Document
false0001130310CENTERPOINT ENERGY INCCommon Stock, $0.01 par valueCNP 0001130310 2020-08-03 2020-08-03 0001130310 cnp:NewYorkStockExchangeMember us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2020-08-03 2020-08-03 0001130310 cnp:NewYorkStockExchangeMember cnp:DepositarysharesMember 2020-08-03 2020-08-03 0001130310 cnp:ChicagoStockExchangeMember us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2020-08-03 2020-08-03


 
 
 
 
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K


CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 3, 2020


CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
_______________________________
Texas
 
1-31447
 
 
74-0694415
(State or other jurisdiction
 
(Commission File Number)
 
 
(IRS Employer
of incorporation)
 
 
 
 
 Identification No.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
      1111 Louisiana
 
 
 
 
Houston
Texas
 
77002
 
      (Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(713)
207-1111
 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
CNP
The New York Stock Exchange
Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.
Depositary Shares for 1/20 of 7.00% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value
CNP/PB
The New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2).

Emerging Growth Company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
 
 
 
 
 






Item 7.01    Regulation FD Disclosure.

Included herein is supplemental financial and operational information for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 related to Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Company (“SIGECO”). SIGECO is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren Utility Holdings, Inc. (“VUHI”). VUHI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren Corporation, which in turn, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (“CenterPoint Energy”).

Each of Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 is furnished, not filed, pursuant to Item 7.01. Accordingly, none of the information will be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, as amended, and the information in Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 will not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by CenterPoint Energy under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified as being incorporated by reference.

Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Each of Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 is furnished, not filed, pursuant to Item 7.01. Accordingly, none of the information will be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, as amended, and the information in Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 will not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by CenterPoint Energy under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified as being incorporated by reference.

(d)    Exhibits.

EXHIBIT
NUMBER
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
99.1
 
 
99.2



104
Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document







SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 
CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
 
 
 
Date: August 3, 2020
By:
/s/ Kristie L. Colvin
 
 
Kristie L. Colvin
 
 
Interim Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer





Exhibit


*******************************************************************************************
Exhibit 99.1

The following discussion and analysis provides additional information regarding Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company’s (the Company) results of operations that is supplemental to, and should be read in conjunction with, the information provided in the Company’s 2019 financial statements and notes thereto. The following discussion and analysis should also be read in conjunction with CenterPoint Energy Inc.’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K as it relates to the Company, which includes risk factors and forward looking statements.

The Company generates revenue primarily from the delivery of natural gas and electric service to its customers, and the Company’s primary source of cash flow results from the collection of customer bills and the payment for goods and services procured for the delivery of gas and electric services.

Executive Summary of Results of Operations

Operating Results

In 2019, the Company’s earnings were $56.5 million compared to $81.5 million in 2018. Results in 2019 reflect merger and severance expenses following CenterPoint Energy’s acquisition of Vectren and unfavorable weather, partially offset by an increase in electric and gas utility margin from increased returns associated with infrastructure investments (TDSIC, ECA, CECA and CSIA).

The Regulatory Environment

Gas and electric operations, with regard to retail rates and charges, terms of service, accounting matters, financing, and certain other operational matters, are regulated by the IURC.
In the Company’s natural gas service territory, normal temperature adjustment (NTA) and decoupling mechanisms largely mitigate the effect that would otherwise be caused by variations in volumes sold to residential and commercial customers due to weather and changing consumption patterns.  In addition to these mechanisms, the commission has authorized gas and electric infrastructure replacement programs, which allow for recovery of these investments outside of a base rate case proceeding. Further, rates charged to natural gas customers contain a gas cost adjustment (GCA) clause and electric rates contain a fuel adjustment clause (FAC). Both of these cost tracker mechanisms allow for the timely adjustment in charges to reflect changes in the cost of gas and cost for fuel. The Company utilizes similar mechanisms for other material operating costs, which allow for changes in revenue outside of a base rate case. The implementation of these various mechanisms has allowed the Company to avoid regulatory proceedings to increase base rates since 2011 for its electric business and 2007 for its gas business.

