Document/ExhibitDescriptionPagesSize 1: 10-K Annual Report HTML 7.14M
4: EX-10.14 Form of Sign-On Bonus Reimbursement Agreement HTML 48K
5: EX-10.15 Form of Relocation Reimbursement Agreement HTML 45K
6: EX-10.16 Summary of Compensation and Benefits for HTML 41K
Non-Employee Directors
2: EX-10.1A Incremental Term Loan Amendment HTML 66K
3: EX-10.4B Amendment to the Dcp as Amended and Restated HTML 42K
7: EX-21.1 Subsidiaries of Alliant Energy HTML 39K
8: EX-23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public HTML 38K
Accounting Firm for Alliant Energy
9: EX-23.2 Consent of Independent Registered Public HTML 38K
Accounting Firm for Ipl
10: EX-23.3 Consent of Independent Registered Public HTML 38K
Accounting Firm for Wpl
11: EX-31.1 Certification of the CEO for Alliant Energy HTML 42K
12: EX-31.2 Certification of the CFO for Alliant Energy HTML 42K
13: EX-31.3 Certification of the CEO for Ipl HTML 42K
14: EX-31.4 Certification of the CFO for Ipl HTML 42K
15: EX-31.5 Certification of the CEO for Wpl HTML 42K
16: EX-31.6 Certification of the CFO for Wpl HTML 42K
17: EX-32.1 Written Statement of CEO and CFO Pursuant to 18 HTML 39K
U.S.C.1350 for Alliant Energy
18: EX-32.2 Written Statement of CEO and CFO Pursuant to 18 HTML 39K
U.S.C.1350 for Ipl
19: EX-32.3 Written Statement of CEO and CFO Pursuant to 18 HTML 39K
U.S.C.1350 for Wpl
25: R1 Document And Entity Information HTML 128K
26: R2 Consolidated Statements Of Income HTML 161K
27: R3 Consolidated Balance Sheets HTML 186K
28: R4 Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) HTML 46K
29: R5 Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows HTML 180K
30: R6 Consolidated Statements of Common Equity HTML 135K
31: R7 Consolidated Statements of Common Equity HTML 40K
(Parenthetical)
32: R8 Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies HTML 244K
33: R9 Regulatory Matters HTML 299K
34: R10 Property, Plant and Equipment HTML 267K
35: R11 Jointly-Owned Electric Utility Plant HTML 93K
36: R12 Receivables HTML 143K
37: R13 Investments HTML 70K
38: R14 Common Equity HTML 56K
39: R15 Preferred Stock HTML 40K
40: R16 Debt HTML 500K
41: R17 Leases HTML 478K
42: R18 Revenues HTML 295K
43: R19 Income Taxes HTML 389K
44: R20 Benefit Plans HTML 1.87M
45: R21 Asset Retirement Obligations HTML 110K
46: R22 Derivative Instruments HTML 191K
47: R23 Fair Value Measurements HTML 461K
48: R24 Commitments And Contingencies HTML 199K
49: R25 Segments Of Business HTML 540K
50: R26 Related Parties HTML 95K
51: R27 Condensed Parent Company Financial Statements HTML 112K
52: R28 Valuation and Qualifying Accounts And Reserves HTML 110K
53: R29 Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies HTML 285K
(Policy)
54: R30 Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies HTML 100K
(Tables)
55: R31 Regulatory Matters (Tables) HTML 233K
56: R32 Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables) HTML 265K
57: R33 Jointly-Owned Electric Utility Plant (Tables) HTML 95K
58: R34 Receivables (Tables) HTML 146K
59: R35 Investments (Tables) HTML 68K
60: R36 Common Equity (Tables) HTML 49K
61: R37 Debt (Tables) HTML 498K
62: R38 Leases (Tables) HTML 303K
63: R39 Revenues (Tables) HTML 283K
64: R40 Income Taxes (Tables) HTML 382K
65: R41 Benefit Plans (Tables) HTML 1.78M
66: R42 Asset Retirement Obligations (Tables) HTML 106K
67: R43 Derivative Instruments (Tables) HTML 168K
68: R44 Fair Value Measurements (Tables) HTML 448K
69: R45 Commitments And Contingencies (Tables) HTML 168K
70: R46 Segments Of Business (Tables) HTML 204K
71: R47 Related Parties (Tables) HTML 90K
72: R48 Condensed Parent Company Financial Statements HTML 113K
(Tables)
73: R49 Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies HTML 121K
(Narrative) (Details)
74: R50 Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies HTML 60K
(Schedule Of Average Rates Of Depreciation)
(Details)
75: R51 Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies HTML 51K
(Schedule Of Allowance For Funds Used During
Construction Recovery Rate) (Details)
76: R52 Regulatory Matters (Narrative) (Details) HTML 102K
77: R53 Regulatory Matters (Regulatory Assets) (Details) HTML 78K
78: R54 Regulatory Matters (Assets Retired Early) HTML 56K
(Details)
79: R55 Regulatory Matters (Regulatory Liabilities) HTML 72K
(Details)
80: R56 Property, Plant and Equipment (Narrative) HTML 51K
(Details)
81: R57 Property, Plant and Equipment (Property, Plant and HTML 106K
Equipment) (Details)
82: R58 Property, Plant and Equipment (Equity and Debt HTML 55K
AFUDC) (Details)
83: R59 Jointly-Owned Electric Utility Plant (Details) HTML 73K
84: R60 Receivables (Narrative) (Details) HTML 46K
85: R61 Receivables (Details of Accounts Receivable) HTML 59K
(Details)
86: R62 Receivables (Maximum And Average Outstanding Cash HTML 45K
Proceeds) (Details)
87: R63 Receivables (Receivables Sold Under The Agreement) HTML 59K
(Details)
88: R64 Receivables (Additional Attributes Of Receivables HTML 43K
Sold Under The Agreement) (Details)
89: R65 Investments (Narrative) (Details) HTML 44K
90: R66 Investments (Unconsolidated Equity Investments) HTML 65K
(Details)
91: R67 Investments (Summary Financial Information) HTML 104K
(Details)
92: R68 Common Equity (Narrative) (Details) HTML 53K
93: R69 Common Equity (Common Share Activity) (Details) HTML 51K
94: R70 Preferred Stock (Narrative) (Details) HTML 54K
95: R71 Debt (Narrative) (Details) HTML 64K
96: R72 Debt (Credit Facilities) (Details) HTML 50K
97: R73 Debt (Other Short-Term Borrowings) (Details) HTML 50K
98: R74 Debt (Long-term Debt) (Details) HTML 221K
99: R75 Debt (Schedule Of Debt Maturities) (Details) HTML 59K
100: R76 Leases (Narrative) (Details) HTML 46K
101: R77 Leases (Operating Leases) (Details) HTML 65K
102: R78 Leases (Finance Lease) (Details) HTML 83K
103: R79 Leases (Expected Maturities of Operating and HTML 91K
Finance Lease Liabilities (Details)
104: R80 Disaggregation of Revenues (Details) HTML 108K
105: R81 Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) HTML 66K
106: R82 Income Taxes (Schedule Of Components Of Income HTML 68K
Tax) (Details)
107: R83 Income Taxes (Schedule Of Effective Income Tax HTML 68K
Rates) (Details)
108: R84 Income Taxes (Schedule Of Deferred Tax Assets And HTML 78K
Liabilities) (Details)
109: R85 Income Taxes (Summary Of Tax Credit Carryforwards) HTML 48K
(Details)
110: R86 Income Taxes (Schedule Of Uncertain Tax Positions) HTML 42K
(Details)
111: R87 Benefit Plans (Narrative) (Details) HTML 88K
112: R88 Benefit Plans (Assumptions Used To Measure Benefit HTML 71K
Plans) (Details)
113: R89 Benefit Plans (Defined Benefit Pension And Other HTML 87K
Postretirement Benefits Plans) (Details)
114: R90 Benefit Plans (Funded Status of Benefits Plans) HTML 117K
(Details)
115: R91 Benefit Plans (Amounts Recognized On The HTML 85K
Consolidated Balance Sheets) (Details)
116: R92 Benefit Plans (Accumulated Benefit Obligations) HTML 74K
(Details)
117: R93 Benefit Plans (Regulatory Assets) (Details) HTML 43K
118: R94 Benefit Plans (Estimated Future Funding) (Details) HTML 51K
119: R95 Benefit Plans (Expected Benefit Payments) HTML 76K
(Details)
120: R96 Benefit Plans (Allocation Of Plan Assets) HTML 76K
(Details)
121: R97 Benefit Plans (Fair Value Of Plan Assets By Asset HTML 213K
Category And Fair Value Hierarchy Level) (Details)
122: R98 Benefit Plans (Employees Participate In Defined HTML 42K
Contribution Retirement Plans) (Details)
123: R99 Benefit Plans (Recognized Compensation Expense And HTML 45K
Income Tax Benefits) (Details)
124: R100 Benefit Plans (Summary Of Performance Shares HTML 62K
Activity) (Details)
125: R101 Benefit Plans (Summary of Restricted Stock Units) HTML 62K
(Details)
126: R102 Benefit Plans (Summary of Performance Restricted HTML 62K
Stock Units) (Details)
127: R103 Benefit Plans (Carrying Value And Fair Market HTML 42K
Value Of The Deferred Compensation Obligation for
Company Stock Account) (Details)
128: R104 Asset Retirement Obligations (Reconciliation Of HTML 57K
Changes In Asset Retirement Obligations) (Details)
129: R105 Derivative Instruments (Notional Amounts Of HTML 62K
Derivative Instruments) (Details)
130: R106 Derivative Instruments (Fair Value Of Financial HTML 55K
Instruments) (Details)
131: R107 Derivative Instruments (Balance Sheet Offsetting) HTML 58K
(Details)
132: R108 Fair Value Measurements (Recurring Fair Value HTML 111K
Measurements) (Details)
133: R109 Fair Value Measurements (Fair Value Measurements HTML 73K
Using Significant Unobservable Inputs) (Details)
134: R110 Fair Value Measurements (Fair Value Of Net HTML 59K
Derivative Assets (Liabilities)) (Details)
135: R111 Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) HTML 66K
(Details)
136: R112 Commitments And Contingencies (Other Purchase HTML 89K
Commitments) (Details)
137: R113 Commitments And Contingencies (Schedule Of HTML 49K
Environmental Liabilities) (Details)
138: R114 Segments Of Business (Narrative) (Details) HTML 45K
139: R115 Segments Of Business (Schedule Of Segment Of HTML 138K
Business) (Details)
140: R116 Related Parties (Narrative) (Details) HTML 48K
141: R117 Related Parties (Service Agreements) (Details) HTML 55K
142: R118 Related Parties (Net Intercompany Payables) HTML 48K
(Details)
143: R119 Related Parties (Related Amounts Billed Between HTML 48K
Parties) (Details)
144: R120 Condensed Parent Company Financial Statements HTML 80K
(Condensed Statements Of Income) (Details)
145: R121 Condensed Parent Company Financial Statements HTML 115K
(Condensed Balance Sheets) (Details)
146: R122 Condensed Parent Company Financial Statements HTML 85K
(Condensed Statements of Cash Flows) (Details)
147: R123 Valuation And Qualifying Accounts and Reserves HTML 56K
(Details)
150: XML IDEA XML File -- Filing Summary XML 281K
148: XML XBRL Instance -- lnt-20221231_htm XML 17.65M
149: EXCEL IDEA Workbook of Financial Reports XLSX 371K
21: EX-101.CAL XBRL Calculations -- lnt-20221231_cal XML 263K
22: EX-101.DEF XBRL Definitions -- lnt-20221231_def XML 2.53M
23: EX-101.LAB XBRL Labels -- lnt-20221231_lab XML 2.89M
24: EX-101.PRE XBRL Presentations -- lnt-20221231_pre XML 2.59M
20: EX-101.SCH XBRL Schema -- lnt-20221231 XSD 336K
151: JSON XBRL Instance as JSON Data -- MetaLinks 753± 1.20M
152: ZIP XBRL Zipped Folder -- 0000352541-23-000017-xbrl Zip 1.74M
i☒ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended iiDecember 31, 2022/
or
i☐TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Name of Registrant, State of Incorporation, Address of Principal Executive Offices, Telephone Number, Commission File Number, IRS Employer Identification Number
This
combined Form 10-K is separately filed by Alliant Energy Corporation, Interstate Power and Light Company and Wisconsin Power and Light Company. Information contained in the Form 10-K relating to Interstate Power and Light Company and Wisconsin Power and Light Company is filed by each such registrant on its own behalf. Each of Interstate Power and Light Company and Wisconsin Power and Light Company makes no representation as to information relating to registrants other than itself.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Alliant Energy Corporation, iCommon Stock, $0.01 Par Value,
Trading Symbol iLNT, iNasdaq Global Select Market
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Alliant Energy Corporation - iYes
☒ No ☐
Interstate Power and Light Company - iYes ☒ No ☐
Wisconsin Power and Light Company - iYes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant
to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Alliant Energy Corporation - Yes ☐ iNo ☒
Interstate Power and Light Company - Yes ☐ iNo ☒
Wisconsin Power and Light Company - Yes ☐ iNo
☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Alliant Energy Corporation - iYes ☒ No ☐
Interstate Power and Light Company - iYes
☒ No ☐
Wisconsin Power and Light Company - iYes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Alliant Energy Corporation - iYes
☒ No ☐
Interstate Power and Light Company - iYes ☒ No ☐
Wisconsin Power and Light Company - iYes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, accelerated
filer, non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,”“accelerated filer,”“smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Alliant Energy Corporation - iLarge Accelerated Filer ☒ Accelerated Filer ☐ Non-accelerated Filer ☐ Smaller Reporting Company i☐ Emerging
Growth Company i☐
Interstate Power and Light Company - Large Accelerated Filer ☐ Accelerated Filer ☐ iNon-accelerated Filer ☒ Smaller Reporting Company i☐ Emerging
Growth Company i☐
Wisconsin Power and Light Company - Large Accelerated Filer ☐ Accelerated Filer ☐ iNon-accelerated Filer ☒ Smaller Reporting Company i☐ Emerging
Growth Company i☐
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.
Alliant Energy Corporation ☐
Interstate Power and Light Company ☐
Wisconsin Power and Light Company ☐
Indicate by check
mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (§ 15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
Alliant Energy Corporation i☒
Interstate Power and Light Company ☐
Wisconsin Power and Light Company ☐
If
securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.
Alliant Energy Corporation ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant's executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b).
Alliant Energy Corporation ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Alliant Energy Corporation - Yes i☐ No
☒
Interstate Power and Light Company - Yes i☐ No ☒
Wisconsin Power and Light Company - Yes i☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting
common equity held by nonaffiliates as of June 30, 2022:
Alliant Energy Corporation - $i14.7 billion
Interstate Power and Light Company - $i0
Wisconsin
Power and Light Company - $i0
Number of shares outstanding of each class of common stock as of January 31, 2023:
Alliant Energy Corporation, Common Stock, $0.01 par value, i251,137,522
shares outstanding
Interstate Power and Light Company, Common Stock, $2.50 par value, i13,370,788 shares outstanding (all outstanding shares are owned beneficially and of record by Alliant Energy Corporation)
Wisconsin Power and Light Company, Common Stock, $5 par value, i13,236,601
shares outstanding (all outstanding shares are owned beneficially and of record by Alliant Energy Corporation)
iPortions of the Proxy Statement relating to Alliant Energy Corporation’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareowners are, or will be upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.
The
following abbreviations or acronyms used in this report are defined below:
Abbreviation or Acronym
Definition
Abbreviation or Acronym
Definition
2023 Alliant Energy Proxy Statement
Alliant Energy’s Proxy Statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareowners
Fuel-related
Electric
production fuel and purchased power
AEF
Alliant Energy Finance, LLC
GAAP
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles
AFUDC
Allowance for funds used during construction
GHG
Greenhouse gases
Alliant Energy
Alliant Energy Corporation
IPL
Interstate Power and Light Company
ARO
Asset
retirement obligation
IRS
Internal Revenue Service
ATC
American Transmission Company LLC
ITC
ITC Midwest LLC
ATC Holdings
Interest in American Transmission Company LLC and ATC Holdco LLC
IUB
Iowa Utilities Board
ATI
AE Transco Investments, LLC
KWh
Kilowatt-hour
CA
Certificate
of authority
Marshalltown
Marshalltown Generating Station
CAA
Clean Air Act
MDA
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
CCR
Coal combustion residuals
MGP
Manufactured gas plant
CO2
Carbon dioxide
MISO
Midcontinent
Independent System Operator, Inc.
Corporate Services
Alliant Energy Corporate Services, Inc.
MW
Megawatt
COVID-19
Novel coronavirus
MWh
Megawatt-hour
CPCN
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
N/A
Not applicable
CSAPR
Cross-State
Air Pollution Rule
Note(s)
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
CWIP
Construction work in progress
OIP
Alliant Energy Omnibus Incentive Plan
DAEC
Duane Arnold Energy Center
OPEB
Other postretirement benefits
DCP
Alliant Energy Deferred Compensation Plan
PPA
Purchased
power agreement
Dth
Dekatherm
PSCW
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
EEP
Energy efficiency plan
Receivables Agreement
Receivables Purchase and Sale Agreement
EGU
Electric generating unit
Riverside
Riverside Energy Center
EPA
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
SEC
Securities and Exchange Commission
EPS
Earnings per weighted average common share
U.S.
United States of America
Federal Tax Reform
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
VEBA
Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association
FERC
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
VIE
Variable
interest entity
Financial Statements
Consolidated Financial Statements
Whiting Petroleum
Whiting Petroleum Corporation
FTR
Financial transmission right
WPL
Wisconsin Power and Light Company
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements contained in this report that are not of historical fact are forward-looking
statements intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified as such because the statements include words such as “may,”“believe,”“expect,”“anticipate,”“plan,”“project,”“will,”“projections,”“estimate,” or other words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe future financial performance or plans or strategies are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such statements. Some, but not all, of the risks and uncertainties of Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL that could materially affect actual results include:
•the
direct or indirect effects resulting from terrorist incidents, including physical attacks and cyber attacks, or responses to such incidents;
•the impact of customer- and third party-owned generation, including alternative electric suppliers, in IPL’s and WPL’s service territories on system reliability, operating expenses and customers’ demand for electricity;
•the impact of energy efficiency, franchise retention and customer disconnects on sales volumes and margins;
•the impact that price changes may have on IPL’s and WPL’s customers’ demand for electric, gas and steam services and their ability to pay their bills;
•inflation and higher interest rates;
•changes
in the price of delivered natural gas, transmission, purchased electricity and coal, particularly during elevated market prices, and any resulting changes to counterparty credit risk, due to shifts in supply and demand caused by market conditions, regulations and MISO’s seasonal resource adequacy process;
•IPL’s
and WPL’s ability to obtain adequate and timely rate relief to allow for, among other things, the recovery of and/or the return on costs, including fuel costs, operating costs, transmission costs, capacity costs, deferred expenditures, deferred tax assets, tax expense, interest expense, capital expenditures, and remaining costs related to EGUs that may be permanently closed and certain other retired assets, decreases in sales volumes, earning their authorized rates of return, and the payments to their parent of expected levels of dividends;
•the ability to obtain regulatory approval for construction projects with acceptable conditions;
•the ability to complete construction of renewable generation and storage projects by planned in-service dates and within the cost targets set by regulators due to cost increases of and access to materials,
equipment and commodities including due to tariffs, duties or other assessments, such as any additional tariffs resulting from U.S. Department of Commerce investigations into the sourcing of solar project materials and equipment from certain countries, labor issues or supply shortages, the ability to successfully resolve warranty issues or contract disputes, the ability to achieve the expected level of tax benefits based on tax guidelines and project costs, and the ability to efficiently utilize the renewable generation and storage project tax benefits for the benefit of customers;
•disruptions to ongoing operations and the supply of materials, services, equipment and commodities needed to construct solar generation, battery storage and electric and gas distribution projects, which may result from geopolitical issues, supplier manufacturing constraints, labor issues or transportation issues, and thus
affect the ability to meet capacity requirements and result in increased capacity expense;
•federal and state regulatory or governmental actions, including the impact of legislation, and regulatory agency orders;
•the ability to utilize tax credits generated to date, and those that may be generated in the future, before they expire, as well as the ability to transfer tax credits that may be generated in the future at adequate pricing;
•the impacts of changes in the tax code, including tax rates, minimum tax rates, and adjustments made to deferred tax assets and liabilities;
•employee workforce factors, including the ability to hire and retain employees with specialized skills, impacts from employee retirements,
changes in key executives, ability to create desired corporate culture, collective bargaining agreements and negotiations, work stoppages or restructurings;
•disruptions in the supply and delivery of natural gas, purchased electricity and coal;
•changes to the creditworthiness of, or performance of obligations by, counterparties with which Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL have contractual arrangements, including participants in the energy markets and fuel suppliers and transporters;
•the impact of penalties or third-party claims related to, or in connection with, a failure to maintain the security of personally identifiable information, including associated costs to notify affected persons and to mitigate their information security concerns;
•any
material post-closing payments related to any past asset divestitures, including the sale of Whiting Petroleum, which could result from, among other things, indemnification agreements, warranties, guarantees or litigation;
•weather effects on results of utility operations;
•continued access to the capital markets on competitive terms and rates, and the actions of credit rating agencies;
•changes to MISO’s resource adequacy process establishing capacity planning reserve margin and capacity accreditation requirements that may impact how and when new generating facilities such as IPL’s and WPL’s additional solar generation may be accredited with energy capacity, and may require IPL and WPL to adjust their current resource plans, to add resources to meet the requirements
of MISO’s new process, or procure capacity in the market whereby such costs might not be recovered in rates;
•the direct or indirect effects resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of variant strains;
•issues associated with environmental remediation and environmental compliance, including compliance with all environmental and emissions permits, the CCR rule, future changes in environmental laws and regulations, including changes to CSAPR emissions allowances and federal, state or local regulations for CO2 emissions reductions from new and existing fossil-fueled EGUs, and litigation associated with environmental requirements;
•increased pressure from customers, investors and other stakeholders to more rapidly reduce CO2 emissions;
•the
ability to defend against environmental claims brought by state and federal agencies, such as the EPA, state natural resources agencies or third parties, such as the Sierra Club, and the impact on operating expenses of defending and resolving such claims;
•the direct or indirect effects resulting from breakdown or failure of equipment in the operation of electric and gas distribution systems, such as mechanical problems and explosions or fires, and compliance with electric and gas transmission and distribution safety regulations, including regulations promulgated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration;
•issues related to the availability and operations of EGUs, including start-up risks, breakdown or failure of equipment, availability of warranty coverage for equipment breakdowns or failures, performance below expected
or contracted levels of output or efficiency, operator error, employee safety, transmission constraints, compliance with mandatory reliability standards and risks related to recovery of resulting incremental operating, fuel-related and capital costs through rates;
•impacts that excessive heat, excessive cold, storms or natural disasters may have on Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s operations and recovery of costs associated with restoration activities or on the operations of Alliant Energy’s investments;
•Alliant Energy’s ability to sustain its dividend payout ratio goal;
•changes to costs of providing benefits and related funding requirements of pension and OPEB plans due to the market value of the assets that fund the plans, economic conditions, financial market performance,
interest rates, timing and form of benefits payments, life expectancies and demographics;
•material changes in employee-related benefit and compensation costs, including settlement losses related to pension plans;
•risks
associated with operation and ownership of non-utility holdings;
•changes in technology that alter the channels through which customers buy or utilize Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s or WPL’s products and services;
•impacts on equity income from unconsolidated investments from changes in valuations of the assets held, as well as potential changes to ATC’s authorized return on equity;
•impacts of IPL’s future tax benefits from Iowa rate-making practices, including deductions for repairs expenditures, allocation of mixed service costs and state depreciation, and recoverability of the associated regulatory assets from customers, when the differences reverse in future periods;
•current or future litigation, regulatory
investigations, proceedings or inquiries;
•reputational damage from negative publicity, protests, fines, penalties and other negative consequences resulting in regulatory and/or legal actions;
•the effect of accounting standards issued periodically by standard-setting bodies;
•the ability to successfully complete tax audits and changes in tax accounting methods with no material impact on earnings and cash flows; and
Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL each assume no obligation, and disclaim any duty, to update the forward-looking statements in this report, except as required by law.
WEBSITE ACCESS TO REPORTS
Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL make their periodic and current reports, and amendments to those reports, available, free of charge, on Alliant Energy’s website at www.alliantenergy.com/investors on the same day as such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Alliant
Energy, IPL and WPL are not including the information contained on Alliant Energy’s website as a part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this report.
PART I
This report includes information relating to Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL (as well as AEF and Corporate Services). Where appropriate, information relating to a specific entity has been segregated and labeled as such. Unless otherwise noted, the information herein excludes discontinued operations for all periods presented. The terms “we,”“our” and “us” used in this report refer collectively to Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL.
ITEM
1. BUSINESS
A. GENERAL
Alliant Energy maintains its principal executive offices in Madison, Wisconsin. Alliant Energy operates as a regulated investor-owned public utility holding company, and its purpose-driven strategy is to serve its customers and build stronger communities. Alliant Energy’s primary focus is to provide regulated electric and natural gas service to approximately 995,000 electric and approximately 425,000 natural gas customers in the Midwest through its two public utility subsidiaries, IPL and WPL. The primary first tier wholly-owned subsidiaries of Alliant Energy are as follows:
1) IPL - is a public utility engaged principally in the generation
and distribution of electricity and the distribution and transportation of natural gas to retail customers in select markets in Iowa. IPL provides utility services to incorporated communities as directed by the IUB and utilizes non-exclusive franchises, which cover the use of public right-of-ways for utility facilities in incorporated communities for a maximum term of 25 years. At December 31, 2022, IPL supplied electric and natural gas service to approximately 500,000 and 225,000 retail customers, respectively, in Iowa. IPL also sells electricity to wholesale customers in Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa. IPL is also engaged in the generation and distribution of steam for two customers in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
2) WPL - is a public utility engaged principally in the generation and distribution of electricity and the distribution and transportation
of natural gas to retail customers in select markets in Wisconsin. WPL operates in municipalities pursuant to permits of indefinite duration and state statutes authorizing utility operation in areas annexed by a municipality. At December 31, 2022, WPL supplied electric and natural gas service to approximately 495,000 and 200,000 retail customers, respectively. WPL also sells electricity to wholesale customers in Wisconsin.
3) CORPORATE SERVICES - provides administrative services to Alliant Energy, IPL, WPL and AEF.
4) AEF - Alliant Energy’s non-utility holdings are organized under AEF, which manages a portfolio of wholly-owned subsidiaries and additional holdings, including the following distinct platforms:
ATI
- currently holds all of Alliant Energy’s interest in ATC Holdings. ATC Holdings is comprised of a 16% ownership interest in ATC and a 20% ownership interest in ATC Holdco LLC. ATC is an independent, for-profit, transmission-only company. ATC Holdco LLC holds an interest in Duke-American Transmission Company, LLC, a joint venture between Duke Energy Corporation and ATC, that owns electric transmission infrastructure in North America.
Corporate Venture Investments - includes various minority ownership interests in regional and national venture funds, including a global coalition of energy companies working together to help advance the transition towards a cleaner, more sustainable, and inclusive energy future, by identifying and researching innovative technologies and business models within the emerging energy economy.
Non-utility Wind Farm - includes a 50% cash equity ownership interest in a 225 MW non-utility wind farm located in Oklahoma.
Sheboygan Falls Energy Facility - is a 347 MW, simple-cycle, natural gas-fired EGU near Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, which
is leased to WPL for an initial period of 20 years ending in 2025.
Travero - is a diversified supply chain solutions company, including a short-line rail freight service in Iowa; a Mississippi River barge, rail and truck freight terminal in Illinois; freight brokerage services; and a rail-served warehouse in Iowa.
B. INFORMATION RELATING TO ALLIANT ENERGY ON A CONSOLIDATED BASIS
1) HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT - Alliant Energy’s core purpose is to serve customers and build stronger communities. We constantly strive
to attract, retain and develop a diverse and qualified workforce of high-performing employees, and create and foster an environment of inclusion and belonging for all employees.
Employees - At December 31, 2022, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL had the following full- and part-time employees:
Total
Number
of
Percentage of Employees
Number of
Bargaining Unit
Covered by Collective
Employees
Employees
Bargaining Agreements
Alliant Energy
3,129
1,692
54%
IPL
1,080
755
70%
WPL
1,001
825
82%
The
majority of IPL’s bargaining unit employees are covered by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 204 (Cedar Rapids) collective bargaining agreement, which expires August 31, 2024. All of WPL’s bargaining unit employees are covered by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 965 collective bargaining agreement, which expires May 31, 2026.
Safety - Safety is integral to our company’s culture. It is one of our Values - “Live safety. Everyone. Always. Our first priority is that nobody gets hurt.” Alliant Energy is committed to providing a safe environment for our employees, visitors, customers, contractors, vendors and the communities in which we live and work.
We
focus on the proactive management of our safety performance. Our comprehensive behavioral safety-based program consists of leading indicators, lagging indicators and targeted focus programs. We utilize a formal safety management system to capture and track best practices, near misses, job site briefings, safety observations, safety conversations and any unsafe conditions. This system provides the insights needed to help drive a positive safety culture and help ensure compliance with safety rules, processes and procedures. We also use this system to broadly share lessons learned in support of shaping the mindsets and behaviors needed to help prevent similar events from occurring elsewhere. Collectively, this information is used to evaluate the safety performance of the executive and management teams related to their goals, and safety metrics are factored into short-term incentive awards.
We maintain executive
and local safety leadership teams to establish our safety vision, strategy and priorities, and ensure education and recognition of employee actions that improve our safety culture. This leadership provides strong support for sustained growth of both employee and public safety programs and initiatives.
Public safety is equally important as we interact with our customers to provide energy to their homes and businesses. We offer awareness campaigns, natural gas and electric public safety presentations, and free online resources and training programs and guidance to assist local emergency responders.
Total Rewards - Our market-competitive Total Rewards programs are designed to meet the varied and evolving needs of our employees. Through a variety of health, welfare and compensation programs, we offer
employees choice and control, while supporting their financial, physical, and mental well-being. Tools and resources are provided to employees to help maintain and improve their health. Short- and long-term incentive plans are designed with a mix of operational and financial metrics that align employees with strategic corporate and social goals.
In addition to competitive salaries and wages, our Total Rewards programs include:
•competitive short- and long-term incentive compensation;
•a 401(k) savings plan with an employer match;
•healthcare and insurance benefits, including medical, vision, dental, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance;
•paid time off to use for vacation, personal time, sick time, holidays, bereavement, jury duty, military leave, parental leave, maternity leave, and adoption leave;
•adoption assistance;
•legal planning assistance;
•Employee Assistance program;
•tuition reimbursement;
•Vacation Donation program; and
•Volunteer
Grants and Matching Gifts program.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) - A diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace is crucial for the success and retention of our employees, to attract future talent and to execute our purpose-driven strategy to serve our customers and build stronger communities. It is one of our Values - “Care for others: Together we create a workplace where people feel like they belong and can use their unique backgrounds, talents and perspectives to their fullest potential.” Alliant Energy is driven by DE&I and believes the achievement of its strategic objectives can only be achieved with a focused and engaged workforce. Alliant Energy’s corporate officers group currently has approximately 40% gender diversity and 27% ethnic diversity.
Our efforts to create
a diverse and inclusive workforce have focused on reducing bias, building diverse teams, and listening and acting on employee feedback, and include:
•learning opportunities for employees, such as inviting employees to participate in area diversity summits and supporting company-wide listening sessions, speakers and programs;
•capturing and acting upon employee feedback through employee sentiment surveys;
•Employee Resource Groups that foster a diverse and inclusive workplace that supports employee well-being while promoting professional development and enhancing community relationships; and
•a DE&I Leadership Team that partners with the Human Resources recruiting department and hiring managers to
attract more diverse applicants that represent the diversity of the communities we serve.
Our DE&I initiatives also include a focus on building a diverse Board of Directors. We believe it is in our shareowners’ best interest to have a diverse Board representing a wide breadth of experiences and perspectives. Our Board currently has approximately 50% gender diversity and 20% ethnic diversity.
Our 2022 DE&I accomplishments include:
•received a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation to benchmark LGBTQ+ rights, policies and practices;
•selected for the 2022 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index;
•held
our third annual Day of Understanding, with 85% voluntary company-wide participation, where leaders facilitated conversations around creating a culture of inclusion and belonging, helping to ensure employees are seen, heard and valued; and
•all people-leaders completed training on reducing unconscious bias in the interview process.
Alliant Energy’s short- and long-term incentive compensation plans include diversity metrics to drive leadership accountability for efforts to advance a diverse and inclusive culture.
Talent Development and Workforce Readiness - We support employees in the growth of their careers through several training opportunities and development programs. These include tuition reimbursement, online, instructor-led and
on-the-job learning formats, as well as leadership development and succession planning.
In addition, we have an apprenticeship program that combines supervised, structured on-the-job training with related instruction to produce highly skilled trade and technical workers. Our program builds lifetime skills and comprehensive knowledge in the high-demand technical trades necessary for our success. The program gives us the flexibility to tailor training to match our needs - training employees in our facilities, on our equipment, and consistent withoursafety standards and employee expectations. We instill company Values, methods and procedures from day one.
2)
REGULATION - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are subject to regulation by various federal, state and local agencies. The following includes the primary regulations impacting Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s businesses.
FERC -
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 - Alliant Energy is registered with FERC as a public utility holding company, pursuant to the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, and is required to maintain certain records and to report certain transactions involving its public utilities, service company and other entities regulated by FERC. Corporate Services, IPL and WPL are subject to regulation by FERC under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 for various matters including, but not limited to, affiliate transactions, public utility mergers, acquisitions and dispositions,
and books, records and accounting requirements.
Energy Policy Act of 2005 - The Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires creation of an Electric Reliability Organization to provide oversight by FERC. FERC designated
North American Electric Reliability Corporation as the overarching Electric Reliability Organization. Midwest Reliability Organization, which is a regional member of North American Electric Reliability Corporation, has direct responsibility for mandatory electric reliability standards for IPL and WPL.
Federal Power Act of 1935 - FERC also has jurisdiction, under the Federal Power Act of 1935, over certain electric utility facilities and operations, electric wholesale sales, interstate electric transmission rates, dividend payments, issuance of IPL’s securities, and accounting practices of Corporate Services, IPL and WPL.
Electric Wholesale Rates - FERC has authority over IPL's and WPL's wholesale electric market-based rates. Market-based rate authorization allows for wholesale sales of electricity
within FERC’s wholesale markets, including the MISO market, and in transactions directly with third parties, based on the market value of the transactions. IPL and WPL also have FERC-approved cost of service formula-based rates related to the provision of firm full- and partial-requirement wholesale electric sales, which allow for true-ups to actual costs, including fuel costs.
Electric Transmission Rates - FERC regulates the rates charged for electric transmission facilities used in interstate commerce. IPL and WPL do not own or operate FERC-regulated electric transmission facilities; however, both IPL and WPL pay for the use of the interstate electric transmission system based upon FERC-regulated rates. IPL and WPL rely primarily on the use of the ITC and ATC transmission systems, respectively.
Natural Gas Act
- FERC regulates the transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce under the Natural Gas Act. Under the Natural Gas Act, FERC has authority over certain natural gas facilities and operations of IPL and WPL.
IUB - IPL is subject to regulation by the IUB for various matters including, but not limited to, retail utility rates and standards of service, accounting requirements, the construction of EGUs, and the acquisition, sale or lease of assets with values that exceed 3% of IPL’s revenues. In 2021, legislation was enacted in Iowa prohibiting counties and cities from regulating the sale of natural gas and propane, which supports IPL’s ability to provide gas utility service to a diversified base of retail customers and industries.
Retail Utility Base Rates - IPL
files periodic requests with the IUB for retail rate changes and may base those requests on either historical or forward-looking test periods. The IUB must decide on requests for retail rate changes within 10 months of the date of the application for which changes are filed. The historical test periods may be adjusted for certain known and measurable changes to capital investments, cost of capital and operating and maintenance expenses consistent with IUB rules and regulations. In 2021, the IUB adopted rules that establish minimum filing requirements for rate reviews using a forward-looking test period, and a related subsequent proceeding review after the close of the forward-looking test period. The rules provide that in the subsequent proceeding review, a utility’s actual costs and revenues will be presumed to be reasonably consistent with the forward-looking test period if the utility’s actual return on common equity falls within a standard of reasonableness of
50 basis points above to 50 basis points below the authorized return on common equity. If the utility’s actual return on common equity is outside of this range, future rates could be adjusted. In addition, the rules require that IPL must receive an order from the IUB related to the subsequent proceeding review before it can file another rate review.
Energy Efficiency - In accordance with Iowa law, IPL is required to file an EEP every five years with the IUB. An EEP provides a utility’s plan and related budget to achieve specified levels of electric and gas energy savings. IUB approval demonstrates that IPL’s EEP is reasonably expected to achieve cost-effective delivery of the energy efficiency programs. Refer to Note 1(g) for discussion of
the recovery of these costs from IPL’s retail electric and gas customers.
Electric Generating Units - IPL must obtain a certificate of public convenience, use and necessity (GCU Certificate) from the IUB in order to construct a new, or significantly alter (including fuel switching) an existing, EGU located in Iowa with 25 MW or more of nameplate generating capacity. IPL’s ownership and operation of EGUs (including those located outside the state of Iowa) to serve Iowa customers is subject to retail utility rate regulation by the IUB.
