aee-20201231
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020
OR
(Missouri Corporation)
1901 Chouteau Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri63103
(314)621-3222
(Missouri Corporation)
1901 Chouteau Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri63103
(314)621-3222
(Illinois Corporation)
10 Executive Drive
Collinsville, Illinois62234
(618)343-8150
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
The following security is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange:
Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share AEE New York Stock Exchange
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Registrant Title of each class
Indicate by checkmark if each registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Ameren Corporation Yes ☒ No ☐
Union Electric Company Yes ☒ No ☐
Ameren Illinois Company Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by checkmark if each registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Ameren Corporation Yes ☐ No ☒
Union Electric Company Yes ☐ No ☒
Ameren Illinois Company Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by checkmark whether the registrants: (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Ameren Corporation Yes ☒ No ☐
Union Electric Company Yes ☒ No ☐
Ameren Illinois Company Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by checkmark whether each registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Ameren Corporation Yes ☒ No ☐
Union Electric Company Yes ☒ No ☐
Ameren Illinois Company Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by checkmark whether each registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Smaller reporting company ☐ Emerging growth company ☐
Smaller reporting company ☐ Emerging growth company ☐
Smaller reporting company ☐ Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Ameren Corporation ☐
Union Electric Company ☐
Ameren Illinois Company ☐
Indicate by check mark whether each registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
Ameren Corporation ☒
Union Electric Company ☐
Ameren Illinois Company ☐
Indicate by checkmark whether each registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Ameren Corporation Yes ☐ No ☒
Union Electric Company Yes ☐ No ☒
Ameren Illinois Company Yes ☐ No ☒
As of June 30, 2020, the aggregate market value of Ameren Corporation’s common stock, $0.01 par value, (based upon the closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2020) held by nonaffiliates was $17,299,078,950. All of the shares of common stock of the other registrants were held by Ameren Corporation as of June 30, 2020.
The number of shares outstanding of each registrant’s classes of common stock as of January 29, 2021, were as follows:
Registrant Title of each class of common stock Shares
Ameren Corporation Common stock, $0.01 par value per share 253,355,105
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the definitive proxy statement of Ameren Corporation and portions of the definitive information statements of Union Electric Company and Ameren Illinois Company for the 2021 annual meetings of shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
This combined Form 10-K is separately filed by Ameren Corporation, Union Electric Company, and Ameren Illinois Company. Each registrant hereto is filing on its own behalf all of the information contained in this annual report that relates to such registrant. Each registrant hereto is not filing any information that does not relate to such registrant, and therefore makes no representation as to any such information.
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 1
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 4
PART I
Item 1. Business 6
General 6
Business Segments 6
Rates and Regulation 7
Transmission 9
Supply of Electric Power 9
Power Generation 10
Renewable Energy and Zero Emission Standards 11
Customer Energy-Efficiency Programs 12
Natural Gas Supply for Distribution 12
Human Capital Management 13
The COVID-19 Pandemic 15
Industry Issues 15
Operating Statistics 17
Available Information 19
Item 1A. Risk Factors 19
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 28
Item 2. Properties 29
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 30
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 30
Information about Our Executive Officers 31
PART II
Item 6. Selected Financial Data 34
Overview 35
Results of Operations 38
Liquidity and Capital Resources 52
Regulatory Matters 66
Accounting Matters 66
Effects of Inflation and Changing Prices 70
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 70
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 74
Ameren Corporation 80
Union Electric 84
Ameren Illinois 88
Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 92
Note 2. Rate and Regulatory Matters 97
Note 3. Property, Plant, and Equipment, Net 106
Note 4. Short-term Debt and Liquidity 107
Note 5. Long-term Debt and Equity Financings 109
Note 6. Other Income, Net 115
Note 7. Derivative Financial Instruments 115
Note 8. Fair Value Measurements 117
Note 9. Callaway Energy Center 120
Note 10. Retirement Benefits 122
Note 11. Stock-based Compensation 129
Note 13. Related-party Transactions 133
Note 14. Commitments and Contingencies 136
Note 15. Supplemental Information 140
Note 16. Segment Information 143
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 148
Item 9B. Other Information 148
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance 148
Item 11. Executive Compensation 149
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 150
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules 151
EXHIBIT INDEX 157
This report contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements should be read with the cautionary statements and important factors under the heading “Forward-looking Statements.” Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical fact, including those statements that are identified by the use of the words “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” and similar expressions.
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
We use the words “our,” “we” or “us” with respect to certain information that relates to Ameren, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois, collectively. When appropriate, subsidiaries of Ameren Corporation are named specifically as their various business activities are discussed.
2020 IRP – Integrated Resource Plan, a long-term nonbinding plan that Ameren Missouri filed with the MoPSC in September 2020, which includes Ameren Missouri’s preferred approach for meeting customers’ projected long-term energy needs in a cost-effective manner while maintaining system reliability and achieving a goal of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
Ameren – Ameren Corporation and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. In references to financing activities, acquisition activities, or liquidity arrangements, Ameren is defined as Ameren Corporation, the parent.
Ameren Companies – Ameren Corporation, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois, collectively, which are individual registrants within the Ameren consolidated group.
Ameren Illinois – Ameren Illinois Company, an Ameren Corporation subsidiary that operates rate-regulated electric transmission, electric distribution, and natural gas distribution businesses in Illinois, doing business as Ameren Illinois.
Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution – An Ameren Corporation and Ameren Illinois financial reporting segment consisting of the rate-regulated electric distribution business of Ameren Illinois.
Ameren Illinois Natural Gas – An Ameren Corporation and Ameren Illinois financial reporting segment consisting of the rate-regulated natural gas distribution business of Ameren Illinois.
Ameren Illinois Transmission – An Ameren Illinois financial reporting segment consisting of the rate-regulated electric transmission business of Ameren Illinois.
Ameren Missouri – Union Electric Company, an Ameren Corporation subsidiary that operates a rate-regulated electric generation, transmission, and distribution business and a rate-regulated natural gas distribution business in Missouri, doing business as Ameren Missouri. Ameren Missouri is a financial reporting segment of Ameren.
Ameren Services – Ameren Services Company, an Ameren Corporation subsidiary that provides support services, such as accounting, legal, treasury, and asset management services, to Ameren (parent) and its subsidiaries.
Ameren Transmission – An Ameren Corporation financial reporting segment primarily consisting of the aggregated electric transmission businesses of Ameren Illinois and ATXI.
ARO – Asset retirement obligations.
ATXI – Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois, an Ameren Corporation subsidiary that operates a FERC rate-regulated electric transmission business in the MISO.
Baseload – The minimum amount of electric power delivered or required over a given period of time at a steady rate.
Btu – British thermal unit, a standard unit for measuring the quantity of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
CCR – Coal combustion residuals, which include fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, and flue gas desulfurization materials generated from burning coal to generate electricity.
CCR Rule – Coal Combustion Residuals Rule, a rule promulgated by the EPA that established regulations for the disposal of CCR in landfills and surface impoundments, and the operation and closure of such landfills and surface impoundments.
CO2 – Carbon dioxide.
COVID-19 pandemic – The global pandemic resulting from the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Customer demand charges – Revenues from nonresidential customers based on their peak demand during a specified time interval.
Cooling degree days – The summation of positive differences between the average daily temperature and a 65-degree Fahrenheit base. This statistic is useful as an indicator of electricity demand by residential and commercial customers for summer cooling.
Credit Agreements – The Illinois Credit Agreement and the Missouri Credit Agreement, collectively.
CSAPR – Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, an EPA rule that requires states that contribute to air pollution in downwind states to limit air emissions from fossil-fuel-fired electric generating units.
CT – Combustion turbine, used primarily for peaking electric generation capacity.
DCA – Delivery charge adjustment, a rate-adjustment mechanism that decouples natural gas revenues from actual sales volumes for Ameren Missouri’s natural gas business and allows Ameren Missouri to adjust customer rates without a traditional regulatory rate review, subject to MoPSC prudence reviews. The decoupling provisions ensure that Ameren Missouri’s natural gas revenues are not affected by changes in sales volumes, including those resulting from deviations from normal weather conditions.
Deferred payment arrangement – A payment option that allows certain Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois retail customers to pay a utility bill balance over a period of time, generally over a period of up to 12 months. On a temporary basis through January 31, 2021, Ameren Illinois’ residential retail customers could have elected to pay a utility bill balance over a period of up to 24 months.
Dekatherm – A standard unit of energy equivalent to approximately one million Btus.
DOE – Department of Energy, a United States government agency.
DRPlus – Ameren Corporation’s dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan.
Electric margins – Electric revenues less fuel and purchased power costs.
EMANI – European Mutual Association for Nuclear Insurance.
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EPA – Environmental Protection Agency, a United States government agency.
ERISA – Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
Excess deferred income taxes – Amounts resulting from the revaluation of deferred income taxes subject to regulatory ratemaking, which will be collected from, or returned to, customers. Deferred income taxes are revalued when federal or state income tax rates change, and the offset to the revaluation of deferred income taxes subject to regulatory ratemaking is recorded to a regulatory asset or liability.
Exchange Act – Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
FAC – Fuel adjustment clause, a fuel and purchased power rate-adjustment mechanism that allows Ameren Missouri to recover or refund, through customer rates, 95% of the variance in net energy costs from the amount set in base rates without a traditional regulatory rate review, subject to MoPSC prudence reviews.
FEJA – Future Energy Jobs Act,an Illinois law that allows Ameren Illinois to earn a return on its electric energy-efficiency investments, decouples electric distribution revenues from sales volumes, offers customer rebates for installing distributed generation, and includes extensions and modifications of certain IEIMA performance-based framework provisions, among other things. The decoupling provisions ensure that electric distribution revenues are not affected by changes in sales volumes, including those resulting from deviations from normal weather conditions.
FERC – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a United States government agency that regulates utility businesses and associated activities of holding and related service companies, including Ameren, Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, ATXI, and Ameren Services.
GAAP – Generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
Heating degree days – The summation of negative differences between the average daily temperature and a 65-degree Fahrenheit base. This statistic is useful as an indicator of demand for electricity and natural gas for winter heating by residential and commercial customers.
ICC – Illinois Commerce Commission, a state agency that regulates Illinois utility businesses, including Ameren Illinois and ATXI.
IEIMA – Illinois Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act, an Illinois law that established a performance-based formula process for determining electric distribution service rates. The formula ratemaking process expires in 2022, unless extended.
Illinois Credit Agreement –Ameren’s and Ameren Illinois’ $1.1 billion senior unsecured credit agreement, which expires in December 2024, unless extended.
IPA – Illinois Power Agency, a state government agency that has broad authority to assist in the procurement of electric power for residential and small commercial customers.
IRS – Internal Revenue Service, a United States government agency.
ISRS – Infrastructure system replacement surcharge, a rate-adjustment mechanism that provides Ameren Missouri’s natural gas business with recovery of, and a return on, qualifying infrastructure investments that are placed in service without a traditional regulatory rate review, subject to MoPSC prudence reviews.
Kilowatthour – A measure of electricity consumption equivalent to the use of 1,000 watts of power over one hour.
MATS – Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, an EPA rule that limits emissions of mercury and other air toxics from coal- and oil-fired electric generating units.
MEEIA – A rate-adjustment mechanism allowed under the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act, a Missouri law that allows electric utilities to recover costs related to MoPSC-approved customer energy-efficiency programs without a traditional regulatory rate review, subject to MoPSC prudence reviews.
MEEIA 2013 –Ameren Missouri’s portfolio of customer energy-efficiency programs, recovery of lost electric margins, and performance incentive for 2013 through 2015, pursuant to Missouri law, as approved by the MoPSC in August 2012.
MEEIA 2016 –Ameren Missouri’s portfolio of customer energy-efficiency programs, recovery of lost electric margins, and performance incentive for March 2016 through February 2019, pursuant to Missouri law, as approved by the MoPSC in February 2016.
MEEIA 2019 –Ameren Missouri’s portfolio of customer energy-efficiency programs, recovery of lost electric margins, and performance incentive for March 2019 through December 2024, pursuant to Missouri law, as approved by the MoPSC in December 2018.
Megawatthour or MWh – One thousand kilowatthours.
MGP – Manufactured gas plant.
MISO – Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., an RTO.
Missouri Credit Agreement –Ameren’s and Ameren Missouri’s $1.2 billion senior unsecured credit agreement, which expires in December 2024, unless extended.
Missouri Environmental Authority – Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority of the state of Missouri, a governmental body authorized to finance environmental projects by issuing tax-exempt bonds and notes.
Mmbtu – One million Btus.
