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Credit Losses (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Credit Loss [Abstract]  
Schedule of gross receivables and related allowances for credit losses
We have included tables below that show our gross third-party receivable balances and the related allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2021 and 2020, by reportable segment.
(in millions)WisconsinIllinoisOther StatesTotal Utility
Operations
Non-Utility Energy InfrastructureCorporate
and Other
WEC Energy Group Consolidated
December 31, 2021
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues$1,053.1 $523.1 $105.7 $1,681.9 $17.0 $5.1 $1,704.0 
Allowance for credit losses84.0 105.5 8.8 198.3   198.3 
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, net (1)
$969.1 $417.6 $96.9 $1,483.6 $17.0 $5.1 $1,505.7 
Total accounts receivable, net – past due greater than 90 days (1)
$46.5 $36.6 $3.4 $86.5 $ $ $86.5 
Past due greater than 90 days – collection risk mitigated by regulatory mechanisms (1)
97.6 %100.0 % %94.8 % % %94.8 %

(in millions)WisconsinIllinoisOther StatesTotal Utility
Operations
Non-Utility Energy InfrastructureCorporate
and Other
WEC Energy Group Consolidated
December 31, 2020
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues$899.8 $393.9 $79.8 $1,373.5 $45.0 $4.4 $1,422.9 
Allowance for credit losses102.1 111.6 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, 2021, $839.1 million, or 55.7%, 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 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 tables or this note. See Note 26, Regulatory Environment, for more information on these orders.
Rollforward of the allowances for credit losses by reportable segment
A rollforward of the allowance for credit losses by reportable segment for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, is included below:
Year Ended December 31, 2021
(in millions)
WisconsinIllinoisOther StatesTotal Utility
Operations
Corporate
and Other
WEC Energy Group Consolidated
Balance at December 31, 2020$102.1 $111.6 $6.4 $220.1 $— $220.1 
Provision for credit losses46.4 25.6 3.7 75.7  75.7 
Provision for credit losses deferred for future recovery or refund(16.6)3.5  (13.1) (13.1)
Write-offs charged against the allowance(74.8)(52.5)(2.5)(129.8) (129.8)
Recoveries of amounts previously written off26.9 17.3 1.2 45.4  45.4 
Balance at December 31, 2021$84.0 $105.5 $8.8 $198.3 $ $198.3 

The decrease in the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2021, compared to December 31, 2020, primarily related to normal collection practices resuming in April 2021 for our Wisconsin utilities and in June 2021 for our Illinois utilities. Across all of our reportable segments, higher year-over-year natural gas prices drove an increase in gross accounts receivable balances, partially
offsetting the decrease in the allowance for credit losses attributed to collection efforts. See Note 26, Regulatory Environment, for more information.
Year Ended December 31, 2020
(in millions)
WisconsinIllinoisOther StatesTotal 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 losses47.5 51.1 4.3 102.9 — 102.9 
Provision for credit losses deferred for future recovery or refund24.6 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 off36.0 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 received, we were unable to disconnect any of our Wisconsin and Illinois customers during the year ended December 31, 2020.