Gas Pipeline Projects - IPL must obtain a pipeline permit from the IUB related to the siting of utility gas pipelines in Iowa that will be operated at a pressure over 150 pounds per square inch and will transport gas to a distribution system or single, large volume customer.
Advance
Rate-making Principles - Iowa law allows Iowa utilities to request rate-making principles prior to making certain generation investments in Iowa. As a result, IPL may file for, and the IUB must render a decision on, rate-making principles for certain new EGUs located in Iowa, including any alternative energy production facility (such as a wind or solar facility, as well as battery storage constructed in combination with these facilities), combined-cycle natural gas-fired EGU, and certain base-load EGUs with a nameplate generating capacity of 300 MW or more (such as nuclear-fired generation). Stand-alone battery storage facilities will be considered for advance rate-making principles on a case-by-case basis. Advance rate-making principles are also available for the repowering of an alternative energy production facility or certain significant alterations of an existing EGU. Upon approval of rate-making principles by the IUB, IPL must either
construct the EGU or repower the alternative energy production facility under the approved rate-making principles, or not at all. If rate-making principles are not
approved by the IUB, IPL may construct the facility, subject to other applicable approvals (such
as a GCU Certificate), subject to recovery in future rate reviews.
Electric Generating Unit Environmental Controls Projects - IPL is required to submit an updated emissions plan and budget biennially to the IUB setting out a multi-year plan and budget for managing regulated emissions from its coal-fired EGUs in a cost-effective manner. IPL must simultaneously submit this plan and budget to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for a determination of whether the plan and budget meet state environmental requirements for regulated emissions. The reasonable and prudent costs associated with implementing the approved plan are expected to be included in IPL’s future retail electric rates.
PSCW - WPL is subject to regulation by the PSCW related to its operations in Wisconsin for
various matters including, but not limited to, retail utility rates and standards of service, accounting requirements, issuance and use of proceeds of securities, affiliate transactions, approval of the location and construction of EGUs and certain other additions and extensions to facilities. In addition, Alliant Energy is subject to regulation by the PSCW for the type and amount of Alliant Energy’s holdings in non-utility businesses and other affiliated interest activities, among other matters.
Retail Utility Base Rates - WPL files periodic requests with the PSCW for retail rate changes, which are based on forward-looking test periods. There is no statutory time limit for the PSCW to decide on retail base rate requests. However, the PSCW attempts to process retail base rate reviews in approximately 10 months and has the ability to approve interim retail rate relief, subject to refund,
if necessary. Currently, WPL is required to defer a portion of its earnings if its annual regulatory return on common equity exceeds certain levels. Through 2023, any such deferral is required to be offset against the remaining net book value of Edgewater Unit 5, which is currently expected to be retired by June 1, 2025.
Public Benefits - WPL contributes 1.2% of its annual retail utility revenues to help fund Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s state-wide energy efficiency and renewable energy resource program. In addition, WPL contributes to a program that provides assistance to income-eligible residents in Wisconsin. These contributions are recovered from customers through a monthly bill surcharge of the lesser of 3% of customers’ utilities bills or $750. Refer to Note
1(g) for discussion of the recovery of these costs from WPL’s retail electric and gas customers.
New Electric Generating Units - A CA application is required to be filed with the PSCW for construction approval of any new EGU (including battery storage) with a capacity of less than 100 MW and a project cost of $12.4 million or more. WPL must obtain a CPCN from the PSCW in order to construct a new EGU in Wisconsin with a capacity of 100 MW or more. In addition, WPL’s ownership and operation of EGUs (including those located outside the state of Wisconsin) to serve Wisconsin customers are subject to retail utility rate regulation by the PSCW.
Electric Generating Unit Upgrades and Electric Distribution Projects - A CA application is required to be filed with the PSCW for construction
approval of any additions to EGUs, including environmental controls projects, as well as electric distribution projects, with estimated project costs of $12.4 million or more.
Gas Distribution Projects - A CA application is required to be filed with the PSCW for construction approval of gas projects with an estimated project cost of $5.9 million or more and at any time that WPL requests to extend gas service to a new portion of its service territory.
Advance Rate-making Principles - Wisconsin law provides Wisconsin utilities with the opportunity to request rate-making principles prior to the purchase or construction of any EGU utilized to serve Wisconsin customers. WPL is not obligated to file for or accept authorized rate-making principles under Wisconsin law. WPL can proceed with an approved project
under traditional rate-making terms or accept authorized rate-making principles under Wisconsin law.
Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are subject to regulation for physical and cyber security of their natural gas pipeline systems, and are applying, and monitoring for changes to, these requirements to their pipeline systems.
Environmental - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are subject to regulation of environmental matters by federal, state and local authorities as a result of their current and past operations. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL monitor these environmental matters and address them by installing controls that reduce emissions and by implementing operational modifications or other measures
to address compliance obligations. There is currently significant regulatory uncertainty with respect to environmental rules and regulations discussed below. Given the evolving nature of environmental regulations and other related regulatory requirements, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL develop and periodically update their compliance plans to address these environmental obligations. Prudent expenditures incurred by IPL and WPL to comply with environmental requirements are eligible to be recovered in rates from their customers. The following are major environmental matters that could potentially have a significant impact on financial condition and results of operations.
Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Regulations - In 2007, the Supreme Court provided direction on the EPA’s authority to regulate GHG and ruled that these emissions are covered by the CAA. In 2009, the EPA issued a ruling that found GHG emissions contribute to climate change, and therefore, threaten public health and welfare, which was the prerequisite for implementing CO2 reduction standards under the CAA. While the EPA’s rules to regulate GHG issued under the authority of the CAA remain subject to further review, growing emphasis on climate change and evolving energy technologies are driving efforts to decarbonize the environment through voluntary emissions reductions. The primary GHG directly emitted from Alliant Energy’s utility operations is CO2
from the combustion of fossil fuels at its EGUs.
Clean Air Act Section 111(d) - In 2015, the EPA issued the Clean Power Plan under Section 111(d) of the CAA to reduce CO2 emissions from existing fossil-fueled EGUs through broad electricity system-wide measures. This was replaced by the Affordable Clean Energy rule in 2019, to reduce CO2 emissions from existing coal-fueled EGUs through heat rate improvements. In 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated and remanded the Affordable Clean Energy rule to the EPA for reconsideration. In 2022, the Supreme Court issued a ruling limiting the extent of the EPA’s authority under Section 111(d) to emissions reduction technologies and operational improvements. The EPA is working on a new set of Section 111(d) emission guidelines for states to implement Best System of Emission Reduction standards for GHG emissions
from existing fossil-fueled EGUs, and has stated that it intends to issue a proposed rule in 2023 and a final rule in 2024, although a timeline cannot be predicted with certainty. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are currently unable to predict with certainty the future outcome or impact of these matters.
Clean Air Act Section 111(b) - In 2015, the EPA published final standards under Section 111(b) of the CAA, which establish CO2 emissions limits for certain new fossil-fueled EGUs. Marshalltown and West Riverside are subject to the EPA’s Section 111(b) regulation and have been designed to achieve compliance with these standards. The EPA is reviewing the Section 111(b) standards, and has stated it intends to issue a proposed rule in 2023 and a final rule in 2024, although a timeline cannot be predicted with certainty. Litigation related to Section 111(b) is suspended while the EPA revises
its Section 111(b) regulations, and Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are currently unable to predict with certainty the impact of these standards.
Cross-State Air Pollution Rule - CSAPR is a regional sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides cap-and-trade program, where compliance with emission limits may be achieved by purchasing emission allowances and/or reducing emissions through changes in operations or the additions of environmental controls. CSAPR emission allowances may be banked for future year compliance. CSAPR establishes state-specific annual sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emission caps and ozone season nitrogen oxides emission caps. In 2022, the EPA proposed revisions to the CSAPR state-specific ozone season nitrogen oxides emission caps and utility-specific emission allowances for certain states, including Wisconsin, beginning in 2023. The proposed rule does not apply to Iowa;
however, Iowa could be included in the final rule, which is currently expected in 2023. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are currently unable to predict with certainty the future outcome or impact of these matters.
Water Quality -
Effluent Limitation Guidelines - In 2015, the EPA published final effluent limitation guidelines, which required changes to discharge limits for wastewater from certain IPL and WPL steam EGUs. In 2020, revised effluent limitation guidelines (2020 Reconsideration Rule) became effective, which incorporated flexibility to the 2015 rule, including a new subcategory for coal-fired EGUs that will be retired or converted to no longer burn coal before 2028. Compliance for existing steam-electric generating facilities is determined by each facility’s wastewater discharge permit and will generally be required by December
31, 2025. Projects required for compliance are facility-specific. In 2021, the current Presidential Administration issued an Executive Order requiring the review and possible revision of environmental regulations issued during the prior Administration. As a result, the EPA expects to undertake a supplemental rule-making to revise the guidelines for steam-electric generating facilities. As part of the rule-making process, the EPA is expected to determine whether more stringent limitations and standards are appropriate. The 2020 Reconsideration Rule will remain in effect while the EPA undertakes this new rule-making. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are currently unable to predict with certainty the future outcome or impact of the anticipated supplemental rule-making.
Land and Solid Waste -
Coal Combustion Residuals Rule - The CCR Rule, which became
effective in 2015, regulates CCR as a non-hazardous waste. IPL and WPL have coal-fired EGUs with coal ash ponds and active CCR landfills that are impacted by this rule. Compliance obligations associated with the CCR Rule may be subject to change due to future EPA CCR Rule updates, on-going litigation related to the CCR Rule, and any actions taken to-date that may be challenged. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are currently unable to predict with certainty the impact of these updates.
Manufactured Gas Plant Sites - Refer to Note 17(e) for discussion of IPL’s and WPL’s MGP sites.
Renewable Energy Standards - Iowa and Wisconsin have renewable
energy standards, which establish the minimum amount of energy IPL and WPL must supply from renewable resources. IPL primarily relies upon renewable energy generated from the wind resources it owns and renewable energy acquired under PPAs to meet these requirements. WPL utilizes its current renewable portfolio, which primarily consists of wind, solar and hydro energy, both owned and acquired under PPAs, to meet these requirements. IPL and WPL currently exceed their respective renewable energy standards requirements.
3) STRATEGY - Refer to “Overview” in MDA for discussion of Alliant Energy’s strategy, which supports its mission to deliver energy solutions and exceptional service that its customers and communities count on - affordably, safely, reliably and sustainably.
C. INFORMATION RELATING TO UTILITY OPERATIONS
Alliant Energy’s utility business (IPL and WPL) has three segments: a) electric operations; b) gas operations; and c) other, which includes IPL’s steam operations
and the unallocated portions of the utility business. IPL’s and WPL’s electric, gas and other revenues as a percentage of total revenues were as follows:
IPL
WPL
1)
ELECTRIC UTILITY OPERATIONS
General - Electric utility operations represent the largest operating segment for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL. Alliant Energy’s electric utility operations are located in the Midwest with IPL providing retail electric service in Iowa and WPL providing retail and wholesale electric service in Wisconsin. IPL also sells electricity to wholesale customers in Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa. Refer to the “Electric Operating Information” tables for additional details regarding electric utility operations.
Customers- IPL and WPL provide electric utility service to a diversified base of retail customers
in several industries, with the largest concentrations in the farming, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, chemical (including ethanol), packaging and food industries. IPL and WPL also sell electricity to wholesale customers, which primarily consist of municipalities and rural electric cooperatives.
Seasonality - Electric sales are seasonal to some extent with the annual peak normally occurring in the summer months due to air conditioning requirements. Electric sales are also impacted to a certain extent in the winter months due to heating requirements.
Competition - Retail electric customers in Iowa and Wisconsin currently do not have the ability to choose their electric supplier, and IPL and WPL have obligations to serve all their retail electric
customers. Although electric service in Iowa and Wisconsin is regulated, IPL and WPL still face competition from self-generation by large industrial customers, customer- and third party-owned generation (e.g. solar panels), alternative energy sources, and petitions to municipalize (Iowa) as well as service territory expansions by municipal utilities through annexations (Wisconsin). In addition, the wholesale power market is competitive and IPL and WPL compete against independent power producers, other utilities and MISO market purchases to serve wholesale customers for their electric energy and capacity needs. Alliant Energy’s strategy includes actions to retain current customers and attract new customers into IPL’s and WPL’s service territories in an effort to keep energy rates low for all of their customers. Refer to “Overview”
in MDA for discussion of the strategy element focusing on growing customer demand.
Electric Supply - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL have met, and expect to continue meeting, customer demand of electricity through a mix of electric supply, including owned EGUs, PPAs and additional purchases from wholesale energy markets. Alliant Energy expects its mix of electric supply to change in the next several years with its planned transition away from coal-fired EGUs by considering additional renewable energy such as solar generation, repowering of existing wind farms and distributed energy resources, including community solar and energy storage systems, natural gas resources, and the actual and potential sale of partial interests in West Riverside to neighboring utilities. Long-term generation plans are intended to meet customer demand, reduce air emissions and water impacts,
reduce reliance on wholesale market purchases and mitigate the impacts of future EGU retirements while maintaining compliance with long-term electric demand planning reserve margins, renewable energy standards established by regulators and other various requirements.
Electric Demand Planning Reserve Margin - IPL and WPL are required to maintain a planning reserve margin above their load at the time of the MISO-wide peak to ensure reliability of electric service to their customers. IPL and WPL utilize accredited capacity from EGUs they own, and have rights to through PPAs, to meet a substantial portion of their current MISO planning reserve margin requirements and periodically rely on short-term market capacity purchases to supplement the accredited capacity from such EGUs. Refer to “Customer
Investments” in MDA for discussion of MISO’s new seasonal resource adequacy process establishing capacity planning reserve margin and capacity accreditation requirements effective with the June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024 MISO Planning Year. The new seasonal capacity reserve margins are as follows:
Generation
Fuel Supply - IPL and WPL own a portfolio of EGUs located in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota with a diversified fuel mix that includes natural gas, renewable resources and coal. Refer to “Properties” in Item 2 for details of IPL’s and WPL’s EGUs. The average cost of delivered fuel per million British Thermal Units used for electric generation was as follows:
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
All
fuels
$4.37
$2.10
$2.22
$4.47
$2.62
$2.36
Natural gas (a)
5.76
2.54
2.54
6.02
3.31
2.51
Coal
2.31
1.81
1.84
2.43
2.07
2.19
(a)The
average cost of natural gas includes commodity and transportation costs, as well as realized gains and losses from swap and option contracts used to hedge the price of natural gas volumes expected to be used by IPL’s and WPL’s natural gas-fired EGUs.
Natural Gas - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL own several natural gas-fired EGUs, and WPL also has exclusive rights to the output of AEF’s Sheboygan Falls Energy Facility under an affiliated lease agreement. These facilities help meet customer demand for electricity when natural gas prices are low enough to make natural gas-fired generation economical compared to other fuel sources. Alliant Energy manages the gas supply to these gas-fired EGUs and helps ensure an adequate supply is available at known prices through a combination of gas commodity, pipeline transportation and storage agreements held by IPL and WPL for numerous years. Alliant
Energy, IPL and WPL believe they are reasonably insulated against gas price volatility for these EGUs given their use of forward contracts and hedging practices, as well as their regulatory cost-recovery mechanisms.
Coal - Coal is one of the fuel sources for owned EGUs. Coal contracts entered into with different entities help ensure that a specified supply of coal is available, and delivered, at known prices for IPL’s and WPL’s coal-fired EGUs. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL believe their coal supply portfolio represents a reasonable balance between the risks of insufficient supplies and those associated with being unable to respond to future coal market changes. Remaining coal requirements are expected to be met from either future term contracts or purchases in the spot market. Currently, all of the coal utilized by IPL and WPL is from the Wyoming Powder River Basin.
Alliant
Energy, IPL and WPL believe they are reasonably insulated against coal price volatility given their current coal procurement process, the specific coal market in their primary purchase region and regulatory cost-recovery mechanisms. The coal procurement process supports periodic purchases, staggering of contract terms, stair-stepped levels of supply going forward and supplier diversity. Similarly, given the term lengths of their transportation agreements and strategic alignment of agreement expirations for negotiation purposes, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL believe they are reasonably insulated against future higher coal transportation rates from the major railroads.
Purchased Power - IPL and WPL periodically enter into PPAs and purchase electricity from wholesale energy markets to meet a portion of their customer demand for electricity.
Electric
Transmission - IPL and WPL do not own electric transmission service assets and currently receive transmission services from ITC and ATC, respectively. ITC and ATC are independent, for-profit, transmission-only companies and are transmission-owning members of the MISO Regional Transmission Organization, Midwest Reliability Organization and Reliability First Corporation Regional Entities. The annual transmission service rates that ITC or ATC charges their customers are calculated each calendar year using a FERC-approved cost of service formula rate. As a result, ITC and ATC can implement new rates each calendar year without filing a request with FERC. However, new rates are subject to challenge by either FERC or customers. If the rates proposed by ITC or ATC are determined by FERC to be unjust or unreasonable, or another mechanism is determined by FERC to be just and reasonable, ITC’s or ATC’s rates would change accordingly. Refer
to Note 1(g) for discussion of a transmission cost rider utilized by IPL for recovery of its electric transmission service expense, and discussion of WPL’s escrow for recovery of electric transmission service expense, which is recovered from its retail electric customers through changes in base rates determined during periodic rate proceedings. Refer to Note 17(g) for discussion of a court decision, which is currently expected to reduce the base return on equity authorized for MISO transmission owners, including ATC.
MISO Markets- IPL and WPL are members of MISO, a FERC-approved Regional Transmission Organization, which is responsible for monitoring and ensuring equal access to the transmission system in their footprint. IPL and WPL participate in the wholesale energy and ancillary services markets operated by MISO, which are discussed in more detail below. As agent for IPL and WPL, Corporate Services enters into energy, capacity, ancillary services, and transmission sale and purchase transactions within MISO. Corporate Services assigns such sales and purchases between IPL and WPL based on statements received from MISO.
Wholesale Energy Market - IPL and WPL sell and purchase power
in the day-ahead and real-time wholesale energy markets operated by MISO. MISO’s bid/offer-based markets compare the cost of IPL and WPL generation against other generators, which affects IPL and WPL generation operations, energy purchases and energy sales. MISO generally dispatches the lowest cost generators, while recognizing current system constraints, to reduce costs for purchasers in the wholesale energy market. In addition, MISO may dispatch generators that support reliability needs, but that would not have operated based on economic needs. In these cases, MISO’s settlement assures that these generators are made whole financially for their variable costs.
Ancillary Services Market - IPL and WPL also participate in MISO’s ancillary services market, which integrates the procurement and use of regulation and contingency reserves with the existing wholesale energy market to ensure
reliability of electricity supply. MISO’s ancillary services market has had the overall impact of lowering ancillary services costs in the MISO footprint.
Financial Transmission Rights and Auction Revenue Rights- In areas of constrained transmission capacity, energy costs could be higher due to congestion and its impact on locational marginal prices. FTRs provide a hedge for certain congestion costs that occur in the MISO energy market. MISO allocates auction revenue rights to IPL and WPL annually based on a fiscal year from June 1 through May 31 and historical use of the transmission system. The allocated auction revenue rights are used by IPL and WPL to acquire FTRs through the FTR auctions operated by MISO.
Resource Adequacy-
MISO has resource adequacy requirements to help ensure adequate resources to meet forecasted peak load obligations plus a reserve margin. Only accredited capacity assigned to EGUs is available to meet these requirements. In order for an EGU to receive accredited capacity, it must meet MISO capacity accreditation requirements, which can include satisfying transmission requirements identified in its interconnection agreement prior to the MISO planning year. Refer to “Customer Investments” in MDA for discussion of MISO’s new seasonal resource adequacy process establishing capacity planning reserve margin and capacity accreditation requirements effective with the 2023/2024 MISO Planning Year.
(a)Cooling
degree days are calculated using a simple average of the high and low temperatures each day compared to a 65 degree base. Normal degree days are calculated using a rolling 20-year average of historical cooling degree days. Refer to “Gas Operating Information” below for details of heating degree days.
(b)All or some of the renewable energy attributes associated with generation from these sources may be used in future years to comply with renewable energy standards or other regulatory requirements.
(a)Cooling degree days are calculated using a simple average of the high and low temperatures each day compared to a 65 degree base. Normal degree days are calculated using a
rolling 20-year average of historical cooling degree days. Refer to “Gas Operating Information” below for details of heating degree days.
(b)All or some of the renewable energy attributes associated with generation from these sources may be used in future years to comply with renewable energy standards or other regulatory requirements.
General - Gas utility operations represent the second largest operating segment for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL. Alliant Energy’s gas utility operations are located in the Midwest with IPL providing gas service in Iowa and WPL providing gas service in Wisconsin. Refer to the “Gas Operating Information” tables for additional details regarding gas utility operations. Refer to Note 1(g) for information relating to utility natural gas cost recovery
mechanisms and Note 17(b) for discussion of natural gas commitments.
Customers - IPL and WPL provide gas utility service to a diversified base of retail customers and industries, including research, education, hospitality, manufacturing and chemicals (including ethanol). In addition, IPL and WPL provide transportation service to commercial and industrial customers by moving customer-owned gas through Alliant Energy’s distribution systems to the customers’ meters.
Seasonality - Gas sales follow a seasonal pattern with an annual base-load of gas and a large heating peak occurring during the winter season. Natural gas
obtained from producers, marketers and brokers, as well as gas in storage, is utilized to meet the peak heating season requirements. Storage contracts generally allow IPL and WPL to purchase gas in the summer and inject it into underground storage fields, and remove it from storage fields in the winter to deliver to customers.
Competition- Gas customers in Iowa and Wisconsin currently do not have the ability to choose their gas distributor, and IPL and WPL have obligations to serve all their gas customers. While the gas utility distribution function is expected to remain a regulated function, sales of the natural gas commodity and related services are subject to competition from third-parties who provide alternative fuel sources (e.g. propane). However, when natural gas service is available for a given area, customers in such area have
generally selected natural gas over propane as a more cost competitive solution for their fuel needs. Refer to “Customer Investments” in MDA for discussion of plans to expand gas distribution systems.
Gas Supply- IPL and WPL maintain purchase agreements with numerous suppliers of natural gas from various gas producing regions of the U.S. and Canada. In providing gas commodity service to retail customers, Corporate Services administers a diversified portfolio of transportation and storage contracts on behalf of IPL and WPL. The tariffs for IPL’s and WPL’s retail gas customers provide for subsequent adjustments to their rates for the cost of gas sold to these customers. As a result, natural gas prices
do not have a material impact on IPL’s or WPL’s gas margins.
Gas Demand Planning Reserve Margin - IPL and WPL are required to maintain adequate pipeline capacity to ensure they meet their customers’ maximum daily system demand requirements. IPL and WPL currently have planning reserve margins of 2% and 6%, respectively, above their forecasted maximum daily system demand requirements from November 2022 through March 2023.
Gas
Operating Information - Alliant Energy
2022
2021
2020
Revenues (in millions):
Residential
$371
$257
$214
Commercial
197
139
107
Industrial
20
17
12
Retail
subtotal
588
413
333
Transportation/other
54
43
40
Total
$642
$456
$373
Sales
(000s Dths):
Residential
31,109
26,795
27,809
Commercial
21,097
18,516
17,996
Industrial
2,815
2,868
3,003
Retail
subtotal
55,021
48,179
48,808
Transportation/other
104,812
99,179
102,790
Total
159,833
147,358
151,598
Retail
Customers (End of Period)
426,153
422,864
419,994
Other Selected Gas Data:
Heating degree days (a):
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (IPL) (normal - 6,697)
7,222
6,539
6,625
Madison,
Wisconsin (WPL) (normal - 6,976)
7,210
6,620
6,789
Revenue per Dth sold to retail customers
$10.69
$8.57
$6.82
Purchased gas costs per Dth sold to retail customers
Purchased gas cost per Dth sold to retail customers
$7.17
$5.96
$3.87
$6.77
$4.58
$3.45
(a)Heating
degree days are calculated using a simple average of the high and low temperatures each day compared to a 65 degree base. Normal degree days are calculated using a rolling 20-year average of historical heating degree days.
3) OTHER UTILITY OPERATIONS - STEAM - IPL’s Prairie Creek facility is the primary source of steam for IPL’s two high-pressure steam customers in Iowa. These customers are each under contract through 2025 for taking minimum quantities of annual steam usage, with certain conditions.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
You should
carefully consider each of the risks described below relating to Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL, together with all of the other information contained in this combined report, before making an investment decision with respect to our securities. If any of the following risks develop into actual events, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to Business Operations
A cyber attack may disrupt our operations or lead to a loss or misuse of confidential and proprietary information or potential liability - We operate in an industry that requires the continuous use and operation of sophisticated information technology systems and network infrastructure. We face threats from use of malicious code (such as malware, viruses and ransomware),
employee theft or misuse, advanced persistent threats, vulnerabilities such as the log4j vulnerability, fraud attempts, and phishing attacks. More of our workforce is working remotely, which increases the number of devices connected to the internet that impact our operations and increases our cyber security risk. Incidents of ransomware attacks have been increasing in frequency and magnitude, including the ransomware attack that resulted in the operator of the Colonial Pipeline paying millions of dollars in ransom to hackers as a result of a cyber attack disabling the pipeline for several days in 2021. Cyber attacks targeting electronic control systems used at our generating facilities and for electric and gas distribution systems could result in a full or partial disruption of our electric and/or gas operations. We have relied on a global supply chain for certain components of our operating and technology systems, which may increase our exposure to cyber attacks. Any
disruption of these operations could result in a loss of service to customers and a significant decrease in revenues, as well as significant expense to repair system damage and remedy security breaches. Due to the evolving nature of cyber attacks and cyber security, our current safeguards to protect our operating systems and information technology assets may not always be effective. We rely on third parties for software to protect against cyber attacks and we are at risk if such third parties are targets of cyber attacks. If the technology systems were to fail or be breached by a cyber attack or a computer virus, and not be recovered in a timely fashion, we may be unable to fulfill critical business functions and confidential data could be compromised, adversely impacting our financial condition and results of operation.
In addition, we may collect and retain sensitive information, including personal information
about our customers, shareowners and employees. In some cases, we outsource administration of certain functions to vendors that could be targets of cyber
attacks. For example, we outsource administration of our employee health insurance to Anthem, which
was the target of a cyber attack in 2014. Any theft, loss and/or fraudulent use of customer, shareowner, employee or proprietary data as a result of a cyber attack could subject us to significant litigation, liability and costs, as well as adversely impact our reputation with customers and regulators, among others.
Demand for energy may decrease - Our results of operations are affected by the demand for energy in our service territories. Energy demand may decrease due to many things, including proliferation of customer and third party-owned generation, technological advances that reduce the costs of renewable energy and storage solutions for our customers, government policies, such as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which incentivize customer and third party-owned generation, loss of service territory or franchises, energy efficiency measures, technological advances that improve
energy efficiency, third-party disrupters, loss of wholesale customers, the adverse impact of tariffs on our customers, and economic conditions. The loss of sales due to lower demand for energy may increase our rates for remaining customers, as our rates must cover our fixed costs. Increased customer rates may cause decreased demand for energy as customers move to customer and third party-owned generation and implement energy efficiency measures to reduce costs. The loss of customers, the inability to replace those customers with new customers, and the decrease in demand for energy could negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Our strategy includes large construction projects, which are subject to risks - Our strategy includes constructing renewable generating facilities and large-scale additions and upgrades to our electric and gas distribution systems. These
construction projects are subject to various risks. These risks include: the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and permits in a timely manner; adverse interpretation or enforcement of permit conditions; changes in applicable laws or regulations; changes in costs of materials, equipment, commodities, fuel or labor including due to inflation, tariffs, labor issues, or supply shortages; delays caused by construction accidents or injuries; shortages in materials, equipment, or qualified labor; changes to the scope or timing of the projects; general contractors, subcontractors, or equipment not performing as required under their contracts; the inability to agree to contract terms or disputes in contract terms; the inability to successfully resolve warranty claims; poor initial cost estimates; work stoppages; adverse weather conditions; government actions; legal action; unforeseen engineering or technology issues; limited access to capital or other financing
arrangements; and other adverse economic conditions. We may not be able to recover all costs for the projects in rates and face increased risk of potential impairment of our project investment if a construction project is not completed or is delayed, or final costs exceed expectations or the costs approved by our regulators. We may not be able to meet capacity requirements to comply with electric demand planning reserve margins if a construction project is not completed or is delayed. Inability to recover costs, or inability to complete projects in a timely manner, could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Supply chain disruptions could negatively impact our operations and implementation of our strategy - Our operations and strategy depend on the global supply chain to procure the equipment, materials and other resources necessary to provide services
in a safe and reliable manner and construct new utility infrastructure. The global supply chain has experienced, and is expected to continue to experience, disruptions due to a multitude of factors, such as geopolitical issues, supplier manufacturing constraints, labor issues, transportation issues, resource availability, long lead times, tariffs, tighter credit markets, inflation, the COVID-19 pandemic and weather. These disruptions have impacted, and are expected to continue to impact, our ability to receive critical materials, supplies and services in a timely and economic manner. This could have an adverse impact by increasing costs and delaying the construction, maintenance or repair of items that are needed to support normal operations or are necessary to our construction projects to implement our strategy. Inability to recover higher costs, or inability to complete projects in a timely manner, could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Our
utility business is seasonal and may be adversely affected by the impacts of weather - Electric and gas utility businesses are seasonal businesses. Demand for electricity is greater in the summer months associated with higher air conditioning needs and winter months associated with higher heating needs. Demand for natural gas depends significantly upon temperature patterns in winter months due to heavy use in residential and commercial heating. As a result, our overall operating results in the future may fluctuate substantially on a seasonal basis. In addition, we have historically generated less revenues and income when temperatures are warmer in the winter and/or cooler in the summer. Thus, mild winters and/or summers could have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
We face risks associated with operating electric and natural gas infrastructure
- The operation of electric generation and distribution infrastructure involves many risks, including start-up risks, breakdown or failure of equipment, fires developing from our power lines, transformers or substations, dam failure at one of our hydroelectric facilities, the dependence on a specific fuel source, including the supply and transportation of fuel, the risk of performance below expected or contracted levels of output or efficiency, public and employee safety, operator error and ruptured oil and chemical tanks. The operation of our natural gas distribution and transportation infrastructure also involves many risks, such as leaks, explosions, mechanical problems, members of the public and contractors coming into contact with our infrastructure, and employee and public safety. In addition, the North American electric transmission grid is highly interconnected and, in extraordinary circumstances, disruptions at particular points within
the grid could cause an extensive power outage in our service territories. Increased utilization of customer- and third party-owned generation technologies could also disrupt the reliability and balance of the electricity grid. Further, the electric transmission system in our utilities’ service territories can experience constraints, limiting the ability to transmit electricity within our service territories. The transmission constraints could result in an inability to deliver
electricity from generating facilities, particularly wind generating facilities, to the national grid, or to access lower cost sources of electricity.
These risks could cause significant harm to employees, customers and the public, including loss of human life, significant damage to property, adverse impacts on the environment and impairment of our operations, all of which could result in substantial financial losses to us. We are also responsible for compliance with new and changing regulatory standards involving safety, reliability and environmental compliance, including regulations under the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and Transportation
Security Administration. Failure to meet these regulatory standards could result in substantial fines. Lastly, we have obligations to provide electric and natural gas service to customers under regulatory requirements and contractual commitments. Failure to meet our service obligations could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Storms or other natural disasters may impact our operations in unpredictable ways - Storms and other natural disasters, including events such as floods, tornadoes, windstorms like the 2020 derecho in Iowa, blizzards, ice storms, extreme hot temperatures, extreme cold temperatures, fires, solar flares or pandemics may adversely impact our ability to generate, purchase or distribute electric energy and gas or obtain fuel or other critical supplies. In addition, we could incur large costs to repair damage to our generating facilities
and electric and gas infrastructure, or costs related to environmental remediation, due to storms or other natural disasters. The restoration costs may not be fully covered by insurance policies and may not be fully recovered in rates, or recovery in rates may be delayed. Storms and natural disasters may impact our customers and the resulting reduced demand for energy could cause lower sales and revenues, which may not be replaced or recovered in rates, or rate recovery may be delayed. Any of these items could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Threats of terrorism and catastrophic events that could result from terrorism may impact our operations in unpredictable ways - We are subject to direct and indirect effects of terrorist threats and activities. Generation, transmission and distribution facilities, in general, have been identified as potential
targets of physical or cyber attacks. Physical attacks on transmission and distribution facilities that appeared to be terrorist-style attacks have occurred. Our gas distribution system could also be the target of terrorist threats and activities. The risks posed by such attacks could include, among other things, the inability to generate, purchase or distribute electric energy or obtain fuel sources, the increased cost of security and insurance, the disruption of, volatility in, or other effects on capital markets, and a decline in the economy and/or energy usage within our service territories, all of which could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the cost of repairing damage to our facilities and infrastructure caused by acts of terrorism, and the loss of revenue if such events prevent us from providing utility service to our customers, could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
We
may not be able to fully recover costs related to commodity prices - We have natural gas and coal supply and transportation contracts in place for some of the natural gas and coal we require to generate electricity. We also have transportation and supply agreements in place to facilitate delivery of natural gas to our customers. Our counterparties to these contracts may not fulfill their obligations to provide natural gas or coal to us due to financial or operational problems caused by natural disasters, severe weather, economic conditions, labor shortages, employee strikes, transportation issues, pandemics, physical attacks or cyber attacks. If we were unable to obtain enough natural gas or coal for our electric generating facilities under our existing contracts, or to obtain electricity under existing or future purchased power agreements, we could be required to purchase natural gas or coal at higher prices, forced to purchase electricity
from higher-cost generating resources in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO) energy market and/or required to purchase replacement capacity to comply with electric demand planning reserve margins. We may be obligated to pay for coal deliveries under our contracts even if our coal-fired generating facilities do not operate enough to fully utilize the amounts of coal covered by the contracts. If, for natural gas delivery to our customers, we were unable to obtain our natural gas supply requirements under existing or future natural gas supply and transportation contracts, we could be required to purchase natural gas at higher prices from other sources. Natural gas market prices have been volatile in the past and could be volatile in the future due to additional future regulations, increased demand including due to increased liquified natural gas demand from foreign countries, limited global suppliers of natural gas, periods of extremely cold temperatures
or disruption in supply caused by major storms or pipeline explosions. We may not be able to pass on all of the changes in costs to our customers, especially at WPL where we do not have an automatic retail electric fuel cost adjustment clause to timely recover such costs and where electric fuel cost recovery may be limited if WPL earns in excess of its authorized return on common equity. Increases in prices and costs due to disruptions that are not recovered in rates fully, in a timely manner, may adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Energy industry changes could have a negative effect on our businesses - We operate in a highly regulated business environment. The advent of new and unregulated markets has the potential to significantly impact our financial condition and results of operations. Further, competitors may not be subject to the same operating,
regulatory and financial requirements that we are, potentially causing a substantial competitive disadvantage for us. Changes in public policy, such as new tax incentives that we cannot take advantage of or efforts to deregulate the utility industry, could provide an advantage to competitors. Changes in technology could also alter the channels through which electric customers produce, store, buy or utilize power, which could reduce the revenues or increase the expenses of our utility companies. Increased competition in our primary retail electric service territories may have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
We face risks related to non-utility operations - We rely on our non-utility operations for a portion of our earnings. If our non-utility holdings do not perform at expected levels, we could experience an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Laws and Regulations
Our utility business is significantly impacted by government legislation, regulation and oversight- Our utility financial condition is influenced by how regulatory authorities, including the IUB, the PSCW and FERC, establish the rates we can charge our customers, our authorized rates of return and common equity levels, and the costs
that may be recovered from customers. Our ability to timely obtain rate adjustments to earn authorized rates of return depends upon timely regulatory action under applicable statutes and regulations, and cannot be guaranteed. In future rate reviews, IPL and WPL may not receive an adequate amount of rate relief to recover all costs and earn their authorized rates of return, rates may be reduced, rate refunds may be required, rate adjustments may not be approved on a timely basis, costs may not be otherwise recovered through rates, future rates may be temporarily frozen, certain rate base items may not receive a full weighted average cost of capital, and authorized rates of return on capital may be reduced. As a result, we may experience adverse impacts on our financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, our operations are subject to extensive regulation primarily by the IUB, the PSCW and FERC. We
are also subject to oversight and monitoring by organizations such as the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the Midwest Reliability Organization, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, MISO and the Transportation Security Administration. The impacts on our operations include: our ability to site and construct new generating facilities, such as renewable energy projects, and recover associated costs, including our ability to continue to use a renewable energy rider in Iowa; our ability to decommission generating facilities and recover related costs and the remaining carrying value of these facilities and related assets; changes to MISO’s resource adequacy process establishing seasonal capacity planning reserve margin and capacity accreditation requirements that may impact how and when new generating facilities such as IPL’s and WPL’s additional solar generation may be accredited with energy capacity, and may require IPL and WPL to
adjust their current resource plans, to add resources to meet the requirements of MISO’s new process, or procure capacity in the market whereby such costs might not be recovered in rates; the impact of the lack of availability of existing and new generating facilities has on our accredited capacity for such facilities pursuant to MISO’s new seasonal resource adequacy process; the rates paid to transmission operators and how those costs are recovered from customers, including our ability to continue to use a transmission rider in Iowa; our ability to site, construct and recover costs for new natural gas pipelines; our ability to recover costs to upgrade our electric and gas distribution systems; the amount of certain sources of energy we must use, such as renewable sources; our ability to purchase generating facilities and recover the costs associated therewith; our ability to sell utility assets and any conditions placed upon the sale of such assets; our ability to enter
into purchased power agreements and recover the costs associated therewith; the allocation of expenditures by transmission companies on transmission network upgrades and our ability to recover costs associated therewith; reliability; safety; the issuance of securities and ability to use other financing arrangements for our renewable energy projects; accounting matters; and transactions between affiliates. These regulatory authorities and organizations are also empowered to impose financial penalties and other sanctions, including requirements to implement new compliance programs. Failure to obtain approvals for any of these matters in a timely manner, or receipt of approvals with uneconomical conditions, may cause us not to pursue the construction of such projects or to record an impairment of our assets and may have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. Our regulators or legislatures could change regulations or laws to permit
third parties to provide renewable energy directly to our customers without being treated as a utility, potentially causing a competitive disadvantage for us. Changes to these regulations could materially increase our costs or cause us to reconsider our strategy, which could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
Provisions of the Wisconsin Utility Holding Company Act may limit our ability to invest in or grow our non-utility activities and may deter potential purchasers who might be willing to pay a premium for our stock.
