Constellation Energy Corp
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Feb 18, 2025.
View on SEC.govAbout this filing
A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.
FY2024 · Filed Feb 18, 2025
CEG$276.09+10.5%Stored close · as of Nov 9, 2026
What changed in Risk Factors?
Read the current filingPrevious report: 10-K
Period ended 2023-12-31; filed 2024-02-27.
0001868275-24-000014
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORSCurrent report: 10-K
Period ended 2024-12-31; filed 2025-02-18.
0001868275-25-000023
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORSThe baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.
Compared 143 previous paragraphs and 181 current paragraphs.
97 unchanged; 29 reworded; 53 added; 16 removed; 1 previous and 2 current paragraphs rearranged.
Tables are not compared: 1 previous and 1 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.
A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.
Added paragraphs (53)
Current report
Risks related to the proposed acquisition of Calpine primarily include:
Current report
•challenges in satisfying conditions, obtaining regulatory approvals, and potential delays or abandonment of the merger agreement,
Current report
•no assurance of the dividends at the current rate post-acquisition, reduced ownership and voting power for current shareholders, and potential dilution to earnings per share and significant transaction costs,
Current report
•integration challenges including the complex, costly and time-consuming integration process with potential unknown liabilities, and the possible loss of key employees and customers, and
Current report
•legal and regulatory risks such as potential lawsuits and substantial costs, as well as valuation risk, which could negatively impact future operating results.
Current report
See ITEM 1. BUSINESS – Environmental Matters and Regulation – Climate for additional information.
Current report
We are actively pursuing the restart of our Crane nuclear generation facility. The restart is estimated to cost $1.6 billion and is subject to certain regulatory approvals, including the NRC comprehensive safety and environmental review, as well as permits from relevant state and local agencies. Additionally, through separate requests, we will pursue obtaining a renewed license to operate the plant and a FERC interconnection agreement. Failure to obtain the necessary approvals could result in the impairment of amounts capitalized. The restart is a complex undertaking including procuring or restoring specialized components on a critical timeline. Failure to meet contractual timelines could result in significant penalties. Overages in costs or unforeseen issues could result in lower than planned returns on the investment.
Current report
Risks Related to the Proposed Acquisition of Calpine
Current report
We may encounter difficulties in satisfying the conditions for the completion of the Merger Agreement, including obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, within the expected time frame or at all. Such challenges could delay the completion of the merger or impose conditions that could cause abandonment of the Merger Agreement.
Current report
Consummation of the merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of specified closing conditions, including: (1) the receipt of regulatory approvals required to consummate the Merger Agreement; (2) the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the HSR Act; and (3) other customary closing conditions.
Current report
Completion of the merger is conditioned upon the receipt of consents, orders, approvals or clearances, to the extent required, from various regulatory authorities, including DOJ, FERC, and public utility commissions or similar entities in certain states in which the companies operate. We cannot provide assurance that all required regulatory approvals will be obtained or that these approvals will not contain terms, conditions or restrictions that would be unacceptable and, accordingly, the merger may be delayed or may not be consummated. In connection with the required regulatory approvals and to prevent market power concerns, we are expecting to sell certain of the combined company’s PJM natural-gas-fired generating assets following the closing of the merger. The Merger Agreement generally permits us to terminate the Merger Agreement if the final terms of any of the required regulatory consents or approvals include any Burdensome Condition (as defined in the Merger Agreement).
Current report
In addition, the Merger Agreement provides that either we or Calpine could terminate the Merger Agreement if the merger is not completed by December 31, 2025 (which date may be automatically extended to June 1, 2026, as further provided in the Merger Agreement). If the Merger Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances due to the failure to obtain regulatory approvals, the failure to obtain regulatory approvals without Burdensome Conditions, or the breach by us of our obligations in respect of obtaining regulatory approvals, we would be required to pay Calpine a termination fee of $500 million as liquidated damages.
Current report
Further, the share price of our common stock may decline to the extent that the current market price reflects an assumption by the market that the merger will be completed. See Note 2 — Mergers, Acquisitions, and Dispositions of the Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the status of the transaction.
Current report
We cannot assure that we will continue paying dividends at the current rate.
Current report
We currently expect to pay dividends in an amount consistent with the dividend policy in effect prior to the completion of the merger. However, there is no assurance that our shareholders will receive the same dividends following the merger for reasons that may include capital spending plans, financing agreements, cash flow or financial position. Decisions on whether, when, and in which amounts to make any future distributions will remain at all times entirely at the discretion of our Board of Directors, which reserves the right to change our dividend practices at any time and for any reason.
Current report
Our current shareholders will have a reduced ownership and voting power after the merger.
Current report
We will issue or reserve for issuance 50 million newly issued shares of common stock to Calpine stockholders as noted in the Merger Agreement (including shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to Calpine restricted stock units and other equity-based awards). Based on the number of shares of our common stock as of the transaction announcement date, our current shareholders and former Calpine stockholders would own approximately 85% and 15% of the outstanding shares of Constellation common stock, respectively, immediately following the consummation of the merger. Each current shareholder will remain a shareholder of Constellation with a percentage ownership of the combined company that will be smaller than the shareholder’s percentage of Constellation prior to the merger. As a result of this reduced ownership percentage, our current shareholders will have less influence on the policies of the combined company than they did prior to the transaction.
Current report
The merger may not be accretive to earnings and may cause dilution to our earnings per share, which may negatively affect the market price of our common stock.