Money pool – Borrowing agreements among Ameren and its subsidiaries to coordinate and provide for certain short-term cash and working capital requirements.
Moody’s – Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a credit rating agency.
MoPSC – Missouri Public Service Commission, a state agency that regulates Missouri utility businesses, including Ameren Missouri.
MTM – Mark-to-market.
MW – Megawatt.
Native load – End-use retail customers whom we are obligated to serve by statute, franchise, contract, or other regulatory requirement.
Natural gas margins – Natural gas revenues less natural gas purchased for resale.
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NAV – Net asset value per share.
NEIL – Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited, which includes all of its affiliated companies.
NERC – North American Electric Reliability Corporation.
Net energy costs – Net energy costs, as defined in the FAC, which include fuel, certain fuel additives, ash disposal costs and revenues, emission allowances, and purchased power costs, including transportation, net of off-system sales and capacity revenues. Substantially all transmission revenues and charges are excluded from net energy costs. The MoPSC’s March 2020 electric rate order changed the FAC to include certain fuel additives and ash disposal costs and revenues, as of April 1, 2020.
Net metering – Net metering allows customers who generate their own electricity or subscribe to receive output from eligible facilities to feed electricity they do not use back into the grid. The customers receive a credit for the energy they add to the grid.
NOx – Nitrogen oxides.
NPNS – Normal purchases and normal sales.
NRC – Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a United States government agency that regulates commercial nuclear power plants and uses of nuclear materials.
NSPS – New Source Performance Standards, provisions under the Clean Air Act.
NSR – New Source Review provisions of the Clean Air Act, which include Nonattainment New Source Review and Prevention of Significant Deterioration regulations.
NYSE – New York Stock Exchange, LLC.
OCI – Other comprehensive income (loss) as defined by GAAP.
Off-system sales revenues – Revenues from other than native load sales, including wholesale sales.
PGA – Purchased gas adjustment tariffs, a rate-adjustment mechanism that permits prudently incurred natural gas costs to be recovered directly from utility customers without a traditional regulatory rate review, subject to regulatory prudence reviews.
PHMSA – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
PISA – Plant-in-service accounting regulatory mechanism, an election under Missouri law that permits electric utilities to defer and recover 85% of the depreciation expense and earn a return at the applicable WACC on rate base for certain property, plant, and equipment placed in service after the PISA election date, subject to MoPSC prudence reviews. The rate base on which the return is calculated incorporates qualifying capital expenditures since the PISA election date as well as changes in total accumulated depreciation excluding retirements and plant-related deferred income taxes. The regulatory asset for accumulated PISA deferrals earns a return at the applicable WACC. The PISA was elected by Ameren Missouri, effective September 1, 2018, and is effective through December 2023, unless extended by the MoPSC.
QIP – Qualifying infrastructure plant, a rate-adjustment mechanism that provides Ameren Illinois’ natural gas business with recovery of, and a return on, qualifying infrastructure plant investments that are placed in service between regulatory rate reviews, subject to ICC prudence reviews. Without legislative action, the QIP will expire in December 2023.
Rate base –The basis on which a public utility is permitted to earn a WACC. This basis is the net investment in assets used to provide utility service, which generally consists of in-service property, plant, and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and accumulated deferred income taxes, inventories, and, depending on jurisdiction, construction work in progress.
Regulatory lag – The exposure to differences in costs incurred and actual sales volumes as compared with the associated amounts included in customer rates. Rate increase requests in traditional regulatory rate reviews can take up to 11 months to be acted upon by the MoPSC and the ICC. As a result, revenue increases authorized by regulators will lag changing costs and sales volumes when based on historical periods.
RESRAM – Renewable energy standard rate-adjustment mechanism, a regulatory mechanism allowed under Missouri law that enables Ameren Missouri to recover costs relating to compliance with Missouri’s renewable energy standard, including recovery of investments in wind generation and other renewables, and earn a return at the applicable WACC on those investments not already provided for in customer rates or any other recovery mechanism by adjusting customer rates on an annual basis without a traditional regulatory rate review, subject to MoPSC prudence reviews. RESRAM regulatory assets will earn carrying costs at short-term interest rates.
Revenue requirement – The cost of providing utility service to customers, which is calculated as the sum of a utility’s recoverable operating expenses, a return at the weighted-average cost of capital on rate base, and an amount for income taxes, based on the currently applicable statutory income tax rates and amortization associated with excess deferred income taxes.
RFP – Request for proposal.
Rider – a rate-adjustment mechanism that allows for the recovery or refund of differences between actual costs incurred and base level expenses included in customer rates without a traditional regulatory rate review.
ROE – Return on common equity.
RTO – Regional transmission organization.
S&P – S&P Global Ratings, a credit rating agency.
SEC – Securities and Exchange Commission, a United States government agency.
SERC – SERC Reliability Corporation, one of the regional electric reliability councils organized for coordinating the planning and operation of the nation’s bulk power supply.
Smart Energy Plan – Ameren Missouri’s plan to upgrade Missouri’s electric grid through at least 2024, which assumes continuation of the PISA. Upgrades include investments to improve reliability and accommodate more renewable energy.
SO2– Sulfur dioxide.
STEM – Science, technology, engineering, and math.
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TCJA – The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, federal income tax legislation enacted in December 2017, which significantly changed the tax laws applicable to business entities. The TCJA includes specific provisions related to regulated public utilities. Substantially all of the provisions of the TCJA affecting the Ameren Companies, other than certain transition depreciation rules, were effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017.
Test year – The selected period of time, typically a 12-month period, for which a utility’s historical or forecasted operating results are used to determine the revenue requirement in a regulatory rate review.
Tracker – a regulatory recovery mechanism that allows for the deferral of differences between actual costs incurred and base level expenses included in customer rates as a regulatory asset or liability. The difference is included in base rates and recovered from, or refunded to, customers over a period of time as determined in a subsequent regulatory rate review.
TSR – Total shareholder return, the cumulative return of a common stock or index over a specified period of time assuming all dividends are reinvested.
VBA – Volume balancing adjustment, a rate-adjustment mechanism for Ameren Illinois’ natural gas business that decouples natural gas revenues from actual sales volumes and allows Ameren Illinois to adjust customer rates without a traditional regulatory rate review, subject to ICC prudence reviews. The decoupling provisions ensure that Ameren Illinois’ natural gas revenues are not affected by changes in sales volumes, including those resulting from deviations from normal weather conditions, for residential and small nonresidential customers.
WACC – Weighted-average cost of capital, which is the weighted-average cost of debt and equity, as allowed by the applicable regulator.
Zero emission credit – A credit that represents the environmental attributes of one MWh of energy produced from certain zero emissions nuclear-powered generation facilities, which certain Illinois utilities are required to purchase pursuant to the FEJA.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements in this report not based on historical facts are considered “forward-looking” and, accordingly, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. Although such forward-looking statements have been made in good faith and are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that the expected results will be achieved. These statements include (without limitation) statements as to future expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, strategies, objectives, events, conditions, and financial performance. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are providing this cautionary statement to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The following factors, in addition to those discussed within Risk Factors under Part I, Item 1A, of this report, and elsewhere in this report and in our other filings with the SEC, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations suggested in such forward-looking statements:
•regulatory, judicial, or legislative actions, and any changes in regulatory policies and ratemaking determinations, that may change regulatory recovery mechanisms, such as those that may result from potential future orders and the July 2020 appeal filed by Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI challenging the refund period related to the May 2020 FERC order determining the allowed base ROE under the MISO tariff, the July 2020 appeal filed by Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI challenging the FERC’s rehearing denials in the transmission formula rate revision cases, Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution service rate reconciliation request filed with the ICC in April 2020, Ameren Illinois’ QIP reconciliation hearing with the ICC requested in March 2019, and requests filed with the MoPSC in October 2020 for accounting authority orders related to Ameren Missouri’s electric and natural gas services to allow Ameren Missouri to accumulate certain costs incurred related to the COVID-19 pandemic;
•the length and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts on our business continuity plans and our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity, including but not limited to changes in customer demand resulting in changes to sales volumes, customers’ payment for our services and their use of deferred payment arrangements, future regulatory or legislative actions that could require suspension of customer disconnections and/or late fees, among other things, for an extended period of time, the health and welfare of our workforce and contractors, supplier disruptions, delays in the completion of construction projects, which could impact our planned capital expenditures and expected planned rate base growth, Ameren Missouri’s ability to recover any forgone customer late fee revenues or incremental costs, our ability to meet customer energy-efficiency program goals and earn performance incentives related to those programs, changes in how we operate our business and increased data security risks as a result of the transition to remote working arrangements for a significant portion of our workforce, and our ability to access the capital markets on reasonable terms and when needed;
•the effect and duration of Ameren Illinois’ election to participate in performance-based formula ratemaking framework for its electric distribution service, which, unless extended, expires at the end of 2022, and its participation in electric energy-efficiency programs, including the direct relationship between Ameren Illinois’ ROE and the 30-year United States Treasury bond yields;
•the effect on Ameren Missouri of any customer rate caps pursuant to Ameren Missouri’s election to use the PISA, including an extension of use beyond 2023, if requested by Ameren Missouri and approved by the MoPSC;
•the effects of changes in federal, state, or local laws and other governmental actions, including monetary, fiscal, and energy policies;
•the effects of changes in federal, state, or local tax laws, regulations, interpretations, or rates, and challenges to the tax positions taken by the Ameren Companies, if any, as well as resulting effects on customer rates;
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•the effects on energy prices and demand for our services resulting from technological advances, including advances in customer energy efficiency, electric vehicles, electrification of various industries, energy storage, and private generation sources, which generate electricity at the site of consumption and are becoming more cost-competitive;
•the effectiveness of Ameren Missouri’s customer energy-efficiency programs and the related revenues and performance incentives earned under its MEEIA programs;
•Ameren Illinois’ ability to achieve the performance standards applicable to its electric distribution business and the FEJA electric customer energy-efficiency goals and the resulting impact on its allowed ROE;
•our ability to control costs and make substantial investments in our businesses, including our ability to recover costs, investments, and our allowed ROEs within frameworks established by our regulators, while maintaining affordability of our services for our customers;
•the cost and availability of fuel, such as low-sulfur coal, natural gas, and enriched uranium used to produce electricity; the cost and availability of purchased power, zero emission credits, renewable energy credits, and natural gas for distribution; and the level and volatility of future market prices for such commodities and credits;
•disruptions in the delivery of fuel, failure of our fuel suppliers to provide adequate quantities or quality of fuel, or lack of adequate inventories of fuel, including nuclear fuel assemblies from the one NRC-licensed supplier of Ameren Missouri’s Callaway Energy Center assemblies;
•the cost and availability of transmission capacity for the energy generated by Ameren Missouri’s energy centers or required to satisfy Ameren Missouri’s energy sales;
•the effectiveness of our risk management strategies and our use of financial and derivative instruments;
•the ability to obtain sufficient insurance, including insurance for Ameren Missouri’s nuclear and coal-fired energy centers, or, in the absence of insurance, the ability to timely recover uninsured losses from our customers;
•the impact of cyberattacks on us or our suppliers, which could, among other things, result in the loss of operational control of energy centers and electric and natural gas transmission and distribution systems and/or the loss of data, such as customer, employee, financial, and operating system information;
•business and economic conditions, which have been affected by, and will be affected by the length and severity of, the COVID-19 pandemic, including the impact of such conditions on interest rates;
•disruptions of the capital markets, deterioration in credit metrics of the Ameren Companies, or other events that may have an adverse effect on the cost or availability of capital, including short-term credit and liquidity;
•the actions of credit rating agencies and the effects of such actions, including any impacts on our credit ratings that may result from the economic conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic;
•the inability of our counterparties to meet their obligations with respect to contracts, credit agreements, and financial instruments, including as it relates to the construction and acquisition of electric and natural gas utility infrastructure and the ability of counterparties to complete projects which is dependent upon the availability of necessary materials and equipment, including those that are affected by the disruptions in the global supply chain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic;
•the impact of weather conditions and other natural phenomena on us and our customers, including the impact of system outages and the level of wind and solar resources;
•the construction, installation, performance, and cost recovery of generation, transmission, and distribution assets;
•the effects of failures of electric generation, electric and natural gas transmission or distribution, or natural gas storage facilities systems and equipment, which could result in unanticipated liabilities or unplanned outages;
•the operation of Ameren Missouri’s Callaway Energy Center, including planned and unplanned outages, such as the current outage that began in December 2020 related to its generator, and the ability to recover costs associated with such outages and the impact of such outages on off-system sales and purchased power, among other things;
•Ameren Missouri’s ability to recover the remaining investment and decommissioning costs associated with the retirement of an energy center, as well as the ability to earn a return on that remaining investment and those decommissioning costs;
•the impact of current environmental laws and new, more stringent, or changing requirements, including those related to NSR and CO2, other emissions and discharges, cooling water intake structures, CCR, and energy efficiency, that could limit or terminate the operation of certain of Ameren Missouri’s energy centers, increase our operating costs or investment requirements, result in an impairment of our assets, cause us to sell our assets, reduce our customers’ demand for electricity or natural gas, or otherwise have a negative financial effect;
•the impact of complying with renewable energy standards in Missouri and Illinois and with the zero emission standard in Illinois;
•Ameren Missouri’s ability to construct and/or acquire wind, solar, and other renewable energy generation facilities, retire energy centers, and implement new or existing customer energy efficiency programs, including any such construction, acquisition, retirement, or implementation in connection with its Smart Energy Plan, the 2020 IRP, or our emissions reduction goals, and to recover its cost of investment, related return, and, in the case of customer energy-efficiency programs, any lost margins in a timely manner, which is affected by the ability to obtain all necessary regulatory and project approvals, including a certificate of convenience and necessity from the MoPSC or any other required approvals for the addition of renewable resources;
•the availability of federal production and investment tax credits related to renewable energy and Ameren Missouri’s ability to use such credits; the cost of wind, solar, and other renewable generation and storage technologies; and our ability to obtain timely interconnection agreements with the MISO or other RTOs at an acceptable cost for each facility;
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•advancements in carbon-free generation and storage technologies, and constructive federal and state energy and economic policies with respect to those technologies;
•labor disputes, work force reductions, changes in future wage and employee benefits costs, including those resulting from changes in discount rates, mortality tables, returns on benefit plan assets, and other assumptions;
•the impact of negative opinions of us or our utility services that our customers, investors, legislators, or regulators may have or develop, which could result from a variety of factors, including failures in system reliability, failure to implement our investment plans or to protect sensitive customer information, increases in rates, negative media coverage, or concerns about environmental, social, and/or governance practices;
•the impact of adopting new accounting guidance;
•the effects of strategic initiatives, including mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures;
•legal and administrative proceedings; and
•acts of sabotage, war, terrorism, or other intentionally disruptive acts.
