Pursuant to the requirements concerning accounting for regulated operations, our utilities capitalize, as regulatory assets, incurred and accrued costs that are probable of recovery in future electric and natural gas rates. We base our assessment of whether recovery is probable on the existence of regulatory orders that allow for recovery of certain costs over a specific period, or allow for reconciliation or deferral of certain costs. When costs are not treated in a specific regulatory order, we use regulatory precedent to determine if recovery is probable. Our operating utilities also record, as regulatory liabilities, obligations to refund previously collected revenue or to spend revenue collected from customers on future costs. The primary items that are not included in the rate base or accruing carrying costs are the regulatory assets for qualified pension and other postretirement benefits, which reflect unrecognized actuarial gains and losses; debt premium; environmental remediation costs, which are primarily the offset of accrued liabilities for future spending; unfunded future income taxes, which are the offset to the unfunded future deferred income tax liability recorded; asset retirement obligations; hedge losses; and contracts for differences. The total net amount of these items is approximately $1,728 million.

In an order issued on February 19, 2020, the MPUC authorized an increase in CMP's distribution revenue requirement of $17 million, or approximately 7%, based on an allowed ROE of 9.25% and a 50% equity ratio. The rate increase is effective March 1, 2020. The MPUC also imposed a 1.00% ROE reduction (to 8.25%) for management efficiency associated with CMP’s customer service performance following the implementation of its new billing system in 2017. The management efficiency adjustment will remain in effect until CMP has demonstrated satisfactory customer service performance on four specified service quality measures for a period of 18 consecutive months with measurement commencing on March 1, 2020. The order provides additional funding for staffing increases, vegetation management programs and storm restoration costs, while retaining the basic tiered structure for storm cost recovery implemented in the 2014 stipulation. The MPUC order also retains the revenue decoupling mechanism implemented in 2014. The order denied CMP’s request to increase rates for higher costs associated with services provided by its affiliates and initiated a management audit to assess the quality of these services as well as the impacts of the AVANGRID management structure on the quality of CMP’s customer service.

On June 15, 2016, the New York State Public Service Commission (NYPSC) approved the Joint Proposal filed with the NYPSC by New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E) and by certain other signatory parties on February 19, 2016, in connection with a three-year rate plan for electric and gas service at NYSEG and RG&E effective May 1, 2016. Following the approval of the Joint Proposal, most of the regulatory deferrals related to NYSEG are amortized over a five-year period, except the portion of storm costs to be recovered over ten years, unfunded deferred taxes being amortized over a period of 50 years and plant-related tax items which are amortized over the life of associated plant. Annual amortization expense for NYSEG is approximately $16.5 million per rate year. RG&E items that are being amortized are plant- related tax items, which are amortized over the life of associated plant, and unfunded deferred taxes being amortized over a period of 50 years. A majority of the other items related to RG&E, which net to a regulatory liability, remain deferred and will not be amortized until future proceedings.

The approved Joint Proposal provides for annual rate increases and allowed rates of return on common equity of 9.0% for NYSEG and RG&E. The equity ratio for each company is 48%; however, the equity ratio is set at the actual up to 50% for earnings sharing calculation purposes. The customer share of any earnings above allowed levels increases as the ROE increases, with customers receiving 50%, 75% and 90% of earnings over 9.5%, 10.0% and 10.5% ROE, respectively, in the first rate year covering the period May 1, 2016 – April 30, 2017. The earnings sharing levels increase in rate year two (May 1, 2017 – April 30, 2018) to 9.65%, 10.15% and 10.65% ROE, respectively. The earnings sharing levels further increase in rate year three (May 1, 2018 – April 30, 2019) to 9.75%, 10.25% and 10.75% ROE, respectively. The rate plans also include the implementation of a rate adjustment mechanism (RAM) designed to return or collect certain defined reconciled revenues and costs, new depreciation rates, and continuation of the existing RDM for each company.

