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PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORP - Quarter Report: 2019 June (Form 10-Q)




 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
 

FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2019
 
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
Number
 
Exact Name of Each Registrant as specified in its
charter; State of Incorporation; Address; and
Telephone Number
 
IRS Employer
Identification No.
1-8962
 
PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
 
86-0512431
 
 
(an Arizona corporation)
 
 
 
 
400 North Fifth Street, P.O. Box 53999
 
 
 
 
Phoenix
Arizona
85072-3999
 
 
 
 
 
(602)
250-1000
 
 
 
 
1-4473
 
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
 
86-0011170
 
 
(an Arizona corporation)
 
 
 
 
400 North Fifth Street, P.O. Box 53999
 
 
 
 
Phoenix
Arizona
85072-3999
 
 
 
 
 
(602)
250-1000
 
 
 
 
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock
PNW
The New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether each 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.
 
PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
Yes
 
 
No 
 
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Yes
 
 
No 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
Yes
 
 
No 
 
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Yes
 
 
No 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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.

 PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
Large accelerated filer
 
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Emerging growth company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
 
Smaller reporting company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Emerging growth company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
Yes  
 
No 
 
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Yes    
 
No 
 
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 
PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
Number of shares of common stock, no par value, outstanding as of August 1, 2019:
112,303,854
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Number of shares of common stock, $2.50 par value, outstanding as of August 1, 2019:
71,264,947
 
Arizona Public Service Company meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction H(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and is therefore filing this form with the reduced disclosure format allowed under that General Instruction.






TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This combined Form 10-Q is separately provided by Pinnacle West Capital Corporation ("Pinnacle West") and Arizona Public Service Company ("APS").  Any use of the words "Company," "we," and "our" refer to Pinnacle West.  Each registrant is providing on its own behalf all of the information contained in this Form 10-Q that relates to such registrant and, where required, its subsidiaries.  Except as stated in the preceding sentence, neither registrant is providing any information that does not relate to such registrant, and therefore makes no representation as to any such information.  The information required with respect to each company is set forth within the applicable items.  Item 1 of this report includes Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Pinnacle West and Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of APS.  Item 1 also includes Combined Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


1



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations.  These forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as "estimate," "predict," "may," "believe," "plan," "expect," "require," "intend," "assume," "project" and similar words.  Because actual results may differ materially from expectations, we caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements.  A number of factors could cause future results to differ materially from historical results, or from outcomes currently expected or sought by Pinnacle West or APS.  In addition to the Risk Factors described in Part I, Item 1A of the Pinnacle West/APS Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 ("2018 Form 10-K"), Part II, Item 1A of this report and in Part I, Item 2 — "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this report, these factors include, but are not limited to:
our ability to manage capital expenditures and operations and maintenance costs while maintaining reliability and customer service levels;
variations in demand for electricity, including those due to weather, seasonality, the general economy, customer and sales growth (or decline), and the effects of energy conservation measures and distributed generation;
power plant and transmission system performance and outages;
competition in retail and wholesale power markets;
regulatory and judicial decisions, developments and proceedings;
new legislation, ballot initiatives and regulation, including those relating to environmental requirements, regulatory policy, nuclear plant operations and potential deregulation of retail electric markets;
fuel and water supply availability;
our ability to achieve timely and adequate rate recovery of our costs, including returns on and of debt and equity capital investment;
our ability to meet renewable energy and energy efficiency mandates and recover related costs;
risks inherent in the operation of nuclear facilities, including spent fuel disposal uncertainty;
current and future economic conditions in Arizona, including in real estate markets;
the direct or indirect effect on our facilities or business from cybersecurity threats or intrusions, data security breaches, terrorist attack, physical attack, severe storms, droughts, or other catastrophic events, such as fires, explosions, pandemic health events or similar occurrences;
the development of new technologies which may affect electric sales or delivery;
the cost of debt and equity capital and the ability to access capital markets when required;
environmental, economic and other concerns surrounding coal-fired generation, including regulation of greenhouse gas emissions;
volatile fuel and purchased power costs;
the investment performance of the assets of our nuclear decommissioning trust, pension, and other postretirement benefit plans and the resulting impact on future funding requirements;
the liquidity of wholesale power markets and the use of derivative contracts in our business;
potential shortfalls in insurance coverage;
new accounting requirements or new interpretations of existing requirements;
generation, transmission and distribution facility and system conditions and operating costs;
the ability to meet the anticipated future need for additional generation and associated transmission facilities in our region;
the willingness or ability of our counterparties, power plant participants and power plant land owners to meet contractual or other obligations or extend the rights for continued power plant operations; and
restrictions on dividends or other provisions in our credit agreements and Arizona Corporation Commission ("ACC") orders. 
These and other factors are discussed in the Risk Factors described in Part I, Item 1A of our 2018 Form 10-K, in Part II, Item 1A of this report, and in Part I, Item 2 — "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this report, which readers should review carefully before placing any reliance on our financial statements or disclosures.  Neither Pinnacle West nor APS assumes any obligation to update these statements, even if our internal estimates change, except as required by law.

2



PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
 
Page
 
 
Pinnacle West Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018
Pinnacle West Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018
 
 
APS Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018
APS Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018
APS Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018
APS Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018
 
 



3




PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATING REVENUES (NOTE 2)
 
$
869,501

 
$
974,123

 
$
1,610,031

 
$
1,666,837

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATING EXPENSES
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Fuel and purchased power
 
242,222

 
257,087

 
472,810

 
454,197

Operations and maintenance
 
227,543

 
268,397

 
473,177

 
534,079

Depreciation and amortization
 
147,374

 
145,436

 
296,081

 
290,261

Taxes other than income taxes
 
55,090

 
53,607

 
110,180

 
107,207

Other expenses
 
683

 
7,434

 
1,110

 
7,597

Total
 
672,912

 
731,961

 
1,353,358

 
1,393,341

OPERATING INCOME
 
196,589

 
242,162

 
256,673

 
273,496

OTHER INCOME (DEDUCTIONS)
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Allowance for equity funds used during construction
 
7,572

 
13,073

 
18,760

 
27,152

Pension and other postretirement non-service credits - net
 
6,374

 
12,006

 
11,488

 
24,865

Other income (Note 9)
 
12,885

 
6,598

 
20,054

 
10,583

Other expense (Note 9)
 
(4,350
)
 
(3,771
)
 
(8,708
)
 
(7,000
)
Total
 
22,481

 
27,906

 
41,594

 
55,600

INTEREST EXPENSE
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Interest charges
 
57,465

 
60,708

 
118,118

 
119,662

Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction
 
(4,494
)
 
(6,291
)
 
(11,159
)
 
(13,046
)
Total
 
52,971

 
54,417

 
106,959

 
106,616

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
 
166,099

 
215,651

 
191,308

 
222,480

INCOME TAXES
 
17,080

 
44,039

 
19,498

 
42,774

NET INCOME
 
149,019

 
171,612

 
171,810

 
179,706

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (Note 6)
 
4,874

 
4,874

 
9,747

 
9,747

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
 
$
144,145

 
$
166,738

 
$
162,063

 
$
169,959

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WEIGHTED-AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING — BASIC
 
112,337

 
112,115

 
112,381

 
112,067

WEIGHTED-AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING — DILUTED
 
112,651

 
112,471

 
112,734

 
112,482

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EARNINGS PER WEIGHTED-AVERAGE COMMON SHARE OUTSTANDING
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to common shareholders — basic
 
$
1.28

 
$
1.49

 
$
1.44

 
$
1.52

Net income attributable to common shareholders — diluted
 
$
1.28

 
$
1.48

 
$
1.44

 
$
1.51

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

4



PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET INCOME
$
149,019

 
$
171,612

 
$
171,810

 
$
179,706

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Net unrealized loss, net of tax expense of $0, $0, $0 and $96 for the respective periods

 

 

 
(96
)
Reclassification of net realized loss, net of tax benefit of $134, $150, $242 and $232 for the respective periods
404

 
456

 
732

 
865

Pension and other postretirement benefits activity, net of tax benefit of $506, $1,558, $218 and $1,115 for the respective periods
(1,539
)
 
(4,739
)
 
(660
)
 
(3,839
)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
(1,135
)
 
(4,283
)
 
72

 
(3,070
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
147,884

 
167,329

 
171,882

 
176,636

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
4,874

 
4,874

 
9,747

 
9,747

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
$
143,010

 
$
162,455

 
$
162,135

 
$
166,889

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


5



PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
ASSETS
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
CURRENT ASSETS
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,648

 
$
5,766

Customer and other receivables
263,836

 
267,887

Accrued unbilled revenues
193,657

 
137,170

Allowance for doubtful accounts
(3,095
)
 
(4,069
)
Materials and supplies (at average cost)
289,928

 
269,065

Fossil fuel (at average cost)
25,453

 
25,029

Assets from risk management activities (Note 7)
459

 
1,113

Deferred fuel and purchased power regulatory asset (Note 4)
30,559

 
37,164

Other regulatory assets (Note 4)
153,900

 
129,738

Other current assets
72,222

 
56,128

Total current assets
1,028,567

 
924,991

INVESTMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS
 

 
 

Nuclear decommissioning trust (Notes 11 and 12)
950,448

 
851,134

Other special use funds (Notes 11 and 12)
241,558

 
236,101

Other assets
97,322

 
103,247

Total investments and other assets
1,289,328

 
1,190,482

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 

 
 

Plant in service and held for future use
19,630,407

 
18,736,628

Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(6,470,935
)
 
(6,366,014
)
Net
13,159,472

 
12,370,614

Construction work in progress
568,890

 
1,170,062

Palo Verde sale leaseback, net of accumulated depreciation (Note 6)
103,841

 
105,775

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization
261,584

 
262,902

Nuclear fuel, net of accumulated amortization
159,633

 
120,217

Total property, plant and equipment
14,253,420

 
14,029,570

DEFERRED DEBITS
 

 
 

Regulatory assets (Note 4)
1,321,431

 
1,342,941

Operating lease right-of-use assets (Note 16)
176,219

 

Assets for other postretirement benefits (Note 5)
56,336

 
46,906

Other
40,365

 
129,312

Total deferred debits
1,594,351

 
1,519,159

 
 
 
 
TOTAL ASSETS
$
18,165,666

 
$
17,664,202

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


6



PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
 
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES
 

 
 

Accounts payable
$
327,969

 
$
277,336

Accrued taxes
158,921

 
154,819

Accrued interest
50,581

 
61,107

Common dividends payable
82,824

 
82,675

Short-term borrowings (Note 3)
432,373

 
76,400

Current maturities of long-term debt (Note 3)
250,000

 
500,000

Customer deposits
84,177

 
91,174

Liabilities from risk management activities (Note 7)
58,834

 
35,506

Liabilities for asset retirements
21,950

 
19,842

Operating lease liabilities (Note 16)
60,596

 

Regulatory liabilities (Note 4)
231,857

 
165,876

Other current liabilities
140,879

 
184,229

Total current liabilities
1,900,961

 
1,648,964

LONG-TERM DEBT LESS CURRENT MATURITIES (Note 3)
4,886,879

 
4,638,232

DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER
 

 
 

Deferred income taxes
1,838,145

 
1,807,421

Regulatory liabilities (Note 4)
2,287,892

 
2,325,976

Liabilities for asset retirements
723,005

 
706,703

Liabilities for pension benefits (Note 5)
356,928

 
443,170

Liabilities from risk management activities (Note 7)
21,592

 
24,531

Customer advances
174,411

 
137,153

Coal mine reclamation
197,443

 
212,785

Deferred investment tax credit
197,749

 
200,405

Unrecognized tax benefits
26,271

 
22,517

Operating lease liabilities (Note 16)
53,005

 

Other
144,142

 
147,640

Total deferred credits and other
6,020,583

 
6,028,301

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (SEE NOTE 8)


 


EQUITY
 

 
 

Common stock, no par value; authorized 150,000,000 shares, 112,361,595 and 112,159,896 issued at respective dates
2,648,234

 
2,634,265

Treasury stock at cost; 58,219 and 58,135 shares at respective dates
(5,140
)
 
(4,825
)
Total common stock
2,643,094

 
2,629,440

Retained earnings
2,637,620

 
2,641,183

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(47,636
)
 
(47,708
)
Total shareholders’ equity
5,233,078

 
5,222,915

Noncontrolling interests (Note 6)
124,165

 
125,790

Total equity
5,357,243

 
5,348,705

 
 
 
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
$
18,165,666

 
$
17,664,202

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

7



PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 

 
 

Net income
$
171,810

 
$
179,706

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization including nuclear fuel
332,185

 
325,550

Deferred fuel and purchased power
(16,702
)
 
(50,112
)
Deferred fuel and purchased power amortization
23,307

 
50,851

Allowance for equity funds used during construction
(18,760
)
 
(27,152
)
Deferred income taxes
4,326

 
33,711

Deferred investment tax credit
(2,656
)
 
(2,778
)
Stock compensation
13,725

 
13,189

Changes in current assets and liabilities:
 

 
 

Customer and other receivables
3,543

 
(18,672
)
Accrued unbilled revenues
(56,487
)
 
(95,453
)
Materials, supplies and fossil fuel
(21,287
)
 
(22,970
)
Other current assets
(16,121
)
 
11,069

Accounts payable
65,874

 
36,614

Accrued taxes
4,102

 
8,140

Other current liabilities
(61,270
)
 
9,410

Change in other long-term assets
(82,850
)
 
23,927

Change in other long-term liabilities
3,195

 
(79,228
)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities
345,934

 
395,802

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 

 
 

Capital expenditures
(541,401
)
 
(679,949
)
Contributions in aid of construction
18,909

 
19,339

Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction
(11,159
)
 
(13,046
)
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust sales and other special use funds
309,354

 
258,401

Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust and other special use funds
(310,494
)
 
(259,542
)
Other
7,153

 
(4,299
)
Net cash flow used for investing activities
(527,638
)
 
(679,096
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 

 
 

Issuance of long-term debt
497,324

 

Short-term borrowing and payments — net
363,973

 
500,849

Short-term debt borrowings
49,000

 
45,000

Short-term debt repayments
(57,000
)
 
(25,000
)
Dividends paid on common stock
(161,979
)
 
(151,942
)
Repayment of long-term debt
(500,000
)
 
(82,000
)
Common stock equity issuance - net of purchases
(2,360
)
 
(2,294
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
(11,372
)
 
(11,372
)
Net cash flow provided by financing activities
177,586

 
273,241

NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
(4,118
)
 
(10,053
)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
5,766

 
13,892

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
$
1,648

 
$
3,839

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

8



PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
 
Common Stock
 
Treasury Stock
 
Retained Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Noncontrolling Interests
 
Total
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, April 1, 2019
112,340,322

 
$
2,644,063

 
(63,271
)
 
$
(5,586
)
 
$
2,659,086

 
$
(46,501
)
 
$
130,663

 
$
5,381,725

Net income
 
 

 
 
 

 
144,145

 

 
4,874

 
149,019

Other comprehensive loss
 
 

 
 
 

 

 
(1,135
)
 

 
(1,135
)
Dividends on common stock ($1.48 per share)
 
 

 
 
 

 
(165,611
)
 

 

 
(165,611
)
Issuance of common stock
21,273

 
4,171

 
 
 

 

 

 

 
4,171

Reissuance of treasury stock for stock-based compensation and other
 
 

 
5,052

 
446

 

 

 

 
446

Capital activities by noncontrolling interests
 
 

 
 
 

 

 

 
(11,372
)
 
(11,372
)
Balance, June 30, 2019
112,361,595

 
$
2,648,234

 
(58,219
)
 
$
(5,140
)
 
$
2,637,620

 
$
(47,636
)
 
$
124,165

 
$
5,357,243


 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
 
Common Stock
 
Treasury Stock
 
Retained Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Noncontrolling Interests
 
Total
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, April 1, 2018
111,961,963

 
$
2,620,261

 
(29,097
)
 
$
(2,431
)
 
$
2,454,268

 
$
(52,341
)
 
$
133,914

 
$
5,153,671

Net income
 
 

 
 
 

 
166,738

 

 
4,874

 
171,612

Other comprehensive loss
 
 

 
 
 

 

 
(4,283
)
 

 
(4,283
)
Dividends on common stock ($1.39 per share)
 
 

 
 
 

 
(155,604
)
 

 

 
(155,604
)
Issuance of common stock
28,259

 
4,411

 
 
 

 

 

 

 
4,411

Reissuance of treasury stock for stock-based compensation and other
 
 

 
11,464

 
1,000

 

 

 
(1
)
 
999

Capital activities by noncontrolling interests
 
 

 
 
 

 

 

 
(11,372
)
 
(11,372
)
Balance, June 30, 2018
111,990,222

 
$
2,624,672

 
(17,633
)
 
$
(1,431
)
 
$
2,465,402

 
$
(56,624
)
 
$
127,415

 
$
5,159,434


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.








9



PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
 
Common Stock
 
Treasury Stock
 
Retained Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Noncontrolling Interests
 
Total
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, January 1, 2019
112,159,896

 
$
2,634,265

 
(58,135
)
 
$
(4,825
)
 
$
2,641,183

 
$
(47,708
)
 
$
125,790

 
$
5,348,705

Net income
 
 

 
 
 

 
162,063

 

 
9,747

 
171,810

Other comprehensive loss
 
 

 
 
 

 

 
72

 

 
72

Dividends on common stock ($1.48 per share)
 
 

 
 
 

 
(165,626
)
 

 

 
(165,626
)
Issuance of common stock
201,699

 
13,969

 
 
 

 

 

 

 
13,969

Purchase of treasury stock (a)
 
 

 
(75,791
)
 
(6,882
)
 

 

 

 
(6,882
)
Reissuance of treasury stock for stock-based compensation and other
 
 

 
75,707

 
6,567

 

 

 

 
6,567

Capital activities by noncontrolling interests
 
 

 
 
 

 

 

 
(11,372
)
 
(11,372
)
Balance, June 30, 2019
112,361,595

 
$
2,648,234

 
(58,219
)
 
$
(5,140
)
 
$
2,637,620

 
$
(47,636
)
 
$
124,165

 
$
5,357,243


 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
 
Common Stock
 
Treasury Stock
 
Retained Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Noncontrolling Interests
 
Total
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, January 1, 2018
111,816,170

 
$
2,614,805

 
(64,463
)
 
$
(5,624
)
 
$
2,442,511

 
$
(45,002
)
 
$
129,040

 
$
5,135,730

Net income
 
 

 
 
 

 
169,959

 

 
9,747

 
179,706

Other comprehensive loss
 
 

 
 
 

 

 
(3,070
)
 

 
(3,070
)
Dividends on common stock ($1.39 per share)
 
 

 
 
 

 
(155,620
)
 

 

 
(155,620
)
Issuance of common stock
174,052

 
9,867

 
 
 

 

 

 

 
9,867

Purchase of treasury stock (a)
 
 

 
(81,177
)
 
(6,277
)
 

 

 

 
(6,277
)
Reissuance of treasury stock for stock-based compensation and other
 
 

 
128,007

 
10,470

 

 

 

 
10,470

Capital activities by noncontrolling interests
 
 

 
 
 

 

 

 
(11,372
)
 
(11,372
)
Reclassification of income tax effects related to new tax reform (b)
 
 

 
 
 

 
8,552

 
(8,552
)
 

 

Balance, June 30, 2018
111,990,222

 
$
2,624,672

 
(17,633
)
 
$
(1,431
)
 
$
2,465,402

 
$
(56,624
)
 
$
127,415

 
$
5,159,434



(a)
Primarily represents shares of common stock withheld from certain stock awards for tax purposes.
(b)
In 2018, the Company adopted new accounting guidance and elected to reclassify income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”) on items within accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

10




ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATING REVENUES
 
$
869,501

 
$
971,963

 
$
1,610,031

 
$
1,663,969

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATING EXPENSES
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Fuel and purchased power
 
242,222

 
270,138

 
472,810

 
472,148

Operations and maintenance
 
224,143

 
251,999

 
464,518

 
506,600

Depreciation and amortization
 
147,354

 
144,533

 
296,039

 
288,645

Taxes other than income taxes
 
55,081

 
53,269

 
110,159

 
106,511

Other expenses
 
683

 
434

 
1,110

 
597

Total
 
669,483

 
720,373

 
1,344,636

 
1,374,501

OPERATING INCOME
 
200,018

 
251,590

 
265,395

 
289,468

OTHER INCOME (DEDUCTIONS)
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Allowance for equity funds used during construction
 
7,572

 
13,073

 
18,760

 
27,152

Pension and other postretirement non-service credits - net
 
6,757

 
12,389

 
12,256

 
25,586

Other income (Note 9)
 
11,691

 
6,235

 
18,107

 
10,007

Other expense (Note 9)
 
(3,428
)
 
(3,372
)
 
(7,306
)
 
(6,318
)
Total
 
22,592

 
28,325

 
41,817

 
56,427

INTEREST EXPENSE
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Interest charges
 
53,591

 
57,731

 
110,256

 
113,889

Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction
 
(4,494
)
 
(6,291
)
 
(11,159
)
 
(13,046
)
Total
 
49,097

 
51,440

 
99,097

 
100,843

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
 
173,513

 
228,475

 
208,115

 
245,052

INCOME TAXES
 
18,463

 
45,776

 
19,916

 
47,882

NET INCOME
 
155,050

 
182,699

 
188,199

 
197,170

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (Note 6)
 
4,874

 
4,874

 
9,747

 
9,747

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDER
 
$
150,176

 
$
177,825

 
$
178,452

 
$
187,423

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

11



ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET INCOME
$
155,050

 
$
182,699

 
$
188,199

 
$
197,170

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Net unrealized loss, net of tax expense of $0, $0, $0 and $96 for the respective periods

 

 

 
(96
)
Reclassification of net realized loss, net of tax benefit of $134, $150, $242 and $232 for the respective periods
404

 
456

 
732

 
865

Pension and other postretirement benefits activity, net of tax benefit of $544, $1,566, $297 and $1,260 for the respective periods
(1,653
)
 
(4,764
)
 
(901
)
 
(3,907
)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
(1,249
)
 
(4,308
)
 
(169
)
 
(3,138
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
153,801

 
178,391

 
188,030

 
194,032

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
4,874

 
4,874

 
9,747

 
9,747

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDER
$
148,927

 
$
173,517

 
$
178,283

 
$
184,285

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


12



ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
June 30,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
ASSETS
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 

 
 

Plant in service and held for future use
$
19,626,920

 
$
18,733,142

Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(6,467,684
)
 
(6,362,771
)
Net
13,159,236

 
12,370,371

 
 
 
 
Construction work in progress
568,890

 
1,170,062

Palo Verde sale leaseback, net of accumulated depreciation (Note 6)
103,841

 
105,775

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization
261,429

 
262,746

Nuclear fuel, net of accumulated amortization
159,633

 
120,217

Total property, plant and equipment
14,253,029

 
14,029,171

 
 
 
 
INVESTMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS
 

 
 

Nuclear decommissioning trust (Notes 11 and 12)
950,448

 
851,134

Other special use funds (Notes 11 and 12)
241,558

 
236,101

Other assets
46,089

 
40,817

Total investments and other assets
1,238,095

 
1,128,052

 
 
 
 
CURRENT ASSETS
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
1,355

 
5,707

Customer and other receivables
253,501

 
257,654

Accrued unbilled revenues
193,657

 
137,170

Allowance for doubtful accounts
(3,095
)
 
(4,069
)
Materials and supplies (at average cost)
289,928

 
269,065

Fossil fuel (at average cost)
25,453

 
25,029

Assets from risk management activities (Note 7)
459

 
1,113

Deferred fuel and purchased power regulatory asset (Note 4)
30,559

 
37,164

Other regulatory assets (Note 4)
153,900

 
129,738

Other current assets
49,697

 
35,111

Total current assets
995,414

 
893,682

 
 
 
 
DEFERRED DEBITS
 

 
 

Regulatory assets (Note 4)
1,321,431

 
1,342,941

Operating lease right-of-use assets (Note 16)
174,320

 

Assets for other postretirement benefits (Note 5)
52,611

 
43,212

Other
39,523

 
128,265

Total deferred debits
1,587,885

 
1,514,418

 
 
 
 
TOTAL ASSETS
$
18,074,423

 
$
17,565,323

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


13



ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
(dollars in thousands) 
 
June 30,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
CAPITALIZATION
 

 
 

Common stock
$
178,162

 
$
178,162

Additional paid-in capital
2,721,696

 
2,721,696

Retained earnings
2,801,110

 
2,788,256

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(27,276
)
 
(27,107
)
Total shareholder equity
5,673,692

 
5,661,007

Noncontrolling interests (Note 6)
124,165

 
125,790

Total equity
5,797,857

 
5,786,797

Long-term debt less current maturities (Note 3)
4,437,768

 
4,189,436

Total capitalization
10,235,625

 
9,976,233

CURRENT LIABILITIES
 

 
 

Short-term borrowings (Note 3)
376,873

 

Current maturities of long-term debt (Note 3)
250,000

 
500,000

Accounts payable
319,435

 
266,277

Accrued taxes
175,922

 
176,357

Accrued interest
49,703

 
60,228

Common dividends payable
82,800

 
82,700

Customer deposits
84,177

 
91,174

Liabilities from risk management activities (Note 7)
58,834

 
35,506

Liabilities for asset retirements
21,950

 
19,842

Operating lease liabilities (Note 16)
60,395

 

Regulatory liabilities (Note 4)
231,857

 
165,876

Other current liabilities
138,423

 
178,137

Total current liabilities
1,850,369

 
1,576,097

DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER
 

 
 

Deferred income taxes
1,831,660

 
1,812,664

Regulatory liabilities (Note 4)
2,287,892

 
2,325,976

Liabilities for asset retirements
723,005

 
706,703

Liabilities for pension benefits (Note 5)
340,154

 
425,404

Liabilities from risk management activities (Note 7)
21,592

 
24,531

Customer advances
174,411

 
137,153

Coal mine reclamation
197,443

 
212,785

Deferred investment tax credit
197,749

 
200,405

Unrecognized tax benefits
42,313

 
41,861

Operating lease liabilities (Note 16)
51,158

 

Other
121,052

 
125,511

Total deferred credits and other
5,988,429

 
6,012,993

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (SEE NOTE 8)


 


TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
$
18,074,423

 
$
17,565,323


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

14



ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 

 
 

Net income
$
188,199

 
$
197,170

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization including nuclear fuel
332,143

 
323,934

Deferred fuel and purchased power
(16,702
)
 
(50,112
)
Deferred fuel and purchased power amortization
23,307

 
50,851

Allowance for equity funds used during construction
(18,760
)
 
(27,152
)
Deferred income taxes
(10,625
)
 
10,372

Deferred investment tax credit
(2,656
)
 
(2,778
)
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
 

 
 

Customer and other receivables
3,645

 
(9,254
)
Accrued unbilled revenues
(56,487
)
 
(95,453
)
Materials, supplies and fossil fuel
(21,287
)
 
(23,073
)
Other current assets
(14,613
)
 
7,552

Accounts payable
68,399

 
39,573

Accrued taxes
(435
)
 
26,412

Other current liabilities
(57,709
)
 
7,395

Change in other long-term assets
(84,946
)
 
34,947

Change in other long-term liabilities
3,253

 
(84,643
)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities
334,726

 
405,741

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 

 
 

Capital expenditures
(541,401
)
 
(670,841
)
Contributions in aid of construction
18,909

 
19,339

Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction
(11,159
)
 
(13,046
)
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust sales and other special use funds
309,354

 
258,227

Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust and other special use funds
(310,494
)
 
(259,367
)
Other
(1,612
)
 
(1,221
)
Net cash flow used for investing activities
(536,403
)
 
(666,909
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 

 
 

Issuance of long-term debt
497,324

 

Short-term borrowings and payments — net
376,873

 
499,949

Short-term debt borrowings under revolving credit facility

 
25,000

Short-term debt repayments under revolving credit facility

 
(25,000
)
Repayment of long-term debt
(500,000
)
 
(82,000
)
Dividends paid on common stock
(165,500
)
 
(155,500
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
(11,372
)
 
(11,372
)
Net cash flow provided by financing activities
197,325

 
251,077

NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
(4,352
)
 
(10,091
)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
5,707

 
13,851

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
$
1,355

 
$
3,760


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

15




ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
 
Common Stock
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Retained Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Noncontrolling Interests
 
Total
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, April 1, 2019
71,264,947

 
$
178,162

 
$
2,721,696

 
$
2,816,532

 
$
(26,027
)
 
$
130,663

 
$
5,821,026

Net Income
 
 

 

 
150,176

 

 
4,874

 
155,050

Other comprehensive loss
 
 

 

 

 
(1,249
)
 

 
(1,249
)
Dividends on common stock
 
 

 

 
(165,598
)
 

 

 
(165,598
)
Net capital activities by noncontrolling interests
 
 

 

 

 

 
(11,372
)
 
(11,372
)
Balance, June 30, 2019
71,264,947

 
$
178,162

 
$
2,721,696

 
$
2,801,110

 
$
(27,276
)
 
$
124,165

 
$
5,797,857


 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
 
Common Stock
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Retained Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Noncontrolling Interests
 
Total
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, April 1, 2018
71,264,947

 
$
178,162

 
$
2,571,696

 
$
2,548,591

 
$
(30,851
)
 
$
133,914

 
$
5,401,512

Net Income
 
 

 

 
177,825

 

 
4,874

 
182,699

Other comprehensive loss
 
 

 

 

 
(4,308
)
 

 
(4,308
)
Other
 
 

 

 

 

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Dividends on common stock
 
 

 

 
(155,600
)
 

 

 
(155,600
)
Net capital activities by noncontrolling interests
 
 

 

 

 

 
(11,372
)
 
(11,372
)
Balance, June 30, 2018
71,264,947

 
$
178,162

 
$
2,571,696

 
$
2,570,816

 
$
(35,159
)
 
$
127,415

 
$
5,412,930



The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
















16




ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
 
Common Stock
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Retained Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Noncontrolling Interests
 
Total
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, January 1, 2019
71,264,947

 
$
178,162

 
$
2,721,696

 
$
2,788,256

 
$
(27,107
)
 
$
125,790

 
$
5,786,797

Net income
 
 

 

 
178,452

 

 
9,747

 
188,199

Other comprehensive loss
 
 

 

 

 
(169
)
 

 
(169
)
Dividends on common stock
 
 

 

 
(165,598
)
 

 

 
(165,598
)
Net capital activities by noncontrolling interests
 
 

 

 

 

 
(11,372
)
 
(11,372
)
Balance, June 30, 2019
71,264,947

 
$
178,162

 
$
2,721,696

 
$
2,801,110

 
$
(27,276
)
 
$
124,165

 
$
5,797,857


 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
 
Common Stock
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Retained Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Noncontrolling Interests
 
Total
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, January 1, 2018
71,264,947

 
$
178,162

 
$
2,571,696

 
$
2,533,954

 
$
(26,983
)
 
$
129,040

 
$
5,385,869

Net Income
 
 

 

 
187,423

 

 
9,747

 
197,170

Other comprehensive loss
 
 

 

 

 
(3,138
)
 

 
(3,138
)
Dividends on common stock
 
 

 

 
(155,599
)
 

 

 
(155,599
)
Reclassification of income tax effects related to new tax reform (a)
 
 

 

 
5,038

 
(5,038
)
 

 

Net capital activities by noncontrolling interests
 
 

 

 

 

 
(11,372
)
 
(11,372
)
Balance, June 30, 2018
71,264,947

 
$
178,162

 
$
2,571,696

 
$
2,570,816

 
$
(35,159
)
 
$
127,415

 
$
5,412,930


(a)
In 2018, the Company adopted new accounting guidance and elected to reclassify income tax effects of the Tax Act on items within accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.




