Accretion  Revisions  12/31/10 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, Including Consumers
                        
Close gas treating plant and gas wells $1  $  $  $  $  $1 
Consumers
  228   6   (7)  17      244 
                         
Total CMS Energy $229  $6  $(7) $17  $  $245 
                         
Consumers
                        
Coal ash disposal areas $64  $  $(4) $6  $  $66 
Wells at gas storage fields  1               1 
Indoor gas services relocations  1               1 
Asbestos abatement  38      (1)  3      40 
Gas distribution cut, purge, cap  124   6   (2)  8      136 
                         
Total Consumers $228  $6  $(7) $17  $  $244 
                         
                         
  ARO
              ARO
 
  Liability
           Cash flow
  Liability
 
Company and ARO Description
 12/31/08  Incurred  Settled(a)  Accretion  Revisions  12/31/09 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, Including Consumers
                        
Close gas treating plant and gas wells $1  $  $  $  $  $1 
Consumers
  205   15   (8)  16      228 
                         
Total CMS Energy $206  $15  $(8) $16  $  $229 
                         
Consumers
                        
Coal ash disposal areas $62  $  $(4) $6  $  $64 
Wells at gas storage fields  1               1 
Indoor gas services relocations  1               1 
Asbestos abatement  36      (1)  3      38 
Gas distribution cut, purge, cap  105   15   (3)  7      124 
                         
Total Consumers $205  $15  $(8) $16  $  $228 
                         
(a)Cash payments of $7 million in 2010 and $8 million in 2009 were included in the other current and non-current liabilities line in Net cash provided by operating activities in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.


158


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
17: JOINTLY OWNED REGULATED UTILITY FACILITIES
Presented in the following table are Consumers’ investments in jointly owned regulated utility facilities:
                             
  Ownership
        Accumulated
  Construction
 
  Share
  Net Investment(a)  Depreciation  Work in Progress 
December 31
 (%)  2010  2009  2010  2009  2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
Campbell Unit 3  93.3  $653  $662  $404  $387  $23  $14 
Ludington  51.0   60   62   114   111   11   5 
Distribution  Various   115   105   44   43   7   7 
(a)Net investment is the amount of utility plant in service less accumulated depreciation.
Consumers includes its share of the direct expenses of the jointly owned plants in Operating Expenses. Consumers shares operation, maintenance, and other expenses of these jointly owned utility facilities in proportion to each participant’s undivided ownership interest. Consumers is required to provide only its share of financing for the jointly owned utility facilities.
18: VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
Entities that are VIEs must be consolidated if the reporting entity determines that it has a controlling financial interest. The entity that is required to consolidate the VIE is called the primary beneficiary. Variable interests are contractual, ownership, or other interests in an entity that change as the fair value of the VIE’s net assets, excluding variable interests, changes. An entity is considered to be a VIE when its capital is insufficient to permit it to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or its equity investors, as a group, lack the characteristics of having a controlling financial interest.
Effective January 1, 2010, the accounting standards for consolidation of VIEs were amended. The most significant amendment changed the criteria for identifying the primary beneficiary. Under the amended standard, the primary beneficiary is the entity that has both (1) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
As a result of adopting this amendment, effective January 1, 2010, CMS Energy has consolidated CMS Energy Trust I and deconsolidated three partnerships that it had previously consolidated.
CMS Energy has consolidated CMS Energy Trust I because CMS Energy is the variable interest holder that designed the entity and, through the design, has the power to direct the activities of CMS Energy Trust I that most significantly impact the trust’s economic performance. CMS Energy has guaranteed payment of the Trust Preferred Securities. The sole assets of the trust consist of subordinated notes issued by CMS Energy, and the sole liabilities of the trust consist of Trust Preferred Securities. Upon consolidation, CMS Energy reduced its equity method investment by $5 million and its Long-term debt by $34 million. CMS Energy also recorded a $29 million liability for the mandatorily redeemable preferred securities issued by the trust. No gain or loss was recognized on the consolidation of CMS Energy Trust I.
CMS Energy has deconsolidated T.E.S. Filer City, Grayling, and Genesee because CMS Energy determined that power is shared among unrelated parties, and that no one party has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entities’ economic performance. The partners must agree on all major decisions for each of the partnerships. As a result, CMS Energy is not the primary beneficiary of these partnerships.


159


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Presented in the following table is information about these partnerships:
Name (Ownership Interest)
Nature of the Entity
Financing of Partnership
T.E.S. Filer City (50%)Coal-fueled power generatorNon-recourse long-term debt that matured in December 2007.
Grayling (50%)Wood waste-fueled power generatorSale of revenue bonds that mature in November 2012 and bear interest at variable rates. The debt is recourse to the partnership, but not the individual partners, and secured by a letter of credit equal to the outstanding balance.
Genesee (50%)Wood waste-fueled power generatorSale of revenue bonds that mature in 2021 and bear interest at fixed rates. The debt is non-recourse to the partnership and secured by a CMS Energy guarantee capped at $3 million annually.
CMS Energy has operating and management contracts with Grayling and Genesee, and Consumers is the primary purchaser of power from each partnership through long-term PPAs. Consumers also has reduced dispatch agreements with Grayling and Genesee, which allow these facilities to be dispatched based on the market price of wood waste. This results in fuel cost savings that each partnership shares with Consumers’ customers.
CMS Energy’s investment in these partnerships is included in Investments on its Consolidated Balance Sheets in the amount of $49 million as of December 31, 2010. The partnerships were consolidated at December 31, 2009. Total assets of the partnerships were $189 million and total liabilities were $92 million at December 31, 2009. The partnerships had third-party debt obligations totaling $70 million at December 31, 2009. Plant, property, and equipment serving as collateral for these obligations had a carrying value of $137 million at December 31, 2009. The creditors of these partnerships do not have recourse to the general credit of CMS Energy or Consumers, except through a guarantee provided by CMS Energy of $3 million annually. CMS Energy has deferred collections on certain receivables owed by Genesee. CMS Energy’s maximum exposure to loss from these receivables is $6 million. Consumers has not provided any financial or other support during the periods presented that was not previously contractually required.
19: RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS — CONSUMERS
Consumers enters into a number of significant transactions with related parties. These transactions include:
• purchase and sale of electricity from and to CMS Enterprises;
• payment of parent company overhead costs to CMS Energy; and
• investment in CMS Energy common stock.
Transactions involving power supply purchases from certain affiliates of CMS Enterprises are based on avoided costs under PURPA, state law, and competitive bidding. The payment of parent company overhead costs is based on the use of accepted industry allocation methodologies. These payments are for costs that occur in the normal course of business. Presented in the following table are Consumers’ recorded income and expense from related parties as of December 31:
               
Description
 
Related Party
 2010  2009  2008 
    In Millions 
 
Purchases of capacity and energy Affiliates of CMS Enterprises $(84) $(81) $(75)
Dividend income CMS Energy  1   1   1 


160


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Amounts payable to related parties for purchased power and other services were $11 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009.
Consumers owns 1.8 million shares of CMS Energy common stock with a fair value of $34 million at December 31, 2010. For additional details on Consumers’ investment in CMS Energy common stock, see Note 9, Financial Instruments.
20: ASSET SALES, DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, AND IMPAIRMENT CHARGES
Asset Sales
The impacts of asset sales are included in Gain on asset sales, net and Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations in CMS Energy’s Consolidated Statements of Income, and they are included in Loss (gain) on asset sales, net in Consumers’ Consolidated Statements of Income. Asset sales for CMS Energy and Consumers were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008.
In connection with the sale of CMS Energy’s Argentine and Michigan assets to Lucid Energy in 2007, CMS Energy entered into agreements that granted MEI, an affiliate of Lucid Energy, the right to any proceeds from an assignment of an arbitration award associated with TGN. The agreements also granted MEI an option to purchase CMS Gas Transmission’s ownership interests in TGN, and the rights to any proceeds CMS Enterprises would receive if it sold its stock interest in CMS Generation San Nicolas Company.
In 2008, CMS Energy executed an agreement with MEI and a third party to assign the arbitration award and to sell its interests in TGN directly to the third party. In accordance with the agreements executed in 2007, the proceeds from the assignment of the arbitration award and the sale of TGN were passed on to MEI, and in 2008, CMS Energy recognized an $8 million gain on the assignment of the award in Gain on asset sales, net on CMS Energy’s Consolidated Statements of Income. CMS Energy also recognized a $197 million cumulative net foreign currency translation loss related to TGN, which had been deferred as a Foreign currency translation component of stockholders’ equity. This charge was fully offset by the elimination of a $197 million Argentine currency impairment reserve on CMS Energy’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, created when it impaired its investment in TGN in 2007.
In 2010, CMS Enterprises exercised its option to sell its stock interest in CMS Generation San Nicolas Company and transferred the sale proceeds to MEI. As a result, CMS Enterprises recognized a $3 million net gain. In 2010, CMS Enterprises also sold a cost-method investment with a carrying value of zero, and recognized a $3 million gain.


161


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Discontinued Operations
Discontinued operations are a component of the enterprises segment. CMS Energy included the following amounts in Income (Loss) From Discontinued Operations:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Revenues $10  $7  $14 
             
Discontinued operations:            
Pretax income (loss) from discontinued operations $(21) $33  $2 
Income tax expense  2   13   1 
             
Income (Loss) From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax Expense $(23)(a) $20(b) $1 
             
(a)Includes an operating loss of $2 million ($1 million net of tax) at Exeter, whose assets and liabilities were reclassified as held for sale in 2009.
Also includes disposal-related losses of $10 million in additional tax expense resulting from an IRS audit adjustment related to a 2003 asset sale, a $6 million ($4 million net of tax) loss for the write down of CMS Energy’s investment in Exeter, a $5 million ($3 million net of tax) loss for the increase in a liability for a 2007 asset sale, and a $5 million ($3 million net of tax) loss on the settlement of a 2002 asset sale indemnity.
(b)Includes an operating loss of $11 million ($7 million net of tax) at Exeter and a loss of $3 million ($2 million net of tax) related to the State Street Bank and TSU litigation at CMS Viron. For additional details on CMS Viron, see Note 5, Contingencies and Commitments.
Also includes a gain for the expiration of an indemnity obligation related to a 2007 asset sale. CMS Energy provided an indemnity to TAQA in connection with the sale of its ownership interests in businesses in the Middle East, Africa, and India, and recorded a $50 million provision for the contingent liability. This indemnity expired in 2009 and CMS Energy eliminated the liability from its Consolidated Balance Sheets, recognizing a $45 million benefit ($28 million net of tax) to Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and a $5 million benefit to Gain on asset sales, net.
Discontinued operations include a provision for closing costs and a portion of CMS Energy’s parent company interest expense. CMS Energy allocated interest expense of less than $1 million in each of 2010 and 2009 and $1 million in 2008. CMS Energy allocates its interest expense by applying its total interest expense to the net carrying amount of the asset sold divided by CMS Energy’s total capitalization.
During the fourth quarter of 2009, CMS Energy’s management committed to a plan to sell its interest in Exeter and initiated an active program to locate potential buyers. CMS Energy completed the sale of this business in


162


CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
January 2011. Presented in the following table are the major classes of assets and liabilities of Exeter classified as held for sale on CMS Energy’s Consolidated Balance Sheets in 2010 and 2009:
         
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
Assets:        
Current Assets:
        
Cash $1  $1 
Accounts receivable, net  1   1 
Non-Current Assets:
        
