# notes_to_financial_statements_122_1_duration

entity_id: C001275
filing_name: Eastern_Shore_Natural_Gas_Company_form2_Q4_1713476149
publication_time: 2024-04-18 21:35:49.000000
start_date: 2023-01-01
end_date: 2023-12-31
disclosure_of_applicable_notes_text_block:
  <div style="padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">1.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;padding-left:9.75pt">Organization and Basis of Presentation</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company (“we,” “our,” “us” or the “Company”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (“Chesapeake Utilities” or “Parent”). We own and operate an interstate natural gas pipeline that provides open access transportation services to affiliated and non-affiliated companies through an integrated gas pipeline extending from southeastern Pennsylvania through Delaware to our terminus on the eastern shore of Maryland.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We also provide swing transportation service and contract storage service. Our rates and services are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”).</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Our financial statements are prepared in conformity with the accounting requirements of the FERC as set forth in the applicable Uniform System of Accounts and published accounting releases, which is a comprehensive basis of accounting other than accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). The accounting requirements of the FERC are generally consistent with US GAAP, with certain exceptions including:</span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:13.8pt">lack of reclassification of certain negative balances on the balance sheets as required by US GAAP;</span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:13.8pt">the presentation of deferred income tax assets and liabilities separately rather than as a single amount required by US GAAP;</span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:13.8pt">the presentation of cost of removal as a component of accumulated depreciation rather than as a regulatory liability required by US GAAP;</span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:13.8pt">lack of detail property, plant and equipment component costs disclosure required by US GAAP; </span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:13.8pt">lack of detail regulatory assets and liability disclosure required by US GAAP; and </span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:13.8pt">presentation of the components of net benefit costs in operating expenses whereas for US GAAP only the service component is presented in operating expenses. </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We have assessed and reported on subsequent events through April 18, 2024, the date these financial statements are available to be issued. </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">2.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:9.75pt">Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</span></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Use of Estimates</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Our financial statements are prepared based on the accounting requirements of the FERC which require management to make estimates in measuring assets and liabilities and related revenues and expenses. These estimates involve judgments with respect to, among other things, various future economic factors that are difficult to predict and are beyond our control; therefore, actual results could differ from those estimates. As additional information becomes available, or actual amounts are determined, recorded estimates are revised. Consequently, operating results can be affected by revisions to prior accounting estimates.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Utility Plant</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Utility plant is stated at original cost less accumulated depreciation or fair value, if impaired. Costs include direct labor, materials and third-party construction contractor costs, allowance for funds used during construction (“AFUDC”) and certain indirect costs related to equipment and employees engaged in construction. The costs of repairs and minor replacements are charged to expenses as incurred, and the costs of major renewals and improvements are capitalized. Upon retirement or disposition of utility plant, the gain or loss, net of salvage value, is charged to accumulated depreciation. </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Customer contributions or advances in aid of construction reduce utility plant unless the amounts are refundable to customers. Contributions or advances may be refundable to customers after a number of years based on the amount of revenues generated from the customers or the duration of the service provided to the customers. Refundable contributions or advances are recorded initially as liabilities. The amounts that are determined to be </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">non-refundable reduce utility plant at the time of such determination. Non-refundable contributions were immaterial at</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">December 31, 2023 and 2022.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">AFUDC represents the estimated cost of funds, from both debt and equity sources, used to finance the construction of major projects. AFUDC is capitalized in rate base for ratemaking purposes when the completed projects are placed in service. The costs of debt and equity funds are segregated between interest expense and other income, respectively. For each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, AFUDC was not material and was reflected as a reduction of interest charges. </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Amounts for assets held for future use, which are included in utility plant, were immaterial at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Depreciation</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We compute depreciation expense by applying composite, annual rates, as approved by the FERC. Depreciation expenses are provided at an annual rate averaging 2.7 percent for 2023 and 2022, respectively.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In accordance with the accounting requirements of the FERC, we include the accretion of the cost of removal for future retirements of utility assets as depreciation expense. For each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, $1.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively, of such accretion was included in depreciation expense. We also report certain depreciation expense, mainly related to vehicle, computer software and hardware, in operations expenses rather than as a depreciation expense to comply with the accounting requirements of the FERC. These amounts were reported as operations expenses and were not material at December 31, 2023 and 2022.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Regulated Operations</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We account for our operations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 980, </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">“</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Regulated Operations.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">”</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> This Topic includes accounting principles for companies whose rates are determined by independent third-party regulators. When setting rates, regulators often make decisions, the economics of which require companies to defer costs or revenues in different periods than may be appropriate for unregulated enterprises. When this situation occurs, a regulated company defers the associated costs as regulatory assets on the balance sheet and records them as expense on the statement of income as it collects revenues. Further, regulators can also impose liabilities upon a regulated company, for amounts previously collected from customers and for recovery of costs that are expected to be incurred in the future, as regulatory liabilities. If we were required to terminate the application of these regulatory provisions to our operations, all such deferred amounts would be recognized in the statement of income at that time, which could have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">We monitor our regulatory and competitive environments to determine whether the recovery of our regulatory assets continues to be probable.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">If we were to determine that recovery of these assets is no longer probable, we would write off the assets against earnings. We believe that provisions of ASC Topic 980 continue to apply to our operations and that the recovery of our regulatory assets is probable</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Revenue Recognition</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Our operating revenues are based on rates approved by the FERC. However, the FERC has also authorized us to negotiate rates above or below the FERC-approved maximum rates, which customers can elect as an alternative to FERC-approved maximum rates.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">For agreements that contain variable consideration, we use the invoice practical expedient method. We determined that the amounts invoiced to customers correspond directly with the value to our customers and our performance to date.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Cash and Cash Equivalents </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Our cash is held in Chesapeake Utilities’ name. Chesapeake Utilities’ policy is to invest cash in excess of operating requirements in overnight income-producing accounts. Such amounts are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. Investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered cash equivalents. </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Inventories</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">We use the average cost method to value materials and supplies inventory. </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Pension and Other Postretirement Plans </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Our eligible employees participate in various postretirement plans. Chesapeake Utilities allocates our share of the postretirement plan costs based on a portion of the benefits related to providing our service. Postretirement plan costs and liabilities are determined on an actuarial basis and are affected by numerous assumptions and estimates including the fair value of plan assets, estimates of the expected returns on plan assets, assumed discount rates, the level of contributions made to the plans, and current demographic and actuarial mortality data. Chesapeake Utilities’ management annually reviews the estimates and assumptions underlying its postretirement plan costs and liabilities with the assistance of third-party actuarial firms.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The assumed health care cost trend rate and the assumed rates of retirement generally would not have an impact on the postretirement and supplemental executive retirement plans with respect to required funding contributions because these plans are not funded.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;text-decoration:underline">Income Taxes and Investment Tax Credit Adjustments</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the income tax effect of temporary differences between the financial statement basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted income tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are recorded net of any valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that such tax benefits will be realized. Investment tax credits on utility property have been deferred and are allocated to income ratably over the lives of the subject property.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We account for uncertainty in income taxes in the financial statements only if it is more likely than not that an uncertain tax position is sustainable based on technical merits. Recognizable tax positions are then measured to determine the amount of benefit recognized in the financial statements. We recognize penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of other income.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Financial Instruments</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Financial assets and liabilities with carrying values approximating fair value include accounts receivable, accounts payable and other accrued liabilities.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Recently Adopted Accounting Standards</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;text-decoration:underline">Income Taxes (ASC 740) </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">- In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">which modifies required income tax disclosures primarily related to an entity's rate reconciliation and information pertaining to income taxes paid. These enhancements have been made to address requests from investors related to transparency and usefulness of income tax disclosures. ASU 2023-09 will be effective for our annual financial statements beginning January 1, 2024. ASU 2023-09 only impacts disclosures, and as a result, will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">3.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:9.75pt">Transaction with Affiliates</span></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Revenue from gas sold and transportation services provided to Chesapeake Utilities and its subsidiaries during 2023 and 2022 were $34.0 million and $32.5 million, respectively.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We utilize Chesapeake Utilities’ short-term borrowing facility and long-term debt to finance our capital requirements. The excess cash generated above our operating cash requirement is held in Chesapeake Utilities’ name. We are allocated a portion of interest expense on Chesapeake Utilities’ short-term borrowing facility and long-term debt and interest income generated from our excess cash held in Chesapeake Utilities’ name. Chesapeake Utilities allocated us a net interest expense of $7.8 million and $6.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">At December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had a net advance from Chesapeake Utilities and its subsidiaries of $98.5 million and $123.1 million, respectively. These amounts are reflected as accounts payable to associated companies in the accompanying financial statements.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Chesapeake Utilities provides us with administrative and support services. These services include certain managerial, accounting, information technology, payroll, human resources and treasury services. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, Chesapeake Utilities charged us $10.6 million and $11.2 million, respectively, for these services.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">4.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:9.75pt">Income Taxes</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We are included in the Chesapeake Utilities consolidated federal income tax return, along with all of Chesapeake Utilities’ other subsidiaries. We file separate state income tax returns. Income taxes are allocated to us as if we were a separate taxpayer. As of December 31, 2023, the audit of the 2015 through 2019 federal income tax returns was complete, and there was no impact to us.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:132%">During 2018, Chesapeake Utilities completed the assessment of the impact of accounting for certain effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”), including the effects of the reduction of the corporate federal income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. In 2019, Chesapeake Utilities allocated the tax basis cost of certain liabilities recognized at its corporate entity under the TCJA to its business units. The amounts allocated to us were immaterial and will be addressed in our next rate case.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We had no state net operating losses for the years ended </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">December 31, 2023</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> and </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2022</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">. Additionally, we have not established a valuation allowance to reduce future tax benefits because we believe that it is more likely than not that they will be fully utilized.