Rate Design Strategies
Sales of natural gas and electricity to residential and commercial customers are largely seasonal and are impacted by weather.  Trends in the average consumption among natural gas residential and commercial customers have tended to decline as more efficient appliances and furnaces are installed and the Company’s utilities have implemented conservation programs.  In the Company’s natural gas service territory, NTA and decoupling mechanisms largely mitigate the effect that would otherwise be caused by variations in volumes sold to these customers due to weather and changing consumption patterns.

In the Company's natural gas service territory, the commission has authorized bare steel and cast iron replacement programs. State laws were passed in 2012 and 2013 that expand the ability of utilities to recover, outside of a base rate proceeding, certain costs of federally mandated projects and other significant gas distribution and transmission infrastructure replacement investments. The Company has received approval to implement these mechanisms.

In 2017, the Company's electric service territory started recovering certain costs of electric distribution and transmission infrastructure replacement investments. The electric service territory also currently recovers certain transmission investments outside of base rates.  The electric service territory has neither an NTA nor a decoupling mechanism; however, rate designs provide for a lost margin recovery mechanism that works in tandem with conservation initiatives.



1




Tracked Operating Expenses
Gas costs and fuel costs incurred to serve customers are two of the Company’s most significant operating expenses.  Rates charged to natural gas customers contain a GCA. The GCA clause allows the Company to timely charge for changes in the cost of purchased gas, inclusive of unaccounted for gas expense based on actual experience and subject to caps that are based on historical experience.  Electric rates contain a FAC that allows for timely adjustment in charges for electric energy to reflect changes in the cost of fuel.  The net energy cost of purchased power, subject to an approved variable benchmark based on The New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) natural gas prices, is also timely recovered through the FAC.
GCA and FAC procedures involve periodic filings and IURC hearings to establish price adjustments for a designated future period.  The procedures also provide for inclusion in later periods of any variances between actual recoveries representing the estimated costs and actual costs incurred.
The IURC has also applied the statute authorizing GCA and FAC procedures to reduce rates when necessary to limit net operating income to a level authorized in its last general rate order through the application of an earnings test.  In the periods presented, the Company has not been impacted by the earnings test.

MISO charges and other reliability costs and revenues incurred to serve retail electric customers are recovered through the RCRA and MCRA.  MISO charges include specific charges under the MISO’s FERC approved tariff for items such as reactive power, scheduling, and transmission network charges that are socialized among various MISO members.  Reliability costs and revenues include non-fuel costs of purchased power and costs and credits associated with certain interruptible customers.

Gas pipeline integrity management operating costs, costs to fund energy efficiency programs, MISO costs, and the gas cost component of uncollectible accounts expense based on historical experience are recovered by mechanisms outside of typical base rate recovery.  In addition, certain operating costs, including depreciation associated with federally mandated investments, gas and electric distribution and transmission infrastructure replacement investments, and regional electric transmission assets not in base rates are also recovered by mechanisms outside of typical base rate recovery.

Revenues and margins are also impacted by the collection of state mandated taxes, which primarily fluctuate with gas and fuel costs.

Base Rate Orders
The Company's electric territory received an order in April 2011, with rates effective May 2011, and its gas territory received an order and implemented rates in August 2007.  The orders authorize a return on equity of 10.40% on the electric operations and 10.15% for the gas operations.  The authorized returns reflect the impact of rate design strategies that have been authorized by the IURC.

See Note 9 to the financial statements for more specific information on the significant regulatory proceedings involving the Company.

Operating Trends

Margin

Throughout this discussion, the terms Gas utility margin and Electric utility margin are used. Gas utility margin is calculated as Gas utility revenues less the Cost of gas sold. Electric utility margin is calculated as Electric utility revenues less Cost of fuel & purchased power. The Company believes Gas utility and Electric utility margins are better indicators of relative contribution than revenues since gas prices and fuel and purchased power costs can be volatile and are generally collected on a dollar-for-dollar basis from customers.