On May 20, 2019, NYSEG and RG&E filed rate cases with the New York State Public Service Commission (NYPSC) for new tariffs. The effective date of new tariffs, assuming an approximately 11-month suspension period, will be April 20, 2020. The proposed rates facilitate the companies’ transition to a cleaner energy future while allowing for important initiatives such as vegetation management, hardening/resiliency and emergency preparedness. The companies are requesting delivery revenues to be based on a 9.50% ROE and 50% equity ratio. The below table provides a summary of the initial proposed delivery rate increases, delivery revenue percentages and total revenue percentages for all four businesses:

Staff of the Department of Public Service (NYDPS Staff) and other parties filed responsive testimony on September 15, 2019. The NYDPS staff is recommending an 8.2% ROE and 48% equity. The NYDPS Staff recommended the following rate increases/decreases: NYSEG electric a rate increase of $76.7 million, NYSEG Gas a rate decrease of $15.9 million, RG&E Electric a rate increase of $0.7 million and RG&E Gas a rate decrease of $22.5 million. The NYDPS Staff is also recommending NYSEG credit the environmental reserve by $31.1 million due to the legal rulings in 2017 and 2018 that denied insurance claims against OneBeacon and Century Indemnity in an insurance lawsuit. The companies entered into settlement discussion with the NYDPS Staff and other

As a result of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, NYSEG and RG&E proposed additional time for settlement negotiations, including consideration of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The suspension date would be extended through September 13, 2020, subject to a “make-whole” provision that would keep NYSEG, RG&E and their customers in the same position they would have been absent the extension. The "make whole" provision covers the period back to April 17, 2020.

On March 23, 2020, the Public Utility Law Project (a party to the cases) submitted a letter motion requesting that the NYPSC administrative law judges assigned to preside over the rate cases require NYSEG and RG&E to pause settlement discussions and to provide new and accurate calculations based on the current and future expected economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 31, 2020, the NYSEG and RG&E, Multiple Intervenors (a party to the cases), and NYDPS staff each filed a response in opposition to the motion. On April 7, 2020, the NYPSC administrative law judges issued a Ruling Denying Public Utility Law Project’s Motion, allowing settlement negotiations to continue. On April 22, 2020, the Public Utility Law Project and AARP filed an interlocutory appeal requesting that the NYPSC review the determination of the administrative law judges.

In December 2016, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved new distribution rate schedules for The United Illuminating Company (UI) for three years, which became effective January 1, 2017 and which, among other things, provide for annual tariff increases and an ROE of 9.10% based on a 50% equity ratio, continued UI’s existing earnings sharing mechanism (ESM) pursuant to which UI and its customers share on a 50/50 basis all distribution earnings above the allowed ROE in a calendar year, continued the existing decoupling mechanism and approved the continuation of the requested storm reserve. Any dollars due to customers from the ESM continue to be first applied against any storm regulatory asset balance (if one exists at that time) or refunded to customers through a bill credit if such storm regulatory asset balance does not exist.

In December 2017, PURA approved new tariffs for the Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG) effective January 1, 2018 for a three-year rate plan with rate increases of $1.5 million, $4.7 million and $5.0 million in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. The new tariffs also include an RDM and Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP) mechanism similar to the mechanisms authorized for Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG), ESM, the amortization of certain regulatory liabilities (most notably accumulated hardship deferral balances and certain accumulated deferred income taxes) and tariff increases based on a ROE of 9.25% and approximately 52% equity level. Any dollars due to customers from the ESM will be first applied against any environmental regulatory asset balance as defined in the settlement agreement (if one exists at that time) or refunded to customers through a bill credit if such environmental regulatory asset balance does not exist.

In December 2018, PURA approved new tariffs for CNG effective January 1, 2019 for a three-year rate plan with rate increases of $9.9 million, $4.6 million and $5.2 million in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. The new tariffs continued the RDM and DIMP mechanism. ESM and tariff increases are based on an ROE of 9.30% and an equity ratio of 54.00% in 2019, 54.50% in 2020 and 55.00% in 2021.

On January 18, 2019, the DPU approved new distribution rates for BGC providing for a $1.6 million distribution base rate increase effective February 1, 2019 (with a make-whole provision back to January 1, 2019), and an additional $0.7 million base distribution increase effective November 1, 2019, if certain investments are made by BGC. The distribution rate increase is based on a 9.70% ROE and 55% equity ratio. The new tariffs provide for the implementation of an RDM and pension expense tracker and also provide that BGC will not file to change base distribution rates to become effective before November 1, 2021.

The regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities shown in the tables below result from various regulatory orders that allow for the deferral and/or reconciliation of specific costs. Regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are classified as current when recovery or refund in the coming year is allowed or required through a specific order or when the rates related to a specific regulatory asset or regulatory liability are subject to automatic annual adjustment.