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The components of federal and state income tax expense are:</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:97.373%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:62.000%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:17.349%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:17.351%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">For the Year Ended December 31,</span></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2023</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2022 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(in thousands)</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Current</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">6,726</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">4,730 </span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Deferred</span></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">1,516</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">3,940 </span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-bottom:2pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Total Income Tax Expense</span></td><td style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">8,242</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">8,670 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Total income tax expense (benefit) results primarily from applying the federal income tax statutory rate to book income before tax, plus state income taxes, net of federal tax benefit as follows:</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:97.373%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:62.000%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:17.349%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:17.351%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">For the Year Ended December 31,</span></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2023</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2022 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Federal income tax expense, 21% in 2022 and 2021</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">6,620</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">6,697 </span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">State income taxes</span></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">1,643</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2,701 </span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Other</span></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(21)</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(728)</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">8,242</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$8,670</span></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2023 were $6.1 million and $68.8 million, respectively. Deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2022 were $7.6 million and $68.7 million, respectively. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are primarily the result of depreciation-related timing differences.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">5.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:9.75pt">Customer Concentration</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We operate entirely in the natural gas industry. Operations include the purchase and transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Three customers accounted for more than 10 percent of our total revenues in </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2023</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> and </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2022</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">. Revenues from these customers were </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$34.0 million</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">, </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$15.4 million</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">, and </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$12.3 million</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> in </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2023</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">, and </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$32.5 million</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">, </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$15.6 million</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">, and </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$12.4 million</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> in </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2022</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">. One of these customers in both </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2023</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> and </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2022</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> is Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, the parent company of Eastern Shore Natural Gas, which also owns and operates </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">four</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> affiliated local distribution companies, and the other </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">two</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> are unaffiliated industrial customers.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="margin-bottom:10pt;padding-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:133%">6.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:133%;padding-left:9.75pt">Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds, during the years ended December 31, </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2023</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> and </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2022</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> was as follows:</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:97.373%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:62.000%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:17.349%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:17.351%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.77pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">For the Years Ended,</span></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 3.77pt 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2023</span></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 3.77pt 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2022</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.77pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(in thousands)</span></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.77pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Cash Paid for interest</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">—</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">—</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.77pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Cash Paid for income taxes, net</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;border-bottom:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;border-bottom:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">1,915</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;border-bottom:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td style="background-color:#ffffff;border-bottom:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;border-bottom:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2,654</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;border-bottom:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Capital property and equipment acquired on account, but not paid was $0.4 million and $0.5 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:22.5pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">7.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.25pt">Employee Benefit Plans</span></div><div style="padding-left:22.5pt;text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Our eligible employees participate in various benefit plans sponsored by Chesapeake Utilities. Chesapeake Utilities allocates to us a portion of the benefit costs associated with these plans. Our share of the costs is based on a portion of the benefits related to providing services to us. For both the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we recorded benefit costs of $0.6 million related to these plans.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Chesapeake Utilities’ 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan is offered to all eligible employees who have completed three months of service. Chesapeake Utilities matches 100 percent of eligible participants’ pre-tax contributions to the Chesapeake Utilities Retirement Savings Plan up to a maximum of six percent of the eligible compensation. The employer matching contribution is made in cash and is invested based on a participant’s investment directions. In addition, Chesapeake Utilities may make a discretionary supplemental contribution to participants in the plan, without regard to whether or not they make pre-tax contributions. Any supplemental employer contribution is generally made in Chesapeake Utilities common stock. With respect to the employer match and supplemental employer contribution, employees are 100 percent vested after two years of service or </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">upon reaching 55 years of age while still employed by Chesapeake Utilities. New employees, who do not make an election to contribute or do not opt out of the Chesapeake Utilities Retirement Savings Plan, will be automatically enrolled at a deferral rate of three percent, and the automatic deferral rate will increase by one percent per year up to a maximum of ten percent. All contributions and matched funds can be invested among the mutual funds available for investment. </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Chesapeake Utilities sponsors an unfunded supplemental executive retirement plan (“Chesapeake SERP”), and an unfunded postretirement health care and life insurance plan (“Chesapeake Postretirement Plan”).The Chesapeake SERP, a nonqualified plan, was frozen with respect to additional years of service and additional compensation as of December 31, 2004. Benefits under the Chesapeake SERP were based on each participant’s years of service and highest average compensation, prior to the freezing of the plan. Active participants on the date the Chesapeake SERP was frozen were credited with two additional years of service. </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Chesapeake Utilities measures the assets and obligations of the SERP and other postretirement benefits plans to determine the plans’ funded status as of the end of the year as an asset or a liability on Chesapeake Utilities’ consolidated balance sheets. A portion of this asset or liability related to us is reflected on our balance sheet. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, $2.5 million of the postretirement benefit liabilities were assigned to us.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Chesapeake Utilities also sponsors other pension and postretirement plans for eligible employees of a specific subsidiary, which our eligible employees cannot participate in.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:27pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-27pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:139%">8.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:139%;padding-left:18.75pt">Rates and Other Regulatory Activities </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Southern Expansion Project:</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> In January 2022, Eastern Shore submitted a prior notice filing with the FERC pursuant to blanket certificate procedures, regarding its proposal to install an additional compressor unit and related facilities at Eastern Shore's compressor station in Bridgeville, Sussex County, Delaware. The project enables Eastern Shore to provide additional firm natural gas transportation service to an existing shipper on its pipeline system. The project obtained FERC approval in December 2022 and went into service in October 2023. </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Capital Cost Surcharge:</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> In December 2022, Eastern Shore submitted a filing with the FERC regarding a capital cost surcharge to recover capital costs associated with the replacement of existing Eastern Shore facilities as a result of mandated highway relocation projects as well as compliance with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration regulation. The capital cost surcharge mechanism was approved in Eastern Shore’s last rate case. In conjunction with the filing of this surcharge, a cumulative adjustment to the existing surcharge to reflect additional depreciation was included. The FERC issued an order approving the surcharge as filed on December 19, 2022. The combined revised surcharge became effective January 1, 2023.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Worcester Resiliency Upgrade: </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In August 2023, Eastern Shore filed an application with the FERC requesting authorization to construct the Worcester Resiliency Upgrade, which consists of a mixture of storage and transmission facilities in Sussex County, DE and Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset Counties in Maryland. The project will provide long-term incremental supply necessary to support the growing demand of the participating shippers. Eastern Shore has requested certificate authorization by December 2024, with a target in-service date by the third quarter of 2025.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:22.5pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">9.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.25pt">Other Commitments and Contingencies</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">From time to time, we may be involved in legal actions and claims arising in the normal course of business. We are also involved in certain legal and administrative proceedings before various governmental agencies concerning rates and other operating matters. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these proceedings will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operation or cash flows. Our total purchase obligations for natural gas storage service are the following:</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:99.939%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:51.619%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.229%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.555%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.229%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.404%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.229%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.404%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.231%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2024</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2025-2026</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2027-2028</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Total</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(in thousands)</span></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Purchase obligations</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">485 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">728 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">455 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">1,688 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/></tr></table></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;padding-left:31.5pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-27pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">10.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:13.25pt">Revenue Recognition</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Customer Revenue</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We recognize revenue when our performance obligations under contracts with customers have been satisfied, which generally occurs when we have transported natural gas to customers. Our revenues are based on rates approved by the FERC. The FERC has also authorized us to negotiate rates above or below the FERC-approved maximum rates, which customers can elect as an alternative to the FERC-approved maximum rates. Our services can be firm or interruptible. Firm services are offered on a guaranteed basis and are available at all times unless prevented by force majeure or other permitted curtailments. Interruptible customers receive service only when there is available capacity or supply. Our performance obligation is satisfied over time as we deliver natural gas to the customers' locations. We recognize revenues based on capacity used or reserved and the fixed monthly charge. We exclude sales taxes and other similar taxes from the transaction price. Typically, our customers pay for the goods and/or services we provide in the month following the satisfaction of our performance obligation.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Contract Balances</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The timing of revenue recognition, customer billings and cash collections results in trade receivables, unbilled receivables (contract assets), and customer advances (contract liabilities) in our balance sheets. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the balance of our trade receivables, net of our allowance for expected credit losses, was $4.6 million and $4.4 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were no material contract assets or liabilities recorded on the Comparative Balance Sheet.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Remaining performance obligations</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We have long-term fixed fee contracts with customers in which revenues are recognized as performance obligations are satisfied over the contract term. Revenue for the remaining performance obligations at December 31, 2023 are expected to be recognized as follows:</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:99.939%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:36.362%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:8.567%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.706%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:8.567%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.404%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:8.567%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.857%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:8.567%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.555%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:8.567%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.008%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:8.573%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2024</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2025</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2026</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2027</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2028</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2029 and <br/>thereafter</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(in thousands)</span></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Remaining performance obligations</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">34,284 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">27,957 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">24,499 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">21,502 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">20,826 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">130,867 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/></tr></table></div>