In addition, the Company separately reflects regulatory expense recovery mechanisms within Gas utility margin and Electric utility margin. These amounts represent dollar-for-dollar recovery of other operating expenses. The Company utilizes these approved regulatory mechanisms to recover variations in operating expenses from the amounts reflected in base rates and are generally expenses that are subject to volatility. Following is a discussion and analysis of margin.

2





Electric Utility Margin (Electric utility revenues less Cost of fuel & purchased power)
Electric utility margin and volumes sold by customer type follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
 
Electric utility revenues
$
570,150

 
$
582,504

Cost of fuel & purchased power
165,900

 
186,203

Total electric utility margin
$
404,250

 
$
396,301

Margin attributed to:
 
 
 
Residential & commercial customers
$
255,545

 
$
251,443

Industrial customers
95,107

 
93,604

Other
6,194

 
5,689

Regulatory expense recovery mechanisms
17,456

 
15,666

Subtotal: Retail
374,302

 
366,402

Wholesale margin
29,948

 
29,899

Total electric utility margin
$
404,250

 
$
396,301

Electric volumes sold in MWh attributed to:
 
 
 
Residential & commercial customers
2,608,827

 
2,754,307

Industrial customers
2,072,912

 
2,181,464

Other customers
21,113

 
22,251

Total retail volumes
4,702,852

 
4,958,022

Wholesale
495,281

 
856,350

Total volumes sold
5,198,133

 
5,814,372


Retail
Electric retail utility margins were $374.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $366.4 million in 2018, an increase of $7.9 million. Results primarily reflect an increase in margin of $14.1 million as a result of the Clean Energy Cost Adjustment and Environmental Cost Adjustment (CECA and ECA) and a $5.5 million increase resulting from the Transmission, Distribution and Storage System Improvement Charge (TDSIC). The increase was partially offset by a $8.1 million decrease in margin due to unfavorable weather along with a $3.2 million decrease in margin resulting from a decline in large industrial customer usage. Heating degree days were 95 percent of normal in 2019 compared to 101 percent of normal in 2018, and cooling degree days were 115 percent of normal in 2019 compared to 136 percent of normal in 2018.

Margin from Wholesale Electric Activities
The Company earns a return on electric transmission projects constructed by the Company in its service territory that meet the criteria of the MISO’s regional transmission expansion plans and also markets and sells its generating and transmission capacity to optimize the return on its owned assets. Substantially all off-system sales are generated in the MISO Day Ahead and Real Time markets when sales into the MISO in a given hour are greater than amounts purchased for native load. Further detail of MISO off-system margin and transmission system margin follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)
2019
 
2018
MISO transmission system margin
$
24,957

 
$
23,203

MISO off-system margin
4,991

 
6,696

Total wholesale margin
$
29,948

 
$
29,899



3




Transmission system margin associated with qualifying projects, including the reconciliation of recovery mechanisms and other transmission system operations, totaled $25.0 million during 2019 compared to $23.2 million in 2018, an increase of $1.8 million. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had invested approximately $157.7 million in qualifying projects. The net plant balance for these projects totaled $126.7 million at December 31, 2019. These projects include an interstate 345 kV transmission line that connects the Company’s A.B. Brown Generating Station to a generating station in Indiana owned by Duke Energy to the north and to a generating station in Kentucky owned by Big Rivers Electric Corporation to the south; a substation; and another transmission line. These projects earn the FERC approved equity rate of return on the net plant balance and recover operating expenses. In November 2019, the FERC issued an order authorizing the transmission owners to receive a 9.88 percent base ROE compared to the previously authorized 10.32 percent, plus a separately approved 50 basis point adder. The 345 kV project is the largest of these qualifying projects, with an original cost of $106.8 million.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, margin from off-system sales was $5.0 million compared to $6.7 million in 2018, a decrease of $1.7 million. The base rate changes implemented in May 2011 require wholesale margin from off-system sales earned above or below $7.5 million per year to be shared equally with customers. Results, net of sharing for the periods presented, were unfavorable in 2019 compared to 2018, reflecting lower market prices due primarily to lower natural gas prices.

