In November 2019, the FERC issued an order adopting a new ROE methodology and settling the MISO base ROE at 9.88% (10.38% with the RTO adder), effective Sept. 28, 2016 and for the Nov. 12, 2013 to Feb. 11, 2015 refund period. The FERC also dismissed the second complaint. In December 2019, MISO TOs filed a request for rehearing. Customers also filed requests for rehearing claiming, among other points, that the FERC erred by dismissing the second complaint without refunds.
FERC accepted the requests for rehearing in January 2020, however, it is uncertain when the FERC will act on the requests or any other pending matters related to the 2019 NOIs. NSP-Minnesota has recognized a liability for its best estimate of final refunds to customers.
In March 2020, the FERC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding changes to its policies for transmission incentives, including a proposal to increase the RTO participation adder from 50 to 100 basis points and to make the adder available regardless of whether a utility’s ongoing participation in the RTO is voluntary or required by legislation or a regulator. It is uncertain if or when this change will be adopted and implemented as a final order.
Environmental
MGP, Landfill and Disposal Sites
Ashland MGP Site — NSP-Wisconsin was named a responsible party for contamination at the Ashland/Northern States Power Lakefront Superfund Site (the Site) in Ashland, Wisconsin. Remediation was completed in 2019 and restoration activities are anticipated to be completed in 2020. Groundwater treatment activities will continue for many years.
The current cost estimate for remediation and restoration of the entire site is approximately $198.8 million. At March 31, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2019, NSP-Wisconsin had a total liability of $22.4 million and $23.2 million, respectively, for the entire site.
NSP-Wisconsin has deferred the unrecovered portion of the estimated Site remediation and restoration costs as a regulatory asset. The PSCW has authorized NSP-Wisconsin rate recovery for all remediation and restoration costs incurred at the Site. In its final December 2019 order approving 2020 and 2021 natural gas base rates, the PSCW authorized continued amortization of costs and application of a 3% carrying charge to the regulatory asset.
In addition to the Ashland Site, NSP-Wisconsin is currently investigating, remediating or performing post-closure actions at 2 other MGP, landfill or other disposal sites across its service territories.
NSP-Wisconsin has recognized its best estimate of costs/liabilities that will result from final resolution of these issues, however, the outcome and timing is unknown. In addition, there may be insurance recovery and/or recovery from other potentially responsible parties, offsetting a portion of costs incurred.
NSP-Wisconsin evaluates performance based on profit or loss generated from the product or service provided. These segments are managed separately because the revenue streams are dependent upon regulated rate recovery, which is separately determined for each segment.
NSP-Wisconsin has the following reportable segments:
| |
• | Regulated Electric — The regulated electric utility segment generates electricity, which is transmitted and distributed in Wisconsin and Michigan; and |
| |
• | Regulated Natural Gas — The regulated natural gas utility segment purchases, transports, stores and distributes natural gas in portions of Wisconsin and Michigan. |
NSP-Wisconsin presents Other, which includes operating segments, with revenues below the necessary quantitative thresholds. Those operating segments primarily include investments in rental housing projects that qualify for low-income housing tax credits.
Asset and capital expenditure information is not provided for NSP-Wisconsin's reportable segments. As an integrated electric and natural gas utility, NSP-Wisconsin operates significant assets that are not dedicated to a specific business segment. Reporting assets and capital expenditures by business segment would require arbitrary and potentially misleading allocations, which may not necessarily reflect the assets required for the operation of the business segments on a stand-alone basis.
Certain costs, such as common depreciation, common O&M expenses and interest expense are allocated based on cost causation allocators across each segment. In addition, a general allocator is used for certain general and administrative expenses, including office supplies, rent, property insurance and general advertising.
NSP-Wisconsin's segment information for the three months ended March 31:
|
| | | | | | | | |
(Millions of Dollars) | | 2020 | | 2019 |
Regulated Electric | | | | |
Operating revenues (a) | | $ | 211.8 |
| | $ | 215.0 |
|
Intersegment revenues | | 0.1 |
| | 0.1 |
|
Total operating revenue | | 211.9 |
| | 215.1 |
|
Net income | | 24.7 |
| | 13.2 |
|
Regulated Natural Gas | | | | |
Operating revenues | | $ | 45.2 |
| | $ | 61.1 |
|
Intersegment revenues | | 0.1 |
| | 0.2 |
|
Total operating revenue | | 45.3 |
| | 61.3 |
|
Net income | | 8.9 |
| | 10.5 |
|
All Other | | | | |
Operating revenues | | $ | — |
| | $ | 0.1 |
|
Net income | | — |
| | 0.3 |
|
Consolidated Total | | | | |
Operating revenues (a) | | $ | 257.2 |
| | $ | 276.5 |
|
Reconciling eliminations | | (0.2 | ) | | (0.3 | ) |
Total operating revenue | | $ | 257.0 |
| | $ | 276.2 |
|
Net income | | 33.6 |
| | 24.0 |
|
| |
(a) | Operating revenues include $40.9 million and $44.1 million of affiliate electric revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. |
|
| | | | |
ITEM 2 — MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
Discussion of financial condition and liquidity for NSP-Wisconsin is omitted per conditions set forth in general instructions H(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q for wholly owned subsidiaries. It is replaced with management’s narrative analysis of the results of operations set forth in general instructions H(2)(a) of Form 10-Q for wholly owned subsidiaries (reduced disclosure format).
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The following discussion includes financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as certain non-GAAP financial measures such as electric margin, natural gas margin, and ongoing earnings. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a measure of a company’s financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes (or includes) amounts that are adjusted from measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.