entity_id: C000962
filing_name: Kern_River_Gas_Transmission_Company_form2_Q4_1713537770
publication_time: 2024-04-19 14:42:50.000000
start_date: 2023-01-01
end_date: 2023-12-31
disclosure_of_applicable_notes_text_block:
  <div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(1)</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Organization and Operations</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Kern River Gas Transmission Company (the "Respondent") is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company ("BHE"), a holding company that owns locally managed businesses principally engaged in the energy business. BHE is a consolidated subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. ("Berkshire Hathaway"). The Respondent owns an interstate natural gas pipeline system that extends from supply areas in the Rocky Mountains to consuming markets in Utah, Nevada and California. The Respondent's pipeline system consists of 1,700 miles of natural gas pipelines, including 1,400 miles of mainline section and 300 miles of common facilities, with a design capacity of 2,166,575 decatherms ("Dth") per day. The Respondent owns the entire mainline section, which extends from the system's point of origination near Opal, Wyoming, through the Central Rocky Mountains area into Daggett, California. The mainline section consists of 1,300 miles of 36-inch diameter pipeline and 100 miles of various laterals that connect to the mainline. The common facilities are jointly owned by the Respondent and Mojave Pipeline Company ("Mojave") as tenants-in-common, and ownership may increase or decrease pursuant to the capital contributions made by each respective joint owner. The Respondent has exclusive rights to 1,613,392 Dth per day of the common facilities' capacity, and Mojave has exclusive rights to 414,001 Dth per day of capacity. Operation and maintenance of the common facilities are the responsibility of Mojave Pipeline Operating Company, an affiliate of Mojave. The Respondent reimburses Mojave for its share of the pipeline expenses. The common facilities and associated operating costs are included in the Financial Statements on a prorated basis. Except for quantities of natural gas owned for operational purposes, the Respondent does not own the natural gas that is transported through its system. The Respondent's transportation operations are subject to a regulated tariff that is on file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"). The tariff rates are designed to provide the Respondent with an opportunity to recover its costs of providing services and earn a reasonable return on its investments. </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(2) </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Basis of Presentation</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Financial Statements have been prepared based upon the accounting regulations of the FERC pursuant to the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 18, Part 201, Uniform System of Accounts ("FERC accounting regulations"). Therefore, the Financial Statements contain certain differences from general purpose financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), including accounting for regulatory assets for levelized cost of service and financial statement classifications such as deferred income taxes, income tax expense and accumulated negative salvage. </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent has evaluated subsequent events through April 18, 2024, which is the date the Financial Statements were available to be issued. There were no subsequent events that required adjustment to, or disclosure in, the Financial Statements, except as disclosed in Note 12.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Use of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The preparation of the Financial Statements in conformity with FERC accounting regulations requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. These estimates include, but are not limited to, the effects of regulation; income taxes; the recovery of long-lived assets; and accounting for contingencies. Actual results may differ from the estimates used in preparing the Financial Statements. </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent prepares its Financial Statements in accordance with authoritative guidance for regulated operations, which recognizes the economic effects of regulation. Accordingly, the Respondent is required to defer the recognition of certain costs or income if it is probable that, through the ratemaking process, there will be a corresponding increase or decrease in future regulated rates. Regulatory assets and liabilities are established to reflect the impacts of these deferrals and are recognized in earnings as they are recovered in regulated rates.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent's rates for transportation service are primarily derived on the basis of a levelized cost-of-service. In the FERC orders certificating the Respondent's original system and subsequent expansions, the FERC approved depreciation expense schedules designed to maintain a constant total cost-of-service over the initial contract terms ("Period One") or the period eligible customers elect to take service upon the expiration of the Period One contracts ("Period Two"). Rather than recovering plant costs through the depreciation allowance in rates on a straight-line basis, the Respondent's annual recovery of its capital investment in rates increases as the return on equity, interest expense and income taxes decrease, to obtain a constant or level cost-of-service. Because application of a straight-line depreciation rate to the Respondent's plant investment would result in substantial depreciation expense in the Respondent's early years of service, the effect of levelization has been to transfer some portion of the Respondent's cost recovery from the early years to the later years of the customers' initial contract terms. The cumulative difference between the composite or straight-line method described above and the plant cost recovered through the levelized method is recorded as a regulatory asset or liability to be recovered or returned in future years. Refer to Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements for additional information regarding regulatory matters and the Respondent's levelized rates.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent has presented a regulatory asset for deferred depreciation expense on incremental capital additions representing the investment in facilities that have occurred since the last rate case. The cumulative amount of depreciation expense is reflected as a regulatory asset to be recovered in future years.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Refer to Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements for additional information regarding regulatory matters.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent continually evaluates the applicability of the guidance for regulated operations and whether its regulatory assets and liabilities are probable of inclusion in future regulated rates by considering factors such as a change in the regulator's approach to setting regulated rates from cost-based ratemaking to another form of </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">regulation, other regulatory actions or the impact of competition that could limit the Respondent's ability to recover its costs. The Respondent believes the application of the guidance for regulated operations is appropriate and its existing regulatory assets and liabilities are probable of inclusion in future regulated rates. The evaluation reflects the current political and regulatory climate at the federal level. If it becomes no longer probable that the deferred costs or income will be included in future regulated rates, the related regulatory assets and liabilities will be written-off to net income, returned to customers, or re-established as accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income ("AOCI"). </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Cash equivalents consist of funds invested in money market mutual funds and other investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased. Cash and cash equivalents exclude amounts where availability is restricted by legal requirements, loan agreements or other contractual provisions. Restricted cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, consist substantially of escrow funds held to provide the Respondent with protection against customer credit risk. A reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, as presented in the Statements of Cash Flows is outlined below and disaggregated by the line items in which they appear on the Balance Sheets (in thousands):</span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:69.138%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:12.888%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.585%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:12.889%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">As of December 31,</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Cash and cash equivalents</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$ 19,86</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$ 9,55</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Restricted cash and cash equivalents in other current assets</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">195</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Restricted cash and cash equivalents in other assets</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">4,222</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">4,700</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$ 24,08</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$ 14,45</span></div></td></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Allowance for Credit Losses</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Accounts receivable are short-term in nature and are stated at the outstanding principal amount, net of an estimated allowance for credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is based on the Respondent's assessment of the collectability of amounts owed to the Respondent by its customers. This assessment requires judgment regarding the ability of customers to pay or the outcome of any pending disputes. In measuring the allowance for credit losses for accounts receivable, the Respondent primarily evaluates the financial condition of the individual customer and the nature of any disputed amount. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the allowance for credit losses was insignificant.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Transportation Imbalances</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Shippers schedule their volumes into the Respondent's system with subsequent deliveries to various markets. Imbalance receivables and payables are created when shipper's receipts to the system vary from shipper's deliveries off the system, excluding quantities retained by the pipeline for compressor fuel and lost and unaccounted for gas. Receipts and deliveries from third parties in connection with operational balancing contracts also result in imbalances. At the end of each month, imbalances are valued at current market prices and recorded as miscellaneous current and accrued assets and liabilities on the Balance Sheets with offsetting entries to operation and maintenance on the Statements of Income. Settlement of imbalances occurs in accordance with the Respondent's FERC tariff, the terms of the contracts and the timing of natural gas deliveries based on the Respondent's operational conditions.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Plant Materials and Supplies</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Plant materials and supplies consist mainly of replacement parts used in the periodic overhaul of gas compressor units and materials for construction, operation and maintenance and are stated at average cost, except for compressor engines which are stated at historical cost.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Utility Plant, Net</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">General</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Additions to utility plant are recorded at cost. The Respondent capitalizes all construction-related material, direct labor and contract services, as well as indirect construction costs, which include debt and equity allowance for funds used during construction ("AFUDC") on rate base assets. The cost of additions and betterments are capitalized, while costs incurred that do not improve or extend the useful lives of the related assets are generally expensed. The Respondent is permitted to earn a return on the cost of its rate base assets as well as recover these costs through depreciation expense over the useful lives of the assets.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Depreciation and amortization are generally computed by applying the composite or straight-line method based on either estimated useful lives or mandated recovery periods as prescribed by the FERC. Under the composite method when utility plant is retired, the original cost of the property retired is charged to accumulated depreciation and amortization, net of salvage and removal costs. For general plant, the original cost of the property retired is charged to accumulated depreciation and amortization at the end of the depreciable lives of the asset vintages. Retirement gains or losses are not included in income except in the case of sales of operating units.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent capitalizes AFUDC, which represents the cost of debt and equity funds necessary to finance the construction of regulated facilities, as a component of utility plant, with offsetting credits to the Statements of Income. AFUDC is computed based on guidelines set forth by the FERC. </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Line Pack Gas</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Line pack gas is accounted for utilizing the fixed asset accounting method as prescribed by the FERC. Under this approach, line pack gas volumes are classified as utility plant, net and valued at cost. In addition, line pack is classified as either recoverable or non-recoverable. Non-recoverable line pack is depreciated while recoverable line pack is not depreciated.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Asset Retirement Obligations</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent recognizes asset retirement obligations ("AROs") when it has a legal obligation to remove or abandon-in-place an asset upon retirement. The Respondent's AROs are primarily related to the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development or normal use of assets. The fair value of an ARO liability is recognized in the period in which it is incurred, if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made, and is added to the carrying amount of the associated asset, which is then depreciated over the remaining useful life of the asset. The Respondent has concluded that it is legally obligated to remove, or abandon-in-place, its pipeline and related equipment upon the final retirement of the pipeline. While interim removal or abandonment-in-place and replacement of such equipment is probable, the final retirement dates of these assets are not determinable, and therefore, the liabilities for their removal cannot be reasonably estimated.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Negative Salvage</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Negative salvage is the amount recovered in transportation rates for the estimated removal cost after salvage proceeds at the time the asset is removed from service. The Respondent recognizes a negative salvage reserve for final abandonment and removal of its gas transmission system in accumulated depreciation and amortization and, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the balance of this reserve was $57.4 million and $54.1 million, respectively. The annual negative salvage allowance, which is 0.12% of transmission plant and is reflected in depreciation and amortization on the Statements of Income, was $3.