17



COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1. 
Consolidation and Nature of Operations
 
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Pinnacle West and our subsidiaries:  APS, 4C Acquisition, LLC ("4CA"), Bright Canyon Energy Corporation ("BCE") and El Dorado Investment Company ("El Dorado").  See Note 8 for more information on 4CA matters. Intercompany accounts and transactions between the consolidated companies have been eliminated.  The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for APS include the accounts of APS and the Palo Verde Generating Station ("Palo Verde") sale leaseback variable interest entities ("VIEs") (see Note 6 for further discussion).  Our accounting records are maintained in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").  The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Amounts reported in our interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income are not necessarily indicative of amounts expected for the respective annual periods, due to the effects of seasonal temperature variations on energy consumption, timing of maintenance on electric generating units, and other factors.
 
Our condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments except as otherwise disclosed in the notes) that we believe are necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such regulations, although we believe that the disclosures provided are adequate to make the interim information presented not misleading. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and these notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in our 2018 Form 10-K.

18


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

The following table summarizes supplemental Pinnacle West cash flow information (dollars in thousands):
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
Cash paid during the period for:
 
 
 
Income taxes, net of refunds
$
10,788

 
$
10,032

Interest, net of amounts capitalized
114,717

 
104,249

Significant non-cash investing and financing activities:
 
 
 
Accrued capital expenditures
$
108,056

 
$
65,995

Right-of-use operating lease assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities
4,562

 

Dividends accrued but not yet paid
82,824

 
77,821



The following table summarizes supplemental APS cash flow information (dollars in thousands):
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
Cash paid during the period for:
 
 
 
Income taxes, net of refunds
$
35,573

 
$
24,689

Interest, net of amounts capitalized
107,169

 
98,478

Significant non-cash investing and financing activities:
 
 
 
Accrued capital expenditures
$
108,056

 
$
65,995

Right-of-use operating lease assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities
4,562

 

Dividends accrued but not yet paid
82,800

 
77,800




2.    Revenue

Sources of Revenue

We derive our revenues from contracts with customers primarily from sales of electricity to our regulated retail customers. Our retail electric services and tariff rates are regulated by the ACC. Revenues from wholesale energy sales and transmission services for others represent energy and transmission sales to wholesale customers. Our wholesale activities and tariff rates are regulated by the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC").


19


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    
The following table provides detail of Pinnacle West's consolidated revenue disaggregated by revenue sources (dollars in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2019
2018
 
2019
2018
Retail residential electric service
 
$
432,568

$
500,247

 
$
784,134

$
816,922

Retail non-residential electric service
 
395,929

435,500

 
728,597

778,689

Wholesale energy sales
 
21,991

15,392

 
58,443

27,481

Transmission services for others
 
15,157

15,489

 
30,406

30,334

Other sources
 
3,856

7,495

 
8,451

13,411

Total operating revenues
 
$
869,501

$
974,123

 
$
1,610,031

$
1,666,837


    
Revenue Activities

Our revenues are primarily derived from activities that are classified as revenues from contracts with customers. This includes sales of electricity to our regulated retail customers and wholesale and transmission activities. Our revenues from contracts with customers for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 were $858 million and $1,578 million, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 were $954 million and $1,640 million, respectively.

We have certain revenues that do not meet the specific accounting criteria to be classified as revenues from contracts with customers. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, our revenues that do not qualify as revenue from contracts with customers were $12 million and $32 million, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 were $20 million and $27 million, respectively. This relates primarily to certain regulatory cost recovery mechanisms that are considered alternative revenue programs. We recognize revenue associated with alternative revenue programs when specific events permitting recognition are completed. Certain amounts associated with alternative revenue programs will subsequently be billed to customers; however, we do not reclassify billed amounts into revenue from contracts with customers. See Note 4 for a discussion of our regulatory cost recovery mechanisms.

Contract Assets and Liabilities from Contracts with Customers

There were no material contract assets, contract liabilities, or deferred contract costs recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2019 or December 31, 2018.

3.
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters

Pinnacle West and APS maintain committed revolving credit facilities in order to enhance liquidity and provide credit support for their commercial paper programs, to refinance indebtedness, and for other general corporate purposes.
 
Pinnacle West
 
On May 9, 2019, Pinnacle West entered into a $50 million term loan agreement that matures May 7, 2020. Pinnacle West used the proceeds to refinance indebtedness under and terminate a prior $150 million revolving credit facility. Borrowings under the agreement bear interest at London Inter-bank Offered Rate ("LIBOR') plus 0.55% per annum. At June 30, 2019, Pinnacle West had $46 million in outstanding borrowings under the agreement.


20


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

At June 30, 2019, Pinnacle West had a $200 million revolving credit facility that matures in July 2023. Pinnacle West has the option to increase the amount of the facility up to a maximum of $300 million upon the satisfaction of certain conditions and with the consent of the lenders. Interest rates are based on Pinnacle West's senior unsecured debt credit ratings. The facility is available to support Pinnacle West's $200 million commercial paper program, for bank borrowings or for issuances of letters of credits. At June 30, 2019, Pinnacle West had no outstanding borrowings under its credit facility, no letters of credit outstanding and $10 million of commercial paper borrowings.

APS

On February 26, 2019, APS entered into a $200 million term loan agreement that matures August 26, 2020. APS used the proceeds to repay existing indebtedness. Borrowings under the agreement bear interest at LIBOR plus 0.50% per annum.

On February 28, 2019, APS issued $300 million of 4.25% unsecured senior notes that mature on March 1, 2049. The net proceeds from the sale, together with funds made available from the term loan described above, were used to repay existing indebtedness.

On March 1, 2019, APS repaid at maturity $500 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.75% senior notes.

At June 30, 2019, APS had two revolving credit facilities totaling $1 billion, including a $500 million credit facility that matures in June 2022 and a $500 million facility that matures in July 2023.  APS may increase the amount of each facility up to a maximum of $700 million, for a total of $1.4 billion, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions and with the consent of the lenders.  Interest rates are based on APS’s senior unsecured debt credit ratings. These facilities are available to support APS’s $500 million commercial paper program, for bank borrowings or for issuances of letters of credit.  At June 30, 2019, APS had $377 million of commercial paper outstanding and no outstanding borrowings or letters of credit under its revolving credit facilities.
 
See "Financial Assurances" in Note 8 for a discussion of other outstanding letters of credit.
 
Debt Fair Value
 
Our long-term debt fair value estimates are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The following table presents the estimated fair value of our long-term debt, including current maturities (dollars in thousands):

 
As of June 30, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair Value
Pinnacle West
$
449,111

 
$
449,124

 
$
448,796

 
$
443,955

APS
4,687,768

 
5,119,091

 
4,689,436

 
4,789,608

Total
$
5,136,879

 
$
5,568,215

 
$
5,138,232

 
$
5,233,563


 

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COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

4.
Regulatory Matters
 
Retail Rate Case Filing with the Arizona Corporation Commission
 
On June 1, 2016, APS filed an application with the ACC for an annual increase in retail base rates. On March 27, 2017, a majority of the stakeholders in the general retail rate case, including the ACC Staff, the Residential Utility Consumer Office, limited income advocates and private rooftop solar organizations signed a settlement agreement (the "2017 Settlement Agreement") and filed it with the ACC. The 2017 Settlement Agreement provides for a net retail base rate increase of $94.6 million, excluding the transfer of adjustor balances, consisting of: (1) a non-fuel, non-depreciation, base rate increase of $87.2 million per year; (2) a base rate decrease of $53.6 million attributable to reduced fuel and purchased power costs; and (3) a base rate increase of $61.0 million due to changes in depreciation schedules. The average annual customer bill impact under the 2017 Settlement Agreement was calculated as an increase of 3.28% (the average annual bill impact for a typical APS residential customer was calculated as an increase of 4.54%).

Other key provisions of the agreement include the following:

an agreement by APS not to file another general retail rate case application before June 1, 2019;
an authorized return on common equity of 10.0%;
a capital structure comprised of 44.2% debt and 55.8% common equity;
a cost deferral order for potential future recovery in APS’s next general retail rate case for the construction and operating costs APS incurs for its Ocotillo modernization project;
a cost deferral and procedure to allow APS to request rate adjustments prior to its next general retail rate case related to its share of the construction costs associated with installing selective catalytic reduction ("SCR") equipment at the Four Corners Power Plant ("Four Corners");
a deferral for future recovery (or credit to customers) of the Arizona property tax expense above or below a specified test year level caused by changes to the applicable Arizona property tax rate;
an expansion of the Power Supply Adjustor (“PSA”) to include certain environmental chemical costs and third-party battery storage costs;
a new AZ Sun II program (now known as "APS Solar Communities") for utility-owned solar distributed generation with the purpose of expanding access to rooftop solar for low and moderate income Arizonans, recoverable through the Arizona Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff ("RES"), to be no less than $10 million per year, and not more than $15 million per year;
an increase to the per kWh cap for the environmental improvement surcharge from $0.00016 to $0.00050 and the addition of a balancing account;
rate design changes, including:
a change in the on-peak time of use period from noon - 7 p.m. to 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays;
non-grandfathered distributed generation ("DG") customers would be required to select a rate option that has time of use rates and either a new grid access charge or demand component;
a Resource Comparison Proxy (“RCP”) for exported energy of 12.9 cents per kWh in year one; and
an agreement by APS not to pursue any new self-build generation (with certain exceptions) having an in-service date prior to January 1, 2022 (extended to December 31, 2027 for combined-cycle generating units), unless expressly authorized by the ACC.


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COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Through a separate agreement, APS, industry representatives, and solar advocates committed to stand by the 2017 Settlement Agreement and refrain from seeking to undermine it through ballot initiatives, legislation or advocacy at the ACC.

On August 15, 2017, the ACC approved (by a vote of 4-1), the 2017 Settlement Agreement without material modifications.  On August 18, 2017, the ACC issued a final written Opinion and Order reflecting its decision in APS’s general retail rate case (the "2017 Rate Case Decision"), which is subject to requests for rehearing and potential appeal. The new rates went into effect on August 19, 2017.

On October 17, 2017, Warren Woodward (an intervener in APS's general retail rate case) filed a Notice of Appeal in the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One. The notice raises a single issue related to the application of certain rate schedules to new APS residential customers after May 1, 2018. Mr. Woodward filed a second notice of appeal on November 13, 2017 challenging APS’s $5 per month automated metering infrastructure opt-out program. Mr. Woodward’s two appeals were consolidated, and APS requested and was granted intervention. The Arizona Court of Appeals issued a Memorandum Decision on December 11, 2018 affirming the ACC decisions challenged by Mr. Woodward. Mr. Woodward filed a petition for review with the Arizona Supreme Court on January 9, 2019. The Arizona Supreme Court denied review.

On January 3, 2018, an APS customer filed a petition with the ACC that was determined by the ACC Staff to be a complaint filed pursuant to Arizona Revised Statute §40-246 (the “Complaint”) and not a request for rehearing. Arizona Revised Statute §40-246 requires the ACC to hold a hearing regarding any complaint alleging that a public service corporation is in violation of any commission order or that the rates being charged are not just and reasonable if the complaint is signed by at least twenty-five customers of the public service corporation. The Complaint alleged that APS is “in violation of commission order” [sic]. On February 13, 2018, the complainant filed an amended Complaint alleging that the rates and charges in the 2017 Rate Case Decision are not just and reasonable.  The complainant requested that the ACC hold a hearing on the amended Complaint to determine if the average bill impact on residential customers of the rates and charges approved in the 2017 Rate Case Decision is greater than 4.54% (the average annual bill impact for a typical APS residential customer estimated by APS) and, if so, what effect the alleged greater bill impact has on APS's revenues and the overall reasonableness and justness of APS's rates and charges, in order to determine if there is sufficient evidence to warrant a full-scale rate hearing.  The ACC held a hearing on this matter beginning in September 2018 and the hearing was concluded on October 1, 2018. On April 9, 2019, the Administrative Law Judge issued a Recommended Opinion and Order recommending that the Complaint be dismissed. The ACC considered the matter at its April and May 2019 open meetings, but no decision was issued. On July 3, 2019, the Administrative Law Judge issued an amendment to the Recommended Opinion and Order that incorporated the requirements of the rate review of the 2017 Rate Case Decision (see below discussion regarding the rate review). On July 10, 2019, the ACC reconsidered the matter and adopted the Administrative Law Judge's amended Recommended Opinion and Order along with several ACC Commissioner amendments and an amendment incorporating the results of the rate review and resolved the Complaint.

On December 24, 2018, certain ACC Commissioners filed a letter stating that because the ACC had received a substantial number of complaints that the rate increase authorized by the 2017 Rate Case Decision was much more than anticipated, they believe there is a possibility that APS is earning more than was authorized by the 2017 Rate Case Decision.  Accordingly, the ACC Commissioners requested the ACC Staff to perform a rate review of APS using calendar year 2018 as a test year and file a report by May 3, 2019. The ACC Commissioners also asked the ACC Staff to evaluate APS’s efforts to educate its customers regarding the new rates approved in the 2017 Rate Case Decision. On April 23, 2019, the ACC Staff indicated that they would need some additional time beyond May 3, 2019 to file the requested report.


23


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

On June 4, 2019, the ACC Staff filed a proposed order regarding the rate review of the 2017 Rate Case Decision. On June 11, 2019, the ACC Commissioners approved the proposed ACC Staff order with amendments. The key provisions of the amended order include the following:

APS must file a rate case no later than October 31, 2019, using a June 30, 2019 test-year;
until the conclusion of the rate case being filed no later than October 31, 2019, APS must provide information on customer bills that shows how much a customer would pay on their most economical rate given their actual usage during each month;
APS customers can switch rate plans during an open enrollment period of six months;
APS must identify customers whose bills have increased by more than 9% and that are not on the most economical rate and provide such customers with targeted education materials and an opportunity to switch rate plans;
APS must provide grandfathered net metering customers on legacy demand rates an opportunity to switch to another legacy rate to enable such customers to fully benefit from legacy net metering rates;
APS must fund and implement a supplemental customer education and outreach program to be developed with and administered by ACC Staff and a third-party consultant; and
APS must fund and organize, along with the third-party consultant, a stakeholder group to suggest better ways to communicate the impact of changes to adjustor cost recovery mechanisms (see below for discussion on cost recovery mechanisms), including more effective ways to educate customers on rate plans and to reduce energy usage.

APS cannot predict the outcome or impact of the future rate case to be filed no later than October 31, 2019. APS is assessing the impact to its financial statements of the implementation of the other key provisions of the amended order regarding the rate review and cannot predict at this time whether they will have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. 

Cost Recovery Mechanisms
 
APS has received regulatory decisions that allow for more timely recovery of certain costs outside of a general retail rate case through the following recovery mechanisms.
 
Renewable Energy Standard.  In 2006, the ACC approved the RES.  Under the RES, electric utilities that are regulated by the ACC must supply an increasing percentage of their retail electric energy sales from eligible renewable resources, including solar, wind, biomass, biogas and geothermal technologies.  In order to achieve these requirements, the ACC allows APS to include a RES surcharge as part of customer bills to recover the approved amounts for use on renewable energy projects.  Each year APS is required to file a five-year implementation plan with the ACC and seek approval for funding the upcoming year’s RES budget. In 2015, the ACC revised the RES rules to allow the ACC to consider all available information, including the number of rooftop solar arrays in a utility’s service territory, to determine compliance with the RES.

On June 30, 2017, APS filed its 2018 RES Implementation Plan and proposed a budget of approximately $90 million.  APS’s budget request supports existing approved projects and commitments and includes the anticipated transfer of specific revenue requirements into base rates in accordance with the 2017 Settlement Agreement and also requests a permanent waiver of the residential distributed energy requirement for 2018 contained in the RES rules. APS's 2018 RES budget request is lower than the 2017 RES budget due in part to a certain portion of the RES being collected by APS in base rates rather than through the RES adjustor.


24


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

On November 20, 2017, APS filed an updated 2018 RES budget to include budget adjustments for APS Solar Communities (formerly known as AZ Sun II), which was approved as part of the 2017 Rate Case Decision. APS Solar Communities is a 3-year program authorizing APS to spend $10 million to $15 million in capital costs each year to install utility-owned DG systems for low to moderate income residential homes, buildings of non-profit entities, Title I schools and rural government facilities. The 2017 Rate Case Decision provided that all operations and maintenance expenses, property taxes, marketing and advertising expenses, and the capital carrying costs for this program will be recovered through the RES. On June 12, 2018, the ACC approved the 2018 RES Implementation Plan including a waiver of the distributed energy requirements for the 2018 implementation year.

On June 29, 2018, APS filed its 2019 RES Implementation Plan and proposed a budget of approximately $89.9 million.  APS’s budget request supports existing approved projects and commitments and requests a permanent waiver of the residential distributed energy requirement for 2019 contained in the RES rules. The ACC has not yet ruled on the 2019 RES Implementation Plan.
    
On July 1, 2019, APS filed its 2020 RES Implementation Plan and proposed a budget of approximately $86.3 million. APS’s budget request supports existing approved projects and commitments and requests a permanent waiver of the residential distributed energy requirement for 2020 contained in the RES rules. The ACC has not yet ruled on the 2020 RES Implementation Plan.

On July 2, 2019, ACC Staff issued draft rules, which propose a RES goal of 45% of retail energy served be renewable by 2035 and a goal of 20% of retail sales during peak demand to be from clean energy resources by 2035.  The draft rules would also require a certain amount of the RES goal to be derived from Distributed Renewable Storage, for which utilities would be required to offer performance-based incentives. Clean peak sales would include nuclear energy as a clean resource. See "Energy Modernization Plan" below for more information.

Demand Side Management Adjustor Charge.  The ACC Electric Energy Efficiency Standards require APS to submit a Demand Side Management Implementation Plan ("DSM Plan") annually for review by and approval of the ACC. Verified energy savings from APS's resource savings projects can be counted toward compliance with the Electric Energy Efficiency Standards; however, APS is not allowed to count savings from systems savings projects toward determination of the achievement of performance incentives, nor may APS include savings from these system savings projects in the calculation of its Lost Fixed Cost Recovery (“LFCR”) mechanism (see below for discussion on the LFCR).

On September 1, 2017, APS filed its 2018 DSM Plan, which proposes modifications to the demand side management portfolio to better meet system and customer needs by focusing on peak demand reductions, storage, load shifting and demand response programs in addition to traditional energy savings measures. The 2018 DSM Plan seeks a requested budget of $52.6 million and requests a waiver of the Electric Energy Efficiency Standard for 2018.   On November 14, 2017, APS filed an amended 2018 DSM Plan, which revised the allocations between budget items to address customer participation levels, but kept the overall budget at $52.6 million. The ACC has not yet ruled on the APS 2018 amended DSM Plan.

On December 31, 2018, APS filed its 2019 DSM Plan, which requests a budget of $34.1 million and continues APS's focus on DSM strategies such as peak demand reduction, load shifting, storage and electrification strategies. The ACC has not yet ruled on the APS 2019 DSM Plan.

On May 7, 2019, APS filed a request for an extension to file its 2020 DSM Plan no later than December 31, 2019. On July 10, 2019, the ACC approved this request.

25


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 Power Supply Adjustor Mechanism and Balance.  The PSA provides for the adjustment of retail rates to reflect variations primarily in retail fuel and purchased power costs.  The following table shows the changes in the deferred fuel and purchased power regulatory asset for 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
Beginning balance
$
37,164

 
$
75,637

Deferred fuel and purchased power costs — current period
16,702

 
50,112

Amounts charged to customers
(23,307
)
 
(50,851
)
Ending balance
$
30,559

 
$
74,898


 
The PSA rate for the PSA year beginning February 1, 2017 was $(0.001348) per kWh, as compared to $0.001678 per kWh for the prior year.  This rate was comprised of a forward component of $(0.001027) per kWh and a historical component of $(0.000321) per kWh. On August 19, 2017 the PSA rate was revised to $0.000555 per kWh as part of the 2017 Rate Case Decision. This new rate was comprised of a forward component of $0.000876 per kWh and a historical component of $(0.000321) per kWh.

The PSA rate for the PSA year beginning February 1, 2018 is $0.004555 per kWh, consisting of a forward component of $0.002009 per kWh and a historical component of $0.002546 per kWh. This represented a $0.004 per kWh increase over the August 19, 2017 PSA, the maximum permitted under the Plan of Administration for the PSA. This left $16.4 million of 2017 fuel and purchased power costs above this annual cap. These costs rolled over into the following year and were reflected in the 2019 reset of the PSA.

On November 30, 2018, APS filed its PSA rate for the PSA year beginning February 1, 2019. That rate was $0.001658 per kWh and consisted of a forward component of $0.000536 per kWh and a historical component of $0.001122 per kWh. The 2019 PSA rate is a $0.002897 per kWh decrease compared to 2018. These rates went into effect as filed on February 1, 2019.
 
Transmission Rates, Transmission Cost Adjustor ("TCA") and Other Transmission Matters In July 2008, FERC approved an Open Access Transmission Tariff for APS to move from fixed rates to a formula rate-setting methodology in order to more accurately reflect and recover the costs that APS incurs in providing transmission services.  A large portion of the rate represents charges for transmission services to serve APS's retail customers ("Retail Transmission Charges").  In order to recover the Retail Transmission Charges, APS was previously required to file an application with, and obtain approval from, the ACC to reflect changes in Retail Transmission Charges through the TCA.  Under the terms of the settlement agreement entered into in 2012 regarding APS's rate case (the "2012 Settlement Agreement"), however, an adjustment to rates to recover the Retail Transmission Charges will be made annually each June 1 and will go into effect automatically unless suspended by the ACC.
 
The formula rate is updated each year effective June 1 on the basis of APS's actual cost of service, as disclosed in APS's FERC Form 1 report for the previous fiscal year.  Items to be updated include actual capital expenditures made as compared with previous projections, transmission revenue credits and other items.  The resolution of proposed adjustments can result in significant volatility in the revenues to be collected.  APS reviews the proposed formula rate filing amounts with the ACC Staff.  Any items or adjustments which are not agreed to by APS and the ACC Staff can remain in dispute until settled or litigated at FERC.  Settlement or

26


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

litigated resolution of disputed issues could require an extended period of time and could have a significant effect on the Retail Transmission Charges because any adjustment, though applied prospectively, may be calculated to account for previously over- or under-collected amounts.

Effective June 1, 2017, APS's annual wholesale transmission rates for all users of its transmission system increased by approximately $35.1 million for the twelve-month period beginning June 1, 2017 in accordance with the FERC-approved formula.  An adjustment to APS’s retail rates to recover FERC approved transmission charges went into effect automatically on June 1, 2017.

On March 7, 2018, APS made a filing to make modifications to its annual transmission formula to provide transmission customers the benefit of the reduced federal corporate income tax rate resulting from the Tax Act beginning in its 2018 annual transmission formula rate update filing. These modifications were approved by FERC on May 22, 2018 and reduced APS’s transmission rates compared to the rate that would have gone into effect absent these changes.

Effective June 1, 2018, APS's annual wholesale transmission rates for all users of its transmission system decreased by approximately $22.7 million for the twelve-month period beginning June 1, 2018 in accordance with the FERC-approved formula.  An adjustment to APS’s retail rates to recover FERC approved transmission charges went into effect automatically on June 1, 2018.

Effective June 1, 2019, APS's annual wholesale transmission rates for all users of its transmission system increased by approximately $4.9 million for the twelve-month period beginning June 1, 2019 in accordance with the FERC-approved formula. An adjustment to APS’s retail rates to recover FERC approved transmission charges went into effect automatically on June 1, 2019.

 Lost Fixed Cost Recovery Mechanism.  The LFCR mechanism permits APS to recover on an after-the-fact basis a portion of its fixed costs that would otherwise have been collected by APS in the kWh sales lost due to APS energy efficiency programs and to DG such as rooftop solar arrays.  The fixed costs recoverable by the LFCR mechanism were first established in the 2012 Settlement Agreement and amount to approximately 3.1 cents per residential kWh lost and 2.3 cents per non-residential kWh lost. These amounts were revised in the 2017 Settlement Agreement to 2.5 cents for both lost residential and non-residential kWh.  The LFCR adjustment has a year-over-year cap of 1% of retail revenues.  Any amounts left unrecovered in a particular year because of this cap can be carried over for recovery in a future year.  The kWhs lost from energy efficiency are based on a third-party evaluation of APS’s energy efficiency programs.  DG sales losses are determined from the metered output from the DG units.
 
APS filed its 2017 LFCR adjustment on January 13, 2017 requesting an LFCR adjustment of $63.7 million. On April 5, 2017, the ACC approved the 2017 annual LFCR adjustment as filed, effective with the first billing cycle of April 2017. On February 15, 2018, APS filed its 2018 annual LFCR Adjustment, requesting that effective May 1, 2018, the LFCR be adjusted to $60.7 million (a $3 million per year decrease from 2017 levels). On February 6, 2019, the ACC approved the 2018 annual LFCR adjustment to become effective March 1, 2019. On February 15, 2019, APS filed its 2019 annual LFCR adjustment, requesting that effective May 1, 2019, the annual LFCR recovery amount be reduced to $36.2 million (a $24.5 million decrease from previous levels). On July 10, 2019, the ACC approved APS’s 2019 LFCR adjustment as filed, effective with the next billing cycle of July 2019. Because the LFCR mechanism has a balancing account that trues up any under or over recoveries, the delay in implementation does not have an adverse effect on APS.

Tax Expense Adjustor Mechanism ("TEAM").  As part of the 2017 Settlement Agreement, the parties agreed to a rate adjustment mechanism to address potential federal income tax reform and enable the pass-

27


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

through of certain income tax effects to customers. The TEAM expressly applies to APS's retail rates with the exception of a small subset of customers taking service under specially-approved tariffs. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was enacted.  This legislation made significant changes to the federal income tax laws including a reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018.

On January 8, 2018, APS filed an application with the ACC that addressed the change in the marginal federal tax rate from 35% to 21% resulting from the Tax Act and reduced rates by $119.1 million annually through an equal cents per kWh credit ("TEAM Phase I").  On February 22, 2018, the ACC approved the reduction of rates through an equal cents per kWh credit. The rate reduction was effective for the first billing cycle in March 2018.