Current report
We currently anticipate that the merger will be accretive to earnings per share in 2026, which is expected to be the first full year following completion of the merger. This expectation is based on preliminary estimates that are subject to change. We may also encounter additional transaction and integration-related costs, may fail to realize all the benefits anticipated in the merger, or be subject to other factors that affect preliminary estimates. Any of these factors could negatively impact our operating results or decrease or delay the expected accretive effect of the merger and contribute to a decrease in the price of our common stock.
Current report
We have incurred and will incur significant transaction and merger-related costs, and these costs may be more than anticipated, negatively impacting our operating results.
Current report
We have incurred and expect to incur non-recurring costs associated with consummation of the transaction. Most of these costs will be transaction costs, including fees paid to financial and legal advisors related to the merger and related financing arrangements, and employment-related costs, including change-in-control related payments made to certain Calpine executives. We will also incur transition costs related to formulating integration plans. We may incur additional unanticipated costs in the integration of the businesses, which could negatively impact our operating results. We expect that the elimination of costs, as well as the realization of other efficiencies related to the integration of the businesses, will exceed incremental transaction and merger-related costs over time.
Current report
We may not realize all the expected benefits of the merger because of integration challenges.
Current report
The success of the merger will depend, in part, on our ability to realize all or some of the anticipated benefits from integrating Calpine’s business with our existing businesses. The integration process will be complex, costly and time-consuming. The challenges associated with integrating the operations of Calpine’s business include, among others:
Current report
•customer retention risk as well as the inability to finalize certain transactions currently in progress between Calpine and its customers;
Current report
•delay in implementation of our business plan for the combined business;
Current report
•unanticipated issues or costs in integrating financial, information technology, communications and other systems;
Current report
•complexities associated with managing the larger, more complex, combined business;
Current report
•potential unknown liabilities and unforeseen expenses, delays or regulatory conditions associated with the merger;
Current report
•integrating relationships with industry contacts and business partners;
Current report
•possible inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies, and compensation structures between Calpine and us; and
Current report
•performance of Calpine’s generating assets and the costs to operate and maintain them, relative to expectations.
Current report
In addition, the companies have operated and, until the completion of the merger, will continue to operate, independently. It is possible that the integration process could result in the disruption of, or the loss of momentum in, our ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies, which could negatively impact the combined company.
Current report
Uncertainties associated with the merger may cause a loss of management personnel and other key employees, which could adversely affect the future business and operations of the combined company.
Current report
We are dependent on the experience and industry knowledge of our officers and other key employees to execute our business plans. Our success until the merger and the combined company’s success after the merger will depend in part upon our ability to retain key management personnel and other key employees of both companies. Current and prospective employees may experience uncertainty about their future roles within the combined company following completion of the merger, which may have an adverse effect on our ability to attract or retain key management and other key personnel. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the combined company will be able to attract or retain key management personnel and other key employees to the same extent that we have previously been able to attract or retain our employees.
Current report
The merger may divert significant attention of our management team, which could detract from efforts to meet business goals.
Current report
The pursuit of the merger and the preparation for the integration could place a burden on management and internal resources. Any significant diversion of management attention away from ongoing business concerns and any difficulties encountered in the transition and integration process may negatively impact our financial results.
Current report
We are obligated to complete the transaction whether or not we have obtained the required funding for closing.
Current report
We are funding the transaction using $4.5 billion in cash and by issuing 50 million shares of common stock. While we expect to have cash on hand needed for closing, we would be required to complete the transaction even if we experience a cash shortfall. This could require us to obtain additional financing which may cause us to incur additional costs.
Showing the first 40 of 53 passages. Open the source sections for the rest.
Removed paragraphs (16)
Previous report
Risks related to our separation from Exelon primarily include:
Previous report
•replicate certain services provided by Exelon (e.g., information technology), which will require additional resources and expense, and
Previous report
•performance by Exelon and us under the transaction agreements, including indemnification responsibilities tied to the allocation of businesses and liabilities.
Previous report
Beginning on February 15, 2021, our Texas-based generating assets within the ERCOT market, specifically Colorado Bend II, Wolf Hollow II, and Handley, experienced periodic outages as a result of historically severe cold weather conditions. As a result of this weather event, we incurred a loss of approximately $800 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. See Note 19 — Commitments and Contingencies of the Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Previous report
See ITEM 1. BUSINESS – Environmental Matters and Regulation – Climate Change for additional information.
Previous report
The terms in our agreements with Exelon could be less beneficial than the terms we may have otherwise received from unaffiliated third parties.
Previous report
The agreements entered with Exelon in connection with the separation, including the separation agreement, a tax matters agreement, an employee matters agreement, and a transition services agreement, were prepared in the context of the separation while we were still a wholly owned subsidiary of Exelon. Accordingly, during the period in which the terms of those agreements were prepared, we did not have an independent Board of Directors or a management team that was independent of Exelon. As a result, the terms of those agreements may not reflect terms that would have resulted from negotiations between unaffiliated third parties.
Previous report
Exelon may fail to perform under various transaction agreements that were executed as part of the separation, which could cause us to incur expenses or losses we would not otherwise incur.
Previous report
In connection with the separation and prior to the distribution, we and Exelon entered into the separation agreement and entered into various other agreements, including a tax matters agreement, an employee matters agreement, and a transition services agreement. The separation agreement, the tax matters agreement and the employee matters agreement determined the allocation of assets and liabilities between the companies following the separation for those respective areas and include any necessary indemnifications related to liabilities and obligations. We will rely on Exelon to satisfy its performance and payment obligations under these agreements. If Exelon is unable or unwilling to satisfy its obligations under these agreements, including its indemnification obligations, we could incur operational difficulties and/or losses.