Plant, property, and equipment, net  3   8 
Other  1   1 
         
Total assets $6  $11 
         
Liabilities:        
Current Liabilities $1  $ 
         
Total liabilities $1  $ 
         
Impairment Charges
In 2010, CMS Energy wrote down its investment in Exeter from its carrying amount of $11 million to Exeter’s fair value of $5 million. This valuation was based on the price that CMS Energy received for the sale of Exeter, which closed in January 2011. The impairment resulted in a loss of $6 million, which was recorded in earnings as part of discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2010.
In May 2010, Consumers announced plans to defer the development of its proposed 830 MW coal-fueled plant at its Karn/Weadock generating complex. At that time, Consumers recorded a charge of $3 million to write off certain capitalized development costs because the costs were deemed not to have long-term value in connection with the potential future construction of the plant. The project’s air permit, issued by the MDNRE in December 2009, will expire in August 2011 if construction of the coal plant has not commenced or if Consumers has not been granted an extension of the air permit. In December 2010, Consumers determined that it would not begin construction before August 2011 as a means of preserving the air permit. As a result, the likelihood that the plant will be constructed has diminished significantly. In December 2010, in accordance with accounting standards governing impairment of plant costs for regulated utilities, Consumers recorded an additional charge of $19 million to write off the remaining previously capitalized development costs associated with the proposed plant. The total charge of $22 million was recorded in other operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2010.
CMS Energy and Consumers recorded no other impairments of long-lived assets for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008.
21: REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
Reportable segments consist of business units defined by the products and services they offer.  CMS Energy and Consumers evaluate the performance of each segment based on its contribution to net income available to CMS Energy’s common stockholders.  The reportable segments for CMS Energy and Consumers are:

CMS Energy:

• electric utility, consisting of regulated activities associated with the generation and distribution of electricity in Michigan;


163


·electric utility, consisting of regulated activities associated with the generation and distribution of electricity in Michigan;

CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
• gas utility, consisting of regulated activities associated with the transportation, storage, and distribution of natural gas in Michigan;
• enterprises, consisting of various subsidiaries engaging primarily in domestic IPP; and
• other, including EnerBank, corporate interest and other expenses, and discontinued operations.
·gas utility, consisting of regulated activities associated with the transportation, storage, and distribution of natural gas in Michigan;

·enterprises, consisting of various subsidiaries engaging primarily in domestic independent power production; and

·other, including EnerBank, corporate interest and other expenses, and discontinued operations.

Consumers:

• electric utility, consisting of regulated activities associated with the generation and distribution of electricity in Michigan;
• gas utility, consisting of regulated activities associated with the transportation, storage, and distribution of natural gas in Michigan; and
• other, including a consolidated special-purpose entity for the sale of accounts receivable.

·electric utility, consisting of regulated activities associated with the generation and distribution of electricity in Michigan;

·gas utility, consisting of regulated activities associated with the transportation, storage, and distribution of natural gas in Michigan; and

·other, including a consolidated special-purpose entity for the sale of accounts receivable.

Accounting policies for CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ segments are as described in Note 1, Significant Accounting Policies.  The Consolidated Financial Statementsconsolidated financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses of the individual segments when appropriate.  Accounts are allocated among the segments when common accounts are attributable to more than one segment.  The allocations are based on certain measures of business activities, such as revenue, labor dollars, customers, other operation and maintenance expense, construction expense, leased property, taxes, or functional surveys.  For example, customer receivables are allocated based on revenue, and pension provisions are allocated based on labor dollars.

Inter-segment sales and transfers are accounted for at current market prices and are eliminated in consolidated Net Income Availablenet income available to Common Stockholderscommon stockholders by segment.

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Table of Contents

Presented in the following tables is financial information by reportable segment:

             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Operating Revenue:            
Electric utility $3,802  $3,407  $3,594 
Gas utility  2,354   2,556   2,827 
Enterprises  238   216   365 
Other  38   26   21 
             
Total Operating Revenue — CMS Energy $6,432  $6,205  $6,807 
             
Consumers
            
Operating Revenue:            
Electric utility $3,802  $3,407  $3,594 
Gas utility  2,354   2,556   2,827 
             
Total Operating Revenue — Consumers $6,156  $5,963  $6,421 
             
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investees:(a)            
Enterprises $11  $(2) $5 
             
Total Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investees — CMS Energy $11  $(2) $5 
             


164


 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility

 

$

4,173

 

$

4,031

 

$

3,913

 

Gas utility

 

2,148

 

1,982

 

2,340

 

Enterprises

 

181

 

183

 

204

 

Other

 

64

 

57

 

46

 

Total operating revenue – CMS Energy

 

$

6,566

 

$

6,253

 

$

6,503

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility

 

$

4,173

 

$

4,031

 

$

3,913

 

Gas utility

 

2,148

 

1,982

 

2,340

 

Total operating revenue – Consumers

 

$

6,321

 

$

6,013

 

$

6,253

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility

 

$

484

 

$

459

 

$

412

 

Gas utility

 

138

 

133

 

130

 

Enterprises

 

3

 

4

 

3

 

Other

 

3

 

2

 

1

 

Total depreciation and amortization – CMS Energy

 

$

628

 

$

598

 

$

546

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility

 

$

484

 

$

459

 

$

412

 

Gas utility

 

138

 

133

 

130

 

Total depreciation and amortization – Consumers

 

$

622

 

$

592

 

$

542

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from equity method investees1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enterprises

 

$

13

 

$

17

 

$

9

 

Total income from equity method investees – CMS Energy

 

$

13

 

$

17

 

$

9

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility

 

$

179

 

$

179

 

$

192

 

Gas utility

 

64

 

63

 

71

 

Other

 

155

 

147

 

152

 

Total interest charges – CMS Energy

 

$

398

 

$

389

 

$

415

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility

 

$

179

 

$

179

 

$

192

 

Gas utility

 

64

 

63

 

71

 

Other

 

2

 

2

 

2

 

Total interest charges – Consumers

 

$

245

 

$

244

 

$

265

 

153



Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility

 

$

242

 

$

227

 

$

190

 

Gas utility

 

104

 

70

 

77

 

Enterprises

 

(4

)

(1

)

(24

)

Other

 

(40

)

(51

)

(52

)

Total income tax expense – CMS Energy

 

$

302

 

$

245

 

$

191

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility

 

$

242

 

$

227

 

$

190

 

Gas utility

 

104

 

70

 

77

 

Total income tax expense – Consumers

 

$

346

 

$

297

 

$

267

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) available to common stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility

 

$

363

 

$

325

 

$

333

 

Gas utility

 

168

 

110

 

130

 

Enterprises

 

2

 

16

 

32

 

Other

 

(81

)

(69

)

(80

)

Total net income available to common stockholders – CMS Energy

 

$

452

 

$

382

 

$

415

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common stockholder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility

 

$

363

 

$

325

 

$

333

 

Gas utility

 

168

 

110

 

130

 

Other

 

1

 

2

 

2

 

Total net income available to common stockholder – Consumers

 

$

532

 

$

437

 

$

465

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plant, property, and equipment, gross

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility

 

$

11,186

 

$

11,041

 

$

10,400

 

Gas utility

 

4,843

 

4,400

 

4,206

 

Enterprises

 

115

 

113

 

109

 

Other

 

40

 

38

 

36

 

Total plant, property, and equipment – CMS Energy

 

$

16,184

 

$

15,592

 

$

14,751

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plant, property, and equipment, gross

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility

 

$

11,186

 

$

11,041

 

$

10,400

 

Gas utility

 

4,843

 

4,400

 

4,206

 

Other

 

15

 

15

 

15

 

Total plant, property, and equipment – Consumers

 

$

16,044

 

$

15,456

 

$

14,621

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in equity method investees1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enterprises

 

$

57

 

$

55

 

$

49

 

Other

 

2

 

2

 

1

 

Total investments in equity method investees – CMS Energy

 

$

59

 

$

57

 

$

50

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility2

 

$

10,487

 

$

10,423

 

$

9,938

 

Gas utility2

 

4,784

 

5,016

 

4,956

 

Enterprises

 

332

 

181

 

242

 

Other

 

1,813

 

1,511

 

1,316

 

Total assets – CMS Energy

 

$

17,416

 

$

17,131

 

$

16,452

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility2

 

$

10,487

 

$

10,423

 

$

9,938

 

Gas utility2

 

4,784

 

5,016

 

4,956

 

Other

 

908

 

836

 

768

 

Total assets – Consumers

 

$

16,179

 

$

16,275

 

$

15,662

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility

 

$

996

 

$

921

 

$

661

 

Gas utility

 

407

 

340

 

261

 

Enterprises

 

1

 

1

 

5

 

Other

 

4

 

4

 

1

 

Total capital expenditures – CMS Energy

 

$

1,408

 

$

1,266

 

$

928

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric utility

 

$

996

 

$

921

 

$

661

 

Gas utility

 

407

 

340

 

261

 

Total capital expenditures – Consumers

 

$

1,403

 

$

1,261

 

$

922

 

1Consumers had no significant equity method investments.

2Amounts include a portion of Consumers’ other common assets attributable to both the electric and gas utility businesses.

3Amounts include purchase of capital lease additions.  Amounts also include a portion of Consumers’ capital expenditures for plant and equipment attributable to both the electric and gas utility businesses.

17:RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS – CONSUMERS

Consumers enters into a number of significant transactions with related parties.  These transactions include:

·purchase and sale of electricity from and to affiliates of CMS Enterprises;

·payment of parent company overhead costs to CMS Energy; and

·investment in CMS Energy Corporationcommon stock.

Transactions involving power supply purchases from certain affiliates of CMS Enterprises are based on avoided costs under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, state law, and competitive bidding.  The payment of parent company overhead costs is based on the use of accepted industry allocation methodologies.  These payments are for costs that occur in the normal course of business.

155



Table of Contents

Presented in the following table are Consumers’ recorded income and expense from related parties as of December 31:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Description

 

Related Party

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Purchases of capacity and energy

 

Affiliates of CMS Enterprises

 

$   89

 

$   86

 

$   81

 

Amounts payable to related parties for purchased power and other services were $13 million at December 31, 2013 and $11 million at December 31, 2012.

Consumers Energy Company

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Depreciation and Amortization:            
Electric utility $450  $441  $438 
Gas utility  122   118   136 
Enterprises  3   10   10 
Other  1   1   4 
             
Total Depreciation and Amortization — CMS Energy $576  $570  $588 
             
Consumers
            
Depreciation and Amortization:            
Electric utility $450  $441  $438 
Gas utility  122   118   136 
             
Total Depreciation and Amortization — Consumers $572  $559  $574 
             
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Interest Charges:            
Electric utility $202  $225  $185 
Gas utility  73   66   60 
Enterprises     5   6 
Other  156   139   149 
             
Total Interest Charges — CMS Energy $431  $435  $400 
             
Consumers
            
Interest Charges:            
Electric utility $202  $225  $185 
Gas utility  73   66   60 
Other  2   1   2 
             
Total Interest Charges — Consumers $277  $292  $247 
             
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Income Tax Expense (Benefit):            
Electric utility $187  $107  $153 
Gas utility  67   56   45 
Enterprises  14   4   (10)
Other  (44)  (52)  (49)
             
Total Income Tax Expense — CMS Energy $224  $115  $139 
             

165


owned 1.1 million shares of CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Consumers
            
Income Tax Expense:            
Electric utility $187  $107  $153 
Gas utility  67   56   45 
             
Total Income Tax Expense — Consumers $254  $163  $198 
             
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders:            
Electric utility $303  $194  $271 
Gas utility  127   96   89 
Enterprises  36   (7)  13 
Discontinued operations  (23)  20   1 
Other  (119)  (85)  (90)
             
Total Net Income Available to Common Stockholders — CMS Energy $324  $218  $284 
             
Consumers
            
Net Income Available to Common Stockholder:            
Electric utility $303  $194  $271 
Gas utility  127   96   89 
Other  2   1   2 
             
Total Net Income Available to Common Stockholder — Consumers $432  $291  $362 
             
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Investments in Equity Method Investees:(a)            
Enterprises $48  $3  $5 
Other  1   6   6 
             
Total Investments in Equity Method Investees — CMS Energy $49  $9  $11 
             
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Plant, Property, and Equipment, Gross            
Electric utility $9,944  $9,525  $8,965 
Gas utility  4,063   3,812   3,622 
Enterprises  102   345   340 
Other  36   34   33 
             
Total Plant, Property, and Equipment — CMS Energy $14,145  $13,716  $12,960 
             

166


common stock with a fair value of $29 million at December 31, 2013.  For additional details on Consumers’ investment in CMS Energy Corporation
common stock, see Note 6, Financial Instruments.

