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Unconsolidated Affiliate (CenterPoint Energy and CERC)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
Unconsolidated Affiliate (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) [Text Block]
Unconsolidated Affiliates (CenterPoint Energy and CERC)

CenterPoint Energy has the ability to significantly influence the operating and financial policies of Enable, a publicly traded MLP, and, accordingly, accounts for its investment in Enable’s common units using the equity method of accounting. Enable is considered to be a VIE because the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Enable’s economic performance does not reside with the holders of equity investment at risk. However, CenterPoint Energy is not considered the primary beneficiary of Enable since it does not have the power to direct the activities of Enable that are considered most significant to the economic performance of Enable. As of March 31, 2019, CenterPoint Energy’s maximum exposure to loss related to Enable is limited to its investment in unconsolidated affiliate, its investment in Enable Series A Preferred Units and outstanding current accounts receivable from Enable.

Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliates (CenterPoint Energy):
 
 
March 31,
2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
 
(in millions)
Enable
 
$
2,470

 
$
2,482

Other (1)
 
1

 

  Total
 
$
2,471

 
$
2,482


(1)
Represents the equity investment in ProLiance Holdings, LLC related primarily to an investment in LA Storage, LLC, a joint venture in a development project for salt-cavern natural gas storage, which was acquired in the Merger. This presentation reflects preliminary fair value of the equity investment and is subject to change. See Note 3.

Limited Partner Interest and Units Held in Enable (CenterPoint Energy):
 
March 31, 2019
 
Limited Partner Interest (1)
 
Common Units (2)
 
Enable Series A Preferred Units (3)
CenterPoint Energy
53.8
%
 
233,856,623

 
14,520,000

OGE
25.5
%
 
110,982,805

 

Public unitholders
20.7
%
 
90,231,807

 

        Total units outstanding
100.0
%
 
435,071,235

 
14,520,000


(1)
Excludes the Enable Series A Preferred Units owned by CenterPoint Energy.

(2)
Held indirectly through CNP Midstream by CenterPoint Energy.

(3)
The carrying amount of the Enable Series A Preferred Units, reflected as Preferred units - unconsolidated affiliate on CenterPoint Energy’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, was $363 million as of both March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. No impairment charges or adjustment due to observable price changes were made during the current or prior reporting periods.

Generally, sales to any person or entity (including a series of sales to the same person or entity) of more than 5% of the aggregate of the common units CenterPoint Energy owns in Enable or sales to any person or entity (including a series of sales to the same person or entity) by OGE of more than 5% of the aggregate of the common units it owns in Enable are subject to mutual rights of first offer and first refusal set forth in Enable’s Agreement of Limited Partnership.

Interests Held in Enable GP (CenterPoint Energy):
 
March 31, 2019
 
Management Rights (1)
 
Incentive Distribution Rights (2)
CenterPoint Energy (3)
50
%
 
40
%
OGE
50
%
 
60
%

(1)
Enable is controlled jointly by CenterPoint Energy and OGE. Sale of CenterPoint Energy’s or OGE’s ownership interests in Enable GP to a third party is subject to mutual rights of first offer and first refusal, and CenterPoint Energy is not permitted to dispose of less than all of its interest in Enable GP.

(2)
Enable is expected to pay a minimum quarterly distribution of $0.2875 per common unit on its outstanding common units to the extent it has sufficient cash from operations after establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including payments to Enable GP and its affiliates, within 60 days after the end of each quarter. If cash distributions to Enable’s unitholders exceed $0.330625 per common unit in any quarter, Enable GP will receive increasing percentages or incentive distributions rights, up to 50%, of the cash Enable distributes in excess of that amount. In certain circumstances Enable GP will have the right to reset the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels at which the incentive distributions receive increasing percentages to higher levels based on Enable’s cash distributions at the time of the exercise of this reset election. To date, no incentive distributions have been made.

(3)
Held indirectly through CNP Midstream.