Previous report
In connection with the separation into two public companies, we and Exelon indemnified each other for certain liabilities. If we are required to pay under these indemnities to Exelon, our financial results could be negatively impacted. The Exelon indemnities may not be sufficient to hold us harmless from the full amount of liabilities for which Exelon will be allocated responsibility, and Exelon may not be able to satisfy its indemnification obligations in the future.
Previous report
Pursuant to the separation agreement and certain other agreements between Exelon and us, each party will agree to indemnify the other for certain liabilities, in each case for uncapped amounts. Indemnities that we may be required to provide Exelon are not subject to any cap, may be significant and could negatively impact our business. Third parties could also seek to hold us responsible for any of the liabilities that Exelon has agreed to retain. Any amounts we are required to pay pursuant to these indemnification obligations and other liabilities could require us to divert cash that would otherwise have been used in furtherance of our operating business. Further, the indemnities from Exelon for our benefit may not be sufficient to protect us against the full amount of such liabilities, and Exelon may not be able to fully satisfy its indemnification obligations.
Previous report
Moreover, even if we ultimately succeed in recovering from Exelon any amounts for which we are held liable, we may be temporarily required to bear these losses ourselves. Each of these risks could negatively affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Previous report
We may fail to have necessary systems and services in place when certain of the transaction agreements expire.
Previous report
If we do not have in place our own systems and services, or if we do not have agreements with other providers of these services once certain separation transaction agreements expire, we may not be able to operate our business effectively, and our profitability may decline. We are in the process of creating our own, or engaging third parties to provide, systems and services to replace many of the systems and services that Exelon currently provides to us. We may incur temporary interruptions in business operations if we cannot transition effectively from Exelon’s existing operating systems, databases and programming languages that support these functions to our own systems. Our failure to implement the new systems and transition our data successfully and cost-effectively could disrupt our business operations and have a material adverse effect on our profitability. In addition, our costs for the operation of these systems may be higher than the amounts reflected in our historical financial statements.
Reworded paragraphs (29)
Previous wording
•the safe, secure and effective operation of our nuclear facilities and the ability to effectively manage the associated decommissioning obligations, and
Current wording
•the safe, secure and effective operation of our nuclear facilities and the ability to effectively manage the associated decommissioning obligations,
Previous wording
•physical and cybersecurity risks for us as an owner-operator of generation facilities and as a participant in commodities trading.
Current wording
•physical, cybersecurity, and third-party reliability risks for us as an owner-operator of generation facilities and as a participant in commodities trading,
Previous wording
Price of Fuels. The spot market price of electricity for each hour is generally determined by the marginal cost of supplying the next unit of electricity to the market during that hour. Thus, the market price of power is affected by the market price of the marginal fuel used to generate the electricity unit.
Current wording
Price of Fuels. The spot market price of electricity for each hour is generally determined by the marginal cost of supplying the next unit of electricity to the market during that hour. Thus, the market price of power is affected by the market price of the marginal fuel, in particular the price of natural gas, used to generate the electricity unit.
Previous wording
Cost and Availability of Fuel. We depend on nuclear fuel, natural gas and oil to operate most of our generating facilities. The supply markets for nuclear fuel, natural gas and oil are subject to price fluctuations, availability restrictions, counterparty default, and geopolitical risk, including the current Russia and Ukraine conflict and the potential for additional United States sanctions against Russia. The cycle of production and utilization of nuclear fuel is complex, and we engage a diverse set of suppliers to ensure we can secure the nuclear fuel needed to continue to operate our nuclear fleet long-term. Non-performance by these suppliers could have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial statements. See ITEM 1. BUSINESS – Price and Supply Risk Management and See ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK for additional information on the nuclear fuel cycle and procurement.
Current wording
Cost and Availability of Fuel. We depend on nuclear fuel, natural gas, and oil to operate most of our generating facilities. The supply markets for nuclear fuel, natural gas, and oil are subject to price fluctuations, availability restrictions, tariffs, counterparty default, and geopolitical risk, including the ongoing Russia and Ukraine conflict which has yielded sanctions and legislation by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada impacting the exports and imports of Russian nuclear fuel. An example of such sanctions includes the "Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act" which bans the import of low-enriched uranium into the U.S. that is produced in Russia or by Russian entities, absent a waiver from the DOE. The cycle of production and utilization of nuclear fuel is complex, and we engage a diverse set of suppliers to secure the nuclear fuel needed to continue to operate our nuclear fleet long-term. Non-performance by these suppliers could have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial statements. See ITEM 1. BUSINESS – Price and Supply Risk Management and ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK for additional information on the nuclear fuel cycle and procurement.
Previous wording
Demand and Supply. The market price for electricity is also affected by changes in the demand for electricity and the available supply of electricity. Unfavorable economic conditions, milder than normal weather, and the growth of energy efficiency and demand response programs can depress demand. In addition, in some markets, the supply of electricity can exceed demand during some hours of the day, resulting in loss of revenue for base-load generating plants such as our nuclear plants. Conversely, new demand sources such as electrification of transportation could increase demand and change demand patterns.
Current wording
Demand and Supply. The market price for electricity is also affected by changes in the demand for electricity and the available supply of electricity. Unfavorable economic conditions, milder than normal weather, and the growth of energy efficiency and demand response programs can depress demand. In addition, in some markets, the supply of electricity can exceed demand during some hours of the day, resulting in loss of revenue for baseload generating plants such as our nuclear plants.