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Revenue Recognition</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent uses a single five-step model to identify and recognize revenue from contracts with customers ("Customer Revenue") upon transfer of control of promised services in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Respondent expects to be entitled in exchange for those services.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent's revenue is derived from tariff-based transportation arrangements approved by FERC. These tariff-based revenues have performance obligations to deliver services to customers which are satisfied over time as services are provided.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Revenue recognized is equal to what the Respondent has the right to invoice as it corresponds directly with the value to the customer of the Respondent's performance to date and includes billed and unbilled amounts. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, unbilled revenue was $ 17.3 million and $29.5 million, respectively, and is included in customer accounts receivable, net on the Balance Sheet. Approximately 86% of the Respondent's transportation revenue is from fixed reservation charges based on contractual quantities and rates regulated by the FERC. The remaining revenue is from market-oriented transportation charges, commodity charges, or facility charges. Market-oriented transportation is sold at market-indexed, discounted or negotiated rates. The rates are applied to scheduled quantities for commodity and market-oriented transportation. Differences between scheduled quantities and actual measured quantities are reflected on transportation or balancing agreements during the month in which transportation service is provided and are not material.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent is subject to FERC regulations and, accordingly, certain revenue collected may be subject to possible refunds upon final FERC orders in pending regulated rate proceedings. The Respondent may record revenue that is subject to refund based on its best estimates of the final outcomes of such proceedings and other third party regulatory proceedings, advice of counsel and estimated total exposure, as well as collection and other risks. The Respondent had no earned revenue subject to refund for the years earned December 31, 2023 and 2022.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Income Taxes</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Berkshire Hathaway includes BHE and its subsidiaries in its United States federal income tax return. Consistent with established regulatory practice, the Respondent's provision for income taxes has been computed for each of the incremental project groups comprising the Respondent as if each were a distinct entity not included as a member of a consolidated tax return. Substantially all of the Respondent's respective currently payable or receivable income taxes are remitted to or received from BHE. </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are based on differences between the financial statement and income tax basis of assets and liabilities using estimated income tax rates expected to be in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities that are associated with components of other comprehensive income ("OCI") are charged or credited directly to OCI.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities that are associated with property-related basis differences and other various differences that the Respondent deems probable of being reflected in future regulatory rates, are charged or credited directly to a regulatory asset or liability and will be included in rates when the temporary differences reverse. Other changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities are included as a component of income tax expense. Changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities attributable to changes in enacted income tax rates are charged or credited to income tax expense or a regulatory asset or liability in the period of enactment. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred income tax assets to the amount that is more-likely-than-not to be realized.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In determining the Respondent's income taxes, management is required to interpret complex income tax laws and regulations, which includes consideration of regulatory implications imposed by the FERC. The Respondent's income tax returns are subject to continuous examinations by federal, state and local income tax authorities that may give rise to different interpretations of these complex laws and regulations. Due to the nature of the examination process, it generally takes years before these examinations are completed and these matters are resolved. The Respondent recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the Financial Statements from such a position are measured based </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">on the largest benefit that is more-likely-than-not of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Although the ultimate resolution of the Respondent's federal, state and local income tax examinations is uncertain, the Respondent believes it has made adequate provisions for these income tax positions. The aggregate amount of any additional income tax liabilities that may result from these examinations, if any, is not expected to have a material adverse impact on the Respondent's financial results. The Respondent's unrecognized tax liabilities are included in income taxes payable on the Balance Sheets. Estimated interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions are included as other interest expense and penalties, respectively, on the Statements of Income.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(3)</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Utility Plant, Net </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Utility plant, net consists of the following as of December 31 (in thousands):</span><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:56.529%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:16.085%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.985%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.307%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.985%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.309%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Depreciation</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Rates</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Transmission plant - Original and 2002 Expansion ("Rolled-in") system </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:6.47pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;position:relative;top:-3.48pt;vertical-align:baseline">(1)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1.15% to 2.48%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1,219,462 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1,203,663 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Transmission plant - 2003 and 2010 Expansion ("Incremental") system </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:6.47pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;position:relative;top:-3.48pt;vertical-align:baseline">(1)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1.80% to 2.25%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1,224,605</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1,221,420</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Transmission plant - Apex Expansion system </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:6.47pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;position:relative;top:-3.48pt;vertical-align:baseline">(1)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2.34%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">308,862</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">308,355</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Transmission plant - other</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">0.52% to 2.32%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">58,992</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">54,862</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Compressor engines</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">9.92%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">133,069</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">123,512</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Intangible plant </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:6.47pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;position:relative;top:-3.48pt;vertical-align:baseline">(2)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1.15% to 20.00%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">30,358</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">29,946</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">General plant</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">4.00% to 33.33%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">23,067</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">19,333</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Property under Capital Leases</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">7,359</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">8,317</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total operating assets</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3,005,774</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2,969,408</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Accumulated depreciation and amortization</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(1,625,389)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(1,580,349)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net operating assets</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1,380,385</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1,389,059</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Construction work-in-progress</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">106,071 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">39,736</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Utility plant, net</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1,486,456 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1,428,795 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr></table></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(1)    Includes recoverable line pack gas of $3.6 million, $7.3 million and $0.4 million for the Rolled-in, Incremental and Apex Expansion systems, respectively, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. Recoverable line pack gas is not depreciated.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(2) Includes costs for capitalized software development, contributions in aid of construction, and leasehold improvements.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent had gross costs for capitalized right of use or right of way of $74.7 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and accumulated amortization of $42.5 million and $41.3 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which is reflected in utility plant, net on the Balance Sheets. Capitalized right of use or right of way costs are amortized at rates ranging from 1.15% to 2.48%. </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, depreciation expense of $61.9 million and $61.5 million, respectively, and amortization expense of $2.8 million and $2.6 million, respectively, were included in depreciation expense and amortization and depletion of utility plant, respectively, on the Statements of Income. The Respondent expects amortization expense to be $3.0 million for 2024, $3.7 million for 2025 and $6.2 million for 2026, $6.1 million for 2027 and $6.3 million for 2028.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(4)</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Regulatory</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Matters</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Regulatory assets represent costs that are probable of being recovered in future regulated rates. The Respondent's regulatory assets reflected on the Balance Sheets consist of the following as of December 31 (in thousands):</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:48.094%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:14.859%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.410%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:14.712%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.410%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:14.715%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Remaining</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Life</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Levelized depreciation on utility plant </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:6.47pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;position:relative;top:-3.48pt;vertical-align:baseline">(1)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">26 years</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">33,645 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">35,462 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Deferred income taxes associated with equity AFUDC</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">26 years</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">15,808</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">14,111</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Deferred depreciation on incremental capital additions</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">166,064</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">150,503</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Other</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Various</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">4,372</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">4,677</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">219,889 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">204,753 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(1)    Levelized depreciation on utility plant is in a net asset position for the Apex Expansion.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent had regulatory assets not earning a return on investment of $4.4 million and $4.7 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Regulatory liabilities represent income to be recognized or amounts to be returned to eligible customers in future periods. The Respondent's regulatory liabilities reflected on the Balance Sheets consists of the following as of December 31 (in thousands):</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:48.094%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:14.859%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.410%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:14.712%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.410%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:14.715%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Remaining</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Life</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Levelized depreciation on utility plant </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:6.47pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;position:relative;top:-3.48pt;vertical-align:baseline">(1)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">26 years</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">230,266 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">244,689 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Excess deferred income taxes </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:6.47pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;position:relative;top:-3.48pt;vertical-align:baseline">(2)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Various</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">158,661 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">165,507 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Other</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Various</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">9,410 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">6,313 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">398,337 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">416,509 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(1)    Levelized depreciation on utility plant is in a net liability position for the Rolled-In, 2003/2010, Big Horn Expansion and High Desert systems.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(2)    Amounts represent income tax liabilities related to tax rate changes on deferred income tax assets and liabilities. </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(5)</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Fair Value Measurements </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The carrying value of cash, certain cash equivalents and receivables approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. The Respondent uses a three level hierarchy for determining fair value and a financial asset or liability classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Respondent has investments in money market mutual funds accounted for as available-for-sale securities, that are stated at fair value and are included in special deposits, temporary cash investments and other special funds on the Balance Sheets. The fair value of the Respondent's money market mutual funds, which approximates cost, was $24.0 million and $4.9 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Respondent also has investments in investment funds that are accounted for as trading securities, are stated at fair value and are included in other property and investments on the Balance Sheets. The fair value of the Respondent's investment funds was $6.4 million and $5.8 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Respondent considers these money market mutual funds and investment funds to be valued using Level 1 inputs, which are determined by using a readily observable quoted market price or net asset value of an identical security in an active market.