Regulatory Matters (Notes) |
3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2026 | |
| Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Text Block] | REGULATORY MATTERS AES Ohio ESPs and Smart Grid Plans AES Ohio ESP Appeal From November 1, 2017 through December 18, 2019, AES Ohio operated pursuant to an approved ESP plan, which was initially approved on October 20, 2017 (“ESP 3”). On December 18, 2019, the PUCO approved AES Ohio's Notice of Withdrawal of ESP 3 and reversion to its prior rate plan (“ESP 1”). Among other items, the PUCO Order approving the ESP 1 rate plan included reinstating the non-bypassable RSC Rider, which provided annual revenue of approximately $79.0 million. The OCC has appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court the PUCO’s decision approving the reversion to ESP 1 as well as argued for a refund of the RSC revenue dating back to August 2021. Oral arguments regarding this appeal were held on April 22, 2025, and a court decision is pending. Smart Grid Comprehensive Settlement On October 23, 2020, AES Ohio entered into a Stipulation and Recommendation with the staff of the PUCO, various customers and organizations representing customers of AES Ohio and certain other parties with respect to, among other matters, AES Ohio's applications for (i) approval of AES Ohio's plan to modernize its distribution grid (“Smart Grid Phase 1”), (ii) findings that AES Ohio passed the SEET for 2018 and 2019, and (iii) findings that AES Ohio's ESP 1 satisfies the SEET and the more favorable in the aggregate (“MFA”) regulatory test. On June 16, 2021, the PUCO issued their opinion and order accepting the stipulation as filed. The OCC appealed the final PUCO order with respect to the 2018 and 2019 SEET to the Ohio Supreme Court on December 6, 2021. Oral arguments regarding this appeal were held on April 2, 2025. The Ohio Supreme Court reversed the PUCO's opinion and order with respect to the methodology used by the PUCO to support its findings related to the 2018 and 2019 SEET, and remanded the case to the PUCO to conduct further analysis of the SEET for those years. In the PUCO proceeding on remand, AES Ohio filed testimony proposing a refund of $1.6 million based on methodologies sponsored by its external financial consultant. The PUCO held an evidentiary hearing on this issue on October 28 and 29, 2025, and a PUCO decision is pending. Distribution Rate Cases Ohio Energy Legislation and Three-Year Rate Plan On April 30, 2025, the Ohio legislature passed new energy legislation (“House Bill 15”) that was signed by the Governor and became effective August 14, 2025. The legislation allows Ohio’s electric utilities to file three-year forecasted base distribution rate cases, which would replace ESPs and associated recovery riders. AES Ohio currently anticipates that remaining recovery rider balances would be included in future base rates. Among other provisions, the legislation eliminated as of its effective date, the LGR, which previously allowed for recovery of net OVEC costs and revenues. Changes to the regulatory framework from this legislation, including the recovery of future net OVEC costs and revenues or remaining recovery rider balances, could be material to our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. To comply with House Bill 15, AES Ohio filed an application with the PUCO on November 10, 2025 to establish a Three-Year Rate Plan. This plan describes the investments necessary to strengthen and modernize AES Ohio's infrastructure and expand support for its customers. To enable these ongoing investments, the application also proposes rates for future electric distribution service in 2027, 2028 and 2029. The PUCO has set the evidentiary hearing to begin August 4, 2026, and a Commission Order is anticipated by the end of 2026. AES Ohio Merger Application Subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement as described in Note 1. Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Proposed AES Merger, AES, Parent, and Merger Sub are required to use reasonable best efforts to obtain all required regulatory approvals, including certain regulatory approvals from the PUCO. On April 10, 2026, AES Ohio submitted its required merger application to the PUCO. The PUCO is expected to review the application through its customary case process.
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