Distributions Received from Enable (CenterPoint Energy and CERC):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
Per Unit
 
Cash Distribution
 
Per Unit
 
Cash Distribution
 
 
(in millions, except per unit amounts)
 
Enable common units 
$
0.3180

 
$
74

 
$
0.3180

 
$
74

(1)
Enable Series A Preferred Units
0.6250

 
9

 
0.6250

 
9

 
  Total CenterPoint Energy
 
 
$
83

 
 
 
$
83

 

(1)
Prior to the Internal Spin in September 2018, distributions from Enable were received by CERC. After such date, distributions from Enable were received by CenterPoint Energy.
Transactions with Enable (CenterPoint Energy and CERC):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy and CERC
 
 
 
Natural gas expenses, including transportation and storage costs (1)
$
35

 
$
37

CenterPoint Energy
 
 
 
Reimbursement of transition services (2)
$
2

 
$
2


(1)
Included in Non-utility costs of revenues, including natural gas on CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s respective Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income.

(2)
Represents amounts billed under the Transition Agreements for certain support services provided to Enable. Actual transition services costs are recorded net of reimbursement.
 
March 31,
2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy and CERC
 
 
 
Accounts payable for natural gas purchases from Enable
$
11

 
$
11

CenterPoint Energy
 
 
 
Accounts receivable for amounts billed for transition services
$
2

 
$
2



CERC’s continuing involvement with Enable subsequent to the Internal Spin described below is limited to its natural gas purchases from Enable.

Summarized unaudited consolidated income information for Enable is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019

2018
 
(in millions)
Operating revenues
$
795

 
$
748

Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization
378

 
375

Depreciation and amortization
105

 
96

Operating income
165

 
139

Net income attributable to Enable common units
113

 
105

Reconciliation of Equity in Earnings (Losses), net:
 
 
 
CenterPoint Energy’s interest
$
61

 
$
57

Basis difference amortization (1)
12

 
12

Loss on dilution, net of proportional basis difference recognition
(11
)
 

CenterPoint Energy’s equity in earnings, net
$
62

 
$
69


(1)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate includes CenterPoint Energy’s share of Enable earnings adjusted for the amortization of the basis difference of CenterPoint Energy’s original investment in Enable and its underlying equity in net assets of Enable. The basis difference is being amortized through the year 2048.

Summarized unaudited consolidated balance sheet information for Enable is as follows:
 
 
March 31,
2019

December 31, 2018
 
 
(in millions)
Current assets
 
$
402

 
$
449

Non-current assets
 
12,045

 
11,995

Current liabilities
 
1,941

 
1,615

Non-current liabilities
 
2,924

 
3,211

Non-controlling interest
 
37

 
38

Preferred equity
 
362

 
362

Enable partners’ equity
 
7,183

 
7,218

Reconciliation of Investment in Enable:
 
 
 
 
CenterPoint Energy’s ownership interest in Enable partners’ equity
 
$
3,861

 
$
3,896

CenterPoint Energy’s basis difference
 
(1,391
)
 
(1,414
)
CenterPoint Energy’s equity method investment in Enable
 
$
2,470

 
$
2,482



Discontinued Operations (CERC):

On September 4, 2018, CERC completed the Internal Spin. CERC executed the Internal Spin to, among other things, enhance the access of CERC and CenterPoint Energy to low cost debt and equity through increased transparency and understandability of the financial statements, improve CERC’s credit quality by eliminating the exposure to Enable’s midstream business and provide clarity of internal reporting and performance metrics to enhance management’s decision making for CERC and CNP Midstream.

The Internal Spin represents a significant strategic shift that has a material effect on CERC’s operations and financial results and, as a result, CERC’s distribution of its equity investment in Enable met the criteria for discontinued operations classification. CERC has no continuing involvement in the equity investment of Enable. Therefore, CERC’s equity in earnings and related income taxes have been classified as Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, in CERC’s Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income for the periods presented. The following table presents amounts included in Income from discontinued operations, net of tax in CERC’s Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income.
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
(in millions)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate, net
$
69

Income tax expense
17

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
$
52