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Significant Financing Transactions
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Significant Financing Transactions

Note 16. Significant Financing Transactions

Credit Facilities and Short-term Debt

The Companies use short-term debt to fund working capital requirements and as a bridge to long-term debt financings. The levels of borrowing may vary significantly during the course of the year, depending upon the timing and amount of cash requirements not satisfied by cash from operations. In addition, Dominion Energy utilizes cash and letters of credit to fund collateral requirements. Collateral requirements are impacted by commodity prices, hedging levels, Dominion Energy’s credit ratings and the credit quality of its counterparties.

Dominion Energy

At September 30, 2020, Dominion Energy’s commercial paper and letters of credit outstanding, as well as its capacity available under the credit facility, were as follows:

 

 

 

Facility

Limit

 

 

Outstanding

Commercial

Paper

 

 

Outstanding

Letters of

Credit

 

 

Facility

Capacity

Available

 

(millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joint revolving credit facility(1)(2)

 

$

6,000

 

 

$

2,113

 

 

$

96

 

 

$

3,791

 

 

(1)

This credit facility matures in March 2023 and can be used by the borrowers under the credit facility to support bank borrowings and the issuance of commercial paper, as well as to support up to a combined $2.0 billion of letters of credit.

(2)

In October 2020, the joint revolving credit facility was amended to remove Dominion Energy Gas as a co-borrower.

In addition to the credit facility mentioned above, Dominion Energy also has a credit facility which had an original stated maturity date of June 2020 and allowed Dominion Energy to issue up to approximately $21 million in letters of credit. In May 2020, the credit facility was amended to increase the facility capacity to approximately $30 million and extend the maturity date to June 2022. At September 30, 2020, Dominion Energy had $28 million in letters of credit outstanding under this agreement.

 

In March 2020, Dominion Energy entered into a $900 million 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement.  The agreement bears interest at a variable rate. At September 30, 2020, $225 million was outstanding under the agreement. The proceeds from these borrowings were used to provide for general working capital and other general corporate purposes.  The maximum allowed total debt to total capital ratio under the agreement is consistent with such allowed ratio under Dominion Energy’s joint revolving credit facility.

DESC and Questar Gas’ short-term financings are supported through access as co-borrowers to the joint revolving credit facility discussed above with the Companies.  At September 30, 2020, the sub-limits for DESC and Questar Gas were $500 million and $250 million, respectively.

In January 2020, DESC and GENCO applied to FERC for a two-year short-term borrowing authorization. In March 2020, FERC granted DESC authority through March 2021 to issue short-term indebtedness (pursuant to Section 204 of the Federal Power Act) in amounts not to exceed $2.2 billion outstanding with maturity dates of one year or less. In addition, in March 2020, FERC granted GENCO authority through March 2021 to issue short-term indebtedness not to exceed $200 million outstanding with maturity dates of one year or less.

In addition to the credit facilities mentioned above, SBL Holdco has $30 million of credit facilities which had an original stated maturity date of December 2017 with automatic one-year renewals through the maturity of the SBL Holdco term loan agreement in 2023. Dominion Solar Projects III, Inc. has $25 million of credit facilities which had an original stated maturity date of May 2018 with automatic one-year renewals through the maturity of the Dominion Solar Projects III, Inc. term loan agreement in 2024. At September 30, 2020, no amounts were outstanding under either of these facilities.

In March 2020, Dominion Energy borrowed $500 million under a 364-Day Term Loan Credit Agreement that bears interest at a variable rate. The proceeds were used to provide for general working capital and other general corporate purposes.  These borrowings are presented within securities due within one year in Dominion Energy’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2020. The maximum allowed total debt to total capital ratio under the agreement is consistent with such allowed ratio under Dominion Energy’s joint revolving credit facility.

In April 2020, Dominion Energy borrowed $625 million under a 364-Day Term Loan Credit Agreement that bore interest at a variable rate. The proceeds were used to provide for general working capital and other general corporate purposes. In June 2020, Dominion Energy repaid the outstanding balance in full.

