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Regulatory Matters
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Regulated Operations [Abstract]  
Regulatory Matters
REGULATORY MATTERS
 
In March 2016, the IURC issued an order authorizing IPL to increase its basic rates and charges by $30.8 million annually. The order also authorized IPL to collect, over a ten year period, $117.7 million of previously deferred regulatory assets related to IPL’s participation in the regional transmission organization known as MISO. Such deferred costs will be amortized to expense over ten years. Accordingly, $11.8 million of IPL’s long-term MISO regulatory asset as of December 31, 2015 has been reclassified to current regulatory assets as of June 30, 2016 on the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The rate order also authorized an increase in IPL’s depreciation rates of $24.3 million annually compared to the twelve months ended June 30, 2014, which is the period upon which the rate increase was calculated. IPL also received approval to implement three new rate riders for current recovery from customers of ongoing MISO costs, capacity costs and sharing at 50% of wholesale sales margins with customers. The order approved recovery of IPL’s pension expenses and a return on IPL’s discretionary pension fundings. While the IURC noted in the order that they found IPL’s Service Company cost allocations to be reasonable, IPL was directed to request the FERC to review its Service Company allocations. Such review is currently underway. The IURC also closed their investigation into IPL’s underground network.

Some of the intervening parties in the IURC rate case filed petitions for reconsideration of the IURC’s March 2016 order with respect to certain issues. These petitions were subsequently denied by the IURC. In addition, certain intervening parties have filed notices of appeal of the order.

The amounts of regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are as follows:
 
 
June 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
Recovery Period
 
 
(In Thousands)
 
 
Regulatory Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Undercollections of rate riders
 
$
8,632

 
$

 
Approximately 1 year(1)
Amounts being recovered through base rates
 
13,953

 
8,002

 
Approximately 1 year(1)
Total current regulatory assets
 
$
22,585

 
$
8,002

 
 
Long-term:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrecognized pension and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
postretirement benefit plan costs
 
$
217,698

 
$
226,889

 
Various(2)
Income taxes recoverable through rates
 
42,004

 
35,765

 
Various
Deferred MISO costs
 
120,243

 
128,610

 
Through 2026(3)
Unamortized Petersburg Unit 4 carrying
 
 
 
 
 
 
charges and certain other costs
 
10,720

 
11,248

 
Through 2026(1) (4)
Unamortized reacquisition premium on debt
 
22,616

 
23,268

 
Over remaining life of debt
Environmental projects
 
29,392

 
16,876

 
Through 2034(1)(4)
Other miscellaneous
 
2,968

 
5,544

 
To be determined(1)(5)
Total long-term regulatory assets
 
$
445,641

 
$
448,200

 
 
Total regulatory assets
 
$
468,226

 
$
456,202

 
 
Regulatory Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred fuel over-collection
 
$
11,259

 
$
19,746

 
Approximately 1 year(1)
FTRs
 
10,035

 
4,150

 
Approximately 1 year(1)
DSM program costs
 

 
4,273

 
Approximately 1 year(1)
Total current regulatory liabilities
 
$
21,294

 
$
28,169

 
 
Long-term:
 
 
 
 
 
 
ARO and accrued asset removal costs
 
$
651,725

 
$
637,065

 
Not Applicable
Unamortized investment tax credit
 
2,065

 
2,451

 
Through 2021
Other miscellaneous
 
208

 

 
 
Total long-term regulatory liabilities
 
$
653,998

 
$
639,516

 
 
Total regulatory liabilities
 
$
675,292

 
$
667,685

 
 
 
(1)
Recovered (credited) per specific rate orders
(2)
IPL receives a return on its discretionary funding
(3)
The majority of these costs are being recovered per specific rate order; for the remaining costs recovery is probable but timing not yet determined
(4)
Recovered with a current return
(5)
A portion of this amount will be recovered over the next two years