Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholder of DTE Electric Company
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of DTE Electric Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive income, of changes in shareholder’s equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated 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 of these consolidated financial statements 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated 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.
Accounting for the Effects of New, or Changes to Existing, Regulatory Matters
As described in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company recorded $6,453 million of regulatory assets and $1,759 million of regulatory liabilities as of December 31, 2023. The Company is required to record regulatory assets and liabilities for certain transactions that would have been treated as revenue or expense in non-regulated businesses. Continued applicability of regulatory accounting treatment requires that rates be designed to recover specific costs of providing regulatory services and be charged to and collected from customers. Future regulatory changes could result in a discontinuance of this accounting treatment for regulatory assets and liabilities for some or all of the Company’s regulated businesses and may require the write-off of the portion of any regulatory asset or liability that was no longer probable of recovery through regulated rates. Management believes that currently available facts support the continued use of regulatory assets and liabilities and that all regulatory assets and liabilities are recoverable or refundable in the current regulatory environment.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to accounting for the effects of new, or changes to existing, regulatory matters is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management in assessing the potential outcomes and related accounting impacts associated with new, or changes to existing, regulatory matters and (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity and effort in performing procedures and evaluating the appropriateness of management’s assessment and audit evidence related to the assessment.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s assessment and implementation of new regulatory matters or changes to existing regulatory matters. These procedures also included, among others, (i) evaluating the reasonableness of management’s assessment of impacts arising from correspondence with regulators and changes in laws and regulations; (ii) evaluating the sufficiency of the disclosures in the consolidated financial statements; and (iii) testing, on a sample basis, the regulatory assets and liabilities, including those subject to pending rate orders and regulatory proceedings, by considering (a) the provisions and formulas outlined in rate orders; (b) other regulatory correspondence; and (c) application of relevant regulatory precedents.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Detroit, Michigan
February 8, 2024
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2008.
DTE Electric Company
Consolidated Statements of Operations
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Operating Revenues — Utility operations | $ | 5,804 | | | $ | 6,397 | | | $ | 5,809 | |
| | | | | |
Operating Expenses | | | | | |
Fuel and purchased power — utility | 1,492 | | | 1,990 | | | 1,541 | |
Operation and maintenance | 1,421 | | | 1,538 | | | 1,569 | |
Depreciation and amortization | 1,326 | | | 1,204 | | | 1,109 | |
Taxes other than income | 338 | | | 338 | | | 320 | |
Asset (gains) losses and impairments, net | 26 | | | 8 | | | 1 | |
| 4,603 | | | 5,078 | | | 4,540 | |
Operating Income | 1,201 | | | 1,319 | | | 1,269 | |
| | | | | |
Other (Income) and Deductions | | | | | |
Interest expense | 429 | | | 370 | | | 335 | |
Interest income | (20) | | | (8) | | | — | |
Non-operating retirement benefits, net | (4) | | | (3) | | | (2) | |
Other income | (87) | | | (65) | | | (71) | |
Other expenses | 33 | | | 44 | | | 37 | |
| 351 | | | 338 | | | 299 | |
Income Before Income Taxes | 850 | | | 981 | | | 970 | |
| | | | | |
Income Tax Expense | 78 | | | 26 | | | 104 | |
| | | | | |
Net Income | $ | 772 | | | $ | 955 | | | $ | 866 | |
See Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
DTE Electric Company
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Net Income | $ | 772 | | | $ | 955 | | | $ | 866 | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Other comprehensive income | — | | | — | | | — | |
Comprehensive Income | $ | 772 | | | $ | 955 | | | $ | 866 | |
See Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
DTE Electric Company
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
ASSETS |
Current Assets | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 15 | | | $ | 15 | |
Restricted cash | 17 | | | 9 | |
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $41 and $49, respectively) | | | |
Customer | 764 | | | 727 | |
Affiliates | 12 | | | 8 | |
Other | 55 | | | 75 | |
Inventories | | | |
Fuel | 191 | | | 167 | |
Materials and supplies | 409 | | | 331 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
Regulatory assets | 99 | | | 421 | |
Other | 114 | | | 98 | |
| 1,676 | | | 1,851 | |
Investments | | | |
Nuclear decommissioning trust funds | 2,041 | | | 1,825 | |
Other | 53 | | | 44 | |
| 2,094 | | | 1,869 | |
Property | | | |
Property, plant, and equipment | 27,936 | | | 30,591 | |
Accumulated depreciation and amortization | (6,570) | | | (8,095) | |
| 21,366 | | | 22,496 | |
Other Assets | | | |
Regulatory assets | 5,596 | | | 3,219 | |
Securitized regulatory assets | 758 | | | 206 | |
| | | |
Prepaid postretirement costs — affiliates | 378 | | | 345 | |
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 101 | | | 56 | |
Other | 216 | | | 194 | |
| 7,049 | | | 4,020 | |
Total Assets | $ | 32,185 | | | $ | 30,236 | |
See Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
DTE Electric Company
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position — (Continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions, except shares) |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY |
Current Liabilities | | | |
Accounts payable | | | |
Affiliates | $ | 58 | | | $ | 71 | |
Other | 696 | | | 637 | |
Accrued interest | 113 | | | 105 | |
| | | |
Current portion long-term debt, including securitization bonds and finance leases | 166 | | | 248 | |
Regulatory liabilities | 49 | | | 33 | |
Short-term borrowings | | | |
Affiliates | — | | | 27 | |
Other | 385 | | | 568 | |
Operating lease liabilities | 15 | | | 9 | |
Other | 169 | | | 204 | |
| 1,651 | | | 1,902 | |
Long-Term Debt (net of current portion) | | | |
Mortgage bonds, notes, and other | 10,174 | | | 9,282 | |
Securitization bonds | 705 | | | 172 | |
Finance lease liabilities | 4 | | | 1 | |
| 10,883 | | | 9,455 | |
Other Liabilities | | | |
Deferred income taxes | 3,109 | | | 2,946 | |
Regulatory liabilities | 1,710 | | | 1,778 | |
Asset retirement obligations | 3,326 | | | 3,221 | |
Unamortized investment tax credit | 181 | | | 182 | |
Nuclear decommissioning | 320 | | | 282 | |
Accrued pension liability — affiliates | 334 | | | 387 | |
Accrued postretirement liability — affiliates | 290 | | | 275 | |
Operating lease liabilities | 81 | | | 39 | |
Other | 76 | | | 74 | |
| 9,427 | | | 9,184 | |
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 9 and 18) | | | |
| | | |
Shareholder's Equity | | | |
Common stock ($10 par value, 400,000,000 shares authorized, and 138,632,324 shares issued and outstanding for both periods) | 7,361 | | | 6,602 | |
Retained earnings | 2,863 | | | 3,093 | |
| | | |
Total Shareholder's Equity | 10,224 | | | 9,695 | |
Total Liabilities and Shareholder's Equity | $ | 32,185 | | | $ | 30,236 | |
See Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
DTE Electric Company
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Operating Activities | (In millions) |
Net Income | $ | 772 | | | $ | 955 | | | $ | 866 | |
Adjustments to reconcile Net Income to Net cash from operating activities: | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | 1,326 | | | 1,204 | | | 1,109 | |
Nuclear fuel amortization | 59 | | | 42 | | | 58 | |
Allowance for equity funds used during construction | (40) | | | (26) | | | (25) | |
Deferred income taxes | 82 | | | 25 | | | 122 | |
Asset (gains) losses and impairments, net | 26 | | | 8 | | | 1 | |
Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | | | |
Accounts receivable, net | (14) | | | (40) | | | 68 | |
Inventories | (99) | | | (26) | | | (11) | |
Prepaid postretirement benefit costs — affiliates | (33) | | | 57 | | | (67) | |
Accounts payable | (9) | | | 23 | | | 65 | |
Accrued pension liability — affiliates | (53) | | | (18) | | | (326) | |
Accrued postretirement liability — affiliates | 15 | | | (65) | | | (44) | |
Regulatory assets and liabilities | 461 | | | (653) | | | 716 | |
Other current and noncurrent assets and liabilities | (218) | | | 204 | | | (216) | |
Net cash from operating activities | 2,275 | | | 1,690 | | | 2,316 | |
Investing Activities | | | | | |
Plant and equipment expenditures | (3,089) | | | (2,626) | | | (3,017) | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Proceeds from sale of nuclear decommissioning trust fund assets | 681 | | | 879 | | | 1,047 | |
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds | (678) | | | (878) | | | (1,046) | |
Notes receivable and other | (47) | | | (40) | | | (31) | |
Net cash used for investing activities | (3,133) | | | (2,665) | | | (3,047) | |
Financing Activities | | | | | |
Issuance of long-term debt, net of discount and issuance costs | 1,881 | | | 1,118 | | | 985 | |
Redemption of long-term debt | (541) | | | (337) | | | (321) | |
| | | | | |
Capital contribution by parent company | 759 | | | 600 | | | 555 | |
Short-term borrowings, net — affiliates | (27) | | | (26) | | | (48) | |
Short-term borrowings, net — other | (183) | | | 415 | | | 153 | |
Dividends paid on common stock | (1,002) | | | (763) | | | (588) | |
Other | (21) | | | (17) | | | (12) | |
Net cash from financing activities | 866 | | | 990 | | | 724 | |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents | 8 | | | 15 | | | (7) | |
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period | 24 | | | 9 | | | 16 | |
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period | $ | 32 | | | $ | 24 | | | $ | 9 | |
| | | | | |
Supplemental disclosure of cash information | | | | | |
Cash paid (received) for: | | | | | |
Interest, net of interest capitalized | $ | 409 | | | $ | 350 | | | $ | 321 | |
Income taxes | $ | 15 | | | $ | (33) | | | $ | 5 | |
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities | | | | | |
Plant and equipment expenditures in accounts payable | $ | 403 | | | $ | 335 | | | $ | 286 | |
See Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
DTE Electric Company
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholder's Equity
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Additional Paid-in Capital | | Retained Earnings | | | | |
| Common Stock | | | | | |
| Shares | | Amount | | | | | Total |
| (Dollars in millions, shares in thousands) |
Balance, December 31, 2020 | 138,632 | | | $ | 1,386 | | | $ | 4,061 | | | $ | 2,623 | | | | | $ | 8,070 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Income | — | | | — | | | — | | | 866 | | | | | 866 | |
Dividends declared on common stock | — | | | — | | | — | | | (588) | | | | | (588) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Capital contribution by parent company | — | | | — | | | 555 | | | — | | | | | 555 | |
Balance, December 31, 2021 | 138,632 | | | $ | 1,386 | | | $ | 4,616 | | | $ | 2,901 | | | | | $ | 8,903 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Income | — | | | — | | | — | | | 955 | | | | | 955 | |
Dividends declared on common stock | — | | | — | | | — | | | (763) | | | | | (763) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Capital contribution by parent company | — | | | — | | | 600 | | | — | | | | | 600 | |
Balance, December 31, 2022 | 138,632 | | | $ | 1,386 | | | $ | 5,216 | | | $ | 3,093 | | | | | $ | 9,695 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Income | — | | | — | | | — | | | 772 | | | | | 772 | |
Dividends declared on common stock | — | | | — | | | — | | | (1,002) | | | | | (1,002) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Capital contribution by parent company | — | | | — | | | 759 | | | — | | | | | 759 | |
Balance, December 31, 2023 | 138,632 | | | $ | 1,386 | | | $ | 5,975 | | | $ | 2,863 | | | | | $ | 10,224 | |
See Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Index of Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are a combined presentation for DTE Energy and DTE Electric. The following list indicates the Registrant(s) to which each note applies:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Note 1 | | Organization and Basis of Presentation | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 2 | | Significant Accounting Policies | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 3 | | New Accounting Pronouncements | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 4 | | Discontinued Operations | | DTE Energy |
Note 5 | | Revenue | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
| | | | |
Note 6 | | Property, Plant, and Equipment | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 7 | | Jointly-Owned Utility Plant | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 8 | | Asset Retirement Obligations | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 9 | | Regulatory Matters | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 10 | | Income Taxes | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 11 | | Earnings Per Share | | DTE Energy |
Note 12 | | Fair Value | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 13 | | Financial and Other Derivative Instruments | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 14 | | Long-Term Debt | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 15 | | Preferred and Preference Securities | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 16 | | Short-Term Credit Arrangements and Borrowings | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 17 | | Leases | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 18 | | Commitments and Contingencies | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 19 | | Nuclear Operations | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 20 | | Retirement Benefits and Trusteed Assets | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 21 | | Stock-Based Compensation | | DTE Energy and DTE Electric |
Note 22 | | Segment and Related Information | | DTE Energy |
Note 23 | | Related Party Transactions | | DTE Electric |
| | | | |
| | | | |
NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Corporate Structure
DTE Energy owns the following businesses:
•DTE Electric is a public utility engaged in the generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity to approximately 2.3 million customers in southeastern Michigan;
•DTE Gas is a public utility engaged in the purchase, storage, transportation, distribution, and sale of natural gas to approximately 1.3 million customers throughout Michigan and the sale of storage and transportation capacity; and
•Other businesses include 1) DTE Vantage, which is primarily involved in renewable natural gas projects and providing custom energy solutions to industrial, commercial, and institutional customers, and 2) energy marketing and trading operations.
DTE Electric and DTE Gas are regulated by the MPSC. Certain activities of DTE Electric and DTE Gas, as well as various other aspects of businesses under DTE Energy, are regulated by the FERC. In addition, the Registrants are regulated by other federal and state regulatory agencies including the NRC, the EPA, EGLE, and for DTE Energy, the CFTC and CARB.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of the Registrants are prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These accounting principles require management to use estimates and assumptions that impact reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from the Registrants' estimates.
The information in these combined notes relates to each of the Registrants as noted in the Index of Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. However, DTE Electric does not make any representation as to information related solely to DTE Energy or the subsidiaries of DTE Energy other than itself.
Certain prior year balances for the Registrants were reclassified to match the current year's Consolidated Financial Statements presentation.
Separation of DT Midstream
On July 1, 2021, DTE Energy completed the separation of DT Midstream, its former natural gas pipeline, storage and gathering non-utility business. Financial results of DT Midstream are presented as Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes on DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Operations.
No adjustments were made to the historical activity within the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, or the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity. Unless noted otherwise, discussion in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements relate to continuing operations. Refer to Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Discontinued Operations,” for additional information.
Principles of Consolidation
The Registrants consolidate all majority-owned subsidiaries and investments in entities in which they have controlling influence. Non-majority owned investments are accounted for using the equity method when the Registrants are able to significantly influence the operating policies of the investee. When the Registrants do not influence the operating policies of an investee, the equity investment is valued at cost minus any impairments, if applicable. These Consolidated Financial Statements also reflect the Registrants' proportionate interests in certain jointly-owned utility plants. The Registrants eliminate all intercompany balances and transactions.
The Registrants evaluate whether an entity is a VIE whenever reconsideration events occur. The Registrants consolidate VIEs for which they are the primary beneficiary. If a Registrant is not the primary beneficiary and an ownership interest is held, the VIE is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. When assessing the determination of the primary beneficiary, a Registrant considers all relevant facts and circumstances, including: the power, through voting or similar rights, to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and the obligation to absorb the expected losses and/or the right to receive the expected returns of the VIE. The Registrants perform ongoing reassessments of all VIEs to determine if the primary beneficiary status has changed.
Legal entities within the DTE Vantage segment enter into long-term contractual arrangements with customers to supply energy-related products or services. The entities are generally designed to pass-through the commodity risk associated with these contracts to the customers, with DTE Energy retaining operational and customer default risk. These entities generally are VIEs and consolidated when DTE Energy is the primary beneficiary. In addition, DTE Energy has interests in certain VIEs through which control of all significant activities is shared with partners, and therefore are generally accounted for under the equity method.
The Registrants hold ownership interests in certain limited partnerships. The limited partnerships include investment funds which support regional development and economic growth, and an operational business providing energy-related products. These entities are generally VIEs as a result of certain characteristics of the limited partnership voting rights. The ownership interests are accounted for under the equity method as the Registrants are not the primary beneficiaries.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
DTE Energy has variable interests in VIEs through certain of its long-term purchase and sale contracts. DTE Electric has variable interests in VIEs through certain of its long-term purchase contracts. As of December 31, 2023, the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position that relate to its variable interests under long-term purchase and sale contracts are predominantly related to working capital accounts and generally represent the amounts owed by or to DTE Energy for the deliveries associated with the current billing cycle under the contracts. As of December 31, 2023, the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in DTE Electric's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position that relate to its variable interests under long-term purchase contracts are predominantly related to working capital accounts and generally represent the amounts owed by DTE Electric for the deliveries associated with the current billing cycle under the contracts. The Registrants have not provided any significant form of financial support associated with these long-term contracts. There is no material potential exposure to loss as a result of DTE Energy's variable interests through these long-term purchase and sale contracts. In addition, there is no material potential exposure to loss as a result of DTE Electric's variable interests through these long-term purchase contracts.
During 2022, DTE Electric financed regulatory assets for previously deferred costs related to the River Rouge generation plant and tree trimming surge program through the sale of bonds by a wholly-owned special purpose entity, DTE Securitization I. During 2023, DTE Electric similarly financed regulatory assets for previously deferred costs related to the Trenton Channel and St. Clair generation plants through the sale of bonds by a wholly-owned special purpose entity, DTE Securitization II. DTE Securitization I and DTE Securitization II (collectively "the DTE Securitization entities") are VIEs. DTE Electric has the power to direct the most significant activities of the DTE Securitization entities, including performing servicing activities such as billing and collecting surcharge revenue. Accordingly, DTE Electric is the primary beneficiary and the DTE Securitization entities are consolidated by the Registrants. Securitization bond holders have no recourse to the Registrants' assets, except for those held by the DTE Securitization entities. Surcharges collected by DTE Electric to pay for bond servicing and other qualified costs reflect securitization property solely owned by the DTE Securitization entities. These surcharges are remitted to a trustee and are not available to other creditors of the Registrants.
The maximum risk exposure for consolidated VIEs is reflected on the Registrants' Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. For non-consolidated VIEs, the maximum risk exposure of the Registrants is generally limited to their investment, notes receivable, and future funding commitments.
The table below summarizes the major Consolidated Statements of Financial Position items for consolidated VIEs as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. All assets and liabilities of a consolidated VIE are presented where it has been determined that a consolidated VIE has either (1) assets that can be used only to settle obligations of the VIE or (2) liabilities for which creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of the primary beneficiary. Assets and liabilities of the DTE Securitization entities have been aggregated due to their similar nature and are separately stated in the table below, comprising the entirety of the DTE Electric amounts. For all other VIEs, assets and liabilities are also aggregated due to their similar nature and presented together with the DTE Securitization entities in the DTE Energy amounts below. VIEs, in which DTE Energy holds a majority voting interest and is the primary beneficiary, that meet the definition of a business and whose assets can be used for purposes other than the settlement of the VIE's obligations have been excluded from the table.
During 2023, a consolidated VIE of DTE Vantage entered into a contract that restricts certain assets of the VIE to be used only to settle the VIE's obligations. As a result, the assets and liabilities of the VIE, which primarily include receivables and payables recognized in 2023, no longer meet the exclusion criteria above. Accordingly, these assets and liabilities have been added to the DTE Energy amounts in the table below.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Amounts for the Registrants' consolidated VIEs are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric | | DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
| (In millions) |
ASSETS | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 7 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 14 | | | $ | — | |
Restricted cash | 25 | | | 17 | | | 9 | | | 9 | |
Accounts receivable | 85 | | | 6 | | | 6 | | | 3 | |
Securitized regulatory assets | 758 | | | 758 | | | 206 | | | 206 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Notes receivable | 183 | | | — | | | 81 | | | — | |
Other current and long-term assets | 4 | | | 1 | | | 8 | | | — | |
| $ | 1,062 | | | $ | 782 | | | $ | 324 | | | $ | 218 | |
| | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable | $ | 59 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 3 | | | $ | — | |
Short-term borrowings | — | | | — | | | 81 | | | — | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Securitization bonds(a) | 769 | | | 769 | | | 211 | | | 211 | |
| | | | | | | |
Other current and long-term liabilities | 26 | | | 14 | | | 11 | | | 9 | |
| $ | 854 | | | $ | 783 | | | $ | 306 | | | $ | 220 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Includes $64 million and $39 million reported in Current portion of long-term debt on the Registrants' Consolidated Statements of Financial Position for the periods ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
Amounts for DTE Energy's non-consolidated VIEs are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
Investments in equity method investees | $ | 112 | | | $ | 137 | |
Notes receivable | $ | 15 | | | $ | 15 | |
Future funding commitments | $ | 1 | | | $ | 2 | |
Equity Method Investments
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates that are not controlled by the Registrants, but over which they have significant influence, are accounted for using the equity method. Certain of the equity method investees are also considered VIEs and disclosed in the non-consolidated VIEs table above.
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, DTE Energy's Investments in equity method investees were $166 million and $165 million, respectively. The balances are primarily comprised of investments in the DTE Vantage and Corporate and Other segments, of which no investment is individually significant. DTE Vantage investments include projects that deliver energy and utility-type products and services to industrial customers, sell electricity and gas from renewable energy projects, and produce and sell metallurgical coke. Corporate and Other holds various ownership interests in limited partnerships that include investment funds supporting regional development and economic growth. For further information by segment, see Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Segment and Related Information."
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, DTE Energy's share of the underlying equity in the net assets of the investees exceeded the carrying amounts of Investments in equity method investees by $101 million and $99 million, respectively. The difference is being amortized over the life of the underlying assets.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Other Income
Other income for the Registrants is recognized for non-operating income such as equity earnings of equity method investees, allowance for equity funds used during construction, contract services, and certain investment income, primarily from trading securities held in DTE Energy's rabbi trust. For 2021, the DTE Vantage segment also recognized Other income in connection with the sale of membership interests in reduced emissions fuel facilities to investors.
The following is a summary of DTE Energy's Other income:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Allowance for equity funds used during construction | $ | 42 | | | $ | 29 | | | $ | 27 | |
Contract services | 26 | | | 28 | | | 27 | |
Investment income(a) | 17 | | | 3 | | | 14 | |
Equity earnings (losses) of equity method investees | 3 | | | (14) | | | 38 | |
Income from REF entities | — | | | — | | | 141 | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Other | 14 | | | 12 | | | 7 | |
| $ | 102 | | | $ | 58 | | | $ | 254 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Investment losses are recorded separately to Other expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The following is a summary of DTE Electric's Other income:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Allowance for equity funds used during construction | $ | 40 | | | $ | 26 | | | $ | 25 | |
Contract services | 25 | | | 27 | | | 27 | |
| | | | | |
Investment income(a) | 11 | | | 3 | | | 10 | |
Other | 11 | | | 9 | | | 9 | |
| $ | 87 | | | $ | 65 | | | $ | 71 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Investment losses are recorded separately to Other expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
For information on equity earnings of equity method investees by segment, see Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Segment and Related Information."
Accounting for ISO Transactions
DTE Electric participates in the energy market through MISO. MISO requires that DTE Electric submit hourly day-ahead, real-time, and FTR bids and offers for energy at locations across the MISO region. DTE Electric accounts for MISO transactions on a net hourly basis in each of the day-ahead, real-time, and FTR markets. In any single hour, transactions in each of the MISO energy markets are netted based on MWh to determine if DTE Electric is in a net sale or purchase position. Net purchases are recorded in Fuel, purchased power, and gas — utility and net sales are recorded in Operating Revenues — Utility operations on the Registrants' Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The Energy Trading segment participates in the energy markets through various ISOs and RTOs. These markets require that Energy Trading submits hourly day-ahead, real-time bids and offers for energy at locations across each region. Energy Trading submits bids in the annual and monthly auction revenue rights and FTR auctions to the RTOs. Energy Trading accounts for these transactions on a net hourly basis for the day-ahead, real-time, and FTR markets. These transactions are related to trading contracts which, if derivatives, are presented on a net basis in Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations, and if non-derivatives, the realized gains and losses for sales are recorded in Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations and purchases are recorded in Fuel, purchased power, gas, and other — non-utility in the DTE Energy Consolidated Statements of Operations.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
DTE Electric and Energy Trading record accruals for future net purchases adjustments based on historical experience and reconcile accruals to actual costs when invoices are received from MISO and other ISOs and RTOs.
Derivatives
Energy Trading classifies derivative transactions as revenue or expense based on the intent of the transaction (buy or sell). Revenues are recorded on a gross or net basis within the income statement depending upon whether it represents a non-trading activity or trading activity, respectively. Cash flows associated with derivative instruments, including related gains and losses, are presented as Operating Activities within the Registrants' Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. For additional information, refer to Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Financial and Other Derivative Instruments".
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) is the change in common shareholders’ equity during a period from transactions and events from non-owner sources, including Net Income. The amounts recorded to Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for DTE Energy include changes in benefit obligations, consisting of deferred actuarial losses and prior service costs, unrealized gains and losses from derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges, and foreign currency translation adjustments, if any. DTE Energy releases income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income when the circumstances upon which they are premised cease to exist.
Changes in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are presented in DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity and DTE Electric's Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholder's Equity, if any. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, reclassifications out of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were not material.
The following table summarizes the changes in DTE Energy's Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component(a) for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives | | | | Benefit Obligations(b) | | Foreign Currency Translation | | Total |
| (In millions) |
Balance, December 31, 2021 | $ | (11) | | | | | $ | (101) | | | $ | — | | | $ | (112) | |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications | 5 | | | | | — | | | — | | | 5 | |
Amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss | 2 | | | | | 43 | | | — | | | 45 | |
Net current period Other comprehensive income | 7 | | | | | 43 | | | — | | | 50 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Balance, December 31, 2022 | $ | (4) | | | | | $ | (58) | | | $ | — | | | $ | (62) | |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | (14) | | | | | 3 | | | 2 | | | (9) | |
Amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss | 1 | | | | | 3 | | | — | | | 4 | |
Net current period Other comprehensive income (loss) | (13) | | | | | 6 | | | 2 | | | (5) | |
Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | (17) | | | | | $ | (52) | | | $ | 2 | | | $ | (67) | |
______________________________________
(a)All amounts are net of tax, except for Foreign currency translation.
(b)Benefit obligations activity includes changes in actuarial (gain) loss and prior service cost in DTE Energy's pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Refer to Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Retirement Benefits and Trusteed Assets", for details regarding this activity. For 2022, the change in benefit obligations due to actuarial (gain) loss increased from prior years, primarily due to higher discount rates and other plan changes.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash
Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash in banks, and temporary investments purchased with remaining maturities of three months or less. Restricted cash includes funds held in separate bank accounts and principally consists of amounts at DTE Securitization I and DTE Securitization II to pay for debt service and other qualified costs. Restricted cash also consists of funds held to satisfy contractual obligations related to a large construction project at DTE Vantage. Restricted cash designated for payments within one year is classified as a Current Asset.
Financing Receivables
Financing receivables are primarily composed of trade receivables, notes receivable, and unbilled revenue. The Registrants' financing receivables are stated at net realizable value.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
DTE Energy had unbilled revenues of $882 million and $1.2 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, including $311 million and $290 million of DTE Electric unbilled revenues, respectively, included in Customer Accounts receivable.
The Registrants monitor the credit quality of their financing receivables on a regular basis by reviewing credit quality indicators and monitoring for trigger events, such as a credit rating downgrade or bankruptcy. Credit quality indicators include, but are not limited to, ratings by credit agencies where available, collection history, collateral, counterparty financial statements and other internal metrics. Utilizing such data, the Registrants have determined three internal grades of credit quality. Internal grade 1 includes financing receivables for counterparties where credit rating agencies have ranked the counterparty as investment grade. To the extent credit ratings are not available, the Registrants utilize other credit quality indicators to determine the level of risk associated with the financing receivable. Internal grade 1 may include financing receivables for counterparties for which credit rating agencies have ranked the counterparty as below investment grade; however, due to favorable information on other credit quality indicators, the Registrants have determined the risk level to be similar to that of an investment grade counterparty. Internal grade 2 includes financing receivables for counterparties with limited credit information and those with a higher risk profile based upon credit quality indicators. Internal grade 3 reflects financing receivables for which the counterparties have the greatest level of risk, including those in bankruptcy status.
