Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITY

NEP recognizes all derivative instruments, when required to be marked to market, on the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities and measures them at fair value each reporting period. In connection with certain of its debt financings, NEP entered into interest rate swap agreements to manage interest rate cash flow risk. Under the interest rate swap agreements, NEP pays a fixed rate of interest and receives a floating rate of interest over the term of the agreements without the exchange of the underlying notional amounts. These agreements allow NEP to offset the variability of its floating-rate loan interest cash flows with the variable interest cash flows received from the interest rate swap agreements. The commencement and termination dates of the interest rate swap agreements and the related hedging relationship coincide with the corresponding dates of the underlying variable-rate debt instruments, with maturity dates through 2033. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the combined notional amounts of the swap agreements were approximately $1,277 million and $361 million, respectively. In order to apply hedge accounting, the transactions must be designated as hedges and must be highly effective in offsetting the hedged risk. For interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges, generally NEP assesses a hedging instrument’s effectiveness by using non-statistical methods including dollar value comparisons of the change in the fair value of the derivative to the change in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. Hedge effectiveness is tested at the inception of the hedge and on at least a quarterly basis throughout the hedge’s life. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges are deferred and recorded as a component of AOCI. The amounts deferred in AOCI are recognized in earnings when the hedged transactions occur. Any amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness, as well as the ineffective portion of the gain or loss, is reported in current earnings. In January 2016, NEP discontinued hedge accounting for its cash flow hedges related to interest rate swap derivative instruments.

Approximately $9 million of net losses included in AOCI at December 31, 2015, is expected to be reclassified into interest expense within the next 12 months as interest payments are made. Such amount assumes no change in interest rates. Cash flows from these interest rate swap contracts are reported in cash flows from operating activities in NEP's consolidated statements of cash flows.

During 2015, NEP entered into certain foreign currency exchange contracts to economically hedge its cash flows from foreign currency rate fluctuations. As of December 31, 2015, the notional amount of the foreign currency contracts was approximately $54 million. During 2015, NEP recorded approximately $3 million of gains related to the foreign currency contracts in other - net in the consolidated statements of income.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments - The tables below present NEP's gross derivative positions at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, as required by disclosure rules, as well as the location of the net derivative position on the consolidated balance sheets.

	December 31, 2015
	Fair Values of Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments for Accounting Purposes - Gross Basis				Fair Values of Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments for Accounting Purposes - Gross Basis				Total Derivatives Combined - Net Basis
	Assets		Liabilities		Assets		Liabilities		Assets		Liabilities
	(millions)
Interest rate swaps	$	1	$	22	$	1	$	46	$	5	$	71
Foreign currency swaps	—		—		2		—		2		—
Total fair values	$	1	$	22	$	3	$	46	$	7	$	71
Net fair value by balance sheet line item:
Other current assets									$	2
Other non-current assets									5
Current derivative liabilities											$	22
Other non-current liabilities											49
Total derivatives									$	7	$	71

	December 31, 2014
	Fair Values of Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments for Accounting Purposes - Gross Basis				Fair Values of Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments for Accounting Purposes - Gross Basis				Total Derivatives Combined - Net Basis
	Assets		Liabilities		Assets		Liabilities		Assets		Liabilities
	(millions)
Interest rate swaps	$	2	$	11	$	—	$	—	$	5	$	14
Total fair values	$	2	$	11	$	—	$	—	$	5	$	14
Net fair value by balance sheet line item:
Other current assets									$	—
Other non-current assets									5
Current derivative liabilities											$	6
Other non-current liabilities											8
Total derivatives									$	5	$	14

Income Statement Impact of Derivative Instruments - Gains (losses) related to NEP's cash flow hedges are recorded in NEP's consolidated financial statements as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
	(millions)
Interest rate swaps:
Gains (losses) recognized in other comprehensive income	(15		)	(26		)	$	14
Losses reclassified from AOCI to net income(a)	$	6		$	6		$	5

____________________

(a) Included in interest expense.

During 2015, NEP recorded approximately $8 million of gains related to its interest rate swap agreements which were not designated as cash flow hedges. Such gains were reflected in interest expense in the consolidated statements of income.