New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all of such factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in any forward-looking statement. Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
GENERAL
Ameren, formed in 1997 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a public utility holding company whose primary assets are its equity interests in its subsidiaries. Ameren’s subsidiaries are separate, independent legal entities with separate businesses, assets, and liabilities. Dividends on Ameren’s common stock and the payment of expenses by Ameren depend on distributions made to it by its subsidiaries.
Below is a summary description of Ameren’s principal subsidiaries – Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI. Ameren also has other subsidiaries that conduct other activities, such as providing shared services. A more detailed description can be found in Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
•Ameren Missouri operates a rate-regulated electric generation, transmission, and distribution business and a rate-regulated natural gas distribution business in Missouri.
•Ameren Illinois operates rate-regulated electric transmission, electric distribution, and natural gas distribution businesses in Illinois.
•ATXI operates a FERC rate-regulated electric transmission business in the MISO.
For additional information about the development of our businesses, our business operations, and factors affecting our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Part II, Item 7, of this report and Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
Ameren has four segments: Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution, Ameren Illinois Natural Gas, and Ameren Transmission. The Ameren Missouri segment includes all of the operations of Ameren Missouri. Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution consists of the electric distribution business of Ameren Illinois. Ameren Illinois Natural Gas consists of the natural gas business of Ameren Illinois. Ameren Transmission primarily consists of the aggregated electric transmission businesses of Ameren Illinois and ATXI.
Ameren Missouri has one segment. Ameren Illinois has three segments: Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution, Ameren Illinois Natural Gas, and Ameren Illinois Transmission.
An illustration of the Ameren Companies’ reporting structures is provided below:
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(a) The Ameren Transmission segment also includes allocated Ameren (parent) interest charges, as well as other subsidiaries engaged in electric transmission project development and investment.
RATES AND REGULATION
Rates
The rates that Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI are allowed to charge for their utility services significantly influence the results of operations, financial position, and liquidity of these companies and Ameren. The electric and natural gas utility industry is highly regulated. The utility rates charged to customers are determined by governmental entities, including the MoPSC, the ICC, and the FERC. Decisions by these entities are influenced by many factors, including the cost of providing service, the prudency of expenditures, the quality of service, regulatory staff knowledge and experience, customer intervention, and economic conditions, as well as social and political views. Decisions made by these governmental entities regarding customer rates are largely outside of our control. These decisions, as well as the regulatory lag involved in the process of obtaining approval for new customer rates, could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, financial position, and liquidity of the Ameren Companies. The extent of the regulatory lag varies for each of Ameren’s electric and natural gas jurisdictions, with the Ameren Transmission and Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution businesses experiencing the least amount of regulatory lag. Depending on the jurisdiction, the effects of regulatory lag are mitigated by various means, including annual revenue requirement reconciliations, the decoupling of revenues from sales volumes to ensure revenues approved in a regulatory rate review are not affected by changes in sales volumes, the recovery of certain capital investments between traditional regulatory rate reviews, the level and timing of expenditures, the use of a future test year, and the use of trackers and riders.
The MoPSC regulates rates and other matters for Ameren Missouri. The ICC regulates rates and other matters for Ameren Illinois. The MoPSC and the ICC regulate non-rate utility matters for ATXI. ATXI does not have retail distribution customers; therefore, the MoPSC and the ICC do not have authority to regulate ATXI’s rates. The FERC regulates Ameren Missouri’s, Ameren Illinois’, and ATXI’s cost-based rates for the wholesale transmission and distribution of energy in interstate commerce and various other matters discussed below under General Regulatory Matters.
For additional information on Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI rate matters, see Results of Operations and Outlook in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Part II, Item 7, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk under Part II, Item 7A, and Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
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The following table summarizes the key terms of the rate orders in effect for customer billings for each of Ameren’s rate-regulated utilities as of January 2021:
Ameren Missouri
Electric service(b) MoPSC March 2020(c) 9.4% – 9.8%(c) (c) (c) 51%
Natural gas delivery service MoPSC August 2019(d) 9.4% – 9.95%(d) 52.0% (d) 2%
Ameren Illinois
Electric distribution delivery service(e) ICC December 2020 8.38% 50.0% $3.4 26%
Electric transmission service(g) FERC (g) 10.52% 54.0% $2.6 5%
ATXI
Electric transmission service(g) FERC (g) 10.52% 60.1% $1.4 3%
(a)Includes pass-through costs recovered from customers, such as purchased power for electric distribution delivery service and natural gas purchased for resale for natural gas delivery service, and intercompany eliminations.
(b)Ameren Missouri’s electric generation, transmission, and delivery service rates are bundled together and charged to retail customers under a combined electric service rate.
(c)This rate order specified that an implicit ROE was within a range of 9.4% to 9.8%. This rate order did not specify a percent of common equity or rate base. The ROE used for allowance for equity funds used during construction is 9.53%.
(d)This rate order specified that an implicit ROE was within a range of 9.4% to 9.95%. This rate order did not specify rate base. The ROE used for allowance for equity funds used during construction is 9.53%.
(e)Ameren Illinois electric distribution delivery service rates are updated annually and become effective each January. This rate order was based on 2019 actual costs, expected net plant additions for 2020, and the annual average of the monthly yields during 2019 of the 30-year United States Treasury bonds plus 580 basis points. Ameren Illinois’ allowed ROE for 2020 and 2019 was based on an annual average of the monthly yields of the 30-year United States Treasury bonds of 1.56% and 2.58%, respectively. Ameren Illinois’ 2021 electric distribution delivery service revenues will be based on its 2021 actual recoverable costs, rate base, common equity percentage, and an allowed ROE, as calculated under the IEIMA’s performance-based formula ratemaking framework.
(f)This rate order was based on a 2021 future test year.
(g)Transmission rates are updated annually and become effective each January. They are determined by a company-specific, forward-looking formula ratemaking framework based on each year’s forecasted information. The 10.52% return, which includes a 50 basis points incentive adder for participation in an RTO, is based on the FERC’s May 2020 order. For additional information regarding this order and related requests for rehearing, see Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
General Regulatory Matters
Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI must receive FERC approval to enter into various transactions, such as issuing short-term debt securities and conducting certain acquisitions, mergers, and consolidations involving electric utility holding companies. In addition, Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI must receive authorization from the applicable state public utility regulatory agency to issue stock and long-term debt securities and to conduct mergers, affiliate transactions, and various other activities.
Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI are also subject to mandatory reliability standards, including cybersecurity standards adopted by the FERC, to ensure the reliability of the bulk electric power system. These standards are developed and enforced by the NERC, pursuant to authority delegated to it by the FERC. Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI are members of the SERC. The SERC is one of eight regional entities representing all or portions of 16 central and southeastern states under authority from the NERC for the purpose of implementing and enforcing reliability standards approved by the FERC. The regional entities of the NERC work to safeguard the reliability of the bulk power systems throughout North America. If any of Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, or ATXI is found not to be in compliance with these mandatory reliability standards, it could incur substantial monetary penalties and other sanctions.
Under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, the FERC and the state public utility regulatory agencies in each state Ameren and its subsidiaries operate in may access books and records of Ameren and its subsidiaries that are found to be relevant to costs incurred by Ameren’s rate-regulated subsidiaries that may affect jurisdictional rates. The act also permits the MoPSC and the ICC to request that the FERC review cost allocations by Ameren Services to other Ameren companies.
Operation of Ameren Missouri’s Callaway Energy Center is subject to regulation by the NRC. The license for the Callaway Energy Center expires in 2044. Ameren Missouri’s hydroelectric Osage Energy Center and pumped-storage hydroelectric Taum Sauk Energy Center, as licensed projects under the Federal Power Act, are subject to FERC regulations affecting, among other aspects, the general operation and maintenance of the projects. The licenses for the Osage Energy Center and the Taum Sauk Energy Center expire in 2047 and 2044, respectively. Ameren Missouri’s Keokuk Energy Center and its dam in the Mississippi River between Hamilton, Illinois, and Keokuk, Iowa, are operated under authority granted by an Act of Congress in 1905.
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For additional information on regulatory matters, see Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters, Note 9 – Callaway Energy Center, and Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
Environmental Matters
Our generation, transmission, and electric and natural gas distribution operations must comply with a variety of environmental laws contained in statutes and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and the health and safety of the public. These laws are comprehensive and include the storage, handling, and disposal of waste materials, emergency planning and response requirements, limitations and standards applicable to discharges from our facilities into the air or water that are enforced through permitting requirements, and wildlife protection laws, including those related to endangered species. These environmental regulations could also affect the availability of, the cost of, and the demand for electricity and natural gas sold to Ameren Missouri’s and Ameren Illinois’ customers as well as the demand for off-system sales. Federal, state, and local authorities continually revise these regulations, which adds uncertainty to our planning process and to the ultimate implementation of these or other new or revised regulations. Failure to comply with these laws could have a material adverse effect on us. We could be subject to criminal or civil penalties by regulatory agencies, or we could be ordered by the courts to pay private parties. Except as indicated in this report, we believe that we are in material compliance with existing laws that currently apply to our operations.
For discussion of environmental matters, including NOx and SO2 emission reduction requirements, regulation of CO2 emissions, wastewater discharge standards, remediation efforts, CCR management regulations, and a discussion of litigation against Ameren Missouri with respect to NSR, the Clean Air Act, and Missouri law in connection with projects at Ameren Missouri’s Rush Island Energy Center, see Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
TRANSMISSION
Ameren owns an integrated transmission system that is composed of the transmission assets of Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI. Ameren also operates two MISO balancing authority areas: AMMO and AMIL. The AMMO balancing authority area includes the load and energy centers of Ameren Missouri, and had a peak demand of 7,108 MWs in 2020. The AMIL balancing authority area includes the load of Ameren Illinois, and had a peak demand of 8,351 MWs in 2020. The Ameren transmission system directly connects with 15 other balancing authority areas for the exchange of electric energy.
Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI are transmission-owning members of the MISO. Ameren Missouri is authorized by the MoPSC to participate in the MISO through May 2024. Ameren Missouri is periodically required to make a filing with the MoPSC regarding its continued participation in the MISO. The next filing is due in 2023.
SUPPLY OF ELECTRIC POWER
Ameren Missouri
Ameren Missouri’s electric supply is primarily generated from its energy centers. Factors that could cause Ameren Missouri to purchase power include, among other things, energy center outages, the fulfillment of renewable energy requirements, extreme weather conditions, the availability of power at a cost lower than its generation cost, and the lack of sufficient owned generation.
