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CONSUMERS ENERGY CO - Annual Report: 2021 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021
OR
☐  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _____to_____
Commission File NumberRegistrant; State of Incorporation; Address; and Telephone NumberIRS Employer Identification No.
1-9513CMS ENERGY CORPORATION38-2726431
(A Michigan Corporation)
One Energy Plaza, Jackson, Michigan 49201
(517) 788‑0550
1-5611CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY38-0442310
(A Michigan Corporation)
One Energy Plaza, Jackson, Michigan 49201
(517) 788‑0550
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
CMS Energy Corporation Common Stock, $0.01 par value
CMSNew York Stock Exchange
CMS Energy Corporation 5.625% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2078CMSANew York Stock Exchange
CMS Energy Corporation 5.875% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2078CMSCNew York Stock Exchange
CMS Energy Corporation 5.875% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2079CMSDNew York Stock Exchange
CMS Energy Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.200% Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C
CMS PRCNew York Stock Exchange
Consumers Energy Company Cumulative Preferred Stock, $100 par value: $4.50 SeriesCMS-PBNew York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
CMS Energy Corporation:Yes☒No☐Consumers Energy Company:Yes☒No☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
CMS Energy Corporation:Yes☐No☒Consumers Energy Company:Yes☐No☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
CMS Energy Corporation:Yes☒No☐Consumers Energy Company:Yes☒No☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S‑T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
CMS Energy Corporation:Yes☒No☐Consumers Energy Company:Yes☒No☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non‑accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b‑2 of the Exchange Act.
CMS Energy Corporation:Consumers Energy Company:
Large accelerated filer☒Large accelerated filer☐
Non‑accelerated filer☐Non‑accelerated filer☒
Accelerated filer☐Accelerated filer☐
Smaller reporting company☐Smaller reporting company☐
Emerging growth 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.
CMS Energy Corporation:☐Consumers Energy Company:☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
CMS Energy Corporation:☒Consumers Energy Company:☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b‑2 of the Exchange Act).
CMS Energy Corporation:Yes☐No☒Consumers Energy Company:Yes☐No☒
The aggregate market value of CMS Energy voting and non‑voting common equity held by non‑affiliates was $17.113 billion for the 289,652,428 CMS Energy Corporation Common Stock shares outstanding on June 30, 2021 based on the closing sale price of $59.08 for CMS Energy Corporation Common Stock, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on such date. There were no shares of Consumers common equity held by non‑affiliates as of June 30, 2021.
There were 289,760,265 shares of CMS Energy Corporation Common Stock outstanding on January 14, 2022. On January 14, 2022, CMS Energy held all 84,108,789 outstanding shares of common stock of Consumers.
Documents incorporated by reference in Part III: CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ proxy statement relating to their 2022 Annual Meetings of Shareholders to be held May 6, 2022.


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CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
Annual Reports on Form 10-K to the Securities and Exchange Commission for the Year Ended December 31, 2021
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Glossary
Certain terms used in the text and financial statements are defined below.
2016 Energy Law
Michigan’s Public Acts 341 and 342 of 2016
ABATE
Association of Businesses Advocating Tariff Equity
ABO
Accumulated benefit obligation; the liabilities of a pension plan based on service and pay to date, which differs from the PBO in that it does not reflect expected future salary increases
AFUDC
Allowance for borrowed and equity funds used during construction
AOCI
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
ARO
Asset retirement obligation
ASC 715
Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715, Retirement Benefits
Aviator Wind
Aviator Wind, LLC, a VIE in which Aviator Wind Equity Holdings holds a Class B membership interest
Aviator Wind Equity Holdings
Aviator Wind Equity Holdings, LLC, a VIE in which Grand River Wind, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises, has a 51‑percent interest
Bay Harbor
A residential/commercial real estate area located near Petoskey, Michigan, in which CMS Energy sold its interest in 2002
bcf
Billion cubic feet
CAO
Chief Accounting Officer
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CCR
Coal combustion residual
CDC
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CEO
Chief Executive Officer
CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended
CFO
Chief Financial Officer
city-gate contract
An arrangement made for the point at which a local distribution company physically receives gas from a supplier or pipeline
Clean Air Act
Federal Clean Air Act of 1963, as amended
Clean Energy Plan
Consumers’ long-term strategy for delivering clean, reliable, and affordable energy to its customers through the increased use of energy efficiency and customer demand management programs, additional renewable energy generation, and conservation voltage reduction
Clean Water Act
Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, as amended
CMS Capital
CMS Capital, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Energy
CMS Energy
CMS Energy Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise noted; the parent of Consumers, CMS Enterprises, and, until October 1, 2021, EnerBank; on October 1, 2021, EnerBank was acquired by Regions Bank
CMS Enterprises
CMS Enterprises Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Energy
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CMS ERM
CMS Energy Resource Management Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises, formerly known as CMS Marketing, Services and Trading Company
CMS Generation Michigan Power
CMS Generation Michigan Power L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of HYDRA‑CO Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises
CMS Land
CMS Land Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Capital
Consumers
Consumers Energy Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise noted; a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Energy
Consumers 2014 Securitization Funding
Consumers 2014 Securitization Funding LLC, a wholly owned consolidated bankruptcy-remote subsidiary of Consumers and special-purpose entity organized for the sole purpose of purchasing and owning securitization property, issuing securitization bonds, and pledging its interest in securitization property to a trustee to collateralize the securitization bonds
COVID‑19
Coronavirus disease 2019, a respiratory illness that was declared a pandemic in March 2020 and to which public and private agencies initially responded by instituting social-distancing and other measures designed to slow the spread of the disease
Craven
Craven County Wood Energy Limited Partnership, a VIE in which HYDRA‑CO Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises, has a 50-percent interest
CSAPR
Cross-State Air Pollution Rule of 2011, as amended
DB Pension Plan A
Defined benefit pension plan of CMS Energy and Consumers, including certain present and former affiliates and subsidiaries, created as of December 31, 2017 for active employees who were covered under the defined benefit pension plan that closed in 2005
DB Pension Plan B
Defined benefit pension plan of CMS Energy and Consumers, including certain present and former affiliates and subsidiaries, amended as of December 31, 2017 to include only retired and former employees who were covered under the defined benefit pension plan that closed in 2005
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DB Pension Plans
Defined benefit pension plans of CMS Energy and Consumers, comprising DB Pension Plan A and DB Pension Plan B
DB SERP
Defined Benefit Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
DCCP
Defined Company Contribution Plan
DC SERP
Defined Contribution Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
DIG
Dearborn Industrial Generation, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dearborn Industrial Energy, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises
Dodd-Frank Act
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010
DTE Electric
DTE Electric Company, a non‑affiliated company
EGLE
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, formerly known as Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
EnerBank
EnerBank USA, until October 1, 2021, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Capital; on October 1, 2021, EnerBank was acquired by Regions Bank
energy waste reduction
The reduction of energy consumption through energy efficiency and demand-side energy conservation, as established under the 2016 Energy Law
Entergy
Entergy Corporation, a non‑affiliated company
EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPS
Earnings per share
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ERCOT
Electric Reliability Council of Texas
Exchange Act
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
FERC
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
First Mortgage Bond Indenture
Indenture dated as of September 1, 1945 between Consumers and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, as amended and supplemented
FTR
Financial transmission right
GAAP
U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
GCC
Gas Customer Choice, which allows gas customers to purchase gas from alternative suppliers
GCR
Gas cost recovery
Genesee
Genesee Power Station Limited Partnership, a VIE in which HYDRA‑CO Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises, has a 50-percent interest
Grayling
Grayling Generating Station Limited Partnership, a VIE in which HYDRA‑CO Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises, has a 50-percent interest
GWh
Gigawatt-hour, a unit of energy equal to one billion watt-hours
Internal Revenue Code
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
IRP
Integrated resource plan
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IRS
Internal Revenue Service
kV
Thousand volts, a unit used to measure the difference in electrical pressure along a current
kVA
Thousand volt-amperes, a unit used to reflect the electrical power capacity rating of equipment or a system
kWh
Kilowatt-hour, a unit of energy equal to one thousand watt-hours
LIBOR
London Interbank Offered Rate
Ludington
Ludington pumped-storage plant, jointly owned by Consumers and DTE Electric
MATS
Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, which limit mercury, acid gases, and other toxic pollution from coal‑fueled and oil‑fueled power plants
MCV Facility
A 1,647 MW natural gas-fueled, combined-cycle cogeneration facility operated by the MCV Partnership
MCV Partnership
Midland Cogeneration Venture Limited Partnership, a non-affiliated company
MCV PPA
PPA between Consumers and the MCV Partnership
METC
Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC, a non‑affiliated company
MGP
Manufactured gas plant
MIOSHA
Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration
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MISO
Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.
mothball
To place a generating unit into a state of extended reserve shutdown in which the unit is inactive and unavailable for service for a specified period, during which the unit can be brought back into service after receiving appropriate notification and completing any necessary maintenance or other work; generation owners in MISO must request approval to mothball a unit, and MISO then evaluates the request for reliability impacts
MPSC
Michigan Public Service Commission
MRV
Market-related value of plan assets
MW
Megawatt, a unit of power equal to one million watts
MWh
Megawatt-hour, a unit of energy equal to one million watt-hours
NAAQS
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NERC
North American Electric Reliability Corporation, a non‑affiliated company responsible for developing and enforcing reliability standards, monitoring the bulk power system, and educating and certifying industry personnel
NPDES
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, a permit system for regulating point sources of pollution under the Clean Water Act
NREPA
Part 201 of Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act of 1994, as amended
NSR
New Source Review, a construction-permitting program under the Clean Air Act
OPEB
Other Post-Employment Benefits
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OPEB Plan
Postretirement health care and life insurance plans of CMS Energy and Consumers, including certain present and former affiliates and subsidiaries
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Palisades
Palisades nuclear power plant, sold by Consumers to Entergy in 2007
PBO
Projected benefit obligation
PCB
Polychlorinated biphenyl
PFAS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
PHMSA
U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
PISP
Performance Incentive Stock Plan
PJM
PJM Interconnection Inc.
PPA
Power purchase agreement
PSCR
Power supply cost recovery
PURPA
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978
RCRA
Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976
REC
Renewable energy credit
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Regions Bank
A subsidiary of Regions Financial Corporation, a non-affiliated company
ROA
Retail Open Access, which allows electric generation customers to choose alternative electric suppliers pursuant to Michigan’s Public Acts 141 and 142 of 2000, as amended
SEC
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
securitization
A financing method authorized by statute and approved by the MPSC which allows a utility to sell its right to receive a portion of the rate payments received from its customers for the repayment of securitization bonds issued by a special-purpose entity affiliated with such utility
Series C preferred stock
4.200 percent cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred stock, Series C, with a liquidation value of $25,000 per share
TCJA
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
T.E.S. Filer City
T.E.S. Filer City Station Limited Partnership, a VIE in which HYDRA‑CO Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises, has a 50-percent interest
USW
United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO-CLC
UWUA
Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO
VEBA trust
Voluntary employees’ beneficiary association trusts accounts established specifically to set aside employer-contributed assets to pay for future expenses of the OPEB Plan
VIE
Variable interest entity
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Filing Format
This combined Form 10-K is separately filed by CMS Energy and Consumers. Information in this combined Form 10-K relating to each individual registrant is filed by such registrant on its own behalf. Consumers makes no representation regarding information relating to any other companies affiliated with CMS Energy other than its own subsidiaries.
CMS Energy is the parent holding company of several subsidiaries, including Consumers and CMS Enterprises. CMS Energy was also the parent holding company of EnerBank until October 1, 2021 when EnerBank was acquired by Regions Bank. None of CMS Energy, CMS Enterprises, nor any of CMS Energy’s other subsidiaries (other than Consumers) has any obligation in respect of Consumers’ debt securities or preferred stock and holders of such securities should not consider the financial resources or results of operations of CMS Energy, CMS Enterprises, nor any of CMS Energy’s other subsidiaries (other than Consumers and its own subsidiaries (in relevant circumstances)) in making a decision with respect to Consumers’ debt securities or preferred stock. Similarly, neither Consumers nor any other subsidiary of CMS Energy has any obligation in respect of securities of CMS Energy.
Forward-Looking Statements and Information
This Form 10-K and other CMS Energy and Consumers disclosures may contain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The use of “might,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “predicts,” “assumes,” and other similar words is intended to identify forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainty. This discussion of potential risks and uncertainties is designed to highlight important factors that may impact CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses and financial outlook. CMS Energy and Consumers have no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements regardless of whether new information, future events, or any other factors affect the information contained in the statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to various factors that could cause CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in these statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following, all of which are potentially significant:
•the impact and effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and related economic disruptions including, but not limited to, labor shortages, inflation, and supply chain disruptions, all of which could impact CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ workforce, operations, revenues, expenses, uncollectible accounts, energy efficiency programs, pension funding, PSCR and GCR costs, capital investment programs, cash flows, liquidity, maintenance of existing assets, and other operating expenses
•the impact of new regulation by the MPSC, FERC, and other applicable governmental proceedings and regulations, including any associated impact on electric or gas rates or rate structures
•potentially adverse regulatory treatment or failure to receive timely regulatory orders affecting Consumers that are or could come before the MPSC, FERC, or other governmental authorities
•changes in the performance of or regulations applicable to MISO, METC, pipelines, railroads, vessels, or other service providers that CMS Energy, Consumers, or any of their affiliates rely on to serve their customers
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•the adoption of or challenges to federal or state laws or regulations or changes in applicable laws, rules, regulations, principles, or practices, or in their interpretation, such as those related to energy policy, ROA, PURPA, infrastructure integrity or security, cybersecurity, gas pipeline safety, gas pipeline capacity, energy waste reduction, the environment, regulation or deregulation, reliability, COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements, health care reforms (including comprehensive health care reform enacted in 2010), taxes, accounting matters, climate change, air emissions, renewable energy, the Dodd-Frank Act, and other business issues that could have an impact on CMS Energy’s, Consumers’, or any of their affiliates’ businesses or financial results
•factors affecting operations, such as costs and availability of personnel, equipment, and materials; weather conditions; natural disasters; catastrophic weather-related damage; scheduled or unscheduled equipment outages; maintenance or repairs; environmental incidents; failures of equipment or materials; electric transmission and distribution or gas pipeline system constraints; interconnection requirements; political and social unrest; general strikes; the government and/or paramilitary response to political or social events; and changes in trade policies or regulations
•the ability of CMS Energy and Consumers to execute cost-reduction strategies
•potentially adverse regulatory or legal interpretations or decisions regarding environmental matters, or delayed regulatory treatment or permitting decisions that are or could come before EGLE, the EPA, and/or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and potential environmental remediation costs associated with these interpretations or decisions, including those that may affect Consumers’ routine maintenance, repair, and replacement classification under NSR regulations
•changes in energy markets, including availability and price of electric capacity and the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices and availability and deliverability of coal, natural gas, natural gas liquids, electricity, oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, and certain related products
•the price of CMS Energy common stock, the credit ratings of CMS Energy and Consumers, capital and financial market conditions, and the effect of these market conditions on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ interest costs and access to the capital markets, including availability of financing to CMS Energy, Consumers, or any of their affiliates
•the potential effects of the future transition from LIBOR to an alternative reference interest rate in the credit and capital markets
•the investment performance of the assets of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ pension and benefit plans, the discount rates, mortality assumptions, and future medical costs used in calculating the plans’ obligations, and the resulting impact on future funding requirements
•the impact of the economy, particularly in Michigan, and potential future volatility in the financial and credit markets on CMS Energy’s, Consumers’, or any of their affiliates’ revenues, ability to collect accounts receivable from customers, or cost and availability of capital
•changes in the economic and financial viability of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ suppliers, customers, and other counterparties and the continued ability of these third parties, including those in bankruptcy, to meet their obligations to CMS Energy and Consumers
•population changes in the geographic areas where CMS Energy and Consumers conduct business
•national, regional, and local economic, competitive, and regulatory policies, conditions, and developments
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•loss of customer demand for electric generation supply to alternative electric suppliers, increased use of self-generation including distributed generation, or energy waste reduction and storage
•increased renewable energy demand due to customers seeking to meet their own sustainability goals
•the reputational or other impact on CMS Energy and Consumers of the failure to achieve ambitions related to reducing their impact on climate change
•adverse consequences of employee, director, or third-party fraud or non‑compliance with codes of conduct or with laws or regulations
•federal regulation of electric sales, including periodic re‑examination by federal regulators of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ market-based sales authorizations
•any event, change, development, occurrence, or circumstance that could impact the 2021 IRP filing or give rise to the termination of the associated purchase agreements, including any action by a regulatory authority or other third party to prohibit, delay, impair, or deny approval for or consent to the 2021 IRP or the consummation of the proposed acquisitions
•the availability, cost, coverage, and terms of insurance, the stability of insurance providers, and the ability of Consumers to recover the costs of any insurance from customers
•the effectiveness of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ risk management policies, procedures, and strategies, including strategies to hedge risk related to interest rates and future prices of electricity, natural gas, and other energy-related commodities
•factors affecting development of electric generation projects, gas transmission, and gas and electric distribution infrastructure replacement, conversion, and expansion projects, including factors related to project site identification, construction material pricing, schedule delays, availability of qualified construction personnel, permitting, acquisition of property rights, and government approvals
•potential disruption to, interruption of, or other impacts on facilities, utility infrastructure, operations, or backup systems due to accidents, explosions, physical disasters, global pandemics, cyber incidents, civil unrest, vandalism, war, or terrorism, and the ability to obtain or maintain insurance coverage for these events
•changes or disruption in fuel supply, including but not limited to supplier bankruptcy and delivery disruptions
•potential costs, lost revenues, reputational harm, or other consequences resulting from misappropriation of assets or sensitive information, corruption of data, or operational disruption in connection with a cyberattack or other cyber incident
•potential disruption to, interruption or failure of, or other impacts on information technology backup or disaster recovery systems
•technological developments in energy production, storage, delivery, usage, and metering
•the ability to implement technology successfully
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•the impact of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ integrated business software system and its effects on their operations, including utility customer billing and collections
•adverse consequences resulting from any past, present, or future assertion of indemnity or warranty claims associated with assets and businesses previously owned by CMS Energy or Consumers, including claims resulting from attempts by foreign or domestic governments to assess taxes on or to impose environmental liability associated with past operations or transactions
•the outcome, cost, and other effects of any legal or administrative claims, proceedings, investigations, or settlements
•the reputational impact on CMS Energy and Consumers of operational incidents, violations of corporate policies, regulatory violations, inappropriate use of social media, and other events
•restrictions imposed by various financing arrangements and regulatory requirements on the ability of Consumers and other subsidiaries of CMS Energy to transfer funds to CMS Energy in the form of cash dividends, loans, or advances
•earnings volatility resulting from the application of fair value accounting to certain energy commodity contracts or interest rate contracts
•changes in financial or regulatory accounting principles or policies (e.g., the adoption of the hypothetical liquidation at book value method of accounting for certain non-regulated renewable energy projects)
•other matters that may be disclosed from time to time in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ SEC filings, or in other public documents
All forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of the risk and other factors described above and as detailed from time to time in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ SEC filings. For additional details regarding these and other uncertainties, see Item 1A. Risk Factors; Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Outlook; and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2, Regulatory Matters and Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments.
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Part I
Item 1.    Business
General
CMS Energy
CMS Energy was formed as a corporation in Michigan in 1987 and is an energy company operating primarily in Michigan. It is the parent holding company of several subsidiaries, including Consumers, an electric and gas utility; and CMS Enterprises, primarily a domestic independent power producer and marketer. CMS Energy was also the parent holding company of EnerBank, an industrial bank located in Utah, until October 1, 2021 when EnerBank was acquired by Regions Bank. Consumers serves individuals and businesses operating in the alternative energy, automotive, chemical, food, and metal products industries, as well as a diversified group of other industries. CMS Enterprises, through its subsidiaries and equity investments, is engaged in domestic independent power production, including the development and operation of renewable generation, and the marketing of independent power production.
CMS Energy manages its businesses by the nature of services each provides, and operates principally in three business segments: electric utility; gas utility; and enterprises, its non‑utility operations and investments. Consumers’ consolidated operations account for the substantial majority of CMS Energy’s total assets, income, and operating revenue. CMS Energy’s consolidated operating revenue was $7.3 billion in 2021, $6.4 billion in 2020, and $6.6 billion in 2019.
For further information about operating revenue, income, and assets and liabilities attributable to all of CMS Energy’s business segments and operations, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—CMS Energy Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Consumers
Consumers has served Michigan customers since 1886. Consumers was incorporated in Maine in 1910 and became a Michigan corporation in 1968. Consumers owns and operates electric generation and distribution facilities and gas transmission, storage, and distribution facilities. It provides electricity and/or natural gas to 6.8 million of Michigan’s 10 million residents. Consumers’ rates and certain other aspects of its business are subject to the jurisdiction of the MPSC and FERC, as well as to NERC reliability standards, as described in Item 1. Business—CMS Energy and Consumers Regulation.
Consumers’ consolidated operating revenue was $7.0 billion in 2021, $6.2 billion in 2020, and $6.4 billion in 2019. For further information about operating revenue, income, and assets and liabilities attributable to Consumers’ electric and gas utility operations, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Consumers Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Consumers owns its principal properties in fee, except that most electric lines, gas mains, and renewable generation projects are located below or adjacent to public roads or on land owned by others and are accessed by Consumers through easements, leases, and other rights. Almost all of Consumers’ properties are subject to the lien of its First Mortgage Bond Indenture. For additional information on Consumers’ properties, see Item 1. Business—Business Segments—Consumers Electric Utility—Electric Utility Properties and Business Segments—Consumers Gas Utility—Gas Utility Properties.
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In 2021, Consumers served 1.9 million electric customers and 1.8 million gas customers in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Presented in the following map are Consumers’ service territories:
cms-20211231_g1.jpg
Electric service territory
Gas service territory
Combination electric and
gas service territory
•Electric generation facilities
CMS Energy and Consumers—The Triple Bottom Line
For information regarding CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ purpose and impact on the “triple bottom line” of people, planet, and profit, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Executive Overview.
Business Segments
Consumers Electric Utility
Electric Utility Operations: Consumers’ electric utility operations, which include the generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity, generated operating revenue of $5.0 billion in 2021, and $4.4 billion in 2020 and 2019. Consumers’ electric utility customer base consists of a mix of primarily residential, commercial, and diversified industrial customers in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
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Presented in the following illustration is Consumers’ 2021 electric utility operating revenue of $5.0 billion by customer class:
cms-20211231_g2.jpg
Consumers’ electric utility operations are not dependent on a single customer, or even a few customers, and the loss of any one or even a few of Consumers’ largest customers is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on Consumers’ financial condition.
In 2021, Consumers’ electric deliveries were 36 billion kWh, which included ROA deliveries of three billion kWh, resulting in net bundled sales of 33 billion kWh. In 2020, Consumers’ electric deliveries were 35 billion kWh, which included ROA deliveries of three billion kWh, resulting in net bundled sales of 32 billion kWh.
Consumers’ electric utility operations are seasonal. The consumption of electric energy typically increases in the summer months, due primarily to the use of air conditioners and other cooling equipment.
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Presented in the following illustration are Consumers’ monthly weather-normalized electric deliveries (deliveries adjusted to reflect normal weather conditions) to its customers, including ROA deliveries, during 2021 and 2020:
cms-20211231_g3.jpg
Consumers’ 2021 summer peak demand was 7,951 MW, which included ROA demand of 581 MW. For the 2020-2021 winter season, Consumers’ peak demand was 5,386 MW, which included ROA demand of 465 MW. As required by MISO reserve margin requirements, Consumers owns or controls, through long-term PPAs and short-term capacity purchases, all of the capacity required to supply its projected firm peak load and necessary reserve margin for summer 2022.
Electric Utility Properties: Consumers owns and operates electric generation and distribution facilities. For details about Consumers’ electric generation facilities, see the Electric Utility Generation and Supply Mix section that follows this Electric Utility Properties section. Consumers’ distribution system consists of:
•208 miles of high-voltage distribution overhead lines operating at 138 kV
•4 miles of high-voltage distribution underground lines operating at 138 kV
•4,428 miles of high-voltage distribution overhead lines operating at 46 kV and 69 kV
•19 miles of high-voltage distribution underground lines operating at 46 kV
•82,474 miles of electric distribution overhead lines
•9,395 miles of underground distribution lines
•1,093 substations with an aggregate transformer capacity of 26 million kVA
•three battery facilities with storage capacity of 2 MWh
Consumers is interconnected to the interstate high-voltage electric transmission system owned by METC and operated by MISO. Consumers is also interconnected to neighboring utilities and to other transmission systems.
Electric Utility Generation and Supply Mix: During 2020, Consumers announced a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions from its electric business by 2040. This goal includes not only emissions from
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Consumers’ owned generation, but also emissions from the generation of power purchased through long-term PPAs and from the MISO energy market.
Consumers expects to meet 90 percent of its customers’ needs with clean energy sources by 2040 through execution of its 2021 IRP, which calls for replacing its coal-fueled generation predominantly with investment in renewable energy. Carbon offset measures including, but not limited to, carbon sequestration, methane emission capture, and forest preservation and reforestation may be used to close the gap to achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Specifically, the 2021 IRP provides for a full transition away from coal-fueled generation by the end of 2025 and includes the retirement of the D.E. Karn oil/gas-fueled and coal-fueled generating units in 2023 and the J.H. Campbell coal-fueled generating units in 2025. For further information on Consumers’ progress towards its net-zero carbon emissions goal, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Executive Overview.
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Presented in the following table are details about Consumers’ 2021 electric generation and supply mix:
Name and Location (Michigan)Number of Units and Year Entered Service2021
Generation Capacity
(MW)
1

2021
Electric Supply
(GWh)
Coal steam generation
J.H. Campbell 1 & 2 – West Olive2
2 Units, 1962-1967600 3,123 
J.H. Campbell 3 – West Olive2,3
1 Unit, 1980788 4,784 
D.E. Karn 1 & 2 – Essexville4
2 Units, 1959-1961487 2,954 
1,875 10,861 
Oil/Gas steam generation
D.E. Karn 3 & 4 – Essexville4
2 Units, 1975-1977934 128 
Hydroelectric
Ludington – Ludington 6 Units, 1973927 
5
(321)
6
Conventional hydro generation – various locations 35 Units, 1906-194976 398 
1,003 77 
Gas combined cycle
Jackson – Jackson 1 Unit, 2002541 2,141 
Zeeland – Zeeland 3 Units, 2002531 2,839 
1,072 4,980 
Gas combustion turbines
Zeeland (simple cycle) – Zeeland 2 Units, 2001316 454 
Wind generation
Cross Winds® Energy Park – Tuscola County
114 Turbines,
2014, 2018, and 2019		35 661 
Lake Winds® Energy Park – Mason County
56 Turbines, 201213 239 
Gratiot Farms Wind Project – Gratiot County 60 Turbines, 202024 354 
Crescent Wind Farm – Hillsdale County
60 Turbines, 202125 316 
97 1,570 
Solar generation
Solar Gardens – Allendale and Kalamazoo 15,100 Panels, 20163 6 
Total owned generation5,300 18,076 
Purchased power7
Coal generation – T.E.S. Filer City60 494 
Gas generation – MCV Facility8
1,240 4,753 
Other gas generation – various locations160 1,109 
Nuclear generation – Palisades8
792 6,901 
Wind generation – various locations43 1,010 
Solar generation – various locations37 140 
Other renewable generation – various locations220 1,258 
2,552 15,665 
Net interchange power9
— 645 
Total purchased and interchange power2,552 16,310 
Total supply7,852 34,386 
Less distribution and transmission loss1,786 
Total net bundled sales32,600 
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1Represents generation capacity during the summer months (planning year 2021 capacity as reported to MISO and limited by interconnection service limits). For wind and solar generation, the amount represents the effective load-carrying capability.
2Consumers plans to retire these generating units in 2025, subject to MPSC approval.
3Represents Consumers’ share of the capacity of the J.H. Campbell 3 unit, net of the 6.69-percent ownership interest of the Michigan Public Power Agency and Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative, Inc, each a non-affiliated company.
4Consumers plans to retire these generating units in 2023, subject to MPSC approval.
5Represents Consumers’ 51-percent share of the capacity of Ludington. DTE Electric holds the remaining 49-percent ownership interest.
6Represents Consumers’ share of net pumped-storage generation. The pumped-storage facility consumes electricity to pump water during off-peak hours for storage in order to generate electricity later during peak‑demand hours.
7Represents purchases under long-term PPAs.
8For information about Consumers’ long-term PPAs related to the MCV Facility and Palisades, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments—Contractual Commitments.
9Represents purchases from the MISO energy market.
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Presented in the following table are the sources of Consumers’ electric supply for the last three years:
GWh
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Owned generation
Coal10,861 7,960 9,776 
Gas5,555 5,883 6,289 
Renewable energy1,974 1,505 1,258 
Oil7 6 5 
Net pumped storage1
(321)(371)(308)
Total owned generation18,076 14,983 17,020 
Purchased power2
Gas generation5,862 7,346 6,812 
Nuclear generation6,901 6,898 6,946 
Renewable energy generation2,408 2,225 2,387 
Coal generation494 513 462 
Net interchange power3
645 2,655 2,059 
Total purchased and interchange power16,310 19,637 18,666 
Total supply34,386 34,620 35,686 
1Represents Consumers’ share of net pumped-storage generation. During 2021, the pumped-storage facility consumed 1,151 GWh of electricity to pump water during off-peak hours for storage in order to generate 830 GWh of electricity later during peak-demand hours.
2Represents purchases under long-term PPAs.
3Represents purchases from the MISO energy market.
During 2021, Consumers acquired 47 percent of the electricity it provided to customers through long-term PPAs and the MISO energy market. Consumers offers its generation into the MISO energy market on a day-ahead and real-time basis and bids for power in the market to serve the demand of its customers. Consumers is a net purchaser of power and supplements its generation capability with purchases from the MISO energy market to meet its customers’ needs during peak-demand periods.
At December 31, 2021, Consumers had future commitments to purchase capacity and energy under long-term PPAs with various generating plants. These contracts require monthly capacity payments based on the plants’ availability or deliverability. The payments for 2022 through 2048 are estimated to total $8.0 billion and, for each of the next five years, range from $0.6 billion to $0.8 billion annually. These amounts may vary depending on plant availability and fuel costs. For further information about Consumers’ future capacity and energy purchase obligations, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital Resources and Liquidity—Other Material Cash Requirements and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments—Contractual Commitments.
During 2021, 32 percent of the energy Consumers provided to customers was generated by its coal-fueled generating units, which burned six million tons of coal and produced a combined total of 10,861 GWh of electricity. In order to obtain the coal it needs, Consumers enters into physical coal supply contracts.
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At December 31, 2021, Consumers had future commitments to purchase coal through 2023; payment obligations under these contracts totaled $116 million. Most of Consumers’ rail-supplied coal contracts have fixed prices, although some contain market-based pricing. Consumers’ vessel-supplied coal contracts have fixed base prices that are adjusted monthly to reflect changes to the fuel cost of vessel transportation. At December 31, 2021, Consumers had 95 percent of its 2022 expected coal requirements under contract, as well as a 23-day supply of coal on hand.
In conjunction with its coal supply contracts, Consumers leases a fleet of railcars and has transportation contracts with various companies to provide rail and vessel services for delivery of purchased coal to Consumers’ generating facilities. Consumers’ coal transportation contracts are future commitments and expire on various dates through 2025; payment obligations under these contracts totaled $533 million at December 31, 2021.
During 2021, 16 percent of the energy Consumers provided to customers was generated by its natural gas‑fueled generating units, which burned 40 bcf of natural gas and produced a combined total of 5,555 GWh of electricity.
In order to obtain the gas it needs for electric generation fuel, Consumers’ electric utility purchases gas from the market near the time of consumption, at prices that allow it to compete in the electric wholesale market. For units 3 & 4 of D.E. Karn and for the Jackson and Zeeland plants, Consumers utilizes an agent that owns firm transportation rights to each plant to purchase gas from the market and transport the gas to the facilities.
Electric Utility Competition: Consumers’ electric utility business is subject to actual and potential competition from many sources, in both the wholesale and retail markets, as well as in electric generation, electric delivery, and retail services.
Michigan law allows electric customers in Consumers’ service territory to buy electric generation service from alternative electric suppliers in an aggregate amount capped at ten percent of Consumers’ sales, with certain exceptions. At December 31, 2021, electric deliveries under the ROA program were at the ten‑percent limit. Of Consumers’ 1.9 million electric customers, fewer than 300, or 0.02 percent, purchased electric generation service under the ROA program. For additional information, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Outlook—Consumers Electric Utility Outlook and Uncertainties.
Consumers also faces competition or potential competition associated with industrial customers relocating all or a portion of their production capacity outside of Consumers’ service territory for economic reasons; municipalities owning or operating competing electric delivery systems; and customer self-generation. Consumers addresses this competition in various ways, including:
•aggressively controlling operating, maintenance, and fuel costs and passing savings on to customers
•providing renewable energy options and energy waste reduction programs
•providing competitive rate-design options, particularly for large energy-intensive customers
•offering tariff-based incentives that support economic development
•monitoring activity in adjacent geographical areas
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Consumers Gas Utility
Gas Utility Operations: Consumers’ gas utility operations, which include the purchase, transmission, storage, distribution, and sale of natural gas, generated operating revenue of $2.1 billion in 2021, $1.8 billion in 2020, and $1.9 billion in 2019. Consumers’ gas utility customer base consists of a mix of primarily residential, commercial, and diversified industrial customers in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
Presented in the following illustration is Consumers’ 2021 gas utility operating revenue of $2.1 billion by customer class:
cms-20211231_g4.jpg
Consumers’ gas utility operations are not dependent on a single customer, or even a few customers, and the loss of any one or even a few of Consumers’ largest customers is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on Consumers’ financial condition.
In 2021, deliveries of natural gas through Consumers’ pipeline and distribution network, including off-system transportation deliveries, totaled 347 bcf, which included GCC deliveries of 33 bcf. In 2020, deliveries of natural gas through Consumers’ pipeline and distribution network, including off-system transportation deliveries, totaled 360 bcf, which included GCC deliveries of 36 bcf. Consumers’ gas utility operations are seasonal. The consumption of natural gas typically increases in the winter, due primarily to colder temperatures and the resulting use of natural gas as heating fuel. Consumers injects natural gas into storage during the summer months for use during the winter months. During 2021, 46 percent of the natural gas supplied to all customers during the winter months was supplied from storage.
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Presented in the following illustration are Consumers’ monthly weather-normalized natural gas deliveries (deliveries adjusted to reflect normal weather conditions) to its customers, including GCC deliveries, during 2021 and 2020:
cms-20211231_g5.jpg
Gas Utility Properties: Consumers’ gas transmission, storage, and distribution system consists of:
•2,392 miles of transmission lines
•15 gas storage fields with a total storage capacity of 309 bcf and a working gas volume of 151 bcf
•28,065 miles of distribution mains
•eight compressor stations with a total of 149,817 installed and available horsepower
In 2019, Consumers released its Methane Reduction Plan, which set a goal of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas delivery system by 2030. Consumers plans to reduce methane emissions from its system by about 80 percent by accelerating the replacement of aging pipe, rehabilitating or retiring outdated infrastructure, and adopting new technologies and practices. The remaining emissions will be offset by purchasing and/or producing renewable natural gas. For further information on Consumers’ progress towards its net-zero methane emissions goal, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Executive Overview.
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Gas Utility Supply: In 2021, Consumers purchased 84 percent of the gas it delivered from U.S. suppliers. The remaining 16 percent was purchased from authorized GCC suppliers and delivered by Consumers to customers in the GCC program. Presented in the following illustration are the supply arrangements for the gas Consumers delivered to GCC and GCR customers during 2021:
cms-20211231_g6.jpg
Firm gas transportation or firm city-gate contracts are those that define a fixed amount, price, and delivery time frame. Consumers’ firm gas transportation contracts are with Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company and Trunkline Gas Company, LLC, each a non‑affiliated company. Under these contracts, Consumers purchases and transports gas to Michigan for ultimate delivery to its customers. Consumers’ firm gas transportation contracts expire on various dates through 2023 and provide for the delivery of 37 percent of Consumers’ total gas supply requirements in 2022. Consumers purchases the balance of its required gas supply under firm city-gate contracts and through authorized suppliers under the GCC program.
Gas Utility Competition: Competition exists in various aspects of Consumers’ gas utility business. Competition comes from GCC and transportation programs; system bypass opportunities for new and existing customers; and from alternative fuels and energy sources, such as propane, oil, and electricity.
Enterprises Segment—Non-Utility Operations and Investments
CMS Energy’s enterprises segment, through various subsidiaries and certain equity investments, is engaged in domestic independent power production, including the development and operation of renewable generation, and the marketing of independent power production. The enterprises segment’s operating revenue was $308 million in 2021, $229 million in 2020, and $248 million in 2019.
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Independent Power Production: Presented in the following table is information about the independent power plants in which CMS Energy had an ownership interest at December 31, 2021:
LocationOwnership Interest
(%)		Primary Fuel TypeGross Capacity
(MW)
1