Gas Utility Margin (Gas utility revenues less Cost of gas sold)
Gas utility margin and throughput by customer type follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)
2019
 
2018
Gas utility revenues
$
99,531

 
$
100,044

Cost of gas sold
33,623

 
40,309

Total gas utility margin
$
65,908

 
$
59,735

Margin attributed to:
 
 
 
Residential & commercial customers
$
45,316

 
$
42,898

Industrial customers
10,781

 
10,108

Other
852

 
221

Regulatory expense recovery mechanisms
8,959

 
6,508

    Total gas utility margin
$
65,908

 
$
59,735

Sold & transported volumes in MDth attributed to:
 
 
 
Residential & commercial customers
10,439

 
10,794

Industrial customers
30,170

 
32,825

Total sold & transported volumes
40,609

 
43,619


Gas Utility margin was $65.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $59.7 million in 2018, an increase of $6.2 million. The increase in margin was largely due to increased returns on the Compliance and System Improvement Adjustment (CSIA). Weather has relatively no impact on customer margin due to the Company's rate design. The decrease in sold and transported volumes was primarily due to weather. Heating degree days were 95 percent of normal in 2019 compared to 101 percent of normal in 2018.

Operating Expenses

Other Operating
For the year ended December 31, 2019, Other operating expenses were $241.9 million compared to $203.6 million in 2018, an increase of $38.3 million.  Operating expenses primarily reflect an increase of $29.6 million from merger and severance expenses following CenterPoint Energy’s acquisition of Vectren and a $6.2 million increase due to operating expenses recovered through margin. The remaining increase in operating expenses can be primarily attributed to major maintenance outages at two of the Company’s generating units.
 

4



Depreciation & Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense was $114.0 million in 2019, compared to $104.7 million in 2018, an increase of $9.3 million. The increase resulted from additional utility plant investments placed into service, including $6.2 million of depreciation on infrastructure investments.
SELECTED ELECTRIC OPERATING STATISTICS
 
For the Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
OPERATING REVENUES (in thousands):
 
 
 
Residential
$
210,443

 
$
210,232

Commercial
148,094

 
149,255

Industrial
159,892

 
162,143

Other
9,355

 
9,138

Total Retail
527,784

 
530,768

Net Wholesale Revenues
42,366

 
51,736

 
$
570,150

 
$
582,504

 
 
 
 
MARGIN (In thousands):
 
 
 
Residential
$
153,801

 
$
151,168

Commercial
101,744

 
100,275

Industrial
95,107

 
93,604

Other
6,194

 
5,689

Regulatory expense recovery mechanisms
17,456

 
15,666

Total Retail
374,302

 
366,402

Wholesale power & transmission system
29,948

 
29,899

 
$
404,250

 
$
396,301

 
 
 
 
ELECTRIC SALES (In MWh):
 
 
 
Residential
1,409,212

 
1,486,582

Commercial
1,199,615

 
1,267,725

Industrial
2,072,912

 
2,181,464

Other Sales - Street Lighting
21,113

 
22,251

Total Retail
4,702,852

 
4,958,022

Wholesale
495,281

 
856,350

 
5,198,133

 
5,814,372

 
 
 
 
AVERAGE CUSTOMERS:
 
 
 
Residential
128,344

 
127,439

Commercial
18,751

 
18,677

Industrial
116

 
115

Other
42

 
40

 
147,253

 
146,271

 
 
 
 
WEATHER AS A % OF NORMAL:
 
 
 
