Other common atomic partitions of a density matrix can be applied equally well, to obtain Löwdin charges, for example. These decompositions are subject to the same variability with respect to the choice of AO basis set that characterizes ground-state Mulliken or Löwdin atomic charges, and are intended only to aid qualitative understanding. For reproducing electrostatic properties (such as dipole moments) of electronicallyexcited states, charges derived from the molecular electrostatic potential are much more reliable.