 

In November 2017, Dominion Energy filed a SEC shelf registration statement for the sale of up to $3.0 billion of variable denomination floating rate demand notes, called Dominion Energy Reliability InvestmentSM. In October 2020, Dominion Energy filed a new SEC shelf registration statement associated with this program. The registration limits the principal amount that may be outstanding at any one time to $1.0 billion. The notes are offered on a continuous basis and bear interest at a floating rate per annum determined by the Dominion Energy Reliability Investment Committee, or its designee, on a weekly basis. The notes have no stated maturity date, are non-transferable and may be redeemed in whole or in part by Dominion Energy or at the investor’s option at any time. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, Dominion Energy’s Consolidated Balance Sheets include $215 million and $75 million, respectively, presented within short-term debt.  The proceeds are used for general corporate purposes and to repay debt.

 

Virginia Power

Virginia Power’s short-term financing is supported through its access as co-borrower to the joint revolving credit facility. This credit facility can be used for working capital, as support for the combined commercial paper programs of the borrowers under the credit facility and for other general corporate purposes.

At September 30, 2020, Virginia Power’s share of commercial paper and letters of credit outstanding under the joint revolving credit facility was as follows:

 

 

 

Facility

Limit(1)

 

 

Outstanding

Commercial

Paper

 

 

Outstanding

Letters of

Credit

 

(millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joint revolving credit facility(1)(2)

 

$

6,000

 

 

$

422

 

 

$

9

 

 

 

(1)

The full amount of the facility is available to Virginia Power, less any amounts outstanding to co-borrowers Dominion Energy, Questar Gas and DESC. The sub-limit for Virginia Power is set within the facility limit but can be changed at the option of the borrowers under the credit facility multiple times per year. At September 30, 2020, the sub-limit for Virginia Power was $1.5 billion. If Virginia Power has liquidity needs in excess of its sub-limit, the sub-limit may be changed or such needs may be satisfied through short-term intercompany borrowings from Dominion Energy. This credit facility matures in March 2023 and can be used to support bank borrowings and the issuance of commercial paper, as well as to support up to $2.0 billion (or the sub-limit, whichever is less) of letters of credit.

 

 

(2)

In October 2020, the joint revolving credit facility was amended to remove Dominion Energy Gas as a co-borrower.

 

Long-term Debt

Unless otherwise noted, the proceeds of long-term debt issuances were used for general corporate purposes and/or to repay short-term debt.

In February 2020, Dominion Energy redeemed the remaining principal outstanding of $111 million and $286 million of its June 2006 hybrids and its September 2006 hybrids, respectively, both of which would have otherwise matured in 2066. All purchases were conducted in compliance with the applicable RCC, each of which was terminated in February 2020. Expenses related to the early redemption of the hybrids were $10 million reflected within interest and related charges in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

In March 2020, SCANA redeemed its floating rate senior notes at the remaining principal balance of $66 million plus accrued interest. The notes would have otherwise matured in June 2034. Expenses related to the early redemption of the senior notes were $7 million reflected within interest and related charges in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

In March 2020, SCANA redeemed the remaining principal outstanding of $183 million of its 4.75% medium-term notes and $155 million of its 4.125% medium-term notes plus accrued interest and make-whole premiums. The notes would have otherwise matured in May 2021 and February 2022, respectively.  Total expenses related to the early redemption of the medium-term notes were $14 million reflected within interest and related charges in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

 

In March 2020, Dominion Energy issued $400 million of 3.30% senior notes and $350 million of 3.60% senior notes that mature in 2025 and 2027, respectively.

In March 2020, PSNC issued, through private placement, $200 million of 4.05% senior notes that mature in 2030.

 

In April 2020, Dominion Energy issued $1.5 billion of 3.375% senior notes that mature in 2030.

 

In April 2020, Dominion Energy purchased and canceled $7 million of its 2.579% junior subordinated notes that mature in July 2020. In June 2020, Dominion Energy prepaid the remaining balance of $993 million.

 

In June 2020, East Ohio issued, through private placement, $500 million of 1.30% senior notes, $500 million of 2.00% senior notes and $800 million of 3.00% senior notes that mature in 2025, 2030 and 2050, respectively. East Ohio used the proceeds from this offering to repay intercompany promissory notes with Dominion Energy Gas and a portion of its intercompany revolving credit agreement balance with Dominion Energy.

 

In June 2020, Virginia Power remarketed one series of tax-exempt bonds, with an aggregate outstanding principal of $105 million to new investors. The bonds will bear interest at a coupon rate of 1.20% until May 2024, after which they will bear interest at a market rate to be determined at that time.

