2.2.0.25falsefalse0216 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingenciestruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Jan-01-2010_Dec-31-2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001317630duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0itc_CommitmentsAndContingenciesAbstractitcfalsenadurationCommitments and Contingencies.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringCommitments and Contingencies.falsefalseCommitments and Contingencies [Abstract]3false0us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00  <div style="margin-left: 0%"> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent; text-align: left"> <tr> <td width="5%"></td> <td width="95%"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <b><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica">16.  </font></b> </td> <td> <b><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica">COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES</font></b> </td> </tr> </table> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica">Environmental Matters</font></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries’ operations are subject to federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations, which impose limitations on the discharge of pollutants into the environment, establish standards for the management, treatment, storage, transportation and disposal of hazardous materials and of solid and hazardous wastes, and impose obligations to investigate and remediate contamination in certain circumstances. Liabilities to investigate or remediate contamination, as well as other liabilities concerning hazardous materials or contamination, such as claims for personal injury or property damage, may arise at many locations, including formerly owned or operated properties and sites where wastes have been treated or disposed of, as well as at properties currently owned or operated by our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries. Such liabilities may arise even where the contamination does not result from noncompliance with applicable environmental laws. Under a number of environmental laws, such liabilities may also be joint and several, meaning that a party can be held responsible for more than its share of the liability involved, or even the entire share. Environmental requirements generally have become more stringent and compliance with those requirements more expensive. We are not aware of any specific developments that would increase our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries’ costs for such compliance in a manner that would be expected to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries’ assets and operations also involve the use of materials classified as hazardous, toxic or otherwise dangerous. Many of the properties our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries own or operate have been used for many years, and include older facilities and equipment that may be more likely than newer ones to contain or be made from such materials. Some of these properties include aboveground or underground storage tanks and associated piping. Some of them also include large electrical equipment filled with mineral oil, which may contain or previously have contained PCBs. Our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries’ facilities and equipment are often situated close to or on property owned by others so that, if they are the source of contamination, other’s property may be affected. For example, aboveground and underground transmission lines sometimes traverse properties that our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries do not own, and, at some of our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries’ transmission stations, transmission assets (owned or operated by our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries) and distribution assets (owned or operated by our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries’ transmission customer) are commingled. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Some properties in which our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries have an ownership interest or at which they operate are, and others are suspected of being, affected by environmental contamination. Our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries are not aware of any pending or threatened claims against them with respect to environmental contamination, or of any investigation or remediation of contamination at any properties, that entail costs likely to materially affect them. Some facilities and properties are located near environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Claims have been made or threatened against electric utilities for bodily injury, disease or other damages allegedly related to exposure to electromagnetic fields associated with electric transmission and distribution lines. While our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries do not believe that a causal link between electromagnetic field exposure and injury has been generally established and accepted in the scientific community, if such a relationship is established or accepted, the liabilities and costs imposed on our business could be significant. We are not aware of any pending or threatened claims against our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries for bodily injury, disease or other damages allegedly related to exposure to electromagnetic fields and electric transmission and distribution lines that entail costs likely to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica">Litigation</font></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> We are involved in certain legal proceedings before various courts, governmental agencies, and mediation panels concerning matters arising in the ordinary course of business. These proceedings include certain contract disputes, regulatory matters and pending judicial matters. We cannot predict the final disposition of such proceedings. We regularly review legal matters and record provisions for claims that are considered probable of loss. The resolution of pending proceedings is not expected to have a material effect on our operations or consolidated financial statements in the period in which they are resolved. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica">Michigan Sales and Use Tax Audit</font></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> The Michigan Department of Treasury conducted a sales and use tax audit of ITCTransmission for the audit period April 1, 2005 through June 30, 2008 and has denied ITCTransmission’s use of the industrial processing exemption from use tax it has taken beginning January 1, 2007. ITCTransmission has certain administrative and judicial appeal rights. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> ITCTransmission believes that its utilization of the industrial processing exemption is appropriate and intends to defend itself against the denial of such exemption. However, it is reasonably possible that the assessment of additional use tax could be sustained after all administrative appeals and litigation have been exhausted. </div>  </div>   <div style="margin-left: 0%">  <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b> <font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica"> </font> </b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0pt; font-size: 1pt"> </div> <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b> <font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica"> </font> </b> </div>  <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> The amount of use tax liability associated with the exemptions taken by ITCTransmission through December 31, 2010 is estimated to be approximately $7.4 million, which includes approximately $3.5 million assessed for the audit period April 1, 2005 through June 30, 2008, including interest. In the event it becomes appropriate to record additional use tax liability relating to this matter, ITCTransmission would record the additional use tax primarily as an increase to the cost of property, plant and equipment, as the majority of purchases for which the exemption was taken relate to equipment purchases associated with capital projects. METC has also taken the industrial processing exemption, estimated to be approximately $9.9 million for periods still subject to audit since 2006. These higher use tax expenses would be passed on to ITCTransmission’s and METC’s customers as the amounts are included as components of net revenue requirements and resulting rates. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica">FERC audit of ITC Midwest</font></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> The staff of the FERC has conducted an audit of ITC Midwest’s compliance with certain of the FERC’s regulations and the conditions established in the 2007 FERC order approving the acquisition by ITC Midwest of the transmission assets of Interstate Power and Light Company. On February 8, 2011, FERC staff provided a draft audit report to us for review and comment. The draft audit report contains certain proposed findings and recommendations which, if finalized and approved by FERC, have the potential to result in adjustments to ITC Midwest’s revenue requirement calculations for 2008 through 2010 which could result in refunds and have a negative effect on our results of operations. We intend to both vigorously defend our position and seek an <font style="white-space: nowrap">agreed-upon</font> resolution of the audit findings. We believe it is reasonably possible for an unfavorable outcome, but do not believe the range of potential loss would be material to the consolidated financial statements. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica">Purchase Obligations and Leases</font></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> At December 31, 2010, we had purchase obligations of $54.7 million representing commitments for materials, services and equipment that had not been received as of December 31, 2010, primarily for construction and maintenance projects for which we have an executed contract. The majority of the items relate to materials and equipment that have long production lead times that are expected to be paid for in 2011. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> We have operating leases for office space, equipment and storage facilities. We recognize expenses relating to our operating lease obligations on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. We recognized rent expense of $0.9 million, $0.4 million and $0.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, recorded in general and administrative and operation and maintenance expenses. These amounts and the amounts in the table below do not include any expense or payments to be made under the METC Easement Agreement described below under “Other Commitments — METC — Amended and Restated Easement Agreement with Consumers Energy.” </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Future minimum lease payments under the leases at December 31, 2010 were: </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <table border="0" width="100%" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent; text-align: left">  <tr style="font-size: 1pt" valign="bottom"> <td width="91%"> </td> <td width="2%"> </td> <td width="1%" align="right"> </td> <td width="5%" align="right"> </td> <td width="1%" align="left"> </td> </tr>   <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom" align="center"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <b>(In thousands)</b> </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr style="line-height: 3pt; font-size: 1pt"> <td>  </td> </tr>  <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> 2011 </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 429 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> 2012 </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 424 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> 2013 </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 405 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> 2014 </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 331 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> 2015 and thereafter </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 9 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="font-size: 1pt"> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 20pt"> Total minimum lease payments </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 1,598 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="font-size: 1pt"> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> </tr> </table> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> </div>  </div>   <div style="margin-left: 0%">  <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b> <font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica"> </font> </b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0pt; font-size: 1pt"> </div> <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b> <font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica"> </font> </b> </div>  <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica">Other Commitments</font></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 2%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica">ITCTransmission</font></i></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> In August 2003, ITCTransmission entered into an Operation and Maintenance Agreement with its primary maintenance contractor and a Supply Chain Management Agreement with its primary purchasing and inventory management contractor. ITCTransmission is not obligated to take any specified amount of services under the terms of the Operation and Maintenance Agreement or the Supply Chain Management Agreement, which have five-year terms ending August 29, 2013 and automatically renew for additional five year terms unless terminated by either party. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 2%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica">METC</font></i></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <i>Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement for Ancillary Services with Consumers Energy.