Ameren Missouri files a long-term nonbinding integrated resource plan with the MoPSC every three years. The most recent integrated resource plan, filed in September 2020, includes Ameren Missouri’s preferred approach for meeting customers’ projected long-term energy needs in a cost-effective manner while maintaining system reliability and customer affordability. The plan, which is subject to review by the MoPSC for compliance with Missouri law, targets cleaner and more diverse sources of energy generation, including solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear power, and supports increased investment in new energy technologies. It also includes expanding renewable sources by adding 3,100 MWs of renewable generation by the end of 2030 and a total of 5,400 MWs of renewable generation by 2040, inclusive of the High Prairie and Atchison renewable energy centers, the expectation that Ameren Missouri will seek NRC approval for an extension of the operating license for the Callaway Energy Center, expanding customer energy-efficiency programs, adding cost-effective demand response programs, advancing the retirement dates of the Sioux and Rush Island coal-fired energy centers to 2028 and 2039, respectively, and retiring the remaining coal-fired energy centers as they reach the end of their useful lives, including the Meramec Energy Center by the end of 2022. The addition of a renewable generation facility is subject to obtaining necessary project approvals, including FERC approval and the issuance of a certificate of convenience and necessity by the MoPSC, as applicable. Advancing the retirement dates of the Sioux and Rush Island energy centers is subject to the approval of a change in the assets’ depreciable lives by the MoPSC in a future regulatory rate review. Ameren Missouri would be adversely affected if the MoPSC does not allow recovery of the remaining investment and decommissioning costs associated with the retirement of an energy center, as well as the ability to earn a return on that remaining investment and those decommissioning costs. Ameren Missouri expects to file its next integrated resource plan in September 2023.
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Ameren Missouri continues to evaluate its longer-term needs for new generating capacity. The need for investment in new sources of energy is dependent on several key factors, including continuation of and customer participation in energy-efficiency programs, the amount of distributed generation from customers, load growth, technological advancements, costs of generation alternatives, environmental regulation of coal-fired power plants, and state renewable energy requirements, which could lead to the retirement of current baseload assets before the end of their current useful lives or alterations in the way those assets operate, which could result in increased capital expenditures and/or increased operations and maintenance expenses. Because of the significant time required to plan, acquire permits for, and build a baseload energy center, Ameren Missouri continues to study alternatives and to take steps to preserve options to meet future demand. Steps include evaluating the potential for further diversification of Ameren Missouri’s generation portfolio through renewable energy generation, including wind and solar generation, extending the operating license for the Callaway Energy Center, additional customer energy-efficiency and demand response programs, distributed energy resources, and energy storage.
Missouri law requires Ameren Missouri to offer rebates and net metering to certain customers that install solar generation at their premises. The cost of the rebates are deferred as a regulatory asset under the RESRAM, and earn carrying costs at short-term interest rates. Customers that elect to enroll in net metering are allowed to net their generation against their usage within each billing month.
Ameren Illinois
In Illinois, while electric transmission and distribution service rates are regulated, power supply prices are not. Although electric customers are allowed to purchase power from an alternative retail electric supplier, Ameren Illinois is required to be the provider of last resort for its electric distribution customers. In 2020, 2019, and 2018, Ameren Illinois procured power on behalf of its customers for 23%, 22%, and 23%, respectively, of its total kilowatthour sales. Power purchased by Ameren Illinois for its electric distribution customers who do not elect to purchase their power from an alternative retail electric supplier comes either through procurement processes conducted by the IPA or through markets operated by the MISO. The IPA administers an RFP process through which Ameren Illinois procures its expected supply. The power and related procurement costs incurred by Ameren Illinois are passed directly to its electric distribution customers through a cost recovery mechanism. The costs are reflected in Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution’s results of operations, but do not affect Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution’s earnings because these costs are offset by corresponding revenues. Ameren Illinois charges transmission and distribution service rates to electric distribution customers who purchase electricity from alternative retail electric suppliers, which does affect Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution’s earnings.
Illinois law requires Ameren Illinois to offer rebates for certain net metering customers. The cost of the rebates are deferred as a regulatory asset, which earn a return at the applicable WACC. Customers that receive these rebates are allowed to net their supply service charges, but not their distribution service charges. Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution revenues are decoupled from sales volumes, which ensures that the electric distribution revenues authorized in a regulatory rate review are not affected by changes in sales volumes.
POWER GENERATION
Ameren Missouri owns energy centers that rely on a diverse fuel portfolio, including coal, nuclear, and natural gas, as well as renewable sources of generation, which include hydroelectric, wind, methane gas, and solar. All of Ameren Missouri’s coal-fired energy centers were constructed prior to 1978. The Callaway nuclear energy center began operation in 1984 and is licensed to operate until 2044. As of December 31, 2020, Ameren Missouri’s coal-fired energy centers represented 11% and 23% of Ameren’s and Ameren Missouri’s rate base, respectively. See Item 2 – Properties under Part I of this report for information regarding Ameren Missouri’s energy centers.
Coal
Ameren Missouri has an ongoing need for coal as fuel for generation, and pursues a price-hedging strategy consistent with this requirement. Ameren Missouri has agreements in place to purchase and transport coal to its energy centers. As of December 31, 2020, Ameren Missouri had price-hedged 100% of its expected coal supply and 100% of its coal transportation requirements for generation in 2021. Ameren Missouri has additional coal supply under contract through 2025. The Powder River Basin coal transport agreements that Ameren Missouri has with Union Pacific Railroad and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway are currently set to expire at the end of 2024. Ameren Missouri burned approximately 15.4 million tons of coal in 2020.
About 97% of Ameren Missouri’s coal is purchased from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming, which has a limited number of suppliers. The remaining coal is typically purchased from the Illinois Basin. Targeted coal inventory levels may be adjusted because of generation levels or uncertainties of supply due to potential work stoppages, delays in coal deliveries, equipment breakdowns, and other factors. Deliveries from the Powder River Basin have occasionally been restricted because of rail congestion and maintenance, derailments, weather, and supplier financial hardship. Coal suppliers in the Power River Basin are experiencing financial hardship because of a decrease in demand resulting from increased natural gas and renewable energy generation, and the impact of environmental regulations, as well as concerns related to coal-fired generation. These financial hardships have resulted in bankruptcy filings by certain coal suppliers in recent years. As of December 31, 2020, coal inventories for Ameren Missouri were near targeted levels. Disruptions in coal deliveries could cause Ameren
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Missouri to pursue a strategy that could include reducing off-system sales of power during low-margin periods, buying higher-cost fuels to generate required electricity, and purchasing power from other sources.
Nuclear
The production of nuclear fuel involves the mining and milling of uranium ore to produce uranium concentrates, the conversion of uranium concentrates to uranium hexafluoride gas, the enrichment of that gas, the conversion of the enriched uranium hexafluoride gas into uranium dioxide fuel pellets, and the fabrication into fuel assemblies. Ameren Missouri has entered into uranium, uranium conversion, uranium enrichment, and fabrication contracts to procure the fuel supply for its Callaway Energy Center.
The Callaway Energy Center has historically required refueling at 18-month intervals. During its return to full power after the completion of the last refueling and maintenance outage in late December 2020, the Callaway Energy Center experienced a non-nuclear operating issue related to its generator. A thorough investigation of this matter was conducted. Work has begun to replace certain key components of the generator in order to return the energy center to service. As of the date of this filing, due to the long lead time for the manufacture, repair, and installation of these components, the energy center is expected to return to service in late June or early July 2021. Ameren Missouri has inventories, supply contracts, and fuel fabrication service contracts sufficient to meet all of its uranium (concentrate and hexafluoride), conversion, and enrichment requirements at least through the 2025 refueling.
RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ZERO EMISSION STANDARDS
Missouri and Illinois laws require electric utilities to include renewable energy resources in their portfolios. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois satisfied their renewable energy portfolio requirements in 2020.
Ameren Missouri
In Missouri, utilities were required to purchase or generate electricity equal to at least 10% of native load sales from renewable energy sources in 2020. The requirement increased to at least 15% in 2021, subject to an average 1% annual increase on customer rates over any 10-year period. At least 2% of the annual renewable energy requirement must be derived from solar energy. Ameren Missouri expects to satisfy the nonsolar requirement in 2021 with its High Prairie Renewable, Atchison Renewable, Keokuk, and Maryland Heights energy centers, a 102-MW power purchase agreement with a wind farm operator, and immaterial renewable energy credit purchases in the market. In December 2020, Ameren Missouri acquired and placed in service the High Prairie Renewable Energy Center, a 400-MW wind generation facility. In January 2021, Ameren Missouri acquired an up-to 300-MW wind generation project and, as of the date of this filing, placed 120 MWs in service as the Atchison Renewable Energy Center. Ameren Missouri expects approximately 150 MWs to be in service by the end of the first quarter of 2021, and the remaining portion to be in service later in 2021. For additional information see Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters under Part II, Item 8, of this report. The Keokuk Energy Center generates electricity using a hydroelectric dam located on the Mississippi River. The Maryland Heights Energy Center generates electricity by burning methane gas collected from a landfill. Ameren Missouri is meeting the solar energy requirement by purchasing solar-generated renewable energy credits from customer-installed systems and by generating solar energy at its O’Fallon, Lambert, and BJC energy centers and its headquarters building.
Ameren Illinois
In accordance with Illinois law, Ameren Illinois is required to collect funds from all electric distribution customers to fund IPA procurement events for renewable energy credits. The amount collected from customers by Ameren Illinois is capped at $1.81 per MWh. The IPA establishes its long-term renewable resources procurement plans in a filing made every two years. The IPA’s initial long-term renewable resources procurement plan was approved by the ICC in 2018. The IPA’s plan set forth guidelines by which the IPA should procure 15-year contracts for wind renewable energy credits and solar renewable energy credits. As a result, Ameren Illinois is required to purchase 1.2 million wind renewable energy credits per year and 1.2 million solar renewable energy credits per year, through IPA procurement events, which represented approximately 7% of Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution sales in 2020. The IPA has completed several procurement events, resulting in contractual commitments for Ameren Illinois of 0.9 million wind renewable energy credits per year and 1.2 million solar renewable energy credits per year. Ameren Illinois has also entered into renewable energy credit contracts with 20-year terms ending 2032 and will execute additional contracts in 2021, through IPA procurement events, in order to fulfill its remaining obligations. In February 2020, the ICC approved the IPA’s second long-term renewable resources procurement plan. Under the second plan, based on forecasted customer collections to fund renewable energy credit contracts, the IPA does not anticipate procuring additional contracts. However, if customer funds collected exceed the cost of procured contracts, the IPA may procure additional contracts. Funds collected but not used to procure renewable energy credits will be refunded to customers pursuant to a reconciliation proceeding that would be initiated after August 2021.
Illinois law also required Ameren Illinois to enter into contracts for zero emission credits in an amount equal to approximately 16% of the actual amount of electricity delivered to retail customers during calendar year 2014, pursuant to Illinois’ zero emission standard. As a result of a 2018 IPA procurement event, which was approved by the ICC, Ameren Illinois entered into agreements to acquire zero emission credits through 2026. Annual zero emission credit commitment amounts will be published by the IPA each May prior to the start of the subsequent
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planning year. Both renewable energy credits and zero emission credits have cost recovery mechanisms, which allow Ameren Illinois to collect from, or refund to, customers differences between actual costs incurred from the resulting contracts and the amounts collected from customers.
CUSTOMER ENERGY-EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS
Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois have implemented energy-efficiency programs to educate and to help their customers become more efficient energy consumers.
Ameren Missouri
In Missouri, the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act established a rider that, among other things, allows electric utilities to recover costs with respect to MoPSC-approved customer energy-efficiency programs. The law requires the MoPSC to ensure that a utility’s financial incentives are aligned to help customers use energy more efficiently, to provide timely cost recovery, and to provide earnings opportunities associated with cost-effective energy-efficiency programs. Missouri does not have a law mandating energy-efficiency programs.