 

In September 2020, Virginia Power remarketed three series of tax-exempt bonds, with an aggregate outstanding principal of $322 million to new investors. One of the bonds will bear interest at a coupon rate of 0.45% until April 2022, after which it will bear interest at a market rate to be determined at that time. Two of the bonds will bear interest at a coupon rate of 0.75% until September 2025, after which they will bear interest at a market rate to be determined at that time.

 

In September 2020, Dominion Energy issued $1.0 billion of floating rate senior notes that mature in 2023.

 

Derivative Restructuring

 

In June 2020, Dominion Energy amended a portfolio of interest rate swaps with a notional value of $2.0 billion, extending the mandatory termination dates from 2020 and 2021 to December 2024. The transaction is viewed as a noncash financing activity with an embedded interest rate swap. As a result, in June 2020, Dominion Energy recorded $326 million in other long-term debt, representing the net present value of the initial fair value measurement of the new contract with an imputed interest rate of 1.19%, in its Consolidated Balance Sheets with an embedded interest rate derivative that had a fair value of zero at inception.

 

In August 2020, Virginia Power amended a portfolio of interest rate swaps with a notional value of $900 million, extending the mandatory termination dates from 2020 to December 2023. The transaction is viewed as a noncash financing activity with an embedded interest rate swap. As a result, in August 2020, Virginia Power recorded $443 million in other long-term debt, representing the net present value of the initial fair value measurement of the new contract with an imputed interest rate of 0.34%, in its Consolidated Balance Sheets with an embedded interest rate derivative that had a fair value of zero at inception. The interest rate swaps were in a hedge relationship prior to the transaction. Virginia Power de-designated the hedge relationships prior to the transaction and then designated the new interest rate swap in a hedge relationship after the transaction.

 

Noncontrolling Interest in Dominion Energy Midstream

 

 

In January 2019, Dominion Energy and Dominion Energy Midstream closed on an agreement and plan of merger pursuant to which Dominion Energy acquired each outstanding common unit representing limited partner interests in Dominion Energy Midstream not already owned by Dominion Energy through the issuance of 22.5 million shares of common stock valued at $1.6 billion. Under the terms of the agreement and plan of merger, each publicly held outstanding common unit representing limited partner interests in Dominion Energy Midstream was converted into the right to receive 0.2492 shares of Dominion Energy common stock. Immediately prior to the closing, each Series A Preferred Unit representing limited partner interests in Dominion Energy Midstream was converted into common units representing limited partner interests in Dominion Energy Midstream in accordance with the terms of Dominion Energy Midstream’s partnership agreement. The merger was accounted for by Dominion Energy following the guidance for a change in a parent company’s ownership interest in a consolidated subsidiary. Because Dominion Energy controls Dominion Energy Midstream both before and after the merger, the changes in Dominion Energy’s ownership interest in Dominion Energy Midstream were accounted for as an equity transaction and no gain or loss was recognized. In connection with the merger, Dominion Energy recognized $40 million of income taxes in equity primarily attributable to establishing additional regulatory liabilities related to excess deferred income taxes and changes in state income taxes.

 

2019 Corporate Units

In June 2019, Dominion Energy issued $1.6 billion of 2019 Equity Units, initially in the form of 2019 Series A Corporate Units. The Corporate Units are listed on the NYSE under the symbol DCUE. The net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes and to repay short-term debt, including commercial paper.

Each 2019 Series A Corporate Unit consists of a stock purchase contract and a 1/10, or 10%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in one share of Series A Preferred Stock. Beginning in June 2022, the Series A Preferred Stock is convertible at the option of the holder into Dominion Energy common stock under a formula based upon the average closing price of Dominion Energy common stock prior to the conversion date. The Series A Preferred Stock is redeemable in cash by Dominion Energy beginning September 2022 at the liquidation preference. Settlement of any conversion is payable in cash, common stock or a combination thereof, at Dominion Energy’s election.

The stock purchase contracts obligate the holders to purchase shares of Dominion Energy common stock in June 2022. The purchase price to be paid under the stock purchase contracts is $100 per Corporate Unit and the number of shares to be purchased will be determined under a formula based upon the average closing price of Dominion Energy common stock near the settlement date. The Series A Preferred Stock was pledged upon issuance as collateral to secure the purchase of common stock under the related stock purchase contracts.