In January 2014, Consumers Energy Company

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Consumers
            
Plant, Property, and Equipment, Gross            
Electric utility $9,944  $9,525  $8,965 
Gas utility  4,063   3,812   3,622 
Other  15   15   15 
             
Total Plant, Property, and Equipment — Consumers $14,022  $13,352  $12,602 
             
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Total Assets:            
Electric utility(b) $9,321  $9,157  $8,904 
Gas utility(b)  4,614   4,594   4,565 
Enterprises  191   303   313 
Other  1,490   1,202   1,119 
             
Total Assets — CMS Energy $15,616  $15,256  $14,901 
             
Consumers
            
Total Assets:            
Electric utility(b) $9,321  $9,157  $8,904 
Gas utility(b)  4,614   4,594   4,565 
Other  904   871   777 
             
Total Assets — Consumers $14,839  $14,622  $14,246 
             
CMS Energy, including Consumers
            
Capital Expenditures:(c)            
Electric utility $642  $557  $553 
Gas utility  235   270   241 
Enterprises  4   7   3 
Other  2       
             
Total Capital Expenditures — CMS Energy $883  $834  $797 
             
Consumers
            
Capital Expenditures:(c)            
Electric utility $642  $557  $553 
Gas utility  235   270   241 
             
Total Capital Expenditures — Consumers $877  $827  $794 
             

167


renewed a short-term credit agreement with CMS Energy, Corporation
permitting Consumers to borrow up to $300 million.  At December 31, 2013, there were no outstanding loans under the prior agreement.

18:VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

Variable interests are contractual, ownership, or other interests in an entity that change as the fair value of the VIE’s net assets, excluding variable interests, changes.  An entity is considered to be a VIE when its capital is insufficient to permit it to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or its equity investors, as a group, lack the characteristics of having a controlling financial interest.

Entities that are VIEs must be consolidated if the reporting entity determines that it has a controlling financial interest.  The entity that is required to consolidate the VIE is called the primary beneficiary.  The primary beneficiary is the entity that has both (1) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

CMS Energy Company

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Geographic Areas:
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers(d)
            
United States            
Operating revenue(e) $6,432  $6,205  $6,807 
Operating income $978  $698  $793 
Total Assets $15,613  $15,253  $14,898 
International            
Operating revenue(e) $  $  $ 
Operating income $  $  $1 
Total Assets $3  $3  $3 
has variable interests in T.E.S. Filer City, Grayling, and Genesee.  CMS Energy is not the primary beneficiary of any of these partnerships because power is shared among unrelated parties, and no one party has the power to direct activities, such as operations and maintenance, plant dispatch, and fuel strategy, that most significantly impact the entities’ economic performance.  The partners must agree on all major decisions for each of the partnerships.

Presented in the following table is information about these partnerships:

Name (Ownership Interest)

Nature of the Entity

Financing of Partnership

(a)

T.E.S. Filer City (50%)

Consumers had no material equity method investments.

Coal-fueled power generator

Non-recourse long-term debt that matured in December 2007.

(b)

Grayling (50%)

Amounts include a portion

Wood waste-fueled power generator

Sale of Consumers’ other common assets attributable to both the electric and gas utility businesses.revenue bonds that were retired in March 2012.

(c)

Genesee (50%)

Amounts include purchase

Wood waste-fueled power generator

Sale of capital lease additions. Amounts also includerevenue bonds that mature in 2021 and bear interest at fixed rates. The debt is non-recourse to the partners and secured by a portion of Consumers’ capital expenditures for plant and equipment attributable to both the electric and gas utility businesses.CMS Energy guarantee capped at $3 million annually.

(d)

Consumers had no international assets, international operating revenues, or international operating income.
(e)

Revenues were based on the country location of customers.


168

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CMS Energy Corporation
has operating and management contracts with Grayling and Genesee, and Consumers Energy Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
22:  QUARTERLY FINANCIAL AND COMMON STOCK INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
                 
  2010 
Quarters Ended
 March 31  June 30  Sept. 30  Dec. 31 
  In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and Stock Prices 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                
Operating Revenue $1,967  $1,340  $1,443  $1,682 
Operating Income  239   262   319   158 
Income From Continuing Operations  89   100   146   31 
Loss From Discontinued Operations  (1)  (16)     (6)
Net Income  88   84   146   25 
Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests     2   1    
Net Income Attributable to CMS Energy  88   82   145   25 
Charge for Deferred Issuance Cost on Preferred Stock        8    
Preferred Stock Dividends  3   2   3    
Net income Available to Common Stockholders  85   80   134   25 
Earnings From Continuing Operations Per Average Common Share — Basic(a)  0.38   0.42   0.58   0.13 
Earnings From Continuing Operations Per Average Common Share — Diluted(a)  0.35   0.39   0.53   0.11 
Basic Earnings Per Average Common Share(a)  0.37   0.35   0.58   0.11 
Diluted Earnings Per Average Common Share(a)  0.34   0.32   0.53   0.09 
Common stock prices(b)                
High  15.90   16.55   18.15   19.16 
Low  14.57   14.26   14.68   17.72 
Consumers
                
Operating Revenue $1,890  $1,276  $1,370  $1,620 
Operating Income  224   207   304   191 
Net Income  107   88   160   79 
Preferred Stock Dividends     1   1    
Net Income Available to Common Stockholder  107   87   159   79 


169

is the primary purchaser of power from each partnership through long-term PPAs.  Consumers also has reduced dispatch agreements with Grayling and Genesee, which allow these facilities to be dispatched based on the market price of wood waste.  This results in fuel cost savings that each partnership shares with Consumers’ customers.


CMS Energy’s investment in these partnerships is included in investments on its consolidated balance sheets in the amount of $56 million as of December 31, 2013 and $56 million as of December 31, 2012.  The creditors of these partnerships do not have recourse to the general credit of CMS Energy Corporation
or Consumers, except through a guarantee provided by CMS Energy Companyof $3 million annually.  CMS Energy has deferred collections on certain receivables owed by Genesee.  CMS Energy’s maximum exposure to loss from these receivables is $7 million.  Consumers has not provided any financial or other support during the periods presented that was not previously contractually required.

19:ASSET SALES AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

ASSET SALES

The impacts of asset sales are included in income from discontinued operations on CMS Energy’s consolidated statements of income.  CMS Energy had no significant asset sales during the years ended December 31, 2013 or 2012.  In 2011, CMS Energy sold its interest in Exeter Energy Limited Partnership, which had been written down to fair value in 2010.  Consumers had no significant asset sales during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, or 2011.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

CMS Energy included the following amounts in income from discontinued operations:

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2012

 

2011

 

Discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax income from discontinued operations

 

$  11

 

$    2

 

Income tax expense

 

4

 

-

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax expense

 

$    7

  1

$    2

  2

1Includes an $11 million ($7 million net of tax) reversal of a loss on disposal due to the elimination of a liability associated with the 2003 sale of Panhandle.

2Includes an operating gain of $3 million related to a litigation settlement at CMS Viron.

Discontinued operations include a provision for closing costs and a portion of CMS Energy’s parent company interest expense.  CMS Energy allocated no interest expense in 2013 or 2012 and allocated less than $1 million of interest expense in 2011.  CMS Energy allocates its interest expense by applying its total interest expense to the net carrying amount of the asset sold divided by CMS Energy’s total capitalization.

157



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED

Table of Contents

20:QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                 
  2009 
Quarters Ended
 March 31  June 30  Sept. 30  Dec. 31 
  In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and Stock Prices 
 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
                
Operating Revenue $2,104  $1,225  $1,263  $1,613 
Operating Income  210   150   230   108 
Income From Continuing Operations  75   55   76   14 
Income (Loss) From Discontinued Operations  (1)  25   (1)  (3)
Net Income  74   80   75   11 
Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests  1   2   6   2 
Net Income Attributable to CMS Energy  73   78   69   9 
Preferred Stock Dividends  3   3   2   3 
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders  70   75   67   6 
Earnings From Continuing Operations Per Average Common Share — Basic(a)  0.32   0.22   0.30   0.04 
Earnings From Continuing Operations Per Average Common Share — Diluted(a)  0.31   0.21   0.29   0.03 
Basic Earnings Per Average Common Share(a)  0.31   0.33   0.29   0.03 
Diluted Earnings Per Average Common Share(a)  0.30   0.32   0.28   0.02 
Common stock prices(b)                
High  12.20   12.30   13.64   16.04 
Low  10.09   10.98   11.78   13.05 
Consumers
                
Operating Revenue $2,034  $1,182  $1,204  $1,543 
Operating Income  203   174   218   94 
Net Income  99   72   101   21 
Preferred Stock Dividends  1      1    
Net Income Available to Common Stockholder  98   72   100   21 
(a)The sum of the quarters may not equal the annual EPS due to changes in the number of shares outstanding.
(b)Based on New York Stock Exchange composite transactions.

170

AND COMMON STOCK INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)


 

 

In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and Stock Prices

 

 

 

2013

 

Quarters Ended

 

March 31

 

June 30

 

Sept 30

 

Dec 31

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

 

$    1,979

 

$    1,406

 

$    1,445

 

$    1,736

 

Operating income

 

329

 

232

 

317

 

264

 

Income from continuing operations

 

144

 

81

 

127

 

102

 

Net income

 

144

 

81

 

127

 

102

 

Income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

-

 

1

 

1

 

-

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

144

 

80

 

126

 

102

 

Earnings from continuing operations per average common share-basic1

 

0.55

 

0.30

 

0.48

 

0.38

 

Earnings from continuing operations per average common share-diluted1

 

0.53

 

0.29

 

0.46

 

0.37

 

Basic earnings per average common share1

 

0.55

 

0.30

 

0.48

 

0.38

 

Diluted earnings per average common share1

 

0.53

 

0.29

 

0.46

 

0.37

 

Common stock prices2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High

 

27.94

 

29.94

 

28.52

 

28.05

 

Low

 

24.76

 

25.95

 

25.86

 

25.90

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

 

$    1,919

 

$    1,342

 

$    1,386

 

$    1,674

 

Operating income

 

319

 

227

 

314

 

258

 

Net income

 

162

 

100

 

153

 

119

 

Preferred stock dividends and distribution

 

-

 

1

 

1

 

-

 

Net income available to common stockholder

 

162

 

99

 

152

 

119

 

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(This page intentionally left blank)

 

 

In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and Stock Prices

 

 

 

2012

 

Quarters Ended

 

March 31

 

June 30

 

Sept 30

 

Dec 31

 

CMS Energy, including Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

 

$   1,743

 

$   1,333

 

$   1,507

 

$   1,670

 

Operating income

 

188

 

260

 

343

 

212

 

Income from continuing operations

 

60

 

101

 

149

 

67

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

7

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Net income

 

67

 

101

 

149

 

67

 

Income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

-

 

1

 

1

 

-

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

67

 

100

 

148

 

67

 

Earnings from continuing operations per average common share-basic1

 

0.23

 

0.38

 

0.56

 

0.26

 

Earnings from continuing operations per average common share-diluted1

 

0.22

 

0.37

 

0.55

 

0.25

 

Basic earnings per average common share1

 

0.26

 

0.38

 

0.56

 

0.26

 

Diluted earnings per average common share1

 

0.25

 

0.37

 

0.55

 

0.25

 

Common stock prices2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High

 

22.31

 

23.87

 

24.81

 

24.70

 

Low

 

21.33

 

21.52

 

22.70

 

22.79

 

Consumers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

 

$   1,675

 

$   1,282

 

$   1,448

 

$   1,608

 

Operating income

 

183

 

260

 

334

 

207

 

Net income

 

76

 

122

 

163

 

78

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

-

 

1

 

1

 

-

 

Net income available to common stockholder

 

76

 

121

 

162

 

78

 


171


1The sum of the quarters may not equal annual EPS due to changes in the number of shares outstanding.

