This MD&A is a combined report ofCMS Energy and Consumers. Executive OverviewCMS Energy is an energy company operating primarily inMichigan . It is the parent holding company of several subsidiaries, including Consumers, an electric and gas utility;CMS Enterprises , primarily a domestic independent power producer and marketer; and EnerBank, an industrial bank located inUtah . Consumers' electric utility operations include the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity, and Consumers' gas utility operations include the purchase, transmission, storage, distribution, and sale of natural gas. Consumers' customer base consists of a mix of residential, commercial, and diversified industrial customers.CMS Enterprises , through its subsidiaries and equity investments, is engaged in domestic independent power production, including the development and operation of renewable generation, and the marketing of independent power production. EnerBank provides primarily unsecured, fixed-rate installment loans throughout theU.S. to finance home improvements.CMS Energy and Consumers manage their businesses by the nature of services each provides.CMS Energy operates principally in four business segments: electric utility; gas utility; enterprises, its nonutility operations and investments; and EnerBank. Consumers operates principally in two business segments: electric utility and gas utility.CMS Energy's and Consumers' businesses are affected primarily by: • regulation and regulatory matters
• state and federal legislation
• economic conditions • weather • energy commodity prices • interest rates
• their securities' credit ratings
COVID19 Pandemic
CMS Energy and Consumers continue to respond to the public health emergency
caused by the COVID19 pandemic by instituting and maintaining measures
consistent with guidance provided by local, state, and federal agencies.
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increase in deliveries to residential customers. It has also experienced increased uncollectible accounts and workforce-related expenses, among other cost increases directly attributable to the pandemic. Consumers anticipates that these trends will continue in the near term. InApril 2020 , the MPSC issued an order authorizing Consumers to defer incremental uncollectible accounts expense associated with the pandemic. Additionally, EnerBank anticipates it could experience slower lending growth, higher loan write-offs, and increased loan modifications in the future as a result of the pandemic. The companies cannot predict the long-term impact of the pandemic on their business, results of operations, financial condition, capital investment program, liquidity, and cash flows. More detailed discussion of the near-term impacts of and future uncertainties related to the COVID19 pandemic can be found throughout this MD&A and in Part II-Item 1A. Risk Factors. The Triple Bottom LineCMS Energy's and Consumers' purpose is to achieve world class performance while delivering hometown service. In support of this purpose, the companies employ the "Consumers Energy Way ," a lean operating model designed to improve safety, quality, cost, delivery, and employee morale.CMS Energy and Consumers measure their progress toward the purpose by considering their impact on the "triple bottom line" of people, planet, and profit, which is underpinned by performance; this consideration takes into account not only the economic value that the companies create for customers and investors, but also their responsibility to social and environmental goals. The triple bottom line balances the interests of the companies' employees, customers, suppliers, regulators, creditors,Michigan's residents, the investment community, and other stakeholders, and it reflects the broader societal impacts of the companies' activities. [[Image Removed: cms10q20200930_graphic-ppp.jpg]]
Consumers' Sustainability Report, which is available to the public, describes
the company's progress toward world class performance measured in the areas of
people, planet, and profit.
People: The people element of the triple bottom line represents
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to ensure the continued delivery of critical energy services. To align with, and in addition to, these guidelines,CMS Energy and Consumers have: • secured the supply chain necessary to provide front-line workers with appropriate personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies • when necessary, sequestered employees with critical roles at generating plants, gas compression facilities, and electric control rooms • implemented a 14day paid self-quarantine requirement for employees who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or who have come into contact with a person suspected to have COVID19 • prohibited business-related international travel and instituted a mandatory tenday work remote period for employees who return from personal travel to heavily impacted areas
• required employees to work remotely when possible
• when necessary, reduced service at 13 direct payment offices to drop box and drive-through services only • initially adjusted work to focus on emergent and critical activities such as electric outages, gas leaks, and other public safety and reliability work; as work restrictions have gradually lifted inMichigan , the companies have resumed normal work with safety measures in place • contracted a chief medical officer to guide the companies' response and provide rapid support and supplies for the workforce • limited access to company facilities, enhanced cleaning protocols, and established a mask-wearing policy • offered additional paid leave to employees to alleviate child care-related burdens and implemented other interim workforce policies to offer flexibility and reduce employee concerns In response to the pandemic,CMS Energy and Consumers initially suspended shut-offs of service for non-payment and extended payment protection plans for low-income and senior customers.CMS Energy and Consumers slowly began resuming shut-offs of service for non-payment in lateJuly 2020 for commercial and industrial customers and inOctober 2020 for residential customers.CMS Energy and Consumers remain committed to assisting customers impacted by the pandemic. InSeptember 2020 , Consumers announced that it will provide$12 million to helpMichigan residents and small businesses who are experiencing difficulty paying their energy bill due to the pandemic.CMS Energy and Consumers also place a high priority on customer value and on providing a hometown customer experience. Consumers' customer-driven investment program is aimed at improving safety and increasing electric and gas reliability, which has resulted in measurable improvements in customer satisfaction. Central to Consumers' commitment to its customers are the initiatives it has undertaken to keep electricity and natural gas affordable, including: • replacement of coal-fueled generation and PPAs with a cost-efficient mix of renewable energy and energy waste reduction and demand response programs • targeted infrastructure investment to reduce maintenance costs and improve reliability and safety • supply chain optimization