The following represents the Registrants' financing receivables by year of origination, classified by internal grade of credit risk, including current year-to-date gross write-offs, if any. The related credit quality indicators and risk ratings utilized to develop the internal grades have been updated through December 31, 2023.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
| Year of origination |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 and prior | | Total | | 2023 and prior |
| (In millions) |
Notes receivable | | | | | | | | | |
Internal grade 1 | $ | 19 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 4 | | | $ | 23 | | | $ | 18 | |
Internal grade 2 | 23 | | | 112 | | | 17 | | | 152 | | | 1 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total notes receivable(a) | $ | 42 | | | $ | 112 | | | $ | 21 | | | $ | 175 | | | $ | 19 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net investment in leases | | | | | | | | | |
Internal grade 1 | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 37 | | | $ | 37 | | | $ | — | |
Internal grade 2 | — | | | 66 | | | 184 | | | 250 | | | — | |
Total net investment in leases(a) | $ | — | | | $ | 66 | | | $ | 221 | | | $ | 287 | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | | |
_______________________________________
(a)For DTE Energy and DTE Electric, the current portion is included in Current Assets — Other on the respective Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. For DTE Electric, the noncurrent portion is included in Other Assets — Other.
The allowance for doubtful accounts on accounts receivable for the utility entities is generally calculated using an aging approach that utilizes rates developed in reserve studies. DTE Electric and DTE Gas establish an allowance for uncollectible accounts based on historical losses and management's assessment of existing and future economic conditions, customer trends and other factors. Customer accounts are generally considered delinquent if the amount billed is not received by the due date, which is typically in 21 days, however, factors such as assistance programs may delay aggressive action. DTE Electric and DTE Gas generally assess late payment fees on trade receivables based on past-due terms with customers. Customer accounts are written off when collection efforts have been exhausted. The time period for write-off is 150 days after service has been terminated.
The customer allowance for doubtful accounts for non-utility businesses and other receivables for both utility and non-utility businesses is generally calculated based on specific review of probable future collections based on receivable balances generally in excess of 30 days. Existing and future economic conditions, customer trends and other factors are also considered. Receivables are written off on a specific identification basis and determined based upon the specific circumstances of the associated receivable.
Notes receivable for DTE Energy are primarily comprised of finance lease receivables and loans that are included in Notes Receivable and Other current assets on DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Notes receivable for DTE Electric are primarily comprised of loans.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The Registrants establish an allowance for credit loss for principal and interest amounts due that are estimated to be uncollectible in accordance with the contractual terms of the note receivable. In determining the allowance for credit losses for notes receivable, the Registrants consider the historical payment experience and other factors that are expected to have a specific impact on the counterparty's ability to pay including existing and future economic conditions. Notes receivable are typically considered delinquent when payment is not received for periods ranging from 60 to 120 days. If amounts are no longer probable of collection, the Registrants may consider the note receivable impaired, adjust the allowance, and cease accruing interest (nonaccrual status).
Cash payments received on nonaccrual status notes receivable, that do not bring the account contractually current, are first applied to the contractually owed past due interest, with any remainder applied to principal. Accrual of interest is generally resumed when the note receivable becomes contractually current.
The following tables present a roll-forward of the activity for the Registrants' financing receivables credit loss reserves:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
| Trade accounts receivable | | Other receivables | | | | | | Total | | Trade and other accounts receivable |
| (In millions) |
Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | 101 | | | $ | 3 | | | | | | | $ | 104 | | | $ | 57 | |
Current period provision | 53 | | | 1 | | | | | | | 54 | | | 36 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Write-offs charged against allowance | (126) | | | (1) | | | | | | | (127) | | | (77) | |
Recoveries of amounts previously written off | 61 | | | — | | | | | | | 61 | | | 38 | |
Balance at December 31, 2021 | $ | 89 | | | $ | 3 | | | | | | | $ | 92 | | | $ | 54 | |
Current period provision | 49 | | | — | | | | | | | 49 | | | 33 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Write-offs charged against allowance | (105) | | | (2) | | | | | | | (107) | | | (66) | |
Recoveries of amounts previously written off | 45 | | | — | | | | | | | 45 | | | 28 | |
Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | 78 | | | $ | 1 | | | | | | | $ | 79 | | | $ | 49 | |
Current period provision | 52 | | | — | | | | | | | 52 | | | 36 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Write-offs charged against allowance | (112) | | | — | | | | | | | (112) | | | (72) | |
Recoveries of amounts previously written off | 44 | | | — | | | | | | | 44 | | | 28 | |
Balance at December 31, 2023 | $ | 62 | | | $ | 1 | | | | | | | $ | 63 | | | $ | 41 | |
Uncollectible expense for the Registrants is primarily comprised of the current period provision for allowance for doubtful accounts and is summarized as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
DTE Energy | $ | 55 | | | $ | 55 | | | $ | 55 | |
DTE Electric | $ | 38 | | | $ | 35 | | | $ | 36 | |
There are no material amounts of past due financing receivables for the Registrants as of December 31, 2023.
Inventories
Inventory related to utility and non-utility operations is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value, where cost is generally valued using average cost. Inventory primarily includes fuel, gas, materials, and supplies. Other inventories include RECs, emission allowances, and other environmental products in the Energy Trading segment.
DTE Gas' natural gas inventory of $73 million and $44 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, is determined using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. The replacement cost of gas in inventory exceeded the LIFO cost by $50 million and $152 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Property, Retirement and Maintenance, and Depreciation and Amortization
Property is stated at cost and includes construction-related labor, materials, overheads, and AFUDC for utility property. The cost of utility properties retired is charged to accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred.
Utility property at DTE Electric and DTE Gas is depreciated over its estimated useful life using straight-line rates approved by the MPSC. DTE Energy's non-utility property is depreciated over its estimated useful life using the straight-line method. Depreciation and amortization expense also includes the amortization of certain regulatory assets and liabilities for the Registrants.
The cost of nuclear fuel is capitalized. The amortization of nuclear fuel is included within Fuel, purchased power, and gas — utility in the DTE Energy Consolidated Statements of Operations, and Fuel and purchased power in the DTE Electric Consolidated Statements of Operations, and is recorded using the units-of-production method.
See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Property, Plant, and Equipment."
Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the expected undiscounted future cash flows generated by the asset, an impairment loss is recognized resulting in the asset being written down to its estimated fair value. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value, less costs to sell.
Goodwill
DTE Energy has goodwill resulting from business combinations. For each reporting unit with goodwill, DTE Energy performs an impairment test annually or whenever events or circumstances indicate that the value of goodwill may be impaired. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were no impairments resulting from these tests and there were no other changes in the carrying amount of goodwill.
Intangible Assets
The Registrants have certain Intangible assets as shown below:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | December 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
| Useful Lives | | Gross Carrying Value | | Accumulated Amortization | | Net Carrying Value | | Gross Carrying Value | | Accumulated Amortization | | Net Carrying Value |
| | | (In millions) |
Intangible assets subject to amortization | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Contract intangibles | 12 to 26 years | | $ | 246 | | | $ | (103) | | | $ | 143 | | | $ | 246 | | | $ | (88) | | | $ | 158 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Carbon offsets | | | 10 | | | — | | | 10 | | | 6 | | | — | | | 6 | |
Renewable energy credits | | | 2 | | | — | | | 2 | | | 2 | | | — | | | 2 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other | | | 1 | | | — | | | 1 | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Intangible assets not subject to amortization(a) | | 13 | | | — | | | 13 | | | 8 | | | — | | | 8 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DTE Energy Long-term intangible assets | | $ | 259 | | | $ | (103) | | | $ | 156 | | | $ | 254 | | | $ | (88) | | | $ | 166 | |
______________________________________
(a)Amounts are charged to expense, using average cost, as they are consumed in the operation of the business. DTE Electric intangible assets include the Renewable energy credits above, which are included in Other Assets — Other on the DTE Electric Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The following table summarizes DTE Energy's estimated contract intangible amortization expense expected to be recognized during each year through 2028:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2024 | | 2025 | | 2026 | | 2027 | | 2028 |
| (In millions) |
Estimated amortization expense | $ | 16 | | | $ | 16 | | | $ | 14 | | | $ | 14 | | | $ | 14 | |
DTE Energy amortizes contract intangible assets on a straight-line basis over the expected period of benefit. DTE Energy's Intangible assets amortization expense was $15 million in 2023 and $16 million in 2022 and 2021.
Cloud Computing Arrangements
The Registrants capitalize implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract consistent with capitalized implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. Capitalized costs are recorded in Other noncurrent assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and amortization of the costs is reflected in Operation and maintenance within the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the contract. Contracts primarily involve the implementation or upgrade of cloud-based solutions for generation and distribution operations and customer service support.
The following balances for cloud computing costs relate to DTE Energy:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Amortization expense of capitalized cloud computing costs | $ | 10 | | | $ | 4 | | | $ | 1 | |
Gross value of capitalized cloud computing costs | $ | 56 | | | $ | 42 | | | |
Accumulated amortization of capitalized cloud computing costs | $ | 15 | | | $ | 5 | | | |
The following balances for cloud computing costs relate to DTE Electric:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Amortization expense of capitalized cloud computing costs | $ | 8 | | | $ | 3 | | | $ | 1 | |
Gross value of capitalized cloud computing costs | $ | 44 | | | $ | 33 | | | |
Accumulated amortization of capitalized cloud computing costs | $ | 12 | | | $ | 4 | | | |
Excise and Sales Taxes
The Registrants record the billing of excise and sales taxes as a receivable with an offsetting payable to the applicable taxing authority, with no net impact on the Registrants’ Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Deferred Debt Costs
The costs related to the issuance of long-term debt are deferred and amortized over the life of each debt issue. The deferred amounts are included as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of each debt issue in Mortgage bonds, notes, and other and Securitization bonds on the Registrants' Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and in Junior subordinated debentures on DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. In accordance with MPSC regulations applicable to DTE Energy’s electric and gas utilities, the unamortized discount, premium, and expense related to utility debt redeemed with a refinancing are amortized over the life of the replacement issue. Discounts, premiums, and expense on early redemptions of debt associated with DTE Energy's non-utility operations are charged to earnings.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Investments in Debt and Equity Securities
The Registrants generally record investments in debt and equity securities at market value with unrealized gains or losses included in earnings. Changes in the fair value of Fermi 2 nuclear decommissioning investments are recorded as adjustments to Regulatory assets or liabilities, due to a recovery mechanism from customers. The Registrants' equity investments are reviewed for impairment each reporting period. If the assessment indicates that an impairment exists, a loss is recognized resulting in the equity investment being written down to its estimated fair value. See Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Fair Value."
DTE Energy Foundation
DTE Energy made a charitable contribution to the DTE Energy Foundation of $25 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. There were no contributions for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. The DTE Energy Foundation is a non-consolidated not-for-profit private foundation, the purpose of which is to contribute to and assist charitable organizations.
Other Accounting Policies
See the following notes for other accounting policies impacting the Registrants’ Consolidated Financial Statements:
| | | | | | | | |
Note | | Title |
5 | | Revenue |
6 | | Property, Plant, and Equipment |
8 | | Asset Retirement Obligations |
9 | | Regulatory Matters |
10 | | Income Taxes |
12 | | Fair Value |
13 | | Financial and Other Derivative Instruments |
17 | | Leases |
20 | | Retirement Benefits and Trusteed Assets |
21 | | Stock-Based Compensation |
22 | | Segment and Related Information |
23 | | Related Party Transactions |
NOTE 3 — NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Recently Adopted Pronouncements
In March 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-02, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures. The amendments in this update eliminate the accounting guidance for troubled debt restructurings by creditors that have adopted the Current Expected Credit Loss (“CECL”) model under ASC 326 and enhance the disclosure requirements for loan refinancings and restructurings made with borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. Additionally, the amendments require the disclosure of current period gross write-offs for financing receivables and net investment in leases by year of origination in the vintage disclosures. The Registrants adopted the ASU effective January 1, 2023 using the prospective approach, with no impact on the Registrants' financial position or results of operations. Gross write-offs, if any, will be disclosed in the Financing Receivables section of Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Significant Accounting Policies."
Recently Issued Pronouncements
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The amendments in this update require disclosure of incremental segment information and the title and position of the chief operating decision maker ("CODM"). Registrants will be required to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the CODM, as well as additional information on segment profit and loss measures and how such information is used by the CODM to assess segment performance and allocate resources. The ASU is effective for the Registrants for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Registrants will apply the guidance upon the effective date.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The amendments in this update require enhanced income tax disclosures, particularly related to a reporting entity's effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. For the rate reconciliation table, the update requires additional categories of information about federal, state, and foreign taxes and details about significant reconciling items, subject to a quantitative threshold. Income taxes paid must be similarly disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign based on a quantitative threshold. The ASU is effective for the Registrants for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The guidance shall be applied on a prospective basis with the option to apply retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Registrants will apply the guidance upon the effective date.
NOTE 4 — DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Separation of DT Midstream
On July 1, 2021, DTE Energy completed the separation of DT Midstream, its former natural gas pipeline, storage, and gathering non-utility business. The table below reflects the financial results of DT Midstream that are included in discontinued operations within the Consolidated Statements of Operations. These results include the impact of tax-related adjustments and all transaction costs related to the separation. General corporate overhead costs have been excluded and no portion of corporate interest costs were allocated to discontinued operations.
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Year Ended December 31, |
| | | | | 2021 |
| | | | | |
Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations | | | | | $ | 405 | |
| | | | | |
Operating Expenses | | | | | |
Cost of gas and other — non-utility | | | | | 15 | |
Operation and maintenance(a) | | | | | 123 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | | | 82 | |
Taxes other than income | | | | | 13 | |
Asset (gains) losses and impairments, net | | | | | 17 | |
| | | | | 250 | |
Operating Income | | | | | 155 | |
| | | | | |
Other (Income) and Deductions | | | | | |
Interest expense | | | | | 50 | |
Interest income | | | | | (4) | |
Other income | | | | | (62) | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | (16) | |
Income from Discontinued Operations Before Income Taxes | | | | | 171 | |
| | | | | |
Income Tax Expense | | | | | 54 | |
| | | | | |
Net Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes | | | | | 117 | |
| | | | | |
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | | | | | 6 | |
| | | | | |
Net Income from Discontinued Operations | | | | | $ | 111 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Includes separation transaction costs of $59 million for various legal, accounting and other professional services fees.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The following table is a summary of significant non-cash items, capital expenditures, and significant financing activities of discontinued operations included in DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | Year Ended December 31, |
| | | 2021 | | |
| | | (In millions) |
Operating Activities | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | $ | 82 | | | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 53 | | | |
Equity earnings of equity method investees | | | (59) | | | |
Asset (gains) losses and impairments, net | | | 19 | | | |
Investing Activities | | | | | |
Plant and equipment expenditures — non-utility | | | (60) | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
NOTE 5 — REVENUE
Significant Accounting Policy
Revenue is measured based upon the consideration specified in a contract with a customer at the time when performance obligations are satisfied. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service or a series of distinct goods or services to the customer. The Registrants recognize revenue when performance obligations are satisfied by transferring control over a product or service to a customer. The Registrants have determined control to be transferred when the product is delivered, or the service is provided to the customer.
Rates for DTE Electric and DTE Gas include provisions to adjust billings for fluctuations in fuel and purchased power costs, cost of natural gas, and certain other costs. Revenues are adjusted for differences between actual costs subject to reconciliation and the amounts billed in current rates. Under or over recovered revenues related to these cost recovery mechanisms are included in Regulatory assets or liabilities on the Registrants' Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and are recovered or returned to customers through adjustments to the billing factors.
For discussion of derivative contracts, see Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Financial and Other Derivative Instruments."
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Disaggregation of Revenue
The following is a summary of revenues disaggregated by segment for DTE Energy:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | |
| (In millions) |
Electric(a) | | | | | | | |
Residential | $ | 2,847 | | | $ | 2,911 | | | $ | 2,926 | | | |
Commercial | 2,114 | | | 1,958 | | | 1,908 | | | |
Industrial | 732 | | | 659 | | | 628 | | | |
Other(b) | 125 | | | 884 | | | 359 | | | |
Total Electric operating revenues | $ | 5,818 | | | $ | 6,412 | | | $ | 5,821 | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Gas | | | | | | | |
Gas sales | $ | 1,324 | | | $ | 1,442 | | | $ | 1,058 | | | |
End User Transportation | 250 | | | 264 | | | 233 | | | |
Intermediate Transportation | 85 | | | 81 | | | 82 | | | |
Other(b) | 89 | | | 137 | | | 180 | | | |
Total Gas operating revenues | $ | 1,748 | | | $ | 1,924 | | | $ | 1,553 | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Other segment operating revenues | | | | | | | |
DTE Vantage | $ | 809 | | | $ | 848 | | | $ | 1,482 | | | |
Energy Trading | $ | 4,612 | | | $ | 10,308 | | | $ | 6,831 | | | |
_______________________________________
(a)Revenues generally represent those of DTE Electric, except $14 million, $15 million, and $12 million of Other revenues related to DTE Sustainable Generation for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
(b)Includes revenue adjustments related to various regulatory mechanisms, including the PSCR at the Electric segment and GCR at the Gas segment. Revenues related to these mechanisms may vary based on changes in the cost of fuel, purchased power, and gas.
Revenues included the following which were outside the scope of Topic 606:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Electric — Alternative Revenue Programs | $ | 36 | | | $ | 35 | | | $ | 36 | |
Electric — Other revenues | $ | 22 | | | $ | 19 | | | $ | 19 | |
Gas — Alternative Revenue Programs | $ | 16 | | | $ | 9 | | | $ | 10 | |
Gas — Other revenues | $ | 8 | | | $ | 7 | | | $ | 6 | |
DTE Vantage — Leases | $ | 59 | | | $ | 82 | | | $ | 103 | |
Energy Trading — Derivatives | $ | 3,436 | | | $ | 8,489 | | | $ | 5,603 | |
Nature of Goods and Services
The following is a description of principal activities, separated by reportable segments, from which DTE Energy generates revenue. For more detailed information about reportable segments, see Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Segment and Related Information.”
The Registrants have contracts with customers which may contain more than one performance obligation. When more than one performance obligation exists in a contract, the consideration under the contract is allocated to the performance obligations based on the relative standalone selling price. DTE Energy generally determines standalone selling prices based on the prices charged to customers or the use of the adjusted market assessment approach. The adjusted market assessment approach involves the evaluation of the market in which DTE Energy sells goods or services and estimating the price that a customer in that market would be willing to pay.
Under Topic 606, when a customer simultaneously receives and consumes the product or service provided, revenue is considered to be recognized over time. Alternatively, if it is determined that the criteria for recognition of revenue over time is not met, the revenue is considered to be recognized at a point in time.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Electric
Electric consists principally of DTE Electric. Electric revenues are primarily comprised of the supply and delivery of electricity, related capacity, and RECs. Revenues are primarily associated with cancellable contracts, with the exception of certain long-term contracts with commercial and industrial customers. Revenues, including estimated unbilled amounts, are generally recognized over time based upon volumes delivered or through the passage of time ratably based upon providing a stand-ready service. The Registrants have determined that the above methods represent a faithful depiction of the transfer of control to the customer. Unbilled revenues are typically determined utilizing approved tariff rates and estimated meter volumes. Estimated unbilled amounts recognized in revenue are subject to adjustment in the following reporting period as actual volumes by customer class are known. Revenues are typically subject to tariff rates based upon customer class and type of service and are billed and received monthly. Tariff rates are determined by the MPSC on a per unit or monthly basis.
Gas
Gas consists principally of DTE Gas. Gas revenues are primarily comprised of the supply and delivery of natural gas, and other services including storage, transportation, and appliance maintenance. Revenues are primarily associated with cancellable contracts with the exception of certain long-term contracts with commercial and industrial customers. Revenues, including estimated unbilled amounts, are generally recognized over time based upon volumes delivered or through the passage of time ratably based upon providing a stand-ready service. DTE Energy has determined that the above methods represent a faithful depiction of the transfer of control to the customer. Unbilled revenues are typically determined using both estimated meter volumes and estimated usage based upon the number of unbilled days and historical temperatures. Estimated unbilled amounts recognized in revenue are subject to adjustment in the following reporting period as actual volumes by customer class and service type are known. Revenues are typically subject to tariff rates or other rates subject to regulatory oversight and are billed and received monthly. Tariff rates are determined by the MPSC on a per unit or monthly basis.
DTE Vantage
DTE Vantage revenues include contracts accounted for as leases which are outside of the scope of Topic 606. For performance obligations within the scope of Topic 606, the timing of revenue recognition is dependent upon when control over the associated product or service is transferred.
Revenues at DTE Vantage, within the scope of Topic 606, generally consist of sales of blast furnace coke, renewable natural gas and related credits, electricity, equipment maintenance services, and other energy related products and services. Revenues for the sale of blast furnace coke, including estimated unbilled amounts, are recognized at a point in time when the product is delivered, which represents the transfer of control to the customer. Other revenues are generally recognized over time based upon volumes delivered or services provided, or through the passage of time ratably based upon providing a stand-ready service. DTE Energy has determined that the above methods represent a faithful depiction of the transfer of control to the customer. Market based pricing structures exist in such contracts including adjustments for consumer price or other indices. Consideration may consist of both fixed and variable components. Generally, uncertainties in the variable consideration components are resolved, and revenues are known at the time of recognition. Billing terms vary and are generally monthly with payment terms typically within 30 days following billing.
Energy Trading
Energy Trading revenues consist primarily of derivative contracts outside of the scope of Topic 606. For performance obligations within the scope of Topic 606, the timing of revenue recognition is dependent upon when control over the associated product or service is transferred.
Revenues, including estimated unbilled amounts, within the scope of Topic 606 arising from the sale of natural gas, electricity, power capacity, and other energy related products are generally recognized over time based upon volumes delivered or through the passage of time ratably based upon providing a stand-ready service. DTE Energy has determined that the above methods represent a faithful depiction of the transfer of control to the customer. Revenues are known at the time of recognition. Payment for the aforementioned revenues is generally due from customers in the month following delivery.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Revenues associated with RECs and other environmental products are recognized at a point in time when control is transferred to the customer which is deemed to be when these products are entered for transfer to the customer in the applicable tracking system. Revenues associated with RECs under a wholesale full requirements power contract are deferred until control has been transferred. The deferred revenues represent a contract liability for which payment has been received and the amounts have been estimated using the adjusted market assessment approach. With the exception of RECs, generally all other performance obligations associated with wholesale full requirements power contracts are satisfied over time in conjunction with the delivery of power. At the time power is delivered, DTE Energy may not have control over the RECs as the RECs are not self-generated and may not yet have been procured resulting in deferred revenues.
Deferred Revenue
The following is a summary of deferred revenue activity for DTE Energy:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
Beginning Balance, January 1 | $ | 94 | | | $ | 78 | |
Increases due to cash received or receivable, excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the period | 103 | | | 91 | |
Revenue recognized that was included in the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period | (91) | | | (75) | |
Ending Balance, December 31 | $ | 106 | | | $ | 94 | |
The deferred revenues at DTE Energy generally represent amounts paid by or receivables from customers for which the associated performance obligation has not yet been satisfied. Deferred revenues include amounts associated with REC performance obligations under certain wholesale full requirements power contracts. Deferred revenues associated with RECs are recognized as revenue when control of the RECs has transferred. Other performance obligations associated with deferred revenues include providing products and services related to customer prepayments. Deferred revenues associated with these products and services are recognized when control has transferred to the customer.
The following table represents deferred revenue amounts for DTE Energy that are expected to be recognized as revenue in future periods:
| | | | | |
| DTE Energy |
| (In millions) |
2024 | $ | 103 | |
2025 | 1 | |
2026 | 1 | |
2027 | 1 | |
2028 | — | |
2029 and thereafter | — | |
| $ | 106 | |
Transaction Price Allocated to the Remaining Performance Obligations
In accordance with optional exemptions available under Topic 606, the Registrants did not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (1) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less, (2) with the exception of fixed consideration, contracts for which revenue is recognized at the amount to which the Registrants have the right to invoice for goods provided and services performed, and (3) contracts for which variable consideration relates entirely to an unsatisfied performance obligation.
Such contracts consist of varying types of performance obligations across the segments, including the supply and delivery of energy related products and services. Contracts with variable volumes and/or variable pricing, including those with pricing provisions tied to a consumer price or other index, have also been excluded as the related consideration under the contract is variable at inception of the contract. Contract lengths vary from cancellable to multi-year.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The Registrants expect to recognize revenue for the following amounts related to fixed consideration associated with remaining performance obligations in each of the future periods noted:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
| (In millions) |
2024 | $ | 245 | | | $ | 7 | |
2025 | 191 | | | — | |
2026 | 109 | | | — | |
2027 | 76 | | | — | |
2028 | 58 | | | — | |
2029 and thereafter | 320 | | | 1 | |
| $ | 999 | | | $ | 8 | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
NOTE 6 — PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT
The following is a summary of Property, plant, and equipment by classification as of December 31:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
Property, plant, and equipment | (In millions) |
DTE Electric | | | |
Zero carbon generation | | | |
Nuclear | $ | 3,812 | | | $ | 3,684 | |
Renewables | 3,074 | | | 2,567 | |
Fossil and other generation | 4,157 | | | 8,789 | |
Distribution | 13,673 | | | 12,502 | |
Other | 3,220 | | | 3,049 | |
Total DTE Electric | 27,936 | | | 30,591 | |
DTE Gas | | | |
Distribution | 5,838 | | | 5,376 | |
Storage | 578 | | | 607 | |
Transmission and other | 1,613 | | | 1,534 | |
Total DTE Gas | 8,029 | | | 7,517 | |
DTE Vantage | 1,075 | | | 1,059 | |
Other | 234 | | | 179 | |
Total DTE Energy | $ | 37,274 | | | $ | 39,346 | |
Accumulated depreciation and amortization | | | |
DTE Electric | | | |
Zero carbon generation | | | |
Nuclear | $ | (479) | | | $ | (428) | |
Renewables | (524) | | | (426) | |
Fossil and other generation | (1,393) | | | (3,352) | |
Distribution | (3,205) | | | (3,040) | |
Other | (969) | | | (849) | |
Total DTE Electric | (6,570) | | | (8,095) | |
DTE Gas | | | |
Distribution | (1,365) | | | (1,330) | |
Storage | (132) | | | (163) | |
Transmission and other | (493) | | | (461) | |
Total DTE Gas | (1,990) | | | (1,954) | |
DTE Vantage | (479) | | | (469) | |
Other | (66) | | | (61) | |
Total DTE Energy | $ | (9,105) | | | $ | (10,579) | |
Net DTE Energy Property, plant, and equipment | $ | 28,169 | | | $ | 28,767 | |
Net DTE Electric Property, plant, and equipment | $ | 21,366 | | | $ | 22,496 | |
AFUDC and Capitalized Interest
AFUDC represents the cost of financing construction projects for regulated businesses, including the estimated cost of debt and authorized return on equity. The debt component is recorded as a reduction to Interest expense and the equity component is recorded as Other income on the Registrants' Consolidated Statements of Operations. Non-regulated businesses record capitalized interest as a reduction to Interest expense.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The AFUDC and capitalized interest rates were as follows for the years ended December 31:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
DTE Electric AFUDC | 5.53 | % | | 5.46 | % | | 5.46 | % |
DTE Gas AFUDC | 5.41 | % | | 5.41 | % | | 5.55 | % |
Non-regulated businesses capitalized interest | 3.00 | % | | 3.00 | % | | 3.30 | % |
The following is a summary of AFUDC and interest capitalized for the years ended December 31:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
DTE Energy | (In millions) |
Allowance for debt funds used during construction and interest capitalized | $ | 20 | | | $ | 13 | | | $ | 12 | |
Allowance for equity funds used during construction | 42 | | | 29 | | | 27 | |
Total | $ | 62 | | | $ | 42 | | | $ | 39 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
DTE Electric | (In millions) |
Allowance for debt funds used during construction | $ | 15 | | | $ | 11 | | | $ | 11 | |
Allowance for equity funds used during construction | 40 | | | 26 | | | 25 | |
Total | $ | 55 | | | $ | 37 | | | $ | 36 | |
Depreciation and Amortization
The composite depreciation rate for DTE Electric was approximately 4.4% in 2023 and 4.2% in 2022 and 2021. The composite depreciation rate for DTE Gas was 2.9% in 2023, 2022 and 2021. The average estimated useful life for each major class of utility Property, plant, and equipment as of December 31, 2023 follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Estimated Useful Lives in Years |
Utility | | Generation | | Distribution | | Storage |
DTE Electric | | 34 | | 38 | | N/A |
DTE Gas | | N/A | | 49 | | 58 |
The estimated useful lives for DTE Electric's Other utility assets range from 3 to 80 years, while the estimated useful lives for DTE Gas' Transmission and other utility assets range from 3 to 80 years. The estimated useful lives for major classes of DTE Energy's non-utility assets and facilities range from 3 to 50 years.