2021 Net Generation
(GWh)
Dearborn, Michigan100 
Natural gas2
770 4,087 
Gaylord, Michigan100 
Natural gas2
134 7 
Paulding County, Ohio100 Wind105 260 
Paulding County, Ohio100 Solar and storage3 4 
Comstock, Michigan100 
Natural gas2
76 38 
Delta Township, Michigan100 Solar24 42 
Phillips, Wisconsin100 Solar3 5 
Coke County, Texas
51 Wind525 1,793 
Filer City, Michigan50 Coal73 489 
New Bern, North Carolina50 Wood waste50 314 
Flint, Michigan50 Wood waste40 121 
Grayling, Michigan50 Wood waste38 204 
Total1,841 7,364 
1Represents the intended full-load sustained output of each plant. The amount of capacity relating to CMS Energy’s ownership interest was 1,483 MW at December 31, 2021.
2DIG, CMS Generation Michigan Power, and CMS ERM have entered into an agreement to sell these plants to Consumers in 2025, subject to MPSC approval.
The operating revenue from independent power production was $48 million in 2021, and $32 million in 2020 and 2019.
Energy Resource Management: CMS ERM purchases and sells energy commodities in support of CMS Energy’s generating facilities with a focus on optimizing CMS Energy’s independent power production portfolio. In 2021, CMS ERM marketed two bcf of natural gas and 6,305 GWh of electricity. Electricity marketed by CMS ERM was generated by independent power production of the enterprises segment and by unrelated third parties. CMS ERM’s operating revenue was $260 million in 2021, $197 million in 2020, and $216 million in 2019.
Enterprises Segment Competition: The enterprises segment competes with other independent power producers. The needs of this market are driven by electric demand and the generation available.
CMS Energy and Consumers Regulation
CMS Energy, Consumers, and their subsidiaries are subject to regulation by various federal, state, and local governmental agencies, including those described in the following sections. If CMS Energy or Consumers failed to comply with applicable laws and regulations, they could become subject to fines, penalties, or disallowed costs, or be required to implement additional compliance, cleanup, or remediation programs, the cost of which could be material. For more information on the potential impacts of government regulation affecting CMS Energy and Consumers, see Item 1A. Risk Factors, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Outlook, and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2, Regulatory Matters.
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FERC and NERC
FERC has exercised limited jurisdiction over several independent power plants and exempt wholesale generators in which CMS Enterprises has ownership interests, as well as over CMS ERM, CMS Gas Transmission, and DIG. FERC’s jurisdiction includes, among other things, acquisitions, operations, disposals of certain assets and facilities, services provided and rates charged, and conduct among affiliates. FERC also has limited jurisdiction over holding company matters with respect to CMS Energy. FERC, in connection with NERC and with regional reliability organizations, also regulates generation and transmission owners and operators, load serving entities, purchase and sale entities, and others with regard to reliability of the bulk power system.
FERC regulates limited aspects of Consumers’ gas business, principally compliance with FERC capacity release rules, shipping rules, the prohibition against certain buy/sell transactions, and the price-reporting rule.
FERC also regulates certain aspects of Consumers’ electric operations, including compliance with FERC accounting rules, wholesale and transmission rates, operation of licensed hydroelectric generating plants, transfers of certain facilities, corporate mergers, and issuances of securities.
MPSC
Consumers is subject to the jurisdiction of the MPSC, which regulates public utilities in Michigan with respect to retail utility rates, accounting, utility services, certain facilities, certain asset transfers, corporate mergers, and other matters.
The Michigan Attorney General, ABATE, the MPSC Staff, and certain other parties typically participate in MPSC proceedings concerning Consumers. These parties often challenge various aspects of those proceedings, including the prudence of Consumers’ policies and practices, and seek cost disallowances and other relief. The parties also have appealed significant MPSC orders.
Rate Proceedings: For information regarding open rate proceedings, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Outlook and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2, Regulatory Matters.
Other Regulation
The U.S. Secretary of Energy regulates imports and exports of natural gas and has delegated various aspects of this jurisdiction to FERC and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Fuels.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety regulates the safety and security of gas pipelines through the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 and subsequent laws.
The Transportation Security Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, regulates certain activities related to the safety and security of natural gas pipelines.
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CMS Energy and Consumers Environmental Strategy and Compliance
CMS Energy and Consumers are committed to protecting the environment; this commitment extends beyond compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In 2020, Consumers announced a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions from its electric business by 2040. This goal includes not only emissions from Consumers’ owned generation, but also emissions from the generation of power purchased through long-term PPAs and from the MISO energy market.
Consumers expects to meet 90 percent of its customers’ needs with clean energy sources by 2040 through execution of its 2021 IRP, which calls for replacing its coal-fueled generation predominantly with investment in renewable energy. Carbon offset measures including, but not limited to, carbon sequestration, methane emission capture, and forest preservation and reforestation may be used to close the gap to achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
During 2021, Consumers provided 13 percent of its electricity (self-generated and purchased) from renewable sources. In February 2021, Consumers took ownership and began operation of a 166-MW wind generation project in Hillsdale, Michigan. Additionally, during 2021, Consumers entered into agreements to purchase two solar generating facilities as well as PPAs to purchase renewable energy from solar generating facilities presently being developed by other parties. For additional information on these facilities, which are expected to be operational between 2022 and 2024, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Outlook—Consumers Electric Utility Outlook and Uncertainties.
In addition to Consumers’ efforts to reduce the electric utility’s carbon footprint, it is also making efforts to reduce the gas utility’s methane footprint. In 2019, Consumers released its Methane Reduction Plan, which set a goal of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas delivery system by 2030. Consumers plans to reduce methane emissions from its system by about 80 percent by accelerating the replacement of aging pipe, rehabilitating or retiring outdated infrastructure, and adopting new technologies and practices. The remaining emissions will be offset by purchasing and/or producing renewable natural gas.
In December 2021, Consumers announced plans to begin development of a renewable natural gas facility that will capture methane from manure generated at a neighboring farm and convert it into renewable natural gas. The facility, expected to start production in 2023, will reduce methane emissions from the dairy farm and allow Consumers to deliver renewable natural gas as a cost-effective clean alternative fuel for customers.
CMS Energy, Consumers, and their subsidiaries are subject to various federal, state, and local environmental regulations for air and water quality, solid waste management, and other matters. Consumers expects to recover costs to comply with environmental regulations in customer rates, but cannot guarantee this result. For additional information concerning environmental matters, see Item 1A. Risk Factors, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Outlook, and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments.
CMS Energy has recorded a $45 million liability for its subsidiaries’ obligations associated with Bay Harbor and Consumers has recorded a $57 million liability for its obligations at a number of former MGP sites. For additional information, see Item 1A. Risk Factors and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments.
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Solid Waste Disposal: Costs related to the construction, operation, corrective action, and closure of solid waste disposal facilities for coal ash are significant. Consumers’ coal ash disposal areas are regulated under Michigan’s solid waste rules and by the EPA’s rules regulating CCRs. To address some of the requirements of these rules, Consumers has converted all of its fly ash handling systems to dry systems. In addition, Consumers’ ash facilities have programs designed to protect the environment and are subject to quarterly EGLE inspections. Consumers’ estimate of capital and cost of removal expenditures to comply with regulations relating to ash disposal is $159 million from 2022 through 2026.
Water: Consumers uses substantial amounts of water to operate and cool its electric generating plants and gas compression stations. Water discharge quality is regulated by the Clean Water Act, under the federal NPDES program, and administered by EGLE. To comply with such regulation, Consumers’ facilities have discharge permits and monitoring programs. The EPA issued final regulations for wastewater discharges from electric generating plants in 2015 and amended them in 2017 and 2020. Consumers’ estimate of capital expenditures to comply with these regulations as presently promulgated is $22 million from 2022 through 2026.
In 2014, the EPA finalized its cooling water intake rule for electric generating units, which requires Consumers to evaluate the biological impact of its cooling water intake systems and ensure that it is using the best technology available to minimize adverse environmental impacts. Consumers’ estimate of capital expenditures to comply with these regulations is $38 million from 2022 through 2026.
Air: Consumers is subject to federal and state environmental regulations that require extensive reductions in nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, particulate matter, and mercury emissions. To comply with these regulations, Consumers has invested in emissions control equipment at its electric generating plants. Consumers’ estimate of ongoing capital expenditures to comply with these regulations is $36 million from 2022 through 2026.
Consumers’ future costs to comply with solid waste disposal, water, and air environmental regulations may vary depending on future legislation, litigation, executive orders, treaties, or rulemaking.
For further information concerning estimated capital expenditures related to solid waste disposal, water, and air, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Outlook—Consumers Electric Utility Outlook and Uncertainties—Electric Environmental Outlook.
Insurance
CMS Energy and its subsidiaries, including Consumers, maintain insurance coverage generally similar to comparable companies in the same lines of business. The insurance policies are subject to terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions that might not fully compensate CMS Energy or Consumers for all losses. A portion of each loss is generally assumed by CMS Energy or Consumers in the form of deductibles and self-insured retentions that, in some cases, are substantial. As CMS Energy or Consumers renews its policies, it is possible that some of the present insurance coverage may not be renewed or obtainable on commercially reasonable terms due to restrictive insurance markets.
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Human Capital
CMS Energy and Consumers employ a highly trained and skilled workforce comprised of union, non‑union, and seasonal employees, and also use contractors. Presented in the following table are the number of employees and contractors of CMS Energy and Consumers:
December 31202120202019
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Full-time employees8,504 8,148 8,128 
Seasonal employees1
613 603 594 
Part-time employees5 86 67 
Contractors656 508 509 
Total workforce9,778 9,345 9,298 
Consumers
Full-time employees8,309 7,617 7,642 
Seasonal employees1
613 603 594 
Part-time employees5 10 17 
Contractors656 508 509 
Total workforce9,583 8,738 8,762 
1Consumers’ seasonal workforce peaked at 622 employees during 2021, 603 employees during 2020, and 614 employees during 2019. Seasonal employees work primarily during the construction season.
At December 31, 2021, unions represented 41 percent of CMS Energy’s employees and 42 percent of Consumers’ employees. The UWUA represents Consumers’ operating, maintenance, construction, and customer contact center employees. The USW represents Zeeland plant employees. For information about CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ collective bargaining agreements, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 10, Retirement Benefits.
The safety of employees, customers, and the general public is a priority of CMS Energy and Consumers. Accordingly, CMS Energy and Consumers have worked to integrate a set of safety principles into their business operations and culture. These principles include complying with applicable safety, health, and security regulations and implementing programs and processes aimed at continually improving safety and security conditions. On an annual basis, CMS Energy and Consumers set various safety goals, with their primary measure being the OSHA recordable incident rate. The recordable incident rate was 1.54 in 2021 and 1.22 in 2020. The target recordable incident rate for 2022 is 1.13. Since 2010, Consumers’ OSHA recordable incident rate has decreased by 40 percent.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS Energy and Consumers have issued a response plan that is focused on the health, safety, and well-being of their co-workers, customers, and communities. CMS Energy and Consumers have aligned with safety and health guidelines from the CDC, OSHA, MIOSHA, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in order to protect their employees, customers, and contractors to ensure the continued delivery of critical energy services. For more information about CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Executive Overview.
Within the utility industry, there is strong competition for rare, high-demand talent, including those related to renewable energy generation, technology, and data analytics. In order to address this competition and to be able to meet their human capital needs, CMS Energy and Consumers provide
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compensation and benefits that are competitive with industry peers. Furthermore, CMS Energy and Consumers have developed a comprehensive talent strategy, the Talent Roadmap, to attract, develop, and retain highly skilled employees. The strategy focuses on three areas, which are summarized below.
•Cultivating a Purpose-Driven Culture: This goal is aimed at ensuring all co-workers understand how their work drives CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ key strategic goals. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ progress toward a purpose-driven culture is measured through an engagement index and an empowerment index developed from data obtained through an annual employee engagement survey of union and non-union co-workers administered by a third party. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the employee engagement index score was 81 percent, which ranked in the first quartile of U.S. utilities. The employee empowerment index score, which measures the percentage of employees that feel the workplace promotes empowerment, was 63 percent. Each employee empowerment question was individually benchmarked and ranked in the third quartile of general industry companies. The general industry benchmark was created by the third party who administered the survey through a targeted sampling of working adults within the U.S. who work for firms with widely respected reputations. CMS Energy and Consumers have a goal to achieve a first-quartile empowerment index score by 2026.
•Creating a Breakthrough Employee Experience: A breakthrough employee experience is one that instills pride and ownership in one’s work. To measure progress toward a breakthrough employee experience, CMS Energy and Consumers measure employees’ satisfaction with people processes, such as performance management and hiring and onboarding new employees. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the employee experience index was 77 percent; CMS Energy and Consumers have a goal to achieve a score of 80 percent by 2030.
•Building Skill Sets at Scale: With an overarching goal of ensuring employees have the right skills to succeed, CMS Energy and Consumers measure progress in this area through achievement of workforce planning and hiring milestones and through a first-time skill attainment index to evaluate the effectiveness of training. CMS Energy and Consumers develop skill sets in co-workers through a variety of means, including union apprenticeship programs and yearly trainings for newly required skills. In 2021, CMS Energy and Consumers launched a full-scale development program for leaders to enable robust succession planning and improve employee engagement and empowerment.
This talent strategy allows CMS Energy and Consumers to shape employees’ experience and enable leaders to coach and develop co-workers, source talent, and anticipate and adjust to changing skill sets in the business environment.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
As a part of their Talent Roadmap, CMS Energy and Consumers also employ a comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy designed to embed diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of their business. This is done through embedding standards for diversity, equity, and inclusion into all company processes and ensuring these standards are incorporated into all employee experiences. To measure their success, CMS Energy and Consumers utilize select questions in the annual engagement survey to create a diversity, equity, and inclusion index. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the diversity, equity, and inclusion index score was 78 percent; CMS Energy and Consumers have a goal to achieve a score of 80 percent in 2022.
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Co-workers are also empowered to engage in employee resource groups and events that encourage candid conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion. There are eight employee resource groups available to all co-workers; these groups are, by date of origin:
•the Women’s Advisory Panel, contributing to the achievement of the corporate strategy by supporting the retention, development, and success of women
•the Minority Advisory Panel, promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion among all racial and ethnic minorities through education, leadership, development, and networking
•the Women’s Engineering Network, connecting and empowering women in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, while building capabilities to support company objectives
•the Veteran’s Advisory Panel, supporting former and active military personnel and assisting in recruiting and retaining veterans through career development
•GEN-ERGY, a multigenerational group designed to bridge the gap of learning, networking, and mentoring across the generations of the workforce
•the Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy, promoting an inclusive environment that is safe, supportive, and respectful for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender persons and allies
•capABLE, aimed at removing barriers and creating pathways to meaningful work for employees of all abilities
•Interfaith, a space for co-workers of all backgrounds to gather and celebrate their unique beliefs, creating an environment of understanding and respect for all faiths, religions, and spiritual beliefs, including those with no faith affiliation
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Information About CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Executive Officers
Presented in the following table are the company positions held during the last five years for each of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ executive officers as of February 4, 2022:
Name, Age, Position(s)Period
Garrick J. Rochow (age 47)
CMS Energy
President, CEO, and Director12/2020 – Present
Executive Vice President1/2020 – 12/2020
Senior Vice President7/2016 – 1/2020
Consumers
President, CEO, and Director12/2020 – Present
Executive Vice President1/2020 – 12/2020
Senior Vice President7/2016 – 1/2020
CMS Enterprises
Chairman of the Board, CEO, and Director12/2020 – Present
Rejji P. Hayes (age 47)1
CMS Energy
Executive Vice President and CFO5/2017 – Present
Consumers
Executive Vice President and CFO5/2017 – Present
CMS Enterprises
Executive Vice President, CFO, and Director5/2017 – Present
EnerBank
Chairman of the Board and Director10/2018 – 10/2021
Tonya L. Berry (age 49)2
CMS Energy
Senior Vice President2/2022 – Present
Consumers
Senior Vice President2/2022 – Present
Vice President11/2018 – 2/2022
Executive Director, Quality
7/2017 – 11/2018
Catherine A. Hendrian (age 53)
CMS Energy
Senior Vice President4/2017 – Present
Vice President3/2015 – 4/2017
Consumers
Senior Vice President4/2017 – Present
Vice President3/2015 – 4/2017
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Name, Age, Position(s)Period
Brandon J. Hofmeister (age 45)
CMS Energy
Senior Vice President7/2017 – Present
Consumers
Senior Vice President7/2017 – Present
Vice President7/2016 – 7/2017
CMS Enterprises
Senior Vice President9/2017 – Present
Shaun M. Johnson (age 43)
CMS Energy
Senior Vice President and General Counsel5/2019 – Present
Vice President and Deputy General Counsel4/2016 – 5/2019
Consumers
Senior Vice President and General Counsel5/2019 – Present
Vice President and Deputy General Counsel4/2016 – 5/2019
CMS Enterprises
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Director4/2019 – Present
Vice President and General Counsel10/2018 – 4/2019
EnerBank
Senior Vice President and General Counsel8/2018 – 6/2020
Venkat Dhenuvakonda Rao (age 51)
CMS Energy
Senior Vice President9/2016 – Present
Consumers
Senior Vice President9/2016 – Present
CMS Enterprises
Director11/2017 – Present
Senior Vice President9/2016 – Present
EnerBank
Chairman of the Board9/2016 – 5/2017
Brian F. Rich (age 47)
CMS Energy
Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer8/2019 – Present
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer7/2016 – 8/2019
Consumers
Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer8/2019 – Present
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer7/2016 – 8/2019
LeeRoy Wells, Jr. (age 43)
CMS Energy
Senior Vice President12/2020 – Present
Consumers
Senior Vice President12/2020 – Present
Vice President8/2017 – 12/2020
Executive Director, Electric Systems Operations and Maintenance
12/2015 – 8/2017
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Name, Age, Position(s)Period
Scott B. McIntosh (age 46)
CMS Energy
Vice President, Controller, and CAO9/2021 – Present
Vice President and Controller6/2021 – 9/2021
Vice President9/2015 – 6/2021
Consumers
Vice President, Controller, and CAO9/2021 – Present
Vice President and Controller6/2021 – 9/2021
Vice President9/2015 – 6/2021
CMS Enterprises
Vice President, Controller, and CAO9/2021 – Present
Vice President and Controller6/2021 – 9/2021
Vice President9/2015 – 6/2021
1    Prior to joining CMS Energy and Consumers, Mr. Hayes was Executive Vice President and CFO for ITC Holdings Corp., a non‑affiliated company, from May 2014 through November 2016. Mr. Hayes started with ITC Holdings Corp. in 2012 as Vice President of Finance and Treasurer.
2    Prior to July 2017, Ms. Berry was the Manager of Strategic Initiatives at Massachusetts-based Energy Federation, Inc., a non-affiliated company.
There are no family relationships among executive officers and directors of CMS Energy or Consumers. The list of directors and their biographies will be included in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ definitive proxy statement for their 2022 Annual Meetings of Shareholders to be held May 6, 2022. The term of office of each of the executive officers extends to the first meeting of each of the Boards of Directors of CMS Energy and Consumers after the next annual election of Directors of CMS Energy and Consumers (to be held on May 6, 2022).
Available Information
CMS Energy’s internet address is www.cmsenergy.com. CMS Energy routinely posts important information on its website and considers the Investor Relations section, www.cmsenergy.com/investor-relations, a channel of distribution. Information contained on CMS Energy’s website is not incorporated herein. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ 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 pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are accessible free of charge on CMS Energy’s website. These reports are available soon after they are electronically filed with the SEC. Also on CMS Energy’s website are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’:
•Corporate Governance Principles
•Articles of Incorporation
•Bylaws
•Charters and Codes of Conduct (including the Charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation and Human Resources Committee, Finance Committee, and Governance, Sustainability and Public Responsibility Committee, as well as the Employee, Board of Directors, and Third Party Codes of Conduct)
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CMS Energy will provide this information in print to any stockholder who requests it.
The SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address is www.sec.gov.
Item 1A.    Risk Factors
CMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to a variety of factors, often beyond their control, that are difficult to predict and that involve uncertainties that may materially adversely affect CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ business, liquidity, financial condition, or results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known or that management believes to be immaterial may also adversely affect CMS Energy or Consumers. The risk factors described in the following sections, as well as the other information included in this report and in other documents filed with the SEC, should be considered carefully before making an investment in securities of CMS Energy or Consumers. Risk factors of Consumers are also risk factors of CMS Energy.
Investment/Financial Risks
CMS Energy depends on dividends from its subsidiaries to meet its debt service obligations.
Due to its holding company structure, CMS Energy depends on dividends from its subsidiaries to meet its debt service and other payment obligations. If sufficient dividends were not paid to CMS Energy by its subsidiaries, CMS Energy might not be able to generate the funds necessary to fulfill its payment obligations.
Consumers’ ability to pay dividends or acquire its own stock from CMS Energy is limited by restrictions contained in Consumers’ preferred stock provisions and potentially by other legal restrictions, such as certain terms in its articles of incorporation and FERC requirements.
CMS Energy has indebtedness that could limit its financial flexibility and its ability to meet its debt service obligations.
The level of CMS Energy’s present and future indebtedness could have several important effects on its future operations, including, among others, that:
•a significant portion of CMS Energy’s cash flow from operations could be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on its indebtedness and would not be available for other purposes
•covenants contained in CMS Energy’s existing debt arrangements, which require it to meet certain financial tests, could affect its flexibility in planning for, and reacting to, changes in its business
•CMS Energy’s ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, and general corporate and other purposes could become limited
•CMS Energy could be placed at a competitive disadvantage to its competitors that are less leveraged
•CMS Energy’s vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions could increase
•CMS Energy’s future credit ratings could fluctuate
CMS Energy’s ability to meet its debt service obligations and to reduce its total indebtedness will depend on its future performance, which will be subject to general economic conditions, industry cycles, changes in laws or regulatory decisions, and financial, business, and other factors affecting its operations, many of which are beyond its control. CMS Energy cannot make assurances that its businesses will continue to
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generate sufficient cash flow from operations to service its indebtedness, which could require CMS Energy to sell assets or obtain additional financing.
CMS Energy and Consumers have financing needs and could be unable to obtain bank financing or access the capital markets.
CMS Energy and Consumers rely on the capital markets, as well as on bank syndications, to meet their financial commitments and short-term liquidity needs not otherwise funded internally.
Disruptions in the capital and credit markets, or the inability to obtain required FERC authorization for issuances of securities including debt, could adversely affect CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ access to liquidity needed for their businesses. Any liquidity disruption could require CMS Energy and Consumers to take measures to conserve cash including, but not limited to, deferring capital expenditures, changing commodity purchasing strategies to avoid collateral-posting requirements, and reducing or eliminating future share repurchases, dividend payments, or other discretionary uses of cash.
Entering into new financings is subject in part to capital market receptivity to utility industry securities in general and to CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ securities in particular. CMS Energy and Consumers continue to explore financing opportunities to supplement their respective financial strategies. These potential opportunities include refinancing and/or issuing new debt, issuing CMS Energy preferred stock and/or common equity, or entering into commercial paper, bank financing, and leasing arrangements. CMS Energy and Consumers cannot guarantee the capital markets’ acceptance of their securities. CMS Energy may also, from time to time, repurchase (either in open market transactions or through privately negotiated transactions), redeem, or otherwise retire its outstanding debt. Such activities, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, contractual restrictions, and other factors. The amounts involved may or may not be material.
Certain of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ securities and those of their affiliates are rated by various credit rating agencies. A reduction or withdrawal of one or more of its credit ratings could have a material adverse impact on CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ ability to access capital on acceptable terms and maintain commodity lines of credit, could increase their cost of borrowing, and could cause CMS Energy or Consumers to reduce capital expenditures. If either or both were unable to maintain commodity lines of credit, CMS Energy or Consumers might have to post collateral or make prepayments to certain suppliers under existing contracts. Further, since Consumers provides dividends to CMS Energy, any adverse developments affecting Consumers that result in a lowering of its credit ratings could have an adverse effect on CMS Energy’s credit ratings.
Market performance and other changes could decrease the value of employee benefit plan assets, which then could require substantial funding.
The performance of various markets affects the value of assets that are held in trust to satisfy future obligations under CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ pension and postretirement benefit plans. CMS Energy and Consumers have significant obligations under these plans and hold significant assets in these trusts. These assets are subject to market fluctuations and will yield uncertain returns, which could fall below CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ forecasted return rates. A decline in the market value of the assets or a change in the level of interest rates used to measure the required minimum funding levels could significantly increase the funding requirements of these obligations. Also, changes in demographics, including an increased number of retirements or changes in life expectancy assumptions, could significantly increase the funding requirements of the obligations related to the pension and postretirement benefit plans.
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Industry/Regulatory Risks
Changes to ROA could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses.
Michigan law allows electric customers in Consumers’ service territory to buy electric generation service from alternative electric suppliers in an aggregate amount capped at ten percent of Consumers’ sales, with certain exceptions. The proportion of Consumers’ electric deliveries under the ROA program and on the ROA waiting list is over ten percent. Consumers’ rates are regulated by the MPSC, while alternative electric suppliers charge market-based rates, putting competitive pressure on Consumers’ electric supply. If the ROA limit were increased or if electric generation service in Michigan were deregulated, it could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy and Consumers.
Distributed energy resources could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses.
Michigan law allows customers to use distributed energy resources for their electric energy needs. These distributed energy resources are connected to Consumers’ electric grid. The state distributed generation program is currently capped by the 2016 Energy Law at one percent of utilities’ peak loads, but Consumers has voluntarily agreed to increase the cap to two percent on its system. Consumers is required to purchase distributed generation customers’ excess generation at rates determined by the MPSC. Recent FERC policy will also soon allow many customer-owned behind-the-meter and grid-connected distributed energy resources to participate in and receive revenue from wholesale electricity markets. Increased customer use of distributed energy resources could result in a reduction of Consumers’ electric sales. Third parties’ operations of distributed energy resources could also potentially have a negative impact on the stability of the grid. An increase in customers’ use of distributed energy resources, and the rate structure for distributed energy resources customers’ use of Consumers’ system and Consumers’ purchases of their excess generation, could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy and Consumers.
CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to rate regulation, which could have a material adverse effect on financial results.
CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to rate regulation. Consumers’ electric and gas retail rates are set by the MPSC and cannot be changed without regulatory authorization. If rate regulators fail to provide adequate rate relief, it could have a material adverse effect on Consumers or Consumers’ plans for making significant capital investments.
Orders of the MPSC could limit recovery of costs of providing service. These orders could also result in adverse regulatory treatment of other matters. For example, MPSC orders could prevent or curtail Consumers from shutting off non‑paying customers or could prevent or limit the implementation of a gas revenue mechanism.
FERC authorizes certain subsidiaries of CMS Energy to sell wholesale electricity at market-based rates. Failure of these subsidiaries to maintain this FERC authority could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. Transmission rates paid by Consumers and other CMS Energy subsidiaries are also set by FERC, as are the tariff terms governing the participation of Consumers and other CMS Energy subsidiaries in FERC-regulated wholesale electricity markets operated by regional transmission organizations and independent system operators such as MISO and PJM. At least one CMS Energy subsidiary participates in the wholesale electricity markets operated by ERCOT, over which FERC has limited control.
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The various risks associated with the MPSC and FERC regulation of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses, which include the risk of adverse decisions in any number of rate or regulatory proceedings before either agency, as well as judicial proceedings challenging any agency decisions, could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy and Consumers. Changes to the tariffs or business practice manuals of certain wholesale market operators such as MISO, PJM, or ERCOT could also have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy and Consumers.
Utility regulation, state or federal legislation, and compliance could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses.
CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to, or affected by, extensive utility regulation and state and federal legislation. If it were determined that CMS Energy or Consumers failed to comply with applicable laws and regulations, they could become subject to fines, penalties, or disallowed costs, or be required to implement additional compliance, cleanup, or remediation programs, the cost of which could be material. CMS Energy and Consumers cannot predict the impact of new laws, rules, regulations, principles, or practices by federal or state agencies or wholesale electricity market operators, or challenges or changes to present laws, rules, regulations, principles, or practices and the interpretation of any adoption or change. Furthermore, any state or federal legislation concerning CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ operations could also have a material adverse effect.
FERC, through NERC and its delegated regional entities, oversees reliability of certain portions of the electric grid. CMS Energy and Consumers cannot predict the impact of FERC orders or actions of NERC and its regional entities on electric system reliability. Additionally, national gas pipeline infrastructure has recently been under scrutiny following disruptions related to extreme weather and cyber incidents. In 2021, the Transportation Security Administration issued two mandatory security directives related to natural gas pipelines that apply to Consumers. Additional regulation in this area could adversely affect Consumers’ gas operations.
CMS Energy and Consumers have announced an ambitious plan to reduce their impact on climate change. Achieving this plan depends on numerous factors, many of which are outside of their control.
Consumers has announced a long-term strategy for delivering clean, reliable, resilient, and affordable energy, including a plan to end coal use in 2025 as set forth in the 2021 IRP. The MPSC, FERC, other regulatory authorities, or other third parties may prohibit, delay, impair, or deny approval or consent of the 2021 IRP and some or all of the 2021 IRP-associated natural gas-fueled plant acquisitions, or deny reasonable rate recovery of the undepreciated plant balances associated with the retirement of coal-fueled plants necessary to proceed with the 2021 IRP. Consumers may be unable to acquire, site, and/or permit some or all of the generation capacity proposed in the 2021 IRP. Consumers’ ability to implement the 2021 IRP may be affected by global supply chain disruptions and changes in the cost, availability, and supply of generation capacity. Advancements in technology related to items such as battery storage and electric vehicles may not become commercially available or economically feasible as projected in the 2021 IRP. Customer programs such as energy efficiency and demand response may not realize the projected levels of customer participation. CMS Energy and Consumers could suffer financial loss, reputational damage, litigation, or other negative repercussions if they are unable to achieve their ambitious plan.
Changes in taxation as well as the inherent difficulty in quantifying potential tax effects of business decisions could negatively impact CMS Energy and Consumers.
CMS Energy and Consumers are required to make judgments regarding the potential tax effects of various financial transactions and results of operations in order to estimate their obligations to taxing
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authorities. The tax obligations include income taxes, real estate taxes, sales and use taxes, employment-related taxes, and ongoing issues related to these tax matters. The judgments include determining reserves for potential adverse outcomes regarding tax positions that have been taken and may be subject to challenge by the IRS and/or other taxing authorities. Unfavorable settlements of any of the issues related to these reserves or other tax matters at CMS Energy or Consumers could have a material adverse effect. Additionally, changes in federal, state, or local tax rates or other changes in tax laws could have adverse impacts.
CMS Energy and its subsidiaries, including Consumers, must comply with the Dodd-Frank Act and its related regulations.
The Dodd-Frank Act provides for regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission of certain commodity-related contracts. Although CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain subsidiaries of CMS Enterprises qualify for an end-user exception from mandatory clearing of commodity-related swaps, these regulations could affect the ability of these entities to participate in these markets and could add additional regulatory oversight over their contracting activities.
CMS Energy and Consumers could incur substantial costs to comply with environmental requirements.
CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to costly and stringent environmental regulations that will likely require additional significant capital expenditures for CCR disposal and storage, cooling water intake equipment, effluent treatment, and PCB remediation. In addition, regulatory action on PFAS at the state and/or federal level could cause CMS Energy and Consumers to further test and remediate some sites if PFAS is present at certain levels. Present and reasonably anticipated state and federal environmental statutes and regulations will continue to have a material effect on CMS Energy and Consumers.
CMS Energy and Consumers have interests in fossil-fuel-fired power plants, other types of power plants, and natural gas systems that emit greenhouse gases. Federal and state environmental laws and rules, as well as international accords and treaties, could require CMS Energy and Consumers to install additional equipment for emission controls, undertake heat-rate improvement projects, purchase carbon emissions allowances, curtail operations, invest in generating capacity with fewer carbon dioxide emissions, or take other significant steps to manage or lower the emission of greenhouse gases.
The following risks related to climate change, emissions, and environmental regulations could also have a material adverse impact on CMS Energy and Consumers:
•litigation originated by third parties against CMS Energy or Consumers due to CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ greenhouse gas or other emissions or CCR disposal and storage
•impairment of CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ reputation due to their greenhouse gas or other emissions and public perception of their response to potential environmental regulations, rules, and legislation
•extreme weather conditions, such as severe storms or flooding, that may affect customer demand, company operations, or assets
Consumers expects to collect fully from its customers, through the ratemaking process, expenditures incurred to comply with environmental regulations, but cannot guarantee this outcome. If Consumers were unable to recover these expenditures from customers in rates, CMS Energy or Consumers could be required to seek significant additional financing to fund these expenditures.
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For additional information regarding compliance with environmental regulations, see Item 1. Business—CMS Energy and Consumers Environmental Strategy and Compliance and Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Outlook.
CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses could be affected adversely by any delay in meeting environmental requirements.
A delay or failure by CMS Energy or Consumers to obtain or maintain any necessary environmental permits or approvals to satisfy any applicable environmental regulatory requirements or install emission or pollution control equipment could:
•prevent the construction of new facilities
•prevent the continued operation and sale of energy from existing facilities
•prevent the suspension of operations at existing facilities
•prevent the modification of existing facilities
•result in significant additional costs
CMS Energy and Consumers expect to incur additional substantial costs related to remediation of legacy environmental sites.
Consumers expects to incur additional substantial costs related to the remediation of its former MGP sites and other response activity costs at a number of other sites, including, but not limited to, sites of retired coal-fueled electric generating units, under NREPA and CERCLA. Consumers believes these costs should be recoverable in rates, but cannot guarantee that outcome.
Business/Operations Risks
There are risks associated with Consumers’ substantial capital investment program planned for the next ten years.
Consumers’ planned investments include the construction or acquisition of electric generation, electric and gas infrastructure, conversions and expansions, environmental controls, electric grid modernization technology, and other electric and gas investments to upgrade delivery systems, as well as decommissioning of older facilities. The success of these capital investments depends on or could be affected by a variety of factors that include, but are not limited to:
•effective pre-acquisition evaluation of asset values, future operating costs, potential environmental and other liabilities, and other factors beyond Consumers’ control
•effective cost and schedule management of new capital projects
•availability of qualified construction personnel, both internal and contracted
•changes in commodity and other prices, applicable tariffs, and/or material and equipment availability
•governmental approvals and permitting
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•operational performance
•changes in environmental, legislative, and regulatory requirements
•regulatory cost recovery
•inflation of labor rates
•increases in lead times and disruptions in supply chain distribution
•barriers to accessing key materials for renewable projects (solar, battery, and other key equipment) created by geopolitical relations and U.S. relations with China
It is possible that adverse events associated with these factors could have a material adverse effect on Consumers.
CMS Energy and Consumers could be affected adversely by legacy litigation and retained liabilities.
The agreements that CMS Energy and Consumers enter into for the sale of assets customarily include provisions whereby they are required to:
•retain specified preexisting liabilities, such as for taxes, pensions, or environmental conditions
•indemnify the buyers against specified risks, including the inaccuracy of representations and warranties that CMS Energy and Consumers make
•make payments to the buyers depending on the outcome of post-closing adjustments, litigation, audits, or other reviews, including claims resulting from attempts by foreign or domestic governments to assess taxes on past operations or transactions
Many of these contingent liabilities can remain open for extended periods of time after the sales are closed. Depending on the extent to which the buyers might ultimately seek to enforce their rights under these contractual provisions, and the resolution of any disputes concerning them, there could be a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
In 2002, CMS Energy sold its oil, gas, and methanol investments in Equatorial Guinea. The government of Equatorial Guinea claims that, in connection with the sale, CMS Energy owes $152 million in taxes, plus substantial penalties and interest that could be up to or exceed the amount of the taxes claimed. In 2015, the matter was proceeding to formal arbitration; however, since then, the government of Equatorial Guinea has stopped communicating with CMS Energy. CMS Energy has concluded that the government’s tax claim is without merit and believes the likelihood of material loss to be remote, but cannot predict the financial impact or outcome of the matter.
Consumers is exposed to risks related to general economic conditions in its service territories.
Consumers’ electric and gas utility businesses are affected by the economic conditions impacting the customers they serve. If the Michigan economy becomes sluggish or declines, Consumers could experience reduced demand for electricity or natural gas that could result in decreased earnings and cash flow. In addition, economic conditions in Consumers’ service territory affect its collections of accounts receivable and levels of lost or stolen gas.
Consumers is exposed to changes in customer usage that could impact financial results.
Technology advances, government incentives and subsidies, and recent regulatory decisions could increase the cost effectiveness of customer-owned methods of producing electricity and managing energy use resulting in reduced load, cross subsidization, and increased costs.
Customers could also reduce their consumption through demand-side energy conservation and energy waste reduction programs.
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CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ energy sales and operations are affected by seasonal factors and varying weather conditions from year to year.
CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ utility operations are seasonal. The consumption of electric energy typically increases in the summer months, due primarily to the use of air conditioners and other cooling equipment, while peak demand for natural gas typically occurs in the winter due to colder temperatures and the resulting use of natural gas as heating fuel. Accordingly, CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ overall results may fluctuate substantially on a seasonal basis. Mild temperatures during the summer cooling season and winter heating season as well as the impact of extreme weather events on Consumers’ system could have a material adverse effect.
CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to information security risks, risks of unauthorized access to their systems, and technology failures.
In the regular course of business, CMS Energy and Consumers handle a range of sensitive confidential security and customer information. In addition, CMS Energy and Consumers operate in a highly regulated industry that requires the continued operation of sophisticated information and control technology systems and network infrastructure. Despite implementation of security measures, technology systems, including disaster recovery and backup systems, are vulnerable to failure, cyber crime, unauthorized access, and being disabled. These events could impact the reliability of electric generation and electric and gas delivery and also subject CMS Energy and Consumers to financial harm. Cyber crime, which includes the use of malware, computer viruses, and other means for disruption or unauthorized access against companies, including CMS Energy and Consumers, is increasing in frequency, scope, and potential impact. While CMS Energy and Consumers have not been subject to cyber incidents that have had a material impact on their operations to date, their security measures in place may be insufficient to prevent a major cyber incident in the future. If technology systems, including disaster recovery and backup systems, were to fail or be breached, CMS Energy and Consumers might not be able to fulfill critical business functions, and sensitive confidential and proprietary data could be compromised. In addition, because CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ generation, transmission, and distribution systems are part of an interconnected system, a disruption caused by a cyber incident at another utility, electric generator, system operator, or commodity supplier could also adversely affect CMS Energy or Consumers.
A variety of technological tools and systems, including both company-owned information technology and technological services provided by outside parties, support critical functions. The failure of these technologies, including backup systems, or the inability of CMS Energy and Consumers to have these technologies supported, updated, expanded, or integrated into other technologies, could hinder their business operations.
CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses have liability risks.
Consumers’ electric and gas delivery systems, power plants, gas infrastructure including storage facilities, wind energy or solar equipment, and energy products, and the independent power plants owned in whole or in part by CMS Energy could be involved in incidents, failures, or accidents that result in injury, loss of life, or property loss to customers, employees, or the public. Although CMS Energy and Consumers have insurance coverage for many potential incidents (subject to deductibles, limitations, and self-insurance amounts that could be material), depending upon the nature or severity of any incident, failure, or accident, CMS Energy or Consumers could suffer financial loss, reputational damage, and negative repercussions from regulatory agencies or other public authorities.
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CMS Energy and Consumers are subject to risks that are beyond their control, including but not limited to natural disasters, civil unrest, terrorist attacks and related acts of war, cyber incidents, vandalism, and other catastrophic events.
Natural disasters, severe weather, wars, terrorist acts, civil unrest, vandalism, theft, cyber incidents, pandemics, and other catastrophic events could result in severe damage to CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ assets beyond what could be recovered through insurance policies (which are subject to deductibles, limitations, and self-insurance amounts that could be material), could require CMS Energy and Consumers to incur significant upfront costs, and could severely disrupt operations, resulting in loss of service to customers. There is also a risk that regulators could, after the fact, conclude that Consumers’ preparedness or response to such an event was inadequate and take adverse actions as a result.
Energy risk management strategies might not be effective in managing fuel and electricity pricing risks, which could result in unanticipated liabilities to CMS Energy and Consumers or increased volatility in their earnings.
CMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to changes in market prices for commodities including, but not limited to, natural gas, coal, electric capacity, electric energy, emission allowances, gasoline, diesel fuel, and RECs. CMS Energy and Consumers manage commodity price risk using established policies and procedures, and they may use various contracts to manage this risk, including swaps, options, futures, and forward contracts. No assurance can be made that these strategies will be successful in managing CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ risk or that they will not result in net liabilities to CMS Energy or Consumers as a result of future volatility.
A substantial portion of Consumers’ operating expenses for its electric generating plants and vehicle fleet consists of the costs of obtaining these commodities. The contracts associated with Consumers’ fuel for electric generation and purchased power are executed in conjunction with the PSCR mechanism, which is designed to allow Consumers to recover prudently incurred costs associated with its positions in these commodities. If the MPSC determined that any of these contracts or related contracting policies were imprudent, recovery of these costs could be disallowed.
Natural gas prices in particular have been historically volatile. Consumers routinely enters into contracts for natural gas to mitigate exposure to the risks of demand, market effects of weather, and changes in commodity prices associated with the gas distribution business. These contracts are executed in conjunction with the GCR mechanism, which is designed to allow Consumers to recover prudently incurred costs associated with its natural gas positions. If the MPSC determined that any of these contracts or related contracting policies were imprudent, recovery of these costs could be disallowed.
CMS Energy and Consumers do not always hedge any or all of the exposure of their operations from commodity price volatility. Furthermore, the ability to hedge exposure to commodity price volatility depends on liquid commodity markets. As a result, to the extent the commodity markets are illiquid, CMS Energy and Consumers might not be able to execute their risk management strategies, which could result in larger unhedged positions than preferred at a given time. To the extent that unhedged positions exist, fluctuating commodity prices could have a negative effect on CMS Energy and Consumers. Changes in laws that limit CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ ability to hedge could also have a negative effect on CMS Energy and Consumers.
Consumers might not be able to obtain an adequate supply of natural gas or coal, which could limit its ability to operate its electric generation facilities or serve its natural gas customers.
Consumers has natural gas and coal supply and transportation contracts in place for the natural gas and coal it requires for its electric generating capacity. Consumers also has interstate transportation and
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supply agreements in place to facilitate delivery of natural gas to its customers. Apart from the contractual and monetary remedies available to Consumers in the event of a counterparty’s failure to perform under any of these contracts, there can be no assurances that the counterparties to these contracts will fulfill their obligations to provide natural gas or coal to Consumers. The counterparties under the agreements could experience financial or operational problems that inhibit their ability to fulfill their obligations to Consumers. In addition, counterparties under these contracts might not be required to supply natural gas or coal to Consumers under certain circumstances, such as in the event of a natural disaster or severe weather.
If Consumers were unable to obtain its supply requirements, it could be required to purchase natural gas or coal at higher prices or implement its natural gas curtailment program filed with the MPSC.
Unplanned outages or maintenance could be costly for CMS Energy or Consumers.
Unforeseen outages or maintenance of the electric and gas delivery systems, power plants, gas infrastructure including storage facilities and compression stations, wind energy or solar equipment, and energy products owned in whole or in part by CMS Energy or Consumers may be required for many reasons. When unplanned outages occur, CMS Energy and Consumers will not only incur unexpected maintenance expenses, but may also have to make spot market purchases of electric and gas commodities that may exceed CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ expected cost of generation or gas supply, be forced to curtail services, or retire a given asset if the cost or timing of the maintenance is not reasonable and prudent. Unplanned generator outages could reduce the capacity credit CMS Energy or Consumers receives from MISO and could cause CMS Energy or Consumers to incur additional capacity costs in future years.
The COVID-19 pandemic could materially and adversely affect each of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ business, results of operations, financial condition, capital investment program, liquidity, and cash flows.
The COVID‑19 pandemic has had widespread impacts on people, businesses, economies, and financial markets globally, in the U.S., and in markets where CMS Energy and Consumers conduct business. Future impacts of the pandemic could include a prolonged reduction in economic activity, extended disruption to supply chains and operations, increased labor costs, and reduced availability of labor and productivity. CMS Energy and Consumers provide essential services, which means that CMS Energy and Consumers must keep employees, who operate facilities or interact with customers, safe and minimize unnecessary risk of exposure to COVID‑19. CMS Energy and Consumers have taken extra precautions in an effort to protect the health of employees working in the field and in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ facilities. CMS Energy and Consumers have also implemented masking and quarantine procedures, in accordance with CDC guidance. This remains an evolving situation; CMS Energy and Consumers will continue to monitor developments and will take additional necessary precautions in order to keep employees, customers, contractors, and communities safe.
The ultimate impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic depends on factors beyond CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ knowledge or control. The degree to which COVID‑19 will ultimately impact CMS Energy and Consumers will depend in part on future developments, including the severity and duration of COVID-19 and its variants, actions or inactions that may be taken by governmental authorities, including, but not limited to, COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements, and to what extent and when normal economic and operational conditions can resume.
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General Risk Factors
CMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to counterparty risk.
Adverse economic conditions or financial difficulties experienced by counterparties with whom CMS Energy and Consumers do business could impair the ability of these counterparties to pay for CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ services and/or fulfill their contractual obligations, including performance and payment of damages. CMS Energy and Consumers depend on these counterparties to remit payments and perform contracted services in a timely fashion. Any delay or default in payment or performance of contractual obligations could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy and Consumers.
Volatility and disruptions in capital and credit markets could have a negative impact on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ lenders, vendors, contractors, suppliers, customers, and other counterparties, causing them to fail to meet their obligations.
CMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to significant reputational risks.
CMS Energy and Consumers could suffer negative impacts to their reputations as a result of operational incidents, violations of corporate policies, regulatory violations, inappropriate use of social media, or other events. Reputational damage could have a material adverse effect and could result in negative customer perception and increased regulatory oversight.
A work interruption or other union actions could adversely affect Consumers.
Unions represent 42 percent of Consumers’ employees. Consumers’ union agreements expire in 2025. If these employees were to engage in a strike, work stoppage, or other slowdown, Consumers could experience a significant disruption in its operations and higher ongoing labor costs.
Failure to attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce could adversely impact CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ results of operations.
In some areas, competition for skilled employees is high and if CMS Energy and Consumers were unable to match skill sets to future needs, they could encounter operating challenges and increased costs. These challenges could include a lack of resources, loss of knowledge, and delays in skill development. Additionally, higher costs could result from the use of contractors to replace employees, loss of productivity, and safety incidents. Failing to train replacement employees adequately and to transfer internal knowledge and expertise could adversely affect CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ ability to manage and operate their businesses.
Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
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Item 2.    Properties
Descriptions of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ properties are found in the following sections of Item 1. Business, all of which are incorporated by reference in this Item 2:
•General—CMS Energy
•General—Consumers
•Business Segments—Consumers Electric Utility—Electric Utility Properties
•Business Segments—Consumers Gas Utility—Gas Utility Properties
•Business Segments—Enterprises Segment—Non-Utility Operations and Investments—Independent Power Production
Item 3.    Legal Proceedings
For information regarding CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ significant pending administrative and judicial proceedings involving regulatory, operating, transactional, environmental, and other matters, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2, Regulatory Matters and Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments.
CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain of their affiliates are also parties to routine lawsuits and administrative proceedings incidental to their businesses involving, for example, claims for personal injury and property damage, contractual matters, various taxes, and rates and licensing.
Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Part II
Item 5.    Market For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
CMS Energy
CMS Energy’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CMS. At January 14, 2022, the number of registered holders of CMS Energy’s common stock totaled 27,158, based on the number of record holders.
For additional information regarding securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 11, Stock-Based Compensation and Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters. For additional information regarding dividends and dividend restrictions, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 4, Financings and Capitalization.
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Comparison of Five-year Cumulative Total Return
cms-20211231_g7.jpg
Five-Year Cumulative Total Return
Company/Index201620172018201920202021
CMS Energy$100 $117 $127 $165 $164 $180 
S&P 500 Index100 122 116 153 181 233 
Dow Jones Utility Index100 113 116 147 150 176 
S&P 400 Utilities Index100 111 119 136 117 140 
These cumulative total returns assume reinvestments of dividends.
Consumers
Consumers’ common stock is privately held by its parent, CMS Energy, and does not trade in the public market.
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Issuer Repurchases of Equity Securities
Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s repurchases of common stock for the three months ended December 31, 2021:
Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased1
Average Price Paid per ShareTotal Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or ProgramsMaximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
October 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021706 $59.73 — — 
November 1, 2021 to November 30, 202172 60.29 — — 
December 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021702 63.73 — — 
Total1,480 $61.65 — — 
1All of the common shares were repurchased to satisfy the minimum statutory income tax withholding obligation for common shares that have vested under the PISP. The value of shares repurchased is based on the market price on the vesting date.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
None.
Item 6.    Reserved
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Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is a combined report of CMS Energy and Consumers.
Executive Overview
CMS Energy is an energy company operating primarily in Michigan. It is the parent holding company of several subsidiaries, including Consumers, an electric and gas utility; and CMS Enterprises, primarily a domestic independent power producer and marketer. CMS Energy was also the parent holding company of EnerBank, an industrial bank located in Utah, until October 1, 2021 when EnerBank was acquired by Regions Bank as described below. Consumers’ electric utility operations include the generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity, and Consumers’ gas utility operations include the purchase, transmission, storage, distribution, and sale of natural gas. Consumers’ customer base consists of a mix of primarily residential, commercial, and diversified industrial customers. CMS Enterprises, through its subsidiaries and equity investments, is engaged in domestic independent power production, including the development and operation of renewable generation, and the marketing of independent power production.
On October 1, 2021, EnerBank was acquired by Regions Bank. CMS Energy received proceeds of over $1 billion from the transaction and recognized a pre-tax gain of $657 million. CMS Energy intends to use the proceeds from the sale to fund key initiatives in its core energy business related to safety, reliability, and its clean energy transformation.
CMS Energy and Consumers manage their businesses by the nature of services each provides. CMS Energy operates principally in three business segments: electric utility; gas utility; and enterprises, its non‑utility operations and investments. As a result of the sale described above, EnerBank is no longer included in the composition of CMS Energy’s reportable segments. EnerBank’s results of operations through the date of the sale are presented as income from discontinued operations. Consumers operates principally in two business segments: electric utility and gas utility. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses are affected primarily by:
•regulation and regulatory matters
•state and federal legislation
•economic conditions
•weather
•energy commodity prices
•interest rates
•their securities’ credit ratings
The Triple Bottom Line
CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ purpose is to achieve world class performance while delivering hometown service. In support of this purpose, CMS Energy and Consumers employ the “CE Way,” a lean operating model designed to improve safety, quality, cost, delivery, and employee morale.
CMS Energy and Consumers measure their progress toward the purpose by considering their impact on the “triple bottom line” of people, planet, and profit, which is underpinned by performance; this consideration takes into account not only the economic value that CMS Energy and Consumers create for customers and investors, but also their responsibility to social and environmental goals. The triple bottom
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line balances the interests of employees, customers, suppliers, regulators, creditors, Michigan’s residents, the investment community, and other stakeholders, and it reflects the broader societal impacts of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ activities.
cms-20211231_g8.jpg
CMS Energy’s Environmental, Social, Governance and Sustainability Report, which is available to the public, describes CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ progress toward world class performance measured in the areas of people, planet, and profit.
People: The people element of the triple bottom line represents CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ commitment to their employees, their customers, the residents of local communities in which they do business, and other stakeholders.
The safety of employees, customers, and the general public is a priority of CMS Energy and Consumers. Accordingly, CMS Energy and Consumers have worked to integrate a set of safety principles into their business operations and culture. These principles include complying with applicable safety, health, and security regulations and implementing programs and processes aimed at continually improving safety and security conditions. Since 2010, Consumers’ OSHA recordable incident rate has decreased by 40 percent.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS Energy and Consumers have issued a response plan that is focused on the health, safety, and well-being of their co-workers, customers, and communities. CMS Energy and Consumers have aligned with safety and health guidelines from the CDC, OSHA, MIOSHA, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in order to protect their employees, customers, and contractors to ensure the continued delivery of critical energy services.
In addition, while CMS Energy and Consumers have not yet experienced significant labor or supply chain disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, they continue to monitor minor disruptions and take steps to mitigate against future impacts in order to continue to provide safe and reliable service to customers.
CMS Energy and Consumers also place a high priority on customer value and on providing a hometown customer experience. Consumers’ customer-driven investment program is aimed at improving safety and increasing electric and gas reliability, which has resulted in measurable improvements in customer satisfaction.
In 2021, Consumers filed an updated Electric Distribution Infrastructure Investment Plan with the MPSC, which outlines a five-year strategy to improve its electric distribution system and the reliability of the grid. The plan dedicates over $1 billion annually to projects that will reduce the number and duration of power outages to customers through investment in infrastructure upgrades, forestry management, and grid modernization.
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Central to Consumers’ commitment to its customers are the initiatives it has undertaken to keep electricity and natural gas affordable, including:
•replacement of coal-fueled generation and PPAs with a cost-efficient mix of renewable energy and energy waste reduction and demand response programs
•targeted infrastructure investment to reduce maintenance costs and improve reliability and safety
•supply chain optimization
•economic development to increase sales and reduce overall rates
•information and control system efficiencies
•employee and retiree health care cost sharing
•workforce productivity enhancements
In addition, Consumers’ gas commodity costs declined by 52 percent over the last ten years, due not only to a decrease in market prices but also to Consumers’ improvements to its gas infrastructure and optimization of its gas purchasing and storage strategy. These gas commodity savings are passed on to customers.
Planet: The planet element of the triple bottom line represents CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ commitment to protect the environment. This commitment extends beyond compliance with various state and federal environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations. Management considers climate change and other environmental risks in strategy development, business planning, and enterprise risk management processes.
CMS Energy and Consumers continue to focus on opportunities to protect the environment and to reduce their carbon footprint. As a result of actions already taken, CMS Energy and Consumers have:
•decreased their combined percentage of electric supply (self-generated and purchased) from coal by 13 percentage points since 2015
•reduced carbon dioxide emissions by over 30 percent since 2005
•reduced the amount of water used to generate electricity by nearly 30 percent since 2012
•reduced landfill waste disposal by over 1.6 million tons since 1992
•reduced methane emissions by nearly 20 percent since 2012
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Since 2005, Consumers has reduced its sulfur dioxide and particulate matter emissions by over 90 percent and its nitrogen oxide emissions by over 80 percent. Consumers began tracking mercury emissions in 2007; since that time, it has reduced such emissions by nearly 90 percent. Presented in the following illustration are Consumers’ reductions in these emissions:

cms-20211231_g9.jpg
The 2016 Energy Law:
•raised the renewable energy standard to 15 percent in 2021; Consumers met the 15-percent requirement in 2021 and expects to meet the requirement in future years with a combination of newly generated RECs and previously generated RECs carried over from prior years
•established a goal of 35 percent combined renewable energy and energy waste reduction by 2025; Consumers achieved 30 percent combined renewable energy and energy waste reduction through 2021
•authorized incentives for demand response programs and energy efficiency programs, referring to the combined initiatives as energy waste reduction programs
•established an integrated planning process for new capacity and energy resources
Consumers’ Clean Energy Plan details its strategy to meet customers’ long-term energy needs. The Clean Energy Plan was originally outlined in Consumers’ 2018 IRP, which was approved by the MPSC in 2019. Under its Clean Energy Plan, Consumers will meet the requirements of the 2016 Energy Law using its clean and lean strategy, which focuses on increasing the generation of renewable energy, helping customers use less energy, and offering demand response programs to reduce demand during critical peak times.
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In June 2021, Consumers filed its 2021 IRP with the MPSC, proposing updates to the Clean Energy Plan. Within its 2021 IRP, which is subject to MPSC approval, Consumers outlines its long-term strategy for delivering clean, reliable, resilient, and affordable energy to its customers, including plans to:
•end the use of coal-fueled generation in 2025, 15 years sooner than initially planned
•purchase existing natural gas-fueled generating units, providing an additional 2,177 MW of nameplate capacity and allowing Consumers to continue providing controllable sources of electricity to customers
•expand its investment in renewable energy, adding nearly 8,000 MW of solar generation by 2040
These steps are expected to enable Consumers to meet and exceed the 2016 Energy Law renewable energy requirements and fulfill increasing customer demand for renewable energy. The 2021 IRP is also expected to allow Consumers to exceed its breakthrough goal of at least 50 percent combined renewable energy and energy waste reduction by 2030.
Consumers has a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions from its electric business by 2040. This goal includes not only emissions from Consumers’ owned generation, but also emissions from the generation of power purchased through long-term PPAs and from the MISO energy market. Consumers expects to meet 90 percent of its customers’ needs with clean energy sources by 2040 through execution of its 2021 IRP. Carbon offset measures including, but not limited to, carbon sequestration, methane emission capture, and forest preservation and reforestation may be used to close the gap to achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
Presented in the following illustration is Consumers’ 2021 capacity portfolio and its future capacity portfolio as projected in the 2021 IRP. This illustration includes the effects of purchased capacity and energy waste reduction and uses the nameplate capacity for all energy sources:
cms-20211231_g10.jpg
1    Does not include RECs.
In 2020, Michigan’s Governor signed an executive order creating the Michigan Healthy Climate Plan, which outlines goals for Michigan to achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and to be carbon neutral by 2050. The executive order aims for a 28-percent reduction below 2005 levels of
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greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. Consumers has already surpassed the 28-percent reduction milestone for its owned electric generation and previously announced a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions from its electric business by 2040.
In addition to Consumers’ efforts to reduce the electric utility’s carbon footprint, it is also making efforts to reduce the gas utility’s methane footprint. In 2019, Consumers released its Methane Reduction Plan, which set a goal of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas delivery system by 2030. Consumers plans to reduce methane emissions from its system by about 80 percent by accelerating the replacement of aging pipe, rehabilitating or retiring outdated infrastructure, and adopting new technologies and practices. The remaining emissions will be offset by purchasing and/or producing renewable natural gas.
In December 2021, Consumers announced plans to begin development of a renewable natural gas facility that will capture methane from manure generated at a neighboring farm and convert it into renewable natural gas. The facility, expected to start production in 2023, will reduce methane emissions from the dairy farm and allow Consumers to deliver renewable natural gas as a cost-effective clean alternative fuel for customers.
Additionally, to advance its environmental stewardship in Michigan and to minimize the impact of future regulations, Consumers announced the following five‑year targets during 2018:
•to reduce its water use by one billion gallons; since 2017, Consumers reduced its water usage by over 1.3 billion gallons cumulatively
•to enhance, restore, or protect 5,000 acres of land; since 2017, Consumers enhanced, restored, or protected over 6,000 acres of land cumulatively
•to reduce the amount of waste taken to landfills by 35 percent; compared to 2017, Consumers reduced its landfill waste by 44 percent in 2021
Consumers exceeded each of these targets and is evaluating new targets for the coming years.
CMS Energy and Consumers are monitoring numerous legislative, policy, and regulatory initiatives, including those to regulate greenhouse gases, and related litigation. While CMS Energy and Consumers cannot predict the outcome of these matters, which could affect them materially, they intend to continue to move forward with their clean and lean strategy.
Profit: The profit element of the triple bottom line represents CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ commitment to meeting their financial objectives and providing economic development opportunities and benefits in the communities in which they do business. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ financial strength allows them to maintain solid investment-grade credit ratings and thereby reduce funding costs for the benefit of customers and investors, to preserve and create jobs, and to reinvest in the communities they serve.
In 2021, CMS Energy’s net income available to common stockholders was $1,348 million, and diluted EPS were $4.66. This compares with net income available to common stockholders of $755 million and diluted EPS of $2.64 in 2020. In 2021, the gain on the sale of EnerBank, along with benefits from gas and electric rate increases and higher electric sales were offset partially by higher service restoration costs, higher distribution, transmission, generation, and compression expenses, and increased depreciation and property taxes, reflecting higher capital spending. A more detailed discussion of the factors affecting CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ performance can be found in the Results of Operations section that follows this Executive Overview.
Over the next five years, Consumers expects weather-normalized electric and gas deliveries to remain stable relative to 2021. This outlook reflects the effects of energy waste reduction programs offset largely by modest growth in electric and gas demand.
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Performance: Impacting the Triple Bottom Line
CMS Energy and Consumers remain committed to achieving world class performance while delivering hometown service and positively impacting the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit. During 2021, CMS Energy and Consumers:
•realized approximately $55 million in cost reductions by leveraging the CE Way and through other initiatives
•introduced a new economic development rate designed to attract new business to Michigan and encourage existing businesses to expand their operations
•achieved five-year planet goals, set in 2018, to save one billion gallons of water; enhance, restore or protect 5000 acres of land in Michigan; and reduce waste sent to landfills by 35 percent
•introduced a new three-year electric vehicle pilot program designed to help fleet owners transition to electric vehicles
•announced plans to begin development of a renewable natural gas facility that will convert agricultural waste into clean, renewable natural gas
•expanded their renewable energy programs that assist both business and residential customers in meeting their sustainability goals
•received recognition as #1 utility company in the U.S. for America’s Best Employers for Women and America’s Best Employers for Diversity by Forbes®
CMS Energy and Consumers will continue to utilize the CE Way to enable them to achieve world class performance and positively impact the triple bottom line. Consumers’ investment plan and the regulatory environment in which it operates also drive its ability to impact the triple bottom line.
Investment Plan: Consumers expects to make capital investments of $25 billion over the next ten years. Over the next five years, Consumers expects to make significant expenditures on infrastructure upgrades and replacements and electric supply projects. While it has a large number of potential investment opportunities that would add customer value, Consumers has prioritized its spending based on the criteria of enhancing public safety, increasing reliability, maintaining affordability for its customers, and advancing its environmental stewardship. Consumers’ investment program is expected to result in annual rate-base growth of six to eight percent. This rate-base growth, together with cost-control measures, should allow Consumers to maintain affordable customer prices.
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The 2021 IRP, which is subject to MPSC approval, would add over $1 billion of capital expenditures to the $14.3 billion that Consumers already expects to make from 2022 through 2026, which are presented in the following illustration:
cms-20211231_g11.jpg
Of this amount, Consumers plans to spend $10.8 billion over the next five years to maintain and upgrade its gas infrastructure and electric distribution systems in order to enhance safety and reliability, improve customer satisfaction, reduce energy waste on those systems, and facilitate its clean energy transformation. The gas infrastructure projects comprise $6.4 billion to sustain deliverability, enhance pipeline integrity and safety, and reduce methane emissions. The electric distribution projects comprise $4.4 billion to strengthen circuits and substations, replace poles, and interconnect clean energy resources. Consumers also expects to spend $2.8 billion on new clean generation, which includes investments in wind, solar, and hydro electric generation resources, and $0.7 billion on other electric supply projects.
Regulation: Regulatory matters are a key aspect of Consumers’ business, particularly rate cases and regulatory proceedings before the MPSC, which permit recovery of new investments while helping to ensure that customer rates are fair and affordable. Important regulatory events and developments not already discussed are summarized below.
2021 Electric Rate Case: In December 2021, the MPSC approved an annual rate increase of $27 million, based on a 9.9 percent authorized return on equity that will be reflected in rates beginning January 1, 2022. In its order, the MPSC disallowed cost recovery for certain categories of recently completed capital expenditures incurred by Consumers. For additional details, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2, Regulatory Matters.
2021 Gas Rate Case: In December 2021, Consumers filed an application with the MPSC seeking an annual rate increase of $278 million, based on a 10.5 percent authorized return on equity and a projected twelve-month period ending September 30, 2023. The filing requests authority to recover new
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infrastructure investment and related costs that are expected to allow Consumers to improve system safety and reliability and reduce fugitive methane emissions.
Looking Forward
CMS Energy and Consumers will continue to consider the impact on the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit in their daily operations as well as in their long-term strategic decisions. Consumers will continue to seek fair and timely regulatory treatment that will support its customer-driven investment plan, while pursuing cost-control measures that will allow it to maintain sustainable customer base rates. The CE Way is an important means of realizing CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ purpose of achieving world class performance while delivering hometown service.
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Results of Operations
CMS Energy Consolidated Results of Operations
In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts
Years Ended December 3120212020Change
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders$1,348 $755 $593 
Basic Earnings Per Average Common Share$4.66 $2.65 $2.01 
Diluted Earnings Per Average Common Share$4.66 $2.64 $2.02 
In Millions
Years Ended December 3120212020Change
Electric utility$565 $554 $11 
Gas utility302 261 41 
Enterprises23 36 (13)
Corporate interest and other(144)(154)10 
Discontinued operations602 58 544 
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders$1,348 $755 $593 
For a summary of net income available to common stockholders for 2020 versus 2019, as well as detailed changes by reportable segment, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations, in the Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed February 11, 2021.
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Presented in the following table is a summary of after-tax changes to net income available to common stockholders for 2021 versus 2020:
In Millions
Year Ended December 31, 2020$755 
Reasons for the change
Consumers electric utility and gas utility
Electric sales$54 
Gas sales(23)
Electric rate increase105 
Gas rate increase74 
Lower income tax expense34 
Lower non-operating retirement benefits expenses33 
Absence of 2020 voluntary revenue refund21 
Lower donations19 
Higher service restoration costs(72)
Higher distribution, transmission, generation, and compression expenses(43)
Higher depreciation and amortization(39)
Fleet and other asset impairments1
(34)
Higher forestry costs(23)
Higher property taxes, reflecting higher capital spending(17)
Higher demand response expenses(11)
Absence of 2020 gain on sale of transmission assets, net of voluntary gain sharing(10)
Other(16)
$52 
Enterprises(13)
Corporate interest and other10 
Discontinued operations544 
Year Ended December 31, 2021$1,348 
1See Note 2, Regulatory Matters.
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Consumers Electric Utility Results of Operations
Presented in the following table are the detailed changes to the electric utility’s net income available to common stockholders for 2021 versus 2020 (amounts are presented pre-tax, with the exception of income tax changes):
In Millions
Year Ended December 31, 2020$554 
Reasons for the change
Electric deliveries1 and rate increases
Rate increase, including return on higher renewable capital spending$141 
Higher revenue due primarily to favorable weather and sales mix61 
Higher energy waste reduction program revenues21 
Absence of 2020 voluntary revenue refund2
16 
Higher other revenues12 
$251 
Maintenance and other operating expenses
Higher service restoration costs(97)
Fleet and other asset impairments2
(34)
Higher distribution, transmission, and generation expenses(31)
Higher forestry costs(31)
Higher energy waste reduction program costs(21)
Higher demand response costs(15)
Absence of 2020 gain on sale of transmission assets, net of voluntary gain sharing(14)
Higher maintenance and other operating expenses(9)
(252)
Depreciation and amortization
Increased plant in service, reflecting higher capital spending(33)
General taxes
Higher property taxes, reflecting higher capital spending(10)
Other income, net of expenses
Lower non-operating retirement benefits expenses and other24 
Lower donations18 
Higher other income, net of expenses5 
47 
Interest charges10 
Income taxes
Higher production tax credits attributable primarily to new wind generation projects
15 
Absence of prior years’ research and development tax credits3
(7)
Higher electric utility pre-tax earnings
(3)
Higher other income taxes(7)
(2)
Year Ended December 31, 2021$565 
1Deliveries to end-use customers were 36.2 billion kWh in 2021 and 35.4 billion kWh in 2020.
2Includes $20 million for fleet disallowances, $10 million for other disallowances, and $4 million for fleet held-for-sale impairment. See Note 2, Regulatory Matters.
3See Note 12, Income Taxes.
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Consumers Gas Utility Results of Operations
Presented in the following table are the detailed changes to the gas utility’s net income available to common stockholders for 2021 versus 2020 (amounts are presented pre-tax, with the exception of income tax changes):
In Millions
Year Ended December 31, 2020$261 
Reasons for the change
Gas deliveries1 and rate increases
Rate increase$99 
Absence of 2020 voluntary revenue refund12 
Higher energy waste reduction program revenues9 
Lower revenue due to unfavorable weather and sales mix(27)
Lower other revenues(5)
$88 
Maintenance and other operating expenses
Higher distribution, transmission, and compression expenses(27)
Fleet and other asset impairments2
(11)
Higher energy waste reduction program costs(9)
Higher maintenance and other operating expenses(16)
(63)
Depreciation and amortization
Increased plant in service, reflecting higher capital spending(21)
General taxes
Higher property taxes, reflecting higher capital spending(13)
Other income, net of expenses
Lower non-operating retirement benefits expenses and other20 
Lower donations9 
Higher other income, net of expenses4 
33 
Interest charges(2)
Income taxes
Lower income tax expense due primarily to acceleration of tax benefits associated with cost of removal3
14 
Lower income tax expense due primarily to accelerated amortization of excess deferred income taxes3
13 
Higher gas utility pre-tax earnings(6)
Absence of prior years’ research and development tax credits3
(1)
Higher other income taxes(1)
19 
Year Ended December 31, 2021$302 
1Deliveries to end-use customers were 282 bcf in 2021 and 283 bcf in 2020.
2Includes $9 million for fleet disallowances and $2 million for other disallowances. See Note 2, Regulatory Matters.
3See Note 12, Income Taxes.
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Enterprises Results of Operations
Presented in the following table are the detailed after-tax changes to the enterprises segment’s net income available to common stockholders for 2021 versus 2020:
In Millions
Year Ended December 31, 2020$36 
Reason for the change
Lower earnings due primarily to outages at DIG
$(9)
Absence of refund for alternative minimum tax credit sequestration1
(4)
Year Ended December 31, 2021$23 
1See Note 12, Income Taxes.
Corporate Interest and Other Results of Operations
Presented in the following table are the detailed after-tax changes to corporate interest and other results for 2021 versus 2020:
In Millions
Year Ended December 31, 2020$(154)
Reasons for the change
Absence of loss on early extinguishment of debt
$12 
Reduction in state tax liabilities7 
Absence of refund for alternative minimum tax credit sequestration1
(5)
Preferred stock dividends(5)
Other1 
Year Ended December 31, 2021$(144)
1See Note 12, Income Taxes.
Results of Discontinued Operations
On October 1, 2021, EnerBank was acquired by Regions Bank. As a result, EnerBank’s results of operations through the date of the sale are presented as income from discontinued operations on CMS Energy’s consolidated statements of income for 2021 and 2020. For additional details, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 20, Exit Activities and Discontinued Operations.
Presented in the following table are the detailed after-tax changes to discontinued operations for 2021 versus 2020:
In Millions
Year Ended December 31, 2020$58 
Reason for the change
Gain on sale of EnerBank$514 
Higher earnings at discontinued operations30 
Year Ended December 31, 2021$602 
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Cash Position, Investing, and Financing
At December 31, 2021, CMS Energy had $476 million of consolidated cash and cash equivalents, which included $24 million of restricted cash and cash equivalents. At December 31, 2021, Consumers had $44 million of consolidated cash and cash equivalents, which included $22 million of restricted cash and cash equivalents.
For specific components of net cash provided by operating activities, net cash used in investing activities, and net cash used in investing activities for 2020 versus 2019, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Cash Position, Investing, and Financing, in the Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed February 11, 2021.
Operating Activities
Presented in the following table are specific components of net cash provided by operating activities for 2021 versus 2020:
In Millions
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Year Ended December 31, 2020$1,276 
Reasons for the change
Higher net income$578 
Non‑cash transactions1
87 
Absence of pension contributions700 
Gain from sale of EnerBank in 20212
(657)
Lower cash provided by discontinued operations2
(144)
Unfavorable impact of changes in core working capital,3 due primarily to higher gas prices and the timing of collections on deliveries, offset partially by lower vendor payments
(122)
Favorable impact of changes in other assets and liabilities, due primarily to the absence of a payment to settle litigation and the timing of payments on higher property taxes101 
Year Ended December 31, 2021$1,819 
Consumers
Year Ended December 31, 2020$1,218 
Reasons for the change
Higher net income$52 
Non‑cash transactions1
(14)
Lower postretirement benefits contributions, primarily absence of pension contributions681 
Unfavorable impact of changes in core working capital,3 due primarily to higher gas prices and the timing of collections on deliveries, offset partially by lower vendor payments
(78)
Favorable impact of changes in other assets and liabilities, due primarily to lower income tax payments to CMS Energy and the timing of payments on higher property taxes123 
Year Ended December 31, 2021$1,982 
1Non‑cash transactions comprise depreciation and amortization, changes in deferred income taxes and investment tax credits, bad debt expense, and other non‑cash operating activities and reconciling adjustments.
2For information regarding the sale of EnerBank, see Note 20, Exit Activities and Discontinued Operations.
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3Core working capital comprises accounts receivable, accrued revenue, inventories, accounts payable, and accrued rate refunds.
Investing Activities
Presented in the following table are specific components of net cash used in investing activities for 2021 versus 2020:
In Millions
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Year Ended December 31, 2020$(2,867)
Reasons for the change
Lower capital expenditures$235 
Proceeds from sale of EnerBank in 20211, net of cash and cash equivalents sold and transaction costs
898 
Absence of proceeds from sale of transmission equipment in 2020
(58)
Higher cash provided by discontinued operations1
563 
Other investing activities(4)
Year Ended December 31, 2021$(1,233)
Consumers
Year Ended December 31, 2020$(2,246)
Reasons for the change
Lower capital expenditures$118 
Absence of proceeds from sale of transmission equipment in 2020
(58)
Other investing activities1 
Year Ended December 31, 2021$(2,185)
1For information regarding the sale of EnerBank, see Note 20, Exit Activities and Discontinued Operations.
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Financing Activities
Presented in the following table are specific components of net cash provided by (used in) financing activities for 2021 versus 2020:
In Millions
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Year Ended December 31, 2020$1,619 
Reasons for the change
Lower debt issuances$(2,844)
Lower debt retirements1,775 
Absence of repayments under Consumers’ commercial paper program in 202090 
Lower issuances of common stock(227)
Issuance of preferred stock in 2021224 
Higher payments of dividends on common stock(42)
Absence of debt prepayment costs in 202059 
Absence of 2020 proceeds from the sale of membership interest in VIE to tax equity investor(417)
Lower contributions from noncontrolling interest(30)
Lower cash provided by discontinued operations1
(500)
Other financing activities, primarily the use of customer advances for construction, offset largely by lower debt issuance costs(2)
Year Ended December 31, 2021$(295)
Consumers
Year Ended December 31, 2020$1,035 
Reasons for the change
Lower debt issuances$(1,619)
Lower debt retirements1,059 
Absence of repayments under Consumers’ commercial paper program in 202090 
Higher repayments of borrowings from CMS Energy(222)
Lower stockholder contribution from CMS Energy(75)
Higher payments of dividends on common stock(85)
Absence of debt prepayment costs in 202043 
Other financing activities, primarily the use of customer advances for construction, offset partially by lower debt issuance costs(14)
Year Ended December 31, 2021$212 
1For information regarding the sale of EnerBank, see Note 20, Exit Activities and Discontinued Operations.
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Capital Resources and Liquidity
CMS Energy and Consumers expect to have sufficient liquidity to fund their present and future commitments. CMS Energy uses dividends and tax-sharing payments from its subsidiaries and external financing and capital transactions to invest in its utility and non‑utility businesses, retire debt, pay dividends, and fund its other obligations. The ability of CMS Energy’s subsidiaries, including Consumers, to pay dividends to CMS Energy depends upon each subsidiary’s revenues, earnings, cash needs, and other factors. In addition, Consumers’ ability to pay dividends is restricted by certain terms included in its articles of incorporation and potentially by FERC requirements and provisions under the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act. For additional details on Consumers’ dividend restrictions, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 4, Financings and Capitalization—Dividend Restrictions. During the year ended December 31, 2021, Consumers paid $722 million in dividends on its common stock to CMS Energy.
On October 1, 2021, EnerBank was acquired by Regions Bank. CMS Energy received proceeds of over $1 billion. CMS Energy intends to use the proceeds from the sale to fund key initiatives in its core energy business related to safety, reliability, and its clean energy transformation. For information regarding EnerBank, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 20, Exit Activities and Discontinued Operations.
Consumers uses cash flows generated from operations and external financing transactions, as well as stockholder contributions from CMS Energy, to fund capital expenditures, retire debt, pay dividends, and fund its other obligations. Consumers also uses these sources of funding to contribute to its employee benefit plans.
Financing and Capital Resources: CMS Energy and Consumers rely on the capital markets to fund their robust capital plan. Barring any sustained market dislocations or disruptions, CMS Energy and Consumers expect to continue to have ready access to the financial and capital markets and will continue to explore possibilities to take advantage of market opportunities as they arise with respect to future funding needs. If access to these markets were to diminish or otherwise become restricted, CMS Energy and Consumers would implement contingency plans to address debt maturities, which could include reduced capital spending.
In 2020, CMS Energy entered into an equity offering program under which it may sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate sales price of up to $500 million in privately negotiated transactions, in “at the market” offerings, through forward sales transactions, or otherwise.
CMS Energy has entered into forward sales transactions under this program, which allow CMS Energy to either physically settle the contracts by issuing shares of its common stock at the then-applicable forward sale price specified by the agreement or net settle the contracts through the delivery or receipt of cash or shares. CMS Energy may settle the contracts at any time through their maturity dates, and presently intends to physically settle the contracts by delivering shares of its common stock. As of December 31, 2021, these contracts have an aggregate sales price of $56 million, maturing through 2022. For more information on these forward sale contracts, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 4, Financings and Capitalization—Issuance of Common Stock.
At December 31, 2021, CMS Energy had $526 million of its revolving credit facility available and Consumers had $1.1 billion available under its revolving credit facilities. CMS Energy and Consumers use these credit facilities for general working capital purposes and to issue letters of credit. An additional source of liquidity is Consumers’ commercial paper program, which allows Consumers to issue, in one or more placements, up to $500 million in the aggregate in commercial paper notes with maturities of up to
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365 days at market interest rates. These issuances are supported by Consumers’ revolving credit facilities. While the amount of outstanding commercial paper does not reduce the available capacity of the revolving credit facilities, Consumers does not intend to issue commercial paper in an amount exceeding the available capacity of the facilities. At December 31, 2021, there were no commercial paper notes outstanding under this program. For additional details on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ revolving credit facilities and commercial paper program, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 4, Financings and Capitalization.
Certain of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ credit agreements contain covenants that require CMS Energy and Consumers to maintain certain financial ratios, as defined therein. At December 31, 2021, no default had occurred with respect to any financial covenants contained in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ credit agreements. CMS Energy and Consumers were each in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2021, as presented in the following table:
Limit Actual 
CMS Energy, parent only
Debt to Capital1
< 0.70 to 1.0
0.54 to 1.0
Consumers
Debt to Capital2
< 0.65 to 1.0
0.48 to 1.0
1Applies to CMS Energy’s revolving credit agreement and letter of credit reimbursement agreement.
2Applies to Consumers’ revolving credit agreements and letter of credit agreement.
Material Cash Requirements: Based on the present investment plan, during 2022, Consumers projects capital expenditures of $2.6 billion. Additionally, CMS Energy’s other material cash requirements for 2022 include $2.3 billion of purchase obligations and $843 million of principal and interest payments on long-term debt. Consumers’ other material cash requirements for 2022 comprise $2.2 billion of purchase obligations and $653 million of principal and interest payments on long-term debt.
Components of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ cash management plan include controlling operating expenses and capital expenditures and evaluating market conditions for financing and refinancing opportunities. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ present level of cash and expected cash flows from operating activities, together with access to sources of liquidity, are anticipated to be sufficient to fund contractual obligations and other material cash requirements for 2022 and beyond.
Capital Expenditures: Over the next five years, Consumers expects to make substantial capital investments. Consumers may revise its forecast of capital expenditures periodically due to a number of factors, including environmental regulations, MPSC approval or disapproval, business opportunities, market volatility, economic trends, and the ability to access capital. Presented in the following table are Consumers’ estimated capital expenditures, including lease commitments, for 2022 through 2026:
In Billions
20222023202420252026Total
Consumers
Electric utility operations$1.5 $1.7 $1.7 $1.5 $1.5 $7.9 
Gas utility operations1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.4 6.4 
Total Consumers$2.6 $2.9 $3.0 $2.9 $2.9 $14.3 
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Other Material Cash Requirements: Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ material cash obligations from known contractual and other legal obligations:
In Billions
Payments Due
December 31, 2021
Less Than One YearTotal
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Long-term debt$0.4 $12.6 
Interest payments on long-term debt0.5 12.3 
Purchase obligations2.3 12.5 
AROs— 2.2 
Total obligations$3.2 $39.6 
Consumers
Long-term debt$0.4 $8.5 
Interest payments on long-term debt0.3 6.6 
Purchase obligations2.2 12.0 
AROs— 2.2 
Total obligations$2.9 $29.3 
Purchase obligations arise from long-term contracts for the purchase of commodities and related services, plant purchase commitments, and construction and service agreements. The commodities and related services include long-term PPAs, natural gas and associated transportation, and coal and associated transportation. For more information on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ purchase obligations, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments—Contractual Commitments.
CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain of their subsidiaries enter into various arrangements in the normal course of business to facilitate commercial transactions with third parties. These arrangements include indemnities, surety bonds, letters of credit, and financial and performance guarantees. For additional details on indemnity and guarantee arrangements, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments—Guarantees. For additional details on letters of credit and CMS Energy’s forward sales contracts, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 4, Financings and Capitalization.
Outlook
Several business trends and uncertainties may affect CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ financial condition and results of operations. These trends and uncertainties could have a material impact on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ consolidated income, cash flows, or financial position. For additional details regarding these and other uncertainties, see Forward-Looking Statements and Information; Item 1A. Risk Factors; and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2, Regulatory Matters and Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments.
Consumers Electric Utility Outlook and Uncertainties
Clean Energy Plan: Consumers’ Clean Energy Plan details its strategy to meet customers’ long-term energy needs. The Clean Energy Plan was originally outlined in Consumers’ 2018 IRP, which was approved by the MPSC in 2019. In June 2021, Consumers filed its 2021 IRP with the MPSC, proposing
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updates to the Clean Energy Plan. Under its 2021 IRP, Consumers proposes to eliminate the use of coal-fueled generation in 2025 and expects to meet 90 percent of its customers’ needs with clean energy sources by 2040.
Specifically, the 2021 IRP provides for a full transition away from coal-fueled generation by the end of 2025 and includes:
•the retirement of the D.E. Karn oil/gas-fueled and coal-fueled generating units, totaling 1,734 MW of nameplate capacity, in 2023
•the retirement of the J.H. Campbell coal-fueled generating units, totaling 1,407 MW of nameplate capacity, in 2025
The MPSC has authorized Consumers to issue securitization bonds to finance the recovery of and return on the D.E. Karn coal-fueled generating units. In the 2021 IRP, Consumers has requested regulatory asset treatment to recover the remaining book value of and return on the other D.E. Karn units and the J.H. Campbell coal-fueled generating units.
To bridge the transition away from coal generation, the 2021 IRP proposes:
•the purchase of the New Covert Generating Facility, a natural gas-fueled generating unit with 1,176 MW of nameplate capacity in Van Buren County, Michigan, in 2023
•the purchase, in 2025, of the enterprises segment’s three natural gas-fueled generating units, totaling 1,001 MW of nameplate capacity:
◦the 770-MW DIG plant located in Dearborn, Michigan
◦a 156-MW peaking generating unit located in Gaylord, Michigan
◦a 75-MW peaking generating unit located in Comstock, Michigan
These investments are expected to allow Consumers to continue providing controllable sources of electricity to customers while expanding its investment in renewable energy. The 2021 IRP forecasts renewable energy capacity levels of 35 percent in 2025, 47 percent in 2030, and 63 percent in 2040, including the addition of nearly 8,000 MW of solar generation. Under its 2021 IRP, Consumers will continue to bid new capacity competitively. The updated plan proposes that Consumers will own and operate at least 50 percent of new capacity, with the remainder being built and owned by third parties.
Consumers’ Clean Energy Plan provides the foundation for its goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from its electric business by 2040. Under this net-zero goal, Consumers plans to eliminate the impact of carbon emissions created by the electricity it generates or purchases for customers.
Through its Clean Energy Plan, Consumers continues to make progress on expanding its customer programs, namely its demand response, energy efficiency, and conservation voltage reduction programs, as well as increasing its renewable energy and pumped storage generation.
In support of its Clean Energy Plan, Consumers issued requests for proposals in 2019 and 2020, each to acquire up to 300 MW of new capacity from projects to be operational in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula by May 2023. Specifically, Consumers solicited offers to enter into PPAs with or purchase solar generation projects ranging in size from 20 MW to 150 MW and to enter into PPAs with PURPA qualifying facilities up to 20 MW. Any contracts entered into as a result of the requests for proposals would be subject to MPSC approval.
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As a result of the requests for proposals, Consumers has entered into PPAs to purchase renewable capacity, energy, and RECs from solar generating facilities and build transfer agreements to purchase solar generating facilities, as presented in the following table:
Type of Agreement
Capacity (MW)
Location of Facility
Expected Commercial Operation1
Date of AgreementDate of MPSC Approval
2019 request
PPA (25 years)140 Calhoun County, Michigan2022
December 2020
April 2021
Build transfer agreement150 Southeastern Michigan2023/2024
January 2021
April 2021
2020 request
PPA (20 years)30 Manistee, Michigan2022
May 2021
September 2021
PPA (25 years)2
100 Calhoun County, Michigan2023October 2021November 2021
PPA (20 years)2
125 Jackson County, Michigan2023October 2021November 2021
Build transfer agreement150 Southeastern Michigan2023/2024October 2021November 2021
1    For build transfer agreements, represents the date Consumers expects to take full ownership and begin commercial operation.
2    This agreement provides Consumers the option to purchase the associated solar generating facility after ten years.
In addition, Consumers issued a request for proposals in September 2021 to acquire up to 500 MW of new capacity from projects to be operational in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula by December 2024. Specifically, Consumers solicited offers to enter into PPAs with or purchase solar generation projects up to 300 MW in size and to enter into PPAs with PURPA qualifying facilities up to five MW in size. Consumers will acquire at least 250 MW through long-term PPAs. Any contracts entered into as a result of the request for proposals would be subject to MPSC approval.
Renewable Energy Plan: The 2016 Energy Law raised the renewable energy standard to 15 percent in 2021. Consumers is required to submit RECs, which represent proof that the associated electricity was generated from a renewable energy resource, in an amount equal to at least the required percentage of Consumers’ electric sales volume each year. Under its renewable energy plan, Consumers met the 15-percent requirement in 2021 and expects to meet the requirement in future years with a combination of newly generated RECs and previously generated RECs carried over from prior years.
Under Consumers’ renewable energy plan, the MPSC has approved the acquisition of up to 525 MW of new wind generation projects and authorized Consumers to earn a 10.7 percent return on equity on any projects approved by the MPSC. Specifically, the MPSC has approved the following:
•purchase and construction of a 150-MW wind generation project in Gratiot County, Michigan; the project became operational in December 2020
•purchase of a 166-MW wind generation project in Hillsdale, Michigan; the project became operational and Consumers took full ownership in February 2021
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•purchase of a wind generation project under development, with capacity of up to 201 MW, in Gratiot County, Michigan; Consumers expects to take full ownership and begin commercial operation of the project before 2024
The MPSC also approved the execution of a 20-year PPA under which Consumers will purchase 100 MW of renewable capacity, energy, and RECs from a 149-MW solar generating facility to be constructed in Calhoun County, Michigan; the facility is expected to be operational in 2022.
Voluntary Large Customer Renewable Energy Program: Consumers provides service under a program that provides large full-service electric customers with the opportunity to advance the development of renewable energy beyond the requirements of the 2016 Energy Law. In September 2021, the MPSC approved Consumers’ request to amend its renewable energy plan to remove the annual subscription limit associated with this program. The MPSC also approved up to 1,000 MW of new wind and solar generation projects between 2024 and 2027 to meet customer demand for the program. Consumers will competitively solicit for additional renewable energy assets based on customer applications and will construct the assets based on customer subscriptions to the program.
Electric Customer Deliveries and Revenue: Consumers’ electric customer deliveries are seasonal and largely dependent on Michigan’s economy. The consumption of electric energy typically increases in the summer months, due primarily to the use of air conditioners and other cooling equipment. In addition, Consumers’ electric rates, which follow a seasonal rate design, are higher in the summer months than in the remaining months of the year. In June 2021, electric residential customers transitioned to a summer peak time-of-use rate that allows them to take advantage of lower-cost energy during off-peak times during the summer months. Thus, customers can reduce their electric bills by shifting their consumption from on‑peak to off‑peak times.
In response to the COVID‑19 pandemic, Michigan’s Governor and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have issued numerous orders throughout 2020 and 2021 restricting business, educational, and personal activities at varying levels. In June 2021, almost all restrictions were lifted and Consumers expects businesses and residents to continue resuming normal activities and for weather-normalized electric deliveries to stabilize.
Over the next five years, Consumers expects weather-normalized electric deliveries to remain stable relative to 2021. This outlook reflects the effects of energy waste reduction programs offset largely by modest growth in electric demand. Actual delivery levels will depend on:
•energy conservation measures and results of energy waste reduction programs
•weather fluctuations
•Michigan’s economic conditions, including utilization, expansion, or contraction of manufacturing facilities, population trends, and housing activity
Electric ROA: Michigan law allows electric customers in Consumers’ service territory to buy electric generation service from alternative electric suppliers in an aggregate amount capped at ten percent of Consumers’ sales, with certain exceptions. At December 31, 2021, electric deliveries under the ROA program were at the ten‑percent limit. Of Consumers’ 1.9 million electric customers, fewer than 300, or 0.02 percent, purchased electric generation service under the ROA program.
The 2016 Energy Law established a path to ensure that forward capacity is secured for all electric customers in Michigan, including customers served by alternative electric suppliers under ROA. The law also authorized the MPSC to ensure that alternative electric suppliers have procured enough capacity to cover their anticipated capacity requirements for the four-year forward period. In 2017, the MPSC issued an order establishing a state reliability mechanism for Consumers. Under this mechanism, if an alternative
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electric supplier does not demonstrate that it has procured its capacity requirements for the four-year forward period, its customers will pay a set charge to the utility for capacity that is not provided by the alternative electric supplier. All alternative electric suppliers have demonstrated that they have procured their capacity requirements through the MISO planning year beginning June 1, 2024.
During 2017, the MPSC issued orders finding that it has statutory authority to determine and implement a local clearing requirement, which requires all electric suppliers to demonstrate that a portion of the capacity procured to serve customers during peak demand times is located in the MISO footprint in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. In April 2020, the Michigan Supreme Court affirmed the MPSC’s statutory authority to implement a local clearing requirement on individual electric providers.
In September 2020, ABATE and another intervenor filed a complaint against the MPSC in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan challenging the constitutionality of a local clearing requirement. The complaint requests the federal court to issue a permanent injunction prohibiting the MPSC from implementing a local clearing requirement on individual electric providers. In December 2020, Consumers filed a motion to intervene and defend the local clearing requirement in that federal litigation; this motion was granted in January 2021 and this case remains pending.
Electric Rate Matters: Rate matters are critical to Consumers’ electric utility business. For additional details on rate matters, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2, Regulatory Matters and Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments.
2021 Electric Rate Case: In December 2021, the MPSC approved an annual rate increase of $27 million, based on a 9.9 percent authorized return on equity that will be reflected in rates beginning January 1, 2022. In its order, the MPSC disallowed cost recovery for certain categories of recently completed capital expenditures incurred by Consumers. For additional details, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2, Regulatory Matters.
Depreciation Rate Case: In March 2021, Consumers filed a depreciation case related to its electric and common utility property. In this case, Consumers requested to increase depreciation expense, and its recovery of that expense by $43 million annually. In December 2021, the MPSC approved a settlement agreement that decreases depreciation expense by $27 million annually based on December 31, 2019 balances. The new depreciation rates will be reflected in rates beginning January 1, 2022, concurrent with rates to be implemented in accordance with Consumers’ recently approved electric rate case.
PSCR Plan: Consumers submitted its 2022 PSCR plan to the MPSC in September 2021 and, in accordance with its proposed plan, self-implemented the 2022 PSCR charge beginning in January 2022.
Retention Incentive Program: In 2019, Consumers announced a retention incentive program to ensure necessary staffing at the D.E. Karn generating complex through the anticipated retirement of the coal-fueled generating units. Based on the number of employees that have chosen to participate, the aggregate cost of the program through 2023 is estimated to be $35 million. In its order in Consumers’ 2020 electric rate case, the MPSC approved deferred accounting treatment for these costs. Consumers expects to recognize $5 million of retention benefit costs in 2022; this expense will be deferred as a regulatory asset. For additional details on this program, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 20, Exit Activities and Discontinued Operations. Within its 2021 IRP, Consumers proposes to retire the J.H. Campbell coal-fueled generating units. No retention incentive costs related to this retirement will be recognized unless Consumers’ 2021 IRP is approved by the MPSC.
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Electric Environmental Outlook: Consumers’ operations are subject to various state and federal environmental laws and regulations. Consumers estimates that it will incur capital expenditures of $255 million from 2022 through 2026 to continue to comply with RCRA, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and numerous state and federal environmental regulations. Consumers expects to recover these costs in customer rates, but cannot guarantee this result. Consumers’ primary environmental compliance focus includes, but is not limited to, the following matters.
Air Quality: Multiple air quality regulations apply, or may apply, to Consumers.
CSAPR, which initially became effective in 2015, requires Michigan and many other states to improve air quality by reducing power plant emissions that, according to EPA modeling, contribute to ground-level ozone and fine particle pollution in other downwind states. In 2016, the EPA finalized ozone season standards for CSAPR, which became effective in 2017. In 2020, in response to a court-ordered remand due to litigation, the EPA proposed a revised CSAPR rule to reflect updated emission reductions from electric generating units in 12 states, including Michigan. The EPA finalized this revised rule in March 2021, with continued emission reductions through 2024. Consumers has evaluated its emission compliance strategy for existing units based on the proposed number of allowances allocated to Michigan for 2021 through 2024 and believes the impact of this rule should be minimal.
In 2012, the EPA published emission standards for electric generating units, known as MATS, based on Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. Under MATS, all of Consumers’ existing coal-fueled electric generating units were required to add additional controls for hazardous air pollutants. Consumers met the deadline for five coal-fueled units and two oil/gas-fueled units it continues to operate and retired its seven remaining coal-fueled units. In May 2020, the EPA finalized changes to the supporting analysis used to enact the MATS rule. However, in January 2022, the EPA announced a proposed rule to revoke this 2020 finding and reaffirm that it is appropriate and necessary to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants from coal- and oil-fueled power plants. The EPA is also considering whether more stringent protections for hazardous air pollution from power plants are feasible and warranted. Consumers will continue to monitor the MATS rule status and any pending litigation. Consumers does not expect any changes to the MATS rule will have a significant impact on its current MATS compliance strategy.
In 2015, the EPA lowered the NAAQS for ozone. The 2015 ozone NAAQS made it more difficult to construct or modify power plants and other emission sources in areas of the country that have not met the 2015 ozone standard. In 2018, the EPA designated certain areas of Michigan as not meeting the ozone standard. Specifically, seven counties in southeastern Michigan and three counties in western Michigan were not in attainment with the ozone standard by an August 2021 regulatory deadline, and thus may have their nonattainment designations increased from marginal to moderate. None of Consumers’ fossil-fuel-fired generating units are located in these areas. The State of Michigan has convened industry workgroups to seek implementation and control strategy ideas for statewide compliance of the 2015 ozone standard, which will need to be in place by early 2023. In January 2022, EGLE submitted a request to the EPA for redesignation of the seven counties in southeastern Michigan to be in attainment with the 2015 ozone standard based on the most recent data. EGLE is awaiting the EPA’s response to that request. Consumers will continue to stay engaged with EGLE and the workgroups to assess potential impacts to its generating assets.
In August 2020, the EPA proposed to retain the 2015 NAAQS for ozone without revision and finalized this regulatory decision in December 2020. In October 2021, the EPA provided notice that it was going to reconsider the December 2020 ozone NAAQS decision. The EPA believes it will complete this reconsideration by December 2023. Although this action may ultimately result in more ozone nonattainment areas in Michigan, Consumers does not expect that any litigation involving NAAQS for ozone or lowering of the ozone standard will have a material adverse impact on its generating assets.
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Consumers’ strategy to comply with air quality regulations, including CSAPR, MATS, and NAAQS, as well as its legal obligations, involved the installation and operation of emission control equipment at some facilities and the suspension of operations at others; however, Consumers continues to evaluate these rules in conjunction with other EPA and EGLE rulemakings, litigation, executive orders, treaties, and congressional action. This evaluation could result in:
•a change in Consumers’ fuel mix
•changes in the types of generating units Consumers may purchase or build in the future
•changes in how certain units are operated
•the retirement, mothballing, or repowering with an alternative fuel of some of Consumers’ generating units
•changes in Consumers’ environmental compliance costs
Greenhouse Gases: There have been numerous legislative and regulatory initiatives at the state, regional, national, and international levels that involve the potential regulation of greenhouse gases. Consumers continues to monitor and comment on these initiatives and to follow litigation involving greenhouse gases.
In 2015, the EPA finalized new rules pursuant to Section 111(b) of the Clean Air Act to limit carbon dioxide emissions from new electric generating units, as well as modified or reconstructed electric generating units. New coal-fueled units would not be able to meet this limit without installing carbon dioxide control equipment using such methods as carbon capture and sequestration.
In 2018, the EPA proposed a revised Section 111(b) regulation to replace the 2015 standard rule limiting carbon dioxide emissions from new electric generating units, citing limited availability and high costs of carbon capture and sequestration equipment as reasons to change the 2015 rule. The revised Section 111(b) regulation would require new coal-fueled generating units to meet a highly efficient steam cycle performance standard. If finalized, Consumers does not expect this proposal to change its existing environmental strategy. The EPA has not formally indicated whether they intend to finalize this rulemaking or instead pursue a new set of regulations.
In 2019, the EPA finalized the Affordable Clean Energy rule, which required individual states to evaluate coal‑fueled power plants for heat‑rate improvements that could increase overall plant efficiency. In January 2021, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated and remanded this rule to the EPA which, in turn, appealed the rule to the U.S. Supreme Court. In October 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal of this case. A decision is expected by June 2022. Consumers cannot evaluate the potential impact of the rule until any appeals and EPA actions are resolved. It is anticipated that the EPA will propose a new regulation in 2022 addressing greenhouse gas emissions from existing fossil-fueled electric generating units, potentially under the Clean Air Act; however, Consumers cannot predict the form and extent of such potential regulation as it is likely to be impacted by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on the Affordable Clean Energy rule.
In 2015, a group of 195 countries, including the U.S., finalized the Paris Agreement, which addresses carbon dioxide reduction measures beginning in 2020. While the U.S. had withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, it rejoined the Paris Agreement in 2021. In April 2021, the U.S. announced it is committing to a nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement. Nationally determined contributions are the efforts by each country to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions. The commitment made by the U.S. is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 to 52 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. In its 2021 IRP, pending MPSC approval, Consumers proposed a 60-percent reduction in its carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2025. At this time, Consumers does not expect any adverse changes to its environmental strategy as a result of these events, as the nationally determined contribution is not binding without new Congressional legislation.
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In 2020, Michigan’s Governor signed an executive order creating the Michigan Healthy Climate Plan, which outlines goals for Michigan to achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and to be carbon neutral by 2050. The executive order aims for a 28-percent reduction below 2005 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. Consumers has already surpassed the 28-percent reduction milestone for its owned electric generation and previously announced a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions from its electric business by 2040. The order directs EGLE to develop and oversee an action plan for achieving these goals. In addition, the Governor established the Council on Climate Solutions, an advisory group of key stakeholders to be appointed by the Governor that will assist EGLE in implementing the plan. These goals are aspirational in nature and any changes in law or regulation to achieve these goals would need to be approved by Michigan Legislature or the relevant regulatory agency. The MPSC has requested comments from utilities and other stakeholders on how the Governor’s goal should be incorporated into future IRP filings. Consumers does not expect any adverse changes to its environmental strategy as a result of these events.
While Consumers cannot predict the outcome of changes in U.S. policy or of other legislative or regulatory initiatives involving the potential regulation of greenhouse gases, it intends to continue to move forward with its Clean Energy Plan, its present net-zero carbon reduction goal, and its emphasis on reliable and resilient supply. Consumers will continue to monitor regulatory and legislative activity and related litigation regarding greenhouse gas emissions standards that may affect electric generating units.
Increased frequency of severe weather events, including those due to climate change, could materially impact Consumers’ facilities, energy sales, and results of operations. Consumers is unable to predict these events or their financial impact; however, Consumers evaluates the potential physical impacts of climate change on its operations, including increased temperature, increased storm activity, increased rainfall, and higher lake and river levels. Consumers is taking steps to mitigate these risks as appropriate.
Litigation, international treaties, executive orders, federal laws and regulations (including regulations by the EPA), and state laws and regulations, if enacted or ratified, could ultimately impact Consumers. Consumers may be required to replace equipment; install additional emission control equipment; purchase emission allowances or credits; curtail operations; arrange for alternative sources of supply; purchase facilities that generate fewer emissions; mothball or retire facilities that generate certain emissions; pursue energy efficiency or demand response measures more swiftly; or take other steps to manage or lower the emission of greenhouse gases. Although associated capital or operating costs relating to greenhouse gas regulation or legislation could be material and cost recovery cannot be assured, Consumers expects to recover these costs in rates consistent with the recovery of other reasonable costs of complying with environmental laws and regulations.
CCRs: In 2015, the EPA published a rule regulating CCRs under RCRA. This 2015 rule adopts minimum standards for beneficially reusing and disposing of non‑hazardous CCRs. The rule establishes new minimum requirements for CCR unit location, design, structural stability, groundwater monitoring and correction action, flood protection, fugitive dust control, recordkeeping, and public disclosure of certain records, including any groundwater protection standard exceedances. The 2015 rule also sets out conditions under which some CCR units would be forced to cease receiving CCR and non‑CCR wastewater and initiate closure based on the inability to achieve minimum safety standards, meet a location standard, or meet minimum groundwater standards. Due to litigation, many aspects of the 2015 CCR rule have been remanded to the EPA, which has resulted in numerous proposed rules and three final rules. One of the final rules is in litigation. Anticipated litigation related to remanded aspects that have not been addressed will add uncertainty around requirements for compliance and state permit programs.
The EPA amended the conditions of forced closure in a rule published in August 2020. The August 2020 rule required all unlined CCR units to initiate closure by mid-April 2021, unless conditions that satisfied an alternate closure schedule were approved by the EPA. Consumers, with agreement from EGLE,
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completed the work necessary to initiate closure by excavating CCRs or placing a final cover over each of its relevant CCR units prior to the April 2021 closure initiation deadline.
Separate from the 2015 or 2020 rules, Congress passed legislation in 2016 allowing participating states to develop permitting programs for CCRs under RCRA Subtitle D. In 2018, the Michigan Legislature adopted standards for a permitting program, which requires the EPA’s authorization. This program should reduce costly, duplicative oversight over CCRs and provide local oversight to CCR issues unique to Michigan. In April 2020, EGLE submitted a regulatory package for Michigan’s permit program to the EPA for its review, which is still pending. Federal rulemaking challenges may delay EPA approval of the Michigan permitting program.
Consumers has historically been authorized to recover in electric rates costs related to coal ash disposal sites.
Water: Multiple water-related regulations apply, or may apply, to Consumers.
The EPA regulates cooling water intake systems of existing electric generating plants under Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act and the corresponding rules that were revised in 2014. The rules seek to reduce alleged harmful impacts on aquatic organisms, such as fish. In 2018, Consumers submitted to EGLE for approval all required studies and recommended plans to comply with Section 316(b), but has not yet received final approval.
In 2015, the EPA released its final effluent limitation guidelines for steam electric generating plants. These guidelines, which are presently being litigated, set stringent new requirements for the discharge from electric generating units into surface waters. The EPA published a final rule in October 2020, with an effective date of December 2020, revising the 2015 guidelines related to the discharge of certain wastewater streams from electric generating units. The rule also allows for extension of the compliance deadline from the end of 2023 to the end of 2025, upon approval by EGLE through the NPDES permitting process. Consumers received such an extension to 2025 for its Campbell generating facility in 2021. Consumers does not expect any adverse changes to its environmental strategy as a result of these revisions to the rule or any litigation of the guidelines.
In January 2020, the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finalized a rule under the Clean Water Act that repealed a 2015 definition of “Waters of the United States,” narrowed the scope of federal jurisdiction, and reduced the frequency of dual jurisdiction in states with authority to regulate the same waters; Michigan is one such state. In November 2021, the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed to revise the 2020 “Waters of the United States” definition to revert to the 2015 “Waters of the United States” definition, with changes reflecting the EPA’s interpretation of intervening U.S. Supreme Court decisions. The proposed November 2021 rulemaking may change how Consumers interacts with federal jurisdictional waters within Michigan, which may add additional requirements to existing compliance programs, or may require additional permitting for infrastructure projects. However, Consumers does not expect adverse changes to its environmental strategy as a result of the current interpretations. The “Waters of the United States” definition continues to be litigated in multiple jurisdictions.
Many of Consumers’ facilities maintain NPDES permits, which are renewed every five years and are vital to the facilities’ operations. Failure of EGLE to renew any NPDES permit, a successful appeal against a permit, a change in the interpretation or scope of NPDES permitting, or onerous terms contained in a permit could have a significant detrimental effect on the operations of a facility.
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Protected Wildlife: Multiple regulations apply, or may apply, to Consumers relating to protected species and habitats.
Statutes like the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act may impact operations at Consumers’ facilities. In May 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to repeal a January 2021 rule related to incidental take of migratory birds. In November 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking outlining its intent to regulate incidental take under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Permitting and monitoring fees and restrictions on operations associated with the rules could impact Consumers’ existing and future operations, including wind and solar generation facilities.
Additionally, Consumers is monitoring proposed changes to the listing status of several species within its operational area due to an increase in wildlife-related regulatory activity. A change in species listed under the Endangered Species Act may impact Consumers’ costs to mitigate its impact on protected species and habitats at certain existing facilities as well as siting choices for new facilities.
Other Matters: Other electric environmental matters could have a material impact on Consumers’ outlook. For additional details on other electric environmental matters, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments—Consumers Electric Utility Contingencies—Electric Environmental Matters.
Consumers Gas Utility Outlook and Uncertainties
Gas Deliveries: Consumers’ gas customer deliveries are seasonal. The peak demand for natural gas typically occurs in the winter due to colder temperatures and the resulting use of natural gas as heating fuel.
Over the next five years, Consumers expects weather-normalized gas deliveries to remain stable relative to 2021. This outlook reflects the effects of energy waste reduction programs offset largely by modest growth in gas demand. Actual delivery levels will depend on:
•weather fluctuations
•use by power producers
•availability and development of renewable energy sources
•gas price changes
•Michigan’s economic conditions, including population trends and housing activity
•the price or demand of competing energy sources or fuels
•energy efficiency and conservation impacts
Gas Rate Matters: Rate matters are critical to Consumers’ gas utility business. For additional details on rate matters, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2, Regulatory Matters and Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments.
Gas Rate Case: In December 2021, Consumers filed an application with the MPSC seeking an annual rate increase of $278 million, based on a 10.5 percent authorized return on equity and a projected twelve-month period ending September 30, 2023. The filing requests authority to recover new infrastructure investment and related costs that are expected to allow Consumers to improve system safety and
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reliability and reduce fugitive methane emissions. Presented in the following table are the components of the requested increase in revenue:
In Millions
Projected Twelve-Month Period Ending September 302022
Components of the requested rate increase
Investment in rate base$247 
Operating and maintenance costs(4)
Cost of capital22 
Sales13 
Total$278 
The filing also seeks approval of a revenue decoupling mechanism that would annually reconcile Consumers’ actual weather-normalized non-fuel revenues with the revenues approved by the MPSC.
Depreciation Rate Case: In December 2021, Consumers filed a depreciation case related to its gas utility plant property. In this case, Consumers requested a decrease in depreciation expense of $1 million annually based on December 31, 2020 balances.
GCR Plan: Consumers submitted its 2022-2023 GCR plan to the MPSC in December 2021 and, in accordance with its proposed plan, expects to self-implement the 2022-2023 GCR charge beginning in April 2022.
Gas Pipeline and Storage Integrity and Safety: The PHMSA has published various rules that expand federal safety standards for gas transmission pipelines and underground storage facilities. To comply with these rules, Consumers will incur increased capital and operating and maintenance costs to install and remediate pipelines and to expand inspections, maintenance, and monitoring of its existing pipelines and storage facilities. The initial requirements in the regulation took effect in July 2020, with future regulation phases to be released over numerous years.
Although associated capital or operating and maintenance costs relating to these regulations could be material and cost recovery cannot be assured, Consumers expects to recover such costs in rates consistent with the recovery of other reasonable costs of complying with laws and regulations. Consumers will continue to monitor gas safety regulations and continue implementation of the American Petroleum Institute’s Recommended Practice 1173, Pipeline Safety Management Systems. This program minimizes gas system asset- and performance-related risks by ensuring that there are policies, procedures, work instructions, forms, and records in place to streamline adoption and deployment of any existing or future regulations.
Gas Environmental Outlook: Consumers expects to incur response activity costs at a number of sites, including 23 former MGP sites. For additional details, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments—Consumers Gas Utility Contingencies—Gas Environmental Matters.
Air Quality: In 2015, the EPA lowered the NAAQS for ozone. The 2015 ozone NAAQS made it more difficult to construct or modify power plants and other emission sources in areas of the country that have not met the 2015 ozone standard. In 2018, the EPA designated certain areas of Michigan as not meeting the ozone standard. Specifically, seven counties in southeastern Michigan and three counties in western Michigan were not in attainment with the ozone standard by an August 2021 regulatory deadline, and thus may have their nonattainment designations increased from marginal to moderate. Some of Consumers’ compressor stations are located in these areas. The State of Michigan has convened industry workgroups
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to seek implementation and control strategy ideas for statewide compliance of the 2015 ozone standard, which will need to be in place by early 2023. In January 2022, EGLE submitted a request to the EPA for redesignation of the seven counties in southeastern Michigan to be in attainment with the 2015 ozone standard based on the most recent data. EGLE is awaiting the EPA’s response to that request.
In August 2020, the EPA proposed to retain the 2015 NAAQS for ozone without revision and finalized this regulatory decision in December 2020. In October 2021, the EPA provided notice that it was going to reconsider the December 2020 ozone NAAQS decision. The EPA believes it will complete this reconsideration by December 2023. Consumers will continue to stay engaged with EGLE and the workgroups to assess potential impacts to its compressor stations.
Greenhouse Gases: Consumers is making voluntary efforts to reduce its gas utility’s methane emissions. In 2019, Consumers released its Methane Reduction Plan, which set a goal of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas delivery system by 2030. Under its Methane Reduction Plan, Consumers plans to reduce methane emissions from its system by about 80 percent by accelerating the replacement of aging pipe, rehabilitating or retiring outdated infrastructure, and adopting new technologies and practices. The remaining emissions will be offset by purchasing and/or producing renewable natural gas.
In November 2021, the EPA released a proposed rule to regulate methane for the oil and gas sector. This proposed rule is not expected to have a material adverse impact on Consumers’ natural gas storage, compressor stations, and distribution systems, as it applies upstream of Consumers’ facilities.
In 2020, Michigan’s Governor signed an executive order creating the Michigan Healthy Climate Plan, which outlines goals for Michigan to achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and to be carbon neutral by 2050. The executive order aims for a 28-percent reduction below 2005 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. These new goals could impact Consumers’ gas business over the long term. Consumers is evaluating decarbonization options for its gas business including energy efficiency, renewable natural gas, carbon offsets, and other decarbonization methods. As one strategy, Consumers recently requested the MPSC’s approval of a proposed program that would allow gas customers to purchase carbon offset credits on a voluntary basis. Similarly, in December 2021, Consumers announced plans to begin development of a renewable natural gas facility that will capture methane from manure generated at a neighboring farm and convert it into renewable natural gas. For additional details on the executive order, see Consumers Electric Utility Outlook and Uncertainties—Electric Environmental Outlook.
In 2015, a group of 195 countries, including the U.S., finalized the Paris Agreement, which addresses carbon dioxide reduction measures beginning in 2020. While the U.S. had withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, it rejoined the Paris Agreement in 2021. In April 2021, the U.S. announced it is committing to a nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement. Nationally determined contributions are the efforts by each country to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions. The commitment made by the U.S. is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 to 52 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. In its 2021 IRP, pending MPSC approval, Consumers proposed a 60-percent reduction in its carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2025. At this time, Consumers does not expect any adverse changes to its environmental strategy as a result of these events, as the nationally determined contribution is not binding without new Congressional legislation.
There is increasing interest at the federal, state, and local levels involving potential regulation of greenhouse gases or its sources. Such regulation, if adopted, may involve requirements to reduce methane emissions from Consumers’ gas utility operations and carbon dioxide emissions from natural gas customer use. No such measures apply to Consumers at this time. Consumers continues to monitor these initiatives and comment as appropriate. Consumers cannot predict the impact of any potential future legislation or regulation on its gas utility.
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Consumers Electric Utility and Gas Utility Outlook and Uncertainties
Energy Waste Reduction Plan: The 2016 Energy Law authorized incentives for demand response programs and energy efficiency programs, referring to the combined initiatives as energy waste reduction programs. The law also set a requirement to achieve annual reductions of 1.0 percent in customers’ electricity use through 2021 and 0.75 percent in customers’ natural gas use indefinitely and established a goal of 35 percent combined renewable energy and energy waste reduction by 2025. Consumers achieved 30 percent combined renewable energy and energy waste reduction through 2021.
Additionally, the MPSC has approved the recovery of demand response costs and an associated financial incentive based on demand response target performance.
Under its energy waste reduction plan, Consumers provides its customers with incentives to reduce usage by offering energy audits; rebates and discounts on purchases of highly efficient appliances; and other incentives and programs.
Enterprises Outlook and Uncertainties
CMS Energy’s primary focus with respect to its enterprises businesses is to maximize the value of generating assets, its share of which represents 1,483 MW of capacity, and to pursue opportunities for the development of renewable generation projects.
In June 2021, DIG, CMS Generation Michigan Power, and CMS ERM entered into an agreement with Consumers to sell, for $515 million, subject to certain adjustments, the enterprises segment’s three natural gas-fueled generating units, totaling 1,001 MW of nameplate capacity:
•the 770-MW DIG plant located in Dearborn, Michigan
•a 156-MW peaking generating unit located in Gaylord, Michigan
•a 75-MW peaking generating unit located in Comstock, Michigan
The parties plan to close the sale, which is dependent upon regulatory approvals, in 2025.
The enterprises segment’s assets may be affected by environmental laws and regulations. The 2015 ozone NAAQS made it more difficult to construct or modify power plants and other emission sources in areas of the country that have not met the 2015 ozone standard. In 2018, the EPA designated certain areas of Michigan as not meeting the ozone standard. The DIG plant is in one such area and, as a result, would be subject to additional permitting restrictions in the event of any future modifications. For additional details regarding the new ozone NAAQS, see Consumers Electric Utility Outlook and Uncertainties—Electric Environmental Outlook.
Trends, uncertainties, and other matters related to the enterprises segment that could have a material impact on CMS Energy’s consolidated income, cash flows, or financial position include:
•investment in and financial benefits received from renewable energy and energy storage projects
•changes in energy and capacity prices
•severe weather events and climate change associated with increasing levels of greenhouse gases
•changes in commodity prices and interest rates on certain derivative contracts that do not qualify for hedge accounting and must be marked to market through earnings
•changes in various environmental laws, regulations, principles, or practices, or in their interpretation
•indemnity and environmental remediation obligations at Bay Harbor
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•indemnity obligations assumed in connection with the purchase or ownership of an interest in one or more facilities that involve tax equity financing
•representations, warranties, and indemnities provided by CMS Energy in connection with previous sales of assets
For additional details regarding the enterprises segment’s uncertainties, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments.
Other Outlook and Uncertainties
Litigation: CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain of their subsidiaries are named as parties in various litigation matters, as well as in administrative proceedings before various courts and governmental agencies, arising in the ordinary course of business. For additional details regarding these and other legal matters, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2, Regulatory Matters and Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The following information is important to understand CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ results of operations and financial condition. For additional accounting policies, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 1, Significant Accounting Policies.
In the preparation of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ consolidated financial statements, estimates and assumptions are used that may affect reported amounts and disclosures. CMS Energy and Consumers use accounting estimates for asset valuations, unbilled revenue, depreciation, amortization, financial and derivative instruments, employee benefits, stock-based compensation, the effects of regulation, indemnities, contingencies, and AROs. Actual results may differ from estimated results due to changes in the regulatory environment, regulatory decisions, lawsuits, competition, and other factors. CMS Energy and Consumers consider all relevant factors in making these assessments.
Accounting for the Effects of Industry Regulation: Because Consumers has regulated operations, it uses regulatory accounting to recognize the effects of the regulators’ decisions on its financial statements. Consumers continually assesses whether future recovery of its regulatory assets is probable by considering communications and experience with its regulators and changes in the regulatory environment. If Consumers determined that recovery of a regulatory asset were not probable, Consumers would be required to write off the asset and immediately recognize the expense in earnings.
Contingencies: CMS Energy and Consumers make judgments regarding the future outcome of various matters that give rise to contingent liabilities. For such matters, they record liabilities when they are considered probable and reasonably estimable, based on all available information. In particular, CMS Energy and Consumers are participating in various environmental remediation projects for which they have recorded liabilities. The recorded amounts represent estimates that may take into account such considerations as the number of sites, the anticipated scope, cost, and timing of remediation work, the available technology, applicable regulations, and the requirements of governmental authorities. For remediation projects in which the timing of estimated expenditures is considered reliably determinable, CMS Energy and Consumers record the liability at its net present value, using a discount rate equal to the interest rate on monetary assets that are essentially risk-free and have maturities comparable to that of the environmental liability. The amount recorded for any contingency may differ from actual costs incurred when the contingency is resolved. For additional details, see Item 8. Financial Statements and
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Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments.
Derivative Instruments: CMS Energy and Consumers account for certain contracts as derivative instruments. If a contract is a derivative and does not qualify for the normal purchases and sales exception, it is recorded on the consolidated balance sheets at its fair value. At CMS Energy, if the derivative is accounted for as a cash flow hedge, unrealized gains and losses from changes in the fair value of the derivative are recognized in AOCI and subsequently recognized in earnings when the hedged transactions impact earnings. If the derivative is accounted for as a fair value hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative and changes in the fair value of the hedged item due to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. For the FTRs at Consumers, changes in fair value are deferred as regulatory assets or liabilities.
The criteria used to determine if an instrument qualifies for derivative accounting or for an exception from derivative accounting are complex and often require judgment in application. Changes in business strategies or market conditions, as well as a requirement to apply different interpretations of the derivative accounting literature, could result in changes in accounting for a single contract or groups of contracts, which could have a material impact on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ financial statements. For additional details on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ derivatives and how the fair values of derivatives are determined, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 5, Fair Value Measurements.
Income Taxes: The amount of income taxes paid by CMS Energy is subject to ongoing audits by federal, state, and foreign tax authorities, which can result in proposed assessments. An estimate of the potential outcome of any uncertain tax issue is highly judgmental. CMS Energy believes adequate reserves have been provided for these exposures; however, future results may include favorable or unfavorable adjustments to the estimated tax liabilities in the period the assessments are made or resolved or when statutes of limitation on potential assessments expire. Additionally, CMS Energy’s judgment as to the ability to recover its deferred tax assets may change. CMS Energy believes the valuation allowances related to its deferred tax assets are adequate, but future results may include favorable or unfavorable adjustments. As a result, CMS Energy’s effective tax rate may fluctuate significantly over time. For additional details, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 12, Income Taxes.
Pension and OPEB: CMS Energy and Consumers provide retirement pension benefits to certain employees under non‑contributory DB Pension Plans, and they provide postretirement health and life benefits to qualifying retired employees under an OPEB Plan.
CMS Energy and Consumers record liabilities for pension and OPEB on their consolidated balance sheets at the present value of the future obligations, net of any plan assets. The calculation of the liabilities and associated expenses requires the expertise of actuaries, and requires many assumptions, including:
•life expectancies
•discount rates
•expected long-term rate of return on plan assets
•rate of compensation increases
•expected health care costs
A change in these assumptions could change significantly CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ recorded liabilities and associated expenses.
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Presented in the following table are estimates of credits and cash contributions through 2024 for the DB Pension Plans and OPEB Plan. Actual future costs, credits, and contributions will depend on future investment performance, discount rates, and various factors related to the participants of the DB Pension Plans and OPEB Plan. CMS Energy and Consumers will, at a minimum, contribute to the plans as needed to comply with federal funding requirements.
In Millions
DB Pension PlansOPEB Plan
CreditContributionCreditContribution
CMS Energy, including Consumers
2022$(10)$— $(120)$— 
2023(31)— (114)— 
2024(52)— (104)— 
Consumers1
2022$(7)$— $(113)$— 
2023(27)— (107)— 
2024(47)— (97)— 
1Consumers’ pension and OPEB costs are recoverable through its general ratemaking process.
Lowering the expected long-term rate of return on the assets of the DB Pension Plans by 25 basis points would increase estimated pension cost for 2022 by $8 million for both CMS Energy and Consumers. Lowering the PBO discount rates by 25 basis points would increase estimated pension cost for 2022 by $5 million for both CMS Energy and Consumers.
Pension and OPEB plan assets are accounted for and disclosed at fair value. Fair value measurements incorporate assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Development of these assumptions may require judgment.
For additional details on postretirement benefits, including the fair value measurements for the assets of the DB Pension Plans and OPEB Plan, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 10, Retirement Benefits.
Unbilled Revenues: Consumers’ customers are billed monthly in cycles having billing dates that do not generally coincide with the end of a calendar month. This results in customers having received electricity or natural gas that they have not been billed for as of the month-end. Consumers estimates its unbilled revenues by applying an average billed rate to total unbilled deliveries for each customer class. Consumers records unbilled revenues as accounts receivable and accrued revenue on its consolidated balance sheet. For additional information on unbilled revenues, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 14, Revenue.
New Accounting Standards
There are no new accounting standards issued but not yet effective that are expected to have a material impact on CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ consolidated financial statements.
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Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
CMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to market risks including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates, commodity prices, and investment security prices. They may enter into various risk management contracts to mitigate exposure to these risks, including swaps, options, futures, and forward contracts. CMS Energy and Consumers enter into these contracts using established policies and procedures, under the direction of an executive oversight committee consisting of certain officers and a risk committee consisting of those and other officers and business managers.
The following risk sensitivities illustrate the potential loss in fair value, cash flows, or future earnings from financial instruments, assuming a hypothetical adverse change in market rates or prices of ten percent. Potential losses could exceed the amounts shown in the sensitivity analyses if changes in market rates or prices were to exceed ten percent.
Long-Term Debt: CMS Energy and Consumers are exposed to interest-rate risk resulting from issuing fixed-rate and variable-rate debt instruments. CMS Energy and Consumers use a combination of these instruments, and may also enter into interest-rate swap agreements, in order to manage this risk and to achieve a reasonable cost of capital.
Presented in the following table is a sensitivity analysis of interest-rate risk on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ debt instruments, which includes the effects of interest-rate swaps (assuming an adverse change in market interest rates of ten percent):
In Millions
December 3120212020
Fixed-rate financing—potential loss in fair value
CMS Energy, including Consumers$639 $612 
Consumers402 372 
The fair value losses in the above table could be realized only if CMS Energy and Consumers transferred all of their fixed-rate financing to other creditors. The annual earnings exposure related to variable-rate financing was immaterial for both CMS Energy and Consumers at December 31, 2021 and 2020, assuming an adverse change in market interest rates of ten percent. For additional details on financial instruments see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 6, Financial Instruments.
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Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Index to Financial Statements
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CMS Energy Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Income
In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Operating Revenue$7,329 $6,418 $6,624 
Operating Expenses
Fuel for electric generation593 375 493 
Purchased and interchange power1,665 1,492 1,496 
Purchased power – related parties77 64 75 
Cost of gas sold735 577 769 
Maintenance and other operating expenses1,610 1,280 1,356 
Depreciation and amortization1,114 1,043 989 
General taxes389 357 331 
Total operating expenses6,183 