In 2018, the MoPSC issued an order approving Ameren Missouri’s MEEIA 2019 plan. The plan includes a portfolio of customer energy-efficiency programs through December 2022 and low-income customer energy-efficiency programs through December 2024, along with a rider. Ameren Missouri intends to invest $290 million over the life of the plan, including $65 million in 2021 and $70 million in 2022. In addition, the plan includes a performance incentive that provides Ameren Missouri an opportunity to earn additional revenues by achieving certain customer energy-efficiency goals. In August 2020, the MoPSC issued an order approving a unanimous stipulation and agreement establishing performance incentives for the 2022 program year. If the target goals are achieved for 2020, 2021, and 2022, additional revenues of $10 million, $13 million, and $11 million would be recognized in 2021, 2022, and 2022, respectively. Incremental additional revenues of $3 million, $3 million, and $1 million may be earned for 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively, and would be recognized in the respective following year if Ameren Missouri exceeds its targeted goals. Ameren Missouri’s ability to achieve and/or exceed targeted goals could be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through 2020, Ameren Missouri has invested $121 million in MEEIA 2019 customer energy-efficiency programs. Additionally, as part of its Smart Energy Plan, Ameren Missouri has invested $115 million in smart meters since 2019 that enable customers to improve their energy efficiency.
The MEEIA 2019 plan includes the continued use of the MEEIA rider. The MEEIA rider allows Ameren Missouri to collect from, or refund to, customers any difference between actual program costs, lost electric margins, and any performance incentive and the amounts collected from customers, without a traditional regulatory rate review, until lower volumes resulting from the MEEIA programs are reflected in base rates. Customer rates, based upon both forecasted program costs and lost electric margins and collected via the MEEIA rider, are reconciled annually to actual results.
Ameren Illinois
State law requires Ameren Illinois to offer customer energy-efficiency programs, and imposes electric energy-efficiency savings goals and a maximum amount of investment in electric energy-efficiency programs through 2030, which is approximately $100 million annually. In September 2017, the ICC issued an order approving Ameren Illinois’ electric and natural gas energy-efficiency plans, as well as regulatory recovery mechanisms. The order authorized electric and natural gas energy-efficiency program expenditures of $394 million and $62 million, respectively, for the 2018 through 2021 period. Additionally, as part of its IEIMA capital investments, Ameren Illinois has invested $300 million in smart meters since 2012 that enable customers to improve their energy efficiency.
Illinois law allows Ameren Illinois to earn a return on its electric energy-efficiency program investments made since June 2017. Ameren Illinois’ electric energy-efficiency investments are deferred as a regulatory asset and earn a return at the applicable WACC, with the ROE based on the annual average of the monthly yields of the 30-year United States Treasury bonds plus 580 basis points. The allowed ROE on electric energy-efficiency investments can be increased or decreased by up to 200 basis points, depending on the achievement of annual energy savings goals. Ameren Illinois plans to invest up to approximately $100 million per year in electric energy-efficiency programs through 2025, and will earn a return on those investments. While the ICC has approved a plan consistent with this spending level through 2021, the ICC has the ability to reduce the amount of electric energy-efficiency savings goals in future plan program years if there are insufficient cost-effective programs available, which could reduce the investments in electric energy-efficiency programs.The electric energy-efficiency program investments and the return on those investments are collected from customers through a rider and are not included in the electric distribution service performance-based formula ratemaking framework. Ameren Illinois’ natural gas energy-efficiency program costs are recovered as they are incurred through a regulatory recovery mechanism.
NATURAL GAS SUPPLY FOR DISTRIBUTION
Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois are responsible for the purchase and delivery of natural gas to their customers. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois each develop and manage a portfolio of natural gas supply resources. These resources include firm natural gas supply
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agreements with producers, firm interstate and intrastate transportation capacity, firm no-notice storage capacity leased from interstate pipelines, and on-system storage facilities to maintain natural gas deliveries to customers throughout the year and especially during peak demand periods. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois primarily use Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, Trunkline Gas Company, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, Mississippi River Transmission Corporation, Northern Border Pipeline Company, and Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation interstate pipeline systems to transport natural gas to their systems. In addition to transactions requiring physical delivery, certain financial instruments, including those entered into in the New York Mercantile Exchange futures market and in the over-the-counter financial markets, are used to hedge the price paid for natural gas. Natural gas supply costs are passed on to customers of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois under PGA clauses, subject to prudence reviews by the MoPSC and the ICC. As of December 31, 2020, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois had price-hedged 68% and 73%, respectively, of their expected 2021 natural gas supply requirements.
For additional information on our fuel, purchased power, and natural gas for distribution supply, see Results of Operations and Liquidity and Capital Resources in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Part II, Item 7, of this report and Commodity Price Risk under Part II, Item 7A, of this report. Also see Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Note 7 – Derivative Financial Instruments, Note 13 – Related-party Transactions, Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies, and Note 15 – Supplemental Information under Part II, Item 8 of this report.
HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
The execution of Ameren’s core strategy to invest in regulated infrastructure, continuously improve performance, and advocate for responsible policies to deliver superior customer and shareholder value is driven by the capabilities and engagement of our workforce. Ameren’s workforce strategy is designed to promote a diverse workforce that is prepared to deliver on Ameren’s mission (To Power the Quality of Life) and vision (Leading the Way to a Sustainable Energy Future), both today and in the future. Our workforce strategy is anchored in four key pillars: Culture, Leadership, Talent, and Rewards, which are discussed further below. Foundational to our workforce strategy are our core values of:
Ameren’s chief executive officer and chief human resources officer, with the support of other leaders of the Ameren Companies, are responsible for developing and executing our workforce strategy. In addition to reviewing and determining the Ameren Companies’ compensation practices and policies for the chief executive officer and other executive officers, the Human Resources Committee of Ameren’s board of directors is responsible for oversight of Ameren’s human capital management practices and policies, including those related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Human Resources Committee and Ameren’s board of directors are updated regularly on human capital matters.
Culture
We strive to cultivate a values-based “All-In” culture that enables the sustainable execution of our core strategy and reflects the following characteristics:
We design our human capital management practices and policies to reinforce our core values, share our culture, and drive employee engagement. In doing so, we strive to align our employees to our mission and vision, improve safety, enhance innovation, increase productivity, attract and retain top talent, and recognize employee contributions, among other things. We assess employee engagement through a variety of channels. As a part of our assessment, we conduct confidential employee engagement surveys at least annually to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement in our employees’ experience, and take actions aimed at increasing employee engagement.
As a part of our All-In culture, every employee is expected to challenge any unsafe act, complete each workday safely, and provide feedback on safety and security matters. In addition to comprehensive safety and security standards, and mandatory health, safety, and security training programs for applicable employees, we promote programs designed to encourage employees to provide feedback on practices or actions that could harm employees, customers, or the Ameren Companies, including perceived issues related to safety, security (both physical and cyber), ethics and compliance violations, or acts of discrimination. For additional information about the actions taken designed to protect the safety of our employees and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic, see The COVID-19 Pandemic section below.
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We seek to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion, which was elevated to a core value in 2020, across our organization. Ameren has established programs to recruit early and mid-career talent to further enhance the diversity of our workforce pipelines. These programs include an intern/coop program that serves as a pipeline for STEM-related careers, a career reentry program for experienced professionals transitioning from voluntary career breaks, and a program for individuals transitioning from military service. Additionally, each year management and the Human Resources Committee of Ameren’s board of directors review the diversity of our workforce, leadership team, and leadership development pipeline, as well as the actions taken to further enhance the diversity of our leadership team. In addition, the Ameren Companies contribute to community-based organizations, hold diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership summits for employees and community leaders, and offer various training programs. Beginning in 2021, we implemented a program to provide paid-time off for employees who engage in volunteer or learning opportunities with organizations that support diversity, equity, and inclusion. We also have employee resource groups, which bring together groups of employees who share common interests or backgrounds. Within these groups, employees collaborate to address concerns and provide training and development opportunities related to challenges or barriers, and offer support for each other, among other things.
Leadership
Ameren’s leaders play a critical role in setting and executing Ameren’s strategic initiatives, modeling our values and culture, and engaging and enabling the workforce. As such, we seek to develop a strong, diverse leadership team. Management engages in an extensive succession planning process annually, which includes the involvement by Ameren’s board of directors. We develop our leaders both individually, through job rotations, work experiences, and leadership development programs, and as a team. Throughout the year, we offer a variety of forums intended to connect our leaders to our mission, values, strategy and culture, build leadership skills and capabilities, and to promote connection and inclusion. In addition, we evaluate our organizational structure and make adjustments and expand roles to facilitate execution of our strategy and organizational efficiency.
Talent
In order to attract and retain a skilled and diverse workforce, we promote an inclusive work environment, provide opportunities for employees to expand their knowledge and skill sets, and support career development. Our talent management initiatives include a wide range of recruiting partnerships and programs, including those programs discussed above. Our onboarding efforts are designed to ensure early engagement, including the opportunity to participate in mentoring programs. Additionally, employees are encouraged to participate in technical, professional, and leadership development opportunities, and outreach initiatives to engage with the communities that we serve, among other things. As our business needs change, we remain focused on ensuring that our workforce has the tools and skills necessary to deliver on our strategic initiatives.
Workforce
The majority of our workforce is comprised of skilled-craft and STEM-related professional and technical employees. Our workforce has been stable, with a total attrition rate of 7% in 2020. The majority of employee attrition is attributable to employee retirements, generally allowing for thoughtful workforce and succession planning in advance of these planned transitions. The following table presents our employee count and their average tenure as of December 31, 2020, and the attrition rate in 2020:
EmployeeCount Average Tenure (in years) AttritionRate
Ameren’s workforce is diverse in many ways. At the officer level, which represents 53 individuals, 23% are female and 21% are racially and/or ethnically diverse. The following table presents our total employee population that is represented by a collective bargaining unit, is a female, or is racially and/or ethnically diverse at December 31, 2020:
Collective Bargaining Unit Female Racially and/or Ethnically Diverse
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The following table presents Ameren’s employees by generation at December 31, 2020:
Generation Description Ameren Ameren Missouri Ameren Illinois Ameren Services
Generation Z/Post Millennial (birth years after 1997) 2% 2% 1% 2%
Collective bargaining units at Ameren’s subsidiaries consist of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the Laborer’s International Union of North America, the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, and the United Government Security Officers of America. The Ameren Companies expect continued constructive relationships with their respective labor unions. The Ameren Missouri collective bargaining unit contracts expire in 2021 and 2022, which cover 3% and 97% of represented employees, respectively. The Ameren Illinois collective bargaining unit contracts expire in 2022 and 2023, which cover 93% and 7% of represented employees, respectively.
Rewards
The primary objective of our rewards program is to provide a total rewards package that attracts and retains a talented workforce and reinforces strong performance in a financially sustainable manner. Management continuously evaluates our core benefits in an effort to create a market-competitive, performance-based, shareholder-aligned total rewards package with a view towards balancing employee value and financial sustainability. We recognize that the rewards package required to attract and retain talent over the long term is about more than pay and benefits; it is about the total employee experience and supporting their overall well-being. In addition to base salary, medical benefits, and retirement benefits, including 401(k) savings and pension, our total rewards package includes short-term incentives and long-term stock-based compensation for certain employees. Further, we offer our employees various programs that encourage overall well-being, including wellness and employee assistance programs. We strive to provide a competitive and sustainable rewards package that supports our ability to attract, engage, and retain a talented and diverse workforce, while at the same time reinforcing and rewarding strong performance.
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a constantly evolving situation. In 2020, we experienced a net decrease in our sales volumes, an increase in our accounts receivable balances that were past due or that were a part of a deferred payment arrangement, and a decline in our cash collections from customers. The continued effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity in subsequent periods will depend on its severity and longevity, future regulatory or legislative actions with respect thereto, and the resulting impact on business, economic, and capital market conditions. Shelter-in-place orders began taking effect in our service territories in mid-March 2020. These orders generally required individuals to remain at home and precluded or limited the operation of businesses that were deemed nonessential. While our business operations were deemed essential and were not directly impacted by the shelter-in-place orders, approximately 65% of our workforce transitioned to remote working arrangements in mid-March 2020. In order to work more effectively in certain areas, a portion of our workforce returned to our work locations in early June 2020 under a phased approach, and, as of the date of this filing, approximately 50% of our workforce continues to work remotely. In mid-May 2020, shelter-in-place orders effective in our service territories began to be relaxed, with fewer restrictions on social activities and nonessential businesses beginning to reopen. However, certain restrictions remain in place that limit individual activities and the operation of nonessential businesses. Additional restrictions may be imposed in the future.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ameren has taken significant actions designed to protect the safety of our employees and customers, including restricting travel for employees, implementing work-from-home policies, offering voluntary leave of absence arrangements and flexible reduced work schedules, enhancing paid time off programs for impacted employees, securing and supplying personal protective equipment, and implementing work practices to protect the safety of our employees and customers. In addition to our existing employee assistance program, we provided additional resources on physical, emotional, and financial well-being throughout the pandemic.