The impact of the TEAM Phase I, over time, is expected to be earnings neutral. However, on a quarterly basis, there is a difference between the timing and amount of the income tax benefit and the reduction in revenues refunded through the TEAM Phase I related to the lower federal income tax rate. The amount of the benefit of the lower federal income tax rate is based on quarterly pre-tax results, while the reduction in revenues refunded through the TEAM Phase I is based on a per kWh sales credit which follows our seasonal kWh sales pattern and is not impacted by earnings of the Company.

On August 13, 2018, APS filed a second request with the ACC that addressed the return of an additional $86.5 million in tax savings to customers related to the amortization of non-depreciation related excess deferred taxes previously collected from customers ("TEAM Phase II"). The ACC approved this request on March 13, 2019, effective the first billing cycle in April 2019. The impact of TEAM Phase II is expected to be earnings neutral as both the timing of the reduction in revenues refunded through TEAM Phase II and the offsetting income tax benefit are recognized based upon our seasonal kWh sales pattern.
    
On April 10, 2019, APS filed a third request with the ACC that addressed the amortization of depreciation related excess deferred taxes over a 28.5 year period (“TEAM Phase III”).  Over the first 36 months, TEAM Phase III is expected to return $34.5 million to customers annually, and APS proposed this refund begin July 1, 2019.  APS is currently in the process of seeking IRS guidance affirming the amortization method and period applicable to these depreciation related excess deferred taxes. The ACC has not yet approved TEAM Phase III.

Net Metering

In 2015, the ACC voted to conduct a generic evidentiary hearing on the value and cost of DG to gather information that will inform the ACC on net metering issues and cost of service studies in upcoming utility rate cases.  A hearing was held in April 2016. On October 7, 2016, the Administrative Law Judge issued a recommendation in the docket concerning the value and cost of DG solar installations. On December 20, 2016, the ACC completed its open meeting to consider the recommended opinion and order by the Administrative Law Judge. After making several amendments, the ACC approved the recommended decision by a 4-1 vote. As a result of the ACC’s action, effective with APS’s 2017 Rate Case Decision, the net metering tariff that governs payments for energy exported to the grid from residential rooftop solar systems was replaced by a more formula-driven approach that utilizes inputs from historical wholesale solar power until an avoided cost methodology is developed by the ACC.

As amended, the decision provides that payments by utilities for energy exported to the grid from DG solar facilities will be determined using a RCP methodology, a method that is based on the most recent five-year rolling average price that APS pays for utility-scale solar projects, while a forecasted avoided cost methodology is being developed.  The price established by this RCP method will be updated annually (between

28


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

general retail rate cases) but will not be decreased by more than 10% per year. Once the avoided cost methodology is developed, the ACC will determine in APS's subsequent rate cases which method (or a combination of methods) is appropriate to determine the actual price to be paid by APS for exported distributed energy.

In addition, the ACC made the following determinations:

Customers who have interconnected a DG system or submitted an application for interconnection for DG systems prior to September 1, 2017, based on APS's 2017 Rate Case Decision, will be grandfathered for a period of 20 years from the date the customer’s interconnection application was accepted by the utility;
Customers with DG solar systems are to be considered a separate class of customers for ratemaking purposes; and
Once an export price is set for APS, no netting or banking of retail credits will be available for new DG customers, and the then-applicable export price will be guaranteed for new customers for a period of 10 years.

This decision of the ACC addresses policy determinations only. The decision states that its principles will be applied in future general retail rate cases, and the policy determinations themselves may be subject to future change, as are all ACC policies. A first-year export energy price of 12.9 cents per kWh was included in the 2017 Settlement Agreement and became effective on September 1, 2017.

In accordance with the 2017 Rate Case Decision, APS filed its request for a second-year export energy price of 11.6 cents per kWh on May 1, 2018.  This price reflected the 10% annual reduction discussed above. The new tariff became effective on October 1, 2018. APS filed its request for a third-year export energy price of 10.45 cents per kWh on May 1, 2019, with a requested effective date of September 1, 2019.  This price also reflects the 10% annual reduction discussed above.  The ACC has not yet ruled on this request.

On January 23, 2017, The Alliance for Solar Choice ("TASC") sought rehearing of the ACC's decision regarding the value and cost of DG. TASC asserted that the ACC improperly ignored the Administrative Procedure Act, failed to give adequate notice regarding the scope of the proceedings, and relied on information that was not submitted as evidence, among other alleged defects. TASC filed a Notice of Appeal in the Arizona Court of Appeals and filed a Complaint and Statutory Appeal in the Maricopa County Superior Court on March 10, 2017. As part of the 2017 Settlement Agreement described above, TASC agreed to withdraw these appeals when the ACC decision implementing the 2017 Settlement Agreement is no longer subject to appellate review.

See "Retail Rate Case Filing with the Arizona Corporation Commission" above for information regarding an ACC order in connection with the rate review of the 2017 Rate Case Decision requiring APS to provide grandfathered net metering customers on legacy demand rates with an opportunity to switch to another legacy rate to enable such customers to benefit from legacy net metering rates.

Subpoena from Arizona Corporation Commissioner Robert Burns

On August 25, 2016, Commissioner Burns, individually and not by action of the ACC as a whole, served subpoenas in APS’s then current retail rate proceeding on APS and Pinnacle West for the production of records and information relating to a range of expenditures from 2011 through 2016. The subpoenas requested information concerning marketing and advertising expenditures, charitable donations, lobbying expenses, contributions to 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) nonprofits and political contributions. The return date for the production

29


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

of information was set as September 15, 2016. The subpoenas also sought testimony from Company personnel having knowledge of the material, including the Chief Executive Officer.

On September 9, 2016, APS filed with the ACC a motion to quash the subpoenas or, alternatively, to stay APS's obligations to comply with the subpoenas and decline to decide APS's motion pending court proceedings. Contemporaneously with the filing of this motion, APS and Pinnacle West filed a complaint for special action and declaratory judgment in the Superior Court of Arizona for Maricopa County, seeking a declaratory judgment that Commissioner Burns’ subpoenas are contrary to law. On September 15, 2016, APS produced all non-confidential and responsive documents and offered to produce any remaining responsive documents that are confidential after an appropriate confidentiality agreement is signed.

On February 7, 2017, Commissioner Burns opened a new ACC docket and indicated that its purpose is to study and rectify problems with transparency and disclosure regarding financial contributions from regulated monopolies or other stakeholders who may appear before the ACC that may directly or indirectly benefit an ACC Commissioner, a candidate for ACC Commissioner, or key ACC Staff.  As part of this docket, Commissioner Burns set March 24, 2017 as a deadline for the production of all information previously requested through the subpoenas. Neither APS nor Pinnacle West produced the information requested and instead objected to the subpoena. On March 10, 2017, Commissioner Burns filed suit against APS and Pinnacle West in the Superior Court of Arizona for Maricopa County in an effort to enforce his subpoenas. On March 30, 2017, APS filed a motion to dismiss Commissioner Burns' suit against APS and Pinnacle West. In response to the motion to dismiss, the court stayed the suit and ordered Commissioner Burns to file a motion to compel the production of the information sought by the subpoenas with the ACC. On June 20, 2017, the ACC denied the motion to compel.

On August 4, 2017, Commissioner Burns amended his complaint to add all of the ACC Commissioners and the ACC itself as defendants. All defendants moved to dismiss the amended complaint. On February 15, 2018, the Superior Court dismissed Commissioner Burns’ amended complaint. On March 6, 2018, Commissioner Burns filed an objection to the proposed final order from the Superior Court and a motion to further amend his complaint. The Superior Court permitted Commissioner Burns to amend his complaint to add a claim regarding his attempted investigation into whether his fellow commissioners should have been disqualified from voting on APS’s 2017 rate case. Commissioner Burns filed his second amended complaint, and all defendants filed responses opposing the second amended complaint and requested that it be dismissed. Oral argument occurred in November 2018 regarding the motion to dismiss. On December 18, 2018, the trial court granted the defendants’ motions to dismiss and entered final judgment on January 18, 2019. On February 13, 2019, Commissioner Burns filed a notice of appeal. On July 12, 2019, Commissioner Burns filed his opening brief in the Arizona Court of Appeals and all answering briefs are due on August 21, 2019. APS and Pinnacle West cannot predict the outcome of this matter.


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COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Information Requests from Arizona Corporation Commissioners

On January 14, 2019, ACC Commissioner Kennedy opened a docket to investigate campaign expenditures and political participation of APS and Pinnacle West. In addition, on February 27, 2019, ACC Commissioners Burns and Dunn opened a new docket and requested documents from APS and Pinnacle West related to ACC elections and charitable contributions related to the ACC. On March 1, 2019, ACC Commissioner Kennedy issued a subpoena to APS seeking several categories of information for both Pinnacle West and APS including political contributions, lobbying expenditures, marketing and advertising expenditures, and contributions made to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities, for the years 2013-2018. Pinnacle West and APS voluntarily responded to both sets of requests on March 29, 2019. APS also received and responded to various follow-on requests from ACC Commissioners on these matters. Pinnacle West and APS cannot predict the outcome of these matters.

Renewable Energy Ballot Initiative
    
On February 20, 2018, a renewable energy advocacy organization filed with the Arizona Secretary of State a ballot initiative for an Arizona constitutional amendment requiring Arizona public service corporations to provide at least 50% of their annual retail sales of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. For purposes of the proposed amendment, eligible renewable sources would not include nuclear generating facilities. The initiative was placed on the November 2018 Arizona elections ballot. On November 6, 2018, the initiative failed to receive adequate voter support and was defeated.
    
Energy Modernization Plan

On January 30, 2018, former ACC Commissioner Tobin proposed the Energy Modernization Plan, which consisted of a series of energy policies tied to clean energy sources such as energy storage, biomass, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, and expanded energy planning through the integrated resource plans ("IRP") process. In August 2018, the ACC directed ACC Staff to open a new rulemaking docket which will address a wide range of energy issues, including the Energy Modernization Plan proposals. The rulemaking will consider possible modifications to existing ACC rules, such as the RES, Electric and Gas Energy Efficiency Standards, Net Metering, Resource Planning, and the Biennial Transmission Assessment, as well as the development of new rules regarding forest bioenergy, electric vehicles, interconnection of distributed generation, baseload security, blockchain technology and other technological developments, retail competition, and other energy-related topics. On April 25, 2019, the ACC Staff issued a set of draft rules in regards to the Energy Modernization Plan and workshops were held on April 29, 2019 regarding these draft rules. On July 2, 2019, the ACC Staff issued a revised set of draft rules, which propose a RES goal of 45% of retail energy served be renewable by 2035 and a goal of 20% of retail sales during peak demand to be from clean energy resources by 2035.  The draft rules also require a certain amount of the RES goal to be derived from Distributed Renewable Storage, for which utilities would be required to offer performance-based incentives.  Clean peak sales would include nuclear energy as a clean resource. The ACC held stakeholder meetings and workshops on ACC Staff’s draft energy rules on July 30 and July 31, 2019 and additional stakeholder workshops will be held in August 2019. APS cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
    

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COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Integrated Resource Planning

ACC rules require utilities to develop fifteen-year IRPs which describe how the utility plans to serve customer load in the plan timeframe.  The ACC reviews each utility’s IRP to determine if it meets the necessary requirements and whether it should be acknowledged.  In March of 2018, the ACC reviewed the 2017 IRPs of its jurisdictional utilities and voted to not acknowledge any of the plans.  APS does not believe that this lack of acknowledgment will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.  Based on an ACC decision, APS is required to file a Preliminary Resource Plan by April 1, 2019 and its final IRP by April 1, 2020. On February 25, 2019, APS filed a request to extend the deadline to file its Preliminary IRP from April 1, 2019 to August 1, 2019.  On April 24, 2019, the ACC approved this request. On August 1, 2019, APS filed its Preliminary IRP.

Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act

In August 2016, APS filed an application requesting that all of its contracts with qualifying facilities over 100 kW be set at a presumptive maximum 2 year term. A qualifying facility is an eligible energy-producing facility as defined by FERC regulations within a host electric utility’s service territory that has a right to sell to the host utility. Host utilities are required to purchase power from qualifying facilities at an avoided cost. A hearing is set to begin on August 27, 2019 regarding APS’s application. APS cannot predict the outcome of this matter.

Residential Electric Utility Customer Service Disconnections

On June 13, 2019, APS voluntarily suspended electric disconnections for residential customers who had not paid their bills.  On June 20, 2019, the ACC voted to enact emergency rule amendments to prevent residential electric utility customer service disconnections during the period from June 1 through October 15.  During the moratorium on disconnections, APS cannot charge late fees and interest on amounts that are past due from customers.  Customer deposits must also be used to pay delinquent amounts before disconnection can occur and customers will have four months to pay back their deposit and any remaining delinquent amounts.  The emergency rule changes will be effective for 180 days and may be renewed once.  During that time, the ACC will begin a formal regular rulemaking process to allow stakeholder input and time for consideration of permanent rules changes.  The ACC further ordered that each regulated electric utility serving retail customers in Arizona update its service conditions by incorporating the emergency rule amendments, restore power to any customers who were disconnected during the month of June 2019 and credit any fees that were charged for a reconnection. In July 2019, certain Arizona electric cooperatives filed a request for rehearing of the emergency rules for disconnections on several grounds, including that Attorney General certification is required for such rulemaking. APS currently estimates that the disconnection moratorium will result in an impact to its 2019 operating results of approximately $5 million to $10 million pre-tax depending on certain assumptions, including customer behaviors. APS is further assessing the impact to its financial statements beyond 2019, which will be affected by the results of final rulemaking related to disconnections.

Retail Electric Competition Rules

On November 17, 2018, the ACC voted to re-examine the facilitation of a deregulated retail electric market in Arizona. An ACC special open meeting workshop was held on December 3, 2018. No substantive action was taken, but interested parties were asked to submit written comments and respond to a list of questions from ACC Staff. On July 1 and July 2, 2019, ACC Staff issued a report and initial proposed draft rules regarding possible modifications to the ACC’s retail electric competition rules. Interested parties filed comments to the ACC Staff report and a stakeholder meeting and workshop to discuss the retail electric

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COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

competition rules was held on July 30, 2019. APS cannot predict whether these efforts will result in any changes and, if changes to the rules results, what impact these rules would have on APS.

Four Corners 

SCE-Related Matters. On December 30, 2013, APS purchased Southern California Edison Company's ("SCE’s") 48% ownership interest in each of Units 4 and 5 of Four Corners.  The 2012 Settlement Agreement includes a procedure to allow APS to request rate adjustments prior to its next general retail rate case related to APS’s acquisition of the additional interests in Units 4 and 5 and the related closure of Units 1-3 of Four Corners.  APS made its filing under this provision on December 30, 2013. On December 23, 2014, the ACC approved rate adjustments resulting in a revenue increase of $57.1 million on an annual basis.  This included the deferral for future recovery of all non-fuel operating costs for the acquired SCE interest in Four Corners, net of the non-fuel operating costs savings resulting from the closure of Units 1-3 from the date of closing of the purchase through its inclusion in rates.  The 2012 Settlement Agreement also provided for deferral for future recovery of all unrecovered costs incurred in connection with the closure of Units 1-3.  The deferral balance related to the acquisition of SCE’s interest in Units 4 and 5 and the closure of Units 1-3 was $44 million as of June 30, 2019 and is being amortized in rates over a total of 10 years.

 As part of APS’s acquisition of SCE’s interest in Units 4 and 5, APS and SCE agreed, via a "Transmission Termination Agreement" that, upon closing of the acquisition, the companies would terminate an existing transmission agreement ("Transmission Agreement") between the parties that provides transmission capacity on a system (the "Arizona Transmission System") for SCE to transmit its portion of the output from Four Corners to California.  APS previously submitted a request to FERC related to this termination, which resulted in a FERC order denying rate recovery of $40 million that APS agreed to pay SCE associated with the termination. On December 22, 2015, APS and SCE agreed to terminate the Transmission Termination Agreement and allow for the Transmission Agreement to expire according to its terms, which includes settling obligations in accordance with the terms of the Transmission Agreement. APS established a regulatory asset of $12 million in 2015 in connection with the payment required under the terms of the Transmission Agreement. On July 1, 2016, FERC issued an order denying APS’s request to recover the regulatory asset through its FERC-jurisdictional rates.  APS and SCE completed the termination of the Transmission Agreement on July 6, 2016. APS made the required payment to SCE and wrote-off the $12 million regulatory asset and charged operating revenues to reflect the effects of this order in the second quarter of 2016.  On July 29, 2016, APS filed a request for rehearing with FERC. In its order denying recovery, FERC also referred to its enforcement division a question of whether the agreement between APS and SCE relating to the settlement of obligations under the Transmission Agreement was a jurisdictional contract that should have been filed with FERC. On October 5, 2017, FERC issued an order denying APS's request for rehearing. FERC also upheld its prior determination that the agreement relating to the settlement was a jurisdictional contract and should have been filed with FERC. APS cannot predict whether or if the enforcement division will take any action. APS filed an appeal of FERC's July 1, 2016 and October 5, 2017 orders with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on December 4, 2017. On June 14, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an unpublished memorandum order denying APS’s petition for review of FERC’s orders that denied APS’s request to recover the regulatory asset through its FERC-jurisdictional rates and granting APS’s petition for review of FERC’s orders finding the agreement to be a jurisdictional contract. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated FERC’s determination that the agreement was required to be filed with FERC and remanded the issue to FERC for additional proceedings. APS cannot predict the outcome of the remand proceeding.

SCR Cost Recovery. On December 29, 2017, in accordance with the 2017 Rate Case Decision, APS filed a Notice of Intent to file its SCR Adjustment to permit recovery of costs associated with the installation of

33


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SCR equipment at Four Corners Units 4 and 5.  APS filed the SCR Adjustment request in April 2018.  Consistent with the 2017 Rate Case Decision, the request was narrow in scope and addressed only costs associated with this specific environmental compliance equipment.  The SCR Adjustment request provided that there would be a $67.5 million annual revenue impact that would be applied as a percentage of base rates for all applicable customers.  Also, as provided for in the 2017 Rate Case Decision, APS requested that the adjustment become effective no later than January 1, 2019.  The hearing for this matter occurred in September 2018.  At the hearing, APS accepted ACC Staff's recommendation of a lower annual revenue impact of approximately $58.5 million. The Administrative Law Judge issued a Recommended Opinion and Order finding that the costs for the SCR project were prudently incurred and recommending authorization of the $58.5 million annual revenue requirement related to the installation and operation of the SCRs. Exceptions to the Recommended Opinion and Order were filed by the parties and intervenors on December 7, 2018.  The ACC has not issued a decision on this matter. APS cannot predict the outcome or timing of the decision on this matter. APS may be required to record a charge to its results of operations if the ACC issues an unfavorable decision (see SCR deferral in the Regulatory Assets and Liabilities table below).
  
Cholla

On September 11, 2014, APS announced that it would close Unit 2 of the Cholla Power Plant ("Cholla") and cease burning coal at the other APS-owned units (Units 1 and 3) at the plant by the mid-2020s, if the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") approves a compromise proposal offered by APS to meet required environmental and emissions standards and rules. On April 14, 2015, the ACC approved APS's plan to retire Unit 2, without expressing any view on the future recoverability of APS's remaining investment in the unit. APS closed Unit 2 on October 1, 2015. In early 2017, EPA approved a final rule incorporating APS's compromise proposal, which took effect on April 26, 2017.
Previously, APS estimated Cholla Unit 2’s end of life to be 2033. APS has been recovering a return on and of the net book value of the unit in base rates. Pursuant to the 2017 Settlement Agreement described above, APS will be allowed continued recovery of the net book value of the unit and the unit’s decommissioning and other retirement-related costs ($81 million as of June 30, 2019), in addition to a return on its investment. In accordance with GAAP, in the third quarter of 2014, Unit 2’s remaining net book value was reclassified from property, plant and equipment to a regulatory asset. The 2017 Settlement Agreement also shortened the depreciation lives of Cholla Units 1 and 3 to 2025.
On March 20, 2019, APS announced that it began evaluating the feasibility and cost of converting a unit at Cholla to burn biomass. Biomass is a fuel comprised of forest trimmings, and a converted unit at Cholla could assist in forest thinning, responsible forest management, an improved watershed, and a reduced wildfire risk. APS’s ability to operate a biomass power plant would depend on third-parties procuring forest biomass for fuel. APS reported the results of its evaluation on May 9, 2019 to the ACC. On July 10, 2019, the ACC voted to not require APS to file a request for proposal to convert the unit at Cholla to burn biomass.
Navajo Plant
The co-owners of the Navajo Generating Station (the "Navajo Plant") and the Navajo Nation agreed that the Navajo Plant will remain in operation until December 2019 under the existing plant lease. The co-owners and the Navajo Nation executed a lease extension on November 29, 2017 that will allow for decommissioning activities to begin after the plant ceases operations in December 2019.
APS is currently recovering depreciation and a return on the net book value of its interest in the Navajo Plant over its previously estimated life through 2026. APS will seek continued recovery in rates for the book

34


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

value of its remaining investment in the plant ($83 million as of June 30, 2019) plus a return on the net book value as well as other costs related to retirement and closure, which are still being assessed and may be material. APS believes it will be allowed recovery of the net book value, in addition to a return on its investment. In accordance with GAAP, in the second quarter of 2017, APS's remaining net book value of its interest in the Navajo Plant was reclassified from property, plant and equipment to a regulatory asset. If the ACC does not allow full recovery of the remaining net book value of this interest, all or a portion of the regulatory asset will be written off and APS's net income, cash flows, and financial position will be negatively impacted.    
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities 
The detail of regulatory assets is as follows (dollars in thousands): 
 
Amortization Through
 
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
 
Current
 
Non-Current
 
Current
 
Non-Current
Pension
(a)
 
$

 
$
712,907

 
$

 
$
733,351

Retired power plant costs
2033
 
28,182

 
153,122

 
28,182

 
167,164

Income taxes — allowance for funds used during construction ("AFUDC") equity
2049
 
6,457

 
152,388

 
6,457

 
151,467

Deferred fuel and purchased power — mark-to-market (Note 7)
2023
 
55,729

 
21,516

 
31,728

 
23,768

Deferred fuel and purchased power (b) (c)
2020
 
30,559

 

 
37,164

 

Four Corners cost deferral
2024
 
8,077

 
36,190

 
8,077

 
40,228

Income taxes — investment tax credit basis adjustment
2047
 
1,079

 
25,170

 
1,079

 
25,522

Lost fixed cost recovery (b)
2020
 
25,746

 

 
32,435

 

Palo Verde VIEs (Note 6)
2046
 

 
20,325

 

 
20,015

Deferred compensation
2036
 

 
37,572

 

 
36,523

Deferred property taxes
2027
 
8,569

 
62,072

 
8,569

 
66,356

Loss on reacquired debt
2038
 
1,637

 
12,850

 
1,637

 
13,668

Tax expense of Medicare subsidy
2024
 
1,235

 
5,772

 
1,235

 
6,176

TCA balancing account (b)
2021
 
5,381

 
3,895

 
3,860

 
772

AG-1 deferral
2022
 
2,787

 
4,110

 
2,654

 
5,819

Mead-Phoenix transmission line CIAC
2050
 
332

 
9,878

 
332

 
10,044

Coal reclamation
2026
 
1,546

 
16,250

 
1,546

 
15,607

SCR deferral
N/A
 

 
37,919

 

 
23,276

Tax expense adjuster mechanism (b)
2019
 
3,149

 

 

 

Ocotillo deferral
N/A
 

 
9,495

 

 

Other
Various
 
3,994

 

 
1,947

 
3,185

Total regulatory assets (d)
 
 
$
184,459

 
$
1,321,431

 
$
166,902

 
$
1,342,941


(a)
This asset represents the future recovery of pension benefit obligations through retail rates.  If these costs are disallowed by the ACC, this regulatory asset would be charged to other comprehensive income ("OCI") and result in lower future revenues.
(b)
See "Cost Recovery Mechanisms" discussion above.
(c)
Subject to a carrying charge.

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COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(d)
There are no regulatory assets for which the ACC has allowed recovery of costs, but not allowed a return by exclusion from rate base.  FERC rates are set using a formula rate as described in "Transmission Rates, Transmission Cost Adjustor and Other Transmission Matters."


The detail of regulatory liabilities is as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
 
Amortization Through
 
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
 
Current
 
Non-Current
 
Current
 
Non-Current
Excess deferred income taxes - ACC - Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (a)
(b)
 
$
68,651

 
$
1,178,216

 
$

 
$
1,272,709

Excess deferred income taxes - FERC - Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (a)
2058
 
6,302

 
241,633

 
6,302

 
243,691

Asset retirement obligations
2057
 

 
359,912

 

 
278,585

Removal costs
(c)
 
50,701

 
153,847

 
39,866

 
177,533

Other postretirement benefits
(d)
 
37,821

 
105,214

 
37,864

 
125,903

Income taxes — deferred investment tax credit
2047
 
2,164

 
50,414

 
2,164

 
51,120

Income taxes — change in rates
2048
 
2,764

 
69,171

 
2,769

 
70,069

Spent nuclear fuel
2027
 
6,578

 
53,769

 
6,503

 
57,002

Renewable energy standard (b)
2021
 
40,639

 
4,950

 
44,966

 
20

Demand side management (b)
2021
 
7,191

 
24,146

 
14,604

 
4,123

Sundance maintenance
2030
 
1,641

 
15,495

 
1,278

 
17,228

Deferred gains on utility property
2022
 
3,423

 
5,372

 
4,423

 
6,581

Four Corners coal reclamation
2038
 
1,858

 
17,540

 
1,858

 
17,871

Tax expense adjustor mechanism (b)
2020
 
1,663

 

 
3,237

 

Other
Various
 
461

 
8,213

 
42

 
3,541

Total regulatory liabilities
 
 
$
231,857

 
$
2,287,892

 
$
165,876

 
$
2,325,976


(a)
For purposes of presentation on the Statement of Cash Flows, amortization of the regulatory liabilities for excess deferred income taxes are reflected as "Deferred income taxes" under Cash Flows From Operating Activities.
(b)
See “Cost Recovery Mechanisms” discussion above.
(c)
In accordance with regulatory accounting guidance, APS accrues removal costs for its regulated assets, even if there is no legal obligation for removal.
(d)
See Note 5.

5.
Retirement Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits
 
Pinnacle West sponsors a qualified defined benefit and account balance pension plan, a non-qualified supplemental excess benefit retirement plan, and an other postretirement benefit plan for the employees of Pinnacle West and our subsidiaries.  Pinnacle West uses a December 31 measurement date for its pension and other postretirement benefit plans.  The market-related value of our plan assets is their fair value at the measurement dates.


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COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following table provides details of the plans’ net periodic benefit costs and the portion of these costs charged to expense (including administrative costs and excluding amounts capitalized as overhead construction or billed to electric plant participants) (dollars in thousands):

 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Service cost — benefits earned during the period
$
12,408

 
$
14,121

 
$
24,951

 
$
28,334

 
$
4,470

 
$
5,445

 
$
9,184

 
$
10,550

Non-service costs (credits):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest cost on benefit obligation
34,069

 
31,338

 
68,421

 
62,345

 
7,421

 
6,973

 
14,947

 
14,074

Expected return on plan assets
(43,049
)
 
(45,759
)
 
(85,942
)
 
(91,426
)
 
(9,603
)
 
(10,520
)
 
(19,206
)
 
(21,041
)
  Amortization of:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

  Prior service credit

 

 

 

 
(9,455
)
 
(9,461
)
 
(18,910
)
 
(18,921
)
  Net actuarial loss
10,053

 
8,259

 
21,292

 
16,041

 

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit
cost (credit)
$
13,481

 
$
7,959

 
$
28,722

 
$
15,294

 
$
(7,167
)
 
$
(7,563
)
 
$
(13,985
)
 
$
(15,338
)
Portion of cost (credit) charged to expense
$
7,000

 
$
2,769

 
$
15,244

 
$
5,011

 
$
(5,063
)
 
$
(5,119
)
 
$
(9,880
)
 
$
(10,724
)

 
Contributions
 
We have made voluntary contributions of $120 million to our pension plan year-to-date in 2019. The minimum required contributions for the pension plan are zero for the next three years. We expect to make voluntary contributions up to a total of $350 million during the 2019-2021 period. We do not expect to make any contributions over the next three years to our other postretirement benefit plans.
 
6.
Palo Verde Sale Leaseback Variable Interest Entities
 
In 1986, APS entered into agreements with three separate VIE lessor trust entities in order to sell and lease back interests in Palo Verde Unit 2 and related common facilities. APS will retain the assets through 2023 under one lease and 2033 under the other two leases. APS will be required to make payments relating to these leases of approximately $23 million annually through 2023, and $16 million annually for the period 2024 through 2033. At the end of the lease period, APS will have the option to purchase the leased assets at their fair market value, extend the leases for up to two years, or return the assets to the lessors.