5,188 

5,509 
Operating Income1,146 

1,230 

1,115 
Other Income (Expense)
Interest income3 4 7 
Interest income – related parties— 7 — 
Allowance for equity funds used during construction8 6 10 
Income from equity method investees10 5 10 
Non-operating retirement benefits, net165 118 91 
Other income9 6 4 
Other expense(18)(62)(13)
Total other income177 

84 

109 
Interest Charges
Interest on long-term debt481 483 439 
Interest expense – related parties12 12 9 
Other interest expense10 12 16 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction(3)(2)(4)
Total interest charges500 

505 

460 
Income Before Income Taxes823 809 764 
Income Tax Expense95 115 131 
Income From Continuing Operations728 694 633 
Income From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax of $170, $18, and $16
602 58 49 
Net Income1,330 752 682 
Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests(23)(3)2 
Net Income Attributable to CMS Energy1,353 755 680 
Preferred Stock Dividends5 — — 
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders$1,348 $755 $680 
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In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Basic Earnings Per Average Common Share
Income from continuing operations per average common share available to common stockholders$2.58 $2.45 $2.23 
Income from discontinued operations per average common share available to common stockholders2.08 0.20 0.17 
Basic earnings per average common share$4.66 $2.65 2.40 
Diluted Earnings Per Average Common Share
Income from continuing operations per average common share available to common stockholders$2.58 $2.44 2.22 
Income from discontinued operations per average common share available to common stockholders2.08 0.20 0.17 
Diluted earnings per average common share$4.66 $2.64 2.39 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
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CMS Energy Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Net Income$1,330 $752 $682 
Retirement Benefits Liability
Net gain (loss) arising during the period, net of tax of $6, $(4), and $(3)
19 (15)(7)
Settlement arising during the period, net of tax of $— for all periods
1 1 — 
Prior service credit adjustment, net of tax of $— for all periods
— (1)— 
Amortization of net actuarial loss, net of tax of $2, $1, and $1
5 5 3 
Amortization of prior service credit, net of tax of $— for all periods
(1)(1)(2)
Derivatives
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net of tax of $—, $(2), and $(1)
2 (4)(3)
Reclassification adjustments included in net income, net of tax of $1, $—, and $—
1 2 1 
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)27 (13)(8)
Comprehensive Income1,357 739 674 
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests(23)(3)2 
Comprehensive Income Attributable to CMS Energy$1,380 $742 $672 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
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CMS Energy Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income$1,330 $752 $682 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization1,114 1,043 989 
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits249 170 150 
Bad debt expense22 30 30 
Postretirement benefits contributions(12)(712)(10)
Gain from sale of EnerBank(657)— — 
Other non‑cash operating activities and reconciling adjustments(70)(15)(55)
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations(111)33 39 
Changes in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue(103)(5)48 
Inventories(93)28 44 
Accounts payable and accrued rate refunds153 56 (71)
Other current assets and liabilities13 (68)(93)
Other non‑current assets and liabilities(16)(36)37 
Net cash provided by operating activities1,819 

1,276 

1,790 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures (excludes assets placed under finance lease)(2,076)(2,311)(2,097)
Net proceeds from sale of EnerBank898 — — 
Proceeds from sale of transmission equipment— 58 97 
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations78 (485)(689)
Cost to retire property and other investing activities(133)(129)(127)
Net cash used in investing activities(1,233)

(2,867)

(2,816)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt335 3,179 2,151 
Retirement of debt(235)(2,010)(1,285)
Decrease in notes payable— (90)(7)
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs26 253 12 
Issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs224 — — 
Payment of dividends on common and preferred stock(509)(467)(436)
Debt prepayment costs— (59)(8)
Proceeds from the sale of membership interest in VIE to tax equity investor— 417 — 
Contribution from noncontrolling interest1 31 — 
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations(84)416 631 
Other financing costs(53)(51)(50)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities(295)

1,619 

1,008 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts291 28 (18)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts, Beginning of Period185 157 175 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts, End of Period$476 

$185 

$157 
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In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Other Cash Flow Activities and Non‑cash Investing and Financing Activities
Cash transactions
Interest paid (net of amounts capitalized)$489 $549 $498 
Income taxes paid (refunds received), net16 (58)(58)
Non‑cash transactions
Capital expenditures not paid$196 $141 $170 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
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CMS Energy Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets
ASSETS
In Millions
December 3120212020
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents$452 $32 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents24 17 
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue, less allowance of $20 in 2021 and $29 in 2020
931 853 
Accounts receivable – related parties12 19 
Inventories at average cost
Gas in underground storage462 353 
Materials and supplies168 155 
Generating plant fuel stock37 68 
Deferred property taxes356 332 
Regulatory assets46 42 
Assets held for sale19 429 
Prepayments and other current assets120 104 
Total current assets2,627 

2,404 
Plant, Property, and Equipment
Plant, property, and equipment, gross29,893 27,870 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization8,502 7,938 
Plant, property, and equipment, net21,391 

19,932 
Construction work in progress961 1,085 
Total plant, property, and equipment22,352 

21,017 
Other Non‑current Assets
Regulatory assets2,259 2,653 
Accounts receivable30 19 
Investments71 70 
Assets held for sale— 2,680 
Other1,414 823 
Total other non‑current assets3,774 

6,245 
Total Assets$28,753 

$29,666 
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LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
In Millions
December 3120212020
Current Liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt, finance leases, and other financing$382 $591 
Accounts payable875 661 
Accounts payable – related parties11 7 
Accrued rate refunds12 20 
Accrued interest107 104 
Accrued taxes515 454 
Regulatory liabilities146 151 
Liabilities held for sale— 953 
Other current liabilities156 133 
Total current liabilities2,204 

3,074 
Non‑current Liabilities
Long-term debt12,046 11,744 
Non-current portion of finance leases and other financing46 56 
Regulatory liabilities3,802 3,744 
Postretirement benefits142 152 
Asset retirement obligations628 553 
Deferred investment tax credit112 115 
Deferred income taxes2,210 1,863 
Liabilities held for sale— 1,894 
Other non‑current liabilities375 394 
Total non‑current liabilities19,361 

20,515 
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 2, 3, and 20)
Equity
Common stockholders’ equity
Common stock, authorized 350.0 shares; outstanding 289.8 shares in 2021 and 288.9 shares in 2020
3 3 
Other paid-in capital5,406 5,365 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(59)(86)
Retained earnings1,057 214 
Total common stockholders’ equity6,407 5,496 
Cumulative preferred stock, Series C, authorized 9.2 depositary shares in 2021; outstanding 9.2 depositary shares in 2021
224 — 
Total stockholders’ equity6,631 5,496 
Noncontrolling interests557 581 
Total equity7,188 