Cooling Degree Days
115
%
 
136
%
Heating Degree Days
95
%
 
101
%

5



SELECTED GAS OPERATING STATISTICS
 
For the Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
OPERATING REVENUES (In thousands):
 
 
 
Residential
$
64,743

 
$
65,125

Commercial
22,507

 
24,055

Industrial
12,039

 
10,576

Other
242

 
288

 
$
99,531

 
$
100,044

MARGIN (In thousands):
 
 
 
Residential
$
35,690

 
$
33,549

Commercial
9,626

 
9,349

Industrial
10,781

 
10,108

Other
852

 
221

Regulatory expense recovery mechanisms
8,959

 
6,508

 
$
65,908

 
$
59,735

GAS SOLD & TRANSPORTED (In MDth):
 
 
 
Residential
6,713

 
6,992

Commercial
3,726

 
3,802

Industrial
30,170

 
32,825

 
40,609

 
43,619

AVERAGE CUSTOMERS:
 
 
 
Residential
101,906

 
101,475

Commercial
10,356

 
10,342

Industrial
112

 
112

 
112,374

 
111,929



6
Exhibit


*******************************************************************************************
Exhibit 99.2

The following discussion and analysis provides additional information regarding Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company’s (the Company) results of operations that is supplemental to, and should be read in conjunction with, the information provided in the Company’s 2018 financial statements and notes thereto. The following discussion and analysis should also be read in conjunction with CenterPoint Energy Inc.’s 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K as it relates to the Company, which includes risk factors and forward looking statements.

The Company generates revenue primarily from the delivery of natural gas and electric service to its customers, and the Company’s primary source of cash flow results from the collection of customer bills and the payment for goods and services procured for the delivery of gas and electric services.

Executive Summary of Results of Operations

Operating Results

In 2018, the Company’s earnings were $81.5 million compared to $79.9 million in 2017. Results in 2018 reflect an increase in electric earnings due primarily to favorable weather and increased earnings from the Transmission Distribution and Storage System Improvement Charge (TDSIC), offset by tax reform and power plant maintenance. Additionally, gas earnings increased primarily from the Compliance and System Improvement Adjustment (CSIA).

The Regulatory Environment

Gas and electric operations, with regard to retail rates and charges, terms of service, accounting matters, financing, and certain other operational matters, are regulated by the IURC.
In the Company’s natural gas service territory, normal temperature adjustment (NTA) and decoupling mechanisms largely mitigate the effect that would otherwise be caused by variations in volumes sold to residential and commercial customers due to weather and changing consumption patterns.  In addition to these mechanisms, the commission has authorized gas and electric infrastructure replacement programs, which allow for recovery of these investments outside of a base rate case proceeding. Further, rates charged to natural gas customers contain a gas cost adjustment (GCA) clause and electric rates contain a fuel adjustment clause (FAC). Both of these cost tracker mechanisms allow for the timely adjustment in charges to reflect changes in the cost of gas and cost for fuel. The Company utilizes similar mechanisms for other material operating costs, which allow for changes in revenue outside of a base rate case. The implementation of these various mechanisms has allowed the Company to avoid regulatory proceedings to increase base rates since 2011 for its electric business and 2007 for its gas business.

Rate Design Strategies
Sales of natural gas and electricity to residential and commercial customers are largely seasonal and are impacted by weather.  Trends in the average consumption among natural gas residential and commercial customers have tended to decline as more efficient appliances and furnaces are installed and the Company’s utilities have implemented conservation programs.  In the Company’s natural gas service territory, NTA and decoupling mechanisms largely mitigate the effect that would otherwise be caused by variations in volumes sold to these customers due to weather and changing consumption patterns.

In the Company's natural gas service territory, the commission has authorized bare steel and cast iron replacement programs. State laws were passed in 2012 and 2013 that expand the ability of utilities to recover, outside of a base rate proceeding, certain costs of federally mandated projects and other significant gas distribution and transmission infrastructure replacement investments. The Company has received approval to implement these mechanisms.