Changes to certain tax elections, tax regulations and future taxable income could negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations - We have significantly reduced our federal and state income tax obligations through tax planning strategies
and the utilization of bonus depreciation deductions for certain expenditures for property. These tax planning strategies and bonus depreciation deductions have generated large tax credit carryforwards. We plan to utilize all of these tax credit carryforwards in the future to reduce our income tax obligations. If we cannot generate enough taxable income in the future to utilize all of the tax credit carryforwards before they expire due to lower than expected financial performance or changes to tax regulations, we may incur material charges to earnings. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 allows for the sale or transfer of renewable tax credits to other taxpayers. We plan to sell a substantial amount of our eligible renewable tax credits in future years. This is a new market that will require regulations and guidance from taxing authorities. It is unclear what terms and pricing the sale of renewable tax credits will require. If we are unable to sell renewable
tax credits at reasonable terms, that could materially impact our tax credit carryforward position. In addition, our tax liability is determined by our taxable income multiplied by the current tax rates in effect. If the tax rates are increased, we may experience adverse impacts to our financial condition and results of operations.
Our utility business currently operates wind and solar generating facilities, which generate production tax credits for us to use to reduce our federal tax obligations. The amount of production tax credits we earn is dependent on the date the qualifying generating facilities are placed in service, the level of electricity output generated by our qualifying generating facilities and
sold to an unrelated buyer, and the applicable tax credit rate. If there is a disagreement on the in-service date, the amount of production tax credits that we can generate may be significantly reduced. A variety of operating and economic parameters, including transmission constraints, the imbalance of supply and demand of energy resulting in unfavorable pricing for wind or solar energy, adverse weather conditions and breakdown or failure of equipment, could significantly reduce the production tax credits generated by our wind or solar facilities resulting in a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our strategic plan includes developing storage facilities, which are expected to generate investment tax credits. Investment
tax credits are dependent on the date the qualifying generating facilities begin and end construction and the costs of the qualifying generating facilities. If there is a disagreement on the dates construction began and ended or the qualifying costs, the amount of investment tax credits awarded may be significantly reduced, possibly adversely impacting our financial condition and results of operations.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 introduced new labor requirements that are required to qualify for the full value of renewable tax credits. Failure to meet these requirements on future renewable projects could result in a significant reduction in the amount of renewable tax credits, which could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Our utility businesses are subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations
- Our utilities are subject to numerous federal, regional, state and local environmental laws, regulations, court orders, and international treaties. These laws, regulations and court orders generally concern emissions into the air, discharges into water, use of water, wetlands preservation, remediation of contamination, waste disposal and containment, disposal of coal combustion residuals, hazardous waste disposal, threatened and endangered species, and noise regulation, among others. Failure to comply with such laws, regulations and court orders, or to obtain or comply with any necessary environmental permits pursuant to such laws and regulations, could result in injunctions, fines or other sanctions. Environmental laws and regulations affecting power generation and electric and gas distribution are complex and subject to continued uncertainty and could be changed by the current Presidential Administration. These laws and regulations have
imposed, and proposed laws and regulations could impose in the future, additional costs on our utility operations. We have incurred, and will continue to incur, capital and other expenditures to comply with these and other environmental laws and regulations. Changes in or new development of environmental restrictions may force us to incur significant expenses or expenses that may exceed our estimates. There can be no assurance that we would be able to recover all or any increased environmental costs from our customers. Failure to comply with the laws, regulations and court orders, changes in the laws and regulations and failure to recover costs of compliance may adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Actions related to global climate change and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions could negatively impact us - Regulators, customers and investors continue
to raise concerns about climate change and GHG emissions. National regulatory action and international regulatory actions continue to evolve. We are focused on executing a long-term strategy to deliver safe, reliable and affordable energy with lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions independent of changing policies and political landscape. However, it is unclear how these climate change concerns will ultimately impact us. We could incur costs or other obligations to comply with future GHG regulations, and could become the target of legal claims or challenges, because generating electricity using fossil fuels emits CO2 and other GHGs. Further, investors may determine that we are too reliant on fossil fuels, reducing demand for our stock, which may cause our stock price to decrease, or not buy our debt securities, which may cause our cost of capital to increase. We could face additional pressures from customers, investors or other stakeholders to more rapidly reduce
CO2 emissions on a voluntary-basis, including faster adoption of lower CO2 emitting technologies and management of excess renewable energy credits. The timing and pace to fully achieve decarbonization is also contingent on the future development of technologies to reliably store and manage electricity, as well as electrification of other economic sectors. The EPA’s approach and timing for implementing rules to regulate CO2 emissions at fossil-fuel fired electric generating units remains undecided and subject to litigation and could change in the current Presidential Administration. Various legislative and regulatory proposals to address climate change at the national, state and local levels continue to be introduced. Potential future requirements to reduce CO2, methane and other GHGs from the energy and manufacturing sectors could affect our operations in various ways. Regulation or legislation mandating CO2 emissions reductions or other clean energy standards affecting
utility companies could materially increase costs, causing some electric generating units to be uneconomical to operate or maintain. We are vulnerable to potential risks associated with transition to a lower-carbon economy that may extend to our supply chain and natural gas operations. Regulation of oil and gas production could affect our upstream supply of natural gas for electricity generation and to provide directly to our residential and business customers from our local distribution company. This could result in rapid increased demand for alternative non-fossil energy sources and economy-wide electrification. Changes to regional and local climate trends such as the frequency, seasonality, and severity of weather conditions could directly and indirectly impact our company. Acute and chronic physical risks could disrupt our operations or affect our property. Furthermore, it could affect the timing of peak demand and overall energy consumption of our customers. We
cannot provide any assurance regarding the potential impacts of climate change or related policies and regulations to reduce GHG emissions on our operations and these could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Economic, Financial and Labor Market Conditions
We are subject to employee workforce factors that could affect our businesses - We operate in an industry that requires specialized technical skills. Further, we must build a workforce that is innovative, customer-focused and competitive to thrive
in the future in order to successfully implement our strategy. We have seen an increase in retirements due to our aging workforce and the recent impact of rising interest rates on pension plan benefits. The labor market for our employees is very competitive, increasing the likelihood that we may lose critical employees or have difficulty hiring qualified employees for critical roles. Critical employees are being hired at a higher cost. It may be difficult to hire and retain such a skilled workforce due to labor market conditions, such as low unemployment rates in our service territories, the length of time employees need to acquire the skills, and general competition for talent. The competitive employment market also increases the amounts we pay our employees in critical positions. We are also subject to collective
bargaining agreements covering approximately 1,700 employees. Any work stoppage experienced in connection with negotiations of collective bargaining agreements could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations as well as our ability to implement our strategy.
We are subject to limitations on our ability to pay dividends - Alliant Energy is a holding company with no significant operations of its own. The primary sources of funds for Alliant Energy to pay dividends to its shareowners are dividends and distributions from its subsidiaries, primarily its utility subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to pay any amounts to Alliant Energy, whether by dividends, distributions, loans or other payments. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions to Alliant Energy and, accordingly, our
ability to pay dividends on Alliant Energy common stock will depend on regulatory limitations, earnings, cash flows, capital requirements and general financial condition of our subsidiaries. Our utilities have dividend payment restrictions based on the terms of regulatory limitations applicable to them. If we do not receive adequate dividends and distributions from our subsidiaries, then we may not be able to make, or may have to reduce, dividend payments on Alliant Energy common stock.
We are subject to risks related to inflation - We have recently experienced a significant increase in inflation. The impact of supply chain disruptions, COVID-19 and other factors continue to create uncertainty in near-term economic conditions, including whether inflation will continue and at what rate. Increases in inflation raise our costs for labor, materials and services. Inflation may also cause
interest rates to increase, increasing our cost of capital. Failure to timely recover these increased costs in rates may adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. Further, increased costs due to inflation will directly and indirectly increase customer costs, which may decrease demand for energy and adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
We may incur material post-closing adjustments related to past asset and business divestitures - We have sold certain non-utility subsidiaries such as Whiting Petroleum Corporation (Whiting Petroleum). We may continue to incur liabilities relating to our previous ownership of, or the transactions pursuant to which we disposed of, these subsidiaries and assets. Any potential liability depends on a number of factors outside of our control, including the financial condition of Whiting Petroleum,
certain of its partners, and/or their assignees. Any required payments on retained liabilities, guarantees or indemnification obligations with respect to Whiting Petroleum or other past and future asset or business divestitures could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
We are dependent on the capital markets and could be negatively impacted by disruptions in the capital markets - Successful implementation of our strategy is dependent upon our ability to access the capital markets. We have forecasted capital expenditures of approximately $8 billion over the next four years. Disruption, uncertainty or volatility in the capital markets could increase our cost of capital or limit our ability to raise funds needed to operate our businesses. Disruptions could be caused by Federal Reserve policies and actions, currency concerns, inflation, economic downturn
or uncertainty, monetary policies, a negative view of the utility industry or our company, failures of financial institutions, U.S. debt management concerns, U.S. debt limit and budget debates, including government shutdowns, European and worldwide sovereign debt concerns, other global or geopolitical events, or other factors. Increases in interest rates will cause the cost of capital to increase and may cause the price of our equity securities to decline. Any disruptions in capital markets could adversely impact our ability to implement our strategy.
We rely on our strong credit ratings to access the credit markets. If our credit ratings are downgraded for any reason, such as worsening credit metric impacts, negative changes to our regulatory environment, or general negative outlook for the utility industry, we could pay higher interest rates in future financings, the pool of potential lenders could be
reduced, borrowing costs under existing credit facilities could increase, our access to the commercial paper market could be limited, or we could be required to provide additional credit assurance, including cash collateral, to contract counterparties. If our access to capital were to become significantly constrained or costs of capital increased significantly due to lowered credit ratings, prevailing industry conditions, regulatory constraints, volatility of the capital markets, inflation or other factors, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our pension and other postretirement benefits plans are subject to investment and interest rate risk that could negatively impact our financial condition - We have pension and other postretirement benefits plans that provide benefits to many of our employees and retirees. Costs of providing benefits and
related funding requirements of these plans are subject to changes in the liabilities of the plans and market value of the assets that fund the plans. The funded status of the plans and the related costs reflected in our financial statements are affected by various factors, which are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty, including economic conditions, financial market performance, interest rates, life expectancies and demographics. Recessions and volatility in the domestic and international financial markets have negatively affected the asset values of our pension plans at various times in the past. Poor investment returns or lower interest rates may necessitate
accelerated funding of the plans to meet minimum federal government requirements, which could have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Alliant Energy - As a holding company, Alliant Energy doesn’t directly own any significant properties
other than the stock of its subsidiaries. The principal properties of those subsidiaries are as follows:
IPL and WPL
Electric - At December 31, 2022, IPL’s and WPL’s facilities by primary fuel type were as follows:
IPL
Generating
In-service
Capacity
Name
of Facility and Location
Dates
in MW (a)
Marshalltown Generating Station (Units 1-3); Marshalltown, IA
2017
528
Emery Generating Station (Units 1-3); Mason City, IA
2004
514
Burlington
Generating Station (Unit 1); Burlington, IA
1968
162
Marshalltown Combustion Turbines (Units 1-3); Marshalltown, IA
1978
141
Prairie Creek Generating Station (Unit 4); Cedar Rapids,
IA
1967
99
Burlington Combustion Turbines (Units 1-4); Burlington, IA
1994-1996
32
Total Gas
1,476
Upland
Prairie (121 Units); Clay and Dickinson Cos., IA
2019
299
Whispering Willow - North (81 Units); Franklin Co., IA
2020
201
Whispering Willow - East (121 Units); Franklin Co., IA
2009
200
Golden
Plains (82 Units); Winnebago and Kossuth Cos., IA
2020
200
English Farms (69 Units); Poweshiek Co., IA
2019
172
Richland (53 Units); Sac Co., IA
2020
131
Franklin
County (60 Units); Franklin Co., IA
2012
99
Total Wind
1,302
Ottumwa Generating Station (Unit 1); Ottumwa, IA (b)
1981
309
Lansing
Generating Station (Unit 4); Lansing, IA
1977
146
George Neal Generating Station (Unit 4); Sioux City, IA (c)
1979
158
George Neal Generating Station (Unit 3); Sioux City, IA (d)
1975
137
Prairie
Creek Generating Station (Units 1 and 3); Cedar Rapids, IA
1958-1997
31
Louisa Generating Station (Unit 1); Louisa, IA (e)
1983
29
Total Coal
810
Lime
Creek Combustion Turbines (Units 1-2); Mason City, IA
1991
63
Total Oil
63
Dubuque Solar Facility; Dubuque, IA
2017
5
Marshalltown
Solar Facility; Marshalltown, IA
2020
3
Total Solar
8
Battery Storage; Decorah, Wellman and Marshalltown, IA
West Riverside Energy Center (Units 1-3); Beloit, WI (f)
2020
436
Neenah
Energy Facility (Units 1-2); Neenah, WI
2000
289
South Fond du Lac Combustion Turbines (2 Units); Fond du Lac, WI (g)
1994
162
Total Gas
1,325
Bent
Tree (122 Units); Freeborn Co., MN
2010-2011
201
Kossuth (56 Units); Kossuth Co., IA
2020
152
Cedar Ridge (41 Units); Fond du Lac Co., WI
2008
68
Forward
Wind Energy Center (37 Units); Dodge and Fond du Lac Cos., WI (h)
2008
59
Total Wind
480
Columbia Energy Center (Units 1-2); Portage, WI (i)
1975-1978
584
Edgewater
Generating Station (Unit 5); Sheboygan, WI
1985
356
Total Coal
940
Wood County Solar Facility, Wood Co., WI
2022
150
Bear
Creek Solar Facility, Richland Co., WI
2022
50
North Rock Solar Facility, Rock Co., WI
2022
50
West Riverside Solar Facility, Beloit, WI (j)
2021
4
Customer-
and Community-hosted Solar; various locations in WI
2021-2022
4
Total Solar
258
Prairie du Sac Hydro Plant (8 Units); Prairie due Sac, WI
1914-1940
13
Kilbourn
Hydro Plant (4 Units); Wisconsin Dells, WI
1926-1939
6
Total Hydro
19
Battery Storage; Portage, WI
2022
5
Total
Battery Storage
5
Total capacity
3,027
(a)Based on the accredited generating capacity included in MISO’s resource adequacy process for the planning period from June 2022
through May 2023, except for wind facilities, solar facilities and battery storage, which are based on nameplate capacity.
(b)Represents IPL’s 48% ownership interest, which is operated by IPL.
(c)Represents IPL’s 25.695% ownership interest, which is operated by MidAmerican Energy Company.
(d)Represents IPL’s 28% ownership interest, which is operated by MidAmerican Energy Company.
(e)Represents IPL’s 4% ownership interest, which is operated by MidAmerican Energy Company.
(f)Represents WPL’s 91% ownership interest, which is operated by WPL.
(g)Represents Units 2 and 3,
which WPL owns. WPL also operates, but does not own, South Fond du Lac Combustion Turbines Units 1 and 4.
(h)Represents WPL’s 42.64% ownership interest, which is operated by Invenergy Services, LLC.
(i)Represents WPL’s 53.5% ownership interest, which is operated by WPL.
(j)Represents WPL’s 91% ownership interest, which is operated by WPL.
IPL and WPL own overhead electric distribution line, underground electric distribution cable and substation distribution transformers, substantially all of which are located in Iowa for IPL and Wisconsin for WPL.
Gas - IPL’s and WPL’s gas properties consist primarily of mains and services,
meters, regulating and gate stations and other related transmission and distribution equipment. IPL’s and WPL’s gas distribution facilities include gas mains located in Iowa and Wisconsin, respectively.
Other - IPL’s other property includes steam service assets. Refer to Note 10 for information regarding WPL’s lease of the Sheboygan Falls Energy Facility from AEF’s Non-utility Generation business.
Corporate Services - Corporate Services’ property included in “Property, plant and equipment, net” on Alliant Energy’s balance sheet at December 31, 2022 consisted primarily of a customer billing and information
system for IPL and WPL and other computer software, and the corporate headquarters building located in Madison, Wisconsin.
AEF - AEF’s principal properties included in “Property, plant and equipment, net”
on Alliant Energy’s balance sheet at December 31, 2022 were as follows:
Non-utility Generation - Includes the Sheboygan Falls Energy Facility, a 347 MW, simple-cycle, natural gas-fired facility near Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin that was placed in service in 2005 and is leased to WPL. The Sheboygan Falls Energy Facility was accredited with 291 MW of generating capacity for MISO’s resource adequacy process for the planning period from June 2022 through May 2023.
Travero - Includes a short-line rail freight service in Iowa; a Mississippi River barge, rail and truck freight terminal in Illinois; and a rail-served warehouse in Iowa.
ITEM
3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None. SEC regulations require Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL to disclose information about certain proceedings arising under federal, state or local environmental provisions when a governmental authority is a party to the proceedings and such proceedings involve potential monetary sanctions that Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL reasonably believe will exceed a specified threshold. Pursuant to the SEC regulations, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL use a threshold of $1 million for purposes of determining whether disclosure of any such proceedings is required. Applying this threshold, there are no environmental matters to disclose for this period. Refer to Note 17(c) for discussion of legal and administrative proceedings before various courts and agencies with
respect to matters arising in the ordinary course of business.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
INFORMATION ABOUT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The executive officers of Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL for which information must be included are the same; however, different positions may be held at the various registrants. None of the executive officers for Alliant Energy, IPL or WPL listed below are related to any member of the Board of Directors or nominee for director or any other executive officer. All of the executive officers
have no definite terms of office and serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The executive officers of Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL announced as of the date of this filing are as follows:
Mr. Larsen has served as a director since February 2019, and as Chair of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since July 2019. He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) since January 2019, and as President from January 2018 to January 2019. Mr. Larsen’s service as President will end in February 2023 with the effectiveness of Ms. Barton’s appointment.
IPL
Mr. Larsen has served as CEO since
January 2019, as a director since February 2019, and as Chair of the Board since July 2019. He previously served as Senior Vice President (VP) since February 2014. Mr. Larsen’s service as CEO will end in February 2023 with the effectiveness of Ms. Barton’s appointment.
WPL
Mr. Larsen has served as CEO since January 2019, as a director since February 2019, and as Chair of the Board since July 2019. He previously served as President since December 2010. Mr. Larsen’s service as CEO will end in February 2023 with the effectiveness of Ms. Barton’s appointment.
Lisa M. Barton
57
Alliant
Energy
Ms. Barton was selected to become President and COO effective February 27, 2023. She previously served as Executive VP and COO of American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP) from January 2021 to November 2022, Executive VP - Utilities of AEP from January 2020 to December 2020, and as Executive VP - Transmission of AEP from 2011 to 2019.
Mr. Durian has served as Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) since February 2020. He previously served as Senior VP and CFO since February 2019; and as Senior VP, CFO and Treasurer from January 2018 to February 2019.
Mr. de Leon has served as Senior VP since January 2019. He previously served as VP since April 2017.
WPL
Mr. de Leon has served as President since January 2019. He previously served as VP since April 2017.
Terry L. Kouba
64
Alliant Energy and WPL
Mr. Kouba has served as Senior VP since January 2019. He
previously served as VP since February 2014.
IPL
Mr. Kouba has served as President since January 2019. He previously served as VP since February 2014.
Michael Luhrs
50
Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL
Mr. Luhrs has served as Senior VP since April 2022. He previously was with Duke Energy, Inc. as VP - Integrated Grid Strategy and Solutions from 2021 to 2022, VP - Market Strategy and Solutions from 2019 to
2021, and as VP - Retail Programs from 2013 to 2018.
Mr. Bilitz has served as Chief Accounting Officer and Controller since December 2016.
PART II
ITEM
5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS’ COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Common Stock Data - Alliant Energy’s common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “LNT,” and the closing sales price at December 31, 2022 was $55.21.
Shareowners - At December 31, 2022, there were 21,556 holders of record of Alliant Energy’s common stock, including holders through Alliant Energy’s Shareowner Direct Plan. Alliant Energy is the sole common shareowner of all 13,370,788 and 13,236,601 shares of IPL and WPL common stock, respectively, currently outstanding. As a result, there is no established public trading market for the common stock of either
IPL or WPL.
Dividends - In November 2022, Alliant Energy announced an increase in its targeted 2023 annual common stock dividend to $1.81 per share, which is equivalent to a quarterly rate of $0.4525 per share, beginning with the February 2023 dividend payment. The timing and amount of future dividends is subject to an approved dividend declaration from Alliant Energy’s Board of Directors, and is dependent upon earnings expectations, capital requirements, and general financial business conditions, among other factors.
Common Stock Repurchases - A summary of Alliant Energy common stock repurchases for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:
Total
Number
Average Price
Total Number of Shares
Maximum Number (or Approximate
of Shares
Paid Per
Purchased as Part of
Dollar Value) of Shares That May
Period
Purchased (a)
Share
Publicly
Announced Plan
Yet Be Purchased Under the Plan (a)
October 1 to October 31
5,101
$50.28
—
N/A
November 1 to November 30
3,224
53.66
—
N/A
December
1 to December 31
43
55.30
—
N/A
8,368
51.61
—
(a)All shares were purchased on the open market and held in a rabbi trust under the DCP. There is no limit on the number of shares of Alliant
Energy common stock that may be held under the DCP, which currently does not have an expiration date.
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This MDA includes information relating to Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL, as well as AEF and Corporate Services. Where appropriate, information relating to a specific entity has been segregated and labeled as such. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and Notes included in this report. Unless
otherwise noted, all “per share” references in MDA refer to earnings per diluted share. In addition, this MDA includes certain financial information for 2022 compared to 2021. Refer to MDA in the combined 2021 Form 10-K for details on certain financial information for 2021 compared to 2020.
Alliant Energy’s mission is to deliver affordable energy solutions and exceptional service that its customers and communities count on - affordably, safely, reliably, and sustainably. This mission aligns with Alliant Energy’s purpose - to serve customers and build stronger communities - which guides it through the ever-changing dynamics of the economy and the energy industry. Alliant Energy takes its responsibility as a corporate citizen seriously and remains a careful steward of the environment and supports the communities in its service territories. Alliant Energy’s mission and purpose is supported by a strategy focused on meeting the evolving expectations of customers while
providing an attractive return for investors, and pursuing emerging technologies and safe, sustainable methods of energy production. This strategy includes the following key elements:
Providing affordable energy solutions to customers - Alliant Energy’s strategy focuses on affordable energy solutions that support retention and growth of its existing customers and attract new customers to its service territories.
Key Highlights -
•Alliant Energy’s Clean Energy Blueprint, also known as its cleaner energy strategy, continues to add clean energy resources in Iowa and Wisconsin, which directly reinvests in the communities Alliant Energy serves through the addition of skilled jobs, economic development and increased tax revenue. The execution
of Alliant Energy’s strategy is expected to result in cost benefits for its utility customers by continuing to add renewable energy projects that generate fuel cost benefits and renewable tax credits that are provided to its electric customers. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL currently expect to utilize various provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 to enhance the tax benefits expected from their announced solar and battery storage projects, including transferring certain future tax credits from such projects to other corporate taxpayers.
•In 2022, Alliant Energy’s wind generation was the highest in its history, which resulted in renewable tax credits and fuel cost savings for its customers.
•Reductions in Iowa corporate income tax rates resulting from tax reform enacted in March 2022 are expected to provide cost benefits to
IPL’s customers in the future.
•IPL maintaining flat base rates for its retail electric and gas customers in 2021 and 2022.
•IPL’s renewable energy rider became effective February 26, 2020, which allows for annual adjustments to electric rates charged to IPL’s retail electric customers for actual renewable energy costs incurred to fund IPL’s 1,000 MW of wind EGUs placed in service in 2019 and 2020, and related tax benefits, including production tax credits, that are provided to its electric customers.
•Providing $35 million of billing credits to IPL’s retail electric customers beginning in the third quarter of 2020 through June 2021, largely driven by Federal Tax Reform benefits for customers.
•Significant
fuel cost reductions achieved in 2021 and 2022 as a result of shortening the term of IPL’s DAEC PPA by 5 years.
•Issuance of new long-term debt at historically low interest rates for IPL ($300 million of 3.1% senior debentures due 2051) and WPL ($300 million of 1.95% green bonds due 2031) in 2021, and WPL ($600 million of 3.95% green bonds due 2032) in 2022.
•Redemption of IPL’s 5.1% cumulative preferred stock in 2021.
•Levelized cost recovery mechanism for the remaining net book value of Edgewater Unit 5, which helps reduce customer costs in 2022 and 2023.
Making customer-focused investments - Alliant Energy’s strategic priorities include making significant customer-focused
investments toward cleaner energy and resilient and sustainable customer solutions. Alliant Energy’s strategy drives a capital allocation process focused on: 1) transitioning its generation portfolio to meet the growing interest of customers for reliable and sustainable sources of energy, 2) upgrading its electric and gas distribution systems to strengthen safety and resiliency, as well as enable distributed energy solutions in its service territories, and 3) enhancing its customers’ and employees’ experience with evolving technology and greater flexibility.
•Planned development and acquisition of additional renewable
energy, including approximately 1,100 MW of solar generation at WPL with in-service dates in 2022-2024, approximately 275 MW of battery storage at WPL with in-service dates in 2024 and 2025, approximately 400 MW of solar generation at IPL with in-service dates in 2023 and 2024, and approximately 75 MW of battery storage at IPL with in-service dates in 2024. In addition, IPL and WPL continue to evaluate additional opportunities to add more renewable generation, including repowering of existing wind farms and additional solar generation and distributed energy resources, including community solar and energy storage systems.
•Plans to construct and/or acquire additional renewable, battery and natural gas resources to meet the requirements of MISO’s new seasonal resource adequacy process establishing capacity planning reserve margin and capacity accreditation requirements effective with the 2023/2024 MISO
Planning Year.
•WPL’s completion of new solar generation in Wisconsin in 2022, including 150 MW in Wood County, 50 MW in Richland County, and 50 MW in Rock County.
Growing
customer demand - Alliant Energy’s strategy supports expanding electric and gas usage in its service territories by promoting electrification initiatives and economic development in the communities it serves.
Key Highlights -
•Alliant’s Energy’s economic development efforts resulted in being named a Top Utility in Economic Development by Site Selection Magazine for the fourth year in a row, and in 2022 being awarded the Chairman’s Award for Workforce Development Leadership by the Center for Energy Workforce Development.
•Alliant Energy continues to partner with its commercial and industrial customers to help develop renewable solutions to enhance their sustainability initiatives, including planned solar facilities in Iowa and
Wisconsin.
•Alliant Energy has various development-ready sites throughout Iowa and Wisconsin, including the 1,300-acre Big Cedar Industrial Center Mega-site in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the 730-acre Prairie View Industrial Center Super Park in Ames, Iowa, which are rail-served ready-to-build manufacturing and industrial sites in close proximity to the regional airport and interstate freeways and access IPL’s electric services. The Big Cedar Industrial Center Mega-site also accesses Travero’s rail-served warehouse in Iowa. In addition, the Beaver Dam Commerce Park is a 520-acre ready-to-build manufacturing and industrial site in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, with access to commercial and freight airports, interstate freeways and WPL’s electric services.
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
Results of operations include financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP as well as utility electric margins and utility gas margins, which are not measures of financial performance under GAAP. Utility electric margins are defined as electric revenues less electric production fuel, purchased power and electric transmission service expenses. Utility gas margins are defined as gas revenues less cost of gas sold. Utility electric margins and utility gas margins are non-GAAP financial measures because they exclude other utility and non-utility revenues, other operation and maintenance expenses, depreciation and amortization expenses, and taxes other than income tax expense.
Management believes that utility electric and gas margins provide a meaningful basis for evaluating and managing utility operations since electric production
fuel, purchased power and electric transmission service expenses and cost of gas sold are generally passed through to customers, and therefore, result in changes to electric and gas revenues that are comparable to changes in such expenses. The presentation of utility electric and gas margins herein is intended to provide supplemental information for investors regarding operating performance. These utility electric and gas margins may not be comparable to how other entities define utility electric and gas margin. Furthermore, these measures are not intended to replace operating income as determined in accordance with GAAP as an indicator of operating performance.
Additionally, the table below includes EPS for Utilities and Corporate Services, ATC Holdings, and Non-utility and Parent, which are non-GAAP financial measures. Alliant Energy believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors
because they facilitate an understanding of segment performance and trends, and provide additional information about Alliant Energy’s operations on a basis consistent with the measures that management uses to manage its operations and evaluate its performance.
Financial Results Overview - Alliant Energy’s net income and EPS attributable to Alliant Energy common shareowners were as follows (dollars in millions, except per share amounts):
2022
2021
Income
(Loss)
EPS
Income (Loss)
EPS
Utilities and Corporate Services
$690
$2.74
$632
$2.52
ATC
Holdings
29
0.12
31
0.12
Non-utility and Parent
(33)
(0.13)
(4)
(0.01)
Alliant
Energy Consolidated
$686
$2.73
$659
$2.63
Alliant Energy’s Utilities and Corporate Services net income increased by $58 million in 2022 compared to 2021. The increase was primarily due to higher revenue requirements and AFUDC from WPL capital investments and higher electric and gas margins, including the impacts of temperatures. These items were partially offset by higher depreciation expense.
Alliant Energy’s Non-utility and Parent net income decreased by $29 million in 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to higher financing expense
and the impact of the Iowa state income tax rate change.
Operating income and a reconciliation of utility electric and gas margins to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, operating income, was as follows (in millions):
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
Operating income
$928
$795
$453
$460
$452
$308
Electric
utility revenues
$3,421
$3,081
$1,859
$1,752
$1,562
$1,329
Electric production
fuel and purchased power expenses
(830)
(642)
(383)
(295)
(447)
(347)
Electric transmission service expense
(573)
(537)
(407)
(367)
(166)
(170)
Utility
Electric Margin (non-GAAP)
2,018
1,902
1,069
1,090
949
812
Gas utility revenues
642
456
351
265
291
191
Cost
of gas sold
(389)
(258)
(206)
(149)
(183)
(109)
Utility Gas Margin (non-GAAP)
253
198
145
116
108
82
Other
utility revenues
49
49
46
46
3
3
Non-utility revenues
93
83
—
—
—
—
Other
operation and maintenance expenses
(704)
(676)
(369)
(362)
(278)
(268)
Depreciation and amortization expenses
(671)
(657)
(381)
(375)
(283)
(276)
Taxes
other than income tax expense
(110)
(104)
(57)
(55)
(47)
(45)
Operating income
$928
$795
$453
$460
$452
$308
Operating
Income Variances - Variances between periods in operating income for 2022 compared to 2021 were as follows (in millions):
Alliant Energy
IPL
WPL
Total higher (lower) utility electric margin variance (Refer to details below)
$116
($21)
$137
Total
higher utility gas margin variance (Refer to details below)
55
29
26
Total higher other operation and maintenance expenses variance (Refer to details below)
(28)
(7)
(10)
Total higher depreciation and amortization expense
(14)
(6)
(7)
Other
4
(2)
(2)
$133
($7)
$144
Electric
and Gas Revenues and Sales Summary - Electric and gas revenues (in millions), and MWh and Dth sales (in thousands), were as follows:
Sales Trends and Temperatures - Alliant Energy’s retail electric sales volumes were unchanged in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to increases in sales volumes to residential and commercial customers caused by changes in temperatures, offset by decreases in sales volumes to industrial customers caused by maintenance outages and labor-related disruptions at certain large customers. Alliant Energy’s retail gas sales volumes increased 14% in 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to changes in temperatures and increases in the number of retail gas customers.
Estimated increases (decreases) to electric and gas margins from the impacts of temperatures were as follows (in millions):
Electric
Margins
Gas Margins
2022
2021
2022
2021
IPL
$16
$12
$5
($1)
WPL
10
7
2
(2)
Total
Alliant Energy
$26
$19
$7
($3)
Electric Sales for Resale - Electric sales for resale volume changes were largely due to changes in sales in the wholesale energy markets operated by MISO. These changes are impacted by several factors, including the availability and dispatch of Alliant Energy’s EGUs and electricity demand
within these wholesale energy markets. Changes in sales for resale revenues were largely offset by changes in fuel-related costs, and therefore, did not have a significant impact on electric margins.
Gas Transportation/Other - Gas transportation/other sales volume changes were largely due to changes in the gas volumes supplied to Alliant Energy’s natural gas-fired EGUs caused by the availability and dispatch of such EGUs. Changes in these transportation/other revenues did not have a significant impact on gas margins.
Utility Electric Margin Variances - The following items contributed to increased (decreased) utility electric margins for 2022 compared to 2021 (in millions):
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
Higher revenue requirements at WPL due to increasing rate base (a)
$121
$—
$121
Higher revenues at IPL due to changes in credits on customers’ bills related to excess deferred income tax benefits amortization through the tax benefit rider (offset by changes in income taxes)
11
11
—
Estimated
changes in sales volumes caused by temperatures
7
4
3
Lower revenues at IPL related to changes in the renewable energy rider (mostly offset by changes in income taxes caused by higher production tax credits)
(37)
(37)
—
Other (includes higher wholesale margins at WPL)
14
1
13
$116
($21)
$137
(a)In
December 2021, the PSCW issued an order authorizing annual base rate increases of $114 million and $15 million for WPL’s retail electric and gas customers, respectively, covering the 2022/2023 forward-looking Test Period, which was based on a stipulated agreement between WPL and certain stakeholders. The key drivers for the annual base rate increases include higher retail fuel-related costs in 2022, lower excess deferred income tax benefits in 2022 and 2023 compared to 2021, and revenue requirement impacts of increasing electric and gas rate base, including investments in solar generation. Retail electric rate changes were effective on January 1, 2022 and extend through the end of 2023. Retail gas rate changes were effective on January 1, 2022 and extended through the end of 2022. The higher fuel expense costs are recognized in electric margin and the lower amount
of excess deferred income tax benefits is recognized as an increase in income tax expense.
Utility Gas Margin Variances - The following items contributed to increased (decreased) utility gas margins for 2022 compared to 2021 (in millions):
Alliant Energy
IPL
WPL
Higher
revenues at IPL related to changes in recovery amounts for energy efficiency costs through the energy efficiency rider (mostly offset by changes in energy efficiency expense)
$17
$17
$—
Higher revenue requirements at WPL due to increasing rate base (refer to (a) above)
17
—
17
Estimated changes in sales volumes caused by temperatures
Other Operation and Maintenance Expenses Variances- The following items contributed to (increased) decreased other operation and maintenance expenses for 2022 compared to 2021 (in millions):
Alliant Energy
IPL
WPL
Higher
energy efficiency expense at IPL (mostly offset by higher revenues)
($15)
($15)
$—
Non-utility Travero (mostly offset by higher revenues)
(9)
—
—
Other
(4)
8
(10)
($28)
($7)
($10)
Other
Income and Deductions Variances- The following items contributed to (increased) decreased other income and deductions for 2022 compared to 2021 (in millions):
Alliant Energy
IPL
WPL
Higher interest expense primarily due to financings completed
in 2022 and 2021, and higher interest rates
($48)
($9)
($16)
Lower equity income from unconsolidated investments, net (refer to Note 6 for details of a reduction recorded in 2022 related to the MISO return on equity complaint)
(11)
—
—
Higher
AFUDC primarily due to changes in CWIP balances related to WPL’s solar generation
35
2
33
Other (refer to Note 13(a) for details of IPL’s qualified pension plan settlement losses)
(1)
(5)
3
($25)
($12)
$20
Income
Taxes - Refer to Note 12 for details of effective income tax rates, including the impact of Iowa tax reform in 2022.
Preferred Dividend Requirements of IPL - Refer to Note 8 for details of the redemption of IPL’s 5.1% cumulative preferred stock in 2021, including a $5 million non-cash charge recorded in 2021 related to this transaction.
Other Future Considerations - In addition to items discussed in this report, the following key items
could impact Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s future financial condition or results of operations:
•Financing Plans - Alliant Energy currently expects to issue up to $250 million of common stock in 2023 through the distribution agreement for the sale from time to time of up to $225 million of common stock that was executed in December 2022, and its Shareowner Direct Plan. Alliant Energy and its subsidiaries currently expect to issue up to $1.2 billion of long-term debt in 2023. AEF has $400 million of long-term debt maturing in 2023.