6,077 
Total Liabilities and Equity$28,753 

$29,666 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
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CMS Energy Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
In Millions, Except Number of Shares in Thousands and Per Share Amounts
Number of Shares
Years Ended December 31202120202019202120202019
Total Equity at Beginning of Period$6,077 $5,055 $4,792 
Common Stock
At beginning and end of period3 3 3 
Other Paid-in Capital
At beginning of period288,940 283,864 283,374 5,365 5,113 5,088 
Common stock issued997 5,609 710 50 265 35 
Common stock repurchased(157)(216)(181)(9)(13)(10)
Common stock reissued— 12 8 — 1 — 
Common stock reacquired(22)(329)(47)— (1)— 
At end of period289,758 288,940 283,864 5,406 5,365 5,113 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
At beginning of period(86)(73)(65)
Retirement benefits liability
At beginning of period(80)(69)(63)
Net gain (loss) arising during the period19 (15)(7)
Settlement arising during the period1 1 — 
Prior service credit adjustment— (1)— 
Amortization of net actuarial loss5 5 3 
Amortization of prior service credit(1)(1)(2)
At end of period(56)(80)(69)
Derivative instruments






At beginning of period

(6)(4)(2)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments

2 (4)(3)
Reclassification adjustments included in net income1 2 1 
At end of period

(3)(6)(4)
At end of period(59)(86)(73)
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)
At beginning of period214 (25)(271)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle— (51)— 
Net income attributable to CMS Energy1,353 755 680 
Dividends declared on common stock(505)(465)(434)
Dividends declared on preferred stock(5)— — 
At end of period1,057 214 (25)
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In Millions, Except Number of Shares in Thousands and Per Share Amounts
Number of Shares
Years Ended December 31202120202019202120202019
Cumulative Preferred Stock
At beginning of period— — — 
Preferred stock issued, net of issuance costs224 — — 
At end of period224 — — 
Noncontrolling Interests
At beginning of period581 37 37 
Impact of purchase and consolidation of VIE— 101 — 
Sale of membership interest in VIE to tax equity investor— 417 — 
Contribution from noncontrolling interest1 31 — 
Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests(23)(3)2 
Distributions and other changes in noncontrolling interests(2)(2)(2)
At end of period557 581 37 
Total Equity at End of Period$7,188 $6,077 $5,055 
Dividends declared per common share$1.7400 $1.6300 $1.5300 
Dividends declared per preferred stock Series C depositary share$0.5688 $— $— 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
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Consumers Energy Company
Consolidated Statements of Income
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Operating Revenue$7,021 $6,189 $6,376 
Operating Expenses
Fuel for electric generation463 286 375 
Purchased and interchange power1,599 1,454 1,470 
Purchased power – related parties77 64 75 
Cost of gas sold726 568 754 
Maintenance and other operating expenses1,531 1,224 1,275 
Depreciation and amortization1,077 1,023 975 
General taxes373 349 322 
Total operating expenses5,846 

4,968 

5,246 
Operating Income1,175 

1,221 

1,130 
Other Income (Expense)
Interest income2 3 5 
Interest and dividend income – related parties5 5 5 
Allowance for equity funds used during construction8 6 10 
Non-operating retirement benefits, net155 112 85 
Other income8 5 3 
Other expense(18)(43)(13)
Total other income160 

88 

95 
Interest Charges
Interest on long-term debt294 299 277 
Interest expense – related parties12 12 9 
Other interest expense8 11 15 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction(3)(2)(4)
Total interest charges311 

320 

297 
Income Before Income Taxes1,024 989 928 
Income Tax Expense156 173 185 
Net Income868 

816 

743 
Preferred Stock Dividends2 2 2 
Net Income Available to Common Stockholder$866 $814 $741 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
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Consumers Energy Company
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Net Income$868 $816 $743 
Retirement Benefits Liability
 
 
Net gain (loss) arising during the period, net of tax of $1, $(3), and $(3)
2 (9)(8)
Amortization of net actuarial loss, net of tax of $1, $1, and $—
2 1 1 
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)4 (8)(7)
Comprehensive Income$872 $808 $736 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
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Consumers Energy Company
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income$868 $816 $743 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization1,077 1,023 975 
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits154 177 37 
Bad debt expense22 33 29 
Postretirement benefits contributions(9)(690)(7)
Other non‑cash operating activities and reconciling adjustments(64)(30)(32)
Changes in assets and liabilities
Accounts and notes receivable and accrued revenue(103)(46)8 
Inventories(90)26 40 
Accounts payable and accrued rate refunds140 45 (63)
Other current assets and liabilities27 (78)(136)
Other non-current assets and liabilities(40)(58)7 
Net cash provided by operating activities1,982 

1,218 

1,601 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures (excludes assets placed under finance lease)(2,052)(2,170)(2,085)
DB SERP investment in note receivable – related party— (5)— 
Proceeds from sale of transmission equipment— 58 77 
Cost to retire property and other investing activities(133)(129)(129)
Net cash used in investing activities(2,185)

(2,246)

(2,137)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt335 1,954 993 
Retirement of debt(27)(1,086)(541)
Decrease in notes payable— (90)(7)
Increase in notes payable – related parties85 307 — 
Stockholder contribution575 650 675 
Payment of dividends on common and preferred stock(724)(639)(594)
Debt prepayment costs— (43)(8)
Other financing costs(32)(18)(10)
Net cash provided by financing activities212 

1,035 

508 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts9 7 (28)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts, Beginning of Period35 28 56 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts, End of Period$44 

$35 

$28 
100

In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Other Cash Flow Activities and Non‑cash Investing and Financing Activities
Cash transactions
Interest paid (net of amounts capitalized)$298 $305 $279 
Income taxes paid (refunds received), net(10)51 132 
Non‑cash transactions
Capital expenditures not paid$192 $130 $160 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
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Consumers Energy Company
Consolidated Balance Sheets
ASSETS
In Millions
December 3120212020
Current Assets
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents$22 $20 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents22 15 
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue, less allowance of $20 in 2021 and $29 in 2020
905 828 
Assets held for sale19 — 
Accounts and notes receivable – related parties9 18 
Inventories at average cost
Gas in underground storage462 353 
Materials and supplies163 149 
Generating plant fuel stock33 67 
Deferred property taxes356 332 
Regulatory assets46 42 
Prepayments and other current assets84 68 
Total current assets2,121 

1,892 
Plant, Property, and Equipment
 
 
Plant, property, and equipment, gross28,771 26,757 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization8,371 7,844 
Plant, property, and equipment, net20,400 

18,913 
Construction work in progress915 1,058 
Total plant, property, and equipment21,315 

19,971 
Other Non-current Assets
 
 
Regulatory assets2,259 2,653 
Accounts receivable36 25 
Accounts and notes receivable – related parties102 105 
Other1,307 753 
Total other non-current assets3,704 

3,536 
Total Assets$27,140 

$25,399 
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LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
In Millions
December 3120212020
Current Liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt, finance leases, and other financing$374 $384 
Notes payable – related parties392 307 
Accounts payable835 636 
Accounts payable – related parties16 7 
Accrued rate refunds12 20 
Accrued interest75 72 
Accrued taxes529 458 
Regulatory liabilities146 151 
Other current liabilities109 104 
Total current liabilities2,488 

2,139 
Non-current Liabilities
Long-term debt8,050 7,742 
Non-current portion of finance leases and other financing46 56 
Regulatory liabilities3,802 3,744 
Postretirement benefits104 112 
Asset retirement obligations605 530 
Deferred investment tax credit112 115 
Deferred income taxes2,340 2,094 
Other non-current liabilities314 311 
Total non-current liabilities15,373 

14,704 
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 2 and 3)
Equity
Common stockholder’s equity
Common stock, authorized 125.0 shares; outstanding 84.1 shares in both periods
841 841 
Other paid-in capital6,599 6,024 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(32)(36)
Retained earnings1,834 1,690 
Total common stockholder’s equity9,242 

8,519 
Cumulative preferred stock, $4.50 series, authorized 7.5 shares; outstanding 0.4 shares in both periods
37 37 
Total equity9,279 