In 2017, the Company's electric service territory started recovering certain costs of electric distribution and transmission infrastructure replacement investments. The electric service territory also currently recovers certain transmission investments outside of base rates.  The electric service territory has neither an NTA nor a decoupling mechanism; however, rate designs provide for a lost margin recovery mechanism that works in tandem with conservation initiatives.

1




Tracked Operating Expenses
Gas costs and fuel costs incurred to serve customers are two of the Company’s most significant operating expenses.  Rates charged to natural gas customers contain a GCA. The GCA clause allows the Company to timely charge for changes in the cost of purchased gas, inclusive of unaccounted for gas expense based on actual experience and subject to caps that are based on historical experience.  Electric rates contain a FAC that allows for timely adjustment in charges for electric energy to reflect changes in the cost of fuel.  The net energy cost of purchased power, subject to an approved variable benchmark based on The New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) natural gas prices, is also timely recovered through the FAC.
GCA and FAC procedures involve periodic filings and IURC hearings to establish price adjustments for a designated future period.  The procedures also provide for inclusion in later periods of any variances between actual recoveries representing the estimated costs and actual costs incurred.
The IURC has also applied the statute authorizing GCA and FAC procedures to reduce rates when necessary to limit net operating income to a level authorized in its last general rate order through the application of an earnings test.  In the periods presented, the Company has not been impacted by the earnings test.
MISO charges and other reliability costs and revenues incurred to serve retail electric customers are recovered through the RCRA and MCRA.  MISO charges include specific charges under the MISO’s FERC approved tariff for items such as reactive power, scheduling, and transmission network charges that are socialized among various MISO members.  Reliability costs and revenues include non-fuel costs of purchased power and costs and credits associated with certain interruptible customers.

Gas pipeline integrity management operating costs, costs to fund energy efficiency programs, MISO costs, and the gas cost component of uncollectible accounts expense based on historical experience are recovered by mechanisms outside of typical base rate recovery.  In addition, certain operating costs, including depreciation associated with federally mandated investments, gas and electric distribution and transmission infrastructure replacement investments, and regional electric transmission assets not in base rates are also recovered by mechanisms outside of typical base rate recovery.
Revenues and margins are also impacted by the collection of state mandated taxes, which primarily fluctuate with gas and fuel costs.

Base Rate Orders
The Company's electric territory received an order in April 2011, with rates effective May 2011, and its gas territory received an order and implemented rates in August 2007.  The orders authorize a return on equity of 10.40% on the electric operations and 10.15% for the gas operations.  The authorized returns reflect the impact of rate design strategies that have been authorized by the IURC.

See Notes 9 and 10 to the financial statements for more specific information on the significant regulatory proceedings involving the Company.

Operating Trends

Margin

Throughout this discussion, the terms Gas utility margin and Electric utility margin are used. Gas utility margin is calculated as Gas utility revenues less the Cost of gas sold. Electric utility margin is calculated as Electric utility revenues less Cost of fuel & purchased power. The Company believes Gas utility and Electric utility margins are better indicators of relative contribution than revenues since gas prices and fuel and purchased power costs can be volatile and are generally collected on a dollar-for-dollar basis from customers.

In addition, the Company separately reflects regulatory expense recovery mechanisms within Gas utility margin and Electric utility margin. These amounts represent dollar-for-dollar recovery of other operating expenses. The Company utilizes these approved regulatory mechanisms to recover variations in operating expenses from the amounts reflected in base rates and are generally expenses that are subject to volatility. Following is a discussion and analysis of margin.