	March 31,		December 31,
As of	2020		2019
(Millions)
Pension and other post-retirement benefits cost deferrals	$	113	$	125
Pension and other post-retirement benefits	1,027		1,061
Storm costs	332		272
Rate adjustment mechanism	28		79
Revenue decoupling mechanism	61		19
Transmission revenue reconciliation mechanism	5		5
Contracts for differences	95		92
Hardship programs	24		29
Plant decommissioning	3		5
Deferred purchased gas	2		25
Deferred transmission expense	19		11
Environmental remediation costs	273		277
Debt premium	92		97
Unamortized losses on reacquired debt	29		29
Unfunded future income taxes	402		399
Federal tax depreciation normalization adjustment	152		153
Asset retirement obligation	20		17
Deferred meter replacement costs	26		27
Other	164		139
Total regulatory assets	2,867		2,861
Less: current portion	299		294
Total non-current regulatory assets	$	2,568	$	2,567

“Pension and other post-retirement benefits” represent the actuarial losses on the pension and other post-retirement plans that will be reflected in customer rates when they are amortized and recognized in future pension expenses. “Pension and other post-retirement benefits cost deferrals” include the difference between actual expense for pension and other post-retirement benefits and the amount provided for in rates for certain of our regulated utilities. The recovery of these amounts will be determined in future proceedings.

“Storm costs” for CMP, NYSEG, RG&E and UI are allowed in rates based on an estimate of the routine costs of service restoration. The companies are also allowed to defer service restoration costs resulting from major storms when they meet certain criteria for severity and duration. As of March 31, 2020, deferred storm costs include $74 million and $30 million at NYSEG being recovered over ten-year and five-year periods, respectively, beginning in 2016, and $136 million and $60 million at NYSEG and RG&E, respectively, not included in the Joint Proposal. The amounts not included in the Joint Proposal will be recovered through RAM or determined as part of the current rate proceedings.

“Rate adjustment mechanism” represents an interim rate change to return or collect certain defined reconciled revenues and costs for NYSEG and RG&E following the approval of the Joint Proposal by the NYPSC. The RAM, when triggered, is implemented in rates on July 1 of each year for return or collection over a twelve month period.

“Contracts for Differences” (CfDs) represent the deferral of unrealized gains and losses on contracts for differences derivative contracts. The balance fluctuates based upon quarterly market analysis performed on the related derivatives. The amounts, which do not earn a return, are fully offset by a corresponding derivative asset/liability.

“Environmental remediation costs” includes spending that has occurred and is eligible for future recovery in customer rates. Environmental costs are currently recovered through a reserve mechanism whereby projected spending is included in rates with any variance recorded as a regulatory asset or a regulatory liability. The amortization period will be established in future proceedings and will depend upon the timing of spending for the remediation costs. It also includes the anticipated future rate recovery of costs that are recorded as environmental liabilities since these will be recovered when incurred. Because no funds have yet been expended for the regulatory asset related to future spending, it does not accrue carrying costs and is not included within rate base.

“Debt premium” represents the regulatory asset recorded to offset the fair value adjustment to the regulatory component of the non-current debt of UIL at the acquisition date. This amount is being amortized to interest expense over the remaining term of the related outstanding debt instruments.

“Unfunded future income taxes” represent unrecovered federal and state income taxes primarily resulting from regulatory flow through accounting treatment and are the offset to the unfunded future deferred income tax liability recorded. The income tax benefits or charges for certain plant related timing differences, such as removal costs, are immediately flowed through to, or collected from, customers. This amount is being amortized as the amounts related to temporary differences that give rise to the deferrals are recovered in rates. These amounts are being collected over a period of fifty years, and the NYPSC staff has initiated an audit, as required, of the unfunded future income taxes and other tax assets to verify the balances.

“Federal tax depreciation normalization adjustment” represents the revenue requirement impact of the difference in the deferred income tax expense required to be recorded under the IRS normalization rules and the amount of deferred income tax expense that was included in cost of service for rate years covering 2011 forward. The recovery period in New York is from 27 to 39 years and for CMP 32.5 years beginning in 2020.

“Asset retirement obligations” (ARO) represents the differences in timing of the recognition of costs associated with our AROs and the collection of such amounts through rates. This amount is being amortized at the related depreciation and accretion amounts of the underlying liability.