The following is a summary of Depreciation and amortization expense for DTE Energy:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Property, plant, and equipment | $ | 1,239 | | | $ | 1,148 | | | $ | 1,095 | |
Regulatory assets and liabilities | 344 | | | 297 | | | 259 | |
Intangible assets | 15 | | | 16 | | | 16 | |
Other | 8 | | | 7 | | | 7 | |
| $ | 1,606 | | | $ | 1,468 | | | $ | 1,377 | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The following is a summary of Depreciation and amortization expense for DTE Electric:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Property, plant, and equipment | $ | 1,029 | | | $ | 951 | | | $ | 890 | |
Regulatory assets and liabilities | 292 | | | 248 | | | 214 | |
| | | | | |
Other | 5 | | | 5 | | | 5 | |
| $ | 1,326 | | | $ | 1,204 | | | $ | 1,109 | |
Capitalized Software
Capitalized software costs are classified as Property, plant, and equipment and the related amortization is included in Accumulated depreciation and amortization on the Registrants' Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The Registrants capitalize the costs associated with computer software developed or obtained for use in their businesses. The Registrants amortize capitalized software costs on a straight-line basis over the expected period of benefit, ranging from 3 to 15 years for both DTE Energy and DTE Electric.
The following balances for capitalized software relate to DTE Energy:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Amortization expense of capitalized software | $ | 189 | | | $ | 159 | | | $ | 145 | |
Gross carrying value of capitalized software | $ | 940 | | | $ | 796 | | | |
Accumulated amortization of capitalized software | $ | 427 | | | $ | 406 | | | |
The following balances for capitalized software relate to DTE Electric:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Amortization expense of capitalized software | $ | 172 | | | $ | 146 | | | $ | 132 | |
Gross carrying value of capitalized software | $ | 849 | | | $ | 692 | | | |
Accumulated amortization of capitalized software | $ | 369 | | | $ | 343 | | | |
NOTE 7 — JOINTLY-OWNED UTILITY PLANT
DTE Electric has joint ownership interest in two power plants, Belle River and Ludington Hydroelectric Pumped Storage. DTE Electric’s share of direct expenses of the jointly-owned plants are included in Fuel, purchased power, and gas — utility and Operation and maintenance expenses in the DTE Energy Consolidated Statements of Operations and Fuel and purchased power— utility and Operation and maintenance expenses in the DTE Electric Consolidated Statements of Operations.
DTE Electric's ownership information of the two utility plants as of December 31, 2023 was as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Belle River | | Ludington Hydroelectric Pumped Storage |
In-service date | 1984-1985 | | 1973 |
Total plant capacity | 1,270 MW | | 2,290 MW |
Ownership interest | 81% | | 49% |
Investment in Property, plant, and equipment (in millions) | $ | 2,000 | | | $ | 652 | |
Accumulated depreciation (in millions) | $ | 1,091 | | | $ | 149 | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Belle River
The Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA) has ownership interests in Belle River Unit No. 1 and other related facilities. The MPPA is entitled to 19% of the total capacity and energy of the plant and is responsible for the same percentage of the plant’s operation, maintenance, and capital improvement costs.
Ludington Hydroelectric Pumped Storage
Consumers Energy Company has an ownership interest in the Ludington Hydroelectric Pumped Storage Plant. Consumers Energy is entitled to 51% of the total capacity and energy of the plant and is responsible for the same percentage of the plant’s operation, maintenance, and capital improvement costs.
For discussion of the ongoing contract dispute related to the Ludington Plant, see Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Commitments and Contingencies."
NOTE 8 — ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
DTE Electric has a legal retirement obligation for the decommissioning costs for its Fermi 1 and Fermi 2 nuclear plants, dismantlement of facilities located on leased property, and various other operations. DTE Electric has conditional retirement obligations for asbestos and PCB removal at certain of its power plants and various distribution equipment. DTE Gas has conditional retirement obligations for gas pipelines, certain service centers, and compressor and gate stations. The Registrants recognize such obligations as liabilities at fair market value when they are incurred, which generally is at the time the associated assets are placed in service. Fair value is measured using expected future cash outflows discounted at the Registrants' credit-adjusted risk-free rate. For its utility operations, the Registrants recognize in the Consolidated Statements of Operations removal costs in accordance with regulatory treatment. Any differences between costs recognized related to asset retirement and those reflected in rates are recognized as either a Regulatory asset or liability on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
If a reasonable estimate of fair value cannot be made in the period in which the retirement obligation is incurred, such as for assets with indeterminate lives, the liability is recognized when a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. Natural gas storage system and certain other distribution assets for DTE Gas and substations, manholes, and certain other distribution assets for DTE Electric have an indeterminate life. Therefore, no liability has been recorded for these assets.
Changes to Asset retirement obligations for 2023, 2022, and 2021 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
DTE Energy | (In millions) |
Asset retirement obligations at January 1 | $ | 3,460 | | | $ | 3,162 | | | $ | 2,829 | |
Accretion | 198 | | | 184 | | | 167 | |
Liabilities incurred | 7 | | | 24 | | | 28 | |
Liabilities settled | (96) | | | (7) | | | (30) | |
Revision in estimated cash flows | (13) | | | 97 | | | 168 | |
Asset retirement obligations at December 31 | $ | 3,556 | | | $ | 3,460 | | | $ | 3,162 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
DTE Electric | (In millions) |
Asset retirement obligations at January 1 | $ | 3,221 | | | $ | 2,932 | | | $ | 2,607 | |
Accretion | 185 | | | 172 | | | 155 | |
Liabilities incurred | 4 | | | 22 | | | 29 | |
Liabilities settled | (81) | | | (2) | | | (27) | |
Revision in estimated cash flows | (3) | | | 97 | | | 168 | |
Asset retirement obligations at December 31 | $ | 3,326 | | | $ | 3,221 | | | $ | 2,932 | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Approximately $2.7 billion of the Asset retirement obligations represent nuclear decommissioning liabilities that are funded through a surcharge to electric customers over the life of the Fermi 2 nuclear plant. The NRC has jurisdiction over the decommissioning of nuclear power plants and requires minimum decommissioning funding based upon a formula. The MPSC and FERC regulate the recovery of costs of decommissioning nuclear power plants and both require the use of external trust funds to finance the decommissioning of Fermi 2. Rates approved by the MPSC provide for the recovery of decommissioning costs of Fermi 2 and the disposal of low-level radioactive waste. DTE Electric believes the MPSC collections will be adequate to fund the estimated cost of decommissioning. The decommissioning assets, anticipated earnings thereon, and future revenues from decommissioning collections will be used to decommission Fermi 2. DTE Electric expects the liabilities to be reduced to zero at the conclusion of the decommissioning activities. If amounts remain in the trust funds for Fermi 2 following the completion of the decommissioning activities, those amounts will be disbursed based on rulings by the MPSC and FERC.
A portion of the funds recovered through the Fermi 2 decommissioning surcharge and deposited in external trust accounts is designated for the removal of non-radioactive assets and returning the site to greenfield. This removal and greenfielding is not considered a legal liability. Therefore, it is not included in the asset retirement obligation, but is reflected as the Nuclear decommissioning liability. The decommissioning of Fermi 1 is funded by DTE Electric. Contributions to the Fermi 1 trust are discretionary. For additional discussion of Nuclear decommissioning trust fund assets, see Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Fair Value."
NOTE 9 — REGULATORY MATTERS
Regulation
DTE Electric and DTE Gas are subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the MPSC, which issues orders pertaining to rates, recovery of certain costs, including the costs of generating facilities and regulatory assets, conditions of service, accounting, and operating-related matters. The MPSC has authorized a return on equity of 9.9% for both DTE Electric and DTE Gas, subject to changes from any pending or future rate case filings. DTE Electric is also regulated by the FERC with respect to financing authorization, wholesale electric market activities, certain affiliate transactions, the acquisition and disposition of certain generation and other facilities, and, in conjunction with the NERC, compliance with mandatory reliability standards. Regulation results in differences in the application of generally accepted accounting principles between regulated and non-regulated businesses.
The Registrants are unable to predict the outcome of any unresolved regulatory matters discussed herein. Resolution of these matters is dependent upon future MPSC and FERC orders and appeals, which may materially impact the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Registrants.
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
DTE Electric and DTE Gas are required to record Regulatory assets and liabilities for certain transactions that would have been treated as revenue or expense in non-regulated businesses. Continued applicability of regulatory accounting treatment requires that rates be designed to recover specific costs of providing regulated services and be charged to and collected from customers. Future regulatory changes could result in the discontinuance of this accounting treatment for Regulatory assets and liabilities for some or all of the Registrants' businesses and may require the write-off of the portion of any Regulatory asset or liability that was no longer probable of recovery through regulated rates. Management believes that currently available facts support the continued use of Regulatory assets and liabilities and that all Regulatory assets and liabilities are recoverable or refundable in the current regulatory environment.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The following are balances and a brief description of the Registrants' Regulatory assets and liabilities at December 31:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Assets | (In millions) |
Recoverable undepreciated costs on retiring plants | $ | 2,736 | | | $ | 594 | | | $ | 2,736 | | | $ | 594 | |
Recoverable pension and other postretirement costs | | | | | | | |
Pension | 1,421 | | | 1,362 | | | 1,045 | | | 997 | |
Other postretirement costs | 163 | | | 172 | | | 67 | | | 60 | |
Fermi 2 asset retirement obligation | 952 | | | 972 | | | 952 | | | 972 | |
Removal costs asset | 223 | | | 19 | | | 223 | | | 19 | |
Enhanced tree trimming program deferred costs | 157 | | | 90 | | | 157 | | | 90 | |
Recoverable Michigan income taxes | 133 | | | 148 | | | 110 | | | 121 | |
Energy Waste Reduction incentive | 90 | | | 88 | | | 72 | | | 71 | |
Recoverable income taxes related to AFUDC equity | 89 | | | 76 | | | 80 | | | 68 | |
Accrued PSCR/GCR revenue | 55 | | | 450 | | | 55 | | | 421 | |
Deferred environmental costs | 46 | | | 46 | | | — | | | — | |
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt | 41 | | | 45 | | | 31 | | | 34 | |
Customer360 deferred costs | 38 | | | 42 | | | 38 | | | 42 | |
Advanced distribution management system costs | 18 | | | 14 | | | 18 | | | 14 | |
Deferred pension costs | 16 | | | 63 | | | 10 | | | 41 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Nuclear performance evaluation and review committee tracker | 6 | | | 26 | | | 6 | | | 26 | |
| | | | | | | |
Other | 133 | | | 129 | | | 95 | | | 70 | |
| 6,317 | | | 4,336 | | | 5,695 | | | 3,640 | |
Less amount included in Current Assets | (108) | | | (450) | | | (99) | | | (421) | |
| $ | 6,209 | | | $ | 3,886 | | | $ | 5,596 | | | $ | 3,219 | |
| | | | | | | |
Securitized regulatory assets | $ | 758 | | | $ | 206 | | | $ | 758 | | | $ | 206 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Liabilities | (In millions) |
Refundable federal income taxes | $ | 1,823 | | | $ | 1,908 | | | $ | 1,463 | | | $ | 1,534 | |
Removal costs liability | 342 | | | 371 | | | — | | | — | |
Negative other postretirement offset | 210 | | | 191 | | | 142 | | | 128 | |
Non-service pension and other postretirement costs | 199 | | | 154 | | | 84 | | | 73 | |
Accrued GCR refund | 21 | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Renewable energy | 7 | | | 21 | | | 7 | | | 21 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Other | 72 | | | 62 | | | 63 | | | 55 | |
| 2,674 | | | 2,707 | | | 1,759 | | | 1,811 | |
Less amount included in Current Liabilities | (71) | | | (34) | | | (49) | | | (33) | |
| $ | 2,603 | | | $ | 2,673 | | | $ | 1,710 | | | $ | 1,778 | |
As noted below, certain Regulatory assets for which costs have been incurred have been included (or are expected to be included, for costs incurred subsequent to the most recently approved rate case) in DTE Electric's or DTE Gas' rate base, thereby providing a return on invested costs (except as noted). Certain other Regulatory assets are not included in rate base but accrue recoverable carrying charges until surcharges to collect the assets are billed. Certain Regulatory assets do not result from cash expenditures and therefore do not represent investments included in rate base or have offsetting liabilities that reduce rate base.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
ASSETS
•Recoverable undepreciated costs on retiring plants — Current year balance reflects undepreciated costs at the Belle River and Monroe power plants that will be retired in future periods. These costs were approved for recovery as a result of DTE Electric's Integrated Resource Plan settlement agreement in 2023. Refer to the "Integrated Resource Plan" section below for additional details. The prior year balance reflects the undepreciated costs of the St. Clair and Trenton Channel power plants, which were approved for securitization and recovery by the MPSC and reclassified to 'Securitized regulatory assets' in 2023. Refer to the "2023 Securitization Filing" section below for additional information.
•Recoverable pension and other postretirement costs — Accounting standards for pension and other postretirement benefit costs require, among other things, the recognition in Other comprehensive income of the actuarial gains or losses and the prior service costs that arise during the period but are not immediately recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs. DTE Electric and DTE Gas record the impact of actuarial gains or losses and prior service costs as Regulatory assets since the traditional rate setting process allows for the recovery of pension and other postretirement costs. The asset will reverse as the deferred items are amortized and recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs. Refer to Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Retirement Benefits and Trusteed Assets," for additional information regarding the changes in pension and other postretirement costs for the period and the impact on Regulatory assets.(a)
•Fermi 2 asset retirement obligation — Obligation for Fermi 2 decommissioning costs. The asset captures the timing differences between expense recognition and current recovery in rates and will reverse over the remaining life of the related plant.(a)
•Removal costs asset — Receivable for the recovery of asset removal expenditures in excess of amounts collected from customers.(a)
•Enhanced tree trimming program deferred costs — The MPSC approved the deferral of costs for a tree trimming surge through 2025, aimed at reducing the number and duration of customer interruptions.
•Recoverable Michigan income taxes — The State of Michigan enacted a corporate income tax resulting in the establishment of state deferred tax liabilities for DTE Energy's utilities. Offsetting Regulatory assets were also recorded as the impacts of the deferred tax liabilities will be reflected in rates as the related taxable temporary differences reverse and flow through current income tax expense.
•Energy Waste Reduction incentive — DTE Electric and DTE Gas operate MPSC approved energy waste reduction programs designed to reduce overall energy usage by their customers. The utilities are eligible to earn an incentive by exceeding statutory savings targets. The utilities have consistently exceeded the savings targets and recognize the incentive as a Regulatory asset in the period earned.(a)
•Recoverable income taxes related to AFUDC equity — Accounting standards for income taxes require recognition of a deferred tax liability for the equity component of AFUDC. A Regulatory asset is required for the future increase in taxes payable related to the equity component of AFUDC that will be recovered from customers through future rates over the remaining life of the related plant.
•Accrued PSCR/GCR revenue — Receivable for the temporary under-recovery of and carrying costs on fuel and purchased power costs incurred by DTE Electric which are recoverable through the PSCR mechanism and temporary under-recovery of and carrying costs on gas costs incurred by DTE Gas which are recoverable through the GCR mechanism.
•Deferred environmental costs — The MPSC approved the deferral of investigation and remediation costs associated with DTE Gas' former MGP sites. Amortization of deferred costs is over a ten-year period beginning in the year after costs were incurred, with recovery (net of any insurance proceeds) through base rate filings.(a)
•Unamortized loss on reacquired debt — The unamortized discount, premium, and expense related to debt redeemed with a refinancing are deferred, amortized, and recovered over the life of the replacement issue.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
•Customer360 deferred costs — The MPSC approved the deferral and amortization of certain costs associated with implementing Customer360, an integrated software application that enables improved interface among customer service, billing, meter reading, credit and collections, device management, account management, and retail access. Amortization of deferred costs over a 15-year amortization period began after the billing system was put into operation during the second quarter of 2017. The deferred costs are recorded as Regulatory Assets at DTE Electric and DTE Gas receives an intercompany charge for their proportionate share of amortization expense.
•Advanced distribution management system — Program comprised of new hardware and software designed to improve the monitoring and safe operation of the electrical system, including emergency response. The program includes various upgrades for which costs are being separately deferred and amortized over respective 15-year periods, with recovery through base filings.
•Deferred pension costs — Effective upon the DTE Gas rate case settlement approved in August 2020 and DTE Electric rate order in November 2022, net pension costs previously recognized in earnings are no longer included as an addition to authorized rates and are being deferred as Regulatory assets. The Regulatory assets will reverse to the extent net pension costs are negative in future years and the net deferred amounts will be reviewed in future rate cases. Refer to Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Retirement Benefits and Trusteed Assets," for additional information regarding net pension costs.
•Nuclear performance evaluation and review committee tracker — Deferral and amortization of certain costs associated with oversight and review of DTE Electric's nuclear power generation program, including safety and regulatory compliance, nuclear leadership, nuclear facilities, and operational and financial performance, pursuant to MPSC authorization. Deferrals are amortized over a five-year period with recovery through base rate filings.
•Securitized regulatory assets — Costs approved for securitization and recovery by the MPSC. For both periods presented, amounts include the undepreciated cost of the River Rouge power plant and tree trim surge costs. Securitization bond surcharges began in 2022 to recover the tree trimming costs over a period not to exceed 5 years and River Rouge costs over a period not to exceed 14 years. For the current year, amounts also include the undepreciated costs of the St. Clair and Trenton Channel power plants. Securitization bond surcharges began in 2023 to recover costs over a period not to exceed 15 years. Refer to the "2023 Securitization Filing" section below for additional information.
________________________________________________
(a)Regulatory assets not earning a return or accruing carrying charges.
LIABILITIES
•Refundable federal income taxes — In December 2017, the TCJA was enacted and reduced the corporate income tax rate, effective January 1, 2018. DTE Electric and DTE Gas remeasured deferred taxes, resulting in a reduction to deferred tax liabilities, to reflect the impact of the TCJA on the cumulative temporary differences expected to reverse after the effective date. Regulatory liabilities were also recorded to offset the impact of the deferred tax remeasurement reflected in rates.
•Removal costs liability — The amounts collected from customers to fund future asset removal activities in excess of removal costs incurred.
•Negative other postretirement offset — DTE Electric and DTE Gas' negative other postretirement costs have historically not been included as a reduction to their authorized rates; therefore, DTE Electric and DTE Gas have accrued a Regulatory liability to eliminate the impact on earnings of the negative other postretirement expense accrual. The Regulatory liabilities may reverse to the extent DTE Electric and DTE Gas' other postretirement expense is positive in future years. As a result of the MPSC order in December 2023, DTE Electric may continue to defer negative expense for 2023 and future periods; however, the Regulatory liability as of December 31, 2022 will begin to be amortized over a 7-year period. Refer to the "2023 Electric Rate Case Filing" section below for additional information.
•Non-service pension and other postretirement costs — Upon adoption of ASU 2017-07 on January 1, 2018, certain non-service pension and other postretirement cost activity is no longer credited to Property, plant, and equipment. Such costs may be recorded to Regulatory liabilities for ratemaking purposes and refunded through credits to amortization expense based on the composite depreciation rate for plant-in-service.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
•Accrued GCR refund — Liability for the temporary over-recovery of and a return on gas costs primarily incurred by DTE Gas which are recoverable through the GCR mechanism.
•Renewable energy — Amounts collected in excess of renewable energy expenditures, including subscription revenue related to MIGreenPower, DTE Electric's voluntary renewable program providing customers the option to source their energy usage from renewables.
Ludington Accounting Application
During April 2022, DTE Electric and Consumers Energy Company (“Consumers”) filed a complaint against Toshiba America Energy Systems (“TAES”) and its parent corporation for defective and non-conforming work relating to the overhaul and upgrade of the Ludington Hydroelectric Pumped Storage Plant (“Ludington”). Refer to the Ludington Plant Contract Dispute section of Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Commitments and Contingencies,” for additional information regarding the complaint and ongoing legal proceedings.
DTE Electric and Consumers, joint owners of Ludington, believe that certain costs must be incurred in the near term for repairing and/or replacing defective work performed by TAES in order to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the plant. In November 2022, DTE Electric and Consumers filed an accounting application with the MPSC for authority to defer these costs as a regulatory asset. DTE Electric and Consumers requested the regulatory asset for their respective 49% and 51% shares of these costs, to be offset by any potential litigation proceeds. The parties also requested that appropriate recovery and ratemaking treatment be granted in a future rate case or other proceeding. In May 2023, the MPSC approved the accounting application as requested. Costs incurred and deferred as regulatory assets will be reviewed in future rate proceedings for cost recovery.
2023 Electric Rate Case Filing
DTE Electric filed a rate case with the MPSC on February 10, 2023 requesting an increase in base rates of $622 million based on a projected twelve-month period ending November 30, 2024, and an increase in return on equity from 9.9% to 10.25%. The requested increase in base rates was primarily due to increased investments in plant involving generation and the electric distribution system, as well as related increases to depreciation and property tax expenses, in order to support DTE Energy's goals to reduce carbon emissions and improve power reliability. The requested increase in base rates was also due to a projected sales decline from the level included in current rates and inflationary impacts on operating and interest costs.
On December 1, 2023, the MPSC issued an order approving an annual revenue increase of $368 million for services rendered on or after December 15, 2023 and a return on equity of 9.9%. The order also approved an Infrastructure Recovery Mechanism (IRM) surcharge to recover the cost of distribution investments incremental to those requested in base rates. The surcharge will be applied for a two-year period resulting in anticipated annual revenue increases of approximately $4 million and $25 million for the years ending December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Further, the MPSC order approved the continued deferral of negative other post-employment benefit (OPEB) expense as a regulatory liability for 2023 and future periods. As of December 31, 2022, DTE Electric had a Regulatory liability of $128 million for such OPEB deferrals, reflected as "Negative other postretirement offset" in the table of Regulatory assets and liabilities above. The MPSC order requires DTE Electric to amortize this balance over a 7-year period beginning December 15, 2023, which will reduce annual Operation and maintenance expense by approximately $18 million for each future period.
The MPSC order also disallowed $25 million of capital expenditures previously recorded, primarily related to various IT projects. The disallowance was included in Asset (gains) losses and impairments, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2023.
2023 Securitization Filing
On April 3, 2023, DTE Electric filed an application with the MPSC requesting a financing order to approve the securitization of $496 million of qualified costs related to the net book value of the St. Clair and Trenton Channel generation plants. The filing requested recovery of these qualifying costs from DTE Electric's customers.
The MPSC issued a financing order on June 22, 2023 authorizing DTE Electric to proceed with the issuance of Securitization bonds for qualified costs up to $602 million, increased for the inclusion of deferred income taxes. These costs include up to $594 million for the net book value of the St. Clair and Trenton Channel plants and up to $8 million for other qualified costs. The financing order further authorized customer charges for the timely recovery of debt service costs on the Securitization bonds and other ongoing qualified costs.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
On November 1, 2023, DTE Electric closed on the issuance of Securitization bonds of $602 million, including two separate tranches of $301 million. Refer to Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Long-Term Debt," for additional information regarding the terms of the bonds and use of proceeds. Upon closing the transaction, DTE Electric recognized Securitized regulatory assets of $594 million, which were reclassified from existing Regulatory assets for the net book value of the St. Clair and Trenton Channel plants. Debt service costs for the first tranche will be recovered over a period not to exceed 10 years and costs for the second tranche will be recovered over a period not to exceed 15 years.
Integrated Resource Plan
In November 2022, DTE Electric filed an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the MPSC, a comprehensive plan to meet the electricity needs of customers over the next 20 years. The IRP included details on planned coal plant retirements and replacement generation, including investments in renewables and battery storage, with a focus on providing increasingly clean, reliable, and affordable electricity to customers.
On July 12, 2023, DTE Energy announced that DTE Electric reached a settlement agreement with the various stakeholders involved in the IRP. The MPSC issued an order approving the settlement agreement on July 26, 2023. The agreement confirmed DTE Electric's plans to convert its Belle River facility from a coal-fired power plant to a natural gas peaking resource in 2025-2026, and to retire the Monroe power plant generation units 3 and 4 in 2028. DTE Electric also accelerated its planned retirement of Monroe generation units 1 and 2 from 2035 to 2032.
The settlement agreement approved the recovery of undepreciated plant costs that will be retired at Belle River and Monroe. As a result, approximately $2.7 billion of net Property, plant, and equipment was reclassified to a long-term regulatory asset during the third quarter 2023. Future capital expenditures will also be recovered, and the regulatory asset will be remeasured each reporting period for changes in expenditures, retirements, and depreciation.
DTE Electric will securitize $1.05 billion of the plant costs, including approximately $200 million for the estimated net book value of Belle River coal handling assets to be retired in 2025-2026. The remaining $845 million reflects the net book value of Monroe assets to be securitized upon the full retirement of the plant in 2032. Securitization will include the issuance of bonds for the respective plant costs and customer charges for the timely recovery of debt service costs. DTE Electric plans to reclassify amounts to Securitized regulatory assets upon completing the respective securitization financings. Terms of the securitization bonds and recovery periods for the debt service costs will also be determined at that time.
For the remaining net book value of Monroe plant assets, approximately $1.6 billion will be recovered through a regulatory asset with a return on equity of 9.0% and will be amortized over a 15-year period. Amortization will begin upon the issuance of an order in DTE Electric's next rate case. Until then, amounts will continue to be depreciated.
Pursuant to the IRP settlement agreement, DTE Electric has also committed to donate a total of $38 million, including $2 million each year from 2024 to 2027 to organizations providing various energy support to low-income customers. The remaining $30 million of donations will be made to organizations providing customers with bill assistance. The $30 million of donations may be made in varying annual amounts over the 15-year period of the Monroe regulatory asset discussed above, with a minimum amount of $1 million each year beginning in 2028. Organizations receiving donations will be determined at a later date in consultation with Michigan's Attorney General and MPSC staff, among others. Donations will not be recovered in rates and will be recorded as Other Expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations in future periods as the donations occur.
2024 Gas Rate Case Filing
DTE Gas filed a rate case with the MPSC on January 8, 2024 requesting an increase in base rates of $266 million based on a projected twelve-month period ending September 30, 2025, and an increase in return on equity from 9.9% to 10.25%. The request reflects a net increase to customer rates of only $160 million, as an existing IRM surcharge of $106 million would be rolled into the new base rates. The requested increase is primarily due to increased investments in plant related to system reliability and pipeline safety and inflationary impacts on operating costs, partially offset by higher sales. A final MPSC order in this case is expected in November 2024.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
NOTE 10 — INCOME TAXES
Income Tax Summary
DTE Energy files a consolidated federal income tax return. DTE Electric is a part of the consolidated federal income tax return of DTE Energy. DTE Energy and its subsidiaries file consolidated and/or separate company income tax returns in various states and localities, including a consolidated return in the State of Michigan. DTE Electric is part of the Michigan consolidated income tax return of DTE Energy. The federal, state and local income tax expense for DTE Electric is determined on an individual company basis with no allocation of tax expenses or benefits from other affiliates of DTE Energy. DTE Electric had income tax receivables with DTE Energy of $7 million at December 31, 2023, primarily related to federal taxes, and $1 million at December 31, 2022, primarily related to state taxes. Income tax receivables with DTE Energy are included in Accounts Receivable - Affiliates on the DTE Electric Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. .