2




Electric Utility Margin (Electric utility revenues less Cost of fuel & purchased power)
Electric utility margin and volumes sold by customer type follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)
2018
 
2017
 
 
 
 
Electric utility revenues
$
582,504

 
$
569,587

Cost of fuel & purchased power
186,203

 
171,794

Total electric utility margin
$
396,301

 
$
397,793

Margin attributed to:
 
 
 
Residential & commercial customers
$
251,443

 
$
254,838

Industrial customers
93,604

 
96,913

Other
5,689

 
5,617

Regulatory expense recovery mechanisms
15,666

 
9,611

Subtotal: Retail
366,402

 
366,979

Wholesale margin
29,899

 
30,814

Total electric utility margin
$
396,301

 
$
397,793

Electric volumes sold in MWh attributed to:
 
 
 
Residential & commercial customers
2,754,307

 
2,638,783

Industrial customers
2,181,464

 
2,096,523

Other customers
22,251

 
22,261

Total retail volumes
4,958,022

 
4,757,567

Wholesale
856,350

 
463,252

Total volumes sold
5,814,372

 
5,220,819


Retail
Electric retail utility margins were $366.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $367.0 million in 2017, a decrease of $0.6 million. Results reflect a decrease in margin of $26.1 million as a result of federal tax reform implemented effective January 1, 2018. The decrease was largely offset by increases in margin of $13.8 million due to favorable weather, of $4.5 million due to large customer usage, and of $5.8 million due to regulatory expense recovery mechanisms. Heating degree days were 101 percent of normal in 2018 compared to 80 percent of normal in 2017, and cooling degree days were 136 percent of normal in 2018 compared to 111 percent of normal in 2017.

Margin from Wholesale Electric Activities
The Company earns a return on electric transmission projects constructed by the Company in its service territory that meet the criteria of the MISO’s regional transmission expansion plans and also markets and sells its generating and transmission capacity to optimize the return on its owned assets. Substantially all off-system sales are generated in the MISO Day Ahead and Real Time markets when sales into the MISO in a given hour are greater than amounts purchased for native load. Further detail of MISO off-system margin and transmission system margin follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)
2018
 
2017
MISO transmission system margin
$
23,203

 
$
25,498

MISO off-system margin
6,696

 
5,316

Total wholesale margin
$
29,899

 
$
30,814


Transmission system margin associated with qualifying projects, including the reconciliation of recovery mechanisms and other transmission system operations, totaled $23.2 million during 2018 compared to $25.5 million in 2017, a decrease of $2.3 million. As

3



of December 31, 2018, the Company had invested approximately $157.7 million in qualifying projects. The net plant balance for these projects totaled $130.1 million at December 31, 2018. These projects include an interstate 345 kV transmission line that connects the Company’s A.B. Brown Generating Station to a generating station in Indiana owned by Duke Energy to the north and to a generating station in Kentucky owned by Big Rivers Electric Corporation to the south; a substation; and another transmission line. These projects earn the FERC approved equity rate of return on the net plant balance and recover operating expenses. In September 2016, the FERC issued an order authorizing the transmission owners to receive a 10.32 percent base ROE, plus a separately approved 50 basis point adder. The 345 kV project is the largest of these qualifying projects with an original cost of $106.8 million.

For the year ended December 31, 2018, margin from off-system sales was $6.7 million compared to $5.3 million in 2017, an increase of $1.4 million. The base rate changes implemented in May 2011 require wholesale margin from off-system sales earned above or below $7.5 million per year to be shared equally with customers. Results, net of sharing for the periods presented, were favorable in 2018 compared to 2017, reflecting higher market prices due primarily to higher natural gas prices.