For further discussion of the impact to our businesses related to the pandemic and regulatory mechanisms that reduce these impacts, as well as Ameren Missouri’s requests for accounting authority orders related to COVID-19 pandemic costs, see Overview, Results of Operations, and Outlook in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Part II, Item 7, and Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
INDUSTRY ISSUES
We are facing issues common to the electric and natural gas utility industry. These issues include:
•the potential for changes in laws, regulations, enforcement efforts, and policies at the state and federal levels;
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•corporate tax law changes, as well as additional interpretations, regulations, amendments, or technical corrections that affect the amount and timing of income tax payments, reduce or limit the ability to claim certain deductions and use carryforward tax benefits and/or credits, or result in rate base reductions;
•cybersecurity risks, cyber attacks, including ransomware and other ransom-based attacks, hacking, social engineering, and other forms of malicious cybersecurity and/or privacy events, which could result in the loss of operational control of energy centers and electric and natural gas transmission and distribution systems and/or the theft or inappropriate release of certain types of information, including sensitive customer, employee, financial, and operating system information;
•political, regulatory, and customer resistance to higher rates;
•the potential for more intense competition in generation, supply, and distribution, including new technologies and their declining costs;
•the impact and effectiveness of vegetation management programs;
•the modernization of the electric grid to accommodate a two-way flow of electricity and increase capacity for distributed generation interconnection;
•net metering rules and other changes in existing regulatory frameworks and recovery mechanisms to address the allocation of costs to customers who own generation resources that enable them both to sell power to us and to purchase power from us through the use of our transmission and distribution assets;
•legislation or programs to encourage or mandate energy efficiency, energy conservation, and renewable sources of power, and the lack of consensus as to how those programs should be paid for;
•pressure and uncertainty on customer growth and sales volumes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic conditions, distributed generation, energy storage, technological advances, and energy-efficiency or conservation initiatives;
•the potential for orders to suspend disconnections and/or late fees for customer nonpayment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the related potential impact on liquidity;
•changes in the structure of the industry as a result of changes in federal and state laws, including the formation and growth of independent transmission entities;
•changes in the allowed ROE on FERC-regulated electric transmission assets;
•the availability of fuel and fluctuations in fuel prices;
•the availability of materials and equipment, and the potential disruptions in supply chains resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic;
•the availability of a skilled work force, including retaining the specialized skills of those who are nearing retirement;
•the potential for reduced efficiency and productivity due to increased use of remote working arrangements;
•regulatory lag;
•the influence of macroeconomic factors on yields of United States Treasury securities and on the allowed ROE provided by regulators;
•higher levels of infrastructure and technology investments and adjustments to customer rates associated with the refund of excess deferred income taxes that have resulted in, and are expected to continue to result in, negative or decreased free cash flow, which is defined as cash flows from operating activities less cash flows from investing activities and dividends paid;
•the demand for access to renewable energy generation at rates acceptable to customers;
•public concerns about the siting of new facilities, and challenges that members of the public can assert against applications for governmental permits and other approvals required to site and build new facilities that can result in significant cost increases, delays and denial of the permits and approvals by the regulators;
•complex new and proposed environmental laws including statutes, regulations, and requirements, such as air and water quality standards, mercury emissions standards, CCR management requirements, and potential CO2 limitations, which may reduce the frequency at which electric generating units are dispatched based upon their CO2 emissions;
•public concerns about the potential environmental impacts from the combustion of fossil fuels and the use of natural gas;
•certain investors’ concerns about investing in utility companies that have coal-fired generation assets and increasing scrutiny of environmental, social, and governance practices;
•aging infrastructure and the need to construct new power generation, transmission, and distribution facilities, which have long time frames for completion, with limited long-term ability to predict power and commodity prices and regulatory requirements;
•public concerns about nuclear generation, decommissioning, and the disposal of nuclear waste;
•industry reputational challenges resulting from recent high profile inappropriate lobbying and similar activities by certain utility companies; and
•consolidation of electric and natural gas utility companies.
We are monitoring all these issues. Except as otherwise noted in this report, we are unable to predict what impact, if any, these issues will have on our results of operations, financial position, or liquidity. For additional information, see Risk Factors under Part I, Item 1A, Outlook in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Part II, Item 7, Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters, Note 9 – Callaway Energy Center, and Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies under Part II, Item 8, of this report.
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OPERATING STATISTICS
The following tables present key electric and natural gas operating statistics for Ameren for the past three years:
Electric Sales – kilowatthours (in millions):
Ameren Missouri:
Street lighting and public authority 88 99 108
Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution(a):
Street lighting and public authority 442 491 513
Eliminate affiliate sales (322) (84) (288)
Electric Operating Revenues (in millions):
Ameren Missouri:
Other, including street lighting and public authority 155 127 30 (b)
Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution:
Other, including street lighting and public authority 21 32 39
Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution total $ 1,498 $ 1,504 $ 1,547
Ameren Transmission:
Ameren Illinois Transmission(c) $ 329 $ 288 $ 267
Other and intersegment eliminations (94) (96) (92)
(a)Sales for which power was supplied by Ameren Illinois as well as alternative retail electric suppliers. In 2020, 2019, and 2018, Ameren Illinois procured power on behalf of its customers for 23%, 22%, and 23%, respectively, of its total kilowatthour sales.
(b)Includes $60 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, for the reduction to revenue for the excess amounts collected in rates related to the TCJA from January 1, 2018, through July 31, 2018. See Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters for additional information.
(c)Includes $52 million, $62 million, and $53 million in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively, of electric operating revenues from transmission services provided to Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution.
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Source of Ameren Missouri energy supply:
Methane gas and solar 0.5 0.2 0.1
(a) Ameren Missouri fuel costs exclude ($49) million, $5 million and $44 million in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively, for changes in FAC recoveries.
Natural Gas Operating Statistics – Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018
Natural Gas Sales – dekatherms (in millions):
Ameren Missouri:
Residential 7 7 7
Commercial 3 4 4
Industrial 1 1 1
Ameren Illinois Natural Gas:
Industrial 7 4 4
Natural Gas Operating Revenues (in millions):
Ameren Missouri:
Industrial 4 4 4
Transport and other 16 15 7
Ameren Illinois Natural Gas:
Ameren Illinois Natural Gas total $ 760 $ 797 $ 815
Other and intercompany eliminations (2) (2) (1)
Rate Base (in billions):
Electric transmission and distribution $ 12.1 $ 10.7 $ 9.4
Natural gas transmission and distribution 2.4 2.1 1.9
Coal generation:
Labadie Energy Center 0.9 0.9 0.8
Sioux Energy Center 0.7 0.6 0.6
Rush Island Energy Center 0.4 0.5 0.4
Meramec Energy Center 0.1 0.1 0.2
Coal generation total 2.1 2.1 2.0
Renewable generation 1.0 0.5 0.5
Natural gas generation 0.3 0.4 0.4
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Ameren Companies make available free of charge through Ameren’s website (www.amereninvestors.com) their annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably possible after such reports are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. These documents are also available through the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Ameren’s website is a channel of distribution for material information about the Ameren Companies. Financial and other material information is routinely posted to, and accessible at, Ameren’s website.
The Ameren Companies also make available free of charge through Ameren’s website the charters of Ameren’s board of directors’ Audit and Risk Committee, Human Resources Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Finance Committee, and Nuclear, Operations and Environmental Sustainability Committee; the corporate governance guidelines; a policy regarding communications to the board of directors; a policy and procedures document with respect to related-person transactions; a code of ethics applicable to all directors, officers and employees; a supplemental code of ethics for principal executive and senior financial officers; and a director nomination policy that applies to the Ameren Companies. The information on Ameren’s website, or any other website referenced in this report, is not incorporated by reference into this report.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Investors should review carefully the following material risk factors and the other information contained in this report. The risks that the Ameren Companies face are not limited to those in this section. There may be further risks and uncertainties that are not presently known or that are not currently believed to be material that may adversely affect the results of operations, financial position, and liquidity of the Ameren Companies.
REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE RISKS
We are subject to extensive regulation of our businesses.
We are subject to federal, state, and local regulation. The extensive regulatory frameworks, some of which are more specifically identified in the following risk factors, regulate, among other matters, the electric and natural gas utility industries; the rate and cost structure of utilities, including an allowed ROE; the operation of nuclear power plants; the construction and operation of generation, transmission, and distribution facilities; the acquisition, disposal, depreciation and amortization of assets and facilities; the electric transmission system reliability; and wholesale and retail competition. In the planning and management of our operations, we must address the effects of existing and proposed laws and regulations and potential changes in our regulatory frameworks, including initiatives by federal and state legislatures, RTOs, utility regulators, and taxing authorities. Significant changes in the nature of the regulation of our businesses, including expiration of, or significant changes to, existing regulatory mechanisms, could require changes to our business planning and management of our businesses and could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity. Failure to obtain adequate rates or regulatory approvals in a timely manner; failure to obtain necessary licenses or permits from regulatory authorities; the impact of new or modified laws, regulations, standards, interpretations, or other legal requirements; or increased compliance costs could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
The electric and natural gas rates that we are allowed to charge are determined through regulatory proceedings, which are subject to intervention and appeal. Rates are also subject to legislative actions, which are largely outside of our control. Certain events could prevent us from recovering our costs in a timely manner or from earning adequate returns on our investments.
The rates that we are allowed to charge for our utility services significantly influence our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity. The electric and natural gas utility industry is highly regulated. The utility rates charged to customers are determined by governmental entities, including the MoPSC, the ICC, and the FERC. Decisions by these entities are influenced by many factors, including the cost of providing service, the prudency of expenditures, the quality of service, regulatory staff knowledge and experience, customer intervention, and economic conditions, as well as social and political views. Decisions made by these governmental entities regarding customer rates are largely outside of our control. We are exposed to regulatory lag and cost disallowances to varying degrees by jurisdiction, which, if unmitigated, could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity. Rate orders are also subject to appeal, which creates additional uncertainty as to the rates that we will ultimately be allowed to charge for our services. From time to time, our regulators may approve trackers, riders, or other recovery mechanisms that allow electric or natural gas rates to be adjusted without a traditional regulatory rate review. These mechanisms could be changed or terminated.
Ameren Missouri’s electric and natural gas utility rates and Ameren Illinois’ natural gas utility rates are typically established in regulatory proceedings that take up to 11 months to complete. Ameren Missouri’s rates established in those proceedings are primarily based on historical costs and revenues. Ameren Illinois’ natural gas rates established in those proceedings are based on estimated future costs and revenues. Thus, the rates that we are allowed to charge for utility services may not match our actual costs at any given time.
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Rates include an allowed return on investments established by the regulator, including a return at the applicable WACC on rate base, and an amount for income taxes based on the currently applicable statutory income tax rates and amortization associated with excess deferred income taxes. Although rate regulation is premised on providing an opportunity to earn a reasonable rate of return on rate base, there can be no assurance that the regulator will determine that our costs were prudently incurred or that the regulatory process will result in rates that will produce full recovery of such costs or provide for an opportunity to earn a reasonable return on those investments. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, and the utility industry generally, have an increased need for cost recovery, primarily driven by capital investments, which is likely to continue in the future. The resulting increase to the revenue requirement needed to recover such costs and earn a return on investments could result in more frequent regulatory rate reviews and requests for cost recovery mechanisms. Additionally, increasing rates could result in regulatory or legislative actions, as well as competitive or political pressures, all of which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
As a result of its participation in performance-based formula ratemaking, Ameren Illinois’ ROE for its electric distribution service and its electric energy-efficiency investments is directly correlated to yields on United States Treasury bonds. Additionally, Ameren Illinois is required to achieve certain performance standards. With respect to its natural gas delivery service business, unless extended, Ameren Illinois’ QIP will sunset after December 2023.
Ameren Illinois elects to participate in a performance-based formula ratemaking framework established pursuant to the IEIMA for its electric distribution service. Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution revenues are decoupled from sales volumes, which ensures that the electric distribution revenues authorized in a regulatory rate review are not affected by changes in sales volumes. Ameren Illinois also has an electric energy-efficiency program rider, which includes a return at the applicable WACC on its program investments that is subject to performance-based formula ratemaking. The ICC annually reviews Ameren Illinois’ rate filings for reasonableness and prudency. If the ICC were to conclude that Ameren Illinois’ costs were not prudently incurred, the ICC would disallow recovery of such costs. The electric distribution service performance-based formula ratemaking framework expires at the end of 2022, if not extended by the legislature, while the decoupling provisions extend beyond the end of formula ratemaking by law. If the performance-based formula ratemaking framework is not extended or if Ameren Illinois elects not to participate, Ameren Illinois would then be required to establish future rates through a traditional regulatory rate review with the ICC, which might result in rates that do not produce a full or timely recovery of costs or provide for an adequate return on investments and would expose Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution business to the risks described in the immediately preceding risk factor.