Previous wording
The existence of inflation in the economy has resulted in, or may result in, higher interest rates and capital costs, increased costs of labor, and other similar effects. If inflation rates continue to rise or remain elevated for a sustained period, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. Although we may take measures to mitigate the impact of inflation, those measures may not be effective.
Current wording
The existence of inflation in the economy has resulted in, or may result in, higher interest rates and capital costs, increased costs of labor, and other similar effects. If inflation rates rise or become elevated for a sustained period, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. Although we may take measures to mitigate the impact of inflation, those measures may not be effective.
Previous wording
Advancements in power generation technology, including commercial and residential solar generation installations and commercial micro turbine installations, are improving the cost-effectiveness of customer self-supply of electricity. Improvements in energy storage technology, including batteries and fuel cells, could also better position customers to meet their around-the-clock electricity requirements. Improvements in energy efficiency of lighting, appliances, equipment and building materials will also affect energy consumption by customers. Changes in power generation, storage, and use technologies could have significant effects on customer behaviors and their energy consumption.
Current wording
Advancements in both distributed and utility-scale power generation technology could impact market prices and demand size and behaviors. For instance, commercial and residential solar generation installations, energy storage improvements that include batteries and fuel cells, and other emerging technologies are improving the cost-effectiveness of customer self-supply of electricity. Improvements in energy efficiency of lighting, appliances, equipment and building materials will also affect energy consumption by customers. Advancements in nuclear technology, carbon capture sequestration, storage and advanced geothermal may contribute to a substantial increase in the supply of clean, reliable baseload power, impacting market prices. Carbon sequestration technology may also allow for gas generation to continue to be a viable source of clean electricity and provide for future growth of clean gas-powered generation.
Previous wording
Disruptions in the capital markets and their actual or perceived effects on particular businesses and the broader economy could adversely affect the value of the investments held within our NDTs and employee benefit plan trusts. We have significant obligations in these areas and hold substantial assets in these trusts to meet those obligations. The asset values are subject to market fluctuations and will yield uncertain returns, which could fall below our projected return rates. A decline in the market value of the NDT fund investments could increase our funding requirements to decommission our nuclear plants. A decline in the market value of the pension and OPEB plan assets would increase the funding requirements associated with our pension and OPEB plan obligations. Additionally, our pension and OPEB plan liabilities are sensitive to changes in interest rates. As interest rates decrease, the liabilities increase, potentially increasing benefit costs and funding requirements. Changes in demographics, including increased numbers of retirements or changes in life expectancy assumptions or changes to Social Security or Medicare eligibility requirements could also increase the costs and funding requirements of the obligations related to the pension and OPEB plans. See Note 10 — Asset Retirement Obligations and Note 15 — Retirement Benefits of the Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Current wording
Disruptions in the capital markets and their actual or perceived effects on particular businesses and the broader economy could adversely affect the value of the investments held within our NDTs and employee benefit plan trusts. We have significant obligations in these areas and hold substantial assets in these trusts to meet those obligations. The asset values are subject to market fluctuations and will yield uncertain returns, which could fall below our projected return rates. A decline in the market value of the NDT fund investments could increase our funding requirements to decommission our nuclear plants. A decline in the market value of the pension and OPEB plan assets would increase the funding requirements associated with our pension and OPEB plan obligations. Additionally, our pension and OPEB plan liabilities are sensitive to changes in interest rates. As interest rates decrease, the liabilities increase, potentially increasing benefit costs and funding requirements. See Note 10 — Asset Retirement Obligations and Note 14 — Retirement Benefits of the Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Previous wording
We rely on the capital markets, particularly for publicly offered debt, as well as the banking and commercial paper markets, to meet our financial commitments and short-term liquidity needs. Disruptions in the capital and credit markets in the United States or abroad could negatively affect our ability to access the capital markets or draw on our bank revolving credit facilities. The banks may not be able to meet their funding commitments to us if they experience shortages of capital and liquidity or if they experience excessive volumes of borrowing requests within a short period of time. The inability to access capital markets or credit facilities, and longer-term disruptions in the capital and credit markets as a result of uncertainty, changing or increased regulation, reduced alternatives or failures of significant financial institutions could result in the deferral of discretionary capital expenditures, affect our ability to effectively hedge our generation portfolio, require changes to our hedging strategy in order to reduce collateral posting requirements, or require a reduction in discretionary uses of cash. In addition, we have exposure to worldwide financial markets, including Europe, Canada and Asia. Disruptions in these markets could reduce or restrict our ability to secure sufficient liquidity or secure liquidity at reasonable terms. As of December 31, 2023, approximately 37%, 12%, and 17% of our available credit facilities were with European, Canadian and Asian banks, respectively.
Current wording
We rely on the capital markets, particularly for publicly offered debt, as well as the banking and commercial paper markets, to meet our financial commitments and short-term liquidity needs. Disruptions in the capital and credit markets in the United States or abroad could negatively affect our ability to access the capital markets or draw on our bank revolving credit facilities. The banks may not be able to meet their funding commitments to us if they experience shortages of capital and liquidity or if they experience excessive volumes of borrowing requests within a short period of time. The inability to access capital markets or credit facilities, and longer-term disruptions in the capital and credit markets as a result of uncertainty, changing or increased regulation, reduced alternatives or failures of significant financial institutions could result in the deferral of discretionary capital expenditures, affect our ability to effectively hedge our generation portfolio, require changes to our hedging strategy in order to reduce collateral posting requirements, or require a reduction in discretionary uses of cash. In addition, we have exposure to worldwide financial markets, including Europe, Canada, and Asia. Disruptions in these markets could reduce or restrict our ability to secure sufficient liquidity or secure liquidity at reasonable terms. As of December 31, 2024, approximately 35%, 11%, and 20% of our available credit facilities were with European, Canadian, and Asian banks, respectively.