The leases' terms give APS the ability to utilize the assets for a significant portion of the assets’ economic life, and therefore provide APS with the power to direct activities of the VIEs that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance.  Predominantly due to the lease terms, APS has been deemed the primary beneficiary of these VIEs and therefore consolidates the VIEs.
 
As a result of consolidation, we eliminate lease accounting and instead recognize depreciation expense, resulting in an increase in net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 of $5 million and $10 million, respectively, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 of $5 million and $10 million, respectively, entirely attributable to the noncontrolling interests. Income attributable to Pinnacle West shareholders is not impacted by the consolidation.

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COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include the following amounts relating to the VIEs (dollars in thousands):
 
 
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Palo Verde sale leaseback property plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation
$
103,841

 
$
105,775

Equity — Noncontrolling interests
124,165

 
125,790


 
Assets of the VIEs are restricted and may only be used for payment to the noncontrolling interest holders. These assets are reported on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
APS is exposed to losses relating to these VIEs upon the occurrence of certain events that APS does not consider to be reasonably likely to occur.  Under certain circumstances (for example, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC") issuing specified violation orders with respect to Palo Verde or the occurrence of specified nuclear events), APS would be required to make specified payments to the VIEs’ noncontrolling equity participants and take title to the leased Unit 2 interests, which, if appropriate, may be required to be written down in value.  If such an event were to occur during the lease periods, APS may be required to pay the noncontrolling equity participants approximately $299 million beginning in 2019, and up to $456 million over the lease extension terms.
 
For regulatory ratemaking purposes, the agreements continue to be treated as operating leases and, as a result, we have recorded a regulatory asset relating to the arrangements.

7.    Derivative Accounting
 
Derivative financial instruments are used to manage exposure to commodity price and transportation costs of electricity, natural gas, emissions allowances, and in interest rates.  Risks associated with market volatility are managed by utilizing various physical and financial derivative instruments, including futures, forwards, options and swaps.  As part of our overall risk management program, we may use derivative instruments to hedge purchases and sales of electricity and fuels.  Derivative instruments that meet certain hedge accounting criteria may be designated as cash flow hedges and are used to limit our exposure to cash flow variability on forecasted transactions.  The changes in market value of such instruments have a high correlation to price changes in the hedged transactions.  Derivative instruments are also entered into for economic hedging purposes.  While economic hedges may mitigate exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices, these instruments have not been designated as accounting hedges.  Contracts that have the same terms (quantities, delivery points and delivery periods) and for which power does not flow are netted, which reduces both revenues and fuel and purchased power costs in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, but does not impact our financial condition, net income or cash flows.
 
Our derivative instruments, excluding those qualifying for a scope exception, are recorded on the balance sheets as an asset or liability and are measured at fair value.  See Note 11 for a discussion of fair value measurements.  Derivative instruments may qualify for the normal purchases and normal sales scope exception if they require physical delivery and the quantities represent those transacted in the normal course of business.  Derivative instruments qualifying for the normal purchases and sales scope exception are accounted for under the accrual method of accounting and excluded from our derivative instrument discussion and disclosures below.

38


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 
For its regulated operations, APS defers for future rate treatment 100% of the unrealized gains and losses on derivatives pursuant to the PSA mechanism that would otherwise be recognized in income.  Realized gains and losses on derivatives are deferred in accordance with the PSA to the extent the amounts are above or below the Base Fuel Rate (see Note 4).  Gains and losses from derivatives in the following tables represent the amounts reflected in income before the effect of PSA deferrals.
 
As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had the following outstanding gross notional volume of derivatives, which represent both purchases and sales (does not reflect net position): 
 
 
 
Quantity
Commodity
 
Unit of Measure
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Power
 
GWh
1,000

 
250

Gas
 
Billion cubic feet
218

 
218


 
Gains and Losses from Derivative Instruments
 
The following table provides information about gains and losses from derivative instruments in designated cash flow accounting hedging relationships during the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
 
Financial Statement Location
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
Commodity Contracts
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Loss Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion Realized) (a)
 
Fuel and purchased power (b)
 
$
(538
)
 
$
(606
)
 
$
(974
)
 
$
(1,097
)

(a)
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, we had no gains or losses reclassified from accumulated OCI to earnings related to discontinued cash flow hedges.
(b)
Amounts are before the effect of PSA deferrals.
 
During the next twelve months, we estimate that a net loss of approximately $1 million before income taxes will be reclassified from accumulated OCI as an offset to the effect of market price changes for the related hedged transactions.  In accordance with the PSA, most of these amounts will be recorded as either a regulatory asset or liability and have no immediate effect on earnings.


39


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following table provides information about gains and losses from derivative instruments not designated as accounting hedging instruments during the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
 
Financial Statement Location
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
Commodity Contracts
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net Loss Recognized in Income
 
Operating revenues
 
$

 
$
(341
)
 
$

 
$
(1,560
)
Net Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income
 
Fuel and purchased power (a)
 
(49,686
)
 
3,384

 
(41,516
)
 
(30,705
)
Total
 
 
 
$
(49,686
)
 
$
3,043

 
$
(41,516
)
 
$
(32,265
)

(a)
Amounts are before the effect of PSA deferrals.
 
Derivative Instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Our derivative transactions are typically executed under standardized or customized agreements, which include collateral requirements and, in the event of a default, would allow for the netting of positive and negative exposures associated with a single counterparty.  Agreements that allow for the offsetting of positive and negative exposures associated with a single counterparty are considered master netting arrangements.  Transactions with counterparties that have master netting arrangements are offset and reported net on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.  Transactions that do not allow for offsetting of positive and negative positions are reported gross on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
We do not offset a counterparty’s current derivative contracts with the counterparty’s non-current derivative contracts, although our master netting arrangements would allow current and non-current positions to be offset in the event of a default.  Additionally, in the event of a default, our master netting arrangements would allow for the offsetting of all transactions executed under the master netting arrangement.  These types of transactions may include non-derivative instruments, derivatives qualifying for scope exceptions, trade receivables and trade payables arising from settled positions, and other forms of non-cash collateral (such as letters of credit).  These types of transactions are excluded from the offsetting tables presented below.
 
The following tables provide information about the fair value of our risk management activities reported on a gross basis, and the impacts of offsetting as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.  These amounts relate to commodity contracts and are located in the assets and liabilities from risk management activities lines of our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

40


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


As of June 30, 2019:
(dollars in thousands)
 
Gross
 Recognized
 Derivatives
 (a)
 
Amounts
Offset
 (b)
 
Net
 Recognized
 Derivatives
 
Other
 (c)
 
Amount Reported on Balance Sheets
Current assets
 
$
3,558

 
$
(2,939
)
 
$
619

 
$
(160
)
 
$
459

Investments and other assets
 
76

 

 
76

 

 
76

Total assets
 
3,634

 
(2,939
)
 
695

 
(160
)
 
535

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 
(60,588
)
 
2,939

 
(57,649
)
 
(1,185
)
 
(58,834
)
Deferred credits and other
 
(21,592
)
 

 
(21,592
)
 

 
(21,592
)
Total liabilities
 
(82,180
)
 
2,939

 
(79,241
)
 
(1,185
)
 
(80,426
)
Total
 
$
(78,546
)
 
$

 
$
(78,546
)
 
$
(1,345
)
 
$
(79,891
)

(a)
All of our gross recognized derivative instruments were subject to master netting arrangements.
(b)
No cash collateral has been provided to counterparties, or received from counterparties, that is subject to offsetting.
(c)
Represents cash collateral and cash margin that is not subject to offsetting. Amounts relate to non-derivative instruments, derivatives qualifying for scope exceptions, or collateral and margin posted in excess of the recognized derivative instrument. Includes cash collateral received from counterparties of $1,185 and cash margin provided to counterparties of ($160).

As of December 31, 2018:
(dollars in thousands)
 
Gross
Recognized
Derivatives
 (a)
 
Amounts
Offset
(b)
 
Net
 Recognized
 Derivatives
 
Other
 (c)
 
Amount
Reported on
Balance Sheets
Current assets
 
$
3,106

 
$
(2,149
)
 
$
957

 
$
156

 
$
1,113

Investments and other assets
 
36

 
(36
)
 

 

 

Total assets
 
3,142

 
(2,185
)
 
957

 
156

 
1,113

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 
(36,345
)
 
2,149

 
(34,196
)
 
(1,310
)
 
(35,506
)
Deferred credits and other
 
(24,567
)
 
36

 
(24,531
)
 

 
(24,531
)
Total liabilities
 
(60,912
)
 
2,185

 
(58,727
)
 
(1,310
)
 
(60,037
)
Total
 
$
(57,770
)
 
$

 
$
(57,770
)
 
$
(1,154
)
 
$
(58,924
)

(a)
All of our gross recognized derivative instruments were subject to master netting arrangements.
(b)
No cash collateral has been provided to counterparties, or received from counterparties, that is subject to offsetting.
(c)
Represents cash collateral and cash margin that is not subject to offsetting. Amounts relate to non-derivative instruments, derivatives qualifying for scope exceptions, or collateral and margin posted in excess of the recognized derivative instrument.  Includes cash collateral received from counterparties of $1,310 and cash margin provided to counterparties of $156.


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COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Credit Risk and Credit Related Contingent Features
 
We are exposed to losses in the event of nonperformance or nonpayment by counterparties and have risk management contracts with many counterparties. As of June 30, 2019, Pinnacle West has no counterparties with positive exposures of greater than 10% of risk management assets. Our risk management process assesses and monitors the financial exposure of all counterparties.  Despite the fact that the great majority of our trading counterparties' debt is rated as investment grade by the credit rating agencies, there is still a possibility that one or more of these counterparties could default, resulting in a material impact on consolidated earnings for a given period. Counterparties in the portfolio consist principally of financial institutions, major energy companies, municipalities and local distribution companies.  We maintain credit policies that we believe minimize overall credit risk to within acceptable limits.  Determination of the credit quality of our counterparties is based upon a number of factors, including credit ratings and our evaluation of their financial condition.  To manage credit risk, we employ collateral requirements and standardized agreements that allow for the netting of positive and negative exposures associated with a single counterparty.  Valuation adjustments are established representing our estimated credit losses on our overall exposure to counterparties.
 
Certain of our derivative instrument contracts contain credit-risk-related contingent features including, among other things, investment grade credit rating provisions, credit-related cross-default provisions, and adequate assurance provisions.  Adequate assurance provisions allow a counterparty with reasonable grounds for uncertainty to demand additional collateral based on subjective events and/or conditions.  For those derivative instruments in a net liability position, with investment grade credit contingencies, the counterparties could demand additional collateral if our debt credit rating were to fall below investment grade (below BBB- for Standard & Poor’s or Fitch or Baa3 for Moody’s).
 
The following table provides information about our derivative instruments that have credit-risk-related contingent features at June 30, 2019 (dollars in thousands):
 
June 30, 2019
Aggregate fair value of derivative instruments in a net liability position
$
82,064

Cash collateral posted

Additional cash collateral in the event credit-risk-related contingent features were fully triggered (a)
80,804


(a)
This amount is after counterparty netting and includes those contracts which qualify for scope exceptions, which are excluded from the derivative details above.
 
We also have energy-related non-derivative instrument contracts with investment grade credit-related contingent features, which could also require us to post additional collateral of approximately $95 million if our debt credit ratings were to fall below investment grade.


42


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

8.
Commitments and Contingencies
 
Palo Verde Generating Station
 
Spent Nuclear Fuel and Waste Disposal
 
On December 19, 2012, APS, acting on behalf of itself and the participant owners of Palo Verde, filed a second breach of contract lawsuit against the United States Department of Energy ("DOE") in the United States Court of Federal Claims ("Court of Federal Claims").  The lawsuit sought to recover damages incurred due to DOE’s breach of the Contract for Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and/or High Level Radioactive Waste ("Standard Contract") for failing to accept Palo Verde's spent nuclear fuel and high level waste from January 1, 2007 through June 30, 2011, as it was required to do pursuant to the terms of the Standard Contract and the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.  On August 18, 2014, APS and DOE entered into a settlement agreement, stipulating to a dismissal of the lawsuit and payment of $57.4 million by DOE to the Palo Verde owners for certain specified costs incurred by Palo Verde during the period January 1, 2007 through June 30, 2011. APS’s share of this amount is $16.7 million. Amounts recovered in the lawsuit and settlement were recorded as adjustments to a regulatory liability and had no impact on the amount of reported net income. In addition, the settlement agreement, as amended, provides APS with a method for submitting claims and getting recovery for costs incurred through December 31, 2019.

APS has submitted four claims pursuant to the terms of the August 18, 2014 settlement agreement, for four separate time periods during July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2018. The DOE has approved and paid $74.2 million for these claims (APS’s share is $21.6 million). The amounts recovered were primarily recorded as adjustments to a regulatory liability and had no impact on reported net income. In accordance with the 2017 Rate Case Decision, this regulatory liability is being refunded to customers (see Note 4). APS submitted its most recent claim pursuant to the terms of the August 18, 2014 settlement agreement to the DOE on October 31, 2018 in the amount of $10.2 million (APS's share is $3.0 million). On February 11, 2019 and April 10, 2019 (in response to APS's request for reconsideration), the DOE approved in total a payment of $10.2 million (APS’s share is $3.0 million). On June 7, 2019, APS received this payment.

Nuclear Insurance

Public liability for incidents at nuclear power plants is governed by the Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act ("Price-Anderson Act"), which limits the liability of nuclear reactor owners to the amount of insurance available from both commercial sources and an industry-wide retrospective payment plan.  In accordance with the Price-Anderson Act, the Palo Verde participants are insured against public liability for a nuclear incident of up to approximately $13.9 billion per occurrence. Palo Verde maintains the maximum available nuclear liability insurance in the amount of $450 million, which is provided by American Nuclear Insurers ("ANI").  The remaining balance of approximately $13.5 billion of liability coverage is provided through a mandatory industry-wide retrospective premium program.  If losses at any nuclear power plant covered by the program exceed the accumulated funds, APS could be responsible for retrospective premiums.  The maximum retrospective premium per reactor under the program for each nuclear liability incident is approximately $137.6 million, subject to a maximum annual premium of approximately $20.5 million per incident.  Based on APS’s ownership interest in the three Palo Verde units, APS’s maximum retrospective premium per incident for all three units is approximately $120.1 million, with a maximum annual retrospective premium of approximately $17.9 million.    
    
The Palo Verde participants maintain insurance for property damage to, and decontamination of, property at Palo Verde in the aggregate amount of $2.8 billion.  APS has also secured accidental outage

43


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

insurance for a sudden and unforeseen accidental outage of any of the three units.  The property damage, decontamination, and accidental outage insurance are provided by Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited ("NEIL").  APS is subject to retrospective premium adjustments under all NEIL policies if NEIL’s losses in any policy year exceed accumulated funds. The maximum amount APS could incur under the current NEIL policies totals approximately $25.5 million for each retrospective premium assessment declared by NEIL’s Board of Directors due to losses.  In addition, NEIL policies contain rating triggers that would result in APS providing approximately $73.4 million of collateral assurance within 20 business days of a rating downgrade to non-investment grade.  The insurance coverage discussed in this and the previous paragraph is subject to certain policy conditions, sublimits and exclusions.

Contractual Obligations

As of June 30, 2019, our fuel and purchased power commitments have increased approximately $100 million from the information provided in our 2018 Form 10-K. This change primarily relates to new purchased power commitments. The majority of the changes relate to 2024 and thereafter.

Other than the item described above, there have been no material changes, as of June 30, 2019, outside the normal course of business in contractual obligations from the information provided in our 2018 Form 10-K. See Note 3 for discussion regarding changes in our long-term debt obligations.

Superfund-Related Matters
 
The Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act ("Superfund" or "CERCLA") establishes liability for the cleanup of hazardous substances found contaminating the soil, water or air.  Those who released, generated, transported to or disposed of hazardous substances at a contaminated site are among the parties who are potentially responsible ("PRPs").  PRPs may be strictly, and often are jointly and severally, liable for clean-up.  On September 3, 2003, EPA advised APS that EPA considers APS to be a PRP in the Motorola 52nd Street Superfund Site, Operable Unit 3 ("OU3") in Phoenix, Arizona.  APS has facilities that are within this Superfund site.  APS and Pinnacle West have agreed with EPA to perform certain investigative activities of the APS facilities within OU3.  In addition, on September 23, 2009, APS agreed with EPA and one other PRP to voluntarily assist with the funding and management of the site-wide groundwater remedial investigation and feasibility study ("RI/FS").  Based upon discussions between the OU3 working group parties and EPA, along with the results of recent technical analyses prepared by the OU3 working group to supplement the RI/FS for OU3, APS anticipates finalizing the RI/FS in the fall or winter of 2019. We estimate that our costs related to this investigation and study will be approximately $2 million.  We anticipate incurring additional expenditures in the future, but because the overall investigation is not complete and ultimate remediation requirements are not yet finalized, at the present time expenditures related to this matter cannot be reasonably estimated.
 
On August 6, 2013, Roosevelt Irrigation District ("RID") filed a lawsuit in Arizona District Court against APS and 24 other defendants, alleging that RID’s groundwater wells were contaminated by the release of hazardous substances from facilities owned or operated by the defendants.  The lawsuit also alleges that, under Superfund laws, the defendants are jointly and severally liable to RID.  The allegations against APS arise out of APS’s current and former ownership of facilities in and around OU3.  As part of a state governmental investigation into groundwater contamination in this area, on January 25, 2015, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality ("ADEQ") sent a letter to APS seeking information concerning the degree to which, if any, APS’s current and former ownership of these facilities may have contributed to groundwater contamination in this area.  APS responded to ADEQ on May 4, 2015. On December 16, 2016, two RID environmental and engineering contractors filed an ancillary lawsuit for recovery of costs against APS and the

44


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

other defendants in the RID litigation. That same day, another RID service provider filed an additional ancillary CERCLA lawsuit against certain of the defendants in the main RID litigation, but excluded APS and certain other parties as named defendants. Because the ancillary lawsuits concern past costs allegedly incurred by these RID vendors, which were ruled unrecoverable directly by RID in November of 2016, the additional lawsuits do not increase APS's exposure or risk related to these matters.

On April 5, 2018, RID and the defendants in that particular litigation executed a settlement agreement, fully resolving RID's CERCLA claims concerning both past and future cost recovery. APS's share of this settlement was immaterial. In addition, the two environmental and engineering vendors voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit against APS and the other named defendants without prejudice. An order to this effect was entered on April 17, 2018. With this disposition of the case, the vendors may file their lawsuit again in the future. In addition, APS and certain other parties not named in the remaining RID service provider lawsuit may be brought into the litigation via third-party complaints filed by the current direct defendants. We are unable to predict the outcome of these matters; however, we do not expect the outcome to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
  
Environmental Matters

APS is subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations affecting many aspects of its present and future operations, including air emissions of both conventional pollutants and greenhouse gases, water quality, wastewater discharges, solid waste, hazardous waste, and coal combustion residuals ("CCRs").  These laws and regulations can change from time to time, imposing new obligations on APS resulting in increased capital, operating, and other costs.  Associated capital expenditures or operating costs could be material.  APS intends to seek recovery of any such environmental compliance costs through our rates, but cannot predict whether it will obtain such recovery.  The following proposed and final rules involve material compliance costs to APS.
 
Regional Haze Rules.  APS has received the final rulemaking imposing new pollution control requirements on Four Corners and the Navajo Plant. EPA will require these plants to install pollution control equipment that constitutes best available retrofit technology ("BART") to lessen the impacts of emissions on visibility surrounding the plants. In addition, EPA issued a final rule for Regional Haze compliance at Cholla that does not involve the installation of new pollution controls and that will replace an earlier BART determination for this facility. See below for details of the Cholla BART approval.

Four Corners. Based on EPA’s final standards, APS's 63% share of the cost of required controls for Four Corners Units 4 and 5 is approximately $400 million, the majority of which has already been incurred.  In addition, APS and El Paso Electric Company ("El Paso") entered into an asset purchase agreement providing for the purchase by APS, or an affiliate of APS, of El Paso's 7% interest in Four Corners Units 4 and 5. 4CA purchased the El Paso interest on July 6, 2016. Navajo Transitional Energy Company, LLC ("NTEC") purchased the interest from 4CA on July 3, 2018. See "Four Corners - 4CA Matter" below for a discussion of the NTEC purchase. The cost of the pollution controls related to the 7% interest is approximately $45 million, which was assumed by NTEC through its purchase of the 7% interest.

Navajo Plant. APS estimates that its share of costs for upgrades at the Navajo Plant, based on EPA’s Federal Implementation Plan ("FIP"), could be up to approximately $200 million; however, given the future plans for the Navajo Plant, we do not expect to incur these costs.  See "Navajo Plant" in Note 4 for information regarding future plans for the Navajo Plant and details related to the resulting regulatory asset.


45


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Cholla. APS believed that EPA’s original 2012 final rule establishing controls constituting BART for Cholla, which would require installation of SCR controls, was unsupported and that EPA had no basis for disapproving Arizona’s State Implementation Plan ("SIP") and promulgating a FIP that was inconsistent with the state’s considered BART determinations under the regional haze program.  In September 2014, APS met with EPA to propose a compromise BART strategy, whereby APS would permanently close Cholla Unit 2 and cease burning coal at Units 1 and 3 by the mid-2020s. (See "Cholla" in Note 4 for information regarding future plans for the Cholla plant and details related to the resulting regulatory asset.) APS made the proposal with the understanding that additional emission control equipment is unlikely to be required in the future because retiring and/or converting the units as contemplated in the proposal is more cost effective than, and will result in increased visibility improvement over, the BART requirements for oxides of nitrogen ("NOx") imposed through EPA's BART FIP. In early 2017, EPA approved a final rule incorporating APS's compromise proposal, which took effect for Cholla on April 26, 2017.
 
Coal Combustion Waste. On December 19, 2014, EPA issued its final regulations governing the handling and disposal of CCR, such as fly ash and bottom ash. The rule regulates CCR as a non-hazardous waste under Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA") and establishes national minimum criteria for existing and new CCR landfills and surface impoundments and all lateral expansions consisting of location restrictions, design and operating criteria, groundwater monitoring and corrective action, closure requirements and post closure care, and recordkeeping, notification, and internet posting requirements. The rule generally requires any existing unlined CCR surface impoundment that is contaminating groundwater above a regulated constituent’s groundwater protection standard to stop receiving CCR and either retrofit or close, and further requires the closure of any CCR landfill or surface impoundment that cannot meet the applicable performance criteria for location restrictions or structural integrity. Such closure requirements are deemed "forced closure" or "closure for cause" of unlined surface impoundments, and are the subject of recent regulatory and judicial activities described below.
On December 16, 2016, President Obama signed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation ("WIIN") Act into law, which contains a number of provisions requiring EPA to modify the self-implementing provisions of the Agency's current CCR rules under Subtitle D. Such modifications include new EPA authority to directly enforce the CCR rules through the use of administrative orders and providing states, like Arizona, where the Cholla facility is located, the option of developing CCR disposal unit permitting programs, subject to EPA approval. For facilities in states that do not develop state-specific permitting programs, EPA is required to develop a federal permit program, pending the availability of congressional appropriations. By contrast, for facilities located within the boundaries of Native American tribal reservations, such as the Navajo Nation, where the Navajo Plant and Four Corners facilities are located, EPA is required to develop a federal permit program regardless of appropriated funds.

ADEQ has initiated a process to evaluate how to develop a state CCR permitting program that would cover electric generating units ("EGUs"), including Cholla. While APS has been working with ADEQ on the development of this program, we are unable to predict when Arizona will be able to finalize and secure EPA approval for a state-specific CCR permitting program. With respect to the Navajo Nation, APS has sought clarification as to when and how EPA would be initiating permit proceedings for facilities on the reservation, including Four Corners. We are unable to predict at this time when EPA will be issuing CCR management permits for the facilities on the Navajo Nation. At this time, it remains unclear how the CCR provisions of the WIIN Act will affect APS and its management of CCR.

Based upon utility industry petitions for EPA to reconsider the RCRA Subtitle D regulations for CCR, which were premised in part on the CCR provisions of the 2016 WIIN Act, on September 13, 2017 EPA agreed to evaluate whether to revise these federal CCR regulations. On July 17, 2018, EPA finalized a revision to its

46


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

RCRA Subtitle D regulations for CCR, the "Phase I, Part I" revision to its CCR regulations, deferring for future action a number of other proposed changes contemplated in a March 1, 2018 proposal. For the final rule issued on July 17, 2018, EPA established nationwide health-based standards for certain constituents of CCR subject to groundwater corrective action and delayed the closure deadlines for certain unlined CCR surface impoundments by 18 months (for example, those disposal units required to undergo forced closure). These changes to the federal regulations governing CCR disposal are unlikely to have a material impact on APS. As for those aspects of the March 2018 rulemaking proposal for which EPA has yet to take final action, it remains unclear which specific provisions of the federal CCR rules will ultimately be modified, how they will be modified, or when such modification will occur.

Pursuant to a June 24, 2016 order by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in the litigation by industry- and environmental-groups challenging EPA’s CCR regulations, EPA is required to complete a rulemaking proceeding in the near future concerning whether or not boron must be included on the list of groundwater constituents that might trigger corrective action under EPA’s CCR rules.  Simultaneously with the issuance of EPA's proposed modifications to the federal CCR rules in response to industry petitions, on March 1, 2018, EPA issued a proposed rule seeking comment as to whether or not boron should be included on this list. EPA is not required to take final action approving the inclusion of boron.  Should EPA take final action adding boron to the list of groundwater constituents that might trigger corrective action, any resulting corrective action measures may increase APS's costs of compliance with the CCR rule at our coal-fired generating facilities.  At this time APS cannot predict the eventual results of this rulemaking proceeding concerning boron.

On August 21, 2018, the D.C. Circuit Court issued its decision on the merits in this litigation. The Court upheld the legality of EPA’s CCR regulations, though it vacated and remanded back to EPA a number of specific provisions, which are to be corrected in accordance with the Court’s order. Among the issues affecting APS’s management of CCR, the D.C. Circuit’s decision vacated and remanded those provisions of the EPA CCR regulations that allow for the operation of unlined CCR surface impoundments, even where those unlined impoundments have not otherwise violated a regulatory location restriction or groundwater protection standard (i.e., otherwise triggering forced closure). At this time, it remains unclear how this D.C. Circuit Court decision will affect APS’s operations or any financial impacts, as EPA has yet to take regulatory action on remand to revise its 2015 CCR regulations consistent with the Court’s order.

Based on this decision, on December 17, 2018, certain environmental groups filed an emergency motion with the D.C. Circuit to either stay or summarily vacate EPA's July 17, 2018 final rule extending the closure-initiation deadline for certain unlined CCR surface impoundments until October 2020. In response, EPA filed a motion to remand but not vacate that deadline extension regulation. On March 13, 2019, the Court issued its ruling on the pending motions concerning the October 2020 deadline for closure initiation and granted remand without vacatur. This ruling allows the current October 2020 deadline to remain in effect while EPA completes a rulemaking to revise or reaffirm this deadline in accordance with the August 2018 D.C. Circuit decision concerning the closure of unlined CCR surface impoundments. We cannot predict the outcome of EPA’s remand rulemaking concerning the October 2020 deadline for closure initiation.

47


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    
APS currently disposes of CCR in ash ponds and dry storage areas at Cholla and Four Corners. APS estimates that its share of incremental costs to comply with the CCR rule for Four Corners is approximately $22 million and its share of incremental costs to comply with the CCR rule for Cholla is approximately $15 million. The Navajo Plant currently disposes of CCR in a dry landfill storage area. To comply with the CCR rule for the Navajo Plant, APS's share of incremental costs is approximately $1 million, which has been incurred. Additionally, the CCR rule requires ongoing, phased groundwater monitoring. By October 17, 2017, electric utility companies that own or operate CCR disposal units, such as APS, must have collected sufficient groundwater sampling data to initiate a detection monitoring program.  To the extent that certain threshold constituents are identified through this initial detection monitoring at levels above the CCR rule’s standards, the rule required the initiation of an assessment monitoring program by April 15, 2018. 