2Based on New York Stock Exchange composite transactions.

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Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

CMS Energy Corporation

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, of comprehensive income, of cash flows, and of changes in equity present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of CMS Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries at December 31, 20102013 and December 31, 2009,2012 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 20102013 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedules listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(2)  present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.  Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010,2013 based on criteria established inInternal Control Integrated Framework (1992)issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).  The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedules, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A.  Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedules, and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits.  We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk.  Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Detroit, Michigan

February 24, 2011


172

6, 2014


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Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholder of

Consumers Energy Company

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, of comprehensive income, of cash flows, and of changes in equity present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Consumers Energy Company and its subsidiaries at December 31, 20102013 and December 31, 2009,2012 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 20102013 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(2)  presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.  Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010,2013 based on criteria established inInternal Control Integrated Framework (1992)issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).  The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements and the financial statement schedules,schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A.  Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedules,schedule, and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits.  We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk.  Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Detroit, Michigan

February 24, 2011


173

6, 2014


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Table of Contents

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

CMS Energy

None.
Consumers
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

CMS EnergyE

NERGY

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures:Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its CEO and CFO, CMS Energy conducted an evaluation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined inRules 13a-15(e) and15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act).  Based on such evaluation, CMS Energy’s CEO and CFO have concluded that its disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2010.

2013.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting:CMS Energy’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange ActRule Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f).  CMS Energy’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and includes policies and procedures that:

• pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of CMS Energy;
• provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of CMS Energy are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of CMS Energy; and
• provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of CMS Energy’s assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements.

·pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of CMS Energy;

·provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of CMS Energy are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of CMS Energy; and

·provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of CMS Energy’s assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements.

Management, including its CEO and CFO, does not expect that its internal controls will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud.  A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.  Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs.  In addition, any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls is subject to risks that those internal controls may become inadequate in future periods because of changes in business conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures deteriorates.

Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its CEO and CFO, CMS Energy conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010.2013.  In making this evaluation, management used the criteria set forth in the framework in Internal Control Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.  Based on such evaluation, CMS Energy’s management concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2010.2013.  The effectiveness of CMS Energy’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 20102013 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

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Table of Contents

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting:  There have been no changes in CMS Energy’s internal control over financial reporting during the most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.


174


CONSUMERS

Consumers

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures:Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its CEO and CFO, Consumers conducted an evaluation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined inRules 13a-15(e) and15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act).  Based on such evaluation, Consumers’ CEO and CFO have concluded that its disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2010.
2013.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting:Consumers’ management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange ActRule Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f).  Consumers’ internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and includes policies and procedures that:

• pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of Consumers;
• provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of Consumers are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of Consumers; and
• provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of Consumers’ assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements.

·pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of Consumers;

·provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of Consumers are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of Consumers; and

·provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of Consumers’ assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements.

Management, including its CEO and CFO, does not expect that its internal controls will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud.  A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.  Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs.  In addition, any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls is subject to risks that those internal controls may become inadequate in future periods because of changes in business conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures deteriorates.

Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its CEO and CFO, Consumers conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010.2013.  In making this evaluation, management used the criteria set forth in the framework in Internal Control Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.  Based on such evaluation, Consumers’ management concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2010.2013.  The effectiveness of Consumers’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 20102013 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

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Table of Contents

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting:  There have been no changes in Consumers’ internal control over financial reporting during the most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

CMS Energy

None.
Consumers
None.


175


PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

CMS EnergyE

NERGY

Information that is required in Item 10 regarding executive officers is included in the Item 1. Business, CMS Energy Executive Officers section, which is incorporated by reference herein.

Information that is required in Item 10 regarding directors, executive officers, and corporate governance is included in CMS Energy’s definitive proxy statement, which is incorporated by reference herein.

CODE OF ETHICSCode of Ethics

CMS Energy adopted a code of ethics that applies to its CEO, CFO, and CAO, as well as all other officers and employees of CMS Energy and its affiliates, including Consumers.  This code of ethics, entitled “Code of Conduct and Guide to Ethical Business Behavior 2010”2014,” is posted on CMS Energy’s website at www.cmsenergy.com, under “Compliance and Ethics”.Ethics.”  CMS Energy’s Code of Conduct and Guide to Ethical Business Behavior 20102014 is administered by the Chief Compliance Officer of CMS Energy, who reports directly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of CMS Energy.  Any amendment to, or waiver of, a provision of CMS Energy’s code of ethics that applies to CMS Energy’s CEO, CFO, CAO, or persons performing similar functions will be disclosed on CMS Energy’s website at www.cmsenergy.com under “Compliance and Ethics.”

CMS Energy has also adopted a code of conduct that applies to its directors, entitled “Board of Directors Code of Conduct”.Conduct.”  This Board of Directors Code of Conduct can also be found on CMS Energy’s website at www.cmsenergy.com.www.cmsenergy.com, under “Compliance and Ethics.”  CMS Energy’s Board of Directors Code of Conduct is administered by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of CMS Energy.  Any alleged violation of this Board of Directors Code of Conduct by a director will be investigated by disinterested members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of CMS Energy, or if none, by disinterested members of the entire Board of Directors of CMS Energy.

ConsumersC

ONSUMERS

Information that is required in Item 10 regarding executive officers is included in the Item 1. Business, Consumers Executive Officers section, which is incorporated by reference herein.

Information that is required in Item 10 regarding Consumers’ directors, executive officers, and corporate governance is included in CMS Energy’s definitive proxy statement, which is incorporated by reference herein.

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Table of Contents

CODE OF ETHICSCode of Ethics

Consumers adopted a code of ethics that applies to its CEO, CFO, and CAO, as well as all other officers and employees of Consumers and its affiliates.  This code of ethics, entitled “Code of Conduct and Guide to Ethical Business Behavior 2010”2014,” is posted on Consumers’ website at www.consumersenergy.com, under “Our Company,” “Compliance and Ethics”.Ethics.”  Consumers’ Code of Conduct and Guide to Ethical Business Behavior 20102014 is administered by the Chief Compliance Officer of Consumers, who reports directly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Consumers.  Any amendment to, or waiver of, a provision of Consumers’ code of ethics that applies to Consumers’  CEO, CFO, CAO, or persons performing similar functions will be disclosed on Consumers’ website at www.consumersenergy.com under “Our Company,” “Compliance and Ethics.”

Consumers has also adopted a code of conduct that applies to its directors, entitled “Board of Directors Code of Conduct”.Conduct.”  This Board of Directors Code of Conduct can also be found on Consumers’ website at www.consumersenergy.com. Thewww.consumersenergy.com, under “Our Company,” “Compliance and Ethics.”  Consumers’ Board of Directors Code of Conduct is administered by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Consumers.  Any alleged violation of this Board of Directors Code of Conduct by a director will be investigated by disinterested members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Consumers, or if none, by disinterested members of the entire Board of Directors of Consumers.


176


ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information that is required in Item 11 regarding executive compensation of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ executive officers is included in CMS Energy’s definitive proxy statement, which is incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

CMS Energy
Information that is required in Item 12 regarding securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans and security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is included in CMS Energy’s definitive proxy statement, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Consumers

Information that is required in Item 12 regarding securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans and security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management of CMS Energy and Consumers is included in CMS Energy’s definitive proxy statement, which is incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS,
AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

CMS Energy
Information that is required in Item 13 regarding certain relationships and related transactions, and director independence is included in CMS Energy’s definitive proxy statement, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Consumers

Information that is required in Item 13 regarding certain relationships and related transactions, and director independence regarding CMS Energy and Consumers is included in CMS Energy’s definitive proxy statement, which is incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

CMS Energy
Information that is required in Item 14 regarding principal accountant fees and services is included in CMS Energy’s definitive proxy statement, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Consumers

Information that is required in Item 14 regarding principal accountant fees and services relating to CMS Energy and Consumers is included in CMS Energy’s definitive proxy statement, which is incorporated by reference herein.

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166



ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)(1)Financial Statements and Reports of Independent Public Accountants for CMS Energy and Consumers are included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data and are incorporated by reference herein.

(a)(2)Index to Financial Statement Schedules.

(a)(1)      

Financial Statements and Reports of Independent Public Accountants for CMS Energy and Consumers are included in each company’s Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data and are incorporated by reference herein.

Page

(a)(2)      Index to Financial Statement Schedules.


177


Page

Schedule I

Condensed Financial Information of Registrant CMS Energy-ParentEnergy – Parent Company

Condensed Statements of Income

184

168

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

185

169

Condensed Balance Sheets

186

170

Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements

188

172

Schedule II

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves

CMS Energy

189

173

Consumers

189

173

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

CMS Energy

172

160

Consumers

173

161

Schedules other than those listed above are omitted because they are either not required, not applicable, or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.  Columns omitted from schedules filed have been omitted because the information is not applicable.