Previous wording
We have project-specific financing arrangements and must meet the requirements of various agreements relating to those financings. Failure to meet those arrangements could give rise to a project-specific financing default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the specific project being required to repay the associated debt or other borrowings earlier than otherwise anticipated, and if such repayment were not made, the lenders or security holders would generally have broad remedies, including rights to foreclose against the project assets and related collateral or to force our subsidiaries in the project-specific financings to enter into bankruptcy proceedings. The impact of bankruptcy could result in the impairment of certain project assets. See Note 17 — Debt and Credit Agreements of the Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Current wording
We have project-specific financing arrangements and must meet the requirements of various agreements relating to those financings. Failure to meet those arrangements could give rise to a project-specific financing default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the specific project being required to repay the associated debt or other borrowings earlier than otherwise anticipated, and if such repayment were not made, the lenders or security holders would generally have broad remedies, including rights to foreclose against the project assets and related collateral or to force our subsidiaries in the project-specific financings to enter bankruptcy proceedings. The impact of bankruptcy could result in the impairment of certain project assets. See Note 16 — Debt and Credit Agreements of the Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Previous wording
The impacts of significant economic downturns on our retail customers, such as less demand for products and services provided by C&I customers, could result in an increase in the number of uncollectible customer balances and related expense.
Current wording
The impacts of significant economic downturns on our retail customers, such as less demand for the products and services provided by our C&I customers, could result in an increase in the number of uncollectible customer balances and related expense.
Previous wording
Our operations are affected by weather, which impacts demand for electricity and natural gas, the price of energy commodities, as well as operating conditions. To the extent that weather is warmer in the summer or colder in the winter than assumed, we could require greater resources to meet our contractual commitments. Extreme weather conditions or storms have affected the availability of generation and its transmission, limiting our ability to source or send power to where it is sold, and have also impaired the transportation of natural gas to our generating assets and our ability to supply natural gas to our customers. In addition, drought-like conditions limiting water usage could impact our ability to run certain generating assets at full capacity. These conditions, which cannot be accurately predicted, could cause us to seek additional replacement supply at a time when supply is constrained.
Current wording
Our operations are affected by weather, which impacts demand for electricity and natural gas, the price of energy commodities, as well as operating conditions. To the extent that weather is warmer in the summer or colder in the winter than assumed, we could require greater resources to meet our contractual commitments. Extreme weather conditions or storms could affect the availability of generation and the transmission of electricity, limiting our ability to source electricity or transmit it to our customers. It could also impair our ability to transport natural gas to our generating assets and our ability to supply natural gas to our customers. In addition, drought-like conditions limiting water usage could impact our ability to run certain generating assets at full capacity. These conditions, which cannot be accurately predicted, could cause us to seek additional replacement supply at a time when supply is constrained.
Previous wording
Climate change projections suggest increases to summer temperature and humidity trends, as well as more erratic precipitation and storm patterns over the long term in the areas where we have generation assets. The frequency in which weather conditions emerge outside the current expected climate norms could contribute to the weather-related impacts discussed above.
Current wording
Weather projections suggest increases to summer temperature and humidity trends, as well as more erratic precipitation and storm patterns over the long term in the areas where we have generation assets. The frequency in which weather conditions emerge outside the current expected climate norms could contribute to the weather-related impacts discussed above.
Previous wording
An impairment would require us to reduce the carrying value of the long-lived asset and goodwill to fair value through a non-cash charge to expense by the amount of the impairment. See ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates, Note 1 — Basis of Presentation, Note 8 — Property, Plant, and Equipment, Note 12 — Asset Impairments, and Note 13 — Intangible Assets of the Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on long-lived asset impairments.
Current wording
An impairment would require us to reduce the carrying value of the long-lived asset and goodwill to fair value through a non-cash charge to expense by the amount of the impairment. See ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates, Note 1 — Basis of Presentation, Note 8 — Property, Plant, and Equipment, and Note 12 — Intangible Assets of the Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on long-lived asset impairments.
Previous wording
In the bilateral markets, we are exposed to the risk that counterparties that owe us money or are obligated to purchase energy or fuel from us, will not perform under their obligations for operational or financial reasons. In the event the counterparties to these arrangements fail to perform, we could be forced to purchase or sell energy or fuel in the wholesale markets at less favorable prices and incur additional losses, to the extent amounts, if any, were already paid to the counterparties. In the spot markets, we are exposed to risk as a result of default sharing mechanisms that exist within certain markets, primarily RTOs and ISOs. We are also a party to agreements with entities in the energy sector that have experienced rating downgrades or other financial difficulties. In addition, our retail sales subject us to credit risk through competitive electricity and natural gas supply activities to serve C&I companies, governmental entities and residential customers. Retail credit risk results when customers default on their contractual obligations. This risk represents the loss that could be incurred due to the nonpayment of a customer’s account balance, as well as the loss from the resale of energy previously committed to serve the customer. See Note 19 — Commitments and Contingencies of the Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the February 2021 extreme cold weather event and Texas-based generating asset outages.
