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Regulatory (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Regulated Operations [Abstract]  
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities

Details of the regulatory assets and liabilities are presented in the following table:

 

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(millions)

June 30, 2018

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

Regulatory assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory tax asset (1)

$

44

 

 

$

45

 

Cost-recovery clauses - deferred balances (2)

 

22

 

 

 

13

 

Environmental remediation (3)

 

29

 

 

 

33

 

Postretirement benefits (4)

 

263

 

 

 

272

 

Storm reserve (5)

 

9

 

 

 

47

 

Other

 

25

 

 

 

23

 

Total regulatory assets

 

392

 

 

 

433

 

Less: Current portion

 

45

 

 

 

77

 

Long-term regulatory assets

$

347

 

 

$

356

 

Regulatory liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory tax liability (6)

$

719

 

 

$

730

 

Tax reform and storm agreement (7)

 

13

 

 

 

0

 

Cost-recovery clauses (2)

 

17

 

 

 

32

 

Accumulated reserve - cost of removal (8)

 

512

 

 

 

518

 

Other

 

5

 

 

 

5

 

Total regulatory liabilities

 

1,266

 

 

 

1,285

 

Less: Current portion

 

61

 

 

 

58

 

Long-term regulatory liabilities

$

1,205

 

 

$

1,227

 

(1)

The regulatory tax asset is primarily associated with the depreciation and recovery of AFUDC-equity. This asset does not earn a return but rather is included in the capital structure, which is used in the calculation of the weighted cost of capital used to determine revenue requirements. It will be recovered over the expected life of the related assets. The regulatory tax asset balance reflects the impact of the federal tax rate reduction.  

(2)

These assets and liabilities are related to FPSC clauses and riders. They are recovered or refunded through cost-recovery mechanisms approved by the FPSC on a dollar-for-dollar basis in the next year. In the case of the regulatory asset related to derivative liability, recovery occurs in the year following the settlement of the derivative position.

(3)

This asset is related to costs associated with environmental remediation primarily at MGP sites. The balance is included in rate base, partially offsetting the related liability, and earns a rate of return as permitted by the FPSC. The timing of recovery is based on a settlement agreement approved by the FPSC.

(4)

This asset is related to the deferred costs of postretirement benefits and it is amortized over the remaining service life of plan participants. Deferred costs of postretirement benefits that are included in expense are recognized as cost of service for rate-making purposes as permitted by the FPSC.

(5)

See Tampa Electric Storm Restoration Cost Recovery above for information regarding this reserve. The regulatory asset is included in rate base and earns a rate of return as permitted by the FPSC. The asset will be recovered over a 12-month period.

(6)

The regulatory tax liability is primarily related to the revaluation of TEC’s deferred income tax balances at the lower income tax rate recorded in December 2017. The liability related to the revaluation of the deferred income tax balances has been classified as non-current due to uncertainties around the timing and other regulatory decisions that will affect the amount of regulatory tax liability amortized and returned to customers through rate reductions or other revenue offsets in 2018. See Note 4 to the TEC Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for further information.

(7)

This regulatory liability represents the offset to tax reform benefits in the first quarter of 2018 due to Tampa Electric’s settlement agreement allowing the netting of the recovery of storm costs with tax reform benefits. Beginning on April 1, 2018, the amount is being amortized over the remainder of 2018. See Tampa Electric Tax Reform and Storm Settlement above for further information.

(8)

This item represents the non-ARO cost of removal in the accumulated reserve for depreciation. AROs are costs for legally required removal of property, plant and equipment. Non-ARO cost of removal represents estimated funds received from customers through depreciation rates to cover future non-legally required cost of removal of property, plant and equipment, net of salvage value upon retirement, which reduces rate base for ratemaking purposes. This liability is reduced as costs of removal are incurred.