(a)(3) Exhibits for and (b)See CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Exhibit Index included as the last part of this report, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

Schedule I – Condensed Financial Information of Registrant

CMS Energy – Parent Company

Condensed Statements of Income

 

 

In Millions

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other operating expenses

 

$

(6

)

$

(8

)

$

(9

)

General taxes

 

-

 

-

 

6

 

Total operating expenses

 

(6

)

(8

)

(3

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Loss

 

(6

)

(8

)

(3

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity earnings of subsidiaries

 

566

 

477

 

510

 

Interest income

 

1

 

1

 

1

 

Other expense

 

(8

)

(5

)

(5

)

Total other income

 

559

 

473

 

506

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on long-term debt

 

148

 

140

 

143

 

Intercompany interest expense and other

 

3

 

5

 

6

 

Total interest charges

 

151

 

145

 

149

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Before Income Taxes

 

402

 

320

 

354

 

Income Tax Benefit

 

(50

)

(62

)

(61

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income From Continuing Operations

 

452

 

382

 

415

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income Available to Common Stockholders

 

$

452

 

$

382

 

$

415

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

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CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

Schedule I – Condensed Financial Information of Registrant

CMS Energy – Parent Company

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions 

 

Years Ended December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

452

 

$

382

 

$

415

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity earnings of subsidiaries

 

(566

)

(477

)

(510

)

Dividends received from subsidiaries

 

435

 

401

 

474

 

Deferred income taxes

 

48

 

(25

)

14

 

Cash provided by (used in) changes in assets and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts and notes receivable

 

(3

)

2

 

(1

)

Accounts payable

 

2

 

-

 

-

 

Accrued taxes

 

48

 

9

 

(97

)

Other current and non-current assets and liabilities

 

18

 

(14

)

12

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

434

 

278

 

307

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in subsidiaries

 

(150

)

(151

)

(125

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(150

)

(151

)

(125

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

 

275

 

575

 

375

 

Issuance of common stock

 

36

 

30

 

29

 

Retirement of long-term debt

 

(275

)

(463

)

(376

)

Payment of common stock dividends

 

(271

)

(252

)

(211

)

Debt issuance costs and financing fees

 

(4

)

(4

)

(6

)

Increase (decrease) in notes payable

 

(47

)

(11

)

7

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(286

)

(125

)

(182

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

(2

)

2

 

-

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

 

2

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

 

$

-

 

$

2

 

$

-

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

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CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

Schedule I – Condensed Financial Information of Registrant

CMS Energy – Parent Company

Condensed Balance Sheets

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

-

 

$

2

 

Notes and accrued interest receivable

 

1

 

1

 

Accounts receivable, including intercompany and related parties

 

7

 

4

 

Accrued taxes

 

-

 

7

 

Deferred income taxes

 

2

 

3

 

Total current assets

 

10

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plant, Property, and Equipment

 

 

 

 

 

Plant, property, and equipment, gross

 

16

 

16

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

16

 

16

 

Total plant, property, and equipment

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Non-current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

345

 

392

 

Investments in subsidiaries

 

5,626

 

5,312

 

Other investments – DB SERP

 

23

 

24

 

Other

 

23

 

26

 

Total other non-current assets

 

6,017

 

5,754

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

6,027

 

$

5,771

 

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Table of Contents

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

December 31

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

$

172

 

$

172

 

Accounts and notes payable, including intercompany and related parties

 

107

 

152

 

Accrued interest, including intercompany

 

32

 

30

 

Accrued taxes

 

41

 

-

 

Other current liabilities

 

4

 

5

 

Total current liabilities

 

356

 

359

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

2,205

 

2,205

 

Unamortized discount

 

(9

)

(13

)

Postretirement benefits

 

19

 

24

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

2

 

2

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

2,217

 

2,218

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common stockholders equity

 

3,454

 

3,194

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Equity

 

$

6,027

 

$

5,771

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

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CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

Schedule I – Condensed Financial Information of Registrant

CMS Energy – Parent Company

Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements

1:BASIS OF PRESENTATION

CMS Energy’s condensed financial statements have been prepared on a parent-only basis.  In accordance with Rule 12-04 of Regulation S-X, these parent-only financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements, and therefore these parent-only financial statements and other information included should be read in conjunction with CMS Energy’s audited consolidated financial statements contained within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

2:GUARANTEES

CMS Energy has issued guarantees with a maximum potential obligation of $187 million on behalf of some of its wholly owned subsidiaries and related parties.  CMS Energy’s maximum potential obligation consists primarily of potential payments:

·to third parties under certain commodity purchase and swap agreements entered into with CMS ERM;

·to third parties in support of non-recourse revenue bonds issued by Genesee;

·to the MDEQ on behalf of CMS Land and CMS Capital, for environmental remediation obligations at Bay Harbor; and

·to the DOE on behalf of Consumers, in relation to Consumers’ 2011 settlement agreement with the DOE regarding damages resulting from the DOE’s failure to accept spent nuclear fuel from Palisades and Big Rock.

The expiry dates of these guarantees vary, depending upon contractual provisions or upon the statute of limitations under the relevant governing law.

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CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves

Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Description

 

Balance at
Beginning
of Period

 

Charged to
Expense

 

Charged to
Other
Accounts

 

Deductions

 

Balance at
End of
Period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for uncollectible accounts1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013

 

$

32

 

$

63

 

$

-

 

$

62

 

$

33

 

2012

 

35

 

53

 

-

 

56

 

32

 

2011

 

25

 

70

 

-

 

60

 

35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax valuation allowance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013

 

$

3

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

1

 

$

2

 

2012

 

20

 

-

 

(15

)

2

 

3

 

2011

 

19

 

1

 

-

 

-

 

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for notes receivable1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013

 

$

5

 

$

4

 

$

-

 

$

4

 

$

5

 

2012

 

5

 

4

 

-

 

4

 

5

 

2011

 

5

 

4

 

-

 

4

 

5

 

1          Deductions are listed after Item 15(b)write-offs of uncollectible accounts, net of recoveries.

CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves

Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Millions

 

Description

 

Balance at
Beginning
of Period

 

Charged to
Expense

 

Charged to
Other
Accounts

 

Deductions

 

Balance at
End of
Period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for uncollectible accounts1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013

 

$

30

 

$

63

 

$

-

 

$

62

 

$

31

 

2012

 

33

 

53

 

-

 

56

 

30

 

2011

 

23

 

70

 

-

 

60

 

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax valuation allowance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013

 

$

1

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

1

 

2012

 

1

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

1

 

2011

 

-

 

1

 

-

 

-

 

1

 

1             Deductions are write-offs of uncollectible accounts, net of recoveries.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, CMS Energy Corporation has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 6th day of February 2014.

CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

By:

/s/ John Russell

John G. Russell

President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of CMS Energy Corporation and are incorporatedin the capacities indicated and on the 6th day of February 2014.

(i)       Principal executive officer:

/s/ John Russell

John G. Russell

President and Chief Executive Officer

(ii)      Principal financial officer:

/s/  Thomas J. Webb

Thomas J. Webb

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(iii)     Controller or principal accounting officer:

/s/  Glenn P. Barba

Glenn P. Barba

Vice President, Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer

(iv)     The Directors:

Jon E. Barfield*

Kurt L. Darrow*

Stephen E. Ewing*

Richard M. Gabrys*

William D. Harvey*

David W. Joos*

Philip R. Lochner, Jr.*

Michael T. Monahan*

John G. Russell*

Kenneth L. Way*

Laura H. Wright*

John B. Yasinsky*

*By:

/s/ Thomas J. Webb

Thomas J. Webb, Attorney-in-Fact

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Consumers Energy Company has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by reference herein.

(b) Exhibits, including those incorporatedthe undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 6th day of February 2014.

CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY

By:

/s/ John Russell

John G. Russell

President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report has been signed below by reference.


178

the following persons on behalf of Consumers Energy Company and in the capacities indicated and on the 6th day of February 2014.


(i)       Principal executive officer:

/s/ John Russell

John G. Russell

President and Chief Executive Officer

(ii)      Principal financial officer:

/s/  Thomas J. Webb

Thomas J. Webb

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(iii)     Controller or principal accounting officer:

/s/  Glenn P. Barba

Glenn P. Barba

Vice President, Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer

(iv)     The Directors:

Jon E. Barfield*

Kurt L. Darrow*

Stephen E. Ewing*

Richard M. Gabrys*

William D. Harvey*

David W. Joos*

Philip R. Lochner, Jr.*

Michael T. Monahan*

John G. Russell*

Kenneth L. Way*

Laura H. Wright*

John B. Yasinsky*

*By:

/s/ Thomas J. Webb

Thomas J. Webb, Attorney-in-Fact

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Table of Contents

CMS ENERGY’S AND CONSUMERS’ EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT INDEX

The agreements included as exhibits to thisForm 10-K filing are included solely to provide information regarding the terms of the agreements and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about CMS Energy, Consumers, or other parties to the agreements.  The agreements may contain representations and warranties made by each of the parties to each of the agreements that were made exclusively for the benefit of the parties involved in each of the agreements and should not be treated as statements of fact.  The representations and warranties were made as a way to allocate risk if one or more of those statements prove to be incorrect.  The statements were qualified by disclosures toof the parties to each of the agreements andthat may not be reflected in each of the agreements.  The agreements may apply standards of materiality that are different than standards applied to other investors.  Additionally, the statements were made as of the date of the agreements or as specified in the agreements and have not been updated.

The representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs of the parties to each agreement.  Additional information about CMS Energy and Consumers may be found in this filing, at www.cmsenergy.com, at www.consumersenergy.com, and through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

         
  Previously Filed    
  With File
 As Exhibit
    
Exhibits
 
Number
 
Number
   
Description
 
3.1 1-9513 (3)(a)*  Restated Articles of Incorporation of CMS Energy effective June 1, 2004, as amended May 22, 2009 (2nd qtr. 2009 Form 10-Q)
3.2 1-9513 3.1*  CMS Energy Corporation Bylaws, amended and restated as of January 27, 2011 (Form 8-K filed February 1, 2011)
3.3 1-5611 3(c)  Restated Articles of Incorporation of Consumers effective June 7, 2000 (2000 Form 10-K)
3.4 1-5611 3.2  Consumers Energy Company Bylaws, amended and restated as of January 27, 2011 (Form 8-K filed February 1, 2011)
4.1 2-65973 (b)(1)-4  Indenture dated as of September 1, 1945 between Consumers and Chemical Bank (successor to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company), as Trustee, including therein indentures supplemental thereto through the Forty-third Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 1, 1979 (Form S-16 filed November 13, 1979)
        Indentures Supplemental thereto:
4.1.a 1-5611 (4)(a)  71st dated as of 3/06/98 (1997 Form 10-K)
4.1.b 1-5611 (4)(d)  90th dated as of 4/30/03 (1st qtr. 2003 Form 10-Q)
4.1.c 1-5611 (4)(b)  92nd dated as of 8/26/03 (3rd qtr. 2003 Form 10-Q)
4.1.d 1-5611 (4)(a)  96th dated as of 8/17/04 (Form 8-K filed August 20, 2004)
4.1.e 1-5611 4.4  98th dated as of 12/13/04 (Form 8-K filed December 13, 2004)
4.1.f 1-5611 (4)(a)(i)  99th dated as of 1/20/05 (2004 Form 10-K)
4.1.g 1-5611 4.2  100th dated as of 3/24/05 (Form 8-K filed March 30, 2005)
4.1.h 1-5611 4.2  104th dated as of 8/11/05 (Form 8-K filed August 11, 2005)
4.1.i 1-5611 4(b)  105th dated as of 3/30/07 (2007 Form 10-K)
4.1.j 1-5611 4(a)  106th dated as of 11/30/07 (2007 Form 10-K)
4.1.k 1-5611 4.1  108th dated as of 3/14/08 (Form 8-K filed March 14, 2008)
4.1.l 1-5611 4.1  109th dated as of 9/11/08 (Form 8-K filed September 16, 2008)
4.1.m 1-5611 4.1  110th dated as of 9/12/08 (Form 8-K filed September 12, 2008)
4.1.n 1-5611 4.1  111th dated as of 3/6/09 (Form 8-K filed March 6, 2009)
4.1.o 1-5611 4.1  112th dated as of 9/1/10 (Form 8-K filed September 7, 2010)
4.1.p 1-5611 4.1  113th dated as of 10/15/10 (Form 8-K filed October 20, 2010)
4.2 1-5611 (4)(b)  Indenture dated as of January 1, 1996 between Consumers and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (1995 Form 10-K)
4.3 1-5611 (4)(c)  Indenture dated as of February 1, 1998 between Consumers and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank), as Trustee (1997 Form 10-K)


179

 

 

Previously Filed

 

 

 

 

Exhibits

 

With File
Number

 

As
Exhibit
Number

 