Current wording
In the bilateral markets, we are exposed to the risk that counterparties that owe us money or are obligated to purchase energy or fuel from us will not perform under their obligations for operational or financial reasons. In the event the counterparties to these arrangements fail to perform, we could be forced to purchase or sell energy or fuel in the wholesale markets at less favorable prices and incur additional losses, to the extent amounts, if any, were already paid to the counterparties. In the spot markets, we are exposed to risk as a result of default sharing mechanisms that exist within certain markets, primarily RTOs and ISOs. We are also a party to agreements with entities in the energy sector that have experienced rating downgrades or other financial difficulties. In addition, our retail sales subject us to credit risk through competitive electricity and natural gas supply activities to serve C&I companies, governmental entities, and residential customers. Retail credit risk results when customers default on their contractual obligations. This risk represents the loss that could be incurred due to the nonpayment of a customer’s account balance, as well as the loss from the resale of energy previously committed to serve the customer.
Previous wording
Approximately 70% of our generating resources, which include directly owned assets and capacity obtained through long-term contracts, are in the area encompassed by PJM. Our future results of operations are impacted by (1) FERC’s and PJM's level of support for policies that favor the preservation of competitive wholesale power markets and recognize the value of carbon-free electricity and resiliency and for states' energy objectives and policies and (2) the absence of material changes to market structures that would limit or otherwise negatively affect us. Market rules in other regions could affect us in a similar fashion. We could also be affected by state laws, regulations or initiatives to subsidize existing or new generation.
Current wording
Approximately 70% of our generating resources, which include directly owned assets and capacity obtained through long-term contracts, are in the area encompassed by PJM. Our future results of operations are impacted by (1) FERC’s and PJM's level of support for policies that favor the preservation of competitive wholesale power markets, recognize the value of emissions-free electricity and resiliency, complement states' energy objectives and policies and (2) the absence of material changes to market structures that would limit or otherwise negatively affect us. Market rules in other regions could affect us in a similar fashion. We could also be affected by state laws, regulations or initiatives to subsidize existing or new generation.
Previous wording
Our consolidated financial statements are significantly affected by our sales and purchases of commodities at market-based rates, as opposed to cost-based or other similarly regulated rates, and federal and state regulatory and legislative developments related to emissions, climate change, capacity market mitigation, energy price information, resilience, fuel diversity and RPS. Federal or state legislative and regulatory efforts to preserve the environmental attributes and reliability benefits of zero-emission nuclear-powered generating facilities could be subject to legal and regulatory challenges and, if overturned, could result in the early retirement of certain of our nuclear plants. The PTC benefiting existing nuclear plants included in the IRA (starting January 1, 2024) continues to be the subject of additional guidance issued from the U.S. Treasury and IRS, which may negatively impact the amount of benefits we ultimately receive with respect to some of our units.
Current wording
Our consolidated financial statements are significantly affected by our sales and purchases of commodities at market-based rates, as opposed to cost-based or other similarly regulated rates, and federal and state regulatory and legislative developments related to emissions, climate change, capacity market mitigation, energy price information, resilience, fuel diversity, and RPS. Federal or state legislative and regulatory efforts to preserve the environmental attributes and reliability benefits of zero-emission nuclear-powered generating facilities could be subject to legal and regulatory challenges and, if overturned, could result in the early retirement of certain of our nuclear plants. The PTC benefiting existing nuclear plants included in the IRA (starting January 1, 2024) continues to be the subject of additional guidance issued from the U.S. Treasury and IRS, which may negatively impact the amount of benefits we ultimately receive. In addition, the duration of the PTC program, the value of the PTC, and/or the existence of the PTC could be affected by legislative action and may have significant adverse effects on our financial performance depending on the future gross receipts received by our nuclear units.
Previous wording
Fundamental changes in regulations or other adverse legislative actions affecting our business would require changes in our business planning models and operations. We cannot predict when or whether legislative and regulatory proposals could become law or what their effect would be. See Note 3 — Regulatory Matters and Note 7 — Early Plant Retirements of the Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Current wording
Fundamental changes in regulations or other adverse legislative actions affecting our business would require changes in our business planning models and operations. We cannot predict when or whether legislative and regulatory proposals could become law or what their effect would be. See Note 3 — Regulatory Matters of the Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the nuclear PTC.
Previous wording
We are involved in legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising from our business operations. Our material legal proceedings, claims and litigation are summarized in Note 3 — Regulatory Matters and Note 19 — Commitments and Contingencies of the Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Adverse outcomes in these proceedings could require significant expenditures, result in lost revenue, or restrict existing business activities.
Current wording
We are involved in legal proceedings, claims, and litigation arising from our business operations. Our material legal proceedings, claims, and litigation are summarized in Note 3 — Regulatory Matters and Note 18 — Commitments and Contingencies of the Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Adverse outcomes in these proceedings could require significant expenditures, result in loss of revenue, or restrict existing business activities.
Previous wording
We periodically perform analyses to better understand how climate change could affect our facilities and operations. We primarily operate in the Midwest, East Coast of the United States, and Texas areas that have historically been prone to various types of severe weather events, and as such we have well-developed response and recovery programs based on these historical events. However, our physical facilities could be placed at greater risk of damage should changes in the global climate impact temperature and weather patterns, and result in more intense, frequent and extreme weather events, unprecedented levels of precipitation, sea level rise, increased surface water temperatures, and/or other effects. Over time, we may need to make additional investments to protect our facilities from physical climate-related risks.