Dominion Energy pays cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock and quarterly contract adjustment payments on the stock purchase contracts, at the rates described below. Dominion Energy may elect to pay such dividends and/or payments in cash, shares of Dominion Energy common stock or a combination of cash and shares of Dominion Energy common stock.  Dominion Energy may defer the contract adjustment payments for one or more consecutive periods but generally not beyond the purchase contract settlement date. If payments are deferred, Dominion Energy may not make any distributions related to its capital stock, including dividends, redemptions, repurchases or liquidation payments. Also, during the deferral period, Dominion Energy may not make any payments on or redeem, repay or repurchase any debt securities that are equal in right of payment with, or subordinated to, the contract adjustment payments or make any payment on any guarantee of a security of a subsidiary if the guarantee ranks equal or junior to the contract adjustment payments.  Unless all accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock have been declared and paid, Dominion Energy may not make any distributions on any of its capital stock ranking equal or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, as applicable, including dividends, redemptions, repurchases or liquidation payments.  In such circumstances, Dominion Energy also may not make any contract adjustment payments or other similar types of payments, subject to certain exceptions.

Dominion Energy has recorded the present value of the stock purchase contract payments as a liability offset to common stock. Stock purchase contract payments are recorded against this liability. Accretion of the stock purchase contract liability is recorded as imputed interest expense. In calculating diluted EPS, Dominion Energy applies the treasury stock method to the stock purchase contracts and the if-converted method to the Series A Preferred Stock. Under the terms of the stock purchase contracts, assuming no anti-dilution or other adjustments, the maximum number of shares of common stock Dominion Energy will issue in June 2022 is 21.8 million.

Selected information about Dominion Energy’s 2019 Equity Units is presented below:

 

Issuance Date

 

Units Issued

 

Total Net

Proceeds(1)

 

 

Total

Preferred

Stock (2)

 

 

Cumulative

Dividend

Rate

 

 

Stock

Purchase

Contract

Annual Rate

 

 

Stock

Purchase

Contract

Liability(3)

 

 

Stock Purchase

Contract

Settlement Date

(millions except interest rates)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6/14/2019

 

16

 

$

1,582

 

 

$

1,610

 

 

 

1.75

%

 

 

5.5

%

 

$

250

 

 

6/1/2022

 

(1)

Issuance costs of $28 million were recorded as a reduction to preferred stock ($14 million) and common stock ($14 million) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(2)

Dominion Energy recorded dividends of $7 million ($4.375 per share) and $21 million ($13.125 per share) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

(3)

Payments of $62 million and $17 million were made during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The stock purchase contract liability was $150 million and $212 million at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

 

Series B Preferred Stock

In December 2019, Dominion Energy issued 800,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock for $791 million, net of $9 million of issuance costs. The preferred stock has a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share and currently pays a 4.65% dividend per share on the liquidation preference. Dividends are paid cumulatively on a semi-annual basis, commencing June 15, 2020. Dominion Energy recorded dividends of $9 million ($11.625 per share) and $27 million ($34.875 per share) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. The dividend rate for the Series B Preferred Stock will be reset every five years beginning on December 15, 2024 to equal the then-current five-year U.S. Treasury rate plus a spread of 2.993%. Unless all accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock have been declared and paid, Dominion Energy may not make any distributions on any of its capital stock ranking equal or junior to the Series B Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, including through dividends, redemptions, repurchases or otherwise.

Dominion Energy may, at its option, redeem the Series B Preferred Stock in whole or in part on December 15, 2024 or on any subsequent fifth anniversary of such date at a price equal to $1,000 per share plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends. Dominion Energy may also, at its option, redeem the Series B Preferred Stock in whole but not in part at a price equal to $1,020 per share plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends at any time within a certain period of time following any change in the criteria ratings agencies use to assign equity credit to securities such as the Series B Preferred Stock that has certain adverse effects on the equity credit actually received by the Series B Preferred Stock.

Holders of the Series B Preferred Stock have no voting rights except in the limited circumstances provided for in the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock or as otherwise required by applicable law. The Series B Preferred Stock is not subject to any sinking fund or other obligation of Dominion Energy’s to redeem, repurchase or retire the Series B Preferred Stock. The preferred stock contains no conversion rights.

