In late March 2023, President Biden proposed a federal budget for fiscal year 2024 that will increase government spending in new infrastructure, education, healthcare, and climate change initiatives. To fund the investments, the Biden administration has proposed several tax reforms that will have important implications for corporations. Specifically, the proposed increase in the corporate income tax rate from 21% to 28% will have a significant impact on rate-regulated utilities
Read MoreOn October 15, the IRS issued PLR 202141001 for regulated electric utilities. In its ruling, the IRS reiterated earlier assertions that the net deferred tax asset (DTA) related to the cost of removal (COR) is not subject to normalization, but also added clarification that the deferred tax liability (DTL) and DTA from the salvage value is subject to normalization rules.
Read MoreSpecifics for the “Build Back Better“ (BBB) reconciliation legislation have finally begun to emerge amid contentious intra-party debates within the Democratic caucus. The massive bill encompasses large portions of the Biden domestic political agenda, and debate is ongoing in Congress on the final scope of the bill and how its initiatives will be paid for.
Read MoreSmart meters are an important technology for the modern electric power industry and are revolutionizing the way customers interface with energy grids. By enabling rapid two-way communications between electric companies and their customers, smart meters provide new and expanded services and enhance energy grid resiliency and operations.
Read MoreUtilities are bracing for a digital revolution, though according to a recent report most executives in the sector agree that their businesses are not prepared for it.
In the Digital Transformation and the Workforce Survey commissioned by EY Power & Utilities, nearly 90% of executives report having too few digitally savvy workers is frustrating their ability to adopt digital technologies. Not only is the problem of an insufficient workforce staring them in the face, by most of the respondents surveyed are lacking a plan on how to proceed. With near-universal agreement (94%) on the need for direct investment in technology and the workforce, utilities are soon to be left scrambling for solutions. The transformation of the power industry will be based on technology, but it will be driven by people.
Read MoreTax basis balance sheets (“TBBS”) are a foundational part of any tax department’s controls. While invaluable for supporting tax positions for financial reporting, without proper maintenance these critical workpapers can quickly develop inaccuracies. More and more utilities are finding that their tax basis balance sheet controls are insufficient, and without proper automation, this can lead to an immense and recurring manual effort for tax departments looking to preserve reliable tax accounting records.
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