Current wording
We periodically perform analyses to better understand how climate change could affect our facilities and operations. We primarily operate in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Texas areas that have historically been prone to various types of severe weather events. As such, we have well-developed response and recovery programs based on historical weather events and patterns. However, our physical facilities could be placed at greater risk of damage should changes in the global climate impact temperature and weather patterns, and result in more intense, frequent and extreme weather events, unprecedented levels of precipitation, sea level rise, increased surface water temperatures, and/or other effects. Over time, we may need to make additional investments to protect our facilities from physical climate-related risks.
Previous wording
As required by the Price-Anderson Act, we carry the maximum available amount of nuclear liability insurance, $500 million for each operating site. Claims exceeding that amount are covered through mandatory participation in a financial protection pool. In addition, the U.S. Congress could impose revenue-raising measures on the nuclear industry to pay claims exceeding the $16.2 billion limit for a single incident.
Current wording
As required by the Price-Anderson Act, we carry the maximum available amount of nuclear liability insurance, $500 million for each operating site. Claims exceeding that amount are covered through mandatory participation in a financial protection pool. In addition, the U.S. Congress could impose revenue-raising measures on the nuclear industry to pay claims exceeding the $16.3 billion limit for a single incident.
Previous wording
Actual costs to decommission our nuclear facilities may substantially exceed our estimates as a result of changes in the approach and timing of decommissioning activities, changes in decommissioning costs, changes in federal or state regulatory requirements, other changes in our estimates or ability to effectively execute on our planned decommissioning activities.
Current wording
Actual costs to decommission our nuclear facilities may substantially exceed our estimates as a result of changes in the approach and timing of decommissioning activities, changes in decommissioning costs, changes in federal or state regulatory requirements, other changes in our estimates or our ability to effectively execute on planned decommissioning activities.
Previous wording
We have recourse to collect additional amounts from utility customers through PECO (subject to certain limitations and thresholds) for former PECO units and through CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric and AEP Texas for STP units. If circumstances changed such that there was an inability to continue to make contributions to the trust funds of the former PECO or STP units based on amounts collected from utility customers, or if we no longer had recourse to collect additional amounts from the respective utility customers if there was a shortfall of funds for decommissioning, the adequacy of the trust funds related to these units could be negatively affected. Any changes to the utilities' regulatory agreements could impact our ability to offset decommissioning-related activities for these units within the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, and the impact to our consolidated financial statements could be material.
Current wording
We have recourse to collect additional amounts from utility customers through PECO (subject to certain limitations and thresholds) for former PECO units and through CenterPoint and AEP Texas for STP units. If circumstances changed such that there was an inability to continue to make contributions to the trust funds of the former PECO or STP units based on amounts collected from utility customers, or if we no longer had recourse to collect additional amounts from the respective utility customers if there was a shortfall of funds for decommissioning, the adequacy of the trust funds related to these units could be negatively affected. Any changes to the utilities' regulatory agreements could impact our ability to offset decommissioning-related activities for these units within the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, and the impact to our consolidated financial statements could be material.
Previous wording
Should the expected value of the NDT fund for any former ComEd unit fall below the amount of the expected decommissioning obligation for that unit, the accounting to offset decommissioning-related activities for that unit may be temporarily suspended or discontinued, and the decommissioning-related activities would be recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, the impact of which could be material. For the year ended December 31, 2021, a pre-tax charge of $193 million was recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income for decommissioning-related activities that were not offset for the Byron units due to contractual offset being temporarily suspended. See Note 7 — Early Plant Retirements and Note 10 — Asset Retirement Obligations of the Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Current wording
Should the expected value of the NDT fund for any former ComEd unit fall below the amount of the expected decommissioning obligation for that unit, the accounting to offset decommissioning-related activities for that unit may be temporarily suspended or discontinued, and the decommissioning-related activities would be recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, the impact of which could be material.
Previous wording
We are subject to evolving physical security and cybersecurity risks.
Current wording
We are subject to evolving physical security, cybersecurity, and third-party reliability risks.
Previous wording
A security breach, including, but not limited to, physical or electronic intrusions, computer viruses, malware, attacks by cyber criminals or nation state threat actors, ransomware attacks, phishing attacks, supply chain attacks, third-party breaches, and other similar breaches of our physical assets or information systems, or those of our competitors, vendors, business partners and interconnected entities in RTOs, ISOs, and other energy markets, or regulators have the potential to disrupt our business and result in harm to the Company. Security breaches can also occur as a result of non-technical issues, including intentional or inadvertent actions by our employees, third-party service providers or their personnel or other parties. Our customers depend on the continuous availability of our commercial and generation operations. A failure, interruption, or breach of our operational or information security systems, or those of our third-party service providers, as a result of cyber-attacks or information security breaches could disrupt our business, result in the disclosure or misuse of confidential or proprietary information, damage our reputation, cause loss of customers or revenue, increase our costs, result in litigation and/or regulatory action, and/or cause other losses, any of which might have a materially adverse impact on our business operations and our financial position or results of operations. Operational harm could be in the form of impact to the operation of the generation fleet and/or reliability of the bulk electric system. Impacts to confidential or proprietary information could include inappropriate release of certain types of information, including critical infrastructure, sensitive customer, vendor and employee, trading, export control or other confidential information. Furthermore, if a significant security breach were to occur, our reputation could be negatively affected, customer confidence in us or others in the industry could be diminished, or we could be subject to legal claims, loss of revenues, increased costs, regulatory penalties, or operational shutdown.
