VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

A VIE is an entity that is evaluated for consolidation using more than a simple analysis of voting control. The analysis to determine whether an entity is a VIE considers contracts with an entity, credit support for an entity, the adequacy of the equity investment of an entity, and the relationship of voting power to the amount of equity invested in an entity. This analysis is performed either upon the creation of a legal entity or upon the occurrence of an event requiring reevaluation, such as a significant change in an entity’s assets or activities. A qualitative analysis of control determines the party that consolidates a VIE. This assessment is based on (i) what party has the power to direct the most significant activities of the VIE that impact its economic performance, and (ii) what party has rights to receive benefits or is obligated to absorb losses that are significant to the VIE. The analysis of the party that consolidates a VIE is a continual reassessment.

No financial support was provided to any of the consolidated VIEs during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, or is expected to be provided in the future, that was not previously contractually required.

CONSOLIDATED VIEs

The following tables summarize the impact of VIEs consolidated by Duke Energy and the Subsidiary Registrants on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.



	December 31, 2014
	Duke Energy
	Duke Energy Carolinas		Duke Energy Progress		Duke Energy Florida
(in millions)	DERF		DEPR^(c)		DEFR^(c)		CRC		Renewables			Other			Total
ASSETS
Current Assets
Restricted receivables of variable interest entities (net of allowance for doubtful accounts)	$	647	$	436	$	305	$	547	$	20		$	18		$	1,973
Other	—		—		—		—		68			6			74
Investments and Other Assets
Other	—		—		—		—		25			25			50
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment, cost^(a)	—		—		—		—		1,855			18			1,873
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	—		—		—		—		(250		)	(5		)	(255		)
Regulatory Assets and Deferred Debits
Other	—		—		—		—		34			2			36
Total assets	$	647	$	436	$	305	$	547	$	1,752		$	64		$	3,751
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	—		—		—		—		3			—			3
Taxes accrued	—		—		—		—		6			—			6
Current maturities of long-term debt	—		—		—		—		68			16			84
Other	—		—		—		—		16			5			21
Long-Term Debt^(b)	400		300		225		325		967			17			2,234
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities
Deferred income taxes	—		—		—		—		283			—			283
Asset retirement obligations	—		—		—		—		29			—			29
Other	—		—		—		—		34			4			38
Total liabilities	$	400	$	300	$	225	$	325	$	1,406		$	42		$	2,698
Net assets of consolidated variable interest entities	$	247	$	136	$	80	$	222	$	346		$	22		$	1,053


(a)	Restricted as collateral for non-recourse debt of VIEs.


(b)	Non-recourse to the general assets of the applicable registrant.


(c)	The amount for Progress Energy is equal to the amount for Duke Energy Progress Receivables Company, LLC (DEPR) and Duke Energy Florida Receivables Company, LLC (DEFR).



	December 31, 2013
	Duke Energy
	Duke Energy Carolinas		Duke Energy Progress
(in millions)	DERF		DEPR^(c)		CRC		Renewables			Other			Total
ASSETS
Current Assets
Restricted receivables of variable interest entities (net of allowance for doubtful accounts)	$	673	$	416	$	595	$	18		$	17		$	1,719
Other	—		—		—		89			12			101
Investments and Other Assets
Other	—		—		—		29			51			80
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment, cost^(a)	—		—		—		1,662			18			1,680
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	—		—		—		(170		)	(5		)	(175		)
Regulatory Assets and Deferred Debits
Other	1		1		—		34			—			36
Total assets	$	674	$	417	$	595	$	1,662		$	93		$	3,441
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	—		—		—		2			—			2
Taxes accrued	—		—		—		10			—			10
Current maturities of long-term debt	—		—		—		66			14			80
Other	—		—		—		17			10			27
Long-Term Debt^(b)	400		300		325		907			34			1,966
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities										—
Deferred income taxes	—		—		—		290			—			290
Asset retirement obligations	—		—		—		26			—			26
Other	1		—		—		17			13			31
Total liabilities	$	401	$	300	$	325	$	1,335		$	71		$	2,432
Net assets of consolidated variable interest entities	$	273	$	117	$	270	$	327		$	22		$	1,009


(a)	Restricted as collateral for non-recourse debt of VIEs.


(b)	Non-recourse to the general assets of the applicable registrant.


(c)	The amount Progress Energy is equal to the amount for DEPR.

The obligations of these VIEs are non-recourse to Duke Energy, Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Florida. These entities have no requirement to provide liquidity to, purchase assets of, or guarantee performance of these VIEs unless noted in the following paragraphs.