	March 31,		December 31,
As of	2020		2019
(Millions)
Energy efficiency portfolio standard	$	71	$	72
Gas supply charge and deferred natural gas cost	18		11
Pension and other post-retirement benefits cost deferrals	75		80
Carrying costs on deferred income tax bonus depreciation	43		49
Carrying costs on deferred income tax - Mixed Services 263(a)	14		15
2017 Tax Act	1,559		1,548
Revenue decoupling mechanism	11		17
Accrued removal obligations	1,179		1,173
Asset sale gain account	10		10
Economic development	27		27
Positive benefit adjustment	36		37
Theoretical reserve flow thru impact	12		14
Deferred property tax	35		17
Net plant reconciliation	23		23
Debt rate reconciliation	72		67
Rate refund – FERC ROE proceeding	32		32
Transmission congestion contracts	24		23
Merger-related rate credits	15		16
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	13		13
Asset retirement obligation	17		14
Earning sharing provisions	28		28
Middletown/Norwalk local transmission network service collections	18		18
Low income programs	31		33
Non-firm margin sharing credits	12		16
New York 2018 winter storm settlement	11		11
Other	175		159
Total regulatory liabilities	3,561		3,523
Less: current portion	260		242
Total non-current regulatory liabilities	$	3,301	$	3,281

“Energy efficiency portfolio standard” represents the difference between revenue billed to customers through an energy efficiency charge and the costs of our energy efficiency programs as approved by the state authorities. This may be refunded to customers within the next year.

"Gas supply charge and deferred natural gas cost" reflects the actual costs of purchasing, transporting and storing of natural gas. Gas supply reconciliation is determined by comparing actual gas supply expenses to the monthly gas cost recoveries in rates. Prior rate year balances are collected/ returned to customers beginning the next calendar year.

“Pension and other postretirement benefits” represent the actuarial gains on other postretirement plans that will be reflected in customer rates when they are amortized and recognized in future expenses. Because no funds have yet been received for this, a regulatory liability is not reflected within the rate base. They also represent the difference between actual expense for pension and other postretirement benefits and the amount provided for in rates. Recovery of these amounts will be determined in future proceedings.

“Carrying costs on deferred income tax bonus depreciation” represent the carrying costs benefit of increased accumulated deferred income taxes created by the change in tax law allowing bonus depreciation. A portion of this balance is amortized through current rates, the remaining portion will be refunded in future periods through future rate cases. The amortization period in current rates is five years and began in 2016.

"Carrying costs on deferred income tax - Mixed Services 263(a)" represent the carrying costs benefit of increased accumulated deferred income taxes created by Section 263 (a) IRC. A portion of this balance is amortized through current rates, the remaining portion will be refunded in future periods through future rate cases. The amortization period in current rates is five years and began in 2016.

“2017 Tax Act” represents the impact from remeasurement of deferred income tax balances as a result of the Tax Act enacted by the U.S. federal government on December 22, 2017. Reductions in accumulated deferred income tax balances due to the reduction in the corporate income tax rates from 35% to 21% under the provisions of the Tax Act will result in amounts previously and currently collected from utility customers for these deferred taxes to be refundable to such customers, generally through reductions in future rates. The NYPSC, MPUC, PURA and DPU have instituted separate proceedings in New York, Maine, Connecticut and Massachusetts, respectively, to review and address the implications associated with the Tax Act on the utilities providing service in such states.

“Economic development” represents the economic development program which enables NYSEG and RG&E to foster economic development through attraction, expansion and retention of businesses within its service territory. If the level of actual expenditures for economic development allocated to NYSEG and RG&E varies in any rate year from the level provided for in rates, the difference is refunded to customers. A portion of this balance is amortized through current rates, the remaining portion will be refunded in future periods through future rate cases. The amortization period in current rates is five years and began in 2016.

“Positive benefit adjustment” resulted from Iberdrola’s 2008 acquisition of AVANGRID (formerly Energy East Corporation). This is being used to moderate increases in rates. A portion of this balance is amortized through current rates, the remaining portion will be refunded in future periods through future rate cases. The amortization period in current rates is five years and began in 2016.

“Theoretical reserve flow thru impact” represents the differences from the rate allowance for applicable federal and state flow through impacts related to the excess depreciation reserve amortization. It also represents the carrying cost on the differences. A portion of this balance is amortized through current rates, the remaining portion will be refunded in future periods through future rate cases. The amortization period in current rates is five years and began in 2016.

"Rate refund - FERC ROE proceeding" represents the reserve associated with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proceeding around the base return on equity (ROE) reflected in ISO New England, Inc.’s (ISO-NE) open access transmission tariff (OATT). See Note 8 for more details.

"Asset retirement obligation" represents the differences in timing of the recognition of costs associated with our AROs and the collection of such amounts through rates. This amount is being amortized at the related depreciation and accretion amounts of the underlying liability.