APS has completed the statistical analyses for its CCR disposal units that triggered assessment monitoring. APS determined that several of its CCR disposal units at Cholla and Four Corners will need to undergo corrective action. In addition, all such disposal units must cease operating and initiate closure by October of 2020. APS currently estimates that the additional incremental costs to complete this corrective action and closure work, along with the costs to develop replacement CCR disposal capacity, could be approximately $5 million for both Cholla and Four Corners. APS initiated an assessment of corrective measures on January 14, 2019, and anticipates completing this assessment during the summer of 2019. During this assessment, APS will gather additional groundwater data, solicit input from the public, host public hearings, and select remedies. As such, this $5 million cost estimate may change based upon APS’s performance of the CCR rule’s corrective action assessment process. Given uncertainties that may exist until we have fully completed the corrective action assessment process, we cannot predict any ultimate impacts to the Company; however, at this time we do not believe any potential change to the cost estimate would have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Clean Power Plan/Affordable Clean Energy Regulations. On June 19, 2019, EPA took final action on its proposals to repeal EPA's 2015 Clean Power Plan (“CPP”) and replace those regulations with a new rule, the Affordable Clean Energy (“ACE”) regulations. EPA originally finalized the CPP on August 3, 2015, and those regulations had been stayed pending judicial review.

The ACE are based upon measures that can be implemented to improve the heat rate of steam-electric power plants, specifically coal-fired EGUs. In contrast with the CPP, EPA's ACE regulations would not involve utility-level generation dispatch shifting away from coal-fired generation and toward renewable energy resources and natural gas-fired combined cycle power plants. EPA’s ACE regulations provide states and EPA regions (e.g., the Navajo Nation) with three years to develop plans establishing source-specific standards of performance based upon application of the ACE rule’s heat-rate improvement emission guidelines. While corresponding New Source Review (“NSR”) reform regulations were proposed as part of EPA’s initial ACE proposal, the finalized ACE regulations did not include such reform measures. EPA announced that it will be taking final action on EPA's NSR reform proposal for EGUs in the near future.

We cannot at this time predict the outcome of EPA's regulatory actions repealing and replacing the CPP. This action will likely be subject to judicial review and the outcome of those proceedings cannot be predicted. In addition, to the extent that the ACE regulations go into effect as finalized, it is not clear how the state of Arizona or EPA Region IX (i.e., as to the Navajo Nation) will implement these regulations as applied to the Cholla and Four Corners facilities, respectively.

Other environmental rules that could involve material compliance costs include those related to effluent limitations, the ozone national ambient air quality standard and other rules or matters involving the

48


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, RCRA, Superfund, the Navajo Nation, and water supplies for our power plants.  The financial impact of complying with current and future environmental rules could jeopardize the economic viability of our coal plants or the willingness or ability of power plant participants to fund any required equipment upgrades or continue their participation in these plants.  The economics of continuing to own certain resources, particularly our coal plants, may deteriorate, warranting early retirement of those plants, which may result in asset impairments.  APS would seek recovery in rates for the book value of any remaining investments in the plants as well as other costs related to early retirement, but cannot predict whether it would obtain such recovery.
  
Federal Agency Environmental Lawsuit Related to Four Corners

On April 20, 2016, several environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement ("OSM") and other federal agencies in the District of Arizona in connection with their issuance of the approvals that extended the life of Four Corners and the adjacent mine.  The lawsuit alleges that these federal agencies violated both the Endangered Species Act ("ESA") and the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA") in providing the federal approvals necessary to extend operations at the Four Corners Power Plant and the adjacent Navajo Mine past July 6, 2016.  APS filed a motion to intervene in the proceedings, which was granted on August 3, 2016.

On September 15, 2016, NTEC, the company that owns the adjacent mine, filed a motion to intervene for the purpose of dismissing the lawsuit based on NTEC's tribal sovereign immunity. On September 11, 2017, the Arizona District Court issued an order granting NTEC's motion, dismissing the litigation with prejudice, and terminating the proceedings. On November 9, 2017, the environmental group plaintiffs appealed the district court order dismissing their lawsuit. On July 29, 2019, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the September 2017 dismissal of the lawsuit. We cannot predict the outcome of any further proceedings.

Four Corners National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ("NPDES") Permit

On July 16, 2018, several environmental groups filed a petition for review before the EPA Environmental Appeals Board ("EAB") concerning the NPDES wastewater discharge permit for Four Corners, which was reissued on June 12, 2018.  The environmental groups allege that the permit was reissued in contravention of several requirements under the Clean Water Act and did not contain required provisions concerning EPA’s 2015 revised effluent limitation guidelines for steam-electric EGUs, 2014 existing-source regulations governing cooling-water intake structures, and effluent limits for surface seepage and subsurface discharges from coal-ash disposal facilities.  To address certain of these issues through a reconsidered permit, EPA took action on December 19, 2018 to withdraw the NPDES permit reissued in June 2018. Withdrawal of the permit moots the EAB appeal, and EPA filed a motion to dismiss on that basis. The EAB thereafter dismissed the environmental group appeal on February 12, 2019. On April 30, 2019, EPA issued a proposed NPDES permit for Four Corners and took comment on this proposal through July 1, 2019. As part of this proposal, EPA is contemplating a December 31, 2023 compliance deadline governing Four Corners for the recently updated effluent guidelines for bottom-ash transport water. EPA currently projects that it will take final action on this permit proposal by September 30, 2019. At this time we cannot predict the outcome of EPA's reconsideration of the NPDES permit and whether reconsideration will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
    

49


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Four Corners - 4CA Matter

On July 6, 2016, 4CA purchased El Paso’s 7% interest in Four Corners. NTEC had the option to purchase the 7% interest and ultimately purchased the interest on July 3, 2018. NTEC purchased the 7% interest at 4CA’s book value, approximately $70 million, and is paying 4CA the purchase price over a period of four years pursuant to a secured interest-bearing promissory note. In connection with the sale, Pinnacle West guaranteed certain obligations that NTEC will have to the other owners of Four Corners, such as NTEC's 7% share of capital expenditures and operating and maintenance expenses. Pinnacle West's guarantee is secured by a portion of APS's payments to be owed to NTEC under the 2016 Coal Supply Agreement.
The 2016 Coal Supply Agreement contained alternate pricing terms for the 7% interest in the event NTEC did not purchase the interest. Until the time that NTEC purchased the 7% interest, the alternate pricing provisions were applicable to 4CA as the holder of the 7% interest. These terms included a formula under which NTEC must make certain payments to 4CA for reimbursement of operations and maintenance costs and a specified rate of return, offset by revenue generated by 4CA’s power sales. Such payments are due to 4CA at the end of each calendar year. A $10 million payment was due to 4CA at December 31, 2017, which NTEC satisfied by directing to 4CA a prepayment from APS of a portion of a future mine reclamation obligation. The balance of the amount under this formula due December 31, 2018 for calendar year 2017 was approximately $20 million, which was paid to 4CA on December 14, 2018. The balance of the amount under this formula for calendar year 2018 (up to the date that NTEC purchased the 7% interest) is approximately $10 million, which is due to 4CA at December 31, 2019.
Financial Assurances

In the normal course of business, we obtain standby letters of credit and surety bonds from financial institutions and other third parties. These instruments guarantee our own future performance and provide third parties with financial and performance assurance in the event we do not perform. These instruments support commodity contract collateral obligations and other transactions. As of June 30, 2019, standby letters of credit totaled $1.7 million and will expire in 2020. As of June 30, 2019, surety bonds expiring through 2020 totaled $17 million. The underlying liabilities insured by these instruments are reflected on our balance sheets, where applicable. Therefore, no additional liability is reflected for the letters of credit and surety bonds themselves.
 
We enter into agreements that include indemnification provisions relating to liabilities arising from or related to certain of our agreements.  Most significantly, APS has agreed to indemnify the equity participants and other parties in the Palo Verde sale leaseback transactions with respect to certain tax matters.  Generally, a maximum obligation is not explicitly stated in the indemnification provisions and, therefore, the overall maximum amount of the obligation under such indemnification provisions cannot be reasonably estimated.  Based on historical experience and evaluation of the specific indemnities, we do not believe that any material loss related to such indemnification provisions is likely.
 
Pinnacle West has issued parental guarantees and has provided indemnification under certain surety bonds for APS which were not material at June 30, 2019. In connection with the sale of 4CA's 7% interest to NTEC, Pinnacle West is guaranteeing certain obligations that NTEC will have to the other owners of Four Corners. (See "Four Corners - 4CA Matter" above for information related to this guarantee.) A maximum obligation is not explicitly stated in the guarantee and, therefore, the overall maximum amount of the obligation under such guarantee cannot be reasonably estimated; however, we consider the fair value of this guarantee to be immaterial.
  


50


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

9.
Other Income and Other Expense
 
The following table provides detail of Pinnacle West's Consolidated other income and other expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):

 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Other income:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest income
$
2,699

 
$
2,408

 
$
5,001

 
$
4,299

Debt return on Four Corners SCR (Note 4)
4,887


4,188

 
9,731

 
6,280

Debt return on Ocotillo modernization project (Note 4)
5,294

 

 
5,294

 

Miscellaneous
5

 
2

 
28

 
4

Total other income
$
12,885

 
$
6,598

 
$
20,054

 
$
10,583

Other expense:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Non-operating costs
$
(3,481
)
 
$
(3,278
)
 
$
(6,185
)
 
$
(4,924
)
Investment losses — net
(491
)
 
(174
)
 
(729
)
 
(350
)
Miscellaneous
(378
)
 
(319
)
 
(1,794
)
 
(1,726
)
Total other expense
$
(4,350
)
 
$
(3,771
)
 
$
(8,708
)
 
$
(7,000
)

 
The following table provides detail of APS’s other income and other expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Other income:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest income
$
1,504

 
$
2,046

 
$
3,054

 
$
3,724

Debt return on Four Corners SCR (Note 4)
4,887


4,188

 
9,731


6,280

Debt return on Ocotillo modernization project (Note 4)
5,294

 

 
5,294

 

Miscellaneous
6

 
1

 
28

 
3

Total other income
$
11,691

 
$
6,235

 
$
18,107

 
$
10,007

Other expense:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Non-operating costs
$
(3,049
)
 
$
(3,057
)
 
$
(5,517
)
 
$
(4,596
)
Miscellaneous
(379
)
 
(315
)
 
(1,789
)
 
(1,722
)
Total other expense
$
(3,428
)
 
$
(3,372
)
 
$
(7,306
)
 
$
(6,318
)




51


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

10.
Earnings Per Share
 
The following table presents the calculation of Pinnacle West’s basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net income attributable to common shareholders
$
144,145

 
$
166,738

 
$
162,063

 
$
169,959

Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic
112,337

 
112,115

 
112,381

 
112,067

Net effect of dilutive securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingently issuable performance shares and restricted stock units
314

 
356

 
353

 
415

Weighted average common shares outstanding — diluted
112,651

 
112,471

 
112,734

 
112,482

Earnings per weighted-average common share outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to common shareholders — basic
$
1.28

 
$
1.49

 
$
1.44

 
$
1.52

Net income attributable to common shareholders — diluted
$
1.28

 
$
1.48

 
$
1.44

 
$
1.51



11.
Fair Value Measurements
 
We classify our assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value within the fair value hierarchy.  This hierarchy ranks the quality and reliability of the inputs used to determine fair values, which are then classified and disclosed in one of three categories.  The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are:
 
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Other significant observable inputs, including quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable (such as yield curves).
 
 Level 3 — Valuation models with significant unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity.  Instruments in this category include long-dated derivative transactions where valuations are unobservable due to the length of the transaction, options, and transactions in locations where observable market data does not exist.  The valuation models we employ utilize spot prices, forward prices, historical market data and other factors to forecast future prices.
 
Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  Thus, a valuation may be classified in Level 3 even though the valuation may include significant inputs that are readily observable.  We maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  We rely primarily on the market approach of using prices and other market information for identical and/or comparable assets and liabilities.  If market data is not readily available, inputs may reflect our own assumptions about the inputs market participants would use.  Our assessment of the inputs and the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities as well as their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. 

52


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We assess whether a market is active by obtaining observable broker quotes, reviewing actual market activity, and assessing the volume of transactions.  We consider broker quotes observable inputs when the quote is binding on the broker, we can validate the quote with market activity, or we can determine that the inputs the broker used to arrive at the quoted price are observable.

Certain instruments have been valued using the concept of Net Asset Value ("NAV"), as a practical expedient. These instruments are typically structured as investment companies offering shares or units to multiple investors for the purpose of providing a return. These instruments are similar to mutual funds; however, their NAV is generally not published and publicly available, nor are these instruments traded on an exchange. Instruments valued using NAV, as a practical expedient are included in our fair value disclosures however, in accordance with GAAP are not classified within the fair value hierarchy levels.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements
 
We apply recurring fair value measurements to cash equivalents, derivative instruments, and investments held in the nuclear decommissioning trust and other special use funds. On an annual basis we apply fair value measurements to plan assets held in our retirement and other benefit plans.  See Note 7 in the 2018 Form 10-K for fair value discussion of plan assets held in our retirement and other benefit plans.
 
Cash Equivalents
 
Cash equivalents represent certain investments in money market funds that are valued using quoted prices in active markets.
   
Risk Management Activities — Derivative Instruments
 
Exchange traded commodity contracts are valued using unadjusted quoted prices.  For non-exchange traded commodity contracts, we calculate fair value based on the average of the bid and offer price, discounted to reflect net present value.  We maintain certain valuation adjustments for a number of risks associated with the valuation of future commitments.  These include valuation adjustments for liquidity and credit risks.  The liquidity valuation adjustment represents the cost that would be incurred if all unmatched positions were closed out or hedged.  The credit valuation adjustment represents estimated credit losses on our net exposure to counterparties, taking into account netting agreements, expected default experience for the credit rating of the counterparties and the overall diversification of the portfolio.  We maintain credit policies that management believes minimize overall credit risk.
 
Certain non-exchange traded commodity contracts are valued based on unobservable inputs due to the long-term nature of contracts, characteristics of the product, or the unique location of the transactions.  Our long-dated energy transactions consist of observable valuations for the near-term portion and unobservable valuations for the long-term portions of the transaction.  We rely primarily on broker quotes to value these instruments.  When our valuations utilize broker quotes, we perform various control procedures to ensure the quote has been developed consistent with fair value accounting guidance.  These controls include assessing the quote for reasonableness by comparison against other broker quotes, reviewing historical price relationships, and assessing market activity.  When broker quotes are not available, the primary valuation technique used to calculate the fair value is the extrapolation of forward pricing curves using observable market data for more liquid delivery points in the same region and actual transactions at more illiquid delivery points.
 

53


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

When the unobservable portion is significant to the overall valuation of the transaction, the entire transaction is classified as Level 3.  Our classification of instruments as Level 3 is primarily reflective of the long-term nature of our energy transactions.
 
Our energy risk management committee, consisting of officers and key management personnel, oversees our energy risk management activities to ensure compliance with our stated energy risk management policies.  We have a risk control function that is responsible for valuing our derivative commodity instruments in accordance with established policies and procedures.  The risk control function reports to the chief financial officer’s organization.
 
Investments Held in Nuclear Decommissioning Trust and Other Special Use Funds
 
The nuclear decommissioning trust and other special use funds invest in fixed income and equity securities. Other special use funds include the coal reclamation escrow account and the active union medical account. See Note 12 for additional discussion about our investment accounts.

We value investments in fixed income and equity securities using information provided by our trustees and escrow agent. Our trustees and escrow agent use pricing services that utilize the valuation methodologies described below to determine fair market value. We have internal control procedures designed to ensure this information is consistent with fair value accounting guidance. These procedures include assessing valuations using an independent pricing source, verifying that pricing can be supported by actual recent market transactions, assessing hierarchy classifications, comparing investment returns with benchmarks, and obtaining and reviewing independent audit reports on the trustees’ and escrow agent's internal operating controls and valuation processes.

Fixed Income Securities

Fixed income securities issued by the U.S. Treasury are valued using quoted active market prices and are typically classified as Level 1.  Fixed income securities issued by corporations, municipalities, and other agencies, including mortgage-backed instruments, are valued using quoted inactive market prices, quoted active market prices for similar securities, or by utilizing calculations which incorporate observable inputs such as yield curves and spreads relative to such yield curves.  These fixed income instruments are classified as Level 2.  Whenever possible, multiple market quotes are obtained which enables a cross-check validation.  A primary price source is identified based on asset type, class, or issue of securities.

Fixed income securities may also include short-term investments in certificates of deposit, variable rate notes, time deposit accounts, U.S. Treasury and Agency obligations, U.S. Treasury repurchase agreements, commercial paper, and other short-term instruments. These instruments are valued using active market prices or utilizing observable inputs described above.

Equity Securities

The nuclear decommissioning trust's equity security investments are held indirectly through commingled funds.  The commingled funds are valued using the funds' NAV as a practical expedient. The funds' NAV is primarily derived from the quoted active market prices of the underlying equity securities held by the funds. We may transact in these commingled funds on a semi-monthly basis at the NAV.  The commingled funds are maintained by a bank and hold investments in accordance with the stated objective of tracking the performance of the S&P 500 Index.  Because the commingled funds' shares are offered to a limited

54


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

group of investors, they are not considered to be traded in an active market. As these instruments are valued using NAV, as a practical expedient, they have not been classified within the fair value hierarchy.

The nuclear decommissioning trust and other special use funds may also hold equity securities that include exchange traded mutual funds and money market accounts for short-term liquidity purposes. These short-term, highly-liquid, investments are valued using active market prices.



55


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Fair Value Tables
 
The following table presents the fair value at June 30, 2019 of our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (dollars in thousands):
 
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Other
 
 
 
Balance at June 30, 2019
Assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Risk management activities — derivative instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
$

 
$
3,198

 
$
436

 
$
(3,099
)
 
(a)
 
$
535

Nuclear decommissioning trust:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
5,319

 

 

 
6,665

 
(b)
 
11,984

U.S. commingled equity funds

 

 

 
469,375

 
(c)
 
469,375

U.S. Treasury debt
162,044

 

 

 

 
 
 
162,044

Corporate debt

 
115,674

 

 

 
 
 
115,674

Mortgage-backed securities

 
113,179

 

 

 
 
 
113,179

Municipal bonds

 
67,158

 

 

 
 
 
67,158

Other fixed income

 
11,034

 

 

 
 
 
11,034

Subtotal nuclear decommissioning trust
167,363

 
307,045

 

 
476,040

 
 
 
950,448

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other special use funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
13,200

 

 

 
997

 
(b)
 
14,197

U.S. Treasury debt
214,712

 

 

 

 

 
214,712

Municipal bonds

 
12,649

 

 

 
 
 
12,649

Subtotal other special use funds
227,912

 
12,649

 

 
997

 
 
 
241,558

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
395,275

 
$
322,892

 
$
436

 
$
473,938

 
 
 
$
1,192,541

Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Risk management activities — derivative instruments:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Commodity contracts
$

 
$
(68,992
)
 
$
(13,189
)
 
$
1,755

 
(a)
 
$
(80,426
)

(a)
Represents counterparty netting, margin, and collateral. See Note 7.
(b)
Represents net pending securities sales and purchases.
(c)
Valued using NAV as a practical expedient and, therefore, are not classified in the fair value hierarchy.



56


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following table presents the fair value at December 31, 2018 of our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (dollars in thousands):
 
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Other
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2018
Assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Cash equivalents
$
1,200

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
 
$
1,200

Risk management activities — derivative instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts

 
3,140

 
2

 
(2,029
)
 
(a)
 
1,113

Nuclear decommissioning trust:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Equity securities
5,203

 

 

 
2,148

 
(b)
 
7,351

U.S. commingled equity funds

 

 

 
396,805

 
(c)
 
396,805

U.S. Treasury debt
148,173

 

 

 

 
 
 
148,173

Corporate debt

 
96,656

 

 

 
 
 
96,656

Mortgage-backed securities

 
113,115

 

 

 
 
 
113,115

Municipal bonds

 
79,073

 

 

 
 
 
79,073

Other fixed income

 
9,961

 

 

 
 
 
9,961

Subtotal nuclear decommissioning trust
153,376

 
298,805

 

 
398,953

 
 
 
851,134

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other special use funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
45,130

 

 

 
593

 
(b)
 
45,723

U.S. Treasury debt
173,310

 

 

 

 
 
 
173,310

Municipal bonds

 
17,068

 

 

 
 
 
17,068

Subtotal other special use funds
218,440

 
17,068

 

 
593

 
 
 
236,101

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
373,016

 
$
319,013

 
$
2

 
$
397,517

 
 
 
$
1,089,548

Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Risk management activities — derivative instruments:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Commodity contracts
$

 
$
(52,696
)
 
$
(8,216
)
 
$
875

 
(a)
 
$
(60,037
)

(a)
Represents counterparty netting, margin, and collateral. See Note 7.
(b)
Represents net pending securities sales and purchases.
(c)
Valued using NAV as a practical expedient and, therefore, are not classified in the fair value hierarchy.



57


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Fair Value Measurements Classified as Level 3
 
The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of our energy derivative contracts include broker quotes that cannot be validated as an observable input primarily due to the long-term nature of the quote.  Significant changes in these inputs in isolation would result in significantly higher or lower fair value measurements.  Changes in our derivative contract fair values, including changes relating to unobservable inputs, typically will not impact net income due to regulatory accounting treatment (see Note 4).
 
Because our forward commodity contracts classified as Level 3 are currently in a net purchase position, we would expect price increases of the underlying commodity to result in increases in the net fair value of the related contracts.  Conversely, if the price of the underlying commodity decreases, the net fair value of the related contracts would likely decrease.
 
Other unobservable valuation inputs include credit and liquidity reserves which do not have a material impact on our valuations; however, significant changes in these inputs could also result in higher or lower fair value measurements.
 
The following tables provide information regarding our significant unobservable inputs used to value our risk management derivative Level 3 instruments at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018:
 
 
June 30, 2019
Fair Value (thousands)
 
Valuation Technique
 
Significant Unobservable Input
 
 
 
Weighted-Average
Commodity Contracts
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
Range
 
Electricity:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Forward Contracts (a)
$
294

 
$
11,675

 
Discounted cash flows
 
Electricity forward price (per MWh)
 
$18.27 - $30.11
 
$
26.78

Natural Gas:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Forward Contracts (a)
142

 
1,514

 
Discounted cash flows
 
Natural gas forward price (per MMBtu)
 
$0.05 - $2.88
 
$
2.41

Total
$
436

 
$
13,189

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


(a)
Includes swaps and physical and financial contracts.

 
December 31, 2018
Fair Value (thousands)
 
Valuation Technique
 
Significant Unobservable Input
 
 
 
Weighted-Average
Commodity Contracts
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
Range
 
Electricity:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Forward Contracts (a)
$

 
$
2,456

 
Discounted cash flows
 
Electricity forward price (per MWh)
 
$17.88 - $37.03
 
$
26.10

Natural Gas:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Forward Contracts (a)
2

 
5,760

 
Discounted cash flows
 
Natural gas forward price (per MMBtu)
 
$1.79 - $2.92
 
$
2.48

Total
$
2

 
$
8,216

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


(a)
Includes swaps and physical and financial contracts.
 

58


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following table shows the changes in fair value for our risk management activities assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
Commodity Contracts
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net derivative balance at beginning of period
 
$
(5,612
)
 
$
(19,754
)
 
$
(8,214
)
 
$
(18,256
)
Total net gains (losses) realized/unrealized:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Deferred as a regulatory asset or liability
 
(8,731
)
 
(989
)
 
(10,310
)
 
(3,311
)
Settlements
 
2,431

 
494

 
2,949

 
1,276

Transfers into Level 3 from Level 2
 
(3,096
)
 
(2,534
)
 
(3,098
)
 
(4,979
)
Transfers from Level 3 into Level 2
 
2,255

 
13,425

 
5,920

 
15,912

Net derivative balance at end of period
 
$
(12,753
)
 
$
(9,358
)
 
$
(12,753
)
 
$
(9,358
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized gains included in earnings related to instruments still held at end of period
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$



Transfers between levels in the fair value hierarchy shown in the table above reflect the fair market value at the beginning of the period and are triggered by a change in the lowest significant input as of the end of the period.  We had no significant Level 1 transfers to or from any other hierarchy level.  Transfers in or out of Level 3 are typically related to our long-dated energy transactions that extend beyond available quoted periods.
 
Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value
 
The carrying value of our short-term borrowings approximate fair value and are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. See Note 3 for our long-term debt fair values. The NTEC note receivable related to the sale of 4CA’s interest in Four Corners bears interest at 3.9% per annum and has a book value of $53 million as of June 30, 2019 and $61 million as of December 31, 2018 as presented on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The carrying amount is not materially different from the fair value of the note receivable and is classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.  See Note 8 for more information on 4CA matters.

12.
Investments in Nuclear Decommissioning Trust and Other Special Use Funds
 
We have investments in debt and equity securities held in nuclear decommissioning trust, coal reclamation escrow account, and an active union employee medical account. Investments in debt securities are classified as available-for-sale securities. We record both debt and equity security investments at their fair value on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 11 for a discussion of how fair value is determined and the classification of the investments within the fair value hierarchy. The investments in each trust or account are restricted for use and are intended to fund specified costs and activities as further described for each fund below.

Nuclear Decommissioning Trust - To fund the future costs APS expects to incur to decommission Palo Verde, APS established an external decommissioning trust in accordance with NRC regulations.  Third-party investment managers are authorized to buy and sell securities per stated investment guidelines.  The trust funds are invested in fixed income securities and equity securities. Earnings and proceeds from sales and maturities of securities are reinvested in the trust. Because of the ability of APS to recover decommissioning

59


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

costs in rates, and in accordance with the regulatory treatment, APS has deferred realized and unrealized gains and losses (including other-than-temporary impairments) in other regulatory liabilities.
 
Coal Reclamation Escrow Account - APS has investments restricted for the future coal mine reclamation funding related to Four Corners. This escrow account is primarily invested in fixed income securities. Earnings and proceeds from sales of securities are reinvested in the escrow account. Because of the ability of APS to recover coal reclamation costs in rates, and in accordance with the regulatory treatment, APS has deferred realized and unrealized gains and losses (including other-than-temporary impairments) in other regulatory liabilities. Activities relating to APS coal reclamation escrow account investments are included within the other special use funds in the table below.

Active Union Employee Medical Account - APS has investments restricted for paying active union employee medical costs. These investments were transferred from APS other postretirement benefit trust assets into the active union employee medical trust in January 2018 (see Note 7 in the 2018 Form 10-K). These investments may be used to pay active union employee medical costs incurred in the current and future periods. The account is invested primarily in fixed income securities. In accordance with the ratemaking treatment, APS has deferred the unrealized gains and losses (including other-than-temporary impairments) in other regulatory assets. Activities relating to active union employee medical account investments are included within the other special use funds in the table below.

APS

The following tables present the unrealized gains and losses based on the original cost of the investment and summarizes the fair value of APS's nuclear decommissioning trust and other special use fund assets at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands):  
 
June 30, 2019
 
Fair Value
 
Total
Unrealized
Gains
 
Total
Unrealized
Losses
Investment Type:
Nuclear Decommissioning Trust
 
Other Special Use Funds
 
Total
 
 
Equity securities
$
474,694

 
$
13,200

 
$
487,894

 
$
291,295

 
$

Available for sale-fixed income securities
469,089

 
227,361

 
696,450

(a)
24,638

 
(696
)
Other
6,665

 
997

 
7,662

(b)

 

Total
$
950,448

 
$
241,558

 
$
1,192,006

 
$
315,933

 
$
(696
)

(a)
As of June 30, 2019, the amortized cost basis of these available-for-sale investments is $672 million.
(b)
Represents net pending securities sales and purchases.


60


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 
December 31, 2018
 
Fair Value
 
Total
Unrealized
Gains
 
Total
Unrealized
Losses
Investment Type:
Nuclear Decommissioning Trust
 
Other Special Use Funds
 
Total
 
 
Equity securities
$
402,008

 
$
45,130

 
$
447,138

 
$
222,147

 
$
(459
)
Available for sale-fixed income securities
446,978

 
190,378

 
637,356

(a)
8,634

 
(6,778
)
Other
2,148

 
593

 
2,741

(b)

 

Total
$
851,134

 
$
236,101

 
$
1,087,235

 
$
230,781

 
$
(7,237
)

(a)
As of December 31, 2018, the amortized cost basis of these available-for-sale investments is $635 million.
(b)
Represents net pending securities sales and purchases.
    
The following table sets forth APS's realized gains and losses relating to the sale and maturity of available-for-sale debt securities and equity securities, and the proceeds from the sale and maturity of these investment securities for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Nuclear Decommissioning Trust
 
Other Special Use Funds
 
Total
2019
 
 
 
 
 
Realized gains
$
2,643

 
$

 
$
2,643

Realized losses
(1,700
)
 

 
(1,700
)
Proceeds from the sale of securities (a)
93,559

 
36,747

 
130,306

2018
 
 
 
 
 
Realized gains
$
1,484

 
$

 
$
1,484

Realized losses
(2,978
)
 

 
(2,978
)
Proceeds from the sale of securities (a)
122,790

 
2,426

 
125,216


(a)
Proceeds are reinvested in the nuclear decommissioning trust and coal reclamation escrow account.