 

Description

3.11

 

1-9513

 

(3)(a)

 

Restated Articles of Incorporation of CMS Energy, effective June 1, 2004, as amended May 22, 2009 (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009)

3.21

 

1-9513

 

3.1

 

CMS Energy Bylaws, amended and restated as of January 24, 2013 (Form 8-K filed January 29, 2013)

3.3

 

1-5611

 

3(c)

 

Restated Articles of Incorporation of Consumers effective June 7, 2000 (Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000)

3.4

 

1-5611

 

3.2

 

Consumers Bylaws, amended and restated as of January 24, 2013 (Form 8-K filed January 29, 2013)

4.1

 

2-65973

 

(b)(1) – 4

 

Indenture dated as of September 1, 1945 between Consumers and Chemical Bank (successor to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company), as Trustee, including therein indentures supplemental thereto through the Forty-third Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 1, 1979 (Form S-16 filed November 13, 1979)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indentures Supplemental thereto:

4.1.a

 

1-5611

 

(4)(a)

 

71st dated as of 3/06/98 (Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997)

4.1.b

 

1-5611

 

(4)(a)

 

96th dated as of 8/17/04 (Form 8-K filed August 20, 2004)

4.1.c

 

1-5611

 

(4)(a)(i)

 

99th dated as of 1/20/05 (Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004)

4.1.d

 

1-5611

 

4.2

 

100th dated as of 3/24/05 (Form 8-K filed March 30, 2005)

4.1.e

 

1-5611

 

4.2

 

104th dated as of 8/11/05 (Form 8-K filed August 11, 2005)

4.1.f

 

1-5611

 

4.1

 

108th dated as of 3/14/08 (Form 8-K filed March 14, 2008)

4.1.g

 

1-5611

 

4.1

 

110th dated as of 9/12/08 (Form 8-K filed September 12, 2008)

4.1.h

 

1-5611

 

4.1

 

111th dated as of 3/6/09 (Form 8-K filed March 6, 2009)

4.1.i

 

1-5611

 

4.1

 

112th dated as of 9/1/10 (Form 8-K filed September 7, 2010)

4.1.j

 

1-5611

 

4.1

 

113th dated as of 10/15/10 (Form 8-K filed October 20, 2010)

4.1.k

 

1-5611

 

4.1

 

114th dated as of 3/31/11 (Form 8-K filed April 6, 2011)

4.1.l

 

1-5611

 

4.1

 

116th dated as of 9/1/11 (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011)

4.1.m

 

1-5611

 

4.1

 

117th dated as of 5/8/12 (Form 8-K filed May 8, 2012)

4.1.n

 

1-5611

 

4.1

 

119th dated as of 8/3/12 (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2012)



Table of Contents

         
  Previously Filed    
  With File
 As Exhibit
    
Exhibits
 
Number
 
Number
   
Description
 
4.4 33-47629 (4)(a)*  Indenture dated as of September 15, 1992 between CMS Energy and NBD Bank, as Trustee (Form S-3 filed May 1, 1992)
        Indentures Supplemental thereto:
4.4.a 333-58686 (4)(a)*  11th dated as of 3/29/01 (Form S-8 filed April 11, 2001)
4.4.b 1-9513 (4)(d)(ii)*  16th dated as of 12/16/04 (2004 Form 10-K)
4.4.c 1-9513 4.2*  17th dated as of 12/13/04 (Form 8-K filed December 13, 2004)
4.4.d 1-9513 4.2*  18th dated as of 1/19/05 (Form 8-K filed January 20, 2005)
4.4.e 1-9513 4.2*  19th dated as of 12/13/05 (Form 8-K filed December 15, 2005)
4.4.f 1-9513 4.2*  20th dated as of 7/3/07 (Form 8-K filed July 5, 2007)
4.4.g 1-9513 4.3*  21st dated as of 7/3/07 (Form 8-K filed July 5, 2007)
4.4.h 1-9513 4.1*  22nd dated as of 6/15/09 (Form 8-K filed June 15, 2009)
4.4.i 1-9513 4.3*  23rd dated as of 6/15/09 (Form 8-K filed June 15, 2009)
4.4.j 1-9513 4.1*  24th dated as of 1/14/10 (Form 8-K filed January 14, 2010)
4.4.k 1-9513 4.1*  25th dated as of 9/23/10 (Form 8-K filed September 23, 2010)
4.4.l 1-9513 4.1*  26th dated as of 11/19/10 (Form 8-K filed November 19, 2010)
4.5 1-9513 (4a)*  Indenture dated as of June 1, 1997 between CMS Energy and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (Form 8-K filed July 1, 1997)
        Indentures Supplemental thereto:
4.5.a 1-9513 (4)(b)*  1st dated as of 6/20/97 (Form 8-K filed July 1, 1997)
10.1 1-9513 (10)(d)*  $300 million Seventh Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 2, 2007 among CMS Energy Corporation, the Banks, the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Syndication Agent and Documentation Agents, all defined therein and Amendment No. 1 dated as of December 19, 2007 (3rd qtr. 2009 Form 10-Q)
10.2 1-9513 (10)(b)*  Amendment No. 2 dated as of January 23, 2009 to the $300 million Seventh Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (2008 Form 10-K)
10.3 1-9513 (10)(e)*  Assumption and Acceptance dated January 8, 2008 to the $300 million Seventh Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (3rd qtr. 2009 Form 10-Q)
10.4 1-9513 10(b)*  Fourth Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of April 2, 2007 among CMS Energy and Collateral Agent, as defined therein (2007 Form 10-K)
10.5 1-9513 10(c)*  Amended and Restated Cash Collateral Agreement dated as of April 2, 2007, made by CMS Energy to the Administrative Agent for the lenders and Collateral Agent, as defined therein (2007 Form 10-K)
10.6 1-5611 (10)(f)  $500 million Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 30, 2007 among Consumers Energy Company, the Banks, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Syndication Agent and the Documentation Agents, all as defined therein (3rd qtr. 2009 Form 10-Q)
10.7 1-9513 (10)(g)  2004 Form of Executive Severance Agreement (3rd qtr. 2009 Form 10-Q)
10.8 1-9513 (10)(h)  2004 Form of Officer Severance Agreement (3rd qtr. 2009 Form 10-Q)
10.9 1-9513 (10)(g)  2004 Form of Change-in-Control Agreement (2007 Form 10-K)
10.10 1-9513 10.1  CMS Energy’s Performance Incentive Stock Plan, effective February 3, 1988, amended and restated effective August 1, 2010 (2nd qtr. 2010 Form 10-Q)


180


Previously Filed

Exhibits

Previously Filed

With File
Number

As
Exhibit
Number

Description

4.1.o

With File

1-5611

As Exhibit

4.1

120th dated as of 12/17/12 (Form 8-K filed December 20, 2012)

Exhibits

4.1p

Number

1-5611

Number

4.1

Description

121st dated as of 5/17/13 (Form 8-K filed May 17, 2013)

4.1q

1-5611

4.1

122nd dated as of 8/9/13 (Form 8-K filed August 9, 2013)

10.11

4.1r

1-9513

1-5611

4.1

123rd dated as of 12/20/13 (Form 8-K filed December 27, 2013)

4.2

1-5611

(4)(b)

Indenture dated as of January 1, 1996 between Consumers and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995)

4.3

1-5611

(4)(c)

Indenture dated as of February 1, 1998 between Consumers and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank), as Trustee (Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997)

4.41

33-47629

(4)(a)

Indenture dated as of September 15, 1992 between CMS Energy and NBD Bank, as Trustee (Form S-3 filed May 1, 1992)

Indentures Supplemental thereto:

4.4.a1

1-9513

4.2

19th dated as of 12/13/05 (Form 8-K filed December 15, 2005)

4.4.b1

1-9513

4.2

20th dated as of 7/3/07 (Form 8-K filed July 5, 2007)

4.4.c1

1-9513

4.1

22nd dated as of 6/15/09 (Form 8-K filed June 15, 2009)

4.4.d1

1-9513

4.3

23rd dated as of 6/15/09 (Form 8-K filed June 15, 2009)

4.4.e1

1-9513

4.1

24th dated as of 1/14/10 (Form 8-K filed January 14, 2010)

4.4.f1

1-9513

4.1

25th dated as of 9/23/10 (Form 8-K filed September 23, 2010)

4.4.g1

1-9513

4.1

26th dated as of 11/19/10 (Form 8-K filed November 19, 2010)

4.4.h1

1-9513

4.1

28th dated as of 3/12/12 (Form 8-K filed March 12, 2012)

4.4.i1

1-9513

4.1

29th dated as of 3/22/13 (Form 8-K filed March 22, 2013)

4.51

1-9513

(4a)

Indenture dated as of June 1, 1997 between CMS Energy and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (Form 8-K filed July 1, 1997)

10.12

1-9513

(10)(g)

2004 Form of Executive Severance Agreement (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009)

10.22

1-9513

(10)(h)

2004 Form of Officer Severance Agreement (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009)

10.32

CMS Energy’s Performance Incentive Stock Plan, as amended and restated, effective November 15, 2013

10.42

1-9513

(10)(i)

CMS Deferred Salary Savings Plan effective December 1, 1989 and as further amended effective December 1, 2007 (2007 Form 10-K)(Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007)

10.12

10.52

1-9513

(10)(l)

Amendment to the Deferred Salary Savings Plan dated December 21, 2008 (2008 Form 10-K)(Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008)

10.13

10.62

1-9513

(10)(k)

10.6

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Employees of CMS Energy/Consumers Energy Company effective on January 1, 1982 and as further amended effective DecemberApril 1, 2007 (2007 Form 10-K)2011 (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011)

10.14

10.72

1-9513

(10)(p)

10.5

Amendment to the Defined Benefit Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan dated December 21, 2008 (2008 Form 10-K)
10.151-9513(10)(l)

Defined Contribution Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan effective April 1, 2006 and as further amended effective DecemberApril 1, 2007 (2007 Form 10-K)2011 (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011)

10.16

10.82

1-9513

(10)(r)

Amendment to the Defined Contribution Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan dated December 21, 2008 (2008 Form 10-K)
10.171-9513(10)(t)2009

Form of Officer Separation Agreement (2008 Form 10-K)as of January 2014

10.18

10.91

1-9513

(10)(v)

Amended and Restated Investor Partner Tax Indemnification Agreement dated as of June 1, 1990 among Investor Partners, CMS Midland as Indemnitor and CMS Energy as Guarantor (1990 Form 10-K)

10.191-9513(10)(y)*Environmental Agreement dated as of June 1, 1990 made by CMS Energy to The Connecticut National Bank and Others (1990 Form 10-K)
10.201-5611(10)(y)Unwind Agreement dated as of(Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 10, 1991 by and among CMS Energy, Midland Group, Ltd., Consumers, CMS Midland, Inc., MEC Development Corp. and CMS Midland Holdings Company (1991 Form 10-K)
10.211-5611(10)(aa)*Parent Guaranty dated as of June 14, 1990 from CMS Energy to MCV, each of the Owner Trustees, the Indenture Trustees, the Owner Participants and the Initial Purchasers of Senior Bonds in the MCV Sale Leaseback transaction, and MEC Development (1991 Form 10-K)
10.221-5611(10)(i)Asset Sale Agreement dated as of July 11, 2006 by and among Consumers Energy Company as Seller and Entergy Nuclear Palisades, LLC as Buyer (3rd qtr. 2009 Form 10-Q)
10.231-5611(10)(j)Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Power Purchase Agreement dated as of July 11, 2006 between Entergy Nuclear Palisades, LLC and Consumers Energy Company (3rd qtr. 2009 Form 10-Q)
10.241-9513(10)(k)*Agreement of Purchase and Sale by and between CMS Enterprises Company and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC dated as of February 3, 2007 (3rd qtr. 2009 Form 10-Q)
10.251-951310.1*Common Agreement dated March 12, 2007 between CMS Enterprises Company and Lucid Energy, LLC (Form 8-K filed March 14, 2007)
10.261-9513(10)(l)*Agreement of Purchase and Sale dated March 12, 2007 by and among CMS Enterprises Company, CMS Energy Investment, LLC, and Lucid Energy, LLC, and Michigan Pipeline and Processing, LLC (3rd qtr. 2009 Form 10-Q)31, 1990)