The Registrants' total Income Tax Expense varied from the statutory federal income tax rate for the following reasons:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
DTE Energy | (In millions) |
Income Before Income Taxes | $ | 1,566 | | | $ | 1,112 | | | $ | 656 | |
Income tax expense at 21% statutory rate | $ | 329 | | | $ | 234 | | | $ | 138 | |
Production tax credits | (91) | | | (91) | | | (138) | |
TCJA regulatory liability amortization | (63) | | | (155) | | | (103) | |
Investment tax credits | (44) | | | (1) | | | (3) | |
Enactment of state income tax legislation, net of federal benefit | (1) | | | — | | | 8 | |
State deferred tax remeasurement due to separation of DT Midstream, net of federal benefit | — | | | — | | | (85) | |
| | | | | |
Valuation allowance on charitable contribution carryforwards | — | | | 9 | | | 18 | |
State and local income taxes, excluding items above, net of federal benefit | 59 | | | 42 | | | 30 | |
Other, net | (20) | | | (9) | | | 5 | |
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | $ | 169 | | | $ | 29 | | | $ | (130) | |
Effective income tax rate | 10.8 | % | | 2.6 | % | | (19.9) | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
DTE Electric | (In millions) |
Income Before Income Taxes | $ | 850 | | | $ | 981 | | | $ | 970 | |
Income tax expense at 21% statutory rate | $ | 179 | | | $ | 206 | | | $ | 204 | |
Production tax credits | (79) | | | (83) | | | (70) | |
TCJA regulatory liability amortization | (53) | | | (145) | | | (73) | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
State and local income taxes, excluding items above, net of federal benefit | 45 | | | 56 | | | 54 | |
Other, net | (14) | | | (8) | | | (11) | |
Income Tax Expense | $ | 78 | | | $ | 26 | | | $ | 104 | |
Effective income tax rate | 9.2 | % | | 2.7 | % | | 10.7 | % |
Components of the Registrants' Income Tax Expense were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
DTE Energy | (In millions) |
Current income tax benefit | | | | | |
Federal | $ | (10) | | | $ | (13) | | | $ | (33) | |
State and other income tax | (2) | | | (2) | | | (12) | |
Total current income taxes | (12) | | | (15) | | | (45) | |
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) | | | | | |
Federal | 103 | | | (13) | | | (42) | |
State and other income tax | 78 | | | 57 | | | (43) | |
Total deferred income taxes | 181 | | | 44 | | | (85) | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| $ | 169 | | | $ | 29 | | | $ | (130) | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
DTE Electric | (In millions) |
Current income tax expense (benefit) | | | | | |
Federal | $ | 1 | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | (11) | |
State and other income tax | (5) | | | — | | | (7) | |
Total current income taxes | (4) | | | 1 | | | (18) | |
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) | | | | | |
Federal | 19 | | | (46) | | | 47 | |
State and other income tax | 63 | | | 71 | | | 75 | |
Total deferred income taxes | 82 | | | 25 | | | 122 | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| $ | 78 | | | $ | 26 | | | $ | 104 | |
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax effect of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets or liabilities and the reported amounts in the Registrants' Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Registrants' deferred tax assets (liabilities) were comprised of the following at December 31:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
Property, plant, and equipment | $ | (3,423) | | | $ | (3,897) | | | $ | (2,693) | | | $ | (3,188) | |
Regulatory assets and liabilities | (1,158) | | | (493) | | | (1,314) | | | (589) | |
Tax credit carryforwards | 1,519 | | | 1,378 | | | 572 | | | 487 | |
Pension and benefits | 77 | | | 111 | | | 69 | | | 103 | |
Federal net operating loss carryforward | 202 | | | 266 | | | 71 | | | 58 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
State and local net operating loss carryforwards | 76 | | | 97 | | | 49 | | | 38 | |
Investments in equity method investees | (33) | | | 65 | | | — | | | — | |
Other | 130 | | | 137 | | | 137 | | | 145 | |
| (2,610) | | | (2,336) | | | (3,109) | | | (2,946) | |
Less: Valuation allowance | (39) | | | (58) | | | — | | | — | |
Long-term deferred income tax liabilities | $ | (2,649) | | | $ | (2,394) | | | $ | (3,109) | | | $ | (2,946) | |
| | | | | | | |
Deferred income tax assets | $ | 2,415 | | | $ | 2,317 | | | $ | 1,202 | | | $ | 1,081 | |
Deferred income tax liabilities | (5,064) | | | (4,711) | | | (4,311) | | | (4,027) | |
| $ | (2,649) | | | $ | (2,394) | | | $ | (3,109) | | | $ | (2,946) | |
Tax credit carryforwards for DTE Energy include $1.5 billion of general business credits that expire from 2032 through 2043. No valuation allowance is required for the tax credit carryforwards deferred tax asset.
DTE Energy has a pre-tax federal net operating loss carryforward of $964 million as of December 31, 2023 which can be carried forward indefinitely. No valuation allowance is required for the federal net operating loss deferred tax asset.
DTE Energy has state and local deferred tax assets related to net operating loss carryforwards of $76 million and $97 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Most of the state and local net operating loss carryforwards expire from 2024 through 2042 with the remainder being carried forward indefinitely.
DTE Energy has recorded valuation allowances of $39 million and $58 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, including $19 million and $31 million for the respective periods related to the state net operating loss carryforwards noted above. The remaining valuation allowances are related to charitable contribution carryforwards.
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, DTE Energy considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible.
Tax credit carryforwards for DTE Electric include $572 million of general business credits that expire from 2036 through 2043. No valuation allowance is required for the tax credit carryforwards deferred tax asset.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
DTE Electric has a pre-tax federal net operating loss carryforward of $338 million as of December 31, 2023 which can be carried forward indefinitely. No valuation allowance is required for the federal net operating loss deferred tax asset.
DTE Electric has $49 million and $38 million in state and local deferred tax assets related to net operating loss carryforwards at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which will expire from 2030 through 2042. No valuation allowance is required for the state and local net operating loss deferred tax assets.
The above tables exclude unamortized investment tax credits that are shown separately on the Registrants' Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. DTE Energy's policy election is to follow the flow-through method of accounting for investment tax credits earned from its non-utility businesses and the deferral method of accounting for its regulated utilities due to different economic profiles of the various entities. The flow-through method used by the non-utility businesses recognizes investment tax credits in earnings when the related assets are placed in service. The investment tax credits generated by the regulated utilities are deferred and amortized to earnings over the average life of the related property.
Uncertain Tax Positions
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the Registrants is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
DTE Energy | (In millions) |
Balance at January 1 | $ | 13 | | | $ | 10 | | | $ | 10 | |
Additions for tax positions of prior years | 2 | | | 5 | | | — | |
Reductions for tax positions of prior years | (5) | | | (2) | | | — | |
| | | | | |
Settlements | (10) | | | — | | | — | |
| | | | | |
Balance at December 31 | $ | — | | | $ | 13 | | | $ | 10 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
DTE Electric | (In millions) |
Balance at January 1 | $ | 13 | | | $ | 13 | | | $ | 13 | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Settlements | (13) | | | — | | | — | |
| | | | | |
Balance at December 31 | $ | — | | | $ | 13 | | | $ | 13 | |
During 2023, DTE Energy's unrecognized tax benefits decreased by $10 million as a result of an audit settlement related to state exposures and $5 million due to recognition of a federal tax claim. For DTE Electric, unrecognized tax benefits decreased by $13 million due to the audit settlement related to state exposures. Recognition of these tax benefits, net of any federal benefit, resulted in a reduction of $13 million and $10 million to Income Tax Expense on the respective DTE Energy and DTE Electric Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The Registrants recognize interest and penalties pertaining to income taxes in Interest expense and Other expenses, respectively, on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. DTE Energy recognized a nominal amount of interest expense related to income taxes in 2023, 2022, and 2021. DTE Electric recognized a nominal amount of interest expense in 2023 and $1 million in both 2022 and 2021.
Accrued interest pertaining to income taxes at December 31, 2022 was $5 million and $8 million for DTE Energy and DTE Electric, respectively. As a result of the state tax audit settlement noted above, there is no remaining accrued interest pertaining to income taxes as of December 31, 2023. DTE Energy and DTE Electric have not accrued any penalties pertaining to income taxes.
In 2023, DTE Energy, including DTE Electric, settled a federal tax audit for the 2021 tax year. DTE Energy's federal income tax returns for 2022 and subsequent years remain subject to examination by the IRS. DTE Energy's Michigan Corporate Income Tax returns for the year 2019 and subsequent years remain subject to examination by the State of Michigan. DTE Energy also files tax returns in numerous state and local jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitation.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
NOTE 11 — EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income, adjusted for income allocated to participating securities, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the dilution that would occur if any potentially dilutive instruments were exercised or converted into common shares. DTE Energy's participating securities are restricted shares under the stock incentive program that contain rights to receive non-forfeitable dividends. Equity units and performance shares do not receive cash dividends; as such, these awards are not considered participating securities. For additional information regarding performance shares, see Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Stock-Based Compensation."
The following is a reconciliation of DTE Energy's basic and diluted income per share calculation for the years ended December 31:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions, except per share amounts) |
Basic Earnings per Share | | | | | |
Net Income Attributable to DTE Energy Company — continuing operations | $ | 1,397 | | | $ | 1,083 | | | $ | 796 | |
Less: Allocation of earnings to net restricted stock awards | 3 | | | 3 | | | 2 | |
| $ | 1,394 | | | $ | 1,080 | | | $ | 794 | |
Net Income Attributable to DTE Energy Company — discontinued operations | — | | | — | | | 111 | |
Net income available to common shareholders — basic | $ | 1,394 | | | $ | 1,080 | | | $ | 905 | |
| | | | | |
Average number of common shares outstanding — basic | 206 | | | 195 | | | 193 | |
| | | | | |
Income from continuing operations | $ | 6.77 | | | $ | 5.53 | | | $ | 4.11 | |
Income from discontinued operations | — | | | — | | | 0.57 | |
Basic Earnings per Common Share | $ | 6.77 | | | $ | 5.53 | | | $ | 4.68 | |
| | | | | |
Diluted Earnings per Share | | | | | |
Net Income Attributable to DTE Energy Company — continuing operations | $ | 1,397 | | | $ | 1,083 | | | $ | 796 | |
Less: Allocation of earnings to net restricted stock awards | 3 | | | 3 | | | 2 | |
| $ | 1,394 | | | $ | 1,080 | | | $ | 794 | |
Net Income Attributable to DTE Energy Company — discontinued operations | — | | | — | | | 111 | |
Net income available to common shareholders — diluted | $ | 1,394 | | | $ | 1,080 | | | $ | 905 | |
| | | | | |
Average number of common shares outstanding — basic | 206 | | | 195 | | | 193 | |
| | | | | |
Average performance share awards | — | | | 1 | | | 1 | |
Average number of common shares outstanding — diluted | 206 | | | 196 | | | 194 | |
| | | | | |
Income from continuing operations | $ | 6.76 | | | $ | 5.52 | | | $ | 4.10 | |
Income from discontinued operations | — | | | — | | | 0.57 | |
Diluted Earnings per Common Share(a) | $ | 6.76 | | | $ | 5.52 | | | $ | 4.67 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Equity units excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS were approximately 11.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as the dilutive stock price threshold was not met. These equity units were settled in November 2022 resulting in the issuance of common stock.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
NOTE 12 — FAIR VALUE
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date in a principal or most advantageous market. Fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on inputs, which refer broadly to assumptions that market participants use in pricing assets or liabilities. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable inputs. The Registrants make certain assumptions they believe that market participants would use in pricing assets or liabilities, including assumptions about risk, and the risks inherent in the inputs to valuation techniques. Credit risk of the Registrants and their counterparties is incorporated in the valuation of assets and liabilities through the use of credit reserves, the impact of which was immaterial at December 31, 2023 and 2022. The Registrants believe they use valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable market-based inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.
A fair value hierarchy has been established that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value in three broad levels. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). In some cases, the inputs used to measure fair value might fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy. All assets and liabilities are required to be classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Assessing the significance of a particular input may require judgment considering factors specific to the asset or liability and may affect the valuation of the asset or liability and its placement within the fair value hierarchy. The Registrants classify fair value balances based on the fair value hierarchy defined as follows:
•Level 1 — Consists of unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Registrants have the ability to access as of the reporting date.
•Level 2 — Consists of inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are directly observable for the asset or liability or indirectly observable through corroboration with observable market data.
•Level 3 — Consists of unobservable inputs for assets or liabilities whose fair value is estimated based on internally developed models or methodologies using inputs that are generally less readily observable and supported by little, if any, market activity at the measurement date. Unobservable inputs are developed based on the best available information and subject to cost-benefit constraints.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The following table presents assets and liabilities for DTE Energy measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
| Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Other (a) | | Netting (b) | | Net Balance | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Other (a) | | Netting (b) | | Net Balance |
| (In millions) |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash equivalents(c) | $ | 13 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 13 | | | $ | 10 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 10 | |
Nuclear decommissioning trusts | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities | 776 | | | — | | | — | | | 145 | | | — | | | 921 | | | 701 | | | — | | | — | | | 138 | | | — | | | 839 | |
Fixed income securities | 127 | | | 371 | | | — | | | 92 | | | — | | | 590 | | | 115 | | | 359 | | | — | | | 89 | | | — | | | 563 | |
Private equity and other | — | | | — | | | — | | | 312 | | | — | | | 312 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 262 | | | — | | | 262 | |
Hedge funds and similar investments | 119 | | | 65 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 184 | | | 78 | | | 41 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 119 | |
Cash equivalents | 34 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 34 | | | 42 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 42 | |
Other investments(d) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities | 58 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 58 | | | 56 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 56 | |
Fixed income securities | 7 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 7 | | | 7 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 7 | |
Cash equivalents | 37 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 37 | | | 72 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 72 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commodity contracts(e) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Natural gas | 241 | | | 217 | | | 179 | | | — | | | (416) | | | 221 | | | 426 | | | 183 | | | 135 | | | — | | | (649) | | | 95 | |
Electricity | — | | | 258 | | | 163 | | | — | | | (243) | | | 178 | | | — | | | 720 | | | 243 | | | — | | | (643) | | | 320 | |
Environmental & Other | — | | | 131 | | | 8 | | | — | | | (132) | | | 7 | | | — | | | 201 | | | 12 | | | — | | | (196) | | | 17 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other contracts | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 2 | | | — | | | — | | | (1) | | | 1 | |
Total derivative assets | 241 | | | 606 | | | 350 | | | — | | | (791) | | | 406 | | | 426 | | | 1,106 | | | 390 | | | — | | | (1,489) | | | 433 | |
Total | $ | 1,412 | | | $ | 1,042 | | | $ | 350 | | | $ | 549 | | | $ | (791) | | | $ | 2,562 | | | $ | 1,507 | | | $ | 1,506 | | | $ | 390 | | | $ | 489 | | | $ | (1,489) | | | $ | 2,403 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commodity contracts(e) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Natural gas | $ | (291) | | | $ | (167) | | | $ | (157) | | | $ | — | | | $ | 429 | | | $ | (186) | | | $ | (297) | | | $ | (331) | | | $ | (390) | | | $ | — | | | $ | 645 | | | $ | (373) | |
Electricity | — | | | (272) | | | (116) | | | — | | | 297 | | | (91) | | | — | | | (659) | | | (276) | | | — | | | 665 | | | (270) | |
Environmental & Other | — | | | (148) | | | (2) | | | — | | | 137 | | | (13) | | | — | | | (213) | | | (1) | | | — | | | 201 | | | (13) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other contracts | — | | | (19) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (19) | | | — | | | (2) | | | — | | | — | | | 1 | | | (1) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | $ | (291) | | | $ | (606) | | | $ | (275) | | | $ | — | | | $ | 863 | | | $ | (309) | | | $ | (297) | | | $ | (1,205) | | | $ | (667) | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,512 | | | $ | (657) | |
Net Assets (Liabilities) at end of period | $ | 1,121 | | | $ | 436 | | | $ | 75 | | | $ | 549 | | | $ | 72 | | | $ | 2,253 | | | $ | 1,210 | | | $ | 301 | | | $ | (277) | | | $ | 489 | | | $ | 23 | | | $ | 1,746 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Current | $ | 215 | | | $ | 461 | | | $ | 247 | | | $ | — | | | $ | (613) | | | $ | 310 | | | $ | 360 | | | $ | 881 | | | $ | 286 | | | $ | — | | | $ | (1,189) | | | $ | 338 | |
Noncurrent | 1,197 | | | 581 | | | 103 | | | 549 | | | (178) | | | 2,252 | | | 1,147 | | | 625 | | | 104 | | | 489 | | | (300) | | | 2,065 | |
Total Assets | $ | 1,412 | | | $ | 1,042 | | | $ | 350 | | | $ | 549 | | | $ | (791) | | | $ | 2,562 | | | $ | 1,507 | | | $ | 1,506 | | | $ | 390 | | | $ | 489 | | | $ | (1,489) | | | $ | 2,403 | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Current | $ | (240) | | | $ | (462) | | | $ | (145) | | | $ | — | | | $ | 670 | | | $ | (177) | | | $ | (273) | | | $ | (876) | | | $ | (386) | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,193 | | | $ | (342) | |
Noncurrent | (51) | | | (144) | | | (130) | | | — | | | 193 | | | (132) | | | (24) | | | (329) | | | (281) | | | — | | | 319 | | | (315) | |
Total Liabilities | $ | (291) | | | $ | (606) | | | $ | (275) | | | $ | — | | | $ | 863 | | | $ | (309) | | | $ | (297) | | | $ | (1,205) | | | $ | (667) | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,512 | | | $ | (657) | |
Net Assets (Liabilities) at end of period | $ | 1,121 | | | $ | 436 | | | $ | 75 | | | $ | 549 | | | $ | 72 | | | $ | 2,253 | | | $ | 1,210 | | | $ | 301 | | | $ | (277) | | | $ | 489 | | | $ | 23 | | | $ | 1,746 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Amounts represent assets valued at NAV as a practical expedient for fair value.
(b)Amounts represent the impact of master netting agreements that allow DTE Energy to net gain and loss positions and cash collateral held or placed with the same counterparties.
(c)Amounts include $11 million and $10 million of cash equivalents recorded in Restricted cash on DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. All other amounts are included in Cash and cash equivalents on DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
(d)Excludes cash surrender value of life insurance investments and certain securities classified as held-to-maturity that are recorded at amortized cost and not material to the consolidated financial statements.
(e)For contracts with a clearing agent, DTE Energy nets all activity across commodities. This can result in some individual commodities having a contra balance.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The following table presents assets for DTE Electric measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis as of:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
| Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Other(a) | | Net Balance | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Other(a) | | Net Balance |
| (In millions) |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash equivalents(b) | $ | 11 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 11 | | | $ | 9 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 9 | |
Nuclear decommissioning trusts | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities | 776 | | | — | | | — | | | 145 | | | 921 | | | 701 | | | — | | | — | | | 138 | | | 839 | |
Fixed income securities | 127 | | | 371 | | | — | | | 92 | | | 590 | | | 115 | | | 359 | | | — | | | 89 | | | 563 | |
Private equity and other | — | | | — | | | — | | | 312 | | | 312 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 262 | | | 262 | |
Hedge funds and similar investments | 119 | | | 65 | | | — | | | — | | | 184 | | | 78 | | | 41 | | | — | | | — | | | 119 | |
Cash equivalents | 34 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 34 | | | 42 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 42 | |
Other investments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities | 21 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 21 | | | 16 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 16 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash equivalents | 11 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 11 | | | 11 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 11 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative assets — FTRs | — | | | — | | | 7 | | | — | | | 7 | | | — | | | — | | | 11 | | | — | | | 11 | |
Total | $ | 1,099 | | | $ | 436 | | | $ | 7 | | | $ | 549 | | | $ | 2,091 | | | $ | 972 | | | $ | 400 | | | $ | 11 | | | $ | 489 | | | $ | 1,872 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Current | $ | 11 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 7 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 18 | | | $ | 9 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 11 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 20 | |
Noncurrent | 1,088 | | | 436 | | | — | | | 549 | | | 2,073 | | | 963 | | | 400 | | | — | | | 489 | | | 1,852 | |
Total Assets | $ | 1,099 | | | $ | 436 | | | $ | 7 | | | $ | 549 | | | $ | 2,091 | | | $ | 972 | | | $ | 400 | | | $ | 11 | | | $ | 489 | | | $ | 1,872 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Amounts represent assets valued at NAV as a practical expedient for fair value.
(b)Cash equivalents of $11 million and $9 million are included in Restricted cash on DTE Electric's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents include investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased. The cash equivalents shown in the fair value table are comprised of short-term investments and money market funds.
Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts and Other Investments
The nuclear decommissioning trusts and other investments hold debt and equity securities directly and indirectly through commingled funds. Exchange-traded debt and equity securities held directly, as well as publicly traded commingled funds, are valued using quoted market prices in actively traded markets. Non-exchange traded fixed income securities are valued based upon quotations available from brokers or pricing services.
Non-publicly traded commingled funds holding exchange-traded equity or debt securities are valued based on stated NAVs. There are no significant restrictions for these funds and investments may be redeemed with 7 to 65 days notice depending on the fund. There is no intention to sell the investment in these commingled funds.
Private equity and other assets include a diversified group of funds that are classified as NAV assets. These funds primarily invest in limited partnerships, including private equity, private real estate and private credit. Distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying fund assets over the life of the funds. There are generally no redemption rights. The limited partner must hold the fund for its life or find a third-party buyer, which may need to be approved by the general partner. The funds are established with varied contractual durations generally in the range of 7 years to 12 years. The fund life can often be extended by several years by the general partner, and further extended with the approval of the limited partners. Unfunded commitments related to these investments totaled $157 million and $177 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Hedge funds and similar investments utilize a diversified group of strategies that attempt to capture uncorrelated sources of return. These investments include publicly traded mutual funds that are valued using quoted prices in actively traded markets, as well as insurance-linked and asset-backed securities and that are valued using quotations from broker or pricing services.
For pricing the nuclear decommissioning trusts and other investments, a primary price source is identified by asset type, class, or issue for each security. The trustee monitors prices supplied by pricing services and may use a supplemental price source or change the primary source of a given security if the trustee determines that another price source is considered preferable. The Registrants have obtained an understanding of how these prices are derived, including the nature and observability of the inputs used in deriving such prices.
Derivative Assets and Liabilities
Derivative assets and liabilities are comprised of physical and financial derivative contracts, including futures, forwards, options, and swaps that are both exchange-traded and over-the-counter traded contracts. Various inputs are used to value derivatives depending on the type of contract and availability of market data. Exchange-traded derivative contracts are valued using quoted prices in active markets. The Registrants consider the following criteria in determining whether a market is considered active: frequency in which pricing information is updated, variability in pricing between sources or over time, and the availability of public information. Other derivative contracts are valued based upon a variety of inputs including commodity market prices, broker quotes, interest rates, credit ratings, default rates, market-based seasonality, and basis differential factors. The Registrants monitor the prices that are supplied by brokers and pricing services and may use a supplemental price source or change the primary price source of an index if prices become unavailable or another price source is determined to be more representative of fair value. The Registrants have obtained an understanding of how these prices are derived. Additionally, the Registrants selectively corroborate the fair value of their transactions by comparison of market-based price sources. Mathematical valuation models are used for derivatives for which external market data is not readily observable, such as contracts which extend beyond the actively traded reporting period. The Registrants have established a Risk Management Committee whose responsibilities include directly or indirectly ensuring all valuation methods are applied in accordance with predefined policies. The development and maintenance of the Registrants' forward price curves has been assigned to DTE Energy's Risk Management Department, which is separate and distinct from the trading functions within DTE Energy.
The following table presents the fair value reconciliation of Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for DTE Energy:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | | Year Ended December 31, 2022 |
| Natural Gas | | Electricity | | Other | | Total | | Natural Gas | | Electricity | | Other | | Total |
| (In millions) |
Net Assets (Liabilities) as of January 1 | $ | (255) | | | $ | (33) | | | $ | 11 | | | $ | (277) | | | $ | (179) | | | $ | (45) | | | $ | 9 | | | $ | (215) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Transfers from Level 3 into Level 2 | 17 | | | — | | | — | | | 17 | | | 5 | | | 1 | | | — | | | 6 | |
Total gains (losses) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Included in earnings(a) | 182 | | | 198 | | | (1) | | | 379 | | | (410) | | | 97 | | | 2 | | | (311) | |
Recorded in Regulatory liabilities | — | | | — | | | 9 | | | 9 | | | — | | | — | | | 21 | | | 21 | |
Purchases, issuances, and settlements: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Settlements | 78 | | | (118) | | | (13) | | | (53) | | | 329 | | | (86) | | | (21) | | | 222 | |
Net Assets (Liabilities) as of December 31 | $ | 22 | | | $ | 47 | | | $ | 6 | | | $ | 75 | | | $ | (255) | | | $ | (33) | | | $ | 11 | | | $ | (277) | |
Total gains (losses) included in Net Income attributed to the change in unrealized gains (losses) related to assets and liabilities held at December 31(a) | $ | 85 | | | $ | 151 | | | $ | (122) | | | $ | 114 | | | $ | (215) | | | $ | 50 | | | $ | (111) | | | $ | (276) | |
Total gains (losses) included in Regulatory liabilities attributed to the change in unrealized gains (losses) related to assets and liabilities held at December 31 | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 7 | | | $ | 7 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 11 | | | $ | 11 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Amounts are reflected in Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations and Fuel, purchased power, gas, and other — non-utility in DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Operations.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The following table presents the fair value reconciliation of Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for DTE Electric:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
Net Assets as of January 1 | $ | 11 | | | $ | 9 | |
Total gains recorded in Regulatory liabilities | 9 | | | 21 | |
Purchases, issuances, and settlements: | | | |
Settlements | (13) | | | (19) | |
Net Assets as of December 31 | $ | 7 | | | $ | 11 | |
Total gains (losses) included in Regulatory liabilities attributed to the change in unrealized gains (losses) related to assets and liabilities held at December 31 | $ | 7 | | | $ | 11 | |
Derivatives are transferred between levels primarily due to changes in the source data used to construct price curves as a result of changes in market liquidity. Transfers in and transfers out are reflected as if they had occurred at the beginning of the period. There were no transfers from or into Level 3 for DTE Electric during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
The following tables present the unobservable inputs related to DTE Energy's Level 3 assets and liabilities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commodity Contracts | | Derivative Assets | | Derivative Liabilities | | Valuation Techniques | | Unobservable Input | | Range | | Weighted Average |
| | (In millions) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Natural Gas | | $ | 179 | | | $ | (157) | | | Discounted Cash Flow | | Forward basis price (per MMBtu) | | $ | (1.57) | | — | | $ | 6.27 | /MMBtu | | $ | (0.08) | /MMBtu |
Electricity | | $ | 163 | | | $ | (116) | | | Discounted Cash Flow | | Forward basis price (per MWh) | | $ | (18.49) | | — | | $ | 15.47 | /MWh | | $ | (3.99) | /MWh |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, 2022 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commodity Contracts | | Derivative Assets | | Derivative Liabilities | | Valuation Techniques | | Unobservable Input | | Range | | Weighted Average |
| | (In millions) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Natural Gas | | $ | 135 | | | $ | (390) | | | Discounted Cash Flow | | Forward basis price (per MMBtu) | | $ | (1.91) | | — | | $ | 39.94 | /MMBtu | | $ | 0.18 | /MMBtu |
Electricity | | $ | 243 | | | $ | (276) | | | Discounted Cash Flow | | Forward basis price (per MWh) | | $ | (29.41) | | — | | $ | 15.00 | /MWh | | $ | (3.04) | /MWh |
The unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the electricity and natural gas commodity types consist of inputs that are less observable due in part to lack of available broker quotes, supported by little, if any, market activity at the measurement date or are based on internally developed models. Certain basis prices (i.e., the difference in pricing between two locations) included in the valuation of natural gas and electricity contracts were deemed unobservable. The weighted average price for unobservable inputs was calculated using the average of forward price curves for natural gas and electricity and the absolute value of monthly volumes.