61


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
Nuclear Decommissioning Trust
 
Other Special Use Funds
 
Total
2019
 
 
 
 
 
Realized gains
$
3,746

 
$

 
$
3,746

Realized losses
(3,105
)
 

 
(3,105
)
Proceeds from the sale of securities (a)
216,152

 
93,202

 
309,354

2018
 
 
 
 
 
Realized gains
$
2,298

 
$
1

 
$
2,299

Realized losses
(5,025
)
 

 
(5,025
)
Proceeds from the sale of securities (a)
253,246

 
4,981

 
258,227



(a)
Proceeds are reinvested in the nuclear decommissioning trust and coal reclamation escrow account.

     The fair value of APS's fixed income securities, summarized by contractual maturities, at June 30, 2019, is as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
Nuclear Decommissioning Trust (a)
 
Coal Reclamation Escrow Account
 
Active Union Medical Trust
 
Total
Less than one year
$
37,373

 
$
22,253

 
$
40,219

 
$
99,845

1 year – 5 years
126,745

 
17,449

 
140,569

 
284,763

5 years – 10 years
113,989

 
1,807

 

 
115,796

Greater than 10 years
190,982

 
5,064

 

 
196,046

Total
$
469,089

 
$
46,573

 
$
180,788

 
$
696,450


(a)
Includes certain fixed income investments that are not due at a single maturity date. These investments have been allocated within the table based on the final payment date of the instrument.
    

62


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

13.    New Accounting Standards
    
Standards Adopted in 2019

ASU 2016-02, Leases

In February 2016, a new lease accounting standard was issued. This new standard supersedes the existing lease accounting model, and modifies both lessee and lessor accounting. The new standard requires a lessee to reflect most operating lease arrangements on the balance sheet by recording a right-of-use asset and a lease liability that is initially measured at the present value of lease payments. Among other changes, the new standard also modifies the definition of a lease, and requires expanded lease disclosures. Since the issuance of the new lease standard, additional lease related guidance has been issued relating to land easements and how entities may elect to account for these arrangements at transition, among other items. The new lease standard and related amendments were effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early application permitted. The standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings determined at either the date of adoption, or the earliest period presented in the financial statements. The standard includes various optional practical expedients provided to facilitate transition. We adopted this standard, and related amendments, on January 1, 2019. See Note 16.

ASU 2018-15, Internal-Use Software: Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract

In August 2018, a new accounting standard was issued that clarifies how customers in a cloud computing service arrangement should account for implementation costs associated with the arrangement. To determine which implementation costs should be capitalized, the new guidance aligns the accounting with existing guidance pertaining to internal-use software. As a result of this new standard, certain cloud computing service arrangement implementation costs will now be subject to capitalization and amortized on a straight-line basis over the cloud computing service arrangement term. The new standard is effective for us on January 1, 2020, with early application permitted, and may be applied using either a retrospective or prospective transition approach. On July 1, 2019, we early adopted this new accounting standard using the prospective approach. The adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

Standards Pending Adoption

ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments: Measurement of Credit Losses

In June 2016, a new accounting standard was issued that amends the measurement of credit losses on certain financial instruments. The new standard will require entities to use a current expected credit loss model to measure impairment of certain investments in debt securities, trade accounts receivables, and other financial instruments. Since the issuance of the new standard, various guidance has been issued that amends the new standard, including clarifications of certain aspects of the standard and targeted transition relief, among other changes. The new standard and related amendments are effective for us on January 1, 2020, and must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach for certain aspects of the standard, and a prospective approach for other aspects of the standard. We are currently evaluating this new accounting standard and the impacts it may have on our financial statements.

    

63


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

14.     Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 
The following table shows the changes in Pinnacle West's consolidated accumulated other comprehensive loss, including reclassification adjustments, net of tax, by component for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
 Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
 
 
 
 Derivative Instruments
 
 
 
 Total
Three Months Ended June 30
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance March 31, 2019
$
(45,118
)
 
 
 
$
(1,383
)
 
 
 
$
(46,501
)
OCI (loss) before reclassifications
(2,422
)
 
 
 

 
 
 
(2,422
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
883

 
 (a)
 
404

 
(b)
 
1,287

Balance June 30, 2019
$
(46,657
)
 
 
 
$
(979
)
 
 
 
$
(47,636
)


 
 
 

 
 
 

Balance March 31, 2018
$
(49,494
)
 
 
 
$
(2,847
)
 
 
 
$
(52,341
)
OCI (loss) before reclassifications
(5,928
)
 
 
 

 
 
 
(5,928
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
1,189

 
 (a)
 
456

 
(b)
 
1,645

Balance June 30, 2018
$
(54,233
)
 
 
 
$
(2,391
)
 
 
 
$
(56,624
)


64


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 
 Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
 
 
 
 Derivative Instruments
 
 
 
 Total
Six Months Ended June 30
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance December 31, 2018
$
(45,997
)
 
 
 
$
(1,711
)
 
 
 
$
(47,708
)
OCI (loss) before reclassifications
(2,422
)
 
 
 

 
 
 
(2,422
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
1,762

 
 (a)
 
732

 
(b)
 
2,494

Balance June 30, 2019
$
(46,657
)
 
 
 
$
(979
)
 
 
 
$
(47,636
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance December 31, 2017
$
(42,440
)
 
 
 
$
(2,562
)
 
 
 
$
(45,002
)
OCI (loss) before reclassifications
(5,928
)
 
 
 
(96
)
 
 
 
(6,024
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
2,089

 
 (a)
 
865

 
(b)
 
2,954

Reclassification of income tax effect related to tax reform
(7,954
)
 
 (c)
 
(598
)
 
 (c)
 
(8,552
)
Balance June 30, 2018
$
(54,233
)
 
 
 
$
(2,391
)
 
 
 
$
(56,624
)

(a)
These amounts primarily represent amortization of actuarial loss and are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost.  See Note 5.
(b)
These amounts represent realized gains and losses and are included in the computation of fuel and purchased power costs and are subject to the PSA.  See Note 7.
(c)
In 2018, the company adopted new accounting guidance and elected to reclassify income tax effects of the Tax Act on items within accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.


65


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


The following table shows the changes in APS's consolidated accumulated other comprehensive loss, including reclassification adjustments, net of tax, by component for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands): 
 
 Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
 
 
 
 Derivative Instruments
 
 
 
 Total
Three Months Ended June 30
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance March 31, 2019
$
(24,644
)
 
 
 
$
(1,383
)
 
 
 
$
(26,027
)
OCI (loss) before reclassifications
(2,414
)
 
 
 

 
 
 
(2,414
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
761

 
 (a)
 
404

 
 (b)
 
1,165

Balance June 30, 2019
$
(26,297
)
 
 
 
$
(979
)
 
 
 
$
(27,276
)


 
 
 

 
 
 

Balance March 31, 2018
$
(28,004
)
 
 
 
$
(2,847
)
 
 
 
$
(30,851
)
OCI (loss) before reclassifications
(5,790
)
 
 
 

 
 
 
(5,790
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
1,026

 
 (a)
 
456

 
 (b)
 
1,482

Balance June 30, 2018
$
(32,768
)
 
 
 
$
(2,391
)
 
 
 
$
(35,159
)

 
 Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
 
 
 
 Derivative Instruments
 
 
 
 Total
Six Months Ended June 30
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance December 31, 2018
$
(25,396
)
 
 
 
$
(1,711
)
 
 
 
$
(27,107
)
OCI (loss) before reclassifications
(2,414
)
 
 
 

 
 
 
(2,414
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
1,513

 
 (a)
 
732

 
 (b)
 
2,245

Balance June 30, 2019
$
(26,297
)
 
 
 
$
(979
)
 
 
 
$
(27,276
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance December 31, 2017
$
(24,421
)
 
 
 
$
(2,562
)
 
 
 
$
(26,983
)
OCI (loss) before reclassifications
(5,790
)
 
 
 
(96
)
 
 
 
(5,886
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
1,883

 
 (a)
 
865

 
 (b)
 
2,748

Reclassification of income tax effect related to tax reform
(4,440
)
 
 (c)
 
(598
)
 
 (c)
 
(5,038
)
Balance June 30, 2018
$
(32,768
)
 
 
 
$
(2,391
)
 
 
 
$
(35,159
)





66


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(a)
These amounts primarily represent amortization of actuarial loss and are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost.  See Note 5.
(b)
These amounts represent realized gains and losses and are included in the computation of fuel and purchased power costs and are subject to the PSA.  See Note 7.
(c)
In 2018, the company adopted new accounting guidance and elected to reclassify income tax effects of the Tax Act on items within accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.

15. 
Income Taxes
 
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reduced the corporate tax rate to 21% effective January 1, 2018. As a result of this rate reduction, the Company recognized a $1.14 billion reduction in its net deferred income tax liabilities as of December 31, 2017. In accordance with accounting for regulated companies, the effect of this rate reduction was substantially offset by a net regulatory liability.

Federal income tax laws require the amortization of a majority of the balance over the remaining regulatory life of the related property. As a result of the modifications made to the annual transmission formula rate during the second quarter of 2018, the Company began amortization of FERC jurisdictional net excess deferred tax liabilities in 2018. On March 13, 2019, the ACC approved the Company's proposal to amortize non-depreciation related net excess deferred tax liabilities subject to its jurisdiction over a twelve month period. As a result, the Company began amortization in March 2019. As of June 30, 2019, the Company has recorded $19.4 million of income tax benefit related to the amortization of these non-depreciation related net excess deferred tax liabilities. On April 10, 2019, the Company filed a request with the ACC which addresses the amortization of depreciation related excess deferred taxes. See Note 4 for more details.
    
In August 2018, Treasury proposed regulations that clarify bonus depreciation transition rules under the Tax Act for regulated public utility property placed in service after September 27, 2017 and before January 1, 2018.  However, the proposed regulations are ambiguous with respect to regulated public utility property placed in service on or after January 1, 2018. On December 20, 2018, the Joint Committee on Taxation ("JCT") released the general explanation of the Tax Act. The document - commonly referred to as the "Blue Book" - provides a comprehensive technical description of the Tax Act and includes the legislative intent of Congress with respect to the changes made by provisions of the Tax Act. The "Blue Book" provides clarification that the intent of the Tax Act was to exclude from the definition of bonus depreciation qualified property any property placed in service by a regulated public utility after December 31, 2017. In a footnote, the JCT indicated that a technical correction bill may be necessary to reflect this intent.

Management recognizes tax positions which it believes are “more likely than not” to be sustained upon examination. In applying this “more likely than not” assessment, the Company is required to consider the technical merits of a position, including legislative intent. As a result, while no legislation has been passed which clarifies the ambiguities related to bonus depreciation for property placed in service on or after January 1, 2018, the Company currently believes the continued availability of bonus depreciation is not “more likely than not” to be sustained upon examination. As a result, the Company has not recognized any current or deferred tax benefits related to bonus depreciation for property placed in service on or after January 1, 2018.
    
Net income associated with the Palo Verde sale leaseback VIEs is not subject to tax.  As a result, there is no income tax expense associated with the VIEs recorded on the Pinnacle West Consolidated and APS Consolidated Statements of Income. See Note 6 for additional details related to the Palo Verde sale leaseback VIEs.


67


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of the balance sheet date, the tax year ended December 31, 2015 and all subsequent tax years remain subject to examination by the IRS.  With a few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2014.


16. 
Leases
 
We lease certain land, buildings, vehicles, equipment and other property through operating rental agreements with varying terms, provisions, and expiration dates. APS also has certain purchased power agreements that qualify as lease arrangements. Our leases have remaining terms that expire in 2019 through 2050. Substantially all of our leasing activities relate to APS.

In 1986, APS entered into agreements with three separate lessor trust entities in order to sell and lease back interests in Palo Verde Unit 2 and related common facilities.  These lessor trust entities have been deemed VIEs for which APS is the primary beneficiary.  As the primary beneficiary, APS consolidated these lessor trust entities.  The impacts of these sale leaseback transactions are excluded from our lease disclosures as lease accounting is eliminated upon consolidation.  See Note 6 for a discussion of VIEs.
On January 1, 2019 we adopted new lease accounting guidance (see Note 13). We elected the transition method that allows us to apply the new lease guidance on the date of adoption, January 1, 2019, and will not retrospectively adjust prior periods. We also elected certain transition practical expedients that allow us to not reassess (a) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (b) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases and (c) initial direct costs for any existing leases. These practical expedients apply to leases that commenced prior to January 1, 2019. Furthermore, we elected the practical expedient transition provisions relating to the treatment of existing land easements.
On January 1, 2019 the adoption of this new accounting standard resulted in the recognition on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets of approximately $194 million of right-of-use lease assets and $119 million of lease liabilities relating to our operating lease arrangements. The right-of-use lease assets include $85 million of prepaid lease costs that have been reclassified from other deferred debits, and $10 million of deferred lease costs that have been reclassified from other current liabilities. In addition to these balance sheet impacts, the adoption of the guidance resulted in expanded lease disclosures, which are included below.

68


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following tables provide information related to our lease costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 (dollars in thousands):

 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2019
 
 
Purchased Power Lease Contracts
 
Land, Property & Equipment Leases
 
Total
Operating lease cost
 
$
14,063

 
$
4,414

 
$
18,477

Variable lease cost
 
41,529

 
360

 
41,889

Short-term lease cost
 

 
1,812

 
1,812

Total lease cost
 
$
55,592

 
$
6,586

 
$
62,178




 
 
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2019
 
 
Purchased Power Lease Contracts
 
Land, Property & Equipment Leases
 
Total
Operating lease cost
 
$
14,063

 
$
8,762

 
$
22,825

Variable lease cost
 
58,820

 
360

 
59,180

Short-term lease cost
 

 
2,665

 
2,665

Total lease cost
 
$
72,883

 
$
11,787

 
$
84,670



Lease costs are primarily included as a component of operating expenses on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Lease costs relating to purchased power lease contracts are recorded in fuel and purchased power on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, and are subject to recovery under the PSA or RES (see Note 4). The tables above reflect the lease cost amounts before the effect of regulatory deferral under the PSA and RES. Variable lease costs are recognized in the period the costs are incurred, and primarily relate to renewable purchased power lease contracts. Payments under most renewable purchased power lease contracts are dependent upon environmental factors, and due to the inherent uncertainty associated with the reliability of the fuel source, the payments are considered variable and are excluded from the measurement of lease liabilities and right-of-use lease assets. Certain of our lease agreements have lease terms with non-consecutive periods of use. For these agreements we recognize lease costs during the periods of use. Leases with initial terms of 12 months or less are considered short-term leases and are not recorded on the balance sheet.


69


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following table provides information related to the maturity of our operating lease liabilities at June 30, 2019 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
June 30, 2019
Year
 
Purchased Power Lease Contracts
 
Land, Property & Equipment Leases
 
Total
2019 (remaining six months of 2019)
 
$
49,051

 
$
7,335

 
$
56,386

2020
 

 
12,868

 
12,868

2021
 

 
10,029

 
10,029

2022
 

 
6,988

 
6,988

2023
 

 
5,838

 
5,838

2024
 

 
3,691

 
3,691

Thereafter
 

 
38,506

 
38,506

Total lease commitments
 
49,051

 
85,255

 
134,306

Less imputed interest
 
294

 
20,411

 
20,705

Total lease liabilities
 
$
48,757

 
$
64,844

 
$
113,601

 
We recognize lease assets and liabilities upon lease commencement. At June 30, 2019, we have additional lease arrangements that have been executed, but have not yet commenced. These arrangements primarily relate to purchased power lease contracts. These leases have commencement dates beginning in June 2020 with terms ending through October 2027. We expect the total fixed consideration paid for these arrangements, which includes both lease and nonlease payments, will approximate $705 million over the term of the arrangements.

The following table provides information related to estimated future minimum operating lease payments at December 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
December 31, 2018
Year
 
Purchased Power Lease Contracts
 
Land, Property & Equipment Leases
 
Total
2019
 
$
54,499

 
$
13,747

 
$
68,246

2020
 

 
12,428

 
12,428

2021
 

 
9,478

 
9,478

2022
 

 
6,513

 
6,513

2023
 

 
5,359

 
5,359

Thereafter
 

 
42,236

 
42,236

Total future lease commitments
 
$
54,499

 
$
89,761

 
$
144,260




70


COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following tables provide other additional information related to operating lease liabilities:
 
June 30, 2019
Weighted average remaining lease term
8 years

Weighted average discount rate (a)
3.84
%


(a) Most of our lease agreements do not contain an implicit rate that is readily determinable. For these agreements we use our incremental borrowing rate to measure the present value of lease liabilities.  We determine our incremental borrowing rate at lease commencement based on the rate of interest that we would have to pay to borrow, on a collateralized basis over a similar term, an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. We use the implicit rate when it is readily determinable.

 
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2019
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities - operating cash flows (dollars in thousands):
$
11,987



    


71



ITEM 2.          MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
INTRODUCTION
 
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with Pinnacle West’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and APS’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Combined Notes that appear in Item 1 of this report.  For information on factors that may cause our actual future results to differ from those we currently seek or anticipate, see "Forward-Looking Statements" at the front of this report and "Risk Factors" in Part 1, Item 1A of the 2018 Form 10-K.
 
OVERVIEW

Pinnacle West owns all of the outstanding common stock of APS.  APS is a vertically-integrated electric utility that provides either retail or wholesale electric service to most of the state of Arizona, with the major exceptions of about one-half of the Phoenix metropolitan area, the Tucson metropolitan area and Mohave County in northwestern Arizona.  APS currently accounts for essentially all of our revenues and earnings.
 
Areas of Business Focus
 
Operational Performance, Reliability and Recent Developments.

Nuclear. APS operates and is a joint owner of Palo Verde. Palo Verde experienced strong performance during 2018, with its three units achieving a combined year-end capacity factor of 90.2% and an all-time best collective radiation exposure dose performance in the history of Palo Verde’s operation.

Coal and Related Environmental Matters and Transactions.  APS is a joint owner of three coal-fired power plants and acts as operating agent for two of the plants.  APS is focused on the impacts on its coal fleet that may result from increased regulation and potential legislation concerning GHG emissions. On June 19, 2019, EPA took final action on its proposals to repeal EPA's 2015 Clean Power Plan (“CPP”) and replace those regulations with a new rule, the Affordable Clean Energy (“ACE”) regulations. EPA originally finalized the CPP on August 3, 2015, and those regulations had been stayed pending judicial review. The ACE regulations are more narrow than the CPP, and is based upon heat-rate improvements at steam-electric power plants. APS continually analyzes its long-range capital management plans to assess the potential effects of such proposals, understanding that any resulting regulation and legislation could impact the economic viability of certain plants, as well as the willingness or ability of power plant participants to continue participation in such plants.

Cholla

On September 11, 2014, APS announced that it would close its 260 megawatts ("MW") Unit 2 at Cholla and cease burning coal at the other APS-owned units (Units 1 and 3) at the plant by the mid-2020s, if EPA approved a compromise proposal offered by APS to meet required environmental and emissions standards and rules. On April 14, 2015, the ACC approved APS's plan to retire Unit 2, without expressing any view on the future recoverability of APS's remaining investment in the Unit, which was later addressed in the 2017 Settlement Agreement. (See Note 4 for details related to the resulting cost recovery.) APS believes that the environmental benefits of this proposal are greater in the long-term than the benefits that would have resulted from adding emissions control equipment. APS closed Unit 2 on October 1, 2015. In early 2017, EPA approved a final rule incorporating APS's compromise proposal, which took effect for Cholla on April 26, 2017.

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On March 20, 2019, APS announced that it began evaluating the feasibility and cost of converting a unit at Cholla to burn biomass. Biomass is a fuel comprised of forest trimmings, and a converted unit at Cholla could assist in forest thinning, responsible forest management, an improved watershed, and a reduced wildfire risk. APS’s ability to operate a biomass power plant would depend on third-parties procuring forest biomass for fuel. APS reported the results of its evaluation on May 9, 2019 to the ACC. On July 10, 2019, the ACC voted to not require APS to file a request for proposal to convert the unit at Cholla to burn biomass.

Four Corners
 
Ownership and Coal Supply Matters.  In 2013, BHP Billiton New Mexico Coal, Inc. ("BHP Billiton"), the parent company of BHP Navajo Coal Company ("BNCC"), the coal supplier and operator of the mine that served Four Corners, transferred its ownership of BNCC to NTEC, a company formed by the Navajo Nation to own the mine and develop other energy projects. At that same time, the Four Corners’ co-owners executed the 2016 Coal Supply Agreement for the supply of coal to Four Corners from July 2016 through 2031. El Paso, a 7% owner in Units 4 and 5 of Four Corners, did not sign the 2016 Coal Supply Agreement. Under the 2016 Coal Supply Agreement, APS agreed to assume the 7% shortfall obligation. On February 17, 2015, APS and El Paso entered into an asset purchase agreement providing for the purchase by APS, or an affiliate of APS, of El Paso’s 7% interest in each of Units 4 and 5 of Four Corners. 4CA purchased the El Paso interest on July 6, 2016. The purchase price was immaterial in amount, and 4CA assumed El Paso's reclamation and decommissioning obligations associated with the 7% interest.

NTEC had an option to purchase the 4CA 7% interest and ultimately purchased the interest on July 3, 2018. NTEC purchased the 7% interest at 4CA’s book value, approximately $70 million, and is paying 4CA the purchase price over a period of four years pursuant to a secured interest-bearing promissory note. In connection with the sale, Pinnacle West guaranteed certain obligations that NTEC will have to the other owners of Four Corners, such as NTEC's 7% share of capital expenditures and operating and maintenance expenses. Pinnacle West's guarantee is secured by a portion of APS's payments to be owed to NTEC under the 2016 Coal Supply Agreement.

The 2016 Coal Supply Agreement contained alternate pricing terms for the 7% interest in the event NTEC did not purchase the interest. Until the time that NTEC purchased the 7% interest, the alternate pricing provisions were applicable to 4CA, as the holder of the 7% interest. These terms included a formula under which NTEC must make certain payments to 4CA for reimbursement of operations and maintenance costs and a specified rate of return, offset by revenue generated by 4CA’s power sales. Such payments are due to 4CA at the end of each calendar year. A $10 million payment was due to 4CA at December 31, 2017, which NTEC satisfied by directing to 4CA a prepayment from APS of a portion of a future mine reclamation obligation. The balance of the amount due under this formula at December 31, 2018 for calendar year 2017 was approximately $20 million, which was paid to 4CA on December 14, 2018. The balance of the amount under this formula for calendar year 2018 (up to the date that NTEC purchased the 7% interest) is approximately $10 million, which is due to 4CA at December 31, 2019.

Lease Extension.  APS, on behalf of the Four Corners participants, negotiated amendments to an existing facility lease with the Navajo Nation, which extends the Four Corners leasehold interest from 2016 to 2041.  The Navajo Nation approved these amendments in March 2011.  The effectiveness of the amendments also required the approval of the United States Department of the Interior ("DOI"), as did a related federal rights-of-way grant.  A federal environmental review was undertaken as part of the DOI review process, and culminated in the issuance by DOI of a record of decision on July 17, 2015 justifying the agency action extending the life of the plant and the adjacent mine.  


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On April 20, 2016, several environmental groups filed a lawsuit against OSM and other federal agencies in the District of Arizona in connection with their issuance of the approvals that extended the life of Four Corners and the adjacent mine.  The lawsuit alleges that these federal agencies violated both the ESA and NEPA in providing the federal approvals necessary to extend operations at the Four Corners Power Plant and the adjacent Navajo Mine past July 6, 2016.  APS filed a motion to intervene in the proceedings, which was granted on August 3, 2016.

On September 15, 2016, NTEC, the company that owns the adjacent mine, filed a motion to intervene for the purpose of dismissing the lawsuit based on NTEC's tribal sovereign immunity. On September 11, 2017, the Arizona District Court issued an order granting NTEC's motion, dismissing the litigation with prejudice, and terminating the proceedings. On November 9, 2017, the environmental group plaintiffs appealed the district court order dismissing their lawsuit. On July 29, 2019, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the September 2017 dismissal of the lawsuit. We cannot predict the outcome of any further proceedings.

Wastewater Permit. On July 16, 2018, several environmental groups filed a petition for review before the EPA EAB concerning the NPDES wastewater discharge permit for Four Corners, which was reissued on June 12, 2018.  The environmental groups allege that the permit was reissued in contravention of several requirements under the Clean Water Act and did not contain required provisions concerning EPA’s 2015 revised effluent limitation guidelines for steam-electric EGUs, 2014 existing-source regulations governing cooling-water intake structures, and effluent limits for surface seepage and subsurface discharges from coal-ash disposal facilities.  To address certain of these issues through a reconsidered permit, EPA took action on December 19, 2018 to withdraw the NPDES permit reissued in June 2018. Withdrawal of the permit moots the EAB appeal, and EPA filed a motion to dismiss on that basis. The EAB thereafter dismissed the environmental group appeal on February 12, 2019. On April 30, 2019, EPA issued a proposed NPDES permit for Four Corners and took comment on this proposal through July 1, 2019. As part of this proposal, EPA is contemplating a December 31, 2023 compliance deadline governing Four Corners for the recently updated effluent guidelines for bottom-ash transport water. EPA currently projects that it will take final action on this permit proposal by September 30, 2019. At this time, we cannot predict the outcome of EPA's reconsideration of the NPDES permit and whether reconsideration will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Navajo Plant

The co-owners of the Navajo Plant and the Navajo Nation agreed that the Navajo Plant will remain in operation until December 2019 under the existing plant lease. The co-owners and the Navajo Nation executed a lease extension on November 29, 2017 that will allow for decommissioning activities to begin after the plant ceases operations in December 2019.

APS is currently recovering depreciation and a return on the net book value of its interest in the Navajo Plant over its previously estimated life through 2026. APS will seek continued recovery in rates for the book value of its remaining investment in the plant (see Note 4 for details related to the resulting regulatory asset) plus a return on the net book value as well as other costs related to retirement and closure, which are still being assessed and may be material.
    
Natural Gas.  APS has six natural gas power plants located throughout Arizona, including Ocotillo. Ocotillo was originally a 330 MW 4-unit gas plant located in the metropolitan Phoenix area.  In early 2014, APS announced a project to modernize the plant, which involves retiring two older 110 MW steam units, adding five 102 MW combustion turbines and maintaining two existing 55 MW combustion turbines.  The modernization of the plant was completed on May 30, 2019 and it increased the capacity of the site by 290 MW to a total of 620 MW. (See Note 4 for details of the rate recovery in our 2017 Rate Case Decision.)


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Transmission and Delivery.  APS continues to work closely with customers, stakeholders, and regulators to identify and plan for transmission needs that support new customers, system reliability, access to markets and clean energy development.  The capital expenditures table presented in the "Liquidity and Capital Resources" section below includes new APS transmission projects, along with other transmission costs for upgrades and replacements.  APS is also working to establish and expand advanced grid technologies throughout its service territory to provide long-term benefits both to APS and its customers.  APS is strategically deploying a variety of technologies that are intended to allow customers to better manage their energy usage, minimize system outage durations and frequency, enable customer choice for new customer sited technologies, and facilitate greater cost savings to APS through improved reliability and the automation of certain distribution functions.

Energy Imbalance Market. In 2015, APS and the California Independent System Operator, the operator for the majority of California's transmission grid, signed an agreement for APS to begin participation in the Energy Imbalance Market (“EIM”). APS's participation in the EIM began on October 1, 2016.  The EIM allows for rebalancing supply and demand in 15-minute blocks with dispatching every five minutes before the energy is needed, instead of the traditional one hour blocks.  APS continues to expect that its participation in EIM will lower its fuel costs, improve visibility and situational awareness for system operations in the Western Interconnection power grid, and improve integration of APS’s renewable resources.
 
Renewable Energy. APS has a diverse portfolio of existing and planned renewable resources, including solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and biogas. APS's clean energy strategy includes executing purchased power contracts for new facilities, ongoing development of distributed energy resources and procurement of new facilities to be owned by APS. The following table summarizes APS's renewable energy sources in APS's renewable portfolio that are in operation and under development as of June 30, 2019. Agreements for the development and completion of future resources are subject to various conditions, including successful siting, permitting and interconnection of the projects to the electric grid.
 
Net Capacity in Operation
(MW)
 
Net Capacity Planned / Under
Development (MW)
 
Total APS Owned: Solar
240

 

 
Purchased Power Agreements:
 

 
 

 
Solar
310

 

 
Solar + Energy Storage

 
50

 
Wind
289

 

 
Geothermal
10

 

 
Biomass
14

 

 
Biogas
3

 

 
Total Purchased Power Agreements
626

 
50

 
Total Distributed Energy: Solar (a) 
902

 
36

(b)
Total Renewable Portfolio
1,768

 
86

 

(a)         Includes rooftop solar facilities owned by third parties. Distributed generation is produced in Direct Current and is converted to AC for reporting purposes.
(b)
Applications received by APS that are not yet installed and online.