181

Table of Contents

 

 

Previously Filed

 

 

 

 

Exhibits

 

With File
Number

 

As
Exhibit
Number

 

 

Description

10.101

 

1-9513

 

(10)(y)

 

Environmental Agreement dated as of June 1, 1990 made by CMS Energy to The Connecticut National Bank and Others (Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1990)

10.11

 

1-5611

 

(10)(y)

 

Unwind Agreement dated as of December 10, 1991 by and among CMS Energy, Midland Group, Ltd., Consumers, CMS Midland, Inc., MEC Development Corp. and CMS Midland Holdings Company (Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1991)

10.121

 

1-9513

 

(10)(aa)

 

Parent Guaranty dated as of June 14, 1990 from CMS Energy to MCV, each of the Owner Trustees, the Indenture Trustees, the Owner Participants and the Initial Purchasers of Senior Bonds in the MCV Sale Leaseback transaction, and MEC Development (Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1991)

10.13

 

1-5611

 

(10)(j)

 

Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Power Purchase Agreement dated as of July 11, 2006 between Entergy Nuclear Palisades, LLC and Consumers (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009)

10.141,2

 

1-9513

 

(10)(a)

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement between CMS Energy and its Directors, effective as of November 1, 2007 (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007)

10.152

 

1-5611

 

(10)(b)

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement between Consumers and its Directors, effective as of November 1, 2007 (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007)

10.16

 

1-5611

 

10.1

 

$150 million Third Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of April 18, 2012 among Consumers, the Banks, Agent, Co-Syndication Agents, and Documentation Agent all as defined therein (Form 8-K filed April 24, 2012)

10.17

 

1-5611

 

(10)(t)

 

Settlement Agreement and Amended and Restated Power Purchase Agreement between Consumers and Midland Cogeneration Venture Limited Partnership (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009)

10.18

 

1-5611

 

10.4

 

1st Amendment to the Amended and Restated Power Purchase Agreement between Consumers and MCV Partnership, dated as of March 1, 2010 (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010)

10.19

 

1-5611

 

10.34

 

Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of November 23, 2010 among Consumers Receivables Funding II, LLC, Consumers, The Conduits from time to time party thereto, The Financial Institutions from time to time party thereto, The Managing Agents from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA, as Administrative Agent (Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010)

10.20

 

1-5611

 

10.1

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of November 18, 2011 (Form 8-K filed November 25, 2011)

10.21

 

1-5611

 

10.24

 

Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of December 15, 2011 (Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011)

10.22

 

1-5611

 

10.1

 

Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of November 9, 2012 (Form 8-K filed November 14, 2012)

10.23

 

1-5611

 

10.1

 

Amendment No. 4 to Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of November 30, 2012 (Form 8-K filed December 6, 2012)



Table of Contents

 

 

Previously Filed

 

 

 

 

Exhibits

 

With File
Number

 

As
Exhibit
Number

 

 

Description

10.24

 

1-5611

 

10.1

 

Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of November 20, 2013 (Form 8-K filed November 25, 2013)

10.25

 

1-5611

 

(10)(v)

 

Receivables Sale Agreement, dated as of May 22, 2003, between Consumers, as Originator and Consumers Receivables Funding II, LLC, as Buyer, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of May 20, 2004 and as amended by Amendment No. 2 dated as of August 15, 2006 (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009)

10.26

 

1-5611

 

(10)(rr)

 

Amendment No. 3 to the Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of September 3, 2009 (Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009)

10.27

 

1-5611

 

(10)(ss)

 

Amendment No. 4 to the Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of February 12, 2010 (Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009)

10.28

 

1-5611

 

(10)(b)

 

Amendment No. 5 to the Receivables Sale Agreement, dated as of March 17, 2010 (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010)

10.29

 

1-5611

 

(10)(d)

 

Amendment No. 6 to the Receivables Sale Agreement, dated as of April 20, 2010 (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010)

10.30

 

1-5611

 

10.40

 

Amendment No. 7 to the Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of November 23, 2010 (Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010)

10.31

 

1-5611

 

10.2

 

Amendment No. 8 to the Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of November 30, 2012 (Form 8-K filed December 6, 2012)

10.322

 

1-9513

 

10.1

 

CMS Incentive Compensation Plan for CMS Energy and Consumers Officers, amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2014 (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2013)

10.332

 

 

 

 

 

Form of Change in Control Agreement as of January 2014

10.342

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Employee Incentive Compensation Plan for Consumers as amended, effective as of January 1, 2014

10.351

 

1-9513

 

10.1

 

$550 million Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of December 20, 2013 among CMS Energy, the Banks, as defined therein, and Barclays, as Agent (Form 8-K filed December 27, 2013)

10.36

 

1-5611

 

10.2

 

$650 million Third Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of December 20, 2013 among Consumers, the Banks, as defined therein, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent (Form 8-K filed December 27, 2013)

10.371

 

1-9513

 

10.3

 

Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of March 31, 2011, made by CMS Energy to Barclays Bank PLC, as Administrative Agent for the Banks, as defined therein (Form 8-K filed April 6, 2011)

10.382

 

1-9513

 

10.1

 

Consumers and other CMS Energy Companies Retired Executives Survivor Benefit Plan for Management/ Executive Employees, distributed July 1, 2011 (Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011)

10.391

 

1-9513

 

10.1

 

$180,000,000 Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of December 15, 2011 among CMS Energy, the financial institutions named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Agent (Form 8-K filed December 20, 2011)



Table of Contents

         
  Previously Filed    
  With File
 As Exhibit
    
Exhibits
 
Number
 
Number
   
Description
 
10.27 1-9513 (10)(m)*  Agreement of Purchase and Sale dated March 12, 2007 by and among CMS Enterprises Company, CMS Generation Holdings Company, CMS International Ventures, LLC, and Lucid Energy, LLC, and New Argentine Generation Company, LLC (3rd qtr. 2009 Form 10-Q)
10.28 1-9513 (10)(a)*  Form of Indemnification Agreement between CMS Energy Corporation and its Directors effective as of November 1, 2007 (3rd qtr. 2007 Form 10-Q)
10.29 1-5611 (10)(b)  Form of Indemnification Agreement between Consumers Energy Company and its Directors effective as of November 1, 2007 (3rd qtr. 2007 Form 10-Q)
10.30 1-5611 10.3  Amended and Restated Letter of Credit Reimbursement Agreement between Consumers and U.S. Bank National Association dated as of September 21, 2010 (3rd qtr. 2010 Form 10-Q)
10.31 1-5611 10.1  $150,000,000 Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of August 11, 2010 among Consumers Energy Company, the Banks, Agent, Co-Syndication Agents and Documentation Agent, all as defined therein (Form 8-K filed August 16, 2010)
10.32 1-5611 (10)(t)  Settlement Agreement and Amended and Restated Power Purchase Agreement between Consumers Energy Company and Midland Cogeneration Venture Limited Partnership dated as of June 9, 2008 (3rd qtr. 2009 Form 10-Q)
10.33 1-5611 10.4  1st Amendment to the Amended and Restated Power Purchase Agreement between Consumers and MCV Partnership dated as of March 1, 2010 (3rd qtr. 2010 Form 10-Q)
10.34      Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of November 23, 2010 among Consumers Receivables Funding II, LLC, Consumers Energy Company, The Conduits from time to time party thereto, The Financial Institutions from time to time party thereto, The Managing Agents from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA, as Administrative Agent
10.35 1-5611 (10)(v)  Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of May 22, 2003 between Consumers Energy Company as Originator and Consumers Receivables Funding II, LLC as Buyer, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of May 20, 2004 and as amended by Amendment No. 2 dated as of August 15, 2006 (3rd qtr. 2009 Form 10-Q)
10.36 1-5611 (10)(rr)  Amendment No. 3 to the Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of September 3, 2009 (2009 Form 10-K)
10.37 1-5611 (10)(ss)  Amendment No. 4 to the Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of February 12, 2010 (2009 Form 10-K)
10.38 1-5611 (10)(b)  Amendment No. 5 to the Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of March 17, 2010 (1st qtr. 2010 Form 10-Q)
10.39 1-5611 (10)(d)  Amendment No. 6 to the Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of April 20, 2010 (1st qtr. 2010 Form 10-Q)
10.40      Amendment No. 7 to the Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of November 23, 2010
10.41 1-9513 (10)(e)  CMS Incentive Compensation Plan for CMS Energy and its Subsidiaries effective January 1, 2004, amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2010 (1st qtr. 2010 Form 10-Q)

 

 

Previously Filed

 

 

 

 

Exhibits

 

With File
Number

 

As
Exhibit
Number

 

 

Description

10.401

 

1-9513

 

10.1

 

Amendment No. 1 dated as of February 8, 2013 to $180,000,000 Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of December 15, 2011 (Form 8-K filed February 14, 2013)

10.41

 

1-5611

 

10.1

 

$375,000,000 Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of June 13, 2012 among Consumers, the financial institutions named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent (Form 8-K filed June 19, 2012)

10.42

 

1-5611

 

10.1

 

Bond Purchase Agreement between Consumers and each of the Purchasers named therein, dated as of July 10, 2012 (Form 8-K filed July 13, 2012)

12.1

 

 

 

 

 

Statement regarding computation of CMS Energy’s Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends

12.2

 

 

 

 

 

Statement regarding computation of Consumers’ Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends

21.1

 

 

 

 

 

Subsidiaries of CMS Energy and Consumers

23.1

 

 

 

 

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for CMS Energy

23.2

 

 

 

 

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for Consumers

24.1

 

 

 

 

 

Power of Attorney for CMS Energy

24.2

 

 

 

 

 

Power of Attorney for Consumers

31.1

 

 

 

 

 

CMS Energy’s certification of the CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2

 

 

 

 

 

CMS Energy’s certification of the CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.3

 

 

 

 

 

Consumers’ certification of the CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.4

 

 

 

 

 

Consumers’ certification of the CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1

 

 

 

 

 

CMS Energy’s certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.2

 

 

 

 

 

Consumers’ certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

99.11

 

333-177886

 

99.1

 

CMS Energy Stock Purchase Plan, as amended and restated November 10, 2011 (Form S-3ASR filed November 10, 2011)

101.INS3

 

 

 

 

 

XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH3

 

 

 

 

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

101.CAL3

 

 

 

 

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

101.DEF3

 

 

 

 

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

101.LAB3

 

 

 

 

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase

101.PRE3

 

 

 

 

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase


182


1             Obligations of CMS Energy or its subsidiaries, but not of Consumers.

         
  Previously Filed    
  With File
 As Exhibit
    
Exhibits
 
Number
 
Number
   
Description
 
10.42 1-9513 (10)(f)  Form of Change in Control Agreement as of March 2010 (1st qtr. 2010 Form 10-Q)
10.43 1-9513 (10)(g)*  Agreement between David W. Joos and CMS Energy Board of Directors (1st qtr. 2010 Form 10-Q)
10.44 1-5611 (10)(h)  Bond Purchase Agreement between Consumers and each of the Purchasers named therein dated as of April 19, 2010 (1st qtr. 2010 Form 10-Q)
10.45 1-5611 10.1  Bond Purchase Agreement between Consumers and each of the Purchasers named therein dated as of September 27, 2010 (Form 8-K filed September 30, 2010)
12.1      Statement regarding computation of CMS Energy’s Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends
12.2      Statement regarding computation of Consumers’ Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends
21.1      Subsidiaries of CMS Energy and Consumers
23.1      Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for CMS Energy
23.2      Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for Consumers
24.1      Power of Attorney for CMS Energy
24.2      Power of Attorney for Consumers
31.1      CMS Energy’s certification of the CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2      CMS Energy’s certification of the CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.3      Consumers’ certification of the CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.4      Consumers’ certification of the CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1      CMS Energy’s certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2      Consumers’ certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.1      CMS Energy Corporation Stock Purchase Plan, amended and restated as of December 1, 2010
101.INS**      XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH**      XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL**      XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF**      XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB**      XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
101.PRE**      XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
Obligations of CMS Energy or its subsidiaries, but not of Consumers.
**In accordance withRegulation S-T, the XBRL-related information in Exhibit 101 shall be deemed to be “furnished” and not “filed”. The financial information contained in the XBRL-related information is “unaudited” and “unreviewed.”
2             Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

3             The financial information contained in the XBRL-related information is “unaudited” and “unreviewed.”

Exhibits listed above that have heretofore been filed with the SEC pursuant to various acts administered by the SEC, and which were designated as noted above, are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof with the same effect as if filed herewith.