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(6)</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Income Taxes</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Income tax expense consists of the following for the years ended December 31 (in thousands): </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:66.005%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:14.543%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.408%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:14.544%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Current:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Federal</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">42,172 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">45,209 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">State</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">7,856 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">7,614 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">50,028 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">52,823 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Deferred:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Federal</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(9,708)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(6,551)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">State</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(1,352)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(2,436)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(11,060)</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(8,987)</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">38,968 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">43,836 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to the effective income tax rate applicable to income before income tax expense is as follows for the years ended December 31:</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:66.005%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:14.543%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.408%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:14.544%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Federal statutory income tax rate</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">21.0 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">%</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">21.0 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">%</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">State income tax, net of federal income tax benefit</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.7</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">4.2</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Effects of ratemaking</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(2.4)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(2.2)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">State apportionment and rate changes</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(0.8)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(1.9)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Other</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(0.5)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Effective income tax rate</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">21.5 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">%</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">20.6 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">%</span></td></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The net deferred income tax liability consists of the following as of December 31 (in thousands):</span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:66.005%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:14.543%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.408%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:14.544%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Deferred income tax assets:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Regulatory liabilities</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">98,188 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">102,953 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Federal and state carryforwards</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">616</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">427</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Leases - ROU liability</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2,399 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2,691 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Contribution in aid of construction</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">5,277 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3,909 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Other</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2,982 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2,778 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total deferred income tax assets</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">109,462 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">112,758 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Deferred income tax liabilities:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Utility plant, net</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(287,173)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(298,704)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Regulatory assets</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(54,142)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(50,618)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Leases - ROU asset</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(1,814)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(2,056)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Other</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(3,072)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">4,117 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total deferred income tax liabilities</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(346,201)</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(347,261)</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net deferred income tax liability</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(236,739)</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(234,503)</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The following table provides the Respondent's net operating loss carryforwards and expiration dates as of December 31, 2023 (in thousands):</span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:66.005%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:14.543%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.408%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:14.544%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Federal</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">State</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net operating loss carryforwards</span></div></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2,177 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3,095 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Deferred income taxes on net operating loss carryforwards</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">457</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">159</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Expiration dates</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Indefinite</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2039 - Indefinite</span></div></td></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent has recognized a deferred tax valuation allowance of $86 thousand on net operating loss carryforward amounts that are not expected to be utilized prior to their expiration.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has closed or effectively settled its examination of the Company's income tax returns through December 31, 2013. The statute of limitations for the Company's income tax returns have expired for certain states through December 31, 2011, and for other states through December 31, 2019, except for the impact of any federal audit adjustments. The closure of examinations, or the expiration of the statute of limitations, for state filings may not preclude the state from adjusting the state net operating loss carryforward utilized in a year for which the statute of limitations is not closed.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent is a participant in benefit plans sponsored by MidAmerican Energy Company ("MEC"), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of BHE. The MidAmerican Energy Company Retirement Plan provides pension benefits for eligible employees ("pension plan") and the MidAmerican Energy Company Welfare Benefit Plan provides certain postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for eligible retirees ("other postretirement plan") on behalf of the Respondent. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2008 for the pension plan or after June 30, 2004 for the other postretirement plan are not eligible to participate. Benefit obligations under the pension plan are based on a cash balance arrangement for salaried employees. Under the other postretirement plan, certain employees may become eligible for these benefits if they reach retirement age while working for the Respondent. Effective January 1, 2012, MEC changed the medical benefits for all Medicare-eligible participants in its other postretirement benefit plan. Medicare-eligible participants now enroll in individual medical plans, rather than company-sponsored plans, under which MEC contributes fixed amounts to the participant's health reimbursement account.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Benefit obligations under the pension plan and other postretirement plans are determined for the Respondent's employees by an independent actuary.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Net Periodic Benefit Cost</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">For purposes of calculating the expected return on pension plan assets, a market-related value is used. The market-related value of plan assets is calculated by spreading the difference between expected and actual investment returns on equity investments over a five-year period beginning after the first year in which they occur. </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Net periodic benefit cost for the plans of MEC and its participating affiliates included the following components for the years ended December 31 (in millions):</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:53.215%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.804%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.436%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.804%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.436%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.382%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.436%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.387%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Other</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Pension</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Postretirement</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Service cost</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">10 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">15 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">5 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">8 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Interest cost</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">32</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">23</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">13</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">8</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Expected return on plan assets</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(30)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(27)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(14)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(14)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Curtailment</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(10)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Settlement</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(3)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">4</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net amortization</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(2)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net periodic benefit cost (credit)</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">9 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">6 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">4 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent's share of pension cost totaled $0.5 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Respondent's share of other postretirement cost totaled $(0.2) million for each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Funded Status</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The following table is a reconciliation of the fair value of plan assets for MEC and its participating affiliates for the years ended December 31 (in millions):</span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:99.851%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:52.998%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.822%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.439%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.822%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.439%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.394%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.588%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.398%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Other</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Pension</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Postretirement</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Plan assets at fair value, beginning of year</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">490 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">704 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">240 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">308 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Employer contributions</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">7</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">7</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Participant contributions</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Actual return on plan assets</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">64</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(130)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">51</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(58)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Settlement</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(57)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Benefits paid</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(45)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(34)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(17)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(14)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Plan assets at fair value, end of year</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">516 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">490 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">278 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">240 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent's total contributions to the pension plan and the other postretirement plan totaled $1.0 million and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the fair value of plan assets attributable to the Respondent in the pension plan was $8.7 million and $8.8 million, respectively, and the other postretirement plan was $14.7 million and $11.8 million, respectively. Amounts attributable to the Respondent were allocated from MEC to the Respondent in accordance with the intercompany administrative service agreement.