Credit Losses

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Credit Loss [Abstract]

CREDIT LOSSES

CREDIT LOSSES

The table below shows our gross third-party receivable balances and the related allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2020, by reportable segment.

(in millions)	Wisconsin			Illinois			Other States			Total Utility Operations			Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure			Corporate and Other			WEC Energy Group Consolidated
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues	$	899.8		$	393.9		$	79.8		$	1,373.5		$	45.0		$	4.4		$	1,422.9
Allowance for credit losses	102.1			111.6			6.4			220.1			—			—			220.1
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, net (1)	$	797.7		$	282.3		$	73.4		$	1,153.4		$	45.0		$	4.4		$	1,202.8
Total accounts receivable, net – past due greater than 90 days (1)	$	84.8		$	34.5		$	3.5		$	122.8		$	—		$	—		$	122.8
Past due greater than 90 days – collection risk mitigated by regulatory mechanisms (1)	97.6		%	100.0		%	—		%	95.5		%	—		%	—		%	95.5		%

(1)Our exposure to credit losses for certain regulated utility customers is mitigated by regulatory mechanisms we have in place. Specifically, rates related to all of the customers in our Illinois segment, as well as the residential rates of WE, WPS, and WG in our Wisconsin segment, include riders or other mechanisms for cost recovery or refund of uncollectible expense based on the difference between the actual provision for credit losses and the amounts recovered in rates. As a result, at December 31, 2020, $679.4 million, or 56.5%, of our net accounts receivable and unbilled revenues balance had regulatory protections in place to mitigate the exposure to credit losses. In addition, we have received specific orders related to the deferral of certain costs (including credit losses) incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The additional protections related to our December 31, 2020 accounts receivable and unbilled revenue balances provided by these orders are subject to prudency reviews and are still being assessed. They are not reflected in the percentages in the above table or this note. See Note 26, Regulatory Environment, for more information on these orders.

A rollforward of the allowance for credit losses by reportable segment for the year ended December 31, 2020, is included below:

(in millions)	Wisconsin		Illinois		Other States		Total Utility Operations		Corporate and Other		WEC Energy Group Consolidated
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	59.9	$	75.9	$	4.1	$	139.9	$	0.1	$	140.0
Provision for credit losses	47.5		51.1		4.3		102.9		—		102.9
Provision for credit losses deferred for future recovery or refund	24.6		30.6		—		55.2		—		55.2
Write-offs charged against the allowance	(65.9)		(63.0)		(3.4)		(132.3)		—		(132.3)
Recoveries of amounts previously written off	36.0		17.0		1.4		54.4		—		54.4
Sale of PDL residential solar facilities	—		—		—		—		(0.1)		(0.1)
Balance at December 31, 2020	$	102.1	$	111.6	$	6.4	$	220.1	$	—	$	220.1

The increase in the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2020, compared to December 31, 2019, was driven by higher past due accounts receivable balances at our utility segments, primarily related to residential customers. This increase in accounts receivable balances in arrears was driven by economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including higher unemployment rates. Also, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related regulatory orders we have received, we were unable to disconnect any of our Wisconsin and Illinois customers during the year ended December 31, 2020. See Note 26, Regulatory Environment, for more information.