Current wording
A security breach, including, but not limited to, physical or electronic intrusions, computer viruses, malware, attacks by cyber criminals or nation state threat actors, ransomware attacks, phishing attacks, supply chain attacks, third-party breaches, and other similar breaches of our physical assets or information systems, or those of our competitors, vendors, business partners and interconnected entities in RTOs, ISOs, and other energy markets, or regulators have the potential to disrupt our business and result in harm to the Company. Security breaches can also occur as a result of non-technical issues, including intentional or inadvertent actions by our employees, third-party service providers or their personnel or other parties. Our customers depend on the continuous availability of our commercial and generation operations. A failure, interruption, or breach of our operational or information security systems, or those of our third-party service providers, as a result of cyber-attacks or information security breaches could disrupt our business, result in the disclosure or misuse of confidential or proprietary information, damage our reputation, cause loss of customers or revenue, increase our costs, result in litigation and/or regulatory action, and/or cause other losses, any of which might have a materially adverse impact on our business operations and our financial position or results of operations. Operational harm could be in the form of impact to the generation fleet, our commercial operations, and/or reliability of the bulk electric system. Impacts to confidential or proprietary information could include inappropriate release of certain types of information, including critical infrastructure, sensitive customer, vendor and employee, trading, export control or other confidential information. If a significant security breach were to occur, our reputation could be negatively affected, customer confidence in us or others in the industry could be diminished, or we could be subject to legal claims, loss of revenues, increased costs, regulatory penalties, or operational shutdown.
Previous wording
We currently utilize a mix of third-party managed service providers to host and support our information technology, customer support, and generation operations. As an example, our data centers are hosted in vendor-managed co-location facilities. Consequently, we may be subject to short- and long-term interruptions, delays and outages in service and availability due to third-party cybersecurity incidents that are outside of our direct control. We expect that in the future we may experience interruptions, delays and outages in service and availability from time to time due to a variety of factors, including infrastructure changes, human or software errors, website hosting disruptions and capacity constraints. Coordinated physical and or cyber attacks that disrupt multiple key electric assets of unaffiliated parties responsible for real-time planning and management of the bulk electric system which could impact our ability to provide generation potentially resulting in localized and regional blackouts affecting third parties and the public, many of which will have no direct commercial relationship with the Company.
Current wording
We currently utilize a mix of third-party managed service providers to host and support our information technology, customer support, and generation operations. As an example, our data centers are hosted in vendor-managed co-location facilities. Consequently, we may be subject to short- and long-term interruptions, delays and outages in service and availability due to third-party cybersecurity or reliability incidents that are outside of our direct control. We expect that in the future we may experience interruptions, delays and outages in service and availability from time to time due to a variety of factors, including infrastructure changes, human or software errors, website hosting disruptions and capacity constraints. Coordinated physical and or cyber-attacks that disrupt multiple key electric assets of unaffiliated parties responsible for real-time planning and management of the bulk electric system could impact our ability to provide generation, potentially resulting in localized and regional blackouts affecting third parties and the public, many of which will have no direct commercial relationship with the Company.
Previous wording
We also cannot anticipate, detect, repel, or implement fully effective preventative measures against all cyber threats, particularly because the techniques used are constantly evolving. Continued implementation of advanced digital technologies increases the potentially unfavorable impacts of such attacks and may introduce new vulnerabilities and threat tactics. For example, as Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, threat actors could use AI to develop malicious code and sophisticated phishing attempts. As threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend additional resources to continue to enhance our information security measures and/or to investigate and remediate information security vulnerabilities. While we have not experienced a material breach or disruption to our network or information systems or our operations to date, future attacks may negatively impact our business, reputation, or financial results.
Current wording
We cannot anticipate, detect, repel, or implement fully effective preventative measures against all cyber threats, particularly because the techniques used are constantly evolving. Similarly, we cannot guarantee uninterrupted availability of third-party managed systems that may be affected by factors unrelated to cybersecurity incidents. Continued implementation of advanced digital technologies increases the potentially unfavorable impacts of such attacks and reliability, and may introduce new vulnerabilities and threat tactics. For example, threat actors could use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop malicious code and sophisticated phishing attempts. As threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend additional resources to continue to enhance our information security measures and/or to investigate and remediate information security vulnerabilities. While we have not experienced a material breach or disruption to our network or information systems or our operations to date, future attacks or reliability may negatively impact our business, reputation, or financial results.
Previous wording
Certain events, such as an employee strike, loss of employees, loss of contract resources due to a major event, and an aging workforce without appropriate replacements, could lead to operating challenges and increased costs for us. The challenges include lack of resources, loss of knowledge and a lengthy time period associated with skill development. In this case, costs, including costs for contractors to replace employees, productivity costs and safety costs, could arise. We are particularly affected due to the specialized knowledge required of the technical and support employees for generation operations.
Current wording
Certain events, such as an employee strike, loss of employees, loss of contract resources due to a major event, and an aging workforce without appropriate replacements, could lead to operating challenges and increased costs for us. The challenges include lack of resources, loss of knowledge, and a lengthy time period associated with skill development. In this case, costs, including costs for contractors to replace employees, productivity costs and safety costs, could arise. We are particularly affected due to the specialized knowledge required of the technical and support employees for generation operations. In 2024 we announced the planned restart of our Crane nuclear generation facility which will require hiring skilled employees to restart and operate the plant. Our ability to source qualified employees will impact the timing and cost of the restart. If we are unable to source the necessary workforce it could result in unfavorable financial results and/or a delay to Crane's restart.
Rearranged current paragraphs (2)
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
•ability to attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce, and
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
•acquisitions or investments in new business initiatives and new markets.
Rearranged previous paragraphs (1)
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
•the price of fuels, in particular the price of natural gas, which affects power prices,