The inputs listed above would have had a direct impact on the fair values of the above security types if they were adjusted. A significant increase (decrease) in the basis price would have resulted in a higher (lower) fair value for long positions, with offsetting impacts to short positions.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The following table presents the carrying amount and fair value of financial instruments for DTE Energy:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
| Carrying | | Fair Value | | Carrying | | Fair Value |
| Amount | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Amount | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 |
| (In millions) |
Notes receivable(a), excluding lessor finance leases | $ | 175 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 181 | | | $ | 80 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 82 | |
Short-term borrowings | $ | 1,283 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,283 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,162 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,162 | | | $ | — | |
Notes payable(b) | $ | 34 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 34 | | | $ | 18 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 18 | |
Long-term debt(c) | $ | 19,546 | | | $ | 807 | | | $ | 16,178 | | | $ | 1,202 | | | $ | 17,978 | | | $ | 710 | | | $ | 14,084 | | | $ | 1,199 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Current portion included in Current Assets — Other on DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
(b)Included in Current Liabilities — Other and Other Liabilities — Other on DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
(c)Includes debt due within one year and excludes finance lease obligations. Carrying value also includes unamortized debt discounts and issuance costs.
The following table presents the carrying amount and fair value of financial instruments for DTE Electric:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
| Carrying | | Fair Value | | Carrying | | Fair Value |
| Amount | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Amount | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 |
| (In millions) |
Notes receivable — Other(a) | $ | 19 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 19 | | | $ | 17 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 17 | |
Short-term borrowings — affiliates | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 27 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 27 | |
Short-term borrowings — other | $ | 385 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 385 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 568 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 568 | | | $ | — | |
Notes payable(b) | $ | 33 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 33 | | | $ | 17 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 17 | |
Long-term debt(c) | $ | 11,043 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 9,999 | | | $ | 126 | | | $ | 9,696 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 8,289 | | | $ | 128 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Included in Current Assets — Other and Other Assets — Other on DTE Electric's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
(b)Included in Current Liabilities — Other and Other Liabilities — Other on DTE Electric's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
(c)Includes debt due within one year and excludes finance lease obligations. Carrying value also includes unamortized debt discounts and issuance costs.
For further fair value information on financial and derivative instruments, see Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Financial and Other Derivative Instruments."
Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Funds
DTE Electric has a legal obligation to decommission its nuclear power plants following the expiration of its operating licenses. This obligation is reflected as an Asset retirement obligation on DTE Electric's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Rates approved by the MPSC provide for the recovery of decommissioning costs of Fermi 2 and the disposal of low-level radioactive waste. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Asset Retirement Obligations."
The following table summarizes DTE Electric's fair value of the nuclear decommissioning trust fund assets:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
Fermi 2 | $ | 2,026 | | | $ | 1,807 | |
Fermi 1 | 3 | | | 3 | |
Low-level radioactive waste | 12 | | | 15 | |
| $ | 2,041 | | | $ | 1,825 | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The costs of securities sold are determined on the basis of specific identification. The following table sets forth DTE Electric's gains and losses and proceeds from the sale of securities by the nuclear decommissioning trust funds:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Realized gains | $ | 36 | | | $ | 71 | | | $ | 95 | |
Realized losses | $ | (42) | | | $ | (53) | | | $ | (12) | |
Proceeds from sale of securities | $ | 681 | | | $ | 879 | | | $ | 1,047 | |
Realized gains and losses from the sale of securities and unrealized gains and losses incurred by the Fermi 2 trust are recorded to Regulatory assets and the Nuclear decommissioning liability. Realized gains and losses from the sale of securities and unrealized gains and losses on the low-level radioactive waste funds are recorded to the Nuclear decommissioning liability.
The following table sets forth DTE Electric's fair value and unrealized gains and losses for the nuclear decommissioning trust funds:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
| Fair Value | | Unrealized Gains | | Unrealized Losses | | Fair Value | | Unrealized Gains | | Unrealized Losses |
| (In millions) |
Equity securities | $ | 921 | | | $ | 459 | | | $ | (11) | | | $ | 839 | | | $ | 342 | | | $ | (23) | |
Fixed income securities | 590 | | | 8 | | | (30) | | | 563 | | | 1 | | | (56) | |
Private equity and other | 312 | | | 74 | | | (8) | | | 262 | | | 63 | | | (5) | |
Hedge funds and similar investments | 184 | | | 4 | | | (9) | | | 119 | | | — | | | (18) | |
Cash equivalents | 34 | | | — | | | — | | | 42 | | | — | | | — | |
| $ | 2,041 | | | $ | 545 | | | $ | (58) | | | $ | 1,825 | | | $ | 406 | | | $ | (102) | |
The following table summarizes the fair value of the fixed income securities held in nuclear decommissioning trust funds by contractual maturity:
| | | | | |
| December 31, 2023 |
| (In millions) |
Due within one year | $ | 12 | |
Due after one through five years | 118 | |
Due after five through ten years | 95 | |
Due after ten years | 273 | |
| $ | 498 | |
Fixed income securities held in nuclear decommissioning trust funds include $92 million of non-publicly traded commingled funds that do not have a contractual maturity date.
Other Securities
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, DTE Energy's securities included in Other investments on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position were comprised primarily of investments within DTE Energy's rabbi trust. The rabbi trust is comprised primarily of trading securities recorded at fair value, as well as debt securities classified as held-to-maturity and recorded at amortized cost. The trust was established to fund certain non-qualified pension benefits, and therefore changes in market value of the trading securities and interest on the held-to-maturity securities are recognized in earnings. Gains and losses are allocated from DTE Energy to DTE Electric and are included in Other Income or Other Expense, respectively, in the Registrants' Consolidated Statements of Operations. Gains (losses) related to the trading securities were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
NOTE 13 — FINANCIAL AND OTHER DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The Registrants recognize all derivatives at their fair value as Derivative assets or liabilities on their respective Consolidated Statements of Financial Position unless they qualify for certain scope exceptions, including the normal purchases and normal sales exception. Further, derivatives that qualify and are designated for hedge accounting are classified as either hedges of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (cash flow hedge); or as hedges of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (fair value hedge). For cash flow hedges, the derivative gain or loss is deferred in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and later reclassified into earnings when the underlying transaction occurs. For fair value hedges, changes in fair values for the derivative and hedged item are recognized in earnings each period. For derivatives that do not qualify or are not designated for hedge accounting, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings each period.
The Registrants' primary market risk exposure is associated with commodity prices, credit, and interest rates. The Registrants have risk management policies to monitor and manage market risks. The Registrants use derivative instruments to manage some of the exposure. DTE Energy uses derivative instruments for trading purposes in its Energy Trading segment. Contracts classified as derivative instruments include electricity, natural gas, oil, certain environmental contracts, forwards, futures, options, swaps, and foreign currency exchange contracts. Items not classified as derivatives include natural gas and environmental inventory, pipeline transportation contracts, some environmental contracts, and natural gas storage assets.
DTE Electric — DTE Electric generates, purchases, distributes, and sells electricity. DTE Electric uses forward contracts to manage changes in the price of electricity and fuel. Substantially all of these contracts meet the normal purchases and normal sales exception and are therefore accounted for under the accrual method. Other derivative contracts are MTM and recoverable through the PSCR mechanism when settled. This results in the deferral of unrealized gains and losses as Regulatory assets or liabilities until realized.
DTE Gas — DTE Gas purchases, stores, transports, distributes, and sells natural gas, and buys and sells transportation and storage capacity. DTE Gas has fixed-priced contracts for portions of its expected natural gas supply requirements through March 2026. Substantially all of these contracts meet the normal purchases and normal sales exception and are therefore accounted for under the accrual method. Forward transportation and storage contracts are generally not derivatives and are therefore accounted for under the accrual method.
DTE Vantage — This segment manages and operates renewable gas recovery projects, power generation assets, and other customer specific energy solutions. Long-term contracts and hedging instruments are used in the marketing and management of the segment assets. These contracts and hedging instruments are generally not derivatives and are therefore accounted for under the accrual method.
Energy Trading — Commodity Price Risk — Energy Trading markets and trades electricity, natural gas physical products, and energy financial instruments, and provides energy and asset management services utilizing energy commodity derivative instruments. Forwards, futures, options, and swap agreements are used to manage exposure to the risk of market price and volume fluctuations in its operations. These derivatives are accounted for by recording changes in fair value to earnings unless hedge accounting criteria are met.
Energy Trading — Foreign Currency Exchange Risk — Energy Trading has foreign currency exchange forward contracts to economically hedge fixed Canadian dollar commitments existing under natural gas and power purchase and sale contracts and natural gas transportation contracts. Energy Trading enters into these contracts to mitigate price volatility with respect to fluctuations of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. These derivatives are accounted for by recording changes in fair value to earnings unless hedge accounting criteria are met.
Corporate and Other — Interest Rate Risk — DTE Energy may use interest rate swaps, treasury locks, and other derivatives to hedge the risk associated with interest rate market volatility.
Credit Risk — DTE Energy maintains credit policies that significantly minimize overall credit risk. These policies include an evaluation of potential customers’ and counterparties’ financial condition, including the viability of underlying productive assets, credit rating, collateral requirements, or other credit enhancements such as letters of credit or guarantees. DTE Energy generally uses standardized agreements that allow the netting of positive and negative transactions associated with a single counterparty. DTE Energy maintains a provision for credit losses based on factors surrounding the credit risk of its customers, historical trends, and other information. Based on DTE Energy's credit policies and its December 31, 2023 provision for credit losses, DTE Energy’s exposure to counterparty nonperformance is not expected to have a material adverse effect on DTE Energy's Consolidated Financial Statements.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Derivative Activities
DTE Energy manages its MTM risk on a portfolio basis based upon the delivery period of its contracts and the individual components of the risks within each contract. Accordingly, it records and manages the energy purchase and sale obligations under its contracts in separate components based on the commodity (e.g. electricity or natural gas), the product (e.g. electricity for delivery during peak or off-peak hours), the delivery location (e.g. by region), the risk profile (e.g. forward or option), and the delivery period (e.g. by month and year). The following describes the categories of activities represented by their operating characteristics and key risks:
•Asset Optimization — Represents derivative activity associated with assets owned and contracted by DTE Energy, including forward natural gas purchases and sales, natural gas transportation, and storage capacity. Changes in the value of derivatives in this category typically economically offset changes in the value of underlying non-derivative positions, which do not qualify for fair value accounting. The difference in accounting treatment of derivatives in this category and the underlying non-derivative positions can result in significant earnings volatility.
•Marketing and Origination — Represents derivative activity transacted by originating substantially hedged positions with wholesale energy marketers, producers, end-users, utilities, retail aggregators, and alternative energy suppliers.
•Fundamentals Based Trading — Represents derivative activity transacted with the intent of taking a view, capturing market price changes, or putting capital at risk. This activity is speculative in nature as opposed to hedging an existing exposure.
•Other — Includes derivative activity at DTE Electric related to FTRs. Changes in the value of derivative contracts at DTE Electric are recorded as Derivative assets or liabilities, with an offset to Regulatory assets or liabilities as the settlement value of these contracts will be included in the PSCR mechanism when realized.
The following table presents the fair value of derivative instruments for DTE Energy:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
| Derivative Assets | | Derivative Liabilities | | Derivative Assets | | Derivative Liabilities |
| (In millions) |
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments | | | | | | | |
Interest rate contracts | $ | — | | | $ | (16) | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | — | |
Foreign currency exchange contracts | — | | | (2) | | | — | | | (2) | |
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments | $ | — | | | $ | (18) | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | (2) | |
| | | | | | | |
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | | | | | | | |
Commodity contracts | | | | | | | |
Natural gas | $ | 637 | | | $ | (615) | | | $ | 744 | | | $ | (1,018) | |
Electricity | 421 | | | (388) | | | 963 | | | (935) | |
Environmental & Other | 139 | | | (150) | | | 213 | | | (214) | |
Foreign currency exchange contracts | — | | | (1) | | | 1 | | | — | |
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | $ | 1,197 | | | $ | (1,154) | | | $ | 1,921 | | | $ | (2,167) | |
| | | | | | | |
Current | $ | 910 | | | $ | (847) | | | $ | 1,517 | | | $ | (1,535) | |
Noncurrent | 287 | | | (325) | | | 405 | | | (634) | |
Total derivatives | $ | 1,197 | | | $ | (1,172) | | | $ | 1,922 | | | $ | (2,169) | |
The fair value of derivative instruments at DTE Electric was $7 million and $11 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, comprised of FTRs recorded to Current Assets — Other on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and not designated as hedging instruments.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Certain of DTE Energy's derivative positions are subject to netting arrangements which provide for offsetting of asset and liability positions as well as related cash collateral. Such netting arrangements generally do not have restrictions. Under such netting arrangements, DTE Energy offsets the fair value of derivative instruments with cash collateral received or paid for those contracts executed with the same counterparty, which reduces DTE Energy's Total Assets and Liabilities. Cash collateral is allocated between the fair value of derivative instruments and customer accounts receivable and payable with the same counterparty on a pro-rata basis to the extent there is exposure. Any cash collateral remaining, after the exposure is netted to zero, is reflected in Accounts receivable and Accounts payable as collateral paid or received, respectively.
DTE Energy also provides and receives collateral in the form of letters of credit which can be offset against net Derivative assets and liabilities as well as Accounts receivable and payable. DTE Energy had letters of credit of $3 million issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and $81 million at December 31, 2022, which could be used to offset net Derivative liabilities. Letters of credit received from third parties which could be used to offset net Derivative assets were $10 million and $82 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Such balances of letters of credit are excluded from the tables below and are not netted with the recognized assets and liabilities in DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
For contracts with certain clearing agents, the fair value of derivative instruments is netted against realized positions with the net balance reflected as either 1) a Derivative asset or liability or 2) an Account receivable or payable. Other than certain clearing agents, Accounts receivable and Accounts payable that are subject to netting arrangements have not been offset against the fair value of Derivative assets and liabilities.
The following table presents net cash collateral offsetting arrangements for DTE Energy:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
Cash collateral netted against Derivative assets | $ | — | | | $ | (90) | |
Cash collateral netted against Derivative liabilities | 72 | | | 113 | |
Cash collateral recorded in Accounts receivable(a) | 57 | | | 77 | |
Cash collateral recorded in Accounts payable(a) | (3) | | | (27) | |
Total net cash collateral posted (received) | $ | 126 | | | $ | 73 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Amounts are recorded net by counterparty.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The following table presents the netting offsets of Derivative assets and liabilities for DTE Energy:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
| Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets (Liabilities) | | Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position | | Net Amounts of Assets (Liabilities) Presented in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position | | Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets (Liabilities) | | Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position | | Net Amounts of Assets (Liabilities) Presented in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position |
| (In millions) |
Derivative assets | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commodity contracts | | | | | | | | | | | |
Natural gas | $ | 637 | | | $ | (416) | | | $ | 221 | | | $ | 744 | | | $ | (649) | | | $ | 95 | |
Electricity | 421 | | | (243) | | | 178 | | | 963 | | | (643) | | | 320 | |
Environmental & Other | 139 | | | (132) | | | 7 | | | 213 | | | (196) | | | 17 | |
Interest rate contracts | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1 | | | — | | | 1 | |
Foreign currency exchange contracts | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1 | | | (1) | | | — | |
Total derivative assets | $ | 1,197 | | | $ | (791) | | | $ | 406 | | | $ | 1,922 | | | $ | (1,489) | | | $ | 433 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commodity contracts | | | | | | | | | | | |
Natural gas | $ | (615) | | | $ | 429 | | | $ | (186) | | | $ | (1,018) | | | $ | 645 | | | $ | (373) | |
Electricity | (388) | | | 297 | | | (91) | | | (935) | | | 665 | | | (270) | |
Environmental & Other | (150) | | | 137 | | | (13) | | | (214) | | | 201 | | | (13) | |
Interest rate contracts | (16) | | | — | | | (16) | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Foreign currency exchange contracts | (3) | | | — | | | (3) | | | (2) | | | 1 | | | (1) | |
Total derivative liabilities | $ | (1,172) | | | $ | 863 | | | $ | (309) | | | $ | (2,169) | | | $ | 1,512 | | | $ | (657) | |
The following table presents the netting offsets of Derivative assets and liabilities showing the reconciliation of derivative instruments to DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
| Derivative Assets | | Derivative Liabilities | | Derivative Assets | | Derivative Liabilities |
| Current | | Noncurrent | | Current | | Noncurrent | | Current | | Noncurrent | | Current | | Noncurrent |
| (In millions) |
Total fair value of derivatives | $ | 910 | | | $ | 287 | | | $ | (847) | | | $ | (325) | | | $ | 1,517 | | | $ | 405 | | | $ | (1,535) | | | $ | (634) | |
Counterparty netting | (613) | | | (178) | | | 613 | | | 178 | | | (1,127) | | | (272) | | | 1,127 | | | 272 | |
Collateral adjustment | — | | | — | | | 57 | | | 15 | | | (62) | | | (28) | | | 66 | | | 47 | |
Total derivatives as reported | $ | 297 | | | $ | 109 | | | $ | (177) | | | $ | (132) | | | $ | 328 | | | $ | 105 | | | $ | (342) | | | $ | (315) | |
The effect of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Operations is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives | | Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives for Years Ended December 31, |
| | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| | | | (In millions) |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Commodity contracts | | | | | | | | |
Natural gas | | Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations | | $ | 153 | | | $ | (235) | | | $ | (224) | |
Natural gas | | Fuel, purchased power, gas, and other — non-utility | | 122 | | | (108) | | | (89) | |
Electricity | | Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations | | 105 | | | 221 | | | 169 | |
Environmental & Other | | Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations | | 5 | | | 13 | | | (40) | |
Foreign currency exchange contracts | | Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations | | (2) | | | 3 | | | — | |
Total | | | | $ | 383 | | | $ | (106) | | | $ | (184) | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Revenues and energy costs related to trading contracts are presented on a net basis in DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Operations. Commodity derivatives used for trading purposes, and financial non-trading commodity derivatives, are accounted for using the MTM method with unrealized and realized gains and losses recorded in Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations. Non-trading physical commodity sale and purchase derivative contracts are generally accounted for using the MTM method with unrealized and realized gains and losses for sales recorded in Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations and purchases recorded in Fuel, purchased power, gas, and other — non-utility.
The following represents the cumulative gross volume of DTE Energy's derivative contracts outstanding as of December 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | |
Commodity | | Number of Units |
Natural gas (MMBtu) | | 2,201,557,616 | |
Electricity (MWh) | | 40,542,536 | |
Oil (Gallons) | | 4,272,000 | |
Foreign currency exchange ($ CAD) | | 127,326,648 | |
FTR (MWh) | | 66,064 | |
Renewable Energy Certificates (MWh) | | 10,242,908 | |
Carbon emissions (Metric Ton) | | 746,400 | |
Interest rate contracts ($ USD) | | 1,200,000,000 | |
Treasury Lock ($ USD) | | 500,000,000 | |
Various subsidiaries and equity investees of DTE Energy have entered into derivative and non-derivative contracts which contain ratings triggers and are guaranteed by DTE Energy. These contracts contain provisions which allow the counterparties to require that DTE Energy post cash or letters of credit as collateral in the event that DTE Energy’s credit rating is downgraded below investment grade. Certain of these provisions (known as "hard triggers") state specific circumstances under which DTE Energy can be required to post collateral upon the occurrence of a credit downgrade, while other provisions (known as "soft triggers") are not as specific. For contracts with soft triggers, it is difficult to estimate the amount of collateral which may be requested by counterparties and/or which DTE Energy may ultimately be required to post. The amount of such collateral which could be requested fluctuates based on commodity prices (primarily natural gas, power, and environmental) and the provisions and maturities of the underlying transactions. As of December 31, 2023, DTE Energy's contractual obligation to post collateral in the form of cash or letters of credit in the event of a downgrade to below investment grade, under both hard trigger and soft trigger provisions, was $463 million.
As of December 31, 2023, DTE Energy had $967 million of derivatives in net liability positions, for which hard triggers exist. There is $42 million of collateral that has been posted against such liabilities, including cash and letters of credit. Associated derivative net asset positions for which contractual offset exists were $772 million. The net remaining amount of $153 million is derived from the $463 million noted above.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
NOTE 14 — LONG-TERM DEBT
Long-Term Debt
DTE Energy's long-term debt outstanding and interest rates of debt outstanding at December 31 were:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest Rate(a) | | Maturity Date | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| | | | | (In millions) |
Mortgage bonds, notes, and other | | | | | | | |
DTE Energy debt, unsecured | 3.3% | | 2024 — 2030 | | $ | 5,105 | | | $ | 5,105 | |
DTE Electric debt, principally secured | 3.8% | | 2024 — 2053 | | 10,370 | | | 9,572 | |
| | | | | | | |
DTE Gas debt, principally secured | 4.2% | | 2025 — 2052 | | 2,545 | | | 2,325 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | 18,020 | | | 17,002 | |
Unamortized debt discount | | | | | (26) | | | (26) | |
Unamortized debt issuance costs | | | | | (100) | | | (92) | |
Long-term debt due within one year | | | | | (2,075) | | | (1,077) | |
| | | | | $ | 15,819 | | | $ | 15,807 | |
Securitization bonds(b) | | | | | | | |
DTE Electric securitization bonds | 5.3% | | 2027 — 2038 | | $ | 777 | | | $ | 215 | |
Unamortized debt issuance costs | | | | | (8) | | | (4) | |
Long-term debt due within one year | | | | | (64) | | | (39) | |
| | | | | $ | 705 | | | $ | 172 | |
Junior Subordinated Debentures | | | | | | | |
Subordinated debentures | 4.8% | | 2077 — 2081 | | $ | 910 | | | $ | 910 | |
Unamortized debt issuance costs | | | | | (27) | | | (27) | |
| | | | | $ | 883 | | | $ | 883 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Weighted average interest rate as of December 31, 2023.
(b)Bonds are held by DTE Securitization I and DTE Securitization II, special purpose entities consolidated by DTE Electric. Refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Organization and Basis of Presentation,” for additional information regarding these entities and restrictions related to the bonds.
DTE Electric's long-term debt outstanding and interest rates of debt outstanding at December 31 were:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest Rate(a) | | Maturity Date | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| | | | | (In millions) |
Mortgage bonds, notes, and other | | | | | | | |
Long-term debt, principally secured | 3.8% | | 2024 — 2053 | | $ | 10,370 | | | $ | 9,572 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Unamortized debt discount | | | | | (23) | | | (22) | |
Unamortized debt issuance costs | | | | | (73) | | | (65) | |
Long-term debt due within one year | | | | | (100) | | | (203) | |
| | | | | $ | 10,174 | | | $ | 9,282 | |
Securitization bonds(b) | | | | | | | |
DTE Electric securitization bonds | 5.3% | | 2027 — 2038 | | $ | 777 | | | $ | 215 | |
Unamortized debt issuance costs | | | | | (8) | | | (4) | |
Long-term debt due within one year | | | | | (64) | | | (39) | |
| | | | | $ | 705 | | | $ | 172 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Weighted average interest rate as of December 31, 2023.
(b)Bonds are held by DTE Securitization I and DTE Securitization II, special purpose entities consolidated by DTE Electric. Refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Organization and Basis of Presentation,” for additional information regarding these entities and restrictions related to the bonds.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Debt Issuances
Refer to the table below for debt issued in 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Company | | Month | | Type | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Amount |
| | | | | | | | | | (In millions) |
DTE Electric | | March | | Mortgage bonds(a) | | 5.20% | | 2033 | | $ | 600 | |
DTE Electric | | March | | Mortgage bonds(a) | | 5.40% | | 2053 | | 600 | |
DTE Energy | | March | | Term loan facility draw(b) | | Variable | | 2023 | | 200 | |
DTE Energy | | May | | Senior notes(c) | | 4.875% | | 2028 | | 800 | |
DTE Electric | | June | | Tax-exempt revenue bonds(d) | | 3.875% | | 2053 | | 100 | |
DTE Gas | | October | | Mortgage bonds(a) | | 5.57% | | 2030 | | 150 | |
DTE Gas | | October | | Mortgage bonds(a) | | 5.73% | | 2035 | | 145 | |
DTE Electric | | November | | Securitization bonds(e) | | 5.97% | | 2033(f) | | 301 | |
DTE Electric | | November | | Securitization bonds(e) | | 6.09% | | 2038(g) | | 301 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | $ | 3,197 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Proceeds used for the repayment of short-term borrowings, for capital expenditures, and for other general corporate purposes.
(b)Proceeds used for general corporate purposes.
(c)Proceeds used for the repayment of amounts outstanding under the term loan facility.
(d)Tax-exempt revenue bonds are issued by a public body that loans the proceeds to DTE Electric with terms substantially mirroring the revenue bonds. Proceeds were used to finance costs relating to solid waste disposal facilities at the Monroe and St. Clair power plants. The bonds will be subject to mandatory tender in June 2030.
(e)Bonds were issued in alignment with Green Bond principles to support the closure and recovery of St. Clair and Trenton Channel generation plants and DTE Electric's transition to cleaner energy. Proceeds were used to reimburse DTE Electric for qualified costs incurred or the net book value of the St. Clair and Trenton Channel plants and other qualified costs. The securitization financing order from the MPSC required that the net proceeds be subsequently applied by DTE Electric to retire existing debt or equity. Accordingly, DTE Electric used net proceeds of $297 million towards the partial retirement of the 2013 Series B Mortgage bonds noted in the Debt Redemptions table below and issued a special dividend of $297 million to DTE Energy. Refer to Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Regulatory Matters," for additional information.
(f)Principal payments on the bonds will be made semi-annually beginning September 2024, with the final payment scheduled for March 2032.
(g)Principal payments on the bonds will be made semi-annually beginning March 2032, with the final payment scheduled for September 2037.
In June 2022, DTE Energy entered into a $1.125 billion unsecured term loan with a maturity date of December 2023. Any borrowings on the loan were determined to be long-term debt, as the term of the facility exceeded one year. Through the first quarter of 2023, DTE Energy had drawn $1.0 billion on the term loan, bearing interest at SOFR plus 0.90% per annum. These borrowings were repaid in May and June 2023, as noted in the debt redemptions table below. Unused term loan capacity of $125 million terminated in June 2023 per the terms of the credit agreement.
Debt Redemptions
Refer to the table below for debt redeemed in 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Company | | Month | | Type | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Amount |
| | | | | | | | | | (In millions) |
DTE Gas | | April | | Senior notes | | 6.44% | | 2023 | | $ | 25 | |
DTE Energy | | May | | Term loan facility | | Variable | | 2023 | | 800 |
DTE Electric | | June | | Securitization bonds | | 2.64% | | 2023 | | 19 |
DTE Energy | | June | | Term loan facility | | Variable | | 2023 | | 200 |
DTE Electric | | September | | Mortgage bonds | | 4.31% | | 2023 | | 102 |
DTE Electric | | October | | Senior notes | | 5.19% | | 2023 | | 100 |
DTE Electric | | December | | Securitization bonds | | 2.64% | | 2023 | | 20 |
DTE Gas | | December | | Mortgage bonds | | 3.64% | | 2023 | | 50 |
DTE Electric | | December | | Mortgage bonds(a) | | 3.65% | | 2024 | | 300 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,616 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Represents a partial redemption with $100 million remaining principal to be redeemed in 2024.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Debt Maturities
The following table shows the Registrants' scheduled debt maturities, excluding any unamortized discount on debt:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2024 | | 2025 | | 2026 | | 2027 | | 2028 | | 2029 and Thereafter | | Total |
| (In millions) |
DTE Energy(a)(b) | $ | 2,139 | | | $ | 1,292 | | | $ | 851 | | | $ | 230 | | | $ | 1,737 | | | $ | 13,458 | | | $ | 19,707 | |
DTE Electric(b) | $ | 164 | | | $ | 422 | | | $ | 251 | | | $ | 39 | | | $ | 617 | | | $ | 9,654 | | | $ | 11,147 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Amounts include DTE Electric's scheduled debt maturities.
(b)Amounts include DTE Securitization I and DTE Securitization II scheduled debt maturities.
The following table shows scheduled interest payments related to the Registrants' long-term debt:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2024 | | 2025 | | 2026 | | 2027 | | 2028 | | 2029 and Thereafter | | Total |
| (In millions) |
DTE Energy(a)(b) | $ | 749 | | | $ | 668 | | | $ | 651 | | | $ | 623 | | | $ | 589 | | | $ | 8,412 | | | $ | 11,692 | |
DTE Electric(b) | $ | 432 | | | $ | 427 | | | $ | 416 | | | $ | 408 | | | $ | 400 | | | $ | 5,150 | | | $ | 7,233 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Amounts include DTE Electric's scheduled interest payments.