8,556 
Total Liabilities and Equity$27,140 

$25,399 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
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Consumers Energy Company
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Total Equity at Beginning of Period$8,556 $7,737 $6,920 
Common Stock
At beginning and end of period841 841 841 
Other Paid-in Capital
At beginning of period6,024 5,374 4,699 
Stockholder contribution575 650 675 
At end of period6,599 6,024 5,374 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
At beginning of period(36)(28)(21)
Retirement benefits liability
At beginning of period(36)(28)(21)
Net gain (loss) arising during the period2 (9)(8)
Amortization of net actuarial loss2 1 1 
At end of period(32)(36)(28)
At end of period(32)(36)(28)
Retained Earnings
At beginning of period1,690 1,513 1,364 
Net income868 816 743 
Dividends declared on common stock(722)(637)(592)
Dividends declared on preferred stock(2)(2)(2)
At end of period1,834 1,690 1,513 
Cumulative Preferred Stock
At beginning and end of period37 37 37 
Total Equity at End of Period$9,279 $8,556 $7,737 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
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CMS Energy Corporation
Consumers Energy Company
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
1:    Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation: CMS Energy and Consumers prepare their consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP. CMS Energy’s consolidated financial statements comprise CMS Energy, Consumers, CMS Enterprises, and all other entities in which CMS Energy has a controlling financial interest or is the primary beneficiary. Consumers’ consolidated financial statements comprise Consumers and all other entities in which it has a controlling financial interest. CMS Energy uses the equity method of accounting for investments in companies and partnerships that are not consolidated, where they have significant influence over operations and financial policies but are not the primary beneficiary. CMS Energy and Consumers eliminate intercompany transactions and balances.
Use of Estimates: CMS Energy and Consumers are required to make estimates using assumptions that may affect reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Contingencies: CMS Energy and Consumers record estimated loss contingencies on their consolidated financial statements when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and when the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. For environmental remediation projects in which the timing of estimated expenditures is considered reliably determinable, CMS Energy and Consumers record the liability at its net present value, using a discount rate equal to the interest rate on monetary assets that are essentially risk-free and have maturities comparable to that of the environmental liability. CMS Energy and Consumers expense legal fees as incurred; fees incurred but not yet billed are accrued based on estimates of work performed.
Debt Issuance Costs, Discounts, Premiums, and Refinancing Costs: Upon the issuance of long-term debt, CMS Energy and Consumers defer issuance costs, discounts, and premiums and amortize those amounts over the terms of the associated debt. Debt issuance costs are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of long-term debt on the balance sheet. Upon the refinancing of long-term debt, Consumers, as a regulated entity, defers any remaining unamortized issuance costs, discounts, and premiums associated with the refinanced debt and amortizes those amounts over the term of the newly issued debt. For the non‑regulated portions of CMS Energy’s business, any remaining unamortized issuance costs, discounts, and premiums associated with extinguished debt are charged to earnings.
Derivative Instruments: In order to support ongoing operations, CMS Energy and Consumers enter into contracts for the future purchase and sale of various commodities, such as electricity, natural gas, and coal. These forward contracts are generally long-term in nature and result in physical delivery of the commodity at a contracted price. Most of these contracts are not subject to derivative accounting for one or more of the following reasons:
•they do not have a notional amount (that is, a number of units specified in a derivative instrument, such as MWh of electricity or bcf of natural gas)
•they qualify for the normal purchases and sales exception
•they cannot be net settled due in part to the absence of an active market for the commodity
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Consumers also uses FTRs to manage price risk related to electricity transmission congestion. An FTR is a financial instrument that entitles its holder to receive compensation or requires its holder to remit payment for congestion-related transmission charges. Consumers accounts for FTRs as derivatives.
Additionally, CMS Energy uses interest rate swaps to manage its interest rate risk on certain long-term debt transactions.
CMS Energy and Consumers record derivative contracts that do not qualify for the normal purchases and sales exception at fair value on their consolidated balance sheets. At CMS Energy, if the derivative is accounted for as a cash flow hedge, unrealized gains and losses from changes in the fair value of the derivative are recognized in AOCI and subsequently recognized in earnings when the hedged transactions impact earnings. If the derivative is accounted for as a fair value hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative and changes in the fair value of the hedged item due to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. For the FTRs at Consumers, changes in fair value are deferred as regulatory assets or liabilities. For details regarding CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ derivative instruments recorded at fair value, see Note 5, Fair Value Measurements.
EPS: CMS Energy calculates basic and diluted EPS using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock and dilutive potential common stock outstanding during the period. Potential common stock, for purposes of determining diluted EPS, includes the effects of nonvested stock awards and forward equity sales. CMS Energy computes the effect on potential common stock using the treasury stock method. Diluted EPS excludes the impact of antidilutive securities, which are those securities resulting in an increase in EPS or a decrease in loss per share. For EPS computations, see Note 13, Earnings Per Share—CMS Energy.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Equity Method Investments: CMS Energy and Consumers perform tests of impairment if certain triggering events occur that indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable or that there has been a decline in value that may be other than temporary.
CMS Energy and Consumers evaluate long-lived assets held in use for impairment by calculating the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. If the undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying amount, CMS Energy and Consumers recognize an impairment loss equal to the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value. CMS Energy and Consumers estimate the fair value of the asset using quoted market prices, market prices of similar assets, or discounted future cash flow analyses.
CMS Energy also assesses equity method investments for impairment whenever there has been a decline in value that is other than temporary. This assessment requires CMS Energy to determine the fair value of the equity method investment. CMS Energy determines fair value using valuation methodologies, including discounted cash flows, and assesses the ability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity that justifies the carrying amount of the investment. CMS Energy records an impairment if the fair value is less than the carrying amount and the decline in value is considered to be other than temporary.
Investment Tax Credits: Consumers amortizes its investment tax credits over the life of the related property in accordance with regulatory treatment. CMS Energy’s non‑regulated businesses use the deferral method of accounting for investment tax credits. Under the deferral method, the book basis of the associated assets is reduced by the amount of the credit, resulting in lower depreciation expense over the life of the assets. Furthermore, the tax basis of the assets is reduced by 50 percent of the related credit, resulting in a net deferred tax asset. CMS Energy recognizes the tax benefit of this basis difference as a reduction to income tax expense in the year in which the plant reaches commercial operation.
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Inventory: CMS Energy and Consumers use the weighted-average cost method for valuing working gas, recoverable base gas in underground storage facilities, and materials and supplies inventory. CMS Energy and Consumers also use this method for valuing coal inventory, and they classify these amounts as generating plant fuel stock on their consolidated balance sheets.
CMS Energy and Consumers account for RECs and emission allowances as inventory and use the weighted-average cost method to remove amounts from inventory. RECs and emission allowances are used to satisfy compliance obligations related to the generation of power. CMS Energy and Consumers classify these amounts within other assets on their consolidated balance sheets.
CMS Energy and Consumers evaluate inventory for impairment as required to ensure that its carrying value does not exceed the lower of cost or net realizable value.
MISO Transactions: MISO requires the submission of hourly day-ahead and real-time bids and offers for energy at locations across the MISO region. CMS Energy and Consumers account for MISO transactions on a net hourly basis in each of the real-time and day-ahead markets, netted across all MISO energy market locations. CMS Energy and Consumers record net hourly purchases in purchased and interchange power and net hourly sales in operating revenue on their consolidated statements of income. They record net billing adjustments upon receipt of settlement statements, record accruals for future net purchases and sales adjustments based on historical experience, and reconcile accruals to actual expenses and sales upon receipt of settlement statements.
Property Taxes: Property taxes are based on the taxable value of Consumers’ real and personal property assessed by local taxing authorities. Consumers records property tax expense over the fiscal year of the taxing authority for which the taxes are levied. The deferred property tax balance represents the amount of Consumers’ accrued property tax that will be recognized over future governmental fiscal periods.
Reclassifications: CMS Energy and Consumers have reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to the presentation in the present period. The most significant of these reclassifications is related to CMS Energy’s sale of EnerBank to Regions Bank in October 2021. The assets and liabilities of EnerBank are presented as held for sale on CMS Energy’s consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2020. Additionally, EnerBank’s results of operations through the date of the sale are presented as income from discontinued operations on CMS Energy’s consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019. For information regarding the sale of EnerBank, see Note 20, Exit Activities and Discontinued Operations.
Renewable Energy Grant: In 2013, Consumers received a renewable energy cash grant for Lake Winds® Energy Park under Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. Upon receipt of the grant, Consumers recorded a regulatory liability, which Consumers is amortizing over the life of Lake Winds® Energy Park. Consumers presents the amortization as a reduction to maintenance and other operating expenses on its consolidated statements of income. Consumers recorded the deferred income taxes related to the grant as a reduction of the book basis of Lake Winds® Energy Park.
Other: For additional accounting policies, see:
•Note 7, Plant, Property, and Equipment
•Note 8, Leases and Palisades Financing
•Note 9, Asset Retirement Obligations
•Note 10, Retirement Benefits
•Note 12, Income Taxes
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•Note 13, Earnings Per Share—CMS Energy
•Note 14, Revenue
•Note 16, Cash and Cash Equivalents
•Note 19, Variable Interest Entities
2:    Regulatory Matters
Regulatory matters are critical to Consumers. The Michigan Attorney General, ABATE, the MPSC Staff, and certain other parties typically participate in MPSC proceedings concerning Consumers, such as Consumers’ rate cases and PSCR and GCR processes. These parties often challenge various aspects of those proceedings, including the prudence of Consumers’ policies and practices, and seek cost disallowances and other relief. The parties also have appealed significant MPSC orders. Depending upon the specific issues, the outcomes of rate cases and proceedings, including judicial proceedings challenging MPSC orders or other actions, could negatively affect CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. Consumers cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings.
There are multiple appeals pending that involve various issues concerning cost recovery from customers, the MPSC’s authority to approve voluntary revenue refunds, and other matters. Consumers is unable to predict the outcome of these appeals.
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
Consumers is subject to the actions of the MPSC and FERC and therefore prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with the provisions of regulatory accounting. A utility must apply regulatory accounting when its rates are designed to recover specific costs of providing regulated services. Under regulatory accounting, Consumers records regulatory assets or liabilities for certain transactions that would have been treated as expense or revenue by non‑regulated businesses.
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Presented in the following table are the regulatory assets and liabilities on Consumers’ consolidated balance sheets:
In Millions
December 31End of Recovery or Refund Period20212020
Regulatory assets
Current
Energy waste reduction plan incentive1
2022$42 $34 
Deferred capital spending2
2021— 6 
Other20224 2 
Total current regulatory assets$46 $42 
Non-current
Postretirement benefits3
various$837 $1,231 
Costs of coal-fueled electric generating units to be retired2
various678 678 
ARO4
various247 216 
Securitized costs2
2029193 221 
MGP sites4
various112 120 
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt4
various104 108 
Energy waste reduction plan incentive1
202346 42 
Energy waste reduction plan4
various13 16 
Demand response program4
various10 10 
Othervarious19 11 
Total non-current regulatory assets$2,259 $2,653 
Total regulatory assets$2,305 $2,695 
Regulatory liabilities
Current
Income taxes, net2022$138 $105 
Reserve for customer refunds20222 28 
Voluntary transmission asset sale gain share2021— 14 
Other20226 4 
Total current regulatory liabilities$146 $151 
Non-current
Cost of removalvarious$2,375 $2,245 
Income taxes, netvarious1,297 1,419 
Postretirement benefitsvarious54 — 
Renewable energy grant204347 49 
Renewable energy plan202813 9 
AROvarious— 11 
Othervarious16 11 
Total non-current regulatory liabilities$3,802 $3,744 
Total regulatory liabilities$3,948 $3,895 
1These regulatory assets have arisen from an alternative revenue program and are not associated with incurred costs or capital investments. Therefore, the MPSC has provided for recovery without a return.
2The MPSC has provided, or Consumers expects, a specific return on these regulatory assets.
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3This regulatory asset is included in rate base, thereby providing a return.
4These regulatory assets represent incurred costs for which the MPSC has provided, or Consumers expects, recovery without a return on investment.
Regulatory Assets
Energy Waste Reduction Plan Incentive: The energy waste reduction incentive mechanism provides a financial incentive if the energy savings of Consumers’ customers exceed annual targets established by the MPSC. Consumers accounts for this program as an alternative-revenue program that meets the criteria for recognizing revenue related to the incentive as soon as energy savings exceed the annual targets established by the MPSC.
In October 2021, the MPSC approved a settlement agreement authorizing Consumers to collect $42 million during 2022 as an incentive for exceeding its statutory savings targets in 2020. Consumers recognized incentive revenue under this program of $42 million in 2020.
Consumers also exceeded its statutory savings targets in 2021, achieved certain other goals, and will request the MPSC’s approval to collect $46 million, the maximum performance incentive, in the energy waste reduction reconciliation to be filed in May 2022. Consumers recognized incentive revenue under this program of $46 million in 2021.
Deferred Capital Spending: In 2019, the MPSC approved a settlement agreement in Consumers’ 2018 electric rate case, which provided deferred accounting treatment for distribution-related capital investments exceeding certain threshold amounts. Thus, for actual capital spending above the threshold amounts detailed in the settlement agreement, Consumers had deferred as a regulatory asset the associated depreciation and property tax expense as well as the debt component of the overall rate of return on such spending.
Postretirement Benefits: As part of the ratemaking process, the MPSC allows Consumers to recover the costs of postretirement benefits. Accordingly, Consumers defers the net impact of actuarial losses and gains, prior service costs and credits, and settlements associated with postretirement benefits as a regulatory asset or liability. The asset or liability will decrease as the deferred items are amortized and recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost. For details about settlements and the amortization periods, see Note 10, Retirement Benefits.
Costs of Coal-fueled Electric Generating Units to be Retired: In 2019, the MPSC approved the settlement agreement reached in Consumers’ 2018 IRP, under which Consumers plans to retire the D.E. Karn coal-fueled electric generating units in 2023. Under Michigan law, electric utilities have been permitted to use highly rated, low-cost securitization bonds to finance the recovery of qualified costs. In 2019, Consumers removed from total plant, property, and equipment an amount representing the projected remaining book value of the two coal-fueled electric generating units upon their retirement, and recorded it as a regulatory asset. Until securitization, the book value of the generating units will remain in rate base and receive full regulatory returns in general rate cases.
In December 2020, the MPSC issued a securitization financing order authorizing Consumers to issue securitization bonds in order to finance the recovery of the remaining book value of the two coal-fueled electric generating units upon their retirement. An intervenor appealed the order, contending that it should not have to pay the securitization surcharge. In November 2021, the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed the MPSC’s determination that the intervenor must pay the securitization charge.
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ARO: The recovery of the underlying asset investments and related removal and monitoring costs of recorded AROs is approved by the MPSC in depreciation rate cases. Consumers records a regulatory asset and a regulatory liability for timing differences between the recognition of AROs for financial reporting purposes and the recovery of these costs from customers. The recovery period approximates the useful life of the assets to be removed.
Securitized Costs: In 2013, the MPSC issued a securitization financing order authorizing Consumers to issue securitization bonds in order to finance the recovery of the remaining book value of seven smaller coal-fueled electric generating units that Consumers retired in 2016 and three smaller natural gas-fueled electric generating units that Consumers retired in 2015. Upon receipt of the MPSC’s order, Consumers removed the book value of the ten units from plant, property, and equipment and recorded this amount as a regulatory asset. Consumers is amortizing the regulatory asset over the life of the related securitization bonds, which it issued through a subsidiary in 2014. For additional details regarding the securitization bonds, see Note 4, Financings and Capitalization.
MGP Sites: Consumers is incurring environmental remediation and other response activity costs at 23 former MGP facilities. The MPSC allows Consumers to recover from its natural gas customers over a ten-year period the costs incurred to remediate the MGP sites.
Unamortized Loss on Reacquired Debt: Under regulatory accounting, any unamortized discount, premium, or expense related to debt redeemed with the proceeds of new debt is capitalized and amortized over the life of the new debt.
Energy Waste Reduction Plan: The MPSC allows Consumers to collect surcharges from customers to fund its energy waste reduction plan. The amount of spending incurred in excess of surcharges collected is recorded as a regulatory asset and amortized as surcharges are collected from customers over the plan period. The amount of surcharges collected in excess of spending incurred is recorded as a regulatory liability and amortized as costs are incurred.
Demand Response Program: In Consumers’ 2018 IRP and general rate cases, the MPSC has approved the recovery of demand response costs. Consumers annually files a reconciliation with the MPSC to review actual demand response costs against amounts approved.
Regulatory Liabilities
Income Taxes, Net: Consumers records regulatory assets and liabilities to reflect the difference between deferred income taxes recognized for financial reporting purposes and amounts previously reflected in Consumers’ rates. This net balance will decrease over the remaining life of the related temporary differences and flow through income tax expense. The majority of the net regulatory liability recorded related to income taxes is associated with plant assets that are subject to normalization, which is governed by the Internal Revenue Code, and will be returned to customers over the remaining book life of the related plant assets, the average of which is 44 years for gas plant assets and 27 years for electric plant assets. For additional details on deferred income taxes, see Note 12, Income Taxes.
Reserve for Customer Refunds: In December 2020, the MPSC issued an order authorizing Consumers to refund $28 million voluntarily to utility customers. In May 2021, the MPSC approved a filing submitted by Consumers that proposed the refund take the form of incremental spending in 2021 and 2022 above amounts included in rates on various programs, including electric service restoration and gas and electric technology expenses. If Consumers does not achieve the incremental spending, the remaining balance will be provided to electric or gas utility customers through a bill credit.
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Voluntary Transmission Asset Sale Gain Share: In October 2020, Consumers completed a sale of the electric utility’s remaining transmission equipment to METC. In December 2020, Consumers filed an application with the MPSC requesting approval to share voluntarily half of the gain from the sale with electric utility customers through incremental service restoration spending in 2021; this application was approved by the MPSC in February 2021. As a result, the $14 million gain was recorded on Consumers’ consolidated balance sheets as a current regulatory liability at December 31, 2020 and was shared with customers in 2021.
Cost of Removal: The MPSC allows Consumers to collect amounts from customers to fund future asset removal activities. This regulatory liability is reduced as costs of removal are incurred. The refund period of this regulatory liability approximates the useful life of the assets to be removed.
Renewable Energy Grant: In 2013, Consumers received a $69 million renewable energy grant for Lake Winds® Energy Park, which began operations in 2012. This grant reduces Consumers’ cost of complying with Michigan’s renewable portfolio standard and, accordingly, reduces the overall renewable energy surcharge to be collected from customers. The regulatory liability recorded for the grant will be amortized over the life of Lake Winds® Energy Park.
Renewable Energy Plan: Consumers has collected surcharges to fund its renewable energy plan. Amounts not yet spent under the plan are recorded as a regulatory liability, which is amortized as incremental costs are incurred to operate and depreciate Consumers’ renewable generation facilities and to purchase RECs under renewable energy purchase agreements. Incremental costs represent costs incurred in excess of amounts recovered through the PSCR process.
Consumers Electric Utility
2021 Electric Rate Case: In March 2021, Consumers filed an application with the MPSC seeking an annual rate increase of $225 million, based on a 10.5 percent authorized return on equity and a projected twelve-month period ending December 31, 2022. In July 2021, Consumers reduced its requested annual rate increase to $201 million. In December 2021, the MPSC approved an annual rate increase of $27 million, based on a 9.9 percent authorized return on equity. This increase reflects the net impact of the approved settlement agreement in Consumers’ electric depreciation rate case, which reduced annual depreciation expense by $27 million.
In its final order, the MPSC disallowed cost recovery for fleet assets and certain other categories of recently completed capital expenditures incurred by Consumers. As a result of this disallowance, Consumers recorded an impairment charge of $41 million within maintenance and other operating expenses on its consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2021. This charge includes an assessment of probable loss of $11 million on similar categories of gas utility capital expenditures that are pending recovery in Consumers’ 2021 gas rate case. Though Consumers plans to pursue full recovery of certain of these electric and gas capital expenditures, the position taken by the MPSC in this electric rate case provides significant uncertainty around whether Consumers will ultimately succeed.
In January 2022, Consumers filed a petition for rehearing requesting the MPSC reconsider its disallowance of $11 million in capital expenditures for which the MPSC had already approved recovery in a previous electric rate order; this amount was not included in the impairment charge based on Consumers’ assessment of the merits of the petition for rehearing. The order disallowed recovery of other categories of capital expenditures, requiring that Consumers provide additional cost/benefit analysis and other information in its next electric rate case to support cost recovery. Consumers has incurred approximately $23 million related to these programs as of December 31, 2021 and, for certain ongoing projects, expects to incur additional capital expenditures in 2022 and beyond. While Consumers intends to
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support fully the prudency of such capital expenditures, it is reasonably possible that the MPSC will disallow some or all of these capital expenditures. An additional material disallowance of incurred capital costs could negatively affect CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ future results of operations. Consumers cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings.
Finally, the order disallowed various other categories of capital expenditures in the projected test year, primarily challenging the accuracy of Consumers’ projection of these expenditures through 2022. While these are presently excluded from rate base, Consumers believes it will be successful in recovering the actual capital expenditures incurred for these programs in future rate cases.
As a result of the order, in December 2021, Consumers committed to a plan to sell fleet assets with a fair value of $15 million. To reflect these held-for-sale assets at their fair value, less expected selling costs, Consumers recorded an additional impairment charge of $4 million within maintenance and other operating expenses on its consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Power Supply Cost Recovery and Gas Cost Recovery
The PSCR and GCR ratemaking processes are designed to allow Consumers to recover all of its power supply and purchased natural gas costs if incurred under reasonable and prudent policies and practices. The MPSC reviews these costs, policies, and practices in annual plan and reconciliation proceedings. Consumers adjusts its PSCR and GCR billing charges monthly in order to minimize the underrecovery or overrecovery amount in the annual reconciliations. Underrecoveries represent probable future revenues that will be recovered from customers; overrecoveries represent previously collected revenues that will be refunded to customers.
Presented in the following table are the assets and liabilities for PSCR and GCR underrecoveries and overrecoveries reflected on Consumers’ consolidated balance sheets:
In Millions
December 3120212020
Assets
GCR underrecoveries$25 $— 
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue$25 $— 
Liabilities
PSCR overrecoveries$12 $5 
GCR overrecoveries— 15 
Accrued rate refunds$12 $20 
PSCR Plans and Reconciliations: In October 2021, the MPSC issued an order in Consumers’ 2019 PSCR reconciliation, authorizing recovery of $1.9 billion of power costs and authorizing Consumers to reflect in its 2020 PSCR reconciliation the overrecovery of $18 million.
In April 2021, the MPSC issued an order in Consumers’ 2020 PSCR plan authorizing the 2020 PSCR charge that Consumers self-implemented beginning in January 2020. In March 2021, Consumers filed its 2020 PSCR reconciliation, requesting full recovery of $1.8 billion of power costs and authorization to reflect in its 2021 PSCR reconciliation the underrecovery of $4 million.
In January 2022, the MPSC issued an order in Consumers’ amended 2021 PSCR plan authorizing the 2021 PSCR charge that Consumers self-implemented beginning in January 2021.
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GCR Plans and Reconciliations: In May 2021, the MPSC approved a settlement agreement in Consumers’ 2019-2020 GCR reconciliation, authorizing recovery of $0.5 billion of gas costs and authorizing Consumers to reflect in its 2020-2021 GCR reconciliation the overrecovery of $6 million.
In June 2021, Consumers filed its 2020-2021 GCR reconciliation, requesting full recovery of $0.4 billion of gas costs and authorization to reflect in its 2021-2022 GCR reconciliation the overrecovery of $1 million.
Consumers submitted its 2021-2022 GCR plan to the MPSC in December 2020 and self-implemented its proposed 2021-2022 GCR charge in April 2021. The MPSC approved a settlement agreement in this proceeding in September 2021, authorizing the GCR charge that Consumers had self-implemented.
3:    Contingencies and Commitments
CMS Energy and Consumers are involved in various matters that give rise to contingent liabilities. Depending on the specific issues, the resolution of these contingencies could negatively affect CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. In their disclosures of these matters, CMS Energy and Consumers provide an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss when such an estimate can be made. Disclosures that state that CMS Energy or Consumers cannot predict the outcome of a matter indicate that they are unable to estimate a possible loss or range of loss for the matter.
CMS Energy Contingencies
Bay Harbor: CMS Land retained environmental remediation obligations for the collection and treatment of leachate at Bay Harbor after selling its interests in the development in 2002. Leachate is produced when water enters into cement kiln dust piles left over from former cement plant operations at the site. In 2012, CMS Land and EGLE finalized an agreement that established the final remedies and the future water quality criteria at the site. CMS Land completed all construction necessary to implement the remedies required by the agreement and will continue to maintain and operate a system to discharge treated leachate into Little Traverse Bay under an NPDES permit, which was renewed in January 2022 and is valid through 2025.
At December 31, 2021, CMS Energy had a recorded liability of $45 million for its remaining obligations for environmental remediation. CMS Energy calculated this liability based on discounted projected costs, using a discount rate of 4.34 percent and an inflation rate of one percent on annual operating and maintenance costs. The undiscounted amount of the remaining obligation is $57 million. CMS Energy expects to pay the following amounts for long-term leachate disposal and operating and maintenance costs in each of the next five years:
In Millions
20222023202420252026
CMS Energy
Long-term leachate disposal and operating and maintenance costs$4 $4 $4 $4 $4 
CMS Energy’s estimate of response activity costs and the timing of expenditures could change if there are changes in circumstances or assumptions used in calculating the liability. Although a liability for its present estimate of remaining response activity costs has been recorded, CMS Energy cannot predict the ultimate financial impact or outcome of this matter.
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Equatorial Guinea Tax Claim: In 2002, CMS Energy sold its oil, gas, and methanol investments in Equatorial Guinea. The government of Equatorial Guinea claims that, in connection with the sale, CMS Energy owes $152 million in taxes, plus substantial penalties and interest that could be up to or exceed the amount of the taxes claimed. In 2015, the matter was proceeding to formal arbitration; however, since then, the government of Equatorial Guinea has stopped communicating with CMS Energy. CMS Energy has concluded that the government’s tax claim is without merit and believes the likelihood of material loss to be remote, but cannot predict the financial impact or outcome of the matter. An unfavorable outcome could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Consumers Electric Utility Contingencies
Electric Environmental Matters: Consumers’ operations are subject to environmental laws and regulations. Historically, Consumers has generally been able to recover, in customer rates, the costs to operate its facilities in compliance with these laws and regulations.
Cleanup and Solid Waste: Consumers expects to incur remediation and other response activity costs at a number of sites under NREPA. Consumers believes that these costs should be recoverable in rates, but cannot guarantee that outcome. Consumers estimates that its liability for NREPA sites for which it can estimate a range of loss will be between $2 million and $4 million. At December 31, 2021, Consumers had a recorded liability of $2 million, the minimum amount in the range of its estimated probable NREPA liability, as no amount in the range was considered a better estimate than any other amount.
Consumers is a potentially responsible party at a number of contaminated sites administered under CERCLA. CERCLA liability is joint and several. In 2010, Consumers received official notification from the EPA that identified Consumers as a potentially responsible party for cleanup of PCBs at the Kalamazoo River CERCLA site. The notification claimed that the EPA has reason to believe that Consumers disposed of PCBs and arranged for the disposal and treatment of PCB-containing materials at portions of the site. In 2011, Consumers received a follow-up letter from the EPA requesting that Consumers agree to participate in a removal action plan along with several other companies for an area of lower Portage Creek, which is connected to the Kalamazoo River. All parties, including Consumers, that were asked to participate in the removal action plan declined to accept liability. Until further information is received from the EPA, Consumers is unable to estimate a range of potential liability for cleanup of the river.
Based on its experience, Consumers estimates that its share of the total liability for known CERCLA sites will be between $3 million and $8 million. Various factors, including the number and creditworthiness of potentially responsible parties involved with each site, affect Consumers’ share of the total liability. At December 31, 2021, Consumers had a recorded liability of $3 million for its share of the total liability at these sites, the minimum amount in the range of its estimated probable CERCLA liability, as no amount in the range was considered a better estimate than any other amount.
The timing of payments related to Consumers’ remediation and other response activities at its CERCLA and NREPA sites is uncertain. Consumers periodically reviews these cost estimates. A change in the underlying assumptions, such as an increase in the number of sites, different remediation techniques, the nature and extent of contamination, and legal and regulatory requirements, could affect its estimates of NREPA and CERCLA liability.
Ludington PCB: In 1998, during routine maintenance activities, Consumers identified PCB as a component in certain paint, grout, and sealant materials at Ludington. Consumers removed part of the PCB material and replaced it with non‑PCB material. Consumers has had several communications with the EPA regarding this matter, but cannot predict the financial impact or outcome.
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MCV PPA: In 2017, the MCV Partnership initiated arbitration against Consumers, asserting a breach of contract associated with the MCV PPA. In 2019, an arbitration panel issued an order concluding that the MCV Partnership is not entitled to any damages associated with a claim against Consumers that was related to the Clean Air Act. In November 2020, the MCV Partnership and Consumers signed a settlement agreement resolving all remaining disputes between the parties, and filed the settlement and associated agreements with the MPSC for approval. In March 2021, the MPSC approved the settlement and associated agreements.
Consumers Gas Utility Contingencies
Gas Environmental Matters: Consumers expects to incur remediation and other response activity costs at a number of sites under NREPA. These sites include 23 former MGP facilities. Consumers operated the facilities on these sites for some part of their operating lives. For some of these sites, Consumers has no present ownership interest or may own only a portion of the original site.
At December 31, 2021, Consumers had a recorded liability of $57 million for its remaining obligations for these sites. This amount represents the present value of long-term projected costs, using a discount rate of 2.57 percent and an inflation rate of 2.5 percent. The undiscounted amount of the remaining obligation is $61 million. Consumers expects to pay the following amounts for remediation and other response activity costs in each of the next five years:
In Millions
20222023202420252026
Consumers
Remediation and other response activity costs$3 $9 $24 $11 $1 
Consumers periodically reviews these cost estimates. Any significant change in the underlying assumptions, such as an increase in the number of sites, changes in remediation techniques, or legal and regulatory requirements, could affect Consumers’ estimates of annual response activity costs and the MGP liability.
Pursuant to orders issued by the MPSC, Consumers defers its MGP-related remediation costs and recovers them from its customers over a ten-year period. At December 31, 2021, Consumers had a regulatory asset of $112 million related to the MGP sites.
Consumers estimates that its liability to perform remediation and other response activities at NREPA sites other than the MGP sites could reach $3 million. At December 31, 2021, Consumers had a recorded liability of less than $1 million, the minimum amount in the range of its estimated probable liability, as no amount in the range was considered a better estimate than any other amount.
Ray Compressor Station: On January 30, 2019, Consumers experienced a fire at the Ray Compressor Station, which resulted in the Ray Storage Field being off‑line or operating at significantly reduced capacity, which negatively affected Consumers’ natural gas supply and delivery capacity. This incident, which occurred during the extreme polar vortex weather condition, required Consumers to request voluntary reductions in customer load, to implement contingency gas supply purchases, and to implement a curtailment of natural gas deliveries for industrial and large commercial customers pursuant to Consumers’ MPSC curtailment tariff. The curtailment and request for voluntary reductions of customer loads were canceled as of midnight, February 1, 2019. Consumers investigated the cause of the incident, and filed a report on the incident with the MPSC in April 2019. In response, the MPSC issued an order in July 2019, directing Consumers to file additional reports regarding the incident and to include detail of
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the resulting costs in a future rate proceeding. The compressor station is presently operating at full capacity.
In May 2020, the MPSC approved an administrative settlement agreement between Consumers and the MPSC Staff, which resulted in a $10,000 civil penalty in connection with the fire. Consumers may also be subject to various claims from impacted customers and claims for damages.
In September 2020, the MPSC disallowed the recovery of $7 million in incremental gas purchases related to the fire. In January 2021, the MPSC denied Consumers’ petition for a rehearing challenging this disallowance. In February 2021, Consumers filed an appeal of the MPSC’s denial with the Michigan Court of Appeals. Consumers could also be subject to disallowances of costs associated with the repair and modification of the Ray Compressor Station. At December 31, 2021, Consumers had incurred capital expenditures of $17 million to restore and modify the compressor station.
As of December 31, 2021, Consumers had recorded an insurance recovery of $13 million related to the compressor station. During 2021, Consumers recognized $6 million of the insurance recovery as a reduction to plant, property, and equipment, $3 million as a reduction of maintenance and other operating expenses, and $4 million as operating revenue, which represented recovery of incremental gas purchases related to the fire.
At this time, Consumers cannot predict the outcome of these matters or other gas-related incidents and a reasonable estimate of a total loss cannot be made, but they could have a material adverse effect on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity, and could subject Consumers’ gas utility to increased regulatory scrutiny.
Guarantees
Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ guarantees at December 31, 2021:
In Millions
Guarantee DescriptionIssue DateExpiration DateMaximum ObligationCarrying Amount
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Indemnity obligations from purchase of VIE1
September 2020indefinite$314 $— 
Indemnity obligations from stock and asset sale agreements2
variousindefinite2254 
Guarantee3
July 2011indefinite30 — 
Consumers
Guarantee3
July 2011indefinite$30 $— 
1In conjunction with the purchase of its interest in Aviator Wind Equity Holdings, CMS Enterprises assumed certain indemnity obligations that protect the associated tax equity investor against losses incurred as a result of breaches of representations and warranties provided by Aviator Wind Equity Holdings and its subsidiaries. These obligations are generally capped at an amount equal to the tax equity investor’s capital contributions plus a specified return, less any distributions and tax benefits it receives, in connection with its membership interest in Aviator Wind. CMS Enterprises would recover 49 percent of any amounts paid to the tax equity investor from the other owner of Aviator Wind Equity Holdings. Additionally, Aviator Wind holds insurance coverage that would partially protect against losses incurred as a result of certain failures to qualify for production tax credits. For further details on CMS Enterprises’ ownership interest in Aviator Wind Equity Holdings, see Note 19, Variable Interest Entities.
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2These obligations arose from stock and asset sale agreements under which CMS Energy or a subsidiary of CMS Energy indemnified the purchaser for losses resulting from various matters, including claims related to taxes and breaches of representations and warranties. The maximum obligation amount is mostly related to the Equatorial Guinea tax claim discussed in the CMS Energy Contingencies section of this Note and an indemnity provided in connection with the sale of EnerBank to Regions Bank. For further details on the sale, see Note 20, Exit Activities and Discontinued Operations. CMS Energy believes the likelihood of material loss to be remote for the indemnity obligations not recorded as liabilities.
3This obligation comprises a guarantee provided by Consumers to the U.S. Department of Energy in connection with a settlement agreement regarding damages resulting from the department’s failure to accept spent nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants formerly owned by Consumers.
Additionally, in the normal course of business, CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain other subsidiaries of CMS Energy have entered into various agreements containing tax and other indemnity provisions for which they are unable to estimate the maximum potential obligation. At December 31, 2021, the carrying value of these indemnity obligations was $1 million. CMS Energy and Consumers consider the likelihood that they would be required to perform or incur substantial losses related to these indemnities to be remote.
Other Contingencies
In addition to the matters disclosed in this Note, Note 2, Regulatory Matters, and Note 20, Exit Activities and Discontinued Operations, there are certain other lawsuits and administrative proceedings before various courts and governmental agencies, as well as unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, arising in the ordinary course of business to which CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain other subsidiaries of CMS Energy are parties. These other lawsuits, proceedings, and unasserted claims may involve personal injury, property damage, contracts, environmental matters, federal and state taxes, rates, licensing, employment, and other matters. Further, CMS Energy and Consumers occasionally self-report certain regulatory non‑compliance matters that may or may not eventually result in administrative proceedings. CMS Energy and Consumers believe that the outcome of any one of these proceedings and potential claims will not have a material negative effect on their consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity.
Contractual Commitments
Purchase Obligations: Purchase obligations arise from long-term contracts for the purchase of commodities and related services, plant purchase commitments, and construction and service agreements. The commodities and related services include long-term PPAs, natural gas and associated transportation, and coal and associated transportation. Related-party PPAs are between Consumers and certain affiliates
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of CMS Enterprises. Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ contractual purchase obligations at December 31, 2021 for each of the periods shown:
In Millions
Payments Due
Total20222023202420252026Beyond 2026
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Total PPAs$8,028 $828 $747 $762 $709 $606 $4,376 
Other4,445 1,489 1,657 412 639 36 212 
Total purchase obligations$12,473 $2,317 $2,404 $1,174 $1,348 $642 $4,588 
Consumers
PPAs
MCV PPA$2,204 $349 $348 $346 $306 $231 $624 
Palisades PPA116 116 — — — — — 
Related-party PPAs342 65 65 65 47 29 71 
Other PPAs5,366 298 334 351 356 346 3,681 
Total PPAs$8,028 $828 $747 $762 $709 $606 $4,376 
Other3,950 1,381 1,596 364 594 12 3 
Total purchase obligations$11,978 $2,209 $2,343 $1,126 $1,303 $618 $4,379 
MCV PPA: Consumers has a PPA with the MCV Partnership giving Consumers the right to purchase up to 1,240 MW of capacity and energy produced by the MCV Facility. The PPA was amended during 2020 and was approved by the MPSC in 2021. The amended and restated MCV PPA provides for:
•an extension of the termination date from March 2025 to May 2030
•a capacity charge of $10.14 per MWh of available capacity through March 2025 and $5.00 per MWh of available capacity from March 2025 through the termination date of the PPA
•a fixed energy charge of $6.30 per MWh for on-peak hours and $6.00 for off-peak hours
•a variable energy charge based on the MCV Partnership’s cost of production for energy delivered to Consumers
•a $5 million annual contribution by the MCV Partnership to a renewable resources program through March 2025
Capacity and energy charges under the MCV PPA were $348 million in 2021, $298 million in 2020, and $318 million in 2019.
Palisades PPA: Consumers has a PPA expiring in May 2022 with Entergy to purchase virtually all of the capacity and energy produced by Palisades, up to the annual average capacity of 798 MW. For all delivered energy, the Palisades PPA has escalating capacity and variable energy charges. Total capacity and energy charges under the Palisades PPA were $413 million in 2021, $403 million in 2020, and $395 million in 2019. For further details about Palisades, see Note 8, Leases and Palisades Financing.
Other PPAs: Consumers has PPAs expiring through 2048 with various counterparties. The majority of the PPAs have capacity and energy charges for delivered energy. In addition, CMS Energy and Consumers account for several of their PPAs as leases. Capacity and energy charges under these PPAs were $338 million in 2021, $327 million in 2020, and $336 million in 2019. See Note 8, Leases and Palisades Financing for more information about CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ lease obligations.
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4:    Financings and Capitalization
Presented in the following table is CMS Energy’s long-term debt at December 31:
In Millions
Interest Rate
(%)		Maturity20212020
CMS Energy, including Consumers
CMS Energy, parent only
Senior notes3.875 2024$250 $250 
3.600 2025250 250 
3.000 2026300 300 
2.950 2027275 275 
3.450 2027350 350 
4.700 2043250 250 
4.875 2044300 300 
$1,975 $1,975 
Term loan facilityvariable2021— 200 
Junior subordinated notes1
4.750 
2
2050500 500 
3.750 
3
2050400 400 
5.625 2078200 200 
5.875 2078280 280 
5.875 2079630 630 
$2,010 $2,010 
Total CMS Energy, parent only$3,985 $4,185 
Consumers8,505 8,197 
CMS Enterprises, including subsidiaries
Term loan facilityvariable
4
202578 85 
Total principal amount outstanding$12,568 $12,467 
Current amounts(373)(571)
Unamortized discounts(31)(33)
Unamortized issuance costs(118)(119)
Total long-term debt$12,046 $11,744 
1These unsecured obligations rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of CMS Energy’s existing and future senior indebtedness.
2On June 1, 2030, and every five years thereafter, the notes will reset to an interest rate equal to the five-year treasury rate plus 4.116 percent.
3On December 1, 2030, and every five years thereafter, the notes will reset to an interest rate equal to the five-year treasury rate plus 2.900 percent.
4A subsidiary of CMS Enterprises issued non‑recourse debt to finance the acquisition of a wind generation project in Northwest Ohio. The interest rate for the debt is three-month LIBOR plus 1.500 percent through October 2022 and three-month LIBOR plus 1.750 percent thereafter. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the interest rate was 1.724 percent and 1.754 percent, respectively. The same subsidiary of CMS Enterprises entered into interest rate swaps with the lending banks to fix the interest charges associated with the debt, at a rate of 4.702 percent through October 2022 and 4.952 percent thereafter. Principal and interest payments are made quarterly. For information about the interest rate swaps, see Note 5, Fair Value Measurements.
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Presented in the following table is Consumers’ long-term debt at December 31:
In Millions
Interest Rate
(%)		Maturity20212020
Consumers
First mortgage bonds
0.350 2023$300 $300 
3.375 2023325 325 
3.125 2024250 250 
3.190 202452 52 
3.680 2027100 100 
3.390 202735 35 
3.800 2028300 300 
3.180 2032100 100 
5.800 2035175 175 
3.520 2037335 335 
4.010 2038215 215 
6.170 204050 50 
4.970 204050 50 
4.310 2042263 263 
3.950 2043425 425 
4.100 2045250 250 
3.250 2046450 450 
3.950 2047350 350 
4.050 2048550 550 
4.350 2049550 550 
3.750 2050300 300 
3.100 2050550 550 
3.500 2051575 575 
2.650 2052300 — 
3.860 205250 50 
4.280 2057185 185 
2.500 2060525 525 
4.350 2064250 250 
variable
1
206976 76 
variable
1
2070134 134 
variable
1
2070127 127 
$8,197 $7,897 
Tax-exempt revenue bonds0.875 
2
203535 — 
1.800 
3
204975 75 
$110 $75 
Securitization bonds3.290 
4
2025-2029
5
198 225 
Total principal amount outstanding$8,505 $8,197 
Current amounts(365)(364)
Unamortized discounts(28)(29)
Unamortized issuance costs(62)(62)
Total long-term debt$8,050 $7,742 
1The variable-rate bonds bear interest quarterly at a rate of three-month LIBOR minus 0.300 percent, subject to a zero-percent floor (zero percent at December 31, 2021) and (zero percent at December 31, 2020). The holders of these variable-rate bonds may put them to Consumers for redemption on certain dates prior to their stated maturity, including dates within one year of December 31, 2021.
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2The interest rate on these tax-exempt revenue bonds will reset on October 8, 2026.
3The interest rate on these tax‑exempt revenue bonds will reset on October 1, 2024.
4The weighted-average interest rate for Consumers’ securitization bonds issued through its subsidiary, Consumers 2014 Securitization Funding, was 3.290 percent at December 31, 2021 and 3.250 percent at December 31, 2020.
5Principal and interest payments are made semiannually.
Financings: Presented in the following table is a summary of major long-term debt issuances during 2021:
Principal
(In Millions)		Interest RateIssuance DateMaturity Date
Consumers
First mortgage bonds$300 2.650%August 2021August 2052
Tax-exempt revenue bonds1
35 0.875%October 2021April 2035
1    These bonds were repurchased, in lieu of redemption, in July 2020. In October 2021, the bonds were remarketed to the public and the interest rate on the bonds will reset in October 2026.
Presented in the following table is a summary of major long-term debt retirements during year ended December 31, 2021:
Principal
(In Millions)		Interest RateRetirement DateMaturity Date
CMS Energy, parent only
Term Loan facility$200 variableOctober 2021November 2021
First Mortgage Bonds: Consumers secures its first mortgage bonds by a mortgage and lien on substantially all of its property. Consumers’ ability to issue first mortgage bonds is restricted by certain provisions in the First Mortgage Bond Indenture and the need for regulatory approvals under federal law. Restrictive issuance provisions in the First Mortgage Bond Indenture include achieving a two-times interest coverage ratio and having sufficient unfunded net property additions.
Regulatory Authorization for Financings: Consumers is required to maintain FERC authorization for financings. Its current authorization terminates on July 31, 2022. Any long-term issuances during the authorization period are exempt from FERC’s competitive bidding and negotiated placement requirements. In December 2021, Consumers filed an application for authority to issue securities between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2024, replacing the current authorization.
Securitization Bonds: Certain regulatory assets held by Consumers’ subsidiary, Consumers 2014 Securitization Funding, collateralize Consumers’ securitization bonds. The bondholders have no recourse to Consumers’ assets except for those held by the subsidiary that issued the bonds. Consumers collects securitization surcharges to cover the principal and interest on the bonds as well as certain other qualified costs. The surcharges collected are remitted to a trustee and are not available to creditors of Consumers or creditors of Consumers’ affiliates other than the subsidiary that issued the bonds.
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Debt Maturities: At December 31, 2021, the aggregate annual maturities for long-term debt for the next five years, based on stated maturities or earlier put dates, were:
In Millions
20222023202420252026
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Long-term debt
CMS Energy, parent only$— $— $250 $250 $300 
Consumers
365 654 332 31 32 
CMS Enterprises, including subsidiaries8 9 10 51 — 
Total CMS Energy$373 $663 $592 $332 $332 
Consumers
Long-term debt$365 $654 $332 $31 $32 
Credit Facilities: The following credit facilities with banks were available at December 31, 2021:
In Millions
Expiration DateAmount of FacilityAmount BorrowedLetters of Credit OutstandingAmount Available
CMS Energy, parent only
June 5, 20241
$550 $— $24 $526 
September 23, 20222
31 — 31 — 
CMS Enterprises, including subsidiaries
September 25, 20253
$39 $— $39 $— 
September 30, 20254
18 — 8 10 
Consumers5
June 5, 2024
$850 $— $12 $838 
November 19, 2023
250 — 8 242 
April 18, 2022
30 — 30 — 
1There were no borrowings under this facility during the year ended December 31, 2021.
2The maximum aggregate of letters of credit that may be issued under this facility is $50 million. The amount remaining under the facility is uncommitted.
3This letter of credit facility is available to Aviator Wind Equity Holdings. For more information regarding Aviator Wind Equity Holdings, see Note 19, Variable Interest Entities.
4Under this facility, $8 million is available solely for the purpose of issuing letters of credit. Obligations under this facility are secured by the collateral accounts with the lending bank. There were no borrowings under this facility during the year ended December 31, 2021.
5Obligations under these facilities are secured by first mortgage bonds of Consumers. There were no borrowings under these facilities during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Short-term Borrowings: Under Consumers’ commercial paper program, Consumers may issue, in one or more placements, investment-grade commercial paper notes with maturities of up to 365 days at market interest rates. These issuances are supported by Consumers’ revolving credit facilities and may have an aggregate principal amount outstanding of up to $500 million. While the amount of outstanding commercial paper does not reduce the available capacity of the revolving credit facilities, Consumers
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does not intend to issue commercial paper in an amount exceeding the available capacity of the facilities. At December 31, 2021, there were no commercial paper notes outstanding under this program.
In December 2021, Consumers renewed a short-term credit agreement with CMS Energy, permitting Consumers to borrow up to $500 million at an interest rate of one month LIBOR minus 0.100 percent. At December 31, 2021, outstanding borrowings under the agreement were $392 million bearing an interest rate of zero percent. In January 2022, Consumers repaid $392 million of its loan outstanding with CMS Energy.
Dividend Restrictions: At December 31, 2021, payment of dividends by CMS Energy on its common stock was limited to $6.4 billion under provisions of the Michigan Business Corporation Act of 1972.
Under the provisions of its articles of incorporation, at December 31, 2021, Consumers had $1.8 billion of unrestricted retained earnings available to pay dividends on its common stock to CMS Energy. Provisions of the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act appear to restrict dividends payable by Consumers to the amount of Consumers’ retained earnings. Several decisions from FERC suggest that, under a variety of circumstances, dividends from Consumers on its common stock would not be limited to amounts in Consumers’ retained earnings. Any decision by Consumers to pay dividends on its common stock in excess of retained earnings would be based on specific facts and circumstances and would be subject to a formal regulatory filing process.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, Consumers paid $722 million in dividends on its common stock to CMS Energy.
Capitalization: The authorized capital stock of CMS Energy consists of:
•350 million shares of CMS Energy Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
•10 million shares of CMS Energy Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Issuance of Common Stock: In 2020, CMS Energy entered into an equity offering program under which it may sell, from time to time, shares of CMS Energy common stock. Under the program, CMS Energy may sell its common stock in privately negotiated transactions, in “at the market” offerings, through forward sales transactions, or otherwise.
CMS Energy may sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate sales price of up to $500 million. Presented in the following table are details of CMS Energy’s forward sales contracts under this program at December 31, 2021:
Forward Price Per Share
Contract DateMaturity DateNumber of SharesInitialDecember 31, 2021
September 15, 2020June 30, 2022846,759$61.04 $58.51 
December 22, 2020June 22, 2022115,59561.81 59.73 
These contracts allow CMS Energy to either physically settle the contracts by issuing shares of its common stock at the then-applicable forward sale price specified by the agreement or net settle the contracts through the delivery or receipt of cash or shares. CMS Energy may settle the contracts at any time through their maturity dates, and presently intends to physically settle the contracts by delivering shares of its common stock.
The initial forward price in the forward equity sale contracts includes a deduction for commissions and will be adjusted on a daily basis over the term based on an interest rate factor and decreased on certain dates by certain predetermined amounts to reflect expected dividend payments. No amounts are recorded
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on CMS Energy’s consolidated balance sheets until settlements of the forward equity sale contracts occur. If CMS Energy had elected to net share settle the contracts as of December 31, 2021, CMS Energy would have been required to deliver 94,588 shares.
Issuance of Preferred Stock: In 2021, CMS Energy issued 9.2 million depositary shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of its cumulative Series C preferred stock, traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CMS PRC, at a price of $25.00 per depositary share. The transaction resulted in net proceeds of $224 million, which was used for general corporate purposes. Dividends on the preferred stock accumulate at an annual rate of 4.200 percent and are payable quarterly.
The Series C preferred stock has no maturity or mandatory redemption date and is not redeemable at the option of the holders. CMS Energy may, at its option, redeem the Series C preferred stock, in whole or in part, at a price equal to $25,000 per share (equivalent to $25.00 per depositary share), plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, at any time on or after July 15, 2026. The Series C preferred stock ranks senior to CMS Energy’s common stock with respect to dividend rights and distribution rights upon liquidation.
Preferred Stock of Subsidiary: Consumers’ preferred stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CMS-PB. Presented in the following table are details of Consumers’ preferred stock at December 31, 2021 and 2020:
Par ValueOptional Redemption PriceNumber of Shares AuthorizedNumber of Shares Outstanding
Cumulative, with no mandatory redemption
$100 $110 7,500,000373,148
5:    Fair Value Measurements
Accounting standards define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. When measuring fair value, CMS Energy and Consumers are required to incorporate all assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. A fair value hierarchy prioritizes inputs used to measure fair value according to their observability in the market. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
•Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
•Level 2 inputs are observable, market-based inputs, other than Level 1 prices. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices in inactive markets, and inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data.
•Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs that reflect CMS Energy’s or Consumers’ own assumptions about how market participants would value their assets and liabilities.
CMS Energy and Consumers classify fair value measurements within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
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Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis:
In Millions
CMS Energy, including ConsumersConsumers
December 312021202020212020
Assets1
Restricted cash equivalents$24 $17 $22 $15 
Nonqualified deferred compensation plan assets27 23 21 18 
Derivative instruments2 1 2 1 
Total assets$53 $41 $45 $34 
Liabilities1
Nonqualified deferred compensation plan liabilities$27 $23 $21 $18 
Derivative instruments7 11 — — 
Total liabilities$34 $34 21 $18 
1All assets and liabilities were classified as Level 1 with the exception of derivative contracts, which were classified as Level 2 or Level 3.
Restricted Cash Equivalents: Restricted cash equivalents consist of money market funds with daily liquidity. For further details, see Note 16, Cash and Cash Equivalents.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan Assets and Liabilities: The nonqualified deferred compensation plan assets consist of mutual funds, which are valued using the daily quoted net asset values. CMS Energy and Consumers value their nonqualified deferred compensation plan liabilities based on the fair values of the plan assets, as they reflect the amount owed to the plan participants in accordance with their investment elections. CMS Energy and Consumers report the assets in other non‑current assets and the liabilities in other non‑current liabilities on their consolidated balance sheets.
Derivative Instruments: CMS Energy and Consumers value their derivative instruments using either a market approach that incorporates information from market transactions, or an income approach that discounts future expected cash flows to a present value amount. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ derivatives are classified as Level 2 or Level 3.
The derivatives classified as Level 2 are interest rate swaps at CMS Energy, which are valued using market-based inputs. CMS Energy uses interest rate swaps to manage its interest rate risk on certain long‑term debt obligations.
A subsidiary of CMS Enterprises uses floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps to reduce the impact of interest rate fluctuations associated with future interest payments on certain long‑term variable-rate debt. The interest rate swaps are accounted for as cash flow hedges of the future variability of interest payments on debt with a notional amount of $78 million at December 31, 2021 and $85 million at December 31, 2020. Gains or losses on these swaps are initially reported in other comprehensive income (loss) and then, as interest payments are made on the hedged debt, are recognized in earnings within interest on long-term debt on CMS Energy’s consolidated statements of income. CMS Energy recorded gains (losses) of $2 million in 2021, $(6) million in 2020, and $(4) million in 2019. There were no material impacts on
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interest on long-term debt associated with these swaps during the periods presented. The fair value of these swaps recorded in other liabilities on CMS Energy’s consolidated balance sheets totaled $4 million at December 31, 2021 and $9 million at December 31, 2020. CMS Energy also has other interest rate swaps that economically hedge interest rate risk on debt, but that do not qualify for cash flow hedge accounting; the amounts associated with these swaps were not material for the periods presented.
The majority of derivatives classified as Level 3 are FTRs held by Consumers. Due to the lack of quoted pricing information, Consumers determines the fair value of its FTRs based on Consumers’ average historical settlements. There was no material activity within the Level 3 categories of assets and liabilities during the periods presented.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Presented in the following table are Consumers’ assets, by level within the fair value hierarchy, reported at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the year ended December 31, 2021:
In Millions
Level 1Level 2Level 3Gains (Losses)
Assets held for sale$— $15 $— $(4)
In 2021, Consumers wrote down fleet assets held for sale from their carrying amount of $19 million to their fair value, less selling costs, of $15 million, resulting in an impairment charge of $4 million, which was recorded within maintenance and other operating expenses on its consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2021. The fair value was determined based on the market prices of similar fleet vehicles. For additional information, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2, Regulatory Matters.
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6:    Financial Instruments
Presented in the following table are the carrying amounts and fair values, by level within the fair value hierarchy, of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ financial instruments that are not recorded at fair value. The table excludes cash, cash equivalents, short-term financial instruments, and trade accounts receivable and payable whose carrying amounts approximate their fair values. For information about assets and liabilities recorded at fair value and for additional details regarding the fair value hierarchy, see Note 5, Fair Value Measurements.
In Millions
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Carrying AmountFair ValueCarrying AmountFair Value
TotalLevelTotalLevel
123123
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Assets
Long-term receivables1
$14 $14 $— $— $14 $17 $17 $— $— $17 
Liabilities
Long-term debt2
12,419 13,800 1,189 10,656 1,955 12,315 14,601 1,249 11,267 2,085 
Long-term payables3
31 32 — — 32 33 35 — — 35 
Consumers
Assets
Long-term receivables1
$14 $14 $— $— $14 $17 $17 $— $— $17 
Notes receivable – related party4
104 104 — — 104 107 107 — — 107 
Liabilities
Long-term debt5
8,415 9,410 — 7,455 1,955 8,106 9,801 — 7,716 2,085 
1Includes current portion of long-term accounts receivable of $9 million at December 31, 2021 and $12 million at December 31, 2020.
2Includes current portion of long-term debt of $373 million at December 31, 2021 and $571 million at December 31, 2020.
3Includes current portion of long-term payables of $23 million at December 31, 2021 and $6 million at December 31, 2020.
4Includes current portion of notes receivable – related party of $7 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020.
5Includes current portion of long-term debt of $365 million at December 31, 2021 and $364 million at December 31, 2020.
The DB SERP note receivable – related party is Consumers’ portion of a demand note payable issued by CMS Energy to the DB SERP rabbi trust. The demand note bears interest at an annual rate of 4.10 percent and has a maturity date of 2028.
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7:    Plant, Property, and Equipment
Presented in the following table are details of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ plant, property, and equipment:
In Millions
December 31Estimated
Depreciable
Life in Years		20212020
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Plant, property, and equipment, gross
Consumers
3 - 125
$28,771 $26,757 
Enterprises
Independent power production1
2 - 40
1,121 1,112 
Other
3 - 5
1 1 
Plant, property, and equipment, gross$29,893 $27,870 
Construction work in progress961 1,085 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization(8,502)(7,938)
Total plant, property, and equipment2
$22,352 $21,017 
Consumers
Plant, property, and equipment, gross
Electric
Generation
22 - 125
$6,704 $6,376 
Distribution
20 - 75
9,815 9,130 
Other
5 - 50
1,309 1,326 
Assets under finance leases and other financing3
319 323 
Gas
Distribution
20 - 85
6,338 5,702 
Transmission
17 - 75
2,319 2,003 
Underground storage facilities4
27 - 75
1,117 1,046 
Other
5 - 50
814 817 
Assets under finance leases3
13 13 
Other non-utility property
3 - 51
23 21 
Plant, property, and equipment, gross$28,771 $26,757 
Construction work in progress915 1,058 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization(8,371)(7,844)
Total plant, property, and equipment2
$21,315 $19,971 
1A significant portion of independent power production assets are leased to others under operating leases. For information regarding CMS Energy’s operating leases of owned assets, see Note 8, Leases and Palisades Financing.
2Consumers’ plant additions were $2.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021 and $2.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020. Consumers’ plant retirements, which include the impact of disallowances and transfers to held for sale, were $361 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, and $220 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
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3For information regarding the amortization terms of Consumers’ assets under finance leases and other financing, see Note 8, Leases and Palisades Financing.
4Underground storage includes base natural gas of $26 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020. Base natural gas is not subject to depreciation.
Intangible Assets: Included in net plant, property, and equipment are intangible assets. Presented in the following table are details about CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ intangible assets:
In Millions
DescriptionAmortization
Life in Years		December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Gross Cost1
Accumulated Amortization
Gross Cost1
Accumulated Amortization
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Software development
3 - 15
$840 $592 $856 $568 
Rights of way
50 - 85
211 60 197 57 
Franchises and consents
5 - 50
16 10 16 10 
Leasehold improvements
various2
9 6 10 7 
Other intangiblesvarious26 16 26 16 
Total$1,102 $684 $1,105 $658 
Consumers
Software development
3 - 15
$840 $592 $856 $568 
Rights of way
50 - 85
211 60 197 57 
Franchises and consents
5 - 50
16 10 16 10 
Leasehold improvements
various2
9 6 10 7 
Other intangiblesvarious26 16 25 16 
Total$1,102 $684 $1,104 $658 
1Consumers’ intangible asset additions were $88 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and $69 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Consumers’ intangible asset retirements were $91 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and $65 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
2Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the lease, which may change whenever the lease is renewed or extended.
Capitalization: CMS Energy and Consumers record plant, property, and equipment at original cost when placed into service. The cost includes labor, material, applicable taxes, overhead such as pension and other benefits, and AFUDC, if applicable. Consumers’ plant, property, and equipment is generally recoverable through its general ratemaking process.
With the exception of utility property for which the remaining book value has been securitized, mothballed utility property stays in rate base and continues to be depreciated at the same rate as before the mothball period. When utility property is retired or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business, Consumers records the original cost to accumulated depreciation, along with associated cost of removal, net of salvage. CMS Energy and Consumers recognize gains or losses on the retirement or disposal of non‑regulated assets in income. Consumers records cost of removal collected from customers, but not spent, as a regulatory liability.
Software: CMS Energy and Consumers capitalize the costs to purchase and develop internal-use computer software. These costs are expensed evenly over the estimated useful life of the internal-use
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computer software. If computer software is integral to computer hardware, then its cost is capitalized and depreciated with the hardware.
AFUDC: Consumers capitalizes AFUDC on regulated major construction projects, except pollution control facilities on its fossil-fuel-fired power plants. AFUDC represents the estimated cost of debt and authorized return-on-equity funds used to finance construction additions. Consumers records the offsetting credit as a reduction of interest for the amount representing the borrowed funds component and as other income for the equity funds component on the consolidated statements of income. When construction is completed and the property is placed in service, Consumers depreciates and recovers the capitalized AFUDC from customers over the life of the related asset. Presented in the following table are Consumers’ average AFUDC capitalization rates:
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Electric6.2 %6.9 %6.4 %
Gas5.6 5.7 5.8 
Assets Under Finance Leases and Other Financing: Presented in the following table are further details about changes in Consumers’ assets under finance leases and other financing:
In Millions
Years Ended December 3120212020
Consumers
Balance at beginning of period$336 $340 
Additions— — 
Net retirements and other adjustments(4)(4)
Balance at end of period$332 $336 
Assets under finance leases and other financing are presented as gross amounts. Consumers’ accumulated amortization of assets under finance leases and other financing was $272 million at December 31, 2021 and $254 million at December 31, 2020.
Depreciation and Amortization: Presented in the following table are further details about CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ accumulated depreciation and amortization:
In Millions
Years Ended December 3120212020
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Utility plant assets$8,366 $7,841 
Non-utility plant assets136 97 
Consumers
Utility plant assets$8,366 $7,841 
Non-utility plant assets5 3 
Consumers depreciates utility property on an asset-group basis, in which it applies a single MPSC-approved depreciation rate to the gross investment in a particular class of property within the electric and
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gas segments. Consumers performs depreciation studies periodically to determine appropriate group lives. Presented in the following table are the composite depreciation rates for Consumers’ segment properties:
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Electric utility property3.9 %3.9 %3.9 %
Gas utility property2.9 2.9 2.9 
Other property9.4 9.8 10.0 
CMS Energy and Consumers record property repairs and minor property replacement as maintenance expense. CMS Energy and Consumers record planned major maintenance activities as operating expense unless the cost represents the acquisition of additional long-lived assets or the replacement of an existing long-lived asset.
Presented in the following table are the components of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ depreciation and amortization expense:
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Depreciation expense – plant, property, and equipment$975 $901 $841 
Amortization expense
Software108 112 119 
Other intangible assets4 4 3 
Securitized regulatory assets27 26 26 
Total depreciation and amortization expense$1,114 $1,043 $989 
Consumers
Depreciation expense – plant, property, and equipment$938 $881 $827 
Amortization expense
Software108 112 119 
Other intangible assets4 4 3 
Securitized regulatory assets27 26 26 
Total depreciation and amortization expense$1,077 $1,023 $975 
Presented in the following table is CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ estimated amortization expense on intangible assets for each of the next five years:
In Millions
20222023202420252026
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Intangible asset amortization expense$108 $94 $84 $86 $84 
Consumers
Intangible asset amortization expense$108 $94 $84 $86 $84 
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Jointly Owned Regulated Utility Facilities
Presented in the following table are Consumers’ investments in jointly owned regulated utility facilities at December 31, 2021:
In Millions, Except Ownership Share
J.H. Campbell Unit 3LudingtonOther
Ownership share93.3 %51.0 %various
Utility plant in service$1,751 $499 $395 
Accumulated depreciation(897)(198)(112)
Construction work in progress21 92 13 
Net investment$875 $393 $296 
Consumers includes its share of the direct expenses of the jointly owned plants in operating expenses. Consumers shares operation, maintenance, and other expenses of these jointly owned utility facilities in proportion to each participant’s undivided ownership interest. Consumers is required to provide only its share of financing for the jointly owned utility facilities.
8:    Leases and Palisades Financing
Lessee
CMS Energy and Consumers lease various assets from third parties, including coal-carrying railcars, real estate, service vehicles, and gas pipeline capacity. In addition, CMS Energy and Consumers account for several of their PPAs as leases.
CMS Energy and Consumers do not record right-of-use assets or lease liabilities on their consolidated balance sheets for rentals with lease terms of 12 months or less, most of which are for the lease of real estate and service vehicles. Lease expense for these rentals is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
CMS Energy and Consumers include future payments for all renewal options, fair market value extensions, and buyout provisions reasonably certain of exercise in their measurement of lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. In addition, certain leases for service vehicles contain end-of-lease adjustment clauses based on proceeds received from the sale or disposition of the vehicles. CMS Energy and Consumers also include executory costs in the measurement of their right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, except for maintenance costs related to their coal-carrying railcar leases.
Most of Consumers’ PPAs contain provisions at the end of the initial contract terms to renew the agreements annually under mutually agreed‑upon terms at the time of renewal. Energy and capacity payments that vary depending on quantities delivered are recognized as variable lease costs when incurred. Consumers accounts for a PPA with one of CMS Energy’s equity method subsidiaries as a finance lease.
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Presented in the following table is information about CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities:
In Millions, Except as Noted
CMS Energy, including ConsumersConsumers
December 312021202020212020
Operating leases
Right-of-use assets1
$26$32$22$28
Lease liabilities
Current lease liabilities2
3737
Non-current lease liabilities3
23251921
Finance leases
Right-of-use assets$57$65$57$65
Lease liabilities4
Current lease liabilities6767
Non-current lease liabilities46534653
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years)
Operating leases23192118
Finance leases12121212
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases4.0 %3.9 %3.9 %3.8 %
