XML 31 R15.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.21.2
Regulatory Matters
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Abstract]  
Regulatory Matters REGULATORY MATTERS
2020-2021 Accounting Applications
On July 9, 2020, the MPSC approved DTE Electric's request to accelerate amortization of the portion of its refundable federal income taxes regulatory liability related to non-plant accumulated deferred income tax balances that resulted from the TCJA. DTE Electric was authorized to increase amortization by $102 million beginning in May 2021, which would fully amortize this portion of the liability by the end of 2021 instead of April 2033. The accelerated amortization would not impact customer rates and would allow DTE Electric to defer its next rate case filing previously set for July 2020 to March 2021.
On February 26, 2021, DTE Electric filed an additional application requesting a delay in the accelerated amortization approved in the 2020 application. DTE Electric requested delaying the start of amortization from May 2021 to December 1, 2021, which would fully amortize these balances by the end of 2022 and allow DTE Electric to further defer its next rate case filing. The accounting application was approved by the MPSC on April 8, 2021.
On August 31, 2021, DTE Electric filed an accounting application with the MPSC requesting approval of a one-time voluntary refund of $70 million collected in 2021 associated with the unexpected customer usage patterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This refund would be administered by investing in additional tree trimming without seeking future cost recovery. Such efforts would serve to improve customer reliability without impacting rates, thus providing an affordability benefit to customers. These investments would be incremental to the Tree Trim Surge expenses previously authorized by the MPSC.
DTE Electric anticipates receiving an order by the end of 2021. If approved by the end of the year, a regulatory liability will be recognized at that time. The regulatory liability would be reduced as the additional tree trim expenses are incurred during the remainder of 2021 through 2023. If the full $70 million is not spent by the end of 2023, DTE Electric would provide refunds to customers via bill credits for any shortage.
2021 Securitization Filing
On March 26, 2021, DTE Electric filed an application requesting a financing order approving the securitization of $184 million of qualified costs related to the net book value of the River Rouge generation plant and tree trimming surge program costs. The filing requested collection of these qualifying costs from DTE Electric's customers.
A final MPSC order was issued on June 23, 2021 authorizing DTE Electric to proceed with the issuance of securitization bonds for qualified costs of up to $236 million, increased for the inclusion of deferred income taxes. The order authorized customer charges for the timely recovery of the amount securitized and other ongoing qualified costs. Securitization is expected in the first quarter 2022.
2021 Gas Rate Case Filing
DTE Gas filed a rate case with the MPSC on February 12, 2021 requesting an increase in base rates of $195 million based on a projected twelve-month period ending December 31, 2022. The requested increase in base rates is primarily due to an increase in net plant resulting from infrastructure investments and operating and maintenance expenses. The rate filing also requested an increase in return on equity from 9.9% to 10.25% and includes projected changes in sales and working capital. A final MPSC order in this case is expected by December 2021.