APS has developed and owns solar resources through the ACC-approved AZ Sun Program.  APS invested approximately $675 million in the AZ Sun Program.  APS plans to issue two Requests for Proposal ("RFP") by September 2019. The first RFP will seek competitive proposals for up to 150 megawatts of APS-owned solar resources to be in service by 2021. This solar generation will be designed with the flexibility to

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add energy storage as a future option. A second RFP will pursue up to 250 megawatts of wind resources to be in service as soon as possible, but no later than 2022.

Energy Storage. APS deploys a number of advanced technologies on its system, including energy storage. Storage can provide capacity, improve power quality, be utilized for system regulation, integrate renewable generation, and can be used to defer certain traditional infrastructure investments. Battery storage can also aid in integrating higher levels of renewables by storing excess energy when system demand is low and renewable production is high and then releasing the stored energy during peak demand hours later in the day and after sunset. APS is utilizing grid-scale battery storage projects to evaluate the potential benefits for customers and further our understanding of how storage works with other advanced technologies and the grid. We are preparing for additional battery storage in the future.

In early 2018, APS entered into a 15-year power purchase agreement for a 65 MW solar facility that charges a 50 MW solar-fueled battery. Service under this agreement is scheduled to begin in 2021. In 2018, APS issued a request for proposal for approximately 106 MW of battery storage to be located at up to five of its AZ Sun sites. Based upon our evaluation of the RFP responses, APS decided to expand the initial phase of battery deployment to 141 MW by adding a sixth AZ Sun site. In February 2019, we contracted for the 141 MW and originally anticipated such facilities could be in service by mid-2020. In April 2019, a battery module in APS’s McMicken battery energy storage facility experienced an equipment failure, which prompted an investigation to determine the cause. The results of the investigation will inform the timing of our utilization and implementation of batteries on our system. Due to the April 2019 event, APS is working with the counterparty for the AZ Sun sites to determine appropriate timing and path forward for such facilities. Additionally, in February 2019, APS signed two 20-year power purchase agreements for energy storage totaling 150 MW. Service under these power purchase agreements is expected to begin in mid-2021, pending approval from the ACC to allow for recovery of these agreements through the PSA and the results of the McMicken investigation.  Including the battery storage projects described above, we currently plan to install at least 700 MW of additional APS-owned solar plus battery storage and stand-alone battery storage systems by the summer of 2025. We originally intended to procure the first 260 MW in 2019 (60 MW on additional AZ Sun sites and 100 MW of solar plus 100 MW of battery storage), however given the April 2019 event we are currently evaluating appropriate timing and path forward to support the overall capacity goals for our system.

Regulatory Matters

Rate Matters.  APS needs timely recovery through rates of its capital and operating expenditures to maintain its financial health.  APS’s retail rates are regulated by the ACC and its wholesale electric rates (primarily for transmission) are regulated by FERC.  See Note 4 for information on APS’s FERC rates.

On June 1, 2016, APS filed an application with the ACC for an annual increase in retail base rates. On March 27, 2017, a majority of the stakeholders in the general retail rate case, including the ACC Staff, the Residential Utility Consumer Office, limited income advocates and private rooftop solar organizations signed the 2017 Settlement Agreement and filed it with the ACC. The average annual customer bill impact under the 2017 Settlement Agreement was calculated as an increase of 3.28% (the average annual bill impact for a typical APS residential customer was calculated as 4.54%). (See Note 4 for details of the 2017 Settlement Agreement.)

On August 15, 2017, the ACC approved (by a vote of 4-1), the 2017 Settlement Agreement without material modifications.  On August 18, 2017, the ACC issued a final written Opinion and Order reflecting its decision in APS’s general retail rate case (the "2017 Rate Case Decision"), which is subject to requests for rehearing and potential appeal. The new rates went into effect on August 19, 2017.
    

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On January 3, 2018, an APS customer filed a petition with the ACC that was determined by the Administrative Law Judge to be a complaint filed pursuant to Arizona Revised Statute §40-246 and not a request for rehearing. Arizona Revised Statute §40-246 requires the ACC to hold a hearing regarding any complaint alleging that a public service corporation is in violation of any commission order or that the rates being charged are not just and reasonable if the complaint is signed by at least twenty-five customers of the public service corporation. The Complaint alleged that APS is “in violation of commission order” [sic]. On February 13, 2018, the complainant filed an amended Complaint alleging that the rates and charges in the 2017 Rate Case Decision are not just and reasonable.  The complainant requested that the ACC hold a hearing on the amended Complaint to determine if the average bill impact on residential customers of the rates and charges approved in the 2017 Rate Case Decision is greater than 4.54% (the average annual bill impact for a typical APS residential customer estimated by APS) and, if so, what effect the alleged greater bill impact has on APS's revenues and the overall reasonableness and justness of APS's rates and charges, in order to determine if there is sufficient evidence to warrant a full-scale rate hearing.  The ACC held a hearing on this matter beginning in September 2018 and the hearing was concluded on October 1, 2018. On April 9, 2019, the Administrative Law Judge issued a Recommended Opinion and Order recommending that the Complaint be dismissed. The ACC considered the matter at its April and May 2019 open meetings, but no decision was issued. On July 3, 2019, the Administrative Law Judge issued an amendment to the Recommended Opinion and Order that incorporated the requirements of the rate review of the 2017 Rate Case Decision (see below discussion regarding the rate review). On July 10, 2019, the ACC reconsidered the matter and adopted the Administrative Law Judge's amended Recommended Opinion and Order along with several ACC Commissioner amendments and an amendment incorporating the results of the rate review and resolved the Complaint.

On December 24, 2018, certain ACC Commissioners filed a letter stating that because the ACC had received a substantial number of complaints that the rate increase authorized by the 2017 Rate Case Decision was much more than anticipated, they believe there is a possibility that APS is earning more than was authorized by the 2017 Rate Case Decision.  Accordingly, the ACC Commissioners requested the ACC Staff to perform a rate review of APS using calendar year 2018 as a test year and file a report by May 3, 2019.  The ACC Commissioners also asked the ACC Staff to evaluate APS’s efforts to educate its customers regarding the new rates approved in the 2017 Rate Case Decision. On April 23, 2019, the ACC Staff indicated that they would need some additional time beyond May 3, 2019 to file the requested report.

On June 5, 2019, the ACC Staff filed a proposed order regarding the rate review of the 2017 Rate Case Decision. On June 11, 2019, the ACC Commissioners approved the proposed ACC Staff order with amendments. The key provisions of the amended order include the following:

APS must file a rate case no later than October 31, 2019, using a June 30, 2019 test-year;
until the conclusion of the rate case being filed no later than October 31, 2019, APS must provide information on customer bills that shows how much a customer would pay on their most economical rate given their actual usage during each month;
APS customers can switch rate plans during an open enrollment period of six months;
APS must identify customers whose bills have increased by more than 9% and that are not on the most economical rate and provide such customers with targeted education materials and an opportunity to switch rate plans;
APS must provide grandfathered net metering customers on legacy demand rates an opportunity to switch to another legacy rate to enable such customers to fully benefit from legacy net metering rates;
APS must fund and implement a supplemental customer education and outreach program to be developed with and administered by ACC Staff and a third-party consultant; and
APS must fund and organize, along with the third-party consultant, a stakeholder group to suggest better ways to communicate the impact of changes to adjustor cost recovery mechanisms (see Note 4 on cost recovery mechanisms), including more effective ways to educate customers on rate plans and to reduce energy usage.

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APS cannot predict the outcome or impact of the future rate case to be filed no later than October 31, 2019. APS is assessing the impact to its financial statements of the implementation of the other key provisions of the amended order regarding the rate review and cannot predict at this time whether they will have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. 

APS has several recovery mechanisms in place that provide more timely recovery to APS of its fuel and transmission costs, and costs associated with the promotion and implementation of its demand side management and renewable energy efforts and customer programs.  These mechanisms, such as the RES and Demand Side Management Adjustor Charge, are described more fully in Note 4.

SCR Cost Recovery. On December 29, 2017, in accordance with the 2017 Rate Case Decision, APS filed a Notice of Intent to file its SCR Adjustment to permit recovery of costs associated with the installation of SCR equipment at Four Corners Units 4 and 5.  APS filed the SCR Adjustment request in April 2018. Consistent with the 2017 Rate Case Decision, the request was narrow in scope and addressed only costs associated with this specific environmental compliance equipment. The SCR Adjustment request provided that there would be a $67.5 million annual revenue impact that would be applied as a percentage of base rates for all applicable customers. Also, as provided for in the 2017 Rate Case Decision, APS requested that the rate adjustment become effective no later than January 1, 2019. The hearing for this matter occurred in September 2018. At the hearing, APS accepted ACC Staff's recommendation of a lower annual revenue impact of approximately $58.5 million. The Administrative Law Judge issued a Recommended Opinion and Order finding that the costs for the SCR project were prudently incurred and recommending authorization of the $58.5 million annual revenue requirement related to the installation and operation of the SCRs. Exceptions to the Recommended Opinion and Order were filed by the parties and intervenors on December 7, 2018.  The ACC has not issued a decision on this matter.  APS cannot predict the outcome or timing of the decision on this matter. APS may be required to record a charge to its results of operations if the ACC issues an unfavorable decision (see SCR deferral in the Regulatory Assets and Liabilities table in Note 4).
 
Tax Expense Adjustor Mechanism. As part of the 2017 Settlement Agreement, the parties agreed to a rate adjustment mechanism to address potential federal income tax reform and enable the pass-through of certain income tax effects to customers. The TEAM expressly applies to APS's retail rates with the exception of a small subset of customers taking service under specially-approved tariffs. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was enacted.  This legislation made significant changes to the federal income tax laws including a reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018.

On January 8, 2018, APS filed TEAM Phase I with the ACC that addressed the change in the marginal federal tax rate from 35% to 21% resulting from the Tax Act and reduces rates by $119.1 million annually through an equal cents per kWh credit.  On February 22, 2018, the ACC approved the reduction of rates through an equal cents per kWh credit. The rate reduction was effective for the first billing cycle in March 2018.

The impact of the TEAM Phase I, over time, is expected to be earnings neutral. However, on a quarterly basis, there is a difference between the timing and amount of the income tax benefit and the reduction in revenues refunded through the TEAM Phase I related to the lower federal income tax rate. The amount of the benefit of the lower federal income tax rate is based on quarterly pre-tax results, while the reduction in revenues refunded through the TEAM Phase I is based on a per kWh sales credit which follows our seasonal kWh sales pattern and is not impacted by earnings of the Company.

On August 13, 2018, APS filed TEAM Phase II, a second request with the ACC that addressed the return of an additional $86.5 million in tax savings to customers related to the amortization of non-depreciation related excess deferred taxes previously collected from customers. The ACC approved this request on March

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13, 2019, effective the first billing cycle in April 2019. The impact of TEAM Phase II is expected to be earnings neutral as both the timing of the reduction in revenues refunded through TEAM Phase II and the offsetting income tax benefit are recognized based upon our seasonal kWh sales pattern.
    
On April 10, 2019, APS filed a third request with the ACC that addresses the amortization of depreciation related excess deferred taxes over a 28.5 year period (“TEAM Phase III”).  Over the first 36 months, TEAM Phase III is expected to return $34.5 million to customers annually, and APS proposed this refund begin July 1, 2019. APS is currently in the process of seeking IRS guidance affirming the amortization method and period applicable to these depreciation related excess deferred taxes. The ACC has not yet approved TEAM Phase III.

Subpoena from Arizona Corporation Commissioner Robert Burns. On August 25, 2016, Commissioner Burns, individually and not by action of the ACC as a whole, served subpoenas in APS’s then current retail rate proceeding on APS and Pinnacle West for the production of records and information relating to a range of expenditures from 2011 through 2016. The subpoenas requested information concerning marketing and advertising expenditures, charitable donations, lobbying expenses, contributions to 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) nonprofits and political contributions. The return date for the production of information was set as September 15, 2016. The subpoenas also sought testimony from Company personnel having knowledge of the material, including the Chief Executive Officer.

On September 9, 2016, APS filed with the ACC a motion to quash the subpoenas or, alternatively, to stay APS's obligations to comply with the subpoenas and decline to decide APS's motion pending court proceedings. Contemporaneously with the filing of this motion, APS and Pinnacle West filed a complaint for special action and declaratory judgment in the Superior Court of Arizona for Maricopa County, seeking a declaratory judgment that Commissioner Burns’ subpoenas are contrary to law. On September 15, 2016, APS produced all non-confidential and responsive documents and offered to produce any remaining responsive documents that are confidential after an appropriate confidentiality agreement is signed.

On February 7, 2017, Commissioner Burns opened a new ACC docket and indicated that its purpose is to study and rectify problems with transparency and disclosure regarding financial contributions from regulated monopolies or other stakeholders who may appear before the ACC that may directly or indirectly benefit an ACC Commissioner, a candidate for ACC Commissioner, or key ACC Staff.  As part of this docket, Commissioner Burns set March 24, 2017 as a deadline for the production of all information previously requested through the subpoenas. Neither APS nor Pinnacle West produced the information requested and instead objected to the subpoena. On March 10, 2017, Commissioner Burns filed suit against APS and Pinnacle West in the Superior Court of Arizona for Maricopa County in an effort to enforce his subpoenas. On March 30, 2017, APS filed a motion to dismiss Commissioner Burns' suit against APS and Pinnacle West. In response to the motion to dismiss, the court stayed the suit and ordered Commissioner Burns to file a motion to compel the production of the information sought by the subpoenas with the ACC. On June 20, 2017, the ACC denied the motion to compel.

On August 4, 2017, Commissioner Burns amended his complaint to add all of the ACC Commissioners and the ACC itself as defendants. All defendants moved to dismiss the amended complaint. On February 15, 2018, the Superior Court dismissed Commissioner Burns’ amended complaint. On March 6, 2018, Commissioner Burns filed an objection to the proposed final order from the Superior Court and a motion to further amend his complaint. The Superior Court permitted Commissioner Burns to amend his complaint to add a claim regarding his attempted investigation into whether his fellow commissioners should have been disqualified from voting on APS’s 2017 rate case. Commissioner Burns filed his second amended complaint, and all defendants filed responses opposing the second amended complaint and requested that it be dismissed. Oral argument occurred in November 2018 regarding the motion to dismiss. On December 18, 2018, the trial court granted the defendants’ motions to dismiss and entered final judgment on January 18, 2019. On

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February 13, 2019, Commissioner Burns filed a notice of appeal. On July 12, 2019, Commissioner Burns filed his opening brief in the Arizona Court of Appeals and all answering briefs are due on August 21, 2019. APS and Pinnacle West cannot predict the outcome of this matter.

Information Requests from Arizona Corporation Commissioners. On January 14, 2019, ACC Commissioner Kennedy opened a docket to investigate campaign expenditures and political participation of APS and Pinnacle West. In addition, on February 27, 2019, ACC Commissioners Burns and Dunn opened a new docket and requested documents from APS and Pinnacle West related to ACC elections and charitable contributions related to the ACC. On March 1, 2019, ACC Commissioner Kennedy issued a subpoena to APS seeking several categories of information for both Pinnacle West and APS including political contributions, lobbying expenditures, marketing and advertising expenditures, and contributions made to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities, for the years 2013-2018. Pinnacle West and APS voluntarily responded to both sets of requests on March 29, 2019. APS also received and responded to various follow-on requests from ACC Commissioners on these matters. Pinnacle West and APS cannot predict the outcome of these matters.

Energy Modernization Plan. On January 30, 2018, former ACC Commissioner Tobin proposed the Energy Modernization Plan, which consisted of a series of energy policies tied to clean energy sources such as energy storage, biomass, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, and expanded energy planning through the integrated resource plans ("IRP") process. In August 2018, the ACC directed ACC Staff to open a new rulemaking docket which will address a wide range of energy issues, including the Energy Modernization Plan proposals. The rulemaking will consider possible modifications to existing ACC rules, such as the RES, Electric and Gas Energy Efficiency Standards, Net Metering, Resource Planning, and the Biennial Transmission Assessment, as well as the development of new rules regarding forest bioenergy, electric vehicles, interconnection of distributed generation, baseload security, blockchain technology and other technological developments, retail competition, and other energy-related topics. On April 25, 2019, the ACC Staff issued a set of draft rules in regards to the Energy Modernization Plan and workshops were held on April 29, 2019 regarding these draft rules. On July 2, 2019, the ACC Staff issued a revised set of draft rules, which propose a RES goal of 45% of retail energy served be renewable by 2035 and a goal of 20% of retail sales during peak demand to be from clean energy resources by 2035.  The draft rules also require a certain amount of the RES goal to be derived from Distributed Renewable Storage, for which utilities would be required to offer performance-based incentives.  Clean peak sales would include nuclear energy as a clean resource. The ACC held stakeholder meetings and workshops on ACC Staff’s draft energy rules on July 30 and July 31, 2019 and additional stakeholder workshops will be held in August 2019. APS cannot predict the outcome of this matter.

Integrated Resource Planning. ACC rules require utilities to develop fifteen-year IRPs which describe how the utility plans to serve customer load in the plan timeframe.  The ACC reviews each utility’s IRP to determine if it meets the necessary requirements and whether it should be acknowledged.  In March of 2018, the ACC reviewed the 2017 IRPs of its jurisdictional utilities and voted to not acknowledge any of the plans.  APS does not believe that this lack of acknowledgment will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.  Based on an ACC decision, APS is required to file a Preliminary Resource Plan by April 1, 2019 and its final IRP by April 1, 2020. On February 25, 2019, APS filed a request to extend the deadline to file its Preliminary IRP from April 1, 2019 to August 1, 2019.  On April 24, 2019, the ACC approved this request. On August 1, 2019, APS filed its Preliminary IRP.


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Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act. In August 2016, APS filed an application requesting that all of its contracts with qualifying facilities over 100 kW be set at a presumptive maximum 2 year term. A qualifying facility is an eligible energy-producing facility as defined by FERC regulations within a host electric utility’s service territory that has a right to sell to the host utility. Host utilities are required to purchase power from qualifying facilities at an avoided cost. A hearing is set to begin on August 27, 2019 regarding APS’s application. APS cannot predict the outcome of this matter.

    
Residential Electric Utility Customer Service Disconnections. On June 13, 2019, APS voluntarily suspended electric disconnections for residential customers who had not paid their bills.  On June 20, 2019, the ACC voted to enact emergency rule amendments to prevent residential electric utility customer service disconnections during the period from June 1 through October 15.  During the moratorium on disconnections, APS cannot charge late fees and interest on amounts that are past due from customers.  Customer deposits must also be used to pay delinquent amounts before disconnection can occur and customers will have four months to pay back their deposit and any remaining delinquent amounts.  The emergency rule changes will be effective for 180 days and may be renewed once.  During that time, the ACC will begin a formal regular rulemaking process to allow stakeholder input and time for consideration of permanent rules changes.  The ACC further ordered that each regulated electric utility serving retail customers in Arizona update its service conditions by incorporating the emergency rule amendments, restore power to any customers who were disconnected during the month of June 2019 and credit any fees that were charged for a reconnection.  In July 2019, certain Arizona electric cooperatives filed a request for rehearing of the emergency rules for disconnections on several grounds, including that Attorney General certification is required for such rulemaking. APS currently estimates that the disconnection moratorium will result in an impact to its 2019 financial statements of approximately $5 million to $10 million depending on certain assumptions, including customer behaviors. APS is further assessing the impact to its financial statements beyond 2019, which will be affected by the results of final rulemaking related to disconnections.

Retail Electric Competition Rules. On November 17, 2018, the ACC voted to re-examine the facilitation of a deregulated retail electric market in Arizona. An ACC special open meeting workshop was held on December 3, 2018. No substantive action was taken, but interested parties were asked to submit written comments and respond to a list of questions from ACC Staff. On July 1 and July 2, 2019, ACC Staff issued a report and initial proposed draft rules regarding possible modifications to the ACC’s retail electric competition rules. Interested parties filed comments to the ACC Staff report and a stakeholder meeting and workshop to discuss the retail electric competition rules and energy modernization plan proposals was held on July 30, 2019. APS cannot predict whether these efforts will result in any changes and, if changes to the rules results, what impact these rules would have on APS.

FERC Matter. As part of APS’s acquisition of SCE’s interest in Four Corners Units 4 and 5, APS and SCE agreed, via a "Transmission Termination Agreement" that, upon closing of the acquisition, the companies would terminate an existing transmission agreement ("Transmission Agreement") between the parties that provides transmission capacity on a system (the "Arizona Transmission System") for SCE to transmit its portion of the output from Four Corners to California.  APS previously submitted a request to FERC related to this termination, which resulted in a FERC order denying rate recovery of $40 million that APS agreed to pay SCE associated with the termination.  On December 22, 2015, APS and SCE agreed to terminate the Transmission Termination Agreement and allow for the Transmission Agreement to expire according to its terms, which includes settling obligations in accordance with the terms of the Transmission Agreement.  APS established a regulatory asset of $12 million in 2015 in connection with the payment required under the terms of the Transmission Agreement. On July 1, 2016, FERC issued an order denying APS’s request to recover the regulatory asset through its FERC-jurisdictional rates.  APS and SCE completed the termination of the Transmission Agreement on July 6, 2016. APS made the required payment to SCE and wrote-off the $12 million regulatory asset and charged operating revenues to reflect the effects of this order in the second quarter

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of 2016.  On July 29, 2016, APS filed for a rehearing with FERC. In its order denying recovery, FERC also referred to its enforcement division a question of whether the agreement between APS and SCE relating to the settlement of obligations under the Transmission Agreement was a jurisdictional contract that should have been filed with FERC. On October 5, 2017, FERC issued an order denying APS's request for rehearing. FERC also upheld its prior determination that the agreement relating to the settlement was a jurisdictional contract and should have been filed with FERC. APS cannot predict whether or if the enforcement division will take any action. APS filed an appeal of FERC's July 1, 2016 and October 5, 2017 orders with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on December 4, 2017. On June 14, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an unpublished memorandum order denying APS’s petition for review of FERC’s orders that denied APS’s request to recover the regulatory asset through its FERC-jurisdictional rates and granting APS’s petition for review of FERC’s orders finding the agreement to be a jurisdictional contract. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated FERC’s determination that the agreement was required to be filed with FERC and remanded the issue to FERC for additional proceedings. APS cannot predict the outcome of the remand proceeding.
  
Financial Strength and Flexibility 
Pinnacle West and APS currently have ample borrowing capacity under their respective credit facilities, and may readily access these facilities ensuring adequate liquidity for each company.  Capital expenditures will be funded with internally generated cash and external financings, which may include issuances of long-term debt and Pinnacle West common stock.
 
Other Subsidiaries

Bright Canyon Energy. On July 31, 2014, Pinnacle West announced its creation of a wholly-owned subsidiary, BCE.  BCE's focus is on new growth opportunities that leverage the Company’s core expertise in the electric energy industry.  BCE’s first initiative is a 50/50 joint venture with BHE U.S. Transmission LLC, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company.  The joint venture, named TransCanyon, is pursuing independent transmission opportunities within the eleven states that comprise the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, excluding opportunities related to transmission service that would otherwise be provided under the tariffs of the retail service territories of the venture partners’ utility affiliates.  TransCanyon continues to pursue transmission development opportunities in the western United States consistent with its strategy.

El Dorado. The operations of El Dorado are not expected to have any material impact on our financial results, or to require any material amounts of capital, over the next three years.

4CA. See "Four Corners - Ownership and Coal Supply Matters" above for information regarding 4CA.

Key Financial Drivers
 
In addition to the continuing impact of the matters described above, many factors influence our financial results and our future financial outlook, including those listed below.  We closely monitor these factors to plan for the Company’s current needs, and to adjust our expectations, financial budgets and forecasts appropriately.
 
Electric Operating Revenues.  For the years 2016 through 2018, retail electric revenues comprised approximately 95% of our total operating revenues.  Our electric operating revenues are affected by customer growth or decline, variations in weather from period to period, customer mix, average usage per customer and the impacts of energy efficiency programs, distributed energy additions, electricity rates and tariffs, the recovery of PSA deferrals and the operation of other recovery mechanisms.  These revenue transactions are

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affected by the availability of excess generation or other energy resources and wholesale market conditions, including competition, demand and prices.
 
Actual and Projected Customer and Sales Growth.  Retail customers in APS’s service territory increased 1.8% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2019 compared with the prior-year period.  For the three years 2016 through 2018, APS’s customer growth averaged 1.6% per year. We currently project annual customer growth to be 1.5 - 2.5% for 2019 and to average in the range of 1.5 - 2.5% for 2019 through 2021 based on our assessment of improving economic conditions in Arizona.

Retail electricity sales in kWh, adjusted to exclude the effects of weather variations, increased 0.2% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2019 compared with the prior-year period. Improving economic conditions and customer growth were offset by energy savings driven by customer conservation, energy efficiency, and distributed renewable generation initiatives.  For the three years 2016 through 2018, annual retail electricity sales were about flat, adjusted to exclude the effects of weather variations.  We currently project that annual retail electricity sales in kWh will increase in the range of 1.0 - 2.0% for 2019 and increase on average in the range of 1.5 - 2.5% during 2019 through 2021, including the effects of customer conservation and energy efficiency and distributed renewable generation initiatives, but excluding the effects of weather variations.  Slower than expected growth of the Arizona economy or acceleration of the expected effects of customer conservation, energy efficiency or distributed renewable generation initiatives could further impact these estimates.

Actual sales growth, excluding weather-related variations, may differ from our projections as a result of numerous factors, such as economic conditions, customer growth, usage patterns and energy conservation, impacts of energy efficiency programs and growth in DG, and responses to retail price changes.  Based on past experience, a reasonable range of variation in our kWh sales projections attributable to such economic factors under normal business conditions can result in increases or decreases in annual net income of up to approximately $15 million.
 
Weather.  In forecasting the retail sales growth numbers provided above, we assume normal weather patterns based on historical data.  Historically, extreme weather variations have resulted in annual variations in net income in excess of $25 million.  However, our experience indicates that the more typical variations from normal weather can result in increases or decreases in annual net income of up to $15 million.
 
Fuel and Purchased Power Costs. Fuel and purchased power costs included on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income are impacted by our electricity sales volumes, existing contracts for purchased power and generation fuel, our power plant performance, transmission availability or constraints, prevailing market prices, new generating plants being placed in service in our market areas, changes in our generation resource allocation, our hedging program for managing such costs and PSA deferrals and the related amortization.

Operations and Maintenance ExpensesOperations and maintenance expenses are impacted by customer and sales growth, power plant operations, maintenance of utility plant (including generation, transmission, and distribution facilities), inflation, unplanned outages, planned outages (typically scheduled in the spring and fall), renewable energy and demand side management related expenses (which are offset by the same amount of operating revenues) and other factors.

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses.  Depreciation and amortization expenses are impacted by net additions to utility plant and other property (such as new generation, transmission, and distribution facilities), and changes in depreciation and amortization rates.  See "Liquidity and Capital Resources" below for information regarding the planned additions to our facilities and income tax impacts related to bonus depreciation. 

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Property Taxes.  Taxes other than income taxes consist primarily of property taxes, which are affected by the value of property in-service and under construction, assessment ratios, and tax rates.  The average property tax rate in Arizona for APS, which owns essentially all of our property, was 11.0% of the assessed value for 2018, 11.2% for 2017 and 11.2% for 2016. We expect property taxes to increase as we add new generating units and continue with improvements and expansions to our existing generating units and transmission and distribution facilities. 

Pension and other postretirement non-service credits - net.  Pension and other postretirement non-service credits can be impacted by changes in our actuarial assumptions. The most relevant actuarial assumptions are the discount rate used to measure our net periodic costs/credit, the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets used to estimate earnings on invested funds over the long-term, the mortality assumptions and the assumed healthcare cost trend rates. We review these assumptions on an annual basis and adjust them as necessary.

Interest Expense.  Interest expense is affected by the amount of debt outstanding and the interest rates on that debt (see Note 3).  The primary factors affecting borrowing levels are expected to be our capital expenditures, long-term debt maturities, equity issuances and internally generated cash flow.  An allowance for borrowed funds used during construction offsets a portion of interest expense while capital projects are under construction.  We stop accruing AFUDC on a project when it is placed in commercial operation.
 
Income Taxes.  Income taxes are affected by the amount of pretax book income, income tax rates, certain deductions and non-taxable items, such as AFUDC.  In addition, income taxes may also be affected by the settlement of issues with taxing authorities. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was enacted and was generally effective on January 1, 2018. Changes impacting the Company include a reduction in the corporate tax rate to 21%, revisions to the rules related to tax bonus depreciation, limitations on interest deductibility and an associated exception for certain public utilities, and requirements that certain excess deferred tax amounts of regulated utilities be normalized. (See Note 15 for details of the impacts on the Company as of June 30, 2019.) In APS's recent general retail rate case, the ACC approved a Tax Expense Adjustor Mechanism which will be used to pass through the income tax effects to retail customers of the Tax Act. (See Note 4 for details of the TEAM.)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Pinnacle West’s only reportable business segment is our regulated electricity segment, which consists of traditional regulated retail and wholesale electricity businesses (primarily electric service to Native Load customers) and related activities and includes electricity generation, transmission and distribution.