(b)Amounts include DTE Securitization I and DTE Securitization II scheduled interest payments.
Junior Subordinated Debentures
DTE Energy has the right to defer interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Should DTE Energy exercise this right, it cannot declare or pay dividends on, or redeem, purchase or acquire, any of its capital stock during the deferral period. Any deferred interest payments will bear additional interest at the rate associated with the related debt issue. As of December 31, 2023, no interest payments have been deferred on the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Cross Default Provisions
Substantially all of the net utility properties of DTE Electric and DTE Gas are subject to the lien of mortgages. Should DTE Electric or DTE Gas fail to timely pay their indebtedness under these mortgages, such failure may create cross defaults in the indebtedness of DTE Energy.
NOTE 15 — PREFERRED AND PREFERENCE SECURITIES
As of December 31, 2023, the amount of authorized and unissued stock is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Company | | Type of Stock | | Par Value | | Shares Authorized |
DTE Energy | | Preferred | | $ | — | | | 5,000,000 | |
DTE Electric | | Preferred | | $ | 100 | | | 6,747,484 | |
DTE Electric | | Preference | | $ | 1 | | | 30,000,000 | |
DTE Gas | | Preferred | | $ | 1 | | | 7,000,000 | |
DTE Gas | | Preference | | $ | 1 | | | 4,000,000 | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
NOTE 16 — SHORT-TERM CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS AND BORROWINGS
DTE Energy, DTE Electric, and DTE Gas have unsecured revolving credit agreements that can be used for general corporate borrowings, but are intended to provide liquidity support for each of the companies’ commercial paper programs. Borrowings under the revolvers are available at prevailing short-term interest rates. Letters of credit of up to $500 million may also be issued under the DTE Energy revolver. DTE Energy and DTE Electric also have other facilities to support letter of credit issuance and increase liquidity.
The unsecured revolving credit agreements require a total funded debt to capitalization ratio of no more than 0.70 to 1 for DTE Energy and 0.65 to 1 for DTE Electric and DTE Gas. In the agreements, "total funded debt" means all indebtedness of each respective company and their consolidated subsidiaries, including finance lease obligations, hedge agreements, and guarantees of third parties’ debt, but excluding contingent obligations, nonrecourse and junior subordinated debt, and certain equity-linked securities and, except for calculations at the end of the second quarter, certain DTE Gas short-term debt. "Capitalization" means the sum of (a) total funded debt plus (b) "consolidated net worth," which is equal to consolidated total equity of each respective company and their consolidated subsidiaries (excluding pension effects under certain FASB statements), as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. At December 31, 2023, the total funded debt to total capitalization ratios for DTE Energy, DTE Electric, and DTE Gas were 0.63 to 1, 0.51 to 1, and 0.48 to 1, respectively, and were in compliance with this financial covenant.
The availability under the facilities in place at December 31, 2023 is shown in the following table:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric | | DTE Gas | | Total |
| (In millions) |
Unsecured revolving credit facility, expiring October 2028 | $ | 1,500 | | | $ | 800 | | | $ | 300 | | | $ | 2,600 | |
| | | | | | | |
Unsecured letter of credit facility, expiring June 2024 | 175 | | | — | | | — | | | 175 | |
Unsecured letter of credit facility, expiring February 2025 | 150 | | | — | | | — | | | 150 | |
Unsecured letter of credit facilities(a) | 150 | | | — | | | — | | | 150 | |
Unsecured letter of credit facility(b) | — | | | 100 | | | — | | | 100 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| 1,975 | | | 900 | | | 300 | | | 3,175 | |
Amounts outstanding at December 31, 2023 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Commercial paper issuances | 821 | | | 385 | | | 77 | | | 1,283 | |
Letters of credit | 115 | | | 44 | | | — | | | 159 | |
| | | | | | | |
| 936 | | | 429 | | | 77 | | | 1,442 | |
Net availability at December 31, 2023 | $ | 1,039 | | | $ | 471 | | | $ | 223 | | | $ | 1,733 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Uncommitted letter of credit facilities with automatic renewal provision and therefore no expiration.
(b)Uncommitted letter of credit facility with automatic renewal provision and therefore no expiration. DTE Energy may also utilize availability under this facility.
For both DTE Energy and DTE Electric, the weighted average interest rate for short-term borrowings was 5.6% and 4.6% at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. For information related to affiliate short-term borrowings, refer to Note 23 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Related Party Transactions."
In conjunction with maintaining certain exchange-traded risk management positions, DTE Energy may be required to post collateral with a clearing agent. DTE Energy has a demand financing agreement with its clearing agent which allows the right of setoff with posted collateral. At December 31, 2023, the capacity under the facility was $200 million. The amounts outstanding under demand financing agreements were $152 million and $166 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and were fully offset by posted collateral.
Dividend Restrictions
Certain of DTE Energy’s credit facilities contain a provision requiring DTE Energy to maintain a total funded debt to capitalization ratio, as defined in the agreements, of no more than 0.70 to 1, which has the effect of limiting the amount of dividends DTE Energy can pay in order to maintain compliance with this provision. At December 31, 2023, the effect of this provision was a restriction on dividend payments to no more than $2.9 billion of DTE Energy's Retained earnings of $4.4 billion. There are no other effective limitations with respect to DTE Energy’s ability to pay dividends.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
NOTE 17 — LEASES
Lessee
Leases at DTE Energy are primarily comprised of various forms of equipment, computer hardware, coal railcars, production facilities, buildings, and certain easement leases with terms ranging from approximately 2 to 40 years. Leases at DTE Electric are primarily comprised of various forms of equipment, computer hardware, coal railcars, and certain easement leases with terms ranging from approximately 2 to 40 years.
A lease is deemed to exist when the Registrants have the right to control the use of identified property, plant or equipment, as conveyed through a contract, for a certain period of time and consideration paid. The right to control is deemed to occur when the Registrants have the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits of the identified assets and the right to direct the use of such assets.
Lease liabilities are determined utilizing a discount rate to determine the present values of lease payments. Topic 842 requires the use of the rate implicit in the lease when it is readily determinable. When the rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable, the incremental borrowing rate is used. The Registrants have determined their respective incremental borrowing rates based upon the rate of interest that would have been paid on a collateralized basis over similar tenors to that of the leases. The incremental borrowing rates for DTE Electric and DTE Gas have been determined utilizing respective secured borrowing rates for first mortgage bonds with like tenors of remaining lease terms. Incremental borrowing rates for non-utility entities have been determined utilizing an implied secured borrowing rate based upon an unsecured rate for a similar tenor of remaining lease terms, which is then adjusted for the estimated impact of collateral.
Certain leases of the Registrants contain escalation clauses whereby the payments are adjusted for consumer price or labor indices. The Registrants have leases with non-index based escalation clauses for fixed dollar or percentage increases. DTE Energy also has leases with variable payments based upon usage of, or revenues associated with, the leased assets. DTE Electric also has leases with variable payments based upon the usage of the leased assets.
Certain leases of easements and coal railcars contain provisions whereby the Registrants have the option to terminate the lease agreement by giving notice of such termination during the time frames specified in the respective lease. The Registrants have considered such provisions in the determination of the lease term when it is reasonably certain that the lease would be terminated.
The Registrants have certain leases which contain purchase options. Based upon the nature of the leased property and terms of the purchase options, the Registrants have determined it is not reasonably certain that such purchase options will be utilized. Thus, the impact of the purchase options has not been included in the determination of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for the subject leases.
The Registrants have certain leases which contain renewal options. Where the renewal options were deemed reasonably certain to occur, the impacts of such options were included in the determination of the right of use assets and lease liabilities.
The Registrants have agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for separately. Consideration in a lease is allocated between lease and non-lease components based upon the estimated relative standalone prices. The Registrants have certain coal railcar leases for which non-lease and lease components are accounted for as a single lease component, as permitted under Topic 842.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The following is a summary of the components of lease cost for the years ended December 31:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | |
| (In millions) |
Operating lease cost | $ | 22 | | | $ | 18 | | | $ | 19 | | | $ | 17 | | | $ | 12 | | | $ | 14 | | | |
Finance lease cost: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amortization of right-of-use assets | 7 | | | 7 | | | 7 | | | 6 | | | 6 | | | 6 | | | |
Interest of lease liabilities | — | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | |
Total finance lease cost | 7 | | | 8 | | | 8 | | | 6 | | | 6 | | | 6 | | | |
Variable lease cost | 13 | | | 9 | | | 9 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | |
Short-term lease cost | 12 | | | 19 | | | 14 | | | 4 | | | 10 | | | 6 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| $ | 54 | | | $ | 54 | | | $ | 50 | | | $ | 27 | | | $ | 28 | | | $ | 26 | | | |
The Registrants have elected not to apply the recognition requirements of Topic 842 to leases with a term of 12 months or less. DTE Energy and DTE Electric record operating, variable, and short-term lease costs as Operating Expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, except for certain amounts that may be capitalized to Other Assets.
The following is a summary of other information related to leases for the years ended December 31:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Supplemental Cash Flows Information | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of these liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating cash flows for finance leases | $ | 9 | | | $ | 8 | | | $ | 8 | | | $ | 7 | | | $ | 7 | | | $ | 7 | |
Operating cash flows for operating leases | $ | 19 | | | $ | 17 | | | $ | 19 | | | $ | 15 | | | $ | 12 | | | $ | 14 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating leases | $ | 61 | | | $ | 5 | | | $ | 5 | | | $ | 61 | | | $ | 2 | | | $ | 1 | |
Finance leases | $ | 5 | | | $ | 3 | | | $ | 3 | | | $ | 5 | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | 1 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term (Years) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating leases | 18.7 | | 12.8 | | 12.7 | | 19.8 | | 11.1 | | 10.3 |
Finance leases | 8.9 | | 8.2 | | 7.8 | | 4.5 | | 1.1 | | 2.1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted Average Discount Rate | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating leases | 4.4 | % | | 3.7 | % | | 3.6 | % | | 4.5 | % | | 3.4 | % | | 3.4 | % |
Finance leases | 4.0 | % | | 2.4 | % | | 2.2 | % | | 5.4 | % | | 1.0 | % | | 1.0 | % |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The Registrants' future minimum lease payments under leases for remaining periods as of December 31, 2023 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
| Operating Leases | | Finance Leases | | Operating Leases | | Finance Leases |
| (In millions) |
2024 | $ | 20 | | | $ | 3 | | | $ | 16 | | | $ | 2 | |
2025 | 15 | | | 3 | | | 12 | | | 1 | |
2026 | 14 | | | 2 | | | 10 | | | 1 | |
2027 | 12 | | | 2 | | | 10 | | | 1 | |
2028 | 10 | | | 2 | | | 8 | | | 1 | |
2029 and thereafter | 134 | | | 6 | | | 110 | | | — | |
Total future minimum lease payments | 205 | | | 18 | | | 166 | | | 6 | |
Imputed interest | (80) | | | (2) | | | (70) | | | — | |
Lease liabilities | $ | 125 | | | $ | 16 | | | $ | 96 | | | $ | 6 | |
Finance leases reported on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position are as follows for the years ended December 31:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
Right-of-use assets, within Property, plant, and equipment, net | $ | 18 | | | $ | 19 | | | $ | 6 | | | $ | 6 | |
Current lease liabilities, within Current portion of long-term debt | $ | 3 | | | $ | 8 | | | $ | 2 | | | $ | 6 | |
Long-term lease liabilities | $ | 13 | | | $ | 11 | | | $ | 4 | | | $ | 1 | |
Lessor
DTE Energy leases a portion of its pipeline system through a finance lease contract that has been renewed through 2025, with additional renewal options reasonably certain to be exercised through 2040. DTE Energy also leases certain energy infrastructure assets for large industrial customers under separate long-term agreements through 2040 and 2042, respectively. For the agreement ending in 2040, the assets will transfer to the customer at the end of the term. For the agreement scheduled to end in 2042, the customer will have the option to extend the term in 5 year increments and may purchase the assets during the extension period. DTE Energy has accounted for a portion of these agreements as finance lease arrangements.
DTE Energy also leases various assets under operating leases for a pipeline, energy facilities and related equipment. Such leases are comprised of both fixed payments and variable payments which are contingent on volumes, with terms ranging from 2 to 24 years. Generally, the operating leases do not have renewal provisions or options to purchase the assets at the end of the lease. The operating leases generally do not have termination for convenience provisions. Termination may be allowed under specific circumstances stated in the lease contract, such as under an event of default.
Certain of the finance and operating leases have lease terms that extend to the end of the estimated economic life of the leased assets, thereby resulting in no residual value. Any remaining residual values under the finance and operating leases are expected to be recovered through rates, renewals or new lease contracts. Residual values have been determined using the estimated economic life of the leased assets. The finance and operating leases do not contain residual value guarantees.
Certain of the operating leases have both lease and non-lease components. The lease and non-lease components are allocated based upon estimated relative standalone selling prices.
A lease is deemed to exist when the Registrants have provided other parties with the right to control the use of identified property, plant or equipment, as conveyed through a contract, for a certain period of time and consideration received. The right to control is deemed to occur when the Registrants have provided other parties with the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits of the identified assets and the right to direct the use of such assets.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
DTE Energy’s lease income associated with operating leases, including the line items in which it was included on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, was as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Fixed payments | $ | 15 | | | $ | 15 | | | $ | 67 | |
Variable payments | 44 | | | 67 | | | 131 | |
| $ | 59 | | | $ | 82 | | | $ | 198 | |
| | | | | |
Operating revenues | $ | 59 | | | $ | 82 | | | $ | 103 | |
Other income(a) | — | | | — | | | 95 | |
| $ | 59 | | | $ | 82 | | | $ | 198 | |
_______________________________________(a)Decrease in 2022 is due to the closure of the REF business.
DTE Energy’s minimum future rental revenues under operating leases for remaining periods as of December 31, 2023 are as follows:
| | | | | |
| DTE Energy |
| (In millions) |
2024 | $ | 15 | |
2025 | 15 | |
2026 | 11 | |
2027 | 10 | |
2028 | 6 | |
2029 and thereafter | 36 | |
| $ | 93 | |
Depreciation expense associated with DTE Energy's property under operating leases was $8 million, $11 million, and $22 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 respectively.
The following is a summary of property under operating leases for DTE Energy as of December 31:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
Gross property under operating leases | $ | 228 | | | $ | 282 | |
Accumulated amortization of property under operating leases | $ | 118 | | | $ | 128 | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The components of DTE Energy’s net investment in finance leases for remaining periods as of December 31, 2023 are as follows:
| | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy |
| (In millions) |
2024 | $ | 34 | | | |
2025 | 34 | | | |
2026 | 34 | | | |
2027 | 34 | | | |
2028 | 34 | | | |
2029 and thereafter | 389 | | | |
Total minimum future lease receipts | 559 | | | |
Residual value of leased pipeline | 17 | | | |
Less unearned income | 289 | | | |
Net investment in finance lease | 287 | | | |
Less current portion | 8 | | | |
| $ | 279 | | | |
Interest income recognized under finance leases was $27 million, $24 million, and $17 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
NOTE 18 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Environmental
DTE Electric
Air — DTE Electric is subject to the EPA ozone and fine particulate transport and acid rain regulations that limit power plant emissions of SO2 and NOX. The EPA and the State of Michigan have also issued emission reduction regulations relating to ozone, fine particulate, regional haze, mercury, and other air pollution. These rules have led to controls on fossil-fueled power plants to reduce SO2, NOX, mercury, and other emissions. Additional rule making may occur over the next few years which could require additional controls for SO2, NOX, and other hazardous air pollutants.
In 2015, the EPA finalized National Ambient Air Quality Standards ("NAAQS") for ground level ozone. In August 2018, the EPA designated southeast Michigan as "marginal non-attainment" with the 2015 ozone NAAQS. In January 2022, after collecting several years of data, the State submitted a request to the EPA for redesignation of the southeast Michigan ozone non-attainment area to attainment, and to accept their maintenance plan and emission inventories as a revision to the Michigan State Implementation Plan (SIP). On May 19, 2023, the EPA posted in the Federal Register the redesignation of attainment of the ozone standard for the seven-county Southeast Michigan region. DTE Electric does not expect a significant financial impact related to the ozone NAAQS at this time, pending finalization of the state rules and implementation plans.
In May 2023, the EPA proposed new rules to address emissions of GHGs from existing, new, modified, or reconstructed sources in the power sector. DTE Electric provided individual comments on the proposal and also worked with industry partners on a broader set of comments. The financial impact cannot be estimated until a final rule is issued, which is currently expected in early 2024.
Pending or future legislation or other regulatory actions could have a material impact on DTE Electric's operations and financial position and the rates charged to its customers. Potential impacts include expenditures for environmental equipment beyond what is currently planned, financing costs related to additional capital expenditures, the purchase of emission credits from market sources, higher costs of purchased power, and the retirement of facilities where control equipment is not economical. DTE Electric would seek to recover these incremental costs through increased rates charged to its utility customers, as authorized by the MPSC.
To comply with air pollution requirements, DTE Electric has spent approximately $2.4 billion. DTE Electric does not anticipate additional capital expenditures for air pollution requirements, subject to the results of future rulemakings.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Water — In response to EPA regulations and in accordance with the Clean Water Act section 316(b), DTE Electric was required to examine alternatives for reducing the environmental impacts of the cooling water intake structures at several of its facilities. A final rule became effective in October 2014 which required studies to be completed and submitted as part of the NPDES permit application process to determine the type of technology needed to reduce impacts to fish. DTE Electric has completed the required studies and submitted reports for most of its generation plants, and a final study is in-process for Monroe power plant. Final compliance for the installation of any required technology to reduce the impacts of water intake structures will be determined by the state on a case by case, site specific basis. DTE Electric is currently evaluating the compliance options and working with the State of Michigan on determining whether any controls are needed. These evaluations/studies may require modifications to some existing intake structures. It is not possible to quantify the impact of this rule making at this time.
As part of the Monroe power plant NPDES permit, EGLE has added requirements to evaluate the thermal discharge of the facility as it relates to Clean Water Act section 316(a) regulations. DTE Electric has submitted to EGLE a biological demonstration study plan to evaluate the thermal discharge impacts to an aquatic community. After approval of the plan by EGLE and completion of field sampling, data will be processed and compiled into a comprehensive report. At the present time, DTE Electric cannot predict the outcome of this evaluation or financial impact.
Contaminated and Other Sites — Prior to the construction of major interstate natural gas pipelines, gas for heating and other uses was manufactured locally from processes involving coal, coke, or oil. The facilities, which produced gas, have been designated as MGP sites. DTE Electric conducted remedial investigations at contaminated sites, including three former MGP sites. Cleanup of one of the MGP sites is complete, and that site is closed. The investigations have revealed contamination related to the by-products of gas manufacturing at each MGP site. In addition to the MGP sites, DTE Electric is also in the process of cleaning up other contaminated sites, including the area surrounding an ash landfill, electrical distribution substations, electric generating power plants, and underground and above ground storage tank locations. The findings of these investigations indicated that the estimated cost to remediate these sites is expected to be incurred over the next several years. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, DTE Electric had $9 million and $10 million, respectively, accrued for remediation. These costs are not discounted to their present value. Any change in assumptions, such as remediation techniques, nature and extent of contamination, and regulatory requirements, could impact the estimate of remedial action costs for the sites and affect DTE Electric’s financial position and cash flows. DTE Electric believes the likelihood of a material change to the accrued amount is remote based on current knowledge of the conditions at each site.
Coal Combustion Residuals and Effluent Limitations Guidelines — A final EPA rule for the disposal of coal combustion residuals, commonly known as coal ash, became effective in October 2015 and has continued to be updated in subsequent years. The rule is based on the continued listing of coal ash as a non-hazardous waste and relies on various self-implementation design and performance standards. DTE Electric owns and operates three permitted engineered coal ash storage facilities to dispose of coal ash from coal-fired power plants and operates a number of smaller impoundments at its power plants subject to certain provisions in the CCR rule. At certain facilities, the rule required ongoing sampling and testing of monitoring wells, compliance with groundwater standards, and the closure of basins at the end of the useful life of the associated power plant.
On August 28, 2020, Part A of the CCR rule was published in the Federal Register and required all unlined impoundments to initiate closure as soon as technically feasible, but no later than April 11, 2021. Additionally, the rule amends certain reporting requirements and CCR website requirements. On November 12, 2020, Part B of the CCR Rule was published in the Federal Register and provided a process to determine if certain unlined impoundments with an alternative liner system may be sufficiently protective and therefore may continue to operate.
DTE Electric submitted applications to the EPA that support continued use of all impoundments through their active lives. The forced closure date of April 11, 2021 was effectively delayed, pending the EPA completing review of the applications. On September 1, 2022, DTE Electric ceased receipt of CCR and non-CCR waste streams at the St. Clair power plant bottom ash basins and initiated closure. Therefore, DTE Electric withdrew the Part A rule demonstration for St. Clair, as it was no longer necessary for the EPA to issue an extension of the April 11, 2021 deadline to cease receipt of waste.
On January 25, 2023, DTE Electric received notice of the EPA's proposed denial of Part B applications. DTE Electric provided comments on April 10, 2023, in response to the proposed decision. DTE Electric has since implemented projects at the Belle River power plant to cease receipt of waste within any unlined CCR surface impoundments. Therefore, on September 21, 2023, DTE Electric withdrew the Part B applications for the Belle River power plant, leaving only the Part B application for the Monroe power plant fly ash basin pending final review by the EPA. If the EPA's final decision remains unchanged, DTE Electric does not expect the denied application to have a significant operational or financial impact; however, DTE Electric is continuing to review and analyze potential outcomes of this matter.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
On May 18, 2023, the EPA posted in the Federal Register a proposed rule to regulate legacy CCR surface impoundments and CCR management units. The rule proposes to expand the reach of the CCR rule to inactive electric generation sites and previously unregulated locations of CCR at a regulated facility. DTE Electric is currently evaluating the proposed rule. The financial impact of the proposed rule cannot be estimated until a final rule is issued, which is currently expected in mid-2024.
At the State level, legislation was signed in December 2018 and provides for further regulation of the CCR program in Michigan. Additionally, the statutory revision provides the basis of a CCR program that EGLE has submitted to the EPA for approval to fully regulate the CCR program in Michigan in lieu of a Federal permit program. The EPA is currently working with EGLE in reviewing the submitted State program, and DTE Electric will work with EGLE to implement the State program that may be approved in the future.
On October 13, 2020, the EPA finalized the ELG Reconsideration Rule which revised the regulations from the 2015 ELG rule for FGD wastewater and bottom ash transport water only. The Reconsideration Rule re-established the technology-based effluent limitations guidelines and standards applicable to FGD wastewater and bottom ash transport water. The EPA set the applicability dates for bottom ash transport water "as soon as possible" beginning October 13, 2021 and no later than December 31, 2025. FGD wastewater retrofits must be completed "as soon as possible" beginning October 13, 2021 and no later than December 31, 2025 or December 31, 2028 if a permittee decides to pursue the Voluntary Incentives Program (VIP) subcategory for FGD wastewater. If a facility applies for the VIP, they must meet more stringent standards, but are allowed an extended time period to meet the compliance requirements.
The Reconsideration Rule also provides additional compliance opportunities by finalizing low utilization and cessation of coal burning subcategories. The Reconsideration Rule provides new opportunities for DTE Electric to evaluate existing ELG compliance strategies and make any necessary adjustments to ensure full compliance with the ELGs in a cost-effective manner.
Compliance schedules for individual facilities and individual waste streams are determined through issuance of new NPDES permits by the State of Michigan. The State of Michigan has issued an NPDES permit for the Belle River power plant establishing compliance deadlines based on the 2020 Reconsideration Rule. On October 11, 2021, in consideration of the deadlines above, DTE Electric submitted a Notice of Planned Participation ("NOPP") to the State of Michigan that formally announced the intent to pursue compliance subcategories as ELG compliance options: the cessation of coal at the Belle River power plant no later than December 31, 2028 and the VIP for FGD wastewater at Monroe power plant by December 31, 2028.
On March 29, 2023, the EPA published two draft proposals to revise existing ELG rules. The first draft proposal reopened the cessation of coal compliance subcategory from the 2020 ELG rule and allows for compliance by committing to such cessation no later than December 31, 2028. This proposal was finalized by the EPA on May 30, 2023. The second draft proposal is a broader update to the ELG rules that includes revised compliance standards for FGD wastewater, bottom ash transport water, and other wastewater streams with a compliance date no later than December 31, 2029. DTE Electric's compliance strategy includes the conversion of the two generating units at the Belle River power plant to a natural gas peaking resource in 2025-2026, which was included in the NOPP filed in 2021. DTE Electric also submitted a new NOPP to apply for the cessation of coal compliance subcategory for generating units 3 and 4 at the Monroe power plant. DTE Electric plans to retire Monroe's generating units 1 and 2 in 2032.
DTE Electric continues to evaluate compliance strategies, technologies, and system designs to achieve compliance with the EPA rules at the Monroe power plant.
DTE Electric currently estimates the impact of the CCR and ELG rules to be $427 million of capital expenditures, including $417 million for 2024 through 2028. This estimate may change in future periods as DTE Electric evaluates the CCR and ELG rules discussed above that are expected to be finalized in mid-2024.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
DTE Gas
Contaminated and Other Sites — DTE Gas owns or previously owned 14 former MGP sites. Investigations have revealed contamination related to the by-products of gas manufacturing at each site. Cleanup of eight MGP sites is complete and those sites are closed. DTE Gas has also completed partial closure of four additional sites. Cleanup activities associated with the remaining sites will continue over the next several years. The MPSC has established a cost deferral and rate recovery mechanism for investigation and remediation costs incurred at former MGP sites. In addition to the MGP sites, DTE Gas is also in the process of cleaning up other contaminated sites, including gate stations, gas pipeline releases, and underground storage tank locations. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, DTE Gas had $26 million and $23 million, respectively, accrued for remediation. These costs are not discounted to their present value. Any change in assumptions, such as remediation techniques, nature and extent of contamination, and regulatory requirements, could impact the estimate of remedial action costs for the sites and affect DTE Gas' financial position and cash flows. DTE Gas anticipates the cost amortization methodology approved by the MPSC, which allows for amortization of the MGP costs over a ten-year period beginning with the year subsequent to the year the MGP costs were incurred, will prevent the associated investigation and remediation costs from having a material adverse impact on DTE Gas' results of operations.
Air — The EPA recently finalized its Good Neighbor Rule, which includes provisions for compressor engines operated for the transportation of natural gas. DTE Gas is assessing the applicability of the rule on its engines and what impacts that could have on operations. DTE Gas has not determined whether there will be a financial impact at this time.
Non-utility
DTE Energy's non-utility businesses are subject to a number of environmental laws and regulations dealing with the protection of the environment from various pollutants.
In March 2019, the EPA issued an FOV to EES Coke Battery, LLC ("EES Coke"), the Michigan coke battery facility that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DTE Energy, alleging that the 2008 and 2014 permits issued by EGLE did not comply with the Clean Air Act. In September 2020, the EPA issued another FOV alleging EES Coke's 2018 and 2019 SO2 emissions exceeded projections and hence violated non-attainment new source review permitting requirements. EES Coke evaluated the EPA's alleged violations and believes that the permits approved by EGLE complied with the Clean Air Act. EES Coke responded to the EPA's September 2020 allegations demonstrating its actual emissions are compliant with non-attainment new source review requirements. On June 1, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the EPA, filed a complaint against EES Coke in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan alleging that EES Coke failed to comply with non-attainment new source review requirements under the Clean Air Act when it applied for the 2014 permit. In November 2022, the Sierra Club and City of River Rouge were granted intervention. The case is currently in the discovery phase. At the present time, DTE Energy cannot predict the outcome or financial impact of this matter.
Separately, in December 2021, EGLE issued a Notice of Violation to EES Coke alleging excess visible emissions from pushing operations. In January 2022, EES Coke provided EGLE a response describing the corrective actions taken to prevent future recurrences. At the present time, EES Coke cannot predict the outcome or financial impact of this matter.