</i>  Under the Purchase and Sale Agreement for Ancillary Services with Consumers Energy (the “Ancillary Services Agreement”), Consumers Energy provides reactive power, balancing energy, load following and spinning and supplemental reserves that are needed by METC and MISO. These ancillary services are a necessary part of the provision of transmission service. This agreement is necessary because METC does not own any generating facilities and therefore must procure ancillary services from third party suppliers including Consumers Energy. The Ancillary Services Agreement establishes the terms and conditions under which METC obtains ancillary services from Consumers Energy. Consumers Energy will offer all ancillary services as required by FERC Order No. 888 at FERC-approved rates. METC is not precluded from procuring these services from third party suppliers and is free to purchase ancillary services from unaffiliated generators located within its control area or in neighboring jurisdictions on a non-preferential, competitive basis. This one- year agreement became effective on May 1, 2002 and is automatically renewed each year for successive one-year periods, with the most recent renewal effective May 1, 2010. The Ancillary Services Agreement can be terminated by either party with six months prior written notice. Services performed by Consumers Energy under the Ancillary Services Agreement are charged to operation and maintenance expense. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <i>Amended and Restated Easement Agreement with Consumers Energy.</i>  The Easement Agreement with Consumers Energy (the “Easement Agreement”) provides METC with an easement for transmission purposes and <font style="white-space: nowrap">rights-of-way,</font> leasehold interests, fee interests and licenses associated with the land over which the transmission lines cross. Consumers Energy has reserved for itself the rights to and the value of activities associated with other uses of the infrastructure (such as for fiber optics, telecommunications and gas pipelines). The cost for use of the <font style="white-space: nowrap">rights-of-way</font> is $10.0 million per year. The term of the Easement Agreement runs through December 31, 2050 and is subject to 10 automatic <font style="white-space: nowrap">50-year</font> renewals thereafter. Payments to Consumers Energy under the Easement Agreement are charged to operation and maintenance expense. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 2%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica">ITC Midwest</font></i></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <i>Operations Services Agreement For 34.5 kV Transmission Facilities.</i>  ITC Midwest and IP&L have entered into the Operations Services Agreement For 34.5 kV Transmission Facilities (the “OSA”), under which IP&L performs certain operations of ITC Midwest’s 34.5 kV transmission system. The OSA will remain in full force and effect from year to year thereafter until terminated by either party upon not less than one year prior written notice to the other party. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <i>Project Commitment.</i>  In the Minnesota regulatory proceeding to approve ITC Midwest’s asset acquisition, ITC Midwest agreed to build a certain project in Iowa, the 345 kV Salem-Hazelton line, and made a commitment to use commercially reasonable best efforts to complete the project prior to December 31, 2011. In the event ITC Midwest is found to have failed to meet this commitment, the allowed 12.38% rate of return on the actual equity portion of its capital structure would be reduced to 10.39% until such time as ITC Midwest completes the project, and ITC Midwest would refund with interest any amounts collected since the close date of the transaction that exceeded what would have been collected if the 10.39% return on equity had been used. To complete this project, the IUB must provide certain regulatory approvals but, due to the current case schedule, we do not expect the approvals to be received in time to allow the project to be completed by December 31, 2011. ITC Midwest believes it has made commercially reasonable best efforts toward completion of the project by the stipulated deadlines and will continue to do so and, therefore, we believe the likelihood of any adverse effect from this matter is remote. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 2%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica">ITC Great Plains</font></i></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <i>Amended and Restated Maintenance Agreement.</i>  Mid-Kansas Electric Company LLC (“Mid-Kansas”) and ITC Great Plains have entered into a Maintenance Agreement (the “Mid-Kansas Agreement”), dated as of August 24, 2010, pursuant to which Mid-Kansas has agreed to perform various field operations and maintenance services related to the ITC Great Plains Elm Creek and Flat Ridge Substations, which ITC Great Plains has purchased from Mid-Kansas. The Mid-Kansas Agreement has an initial term of ten years and automatic ten-year renewal terms unless terminated (1) due to a breach by the non-terminating party following notice and failure to cure, (2) by mutual consent of the parties, or (3) by ITC Great Plains under certain limited circumstances. Services must continue to be provided for at least six months subsequent to the termination date in any case. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><font style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica">Concentration of Credit Risk</font></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Our credit risk is primarily with Detroit Edison, Consumers Energy and IP&L, which were responsible for approximately 33.1%, 23.6% and 23.9%, respectively, or $230.9 million, $164.6 million and $166.9 million, respectively, of our consolidated operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2010. These percentages and amounts of total operating revenues of Detroit Edison, Consumers Energy and IP&L include an estimate for the 2010 revenue accruals and deferrals that were included in our 2010 operating revenues, but will not be billed or refunded to our customers until 2012. We have assumed that the revenues associated with the revenue accruals and deferrals would be billed or refunded to these customers in 2012 in the same proportion of the respective percentages of network and regional cost sharing revenues billed to them in 2010. Any financial difficulties experienced by Detroit Edison, Consumers Energy or IP&L could negatively impact our business. MISO, as our MISO Regulated Operating Subsidiaries’ billing agent, bills Detroit Edison, Consumers Energy, IP&L and other customers on a monthly basis and collects fees for the use of our transmission systems. SPP bills customers of ITC Great Plains on a monthly basis and collects fees for the use of ITC Great Plains’ assets. MISO and the SPP have implemented strict credit policies for its members’ customers, which include customers using our transmission systems. In general, if these customers do not maintain their investment grade credit rating or have a history of late payments, MISO and the SPP may require them to provide MISO and the SPP with a letter of credit or cash deposit equal to the highest monthly invoiced amount over the previous twelve months. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged NotefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringIncludes disclosure of commitments and contingencies. 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