DERF / DEPR / DEFR

Duke Energy Receivables Finance Company, LLC (DERF), DEPR, and DEFR are bankruptcy remote, special purpose subsidiaries of Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress, and Duke Energy Florida, respectively. On a daily basis, DERF, DEPR, and DEFR buy certain accounts receivable arising from the sale of electricity and/or related services from their parent companies. DERF, DEPR, and DEFR are wholly owned limited liability companies with separate legal existence from their parents, and their assets are not generally available to creditors of their parent companies. DERF, DEPR, and DEFR borrow amounts under credit facilities to buy the receivables. Borrowing availability is limited to the amount of qualified receivables sold, which is generally expected to be in excess of the credit facilities. The credit facilities are reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Long-Term Debt. The secured credit facilities were not structured to meet the criteria for sale accounting treatment under the accounting guidance for transfers and servicing of financial assets.

The most significant activity that impacts the economic performance of DERF, DEPR, and DEFR are the decisions made to manage delinquent receivables. Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress, and Duke Energy Florida consolidate DERF, DEPR, and DEFR, respectively, as they make those decisions.

The following table outlines amounts and expiration dates of the credit facilities.



	DERF		DEPR		DEFR
Credit facility amount (in millions)	$	400	$	300	$	225
Expiration date	October 2016		December 2016		March 2017

CRC

On a revolving basis, CRC buys certain accounts receivable arising from the sale of electricity and/or related services from Duke Energy Ohio and Duke Energy Indiana. Receivables sold are securitized by CRC through a credit facility managed by two unrelated third parties. The proceeds Duke Energy Ohio and Duke Energy Indiana receive from the sale of receivables to CRC are typically 75 percent cash and 25 percent in the form of a subordinated note from CRC. The subordinated note is a retained interest in the receivables sold. Cash collections from the receivables are the sole source of funds to satisfy the related debt obligation. Depending on experience with collections, additional equity infusions to CRC may be required by Duke Energy to maintain a minimum equity balance of $3 million. There were no infusions to CRC during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. Borrowing availability is limited to the amount of qualified receivables sold, which is generally expected to be in excess of the credit facility. The credit facility expires in November 2016 and is reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Long-Term Debt.

CRC is considered a VIE because (i) equity capitalization is insufficient to support its operations, (ii) power to direct the most significant activities that impact economic performance of the entity are not performed by the equity holder, Cinergy, and (iii) deficiencies in net worth of CRC are not funded by Cinergy, but by Duke Energy. The most significant activity of CRC relates to the decisions made with respect to the management of delinquent receivables. Duke Energy consolidates CRC as it makes these decisions. Neither Duke Energy Ohio nor Duke Energy Indiana consolidate CRC.

Renewables

Certain of Duke Energy’s renewable energy facilities are VIEs due to long-term fixed price power purchase agreements. These fixed price agreements effectively transfer commodity price risk to the buyer of the power. Certain other of Duke Energy’s renewable energy facilities are VIEs due to Duke Energy issuing guarantees for debt service and operations and maintenance reserves in support of debt financings. For certain VIEs, assets are restricted and cannot be pledged as collateral or sold to third parties without prior approval of debt holders. The most significant activities that impact the economic performance of these renewable energy facilities were decisions associated with siting, negotiating purchase power agreements, engineering, procurement and construction, and decisions associated with ongoing operations and maintenance-related activities. Duke Energy consolidates the entities as it makes all of these decisions.

NON-CONSOLIDATED VIEs

The tables below show VIEs not consolidated and how these entities impact the Consolidated Balance Sheets.



	December 31, 2014
	Duke Energy
(in millions)	Renewables		Other		Total		Duke Energy Ohio		Duke Energy Indiana
Receivables	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	91	$	113
Investments in equity method unconsolidated affiliates	150		38		188		—		—
Investments and other assets	—		4		4		—		—
Total assets^(a)	$	150	$	42	$	192	$	91	$	113
Other current liabilities	—		3		3		—		—
Deferred credits and other liabilities	—		14		14		—		—
Total liabilities	$	—	$	17	$	17	$	—	$	—
Net assets (liabilities)	$	150	$	25	$	175	$	91	$	113


(a)	Duke Energy Ohio recorded a pretax impairment charge of $94 million related to OVEC.