Operating ResultsThree-month period ended June 30, 2019 compared with three-month period ended June 30, 2018.

Our consolidated net income attributable to common shareholders for the three months ended June 30, 2019 was $144 million, compared with consolidated net income attributable to common shareholders of $167 million for the prior-year period.  The results reflect a decrease of approximately $20 million for the regulated electricity segment primarily due to the effects of weather, partially offset by lower operations and maintenance expense.


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The following table presents net income attributable to common shareholders by business segment compared with the prior-year period:

 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
Net Change
 
(dollars in millions)
Regulated Electricity Segment:
 

 
 

 
 

Operating revenues less fuel and purchased power expenses
$
626

 
$
701

 
$
(75
)
Operations and maintenance
(227
)
 
(263
)
 
36

Depreciation and amortization
(147
)
 
(145
)
 
(2
)
Taxes other than income taxes
(55
)
 
(53
)
 
(2
)
Pension and other postretirement non-service credits - net
6

 
12

 
(6
)
All other income and expenses, net
16

 
16

 

Interest charges, net of allowance for borrowed funds used during construction
(53
)
 
(54
)
 
1

Income taxes
(17
)
 
(45
)
 
28

Less income related to noncontrolling interests (Note 6)
(5
)
 
(5
)
 

Regulated electricity segment income
144

 
164

 
(20
)
All other

 
3

 
(3
)
Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders
$
144

 
$
167

 
$
(23
)


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Operating revenues less fuel and purchased power expenses.  Regulated electricity segment operating revenues less fuel and purchased power expenses were $75 million lower for the three months ended June 30, 2019 compared with the prior-year period.  The following table summarizes the major components of this change:

 
Increase (Decrease)
 
Operating
revenues
 
Fuel and
purchased
power expenses
 
Net change
 
(dollars in millions)
Effects of weather
$
(61
)
 
$
(15
)
 
$
(46
)
Refunds due to lower Federal corporate income tax rate (Note 4)
(28
)
 

 
(28
)
Lower renewable energy regulatory surcharges, partially offset by operations and maintenance costs
(10
)
 

 
(10
)
Higher transmission revenues (Note 4)
5

 

 
5

Higher retail revenue due to higher customer growth and changes in customer usage patterns, partially offset by the impacts of energy efficiency and distributed generation
2

 
(1
)
 
3

Changes in net fuel and purchased power costs, including off-system sales margins and related deferrals
(12
)
 
(14
)
 
2

Miscellaneous items, net
1

 
2

 
(1
)
Total
$
(103
)
 
$
(28
)
 
$
(75
)

Operations and maintenance.  Operations and maintenance expenses decreased $36 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019 compared with the prior-year period primarily because of:

A decrease of $10 million in fossil generation primarily due to lower planned outages and other operating costs;

A decrease of $10 million related to costs for renewable energy and similar regulatory programs, which is partially offset by operating revenues and purchased power;

A decrease of $9 million related to public outreach costs at the parent company primarily associated with the ballot initiative in 2018;

A decrease of $7 million related to employee benefit costs;

An increase of $4 million for costs related to information technology; and

A decrease of $4 million for other miscellaneous factors.

Pension and other postretirement non-service credits, net. Pension and other postretirement non-service credits, net were $6 million lower for the three months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the prior-year period primarily due to lower market returns.


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Income taxes.  Income taxes were $28 million lower for the three months ended June 30, 2019 compared with the prior-year period primarily due to amortization of excess deferred taxes (Note 4) and lower pretax income.

Operating ResultsSix-month period ended June 30, 2019 compared with six-month period ended June 30, 2018.

Our consolidated net income attributable to common shareholders for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was $162 million, compared with consolidated net income attributable to common shareholders of $170 million for the prior-year period.  The results reflect a decrease of approximately $7 million for the regulated electricity segment primarily due to the effects of weather and lower pension and other postretirement non-service credits, partially offset by lower operations and maintenance expense.

The following table presents net income attributable to common shareholders by business segment compared with the prior-year period:

 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
Net Change
 
(dollars in millions)
Regulated Electricity Segment:
 

 
 

 
 

Operating revenues less fuel and purchased power expenses
$
1,135

 
$
1,190

 
$
(55
)
Operations and maintenance
(472
)
 
(524
)
 
52

Depreciation and amortization
(296
)
 
(289
)
 
(7
)
Taxes other than income taxes
(110
)
 
(106
)
 
(4
)
Pension and other postretirement non-service credits - net
11

 
25

 
(14
)
All other income and expenses, net
30

 
33

 
(3
)
Interest charges, net of allowance for borrowed funds used during construction
(107
)
 
(107
)
 

Income taxes
(19
)
 
(43
)
 
24

Less income related to noncontrolling interests (Note 6)
(10
)
 
(10
)
 

Regulated electricity segment income
162

 
169

 
(7
)
All other

 
1

 
(1
)
Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders
$
162

 
$
170

 
$
(8
)


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Operating revenues less fuel and purchased power expenses.  Regulated electricity segment operating revenues less fuel and purchased power expenses were $55 million lower for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared with the prior-year period.  The following table summarizes the major components of this change:

 
Increase (Decrease)
 
Operating
revenues
 
Fuel and
purchased
power expenses
 
Net change
 
(dollars in millions)
Refunds due to lower Federal corporate income tax rate (Note 4)
$
(32
)
 
$

 
$
(32
)
Effects of weather
(33
)
 
(8
)
 
(25
)
Lower renewable energy regulatory surcharges and higher purchased power, partially offset by operations and maintenance costs
(15
)
 
1

 
(16
)
Lower transmission revenues (Note 4)
(3
)
 

 
(3
)
Change in residential rate design and seasonal rates (a)
13

 

 
13

Higher retail revenue due to higher customer growth and changes in customer usage patterns, partially offset by the impacts of energy efficiency and distributed generation
6

 
1

 
5

Changes in net fuel and purchased power costs, including off-system sales margins and related deferrals
4

 
4

 

Miscellaneous items, net
6

 
3

 
3

Total
$
(54
)
 
$
1

 
$
(55
)

(a) As part of the 2017 Settlement Agreement, rate design changes were implemented in the spring of 2018 that moved some revenue responsibility from summer to non-summer months. The change was made to better align revenue collections with costs of service.

Operations and maintenance.  Operations and maintenance expenses decreased $52 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared with the prior-year period primarily because of:

A decrease of $18 million in fossil generation primarily due to lower planned outages and other operating costs;

A decrease of $17 million related to costs for renewable energy and similar regulatory programs, which is partially offset by operating revenues and purchased power;

A decrease of $11 million related to public outreach costs at the parent company primarily associated with the ballot initiative in 2018;

A decrease of $8 million in transmission, distribution and customer service costs;

An increase of $6 million for costs related to information technology; and


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A decrease of $4 million for other miscellaneous factors.

Depreciation and amortization.  Depreciation and amortization expenses were $7 million higher for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared with the prior-year period primarily related to increased plant in service.

Pension and other postretirement non-service credits, net. Pension and other postretirement non-service credits, net were $13 million lower for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the prior-year period primarily due to lower market returns.

Income taxes.  Income taxes were $24 million lower for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared with the prior-year period primarily due to amortization of excess deferred taxes (Note 4) and lower pretax income.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
Overview
 
Pinnacle West’s primary cash needs are for dividends to our shareholders and principal and interest payments on our indebtedness.  The level of our common stock dividends and future dividend growth will be dependent on declaration by our Board of Directors and based on a number of factors, including our financial condition, payout ratio, free cash flow and other factors.
 
Our primary sources of cash are dividends from APS and external debt and equity issuances.  An ACC order requires APS to maintain a common equity ratio of at least 40%.  As defined in the related ACC order, the common equity ratio is defined as total shareholder equity divided by the sum of total shareholder equity and long-term debt, including current maturities of long-term debt.  At June 30, 2019, APS’s common equity ratio, as defined, was 54%.  Its total shareholder equity was approximately $5.7 billion, and total capitalization was approximately $10.5 billion.  Under this order, APS would be prohibited from paying dividends if such payment would reduce its total shareholder equity below approximately $4.2 billion, assuming APS’s total capitalization remains the same.  This restriction does not materially affect Pinnacle West’s ability to meet its ongoing cash needs or ability to pay dividends to shareholders.
 
APS’s capital requirements consist primarily of capital expenditures and maturities of long-term debt.  APS funds its capital requirements with cash from operations and, to the extent necessary, external debt financing and equity infusions from Pinnacle West.

On December 20, 2018, the Joint Committee on Taxation (“JCT”) released the general explanation of the Tax Act. The document - commonly referred to as the "Blue Book" - provides a comprehensive technical description of the Tax Act and includes the legislative intent of Congress with respect to the changes made by provisions of the Tax Act. The “Blue Book” provides clarification that the intent of the Tax Act was to exclude from the definition of bonus depreciation qualified property any property placed in service by a regulated public utility after December 31, 2017. As a result, the Company currently does not anticipate recognizing any cash tax benefits related to bonus depreciation for property placed in service on or after January 1, 2018 (See Note 15).


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Summary of Cash Flows
 
The following tables present net cash provided by (used for) operating, investing and financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in millions):
 
Pinnacle West Consolidated
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
Net
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Net cash flow provided by operating activities
$
346

 
$
396

 
$
(50
)
Net cash flow used for investing activities
(528
)
 
(679
)
 
151

Net cash flow provided by financing activities
178

 
273

 
(95
)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
$
(4
)
 
$
(10
)
 
$
6


Arizona Public Service Company
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
Net
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Net cash flow provided by operating activities
$
335

 
$
406

 
$
(71
)
Net cash flow used for investing activities
(536
)
 
(667
)
 
131

Net cash flow provided by financing activities
197

 
251

 
(54
)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
$
(4
)
 
$
(10
)
 
$
6

 
Operating Cash Flows
 
Six-month period ended June 30, 2019 compared with six-month period ended June 30, 2018 Pinnacle West’s consolidated net cash provided by operating activities was $346 million in 2019, compared to $396 million in 2018, a decrease of $50 million in net cash provided by operating activities primarily due to higher payments for operations and maintenance, property taxes, pension contributions and interest, partially offset by lower fuel and purchased power costs and higher customer advances.

Retirement plans and other postretirement benefits. Pinnacle West sponsors a qualified defined benefit pension plan and a non-qualified supplemental excess benefit retirement plan for the employees of Pinnacle West and our subsidiaries.  The requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") require us to contribute a minimum amount to the qualified plan.  We contribute at least the minimum amount required under ERISA regulations, but no more than the maximum tax-deductible amount.  The minimum required funding takes into consideration the value of plan assets and our pension benefit obligations.  Under ERISA, the qualified pension plan was 112% funded as of January 1, 2019 and 117% as of January 1, 2018.  Under GAAP, the qualified pension plan was 90% funded as of January 1, 2019 and 95% funded as of January 1, 2018. See Note 5 for additional details. The assets in the plan are comprised of fixed-income, equity, real estate, and short-term investments.  Future year contribution amounts are dependent on plan asset performance and plan actuarial assumptions.  We have made voluntary contributions of $120 million to our pension plan year-to-date in 2019. The minimum required contributions for the pension plan are zero for the next three years. We expect to make voluntary contributions up to a total of $350 million during the 2019-2021 period. We do not expect to make any contributions over the next three years to our other postretirement benefit plans.


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Investing Cash Flows
 
Six-month period ended June 30, 2019 compared with six-month period ended June 30, 2018 Pinnacle West’s consolidated net cash used for investing activities was $528 million in 2019, compared to $679 million in 2018, a decrease of $151 million primarily related to decreased capital expenditures. The difference between APS and Pinnacle West's net cash used for investing activities primarily relates to Pinnacle West's investing cash activity related to 4CA.
 
Capital Expenditures.  The following table summarizes the estimated capital expenditures for the next three years:

Capital Expenditures
(dollars in millions) 
 
Estimated for the Year Ended
December 31,
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
APS
 

 
 

 
 

Generation:
 

 
 

 
 

Clean:
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear Fuel
$
71

 
$
64

 
$
64

Nuclear Generation
70

 
68

 
67

Renewables (a)
20

 
21

 
3

New Resources (b)
3

 
93

 
371

Environmental
26

 
57

 
53

New Gas Generation
16

 

 

Other Generation
172

 
142

 
114

Distribution
535

 
455

 
443

Transmission
189

 
198

 
206

Other (c)
135

 
168

 
151

Total APS
$
1,237

 
$
1,266

 
$
1,472


(a)
Primarily APS Solar Communities program
(b)
Projected future generation resources, which may include energy storage, renewable projects, and other clean energy projects
(c)
Primarily information systems and facilities projects

 Generation capital expenditures are comprised of various additions and improvements to APS’s clean resources, including nuclear plants, renewables and projected future new resources. Generation capital expenditures also include improvements to existing fossil plants. Examples of the types of projects included in the forecast of generation capital expenditures are additions of roof top solar systems, new clean resources, and upgrades and capital replacements of various nuclear and fossil power plant equipment, such as turbines, boilers and environmental equipment.  We are monitoring the status of environmental matters, which, depending on their final outcome, could require modification to our planned environmental expenditures.

Distribution and transmission capital expenditures are comprised of infrastructure additions and upgrades, capital replacements, and new customer construction.  Examples of the types of projects included in the forecast include power lines, substations, and line extensions to new residential and commercial developments.

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Capital expenditures will be funded with internally generated cash and external financings, which may include issuances of long-term debt and Pinnacle West common stock.

Financing Cash Flows and Liquidity
 
Six-month period ended June 30, 2019 compared with six-month period ended June 30, 2018 Pinnacle West’s consolidated net cash provided by financing activities was $178 million in 2019, compared to $273 million in 2018, a decrease of $95 million in net cash provided.  The decrease in net cash provided by financing activities includes a net decrease in short term borrowings of $165 million and higher long-term debt repayments of $418 million, which was partially offset by $497 million in higher issuances of long-term debt. The difference between APS and Pinnacle West's net cash provided by financing activities primarily relates to short-term borrowings and repayments at Pinnacle West on behalf of 4CA.
 
Significant Financing Activities.  On June 19, 2019, the Pinnacle West Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.7375 per share of common stock, payable on September 3, 2019 to shareholders of record on August 1, 2019.

On February 26, 2019, APS entered into a $200 million term loan agreement that matures August 26, 2020. APS used the proceeds to repay existing indebtedness. Borrowings under the agreement bear interest at LIBOR plus 0.50% per annum.

On February 28, 2019, APS issued $300 million of 4.25% unsecured senior notes that mature on March 1, 2049. The net proceeds from the sale, together with funds made available from the term loan described above, were used to repay existing indebtedness.

On March 1, 2019, APS repaid at maturity $500 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.75% senior notes.
    
Available Credit Facilities Pinnacle West and APS maintain committed revolving credit facilities in order to enhance liquidity and provide credit support for their commercial paper programs.
 
On May 9, 2019, Pinnacle West entered into a $50 million term loan agreement that matures May 7, 2020. Pinnacle West used the proceeds to refinance indebtedness under and terminate a prior $150 million revolving credit facility. Borrowings under the agreement bear interest at LIBOR plus 0.55% per annum. At June 30, 2019, Pinnacle West had $46 million in outstanding borrowings under the agreement.
    
At June 30, 2019, Pinnacle West had a $200 million revolving credit facility that matures in July 2023. Pinnacle West has the option to increase the amount of the facility up to a maximum of $300 million upon the satisfaction of certain conditions and with the consent of the lenders. Interest rates are based on Pinnacle West's senior unsecured debt credit ratings. The facility is available to support Pinnacle West's $200 million commercial paper program, for bank borrowings or for issuances of letters of credits. At June 30, 2019, Pinnacle West had no outstanding borrowings under its credit facility, no letters of credit outstanding and $10 million of commercial paper borrowings.

At June 30, 2019, APS had two revolving credit facilities totaling $1 billion, including a $500 million credit facility that matures in June 2022 and a $500 million facility that matures in July 2023.  APS may increase the amount of each facility up to a maximum of $700 million, for a total of $1.4 billion, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions and with the consent of the lenders.  Interest rates are based on APS’s senior unsecured debt credit ratings. These facilities are available to support APS’s $500 million commercial paper program, for bank borrowings or for issuances of letters of credit.  At June 30, 2019, APS had $377 million of

92



commercial paper outstanding and no outstanding borrowings or letters of credit under its revolving credit facilities.

 See "Financial Assurances" in Note 8 for a discussion of separate outstanding letters of credit and surety bonds.
 
Other Financing Matters. See Note 7 for information related to the change in our margin and collateral accounts.

Debt Provisions
 
Pinnacle West’s and APS’s debt covenants related to their respective bank financing arrangements include maximum debt to capitalization ratios.  Pinnacle West and APS comply with this covenant.  For both Pinnacle West and APS, this covenant requires that the ratio of consolidated debt to total consolidated capitalization not exceed 65%.  At June 30, 2019, the ratio was approximately 52% for Pinnacle West and 47% for APS.  Failure to comply with such covenant levels would result in an event of default which, generally speaking, would require the immediate repayment of the debt subject to the covenants and could "cross-default" other debt.  See further discussion of "cross-default" provisions below.

Neither Pinnacle West’s nor APS’s financing agreements contain "rating triggers" that would result in an acceleration of the required interest and principal payments in the event of a rating downgrade.  However, our bank credit agreements contain a pricing grid in which the interest rates we pay for borrowings thereunder are determined by our current credit ratings.
 
All of Pinnacle West’s loan agreements contain "cross-default" provisions that would result in defaults and the potential acceleration of payment under these loan agreements if Pinnacle West or APS were to default under certain other material agreements.  All of APS’s bank agreements contain "cross-default" provisions that would result in defaults and the potential acceleration of payment under these bank agreements if APS were to default under certain other material agreements.  Pinnacle West and APS do not have a material adverse change restriction for credit facility borrowings.

On November 27, 2018, the ACC issued a financing order that, subject to specified parameters and procedures, increased APS’s long-term debt limit from $5.1 billion to $5.9 billion, and authorized APS’s short-term debt limit equal to a sum of (i) 7% of APS’s capitalization, and (ii) $500 million (which is required to be used for costs relating to purchases of natural gas and power).

 

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Credit Ratings
 
The ratings of securities of Pinnacle West and APS as of August 1, 2019 are shown below.  We are disclosing these credit ratings to enhance understanding of our cost of short-term and long-term capital and our ability to access the markets for liquidity and long-term debt.  The ratings reflect the respective views of the rating agencies, from which an explanation of the significance of their ratings may be obtained.  There is no assurance that these ratings will continue for any given period of time.  The ratings may be revised or withdrawn entirely by the rating agencies if, in their respective judgments, circumstances so warrant.  Any downward revision or withdrawal may adversely affect the market price of Pinnacle West’s or APS’s securities and/or result in an increase in the cost of, or limit access to, capital.  Such revisions may also result in substantial additional cash or other collateral requirements related to certain derivative instruments, insurance policies, natural gas transportation, fuel supply, and other energy-related contracts.  At this time, we believe we have sufficient available liquidity resources to respond to a downward revision to our credit ratings.

 
Moody’s
 
Standard & Poor’s
 
Fitch
Pinnacle West
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate credit rating
A3
 
A-
 
A-
Senior unsecured
A3
 
BBB+
 
A-
Commercial paper
P-2
 
A-2
 
F2
Outlook
Stable
 
Stable
 
Negative
 
 
 
 
 
 
APS
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate credit rating
A2
 
A-
 
A-
Senior unsecured
A2
 
A-
 
A
Commercial paper
P-1
 
A-2
 
F2
Outlook
Stable
 
Stable
 
Negative
 
Off-Balance Sheets Arrangements
 
See Note 6 for a discussion of the impacts on our financial statements of consolidating certain VIEs.
 
Contractual Obligations

As of June 30, 2019, our fuel and purchased power commitments have increased approximately $100 million from the information provided in our 2018 Form 10-K. This change primarily relates to new purchased power commitments. The majority of the changes relate to 2024 and thereafter.

Other than the item described above, there have been no material changes, as of June 30, 2019, outside the normal course of business in contractual obligations from the information provided in our 2018 Form 10-K. See Note 3 for discussion regarding changes in our long-term debt obligations.



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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
In preparing the financial statements in accordance with GAAP, management must often make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures at the date of the financial statements and during the reporting period.  Some of those judgments can be subjective and complex, and actual results could differ from those estimates.  There have been no changes to our critical accounting policies since our 2018 Form 10-K.  See "Critical Accounting Policies" in Item 7 of the 2018 Form 10-K for further details about our critical accounting policies.


OTHER ACCOUNTING MATTERS

On January 1, 2019 we adopted new lease accounting guidance, ASU 2016-02, and related amendments. See Note 16. On July 1, 2019 we early adopted, ASU 2018-15, relating to accounting for cloud computing implementation costs. We are currently evaluating the impacts of the pending adoption of ASU 2016-13, and related amendments, pertaining to the measurement of credit losses of financial instruments. This new credit loss standard is effective for us on January 1, 2020. See Note 13 for additional information related to new accounting standards.


MARKET AND CREDIT RISKS

Market Risks

Our operations include managing market risks related to changes in interest rates, commodity prices, investments held by our nuclear decommissioning trust, other special use funds and benefit plan assets.

Interest Rate and Equity Risk

We have exposure to changing interest rates.  Changing interest rates will affect interest paid on variable-rate debt and the market value of fixed income securities held by our nuclear decommissioning trust, other special use funds (see Note 11 and Note 12), and benefit plan assets.  The nuclear decommissioning trust, other special use funds and benefit plan assets also have risks associated with the changing market value of their equity and other non-fixed income investments.  Nuclear decommissioning and benefit plan costs are recovered in regulated electricity prices.

Commodity Price Risk

We are exposed to the impact of market fluctuations in the commodity price and transportation costs of electricity and natural gas.  Our risk management committee, consisting of officers and key management personnel, oversees company-wide energy risk management activities to ensure compliance with our stated energy risk management policies.  We manage risks associated with these market fluctuations by utilizing various commodity instruments that may qualify as derivatives, including futures, forwards, options and swaps.  As part of our risk management program, we use such instruments to hedge purchases and sales of electricity and fuels.  The changes in market value of such contracts have a high correlation to price changes in the hedged commodities.


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The following table shows the net pretax changes in mark-to-market of our derivative positions for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in millions):
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
Mark-to-market of net positions at beginning of period
$
(59
)
 
$
(91
)
Increase in regulatory asset/liability
(22
)
 
(1
)
Recognized in OCI:
 
 
 
Mark-to-market losses realized during the period
1

 
1

Change in valuation techniques

 

Mark-to-market of net positions at end of period
$
(80
)
 
$
(91
)

The table below shows the fair value of maturities of our derivative contracts (dollars in millions) at June 30, 2019 by maturities and by the type of valuation that is performed to calculate the fair values, classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  See Note 1, "Derivative Accounting" and "Fair Value Measurements," in Item 8 of our 2018 Form 10-K and Note 11 for more discussion of our valuation methods.
Source of Fair Value
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
Total 
Fair 
Value
Observable prices provided by other external sources
 
$
(33
)
 
$
(19
)
 
$
(9
)
 
$
(5
)
 
$

 
$
(66
)
Prices based on unobservable inputs
 
(10
)
 
(3
)
 

 

 
(1
)
 
(14
)
Total by maturity
 
$
(43
)
 
$
(22
)
 
$
(9
)
 
$
(5
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(80
)

The table below shows the impact that hypothetical price movements of 10% would have on the market value of our risk management assets and liabilities included on Pinnacle West’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (dollars in millions):

 
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
Gain (Loss)
 
Gain (Loss)
 
Price Up 10%
 
Price Down 10%
 
Price Up 10%
 
Price Down 10%
Mark-to-market changes reported in:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Regulatory asset (liability) (a)
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Electricity
$
4

 
$
(4
)
 
$
1

 
$
(1
)
Natural gas
41

 
(41
)
 
44

 
(44
)
Total
$
45

 
$
(45
)
 
$
45

 
$
(45
)

(a)
These contracts are economic hedges of our forecasted purchases of natural gas and electricity.  The impact of these hypothetical price movements would substantially offset the impact that these same price movements would have on the physical exposures being hedged.  To the extent the amounts are eligible for inclusion in the PSA, the amounts are recorded as either a regulatory asset or liability.


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Credit Risk

We are exposed to losses in the event of non-performance or non-payment by counterparties.  See Note 7 for a discussion of our credit valuation adjustment policy.


Item 3.        QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
See "Key Financial Drivers" and "Market and Credit Risks" in Item 2 above for a discussion of quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risks.
 
Item 4.         CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
(a)                                 Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
The term "disclosure controls and procedures" means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.  Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to a company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
Pinnacle West’s management, with the participation of Pinnacle West’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have evaluated the effectiveness of Pinnacle West’s disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2019.  Based on that evaluation, Pinnacle West’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of that date, Pinnacle West’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
 
APS’s management, with the participation of APS’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of APS’s disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2019.  Based on that evaluation, APS’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of that date, APS’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
 
(b)                                 Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
The term "internal control over financial reporting" (defined in SEC Rule 13a-15(f)) refers to the process of a company that is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.
 
No change in Pinnacle West’s or APS’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2019 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Pinnacle West’s or APS’s internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.                   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
See "Business of Arizona Public Service Company — Environmental Matters" in Item 1 of the 2018 Form 10-K with regard to pending or threatened litigation and other disputes.
 
See Note 4 for ACC and FERC-related matters.
 
See Note 8 for information regarding environmental matters and Superfund-related matters.

Item 1A.                RISK FACTORS
 
In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A — Risk Factors in the 2018 Form 10-K, which could materially affect the business, financial condition, cash flows or future results of Pinnacle West and APS.  The risks described in the 2018 Form 10-K are not the only risks facing Pinnacle West and APS.  Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect the business, financial condition, cash flows and/or operating results of Pinnacle West and APS. 

Item 5.                OTHER INFORMATION

None.

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Item 6.                 EXHIBITS
(a) Exhibits
Exhibit No.
 
Registrant(s)
 
Description
 
 
 
 
 
10.1
 
Pinnacle West
 
 
 
 
 
 
31.1
 
Pinnacle West
 
 
 
 
 
 
31.2
 
Pinnacle West
 
 
 
 
 
 
31.3
 
APS
 
 
 
 
 
 
31.4
 
APS
 
 
 
 
 
 
32.1*
 
Pinnacle West
 
 
 
 
 
 
32.2*
 
APS
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS
 
Pinnacle West
APS
 
XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document.
 
 
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
Pinnacle West
APS
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
Pinnacle West
APS
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
Pinnacle West
APS
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
Pinnacle West
APS
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
Pinnacle West
APS
 
XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
 
104
 
Pinnacle West
APS
 
The cover page from this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, formatted in Inline XBRL
________________________________
*Furnished herewith as an Exhibit.

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In addition, Pinnacle West and APS hereby incorporate the following Exhibits pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 12b-32 and Regulation §229.10(d) by reference to the filings set forth below:
 
Exhibit No.
 
Registrant(s)
 
Description
 
Previously Filed as Exhibit(1)
 
Date Filed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.1

 
Pinnacle West
 
 
3.1 to Pinnacle West/APS February 28, 2017 Form 8-K Report, File Nos. 1-8962 and 1-4473
 
2/28/2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.2

 
Pinnacle West
 
 
3.1 to Pinnacle West/APS June 30, 2008 Form 10-Q Report, File Nos. 1-8962 and 1-4473
 
8/7/2008
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.3

 
APS
 
Articles of Incorporation, restated as of May 25, 1988
 
4.2 to APS’s Form S-3 Registration Nos. 33-33910 and 33-55248 by means of September 24, 1993 Form  8-K Report, File No. 1-4473
 
9/29/1993
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.4

 
APS
 
 
3.1 to Pinnacle West/APS May 22, 2012 Form 8-K Report, File Nos. 1-8962 and 1-4473
 
5/22/2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.5

 
APS
 
 
3.4 to Pinnacle West/APS December 31, 2008 Form 10-K, File Nos. 1-8962 and 1-4473
 
2/20/2009
_______________________________
(1)  Reports filed under File Nos. 1-4473 and 1-8962 were filed in the office of the Securities and Exchange Commission located in Washington, D.C.

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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
 
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:
August 8, 2019
 
By:
/s/ James R. Hatfield
 
 
 
 
James R. Hatfield
 
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and
 
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer and
 
 
 
 
Officer Duly Authorized to sign this Report)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
 
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:
August 8, 2019
 
By:
/s/ James R. Hatfield
 
 
 
 
James R. Hatfield
 
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and
 
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer and
 
 
 
 
Officer Duly Authorized to sign this Report)


101