•Common Stock Dividends - Alliant Energy announced a 6% increase in its targeted 2023 annual common stock dividend to $1.81 per share, which is equivalent to a quarterly rate of $0.4525 per share, beginning with the February 2023 dividend payment. The timing
and amount of future dividends is subject to an approved dividend declaration from Alliant Energy’s Board of Directors, and is dependent upon earnings expectations, capital requirements, and general financial business conditions, among other factors.
•Higher Earnings on Increasing Rate Base - Alliant Energy and WPL currently expect an increase in earnings in 2023 compared to 2022 due to impacts from increasing revenue requirements related to investments in the utility business, including WPL’s solar investments.
•Other Operation and Maintenance Expenses - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL currently expect a decrease in other operation and maintenance expenses in 2023 compared to 2022 largely due to cost reductions resulting from operating efficiencies.
•Interest
Expense - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL currently expect an increase in interest expense in 2023 compared to 2022 due to financings completed in 2022 and planned in 2023 as discussed above, as well as expected higher interest rates.
CUSTOMER INVESTMENTS
Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s strategic priorities include making significant customer-focused investments toward cleaner energy and resilient and sustainable customer solutions. These priorities include:
Clean Energy Blueprint
Alliant Energy has developed a Clean Energy Blueprint, or its cleaner energy strategy, as a guide to meet customer demand for
affordable, safe, reliable and sustainable energy in Iowa and Wisconsin. This strategy includes the planned development and acquisition of additional renewable energy, including approximately 1,100 MW of solar generation at WPL with in-service dates in 2022-2024, approximately 275 MW of battery storage at WPL with in-service dates in 2024 and 2025, approximately 400 MW of solar generation at IPL with in-service dates in 2023 and 2024 and approximately 75 MW of battery storage at IPL with in-service dates in 2024. In order to support reliable and sustainable energy and meet the MISO’s new seasonal resource adequacy requirements, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL continue to evaluate additional opportunities for renewable generation, distributed energy resources and natural gas resources, as well as repower existing wind farms. Estimated capital expenditures for these planned projects for 2023 through 2026 are included in the “Renewables and battery storage” line in
the construction and acquisition table in “Liquidity and Capital Resources.” These estimates include current expectations for higher costs for various projects, as supply constraints and commodity inflation continue to be prevalent in the solar market. In
addition, Alliant Energy completed the construction and acquisition of approximately 1,200 MW of wind generation in aggregate (approximately 1,000 MW at IPL and approximately 200 MW at WPL) from 2018 through 2020.
WPL’s Solar Generation and Distributed Energy Resources - In June 2021, WPL received an order from the PSCW for its first CA authorizing WPL to acquire, own, and operate 675 MW of new solar generation in the following Wisconsin counties: Grant (200 MW), Sheboygan (150 MW), Wood (150 MW), Jefferson (75 MW), Richland (50 MW) and Rock (50 MW). In June 2022, WPL received an order from the PSCW for its second CA authorizing WPL to acquire, construct, own, and operate up to 414 MW of new solar generation in the following Wisconsin counties:
Dodge (150 MW), Waushara (99 MW), Rock (65 MW), Grant (50 MW) and Green (50 MW). The Wood, Richland and Rock County projects were placed in service in 2022, and the remaining projects in the first and second CAs are expected to be placed in service in 2023 and 2024. The 1,089 MW of new solar generation is expected to replace energy and capacity being eliminated with the planned retirements of the coal-fired Edgewater Generating Station (414 MW) by June 1, 2025, and Columbia Units 1 and 2 (595 MW in aggregate) by June 1, 2026, which are the last coal-fired EGUs at WPL. The retirement of these coal-fired EGUs supports Alliant Energy’s strategy, which is focused on meeting its customers’ energy needs in an affordable, safe, reliable and sustainable manner.
In September 2022, WPL filed a request with the PSCW
for approval to construct, own and operate 175 MW of battery storage, with 100 MW and 75 MW at the Grant County and Wood County solar projects, respectively, with in-service dates in 2024. In January 2023, WPL filed a request with the PSCW for approval to construct, own and operate approximately 99 MW of battery storage at the Edgewater Generating Station, with an in-service date in 2025.
IPL’s Solar Generation and Distributed Energy Resources - In November 2021, IPL filed for advance rate-making principles with the IUB for up to 400 MW of solar generation with in-service dates in 2023 and 2024 and 75 MW of battery storage in 2024. The advance rate-making principles filing included requests for a fixed cost cap, including AFUDC and transmission upgrade costs among other costs, and a return on common equity of 11.40%, and proposed that a portion of the construction be financed by tax
equity partners. In September 2022, IPL provided the IUB with a summary of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, as well as an economic analysis indicating full ownership for these planned solar and battery storage projects is currently expected to result in more cost benefits for its customers compared to previous plans to utilize tax equity financing.
In November 2022, the IUB denied these advance rate-making principles filings and IPL requested reconsideration of the IUB’s decision. In December 2022, the IUB issued an order granting reconsideration of 200 MW of solar generation, and denied reconsideration of the other 200 MW of solar generation and 75 MW of battery storage. In January 2023, IPL filed additional information with the IUB related to the 400 MW of solar generation and 75 MW of battery storage, including a revised fixed cost cap of $1,845/kilowatt, based on updated materials, labor and shipping
costs. In addition, IPL filed a request for judicial review in January 2023 regarding the denial of advance rate-making principles for the other 200 MW of solar generation and 75 MW of battery storage. In February 2023, the IUB issued an order stating that it will not issue a decision on the advance rate-making principles for the 200 MW of solar that was granted reconsideration until it receives clarity regarding its authority to issue the advance rate-making principles while the judicial review is also pending. IPL believes these solar generation and battery storage projects are in the best interests of its customers, and if advance rate-making principles are not approved by the IUB or approval by the IUB is expected to be delayed, IPL may decide to proceed with constructing the solar generation and battery storage subject to other applicable approvals (such as a GCU Certificate), and seek recovery in future rate reviews.
The
400 MW of new solar generation and 75 MW of battery storage would help replace a portion of the energy and capacity expected to be eliminated with the planned retirement of the coal-fired Lansing Generating Station (275 MW) in the first half of 2023 and the reduction of energy and capacity resulting from the December 2021 fuel switch of the Burlington Generating Station (212 MW) from coal to natural gas. In addition, IPL’s plans include additional renewables and distributed energy resources, including community solar and energy storage systems, to add energy and capacity.
New MISO Seasonal Resource Adequacy Process - In August 2022, FERC approved MISO’s proposal to change its resource adequacy process establishing capacity planning reserve margin and capacity accreditation requirements effective with the 2023/2024 MISO Planning Year, to help ensure the reliability of electricity in
the MISO region. The process will change from the current Summer-based annual construct to four distinct seasons to help ensure the continued reliability of the electric transmission grid throughout each year. FERC’s approval also establishes planning reserve margin requirements for all market participants on a seasonal basis and determines a seasonal accredited capacity value for certain classes of generating resources, including higher accredited capacity for wind generation during the Spring, Fall and Winter seasons and higher accredited capacity for solar generation during the Summer season. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are currently unable to predict with certainty the future outcome or impact of these matters, but plan to construct and/or acquire additional renewable, battery and natural gas resources to meet the requirements of the new seasonal resource adequacy process and have reflected the estimated capital expenditures for these projects in the “Renewables
and battery storage” and “Other” Generation lines in the construction and acquisition table in “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
WPL’s
West Riverside Natural Gas-fired Generating Station - In 2020, WPL completed the construction of West Riverside, a 723 MW natural gas-fired combined-cycle EGU in Beloit, Wisconsin. WPL entered into agreements with neighboring utilities and electric cooperatives that provide each of them options to purchase a partial ownership interest in West Riverside. The purchase price for such options is based on the ownership interest acquired and the net book value of West Riverside on the date of the purchase. The timing and ownership amount of the options are as follows:
Counterparty
Option Amount and Timing
Wisconsin
Public Service Corporation (WPSC)
100 MW were exercised January 2022 and are pending PSCW approval; additionally, up to 100 MW may be exercised prior to May 16, 2024 subject to PSCW approval (a)
Madison Gas and Electric Company (MGE)
25 MW were exercised January 2022 and approved by the PSCW in December 2022; additionally, up to 25 MW may be exercised prior to May 16, 2025 subject to PSCW approval
Electric cooperatives
Approximately 60 MW were acquired January 2018
(a)Upon
WPSC’s exercise of its options, WPL may exercise reciprocal options, subject to approval by the PSCW, to purchase up to 200 MW of any natural-gas combined-cycle EGU that either WPSC or its affiliated utility, Wisconsin Electric Power Company, places in service prior to May 2030.
Plant Retirements and Fuel Switching - The current strategy includes the retirement, or fuel switch from coal to natural gas, of various EGUs in the next several years. IPL currently expects to retire the coal-fired Lansing Generating Station (275 MW) in the first half of 2023, and fuel switch or retire Prairie Creek Units 1 and 3 (65 MW in aggregate) by December 31, 2025. WPL currently expects to retire the coal-fired Edgewater Generating Station (414 MW) by June 1, 2025, and Columbia Units 1 and 2 (595 MW in
aggregate) by June 1, 2026. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are working with MISO, state regulatory commissions and other regulatory agencies, as required, to determine the timing of these actions, which are subject to change depending on operational, regulatory, market and other factors. Refer to Note 3 for additional details on these EGUs.
Environmental Stewardship - Alliant Energy’s environmental stewardship is focused on meeting its customers’ energy needs affordably, safely, reliably and sustainably. Alliant Energy proactively considers future environmental compliance requirements and proposed regulations in its planning, decision-making, construction and ongoing operations activities. Alliant
Energy is focused on executing a long-term strategy to deliver reliable and affordable energy with lower emissions independent of changing policies and political landscape. To achieve these long-term goals, Alliant Energy will transition away from coal-fired EGUs by incorporating renewable energy, distributed energy resources, energy efficiency, demand response, natural gas-fired EGUs and other technologies such as energy storage. Alliant Energy’s voluntary environmental-related goals and achievements include the following:
•Exceeded its 2020 targets by reducing air emissions for sulfur dioxide by over 90%, nitrogen oxides by over 80% and mercury by over 90% from 2005 levels.
•By 2030, reduce CO2 emissions by 50% from its owned fossil-fueled EGUs and reduce electric utility water supply by 75% from 2005
levels, and transition 100% of its owned light-duty fleet vehicles to be electric, as well as partner to plant more than 1 million trees by the end of 2030.
•By 2040, eliminate all coal-fired EGUs from its generating fleet.
•By 2050, achieve an aspirational goal of net-zero CO2 emissions from the electricity it generates.
Future updates to sustainable energy plans and attaining these goals will depend on future economic developments, evolving energy technologies and emerging trends in Alliant Energy’s service territories.
Other Customer-focused Investments
Electric and Gas Distribution Systems - Customer-focused investments include replacing, modernizing and
upgrading infrastructure in the electric and gas distribution systems. Electric system investments will focus on areas such as improving reliability and resiliency with more underground electric distribution and enabling distributed energy solutions with higher capacity lines. Gas system investments will focus on pipeline replacement to ensure safety and pipeline expansion to support reliability and economic development. Estimated capital expenditures for expected and current electric and gas distribution infrastructure projects for 2023 through 2026 are included in the “Electric and gas distribution systems” lines in the construction and acquisition expenditures table in “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
Fiber Optic Telecommunication Network - Alliant
Energy is currently installing fiber optic routes between its facilities to enhance its communications network to improve resiliency and reliability of, and enable and strengthen, the integrated grid network focused on less densely populated rural areas among financially disadvantaged customers and communities.
Gas Pipeline Expansion - IPL and WPL currently expect to make investments to extend various gas distribution systems to provide natural gas to unserved or underserved areas in their service territories.
Gas Pipeline Safety - The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration published various final rules from 2019 through 2022 that updated safety requirements for gas transmission pipelines, and updated procedures were implemented to address these rules. Plans to address certain requirements for specific pipelines were developed and implemented, with identified remediation efforts to be completed by July 2035. In anticipation of these rule changes, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL have been proactively replacing certain of IPL’s transmission pipelines, making modifications to certain of WPL’s transmission pipelines, and updating practices for assessment and operation of these pipelines. Alliant Energy, IPL, and WPL also continue to evaluate the impact of these final rules and resulting remediation
plans on their financial condition and results of operations.
Technology - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL currently plan to make investments in technology to enhance productivity and efficiency through automation, customer self-service and telework. Estimated capital expenditures for expected and current technology projects for 2023 through 2026 are included in the “Other” line in the construction and acquisition expenditures table in “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
Non-utility business - Alliant Energy continues to explore growth of its Travero businesses and other limited scope opportunities outside of, but complementary to, Alliant Energy’s core
utility business. This non-utility strategy continues to evolve through exploration of modest strategic opportunities that are accretive to earnings and cash flows.
RATE MATTERS
Rate Reviews
Retail Base Rate Filings - Base rate changes reflect both returns on additions to infrastructure and recovery of changes in costs incurred or expected to be incurred to provide electric and gas service to retail customers. Given that a portion of the rate changes will offset changes in costs, revenues from rate changes should not be expected to result in an equal change in net income for either IPL or WPL.
WPL’s
Retail Electric and Gas Rate Reviews (2022/2023 Forward-looking Test Period) - In December 2021, the PSCW issued an order authorizing annual base rate increases of $114 million and $15 million for WPL’s retail electric and gas customers, respectively, covering the 2022/2023 forward-looking Test Period, which was based on a stipulated agreement between WPL and certain stakeholders. The key drivers for the annual base rate increases include higher retail fuel-related costs in 2022, lower excess deferred income tax benefits in 2022 and 2023 and revenue requirement impacts of increasing electric and gas rate base, including investments in solar generation. In addition, the PSCW authorized WPL to receive a recovery of and a return on the remaining net book value of Edgewater Unit 5 through 2023. Retail electric rate changes were effective on January 1, 2022 and extend through the end of 2023. Retail
gas rate changes were effective from January 1, 2022 through the end of 2022.
In December 2022, the PSCW issued an order authorizing an additional annual base rate increase of $9 million for WPL’s retail gas customers, covering the 2023 forward-looking Test Period, which reflects changes in weighted average cost of capital, updated depreciation rates and modifications to certain regulatory asset and regulatory liability amortizations. These retail gas rate changes were effective on January 1, 2023 and extend through the end of 2023.
WPL’s settlement extends, with certain modifications, an earnings sharing mechanism through 2023. Under the earnings sharing mechanism, WPL will defer a portion of its earnings if its annual regulatory return on common
equity exceeds 10.25% during the 2022/2023 Test Period. WPL must defer 50% of its excess earnings between 10.25% and 10.75%, and 100% of any excess earnings above 10.75%. Through 2023, any such deferral is required to be offset against the remaining net book value of Edgewater Unit 5, which is currently expected to be retired by June 1, 2025.
WPL’s Retail Fuel-related Rate Filing (2021 Forward-looking Test Period) - In August 2022, the PSCW authorized WPL to collect $37 million in 2023 from its retail electric customers, plus interest, for an under-collection of fuel-related costs incurred by WPL in 2021 that were higher than fuel-related costs used to determine rates for such period.
WPL’s Retail Fuel-related Rate Filing (2023 Forward-looking Test Period)
- In December 2022, the PSCW authorized WPL to collect $47 million in higher rates in 2023 from its retail electric customers to reflect an increase in expected fuel-related costs for 2023 compared to WPL’s approved 2022 fuel-related costs.
Rate
Review Details - Details related to IPL’s and WPL’s key jurisdictions were as follows:
Average
Authorized Return
Common
Equity
Regulatory
Rate Base
on Common
Component of Regulatory
Effective
Body
(in millions)
Equity (a)
Capital Structure
Date
IPL
Retail Electric (2020 Test Period)
Marshalltown (b)
IUB
$559
11.00%
51.0%
2/26/2020
Emery (b)
IUB
165
12.23%
51.0%
2/26/2020
Whispering
Willow - East (b)
IUB
163
11.70%
51.0%
2/26/2020
Renewable energy rider (c)
IUB
1,577
10.10%
51.0%
4/15/2022
Other
(b)
IUB
3,767
9.50%
51.0%
2/26/2020
IPL Retail Gas (2020 Test Period) (b)
IUB
557
9.60%
51.0%
1/10/2020
IPL
Wholesale Electric
FERC
162
10.97%
51.0%
1/1/2022
WPL Retail Electric and Gas
Electric (2023 Test Period) (d)
PSCW
4,573
10.00%
54.1%
1/1/2023
Gas
(2023 Test Period) (d)
PSCW
471
10.00%
54.1%
1/1/2023
WPL Wholesale Electric
FERC
424
10.90%
55.0%
1/1/2022
(a)Authorized
returns on common equity may not be indicative of actual returns earned or projections of future returns.
(b)Average rate base amounts reflect IPL’s allocated retail share of rate base and do not include CWIP, and were calculated using a forecasted 13-month average for the test period.
(c)Average rate base amounts recovered through IPL’s renewable energy rider mechanism include construction costs incurred to fund IPL’s 1,000 MW of wind generation facilities placed in service in 2019 and 2020 (11.00% return on common equity), production tax credit carryforwards for the 1,000 MW of wind generation facilities (5.00% return on common equity) and certain transmission facilities classified as intangible assets (9.50% return on common equity), and were calculated using a 13-month average.
(d)Average
rate base amounts reflect WPL’s allocated retail share of rate base and do not include CWIP or a cash working capital allowance, and were calculated using a forecasted 13-month average for the test period. The PSCW provides a return on selected CWIP and a cash working capital allowance by adjusting the percentage return on rate base.
Planned Rate Reviews - WPL currently expects to file a retail electric and gas rate review with the PSCW in the second quarter of 2023 for the 2024/2025 forward-looking Test Period. The key drivers for the anticipated filing include revenue requirement impacts of increasing electric and gas rate base, including investments in solar generation and battery storage. Any rate changes granted from this pending request are expected to be effective on January 1, 2024, with a decision from the PSCW expected by
the end of 2023.
IPL currently expects to file a retail electric and gas rate review with the IUB by the first half of 2024. The key drivers for the anticipated filing include revenue requirement impacts of increasing electric and gas rate base, including investments in solar generation and battery storage.
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS
In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was enacted. The most significant provisions of the new legislation for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL relate to a 10-year extension of tax credits for clean energy projects, a new production tax credit eligible for solar projects, a new stand-alone investment tax credit for battery
storage projects and the right to transfer future renewable credits to other corporate taxpayers. The new legislation also includes a requirement for corporations with income over $1 billion to pay a 15% minimum tax; however, Alliant Energy is currently below this income level. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL currently expect to utilize various provisions of the new legislation to enhance the tax benefits expected from their announced solar and battery storage projects, including transferring the future tax credits from such projects to other corporate taxpayers and opting to retain full ownership of such projects instead of financing a portion of the projects with tax equity partners. Compared to previous plans to utilize tax equity financing, the impact of these changes is expected to result in more cost benefits for IPL's and WPL's customers, higher rate base amounts, additional financing needs expected to be satisfied with additional long-term debt and common stock
issuances, and improvements in long-term cash flows over the life of the solar and battery storage projects.
Refer to Note 12 for discussion of Iowa tax reform enacted in March 2022.
In November 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA Act) was enacted. The most significant provisions of the IIJA Act for Alliant Energy relate to a variety of infrastructure-related priorities, including transportation, environmental, energy and broadband infrastructure. In addition, the IIJA Act is intended to accelerate research, development, demonstration and deployment of carbon-free technologies, including hydrogen
and carbon capture and storage.
In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Act) was enacted. The most significant provision of the Act for Alliant Energy is reduced minimum pension plan funding requirements, which Alliant Energy adopted in August 2021. The Act also
provides
additional funding to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which assists certain of Alliant Energy’s customers with managing their energy costs, as well as provides financial support for certain of Alliant Energy’s residential, small business and non-profit customers.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was enacted. The most significant provision of the CARES Act for Alliant Energy relates to an acceleration of refunds of existing alternative minimum tax credits to increase liquidity. In 2020, Alliant Energy received $11 million of credits that otherwise would have been received in 2021 and 2022. In addition, Alliant Energy deferred certain 2020 payroll taxes to 2021 and 2022. The CARES Act also provides additional funding to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which assists certain of Alliant Energy’s customers with managing their energy
costs, as well as financial support for certain of Alliant Energy’s residential, small business and non-profit customers.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Overview - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL expect to maintain adequate liquidity to operate their businesses and implement their strategy as a result of operating cash flows generated by their utility business, and available capacity under a single revolving credit facility and IPL’s sales of accounts receivable program, supplemented by periodic issuances of long-term debt and Alliant Energy equity securities. As summarized below, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL believe they have the ability to generate and obtain adequate amounts
of cash to meet their requirements and plans for cash in the next 12 months and beyond.
Liquidity Position - At December 31, 2022, Alliant Energy had $20 million of cash and cash equivalents, $358 million ($148 million at the parent company, $100 million at IPL and $110 million at WPL) of available capacity under the single revolving credit facility and $30 million of available capacity at IPL under its sales of accounts receivable program.
Capital Structure - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL plan to maintain debt-to-total capitalization ratios that are consistent with investment-grade credit ratings. IPL and WPL expect to maintain capital structures consistent with the authorized levels approved by regulators. Capital
structures as of December 31, 2022 were as follows (Common Equity (CE); Long-term Debt (including current maturities) (LD); Short-term Debt (SD)):
Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL intend to manage their capital structures and liquidity positions in such a way that facilitates their ability to raise funds reliably and on reasonable terms and conditions, while maintaining capital structures consistent with those approved by regulators. In addition to capital structures, other important factors used
to determine the characteristics of future financings include financial coverage ratios, capital spending plans, regulatory orders and rate-making considerations, levels of debt imputed by rating agencies, market conditions, the impact of tax initiatives and legislation, and any potential proceeds from asset sales. The PSCW factors certain imputed debt adjustments, including certain lease obligations, in establishing a regulatory capital structure as part of WPL’s retail rate reviews. The IUB does not make any explicit adjustments for imputed debt in establishing capital ratios used in determining customer rates, although such adjustments are considered by IPL in recommending an appropriate capital structure. Debt imputations by rating agencies include, among others, pension and OPEB obligations and the sales of accounts receivable program.
Credit and Capital Markets - Alliant
Energy, IPL and WPL maintain a single revolving credit facility to provide backstop liquidity to their commercial paper programs, and ensure a committed source of liquidity in the event the commercial paper market becomes disrupted. In addition, IPL maintains a sales of accounts receivable program as an alternative financing source; however, if customer arrears were to exceed certain levels, IPL’s access to the program may be restricted.
Primary Sources and Uses of Cash - Alliant Energy’s most significant source of cash is from electric and gas sales to IPL’s and WPL’s customers. Cash from these sales reimburses IPL and WPL for prudently-incurred expenses to provide service to their utility customers and generally provides IPL and WPL a return of and a return on the assets used to provide such services. Capital needed to retire debt and fund capital expenditures
related to large strategic projects is expected to be met primarily through external financings.
Cash Flows - Selected information from the cash flows statements was as follows (in
millions):
Alliant Energy
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
Cash,
cash equivalents and restricted cash, January 1
$40
$56
$34
$50
$2
$3
Cash flows from (used for):
Operating
activities
486
582
83
153
299
371
Investing activities
(933)
(728)
215
91
(1,033)
(716)
Financing
activities
431
130
(317)
(260)
737
344
Net increase (decrease)
(16)
(16)
(19)
(16)
3
(1)
Cash,
cash equivalents and restricted cash, December 31
$24
$40
$15
$34
$5
$2
Operating Activities - The following items contributed
to increased (decreased) operating activity cash flows for 2022 compared to 2021 (in millions):
Alliant Energy
IPL
WPL
Timing
of WPL’s fuel-related cost recoveries from retail electric customers
($80)
$—
($80)
Changes in the sales of accounts receivable at IPL
(41)
(41)
—
Changes in interest payments
(39)
(10)
(10)
Changes
in levels of production fuel
(19)
(16)
(3)
Changes in levels of gas stored underground
(15)
—
(15)
Lower (higher) contributions to qualified defined benefit pension plans
(13)
(33)
18
Changes
in income taxes paid/refunded
(3)
(11)
(18)
Higher collections from WPL’s retail electric and gas base rate increases
121
—
121
Changes in cash collateral and deposit balances at Corporate Services
38
—
—
Increased
collections from IPL’s and WPL’s retail customers caused by temperature impacts on electric and gas sales
17
10
7
Timing of intercompany payments and receipts
—
7
(26)
Other (primarily due to other changes in working capital)
(62)
24
(66)
($96)
($70)
($72)
Income
Tax Payments and Refunds - Income tax (payments) refunds were as follows (in millions):
2022
2021
IPL
$36
$47
WPL
(56)
(38)
Other
subsidiaries
14
(12)
Alliant Energy
($6)
($3)
Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL currently do not expect to make any significant federal income tax payments over the next few years based on their current credit carryforward positions; however, some tax payments and refunds may occur for state taxes and between consolidated group members (including IPL and WPL) under the tax sharing agreement between Alliant Energy and its subsidiaries. Refer to Note
12 for discussion of the carryforward positions.
As discussed in “Legislative Matters,” the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides the right to transfer future renewable tax credits to other corporate taxpayers, which is expected to result in future cash flows from operating activities for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL beginning as early as 2023.
Pension Plan Contributions - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL currently expect to make $12 million, $1 million and $10 million of pension plan contributions in 2023, respectively, based on the funded status and assumed return on assets for each plan as of the December 31,
2022 measurement date. Refer to Note 13(a) for discussion of pension plan contributions in 2022 and the current funded levels of pension plans.
Investing Activities - The following items contributed to increased (decreased) investing activity cash flows for 2022 compared to 2021 (in millions):
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
(Higher) lower utility construction and acquisition expenditures (a)
($322)
$12
($334)
Changes in the amount of cash receipts on sold receivables
96
96
—
Other
21
16
17
($205)
$124
($317)
(a)Largely due to higher expenditures for WPL’s solar generation.
Construction and Acquisition Expenditures - Construction and acquisition expenditures and financing plans are reviewed, approved and updated as part of the strategic planning process. Changes may result from a number of reasons, including regulatory requirements, changing legislation, not obtaining favorable and acceptable regulatory approval on certain projects, improvements in technology and improvements to ensure resiliency and reliability of the electric and gas distribution systems. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL have not yet entered into contractual commitments relating to the majority of their anticipated future construction and acquisition
expenditures. As a result, they have some discretion with regard to the level and timing of these expenditures. The table below summarizes anticipated construction and acquisition expenditures (in millions), which are focused on the transition to cleaner energy and strengthening the resiliency and reliability of IPL’s and WPL’s electric grid. Cost estimates represent Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s portion of construction expenditures and exclude AFUDC and capitalized interest, if applicable. Refer to “Customer Investments” for further discussion of certain key projects impacting construction and acquisition plans related to the utility business.
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
2023
2024
2025
2026
2023
2024
2025
2026
2023
2024
2025
2026
Generation:
Renewables
and battery storage
$900
$1,205
$725
$1,060
$325
$625
$260
$670
$575
$580
$465
$390
Other
100
315
490
335
55
55
70
100
45
260
420
235
Distribution:
Electric
systems
550
595
545
535
320
360
300
280
230
235
245
255
Gas
systems
80
85
85
85
35
40
40
40
45
45
45
45
Other
220
210
175
180
45
40
45
45
35
30
30
30
$1,850
$2,410
$2,020
$2,195
$780
$1,120
$715
$1,135
$930
$1,150
$1,205
$955
Renewables
and Battery Storage - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL continue to evaluate potential impacts from cost pressures prevalent in the solar generation and battery storage markets on the timing and estimated costs for IPL’s and WPL’s planned development and acquisition of additional renewable energy, which could impact their anticipated future construction and acquisition expenditures. Refer to “Customer Investments” for further discussion of regulatory filings with the IUB and PSCW related to future renewable and battery storage projects.
West Riverside Options - WPL entered into agreements with neighboring utilities that provide them options to purchase a partial ownership interest in West Riverside. Upon exercise of such options,
WPL will receive proceeds from the sale. Refer to “Customer Investments” for additional information, including timing for the actual and potential exercise of options.
Financing Activities - The following items contributed to increased (decreased) financing activity cash flows for 2022 compared to 2021 (in millions):
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
Higher (lower) net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
$738
($300)
$288
Payments to redeem cumulative preferred stock of IPL in 2021
200
200
—
Net
changes in the amount of commercial paper outstanding
1
—
75
Higher payments to retire long-term debt
(625)
—
(250)
(Higher) lower common stock dividends
(25)
79
(8)
Higher
(lower) capital contributions from IPL’s and WPL’s parent company, Alliant Energy
—
(50)
285
Other
12
14
3
$301
($57)
$393
FERC and Public Utility
Holding Company Act Financing Authorizations - Under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, FERC has authority over the issuance of utility securities, except to the extent that a public utility’s primary state regulatory commission has retained jurisdiction over such matters. FERC currently has authority over the issuance of securities by IPL. FERC does not have authority over the issuance of securities by Alliant Energy, WPL, AEF or Corporate Services. In 2021, IPL received authorization from FERC to issue securities in 2022 and 2023 as follows (in millions):
Long-term
debt securities issuances in aggregate
$700
Short-term debt securities outstanding at any time (including borrowings from its parent)
400
Preferred stock issuances in aggregate
300
State Regulatory Financing Authorizations - In 2017, WPL received authorization from the PSCW to have up to $400 million of short-term borrowings and/or letters of credit outstanding at any time through the earlier of the expiration date of
WPL’s credit facility agreement (including extensions) or December 2024. In February 2023, WPL received authorization from the PSCW to issue up to $1.2 billion of long-term debt securities in aggregate through December 2025.
Shelf
Registrations - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL have current shelf registration statements on file with the SEC for availability to issue unspecified amounts of securities through December 2023. Alliant Energy’s shelf registration statement may be used to issue common stock, debt and other securities. IPL’s and WPL’s shelf registration statements may be used to issue preferred stock and debt securities.
Common Stock Dividends - Payment of common stock dividends is subject to dividend declaration by Alliant Energy’s Board of Directors and is dependent upon, among other factors, regulatory limitations, earnings, cash flows, capital requirements and general financial condition of subsidiaries. Alliant Energy’s general long-term goal is to maintain a dividend payout ratio that is competitive with the industry average. Based on that, Alliant Energy’s goal is to maintain
a dividend payout ratio of approximately 60% to 70% of consolidated earnings from continuing operations. Refer to “Results of Operations” for discussion of expected common stock dividends in 2023.
Common Stock Issuances - Refer to Note 7 for discussion of common stock issuances by Alliant Energy in 2021 and 2022, and “Results of Operations” for discussion of expected issuances of common stock in 2023.
Short-term
Debt - In 2021, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL entered into a single revolving credit facility agreement, which expires in December 2026 and is discussed in Note 9(a). There are currently 13 lenders that participate in the credit facility, with respective commitments ranging from $20 million to $130 million. Subject to certain conditions, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL may exercise two extension options, each extending the maturity date by one year. The credit facility has a provision to expand the facility size up to an additional $300 million, for a potential total commitment of $1.3 billion, subject to lender approval for Alliant Energy and subject to lender and regulatory approvals for IPL and WPL.
The credit agreement contains customary events
of default, including a cross-default provision that would be triggered if Alliant Energy or certain of its significant subsidiaries (including IPL and WPL) defaults on debt (other than non-recourse debt) totaling $100 million or more. IPL and WPL are subject to a similar cross-default provision with respect to their own respective consolidated debt. A default by Alliant Energy or its non-utility subsidiaries would not trigger a cross-default at IPL or WPL, nor would a default by either of IPL or WPL constitute a cross-default event for the other. If an event of default under the credit agreement occurs and is continuing, then the lenders may declare any outstanding obligations of the defaulting borrower under the credit agreement immediately due and payable.
The single credit facility agreement contains a financial covenant, which requires Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL to maintain certain debt-to-capital
ratios in order to borrow under the credit facility. AEF’s term loan credit agreement contains a financial covenant, which requires Alliant Energy to maintain a certain debt-to-capital ratio in order to borrow under the term loan credit agreement. The required debt-to-capital ratios compared to the actual debt-to-capital ratios at December 31, 2022 were as follows:
Alliant Energy
IPL
WPL
Requirement,
not to exceed
65%
65%
65%
Actual
58%
49%
48%
The debt component of the capital ratios includes, when applicable, long- and short-term debt (excluding non-recourse debt and hybrid securities to the extent the total carrying value of such hybrid securities does not exceed 15% of consolidated capital of the applicable borrower), finance lease obligations, certain letters of credit, guarantees of the foregoing
and new synthetic leases. Unfunded vested benefits under qualified pension plans and sales of accounts receivable are not included in the debt-to-capital ratios. The equity component of the capital ratios excludes accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Long-term Debt - Refer to Note 9(b) for discussion of issuances and retirements of long-term debt in 2022 and 2023, and “Results of Operations” for discussion of expected issuances of long-term debt in 2023. In 2021, IPL issued $300 million of 3.1% senior debentures due 2051, and the net proceeds from the issuance were used by IPL to retire its cumulative
preferred stock in 2021 and for general corporate purposes. In 2021, WPL issued $300 million of 1.95% green bond debentures due 2031, and an amount in excess of the net proceeds was disbursed for the construction and development of WPL’s wind and solar EGUs.
Impact of Credit Ratings on Liquidity and Collateral Obligations -
Ratings Triggers - The long-term debt of Alliant Energy and its subsidiaries is not subject to any repayment requirements as a result of explicit credit rating downgrades or so-called “ratings triggers.” However, Alliant Energy and its subsidiaries are parties to various agreements that contain provisions dependent on credit ratings. In the event of a significant downgrade, Alliant Energy or its subsidiaries may need to provide credit support, such as letters of credit or cash collateral equal to the
amount of any exposure, or may need to unwind contracts or pay underlying obligations. In the event of a significant downgrade, management believes Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL have sufficient liquidity to cover counterparty credit support or collateral requirements under these various agreements. In addition, a downgrade in the credit ratings of Alliant Energy, IPL or WPL could also result in them paying higher interest rates in future financings, reduce flexibility with future financing plans, reduce their pool of potential lenders, increase their borrowing costs under existing credit facilities or limit their access to the commercial paper market. Credit ratings and outlooks as of the date of this report are as follows:
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Moody’s Investors Service issued credit ratings of BBB+ and Baa2, respectively, for the senior notes issued by AEF in 2018, 2020 and 2022 (with Alliant Energy as guarantor). Credit ratings
are not recommendations to buy or sell securities and are subject to change, and each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. Each of Alliant Energy, IPL or WPL assumes no obligation to update their respective credit ratings. Refer to Note 15 for additional information on ratings triggers for commodity contracts accounted for as derivatives.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements -
Special Purpose Entities - IPL maintains a Receivables Agreement whereby it may sell its customer accounts receivables, unbilled revenues and certain other accounts receivables to a third party through wholly-owned and consolidated special purpose entities. The purchase commitment from the third
party to which IPL sells its receivables expires in March 2023. IPL currently expects to amend and extend the purchase commitment. In 2022 and 2021, IPL evaluated the third party that purchases IPL’s receivable assets under the Receivables Agreement and believes that the third party is a VIE; however, IPL concluded consolidation of the third party was not required.
In addition, IPL’s sales of accounts receivable program agreement contains a cross-default provision that is triggered if IPL or Alliant Energy incurs an event of default on debt totaling $100 million or more. If an event of default under IPL’s sales of accounts receivable program agreement occurs, then the counterparty could terminate such agreement. Refer to Note 5(b) for additional information regarding
IPL’s sales of accounts receivable program.
Guarantees and Indemnifications - At December 31, 2022, various guarantees and indemnifications are outstanding related to Alliant Energy’s cash equity ownership interest in a non-utility wind farm and prior divestiture activities. Refer to Note 17(d) for additional information.
Certain Financial Commitments -
Contractual Obligations - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL have various long-term contractual obligations as of December 31, 2022, which include long-term debt
maturities in Note 9(b), operating and finance leases in Note 10, capital purchase obligations in Note 17(a), and other purchase obligations in Note 17(b). At December 31, 2022, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL had no uncertain tax positions recorded as liabilities. Refer to Note
13(a) for anticipated pension and OPEB funding amounts. Refer to “Construction and Acquisition Expenditures” above for additional information on construction and acquisition programs. In addition, at December 31, 2022, there were various other liabilities included on the balance sheets that, due to the nature of the liabilities, the timing of payments cannot be estimated.
OTHER MATTERS
Market
Risk Sensitive Instruments and Positions - Primary market risk exposures are associated with commodity prices, counterparty credit risk, investment prices and interest rates. Risk management policies are used to monitor and assist in mitigating these market risks and derivative instruments are used to manage some of the exposures related to commodity prices and interest rates. Refer to Notes 1(h) and 15 for further discussion of derivative instruments, and Note 1(g) for details of utility cost recovery mechanisms
that significantly reduce commodity risk.