183


CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
SCHEDULE I — CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
CMS Energy — Parent Company
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Operating Expenses            
Depreciation and amortization $  $  $3 
Other operating expense  6   10   5 
             
Total Operating Expenses  6   10   8 
             
Operating Loss  (6)  (10)  (8)
Other Income            
Equity earnings of subsidiaries  464   310   433 
Interest income  1      1 
Other income (expense)  (8)  12   (4)
             
Total Other Income  457   322   430 
             
Interest Charges            
Interest on long-term debt  147   124   127 
Interest on preferred securities     8   14 
Intercompany interest expense and other  4   8   48 
             
Total Interest Charges  151   140   189 
             
Income Before Income Taxes  300   172   233 
Income Tax Benefit  (50)  (57)  (62)
             
Income From Continuing Operations  350   229   295 
Loss From Discontinued Operations  (10)      
             
Net Income  340   229   295 
Preferred Dividends  8   11   11 
Redemption Premium on Preferred Stock  8       
             
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders $324  $218  $284 
             
The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these statements.


184


CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
SCHEDULE I — CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
CMS Energy — Parent Company
             
Years Ended December 31
 2010  2009  2008 
  In Millions 
 
Cash Flows From Operating Activities            
Net income $340  $229  $295 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
            
Equity earnings of subsidiaries  (464)  (310)  (433)
Dividends received from subsidiaries  358   340   1,247 
Depreciation and amortization        3 
Increase in accounts receivable     (2)   
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable  (16)  16   (2)
Change in other assets and liabilities  117   7   (55)
             
Net cash provided by operating activities  335   280   1,055 
             
Cash Flows From Investing Activities            
Investment in subsidiaries  (250)  (100)  (22)
             
Net cash used in investing activities  (250)  (100)  (22)
             
Cash Flows From Financing Activities            
Proceeds from bank loans and notes  800   718   665 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock  8   9   9 
Retirement of bank loans and notes  (396)  (788)  (570)
Payment of common stock dividends  (154)  (114)  (82)
Payment of preferred stock dividends  (8)  (11)  (11)
Redemption of preferred stock  (239)  (4)  (1)
Debt issuance costs and financing fees  (11)  (5)   
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net  (85)  15   (1,043)
             
Net cash used in financing activities  (85)  (180)  (1,033)
             
Net Change in Cash and Temporary Cash Investments $  $  $ 
Cash and Temporary Cash Investments, Beginning of Period $  $  $ 
Cash and Temporary Cash Investments, End of Period $  $  $ 
             
The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these statements.


185


CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
SCHEDULE I — CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
CMS Energy — Parent Company
         
December 31
 2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
Assets
        
Current Assets        
Notes and accrued interest receivable $1  $1 
Accounts receivable, including intercompany and related parties  5   6 
Deferred income taxes  13   7 
         
Total current assets  19   14 
         
Plant, Property, and Equipment, at cost  16   16 
Less accumulated depreciation  (16)  (15)
         
Total plant, property, and equipment     1 
         
Non-current Assets        
Deferred income taxes  372   371 
Investment in Subsidiaries  4,942   4,591 
Other investment — SERP  19   17 
Other  26   46 
         
Total non-current assets  5,359   5,025 
         
Total Assets
 $5,378  $5,040 
         
The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these statements.


186


CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
SCHEDULE I — CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
CMS ENERGY — PARENT COMPANY
Condensed Balance Sheets
         
December 31
 2010  2009 
  In Millions 
 
Liabilities and Equity
        
Current Liabilities        
Current portion of long-term debt $437  $207 
Accounts and notes payable, including intercompany and related parties  156   258 
Accrued interest, including intercompany  27   24 
Accrued taxes  81   13 
Other  5   5 
         
Total current liabilities  706   507 
         
Non-Current Liabilities        
Long-term debt        
Senior notes  1,848   1,673 
Intercompany notes  34    
Related party     34 
Unamortized discount  (28)  (37)
Postretirement benefits  23   22 
Other non-current liabilities  2    
         
Total non-current liabilities  1,879   1,692 
         
Equity        
Common stockholders’ equity  2,793   2,602 
Nonredeemable preferred stock     239 
         
Total equity  2,793   2,841 
         
Total Liabilities and Equity
 $5,378  $5,040 
         
The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these statements.


187


CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
SCHEDULE I — CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
CMS Energy — Parent Company
1: Basis of Presentation
CMS Energy’s condensed financial statements have been prepared on a parent-only basis. In accordance withRule 12-04 ofRegulation S-X, these parent-only financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements and therefore, these parent-only financial statements and other information included should be read in conjunction with CMS Energy’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements contained within Part II, Item 8 of thisForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
2: Guaranty
CMS Energy has issued a guaranty on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary, CMS ERM, to support its payment obligations to a third party under certain commodity purchase or swap agreements. CMS Energy’s maximum potential obligation under the guaranty is $5 million, plus expenses.


188


CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

SCHEDULE II — VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES

Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008
                     
  Balance at
  Charged
  Charged to
     Balance
 
  Beginning
  to
  Other
     at End
 
Description
 of Period  Expense  Accounts  Deductions  of Period 
  (In Millions) 
 
Allowance for uncollectible accounts(a)                    
2010 $23  $53  $  $51  $25 
2009 $26  $47  $  $50  $23 
2008 $21  $47  $  $42  $26 
Deferred tax valuation allowance                    
2010 $34  $1  $(15) $1  $19 
2009 $32  $2  $  $  $34 
2008 $32  $  $7  $7  $32 
Allowance for notes receivable(a)                    
2010 $6  $4  $  $5  $5 
2009 $34  $7  $  $35  $6 
2008 $33  $4  $  $3  $34 
(a)Deductions are write-offs of uncollectible accounts, net of recoveries.
CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY

SCHEDULE II — VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES

Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008
                     
  Balance at
  Charged
  Charged to
     Balance at
 
  Beginning
  to
  Other
     End of
 
Description
 of Period  Expense  Accounts  Deductions  Period 
  (In Millions) 
 
Allowance for uncollectible accounts(a)                    
2010 $21  $53  $  $51  $23 
2009 $24  $47  $  $50  $21 
2008 $16  $47  $  $39  $24 
(a)Deductions are write-offs of uncollectible accounts, net of recoveries.


189


SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, CMS Energy Corporation has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 24th day of February 2011.
CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
By 
/s/  John G. Russell
John G. Russell
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of CMS Energy Corporation and in the capacities indicated and on the 24th day of February 2011.
Signature
Title
(i)Principal executive officer:
/s/  John G. Russell

John G. Russell
President and Chief Executive Officer
(ii)Principal financial officer:
/s/  Thomas J. Webb

Thomas J. Webb
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(iii)Controller or principal accounting officer:
/s/  Glenn P. Barba

Glenn P. Barba
Vice President, Controller
and Chief Accounting Officer
(iv)A majority of the Directors:
*

Merribel S. Ayres
Director
*

Jon E. Barfield
Director
*

Stephen E. Ewing
Director
*

Richard M. Gabrys
Director
*

David W. Joos
Director
*

Philip R. Lochner, Jr.
Director


190


Signature
Title
*

Michael T. Monahan
Director
*

John G. Russell
Director
*

Kenneth L. Way
Director
*

John B. Yasinsky
Director
*By
/s/  Thomas J. Webb

Thomas J. Webb,
Attorney-in-Fact


191


SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Consumers Energy Company has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 24th day of February 2011.
CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY
By 
/s/  John G. Russell
John G. Russell
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of Consumers Energy Company and in the capacities indicated and on the 24th day of February 2011.
Signature
Title
(i)Principal executive officer:
/s/  John G. Russell

John G. Russell
President and Chief Executive Officer
(ii)Principal financial officer:
/s/  Thomas J. Webb

Thomas J. Webb
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(iii)Controller or principal accounting officer:
/s/  Glenn P. Barba

Glenn P. Barba
Vice President, Controller
and Chief Accounting Officer
(iv)A majority of the Directors:
*

Merribel S. Ayres
Director
*

Jon E. Barfield
Director
*

Stephen E. Ewing
Director
*

Richard M. Gabrys
Director
*

David W. Joos
Director
*

Philip R. Lochner, Jr.
Director


192


Signature
Title
*

Michael T. Monahan
Director
*

John G. Russell
Director
*

Kenneth L. Way
Director
*

John B. Yasinsky
Director
*By
/s/  Thomas J. Webb

Thomas J. Webb,
Attorney-in-Fact


193


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194



EXHIBITS


195


CMS ENERGY’S AND CONSUMERS’ EXHIBIT INDEX
       
Exhibits
   
Description
 
 10.34  Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of November 23, 2010 among Consumers Receivables Funding II, LLC, Consumers Energy Company, The Conduits from time to time party thereto, The Financial Institutions from time to time party thereto, The Managing Agents from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA, as Administrative Agent
 10.40  Amendment No. 7 to the Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of November 23, 2010
 99.1  CMS Energy Corporation Stock Purchase Plan, amended and restated as of December 1, 2010
 12.1  Statement regarding computation of CMS Energy’s Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends
 12.2  Statement regarding computation of Consumers’ Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends
 21.1  Subsidiaries of CMS Energy and Consumers
 23.1  Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for CMS Energy
 23.2  Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for Consumers
 24.1  Power of Attorney for CMS Energy
 24.2  Power of Attorney for Consumers
 31.1  CMS Energy’s certification of the CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 31.2  CMS Energy’s certification of the CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 31.3  Consumers’ certification of the CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 31.4  Consumers’ certification of the CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 32.1  CMS Energy’s certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 32.2  Consumers’ certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 101.INS*  XBRL Instance Document
 101.SCH*  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
 101.CAL*  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
 101.DEF*  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
 101.LAB*  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
 101.PRE*  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
*In accordance withRegulation S-T, the XBRL-related information in Exhibit 101 shall be deemed to be “furnished” and not “filed”. The financial information contained in the XBRL-related information is “unaudited” and “unreviewed.”


196