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The following table is a reconciliation of the benefit obligations for MEC and its participating affiliates for the years ended December 31 (in millions):</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:53.066%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.804%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.436%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.804%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.436%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.382%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.585%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.387%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Other</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Pension</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Postretirement</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Benefit obligation, beginning of year</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">586 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">781 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">243 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">285 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Service cost</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">10</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">15</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">5</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">8</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Interest cost</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">32</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">23</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">13</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">8</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Participant contributions</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Actuarial (gain) loss</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">15</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(129)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(4)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(64)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Amendment</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(3)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">19</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Curtailment</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(10)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Settlement</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(57)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Acquisition</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Benefits paid</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(45)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(34)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(17)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(14)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Benefit obligation, end of year</span></div></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">598 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">586 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">241 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">243 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Accumulated benefit obligation, end of year</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">564 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">551 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">MEC paid benefits from the plans to the Respondent's participants totaling $2.0 million and $0.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the benefit obligation attributable to the Respondent for the pension plan was $11.9 million and $12.5 million, respectively, and for the other postretirement plan was $5.4 million and $5.6 million, respectively.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The funded status of the plans for MEC and its participating affiliates as of December 31 is as follows (in millions):</span><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:53.066%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.804%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.436%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.804%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.436%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.382%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.585%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.387%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Other</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Pension</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Postretirement</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Plan assets at fair value, end of year</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">516 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">490 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">278 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">240 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Less - benefit obligation, end of year</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">598</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">586</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">241</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">243</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Funded Status</span></div></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(82)</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(96)</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">37 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(3)</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Amounts recognized on the Balance Sheets:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Other assets</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">37 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Other current liabilities</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(8)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(8)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Other liabilities</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(77)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(88)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(3)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Amounts recognized</span></div></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(82)</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(96)</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">37 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(3)</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Respondent recorded in other long-term liabilities its portion of the under funded status of the pension plan of $3.2 million and $3.7 million, respectively and in other special funds its portion of the over funded status of the other postretirement plan of $9.4 million and $6.3 million, respectively. Amounts attributable to the Respondent were allocated from MEC to the Respondent in accordance with the intercompany administrative services agreement. Offsetting regulatory liabilities have been recorded related to the amounts not yet recognized as a component of net periodic benefit costs that will be included in regulated rates.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Unrecognized Amounts</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The portion of the funded status of the plans for MEC and its participating affiliates not yet recognized in net periodic benefit cost as of December 31 is as follows (in millions):</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:53.661%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.804%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.436%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.804%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.436%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.382%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.990%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.387%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Other</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Pension</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Postretirement</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net loss (gain)</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(19)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(4)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(30)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">11 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Prior service cost (credit)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(3)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(3)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">18</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">19</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(22)</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(7)</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(12)</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">30 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr></table></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">A reconciliation of the amounts not yet recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost for MEC and its participating affiliates for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 is as follows (in millions):</span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:41.945%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:11.930%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.410%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:11.930%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.410%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:11.930%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.410%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:11.935%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Receivables</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Regulatory</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Regulatory</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">(Payables)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Asset</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Liability</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Affiliates</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%;text-decoration:underline">Pension</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Balance, December 31, 2021</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">22 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(55)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">8 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(25)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net loss (gain) arising during the year</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(7)</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">58</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(25)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">26</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net prior service cost (credit) arising during the year</span></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">-3</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">-3</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Settlement</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(4)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(4)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net amortization</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(1)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(1)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(8)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">54</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(28)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">18</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Balance, December 31, 2022</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">14</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(1)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(20)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(7)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net loss (gain) arising during the year</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(22)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(18)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net prior service cost (credit) arising during the year</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Settlement</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net amortization</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(19)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(15)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Balance, December 31, 2023</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">16 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(20)</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(18)</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(22)</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:47.858%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.655%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.139%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.655%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.139%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.655%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.139%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.660%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Receivables</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Regulatory</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Regulatory</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">(Payables)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Asset</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Liability</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Affiliates</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%;text-decoration:underline">Other postretirement</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Balance, December 31, 2021</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">20 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(21)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(1)</span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net loss (gain) arising during the year</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">10</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">— </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(1)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">9</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net prior service cost (credit) arising during the year</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">19</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">19</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net amortization</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">13</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">— </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">18</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">31</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Balance, December 31, 2022</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">33</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">— </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(3)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">30</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net loss (gain) arising during the year</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(33)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">3 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(11)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(41)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net prior service cost (credit) arising during the year</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net amortization</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">1 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(2)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(1)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(33)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">4 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(13)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(42)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Balance, December 31, 2023</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">4 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(16)</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(12)</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Plan Assumptions</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Assumptions used to determine benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost for MEC and its participating affiliates were as follows:</span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:99.107%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:53.104%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.912%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.451%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.912%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.451%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.458%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.151%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.461%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Other</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Pension</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Postretirement</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Benefit obligations as of December 31,</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Discount rate</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">5.45%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">5.70%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">5.45%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">5.60%</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Rate of compensation increase</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.00%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.00%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Interest crediting rates for cash balance plan</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.50%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.74%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2024</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.50%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.74%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2025</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.50%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.74%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2026 and beyond</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.50%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.74%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Net periodic benefit cost for the years ended December 31:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Discount rate</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">5.70%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.05%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">5.60%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2.95%</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Expected return on plan assets </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:6.47pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;position:relative;top:-3.48pt;vertical-align:baseline">(1)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">6.35%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">4.30%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">6.80%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">5.30%</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Rate of compensation increase</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.00%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2.75%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Interest crediting rates for cash balance plan</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.50%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3.74%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">N/A</span></div></td></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(1)    Amounts reflected are pre-tax values. Assumed after-tax returns for a taxable, non-union other postretirement plan were 5.52% for     2023 and 4.21% for 2022.