Commodity Price - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are exposed to the impact of market fluctuations in the price and transportation costs of commodities they procure and market. Established policies and procedures mitigate risks associated with these market fluctuations, including the use of various commodity derivatives and contracts of various durations for the forward sale and purchase of these commodities. Exposure to commodity price risks in the utility businesses is also significantly mitigated by current rate-making structures in place for recovery of fuel-related costs as well as the cost of natural gas purchased for resale. IPL’s electric and gas tariffs and WPL’s wholesale electric and gas tariffs provide for subsequent monthly adjustments to their tariff rates for material changes in prudently incurred commodity costs. IPL’s and WPL’s
rate mechanisms, combined with commodity derivatives, significantly reduce commodity risk associated with their electric and gas
margins. WPL’s retail electric margins have exposure to the impact of changes in commodity prices due largely to the current retail
recovery mechanism in place in Wisconsin for fuel-related costs.
Counterparty Credit Risk - Alliant Energy, IPL, and WPL are exposed to credit risk related to losses resulting from counterparties’ nonperformance of their contractual obligations. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL maintain credit policies intended to minimize overall credit risk and actively monitor these policies to reflect changes and scope of operations. Alliant Energy, IPL, and WPL conduct credit reviews for all counterparties and employ credit risk controls, such as letters of credit, parental guarantees, master netting agreements and termination provisions. Credit exposure is monitored, and when necessary, activity with a specific counterparty is limited until credit enhancement is provided. Distress in the financial markets could increase Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s credit risk.
Investment
Price - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are exposed to investment price risk as a result of their investments in securities, largely related to securities held by their pension and OPEB plans. Refer to Note 13(a) for details of the securities held by their pension and OPEB plans. Refer to “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” for the impact on retirement plan costs of changes in the rate of returns earned by plan assets.
Interest Rate - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are exposed to risk resulting from changes in interest rates associated with variable-rate borrowings. In addition,
Alliant Energy and IPL are exposed to risk resulting from changes in interest rates on cash amounts outstanding under IPL’s sales of accounts receivable program. Assuming the impact of a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates on variable-rate borrowings and cash amounts outstanding under IPL’s sales of accounts receivable program at December 31, 2022, Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s annual pre-tax expense would increase by approximately $11 million, $1 million and $3 million, respectively. Refer to Notes 5(b) and 9 for additional information on cash amounts outstanding under IPL’s sales of accounts receivable program, and
short- and long-term variable-rate borrowings, respectively. Refer to “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” for the impacts of changes in discount rates on retirement plan obligations and costs.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates - Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s financial statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP, which requires management to apply accounting policies, judgments and assumptions, and make estimates that affect results of operations and the amounts of assets and liabilities reported in the financial statements. The following accounting policies and estimates are
critical to the business and the understanding of financial results as they require critical assumptions and judgments by management. The results of these assumptions and judgments form the basis for making estimates regarding the results of operations and the amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual financial results may differ materially from estimates. Management has discussed these critical accounting policies and estimates with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Refer to Note 1 for additional discussion of accounting policies and estimates used in the preparation of the financial statements.
Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities - IPL and WPL are regulated by various federal
and state regulatory agencies. As a result, they are subject to GAAP for regulated operations, which recognizes that the actions of a regulator can provide reasonable assurance of the existence of an asset or liability. Regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities arise as a result of a difference between GAAP and actions imposed by the regulatory agencies in the rate-making process. Regulatory assets generally represent incurred costs that have been deferred as such costs are probable of recovery in future customer rates. Regulatory liabilities generally represent obligations to make refunds to customers or amounts collected in rates for which the related costs have not yet been incurred. Regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are recognized in accordance with the rulings of applicable federal and state regulators, and future regulatory rulings may impact the carrying value and accounting treatment of regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities.
Assumptions
and judgments are made each reporting period regarding whether regulatory assets are probable of future recovery and regulatory liabilities are probable future obligations by considering factors such as regulatory environment changes, rate orders issued by the applicable regulatory agencies, historical decisions by such regulatory agencies regarding similar regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities, and subsequent events of such regulatory agencies. The decisions made by regulatory authorities have an impact on the recovery of costs, the rate of return on invested capital and the timing and amount of assets to be recovered by rates. A change in these decisions may result in a material impact on results of operations and the amount of assets and liabilities in the financial statements. Note 2 provides details of the nature
and amounts of regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities assessed at December 31, 2022.
Income Taxes - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are subject to income taxes in various jurisdictions. Assumptions and judgments are made each reporting period to estimate income tax assets, liabilities, benefits and expenses. Judgments and assumptions are supported by historical data and reasonable projections. Significant changes in these judgments and assumptions could have a material impact on financial condition and results of operations. Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s critical assumptions and judgments for 2022 include estimates of qualifying deductions for repairs expenditures and allocation of mixed service costs due to the impact of Iowa rate-making principles on such property-related differences. Critical assumptions and judgments also include
projections of future taxable income used to determine the ability to utilize federal credit carryforwards prior to their expiration. Refer to Note 12 for further discussion of tax matters.
Effect of Rate-making on Property-related Differences - Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s effective income tax rates are normally impacted by certain property-related differences at IPL for which deferred tax is not recorded in the income statement pursuant
to Iowa rate-making principles. Changes in methods or assumptions regarding the amount of IPL’s qualifying repairs expenditures, allocation of mixed service costs, and costs related to retirement or removal of depreciable property could result in a material impact on Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s financial condition and results of operations.
Carryforward Utilization - Significant federal tax credit carryforwards exist for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL as of December 31, 2022. Based on projections of current and future taxable income, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL plan to utilize all of these carryforwards prior to their expiration. Federal credit carryforwards generated from 2004 through 2008
are expected to be utilized within five years of expiration. All other federal credit carryforwards are expected to be utilized more than five years before expiration. Changes in tax regulations or assumptions regarding current and future taxable income could require valuation allowances in the future resulting in a material impact on financial condition and results of operations.
Long-Lived Assets- Periodic assessments regarding the recoverability of certain long-lived assets are completed when factors indicate the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable or such assets are planned to be sold. These assessments require significant assumptions and judgments by management. The long-lived assets assessed for impairment generally include certain assets within regulated operations that may not be fully recovered from IPL’s and
WPL’s customers as a result of regulatory decisions in the future, and assets within non-utility operations that are proposed to be sold or are currently generating operating losses.
Regulated Operations - Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s long-lived assets within their regulated operations that were assessed for impairment and/or plant abandonment in 2022 included IPL’s and WPL’s generating units subject to early retirement and WPL’s solar generation projects recently completed and under construction.
Generating Units Subject to Early Retirement - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL evaluate future plans for their electric generation fleet and have announced the early retirement of certain EGUs. When it becomes probable that an EGU will be retired before the end of its useful life, Alliant Energy, IPL and
WPL must assess whether the EGU meets the criteria to be considered probable of abandonment. EGUs that are considered probable of abandonment generally have material remaining net book values and are expected to cease operations in the near term significantly before the end of their original estimated useful lives. If an EGU meets such criteria to be considered probable of abandonment, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL must assess the probability of full recovery of the remaining carrying value of such EGU. If it is probable that regulators will not allow full recovery of and a full return on the remaining net book value of the abandoned EGU, an impairment charge is recognized equal to the difference between the remaining carrying value and the present value of the future revenues expected from the abandoned EGU.
Alliant Energy and IPL concluded that Lansing (expected to be retired in the first half of 2023),
and Alliant Energy and WPL concluded that Edgewater Unit 5 (expected to be retired by June 1, 2025) and Columbia Units 1 and 2 (expected to be retired by June 1, 2026), met the criteria to be considered probable of abandonment as of December 31, 2022. IPL and WPL are currently allowed a full recovery of and a full return on its respective EGUs from both its retail and wholesale customers, and as a result, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL concluded that no impairment was required as of December 31, 2022. Upon retirement of Lansing, which is currently expected in the first half of 2023, IPL anticipates reclassifying the remaining net book value, which was $233 million as of December 31, 2022, from property, plant and equipment
to a regulatory asset on Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s balance sheets. Continued recovery of the remaining net book value of Lansing is expected to be addressed in future rate reviews. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL evaluated their other EGUs that are subject to early retirement and determined that no other EGUs met the criteria to be considered probable of abandonment as of December 31, 2022. Note 3 provides additional details of these assets anticipated to be retired early.
WPL’s Solar Generation Projects Recently Completed and Under Construction - As discussed in “Customer Investments,”
WPL previously received authorization from the PSCW to acquire, construct, own and/or operate approximately 1,100 MW of new solar generation, which includes various projects in various Wisconsin counties. In 2022, WPL completed the construction of three solar projects, and the remaining solar projects are currently expected to be placed in service in 2023 and 2024. Alliant Energy and WPL review property, plant and equipment for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate all or a portion of the carrying value of the assets may be disallowed for rate-making purposes. If WPL is disallowed recovery of any portion of, or is only allowed a partial return on, the carrying value of the solar generation projects recently completed or under construction, then an impairment charge is recognized.
In July 2021, WPL notified the PSCW that it expected estimated construction costs associated
with approximately 675 MW of new solar generation will exceed amounts previously approved by the PSCW by approximately 7-10%. In addition, the prior authorization received from the PSCW for approximately 1,100 MW of new solar generation assumed that a portion of the construction costs would be financed by a tax equity partner. Following the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, WPL determined that retaining full ownership of the approximately 1,100 MW of new solar generation is expected to result in more cost benefits for its customers. Alliant Energy and WPL no longer expect their solar generation project construction costs to be financed with capital from tax equity partners, which would result in higher rate base amounts compared to those previously approved by the PSCW for WPL’s planned approximately 1,100 MW of solar generation. Alliant Energy and WPL concluded
that there was not a probable disallowance of anticipated higher rate base amounts as of December 31, 2022 given construction costs were reasonably and prudently incurred and full ownership of WPL’s planned solar generation is expected to result in more cost benefits for WPL's customers.
Unbilled
Revenues - Unbilled revenues are primarily associated with utility operations. Energy sales to individual customers are based on the reading of customers’ meters, which occurs on a systematic basis throughout the month. Amounts of energy delivered to customers since the date of the last meter reading are estimated at the end of each reporting period and the corresponding estimated unbilled revenue is recorded. The unbilled revenue is based on estimates of daily system demand volumes, customer usage by class, temperature impacts, line losses and the most recent customer rates. Such process involves the use of various judgments and assumptions and significant changes in these judgments and assumptions could have a material impact on results of operations. As of December 31, 2022, unbilled revenues related to Alliant Energy’s utility operations were $247 million ($i132
million at IPL and $i115 million at WPL).
Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL sponsor various defined benefit pension and OPEB plans that provide benefits to a significant portion of their employees and retirees. Assumptions and judgments are made periodically to estimate the obligations and costs related to their retirement plans. There are many judgments and assumptions involved in determining an entity’s pension and other postretirement liabilities and
costs each period including employee demographics (including life expectancies and compensation levels), discount rates, assumed rates of return and funding. Changes made to plan provisions may also impact current and future benefits costs. Judgments and assumptions are supported by historical data and reasonable projections and are reviewed at least annually. The following table shows the impacts of changing certain key actuarial assumptions discussed above (in millions):
Contingencies - Assumptions and judgments are made each reporting period
regarding the future outcome of contingent events. Loss contingency amounts are recorded for any contingent events for which the likelihood of loss is probable and able to be reasonably estimated based upon current available information. The amounts recorded may differ from actuals when the uncertainty is resolved. The estimates made in accounting for contingencies, and the gains and losses that are recorded upon the ultimate resolution of these uncertainties, could have a significant effect on results of operations and the amount of assets and liabilities in the financial statements.
Effective January 1, 2020 upon the adoption of the new accounting standard for credit losses, certain contingencies, such as Alliant Energy Resources, LLC’s guarantees of the partnership obligations of an affiliate of Whiting Petroleum, require estimation each reporting period
of the expected credit losses on those contingencies. These estimates require significant judgment and result in recognition of a credit loss liability sooner than the previous accounting standards, which required recognition when the contingency became probable and could be reasonably estimated based on then currently available information. With respect to Alliant Energy’s guarantees of the partnership obligations of an affiliate of Whiting Petroleum, the most significant judgments in determining the credit loss liability were the estimate of the exposure under the guarantees and the methodology used for calculating the credit loss liability. As of December 31, 2022, Alliant Energy currently estimates the exposure to be a portion of the known partnership abandonment obligations. The methodology used to determine the credit loss liability considers both quantitative and qualitative information, which utilizes potential
outcomes in a range of possible estimated amounts. Factors considered include market and external data points, the creditworthiness of the other partners, Whiting Petroleum’s emergence from bankruptcy in the third quarter of 2020 as well as subsequent bankruptcy developments, payments by Whiting Petroleum related to abandonment obligations, forecasted cash flow expenditures associated with the abandonment obligations based on information made available to Alliant Energy, and Whiting Petroleum’s business combination with Oasis Petroleum Inc. in the third quarter of 2022. Note 1(l) provides discussion of the adoption of the new accounting standard
for credit losses.
Note 17 provides further discussion of contingencies assessed at December 31, 2022 that may have a material impact on financial condition and results of operations, including various pending legal proceedings, guarantees and indemnifications.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareowners and the Board of Directors of Alliant Energy Corporation:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Alliant Energy Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021,
the related consolidated statements of income, equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes and the schedules listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 24, 2023, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the
PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Regulatory
Assets and Regulatory Liabilities - Impact of rate regulation on the financial statements - Refer to Notes 1, 2, and 3 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
Alliant Energy Corporation, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries Interstate Power and Light Company and Wisconsin Power and Light Company, is subject to rate regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the respective state commissions in Iowa and Wisconsin (collectively the “regulatory agencies”). Management has determined it meets the requirements under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America to prepare its financial statements applying the Regulated Operations Topic 980 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification. As of December 31,
2022, the Company had a recorded consolidated regulatory assets balance of $i2,046 million and regulatory liabilities balance of $i1,324 million.
The Company’s rates are subject to regulatory rate-setting processes and periodic earnings oversight. The regulation of rates is premised on the full recovery of prudently incurred costs and a reasonable rate of return on invested capital. Regulatory assets represent incurred costs that have been deferred and are probable of recovery in future customer rates. Regulatory liabilities represent obligations to make refunds to customers or amounts collected in rates for which the costs have not yet been incurred. The Company’s regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are recognized in accordance with the rulings of the regulatory agencies. A change in these rulings may result in a material impact on results of operations and the amount of assets and liabilities in the financial statements. Future regulatory rulings may
impact the carrying value and accounting treatment of the regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities.
We identified the impact of rate regulation as a critical audit matter due to the significant judgments made by management to support its assertions about impacted account balances and disclosures and the high degree of subjectivity involved in assessing the impact of future regulatory orders on the financial statements. Management judgments include assessing the likelihood of the recovery of incurred costs and refund of obligations to customers in future rates. Given that management’s accounting judgments are based on assumptions about the outcome of future decisions by the regulatory agencies, auditing these judgments required specialized knowledge of accounting for rate regulation and the rate-setting process due to its inherent complexities.
How
the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the regulatory filings by management and the uncertainty of future decisions by the regulatory agencies included the following, among others:
•We tested the effectiveness of management’s controls over the evaluation of the likelihood of recovery in future customer rates for regulatory assets and the likelihood of a probable refund to customers or reduction in future customer rates for regulatory liabilities; and the monitoring and evaluation of regulatory developments that may affect the likelihood of recovering costs in future rates or of a future reduction in rates.
•We obtained the Company’s analysis supporting the probability
of recovery for regulatory assets or refund to customers or future reduction in customer rates for regulatory liabilities not yet addressed in a regulatory order to assess management’s assertion that amounts are probable of recovery in future customer rates or represent a probable refund to customers or reduction in future customer rates.
•We inquired of management regarding current events impacting the Company and inspected minutes of the board of directors and other committees of the Company and evaluated whether matters were identified that may have an impact on recorded regulatory asset and liability balances.
•We read relevant regulatory orders issued by the regulatory agencies for the Company and other relevant public utilities, regulatory statutes,
interpretations, procedural memorandums, filings made by certain stakeholders, and other publicly available information to assess the likelihood of recovery in future customer rates based on precedents of the regulatory agencies’ treatment of similar costs under similar circumstances. We evaluated the external information and whether there were matters in such information that would be contradictory to the assessment of recovery of the Company’s regulatory assets or refund of regulatory liabilities.
•We inquired of management about property, plant, and equipment, net that may be abandoned. We inspected minutes of the board of directors and other committees of the Company, regulatory orders and other filings with the regulatory agencies to identify evidence that may contradict management’s assertion regarding probability of an abandonment or that may have an impact
on the recorded balances.
•We evaluated the Company’s disclosures related to the impacts of rate regulation and regulatory developments, including the regulatory balances recorded.
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareowner and the Board of Directors of Interstate Power and Light Company:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Interstate Power and Light Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of income, equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the
financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required
to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our
audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures
that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities - Impact of rate regulation on the financial statements - Refer to Notes 1, 2, and 3 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
Interstate Power and Light Company is subject to rate regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and state commission in Iowa (collectively the “regulatory
agencies”). Management has determined it meets the requirements under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America to prepare its financial statements applying the Regulated Operations Topic 980 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had a recorded consolidated regulatory assets balance of $i1,386 million and regulatory liabilities balance of $i754
million.
The Company’s rates are subject to regulatory rate-setting processes and periodic earnings oversight. The regulation of rates is premised on the full recovery of prudently incurred costs and a reasonable rate of return on invested capital. Regulatory assets represent incurred costs that have been deferred and are probable of recovery in future customer rates. Regulatory liabilities represent obligations to make refunds to customers or amounts collected in rates for which the costs have not yet been incurred. The Company’s regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are recognized in accordance with the rulings of the regulatory agencies. A change in these rulings may result in a material impact on results of operations and the amount of assets and liabilities in the financial statements. Future regulatory rulings may impact the carrying value and accounting treatment of the regulatory assets
and regulatory liabilities.
We identified the impact of rate regulation as a critical audit matter due to the significant judgments made by management to support its assertions about impacted account balances and disclosures and
the high degree of subjectivity involved in assessing the impact of future regulatory orders on the financial statements. Management judgments include assessing the likelihood of the recovery of incurred costs and refund of obligations to customers in future rates. Given that management’s accounting judgments are based on assumptions about the outcome of future decisions by the regulatory agencies, auditing these judgments required specialized knowledge of accounting for rate regulation and the rate-setting process due to its inherent complexities.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the regulatory filings by management and the uncertainty of future decisions by the regulatory agencies included the following, among others:
•We
tested the effectiveness of management’s controls over the evaluation of the likelihood of recovery in future customer rates for regulatory assets and the likelihood of a probable refund to customers or reduction in future customer rates for regulatory liabilities; and the monitoring and evaluation of regulatory developments that may affect the likelihood of recovering costs in future rates or of a future reduction in rates.
•We obtained the Company’s analysis supporting the probability of recovery for regulatory assets or refund to customers or future reduction in customer rates for regulatory liabilities not yet addressed in a regulatory order to assess management’s assertion that amounts are probable of recovery in future customer rates or represent a probable refund to customers or reduction in future customer rates.
•We
inquired of management regarding current events impacting the Company and inspected minutes of the board of directors and other committees of the Company and evaluated whether matters were identified that may have an impact on recorded regulatory asset and liability balances.
•We read relevant regulatory orders issued by the regulatory agencies for the Company and other relevant public utilities, regulatory statutes, interpretations, procedural memorandums, filings made by certain stakeholders, and other publicly available information to assess the likelihood of recovery in future customer rates based on precedents of the regulatory agencies’ treatment of similar costs under similar circumstances. We evaluated the external information and whether there were matters in such information that would be contradictory to the assessment of recovery of the Company’s regulatory
assets or refund of regulatory liabilities.
•We inquired of management about property, plant, and equipment, net that may be abandoned. We inspected minutes of the board of directors and other committees of the Company, regulatory orders, and other filings with the regulatory agencies to identify evidence that may contradict management’s assertion regarding probability of an abandonment or that may have an impact on the recorded balances.
•We evaluated the Company’s disclosures related to the impacts of rate regulation and regulatory developments, including the regulatory balances recorded.
Earnings
per share data is not disclosed given Alliant Energy Corporation is the sole shareowner of all shares of IPL’s common stock outstanding during the periods presented.
Refer to accompanying Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareowner and the Board of Directors of Wisconsin Power and Light Company:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Wisconsin Power and Light Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of income, equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the
financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required
to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our
audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures
that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities - Impact of rate regulation on the financial statements - Refer to Notes 1, 2, and 3 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
Wisconsin Power and Light Company is subject to rate regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and state commission in Wisconsin (collectively the “regulatory
agencies”). Management has determined it meets the requirements under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America to prepare its financial statements applying the Regulated Operations Topic 980 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had a recorded consolidated regulatory assets balance of $i660 million and regulatory liabilities balance of $i570
million.
The Company’s rates are subject to regulatory rate-setting processes and periodic earnings oversight. The regulation of rates is premised on the full recovery of prudently incurred costs and a reasonable rate of return on invested capital. Regulatory assets represent incurred costs that have been deferred and are probable of recovery in future customer rates. Regulatory liabilities represent obligations to make refunds to customers or amounts collected in rates for which the costs have not yet been incurred. The Company’s regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are recognized in accordance with the rulings of the regulatory agencies. A change in these rulings may result in a material impact on results of operations and the amount of assets and liabilities in the financial statements. Future regulatory rulings may impact the carrying value and accounting treatment of the regulatory assets
and regulatory liabilities.
We identified the impact of rate regulation as a critical audit matter due to the significant judgments made by management to support its assertions about impacted account balances and disclosures and
the high degree of subjectivity involved in assessing the impact of future regulatory orders on the financial statements. Management judgments include assessing the likelihood of the recovery of incurred costs and refund of obligations to customers in future rates. Given that management’s accounting judgments are based on assumptions about the outcome of future decisions by the regulatory agencies, auditing these judgments required specialized knowledge of accounting for rate regulation and the rate-setting process due to its inherent complexities.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the regulatory filings by management and the uncertainty of future decisions by the regulatory agencies included the following, among others:
•We
tested the effectiveness of management’s controls over the evaluation of the likelihood of recovery in future customer rates for regulatory assets and the likelihood of a probable refund to customers or reduction in future customer rates for regulatory liabilities; and the monitoring and evaluation of regulatory developments that may affect the likelihood of recovering costs in future rates or of a future reduction in rates.
•We obtained the Company’s analysis supporting the probability of recovery for regulatory assets or refund to customers or future reduction in customer rates for regulatory liabilities not yet addressed in a regulatory order to assess management’s assertion that amounts are probable of recovery in future customer rates or represent a probable refund to customers or reduction in future customer rates.
•We
inquired of management regarding current events impacting the Company and inspected minutes of the board of directors and other committees of the Company and evaluated whether matters were identified that may have an impact on recorded regulatory asset and liability balances.
•We read relevant regulatory orders issued by the regulatory agencies for the Company and other relevant public utilities, regulatory statutes, interpretations, procedural memorandums, filings made by certain stakeholders, and other publicly available information to assess the likelihood of recovery in future customer rates based on precedents of the regulatory agencies’ treatment of similar costs under similar circumstances. We evaluated the external information and whether there were matters in such information that would be contradictory to the assessment of recovery of the Company’s regulatory
assets or refund of regulatory liabilities.
•We inquired of management about property, plant, and equipment, net that may be abandoned. We inspected minutes of the board of directors and other committees of the Company, regulatory orders, and other filings with the regulatory agencies to identify evidence that may contradict management’s assertion regarding probability of an abandonment or that may have an impact on the recorded balances.
•We evaluated the Company’s disclosures related to the impacts of rate regulation and regulatory developments, including the regulatory balances recorded.
Earnings
per share data is not disclosed given Alliant Energy Corporation is the sole shareowner of all shares of WPL’s common stock outstanding during the periods presented.
Refer to accompanying Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
COMBINED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1. iiiSUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES//
NOTE 1(a) General -
Description of Business - Alliant Energy’s financial statements include the accounts of Alliant Energy and its consolidated subsidiaries. Alliant Energy is a Midwest U.S. energy holding company, whose primary wholly-owned subsidiaries are IPL, WPL, AEF and Corporate Services.
IPL’s financial statements include the accounts of IPL and its consolidated subsidiaries,
including IPL SPE LLC, which is used for IPL’s sales of accounts receivable program. IPL is a direct subsidiary of Alliant Energy and is a public utility engaged principally in the generation and distribution of electricity and the distribution and transportation of natural gas to retail customers in select markets in Iowa. IPL also sells electricity to wholesale customers in Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa, and is engaged in the generation and distribution of steam for itwo customers in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
WPL’s
financial statements include the accounts of WPL and its consolidated subsidiaries. WPL is a direct subsidiary of Alliant Energy and is a public utility engaged principally in the generation and distribution of electricity and the distribution and transportation of natural gas to retail customers in select markets in Wisconsin. WPL also sells electricity to wholesale customers in Wisconsin.
AEF is comprised of Travero, ATI, corporate venture investments, a non-utility wind farm, the Sheboygan Falls Energy Facility and other non-utility holdings. Travero includes a short-line rail freight service in Iowa; a Mississippi River barge, rail and truck freight terminal in Illinois; freight brokerage services; and a rail-served warehouse in Iowa. ATI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AEF, holds all of Alliant Energy’s interest in ATC Holdings. Corporate venture investments includes various minority ownership interests
in regional and national venture funds, including a global coalition of energy companies working together to help advance the transition towards a cleaner, more sustainable, and inclusive energy future, by identifying and researching innovative technologies and business models within the emerging energy economy. The non-utility wind farm includes a i50% cash equity ownership interest in a i225
MW wind farm located in Oklahoma. The Sheboygan Falls Energy Facility is a i347 MW, simple-cycle, natural gas-fired EGU near Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, which is leased to WPL for an initial period of i20 years ending in 2025.
Corporate
Services is the subsidiary formed to provide administrative services to Alliant Energy and its subsidiaries.
Basis of Presentation - iiiThe
financial statements reflect investments in controlled subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s proportionate shares of jointly-owned utility EGUs. Unconsolidated investments that Alliant Energy and WPL do not control are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method of accounting, Alliant Energy and WPL initially record the investment at cost, and adjust the carrying amount of the investment to recognize their respective share of the earnings or losses of the investee. Dividends received from an investee reduce the carrying amount of the equity investment. Investments that do not meet the criteria for consolidation or the equity method of accounting are accounted for under the cost method.//
All
intercompany balances and transactions, other than certain transactions affecting the rate-making process at IPL and WPL, have been eliminated from the financial statements. Such transactions not eliminated include costs that are recoverable from customers through rate-making processes. iiiThe
financial statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP, which give recognition to the rate-making practices of FERC and state commissions having regulatory jurisdiction.//
iiiCertain
prior period amounts in the Financial Statements and Notes have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation for comparative purposes.//
Use of Estimates - iiiThe
preparation of the financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect: (a) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; and (b) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.//
NOTE 1(b) Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities - iiiAlliant
Energy, IPL and WPL are subject to regulation by FERC and various state regulatory commissions. As a result, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are subject to GAAP provisions for regulated operations, which provide that rate-regulated public utilities record certain costs and credits allowed in the rate-making process in different periods than for non-utility entities. Regulatory assets generally represent incurred costs that have been deferred as such costs are probable of recovery in future customer rates. Regulatory liabilities generally represent obligations to make refunds to customers or amounts collected in rates for which the related costs have not yet been incurred. Amounts recorded as regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities are generally recognized in the income statements at the time they are reflected in rates.//
NOTE 1(c) Income Taxes - iiiThe
liability method of accounting is followed for deferred taxes, which requires the establishment of deferred tax assets and liabilities, as appropriate, for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the amounts reported in the financial statements. Deferred taxes are recorded using currently enacted tax rates and estimates of state apportionment. Changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities associated with certain property-related differences at IPL are accounted for differently than other subsidiaries of Alliant Energy due to rate-making practices in Iowa. Rate-making practices in Iowa do not allow the impact of certain deferred tax expenses (benefits) to be included in the determination of retail rates. Based on these rate-making practices, deferred tax expense (benefit) related to these property-related differences at IPL is not recorded in the income statement but instead recorded to regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities
until these temporary differences reverse. In Wisconsin, the PSCW allows rate recovery of deferred tax expense on all temporary differences.//
The flow-through method of accounting is used for investment tax credits. Certain federal investment tax credits related to utility property, plant and equipment are subject to statutory tax normalization rules limiting how they may be treated in rate-making. As appropriate to reflect the rate-making practices, investment tax credits are deferred and amortized over the book depreciable lives of the related property or other period prescribed by rate regulation.
Federal
Tax Reform repealed corporate federal alternative minimum tax and allowed unutilized alternative minimum tax credits to be refunded over four tax years beginning with the U.S. federal tax return for calendar year 2018. Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Alliant Energy received the remaining alternative minimum tax credits refunds in 2020.
Alliant Energy files a consolidated federal income tax return and a combined return in Wisconsin, which include Alliant Energy and its subsidiaries. Alliant Energy subsidiaries with a presence in Iowa file as part of a consolidated return in Iowa.
Alliant Energy allocates consolidated income tax expense to its subsidiaries that are members of the group that file a consolidated or combined
income tax return. IPL and WPL use the modified separate return approach for calculating their income tax provisions and related deferred tax assets and liabilities. IPL and WPL are assumed to file separate tax returns with the federal and state taxing authorities, except that net operating losses (and other current or deferred tax attributes) are characterized as realized (or realizable) by IPL and WPL when those tax attributes are realized (or realizable) by the consolidated tax return group of Alliant Energy (even if IPL and WPL would not otherwise have realized the attributes on a stand-alone basis). The difference in the income taxes recorded for IPL and WPL under the modified separate return method compared to the income taxes recorded on a separate return basis was not material in 2022, 2021 and 2020.
NOTE
1(d) Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash - iiiCash
and cash equivalents include short-term liquid investments that have original maturities of less than 90 days. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, Alliant Energy’s restricted cash related to requirements in Sheboygan Power, LLC’s debt agreement.//
NOTE 1(e) Property, Plant and Equipment -
iii
Utility
Plant -
General - Utility plant is recorded at the original cost of acquisition or construction, which includes material, labor, contractor services, AFUDC and allocable overheads, such as supervision, engineering, benefits, certain taxes and transportation. Repairs, replacements and renewals of items of property determined to be less than a unit of property or that do not increase the property’s life or functionality are charged to maintenance expense. Property, plant and equipment that is probable of being retired early is classified as plant anticipated to be retired early. Generally, ordinary retirements of utility plant and salvage value are netted and charged to accumulated depreciation upon removal from utility plant accounts and no gain or loss is recognized consistent with rate-making principles. However, if regulators have approved recovery of the remaining net book value of
property, plant and equipment that is retired early, or such approval by regulators is probable, the remaining net book value is reclassified from property, plant and equipment to regulatory assets upon retirement.
//
Depreciation -iiiIPL
and WPL use a combination of remaining life and straight-line depreciation methods as approved by their respective regulatory commissions. The composite or group method of depreciation is used, in which a single depreciation rate is applied to the gross investment in a particular class of property. This method pools similar assets and then depreciates each group as a whole. Periodic depreciation studies are performed to determine the appropriate group lives, net salvage, estimated cost of removal and group depreciation rates. These depreciation studies are subject to review and approval by IPL’s and WPL’s respective regulatory commissions. Depreciation expense is included within the recoverable cost of service component of rates collected from customers. iiiThe
average rates of depreciation for electric, gas and other properties, consistent with current rate-making practices, were as follows://///
In
December 2021, the PSCW issued an order approving the implementation of updated depreciation rates for WPL effective January 1, 2023 as a result of a recently completed depreciation study. WPL estimates the new average rates of depreciation for its electric generation, electric distribution and gas properties will be approximately i3.6%, i2.7%
and i2.9%, respectively, during 2023.
AFUDC -iiiAFUDC
represents costs to finance construction additions, including a return on equity component and cost of debt component as required by regulatory accounting. AFUDC for IPL’s construction projects is calculated in accordance with FERC guidelines. AFUDC for WPL’s retail and wholesale jurisdiction construction projects is calculated in accordance with PSCW and FERC guidelines, respectively. iiiThe
AFUDC rates, computed in accordance with the prescribed regulatory formula, were as follows://///
2022
2021
2020
IPL
(Wind generation CWIP)
i6.9%
i7.0%
i7.1%
IPL
(other CWIP)
i7.0%
i7.2%
i7.2%
WPL
(retail jurisdiction)
i7.0%
i7.0%
i7.0%
WPL
(wholesale jurisdiction)
i6.2%
i5.6%
i6.3%
In
accordance with their respective regulatory commission decisions, IPL applies its AFUDC rates to i100% of applicable CWIP balances, and WPL generally applies its AFUDC rates to i50%
of applicable CWIP balances and the remaining i50% of applicable CWIP balances earns a return on such balances as part of its rate base. WPL may apply its AFUDC rates to i100%
of the retail portion of the CWIP balances for construction projects requiring a CA or CPCN that were approved by the PSCW after its then most recent rate order, including the first and second solar generation CAs.
Non-utility and Other Property -
General - Non-utility property is recorded at the original cost of acquisition or construction, which includes material, labor and contractor services. Repairs, replacements and renewals of items of property determined to be less than a unit of property or that do not increase the property’s life or functionality are charged to maintenance expense. Upon retirement or sale of non-utility property, the original cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in the income statements.
Costs
related to software developed or obtained for internal use are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the related software. If software is retired prior to being fully amortized, the remaining book value is recorded as a loss in the income statements.
NOTE 1(f) Revenue Recognition -
iii
Utility
- Revenues from Alliant Energy’s utility business are primarily from electric and gas sales to customers. Utility revenues are recognized over time as services are rendered or commodities are delivered to customers, and include billed and unbilled components. The billed component is based on the reading of customers’ meters, which occurs on a systematic basis throughout each reporting period and represents the fair value of the services provided or commodities delivered. The unbilled component is estimated and recorded at the end of each reporting period based on estimated amounts of energy delivered to customers since the end of each customer’s last billing period. The unbilled component is based on estimates of daily system demand volumes, customer usage by class, temperature impacts, line losses and the most recent customer rates.
IPL and WPL accrue revenues from their wholesale
customers to the extent that the actual net revenue requirements calculated in accordance with FERC-approved formula rates for the reporting period are higher or lower than the amounts billed to wholesale customers during such period. Regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities are recorded as the offset for these accrued revenues under formulaic rate-making programs. As of December 31, 2022, the related amounts accrued for IPL and WPL were not material.
IPL and WPL participate in bid/offer-based wholesale energy and ancillary services markets operated by MISO. The MISO transactions are grouped together, resulting in a net supply to or net purchase from MISO for each hour of each day. The net supply to MISO is recorded as bulk power sales in “Electric utility revenues” and the net purchase from MISO is recorded in “Electric production fuel and
purchased power” in the income statements.
Non-utility
- Revenues from Alliant Energy’s non-utility businesses are primarily from its Travero business and are recognized over time as services are rendered to customers.
Taxes Collected from Customers - Sales or various other taxes collected by certain of Alliant Energy’s subsidiaries on behalf of other agencies are recorded on a net basis and are not included in revenues.
Other - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL do not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for: (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less; and (ii) contracts for which revenue is recognized at the amount to which they have the right to invoice for services performed.
NOTE
1(g) Utility Cost Recovery Mechanisms
iii
Electric
Production Fuel and Purchased Power (Fuel-related Costs) - Fuel-related costs are incurred to generate and purchase electricity to meet the demand of IPL’s and WPL’s electric customers. These fuel-related costs include the cost of fossil fuels (primarily natural gas and coal) used to produce electricity at their EGUs, and electricity purchased from MISO wholesale energy markets and under PPAs. These fuel-related costs are recorded in “Electric production fuel and purchased power” in the income statements.
IPL Retail - The cost recovery mechanisms for IPL’s retail electric customers provide for monthly adjustments to their electric rates for changes in fuel-related costs. Changes in the under-/over-collection of these costs are recognized in “Electric production fuel and purchased power” in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income
statements. The cumulative effects of the under-/over-collection of these costs are recorded in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s balance sheets until they are reflected in future billings to customers.
WPL Retail - The cost recovery mechanism for WPL’s retail electric customers is based on forecasts of certain fuel-related costs expected to be incurred during forward-looking test periods and fuel monitoring ranges determined by the PSCW during each retail electric rate proceeding or in a separate fuel cost plan approval proceeding. If WPL’s actual fuel-related costs fall outside these fuel monitoring ranges, WPL is authorized to defer the incremental under-/over-collection of fuel-related costs that are outside the approved ranges. Deferral of under-collections are reduced to the extent actual return on common equity earned by WPL during the
fuel cost plan year exceeds the most recently authorized return on common equity. Deferred amounts for fuel-related costs outside the approved fuel monitoring ranges are recognized in “Electric production fuel and purchased power” in Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s income statements. The cumulative effects of these deferred amounts are recorded in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s balance sheets until they are reflected in future billings to customers.
IPL and WPL Wholesale - The cost recovery mechanisms for IPL’s and WPL’s wholesale electric customers provide for subsequent adjustments to their electric rates for changes in fuel-related costs. Changes in the under-/over-collection of these costs are recognized in “Electric production fuel and purchased power” in the income statements. The cumulative effects of the under-/over-collection
of these costs are recorded in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on the balance sheets until they are reflected in future billings to customers.