The allowed ROE under both formula ratemaking recovery mechanisms is based on the annual average of the monthly yields of the 30-year United States Treasury bonds plus 580 basis points. Therefore, Ameren Illinois’ annual ROE for its electric distribution business is directly correlated to the yields on such bonds, which are outside of Ameren Illinois’ control. With respect to electric distribution service, a 50 basis point change in the annual average of the monthly yields of the 30-year United States Treasury bonds would result in an estimated $10 million change in Ameren’s and Ameren Illinois’ annual net income, based on its 2021 projected rate base.
Ameren Illinois is also subject to performance standards. Failure to achieve the standards would result in a reduction in the company’s allowed ROE calculated under the ratemaking formulas. The performance standards applicable to electric distribution service include improvements in service reliability to reduce both the frequency and duration of outages, a reduction in the number of estimated bills, a reduction of consumption from inactive meters, and a reduction in bad debt expense. The electric distribution service regulatory framework provides for ROE penalties up to 38 basis points annually in 2021 and 2022 if these performance standards are not met. The allowed ROE on energy-efficiency investments can be increased or decreased up to 200 basis points, depending on the achievement of annual energy savings goals. Any adjustments to the allowed ROE for energy-efficiency investments will depend on annual performance for a historical period relative to energy savings goals. In 2020, 2019, and 2018, there were no performance-related basis point adjustments that materially affected financial results.
Ameren Illinois plans to invest up to approximately $100 million per year in electric energy-efficiency programs through 2025, and will earn a return on those investments.While the ICC has approved a plan consistent with this spending level through 2021, the ICC has the ability to reduce the amount of electric energy-efficiency savings goals in future plan program years if there are insufficient cost-effective programs available, which could reduce the investments in electric energy-efficiency programs.
The QIP provides Ameren Illinois with recovery of, and a return on, qualifying natural gas infrastructure investments that are placed in service between regulatory rate reviews. Infrastructure investments under the QIP earn a return at the applicable WACC. Ameren Illinois’ QIP is subject to a rate impact limitation of a cumulative 4% per year since the most recent delivery service rate order, with no single year exceeding 5.5%. If the rate impact limitation was met in a particular year, the amount of rate base causing the QIP rate to exceed the limitation would be exposed to regulatory lag until a year when that amount could be recovered under QIP or is added to rate base as a part of a regulatory rate review. Upon issuance of a natural gas delivery service rate order, QIP rate base is transferred to base rates and the QIP is reset to zero. Without legislative action, the QIP will sunset after December 2023. If the QIP is not extended or there is no other regulatory change, Ameren Illinois will be subject to regulatory lag on its natural gas infrastructure investments that are placed in service between regulatory rate reviews, which could adversely affect Ameren Illinois’ results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
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As a result of the election to use the PISA, Ameren Missouri’s electric rates are subject to a rate cap.
As a result of Ameren Missouri’s election to use the PISA, its rate increases are limited to a 2.85% compound annual growth rate in the average overall customer rate per kilowatthour, based on the electric rates that became effective in April 2017, less half of the annual savings from the TCJA that was passed on to customers as approved in the July 2018 MoPSC order. Both the rate cap and the PISA election are effective through December 2023, unless Ameren Missouri requests and receives MoPSC approval of an extension through December 2028.
If rate changes from the FAC or the RESRAM riders would cause rates to temporarily exceed the2.85%rate cap, the overage would be deferred for future recovery in the next regulatory rate review; however, rates established in such regulatory rate review would be subject to the rate cap. Any deferred overages approved for recovery would be recovered in a manner consistent with costs recovered under the PISA. Increased capital investments and operating costs could cause customer rates to exceed the rate cap. In addition, a decrease in off-system sales, which are included in net energy costs, could also contribute to customer rates exceeding the rate cap. Off-system sales are affected by planned and unplanned outages at Ameren Missouri’s energy centers, and by curtailment of generation resulting from unfavorable economic conditions, among other things. Excluding customer rates under the MEEIA rider, which are not subject to the rate cap, Ameren Missouri would incur a penalty equal to the amount of deferred overage that would cause customer rates to exceed the2.85%rate cap. A penalty incurred as the result of exceeding the rate cap could adversely affect Ameren’s and Ameren Missouri’s results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
We are subject to various environmental laws. Significant capital expenditures are required to achieve and to maintain compliance with these environmental laws. Failure to comply with these laws could result in the closing of facilities, alterations to the manner in which these facilities operate, increased operating costs, delays and increased costs of building new facilities, or exposure to fines and liabilities.
Our electric generation, transmission, and distribution operations and natural gas transmission, distribution, and storage operations must comply with a variety of environmental laws that are enforced through statutory and regulatory requirements including permitting programs implemented by federal, state, and local authorities. Depending upon the business activity of specific facilities, such laws address emissions; discharges to water bodies; the storage, handling and disposal of hazardous substances and waste materials; siting and land use requirements; and potential ecological impacts. Complex and lengthy processes are required to obtain and renew approvals, permits, and licenses for new, existing, or modified facilities. Additionally, the use and handling of various chemicals or hazardous materials require release prevention plans and emergency response procedures. Further, we are subject to risks from changing or conflicting interpretations of existing laws, modification to existing laws, and new laws.
We are also subject to liability under environmental laws that address the remediation of environmental contamination on property currently or formerly owned by us or by our predecessors, as well as property contaminated by hazardous substances that we generated. Such properties include MGP sites and third-party sites, such as landfills. Additionally, private individuals may seek to enforce environmental laws against us. They could allege injury from exposure to hazardous materials, allege a failure to comply with environmental laws, seek to compel remediation of environmental contamination, or seek to recover damages resulting from that contamination.
Environmental regulations have a significant impact on the electric utility industry and compliance with these regulations could be costly for Ameren Missouri, which operates coal-fired power plants. As of December 31, 2020, Ameren Missouri’s coal-fired energy centers represented 11% and 23% of Ameren’s and Ameren Missouri’s rate base, respectively. Clean Air Act regulations that apply to the electric utility industry include the NSPS, the CSAPR, the MATS, and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which are subject to periodic review for certain pollutants. Collectively, these regulations cover a variety of pollutants, such as SO2, particulate matter, NOx, mercury, toxic metals, and acid gases, and CO2 emissions from new power plants. Clean Water Act regulations govern both water intake and discharges from power plants and require evaluation of the ecological and biological impact of our operations and could require modifications to water intake structures or more stringent limitations on wastewater discharges at Ameren Missouri’s energy centers. Depending upon the scope of modifications ultimately required by state regulators, these capital expenditures could be significant. The management and disposal of coal ash is regulated as a solid waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the CCR rule, which require the closure of our surface impoundments at Ameren Missouri’s coal-fired energy centers. The individual or combined effects of existing and new environmental regulations could result in significant capital expenditures, increased operating costs, or the closure or alteration of operations at some of Ameren Missouri’s energy centers.
In January 2011, the Department of Justice, on behalf of the EPA, filed a complaint against Ameren Missouri in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri alleging that in performing projects at its coal-fired Rush Island Energy Center in 2007 and 2010, Ameren Missouri violated provisions of the Clean Air Act and Missouri law. In January 2017, the district court issued a liability ruling and, in September 2019, entered a final order that required Ameren Missouri to install a flue gas desulfurization system at the Rush Island Energy Center and a dry sorbent injection system at the Labadie Energy Center. There were no fines in the order. In October 2019, Ameren Missouri appealed the district court’s ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The district court has stayed implementation of the majority of the requirements of its order while the case is under appeal. The ultimate resolution of this matter could have a material
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adverse effect on the results of operations, financial position, and liquidity of Ameren and Ameren Missouri. Among other things and subject to economic and regulatory considerations, resolution of this matter could result in increased capital expenditures for the installation of air pollution control equipment, as well as increased operations and maintenance expenses.Based upon engineering studies from October 2019, capital expenditures to comply with the district court’s order for installation of a flue gas desulfurization system at the Rush Island Energy Center are estimated at approximately $1 billion. Further, the flue gas desulfurization system would result in additional operation and maintenance expenses of $30 million to $50 million annually for the life of the energy center. Engineering studies required to develop estimated capital expenditures and estimated additional operation and maintenance expenses for the Labadie Energy Center to comply with the district court’s order will not be undertaken while the case is under appeal.
The EPA’s Affordable Clean Energy Rule repealed the Clean Power Plan and replaced it with a new rule that had established emission guidelines for states to follow in developing plans to limit CO2 emissions and identified certain efficiency measures as the best system of emission reduction for coal-fired electric generating units. In January 2021, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated the Affordable Clean Energy Rule, and ruled that the EPA had the discretion to consider emission reduction measures that include efficiency measures and generation shifting to lower carbon emissions. Additional litigation including reconsideration by the entire United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit or an appeal to the United States Supreme Court is possible. Regardless of the outcome of such potential legal challenges, the EPA is likely to develop new regulations to address carbon emissions from coal and natural gas electric generating units, which could take years to finalize. At this time, Ameren Missouri cannot predict the outcome of legal challenges or future rulemakings. As such, the impact on the results of operations, financial position, and liquidity of Ameren and Ameren Missouri is uncertain.
Ameren and Ameren Missouri have incurred, and expect to incur, significant costs with respect to environmental compliance and site remediation. New or revised environmental regulations, enforcement initiatives, or legislation could result in a significant increase in capital expenditures and operating costs, decreased revenues, increased financing requirements, penalties or fines, or reduced operations of some of Ameren Missouri’s coal-fired energy centers, which, in turn, could lead to increased liquidity needs and higher financing costs. Actions required to ensure that Ameren Missouri’s facilities and operations are in compliance with environmental laws could be prohibitively expensive for Ameren Missouri if the costs are not fully recovered through rates. Environmental laws could require Ameren Missouri to close or to alter significantly the operations of its energy centers. If Ameren Missouri requests recovery of capital expenditures and costs for environmental compliance through rates, the MoPSC could deny recovery of all or a portion of these costs, prevent timely recovery, or make changes to the regulatory framework in an effort to minimize rate volatility and customer rate increases. Capital expenditures and costs to comply with future legislation or regulations might result in Ameren Missouri closing coal-fired energy centers earlier than planned. If these costs are not recoverable through rates, it could lead to an impairment of assets and reduced revenues. Any of the foregoing could have an adverse effect on our results of operations, financial positions, and liquidity.
We are subject to federal regulatory compliance and proceedings, which could result in increasing costs and the potential for regulatory penalties and other sanctions.
We are subject to FERC regulations, rules, and orders, including standards required by the NERC. As owners and operators of bulk power transmission systems and electric energy centers, we are subject to mandatory NERC reliability standards, including cybersecurity standards. In addition, our natural gas transmission, distribution, and storage facilities systems are subject to PHMSA rules and regulations. Compliance with these reliability standards, rules, and regulations may subject us to higher operating costs and may result in increased capital expenditures. We may also incur higher operating costs to comply with potential new regulations issued by these regulatory bodies. If we were found not to be in compliance with these mandatory NERC reliability standards, PHMSA rules and regulations, or FERC regulations, rules, and orders, we could incur substantial monetary penalties and other sanctions, which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity. The FERC can impose civil penalties of approximately $1.3 million per violation per day for violation of its regulations, rules, and orders, including mandatory NERC reliability standards. The FERC also conducts audits and reviews of Ameren Missouri’s, Ameren Illinois’, and ATXI’s accounting records to assess the accuracy of their respective formula ratemaking process, and it can require refunds to customers for previously billed amounts, with interest.
OPERATIONAL RISKS
Our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity have been and are expected to continue to be adversely affected by the international public health emergency associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a constantly evolving situation. In 2020, we experienced a net decrease in our sales volumes, an increase in our accounts receivable balances that were past due or that were a part of a deferred payment arrangement, and a decline in our cash collections from customers. The continued effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity in subsequent periods will depend on its severity and longevity, future regulatory or legislative actions with respect thereto, and the resulting impact on business, economic, and capital market conditions. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, measures have been taken by local, state, and federal governments, such as travel bans, quarantines, and shelter-in place orders. Shelter-in-place orders began taking
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effect in our service territories in mid-March 2020. These orders generally required individuals to remain at home and precluded or limited the operation of businesses that were deemed nonessential. In mid-May 2020, shelter-in-place orders effective in our service territories began to be relaxed, with individuals allowed to leave their homes and nonessential businesses allowed to begin reopening. However, certain restrictions remain in place that limit individual activities and the operation of nonessential businesses. Additional restrictions may be imposed in the future. Ameren’s business operations are deemed essential and are not directly impacted by the shelter-in-place orders. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic activity has been disrupted in the service territories of Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois. It has also caused disruptions in the capital markets, which could adversely affect our ability to access these markets on reasonable terms and when needed. These disruptions could continue for a prolonged period of time or become more severe.