Finance leases5
1.7 %1.8 %1.7 %1.8 %
1CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ operating right-of-use lease assets are reported as other non‑current assets on their consolidated balance sheets.
2The current portion of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ operating lease liabilities are reported as other current liabilities on their consolidated balance sheets.
3The non‑current portion of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ operating lease liabilities are reported as other non‑current liabilities on their consolidated balance sheets.
4Includes related-party lease liabilities of $25 million, of which less than $1 million was current, at December 31, 2021 and 2020.
5This rate excludes the impact of Consumers’ pipeline agreements and long-term PPAs accounted for as finance leases. The required capacity payments under these agreements, when compared to the underlying fair value of the leased assets, result in effective interest rates that exceed market rates for leases with similar terms.
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CMS Energy and Consumers report operating, variable, and short-term lease costs as operating expenses on their consolidated statements of income, except for certain amounts that may be capitalized to other assets. Presented in the following table is a summary of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ total lease costs:
In Millions
Years Ended December 3120212020
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Operating lease costs$8 $9 
Finance lease costs
Amortization of right-of-use assets7 6 
Interest on lease liabilities16 17 
Variable lease costs90 94 
Short-term lease costs22 17 
Total lease costs$143 $143 
Consumers
Operating lease costs$8 $9 
Finance lease costs
Amortization of right-of-use assets7 6 
Interest on lease liabilities16 17 
Variable lease costs90 94 
Short-term lease costs21 16 
Total lease costs$142 $142 
Presented in the following table is cash flow information related to amounts paid on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ lease liabilities:
In Millions
Years Ended December 3120212020
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Cash used in operating activities for operating leases$8 $11 
Cash used in operating activities for finance leases16 17 
Cash used in financing activities for finance leases7 6 
Consumers
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Cash used in operating activities for operating leases$8 $9 
Cash used in operating activities for finance leases16 17 
Cash used in financing activities for finance leases7 6 
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Presented in the following table are the minimum rental commitments under CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ non-cancelable leases:
In Millions
Finance Leases
December 31, 2021Operating LeasesPipelines and PPAsOtherTotal
CMS Energy, including Consumers
2022$5 $14 $5 $19 
20232 13 5 18 
20242 13 3 16 
20251 13 1 14 
20261 13 2 15 
2027 and thereafter32 51 9 60 
Total minimum lease payments$43 $117 $25 $142 
Less discount17 88 2 90 
Present value of minimum lease payments$26 $29 $23 $52 
Consumers
2022$4 $14 $5 $19 
20232 13 5 18 
20241 13 3 16 
20251 13 1 14 
20261 13 2 15 
2027 and thereafter27 51 9 60 
Total minimum lease payments$36 $117 $25 $142 
Less discount14 88 2 90 
Present value of minimum lease payments$22 $29 $23 $52 
Lessor
CMS Energy and Consumers are the lessor under power sales and natural gas delivery agreements that are accounted for as leases.
CMS Energy has power sales agreements that are accounted for as operating leases. In addition to fixed payments, these agreements have variable payments based on energy delivered. For the year ended December 31, 2021, lease revenue from these power sales agreements was $194 million, which included variable lease payments of $138 million. For the year ended December 31, 2020, lease revenue from these power sales agreements was $148 million, which included variable lease payments of $93 million.
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Presented in the following table are the minimum rental payments to be received under CMS Energy’s non‑cancelable operating leases:
In Millions
December 31, 2021
2022$48 
202343 
202443 
202544 
202618 
Total minimum lease payments$196 
Consumers has an agreement to build, own, operate, and maintain a compressed natural gas fueling station through December 2038. This agreement is accounted for as a direct finance lease, under which the lessee has the option to purchase the natural gas fueling station at the end of the lease term. Fixed monthly payments escalate annually with inflation.
Consumers has a natural gas transportation agreement with a subsidiary of CMS Energy that extends through 2038, related to a pipeline owned by Consumers. This agreement is accounted for as a direct finance lease and will automatically extend annually unless terminated by either party. The effects of the lease are eliminated on CMS Energy’s consolidated financial statements.
Minimum rental payments to be received under Consumers’ direct financing leases are $1 million for each of the next five years and $17 million for the years thereafter. The lease receivable was $10 million as of December 31, 2021, which does not include unearned income of $12 million.
Minimum rental payments to be received under CMS Energy’s direct finance lease are less than $1 million for each of the next five years and $6 million for the years thereafter. The lease receivable was $5 million as of December 31, 2021, which does not include unearned income of $4 million.
Palisades Financing
In 2007, Consumers sold Palisades to Entergy and entered into a 15-year PPA to purchase virtually all of the capacity and energy produced by Palisades, up to the annual average capacity of 798 MW. Consumers accounted for this transaction as a financing because of its continuing involvement with Palisades through security provided to Entergy for the PPA obligation and other arrangements. Palisades has therefore remained on Consumers’ consolidated balance sheets and Consumers has continued to depreciate it. At the time of the sale, Consumers recorded the sales proceeds as a financing obligation, and has subsequently recorded a portion of the payments under the PPA as interest expense and as a reduction of the financing obligation.
Total amortization and interest charges under the financing were $14 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, and $15 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2021, the Palisades asset and financing obligation both had a balance of $3 million. The finance obligation reflects Consumers’ remaining minimum Palisades PPA payments.
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9:    Asset Retirement Obligations
CMS Energy and Consumers record the fair value of the cost to remove assets at the end of their useful lives, if there is a legal obligation to remove them. If a reasonable estimate of fair value cannot be made in the period in which the ARO is incurred, such as for assets with indeterminate lives, the liability is recognized when a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. CMS Energy and Consumers have not recorded liabilities associated with the closure of certain gas wells that have an indeterminate life. CMS Energy and Consumers have not recorded liabilities for assets that have immaterial cumulative disposal costs, such as substation batteries.
CMS Energy and Consumers calculate the fair value of ARO liabilities using an expected present-value technique that reflects assumptions about costs and inflation, and uses a credit-adjusted risk-free rate to discount the expected cash flows. CMS Energy’s ARO liabilities are primarily at Consumers.
Presented below are the categories of assets that CMS Energy and Consumers have legal obligations to remove at the end of their useful lives and for which they have an ARO liability recorded:
Company and ARO DescriptionIn-Service DateLong-Lived Assets
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Closure of coal ash disposal areasvariousGenerating plants coal ash areas
Gas distribution cut, purge, and capvariousGas distribution mains and services
Asbestos abatement1973Electric and gas utility plant
Closure of renewable generation assetsvariousWind and solar generation facilities
Gas wells plug and abandonvariousGas transmission and storage
Consumers
Closure of coal ash disposal areasvariousGenerating plants coal ash areas
Gas distribution cut, purge, and capvariousGas distribution mains and services
Asbestos abatement1973Electric and gas utility plant
Closure of renewable generation assetsvariousWind and solar generation facilities
Gas wells plug and abandonvariousGas transmission and storage
No assets have been restricted for purposes of settling AROs.
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Presented in the following tables are the changes in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ ARO liabilities:
In Millions
Company and ARO DescriptionARO Liability 12/31/2020IncurredSettledAccretionCash Flow RevisionsARO Liability 12/31/2021
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Consumers$530 $71 $(53)$24 $33 $605 
Renewable generation assets23 — — — — 23 
Total CMS Energy$553 $71 $(53)$24 $33 $628 
Consumers
Coal ash disposal areas$148 $— $(34)$5 $38 $157 
Gas distribution cut, purge, and cap240 39 (10)13 — 282 
Asbestos abatement36 — — 2 — 38 
Renewable generation assets74 16 — 3 — 93 
Gas wells plug and abandon32 16 (9)1 (5)35 
Total Consumers$530 $71 $(53)$24 $33 $605 
In Millions
Company and ARO DescriptionARO Liability 12/31/2019IncurredSettledAccretionCash Flow RevisionsARO Liability 12/31/2020
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Consumers$474 $46 $(41)$23 $28 $530 
Renewable generation assets3 19 — 1 — 23 
Total CMS Energy$477 $65 $(41)$24 $28 $553 
Consumers
Coal ash disposal areas$166 $— $(24)$6 $— $148 
Gas distribution cut, purge, and cap231 1 (5)13 — 240 
Asbestos abatement34 — — 2 — 36 
Renewable generation assets21 24 — 1 28 74 
Gas wells plug and abandon22 16 (7)1 — 32 
Cable under Straits of Mackinac— 5 (5)— — — 
Total Consumers$474 $46 $(41)$23 $28 $530 
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10:    Retirement Benefits
Benefit Plans: CMS Energy and Consumers provide pension, OPEB, and other retirement benefits to employees under a number of different plans. These plans include:
•non‑contributory, qualified DB Pension Plans (closed to new non‑union participants as of July 1, 2003 and closed to new union participants as of September 1, 2005)
•a non‑contributory, qualified DCCP for employees hired on or after July 1, 2003
•benefits to certain management employees under a non‑contributory, nonqualified DB SERP (closed to new participants as of March 31, 2006)
•a non‑contributory, nonqualified DC SERP for certain management employees hired or promoted on or after April 1, 2006
•a contributory, qualified defined contribution 401(k) plan
•health care and life insurance benefits under an OPEB Plan
DB Pension Plans: Participants in the pension plans include present and former employees of CMS Energy and Consumers, including certain present and former affiliates and subsidiaries. Pension plan trust assets are not distinguishable by company. Effective December 31, 2017, CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ then-existing pension plan was amended to include only retired and former employees already covered; this amended plan is referred to as DB Pension Plan B. Also effective December 31, 2017, active employees were moved to a newly created pension plan, referred to as DB Pension Plan A, whose benefits mirror those provided under DB Pension Plan B. Maintaining separate plans for the two groups allows CMS Energy and Consumers to employ a more targeted investment strategy and provides additional opportunities to mitigate risk and volatility.
In November 2021, CMS Energy and Consumers determined that 2021 lump-sum payments to retired employees under DB Pension Plan A would exceed the plan’s service cost and interest cost components of net periodic cost for the year. These lump-sum payments constitute pension plan liability settlements; once such settlements meet the service and interest cost threshold, recognition in earnings is required. As a result, in accordance with GAAP, CMS Energy, including Consumers, performed a remeasurement of DB Pension Plan A as of October 31, 2021 and recognized a settlement loss of $18 million; $18 million of this amount was recognized by Consumers and deferred as a regulatory asset. At December 31, 2021, CMS Energy, including Consumers, recognized an additional settlement loss of $4 million for the period November 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021; $3 million of this amount was recognized by Consumers and deferred as a regulatory asset. CMS Energy and Consumers will amortize the regulatory asset over eight years.
DCCP: CMS Energy and Consumers provide an employer contribution to the DCCP 401(k) plan for employees hired on or after July 1, 2003. The contribution ranges from five percent to ten percent of base pay, depending on years of service and employee class. Employees are not required to contribute in order to receive the plan’s employer contribution. DCCP expense for CMS Energy, including Consumers, was $41 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, $31 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, and $29 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. DCCP expense for Consumers was $41 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, $31 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, and $28 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.
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DB SERP: The DB SERP is a nonqualified plan as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. DB SERP benefits are paid from a rabbi trust established in 1988. The trust assets are not considered plan assets under ASC 715. DB SERP rabbi trust earnings are taxable. Presented in the following table are the fair values of trust assets, ABO, and contributions for CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ DB SERP:
In Millions
Years Ended December 3120212020
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Trust assets$142 $146 
ABO149 159 
Contributions— 8 
Consumers
Trust assets$104 $107 
ABO108 115 
Contributions— 5 
DC SERP: On April 1, 2006, CMS Energy and Consumers implemented a DC SERP and froze further new participation in the DB SERP. The DC SERP provides participants benefits ranging from five percent to 15 percent of total compensation. The DC SERP requires a minimum of five years of participation before vesting. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ contributions to the plan, if any, are placed in a grantor trust. For CMS Energy and Consumers, trust assets were $13 million at December 31, 2021 and $11 million at December 31, 2020. DC SERP assets are included in other non‑current assets on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ consolidated balance sheets. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ DC SERP expense was $2 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019.
401(k) Plan: The 401(k) plan employer match equals 100 percent of eligible contributions up to the first three percent of an employee’s wages and 50 percent of eligible contributions up to the next two percent of an employee’s wages. The total 401(k) plan cost for CMS Energy, including Consumers, was $31 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, $29 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, and $28 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The total 401(k) plan cost for Consumers was $31 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, $29 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, and $27 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.
OPEB Plan: Participants in the OPEB Plan include all regular full-time employees covered by the employee health care plan on the day before retirement from either CMS Energy or Consumers at age 55 or older with at least ten full years of applicable continuous service. Regular full-time employees who qualify for disability retirement under the DB Pension Plans or are disabled and covered by the DCCP and who have 15 years of applicable continuous service may also participate in the OPEB Plan. Retiree health care costs were based on the assumption that costs would increase 6.25 percent in 2022 and 6.50 percent in 2021 for those under 65 and would increase 6.75 percent in 2022 and 7.00 percent in 2021 for those over 65. The rate of increase was assumed to decline to 4.75 percent by 2028 and thereafter for all retirees.
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Assumptions: Presented in the following table are the weighted-average assumptions used in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ retirement benefit plans to determine benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost:
December 31202120202019
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Weighted average for benefit obligations1
Discount rate2
DB Pension Plan A3.02 %2.73 %3.37 %
DB Pension Plan B2.79 2.41 3.17 
DB SERP2.78 2.40 3.15 
OPEB Plan2.99 2.69 3.32 
Rate of compensation increase
DB Pension Plan A3.60 3.70 3.50 
DB SERP5.50 5.50 5.50 
Weighted average for net periodic benefit cost1
Service cost discount rate2,3
DB Pension Plan A2.83 %3.44 %4.55 %
DB SERP2.84 3.46 4.58 
OPEB Plan3.03 3.57 4.63 
Interest cost discount rate2,3
DB Pension Plan A1.97 2.92 4.08 
DB Pension Plan B1.70 2.74 3.93 
DB SERP1.72 2.74 3.94 
OPEB Plan1.99 2.88 4.03 
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets4
DB Pension Plans6.75 6.75 7.00 
OPEB Plan6.75 6.75 7.00 
Rate of compensation increase
DB Pension Plan A3.70 3.50 3.50 
DB SERP5.50 5.50 5.50 
1The mortality assumption for benefit obligations was based on the Pri-2012 Mortality Table, with improvement scales MP-2021 for 2021, MP-2020 for 2020, and MP-2019 for 2019. The mortality assumption for net periodic benefit cost was based on the Pri-2012 Mortality Table for 2021 and 2020 and the RP-2014 Mortality Table for 2019, with improvement scales MP-2020 for 2021, MP-2019 for 2020, and MP-2018 for 2019.
2The discount rate reflects the rate at which benefits could be effectively settled and is equal to the equivalent single rate resulting from a yield-curve analysis. This analysis incorporated the projected benefit payments specific to CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ DB Pension Plans and OPEB Plan and the yields on high-quality corporate bonds rated Aa or better.
3CMS Energy and Consumers have elected to use a full-yield-curve approach in the estimation of service cost and interest cost; this approach applies individual spot rates along the yield curve to future projected benefit payments based on the time of payment.
4CMS Energy and Consumers determined the long-term rate of return using historical market returns, the present and expected future economic environment, the capital market principles of risk and return, and the
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expert opinions of individuals and firms with financial market knowledge. CMS Energy and Consumers considered the asset allocation of the portfolio in forecasting the future expected total return of the portfolio. The goal was to determine a long-term rate of return that could be incorporated into the planning of future cash flow requirements in conjunction with the change in the liability. Annually, CMS Energy and Consumers review for reasonableness and appropriateness the forecasted returns for various classes of assets used to construct an expected return model. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ expected long-term rate of return on the assets of the DB Pension Plans was 6.75 percent in 2021. The actual return on the assets of the DB Pension Plans was 12.0 percent in 2021, 13.6 percent in 2020, and 21.0 percent in 2019.
Costs: Presented in the following table are the costs (credits) and other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations incurred in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ retirement benefit plans:
In Millions
DB Pension Plans and DB SERPOPEB Plan
Years Ended December 31202120202019202120202019
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Net periodic cost (credit)
Service cost$53 $50 $41 $18 $16 $14 
Interest cost63 83 103 23 33 41 
Settlement loss1 1 — — — — 
Expected return on plan assets(208)(191)(162)(109)(100)(88)
Amortization of:
Net loss100 95 50 8 15 26 
Prior service cost (credit)4 1 1 (53)(56)(62)
Settlement loss6 2 — — — — 
Net periodic cost (credit)$19 $41 $33 $(113)$(92)$(69)
Consumers
Net periodic cost (credit)
Service cost$51 $49 $40 $17 $15 $13 
Interest cost59 78 97 23 31 40 
Expected return on plan assets(197)(181)(153)(102)(93)(82)
Amortization of:
Net loss96 90 47 8 15 26 
Prior service cost (credit)4 1 1 (51)(54)(61)
Settlement loss6 2 — — — — 
Net periodic cost (credit)$19 $39 $32 $(105)$(86)$(64)
CMS Energy and Consumers amortize net gains and losses in excess of ten percent of the greater of the PBO or the MRV over the average remaining service period for DB Pension Plan A and the OPEB Plan and over the average remaining life expectancy of participants for DB Pension Plan B. For DB Pension Plan A, the estimated period of amortization of gains and losses was eight years for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, and nine years for the year ended December 31, 2019. For DB Pension Plan B, the estimated period of amortization of gains and losses was 18 years for the year ended December 31, 2021, 19 years for the year ended December 31, 2020, and 20 years for the year ended December 31, 2019. For the OPEB Plan, the estimated amortization period was nine years for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, and ten years for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Prior service cost (credit) amortization is established in the year in which the prior service cost (credit) first occurred, and is based on the same amortization period for all future years until the prior service cost
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(credit) is fully amortized. CMS Energy and Consumers had new prior service costs for DB Pension Plan A in 2020. The estimated period of amortization of these new prior service costs is eight years.
CMS Energy and Consumers determine the MRV for the assets of the DB Pension Plans as the fair value of plan assets on the measurement date, adjusted by the gains or losses that will not be admitted into the MRV until future years. CMS Energy and Consumers reflect each year’s gain or loss in the MRV in equal amounts over a five-year period beginning on the date the original amount was determined. CMS Energy and Consumers determine the MRV for OPEB Plan assets as the fair value of assets on the measurement date.
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Reconciliations: Presented in the following table are reconciliations of the funded status of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ retirement benefit plans with their retirement benefit plans’ liabilities:
In Millions
DB Pension PlansDB SERPOPEB Plan
Years Ended December 31202120202021202020212020
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Benefit obligation at beginning of period$3,266 $2,973 $160 $150 $1,205 $1,165 
Service cost53 50 — — 18 16 
Interest cost60 79 3 4 23 33 
Plan amendments— 24 — — 5 — 
Actuarial loss (gain)(108)
1
355 
1
(4)16 (32)
1
39 
1
Benefits paid(201)(215)(10)(10)(53)(48)
Benefit obligation at end of period$3,070 $3,266 $149 $160 $1,166 $1,205 
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of period$3,402 $2,546 $— $— $1,645 $1,509 
Actual return on plan assets398 371 — — 194 182 
Company contribution— 700 10 10 — 1 
Actual benefits paid(201)(215)(10)(10)(52)(47)
Plan assets at fair value at end of period$3,599 $3,402 $— $— $1,787 $1,645 
Funded status$529 
2
$136 
2
$(149)$(160)$621 $440 
Consumers
Benefit obligation at beginning of period$117 $109 $1,158 $1,120 
Service cost— — 17 15 
Interest cost2 3 23 31 
Plan amendments— — 5 — 
Actuarial loss (gain)(3)12 (30)
1
37 
1
Benefits paid(7)(7)(51)(45)
Benefit obligation at end of period$109 $117 $1,122 $1,158 
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of period$— $— $1,535 $1,410 
Actual return on plan assets— — 182 169 
Company contribution7 7 — 1 
Actual benefits paid(7)(7)(49)(45)
Plan assets at fair value at end of period$— $— $1,668 $1,535 
Funded status$(109)$(117)$546 $377 
1The actuarial gains for 2021 for the DB Pension Plans and OPEB Plan were primarily the result of higher discount rates. The actuarial loss for 2020 for the DB Pension Plans was primarily the result of lower discount rates and lower interest rates used to calculate the value of lump-sum payments. The actuarial loss for 2020 for the OPEB Plan was primarily the result of lower discount rates.
2The total funded status of the DB Pension Plans attributable to Consumers, based on an allocation of expenses, was $510 million at December 31, 2021 and $138 million at December 31, 2020.
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Presented in the following table is the classification of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ retirement benefit plans’ assets and liabilities:
In Millions
December 3120212020
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Non-current assets
DB Pension Plans$529 $136 
OPEB Plan621 440 
Current liabilities
DB SERP10 10 
Non-current liabilities
DB SERP139 150 
Consumers
Non-current assets
DB Pension Plans$510 $138 
OPEB Plan546 377 
Current liabilities
DB SERP7 7 
Non-current liabilities
DB SERP102 110 
The ABO for the DB Pension Plans was $2.7 billion at December 31, 2021 and $2.9 billion at December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the PBO and ABO did not exceed plan assets for any of the defined benefit pension plans.
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Items Not Yet Recognized as a Component of Net Periodic Benefit Cost: Presented in the following table are the amounts recognized in regulatory assets, regulatory liabilities, and AOCI that have not been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost. For additional details on regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities, see Note 2, Regulatory Matters.
In Millions
DB Pension Plans and DB SERPOPEB Plan
December 312021202020212020
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Regulatory assets (liabilities)
Net loss$812 $1,194 $136 $254 
Prior service cost (credit)25 29 (190)(246)
Regulatory assets (liabilities)$837 $1,223 $(54)$8 
AOCI
Net loss (gain)94 120 (17)(10)
Prior service cost (credit)— 1 (5)(6)
Total amounts recognized in regulatory assets (liabilities) and AOCI$931 $1,344 $(76)$(8)
Consumers
Regulatory assets (liabilities)
Net loss$812 $1,194 $136 $254 
Prior service cost (credit)25 29 (190)(246)
Regulatory assets (liabilities)$837 $1,223 $(54)$8 
AOCI
Net loss41 47 — — 
Total amounts recognized in regulatory assets (liabilities) and AOCI$878 $1,270 $(54)$8 
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Plan Assets: Presented in the following tables are the fair values of the assets of CMS Energy’s DB Pension Plans and OPEB Plan, by asset category and by level within the fair value hierarchy. For additional details regarding the fair value hierarchy, see Note 5, Fair Value Measurements.
In Millions
DB Pension Plans
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
TotalLevel 1Level 2TotalLevel 1Level 2
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Cash and short-term investments$30 $30 $— $115 $115 $— 
U.S. government and agencies securities209 — 209 150 — 150 
Corporate debt595 — 595 540 — 540 
State and municipal bonds13 — 13 11 — 11 
Foreign corporate bonds66 — 66 41 — 41 
Mutual funds785 785 — 971 971 — 
$1,698 $815 $883 $1,828 $1,086 $742 
Pooled funds1,901 1,574 
Total$3,599 $3,402 
In Millions
OPEB Plan
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
TotalLevel 1Level 2TotalLevel 1Level 2
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Cash and short-term investments$21 $21 $— $33 $33 $— 
U.S. government and agencies securities25 — 25 18 — 18 
Corporate debt73 — 73 64 — 64 
State and municipal bonds2 — 2 2 — 2 
Foreign corporate bonds8 — 8 5 — 5 
Common stocks85 85 — 66 66 — 
Mutual funds941 941 — 807 807 — 
$1,155 $1,047 $108 $995 $906 $89 
Pooled funds632 650 
Total$1,787 $1,645 
Cash and Short-Term Investments: Cash and short-term investments consist of money market funds with daily liquidity.
U.S. Government and Agencies Securities: U.S. government and agencies securities consist of U.S. Treasury notes and other debt securities backed by the U.S. government and related agencies. These securities are valued based on quoted market prices.
Corporate Debt: Corporate debt investments consist of investment grade bonds of U.S. issuers from diverse industries. These securities are valued based on quoted market prices, when available, or yields available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings.
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State and Municipal Bonds: State and municipal bonds are valued using a matrix-pricing model that incorporates Level 2 market-based information. The fair value of the bonds is derived from various observable inputs, including benchmark yields, reported securities trades, broker/dealer quotes, bond ratings, and general information on market movements for investment grade state and municipal securities normally considered by market participants when pricing such debt securities.
Foreign Corporate Bonds: Foreign corporate debt securities are valued based on quoted market prices, when available, or on yields available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings.
Common Stocks: Common stocks in the OPEB Plan consist of equity securities that are actively managed and tracked to the S&P 500 Index. These securities are valued at their quoted closing prices.
Mutual Funds: Mutual funds represent shares in registered investment companies that are priced based on the daily quoted net asset values that are publicly available and are the basis for transactions to buy or sell shares in the funds.
Pooled Funds: Pooled funds include both common and collective trust funds as well as special funds that contain only employee benefit plan assets from two or more unrelated benefit plans. These funds primarily consist of U.S. and foreign equity securities, but also include U.S. and foreign fixed-income securities and multi-asset investments. Since these investments are valued at their net asset value as a practical expedient, they are not classified in the fair value hierarchy.
Asset Allocations: Presented in the following table are the investment components of the assets of CMS Energy’s DB Pension Plans and OPEB Plan as of December 31, 2021:
DB Pension PlansOPEB Plan
Equity securities54.0 %55.0 %
Fixed-income securities28.0 28.0 
Real asset investments12.0 12.0 
Multi-asset investments5.0 4.0 
Cash and Cash Equivalents1.0 1.0 
100.0 %100.0 %
CMS Energy’s target 2021 asset allocation for the assets of the DB Pension Plans was 54 percent equity, 29 percent fixed income, 12 percent real assets, and five percent multi-asset investments.
CMS Energy established union and non‑union VEBA trusts to fund future retiree health and life insurance benefits. These trusts are funded through the ratemaking process for Consumers and through direct contributions from the non‑utility subsidiaries. CMS Energy’s target 2021 asset allocation for the health trusts was 55 percent equity, 30 percent fixed income, 12 percent real assets, and three percent multi-asset investments. CMS Energy’s target asset allocation for the life trusts was 53 percent equity, 32 percent fixed income, and 15 percent multi-asset investments.
The goal of these target allocations was to maximize the long-term return on plan assets, while maintaining a prudent level of risk. The level of acceptable risk is a function of the liabilities of the plans. Equity investments are diversified mostly across the S&P 500 Index, with lesser allocations to the S&P MidCap and SmallCap Indexes and Foreign Equity Funds. Fixed-income investments are diversified across investment grade instruments of government and corporate issuers, as well as high-yield and global bond funds. Real asset investments are diversified across real estate investment trusts, public infrastructure, and public resource equity. Multi-asset investments are global tactical asset allocations.
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CMS Energy uses annual liability measurements, quarterly portfolio reviews, and periodic asset/liability studies to evaluate the need for adjustments to the portfolio allocations.
Contributions: Presented in the following table are the contributions to CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ DB Pension Plans and OPEB Plan:
In Millions
Years Ended December 3120212020
CMS Energy, including Consumers
DB Pension Plans$— $700 
OPEB Plan— 1 
Consumers
DB Pension Plans$— $682 
OPEB Plan— 1 
Contributions comprise required amounts and discretionary contributions. Neither CMS Energy nor Consumers plans to contribute to the DB Pension Plans or OPEB Plan in 2022. Actual future contributions will depend on future investment performance, discount rates, and various factors related to the participants of the DB Pension Plans and OPEB Plan. CMS Energy and Consumers will, at a minimum, contribute to the plans as needed to comply with federal funding requirements.
Benefit Payments: Presented in the following table are the expected benefit payments for each of the next five years and the five-year period thereafter:
In Millions
DB Pension PlansDB SERPOPEB Plan
CMS Energy, including Consumers
2022$185 $10 $52 
2023181 10 54 
2024178 10 56 
2025180 10 58 
2026178 9 59 
2027-2031876 45 308 
Consumers
2022$175 $7 $49 
2023171 7 52 
2024169 7 54 
2025170 7 55 
2026169 6 56 
2027-2031830 31 294 
Collective Bargaining Agreements: At December 31, 2021, unions represented 41 percent of CMS Energy’s employees and 42 percent of Consumers’ employees. The UWUA represents Consumers’ operating, maintenance, construction, and customer contact center employees. The USW represents Zeeland plant employees. The UWUA and USW agreements expired and new agreements were ratified in 2020. These union contracts expire in 2025.
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11:    Stock-Based Compensation
CMS Energy and Consumers provide a PISP to officers, employees, and non‑employee directors based on their contributions to the successful management of the company. The PISP has a ten-year term, expiring in May 2030.
In 2021, all awards were in the form of restricted stock or restricted stock units. The PISP also allows for unrestricted common stock, stock options, stock appreciation rights, phantom shares, performance units, and incentive options, none of which was granted in 2021, 2020, or 2019.
Shares awarded or subject to stock options, phantom shares, or performance units may not exceed 6.5 million shares from June 2020 through May 2030. CMS Energy and Consumers may issue awards of up to 5,927,297 shares of common stock under the PISP as of December 31, 2021. Shares for which payment or exercise is in cash, as well as shares that expire, terminate, or are canceled or forfeited, may be awarded or granted again under the PISP.
All awards under the PISP vest fully upon death. Upon a change of control of CMS Energy or termination under an officer separation agreement, the awards will vest in accordance with specific officer agreements. If stated in the award, for restricted stock recipients who terminate employment due to retirement or disability, a pro-rata portion of the award will vest upon termination, with any market-based award also contingent upon the outcome of the market condition and any performance-based award contingent upon the outcome of the performance condition. The pro-rata portion is equal to the portion of the service period served between the award grant date and the employee’s termination date. The remaining portion of the awards will be forfeited. All awards for directors vest fully upon retirement. Restricted shares may be forfeited if employment terminates for any other reason or if the minimum service requirements are not met, as described in the award document.
Restricted Stock Awards: Restricted stock awards for employees under the PISP are in the form of performance-based, market-based, and time-lapse restricted stock. Award recipients receive shares of CMS Energy common stock that have dividend and voting rights. The dividends on time-lapse restricted stock are paid in cash or in CMS Energy common stock. The dividends on performance-based and market-based restricted stock are paid in restricted shares equal to the value of the dividends. These additional restricted shares are subject to the same vesting conditions as the underlying restricted stock shares.
Performance-based restricted stock vesting is contingent on meeting at least a 36-month service requirement and a performance condition. The performance condition is based on an adjusted measure of CMS Energy’s EPS growth relative to a peer group over a three-year period. The awards granted in 2021, 2020, and 2019 require a 38-month service period. Market-based restricted stock vesting is generally contingent on meeting a three-year service requirement and a market condition. The market condition is based on a comparison of CMS Energy’s total shareholder return with the median total shareholder return of a peer group over the same three-year period. Depending on the outcome of the performance condition or the market condition, a recipient may earn a total award ranging from zero to 200 percent of the initial grant. Time-lapse restricted stock generally vests after a service period of three years.
Restricted Stock Units: In 2021, 2020, and 2019, CMS Energy and Consumers granted restricted stock units to certain non‑employee directors who elected to defer their restricted stock awards. The restricted stock units generally vest after a service period of one year or, if earlier, at the next annual meeting. The restricted stock units will be distributed to the recipients as shares in accordance with the directors’ deferral agreements. Restricted stock units do not have voting rights, but do have dividend rights. In lieu of cash dividend payments, the dividends on restricted stock units are paid in additional units equal to the value of the dividends. These additional restricted stock units are subject to the same vesting and
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distribution conditions as the underlying restricted stock units. No restricted stock units were forfeited during 2021.
Presented in the following tables is the activity for restricted stock and restricted stock units under the PISP:
CMS Energy, including ConsumersConsumers
Year Ended December 31, 2021Number of
Shares		Weighted-Average
Grant Date Fair Value
per Share		Number of
Shares		Weighted-Average
Grant Date Fair Value
per Share
Nonvested at beginning of period817,357 $51.68 781,531 $51.73 
Granted
Restricted stock547,201 43.52 517,141 42.85 
Restricted stock units13,867 54.11 13,093 53.93 
Vested
Restricted stock(408,011)29.46 (388,009)29.55 
Restricted stock units(15,577)48.15 (14,891)48.09 
Forfeited – restricted stock(22,264)57.90 (21,780)58.01 
Nonvested at end of period932,573 $56.56 887,085 $56.19 
Year Ended December 31, 2021CMS Energy, including
Consumers		Consumers
Granted
Time-lapse awards118,290 112,128 
Market-based awards143,843 135,638 
Performance-based awards143,843 135,638 
Restricted stock units11,725 11,035 
Dividends on market-based awards15,661 14,890 
Dividends on performance-based awards15,964 15,175 
Dividends on restricted stock units2,142 2,058 
Additional market-based shares based on achievement of condition59,736 56,505 
Additional performance-based shares based on achievement of condition49,864 47,167 
Total granted561,068 530,234 
CMS Energy and Consumers charge the fair value of the restricted stock awards to expense over the required service period and charge the fair value of the restricted stock units to expense immediately. For performance-based awards, CMS Energy and Consumers estimate the number of shares expected to vest at the end of the performance period based on the probable achievement of the performance objective. Performance-based and market-based restricted stock awards have graded vesting features for retirement-eligible employees, and CMS Energy and Consumers recognize expense for those awards on a graded vesting schedule over the required service period. Expense for performance-based and market-based restricted stock awards for non‑retirement-eligible employees and time-lapse awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the required service period.
The fair value of performance-based and time-lapse restricted stock and restricted stock units is based on the price of CMS Energy’s common stock on the grant date. The fair value of market-based restricted stock awards is calculated on the grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation. CMS Energy and Consumers
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base expected volatilities on the historical volatility of the price of CMS Energy common stock. The risk-free rate for valuation of the market-based restricted stock awards was based on the three-year U.S. Treasury yield at the award grant date.
Presented in the following table are the most significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the market-based restricted stock awards:
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Expected volatility27.6 %14.2 %14.9 %
Expected dividend yield2.8 2.4 2.8 
Risk-free rate0.2 1.6 2.5 
Presented in the following table is the weighted-average grant-date fair value of all awards under the PISP:
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Weighted-average grant-date fair value per share
Restricted stock granted$43.52 $45.56 $43.57 
Restricted stock units granted54.11 49.76 50.35 
Consumers
Weighted-average grant-date fair value per share
Restricted stock granted$42.85 $45.53 $43.57 
Restricted stock units granted53.93 49.70 51.15 
Presented in the following table are amounts related to restricted stock awards and restricted stock units:
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Fair value of shares that vested during the year$25 $22 $26 
Compensation expense recognized22 11 22 
Income tax benefit recognized1 3 1 
Consumers
Fair value of shares that vested during the year$24 $21 $25 
Compensation expense recognized21 10 21 
Income tax benefit recognized1 3 1 
At December 31, 2021, $24.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost was related to restricted stock for CMS Energy, including Consumers, and $22.9 million of total unrecognized compensation cost was related to restricted stock for Consumers. CMS Energy and Consumers expect to recognize this cost over a weighted-average period of two years.
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12:    Income Taxes
CMS Energy and its subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return as well as a Michigan Corporate Income Tax return for the unitary business group and various other state unitary group combined income tax returns. Income taxes are allocated based on each company’s separate taxable income in accordance with the CMS Energy tax sharing agreement.
Presented in the following table is the difference between actual income tax expense on continuing operations and income tax expense computed by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate:
In Millions, Except Tax Rate
Years Ended December 31202120202019
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Income from continuing operations before income taxes$823 $809 $764 
Income tax expense at statutory rate173 170 160 
Increase (decrease) in income taxes from:
State and local income taxes, net of federal effect39 44 46 
TCJA excess deferred taxes1
(50)(35)(31)
Production tax credits(40)(28)(20)
Accelerated flow-through of regulatory tax benefits2
(28)(13)(13)
Research and development tax credits, net3
(3)(11)(2)
Refund of alternative minimum tax sequestration4
— (9)— 
Other, net4 (3)(9)
Income tax expense$95 $115 $131 
Effective tax rate11.5 %14.2 %17.1 %
Consumers
Income from continuing operations before income taxes$1,024 $989 $928 
Income tax expense at statutory rate215 208 195 
Increase (decrease) in income taxes from:
State and local income taxes, net of federal effect
54 47 53 
TCJA excess deferred taxes1
(50)(35)(31)
Accelerated flow-through of regulatory tax benefits2
(28)(13)(13)
Production tax credits(33)(19)(12)
Research and development tax credits, net3
(3)(11)(2)
Other, net1 (4)(5)
Income tax expense$156 $173 $185 
Effective tax rate15.2 %17.5 %19.9 %
1In September 2020, the MPSC authorized Consumers to accelerate the amortization of a regulatory liability associated with unprotected, non‑property-related excess deferred income taxes resulting from the TCJA. The regulatory liability, which was previously scheduled to be amortized through 2029, will now be fully amortized by the end of 2022.
2In September 2020, the MPSC authorized Consumers to accelerate the amortization of income tax benefits associated with the cost to remove gas plant assets. These tax benefits, which were previously scheduled to be amortized through 2025, will now be fully amortized by the end of 2022.
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3In March 2020, CMS Energy finalized a study of research and development tax credits for tax years 2012 through 2018. As a result, in 2020, CMS Energy, including Consumers, recognized a $9 million increase in the credit, net of reserves for uncertain tax positions. Of this amount, $8 million was recognized at Consumers.
4In January 2020, the IRS issued a decision restoring alternative minimum tax credit refunds sequestered in years prior to 2018. As a result, in 2020, CMS Energy recognized a $9 million income tax benefit for sequestered amounts related to its 2017 tax return. CMS Energy received the refund in April 2020.
Presented in the following table are the significant components of income tax expense on continuing operations:
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Current income taxes
Federal$(1)$(35)$(31)
State and local1 (2)28 
$— $(37)$(3)
Deferred income taxes
Federal49 100 84 
State and local49 57 29 
$98 $157 $113 
Deferred income tax credit(3)(5)21 
Tax expense$95 $115 $131 
Consumers
Current income taxes
Federal$(13)$3 $107 
State and local15 (7)41 
$2 $(4)$148 
Deferred income taxes
Federal103 115 (10)
State and local54 67 26 
$157 $182 $16 
Deferred income tax credit(3)(5)21 
Tax expense$156 $173 $185 
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Presented in the following table are the principal components of deferred income tax assets (liabilities) recognized:
In Millions
December 3120212020
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Deferred income tax assets
Tax loss and credit carryforwards$332 $483 
Net regulatory tax liability349 372 
Reserves and accruals32 62 
Total deferred income tax assets$713 $917 
Valuation allowance(2)(1)
Total deferred income tax assets, net of valuation allowance$711 $916 
Deferred income tax liabilities
Plant, property, and equipment$(2,395)$(2,287)
Employee benefits(399)(364)
Securitized costs(46)(53)
Gas inventory(22)(24)
Other(59)(51)
Total deferred income tax liabilities$(2,921)$(2,779)
Total net deferred income tax liabilities$(2,210)$(1,863)
Consumers
Deferred income tax assets
Net regulatory tax liability$349 $372 
Tax loss and credit carryforwards134 216 
Reserves and accruals24 24 
Total deferred income tax assets$507 $612 
Deferred income tax liabilities
Plant, property, and equipment$(2,341)$(2,230)
Employee benefits(388)(365)
Securitized costs(46)(53)
Gas inventory(22)(24)
Other(50)(34)
Total deferred income tax liabilities$(2,847)$(2,706)
Total net deferred income tax liabilities$(2,340)$(2,094)
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax effect of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets or liabilities and the reported amounts on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ consolidated financial statements.
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Presented in the following table are the tax loss and credit carryforwards at December 31, 2021:
In Millions
Tax AttributeExpiration
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Federal net operating loss carryforwards$3 None
State net operating loss carryforwards55 2030
Local net operating loss carryforwards3 2024 – 2040
General business credits264 2034 – 2041
Federal charitable contribution carryforwards6 2025
State charitable contribution carryforwards1 2025
Total tax attributes$332 
Consumers
Federal net operating loss carryforwards$2 None
State net operating loss carryforwards43 2030
General business credits83 2034-2041
Federal charitable contribution carryforwards5 2025
State charitable contribution carryforwards1 2025
Total tax attributes$134 
CMS Energy has provided a valuation allowance of $2 million for the local tax loss carryforward. CMS Energy and Consumers expect to utilize fully their tax loss and credit carryforwards for which no valuation allowance has been provided. It is reasonably possible that further adjustments will be made to the valuation allowances within one year.
In 2021, the sale of EnerBank to Regions Bank resulted in utilization of most of the federal net operating loss carryforwards. EnerBank is not included in CMS Energy’s Michigan tax filing, therefore state net operating loss carryforwards were not impacted by the sale of EnerBank.
Presented in the following table is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of uncertain tax benefits:
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Balance at beginning of period$25 $23 $19 
Additions for current-year tax positions2 1 1 
Additions for prior-year tax positions— 3 3 
Reductions for prior-year tax positions— (2)— 
Balance at end of period$27 $25 $23 
Consumers
Balance at beginning of period$31 $34 $28 
Additions for current-year tax positions3 1 1 
Additions for prior-year tax positions— 4 5 
Reductions for prior-year tax positions— (8)— 
Balance at end of period$34 $31 $34 
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If recognized, all of these uncertain tax benefits would affect CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ annual effective tax rates in future years. A trial is anticipated in 2022 with the Michigan Tax Tribunal related to the methodology of state apportionment for Consumers’ electricity sales to MISO; however, a final conclusion is not anticipated in the next 12 months.
CMS Energy and Consumers recognize accrued interest and penalties, where applicable, as part of income tax expense. CMS Energy, including Consumers, recognized no interest or penalties for each of the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, or 2019.
The amount of income taxes paid is subject to ongoing audits by federal, state, local, and foreign tax authorities, which can result in proposed assessments. CMS Energy’s federal income tax returns for 2018 and subsequent years remain subject to examination by the IRS. CMS Energy’s Michigan Corporate Income Tax returns for 2013 and subsequent years remain subject to examination by the State of Michigan. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ estimate of the potential outcome for any uncertain tax issue is highly judgmental. CMS Energy and Consumers believe that their accrued tax liabilities at December 31, 2021 were adequate for all years.
13:    Earnings Per Share—CMS Energy
Presented in the following table are CMS Energy’s basic and diluted EPS computations based on income from continuing operations:
In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Income available to common stockholders
Income from continuing operations$728 $694 $633 
Less income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests(23)(3)2 
Less preferred stock dividends5 — — 
Income from continuing operations available to common stockholders – basic and diluted$746 $697 $631 
Average common shares outstanding
Weighted-average shares – basic289.0 285.0 283.0 
Add dilutive nonvested stock awards0.5 0.7 0.7 
Add dilutive forward equity sale contracts— 0.6 0.6 
Weighted-average shares – diluted289.5 286.3 284.3 
Income from continuing operations per average common share available to common stockholders
Basic$2.58 $2.45 $2.23 
Diluted2.58 2.44 2.22 
Nonvested Stock Awards
CMS Energy’s nonvested stock awards are composed of participating and non‑participating securities. The participating securities accrue cash dividends when common stockholders receive dividends. Since the recipient is not required to return the dividends to CMS Energy if the recipient forfeits the award, the nonvested stock awards are considered participating securities. As such, the participating nonvested stock awards were included in the computation of basic EPS. The non‑participating securities accrue stock dividends that vest concurrently with the stock award. If the recipient forfeits the award, the stock dividends accrued on the non‑participating securities are also forfeited. Accordingly, the non‑participating
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awards and stock dividends were included in the computation of diluted EPS, but not in the computation of basic EPS.
Forward Equity Sale Contracts
CMS Energy has entered into forward equity sale contracts. These forward equity sale contracts are non‑participating securities. While the forward sale price in the forward equity sale contract is decreased on certain dates by certain predetermined amounts to reflect expected dividend payments, these price adjustments were set upon inception of the agreement and the forward contract does not give the owner the right to participate in undistributed earnings. Accordingly, the forward equity sale contracts were included in the computation of diluted EPS, but not in the computation of basic EPS. For further details on the forward equity sale contracts, see Note 4, Financings and Capitalization.
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14:    Revenue
Presented in the following tables are the components of operating revenue:
In Millions
Year Ended December 31, 2021Electric UtilityGas Utility
Enterprises1
Consolidated
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Consumers utility revenue$4,915 $2,046 $— $6,961 
Other— — 114 114 
Revenue recognized from contracts with customers$4,915 $2,046 $114 $7,075 
Leasing income— — 194 194 
Financing income10 5 — 15 
Consumers alternative-revenue programs33 12 — 45 
Total operating revenue – CMS Energy$4,958 $2,063 $308 $7,329 
Consumers
Consumers utility revenue
Residential$2,402 $1,396 $3,798 
Commercial1,573 396 1,969 
Industrial624 54 678 
Other316 200 516 
Revenue recognized from contracts with customers$4,915 $2,046 $6,961 
Financing income10 5 15 
Alternative-revenue programs33 12 45 
Total operating revenue – Consumers$4,958 $2,063 $7,021 
1Amounts represent the enterprises segment’s operating revenue from independent power production and its sales of energy commodities.
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In Millions
Year Ended December 31, 2020Electric UtilityGas Utility
Enterprises1
Consolidated
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Consumers utility revenue$4,348 $1,809 $— $6,157 
Other— — 81 81 
Revenue recognized from contracts with customers$4,348 $1,809 $81 $6,238 
Leasing income— — 148 148 
Financing income11 6 — 17 
Consumers alternative-revenue programs29 14 — 43 
Consumers revenues to be refunded(16)(12)— (28)
Total operating revenue – CMS Energy$4,372 $1,817 $229 $6,418 
Consumers
Consumers utility revenue
Residential$2,109 $1,232 $3,341 
Commercial1,444 337 1,781 
Industrial570 46 616 
Other225 194 419 
Revenue recognized from contracts with customers$4,348 $1,809 $6,157 
Financing income11 6 17 
Alternative-revenue programs29 14 43 
Revenues to be refunded(16)(12)(28)
Total operating revenue – Consumers$4,372 $1,817 $6,189 
1Amounts represent the enterprises segment’s operating revenue from independent power production and its sales of energy commodities.
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In Millions
Year Ended December 31, 2019Electric UtilityGas Utility
Enterprises1
Consolidated
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Consumers utility revenue$4,407 $1,922 $— $6,329 
Other— — 74 74 
Revenue recognized from contracts with customers$4,407 $1,922 $74 $6,403 
Leasing income— — 174 174 
Financing income9 5 — 14 
Consumers alternative-revenue programs23 10 — 33 
Total operating revenue – CMS Energy$4,439 $1,937 $248 $6,624 
Consumers
Consumers utility revenue
Residential$1,988 $1,316 $3,304 
Commercial1,502 372 1,874 
Industrial669 51 720 
Other248 183 431 
Revenue recognized from contracts with customers$4,407 $1,922 $6,329 
Financing income9 5 14 
Alternative-revenue programs23 10 33 
Total operating revenue – Consumers$4,439 $1,937 $6,376 
1Amounts represent the enterprises segment’s operating revenue from independent power production and its sales of energy commodities.
Electric and Gas Utilities
Consumers Utility Revenue: Consumers recognizes revenue primarily from the sale of electric and gas utility services at tariff-based rates regulated by the MPSC. Consumers’ customer base consists of a mix of residential, commercial, and diversified industrial customers. Consumers’ tariff-based sales performance obligations are described below.
•Consumers has performance obligations for the service of standing ready to deliver electricity or natural gas to customers, and it satisfies these performance obligations over time. Consumers recognizes revenue at a fixed rate as it provides these services. These arrangements generally do not have fixed terms and remain in effect as long as the customer consumes the utility service. The rates are set by the MPSC through the rate-making process and represent the stand-alone selling price of Consumers’ service to stand ready to deliver.
•Consumers has performance obligations for the service of delivering the commodity of electricity or natural gas to customers, and it satisfies these performance obligations upon delivery. Consumers recognizes revenue at a price per unit of electricity or natural gas delivered, based on the tariffs established by the MPSC. These arrangements generally do not have fixed terms and remain in effect as long as the customer consumes the utility service. The rates are set by the MPSC through the rate-making process and represent the stand-alone selling price of a bundled product comprising the commodity, electricity or natural gas, and the service of delivering such commodity.
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In some instances, Consumers has specific fixed-term contracts with large commercial and industrial customers to provide electricity or gas at certain tariff rates or to provide gas transportation services at contracted rates. The amount of electricity and gas to be delivered under these contracts and the associated future revenue to be received are generally dependent on the customers’ needs. Accordingly, Consumers recognizes revenues at the tariff or contracted rate as electricity or gas is delivered to the customer. Consumers also has other miscellaneous contracts with customers related to pole and other property rentals, appliance service plans, and utility contract work. Generally, these contracts are short term or evergreen in nature.
Accounts Receivable and Unbilled Revenues: Accounts receivable comprise trade receivables and unbilled receivables. CMS Energy and Consumers record their accounts receivable at cost less an allowance for uncollectible accounts. The allowance is increased for uncollectible accounts expense and decreased for account write-offs net of recoveries. CMS Energy and Consumers establish the allowance based on historical losses, management’s assessment of existing economic conditions, customer payment trends, and reasonable and supported forecast information. CMS Energy and Consumers assess late payment fees on trade receivables based on contractual past-due terms established with customers. Accounts are written off when deemed uncollectible, which is generally when they become six months past due.
CMS Energy and Consumers recorded uncollectible accounts expense of $22 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, $33 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, and $29 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Consumers’ customers are billed monthly in cycles having billing dates that do not generally coincide with the end of a calendar month. This results in customers having received electricity or natural gas that they have not been billed for as of the month-end. Consumers estimates its unbilled revenues by applying an average billed rate to total unbilled deliveries for each customer class. Unbilled revenues, which are recorded as accounts receivable and accrued revenue on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ consolidated balance sheets, were $486 million at December 31, 2021 and $437 million at December 31, 2020.
Alternative‑Revenue Programs: Consumers accounts for its energy waste reduction incentive mechanism and financial compensation mechanism as alternative-revenue programs. Consumers recognizes revenue related to the energy waste reduction incentive as soon as energy savings exceed the annual targets established by the MPSC and recognizes revenue related to the financial compensation mechanism as payments are made on MPSC-approved PPAs. For additional information on these mechanisms, see Note 2, Regulatory Matters.
Under a gas revenue decoupling mechanism authorized by the MPSC, Consumers is allowed to adjust future gas rates for differences between Consumers’ actual weather‑normalized, non‑fuel revenues and the revenues approved by the MPSC. Consumers accounts for this program as an alternative‑revenue program that meets the criteria for recognizing the effects of decoupling adjustments on revenue as gas is delivered.
Consumers does not reclassify revenue from its alternative-revenue program to revenue from contracts with customers at the time the amounts are collected from customers.
Revenues to Be Refunded: In December 2020, the MPSC issued an order authorizing Consumers to refund $28 million voluntarily to utility customers. For additional information, see Note 2, Regulatory Matters.
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15:    Other Income and Other Expense
Other income was not significant for any of the periods presented. Presented in the following table are the components of other expense at CMS Energy and Consumers:
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Other expense
Donations$(6)$(35)$(3)
Civic and political expenditures(5)(5)(6)
Loss on reacquired and extinguished debt— (16)— 
All other(7)(6)(4)
Total other expense – CMS Energy$(18)$(62)$(13)
Consumers
Other expense
Donations$(6)$(33)$(3)
Civic and political expenditures(5)(5)(6)
All other(7)(5)(4)
Total other expense – Consumers$(18)$(43)$(13)
16:    Cash and Cash Equivalents
Presented in the following table are the components of total cash and cash equivalents, including restricted amounts, and their location on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ consolidated balance sheets:
In Millions
December 3120212020
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Cash and cash equivalents$452 $32 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents24 17 
Current assets held for sale— 136 
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted amounts – CMS Energy$476 $185 
Consumers
Cash and cash equivalents$22 $20 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents22 15 
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted amounts – Consumers$44 $35 
Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents: Restricted cash and cash equivalents are held primarily for the repayment of securitization bonds and funds held in escrow. Cash and cash equivalents may also be restricted to pay other contractual obligations such as leasing of coal railcars. These amounts are classified as current assets since they relate to payments that could or will occur within one year.
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Current Assets Held for Sale: On October 1, 2021, EnerBank was acquired by Regions Bank. EnerBank’s cash and cash equivalents are presented as assets held for sale on CMS Energy’s consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2020. For information regarding the sale of EnerBank, see Note 20, Exit Activities and Discontinued Operations.
17:    Reportable Segments
Reportable segments consist of business units defined by the products and services they offer. CMS Energy and Consumers evaluate the performance of each segment based on its contribution to net income available to CMS Energy’s common stockholders.
Accounting policies for CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ segments are as described in Note 1, Significant Accounting Policies. The consolidated financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses of the individual segments when appropriate. Accounts are allocated among the segments when common accounts are attributable to more than one segment. The allocations are based on certain measures of business activities, such as revenue, labor dollars, customers, other operating and maintenance expense, construction expense, leased property, taxes, or functional surveys. For example, customer receivables are allocated based on revenue, and pension provisions are allocated based on labor dollars.
Inter-segment sales and transfers are accounted for at current market prices and are eliminated in consolidated net income available to common stockholders by segment. Inter-segment sales and transfers were immaterial for all periods presented.
CMS Energy
The segments reported for CMS Energy are:
•electric utility, consisting of regulated activities associated with the generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity in Michigan
•gas utility, consisting of regulated activities associated with the purchase, transmission, storage, distribution, and sale of natural gas in Michigan
•enterprises, consisting of various subsidiaries engaging in domestic independent power production, including the development and operation of renewable generation, and the marketing of independent power production
On October 1, 2021, EnerBank was acquired by Regions Bank. As a result, EnerBank is no longer included in the composition of CMS Energy’s reportable segments. EnerBank’s results of operations through the date of the sale are presented as income from discontinued operations on CMS Energy’s consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019. The assets and liabilities of EnerBank are presented as held for sale on CMS Energy’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2020. For information regarding the sale of EnerBank, see Note 20, Exit Activities and Discontinued Operations.
CMS Energy presents corporate interest and other expenses, discontinued operations, and Consumers’ other consolidated entities within other reconciling items. Beginning in 2021, CMS Land, which holds the environmental remediation obligations at Bay Harbor, will be included within other reconciling items rather than within the enterprises segment. This change was not material and was made to align segment reporting with the legal organization and internal reporting of CMS Energy.
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Consumers
The segments reported for Consumers are:
•electric utility, consisting of regulated activities associated with the generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity in Michigan
•gas utility, consisting of regulated activities associated with the purchase, transmission, storage, distribution, and sale of natural gas in Michigan
Consumers’ other consolidated entities are presented within other reconciling items.
Presented in the following tables is financial information by segment:
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Operating revenue
Electric utility$4,958 $4,372 $4,439 
Gas utility2,063 1,817 1,937 
Enterprises308 229 248 
Total operating revenue – CMS Energy$7,329 $6,418 $6,624 
Consumers
Operating revenue
Electric utility$4,958 $4,372 $4,439 
Gas utility2,063 1,817 1,937 
Total operating revenue – Consumers$7,021 $6,189 $6,376 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Depreciation and amortization
Electric utility$772 $739 $713 
Gas utility304 283 261 
Enterprises37 20 14 
Other reconciling items1 1 1 
Total depreciation and amortization – CMS Energy$1,114 $1,043 $989 
Consumers
Depreciation and amortization
Electric utility$772 $739 $713 
Gas utility304 283 261 
Other reconciling items1 1 1 
Total depreciation and amortization – Consumers$1,077 $1,023 $975 
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In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Income from equity method investees1
Enterprises$10 $5 $10 
Total income from equity method investees – CMS Energy$10 $5 $10 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Interest charges
Electric utility$207 $217 $213 
Gas utility104 102 83 
Enterprises6 7 7 
Other reconciling items183 179 157 
Total interest charges – CMS Energy$500 $505 $460 
Consumers
Interest charges
Electric utility$207 $217 $213 
Gas utility104 102 83 
Other reconciling items— 1 1 
Total interest charges – Consumers$311 $320 $297 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Income tax expense (benefit)
Electric utility$117 $115 $134 
Gas utility39 58 51 
Enterprises(2)(4)2 
Other reconciling items(59)(54)(56)
Total income tax expense – CMS Energy$95 $115 $131 
Consumers
Income tax expense
Electric utility$117 $115 $134 
Gas utility39 58 51 
Total income tax expense – Consumers$156 $173 $185 
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In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders
Electric utility$565 $554 $509 
Gas utility302 261 233 
Enterprises23 36 33 
Other reconciling items458 (96)(95)
Total net income available to common stockholders – CMS Energy$1,348 $755 $680 
Consumers
Net income (loss) available to common stockholder
Electric utility$565 $554 $509 
Gas utility302 261 233 
Other reconciling items(1)(1)(1)
Total net income available to common stockholder – Consumers$866 $814 $741 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Plant, property, and equipment, gross
Electric utility2
$18,147 $17,155 $16,158 
Gas utility2
10,601 9,581 8,785 
Enterprises1,122 1,113 405 
Other reconciling items23 21 20 
Total plant, property, and equipment, gross – CMS Energy$29,893 $27,870 $25,368 
Consumers
Plant, property, and equipment, gross
Electric utility2
$18,147 $17,155 $16,158 
Gas utility2
10,601 9,581 8,785 
Other reconciling items23 21 20 
Total plant, property, and equipment, gross – Consumers$28,771 $26,757 $24,963 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Investments in equity method investees1
Enterprises$71 $70 $71 
Total investments in equity method investees – CMS Energy$71 $70 $71 
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In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Total assets
Electric utility2
$16,493 $15,829 $14,911 
Gas utility2
10,517 9,429 8,659 
Enterprises1,312 1,276 527 
Other reconciling items431 3,132 2,740 
Total assets – CMS Energy$28,753 $29,666 $26,837 
Consumers
Total assets
Electric utility2
$16,555 $15,893 $14,973 
Gas utility2
10,564 9,477 8,706 
Other reconciling items21 29 20 
Total assets – Consumers$27,140 $25,399 $23,699 
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Capital expenditures3
Electric utility4
$1,153 $1,281 $1,162 
Gas utility4
989 885 971 
Enterprises17 108 5 
Other reconciling items2 1 1 
Total capital expenditures – CMS Energy$2,161 $2,275 $2,139 
Consumers
Capital expenditures3
Electric utility4
$1,153 $1,281 $1,162 
Gas utility4
989 885 971 
Other reconciling items2 1 1 
Total capital expenditures – Consumers$2,144 $2,167 $2,134 
1Consumers had no significant equity method investments.
2Amounts include a portion of Consumers’ other common assets attributable to both the electric and gas utility businesses.
3Amounts include assets placed under finance lease.
4Amounts include a portion of Consumers’ capital expenditures for plant and equipment attributable to both the electric and gas utility businesses.
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18:    Related-Party Transactions—Consumers
Consumers enters into a number of transactions with related parties in the normal course of business. These transactions include but are not limited to:
•purchases of electricity from affiliates of CMS Enterprises
•payments to and from CMS Energy related to parent company overhead costs
Transactions involving power supply purchases from certain affiliates of CMS Enterprises are based on avoided costs under PURPA, state law, and competitive bidding. The payment of parent company overhead costs is based on the use of accepted industry allocation methodologies. These payments are for costs that occur in the normal course of business.
Presented in the following table is Consumers’ expense recorded from related-party transactions for the years ended December 31:
In Millions
DescriptionRelated Party202120202019
Purchases of capacity and energyAffiliates of CMS Enterprises$77 $64 $75 
Amounts payable to related parties for purchased power and other services were $22 million at December 31, 2021 and $13 million at December 31, 2020. Accounts receivable from related parties were $7 million at December 31, 2021 and $16 million at December 31, 2020.
CMS Energy has a demand note payable to the DB SERP rabbi trust. The demand note bears interest at an annual rate of 4.10 percent and has a maturity date of 2028.The portion of the demand note attributable to Consumers was recorded as a note receivable – related party on Consumers’ consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Consumers has a natural gas transportation agreement with a subsidiary of CMS Energy that extends through 2038, related to a pipeline owned by Consumers. For additional details about the agreement, see Note 8, Leases and Palisades Financing.
In June 2021, Consumers entered into an agreement with DIG, CMS Generation Michigan Power, and CMS ERM to purchase the enterprises segment’s three natural gas-fueled generating units, totaling 1,001 MW of nameplate capacity for $515 million, subject to certain adjustments. The parties plan to close the sale, which is dependent upon regulatory approvals, in 2025.
In December 2021, Consumers renewed a short-term credit agreement with CMS Energy, permitting Consumers to borrow up to $500 million. For additional details about the agreement, see Note 4, Financings and Capitalization.
19:    Variable Interest Entities
CMS Enterprises has a 51-percent ownership interest in Aviator Wind Equity Holdings, which holds a Class B membership interest in Aviator Wind, a 525-MW wind generation project in Coke County, Texas. The Class A membership interest in Aviator Wind is held by a tax equity investor, BHE Renewables, LLC, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company. Earnings, tax attributes, and cash flows generated by Aviator Wind are allocated among and distributed to the membership classes in accordance with the ratios specified in the associated limited liability company operating agreement;
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these ratios change over time and are not representative of the ownership interest percentages of each membership class.
Aviator Wind Equity Holdings and Aviator Wind represent VIEs. In accordance with the associated limited liability company operating agreement, the tax equity investor is guaranteed preferred returns from Aviator Wind. However, CMS Enterprises manages and controls the operating activities of Aviator Wind Equity Holdings and, ultimately, Aviator Wind. As a result, CMS Enterprises is the primary beneficiary of Aviator Wind Equity Holdings and Aviator Wind, as it has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the companies, as well as the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the companies. CMS Enterprises consolidates Aviator Wind Equity Holdings and Aviator Wind and presents the Class A membership interest and 49 percent of the Class B membership interest in Aviator Wind as noncontrolling interests.
Presented in the following table are the carrying values of the VIEs’ assets and liabilities included on CMS Energy’s consolidated balance sheets:
In Millions
December 3120212020
Current
Cash and cash equivalents$20 $7 
Accounts receivable3 5 
Prepayments and other current assets1 1 
Non-current
Plant, property, and equipment, net671 692 
Total assets1
$695 $705 
Current
Accounts payable$15 $3 
Non-current
Asset retirement obligations20 19 
Total liabilities$35 $22 
1Assets may be used only to meet VIEs’ obligations and commitments.
CMS Enterprises is obligated under certain indemnities that protect the tax equity investor against losses incurred as a result of breaches of representations and warranties provided by Aviator Wind Equity Holdings and its subsidiaries. For additional details on these indemnity obligations, see Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments—Guarantees.
Since Aviator Wind’s income and cash flows are not distributed among its investors based on ownership interest percentages, CMS Enterprises allocates Aviator Wind’s income (loss) among its investors by applying the hypothetical liquidation at book value method. This method calculates each investor’s earnings based on a hypothetical liquidation of Aviator Wind at the net book value of its underlying net assets as of the balance sheet date. The liquidation tax gain (loss) is allocated to each investor’s capital account, resulting in income (loss) equal to the period change in the investor’s capital account balance. CMS Enterprises then receives 51 percent of the earnings, tax attributes, and cash flows that were allocated to Aviator Wind Equity Holdings.
Other VIEs: CMS Energy has variable interests in T.E.S. Filer City, Grayling, Genesee, and Craven. While CMS Energy owns 50 percent of each partnership, it is not the primary beneficiary of any of these partnerships because decision making is shared among unrelated parties, and no one party has the ability
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to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entities’ economic performance, such as operations and maintenance, plant dispatch, and fuel strategy. The partners must agree on all major decisions for each of the partnerships.
Presented in the following table is information about these partnerships:
NameNature of the EntityNature of CMS Energy’s Involvement
T.E.S. Filer City Coal-fueled power generatorLong-term PPA between partnership and Consumers
Employee assignment agreement
Grayling Wood waste-fueled power generatorLong-term PPA between partnership and Consumers
Reduced dispatch agreement with Consumers1
Operating and management contract
Genesee Wood waste-fueled power generatorLong-term PPA between partnership and Consumers
Reduced dispatch agreement with Consumers1
Operating and management contract
Craven Wood waste-fueled power generatorOperating and management contract
1Reduced dispatch agreements allow the facilities to be dispatched based on the market price of power compared with the cost of production of the plants. This results in fuel cost savings that each partnership shares with Consumers’ customers.
The creditors of these partnerships do not have recourse to the general credit of CMS Energy or Consumers. CMS Energy and Consumers have not provided any financial or other support during the periods presented that was not previously contractually required.
CMS Energy’s investment in these partnerships is included in investments on its consolidated balance sheets in the amount of $71 million at December 31, 2021 and $70 million at December 31, 2020.
20:    Exit Activities and Discontinued Operations
Exit Activities: Under its Clean Energy Plan, Consumers plans to retire the D.E. Karn coal-fueled electric generating units in 2023. In 2019, Consumers announced a retention incentive program to ensure necessary staffing at the D.E. Karn generating complex through the anticipated retirement of the coal-fueled generating units. Based on the number of employees that have chosen to participate, the aggregate cost of the program through 2023 is estimated to be $35 million. In its order in Consumers’ 2020 electric rate case, the MPSC approved deferred accounting treatment for these costs; Consumers began deferring these costs as a regulatory asset in 2021. Within its 2021 IRP, Consumers proposes to retire the J.H. Campbell coal-fueled generating units. No retention incentive costs related to this retirement will be recognized unless Consumers’ 2021 IRP is approved by the MPSC.
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As of December 31, 2021, the cumulative cost incurred and charged to expense related to the D.E. Karn retention incentive program was $16 million. Additionally, an amount of $4 million has been capitalized as a cost of plant, property, and equipment and an amount of $7 million has been deferred as a regulatory asset. Presented in the following table is a reconciliation of the retention benefit liability recorded in other liabilities on Consumers’ consolidated balance sheets:
In Millions
Years Ended December 3120212020
Retention benefit liability at beginning of period$11 $4 
Costs incurred and charged to maintenance and other operating expenses— 13 
Costs deferred as a regulatory asset
7 — 
Costs incurred and capitalized1 2 
Costs paid or settled(5)(8)
Retention benefit liability at the end of the period1
$14 $11 
1Includes current portion of other liabilities of $5 million at December 31, 2021 and $3 million at December 31, 2020.
Discontinued Operations: On October 1, 2021, EnerBank was acquired by Regions Bank. CMS Energy received proceeds of over $1 billion from the transaction and recognized a pre-tax gain of $657 million. CMS Energy intends to use the proceeds from the sale to fund key initiatives in its core energy business related to safety, reliability, and its clean energy transformation.
In December 2021, CMS Energy submitted a notice of disagreement to Regions Bank relating to a $36 million negative post-closing purchase price adjustment that it believes is inconsistent with the merger agreement. In accordance with the merger agreement, the disputed adjustment will be submitted to a mutually agreed upon independent accounting firm for final determination. While CMS Energy does not believe material loss is probable, it cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
EnerBank’s results of operations through the date of the sale are presented as income from discontinued operations on CMS Energy’s consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019. The assets and liabilities of EnerBank are presented as held for sale on CMS Energy’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2020.
The table below presents the financial results of EnerBank included in income from discontinued operations:
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Operating revenue$209 $262 $221 
Expenses
Operating expenses60 130 97 
Interest expense34 56 59 
Income before income taxes$115 $76 $65 
Gain on sale657 — — 
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes$772 $76 $65 
Income tax expense170 18 16 
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax$602 $58 $49 
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The table below presents the aggregate carrying amounts for the major classes of assets and liabilities held for sale related to EnerBank:
In Millions
December 312020
Assets
Current
Cash and cash equivalents$136 
Accounts receivable and other current assets18 
Notes receivable, less allowance of $32
275 
Total current assets