Electric Capacity - PPAs help meet the electricity demand of IPL’s and WPL’s customers. Certain PPAs include minimum payments for IPL’s and WPL’s rights to electric generating capacity, which are charged each period to “Electric production fuel and purchased power” in the income statements. Purchased electric capacity expenses are recovered from IPL’s and WPL’s retail electric customers through changes in base rates determined during periodic rate proceedings. Purchased electric capacity expenses are recovered from IPL’s and WPL’s wholesale electric customers through annual changes in base rates determined by a formula rate structure. Electric capacity revenues are refunded to IPL's retail electric
customers through changes in base rates determined during periodic rate proceedings, and to IPL and WPL's wholesale electric customers through annual changes in base rates determined by a formula rate structure. Electric capacity revenues are refunded to WPL's retail electric customers through its fuel cost recovery mechanism.
Electric Transmission Service - Costs incurred for the transmission of electricity to meet the demands of IPL’s and WPL’s customers are charged to “Electric transmission service” in the income statements.
IPL Retail - Electric transmission service expense is recovered from IPL’s retail electric customers through a transmission cost rider. This cost recovery mechanism provides for periodic adjustments to electric rates charged to retail electric
customers for changes in electric transmission service expense. Changes in the under-/over-collection of these costs are recognized in “Electric transmission service” in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income statements. The cumulative effects of the under-/over-collection of these costs are recorded in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s balance sheets until they are reflected in future billings to customers.
WPL Retail - Electric transmission service expense is recovered from WPL’s retail electric customers through changes in base rates determined during periodic rate proceedings. Pursuant to escrow accounting treatment approved by the PSCW, the difference between actual electric transmission service expense incurred and the amount of electric transmission service costs collected from customers as electric revenues is recognized in “Electric
transmission service” in Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s
income
statements. An offsetting amount is recorded in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s balance sheets until reflected in future billings to customers.
IPL and WPL Wholesale - IPL and WPL arrange transmission service for the majority of their respective wholesale electric customers. Electric transmission service expense is allocated to and recovered from these customers based on a load ratio share computation.
Cost of Gas Sold - Costs are incurred for the purchase, transportation and storage of natural gas to serve IPL’s and WPL’s gas customers and the costs associated with the natural gas delivered to customers are charged to “Cost of gas sold” in the income statements. The tariffs for IPL’s and WPL’s retail gas customers provide for
subsequent adjustments to their rates periodically for changes in the cost of gas sold. Changes in the under-/over-collection of these costs are also recognized in “Cost of gas sold” in the income statements. The cumulative effects of the under-/over-collection of these costs are recorded in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on the balance sheets until they are reflected in future billings to customers.
Energy Efficiency Costs - Costs incurred to fund energy efficiency programs and initiatives that help customers reduce their energy usage are charged to “Other operation and maintenance” in the income statements. Energy efficiency costs incurred by IPL are recovered from its retail electric and gas customers through energy efficiency and demand response cost recovery factor tariffs, which are revised annually and include a reconciliation
to eliminate any under-/over-collection of energy efficiency costs from prior periods. Pursuant to escrow accounting treatment approved by the PSCW, the difference between actual energy efficiency costs incurred by WPL and the amount collected from its retail electric and gas customers is recovered through changes in base rates determined during periodic rate proceedings, and reconciliations eliminate any under-/over-collection of energy efficiency costs from prior periods. Changes in the under-/over-collection of energy efficiency costs for IPL and WPL are recognized in “Other operation and maintenance” in the income statements. The cumulative effects of the under-/over-collection of these costs for IPL and WPL are recorded in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on the balance sheets until they are reflected in future billings to customers.
Renewable Energy Rider
- IPL recovers a return of, as well as earns a return on, its wind generation placed in service in 2019 and 2020 from its retail electric customers through a renewable energy rider. Other applicable costs and tax benefits associated with this wind generation, excluding operation and maintenance expenses, are also included in the rider. This cost recovery mechanism provides for annual adjustments to electric rates charged to IPL’s retail electric customers for actual renewable energy costs and tax benefits. Changes in the under-/over-collection of these costs are recognized in “Electric utility revenue” in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income statements. The cumulative effects of the under-/over-collection of these costs for IPL are recorded in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s balance sheets until they are reflected in future billings to customers.
NOTE
1(h) Financial Instruments - iiiFinancial
instruments are periodically used for risk management purposes to mitigate exposures to fluctuations in certain commodity prices and transmission congestion costs. The fair value of those financial instruments that are determined to be derivatives are recorded as assets or liabilities on the balance sheets. Certain commodity purchase and sales contracts qualified for and were designated under the normal purchase and sale exception, and were accounted for on the accrual basis of accounting. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL have elected to not net the fair value amounts of derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement by counterparty. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL do not offset fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral (receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (payable) against fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments that are executed with the same counterparty under the same master netting arrangement.// Refer
to Note 2 for discussion of the recognition of regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities related to the unrealized losses and gains on derivative instruments. Refer to Notes 15, 16 and 17(f) for further discussion of derivatives and related credit risk.
NOTE
1(i) Asset Impairments -
iii
Property,
Plant and Equipment of Regulated Operations - Property, plant and equipment of regulated operations are reviewed for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate all or a portion of the carrying value of the assets may be disallowed for rate-making purposes. If IPL or WPL are disallowed recovery of any portion of, or are only allowed a partial return on, the carrying value of their regulated property, plant and equipment that is under construction, has been recently completed or is probable of abandonment, or conclude it is probable recovery or a full return will be disallowed, then an impairment charge is recognized.
Property, Plant and Equipment of Non-utility Operations - Property, plant and equipment of non-utility operations are reviewed for possible impairment whenever events or changes
in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Impairment is indicated if the carrying value of an asset exceeds its undiscounted future cash flows. If an impairment is indicated, a charge is recognized equal to the amount the carrying value exceeds the asset’s fair value.
Unconsolidated Equity Investments - If events or circumstances indicate the carrying value of investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting exceeds fair value and the decline in value is other than temporary, potential impairment is assessed. If an impairment is indicated, a charge is recognized equal to the amount the carrying value exceeds the investment’s fair value.
NOTE 1(j) Asset Retirement Obligations - iiiThe
fair value of a legal obligation associated with the retirement of an asset is recorded as a liability when an asset is placed in service, when a legal obligation is subsequently identified or when sufficient information becomes available to determine a reasonable estimate of the fair value of future retirement costs. When an ARO is recorded as a liability, an equivalent amount is added to the asset cost. The fair value of AROs at inception is determined using discounted cash flows analyses. The liability is accreted to its present value and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Accretion and depreciation expenses related to AROs for IPL’s and WPL’s regulated operations are recorded to regulatory assets on the balance sheets. Revisions in estimated cash flows for IPL’s and WPL’s regulated operations are recorded as an increase or decrease to the ARO liability, with an offset to the asset cost, unless the asset is already
retired and then the offset is recorded to regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on the balance sheets. Upon regulatory approval to recover IPL’s AROs expenditures, its regulatory assets are amortized to depreciation and amortization expenses in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income statements over the same time period the ARO expenditures are recovered from IPL’s customers. WPL’s regulatory assets related to AROs are recovered as a component of depreciation rates pursuant to PSCW and FERC orders. Upon settlement of the ARO liability, an entity settles the obligation for its recorded amount or incurs a gain or loss. Any gains or losses related to AROs for IPL’s and WPL’s regulated operations are recorded to regulatory liabilities or regulatory assets on the balance sheets.//
NOTE
1(k) Debt Issuance and Retirement Costs - iiiDebt
issuance costs and debt premiums or discounts are presented on the balance sheets as a direct adjustment to the carrying amount of the related debt liability, and are deferred and amortized over the expected life of each debt issue, considering maturity dates and, if applicable, redemption rights held by others. Alliant Energy’s non-utility businesses and Corporate Services record to interest expense in the period of retirement any unamortized debt issuance costs and debt premiums or discounts on debt retired early.//
NOTE 1(l) Current Expected
Credit Losses Estimates - iiiCurrent
expected credit losses are estimated for trade and other receivables and credit exposures on guarantees of the performance by third parties. The current expected credit losses for short-term trade receivables are based on estimates of losses resulting from the inability of customers to make required payments. The methodology used to estimate losses is based on historical write-offs, regional economic conditions, significant events that could impact collectability, such as impacts related to COVID-19, significant weather related matters including the derecho windstorm and related regulatory actions, and forecasted changes to the accounts receivable aging portfolio and write-offs. The current expected credit losses related to guarantees of the performance by third parties are estimated using both quantitative and qualitative information, which utilizes potential outcomes in a range of possible estimated amounts.//
In
2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an accounting standard requiring use of a current expected credit loss model rather than an incurred loss method, which is intended to result in more timely recognition of credit losses on trade receivables, certain other assets and off-balance sheet credit exposures. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL adopted this standard on January 1, 2020 using a modified retrospective method of adoption, which required cumulative effect adjustments to retained earnings on January 1, 2020. IPL and WPL did not record a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings and Alliant Energy recorded a pre-tax $i12
million (after-tax $i9 million) cumulative effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings related to Alliant Energy’s guarantees in the partnership obligations of an affiliate of Whiting Petroleum (refer to Note 17(d) for further discussion). This adjustment is included in “Adoption of new accounting standard” in Alliant Energy’s equity statement for 2020.
NOTE
1(m) Variable Interest Entities - iiiAn
entity is considered a VIE if its equity investors do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, the entity is structured with disproportionate voting rights and substantially all of the entity’s activities are conducted on behalf of the investor with disproportionately fewer voting rights, or its equity investors lack any of the following characteristics: (1) power, through voting rights or similar rights, to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance; (2) the obligation to absorb expected losses of the entity; or (3) the right to receive expected benefits of the entity. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is required to consolidate the VIE. The financial statements do not reflect any consolidation of VIEs.//
In
2022, WPL 2022 Solar Holdco, LLC was formed as a joint venture to own and operate project companies responsible for the construction, ownership and operation of various solar generation assets. Members of the joint venture were a WPL subsidiary (the managing member) and a tax equity partner. In the second quarter of 2022, the WPL subsidiary and the tax equity partner contributed $i62 million and $i29
million, respectively, to WPL 2022 Solar Holdco, LLC in exchange for membership interests, and $i88 million of the contributed funds were paid to WPL in exchange for equity interests in the project companies. The tax equity partner's contributions were represented as a noncontrolling interest within total equity on Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s balance sheets as of June 30, 2022. In the second quarter of 2022, Alliant Energy and WPL consolidated this joint venture as it was a VIE in which WPL held a variable interest,
and WPL controlled decisions that were significant to the joint venture’s ongoing operations and economic results (i.e., WPL was the primary beneficiary).
In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was enacted. Following
its enactment, WPL evaluated the provisions of the new legislation and determined that retaining full ownership of the solar projects is expected to result in more cost benefits for its customers. As a result, in the third quarter of 2022, WPL and the tax equity partner terminated the tax equity partnership, and WPL returned the $i29 million of initial funding to the tax equity partner, resulting in the reversal of the noncontrolling interest within total equity on Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s balance sheets as of December 31,
2022. Alliant Energy and WPL no longer expect their solar generation project construction costs to be financed with capital from tax equity partners, which would result in higher rate base amounts compared to those previously approved by the PSCW for WPL’s planned approximately i1,100 MW of solar generation. Alliant Energy and WPL concluded that no disallowance of anticipated higher rate base amounts was required as of December 31, 2022 given full ownership of WPL's planned solar generation is expected to result in more cost benefits for WPL's
customers.
NOTE 1(n) Leases - iiiThe
determination of whether an arrangement qualifies as a lease occurs at the inception of the arrangement. Arrangements that qualify as leases are classified as either operating or finance. Operating and finance lease liabilities represent obligations to make payments arising from the lease. Operating and finance lease assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. Leases with initial terms less than 12 months are not recognized as leases. For operating leases, an incremental borrowing rate, as determined at the lease commencement date, is used to determine the present value of the lease payments. For finance leases, the rate implicit in the lease, if known, is used to determine the present value of the lease payments. If the rate implicit in the lease is not known, the incremental borrowing rate, as determined at the
lease commencement date, is used to determine the present value of the lease payments. Lease terms include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. Finance lease expense is comprised of depreciation and amortization, and interest expenses. Finance lease assets related to leased land for solar generation are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, and are accounted for as operating leases for rate-making purposes. All other finance lease assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful life of the underlying asset or the lease term.//
NOTE
2. iiiREGULATORY
MATTERS//
Regulatory Assets - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL assess whether IPL’s and WPL’s regulatory assets are probable of future recovery by considering factors such as applicable regulations, recent orders by the applicable regulatory agencies, historical treatment of similar costs by the applicable regulatory agencies and regulatory environment changes. Based on these assessments, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL believe the regulatory assets recognized as of December 31, 2022 are probable of future recovery. However, no assurance can be made that IPL and WPL will
recover all of these regulatory assets in future rates. If future recovery of a regulatory asset ceases to be probable, the regulatory asset will be charged to expense. iiiAt
December 31, regulatory assets were comprised of the following items (in millions)://
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
Tax-related
$i929
$i934
$i848
$i884
$i81
$i50
Pension
and OPEB costs
i392
i462
i197
i228
i195
i234
Commodity
cost recovery
i160
i42
i1
i2
i159
i40
AROs
i151
i128
i110
i89
i41
i39
Derivatives
i84
i8
i48
i4
i36
i4
Assets
retired early
i70
i92
i53
i66
i17
i26
IPL’s
DAEC PPA amendment
i66
i90
i66
i90
—
—
WPL’s
Western Wisconsin gas distribution expansion investments
i48
i52
—
—
i48
i52
Other
i146
i132
i63
i80
i83
i52
$i2,046
$i1,940
$i1,386
$i1,443
$i660
$i497
At
December 31, 2022, IPL and WPL had $i66 million and $i28
million, respectively, of regulatory assets that were not earning a return on investment. IPL’s regulatory assets that were not earning a return consisted primarily of retired analog electric meters, emission allowances and costs for certain construction projects. WPL’s regulatory assets that were not earning a return consisted primarily of amounts related to the wholesale portion of under-collected costs, and costs for future expansion projects. The other regulatory assets reported in the above table either earn a return or the cash has not yet been expended, in which case the assets are offset by liabilities that also do not incur a carrying cost.
Tax-related- IPL and WPL record regulatory assets for certain temporary differences (primarily related to utility property, plant and equipment at IPL) that result in a decrease in current rates charged to customers and an increase in future rates charged to customers based on the timing of income tax expense that is used to determine such rates. These temporary differences for IPL include the impacts of qualifying deductions for repairs expenditures, allocation of mixed service costs, and Iowa accelerated tax depreciation, which all contribute to lower current income tax expense during the first part of an asset’s useful life and higher current income tax expense during the latter part of an asset’s useful life. These regulatory assets will be recovered
from customers in the future when these temporary differences reverse resulting in additional current income tax expense used to determine customers’ rates. Refer to Note 12 for discussion of Iowa Tax Reform, which resulted in a decrease in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s tax-related regulatory assets in 2022.
Pension and other postretirement benefits costs - The IUB, PSCW and FERC have authorized IPL and WPL to record the previously unrecognized net actuarial gains and losses, and prior service costs and credits, as regulatory assets in lieu of accumulated other comprehensive loss on the balance sheets, as these amounts are expected to be recovered in future
rates. These regulatory assets will be increased or decreased as the net actuarial gains or losses, and prior service costs or credits, are subsequently amortized and recognized as a component of net periodic benefit costs. Regulatory assets are also increased or decreased as a result of the annual defined benefit plan measurement process. Pension and OPEB costs are included within the recoverable cost of service component of rates charged to IPL’s and WPL’s retail and wholesale customers, which are based upon pension and OPEB costs determined in accordance with GAAP and are calculated in accordance with IPL’s and WPL’s respective regulatory jurisdictions.
Commodity cost recovery - Refer to Note 1(g) for details of IPL’s and WPL’s commodity cost
recovery mechanisms. The cost recovery mechanism for WPL’s retail electric customers is based on forecasts of certain fuel-related costs expected to be incurred during forward-looking test periods and fuel monitoring ranges determined by the PSCW during each retail electric rate proceeding or in a separate fuel cost plan approval proceeding. In 2021, WPL’s actual fuel-related costs fell outside these fuel monitoring ranges, resulting in a $i37 million deferral as of December 31, 2022, which will be collected in 2023 from its retail electric customers,
plus interest. In 2022, WPL’s actual fuel-related costs fell outside these fuel monitoring ranges, resulting in a $i117 million deferral as of December 31, 2022, which is currently expected to be addressed in WPL’s next retail electric rate review.
AROs - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL believe it is probable that certain differences between expenses accrued for AROs related to their utility operations and expenses recovered currently in rates will be recoverable in future
rates, and are deferring the differences as regulatory assets.
Derivatives - In accordance with IPL’s and WPL’s fuel and natural gas recovery mechanisms, prudently incurred costs from derivative instruments are recoverable from customers in the future after any losses are realized, and gains from derivative instruments are refundable to customers in the future after any gains are realized. Based on these recovery mechanisms, the changes in the fair value of derivative liabilities/assets resulted in comparable changes to regulatory assets/liabilities on the balance sheets. Refer to Note 15 for discussion of changes in Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s derivative liabilities/assets during 2022, which result in comparable changes to regulatory assets/liabilities
on the balance sheets.
Assets retired early - IPL and WPL have retired various natural gas- and coal-fired EGUs, and IPL has retired certain analog electric meters. As a result, the remaining net book value of these assets was reclassified from property, plant and equipment to a regulatory asset on their respective balance sheets. iiiDetails
regarding the recovery of the remaining net book value of these assets from IPL’s and WPL’s customers are as follows (dollars in millions)://
Return
of and return on remaining net book value through 2027
IUB and FERC
IPL
M.L. Kapp Unit 2
2018
i13
Return of and return on remaining net book value through 2029
IUB
and FERC
IPL
Analog electric meters
2019
i24
Return of remaining net book value through 2028
IUB and FERC
WPL
Edgewater
Unit 4
2018
i17
Return of and return on remaining net book value through 2028
PSCW and FERC
IPL’s DAEC PPA Amendment - In 2020, IPL made a buyout payment of $i110
million in exchange for shortening the term of its DAEC PPA by i5 years. The payment was included in “DAEC PPA amendment buyout payment” in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s cash flows used for operating activities in 2020. The buyout payment, including a return on, will be recovered from IPL’s retail and wholesale customers from 2021 through the end of 2025, and is currently being amortized to “Electric production fuel and purchased power” in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income statements.
WPL’s Western Wisconsin gas distribution expansion investments - WPL made contributions in aid of construction to a third party for investments as part of its Western Wisconsin gas distribution expansion project. Pursuant to authorization by the PSCW, Alliant Energy and WPL have recorded a regulatory asset for these costs, and are authorized by the PSCW to recover these amounts from WPL’s retail gas customers in base rates from 2021 through the end of 2040.
Regulatory Liabilities - iiiAt
December 31, regulatory liabilities were comprised of the following items (in millions)://
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
Tax-related
$i579
$i585
$i303
$i312
$i276
$i273
Cost
of removal obligations
i398
i384
i259
i252
i139
i132
Derivatives
i210
i166
i115
i77
i95
i89
Commodity
cost recovery
i40
i17
i38
i15
i2
i2
WPL’s
West Riverside liquidated damages
i32
i36
—
—
i32
i36
Electric
transmission cost recovery
i20
i51
i10
i27
i10
i24
Other
i45
i32
i29
i8
i16
i24
$i1,324
$i1,271
$i754
$i691
$i570
$i580
Tax-related
regulatory liabilities reduce revenue requirement calculations utilized in IPL’s and WPL’s respective rate proceedings. Cost of removal obligations, to the extent expensed through depreciation rates, reduce rate base. A significant portion of the remaining regulatory liabilities is not used to adjust revenue requirement calculations.
Tax-related - Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s tax-related regulatory liabilities are primarily related to excess deferred tax benefits resulting from the remeasurement of accumulated deferred income taxes caused by Federal Tax Reform. The majority of these benefits related to accelerated depreciation are subject to tax normalization rules. These rules limit the rate at which these tax benefits are allowed to be passed on to customers.
Cost of removal obligations -
Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL collect in rates future removal costs for many assets that do not have associated AROs or that have removal costs in addition to AROs. Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL record a regulatory liability for the amounts collected in rates for these future removal costs and reduce the regulatory liability for amounts spent on removal activities. Cash payments related to cost of removal obligations are included in “Other” in cash flows used for investing activities.
WPL’s West Riverside liquidated damages - Pursuant to terms included in the related West Riverside construction procurement contracts, WPL reached agreement with the contractor on liquidated damages in 2020. A significant portion of the liquidated damages was settled by WPL offsetting amounts owed to the contractor that were previously withheld for payment, which were non-cash investing activities. In
2020, the PSCW authorized WPL to record the liquidated damages as a regulatory liability, which the PSCW authorized to be returned to WPL’s retail customers in 2022 and 2023, resulting in decreases in regulatory liabilities on Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s balance sheets and decreases in depreciation and amortization expenses in Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s income statements in 2022.
Electric transmission cost recovery - Refer to Note 1(g) for details of IPL’s and WPL’s electric transmission cost recovery mechanisms. In 2020, pursuant to an IUB order, IPL issued $i42
million of credits to its retail electric customers through its transmission cost rider for amounts previously collected in rates, which resulted in a reduction to “Electric transmission service” expense in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income statements in 2020.
Derecho Windstorm - In August 2020, a derecho windstorm caused considerable damage to IPL’s electric distribution system in its service territory, and over i250,000 of its customers
lost power. IPL completed its initial restoration and rebuilding efforts in August 2020. As of December 31, 2022, approximately $i140 million of costs from the windstorm were recorded substantially to “Property, plant and equipment, net” on Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s balance sheets. In December 2020, IPL received approval from the IUB for utilization of a regulatory account to track certain incremental costs and benefits incurred resulting from the windstorm. These
incremental costs and benefits were not addressed in the IUB’s order for IPL’s 2020 forward-looking Test Period electric subsequent proceeding, and are expected to be addressed in future regulatory proceedings. Tax benefits and the incremental operation and maintenance expenses resulting from the windstorm were deferred and recorded as a net regulatory liability of $i8 million as of December 31, 2022, which is included in “Other” regulatory liabilities in the above table.
IPL’s Retail Electric Rate Review (2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In March 2019, IPL filed a request with the IUB to increase annual electric base rates for its Iowa retail electric customers based on a 2020 forward-looking Test Period. The key drivers for IPL’s request included recovery of capital projects, including new wind generation. IPL concurrently filed for interim retail electric rates based on 2018 historical data as adjusted for certain known and measurable changes occurring in the first quarter of 2019. An interim retail electric base rate increase of $i90
million, on an annual basis, was implemented effective April 1, 2019. In October 2019, IPL reached a settlement agreement with certain stakeholders for an annual retail electric base rate increase of $i127 million. In January 2020, the IUB issued an order approving the settlement with final rates, which were effective February 26, 2020. The agreement includes both the recovery of and a return on IPL’s early retired
EGUs, and the recovery of IPL’s retired analog electric meters. In addition, as discussed in Note 1(g), the net impact of certain costs and benefits resulting from IPL’s i1,000 MW expansion of wind generation in 2019 and 2020 is being recovered from its retail electric customers through the renewable energy rider. The agreement also includes IPL providing retail electric billing credits, which began in the third quarter of 2020
through June 2021, and in aggregate include $i27 million of excess deferred tax benefits and $i8 million from a partial refund of interim rates implemented in 2019. In 2021, the IUB issued an order for IPL’s
2020 forward-looking Test Period electric subsequent proceeding, which compared actual revenues and costs to those initially forecasted by IPL, and authorized IPL to maintain its current retail electric rates.
IPL’s Retail Gas Rate Review (2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In March 2019, IPL filed a request with the IUB to increase annual gas base rates for its Iowa retail gas customers based on a 2020 forward-looking Test Period. In October 2019, IPL reached a settlement agreement with certain stakeholders for an annual retail gas base rate increase of $i12
million. In December 2019, the IUB issued an order approving the settlement with final rates, which were effective January 10, 2020. In 2021, the IUB issued an order for IPL’s 2020 forward-looking Test Period gas subsequent proceeding, which compared actual revenues and costs to those initially forecasted by IPL, and authorized IPL to maintain its current retail gas rates.
WPL’s Retail Electric and Gas Rate Review (2019/2020 Forward-looking Test Period) - In December 2018, the PSCW issued an order approving WPL’s proposed settlement for its retail electric and gas rate review covering the 2019/2020 Test Period, which was based on a stipulated agreement between WPL and certain stakeholders. Under the settlement, WPL retail electric and gas base rates did not change from then current levels through the end of 2020. In September 2020,
pursuant to an August 2020 PSCW order, WPL refunded $i12 million of 2019 fuel-related cost over-collections to its retail electric customers. In addition, WPL’s amortization of excess deferred taxes resulting from the remeasurement of accumulated deferred income taxes caused by Federal Tax Reform was used to offset increases in WPL’s 2020 increased revenue requirements.
WPL’s Retail Electric and Gas Rate Review (2021 Forward-looking Test Period) - In December
2020, the PSCW issued an order authorizing WPL to maintain its then current retail electric and gas base rates, authorized return on common equity, regulatory capital structure and earnings sharing mechanism through the end of 2021. WPL utilized anticipated fuel-related cost savings and excess deferred income tax benefits in 2021 to offset the revenue requirement impacts of increasing electric and gas rate base, including the Kossuth wind farm, which was placed in service in October 2020, and the expansion of its gas distribution system in Western Wisconsin, which was placed in service in November 2020.
WPL’s Retail Electric and Gas Rate Reviews (2022/2023 Forward-looking Test Period) - In December 2021, the PSCW issued an order authorizing annual base rate increases of $i114
million and $i15 million for WPL’s retail electric and gas customers, respectively, covering the 2022/2023 forward-looking Test Period, which was based on a stipulated agreement between WPL and certain stakeholders. The key drivers for the annual base rate increases include higher retail fuel-related costs in 2022, lower excess deferred income tax benefits in 2022 and 2023 and revenue requirement impacts of increasing electric and gas rate base, including investments in solar generation. In addition, the PSCW authorized
WPL to receive a recovery of and a return on the remaining net book value of Edgewater Unit 5 through 2023. Retail electric rate changes were effective on January 1, 2022 and extend through the end of 2023. Retail gas rate changes were effective on January 1, 2022 and extended through the end of 2022.
At
December 31, details of property, plant and equipment on the balance sheets were as follows (in millions):
Alliant Energy
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
Utility:
Electric
plant:
Generation in service
$i8,060
$i7,539
$i4,962
$i4,922
$i3,098
$i2,617
Distribution
in service
i6,912
i6,537
i3,876
i3,652
i3,036
i2,885
Other
in service
i543
i540
i354
i363
i189
i177
Anticipated
to be retired early (a)
i2,103
i2,094
i491
i487
i1,612
i1,607
Total
electric plant
i17,618
i16,710
i9,683
i9,424
i7,935
i7,286
Gas
plant in service
i1,705
i1,636
i910
i878
i795
i758
Other
plant in service
i624
i621
i402
i398
i222
i223
Accumulated
depreciation
(i5,690)
(i5,263)
(i3,149)
(i2,897)
(i2,541)
(i2,366)
Net
plant
i14,257
i13,704
i7,846
i7,803
i6,411
i5,901
Leased
Sheboygan Falls Energy Facility, net (b)
—
—
—
—
i15
i21
Leased
land for solar generation, net
i133
i11
i—
i—
i133
i11
Construction
work in progress
i1,357
i778
i194
i174
i1,163
i604
Other,
net
i6
i7
i6
i6
i—
i1
Total
utility
i15,753
i14,500
i8,046
i7,983
i7,722
i6,538
Non-utility
and other:
Non-utility Generation, net (c)
i71
i75
—
—
—
—
Corporate
Services and other, net (d)
i423
i412
—
—
—
—
Total
non-utility and other
i494
i487
—
—
—
—
Total
property, plant and equipment
$i16,247
$i14,987
$i8,046
$i7,983
$i7,722
$i6,538
(a)In
2020, IPL and WPL received approval from MISO to retire Lansing and Edgewater Unit 5, respectively, and currently anticipate retiring Lansing in the first half of 2023 and Edgewater Unit 5 by June 1, 2025. In 2021, WPL received approval from MISO to retire Columbia Units 1 and 2, and currently anticipates retiring Columbia Units 1 and 2 by June 1, 2026. Alliant Energy and IPL concluded that Lansing, and Alliant Energy and WPL concluded that Edgewater Unit 5 and Columbia Units 1 and 2, met the criteria to be considered probable of abandonment as of December 31, 2022. IPL and WPL are currently allowed a full recovery of and a full return on its respective EGUs from both its retail and wholesale customers, and as a result, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL concluded that no disallowance was required as of December 31,
2022. As of December 31, 2022, net book values were $i233 million for Lansing, $i511
million for Edgewater Unit 5, and $i440 million for Columbia Units 1 and 2 in aggregate.
(b)Less accumulated amortization of $i106
million and $i100 million for WPL as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. For Alliant Energy, the leased Sheboygan Falls Energy Facility is eliminated upon consolidation and is included in the “Non-utility Generation, net” line within Alliant Energy’s consolidated property, plant and equipment.
(c)Less accumulated depreciation of $i71
million and $i67 million for Alliant Energy as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
(d)Less accumulated depreciation of $i269
million and $i245 million for Alliant Energy as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
///
AFUDC
- AFUDC represents costs to finance construction additions, including a return on equity component and cost of debt component as required by regulatory accounting. The concurrent credit for the amount of AFUDC capitalized is recorded as “Allowance for funds used during construction” in the income statements. iiiThe
amount of AFUDC generated by equity and debt components was as follows (in millions)://
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
Equity
$i44
$i18
$i39
$i8
$i7
$i17
$i36
$i11
$i22
Debt
i16
i7
i16
i3
i2
i7
i13
i5
i9
$i60
$i25
$i55
$i11
$i9
$i24
$i49
$i16
$i31
Non-utility
and Other - The non-utility and other property, plant and equipment recorded on Alliant Energy’s balance sheets include the following:
Non-utility Generation - The Sheboygan Falls Energy Facility was placed in service in 2005 and is depreciated using the straight-line method over a i35-year period.
Corporate Services and Other - Property, plant and equipment related to Corporate Services include a customer billing and information system for IPL and WPL and other computer software, and the corporate headquarters building located in Madison, Wisconsin. The customer billing and information system is amortized using the straight-line method over a i12-year period. The majority of the remaining software is amortized over a i5-year
period. Other property, plant and equipment include Travero assets (a short-line rail freight service in Iowa; a Mississippi River barge, rail and truck freight terminal in Illinois; and a rail-served warehouse in Iowa). All Corporate Services and Other property, plant and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over periods ranging from i5 to i30
years.
NOTE 4. iiiJOINTLY-OWNED
ELECTRIC UTILITY PLANT//
Under joint ownership agreements with other utilities, IPL and WPL have undivided ownership interests in jointly-owned EGUs. Each of the respective owners is responsible for the financing of its portion of the construction costs. IPL’s and WPL’s shares of expenses from jointly-owned EGUs are included in the corresponding operating expenses (e.g., electric production fuel, other operation and maintenance, etc.) in the income statements. iiiInformation
relative to IPL’s and WPL’s ownership interest in these jointly-owned EGUs at December 31, 2022 was as follows (dollars in millions)://
Ownership
Electric
Accumulated
Provision
Construction
Interest %
Plant
for Depreciation
Work in Progress
IPL
Ottumwa Unit 1
i48.0%
$i612
$i241
$i17
George
Neal Unit 4
i25.7%
i193
i103
i4
George
Neal Unit 3
i28.0%
i176
i80
i6
Louisa
Unit 1
i4.0%
i43
i21
i—
i1,024
i445
i27
WPL
Columbia
Units 1-2
i53.5%
i805
i338
i13
West
Riverside Energy Center and Solar Facility
i91.0%
i716
i53
i2
Forward
Wind Energy Center
i42.6%
i118
i50
i—
i1,639
i441
i15
Alliant
Energy
$i2,663
$i886
$i42
NOTE
5. iiiRECEIVABLES//
NOTE
5(a) Accounts Receivable - iiiDetails
for accounts receivable included on the balance sheets as of December 31 were as follows (in millions)://
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
Customer
$i114
$i93
$i—
$i—
$i102
$i82
Unbilled
utility revenues
i115
i91
i—
i—
i115
i91
Deferred
proceeds
i185
i214
i185
i214
—
—
Other
i109
i53
i74
i28
i34
i25
Allowance
for expected credit losses
(i7)
(i11)
i—
(i1)
(i7)
(i10)
$i516
$i440
$i259
$i241
$i244
$i188
NOTE
5(b) Sales of Accounts Receivable - IPL maintains a Receivables Agreement whereby it may sell its customer accounts receivables, unbilled revenues and certain other accounts receivables to a third party through wholly-owned and consolidated special purpose entities. The purchase commitment from the third party to which IPL sells its receivables expires in March 2023. IPL currently expects to amend and extend the purchase commitment. IPL pays a monthly fee to the third party that varies based on interest rates, limits on cash proceeds and cash amounts received from the third party. Deferred proceeds represent IPL’s interest in the receivables sold to the third party. At IPL’s request, deferred proceeds are paid to IPL from collections of receivables, after paying any required expenses incurred by the third party and the collection agent. Corporate Services acts as collection agent for the third party and receives a fee for collection services. The
Receivables Agreement can be terminated by the third party if arrears or write-offs exceed certain levels. The transfers of receivables meet the criteria for sale accounting established by the transfer of financial assets accounting rules. IPL believes that the allowance for expected credit losses related to its sales of receivables is a reasonable approximation of credit risk of the customers that generated the receivables. Refer to Note 16 for discussion of the fair value of deferred proceeds.
Under the Receivables Agreement, IPL has the right to receive cash proceeds, up to a certain limit, from the third party in exchange for the receivables sold. Effective April 2021, the limit on cash proceeds is $i110 million. Cash
proceeds are used by IPL to meet short-term financing needs, and cannot exceed the current limit or amount of receivables available for sale, whichever is less. As of December 31, 2022, IPL had $i30 million of available capacity under its sales of accounts receivable program. iiIPL’s
maximum and average outstanding aggregate cash proceeds (based on daily outstanding balances) related to the sales of accounts receivable program were as follows (in millions):/
As
of December 31, the attributes of IPL’s receivables sold under the Receivables Agreement were as follows (in millions):
2022
2021
Customer accounts receivable
$i145
$i125
Unbilled
utility revenues
i132
i104
Receivables
sold to third party
i277
i229
Less: cash proceeds
i80
i1
Deferred
proceeds
i197
i228
Less: allowance for
expected credit losses
i12
i14
Fair
value of deferred proceeds
$i185
$i214
Outstanding
receivables past due
$i26
$i22
//
ii
Additional
attributes of IPL’s receivables sold under the Receivables Agreement were as follows (in millions):
2022
2021
2020
Collections
$i2,302
$i2,134
$i2,025
Write-offs,
net of recoveries
i9
i9
i7
//
NOTE
6. iINVESTMENTS
Unconsolidated Equity Investments -iAlliant Energy’s unconsolidated investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting
are as follows (in millions):
Summary
aggregate financial information from the financial statements of these holdings is as follows (in millions):
Alliant Energy
2022
2021
2020
Revenues
$i813
$i802
$i801
Operating
income
i350
i357
i376
Net
income
i675
i358
i343
As
of December 31:
Current assets
i227
i112
Non-current
assets
ii8,292/
ii7,036/
Current
liabilities
i620
i455
Non-current
liabilities
i3,285
i3,110
Noncontrolling
interest
i289
i247
/
ATC
Holdings - As of December 31, 2022, Alliant Energy has a i16% ownership interest in ATC and a i20% ownership interest
in ATC Holdco LLC, collectively referred to as ATC Holdings. ATC is an independent, for-profit, transmission-only company. ATC Holdco LLC holds Duke-American Transmission Company, LLC, a joint venture between Duke Energy Corporation and ATC, that owns electric transmission infrastructure in North America. Refer to Note 17(g) for discussion of a reduction in earnings recorded in 2022 related to a court decision, which is currently expected to reduce the base return on equity authorized for MISO transmission owners, including ATC.
Non-utility Wind Farm in Oklahoma - The non-utility wind farm located in Oklahoma provides electricity to a third-party under a long-term PPA, and has both cash and tax equity ownership. Alliant Energy does not maintain
or operate the wind farm, and provided a parent guarantee of its subsidiary’s indemnification obligations under the operating agreement and PPA. Refer to Note 17(d) for discussion of the guarantee.
Corporate
Venture Investments - Alliant Energy has various minority ownership interests in regional and national venture funds, including a global coalition of energy companies working together to help advance the transition towards a cleaner, more sustainable, and inclusive energy future, by identifying and researching innovative technologies and business models within the emerging energy economy.
NOTE 7. iCOMMON
EQUITY
Common Share Activity - iA summary of Alliant Energy’s common stock activity was as follows:
2022
2021
2020
Shares
outstanding, January 1
i250,474,529
i249,868,415
i245,022,800
Equity
forward agreements
i—
i—
i4,275,127
Shareowner
Direct Plan
i437,669
i492,565
i472,283
Equity-based
compensation plans
i222,768
i113,549
i98,205
Shares
outstanding, December 31
i251,134,966
i250,474,529
i249,868,415
At
December 31, 2022, Alliant Energy had a total of i13 million shares available for issuance in the aggregate, pursuant to its 2020 OIP, Shareowner Direct Plan and 401(k) Savings Plan.