Other
In 2010, the EPA finalized a new one-hour SO2 ambient air quality standard that requires states to submit plans and associated timelines for non-attainment areas that demonstrate attainment with the new SO2 standard in phases. Phase 1 addresses non-attainment areas designated based on ambient monitoring data. Phase 2 addresses non-attainment areas with large sources of SO2 and modeled concentrations exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for SO2. Phase 3 addresses smaller sources of SO2 with modeled or monitored exceedances of the new SO2 standard.
Michigan's Phase 1 non-attainment area includes DTE Energy facilities. However, the EPA published a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for the area in June 2022 that did not impact any DTE Energy facilities. It is also not expected that Phase 3 will have any impact on DTE Energy.
Michigan's Phase 2 non-attainment area includes DTE Electric facilities in St. Clair County. The EPA approved a clean data determination request submitted by EGLE. This determination suspends certain planning requirements and sanctions for the non-attainment area for as long as the area continues to attain the 2010 SO2 air quality standards, but this does not automatically redesignate the area to attainment. Until the area is officially redesignated as attainment, DTE Energy is unable to determine the impacts.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
REF Guarantees
DTE Energy provided certain guarantees and indemnities in conjunction with the sales of interests in or lease of its previously operated REF facilities. The guarantees cover potential commercial, environmental, and tax-related obligations that will survive until 90 days after expiration of all applicable statutes of limitations. DTE Energy estimates that its maximum potential liability under these guarantees at December 31, 2023 was $414 million. Payments under these guarantees are considered remote.
Other Guarantees
In certain limited circumstances, the Registrants enter into contractual guarantees. The Registrants may guarantee another entity’s obligation in the event it fails to perform and may provide guarantees in certain indemnification agreements. The Registrants may also provide indirect guarantees for the indebtedness of others. DTE Energy’s guarantees are not individually material with maximum potential payments totaling $44 million at December 31, 2023. Payments under these guarantees are considered remote.
The Registrants are periodically required to obtain performance surety bonds in support of obligations to various governmental entities and other companies in connection with its operations. As of December 31, 2023, DTE Energy had $334 million of performance bonds outstanding, including $159 million for DTE Electric. Performance bonds are not individually material, except for $130 million of bonds supporting Energy Trading operations. These bonds are meant to provide counterparties with additional assurance that Energy Trading will meet its contractual obligations for various commercial transactions. The terms of the bonds align with those of the underlying Energy Trading contracts and are estimated to be outstanding approximately 1 to 3 years. In the event that any performance bonds are called for nonperformance, the Registrants would be obligated to reimburse the issuer of the performance bond. The Registrants are released from the performance bonds as the contractual performance is completed and does not believe that a material amount of any currently outstanding performance bonds will be called.
Labor Contracts
There are several bargaining units for DTE Energy subsidiaries' approximately 4,900 represented employees, including DTE Electric's approximately 2,550 represented employees. This represents 49% and 57% of DTE Energy's and DTE Electric's total employees, respectively. Of these represented employees, less than 1% have contracts expiring within one year for DTE Energy. None of the represented employees have contracts expiring within one year for DTE Electric.
Purchase Commitments
As of December 31, 2023, the Registrants were party to numerous long-term purchase commitments relating to a variety of goods and services required for their businesses. These agreements primarily consist of fuel supply commitments and renewable energy contracts for the Registrants, as well as energy trading contracts for DTE Energy. The Registrants estimate the following commitments from 2024 through 2051, as detailed in the following tables:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2024 | | 2025 | | 2026 | | 2027 | | 2028 | | 2029 and Thereafter | | Total |
DTE Energy | (In millions) | | |
Long-term power purchase agreements(a) | $ | 92 | | | $ | 92 | | | $ | 92 | | | $ | 92 | | | $ | 92 | | | $ | 568 | | | $ | 1,028 | |
Other purchase commitments(b) | 3,349 | | | 1,689 | | | 1,115 | | | 565 | | | 338 | | | 824 | | | 7,880 | |
Total commitments | $ | 3,441 | | | $ | 1,781 | | | $ | 1,207 | | | $ | 657 | | | $ | 430 | | | $ | 1,392 | | | $ | 8,908 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2024 | | 2025 | | 2026 | | 2027 | | 2028 | | 2029 and Thereafter | | Total |
DTE Electric | (In millions) | | |
Long-term power purchase agreements(a) | $ | 98 | | | $ | 97 | | | $ | 97 | | | $ | 97 | | | $ | 97 | | | $ | 578 | | | $ | 1,064 | |
Other purchase commitments(b) | 829 | | | 393 | | | 184 | | | 83 | | | 74 | | | 138 | | | 1,701 | |
Total commitments | $ | 927 | | | $ | 490 | | | $ | 281 | | | $ | 180 | | | $ | 171 | | | $ | 716 | | | $ | 2,765 | |
_______________________________________
(a)The agreements represent the minimum obligations with suppliers for renewable energy and renewable energy credits under existing contract terms which expire from 2030 through 2047. DTE Electric's share of plant output ranges from 28% to 100%. Purchase commitments for DTE Electric include affiliate agreements with DTE Sustainable Generation that are eliminated in consolidation for DTE Energy.
(b)Excludes amounts associated with full requirements contracts where no stated minimum purchase volume is required.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Utility capital expenditures and expenditures for non-utility businesses will be approximately $4.7 billion and $3.4 billion in 2024 for DTE Energy and DTE Electric, respectively. The Registrants have made certain commitments in connection with the estimated 2024 annual capital expenditures.
Ludington Plant Contract Dispute
DTE Electric and Consumers Energy Company ("Consumers"), joint owners of the Ludington Hydroelectric Pumped Storage plant ("Ludington"), are parties to a 2010 engineering, procurement, and construction agreement with Toshiba America Energy Systems ("TAES"), under which TAES contracted to perform a major overhaul and upgrade of Ludington. The overhauled Ludington units are operational, but TAES' work has been defective and non-conforming. DTE Electric and Consumers have demanded that TAES provide a comprehensive plan to resolve those matters, including adherence to its warranty commitments and other contractual obligations. DTE Electric and Consumers have taken extensive efforts to resolve these issues with TAES, including a formal demand to TAES' parent, Toshiba Corporation, under a parent guaranty it provided. TAES has not provided a comprehensive plan or otherwise met its performance obligations. In order to enforce the contract, DTE Electric and Consumers filed a complaint against TAES and Toshiba Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in April 2022.
In June 2022, TAES and Toshiba Corporation filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, along with counterclaims seeking approximately $15 million in damages related to payments allegedly owed under the parties' contract. During September 2022, the motion to dismiss the complaint was denied. DTE Electric believes the outstanding counterclaims are without merit, but would be liable for 49% of the damages if approved. In October 2022, the combined parties submitted a joint discovery plan to proceed with the litigation process and a potential trial during the second half of 2024. DTE Electric cannot predict the financial impact or outcome of this matter.
Refer to the Ludington Accounting Application section within Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Regulatory Matters," for additional information regarding costs to address TAES defective work and regulatory accounting treatment.
Other Contingencies
The Registrants are involved in certain other legal, regulatory, administrative, and environmental proceedings before various courts, arbitration panels, and governmental agencies concerning claims arising in the ordinary course of business. These proceedings include certain contract disputes, additional environmental reviews and investigations, audits, inquiries from various regulators, and pending judicial matters. The Registrants cannot predict the final disposition of such proceedings. The Registrants regularly review legal matters and record provisions for claims that they can estimate and are considered probable of loss. The resolution of these pending proceedings is not expected to have a material effect on the Registrants' Consolidated Financial Statements in the periods they are resolved.
For a discussion of contingencies related to regulatory matters and derivatives, see Notes 9 and 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Regulatory Matters" and "Financial and Other Derivative Instruments," respectively.
NOTE 19 — NUCLEAR OPERATIONS
Property Insurance
DTE Electric maintains property insurance policies specifically for the Fermi 2 plant. These policies cover such items as replacement power and property damage. NEIL is the primary supplier of the insurance policies.
DTE Electric maintains a policy for extra expenses, including replacement power costs necessitated by Fermi 2’s unavailability due to an insured event. This policy has a 12-week waiting period and provides an aggregate $490 million of coverage over a three-year period.
DTE Electric has $1.5 billion in primary coverage and $1.25 billion of excess coverage for stabilization, decontamination, debris removal, repair and/or replacement of property, and decommissioning. The combined coverage limit for total property damage is $2.75 billion. The total limit for property damage for non-nuclear events is $1.8 billion and an aggregate of $328 million of coverage for extra expenses over a two-year period.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
On December 20, 2019, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019 was signed, extending TRIA through December 31, 2027. For multiple terrorism losses caused by acts of terrorism not covered under the TRIA occurring within one year after the first loss from terrorism, the NEIL policies would make available to all insured entities up to $3.2 billion, plus any amounts recovered from reinsurance, government indemnity, or other sources to cover losses.
Under NEIL policies, DTE Electric could be liable for maximum assessments of up to $38 million per event if the loss associated with any one event at any nuclear plant should exceed the accumulated funds available to NEIL.
Public Liability Insurance
As required by federal law, DTE Electric maintains $450 million of public liability insurance for a nuclear incident. Further, under the Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 2005, deferred premium charges up to $166 million could be levied against each licensed nuclear facility, but not more than $25 million per year per facility. Thus, deferred premium charges could be levied against all owners of licensed nuclear facilities in the event of a nuclear incident at any of these facilities.
Nuclear Fuel Disposal Costs
In accordance with the Federal Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, DTE Electric has a contract with the DOE for the future storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel from Fermi 2 that required DTE Electric to pay the DOE a fee of 1 mill per kWh of Fermi 2 electricity generated and sold. The fee was a component of nuclear fuel expense. The 1 mill per kWh DOE fee was reduced to zero effective May 16, 2014.
The DOE's Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository program for the acceptance and disposal of spent nuclear fuel was terminated in 2011. DTE Electric is a party in the litigation against the DOE for both past and future costs associated with the DOE's failure to accept spent nuclear fuel under the timetable set forth in the Federal Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. In July 2012, DTE Electric executed a settlement agreement with the federal government for costs associated with the DOE's delay in acceptance of spent nuclear fuel from Fermi 2 for permanent storage. The settlement agreement, including extensions, has provided for a claims process and payment of delay-related costs experienced by DTE Electric through 2025. DTE Electric's claims are being settled and paid on a timely basis. The settlement proceeds reduce the cost of the dry cask storage facility assets and provide reimbursement for related operating expenses.
DTE Electric currently employs a spent nuclear fuel storage strategy utilizing a fuel pool and a dry cask storage facility. The spent nuclear fuel storage strategy is expected to provide sufficient spent fuel storage capability for the life of the plant as defined by DTE Electric's operating license agreement.
The federal government continues to maintain its legal obligation to accept spent nuclear fuel from Fermi 2 for permanent storage. Issues relating to long-term waste disposal policy and to the disposition of funds contributed by DTE Electric ratepayers to the federal waste fund await future governmental action.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
NOTE 20 — RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND TRUSTEED ASSETS
DTE Energy's subsidiary, DTE Energy Corporate Services, LLC, sponsors defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans covering certain employees of the Registrants. Plan participants of all plans are solely DTE Energy and affiliate participants.
The table below represents the pension and other postretirement benefit plans of each Registrant at December 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Registrants |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
Qualified Pension Plans | | | |
DTE Energy Company Retirement Plan | X | | X |
DTE Gas Company Retirement Plan for Employees Covered by Collective Bargaining Agreements | X | | |
Shenango Inc. Pension Plan(a) | X | | |
Non-qualified Pension Plans | | | |
DTE Energy Company Supplemental Retirement Plan(b) | X | | X |
DTE Energy Company Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan(b) | X | | X |
DTE Energy Company Supplemental Severance Benefit Plan | X | | |
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans | | | |
The DTE Energy Company Comprehensive Non-Health Welfare Plan | X | | X |
The DTE Energy Company Comprehensive Retiree Group Health Care Plan | X | | X |
DTE Supplemental Retiree Benefit Plan | X | | X |
DTE Energy Company Retiree Reimbursement Arrangement Plan | X | | X |
_____________________________________
(a)Sponsored by Shenango, LLC
(b)Sponsored by DTE Energy Company
DTE Electric participates in various plans that provide pension and other postretirement benefits for DTE Energy and its affiliates. The plans are primarily sponsored by the LLC. DTE Electric accounts for its participation in DTE Energy's qualified and non-qualified pension plans by applying multiemployer accounting. DTE Electric accounts for its participation in other postretirement benefit plans by applying multiple-employer accounting. Within multiemployer and multiple-employer plans, participants pool plan assets for investment purposes and to reduce the cost of plan administration. The primary difference between plan types is that assets contributed in multiemployer plans can be used to provide benefits for all participating employers, while assets contributed within a multiple-employer plan are restricted for use by the contributing employer.
As a result of multiemployer accounting treatment, capitalized costs associated with these plans are reflected in Property, plant, and equipment in DTE Electric's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The same capitalized costs are reflected as Regulatory assets and liabilities in DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. For service costs recognized in earnings, these costs have historically been presented in Operation and maintenance in the Registrants' Consolidated Statements of Operations. For non-service costs recognized in earnings, these costs have historically been presented in Other (Income) and Deductions — Non-operating retirement benefits, net in DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Operations and Operation and maintenance in the DTE Electric Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In November 2022, DTE Electric received a rate order from the MPSC approving the deferral of qualified pension plan service and non-service costs that were previously being recognized in earnings. Therefore, the Registrants are recording these costs as Regulatory assets beginning in December 2022.
Pension Plan Benefits
DTE Energy has qualified defined benefit retirement plans for eligible represented and non-represented employees. The plans are noncontributory and provide traditional retirement benefits based on the employee's years of benefit service, average final compensation, and age at retirement. In addition, certain represented and non-represented employees are covered under cash balance provisions that determine benefits on annual employer contributions and interest credits. DTE Energy also maintains supplemental non-qualified, noncontributory, retirement benefit plans for certain management employees. These plans provide for benefits that supplement those provided by DTE Energy’s other retirement plans.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Net pension cost for DTE Energy includes the following components:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Service cost | $ | 57 | | | $ | 95 | | | $ | 108 | |
Interest cost | 214 | | | 166 | | | 158 | |
Expected return on plan assets | (352) | | | (346) | | | (339) | |
Amortization of: | | | | | |
Net actuarial loss | 7 | | | 115 | | | 196 | |
Prior service credit | (2) | | | (1) | | | — | |
Settlements | 7 | | | 94 | | | 16 | |
Net pension cost (credit) | $ | (69) | | | $ | 123 | | | $ | 139 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in Regulatory assets and Other comprehensive income (loss) | | | |
Net actuarial loss | $ | 62 | | | $ | 156 | |
Amortization of net actuarial loss and settlements | (14) | | | (209) | |
| | | |
Amortization of prior service credit | 2 | | | 1 | |
Total recognized in Regulatory assets and Other comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 50 | | | $ | (52) | |
Total recognized in net periodic pension cost, Regulatory assets, and Other comprehensive income (loss) | $ | (19) | | | $ | 71 | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The following table reconciles the obligations, assets, and funded status of the plans as well as the amounts recognized as prepaid pension cost or pension liability in DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at December 31:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
Accumulated benefit obligation, end of year | $ | 4,089 | | | $ | 4,078 | |
Change in projected benefit obligation | | | |
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of year | $ | 4,309 | | | $ | 5,857 | |
Service cost | 57 | | | 95 | |
Interest cost | 214 | | | 166 | |
| | | |
Actuarial (gain) loss | 74 | | | (1,252) | |
| | | |
| | | |
Benefits paid | (329) | | | (278) | |
Settlements | (7) | | | (279) | |
Projected benefit obligation, end of year | $ | 4,318 | | | $ | 4,309 | |
Change in plan assets | | | |
Plan assets at fair value, beginning of year | $ | 3,897 | | | $ | 5,507 | |
Actual return on plan assets | 363 | | | (1,062) | |
Company contributions | 36 | | | 9 | |
Benefits paid | (329) | | | (278) | |
Settlements | (7) | | | (279) | |
Plan assets at fair value, end of year | $ | 3,960 | | | $ | 3,897 | |
Funded status | $ | (358) | | | $ | (412) | |
Amount recorded as: | | | |
Current liabilities | $ | (8) | | | $ | (34) | |
Noncurrent liabilities | (350) | | | (378) | |
| $ | (358) | | | $ | (412) | |
Amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), pre-tax | | | |
Net actuarial loss | $ | 76 | | | $ | 85 | |
| | | |
| $ | 76 | | | $ | 85 | |
| | | |
Amounts recognized in Regulatory assets(a) | | | |
Net actuarial loss | $ | 1,426 | | | $ | 1,369 | |
Prior service credit | (5) | | | (7) | |
| $ | 1,421 | | | $ | 1,362 | |
______________________________________
(a)See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Regulatory Matters."
The increase in DTE Energy's pension benefit obligation for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to an actuarial loss driven by a decrease in discount rates. The decrease in the pension benefit obligation in 2022 was primarily due to an actuarial gain driven by an increase in discount rates, as well as settlements arising from higher lump-sum payments to retirees during the year.
The Registrants’ policy is to fund pension costs by contributing amounts consistent with the provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, and additional amounts when it deems appropriate. In 2023 and 2022, DTE Gas transferred $50 million of qualified pension plan funds to DTE Electric in exchange for cash consideration. There were no other transfers or contributions made to the qualified pension plans in 2023, 2022, or 2021. DTE Energy does not anticipate making any contributions to the qualified pension plans in 2024, subject to management discretion and any changes in financial market conditions.
DTE Energy's subsidiaries are responsible for their share of qualified and non-qualified pension benefit costs. DTE Electric's allocated portion of pension benefit costs included in regulatory assets and liabilities, operation and maintenance expense, other income and deductions, and capital expenditures was a credit of $39 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, and a cost of $101 million and $107 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. These amounts may include recognized contractual termination benefit charges, curtailment gains, and settlement charges.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
At December 31, 2023, the benefits related to DTE Energy's qualified and non-qualified pension plans expected to be paid in each of the next five years and in the aggregate for the five fiscal years thereafter are as follows:
| | | | | |
| (In millions) |
2024 | $ | 319 | |
2025 | 328 | |
2026 | 322 | |
2027 | 321 | |
2028 | 324 | |
2029-2033 | 1,605 | |
Total | $ | 3,219 | |
Assumptions used in determining the projected benefit obligation and net pension costs of DTE Energy are:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Projected benefit obligation | | | | | |
Discount rate | 5.00% | | 5.19% | | 2.91% |
Rate of compensation increase | 3.80% | | 3.80% | | 3.80% |
Cash balance interest crediting rate | 3.60% | | 3.40% | | 2.40% |
Net pension costs | | | | | |
Discount rate | 5.19% | | 2.91% | | 2.57% |
Rate of compensation increase | 3.80% | | 3.80% | | 3.80% |
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets | 7.60% | | 6.80% | | 7.00% |
Cash balance interest crediting rate | 3.40% | | 2.40% | | 2.00% |
DTE Energy employs a formal process in determining the long-term rate of return for various asset classes. Management reviews historic financial market risks and returns and long-term historic relationships between the asset classes of equities, fixed income, and other assets, consistent with the widely accepted capital market principle that asset classes with higher volatility generate a greater return over the long-term. Current market factors such as inflation, interest rates, asset class risks, and asset class returns are evaluated and considered before long-term capital market assumptions are determined. The long-term portfolio return is also established employing a consistent formal process, with due consideration of diversification, active investment management, and rebalancing. Peer data is reviewed to check for reasonableness. As a result of this process, the Registrants have a long-term rate of return assumption for the pension plans of 8.00% for 2024. The Registrants believe this rate is a reasonable assumption for the long-term rate of return on plan assets given the current investment strategy.
The DTE Energy Company Affiliates Employee Benefit Plans Master Trust employs a liability driven investment program whereby the characteristics of plan liabilities are considered when determining investment policy. Risk tolerance is established through consideration of future plan cash flows, plan funded status, and corporate financial considerations. The investment portfolio contains a diversified blend of equity, fixed income, and other investments. Furthermore, equity investments are diversified across U.S. and non-U.S. stocks and large and small market capitalizations. Fixed income investments generally include U.S. Treasuries, other governmental debt, diversified corporate bonds, bank loans, and mortgage-backed securities. Other investments are used to enhance long-term returns while improving portfolio diversification. Derivatives may be utilized in a risk controlled manner, to potentially increase the portfolio beyond the market value of invested assets and/or reduce portfolio investment risk. Investment risk is measured and monitored on an ongoing basis through annual liability measurements, periodic asset/liability studies, and quarterly investment portfolio reviews.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Target allocations for DTE Energy's pension plan assets as of December 31, 2023 are listed below:
| | | | | |
U.S. Large Capitalization (Cap) Equity Securities | 12 | % |
U.S. Small Cap and Mid Cap Equity Securities | 2 | |
Non-U.S. Equity Securities | 11 | |
Fixed Income Securities | 48 | |
| |
Hedge Funds and Similar Investments | 8 | |
Private Equity and Other | 19 | |
| 100 | % |
The following table provides the fair value measurement amounts for DTE Energy's pension plan assets at December 31, 2023 and 2022(a):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
| Level 1 | | Level 2 | | | | Other(b) | | Total | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | | | Other(b) | | Total |
DTE Energy asset category: | (In millions) |
Short-term Investments(c) | $ | 100 | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | $ | 100 | | | $ | 77 | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | $ | 77 | |
Equity Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Domestic(d) | — | | | — | | | | | 550 | | | 550 | | | — | | | — | | | | | 483 | | | 483 | |
International(e) | 55 | | | — | | | | | 309 | | | 364 | | | 65 | | | — | | | | | 416 | | | 481 | |
Fixed Income Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Governmental(f) | 531 | | | 78 | | | | | — | | | 609 | | | 506 | | | 77 | | | | | — | | | 583 | |
Corporate(g) | — | | | 1,323 | | | | | — | | | 1,323 | | | — | | | 1,203 | | | | | — | | | 1,203 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Hedge Funds and Similar Investments(h) | 104 | | | 68 | | | | | 110 | | | 282 | | | 86 | | | 50 | | | | | 185 | | | 321 | |
Private Equity and Other(i) | — | | | — | | | | | 732 | | | 732 | | | — | | | — | | | | | 749 | | | 749 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DTE Energy Total | $ | 790 | | | $ | 1,469 | | | | | $ | 1,701 | | | $ | 3,960 | | | $ | 734 | | | $ | 1,330 | | | | | $ | 1,833 | | | $ | 3,897 | |
_______________________________________
(a)For a description of levels within the fair value hierarchy, see Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Fair Value."
(b)Amounts represent assets valued at NAV as a practical expedient for fair value.
(c)This category predominantly represents certain short-term fixed income securities and money market investments that are managed in separate accounts or commingled funds. Pricing for investments in this category is obtained from quoted prices in actively traded markets.
(d)This category represents portfolios of large, medium and small capitalization domestic equities. Investments in this category include exchange-traded securities held in a commingled fund classified as NAV assets.
(e)This category primarily consists of portfolios of non-U.S. developed and emerging market equities. Investments in this category include exchange-traded securities for which unadjusted quoted prices can be obtained and exchange-traded securities held in a commingled fund classified as NAV assets.
(f)This category includes U.S. Treasuries, bonds, and other governmental debt. Pricing for investments in this category is obtained from quoted prices in actively traded markets and quotations from broker or pricing services.
(g)This category primarily consists of corporate bonds from diversified industries, bank loans, and mortgage backed securities. Pricing for investments in this category is obtained from quotations from broker or pricing services.
(h)This category utilizes a diversified group of strategies that attempt to capture uncorrelated sources of return and includes publicly traded mutual funds, insurance-linked and asset-backed securities, commingled funds and limited partnership funds. Pricing for mutual funds in this category is obtained from quoted prices in actively traded markets. Pricing for insurance-linked and asset-backed securities is obtained from quotations from broker or pricing services. Commingled funds and limited partnership funds are classified as NAV assets.
(i)This category includes a diversified group of funds and strategies that primarily invests in private equity partnerships. This category also includes investments in private real estate and private debt. All investments in this category are classified as NAV assets.
The pension trust holds debt and equity securities directly and indirectly through commingled funds. Exchange-traded debt and equity securities held directly, as well as publicly traded commingled funds, are valued using quoted market prices in actively traded markets. Non-publicly traded commingled funds hold exchange-traded equity or debt securities and are valued based on stated NAVs. Non-exchange traded fixed income securities are valued by the trustee based upon quotations available from brokers or pricing services. A primary price source is identified by asset type, class, or issue for each security. The trustee monitors prices supplied by pricing services and may use a supplemental price source or change the primary price source of a given security if the trustee challenges an assigned price and determines that another price source is considered preferable. DTE Energy has obtained an understanding of how these prices are derived, including the nature and observability of the inputs used in deriving such prices.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Other Postretirement Benefits
The Registrants participate in defined benefit plans sponsored by the LLC that provide certain other postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for employees who are eligible for these benefits. The Registrants' policy is to fund certain trusts to meet its other postretirement benefit obligations. DTE Energy did not make any contributions to these trusts during 2023 and does not anticipate making any contributions to the trusts in 2024.
DTE Energy and DTE Electric offer a defined contribution VEBA for eligible represented and non-represented employees, in lieu of defined benefit post-employment health care benefits. The Registrants allocate a fixed amount per year to an account in a defined contribution VEBA for each employee. These accounts are managed either by the Registrant (for non-represented and certain represented groups) or by the Utility Workers of America for Local 223 employees. The following table provides contributions to the VEBA in:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
DTE Energy | $ | 16 | | | $ | 16 | | | $ | 18 | |
DTE Electric | $ | 7 | | | $ | 7 | | | $ | 8 | |
The Registrants also contribute a fixed amount to a Retiree Reimbursement Account for certain non-represented and represented retirees, spouses, and surviving spouses when the youngest of the retiree's covered household becomes eligible for Medicare Part A based on age. The amount of the annual allocation to each participant is determined by the employee's retirement date and increases each year for each eligible participant at the lower of the rate of medical inflation or 2%.
