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Rate Matters
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Regulated Operations [Abstract]  
Rate Matters Rate Matters - MGE Energy and MGE.
a.
Rate Proceedings.

 

 

Rate increase

 

Return on Common Equity

 

Common Equity Component of Regulatory Capital Structure

 

Effective Date

Approved 2022/2023 settlement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas

 

0.96%

 

9.8%

 

55.6%

 

1/1/2023

Approved limited 2023 reopener(a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric

 

9.01%

 

9.8%

 

55.6%

 

1/1/2023

Approved 2024/2025 rate proceeding(b)(c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric

 

1.54%

 

9.7%

 

56.1%

 

1/1/2024

Gas

 

2.44%

 

9.7%

 

56.1%

 

1/1/2024

Electric(d)

 

4.17%

 

9.7%

 

56.1%

 

1/1/2025

Gas

 

1.32%

 

9.7%

 

56.1%

 

1/1/2025

 

(a)
The electric rate increase was driven by generation assets including our investments in Badger Hollow II (solar), Paris (solar and battery), Red Barn Wind Farm (wind), and West Riverside (natural gas). In addition, the reopener request included an increase in fuel costs and the recovery of deferred 2021 fuel costs. The reopener also revised the depreciation schedule for Columbia Unit 2 and shared equipment to 2029 to align with the depreciation schedule for Unit 1.
(b)
The electric increase was driven by an increase in rate base including our investments made in West Riverside, local solar, continued investment in grid modernization, as well as higher costs for transmission, pension and OPEB, and uncollectible costs (including costs previously deferred from prior years). This increase in electric costs is offset by a decrease in fuel costs and benefit from lower tax expense (including impacts from the Inflation Reduction Act). MGE filed an updated 2025 fuel forecast with the PSCW in 2024, which will impact rates in 2025, based on any variance between the forecast submitted as part of the rates and updated forecast. In addition, the PSCW authorized MGE to defer a recovery of and a return on costs associated for any change in the in service date for Paris and force majeure costs for Badger Hollow II and Paris that were not reflected in this rate filing. The PSCW also approved deferral of any differential in PTC tax credits reflected in rates and actual credits produced. These deferrals will be reflected in MGE's next rate case filing. The gas rate increases were also driven by our investment made in grid modernization and higher pension and OPEB and uncollectible costs (including costs previously deferred from prior years). This increase in gas costs is offset by a tax benefit related to excess deferred taxes. Included in the gas residential rate is a reduction in the customer fixed charge.
(c)
The 2024/2025 rate order includes an earnings sharing mechanism, under which, if MGE earns above the authorized Return on Equity (ROE) in the rate order: (i) the utility will retain 100.0% of earnings for the first 15 basis points above the authorized ROE; (ii) 50.0% of the next 60 basis points will be required to be deferred and returned to customers; and (iii) 100.0% of any remaining excess earnings will be required to be refunded to customers. The earnings calculation excludes fuel rules adjustments. See "Fuel Rules" below.
(d)
MGE filed a 2025 Fuel Cost Plan with the PSCW in June 2024. The plan would lower the 2025 increase in electric rates to 2.47% to reflect lower expected fuel costs. MGE expects a final decision from the PSCW on the Fuel Cost Plan by the end of 2024.

 

Sierra Club and Vote Solar have filed petitions with the Dane County Circuit Court seeking review of the PSCW decisions approving MGE's electric and gas 2022/2023 rate settlement, 2023 electric limited reopener, and 2024/2025 rate order. The PSCW is named as the responding party; MGE is not named as a party. The Petitions challenge the amount of customer fixed charge that does not vary with usage. The requested relief is unclear. The revenue requirement approved by the PSCW in the settlement, limited reopener, and 2024/2025 rate order have not been challenged. The PSCW is expected to vigorously defend its approval of the rate case settlement, limited reopener, and the 2024/2025 rate order. MGE has intervened in the proceedings to further defend the PSCW's decision. The Dane County Circuit Court affirmed

the PSCW's decision to approve the 2022/2023 rate settlement, and Sierra Club and Vote Solar appealed that decision to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. On August 6, 2024, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals denied Sierra Club and Vote Solar's appeal and affirmed the PSCW's approval of the 2022/2023 rate settlement. Sierra Club and Vote Solar have petitioned the Wisconsin Supreme Court for review of the Court of Appeals decision. The PSCW and MGE both filed responses asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to deny the petition. All parties are awaiting the Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision on the petition. The petitions challenging the 2023 electric limited reopener and the 2024/2025 rate order remain stayed pending further proceedings.

b.
Fuel Rules.

 

Fuel rules require Wisconsin utilities to defer electric fuel-related costs that fall outside a symmetrical cost tolerance band around the amount approved for a utility in its annual fuel proceedings. Any over- or under-recovery of the actual costs is determined in the following year and is then reflected in future billings to electric retail customers. The fuel rules bandwidth is set at plus or minus 2% in 2024 and 2023. The electric fuel-related costs are subject to an excess revenues test. Excess revenues are defined as revenues in the year in question that provide MGE with a greater return on common equity than authorized by the PSCW in MGE's latest rate order. The recovery of under-collected electric fuel-related costs would be reduced by the amount that exceeds the excess revenue test. These costs are subject to the PSCW's annual review of fuel costs completed in the year following the deferral. The following table summarizes deferred electric fuel-related costs:

 

 

 

Fuel Costs (Savings) (in millions)

 

Refund or Recovery Period

2021

 

$3.3(a)

 

January 2023 through December 2023

2022

 

$8.8(a)

 

October 2023 through September 2024

2023

 

($7.2)(a)

 

October 2024 through December 2024

 

(a)
There was no change to the refund or recovery in the fuel rules proceedings from the amount MGE deferred.