At-the-Market Offering Program - In December 2022, Alliant Energy filed a prospectus supplement under which it may sell up to $i225
million of its common stock through an at-the-market offering program. Alliant Energy has not issued any shares under this program.
Equity Forward Agreements - In 2019, Alliant Energy entered into forward sale agreements with a counterparty in connection with a public offering of i4,275,127 shares of Alliant Energy common stock. In 2020, Alliant Energy settled $i222
million under the forward sale agreements by delivering i4,275,127 shares of newly issued Alliant Energy common stock at a weighted average forward sale price of $i51.98 per
share. Alliant Energy used the net proceeds from the settlements for general corporate purposes.
Shareowner Direct Plan - Alliant Energy satisfies its requirements under the Shareowner Direct Plan (dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan) by acquiring Alliant Energy common stock through original issue, rather than on the open market.
NOTE 8. iiPREFERRED
STOCK/
In 2021, IPL redeemed all i8,000,000 outstanding shares of its i5.1%
cumulative preferred stock at the $i25 per share par value for $i200 million plus accrued and unpaid dividends up to the redemption
date. In 2021, Alliant Energy and IPL recorded a $i5 million non-cash charge related to this transaction in “Preferred dividend requirements” in their income statements.
NOTE 9. iiiDEBT//
NOTE
9(a) Short-term Debt - Alliant Energy and its subsidiaries maintain committed bank lines of credit to provide short-term borrowing flexibility and back-stop liquidity for commercial paper outstanding. At December 31, 2022, the short-term borrowing capacity under a single credit facility agreement, which expires in December 2026, totaled $i1 billion ($i500
million for Alliant Energy at the parent company level, $i100 million for IPL and $i400 million for
WPL). Subject to certain conditions, Alliant Energy (at the parent company level), IPL and WPL may each reallocate and change its sublimit up to $i500 million, $i400
million and $i500 million, respectively, within the $i1 billion total commitment. iiiInformation
regarding Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s commercial paper classified as short-term debt was as follows (dollars in millions)://
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
December 31
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
Amount outstanding
$i642
$i515
$i—
$i—
$i290
$i236
Weighted
average interest rates
i4.6%
i0.2%
N/A
N/A
i4.5%
i0.2%
Available
credit facility capacity
$i358
$i485
$i100
$i250
$i110
$i64
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
For the year ended
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
Maximum amount outstanding (based on daily outstanding balances)
$i665
$i648
$i—
$i19
$i325
$i320
Average
amount outstanding (based on daily outstanding balances)
(a)Contains
optional redemption provisions which, if elected by the issuer at its sole discretion, could require material redemption premium payments by the issuer. The redemption premium payments under these optional redemption provisions are variable and dependent on applicable U.S. Treasury rates at the time of redemption.
(b)In August 2022, WPL issued $i600 million of ii3.95/%
debentures due 2032. The debentures were issued as green bonds, and an amount equal to or in excess of the net proceeds were disbursed for the development and acquisition of WPL’s solar EGUs.
(c)In March 2022, AEF entered
into a $i300 million variable rate term loan credit agreement and used the borrowings under this agreement to retire its $i300 million variable rate term loan credit agreement
that expired in March 2022. In December 2022, AEF increased the amount outstanding under the new term loan credit agreement by $i100 million and used the additional borrowings to reduce Alliant Energy’s outstanding commercial paper and for general corporate purposes. In January 2023, AEF entered into a $i300
million interest rate swap maturing in January 2026. Under the terms of the swap, AEF exchanged variable rate borrowings for a fixed rate of i3.93%.
(d)In February 2022, AEF issued $i350
million of i3.6% senior notes due 2032. The net proceeds from the issuance were used to reduce Alliant Energy’s outstanding commercial paper and for general corporate purposes.
(e)There were no significant sinking fund requirements related to the outstanding long-term debt.
In December 2022, AEF entered into a $i50
million variable rate term loan credit agreement (with Alliant Energy as guarantor), which expires in January 2024. AEF received the proceeds from the issuance in January 2023, and used the borrowings under this agreement to reduce Alliant Energy’s outstanding commercial paper and for general corporate purposes.
Five-Year Schedule of Long-term Debt Maturities - iiiAt
December 31, 2022, long-term debt maturities for 2023 through 2027 were as follows (in millions)://
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
IPL
$i—
$i500
$i300
$i—
$i—
WPL
i—
i—
i—
i—
i300
AEF
i408
i409
i—
i200
i—
Alliant
Energy
$i408
$i909
$i300
$i200
$i300
Fair
Value of Long-term Debt - Refer to Note 16 for information on the fair value of long-term debt outstanding.
NOTE 10. iiiiiLEASES////
Operating
Leases - Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s operating leases primarily include leases of space on telecommunication towers and leases of property. iiiOperating
lease details are as follows (dollars in millions)://
Finance
Leases - WPL is currently leasing the Sheboygan Falls Energy Facility from AEF’s Non-utility Generation business through 2025, the initial lease term. WPL is responsible for the operation of the EGU and has exclusive rights to its output. This finance lease contains itwo lease renewal periods, which are not included in the finance lease obligation, as well as an option to purchase the facility at the end of the initial lease term. For Alliant Energy, the leased Sheboygan Falls
Energy Facility is eliminated upon consolidation and therefore is not reflected in Alliant Energy’s amounts below.
Related to its investments in solar generation, WPL entered into land lease agreements with unaffiliated parties that commenced in 2021 and 2022. The leases have various terms with optional renewal periods that are assumed to be extended through the end of the estimated useful lives of the solar generating facilities. The leases do not contain purchase options and are fixed lease payments.
In
2022, Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s finance lease liabilities arising from obtaining leased assets were $ii125/
million, which represent non-cash financing activities.
Expected Maturities - iiiiiAs
of December 31, 2022, expected maturities of lease liabilities were as follows (in millions):////
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Thereafter
Total
Less:
amount representing interest
Present value of minimum lease payments
Operating Leases:
Alliant Energy
$i3
$i2
$i2
$i2
$i2
$i9
$i20
$i4
$i16
IPL
i1
i1
i1
i1
i1
i6
i11
i2
i9
WPL
i1
i1
i1
i1
i1
i2
i7
i1
i6
Finance
Leases:
Alliant Energy
i5
i6
i6
i6
i6
i262
i291
i155
i136
WPL
i20
i21
i12
i6
i6
i262
i327
i160
i167
NOTE
11. iiiREVENUES//
Revenues
from Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s utility businesses are primarily from electric and gas sales provided to customers based on approved tariffs or specific contracts with customers. IPL’s and WPL’s primary performance obligations under such arrangements are to deliver electricity and gas, and their customers simultaneously receive and consume the electricity and gas. For such arrangements, revenues are recognized equivalent to the value of the electricity or gas supplied during each period, including amounts billed during each period and changes in amounts estimated to be billed at the end of each period. IPL and WPL apply the right to invoice method to measure progress towards completing performance obligations to transfer electricity and gas to their customers.
IPL provides retail electric and gas service to customers in Iowa, and WPL provides retail and wholesale electric and retail gas service to
customers in Wisconsin. IPL also provides electricity to wholesale customers in Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa, as well as steam from its Prairie Creek Generating Station to high-pressure steam customers in Iowa.
IPL’s and WPL’s retail electric and gas revenues include sales to residential, commercial and industrial customers. IPL’s and WPL’s retail electric and gas customer prices are based on IPL’s and WPL’s cost of service and are determined through general rate review proceedings and various tariff filings with the IUB and PSCW, respectively. Such tariff-based services provide electricity or gas to customers without a defined contractual term.
IPL and WPL have wholesale electric market-based rate authority from FERC allowing them to participate in wholesale energy markets (e.g. MISO) and transact directly with third parties. This authority
from FERC allows sales of electricity referred to as bulk power sales based on current market values. FERC also allows IPL and WPL to enter into power supply agreements with
municipalities and rural electric cooperatives with defined contractual terms, which
include standard pricing mechanisms that are detailed in current tariffs accepted by FERC through wholesale rate review proceedings.
Revenues from Alliant Energy’s non-utility business customers are primarily from its Travero business, which includes a short-line rail freight service in Iowa; a Mississippi River barge, rail and truck freight terminal in Illinois; freight brokerage services; and a rail-served warehouse in Iowa.
iii
Disaggregation
of revenues from contracts with customers, which correlates to revenues for each reportable segment, was as follows (in millions):
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
Electric
Utility:
Retail - residential
$i1,233
$i1,115
$i1,093
$i673
$i620
$i602
$i560
$i495
$i491
Retail
- commercial
i821
i763
i718
i536
i508
i474
i285
i255
i244
Retail
- industrial
i965
i893
i841
i538
i505
i488
i427
i388
i353
Wholesale
i233
i187
i168
i64
i57
i57
i169
i130
i111
Bulk
power and other
i169
i123
i100
i48
i62
i74
i121
i61
i26
Total
Electric Utility
i3,421
i3,081
i2,920
i1,859
i1,752
i1,695
i1,562
i1,329
i1,225
Gas
Utility:
Retail - residential
i371
i257
i214
i202
i146
i116
i169
i111
i98
Retail
- commercial
i197
i139
i107
i101
i79
i59
i96
i60
i48
Retail
- industrial
i20
i17
i12
i14
i12
i8
i6
i5
i4
Transportation/other
i54
i43
i40
i34
i28
i25
i20
i15
i15
Total
Gas Utility
i642
i456
i373
i351
i265
i208
i291
i191
i165
Other
Utility:
Steam
i39
i36
i36
i39
i36
i36
—
—
—
Other
utility
i10
i13
i13
i7
i10
i8
i3
i3
i5
Total
Other Utility
i49
i49
i49
i46
i46
i44
i3
i3
i5
Non-Utility
and Other:
Travero
and other
ii93/
i83
i74
—
—
—
—
—
—
Total
Non-Utility and Other
i93
i83
i74
—
—
—
—
—
—
Total
revenues
$i4,205
$i3,669
$i3,416
$i2,256
$i2,063
$i1,947
$i1,856
$i1,523
$i1,395
///
NOTE
12. iiiINCOME
TAXES//
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) -iiiThe
components of “Income tax expense (benefit)” in the income statements were as follows (in millions)://
Income Tax Rates - iiiThe
overall income tax rates shown in the following table were computed by dividing income tax expense (benefit) by income before income taxes.//
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
Statutory
federal income tax rate
i21%
i21%
i21%
i21%
i21%
i21%
i21%
i21%
i21%
State
income taxes, net of federal benefits
i3
i2
i2
(i2)
(i1)
(i1)
i6
i6
i6
Production
tax credits
(i18)
(i17)
(i17)
(i34)
(i27)
(i28)
(i5)
(i6)
(i7)
Amortization
of excess deferred taxes (Refer to Note 2)
(i2)
(i18)
(i13)
(i2)
(i4)
(i5)
(i3)
(i43)
(i26)
Effect
of rate-making on property-related differences
(i1)
(i1)
(i3)
(i1)
(i2)
(i4)
(i2)
(i1)
(i2)
Adjustment
for prior period taxes
i1
i1
i1
i1
i2
i1
i—
i—
i—
Other
items, net
(i1)
i—
(i1)
i1
i—
i—
i—
(i1)
i—
Overall
income tax rate
i3%
(i12%)
(i10%)
(i16%)
(i11%)
(i16%)
i17%
(i24%)
(i8%)
Deferred
Tax Assets and Liabilities -iiiThe
deferred tax assets and liabilities included on the balance sheets at December 31 arise from the following temporary differences (in millions)://
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property
$i2,442
$i2,389
$i1,440
$i1,416
$i938
$i913
ATC
Holdings
i125
i123
i—
i—
i—
i—
Other
i155
i111
i86
i76
i80
i50
Total
deferred tax liabilities
i2,722
i2,623
i1,526
i1,492
i1,018
i963
Deferred
tax assets:
Federal credit carryforwards
i672
i560
i450
i345
i209
i192
Net
operating losses carryforwards - federal
i—
i39
i—
i36
i—
i—
Net
operating losses carryforwards - state
i32
i38
i—
i3
i—
i—
Other
i75
i65
i29
i25
i20
i18
Subtotal
deferred tax assets
i779
i702
i479
i409
i229
i210
Valuation
allowances
i—
(i6)
i—
i—
i—
i—
Total
deferred tax assets
i779
i696
i479
i409
i229
i210
Total
deferred tax liabilities, net
$i1,943
$i1,927
$i1,047
$i1,083
$i789
$i753
Carryforwards
- iiiAt
December 31, 2022, carryforwards and expiration dates were estimated as follows (in millions)://
Range
of Expiration Dates
Alliant Energy
IPL
WPL
State net operating losses
2025-2042
$i527
$i10
$i1
Federal
tax credits
2024-2042
i672
i450
i209
Valuation
Allowances - In 2022, Alliant Energy fully utilized its federal net operating losses carryforwards. This allowed for the utilization of federal tax credit carryforwards prior to their expiration, resulting in the reversal of Alliant Energy’s valuation allowances in 2022.
Uncertain Tax Positions - At December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, there were no uncertain tax positions or penalties accrued related to uncertain tax positions. As of December 31, 2022, no material changes to unrecognized tax benefits are expected during the next 12 months.
Open tax years - iiiTax
years that remain subject to the statute of limitations in the major jurisdictions for each of Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are as follows://
(a)The 2019 and 2020 federal tax returns are effectively settled as a result of participation in the IRS Compliance Assurance Program, which allows Alliant Energy and the IRS to work together to resolve issues related to Alliant Energy’s current tax year before filing its federal income tax return. The statute of limitations for these federal tax returns expires ithree
years from each filing date.
(b)The statute of limitations for these Iowa tax returns expires ithree years from each filing date.
(c)The statute of limitations for these Wisconsin combined tax returns expires ifour
years from each filing date.
Iowa Tax Reform - In 2018, Iowa tax reform was enacted, resulting in a reduction in the Iowa income tax rate from i12% to i9.8%,
effective January 1, 2021, and the elimination of the deduction for federal income taxes, effective January 1, 2022, for taxes related to 2020 and prior.
In March 2022, additional Iowa tax reform was enacted. Annually, and by each November 1, the Iowa Department of Revenue will establish corporate income tax rates for the next tax year based on net corporate income tax receipts for the prior tax year, and reduce such rates if certain state income tax revenue triggers are satisfied. These corporate income tax rate reductions are currently expected to occur over a period of several years, with a target corporate income tax rate of i5.5%,
compared to the i9.8% Iowa corporate income tax rate in effect at the time the Iowa tax reform was enacted. In September 2022, the Iowa Department of Revenue announced an Iowa corporate income tax rate of i8.4%,
effective January 1, 2023. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the enacted tax rate expected to be applied when temporary differences are to be realized or settled. Given the announcement of the new Iowa corporate income tax rate, Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s deferred tax liabilities were remeasured based upon the new rate effective January 1, 2023, which resulted in a $ii77/
million reduction of Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s tax-related regulatory assets and a decrease in their deferred tax liabilities in 2022. The reduction in tax-related regulatory assets is expected to provide cost benefits to IPL’s customers in the future. Alliant Energy parent company’s deferred tax assets were remeasured based upon the new rate effective January 1, 2023, which resulted in a charge of $i8 million recorded to income tax expense in Alliant Energy’s income statement and a decrease in deferred income tax assets
on Alliant Energy’s balance sheet in 2022. Alliant Energy is currently unable to predict with certainty the timing or amount of any future rate reductions.
NOTE 13. iiiBENEFIT
PLANS//
NOTE 13(a) Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Plans - Retirement benefits are provided to substantially all employees through various qualified and non-qualified non-contributory defined benefit pension plans (currently closed to new hires), and/or through defined contribution plans (including 401(k) savings plans). Benefits of the non-contributory defined benefit pension plans are based on the plan participant’s years of service, age and compensation. Benefits of the defined contribution
plans are based on the plan participant’s years of service, age, compensation and contributions. Certain defined benefit postretirement health care and life benefits are provided to eligible retirees. In general, the retiree health care plans consist of fixed benefit subsidy structures and the retiree life insurance plans are non-contributory.
IPL and WPL account for their participation in Alliant Energy and Corporate Services sponsored plans as multiple-employer plans. For IPL and WPL, amounts below represent the amounts for their plan participants covered under plans they sponsor, as well as amounts directly assigned to them related to certain participants in the Alliant Energy and Corporate Services sponsored plans.
Assumptions - iiiThe
assumptions for defined benefit pension and OPEB plans at the measurement date of December 31 were as follows://
Defined
Benefit Pension Plans
OPEB Plans
Alliant Energy
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
Discount rate for benefit obligations
i5.54%
i2.91%
i2.57%
i5.53%
i2.81%
i2.31%
Discount
rate for net periodic cost
i2.91%
i2.57%
i3.48%
i2.81%
i2.31%
i3.40%
Expected
rate of return on plan assets
i7.80%
i7.10%
i7.10%
i6.40%
i4.80%
i4.50%
Interest
crediting rate for Alliant Energy Cash Balance Pension Plan
Expected
rate of return on plan assets - The expected rate of return on plan assets is based on projected asset class returns using target allocations. A forward-looking building blocks approach is used, and historical returns, survey information and capital market information are analyzed to support the expected rate of return on plan assets assumption. Refer to “Investment Strategy for Plan Assets” below for additional information related to investment strategy and mix of assets for the pension and OPEB plans.
Life Expectancy - The life expectancy assumption is used in determining the benefit obligation and net periodic benefit cost for defined benefit pension and OPEB plans. This assumption utilizes base mortality tables that
were released in 2019 by the Society of Actuaries and mortality projection tables that were released in 2021 by the Society of Actuaries.
Net Periodic Benefit Costs - iiiThe
components of net periodic benefit costs for sponsored defined benefit pension and OPEB plans are included below (in millions). The service cost component of net periodic benefit costs is included in “Other operation and maintenance” expenses in the income statements and all other components of net periodic benefit costs are included in “Other (income) and deductions” in the income statements or regulatory assets on the balance sheets.//
Alliant
Energy
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
OPEB Plans
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
Service cost
$i9
$i11
$i11
$i3
$i4
$i3
Interest
cost
i36
i34
i43
i6
i5
i7
Expected
return on plan assets (a)
(i69)
(i69)
(i70)
(i5)
(i5)
(i5)
Amortization
of prior service credit (b)
(i1)
i—
i—
i—
i—
i—
Amortization
of actuarial loss (c)
i32
i39
i34
i2
i5
i3
Settlement
losses (d)
i26
i—
i12
i—
i—
i—
$i33
$i15
$i30
$i6
$i9
$i8
IPL
Defined
Benefit Pension Plans
OPEB Plans
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
Service cost
$i6
$i7
$i7
$i1
$i1
$i1
Interest
cost
i16
i16
i20
i2
i2
i3
Expected
return on plan assets (a)
(i31)
(i32)
(i33)
(i4)
(i3)
(i4)
Amortization
of actuarial loss (c)
i13
i17
i15
i1
i2
i1
Settlement
losses (d)
i13
i—
i7
i—
i—
i—
$i17
$i8
$i16
$i—
$i2
$i1
WPL
Defined
Benefit Pension Plans
OPEB Plans
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
Service cost
$i3
$i4
$i4
$i1
$i1
$i2
Interest
cost
i16
i15
i19
i2
i2
i3
Expected
return on plan assets (a)
(i31)
(i31)
(i31)
(i1)
i—
(i1)
Amortization
of prior service credit (b)
i—
i—
i—
i—
i—
(i1)
Amortization
of actuarial loss (c)
i15
i19
i16
i2
i2
i2
Settlement
losses (d)
i13
i—
i—
i—
i—
i—
$i16
$i7
$i8
$i4
$i5
$i5
(a)The
expected return on plan assets is based on the expected rate of return on plan assets and the fair value approach to the market-related value of plan assets.
(b)Unrecognized prior service credits for the OPEB plans are amortized over the average future service period to full eligibility of the participants of each plan.
(c)Unrecognized
net actuarial gains or losses in excess of 10% of the greater of the plans’ benefit obligations or assets are amortized over the average future service lives of plan participants, except for the Alliant Energy Cash Balance Pension Plan where gains or losses outside the 10% threshold are amortized over the time period the participants are expected to receive benefits.
(d)Settlement losses related to payments made to retired executives of Alliant Energy and lump sum payments related to IPL’s and WPL’s qualified defined benefit pension plans. In 2022, the majority of Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s, and WPL’s pension settlement losses were recognized as regulatory assets in accordance with regulatory treatment, and $ii7/
million was included in “Other (income) and deductions” in Alliant Energy’s and IPL’s income statements related to IPL’s qualified defined benefit pension plan.
Benefit Plan Assets and Obligations - iiiA
reconciliation of the funded status of qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension and OPEB plans to the amounts recognized on the balance sheets at December 31 was as follows (in millions)://
Defined
Benefit Pension Plans
OPEB Plans
Alliant Energy
2022
2021
2022
2021
Change in benefit obligation:
Net benefit obligation at January 1
$i1,251
$i1,351
$i210
$i227
Service
cost
i9
i11
i3
i4
Interest
cost
i36
i34
i6
i5
Plan
participants’ contributions
i—
i—
i4
i5
Actuarial
gain
(i269)
(i46)
(i37)
(i12)
Gross
benefits paid
(i152)
(i99)
(i18)
(i19)
Net
benefit obligation at December 31
i875
i1,251
i168
i210
Change
in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at January 1
i1,011
i984
i106
i108
Actual
return on plan assets
(i204)
i87
(i17)
i4
Employer
contributions
i51
i39
i8
i8
Plan
participants’ contributions
i—
i—
i4
i5
Gross
benefits paid
(i152)
(i99)
(i18)
(i19)
Fair
value of plan assets at December 31
i706
i1,011
i83
i106
Under
funded status at December 31
($i169)
($i240)
($i85)
($i104)
Defined
Benefit Pension Plans
OPEB Plans
Alliant Energy
2022
2021
2022
2021
Amounts recognized on the balance sheets consist of:
Non-current assets
$i—
$i—
$i9
$i13
Current
liabilities
(i2)
(i2)
(i8)
(i8)
Pension
and other benefit obligations
(i167)
(i238)
(i86)
(i109)
Net
amounts recognized at December 31
($i169)
($i240)
($i85)
($i104)
Amounts
recognized in Regulatory Assets consist of:
Amounts
recognized on the balance sheets consist of:
Non-current assets
$i—
$i—
$i3
$i3
Current
liabilities
i—
i—
(i5)
(i6)
Pension
and other benefit obligations
(i90)
(i96)
(i49)
(i61)
Net
amounts recognized at December 31
($i90)
($i96)
($i51)
($i64)
Amounts
recognized in Regulatory Assets consist of:
Net actuarial loss
$i165
$i188
$i6
$i18
Prior
service credit
i—
(i1)
i—
(i1)
$i165
$i187
$i6
$i17
Actuarial
gains related to benefit obligations in 2022 and 2021 for defined benefit pension and OPEB plans were primarily due to increases in the discount rates.
iii
Accumulated
benefit obligations, aggregate amounts applicable to defined benefit pension and OPEB plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets, as well as defined benefit pension plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets as of the December 31 measurement date are as follows (in millions):
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
OPEB
Plans
Alliant Energy
2022
2021
2022
2021
Accumulated benefit obligations
$i857
$i1,214
$i168
$i210
Plans
with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
Accumulated benefit obligations
i857
i1,214
i168
i210
Fair
value of plan assets
i706
i1,011
i83
i106
Plans
with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
Projected benefit obligations
i875
i1,251
N/A
N/A
Fair
value of plan assets
i706
i1,011
N/A
N/A
Defined
Benefit Pension Plans
OPEB Plans
IPL
2022
2021
2022
2021
Accumulated benefit obligations
$i379
$i546
$i68
$i84
Plans
with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
Accumulated benefit obligations
i379
i546
i68
i84
Fair
value of plan assets
i344
i462
i58
i74
Plans
with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
Projected benefit obligations
i389
i567
N/A
N/A
Fair
value of plan assets
i344
i462
N/A
N/A
Defined
Benefit Pension Plans
OPEB Plans
WPL
2022
2021
2022
2021
Accumulated benefit obligations
$i373
$i532
$i65
$i81
Plans
with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
Accumulated benefit obligations
i373
i532
i65
i81
Fair
value of plan assets
i291
i450
i14
i17
Plans
with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
Projected benefit obligations
i381
i546
N/A
N/A
Fair
value of plan assets
i291
i450
N/A
N/A
///
iii
In
addition to the amounts recognized in regulatory assets in the above tables for IPL and WPL, regulatory assets were recognized for amounts associated with Corporate Services employees participating in other Alliant Energy sponsored benefit plans that were allocated to IPL and WPL at December 31 as follows (in millions):
Estimated Future Employer Contributions and Benefit Payments - iiiEstimated
funding for the qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension and OPEB plans for 2023 is as follows (in millions)://
Alliant Energy
IPL
WPL
Defined
benefit pension plans (a)
$i12
$i1
$i10
OPEB
plans
i8
i2
i6
(a)Alliant
Energy sponsors several non-qualified defined benefit pension plans that cover certain current and former key employees of IPL and WPL. Alliant Energy allocates pension costs to IPL and WPL for these plans. In addition, IPL and WPL amounts reflect funding for their non-bargaining employees who are participants in the Alliant Energy and Corporate Services sponsored qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans.
iii
Expected
benefit payments for the qualified and non-qualified defined benefit plans, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are as follows (in millions):
Alliant Energy
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
- 2032
Defined benefit pension benefits
$i72
$i71
$i72
$i74
$i74
$i349
OPEB
i18
i18
i18
i17
i16
i69
$i90
$i89
$i90
$i91
$i90
$i418
IPL
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
- 2032
Defined benefit pension benefits
$i34
$i33
$i34
$i33
$i32
$i155
OPEB
i7
i7
i7
i7
i7
i27
$i41
$i40
$i41
$i40
$i39
$i182
WPL
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
- 2032
Defined benefit pension benefits
$i32
$i31
$i31
$i31
$i31
$i148
OPEB
i7
i7
i7
i7
i6
i26
$i39
$i38
$i38
$i38
$i37
$i174
///
Investment
Strategy for Plan Assets - Investment strategies for defined benefit pension and OPEB plan assets combine preservation of principal and prudent risk-taking to protect the integrity of plan assets, in order to meet the obligations to plan participants while minimizing benefit costs over the long term. Investment risk of plan assets is mitigated through diversification, including U.S. and international equity, fixed income and global asset strategies. Global asset strategies may include investments in global equity, global debt and currencies.
Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assets - The asset mix of defined benefit pension plans is governed by allocation targets. The asset allocation is monitored regularly, and appropriate steps are taken as needed to rebalance the assets within the prescribed ranges. An overlay management service is also
used to help maintain target allocations and meet liquidity needs. The overlay manager is authorized to use derivative financial instruments to facilitate this service. For separately managed accounts, prohibited investments include, but are not limited to, direct ownership of real estate, oil and gas limited partnerships, securities of the managers’ firms or affiliate firms, and Alliant Energy securities. The allocations shown below exclude market exposure obtained through the overlay management service and cash held at IPL's qualified defined benefit pension plan as a result of a contribution made late in 2022. iiiAt
December 31, 2022, the current target ranges and actual allocations for the defined benefit pension plan assets were as follows://
Target Range
Actual
Allocation
Allocation
Cash
and equivalents
i0%
-
i5%
i4%
Equity
securities - U.S.
i14%
-
i61%
i33%
Equity
securities - international
i11%
-
i31%
i21%
Global
asset securities
i2%
-
i11%
i5%
Fixed
income securities
i27%
-
i47%
i37%
Other
Postretirement Benefits Plan Assets - OPEB plan assets are comprised of specific assets within certain defined benefit pension plans (401(h) assets) as well as assets held in VEBA trusts. The investment strategy of the Corporate Services 401(h) assets mirrors those of the defined benefit pension plans, which are discussed above. For VEBA trusts with assets greater than $iii5//
million and the WPL 401(h) assets, the mix among asset classes is governed by allocation targets. The asset allocation is monitored regularly, and appropriate steps are taken as needed to rebalance the assets within the prescribed ranges. iiiAt
December 31, 2022, the current target ranges and actual allocations for VEBA trusts with assets greater than $iii5//
million and the WPL 401(h) assets were as follows:///
Fair
Value Measurements - Fair value measurement accounting establishes three levels of fair value hierarchy that prioritize the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Refer to Note 16 for discussion of levels within the fair value hierarchy. Level 1 items include investments in securities held in registered investment companies and directly held equity securities, which are valued at the closing price reported in the active market in which the securities are traded. Level 2 items include cash and equivalents and fixed income securities. Cash and equivalents include money market fund investments and cash collateral supporting derivative financial instruments. Fixed income securities include corporate and government bonds, which are valued at the closing price reported
in the active market for similar assets in which the individual securities are traded or based on yields currently available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings. Certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. These fair value amounts are included below to reconcile the fair value hierarchy to the respective total plan assets.
At December 31, the fair values of qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plan assets were as follows (in millions):
At December 31, the fair values of OPEB plan assets were as follows (in millions):
2022
2021
Fair
Level
Level
Level
Fair
Level
Level
Level
Alliant
Energy
Value
1
2
3
Value
1
2
3
Cash and equivalents
$i3
$i—
$i3
$i—
$i5
$i—
$i5
$i—
Equity
securities - U.S.
i9
i9
i—
i—
i11
i11
i—
i—
Global
asset securities
i1
i1
i—
i—
i1
i1
i—
i—
Fixed
income securities
i47
i46
i1
i—
i60
i58
i2
i—
Total
assets in fair value hierarchy
i60
$i56
$i4
$i—
i77
$i70
$i7
$i—
Assets
measured at net asset value
i23
i29
Total
OPEB plan assets
$i83
$i106
2022
2021
Fair
Level
Level
Level
Fair
Level
Level
Level
IPL
Value
1
2
3
Value
1
2
3
Cash
and equivalents
$i1
$i—
$i1
$i—
$i1
$i—
$i1
$i—
Equity
securities - U.S.
i5
i5
i—
i—
i8
i8
i—
i—
Fixed
income securities
i34
i34
i—
i—
i42
i42
i—
i—
Total
assets in fair value hierarchy
i40
$i39
$i1
$i—
i51
$i50
$i1
$i—
Assets
measured at net asset value
i18
i23
Total
OPEB plan assets
$i58
$i74
2022
2021
Fair
Level
Level
Level
Fair
Level
Level
Level
WPL
Value
1
2
3
Value
1
2
3
Cash
and equivalents
$i—
$i—
$i—
$i—
$i1
$i—
$i1
$i—
Equity
securities - U.S.
i1
i1
i—
i—
i1
i1
i—
i—
Fixed
income securities
i13
i13
i—
i—
i15
i15
i—
i—
Total
OPEB plan assets
$i14
$i14
$i—
$i—
$i17
$i16
$i1
$i—
For
the various defined benefit pension and OPEB plans, Alliant Energy common stock represented less than ii1/%
of assets directly held in the plans at December 31, 2022 and 2021.
401(k) Savings Plans - A significant number of employees participate in defined contribution retirement plans (401(k) savings plans). Alliant Energy common stock directly held by participants represented i10% and i9%
of total assets in the 401(k) savings plans at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. iiiCosts
related to the 401(k) savings plans, which are partially based on the participants’ contributions and include allocated costs associated with Corporate Services employees for IPL and WPL, were as follows (in millions)://
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
401(k)
costs
$i28
$i26
$i25
$i13
$i13
$i13
$i13
$i12
$i12
NOTE
13(b) Equity-based Compensation Plans - In 2020, Alliant Energy’s shareowners approved the 2020 OIP, which permits the grant of shares of Alliant Energy common stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, and other stock-based or cash-based awards to key employees. The 2020 OIP replaced the Amended and Restated 2010 OIP, which permitted similar grants. At December 31, 2022, performance shares and restricted stock units (performance- and time-vesting) were outstanding under the 2020 OIP and the Amended and Restated 2010 OIP, and i8
million shares of Alliant Energy common stock remained available for grants under the 2020 OIP. Alliant Energy satisfies share payouts related to equity awards through the issuance of new shares of its common stock. Nonvested awards generally do not have non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents when dividends are paid to common shareowners. iiiA
summary of compensation expense, including amounts allocated to IPL and WPL, and the related income tax benefits recognized for share-based compensation awards was as follows (in millions)://
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
Compensation
expense
$i13
$i14
$i16
$i7
$i8
$i9
$i5
$i6
$i6
Income
tax benefits
i3
i4
i4
i2
i2
i2
i1
i2
i2
As
of December 31, 2022, Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s total unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based compensation awards was $i6 million, $i3
million and $i2 million, respectively, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of between ione
year and itwo years. Share-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods and is recorded in “Other operation and maintenance” in the income
statements. As of December 31, 2022, i320,084 shares were included in the calculation of diluted EPS related to the nonvested equity awards.
Performance Shares - Equity Awards - Payouts of performance
shares are contingent upon achievement over a ithree-year period of specified performance criteria, which currently is total shareowner return relative to an investor-owned utility peer group. Performance shares grants are to be paid out in shares of Alliant Energy common stock and are accounted for as equity awards. The fair value of each of these performance shares is based on the fair value of the underlying common stock on the grant date and the probability of satisfying the market condition contained in the agreement during a
three-year performance period. The actual number of these performance shares that will be paid out upon vesting is dependent upon actual performance and may range from izero to i200%
of the target number of shares. If minimum performance targets are not met during the performance period, these performance shares are forfeited. Compensation expense is recorded ratably over the performance period based on the fair value of the awards at the grant date. iA summary of the performance shares activity, with amounts representing the target number of awards, was as follows:
2022
2021
2020
Shares
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
Shares
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Shares
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested awards, January 1
i196,429
$i51.59
i129,156
$i54.63
i74,193
$i47.44
Granted
i74,106
i54.45
i73,112
i46.19
i56,204
i64.04
Vested
(i71,101)
i47.48
i—
i—
i—
i—
Forfeited
(i9,161)
i53.99
(i5,839)
i51.07
(i1,241)
i50.94
Nonvested
awards, December 31
i190,273
i54.13
i196,429
i51.59
i129,156
i54.63
Restricted
Stock Units - Equity Awards - Payouts of restricted stock units are based on the expiration of a ithree-year time-vesting period. Restricted stock unit grants are to be paid out in shares of Alliant Energy common stock and are accounted for as equity awards. The fair value of each of these restricted stock units is based on the closing market price of ione
share of Alliant Energy common stock on the grant date of the award. Compensation expense is recorded ratably over the performance period based on the fair value of the awards on the grant date. iA summary of the restricted stock units activity was as follows:
2022
2021
2020
Units
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
Units
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Units
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested units, January 1
i217,819
$i50.54
i146,549
$i51.54
i89,281
$i46.04
Granted
i77,122
i56.88
i80,152
i48.65
i61,056
i59.42
Vested
(i82,770)
i46.08
i—
i—
i—
i—
Forfeited
(i13,896)
i55.53
(i8,882)
i49.84
(i3,788)
i49.01
Nonvested
units, December 31
i198,275
i54.53
i217,819
i50.54
i146,549
i51.54
Performance
Restricted Stock Units - Equity Awards - Payouts of performance restricted stock units are based upon achievement of certain performance targets during a ithree-year performance period, which currently includes specified growth of consolidated net income from continuing operations, as well as a diversity metric for the 2022 grants. The actual number of units that will be paid out upon vesting is dependent upon actual performance and may range from izero
to i200% of the target number of units under each award type. If minimum performance targets are not met during the performance period, these units are forfeited. Performance restricted stock units are to be paid out in shares and are accounted for as equity awards. The fair value of each performance restricted stock unit is based on the closing market price of ione
share of Alliant Energy common stock on the grant date of the award. Compensation expense is recorded ratably over the performance period based on a probability assessment of payouts for the awards at each reporting period. iA summary of the performance restricted stock units activity, with amounts representing the target number of units, was as follows:
NOTE 13(c) Deferred Compensation Plan - Alliant Energy maintains a DCP under which key employees may defer up to i100% of base salary and short-term cash incentive compensation and members of its Board of Directors may elect to defer all or part of their retainer and committee fees. Key employees who have made the maximum allowed contribution to the
Alliant Energy 401(k) Savings Plan may receive an additional credit to the DCP. Key employees and Board of Directors members may elect to have their deferrals credited to a company stock account, an interest account, equity accounts or mutual fund accounts based on certain benchmark funds.
Company Stock Account - The DCP does not permit diversification of deferrals credited to the company stock account and all distributions from participants’ company stock accounts are made in the form of shares of Alliant Energy common stock. The deferred compensation obligations for participants’ company stock accounts are recorded in “Additional paid-in capital” and the shares of Alliant Energy common stock held in a rabbi trust to satisfy this obligation are recorded in “Shares in deferred compensation trust” on Alliant Energy’s balance sheets. iAt
December 31, the carrying value of the deferred compensation obligation for the company stock account and the shares in the deferred compensation trust based on the historical value of the shares of Alliant Energy common stock contributed to the rabbi trust, and the fair market value of the shares held in the rabbi trust, were as follows (in millions):
2022
2021
Carrying value
$i13
$i12
Fair
market value
i22
i24
Interest,
Equity and Mutual Fund Accounts - Distributions from participants’ interest, equity and mutual fund accounts are in the form of cash payments. The deferred compensation obligations for participants’ interest, equity and mutual fund accounts are recorded in “Pension and other benefit obligations” on the balance sheets. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the carrying value of Alliant Energy’s deferred compensation obligations for participants’ interest, equity and mutual fund accounts, which approximates fair market value, was $i19
million and $i22 million, respectively.