Net other postretirement credit for DTE Energy includes the following components:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Service cost | $ | 17 | | | $ | 27 | | | $ | 30 | |
Interest cost | 65 | | | 48 | | | 46 | |
Expected return on plan assets | (111) | | | (126) | | | (129) | |
Amortization of: | | | | | |
Net actuarial loss | 10 | | | 4 | | | 13 | |
Prior service credit | (19) | | | (19) | | | (19) | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Net other postretirement credit | $ | (38) | | | $ | (66) | | | $ | (59) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
Other changes in plan assets and accumulated postretirement benefit obligation recognized in Regulatory assets and Other comprehensive income (loss) | | | |
Net actuarial (gain) loss | $ | (17) | | | $ | 90 | |
Amortization of net actuarial loss | (10) | | | (4) | |
Prior service cost | — | | | 1 | |
Amortization of prior service credit | 19 | | | 19 | |
| | | |
Total recognized in Regulatory assets and Other comprehensive income (loss) | $ | (8) | | | $ | 106 | |
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost, Regulatory assets, and Other comprehensive income (loss) | $ | (46) | | | $ | 40 | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Net other postretirement credit for DTE Electric includes the following components:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Service cost | $ | 13 | | | $ | 20 | | | $ | 23 | |
Interest cost | 49 | | | 37 | | | 35 | |
Expected return on plan assets | (73) | | | (85) | | | (86) | |
Amortization of: | | | | | |
Net actuarial loss | 1 | | | 5 | | | 11 | |
Prior service credit | (14) | | | (14) | | | (14) | |
| | | | | |
Net other postretirement credit | $ | (24) | | | $ | (37) | | | $ | (31) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
Other changes in plan assets and accumulated postretirement benefit obligation recognized in Regulatory assets | | | |
Net actuarial (gain) loss | $ | (6) | | | $ | 24 | |
Amortization of net actuarial loss | (1) | | | (5) | |
Amortization of prior service credit | 14 | | | 14 | |
| | | |
Total recognized in Regulatory assets | $ | 7 | | | $ | 33 | |
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and Regulatory assets | $ | (17) | | | $ | (4) | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The following table reconciles the obligations, assets, and funded status of the plans including amounts recorded as Accrued postretirement liability in the Registrants' Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at December 31:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
Change in accumulated postretirement benefit obligation | | | | | | | |
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation, beginning of year | $ | 1,293 | | | $ | 1,702 | | | $ | 982 | | | $ | 1,293 | |
Service cost | 17 | | | 27 | | | 13 | | | 20 | |
Interest cost | 65 | | | 48 | | | 49 | | | 37 | |
| | | | | | | |
Actuarial (gain) loss | (5) | | | (395) | | | 2 | | | (301) | |
| | | | | | | |
Benefits paid | (87) | | | (89) | | | (64) | | | (67) | |
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation, end of year | $ | 1,283 | | | $ | 1,293 | | | $ | 982 | | | $ | 982 | |
Change in plan assets | | | | | | | |
Plan assets at fair value, beginning of year | $ | 1,577 | | | $ | 2,021 | | | $ | 1,052 | | | $ | 1,355 | |
Actual return on plan assets | 124 | | | (359) | | | 81 | | | (239) | |
| | | | | | | |
Benefits paid | (87) | | | (85) | | | (63) | | | (64) | |
Plan assets at fair value, end of year | $ | 1,614 | | | $ | 1,577 | | | $ | 1,070 | | | $ | 1,052 | |
Funded status | $ | 331 | | | $ | 284 | | | $ | 88 | | | $ | 70 | |
Amount recorded as: | | | | | | | |
Noncurrent assets | $ | 633 | | | $ | 571 | | | $ | 378 | | | $ | 345 | |
Current liabilities | (1) | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Noncurrent liabilities | (301) | | | (287) | | | (290) | | | (275) | |
| $ | 331 | | | $ | 284 | | | $ | 88 | | | $ | 70 | |
Amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), pre-tax | | | | | | | |
Net actuarial gain | $ | (13) | | | $ | (14) | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Amounts recognized in Regulatory assets(a) | | | | | | | |
Net actuarial loss | $ | 173 | | | $ | 201 | | | $ | 73 | | | $ | 80 | |
Prior service credit | (10) | | | (29) | | | (6) | | | (20) | |
| | | | | | | |
| $ | 163 | | | $ | 172 | | | $ | 67 | | | $ | 60 | |
______________________________________
(a)See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Regulatory Matters."
The Registrants' postretirement benefit obligations did not change significantly for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Registrants' postretirement benefit obligations decreased in 2022 primarily due to actuarial gains driven by increases in discount rates.
The following table reflects other postretirement benefit plans with accumulated postretirement benefit obligations in excess of plan assets as of December 31:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| (In millions) |
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation | $ | 628 | | | $ | 625 | | | $ | 592 | | | $ | 591 | |
Fair value of plan assets | 326 | | | 338 | | | 302 | | | 316 | |
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation in excess of plan assets | $ | 302 | | | $ | 287 | | | $ | 290 | | | $ | 275 | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
At December 31, 2023, the benefits expected to be paid, including prescription drug benefits, in each of the next five years and in the aggregate for the five fiscal years thereafter for the Registrants are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| DTE Energy | | DTE Electric |
| (In millions) |
2024 | $ | 84 | | | $ | 64 | |
2025 | 88 | | | 67 | |
2026 | 89 | | | 68 | |
2027 | 91 | | | 70 | |
2028 | 92 | | | 71 | |
2029-2033 | 482 | | | 369 | |
Total | $ | 926 | | | $ | 709 | |
Assumptions used in determining the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation and net other postretirement benefit costs of the Registrants are:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation | | | | | |
Discount rate | 5.00% | | 5.19% | | 2.91% |
Health care trend rate pre- and post- 65 | 7.75 / 8.25% | | 6.75 / 7.25% | | 6.75 / 7.25% |
Ultimate health care trend rate | 4.50% | | 4.50% | | 4.50% |
Year in which ultimate reached pre- and post- 65 | 2035 | | 2035 | | 2034 |
Other postretirement benefit costs | | | | | |
Discount rate | 5.19% | | 2.91% | | 2.58% |
| | | | | |
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets | 7.20% | | 6.40% | | 6.70% |
Health care trend rate pre- and post- 65 | 6.75 / 7.25% | | 6.75 / 7.25% | | 6.75 / 7.25% |
Ultimate health care trend rate | 4.50% | | 4.50% | | 4.50% |
Year in which ultimate reached pre- and post- 65 | 2035 | | 2034 | | 2033 |
The process used in determining the long-term rate of return on assets for the other postretirement benefit plans is similar to that previously described for the pension plans. As a result of this process, the Registrants have a long-term rate of return assumption for the other postretirement benefit plans of 7.60% for 2024. The Registrants believe this rate is a reasonable assumption for the long-term rate of return on plan assets given the current investment strategy.
The DTE Energy Company Master VEBA Trust employs a liability driven investment program whereby the characteristics of plan liabilities are considered when determining investment policy. Risk tolerance is established through consideration of future plan cash flows, plan funded status, and corporate financial considerations. The investment portfolio contains a diversified blend of equity, fixed income, and other investments. Furthermore, equity investments are diversified across U.S. and non-U.S. stocks and large and small market capitalizations. Fixed income investments generally include U.S. Treasuries, other governmental debt, diversified corporate bonds, bank loans, and mortgage-backed securities. Other investments are used to enhance long-term returns while improving portfolio diversification. Derivatives may be utilized in a risk controlled manner to potentially increase the portfolio beyond the market value of invested assets and/or reduce portfolio investment risk. Investment risk is measured and monitored on an ongoing basis through annual liability measurements, periodic asset/liability studies, and quarterly investment portfolio reviews.
Target allocations for the Registrants' other postretirement benefit plan assets as of December 31, 2023 are listed below:
| | | | | |
U.S. Large Cap Equity Securities | 5 | % |
| |
Non-U.S. Equity Securities | 4 | |
Fixed Income Securities | 61 | |
Hedge Funds and Similar Investments | 9 | |
Private Equity and Other | 21 | |
| 100 | % |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The following tables provide the fair value measurement amounts for the Registrants' other postretirement benefit plan assets at December 31, 2023 and 2022(a):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
| Level 1 | | Level 2 | | | | Other(b) | | Total | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | | | Other(b) | | Total |
| (In millions) |
DTE Energy asset category: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short-term Investments(c) | $ | 41 | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | $ | 41 | | | $ | 35 | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | $ | 35 | |
Equity Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Domestic(d) | — | | | — | | | | | 76 | | | 76 | | | — | | | — | | | | | 78 | | | 78 | |
International(e) | 7 | | | — | | | | | 43 | | | 50 | | | 9 | | | — | | | | | 61 | | | 70 | |
Fixed Income Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Governmental(f) | 242 | | | 31 | | | | | — | | | 273 | | | 264 | | | 32 | | | | | — | | | 296 | |
Corporate(g) | — | | | 459 | | | | | 212 | | | 671 | | | — | | | 396 | | | | | 194 | | | 590 | |
Hedge Funds and Similar Investments(h) | 18 | | | 21 | | | | | 86 | | | 125 | | | 31 | | | 22 | | | | | 94 | | | 147 | |
Private Equity and Other(i) | — | | | — | | | | | 378 | | | 378 | | | — | | | — | | | | | 361 | | | 361 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DTE Energy Total | $ | 308 | | | $ | 511 | | | | | $ | 795 | | | $ | 1,614 | | | $ | 339 | | | $ | 450 | | | | | $ | 788 | | | $ | 1,577 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DTE Electric asset category: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short-term Investments(c) | $ | 27 | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | $ | 27 | | | $ | 23 | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | $ | 23 | |
Equity Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Domestic(d) | — | | | — | | | | | 48 | | | 48 | | | — | | | — | | | | | 50 | | | 50 | |
International(e) | 4 | | | — | | | | | 27 | | | 31 | | | 5 | | | — | | | | | 39 | | | 44 | |
Fixed Income Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Governmental(f) | 161 | | | 21 | | | | | — | | | 182 | | | 178 | | | 21 | | | | | — | | | 199 | |
Corporate(g) | — | | | 302 | | | | | 145 | | | 447 | | | — | | | 262 | | | | | 134 | | | 396 | |
Hedge Funds and Similar Investments(h) | 11 | | | 14 | | | | | 58 | | | 83 | | | 20 | | | 15 | | | | | 63 | | | 98 | |
Private Equity and Other(i) | — | | | — | | | | | 252 | | | 252 | | | — | | | — | | | | | 242 | | | 242 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DTE Electric Total | $ | 203 | | | $ | 337 | | | | | $ | 530 | | | $ | 1,070 | | | $ | 226 | | | $ | 298 | | | | | $ | 528 | | | $ | 1,052 | |
_______________________________________
(a)For a description of levels within the fair value hierarchy see Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Fair Value."
(b)Amounts represent assets valued at NAV as a practical expedient for fair value.
(c)This category predominantly represents certain short-term fixed income securities and money market investments that are managed in separate accounts or commingled funds. Pricing for investments in this category is obtained from quoted prices in actively traded markets.
(d)This category represents portfolios of large, medium and small capitalization domestic equities. Investments in this category include exchange-traded securities held in a commingled fund classified as NAV assets.
(e)This category primarily consists of portfolios of non-U.S. developed and emerging market equities. Investments in this category include exchange-traded securities for which unadjusted quoted prices can be obtained and exchange-traded securities held in a commingled fund classified as NAV assets.
(f)This category includes U.S. Treasuries, bonds and other governmental debt. Pricing for investments in this category is obtained from quoted prices in actively traded markets and quotations from broker or pricing services.
(g)This category primarily consists of corporate bonds from diversified industries, bank loans, and mortgage backed securities. Pricing for investments in this category is obtained from quotations from broker or pricing services. Non-exchange traded securities and exchange-traded securities held in commingled funds are classified as NAV assets.
(h)This category utilizes a diversified group of strategies that attempt to capture uncorrelated sources of return and includes publicly traded mutual funds, insurance-linked and asset-backed securities, commingled funds and limited partnership funds. Pricing for mutual funds in this category is obtained from quoted prices in actively traded markets. Pricing for insurance-linked and asset-backed securities is obtained from quotations from broker or pricing services. Commingled funds and limited partnership funds are classified as NAV assets.
(i)This category includes a diversified group of funds and strategies that primarily invests in private equity partnerships. This category also includes investments in private real estate and private debt. All investments in this category are classified as NAV assets.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The DTE Energy Company Master VEBA Trust holds debt and equity securities directly and indirectly through commingled funds. Exchange-traded debt and equity securities held directly, as well as publicly traded commingled funds, are valued using quoted market prices in actively traded markets. Non-publicly traded commingled funds hold exchange-traded equity or debt securities and are valued based on NAVs. Non-exchange traded fixed income securities are valued by the trustee based upon quotations available from brokers or pricing services. A primary price source is identified by asset type, class, or issue for each security. The trustee monitors prices supplied by pricing services and may use a supplemental price source or change the primary price source of a given security if the trustee challenges an assigned price and determines that another price source is considered preferable. The Registrants have obtained an understanding of how these prices are derived, including the nature and observability of the inputs used in deriving such prices.
Defined Contribution Plans
The Registrants also sponsor defined contribution retirement savings plans. Participation in one of these plans is available to substantially all represented and non-represented employees. For substantially all employees, the Registrants match employee contributions up to certain predefined limits based upon eligible compensation and the employee’s contribution rate. Additionally, for eligible represented and non-represented employees who do not participate in the Pension Plans, the Registrants contribute amounts equivalent to 4% (8% for certain DTE Gas represented employees) of an employee's eligible compensation to the employee's defined contribution retirement savings plan. For DTE Energy, the cost of these plans was $75 million, $73 million, and $70 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. For DTE Electric, the cost of these plans was $35 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and $34 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
NOTE 21 — STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
DTE Energy’s stock incentive program permits the grant of incentive stock options, non-qualifying stock options, stock awards, performance shares, and performance units to employees and members of its Board of Directors. As a result of a stock award, a settlement of an award of performance shares, or by exercise of a participant’s stock option, DTE Energy may deliver common stock from its authorized but unissued common stock and/or from outstanding common stock acquired by or on behalf of DTE Energy in the name of the participant. Key provisions of the stock incentive program are:
•Authorized limit is 20,162,716 shares of common stock;
•Prohibits the grant of a stock option with an exercise price that is less than the fair market value of DTE Energy’s stock on the date of the grant; and
•Imposes the following award limits to a single participant in a single calendar year, (1) options for more than 500,000 shares of common stock; (2) stock awards for more than 150,000 shares of common stock; (3) performance share awards for more than 300,000 shares of common stock (based on the maximum payout under the award); or (4) more than 1,000,000 performance units, which have a face amount of $1.00 each.
DTE Energy records compensation expense at fair value over the vesting period for all awards it grants.
The following table summarizes the components of stock-based compensation for DTE Energy:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Stock-based compensation expense | $ | 48 | | | $ | 62 | | | $ | 71 | |
Tax benefit | $ | 9 | | | $ | 11 | | | $ | 13 | |
| | | | | |
Restricted Stock Awards
Stock awards granted under the plan are restricted for varying periods, generally for three years. Participants have all rights of a shareholder with respect to a stock award, including the right to receive dividends and vote the shares. Prior to vesting in stock awards, the participant: (i) may not sell, transfer, pledge, exchange, or otherwise dispose of shares; (ii) shall not retain custody of the share certificates; and (iii) will deliver to DTE Energy a stock power with respect to each stock award upon request.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
The stock awards are recorded at cost that approximates fair value on the date of grant. The cost is amortized to compensation expense over the vesting period.
The fair value of awards vested were not material for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021. Compensation cost charged against income was $14 million, $15 million, and $14 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
Performance Share Awards
Performance shares awarded under the plan are for a specified number of shares of DTE Energy common stock that entitle the holder to receive a cash payment, shares of DTE Energy common stock, or a combination thereof. The final value of the award is determined by the achievement of certain performance objectives and market conditions. The awards vest at the end of a specified period, usually three years. Awards granted in 2023, 2022, and 2021 were primarily deemed to be equity awards. The DTE Energy stock price and number of probable shares attributable to market conditions for such equity awards are fair valued only at the grant date. DTE Energy accounts for performance share awards by accruing compensation expense over the vesting period based on: (i) the number of shares expected to be paid which is based on the probable achievement of performance objectives; and (ii) the closing stock price market value. The settlement of the award is based on the closing price at the settlement date.
DTE Energy recorded activity relating to performance share awards as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions, except per share amounts) |
Weighted average grant date fair value of awards granted (per share) | $ | 112.73 | | | $ | 120.25 | | | $ | 118.43 | |
Awards settled in cash(a) | $ | 9 | | | $ | 10 | | | $ | 12 | |
Awards settled in stock(a) | $ | 59 | | | $ | 72 | | | $ | 74 | |
Compensation expense | $ | 34 | | | $ | 47 | | | $ | 58 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Sum of awards settled in cash and stock approximates the intrinsic value of the awards.
During the vesting period, the recipient of a performance share award has no shareholder rights. During the period beginning on the date the performance shares are awarded and ending on the certification date of the performance objectives, the number of performance shares awarded will be increased, assuming full dividend reinvestment at the fair market value on the dividend payment date. The cumulative number of performance shares will be adjusted to determine the final payment based on the performance objectives achieved. Performance share awards are nontransferable and are subject to risk of forfeiture.
The following table summarizes DTE Energy’s performance share activity for the period ended December 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Performance Shares | | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |
Balance at December 31, 2022 | 1,018,057 | | | $ | 120.91 | |
Grants | 347,242 | | | $ | 112.73 | |
Forfeitures | (65,632) | | | $ | 112.51 | |
Payouts | (309,174) | | | $ | 112.30 | |
Balance at December 31, 2023 | 990,493 | | | $ | 121.29 | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Unrecognized Compensation Costs
As of December 31, 2023, DTE Energy's total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock incentive plan arrangements and the weighted average recognition period was as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Unrecognized Compensation Cost | | Weighted Average to be Recognized |
| (In millions) | | (In years) |
| | | |
Stock awards | $ | 20 | | | 1.39 |
Performance shares | 40 | | | 1.08 |
| $ | 60 | | | 1.18 |
Allocated Stock-Based Compensation
DTE Electric received an allocation of costs from DTE Energy associated with stock-based compensation. DTE Electric's allocation for 2023, 2022, and 2021 for stock-based compensation expense was $31 million, $40 million, and $45 million, respectively.
NOTE 22 — SEGMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION
DTE Energy sets strategic goals, allocates resources, and evaluates performance based on the following structure:
Electric segment consists principally of DTE Electric, which is engaged in the generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity to approximately 2.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southeastern Michigan.
Gas segment consists principally of DTE Gas, which is engaged in the purchase, storage, transportation, distribution, and sale of natural gas to approximately 1.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers throughout Michigan and the sale of storage and transportation capacity.
DTE Vantage is comprised primarily of renewable energy projects that sell electricity and pipeline-quality gas and projects that deliver custom energy solutions to industrial, commercial, and institutional customers. DTE Vantage formerly included projects that produced reduced emissions fuel; however, these projects were closed as planned in 2022 upon REF facilities exhausting their eligibility for generating production tax credits.
Energy Trading consists of energy marketing and trading operations.
Corporate and Other includes various holding company activities, holds certain non-utility debt, and holds certain investments, including funds supporting regional development and economic growth.
On July 1, 2021, DTE Energy completed the separation of DT Midstream, which was comprised of the former Gas Storage and Pipelines segment and also certain holding company activity within the Corporate and Other segment. Amounts relating to DT Midstream have been classified as discontinued operations, and Gas Storage and Pipelines is no longer a reportable segment of DTE Energy. Refer to Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Discontinued Operations,” for additional information.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Inter-segment billing for goods and services exchanged between segments is based upon tariffed or market-based prices of the provider. Such billing primarily consists of power sales, sale and transportation of natural gas, and renewable natural gas sales in the segments below, as well as charges from Electric to other segments for use of the shared capital assets of DTE Electric. For 2021, inter-segment billing also included the sale of reduced emissions fuel at DTE Vantage.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Electric(a) | $ | 72 | | | $ | 71 | | | $ | 64 | |
Gas | 17 | | | 13 | | | 14 | |
DTE Vantage | 68 | | | 78 | | | 575 | |
Energy Trading | 85 | | | 102 | | | 56 | |
Corporate and Other | — | | | — | | | 2 | |
| $ | 242 | | | $ | 264 | | | $ | 711 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Inter-segment billing for the Electric segment includes $3 million, $6 million, and $4 million relating to Non-utility operations for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
All inter-segment transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation for DTE Energy. Centrally incurred costs such as labor and overheads are assigned directly to DTE Energy's business segments or allocated based on various cost drivers, depending on the nature of service provided.
The federal income tax provisions or benefits of DTE Energy’s subsidiaries are determined on an individual company basis and recognize the tax benefit of tax credits and net operating losses, if applicable. The state and local income tax provisions of the utility subsidiaries are also determined on an individual company basis and recognize the tax benefit of various tax credits and net operating losses, if applicable. The subsidiaries record federal, state, and local income taxes payable to or receivable from DTE Energy based on the federal, state, and local tax provisions of each company.
The Reclassifications and Eliminations group below also includes the reclassification of deferred tax assets and prepaid pension assets, which are netted against deferred tax liabilities and accrued pension liabilities, respectively, for presentation on the DTE Energy Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Refer to Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Income Taxes," for additional information regarding the Registrants' deferred taxes and to Note 20, "Retirement Benefits and Trusteed Assets," for additional information regarding pension plans.
Financial data of DTE Energy's business segments follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electric | | Gas | | DTE Vantage | | Energy Trading | | Corporate and Other | | Reclassifications and Eliminations | | Total | | | | |
| (In millions) |
2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating Revenues — Utility operations | $ | 5,804 | | | 1,748 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (86) | | | $ | 7,466 | | | | | |
Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations | $ | 14 | | | — | | | 809 | | | 4,612 | | | — | | | (156) | | | $ | 5,279 | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | $ | 1,340 | | | 209 | | | 53 | | | 4 | | | — | | | — | | | $ | 1,606 | | | | | |
Interest expense | $ | 432 | | | 102 | | | 15 | | | 18 | | | 270 | | | (46) | | | $ | 791 | | | | | |
Interest income | $ | (20) | | | (9) | | | (32) | | | (9) | | | (33) | | | 46 | | | $ | (57) | | | | | |
Equity earnings (losses) of equity method investees | $ | — | | | 1 | | | 7 | | | — | | | (5) | | | — | | | $ | 3 | | | | | |
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | $ | 78 | | | 93 | | | (22) | | | 112 | | | (92) | | | — | | | $ | 169 | | | | | |
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to DTE Energy Company | $ | 772 | | | 294 | | | 153 | | | 336 | | | (158) | | | — | | | $ | 1,397 | | | | | |
Investment in equity method investees | $ | 5 | | | 16 | | | 118 | | | — | | | 27 | | | — | | | $ | 166 | | | | | |
Capital expenditures and acquisitions | $ | 3,128 | | | 746 | | | 57 | | | 3 | | | — | | | — | | | $ | 3,934 | | | | | |
Goodwill | $ | 1,208 | | | 743 | | | 25 | | | 17 | | | — | | | — | | | $ | 1,993 | | | | | |
Total Assets | $ | 32,292 | | | 7,722 | | | 1,122 | | | 1,166 | | | 4,150 | | | (1,697) | | | $ | 44,755 | | | | | |
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electric | | Gas | | DTE Vantage | | Energy Trading | | Corporate and Other | | Reclassifications and Eliminations | | Total | | | | |
| (In millions) |
2022 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating Revenues — Utility operations | $ | 6,397 | | | 1,924 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (78) | | | $ | 8,243 | | | | | |
Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations | $ | 15 | | | — | | | 848 | | | 10,308 | | | — | | | (186) | | | $ | 10,985 | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | $ | 1,218 | | | 192 | | | 52 | | | 5 | | | 1 | | | — | | | $ | 1,468 | | | | | |
Interest expense | $ | 372 | | | 91 | | | 15 | | | 17 | | | 210 | | | (30) | | | $ | 675 | | | | | |
Interest income | $ | (8) | | | (8) | | | (28) | | | (6) | | | (26) | | | 30 | | | $ | (46) | | | | | |
Equity earnings of equity method investees | $ | — | | | 2 | | | — | | | — | | | (16) | | | — | | | $ | (14) | | | | | |
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | $ | 25 | | | 88 | | | 18 | | | (31) | | | (71) | | | — | | | $ | 29 | | | | | |
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to DTE Energy Company | $ | 956 | | | 272 | | | 92 | | | (92) | | | (145) | | | — | | | $ | 1,083 | | | | | |
Investment in equity method investees | $ | 6 | | | 15 | | | 111 | | | — | | | 33 | | | — | | | $ | 165 | | | | | |
Capital expenditures and acquisitions | $ | 2,620 | | | 693 | | | 62 | | | 3 | | | — | | | — | | | $ | 3,378 | | | | | |
Goodwill | $ | 1,208 | | | 743 | | | 25 | | | 17 | | | — | | | — | | | $ | 1,993 | | | | | |
Total Assets | $ | 30,342 | | | 7,321 | | | 1,077 | | | 1,385 | | | 4,409 | | | (1,851) | | | $ | 42,683 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electric | | Gas | | DTE Vantage | | Energy Trading | | Corporate and Other(a) | | Reclassifications and Eliminations | | Total from Continuing Operations | | Discontinued Operations | | Total |
| (In millions) |
2021 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating Revenues — Utility operations | $ | 5,809 | | | 1,553 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (74) | | | $ | 7,288 | | | | | |
Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations | $ | 12 | | | — | | | 1,482 | | | 6,831 | | | 2 | | | (651) | | | $ | 7,676 | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | $ | 1,122 | | | 177 | | | 71 | | | 6 | | | 1 | | | — | | | $ | 1,377 | | | | | |
Interest expense | $ | 338 | | | 81 | | | 28 | | | 5 | | | 270 | | | (92) | | | $ | 630 | | | | | |
Interest income | $ | — | | | (6) | | | (23) | | | (1) | | | (84) | | | 92 | | | $ | (22) | | | | | |
Equity earnings of equity method investees | $ | — | | | 1 | | | 8 | | | — | | | 29 | | | — | | | $ | 38 | | | | | |
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | $ | 104 | | | 38 | | | (31) | | | (27) | | | (214) | | | — | | | $ | (130) | | | | | |
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to DTE Energy Company | $ | 864 | | | 214 | | | 168 | | | (83) | | | (367) | | | — | | | $ | 796 | | | 111 | | | $ | 907 | |
Investment in equity method investees | $ | 6 | | | 13 | | | 118 | | | — | | | 50 | | | — | | | $ | 187 | | | | | |
Capital expenditures and acquisitions | $ | 3,016 | | | 621 | | | 69 | | | 6 | | | — | | | — | | | $ | 3,712 | | | 60 | | | $ | 3,772 | |
Goodwill | $ | 1,208 | | | 743 | | | 25 | | | 17 | | | — | | | — | | | $ | 1,993 | | | | | |
Total Assets | $ | 28,524 | | | 6,729 | | | 983 | | | 1,174 | | | 4,281 | | | (1,972) | | | $ | 39,719 | | | — | | | $ | 39,719 | |
_______________________________________
(a)Corporate and Other results include significant one-time items resulting from the separation of DT Midstream, including a loss on debt extinguishment of $376 million following the settlement of intercompany borrowings with DT Midstream and optional redemption of DTE Energy long-term debt. DTE Energy also recognized a tax benefit of $85 million for the remeasurement of state deferred tax liabilities following the separation of DT Midstream.
Reclassifications and Eliminations include $14 million of Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 for eliminations related to DTE Energy's prior Gas Storage and Pipelines segment that remain in continuing operations. Eliminations for these revenues are offset by related cost eliminations and have no impact on DTE Energy net income.
DTE Energy Company — DTE Electric Company
Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
NOTE 23 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
DTE Electric has agreements with affiliated companies to buy and sell power, and for the purchase and transportation of fuel for use at its natural gas-fired combined cycle plant and other generation facilities. DTE Electric also has agreements with certain DTE Energy affiliates where it charges the affiliates for their use of the shared capital assets of DTE Electric. Various other corporate support expenses are accumulated by a shared services company and charged to various subsidiaries of DTE Energy, including DTE Electric.
The following is a summary of DTE Electric's transactions with affiliated companies:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| (In millions) |
Revenues and Other Income | | | | | |
Energy sales | $ | 11 | | | $ | 8 | | | $ | 9 | |
Other services and interest | $ | 3 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 2 | |
Shared capital assets | $ | 58 | | | $ | 57 | | | $ | 49 | |
Costs | | | | | |
Fuel and purchased power | $ | 50 | | | $ | 58 | | | $ | 13 | |
Other services and interest | $ | 2 | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | — | |
Corporate expenses | $ | 299 | | | $ | 379 | | | $ | 391 | |
Other | | | | | |
Dividends declared | $ | 1,002 | | | $ | 763 | | | $ | 588 | |
Dividends paid | $ | 1,002 | | | $ | 763 | | | $ | 588 | |
Capital contribution from DTE Energy | $ | 759 | | | $ | 600 | | | $ | 555 | |
DTE Electric's Accounts receivable and Accounts payable related to Affiliates are payable upon demand and are generally settled in cash within a monthly business cycle. Notes receivable and Short-term borrowings related to affiliates are subject to a credit agreement with DTE Energy whereby short-term excess cash or cash shortfalls are remitted to or funded by DTE Energy. This credit arrangement involves the charge and payment of interest based on monthly commercial paper rates. The weighted average interest rate for DTE Electric's affiliate borrowings was 5.6% and 4.4% at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Refer to DTE Electric's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position for affiliate balances at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
DTE Electric made charitable contributions to the DTE Energy Foundation of $2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. There were no contributions for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. The DTE Energy Foundation is a non-consolidated not-for-profit private foundation, the purpose of which is to contribute to and assist charitable organizations.
DTE Electric records federal, state, and local income taxes payable to or receivable from DTE Energy based on its federal, state, and local tax provisions. Refer to Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Income Taxes," for additional information. For a discussion of other related party transactions impacting DTE Electric, see Notes 20 and 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Retirement Benefits and Trusteed Assets" and "Stock-Based Compensation," respectively.