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">In establishing MEC's assumption as to the expected return on plan assets, MEC utilizes the expected asset allocation and return assumptions for each asset class based on historical performance and forward-looking views of the financial markets.</span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:73.863%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.613%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.410%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.614%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Assumed healthcare cost trend rates as of December 31:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Healthcare cost trend rate assumed for next year</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">6.20 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">%</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">6.50 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">%</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Rate that the cost trend rate gradually declines to</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">5.00 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">%</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">5.00 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">%</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Year that the rate reaches the rate it is assumed to remain at</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2028</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2028</span></div></td></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Contributions and Benefit Payments</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">MEC's contributions to its pension and other postretirement benefit plans are expected to be $8 million and $2 million, respectively, during 2023. Funding to MEC's pension benefit plan trust is based upon the actuarially determined costs of the plan and the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Pension Protection Act of 2006, as amended. MEC considers contributing additional amounts from time to time in order to achieve certain funding levels specified under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, as amended. MEC's funding policy for its other postretirement benefit plan is to generally contribute amounts consistent with its rate regulatory arrangements. The Respondent's contributions to the </span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">pension plan and the other postretirement plan are expected to be $0.4 million and $(0.4) million, respectively, during 2024.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Net periodic benefit costs assigned to MEC affiliates are reimbursed currently in accordance with the intercompany administrative services agreement. The expected benefit payments to participants in MEC's pension and other postretirement benefit plans for </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2024</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> through </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2028</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> and for the five years thereafter are summarized below (in millions):</span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:98.363%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:65.919%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:13.120%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.766%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:15.695%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Projected Benefit Payments</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Pension</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Other Postretirement</span></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2024</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">54 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">22 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2025</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">54</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">23</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2026</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">53</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">23</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2027</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">52</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">24</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2028</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">49</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">23</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2029-2033</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">226</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">107</span></div></td></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Plan Assets</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Investment Policy and Asset Allocations</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">MEC's investment policy for its pension and other postretirement benefit plans is to balance risk and return through a diversified portfolio of debt securities, equity securities, and other alternative investments. Maturities for debt securities are managed to targets consistent with prudent risk tolerances. The plans retain outside investment advisors to manage plan investments within the parameters outlined by the MidAmerican Energy Pension and Employee Benefit Plans Administrative Committee. The investment portfolio is managed in line with the investment policy with sufficient liquidity to meet near-term benefit payments. The return on assets assumption for each plan is based on a weighted-average of the expected historical performance for the types of assets in which the plans invest.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The target allocations (percentage of plan assets) for MEC's pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets are as follows as of </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">December 31, 2023</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">:</span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:57.465%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:18.812%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.410%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:18.813%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Pension</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Other Postretirement</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">%</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Debt securities</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:6.47pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;position:relative;top:-3.48pt;vertical-align:baseline"> (1)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">40-60</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">25-35</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Equity securities</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:6.47pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;position:relative;top:-3.48pt;vertical-align:baseline"> (1)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">30-60</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">65-75</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Other</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">0-15</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">0-5</span></div></td></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(1)    For purposes of target allocation percentages and consistent with the plans' investment policy, investment funds are allocated based on the underlying investments in debt and equity securities.</span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Fair Value Measurements</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">A financial asset or liability classification within the three levels of the fair value hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels are as follows:</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:14.5pt">Level 1 - Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that an entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:14.5pt">Level 2 - Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs).</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:14.5pt">Level 3 - Unobservable inputs reflect an entity's judgment about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability since limited market data exists. An entity develops these inputs based on the best information available, including its own data.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The following table presents the fair value of plan assets for MEC and its participating affiliates, by major category, for the defined benefit pension plan (in millions):</span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:56.489%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.530%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.436%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.530%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.139%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.530%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.436%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:10.810%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="15" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Input Levels for the Fair Value Measurements</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Level 1</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Level 2</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Level 3</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%;text-decoration:underline">As of December 31, 2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Cash equivalents</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">11 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">11 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Debt securities:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">U.S. government obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">25</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">25</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Corporate obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">110</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">110</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Municipal obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">6</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">6</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Agency, asset and mortgage-backed obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">14</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">14</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Equity securities:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">U.S. companies</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">65</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">65</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">International companies</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total assets in the fair value hierarchy</span></div></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">91 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">141 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">232</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Investment funds measured at net asset value</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:3pt double #000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:3pt double #000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:3pt double #000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">284</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total assets measured at fair value</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">516 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:3pt double #000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%;text-decoration:underline">As of December 31, 2022</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Cash equivalents</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">15 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">15 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Debt securities:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">U.S. government obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">22</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">22</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Corporate obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">135</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">135</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Municipal obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">10</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">10</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Agency, asset and mortgage-backed obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">13</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">13</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Equity securities:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">U.S. companies</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">71</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">71</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">International companies</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">—</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total assets in the fair value hierarchy</span></div></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">94 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">173 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">267</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Investment funds measured at net asset value</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:3pt double #000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:3pt double #000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:3pt double #000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">223</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total assets measured at fair value</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:3pt double #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:3pt double #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">490 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:3pt double #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(1)    Investment funds are comprised of mutual funds and collective trust funds. These funds consist of equity and debt securities of approximately 68% and 32%, respectively, for 2023 and 55% and 45%, respectively, for 2022. Additionally, these funds are invested in U.S. and international securities of approximately 93% and 7%, respectively, for 2023 and 97% and 3%, respectively, for 2022.