We rely on the issuance of short-term and long-term debt and equity as significant sources of liquidity and funding for capital requirements not satisfied by our operating cash flow, as well as to refinance existing long-term debt. Disruptions to the capital markets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic could negatively affect our ability to maintain and to expand our businesses. In addition, our credit ratings may be impacted by the economic conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic could lead to events beyond our control, such as further depressed economic conditions or extreme volatility in the debt, equity, or credit markets, and might create uncertainty that could increase our cost of capital or impair or eliminate our ability to access the debt, equity, or credit markets, including our ability to draw on bank credit facilities or issue commercial paper.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we experienced and expect to continue to experience changes to our sales volumes. In 2020, compared to 2019, Ameren Missouri experienced a reduction in commercial and industrial electric sales volumes, partially offset by increased electric sales volumes to higher margin residential customers, excluding the estimated effects of weather and customer energy-efficiency programs. The COVID-19 pandemic will continue to affect Ameren Missouri’s total electric sales volumes and sales volumes by customer class beyond 2020. Assuming a ratable change in Ameren Missouri’s electric sales volumes by month, a 1% change for the calendar year 2021 to residential, commercial, and industrial customers would affect earnings per diluted share by approximately 3 cents, 2 cents, and a half-cent, respectively. The actual change in earnings per diluted share will be affected by the timing of sales volume changes due to seasonal customer rates. Pursuant to the PISA, Ameren Missouri’s electric rates are limited to a 2.85% compound annual growth rate cap. Continued long-term declines in sales volumes, along with increased capital investments and operating costs, could result in Ameren Missouri’s inability to recover amounts exceeding the rate cap. Ameren Illinois also experienced decreases in electric and natural gas sales volumes in 2020. While the revenues from Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution business, residential and small nonresidential customers of Ameren Illinois’ natural gas distribution business, and Ameren Illinois’ and ATXI’s electric transmission businesses are decoupled from changes in sales volumes, changes in sales volumes at Ameren Missouri and those associated with Ameren Illinois’ large nonresidential natural gas customers may affect net income.
Our customers’ payment for our services has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a decrease to our cash flow from operations. Ameren Missouri suspended disconnections for customer nonpayment and late fees in mid-March 2020, and resumed those activities for commercial and industrial customers in mid-July 2020 and residential customers in early August 2020. Ameren Illinois resumed disconnection activities for commercial and industrial customers for nonpayment in early August 2020 and residential customers in mid-September 2020, with the exception of residential customers classified as low income, expressing a financial hardship, or relying on medical equipment. Disconnections for nonpayment for these and all other residential customers are expected to begin in April 2021, which is after the annual winter moratorium period on disconnections that ends March 31, 2021. Ameren Illinois began the winter moratorium on November 18, 2020, which has historically started at the beginning of December. Ameren Illinois also resumed charging late fees to all customers in late July 2020, following the suspension of both disconnections and late fees for all customers in mid-March 2020. Future regulatory or legislative action could require suspension of customer disconnections and/or late fees, among other things, for an extended period of time. As of December 31, 2020, accounts receivable balances that were 30 days or greater past due or that were a part of a deferred payment arrangement represented 29%, 22%, and 35%, or $133 million, $40 million, and $93 million, of Ameren’s, Ameren Missouri’s, and Ameren Illinois’ customer trade receivables before allowance for doubtful accounts, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, these percentages were 18%, 18%, and 20%, or $75 million, $30 million, and $45 million, for Ameren, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois, respectively. Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution and natural gas distribution businesses have bad debt riders, which provide for recovery of bad debt write-offs, net of any subsequent recoveries. Pursuant to a June 2020 ICC order, Ameren Illinois’ electric bad debt rider provided for the recovery of bad debt expense in 2020, which reverted to the recovery of bad debt write-offs, net of any subsequent recoveries, in 2021. Ameren Missouri does not have a bad debt rider or tracker, and thus its earnings are exposed to increases in bad debt expense, absent regulatory relief. However, Ameren Missouri does not expect a material impact to earnings from increases in bad debt expense. While Ameren Missouri is seeking recovery of certain COVID-19 pandemic related costs incurred, net of savings, and forgone customer late revenues, it could be unsuccessful in obtaining regulatory approval to recover them, which may adversely affect Ameren and Ameren Missouri’s results of operations.
In addition, suppliers and contractors may not perform as provided under their contracts. This could cause delays in construction projects, or the performance of necessary maintenance to our electric and natural gas infrastructure, which could lead to failures of equipment that can result in unanticipated liabilities or unplanned outages. Delays in our construction projects could also result in reduced planned capital expenditures and decreased rate base growth.
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Also, our businesses depend on skilled professional and technical employees. Our operations could be adversely affected if a large portion of our employees contracted COVID-19 or became quarantined at the same time. This could lead to facility shutdowns and disruptions in the delivery of electricity and natural gas to our customers. In addition, remote working arrangements increase our data security risks, including loss of data related to sensitive customer, employee, financial, and operating system information, through insider or outsider actions.
Ameren cannot predict the extent or duration of the COVID-19 pandemic or its effects on the global, national, or local economy, the capital markets, or its customers, suppliers, business continuity plans, results of operations, financial position, liquidity, planned rate base growth, or sales volumes.
The construction and acquisition of, and capital improvements to, electric and natural gas utility infrastructure, along with Ameren Missouri’s ability to implement its Smart Energy Plan, which is aligned with its 2020 IRP, involve substantial risks.
We expect to make significant capital expenditures to maintain and improve our electric and natural gas utility infrastructure and to comply with existing environmental regulations. We estimate that we will invest up to $17.8 billion (Ameren Missouri – up to $9.3 billion; Ameren Illinois – up to $8.2 billion; ATXI – up to $0.2 billion) of capital expenditures from 2021 through 2025. For additional information on these estimates, see Liquidity and Capital Resources – Capital Expenditures in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Part II, Item 7, of this report. Investments in Ameren’s rate-regulated operations are expected to be recoverable from customers, but they are subject to prudence reviews and are exposed to regulatory lag of varying degrees by jurisdiction.
Our ability to complete construction projects successfully within projected estimates, including schedule, performance, and/or cost, and to implement Ameren Missouri’s Smart Energy Plan, which may include acquisition of generation facilities after they are constructed, is contingent upon many factors and subject to substantial risks. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following: project management expertise; escalating costs and/or shortages for labor, materials, and equipment, including changes to tariffs on materials; the ability of suppliers, contractors, and developers to meet contractual commitments timely; changes in the scope and timing of projects; the ability to obtain required regulatory, project, and permit approvals; the ability to obtain necessary rights-of-way, easements, and transmission connections at an acceptable cost in a timely fashion; unsatisfactory performance by the projects when completed; the inability to earn an adequate return on invested capital; the ability to raise capital on reasonable terms; and other events beyond our control, including construction delays due to weather. With respect to the transition of Ameren Missouri’s generation fleet and achievement of the carbon emission reduction targets outlined in the 2020 IRP, factors also include MoPSC approval for the retirement of energy centers and new or continued customer energy-efficiency programs; the cost of wind, solar, and other renewable generation and storage technologies; the ability to qualify for, and use, federal production or investment tax credits; changes in environmental laws or requirements, including those related to carbon emissions; and energy prices and demand.
Any of these risks could result in higher costs, the inability to complete anticipated projects, or facility closures, and could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
Our electric generation, transmission, and distribution facilities are subject to operational risks.
Our financial performance depends on the successful operation of electric generation, transmission, and distribution facilities. Operation of electric generation, transmission, and distribution facilities involves many risks, including:
•facility shutdowns due to operator error, or a failure of equipment or processes;
•longer-than-anticipated maintenance outages;
•failures of equipment that can result in unanticipated liabilities or unplanned outages, such as the unplanned outage resulting from non-nuclear operating issues related to the Callaway Energy Center’s generator;
•aging infrastructure that may require significant expenditures to operate and maintain;
•an energy center that might not be permitted to continue to operate if pollution control equipment is not installed by prescribed deadlines or does not perform as expected;
•lack of adequate water required for cooling plant operations;
•labor disputes;
•disruptions in the delivery of electricity to our customers;
•suppliers and contractors who do not perform as required under their contracts;
•failure of other operators’ facilities and the effect of that failure on our electric system and customers;
•inability to comply with regulatory or permit requirements, including those relating to environmental laws;
•handling, storage, and disposition of CCR;
•unusual or adverse weather conditions or other natural disasters, including severe storms, droughts, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, sustained high or low temperatures, icing, solar flares, and electromagnetic pulses, such as the extremely low temperatures experienced in mid-February 2021;
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•the level of wind and solar resources;
•inability to operate wind generation facilities at full capacity resulting from requirements to protect natural resources, including wildlife;
•the occurrence of catastrophic events such as fires, explosions, acts of sabotage or terrorism, civil unrest, pandemic health events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, or other similar events;
•accidents that might result in injury or loss of life, extensive property damage, or environmental damage;
•ineffective vegetation management programs;
•cybersecurity risks, including loss of operational control of Ameren Missouri’s energy centers and our transmission and distribution systems and loss of data, including sensitive customer, employee, financial, and operating system information, through insider or outsider actions;
•limitations on amounts of insurance available to cover losses that might arise in connection with operating our electric generation, transmission, and distribution facilities;
•inability to implement or maintain information systems;
•failure to keep pace with and the ability to adapt to rapid technological change; and
•other unanticipated operations and maintenance expenses and liabilities.
The foregoing risks could affect the controls and operations of our facilities or impede our ability to meet regulatory requirements, which could increase operating costs, increase our capital requirements and costs, reduce our revenues, or have an adverse effect on our liquidity.
Ameren Missouri’s ability to obtain an adequate supply of coal could limit operation of its coal-fired energy centers.
Ameren Missouri owns and operates coal-fired energy centers. About 97% of Ameren Missouri’s coal is purchased from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming, which has a limited number of suppliers. Deliveries from the Powder River Basin have occasionally been restricted because of rail congestion and maintenance, derailments, weather, and supplier financial hardship. Coal suppliers in the Power River Basin are experiencing financial hardship because of a decrease in demand resulting from increased natural gas and renewable energy generation, and the impact of environmental regulations, as well as concerns related to coal-fired generation. These financial hardships have resulted in bankruptcy filings by certain coal suppliers in recent years. As of December 31, 2020, coal inventories for Ameren Missouri were near targeted levels. However, disruptions in the delivery of coal, failure of our coal suppliers to provide adequate quantities or quality of coal, or lack of adequate inventories of coal, including low-sulfur coal used to comply with environmental regulations, could have adverse effects on Ameren Missouri’s electric generation operations. If Ameren Missouri is unable to obtain an adequate supply of coal under existing agreements, it may be required to purchase coal at higher prices or be forced to reduce generation at its coal-fired energy centers, which could adversely affect Ameren’s and Ameren Missouri’s results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
Ameren Missouri’s ownership and operation of a nuclear energy center creates business, financial, and waste disposal risks.
Ameren Missouri’s ownership of the Callaway Energy Center subjects it to risks associated with nuclear generation, including:
•potential harmful effects on the environment and human health resulting from radiological releases associated with the operation of nuclear facilities and the storage, handling, and disposal of radioactive materials;
•continued uncertainty regarding the federal government’s plan to permanently store spent nuclear fuel and, as a result, the need to provide for long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel at the Callaway Energy Center;
•limitations on the amounts and types of insurance available to cover losses that might arise in connection with the Callaway Energy Center or other United States nuclear facilities;
•uncertainties about contingencies and retrospective premium assessments relating to claims at the Callaway Energy Center or any other United States nuclear facilities;
•public and governmental concerns about the safety and adequacy of security at nuclear facilities;
•limited availability of fuel supply and our reliance on licensed fuel assemblies from the one NRC-licensed supplier of Callaway Energy Center’s assemblies;
•costly and extended outages for scheduled or unscheduled maintenance and refueling;
•uncertainties about the technological and financial aspects of decommissioning nuclear facilities at the end of their licensed lives;
•the adverse effect of poor market performance and other economic factors on the asset values of nuclear decommissioning trust funds and the corresponding increase, upon MoPSC approval, in customer rates to fund the estimated decommissioning costs; and