NOTE 14. iiiASSET
RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS//
Recognized AROs relate to legal obligations for the removal, closure or dismantlement of several assets including, but not limited to, wind farms, ash ponds, active ash landfills, solar generation, coal yards, above ground storage tanks and batteries. Recognized AROs also include legal obligations for the management and final disposition of asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls. AROs are recorded in “Other current liabilities” and “Other liabilities” on the balance sheets. Refer to Note
2 for information regarding regulatory assets related to AROs. iiiA
reconciliation of the changes in AROs associated with long-lived assets is as follows (in millions)://
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
Balance, January 1
$i294
$i251
$i213
$i177
$i81
$i74
Revisions
in estimated cash flows
i19
i50
i15
i44
i4
i6
Liabilities
settled
(i48)
(i17)
(i39)
(i13)
(i9)
(i4)
Liabilities
incurred
i6
i3
i—
i—
i6
i3
Accretion
expense
i8
i7
i6
i5
i2
i2
Balance,
December 31
$i279
$i294
$i195
$i213
$i84
$i81
NOTE
15. iiiDERIVATIVE
INSTRUMENTS//
Commodity Derivatives -
Purpose - Derivative instruments were used for risk management purposes to mitigate exposures to fluctuations in certain commodity prices, transmission congestion costs and rail transportation costs. Risk policies are maintained that govern the use of such derivative instruments. Derivative instruments were not designated as hedging instruments and included the following:
Risk
management purpose
Type of instrument
Mitigate pricing volatility for:
Fuel used to supply natural gas-fired EGUs
Natural gas swap, options and physical forward contracts (IPL and WPL)
Natural gas supplied to retail customers
Natural gas swap, options and physical forward contracts (IPL and WPL)
Fuel used at coal-fired EGUs
Coal physical forward contracts (IPL and WPL)
Electric generation and load
Electric
swap contracts (IPL and WPL)
Optimize the value of natural gas pipeline capacity
Natural gas physical forward contracts (IPL and WPL)
Notional Amounts - iiiAs
of December 31, 2022, gross notional amounts and settlement/delivery years related to outstanding swap contracts, option contracts, physical forward contracts and FTRs that were accounted for as commodity derivative instruments were as follows (units in thousands)://
Electricity
FTRs
Natural
Gas
Coal
MWhs
Years
MWhs
Years
Dths
Years
Tons
Years
Alliant
Energy
i1,132
2023-2025
i9,046
2023
i224,060
2023-2032
i781
2023
IPL
i589
2023-2025
i3,999
2023
i115,237
2023-2030
i396
2023
WPL
i543
2023
i5,047
2023
i108,823
2023-2032
i385
2023
Financial
Statement Presentation - Derivative instruments are recorded at fair value each reporting date on the balance sheet as assets or liabilities. iiiAt
December 31, the fair values of current derivative assets are included in “Other current assets,” non-current derivative assets are included in “Deferred charges and other,” current derivative liabilities are included in “Other current liabilities” and non-current derivative liabilities are included in “Other liabilities” on the balance sheets as follows (in millions)://
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
Current derivative assets
$i111
$i113
$i69
$i48
$i42
$i65
Non-current
derivative assets
i126
i63
i69
i36
i57
i27
Current
derivative liabilities
i59
i8
i40
i4
i19
i4
Non-current
derivative liabilities
i20
i1
i6
i—
i14
i1
In
2022, Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s derivative assets increased primarily as a result of higher natural gas prices. Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s derivative liabilities increased primarily due to new natural gas contracts entered into in 2022 and declining natural gas prices subsequent to the execution of the new contracts. Based on IPL’s and WPL’s cost recovery mechanisms, the changes in the fair value of derivative liabilities/assets resulted in comparable changes to regulatory assets/liabilities on the balance sheets.
Credit Risk-related Contingent Features - Various agreements contain credit risk-related contingent features, including requirements to maintain certain credit ratings and/or limitations on liability positions under the agreements based on credit ratings. Certain of these agreements with credit risk-related contingency features are accounted
for as derivative instruments. In the event of a material change in creditworthiness or if liability positions exceed certain contractual limits, credit support may need to be provided up to the amount of exposure under the contracts, or the contracts may need to be unwound and underlying liability positions paid. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit risk-related contingent features in a net liability position was not materially different than amounts that would be required to be posted as credit support to counterparties by Alliant Energy, IPL or WPL if the most restrictive credit risk-related contingent features for derivative agreements in a net liability position were triggered.
Balance Sheet Offsetting - The fair value
amounts of derivative instruments subject to a master netting arrangement are not netted by counterparty on the balance sheets. iiiHowever,
if the fair value amounts of derivative instruments by counterparty were netted, derivative assets and derivative liabilities related to commodity contracts would have been presented on the balance sheets at December 31 as follows://
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
Gross
Gross
Gross
(as reported)
Net
(as reported)
Net
(as
reported)
Net
2022
Derivative assets
$i237
$i193
$i138
$i108
$i99
$i85
Derivative
liabilities
i79
i35
i46
i16
i33
i19
2021
Derivative
assets
i176
i171
i84
i83
i92
i88
Derivative
liabilities
i9
i4
i4
i3
i5
i1
Fair
value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral (receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (payable) are not offset against fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty under the same master netting arrangement.
NOTE 16. iiiFAIR
VALUE MEASUREMENTS//
Valuation Hierarchy - Fair value measurement accounting establishes three levels of fair value hierarchy that prioritize the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Level 1 pricing inputs are quoted prices available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Level 2 pricing inputs are quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active as of the reporting
date. Level 3 pricing inputs are unobservable inputs for assets or liabilities for which little or no market data exist and require significant management judgment or estimation.
The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable data (Level 3). In some cases, the inputs used to measure fair value might fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy. The lowest level input that is significant to a fair value measurement in its entirety determines the applicable level in the fair value hierarchy. Assessing the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, considering factors specific to the asset or liability.
Valuation
Techniques -
Derivative assets and derivative liabilities - Swap, option and physical forward commodity contracts were non-exchange-based derivative instruments and were valued using indicative price quotations from a pricing vendor that provides daily exchange forward price settlements, from broker or dealer quotations, from market publications or from on-line exchanges. The indicative price quotations reflected the average of the bid-ask mid-point prices and were obtained from sources believed to provide the most liquid market for the commodity. A portion of these indicative price quotations were corroborated using quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and categorized derivative instruments based on such indicative price quotations as Level 2. Commodity contracts that were valued using indicative price quotations based on significant assumptions such as seasonal
or monthly shaping and indicative price quotations that could not be readily corroborated were categorized as Level 3. Swap, option and physical forward commodity contracts were predominately at liquid trading points. FTRs were valued using auction prices and were categorized as Level 3. Refer to Note 15 for additional details of derivative assets and derivative liabilities.
Deferred proceeds (sales of receivables) - The fair value of IPL’s deferred proceeds related to its sales of accounts receivable program was calculated each reporting date using the cost approach valuation technique. The fair value represents the carrying amount of receivables sold less the allowance for expected credit losses associated with the receivables sold and cash
amounts received from the receivables sold due to the short-term nature of the collection period. These inputs were considered unobservable and deferred proceeds were categorized as Level 3. Deferred proceeds represent IPL’s maximum exposure to loss related to the receivables sold. Refer to Note 5(b) for additional information regarding deferred proceeds.
Long-term debt (including current maturities) - The fair value of long-term debt instruments was based on a discounted cash flow methodology using observable data from comparably traded securities with similar credit profiles, and was substantially classified as Level 2. Refer to Note
9(b) for additional information regarding long-term debt.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments - The carrying amounts of current assets and current liabilities approximate fair value because of the short maturity of such financial instruments. iiiCarrying
amounts and the related estimated fair values of other financial instruments at December 31 were as follows (in millions)://
Information
for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs) was as follows (in millions):
Alliant Energy
Commodity Contract Derivative
Assets and (Liabilities), net
Deferred
Proceeds
2022
2021
2022
2021
Beginning balance, January 1
$i29
$i29
$i214
$i188
Total
net gains (losses) included in changes in net assets (realized/unrealized)
(i18)
i6
i—
i—
Purchases
i79
i21
i—
i—
Sales
(i2)
(i1)
i—
i—
Settlements
(a)
(i69)
(i26)
(i29)
i26
Ending
balance, December 31
$i19
$i29
$i185
$i214
The
amount of total net gains (losses) for the period included in changes in net assets attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets and liabilities held at December 31
($i18)
$i6
$i—
$i—
IPL
Commodity
Contract Derivative
Assets and (Liabilities), net
Deferred Proceeds
2022
2021
2022
2021
Beginning balance, January 1
$i18
$i26
$i214
$i188
Total
net losses included in changes in net assets (realized/unrealized)
(i12)
(i3)
i—
i—
Purchases
i58
i16
i—
i—
Sales
(i1)
(i1)
i—
i—
Settlements
(a)
(i47)
(i20)
(i29)
i26
Ending
balance, December 31
$i16
$i18
$i185
$i214
The
amount of total net losses for the period included in changes in net assets attributable to the change in unrealized losses relating to assets and liabilities held at December 31
($i13)
($i3)
$i—
$i—
WPL
Commodity
Contract Derivative
Assets and (Liabilities), net
2022
2021
Beginning balance, January 1
$i11
$i3
Total
net gains (losses) included in changes in net assets (realized/unrealized)
(i6)
i9
Purchases
i21
i5
Sales
(i1)
i—
Settlements
(a)
(i22)
(i6)
Ending
balance, December 31
$i3
$i11
The
amount of total net gains (losses) for the period included in changes in net assets attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets and liabilities held at December 31
($i5)
$i9
(a)Settlements
related to deferred proceeds are due to the change in the carrying amount of receivables sold less the allowance for expected credit losses associated with the receivables sold and cash amounts received from the receivables sold.
Commodity Contracts - iiiThe
fair value of FTR and natural gas commodity contracts categorized as Level 3 was recognized as net derivative assets (liabilities) at December 31 as follows (in millions)://
Alliant
Energy
IPL
WPL
Excluding FTRs
FTRs
Excluding FTRs
FTRs
Excluding FTRs
FTRs
2022
($i10)
$i29
($i9)
$i25
($i1)
$i4
2021
i9
i20
i8
i10
i1
i10
NOTE
17. iiiCOMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES//
NOTE 17(a) Capital Purchase Commitments - Various contractual obligations contain minimum future commitments related to capital expenditures for certain construction projects, including WPL’s expansion of solar generation. At December 31, 2022, Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s minimum future commitments in 2023 for these projects were $i184
million and $i180 million, respectively.
NOTE 17(b) Other Purchase Commitments - Various commodity supply, transportation and storage contracts help meet obligations to provide electricity and natural gas to utility customers. In addition, there are various purchase commitments associated with other goods and services. iiiAt
December 31, 2022, the related minimum future commitments were as follows (in millions)://
Alliant
Energy
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Thereafter
Total
Natural
gas
$i558
$i297
$i199
$i136
$i85
$i209
$i1,484
Coal
i89
i64
i22
i3
i3
i—
i181
Other
(a)
i72
i12
i9
i9
i2
i24
i128
$i719
$i373
$i230
$i148
$i90
$i233
$i1,793
IPL
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Thereafter
Total
Natural
gas
$i319
$i167
$i85
$i48
$i36
$i39
$i694
Coal
i45
i26
i20
i3
i3
i—
i97
Other
(a)
i28
i2
i2
i2
i2
i22
i58
$i392
$i195
$i107
$i53
$i41
$i61
$i849
WPL
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Thereafter
Total
Natural
gas
$i239
$i130
$i114
$i88
$i49
$i170
$i790
Coal
i44
i38
i2
i—
i—
i—
i84
Other
(a)
i28
i1
i1
i1
i—
i—
i31
$i311
$i169
$i117
$i89
$i49
$i170
$i905
(a)Includes
individual commitments incurred during the normal course of business that exceeded $i1 million at December 31, 2022.
NOTE 17(c) Legal Proceedings - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are involved in legal and administrative proceedings before various courts and agencies with respect to matters arising in the ordinary course of business. Although
unable to predict the outcome of these matters, Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL believe that appropriate reserves have been established and final disposition of these actions will not have a material effect on their financial condition or results of operations.
NOTE 17(d) Guarantees and Indemnifications -
Whiting Petroleum - Whiting Petroleum is an independent oil and gas company. In 2004, Alliant Energy sold its remaining interest in Whiting Petroleum. Alliant Energy Resources, LLC, as the successor to a predecessor entity that owned Whiting Petroleum, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of AEF, continues to guarantee the partnership obligations of an affiliate of Whiting Petroleum under multiple general partnership
agreements in the oil and gas industry. The guarantees do not include a maximum limit. Based on information made available to Alliant Energy by Whiting Petroleum, the Whiting Petroleum affiliate holds an approximate i6% share in the partnerships, and currently known obligations include costs associated with the future abandonment of certain facilities owned by the partnerships. The general partnerships were formed under California law, and Alliant Energy
Resources, LLC may need to perform under the guarantees if the affiliate of Whiting Petroleum is unable to meet its partnership obligations.
As of December 31, 2022, the currently known partnership obligations for the abandonment obligations are estimated at $i58 million, which represents Alliant Energy’s currently estimated maximum exposure under the guarantees. Alliant Energy estimates its expected loss to be a portion of the $i58
million of known partnership abandonment obligations of the Whiting Petroleum affiliate and the other partners. Alliant Energy is not aware of any material liabilities related to these guarantees that it is probable that it will be obligated to pay; however, as of both December 31, 2022 and 2021, a liability of $i5 million is recorded in “Other liabilities” on Alliant Energy’s balance sheets for expected credit losses related to the contingent obligations
that are in the scope of these guarantees.
Whiting Petroleum completed a business combination with Oasis Petroleum Inc. in July 2022. The combined operations are now known as Chord Energy Corporation. The business combination
is not expected to affect the scope of the Whiting Petroleum affiliate’s obligations to Alliant Energy or Alliant Energy’s related guarantees.
Non-utility Wind Farm in Oklahoma - In 2017, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AEF acquired a cash equity ownership interest in a non-utility wind farm located in Oklahoma. The wind farm provides electricity to a third-party under a long-term PPA. Alliant Energy provided a parent guarantee of its subsidiary’s indemnification obligations under the related operating agreement and PPA. Alliant Energy’s obligations under the operating agreement were $i59
million as of December 31, 2022 and will reduce annually until expiring in July 2047. Alliant Energy’s obligations under the PPA are subject to a maximum limit of $i17 million and expire in December 2031, subject to potential extension. Alliant Energy is not aware of any material liabilities related to this guarantee that it is probable that it will be obligated to pay and therefore has not recognized any material liabilities related to this guarantee as of December 31,
2022 and 2021.
NOTE 17(e) Environmental Matters - Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are subject to environmental regulations as a result of their current and past operations. These regulations are designed to protect public health and the environment and have resulted in compliance, remediation, containment and monitoring obligations, which are recorded as current and non-current environmental liabilities. Substantially all of the environmental liabilities recorded on the balance sheets relate to MGP sites.
Manufactured Gas Plant Sites - IPL and WPL have current or previous ownership interests in various sites
that are previously associated with the production of gas for which IPL and WPL have, or may have in the future, liability for investigation, remediation and monitoring costs. IPL and WPL are working pursuant to the requirements of various federal and state agencies to investigate, mitigate, prevent and remediate, where necessary, the environmental impacts to property, including natural resources, at and around these former MGP sites in order to protect public health and the environment. iiAt
December 31, 2022, estimated future costs expected to be incurred for the investigation, remediation and monitoring of the MGP sites, as well as environmental liabilities recorded on the balance sheets for these sites, which are not discounted, were as follows (in millions). At December 31, 2022, such amounts for WPL were not material./
Alliant
Energy
IPL
Range of estimated future costs
$i9
-
$i25
$i6
-
$i19
Current
and non-current environmental liabilities
$i11
$i8
IPL
Consent Decree - In 2015, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa approved a Consent Decree that IPL entered into with the EPA, the Sierra Club, the State of Iowa and Linn County in Iowa, thereby resolving potential CAA issues associated with emissions from IPL’s coal-fired generating facilities in Iowa. IPL has completed various requirements under the Consent Decree. IPL’s remaining requirements include fuel switching or retiring Prairie Creek Units 1 and 3 by December 31, 2025. Alliant Energy and IPL currently expect to recover material costs incurred by IPL related to compliance with the terms of the Consent Decree from IPL’s electric customers.
Other Environmental Contingencies - In addition to the environmental liabilities discussed above, various environmental rules
are monitored that may have a significant impact on future operations. Several of these environmental rules are subject to legal challenges, reconsideration and/or other uncertainties. Given uncertainties regarding the outcome, timing and compliance plans for these environmental matters, the complete financial impact of each of these rules is not able to be determined; however future capital investments and/or modifications to EGUs and electric and gas distribution systems to comply with certain of these rules could be significant. Specific current, proposed or potential environmental matters include, among others: CSAPR, Effluent Limitation Guidelines, CCR Rule, and various legislation and EPA regulations to monitor and regulate the emission of GHG, including the CAA.
NOTE 17(f) Credit
Risk - IPL provides retail electric and gas services in Iowa and wholesale electric service in Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa. WPL provides retail electric and gas services and wholesale electric service in Wisconsin. The geographic concentration of IPL’s and WPL’s customers did not contribute significantly to overall credit risk exposure. In addition, as a result of a diverse customer base, IPL and WPL did not have any significant credit risk concentration for receivables arising from the sale of electricity or gas services.
Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are subject to credit risk related to the ability of counterparties to meet their contractual payment obligations or the potential non-performance of counterparties to deliver contracted commodities and other goods or services at the contracted price. Credit policies are maintained to mitigate credit risk. These credit policies include
evaluation of the financial condition of certain counterparties, use of credit risk-related contingent provisions in certain agreements that require credit support from counterparties not meeting specific criteria, diversification of counterparties to reduce concentrations of credit risk and the use of standardized agreements that facilitate the netting of cash flows associated with certain counterparties. Based on these credit policies and counterparty diversification, as well as utility cost recovery mechanisms, it is unlikely that counterparty non-performance would have a material effect on financial condition or results of operations. However, there is no assurance that these items will protect against all losses from counterparty non-performance.
Refer to Notes 5(a)
and 15 for details of allowances for expected credit losses and credit risk-related contingent features, respectively.
NOTE
17(g) MISO Transmission Owner Return on Equity Complaints - A group of stakeholders, including MISO cooperative and municipal utilities, previously filed complaints with FERC requesting a reduction to the base return on equity authorized for MISO transmission owners, including ITC and ATC. In 2019, FERC issued an order on the previously filed complaints and reduced the base return on equity authorized for the MISO transmission owners to i9.88%
for November 12, 2013 through February 11, 2015, and subsequent to September 28, 2016. In 2020, FERC issued orders in response to various rehearing requests and increased the base return on equity authorized for the MISO transmission owners from i9.88% to i10.02%
for November 12, 2013 through February 11, 2015, and subsequent to September 28, 2016. In August 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated FERC’s prior orders that established the base return on equity authorized for the MISO transmission owners and remanded the cases to FERC for further proceedings, which may result in additional changes to the base return on equity authorized for the MISO transmission owners. As a result of the August 2022 court decision, Alliant Energy recorded a $i6
million reduction in “Equity income from unconsolidated investments” in its income statement in 2022 to reflect the anticipated reduction in the base return on equity authorized for the MISO transmission owners. Any further changes in FERC’s decisions may have an impact on Alliant Energy’s share of ATC’s future earnings and customer costs.
NOTE 18. iiiSEGMENTS
OF BUSINESS//
Alliant Energy - Alliant Energy’s principal businesses as of December 31, 2022 are:
•Utility - includes the operations of IPL and WPL, which primarily serve retail customers in Iowa and Wisconsin. The utility business has ithree
reportable segments: a) utility electric operations; b) utility gas operations; and c) utility other, which includes steam operations and the unallocated portions of the utility business. Various line items in the following tables are not allocated to the electric and gas segments for management reporting purposes, and therefore, are included only in “Total Utility.”
•ATC Holdings, Non-utility, Parent and Other - includes the operations of AEF and its subsidiaries, Corporate Services, the Alliant Energy parent company, and any Alliant Energy parent company consolidating adjustments. AEF is comprised of Alliant Energy’s interest in ATC Holdings, Travero, a non-utility wind farm, corporate venture investments, the Sheboygan Falls Energy Facility and other non-utility holdings.
Alliant Energy’s administrative support
services are directly charged to the applicable segment where practicable. In all other cases, administrative support services are allocated to the applicable segment based on services agreements. Intersegment revenues were not material to Alliant Energy’s operations and there was no single customer whose revenues were 10% or more of Alliant Energy’s consolidated revenues. All of Alliant Energy’s operations and assets are located in the U.S. iCertain financial information relating to Alliant Energy’s business segments, which represent
the services provided to its customers, was as follows (in millions):
ATC
Holdings,
Utility
Non-utility,
Alliant Energy
2022
Electric
Gas
Other
Total
Parent and Other
Consolidated
Revenues
$i3,421
$i642
$i49
$i4,112
$i93
$i4,205
Depreciation
and amortization
i601
i56
i7
i664
i7
i671
Operating
income
i805
i97
i3
i905
i23
i928
Interest
expense
i269
i56
i325
Equity
income from unconsolidated investments, net
(i1)
i—
i—
(i1)
(i50)
(i51)
Income
taxes
i16
i6
i22
Net
income attributable to Alliant Energy common shareowners
i675
i11
i686
Total
assets
i16,571
i1,631
i860
i19,062
i1,101
i20,163
Investments
in equity method subsidiaries
i20
i—
i—
i20
i522
i542
Construction
and acquisition expenditures
i1,318
i74
i—
i1,392
i92
i1,484
ATC
Holdings,
Utility
Non-utility,
Alliant Energy
2021
Electric
Gas
Other
Total
Parent and Other
Consolidated
Revenues
$i3,081
$i456
$i49
$i3,586
$i83
$i3,669
Depreciation
and amortization
i591
i54
i6
i651
i6
i657
Operating
income (loss)
i716
i63
(i11)
i768
i27
i795
Interest
expense
i244
i33
i277
Equity
income from unconsolidated investments, net
(i2)
i—
i—
(i2)
(i60)
(i62)
Income
tax expense (benefit)
(i87)
i13
(i74)
Net
income attributable to Alliant Energy common shareowners
Equity
income from unconsolidated investments, net
(i2)
i—
i—
(i2)
(i59)
(i61)
Income
tax expense (benefit)
(i66)
i9
(i57)
Net
income attributable to Alliant Energy common shareowners
i573
i41
i614
Total
assets
i14,358
i1,413
i990
i16,761
i949
i17,710
Investments
in equity method subsidiaries
i11
i—
i—
i11
i465
i476
Construction
and acquisition expenditures
i1,109
i182
i2
i1,293
i73
i1,366
IPL
- IPL is a utility primarily serving retail customers in Iowa and includes ithree reportable segments: a) electric operations; b) gas operations; and c) other, which includes steam operations and the unallocated portions of the utility business. Various line items in the following tables are not allocated to the electric and gas segments for management reporting purposes, and therefore, are included only in “Total.” Intersegment revenues were not material to IPL’s operations and there was no single customer whose revenues were 10%
or more of IPL’s consolidated revenues. All of IPL’s operations and assets are located in the U.S. iCertain financial information relating to IPL’s business segments, which represent the services provided to its customers, was as follows (in millions):
2022
Electric
Gas
Other
Total
Revenues
$i1,859
$i351
$i46
$i2,256
Depreciation
and amortization
i342
i32
i7
i381
Operating
income
i397
i53
i3
i453
Interest
expense
i148
Income tax benefit
(i50)
Net
income available for common stock
i360
Total assets
i8,686
i872
i517
i10,075
Construction
and acquisition expenditures
i336
i36
i—
i372
2021
Electric
Gas
Other
Total
Revenues
$i1,752
$i265
$i46
$i2,063
Depreciation
and amortization
i338
i31
i6
i375
Operating
income (loss)
i420
i43
(i3)
i460
Interest
expense
i139
Income tax benefit
(i36)
Net
income available for common stock
i350
Total assets
i8,602
i819
i575
i9,996
Construction
and acquisition expenditures
i342
i42
i—
i384
2020
Electric
Gas
Other
Total
Revenues
$i1,695
$i208
$i44
$i1,947
Depreciation
and amortization
i321
i30
i5
i356
Operating
income
i358
i50
i2
i410
Interest
expense
i139
Income tax benefit
(i47)
Net
income available for common stock
i324
Total assets
i8,518
i766
i565
i9,849
Construction
and acquisition expenditures
i626
i59
i2
i687
WPL
- WPL is a utility serving customers in Wisconsin and includes ithree reportable segments: a) electric operations; b) gas operations; and c) other, which includes the unallocated portions of the utility business. Various line items in the following tables are not allocated to the electric and gas segments for management reporting purposes, and therefore, are included only in “Total.” Intersegment revenues were not material to WPL’s operations and there was no single customer whose revenues were 10% or more of WPL’s consolidated revenues. All
of WPL’s operations and assets are located in the U.S. iCertain financial information relating to WPL’s business segments, which represent the services provided to its customers, was as follows (in millions):
Service Agreements - Pursuant to service agreements, IPL and WPL receive various administrative and general services from an affiliate, Corporate Services. These services are billed to IPL and WPL at cost based on expenses incurred by Corporate Services for the benefit of IPL and WPL, respectively. These costs consisted primarily of employee compensation and benefits, fees associated with various professional services, depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment, and a return on net assets. Corporate Services also acts as agent on behalf of IPL and WPL pursuant
to the service agreements. As agent, Corporate Services enters into energy, capacity, ancillary services, and transmission sale and purchase transactions within MISO. Corporate Services assigns such sales and purchases among IPL and WPL based on statements received from MISO. iiiThe
amounts billed for services provided, sales credited and purchases were as follows (in millions)://
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2020
2022
2021
2020
Corporate
Services billings
$i181
$i180
$i176
$i155
$i154
$i142
Sales
credited
i19
i22
i35
i74
i23
i3
Purchases
billed
i435
i441
i329
i174
i116
i108
iii
As
of December 31, net intercompany payables to Corporate Services were as follows (in millions):
2022
2021
IPL
$i103
$i110
WPL
i56
i83
///
ATC
- Pursuant to various agreements, WPL receives a range of transmission services from ATC. WPL provides operation, maintenance, and construction services to ATC. WPL and ATC also bill each other for use of shared facilities owned by each party. iiThe
related amounts billed between the parties were as follows (in millions):/
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, WPL owed ATC net amounts of $i10 million and $i10
million, respectively.
In 2020, WPL received $i46 million from ATC related to construction deposits WPL previously provided ATC for transmission network upgrades for West Riverside, which is substantially recorded in “Other” in Alliant Energy’s and WPL’s cash flows from investing activities.
WPL’s Sheboygan Falls Energy Facility Lease - Refer to Note
10 for discussion of WPL’s Sheboygan Falls Energy Facility lease.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s management evaluated, with the participation of each of Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Disclosure Committee, the effectiveness of the design and operation of Alliant
Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the quarter ended December 31, 2022 pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based on their evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the quarter ended December 31, 2022.
There was no change in Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2022 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s
Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting - The management of Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.
Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the
risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s management assessed the effectiveness of their respective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022 using the criteria set forth in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on these assessments, Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s management concluded that, as of December 31, 2022, their respective internal control over financial reporting was effective.
Deloitte
& Touche LLP, Alliant Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm, has audited Alliant Energy’s internal control over financial reporting. That report is included herein. This report does not include an attestation report of IPL’s and WPL’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding its assessment of IPL’s and WPL’s internal control over financial reporting.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareowners and the Board of Directors of Alliant Energy Corporation:
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Alliant Energy Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained,
in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, of the Company and our report dated February 24, 2023, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining
effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit
included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that
(1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the
risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
None.
PART III
ITEM
10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The directors of Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are the same, and therefore, the information required by Item 10 relating to directors and nominees for election of directors is the same for all registrants. The information required by Item 10 relating to directors and nominees for election of directors at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareowners, the timely filing of reports under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, audit committees and audit committee financial experts, and Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s Code of Conduct is incorporated herein by reference to the relevant information in the 2023 Alliant Energy Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s fiscal years. The code of ethics, also referred to as the Code
of Conduct, of Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are the same. Information regarding executive officers of Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL may be found in Part I of this report under the caption “Information About Executive Officers.”
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The directors and executive officers of Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL for which compensation information must be included are the same. Therefore, the information required by Item 11 for each of Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL is incorporated herein by reference to the relevant information
in the 2023 Alliant Energy Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s fiscal years.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Information regarding Alliant Energy’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2022 was as follows:
(A)
(C)
Number
of securities to be
(B)
Number of securities remaining available
issued upon exercise of
Weighted-average exercise
for future issuance under equity
outstanding options,
price of outstanding options,
compensation plans (excluding
Plan
Category
warrants and rights
warrants and rights
securities reflected in column (A))
Equity compensation plans approved by shareowners
713,876 (a)
$51.92
8,259,869 (b)
Equity compensation plans not approved by shareowners (c)
N/A
N/A
N/A
(d)
713,876
$51.92
8,259,869
(a)Represents performance shares, performance restricted stock units and restricted stock units granted under the 2020 OIP, all of which are paid out in shares of Alliant Energy’s common stock. The performance share and performance restricted stock unit awards included in column (A) of the table reflect an assumed payout at the maximum performance multiplier of 200%. Also included are restricted stock units granted under the 2020 OIP, which vest at the expiration of a three-year time-vesting period.
(b)All
of the available shares under the 2020 OIP may be issued as awards in the form of shares of Alliant Energy’s common stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units and other stock-based or cash-based awards. As of December 31, 2022, there were performance shares and restricted stock units (performance- and time-vesting) outstanding under the 2020 OIP, the only plan under which such equity awards are currently granted.
(c)As of December 31, 2022, there were 402,134 shares of Alliant Energy’s common stock held under the DCP, which is described in Note 13(c).
(d)There
is no limit on the number of shares of Alliant Energy’s common stock that may be held under the DCP.
The remainder of the information required by Item 12 for Alliant Energy, and the information required by Item 12 for each of IPL and WPL, is incorporated herein by reference to the relevant information in the 2023 Alliant Energy Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s fiscal year.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by Item 13 for each of Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL is incorporated herein by reference to the relevant information in the 2023 Alliant Energy Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s fiscal years.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ALLIANT ENERGY
The
information required by Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference to the relevant information in the 2023 Alliant Energy Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of Alliant Energy’s fiscal year.
IPL AND WPL
Each of IPL’s and WPL’s Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has adopted a policy that requires advance approval of all audit, audit-related, tax and other permitted services performed by the independent registered public accounting firm. The policy provides for pre-approval by the Audit Committee of specifically defined audit and non-audit services after the Audit Committee is provided with the appropriate level of details regarding the specific services to be provided. The policy does not permit delegation of the Audit Committee’s authority to management. In the event the
need for specific services arises between Audit Committee meetings, the Audit Committee has delegated to the Chairperson of the Audit Committee authority to approve permitted services provided that the Chairperson reports any decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The principal accounting fees billed to Alliant Energy by its independent registered public accounting firm, all of which were approved in advance by the Audit Committee, directly related and allocated to IPL and WPL were as follows (in thousands):
IPL
WPL
2022
2021
2022
2021
Fees
%
of Total
Fees
% of Total
Fees
% of Total
Fees
% of Total
Audit fees
$1,351
95%
$1,367
96%
$1,096
91%
$1,005
90%
Audit-related
fees
56
4%
49
4%
94
8%
85
8%
Tax fees
10
1%
3
—%
8
1%
18
2%
All
other fees
7
—%
4
—%
5
—%
3
—%
$1,424
100%
$1,423
100%
$1,203
100%
$1,111
100%
IPL’s
and WPL’s audit fees for 2022 and 2021 consisted of the respective fees billed for the audits of the financial statements of IPL and its subsidiaries and WPL and its subsidiaries, for reviews of financial statements included in Form 10-Q filings, and for services normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings, such as financing transactions. IPL’s and WPL’s audit fees also included their respective portion of fees for the 2022 and 2021 audits of Alliant Energy’s financial statements and effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting. IPL’s and WPL’s audit-related fees for 2022 and 2021 consisted of the fees billed for services rendered related to employee benefits plan audits and other attest services. IPL’s and WPL’s tax fees for 2022 and 2021 consisted of the fees billed for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning, including all services performed by the tax professional staff of affiliates
of the independent registered public accounting firm, except those rendered in connection with the audit. All other fees for 2022 and 2021 for IPL and WPL consisted of license fees for accounting research software products and virtual seminars. The Audit Committee does not consider the provision of non-audit services by the independent registered public accounting firm described above to be incompatible with maintaining independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.
(1)Consolidated Financial Statements - Refer to Item 8 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for Alliant Energy’s, IPL’s and WPL’s financial statements and Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ID No. iii34//).
(2)Financial
Statement Schedules -
i
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
i
ALLIANT
ENERGY CORPORATION (Parent Company Only)
Year Ended December 31,
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
2022
2021
2020
(in millions)
Operating expenses
$i9
$i5
$i7
Operating
loss
(i9)
(i5)
(i7)
Other
(income) and deductions:
Equity earnings from consolidated subsidiaries
(i707)
(i664)
(i625)
Interest
expense
i6
i1
i2
Other
i1
i1
i4
Total
other (income) and deductions
(i700)
(i662)
(i619)
Income
before income taxes
i691
i657
i612
Income
tax expense (benefit)
i2
(i5)
(i4)
Net
income
$i689
$i662
$i616
Refer
to accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
/
i
ALLIANT ENERGY CORPORATION (Parent Company Only)
December
31,
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
2022
2021
(in millions)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Notes receivable from affiliated companies
$i65
$i16
Other
i1
i5
Total
current assets
i66
i21
Investments:
Investments
in consolidated subsidiaries
i7,801
i7,061
Other
i2
i2
Total
investments
i7,803
i7,063
Other
assets
i97
i96
Total
assets
$i7,966
$i7,180
LIABILITIES
AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Commercial paper
$i352
$i279
Notes
payable to affiliated companies
i1,318
i900
Other
i10
i4
Total
current liabilities
i1,680
i1,183
Other
liabilities
i1
i2
Common
equity:
Common stock and additional paid-in capital
i2,780
i2,752
Retained
earnings
i3,518
i3,255
Shares
in deferred compensation trust
(i13)
(i12)
Total
common equity
i6,285
i5,995
Total
liabilities and equity
$i7,966
$i7,180
Refer
to accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
Capital contributions to consolidated subsidiaries
(i530)
(i295)
(i429)
Net
change in notes receivable from and payable to affiliates
i369
(i21)
i201
Dividends
from consolidated subsidiaries in excess of equity earnings
i—
i50
i—
Net
cash flows used for investing activities
(i161)
(i266)
(i228)
Cash
flows used for financing activities:
Common stock dividends
(i428)
(i403)
(i377)
Proceeds
from issuance of common stock, net
i25
i28
i247
Net
change in commercial paper
i73
i147
(i37)
Other
(i1)
i—
(i1)
Net
cash flows used for financing activities
(i331)
(i228)
(i168)
Net
increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
i—
i—
i—
Cash,
cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
i—
i—
i—
Cash,
cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$i—
$i—
$i—
Supplemental
cash flows information:
Cash (paid) refunded during the period for:
Interest
($i6)
($i1)
($i2)
Income
taxes, net
$i15
$i4
$i10
Refer
to accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
/
ALLIANT ENERGY CORPORATION (Parent Company Only)
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Pursuant to rules and regulations of the SEC, the Condensed Financial Statements of Alliant Energy Corporation (Parent Company Only) do not reflect all of the information and notes normally included with financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Therefore, these Condensed Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and related Notes included in the combined 2022 Form 10-K, Part II, Item
8, which is incorporated herein by reference.
In the Condensed Financial Statements of Alliant Energy Corporation (Parent Company Only), investments in subsidiaries are accounted for using the equity method.
iii
SCHEDULE
II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
Additions
Balance,
Charged to
Charged
to Other
Balance,
Description
January 1
Expense
Accounts (a)
Deductions (b)
December 31
(in millions)
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Which are Deducted in the Balance Sheet from the Assets to Which They Apply:
Note: The
above provisions relate to various customer, notes and other receivable balances included in various line items on the respective balance sheets.
(a)Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts: In accordance with its regulatory treatment, certain amounts provided by WPL are recorded in regulatory assets.
(b)Deductions are of the nature for which the reserves were created. In the case of the accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts, deductions from this reserve are reduced by recoveries of amounts previously written off.
(c)Refer to Note 5(b) for discussion of IPL’s sales of accounts receivable program.
NOTE:
All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or not required, or because that required information is shown either in the financial statements or in the notes thereto.
(3) Exhibits Required by SEC Regulation S-K - Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K, the registrants agree to furnish to the SEC, upon request, any instrument defining the rights of holders of unregistered long-term debt not filed as an exhibit to this combined Form 10-K. No such instrument authorizes securities in excess of 10% of the total assets of Alliant Energy, IPL or WPL, as the case may be. The following exhibits for Alliant Energy, IPL and WPL are filed herewith or incorporated
herein by reference.
Inline
XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on the 24th day of February 2023.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrants and in the capacities
indicated on the 24th day of February 2023.