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The following table presents the fair value of plan assets for MEC and its participating affiliates, by major category, for the defined benefit other postretirement plans (in millions):</span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:93.601%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:51.523%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:8.915%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.230%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:8.915%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.230%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:8.915%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.548%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:11.624%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="15" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Input Levels for the Fair Value Measurements</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Level 1</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Level 2</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Level 3</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%;text-decoration:underline">As of December 31, 2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Cash equivalents</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">9 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">9 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Debt securities:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:11.25pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">U.S. government obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:11.25pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Corporate obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">5</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">5</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:11.25pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Municipal obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">26</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">26</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:11.25pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Agency, asset and mortgage-backed obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">6</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">6</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Equity securities:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:11.25pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Investment funds </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:6.47pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;position:relative;top:-3.48pt;vertical-align:baseline">(1)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">230</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">230</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:11.25pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">241 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">37 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">278 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:3pt double #000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:3pt double #000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:3pt double #000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:3pt double #000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%;text-decoration:underline">As of December 31, 2022</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Cash equivalents</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">10 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">10 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Debt securities:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:11.25pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">U.S. government obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:11.25pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Corporate obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">3</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:11.25pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Municipal obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">22</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">22</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:11.25pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Agency, asset and mortgage-backed obligations</span></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Equity securities:</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:6.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Investment funds</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:6.47pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;position:relative;top:-3.48pt;vertical-align:baseline"> (1)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">201</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">0</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">0</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">201</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-indent:11.25pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">213 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">27 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">— </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">240 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(1)    Investment funds are comprised of mutual funds and collective trust funds. These funds consist of equity and debt securities of approximately 83% and 17%, respectively, for 2023 and 2022. Additionally, these funds are invested in U.S. and international securities of approximately 83% and 17%, respectively, for 2023 and 2022.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">When available, a readily observable quoted market price or net asset value of an identical security in an active market is used to record the fair value. In the absence of a quoted market price or net asset value of an identical security, the fair value is determined using pricing models or net asset values based on observable market inputs and quoted market prices of securities with similar characteristics. When observable market data is not available, the fair value is determined using unobservable inputs, such as estimated future cash flows, purchase multiples paid in other comparable third-party transactions or other information. </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent participates in the MEC sponsored defined contribution plan and contributed $0.9 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(8)</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Credit Risk</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent has a concentration of customers, which includes utilities, marketers and major oil and natural gas companies in California, Nevada, and Utah. This concentration of customers may impact the Respondent's overall exposure to credit risk in that the customer base may be similarly affected by changes in economic, industry, weather or other conditions. </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The following customers accounted for 10% or more of the Respondent's total revenues for the years ended December 31 or accounts receivable as of December 31:</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.139%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:35.953%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:12.739%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.883%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:12.739%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.883%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:12.739%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.883%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:12.742%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Revenue</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Accounts Receivable</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Nevada Power Company</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">19%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">16%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">20%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">9%</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Southern California Gas Company</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">12%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">10%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">13%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">9%</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Citadel</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">7%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">7%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">4%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">11%</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Hartree</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">9%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">7%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">11%</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">7%</span></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">As a general policy, collateral is not required for receivables from creditworthy customers. Customers' financial condition and creditworthiness are regularly evaluated, and historical losses have been minimal. In order to provide protection against credit risk, and as permitted by the terms of the Respondent's tariff, the Respondent has, among other alternatives, required customers that lack creditworthiness, as defined by the tariff, to provide letters of credit, cash security deposits or to establish separate legally restricted escrow funds to be held until these customers' creditworthiness can be demonstrated. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Respondent has reflected escrow funds of $- million and $0.2 million, respectively, in special deposits and $4.2 million and $4.7 million, respectively, in other special funds. The Respondent also had offsetting cash security deposit and escrow fund obligations of $4.2 million and $4.9 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, in customer deposits on the Balance Sheets. Letters of credit, not reflected on the Balance Sheets, were $105.8 million and $103.7 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(9)</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Commitments and Contingencies</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Legal Matters</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent is party to a variety of legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. The Respondent does not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material effect on its financial results. The Respondent is also involved in other kinds of legal actions, some of which assert or may assert claims or seek to impose fines, penalties and other costs in substantial amounts and are described below.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Leases and Easements</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent has non-cancelable operating leases primarily for computer equipment, office space and land. These leases generally require the Respondent to pay for insurance, taxes and maintenance applicable to the leased property. Certain leases contain renewal options for varying periods and escalation clauses for adjusting rent to reflect changes in price indices. The minimum payments under these leases as of December 31, 2023 were $1.7 million for the year 2024 and 2025, $1.8 million</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">for the year 2026 and 2027, $1.9 million for the year 2028 and $2.4 million for the years thereafter. The Respondent also has non-cancelable easements with minimum payment commitments as of December 31, 2023 of $0.8 million for the years 2024 through 2027, $0.9 million for the year 2028, and $10.6 million for the years thereafter.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:174%">(10)</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:174%">Revenue from Contracts with Customers</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The following table summarizes the Respondent's revenue from contracts with customers ("Customer Revenue") and revenue not considered Customer Revenue ("Other Revenue") (in thousands):</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:99.851%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:71.478%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:11.418%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:2.184%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:11.420%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Years Ended December 31,</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2023</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2022</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Customer Revenue</span></div></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">264,659 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">308,399 </span></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Other Revenue (1)</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">19,020</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">4,187</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">283,679 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">312,586 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(1)</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Other Revenue consists of revenue recognized in accordance with ASC 815, "Derivative and Hedging" and includes net payments to counterparties for the financial settlement of certain derivative contracts.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Remaining Performance Obligations</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The following table summarizes the Respondent's revenue it expects to recognize in future periods related to significant unsatisfied performance obligations for fixed contracts with expected durations in excess of one year as of December 31, 2023 (in thousands):</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:82.331%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:15.469%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Less than 12 months</span></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">214,907 </span></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">More than 12 months</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1,246,801</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Total</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom:3pt double #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">$</span></td><td style="border-bottom:3pt double #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">1,461,708 </span></td><td style="border-bottom:3pt double #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"/></tr></table></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(11)</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Other Related Party Transactions </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">BHE provides certain administrative and management services, including executive, financial, legal, and tax, to the Respondent. Expenses incurred by BHE and billed to the Respondent are based on the individual services and expense items provided and were $10.6 million and $3.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Income tax transactions with BHE resulted in net payments of $48.7 million and $48.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">MEC provides certain administrative and management services, including executive, financial, legal, human resources, payroll and tax, to the Respondent. Expenses incurred by MEC and billed to the Respondent are based on the individual services and expense items provided and were $1.7 million and $1.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Northern Natural Gas Company ("Northern"), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of BHE, provides certain administrative and management services, including executive, financial, regulatory, legal, information technology, human resources and procurement, to the Respondent. The Respondent was billed $2.1 million and $1.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, for these services.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Respondent had accounts payable to affiliates of $1.7 million and $1.1 million, respectively, which are reflected in accounts payable to associated companies on the Balance Sheets. The Respondent also had insignificant non-trade accounts receivable from affiliates as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, which are included in accounts receivable from associated companies on the Balance Sheets.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent provided natural gas transportation and other services to PacifiCorp, an indirect subsidiary of BHE, of $3.1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. PacifiCorp provided electricity and other services to the Respondent of $0.8 million and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. PacifiCorp provides certain administrative and management services, including information technology, legislative and financial, to the Respondent. Expenses incurred by PacifiCorp and billed to the Respondent are based on the individual services and expense items provided and were $0.3 million and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Respondent had net accounts receivable from PacifiCorp for intercompany transactions totaling $0.3 million, which is reflected in accounts receivable from associated companies on the Balance Sheets.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Respondent provided natural gas transportation and other services to Nevada Power Company ("Nevada Power"), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of BHE, of $50.2 million and $48.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Nevada Power provided electricity and other services to the Respondent of $0.2 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Respondent had net accounts receivable from Nevada Power for intercompany transactions totaling $4.3 million and $3.1 million, respectively, which is reflected in accounts receivable from associated companies on the Balance Sheets.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Respondent distributed dividends on common stock of $73.0 million and $121.0 million, respectively. The Respondent received contributions from parent of $9.0 million as of December 31, 2023.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(12)</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Subsequent Event</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Subsequent to December 31, 2023, the Respondent distributed dividends on common stock of $20 million and received contributions from parent of $10 million.</span></div>