$429 
Non‑current
Plant, property, and equipment, net$22 
Notes receivable, less allowance of $91
2,612 
Other non‑current assets46 
Total non‑current assets

$2,680 
Total assets$3,109 
Liabilities
Current
Current portion of long-term debt$915 
Accounts payable and other current liabilities38 
Total current liabilities

$953 
Non‑current
Long-term debt$1,890 
Other non‑current liabilities4 
Total non‑current liabilities

$1,894 
Total liabilities$2,847 
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21:    Quarterly Financial and Common Stock Information (Unaudited)
Presented in the table below are CMS Energy’s quarterly financial and common stock information. CMS Energy has reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to the presentation in the present period. The most significant reclassification is related to the sale of EnerBank to Regions Bank. EnerBank’s results of operations through the date of the sale are presented as income from discontinued operations on CMS Energy’s consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts
2021
Three Months EndedMarch 31June 30September 30December 31
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Operating revenue$2,013 $1,558 $1,725 $2,033 
Operating income430 252 260 204 
Income From Continuing Operations308 153 153 114 
Income From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax34 18 30 520 
Net income342 171 183 634 
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests(7)(5)(6)(5)
Net Income Attributable to CMS Energy349 176 189 639 
Preferred Stock Dividends— — 3 2 
Net income available to common stockholders349 176 186 637 
Basic earnings per average common share
Income from continuing operations per average common share available to common stockholders1
1.09 0.55 0.54 0.40 
Income from discontinued operations per average common share available to common stockholders1
0.12 0.06 0.10 1.80 
Basic earnings per average common share1
1.21 0.61 0.64 2.20 
Diluted earnings per average common share
Income from continuing operations per average common share available to common stockholders1
1.09 0.55 0.54 0.40 
Income from discontinued operations per average common share available to common stockholders1
0.12 0.06 0.10 1.80 
Diluted earnings per average common share1
1.21 0.61 0.64 2.20 
1The sum of the quarters may not equal annual EPS due to changes in the number of shares outstanding.
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In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts
2020
Three Months EndedMarch 31June 30September 30December 31
CMS Energy, including Consumers
Operating revenue$1,802 $1,382 $1,507 $1,727 
Operating income335 248 340 307 
Income From Continuing Operations229 129 198 138 
Income From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax14 8 12 24 
Net income243 137 210 162 
Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests— 1 (8)4 
Net income available to common stockholders243 136 218 158 
Basic earnings per average common share
Income from continuing operations per average common share available to common stockholders1
0.81 0.45 0.72 0.47 
Income from discontinued operations per average common share available to common stockholders1
0.05 0.03 0.04 0.08 
Basic earnings per average common share1
0.86 0.48 0.76 0.55 
Diluted earnings per average common share
Income from continuing operations per average common share available to common stockholders1
0.80 0.45 0.72 0.47 
Income from discontinued operations per average common share available to common stockholders1
0.05 0.03 0.04 0.08 
Diluted earnings per average common share1
0.85 0.48 0.76 0.55 
1The sum of the quarters may not equal annual EPS due to changes in the number of shares outstanding.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of CMS Energy Corporation
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of CMS Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes and financial statement schedules listed in the index appearing after Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
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Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Accounting for the Effects of New Regulatory Matters
As described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company is a utility and must apply regulatory accounting when its rates are designed to recover specific costs of providing regulated services. Under regulatory accounting, the Company records regulatory assets or liabilities for certain transactions that would have been treated as expense or revenue by a non-regulated business. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has recognized a total of $2,305 million of regulatory assets, $3,948 million of regulatory liabilities, $25 million of accrued revenue, and $12 million of accrued rate refunds. As described by management, there are multiple participants to rate case proceedings who often challenge various aspects of those proceedings, including the prudence of the Company’s policies and practices. These participants often seek cost disallowances and other relief and have appealed significant decisions reached by the regulators. The recovery of regulatory assets and the settlement of regulatory liabilities are contingent upon the outcomes of rate cases and regulatory proceedings.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to management’s accounting for the effects of new regulatory matters is a critical audit matter are (i) the high degree of auditor judgment and subjectivity applied to evaluate management’s assessment of the potential outcomes and related accounting impacts associated with pending rate case proceedings, (ii) in some cases, the significant audit effort necessary to assess contrary evidence from various parties involved in rate case proceedings, and (iii) the significant audit effort necessary to evaluate audit evidence related to the recovery of regulatory assets and the settlement of regulatory liabilities.
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Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s assessment of regulatory proceedings, including the probability of recovering incurred costs and the related accounting and disclosure impacts. These procedures also included, among others, obtaining and evaluating the Company’s correspondence with regulators, evaluating the reasonableness of management’s assessment regarding whether recovery of regulatory assets and settlement of regulatory liabilities is probable and evaluating the sufficiency of the disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Procedures were performed to evaluate the regulatory assets and liabilities, including those subject to pending rate cases, based on provisions and formulas outlined in rate orders, other regulatory correspondence, or application of relevant regulatory precedents.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Detroit, Michigan
February 10, 2022
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2007.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholder of Consumers Energy Company
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Consumers Energy Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing after Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
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Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Accounting for the Effects of New Regulatory Matters
As described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company is a utility and must apply regulatory accounting when its rates are designed to recover specific costs of providing regulated services. Under regulatory accounting, the Company records regulatory assets or liabilities for certain transactions that would have been treated as expense or revenue by a non-regulated business. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has recognized a total of $2,305 million of regulatory assets, $3,948 million of regulatory liabilities, $25 million of accrued revenue, and $12 million of accrued rate refunds. As described by management, there are multiple participants to rate case proceedings who often challenge various aspects of those proceedings, including the prudence of the Company’s policies and practices. These participants often seek cost disallowances and other relief and have appealed significant decisions reached by the regulators. The recovery of regulatory assets and the settlement of regulatory liabilities are contingent upon the outcomes of rate cases and regulatory proceedings.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to management’s accounting for the effects of new regulatory matters is a critical audit matter are (i) the high degree of auditor judgment and subjectivity applied to evaluate management’s assessment of the potential outcomes and related accounting impacts associated with pending rate case proceedings, (ii) in some cases, the significant audit effort necessary to assess contrary evidence from various parties involved in rate case proceedings, and (iii) the significant audit effort necessary to evaluate audit evidence related to the recovery of regulatory assets and the settlement of regulatory liabilities.
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Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s assessment of regulatory proceedings, including the probability of recovering incurred costs and the related accounting and disclosure impacts. These procedures also included, among others, obtaining and evaluating the Company’s correspondence with regulators, evaluating the reasonableness of management’s assessment regarding whether recovery of regulatory assets and settlement of regulatory liabilities is probable and evaluating the sufficiency of the disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Procedures were performed to evaluate the regulatory assets and liabilities, including those subject to pending rate cases, based on provisions and formulas outlined in rate orders, other regulatory correspondence, or application of relevant regulatory precedents.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Detroit, Michigan
February 10, 2022
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2007.
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Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures
CMS Energy
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures: Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its CEO and CFO, CMS Energy conducted an evaluation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on such evaluation, CMS Energy’s CEO and CFO have concluded that its disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2021.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting: CMS Energy’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). CMS Energy’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and includes policies and procedures that:
•pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of CMS Energy
•provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of CMS Energy are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of CMS Energy
•provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of CMS Energy’s assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements
Management, including its CEO and CFO, does not expect that its internal controls will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. In addition, any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls is subject to risks that those internal controls may become inadequate in future periods because of changes in business conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures deteriorates.
Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its CEO and CFO, CMS Energy conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021. In making this evaluation, management used the criteria set forth in the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on such evaluation, CMS Energy’s management concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021. The effectiveness of CMS Energy’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 has
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been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting: There have not been any changes in CMS Energy’s internal control over financial reporting during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to affect materially, its internal control over financial reporting.
Consumers
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures: Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its CEO and CFO, Consumers conducted an evaluation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on such evaluation, Consumers’ CEO and CFO have concluded that its disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2021.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting: Consumers’ management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Consumers’ internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and includes policies and procedures that:
•pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of Consumers
•provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of Consumers are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of Consumers
•provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of Consumers’ assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements
Management, including its CEO and CFO, does not expect that its internal controls will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. In addition, any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls is subject to risks that those internal controls may become inadequate in future periods because of changes in business conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures deteriorates.
Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its CEO and CFO, Consumers conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021. In making this evaluation, management used the criteria set forth in the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on such evaluation, Consumers’ management concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021. The effectiveness of Consumers’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
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Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting: There have not been any changes in Consumers’ internal control over financial reporting during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to affect materially, its internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.    Other Information
None.
Item 9C.    Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
Part III
Item 10.    Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
CMS Energy
Information that is required in Item 10 of this Form 10‑K regarding executive officers is included in the Item 1. Business—Information About CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Executive Officers section, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Information that is required in Item 10 of this Form 10‑K regarding directors, executive officers, and corporate governance is incorporated by reference from CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ definitive proxy statement for their 2022 Annual Meetings of Shareholders to be held May 6, 2022. The proxy statement will be filed with the SEC, pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10‑K, all of which information is hereby incorporated by reference in, and made part of, this Form 10‑K.
Code of Ethics
CMS Energy has adopted an employee code of ethics, entitled “CMS Energy 2022 Code of Conduct and Guide to Ethical Business Behavior” (“Employee Code”) that applies to its CEO, CFO, and CAO, as well as all other officers and employees of CMS Energy and its affiliates. The Employee Code is administered by the Chief Compliance Officer of CMS Energy, who reports directly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of CMS Energy. CMS Energy has also adopted a director code of ethics entitled “2022 Board of Directors Code of Conduct and Guide to Ethical Business Behavior” (“Director Code”) that applies to its directors. The Director Code is administered by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of CMS Energy. Any alleged violation of the Director Code by a director will be investigated by disinterested members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of CMS Energy, or if none, by disinterested members of the entire Board of Directors of CMS Energy. The Employee Code and Director Code and any waivers of, or amendments or exceptions to, a provision of the Employee Code that applies to CMS Energy’s CEO, CFO, CAO or persons performing similar functions and any waivers of, or amendments or exceptions to, a provision of CMS Energy’s Director Code will be disclosed on CMS Energy’s website at www.cmsenergy.com/corporate-governance/compliance-and-ethics.
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Consumers
Information that is required in Item 10 of this Form 10‑K regarding executive officers is included in the Item 1. Business—Information About CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Executive Officers section, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Information that is required in Item 10 of this Form 10‑K regarding directors, executive officers, and corporate governance is incorporated by reference from CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ definitive proxy statement for their 2022 Annual Meetings of Shareholders to be held May 6, 2022. The proxy statement will be filed with the SEC, pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10‑K, all of which information is hereby incorporated by reference in, and made part of, this Form 10‑K.
Code of Ethics
Consumers has adopted an employee code of ethics, entitled “CMS Energy 2022 Code of Conduct and Guide to Ethical Business Behavior” (“Employee Code”) that applies to its CEO, CFO, and CAO, as well as all other officers and employees of Consumers and its affiliates. The Employee Code is administered by the Chief Compliance Officer of Consumers, who reports directly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Consumers. Consumers has also adopted a director code of ethics entitled “2022 Board of Directors Code of Conduct and Guide to Ethical Business Behavior” (“Director Code”) that applies to its directors. The Director Code is administered by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Consumers. Any alleged violation of the Director Code by a director will be investigated by disinterested members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Consumers, or if none, by disinterested members of the entire Board of Directors of Consumers. The Employee Code and Director Code and any waivers of, or amendments or exceptions to, a provision of the Employee Code that applies to Consumers’ CEO, CFO, CAO or persons performing similar functions and any waivers of, or amendments or exceptions to, a provision of Consumers’ Director Code will be disclosed on Consumers’ website at www.cmsenergy.com/corporate-governance/compliance-and-ethics.
Item 11.    Executive Compensation
See the note below.
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Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
Presented in the following table is information regarding CMS Energy’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2021:
(a)(b)(c)
Plan CategoryNumber of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants, and rights		Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants, and rights		Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance under
equity compensation plans (excluding
securities reflected in column (a))
Equity compensation plan approved by shareholders— $— 5,927,297 
Also see the note below.
Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
See the note below.
Item 14.    Principal Accountant Fees and Services
See the note below.
NOTE: Information that is required by Part III—Items 11, 12, 13, and 14 of this Form 10‑K is incorporated by reference from CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ definitive proxy statement for their 2022 Annual Meetings of Shareholders to be held May 6, 2022. The proxy statement will be filed with the SEC, pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10‑K, all of which information is hereby incorporated by reference in, and made part of, this Form 10‑K.
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Part IV
Item 15.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
The following financial statements are filed as part of this report under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data:
•Consolidated Statements of Income of CMS Energy for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
•Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income of CMS Energy for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
•Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows of CMS Energy for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
•Consolidated Balance Sheets of CMS Energy at December 31, 2021 and 2020
•Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity of CMS Energy for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
•Consolidated Statements of Income of Consumers for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
•Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income of Consumers for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
•Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows of Consumers for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
•Consolidated Balance Sheets of Consumers at December 31, 2021 and 2020
•Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity of Consumers for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
•Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
•Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for CMS Energy
•Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Consumers
The following financial statement schedules are included below:
•Schedule I — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant, CMS Energy—Parent Company at December 31, 2021 and 2020 and for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
•Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves of CMS Energy for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
•Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves of Consumers for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
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Schedule I — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
CMS Energy—Parent Company
Condensed Statements of Income

In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses$(7)$(6)$(38)
Total operating expenses(7)(6)(38)
Operating Loss(7)(6)(38)
Other Income (Expense)
Equity earnings of subsidiaries1,482 909 826 
Nonoperating retirement benefits, net(1)(1)(1)
Interest income1 1 1 
Other income1 1 1 
Other expense— (19)— 
Total other income1,483 891 827 
Interest Charges
Interest on long-term debt183 178 156 
Intercompany interest expense and other7 7 10 
Total interest charges190 185 166 
Income Before Income Taxes1,286 700 623 
Income Tax Benefit(60)(55)(57)
Income From Continuing Operations1,346 755 680 
Income From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax of $(5), $—, and $—
7 — — 
Net Income Attributable to CMS Energy1,353 755 680 
Preferred Stock Dividends5 — — 
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders$1,348 $755 $680 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
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Schedule I — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Continued)
CMS Energy—Parent Company
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
In Millions
Years Ended December 31202120202019
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities$1,549 $507 $697 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Investment in subsidiaries(581)(657)(683)
Increase in notes receivable – intercompany(83)(307)— 
Net cash used in investing activities(664)(964)(683)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt— 1,225 1,158 
Issuance of common stock26 253 12 
Issuance of preferred stock224 — — 
Retirement of long-term debt(200)(425)(738)
Debt prepayment costs— (16)— 
Payment of dividends on common and preferred stock(507)(465)(434)
Debt issuance costs and financing fees(10)(10)(18)
Change in notes payable – intercompany(28)(105)6 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities(495)457 (14)
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts390 — — 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts, Beginning of Period— — — 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts, End of Period$390 $— $— 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
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Schedule I — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Continued)
CMS Energy—Parent Company
Condensed Balance Sheets
ASSETS
In Millions
December 3120212020
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents$390 $— 
Notes and accrued interest receivable – intercompany463 358 
Accounts receivable – intercompany and related parties5 3 
Accrued taxes— 48 
Prepayments and other current assets1 1 
Total current assets859 410 
Other Non‑current Assets
Deferred income taxes147 91 
Investments in subsidiaries9,870 9,372 
Other investments 6 5 
Other8 5 
Total other non‑current assets10,031 9,473 
Total Assets$10,890 $9,883 
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LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
In Millions
December 3120212020
Current Liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt$— $200 
Accounts and notes payable – intercompany61 69 
Accrued interest, including intercompany33 33 
Accrued taxes83 — 
Other current liabilities8 9 
Total current liabilities185 311 
Non‑current Liabilities
Long-term debt3,928 3,926 
Notes payable – intercompany112 116 
Postretirement benefits19 21 
Other non‑current liabilities15 13 
Total non‑current liabilities4,074 4,076 
Equity
Common stockholders’ equity6,407 5,496 
Preferred stock224 — 
Total equity6,631 5,496 
Total Liabilities and Equity$10,890 $9,883 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
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Schedule I — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Continued)
CMS Energy—Parent Company
Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements
1:    Basis of Presentation
CMS Energy’s condensed financial statements have been prepared on a parent-only basis. In accordance with Rule 12-04 of Regulation S-X, these parent-only financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements, and therefore these parent-only financial statements and other information included should be read in conjunction with CMS Energy’s audited consolidated financial statements contained within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
2:    Guarantees
CMS Energy has issued guarantees with a maximum potential obligation of $633 million on behalf of some of its wholly owned subsidiaries and related parties. CMS Energy’s maximum potential obligation consists primarily of potential payments:
•to third parties under certain commodity purchase and swap agreements entered into with CMS ERM
•to third parties under certain agreements entered into with Grand River Wind, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises
•to EGLE on behalf of CMS Land and CMS Capital, for environmental remediation obligations at Bay Harbor
•to the U.S. Department of Energy on behalf of Consumers, in connection with Consumers’ 2011 settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy regarding damages resulting from the department’s failure to accept spent nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants formerly owned by Consumers
•to a tax equity investor under certain agreements in connection with the purchase of a VIE
•to Regions Bank related to the sale of EnerBank
The expiry dates of these guarantees vary, depending upon contractual provisions or upon the statute of limitations under the relevant governing law.
3:    Note Payable—Intercompany
CMS Energy has a demand note payable to the DB SERP rabbi trust. The demand note bears interest at an annual rate of 4.10 percent and has a maturity date of 2028. This note payable is not recorded at fair value; however, its carrying value approximates fair value at December 31, 2021. This fair value measurement is classified in Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.
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4:    Preferred Stock
In 2021, CMS Energy issued 9.2 million depositary shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of its cumulative Series C preferred stock, traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CMS PRC, at a price of $25.00 per depositary share. The transaction resulted in net proceeds of $224 million, which was used for general corporate purposes. Dividends on the preferred stock accumulate at an annual rate of 4.200 percent and are payable quarterly.
The Series C preferred stock has no maturity or mandatory redemption date and is not redeemable at the option of the holders. CMS Energy may, at its option, redeem the Series C preferred stock, in whole or in part, at a price equal to $25,000 per share (equivalent to $25.00 per depositary share), plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, at any time on or after July 15, 2026. The Series C preferred stock ranks senior to CMS Energy’s common stock with respect to dividend rights and distribution rights upon liquidation.
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Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
CMS Energy Corporation
Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
In Millions
DescriptionBalance at Beginning of PeriodCharged to Expense
Charged to Other Accounts
DeductionsBalance at End of Period
Allowance for uncollectible accounts1
2021$29 $22 $— $31 $20 
202020 33 — 24 29 
201920 29 — 29 20 
Deferred tax valuation allowance
2021$1 $1 $— $— $2 
20202 — — 1 1 
20198 — — 6 2 
1Deductions represent write-offs of uncollectible accounts, net of recoveries.
Consumers Energy Company
Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
In Millions
DescriptionBalance at Beginning of PeriodCharged to ExpenseCharged to Other AccountsDeductionsBalance at End of Period
Allowance for uncollectible accounts1
2021$29 $22 $— $31 $20 
202020 33 — 24 29 
201920 29 — 29 20 
1Deductions represent write-offs of uncollectible accounts, net of recoveries.
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Exhibit Index
The agreements included as exhibits to this Form 10-K filing are included solely to provide information regarding the terms of the agreements and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about CMS Energy, Consumers, or other parties to the agreements. The agreements may contain representations and warranties made by each of the parties to each of the agreements that were made exclusively for the benefit of the parties involved in each of the agreements and should not be treated as statements of fact. The representations and warranties were made as a way to allocate risk if one or more of those statements prove to be incorrect. The statements were qualified by disclosures of the parties to each of the agreements that may not be reflected in each of the agreements. The agreements may apply standards of materiality that are different than standards applied to other investors. Additionally, the statements were made as of the date of the agreements or as specified in the agreements and have not been updated. The representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs of the parties to each agreement.
Additional information about CMS Energy and Consumers may be found in this filing, at www.cmsenergy.com, at www.consumersenergy.com, and through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Previously Filed
Exhibits
With File
Number
As
Exhibit
Number
Description
3.11
1-95133.1—
3.21
1-95133.2—
3.3
1-56113(c)—
3.4
1-56113.2—
4.1
2-65973(b)(1)–4—
Indenture dated as of September 1, 1945 between Consumers and Chemical Bank (successor to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company), as Trustee, including therein indentures supplemental thereto through the Forty-third Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 1, 1979 (Form S-16 filed November 13, 1979)
Indentures Supplemental thereto:
4.1.a
1-56114.2—
4.1.b
1-56114.1—
4.1.c
1-56114.1—
4.1.d
1-56114.1—
4.1.e
1-56114.1—
4.1.f
1-56114.1—
4.1.g
1-56114.1—
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Previously Filed
Exhibits
With File
Number
As
Exhibit
Number
Description
4.1.h
1-56114.1—
4.1.i
1-56114.1—
4.1.j
1-56114.1—
4.1.k
1-56114.1—
4.1.l
1-56114.1—
4.1.m
1-56114.1—
4.1.n
1-56114.1—
4.1.o
1-56114.1—
4.1.p
1-56114.1—
4.1.q
1-56114.1—
4.1.r
1-56114.1—
4.1.s
1-56114.1—
4.1.t
1-56114.1—
4.1.u
1-56114.1—
4.1.v
1-56114.1—
4.1.w
1-56114.1—
4.1.x
1-56114.3—
4.1.y
1-56114.1—
4.1.z
1-56114.1—
4.1.aa
1-56114.1—
4.1.bb
1-56114.1—
4.1.cc
1-56114.1—
4.1.dd
1-56114.1—
4.2
1-5611(4)(b)—
4.3
1-5611(4)(c)—
4.41
33-47629(4)(a)—
Indenture dated as of September 15, 1992 between CMS Energy and NBD Bank, as Trustee (Form S-3 filed May 1, 1992)
Indentures Supplemental thereto:
4.4.a1
1-95134.1—
4.4.b1
1-95134.1—
4.4.c1
1-95134.2—
4.4.d1
1-95134.1—
4.4.e1
1-95134.1—
4.4.f1
1-95134.1—
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Previously Filed
Exhibits
With File
Number
As
Exhibit
Number
Description
4.4.g1
1-95134.1—
4.51
1-9513(4a)—
Indentures Supplemental thereto:
4.5.a1
1-95134.5.a—
4.5.b1
1-95134.1—
4.5.c1
1-95134.1—
4.5.d1
1-95134.1—
4.5.e1
1-95134.1—
4.5.f1
1-95134.1—
4.61
—
4.7
1-56114.7—
4.81
1-95134.2—
10.12
1-951310.1—
10.22
1-951310.3—
10.32
1-951310.5—
10.42
1-951310.6—
10.52
1-951310.7—
10.62
1-951310.6—
10.71
1-9513(10)(y)—
Environmental Agreement dated as of June 1, 1990 made by CMS Energy to The Connecticut National Bank and Others (Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1990)
10.81,2
1-9513(10)(a)—
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Previously Filed
Exhibits
With File
Number
As
Exhibit
Number
Description
10.92
1-5611(10)(b)—
10.102
—
10.112
1-951310.1—
10.122
—
10.131,2
—
10.141
1-951310.1—
10.14.a1
1-951310.2—
10.14.b1
1-951310.1—
10.15
1-561110.2—
10.15.a
1-561110.2—
10.16
1-561110.1—
10.16.a
1-561110.1—
10.16.b
1-561110.1—
10.16.c1-561110.1—
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Previously Filed
Exhibits
With File
Number
As
Exhibit
Number
Description
10.172
1-951310.1—
10.18
1-561110.1—
10.191
1-951310.1—
10.19.a1
1-951310.1—
10.20
1-561110.1—
10.21
1-561110.2—
21.1
—
23.1
—
23.2
—
31.1
—
31.2
—
31.3
—
31.4
—
32.1
—
32.2
—
99.11
333-24964399.1—
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Previously Filed
Exhibits
With File
Number
As
Exhibit
Number
Description
101.INS
—Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
—Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL
—Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF
—Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB
—Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
101.PRE
—Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
104
—Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded in the Inline XBRL document)
1Obligations of CMS Energy or its subsidiaries, but not of Consumers.
2Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
Exhibits that have been previously filed with the SEC, designated above, are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.
Item 16.    Form 10-K Summary
None.
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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, CMS Energy Corporation has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
/s/ Garrick J. Rochow
Name:Garrick J. Rochow
Title:President and Chief Executive Officer
Date:February 10, 2022
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of CMS Energy Corporation and in the capacities indicated and on February 10, 2022.
/s/ Garrick J. Rochow/s/ William D. Harvey
Garrick J. RochowWilliam D. Harvey, Director
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ John G. Russell
John G. Russell, Director
/s/ Rejji P. Hayes
Rejji P. Hayes
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer/s/ Suzanne F. Shank
Suzanne F. Shank, Director
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Myrna M. Soto
/s/ Scott B. McIntoshMyrna M. Soto, Director
Scott B. McIntosh
Vice President, Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer
/s/ John G. Sznewajs
(Controller)John G. Sznewajs, Director
/s/ Jon E. Barfield/s/ Ronald J. Tanski
Jon E. Barfield, DirectorRonald J. Tanski, Director
/s/ Deborah H. Butler/s/ Laura H. Wright
Deborah H. Butler, DirectorLaura H. Wright, Director
/s/ Kurt L. Darrow
Kurt L. Darrow, Director
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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Consumers Energy Company has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
/s/ Garrick J. Rochow
Name:Garrick J. Rochow
Title:President and Chief Executive Officer
Date:February 10, 2022
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of Consumers Energy Company and in the capacities indicated and on February 10, 2022.
/s/ Garrick J. Rochow/s/ William D. Harvey
Garrick J. RochowWilliam D. Harvey, Director
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ John G. Russell
John G. Russell, Director
/s/ Rejji P. Hayes
Rejji P. Hayes
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer/s/ Suzanne F. Shank
Suzanne F. Shank, Director
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Myrna M. Soto
/s/ Scott B. McIntoshMyrna M. Soto, Director
Scott B. McIntosh
Vice President, Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer
/s/ John G. Sznewajs
(Controller)John G. Sznewajs, Director
/s/ Jon E. Barfield/s/ Ronald J. Tanski
Jon E. Barfield, DirectorRonald J. Tanski, Director
/s/ Deborah H. Butler/s/ Laura H. Wright
Deborah H. Butler, DirectorLaura H. Wright, Director
/s/ Kurt L. Darrow
Kurt L. Darrow, Director
206