Gas Utility Margin (Gas utility revenues less Cost of gas sold)
Gas utility margin and throughput by customer type follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)
2018
 
2017
Gas utility revenues
$
100,044

 
$
92,396

Cost of gas sold
40,309

 
33,949

Total gas utility margin
$
59,735

 
$
58,447

Margin attributed to:
 
 
 
Residential & commercial customers
$
42,898

 
$
41,964

Industrial customers
10,108

 
9,956

Other
221

 
1,004

Regulatory expense recovery mechanisms
6,508

 
5,523

    Total gas utility margin
$
59,735

 
$
58,447

Sold & transported volumes in MDth attributed to:
 
 
 
Residential & commercial customers
10,794

 
9,113

Industrial customers
32,825

 
28,771

Total sold & transported volumes
43,619

 
37,884



Gas Utility margin was $59.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $58.4 million in 2017, an increase of $1.3 million. The increase in margin was largely due to increased returns on the gas infrastructure replacement program and to the margin impact of regulatory expense recovery mechanisms, offset by the $4.7 million margin impact of federal tax reform. Weather has relatively no impact on customer margin due to the Company's rate design. The increase in sold and transported volumes was primarily due to weather. Heating degree days were 101 percent of normal in 2018 compared to 80 percent of normal in 2017.

Operating Expenses

Other Operating
For the year ended December 31, 2018, Other operating expenses were $203.6 million compared to $187.8 million in 2017, an increase of $15.8 million. Operating expenses primarily reflect an increase of $9.6 million in power plant maintenance expense and variable production costs and an increase of $6.4 million due to operating expenses recovered through margin.

Depreciation & Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense was $104.7 million in 2018 compared to $100.8 million in 2017, an increase of $3.9 million. The increase resulted from additional utility plant investments placed into service, including $1.2 million of depreciation on infrastructure investments.



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SELECTED ELECTRIC OPERATING STATISTICS
 
For the Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
OPERATING REVENUES (in thousands):
 
 
 
Residential
$
210,232

 
$
200,821

Commercial
149,255

 
154,564

Industrial
162,143

 
162,586

Other
9,138

 
9,246

Total Retail
530,768

 
527,217

Net Wholesale Revenues
51,736

 
42,370

 
$
582,504

 
$
569,587

MARGIN (In thousands):
 
 
 
Residential
$
151,168

 
$
148,555

Commercial
100,275

 
106,283

Industrial
93,604

 
96,913

Other
5,689

 
5,617

Regulatory expense recovery mechanisms
15,666

 
9,611

Total Retail
366,402

 
366,979

Wholesale power & transmission system
29,899

 
30,814

 
$
396,301

 
$
397,793

ELECTRIC SALES (In MWh):
 
 
 
Residential
1,486,582

 
1,362,457

Commercial
1,267,725

 
1,276,326

Industrial
2,181,464

 
2,096,523

Other Sales - Street Lighting
22,251

 
22,261

Total Retail
4,958,022

 
4,757,567

Wholesale
856,350

 
463,252

 
5,814,372

 
5,220,819

AVERAGE CUSTOMERS:
 
 
 
Residential
127,439

 
126,443

Commercial
18,677

 
18,648

Industrial
115

 
112

Other
40

 
40

 
146,271

 
145,243

WEATHER AS A % OF NORMAL:
 
 
 
Cooling Degree Days
136
%
 
111
%
Heating Degree Days
101
%
 
80
%









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SELECTED GAS OPERATING STATISTICS

 
For the Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
OPERATING REVENUES (In thousands):
 
 
 
Residential
$
65,125

 
$
60,097

Commercial
24,055

 
21,428

Industrial
10,576

 
9,820

Other
288

 
1,051

 
$
100,044

 
$
92,396

MARGIN (In thousands):
 
 
 
Residential
$
33,549

 
$
32,707

Commercial
9,349

 
9,257

Industrial
10,108

 
9,956

Other
221

 
1,004

Regulatory expense recovery mechanisms
6,508

 
5,523

 
$
59,735

 
$
58,447

GAS SOLD & TRANSPORTED (In MDth):
 
 
 
Residential
6,992

 
5,860

Commercial
3,802

 
3,253

Industrial
32,825

 
28,771

 
43,619

 
37,884

AVERAGE CUSTOMERS:
 
 
 
Residential
101,475

 
101,064

Commercial
10,342

 
10,304

Industrial
112

 
112

 
111,929

 
111,480



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