 

 

Issuance of Common Stock

See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information on the issuance of Dominion Energy common stock in January 2019 in connection with the SCANA Combination. Also in January 2019, Dominion Energy acquired all outstanding partnership interests of Dominion Energy Midstream not owned by Dominion Energy through the issuance of common stock as noted above.

Dominion Energy maintains Dominion Energy Direct® and a number of employee savings plans through which contributions may be invested in Dominion Energy’s common stock. These shares may either be newly issued or purchased on the open market with proceeds contributed to these plans. In August 2020, Dominion Energy began purchasing its common stock on the open market for these direct stock purchase plans.

In September 2020, Dominion Energy issued 4.1 million shares of its common stock to satisfy its obligation under a settlement agreement for the Santee Cooper Ratepayer Case discussed in Note 17. These shares were immediately repurchased as discussed below.

 

At-the-Market Program

 

In June 2017, Dominion Energy filed an SEC shelf registration statement for the sale of debt and equity securities including the ability to sell common stock through an at-the-market program as discussed in Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Companies’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. In March 2020, Dominion Energy entered into four separate sales agency agreements to effect sales under a new at-the-market program and pursuant to which it had the ability to offer from time to time up to $500 million aggregate amount of its common stock. Dominion Energy did not issue any shares under this program which expired in June 2020. In June 2020, Dominion Energy filed a new shelf registration statement for the sale of debt and equity securities including the ability to sell common stock through an at-the-market program. In August 2020, Dominion Energy entered into five separate sales agency agreements to effect sales under a new at-the-market program. Under the sales agency agreements, Dominion Energy may, from time to time, offer and sell shares of its common stock through the sales agents or enter into one or more forward sale agreements with respect to shares of its common stock. Sales by Dominion Energy through the sales agents or by forward sellers pursuant to a forward sale agreement cannot exceed $1.0 billion in the aggregate. Dominion Energy has not issued any shares or entered into any forward sale agreements under this new program.

 

Repurchase of Common Stock

In July 2020, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $3.0 billion of Dominion Energy’s common stock and rescinded the prior two authorizations from 2005 and 2007.  The repurchase program does not include a specific timetable or price or volume targets and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time. Shares may be purchased through open market or privately negotiated transactions or otherwise at the discretion of management subject to prevailing market conditions, applicable securities laws and other factors.  In August 2020, Dominion Energy began repurchasing shares under an open market agreement with a financial institution.  During the third quarter of 2020, Dominion Energy repurchased 7.2 million shares of Dominion Energy common stock for $562 million.

In September 2020, Dominion Energy entered into two prepaid accelerated share repurchase agreements with separate financial institutions as counterparties.  Dominion Energy made payments totaling $1.5 billion to the counterparties in exchange for an aggregate of approximately 17.2 million shares of Dominion Energy common stock, which represents approximately 90% of $1.5 billion worth of Dominion Energy shares based on the closing price of such shares on the date the agreements were executed.  Dominion Energy recorded a reduction to common stock of $1.5 billion during the third quarter of 2020. Dominion Energy anticipates that the total final number of shares repurchased under the terms of the agreements will be determined by December 2020.  Such number will be based on the average of the daily volume-weighted average stock prices of Dominion Energy’s common stock during the term of the applicable purchase period, less a discount.

In September 2020, Dominion Energy repurchased 4.1 million shares of Dominion Energy common stock in a private transaction for $323 million.

In November 2020, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $1.0 billion of Dominion Energy’s common stock in addition to the repurchase program authorized in July 2020. The repurchase program does not include a specific timetable or price or volume targets and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time. Shares may be purchased through the open market or

privately negotiated transactions or otherwise at the discretion of management subject to prevailing market conditions, applicable securities laws and other factors.

 

Dividend Restrictions

At September 30, 2020, DESC’s retained earnings exceed the balance established by the Federal Power Act as a reserve on earnings attributable to hydroelectric generation plants. As a result, DESC is permitted to pay dividends without additional regulatory approval provided that such amounts would not bring the retained earnings balance below the threshold. There have been no other significant changes to dividend restrictions affecting the Companies described in Note 21, to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Companies’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.