• information and control system efficiencies
• employee and retiree health care cost sharing
• workforce productivity enhancements
In addition, Consumers' gas commodity costs declined by 62 percent from 2009 through 2019, due not only to a decrease in market prices but also to Consumers' improvements to its gas infrastructure and
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optimization of its gas purchasing and storage strategy. These gas commodity savings are passed on to customers. Planet: The planet element of the triple bottom line representsCMS Energy's and Consumers' commitment to protect the environment. This commitment extends beyond compliance with various state and federal environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations. Management considers climate change and other environmental risks in the companies' strategy development, business planning, and enterprise risk management processes.CMS Energy and Consumers continue to focus on opportunities to protect the environment and to reduce their carbon footprint. As a result of actions already taken byCMS Energy and Consumers, the companies have: • decreased their combined percentage of electric supply (self-generated and
purchased) from coal by 18 percentage points since 2015
• reduced carbon dioxide emissions by over 35 percent since 2005
• reduced the amount of water used to generate electricity by over 35 percent since 2012
• reduced landfill waste disposal by over 1.3 million tons since 1992
• reduced methane emissions by 12 percent since 2012
Additionally, over the last 20 years, Consumers has reduced its sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, and mercury emissions by over 90 percent. The 2016 Energy Law: • raised the renewable energy standard to 12.5 percent in 2019 and 15 percent in 2021; Consumers met the 12.5-percent requirement in 2019 with a combination of newly generated RECs and previously generated RECs carried over from prior years • established a goal of 35 percent combined renewable energy and energy waste reduction by 2025; Consumers has achieved 22 percent of the combined renewable energy and energy waste reduction goal through 2019 • authorized incentives for demand response programs and expanded existing incentives for energy efficiency programs, referring to the combined initiatives as energy waste reduction programs
• established an integrated planning process for new generation resources
In 2019, the MPSC approved the IRP that Consumers filed in 2018, which details its Clean Energy Plan. Under its Clean Energy Plan, Consumers will meet the requirements of the 2016 Energy Law using its clean and lean strategy, which focuses on increasing the generation of renewable energy, helping customers use less energy, and offering demand response programs to reduce demand during critical peak times. Further, Consumers plans to replace its coal-fueled generation predominantly with investment in renewable energy, which will enable Consumers to meet and exceed the 2016 Energy Law renewable energy requirements and fulfill increasing customer demand for renewable energy. Through its Clean Energy Plan, Consumers expects to reduce carbon emissions of its owned generation by more than 90 percent from its 2005 levels by 2040. Additionally, the Clean Energy Plan will allow Consumers to achieve a breakthrough goal of at least 50 percent combined renewable energy and energy waste reduction by 2030.
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Presented in the following illustration is Consumers' 2019 capacity portfolio and its future capacity portfolio as projected in the IRP. This illustration includes the effects of purchased capacity and energy waste reduction and uses the nameplate capacity of renewable energy sources:
[[Image Removed: cms10q20200930_chart-capmix.jpg]]
In
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rehabilitating or retiring outdated infrastructure, and adopting new technologies and practices. The remaining emissions will be eliminated by purchasing and/or producing renewable natural gas. Additionally, to advance its environmental stewardship inMichigan and to minimize the impact of future regulations, Consumers announced the following fiveyear targets during 2018: • to reduce its water use by one billion gallons; during 2018 and 2019, Consumers reduced its water usage by over 400 million gallons • to reduce the amount of waste taken to landfills by 35 percent; during 2018 and 2019, Consumers reduced its waste to landfills by ten percent • to enhance, restore, or protect 5,000 acres of land; during 2018 and 2019, Consumers enhanced, restored, or protected over 2,200 acres of landCMS Energy , throughCMS Enterprises , continues to pursue further opportunities for the development of renewable generation projects. InJuly 2020 ,CMS Enterprises purchased an ownership interest in Aviator Wind, a 525MW wind generation project inCoke County, Texas . The project was completed and became operational inSeptember 2020 .CMS Energy and Consumers are monitoring numerous legislative, policy, and regulatory initiatives, including those to regulate greenhouse gases, and related litigation. WhileCMS Energy and Consumers cannot predict the outcome of these matters, which could have a material effect on the companies, they intend to continue to move forward with their clean and lean strategy. Profit: The profit element of the triple bottom line representsCMS Energy's and Consumers' commitment to meeting their financial objectives and providing economic development opportunities and benefits in the communities in which they do business.CMS Energy's and Consumers' financial strength allows them to maintain solid investment-grade credit ratings and thereby reduce funding costs for the benefit of customers and investors, to preserve and create jobs, and to reinvest in the communities they serve. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2020 ,CMS Energy's net income available to common stockholders was$597 million , and diluted EPS were$2.09 . This compares with net income available to common stockholders of$513 million and diluted EPS of$1.81 for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2019 . In 2020, the benefits from electric and gas rate increases, higher electric sales due primarily to favorable weather, and lower operating and maintenance expenses were offset partially by lower gas sales due primarily to unfavorable weather in the first quarter, higher depreciation and amortization, and the absence of a 2019 gain on sale of transmission assets. A more detailed discussion of the factors affectingCMS Energy's and Consumers' performance can be found in the Results of Operations section that follows this Executive Overview. Consumers has experienced and anticipates it will continue to experience a decline in electric deliveries to commercial and industrial customers in the near term as a result of the COVID19 pandemic. Over the next five years, Consumers expects weather-normalized electric deliveries to decrease slightly and weathernormalized gas deliveries to remain stable. This outlook reflects the effects of energy waste reduction programs offset largely by modest growth in electric and gas demand. 19
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Performance: Impacting the Triple Bottom LineCMS Energy and Consumers remain committed to achieving world class performance while delivering hometown service and positively impacting the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit. During 2020,CMS Energy and Consumers: • realized over$100 million in cost reductions by leveraging the ConsumersEnergy Way and through other initiatives • named a Chief Diversity Officer responsible for setting and monitoring the companies' diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy • announced a new parental leave policy for employees, allowing six months of paid leave to mothers and four months of paid leave to a nonbirthing parent • pledged to join five other energy companies in facilitating the construction of a Midwest electric vehicle charging network
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Presented in the following illustration are planned capital expenditures of
[[Image Removed: cms10q20200930_chart-plncpex.jpg]] Of this amount, Consumers plans to spend$9.4 billion over the next five years to maintain and upgrade its gas infrastructure and electric distribution systems in order to enhance safety and reliability, improve customer satisfaction, and reduce energy waste on those systems. The gas infrastructure projects comprise$5.0 billion to sustain deliverability and enhance pipeline integrity and safety. These projects, which involve replacement of mains and services and enhancement of transmission and storage systems, should reduce the minor quantity of methane emissions released as gas is transported. The electric distribution projects comprise$4.4 billion to strengthen circuits and substations and replace poles. Consumers also expects to spend$2.8 billion on electric supply projects, primarily new renewable generation. In response to the COVID19 pandemic, Consumers has rescheduled some capital investment projects, but has not made any changes to its long-term capital investment program at this time. Regulation: Regulatory matters are a key aspect of Consumers' business, particularly rate cases and regulatory proceedings before the MPSC, which permit recovery of new investments while helping to ensure that customer rates are fair and affordable. Important regulatory events and developments not already discussed are summarized below. • 2019 Gas Rate Case: InDecember 2019 , Consumers filed an application with the MPSC seeking an annual rate increase of$245 million , based on a 10.5 percent authorized return on equity. InMay 2020 , Consumers reduced its requested annual rate increase to$229 million . InSeptember 2020 , the MPSC approved a settlement agreement authorizing an annual rate increase of$144 million , based on a 9.9 percent authorized return on equity, effectiveOctober 1, 2020 . As part of that agreement, Consumers agreed not to file a new gas rate case prior toDecember 2021 . The MPSC also approved the continuation of a revenue decoupling mechanism, which annually reconciles Consumers' actual weather-normalized non-fuel revenues with the revenues approved by the MPSC. 21
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• 2020 Electric Rate Case: InFebruary 2020 , Consumers filed an application with the MPSC seeking an annual rate increase of$244 million , based on a 10.5 percent authorized return on equity. InJuly 2020 , Consumers reduced its requested annual rate increase to$230 million . The filing also seeks approval to recover$13 million associated with Consumers' deferral of depreciation and property tax expense and the overall rate of return on distribution-related capital investments exceeding certain threshold amounts. Additionally, the filing seeks approval of a method of recovering amounts earned under the financial compensation mechanism approved by the MPSC in Consumers' IRP. This mechanism allows Consumers to earn a financial incentive on PPAs approved by the MPSC afterJanuary 1, 2019 . Consumers also proposes in the filing a new distributed generation tariff to replace the current net metering tariff, pursuant to the 2016 Energy Law.
Looking Forward
CMS Energy and Consumers will continue to consider the impact on the triple
bottom line of people, planet, and profit in their daily operations as well as
in their long-term strategic decisions. Consumers will continue to seek fair and
timely regulatory treatment that will support its customer-driven investment
plan, while pursuing cost-control measures that will allow it to maintain
sustainable customer base rates.
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