Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

4. Income Taxes

Inflation Reduction Act

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into legislation and includes numerous tax incentives for clean energy, such as the extension and modification of existing investment and production tax credits for projects placed in service through 2024, the expansion of ITC for energy storage technology beginning in 2023 and introduces new technology-neutral clean energy related credits beginning in 2025. TEC has determined that electing production tax credits for its solar plants placed in service through 2024 will be more beneficial for customers compared to ITCs and has recorded a regulatory liability in recognition of its obligation to pass the tax benefits to customers of $29 million and $23 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

Income Tax Expense

TEC is included in a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return with EUSHI and its subsidiaries. TEC’s income tax expense is based upon a standalone return method, modified for the benefits-for-loss allocation in accordance with respective tax sharing agreements with TECO Energy and EUSHI. To the extent that TEC’s cash tax positions are settled differently than the amount reported as realized under the tax sharing agreement, the difference is accounted for as either a capital contribution or a distribution.

TEC’s effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were 11.3% and 16.0%, respectively. The March 31, 2024 and 2023 effective tax rates are an estimate of the annual effective income tax rate. TEC’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 differed from the statutory rate principally due to production tax credits and amortization of the regulatory tax liability resulting from tax reform. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024 is lower compared to the same period in 2023 primarily due to production tax credits. See Note 3 for further information regarding the regulatory tax liability.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $10 million, all of which was recorded as a reduction of deferred income tax assets for tax credit carryforwards. The unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would reduce TEC’s effective tax rate.