	December 31, 2013
	Duke Energy
(in millions)	Renewables		Other		Total		Duke Energy Ohio		Duke Energy Indiana
Receivables	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	114	$	143
Investments in equity method unconsolidated affiliates	153		60		213		—		—
Intangibles	—		96		96		96		—
Investments and other assets	—		4		4		—		—
Total assets	$	153	$	160	$	313	$	210	$	143
Other current liabilities	—		3		3		—		—
Deferred credits and other liabilities	—		15		15		—		—
Total liabilities	$	—	$	18	$	18	$	—	$	—
Net assets	$	153	$	142	$	295	$	210	$	143

The Duke Energy Registrants are not aware of any situations where the maximum exposure to loss significantly exceeds the carrying values shown above except for the power purchase agreement with OVEC, which is discussed below, and various guarantees, some of which are reflected in the table above as Deferred credits and other liabilities. For more information on various guarantees, refer to Note 7, "Guarantees and Indemnifications."

Renewables

Duke Energy has investments in various renewable energy project entities. Some of these entities are VIEs due to long-term fixed price power purchase agreements. These fixed price agreements effectively transfer commodity price risk to the buyer of the power. Duke Energy does not consolidate these VIEs because power to direct and control key activities is shared jointly by Duke Energy and other owners.

Other

At December 31, 2013, the most significant of the Other non-consolidated VIEs was Duke Energy Ohio’s 9 percent ownership interest in OVEC. Through its ownership interest in OVEC, Duke Energy Ohio has a contractual arrangement to buy power from OVEC’s power plants through June 2040. The initial carrying value of this contract was recorded as an intangible asset when Duke Energy acquired Cinergy in April 2006. Proceeds from the sale of power by OVEC to its power purchase agreement counterparties are designed to be sufficient to meet its operating expenses, fixed costs, debt amortization and interest expense, as well as earn a return on equity. Accordingly, the value of this contract is subject to variability due to fluctuations in power prices and changes in OVEC’s costs of business, including costs associated with its 2,256 MW of coal-fired generation capacity. Proposed environmental rulemaking could increase the costs of OVEC, which would be passed through to Duke Energy Ohio. In 2014, Duke Energy recorded a $94 million impairment related to OVEC.

CRC

See discussion under Consolidated VIEs for additional information related to CRC.

Amounts included in Receivables in the above table for Duke Energy Ohio and Duke Energy Indiana reflect their retained interest in receivables sold to CRC. These subordinated notes held by Duke Energy Ohio and Duke Energy Indiana are stated at fair value. Carrying values of retained interests are determined by allocating carrying value of the receivables between assets sold and interests retained based on relative fair value. The allocated bases of the subordinated notes are not materially different than their face value because (i) the receivables generally turnover in less than two months, (ii) credit losses are reasonably predictable due to the broad customer base and lack of significant concentration, and (iii) the equity in CRC is subordinate to all retained interests and thus would absorb losses first. The hypothetical effect on fair value of the retained interests assuming both a 10 percent and a 20 percent unfavorable variation in credit losses or discount rates is not material due to the short turnover of receivables and historically low credit loss history. Interest accrues to Duke Energy Ohio and Duke Energy Indiana on the retained interests using the acceptable yield method. This method generally approximates the stated rate on the notes since the allocated basis and the face value are nearly equivalent. An impairment charge is recorded against the carrying value of both retained interests and purchased beneficial interest whenever it is determined that an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred.

Key assumptions used in estimating fair value are detailed in the following table.



	Duke Energy Ohio				Duke Energy Indiana
	2014		2013		2014		2013
Anticipated credit loss ratio	0.6	%	0.6	%	0.3	%	0.3	%
Discount rate	1.2	%	1.2	%	1.2	%	1.2	%
Receivable turnover rate	12.8	%	12.8	%	10.5	%	10.3	%

The following table shows the gross and net receivables sold.



	Duke Energy Ohio				Duke Energy Indiana
(in millions)	2014		2013		2014		2013
Receivables sold	$	273	$	290	$	310	$	340
Less: Retained interests	91		114		113		143
Net receivables sold	$	182	$	176	$	197	$	197

The following table shows sales and cash flows related to receivables sold.



	Duke Energy Ohio						Duke Energy Indiana
	Years Ended December 31,						Years Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2014		2013		2012		2014		2013		2012
Sales
Receivables sold	$	2,246	$	2,251	$	2,154	$	2,913	$	2,985	$	2,773
Loss recognized on sale	11		12		13		11		11		12
Cash Flows
Cash proceeds from receivables sold	2,261		2,220		2,172		2,932		2,944		2,784
Collection fees received	1		1		1		1		1		1
Return received on retained interests	4		5		5		6		6		7

Cash flows from the sales of receivables are reflected within Operating Activities on Duke Energy Ohio’s and Duke Energy Indiana’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Collection fees received in connection with servicing transferred accounts receivable are included in Operation, maintenance and other on Duke Energy Ohio’s and Duke Energy Indiana’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income. The loss recognized on sales of receivables is calculated monthly by multiplying receivables sold during the month by the required discount. The required discount is derived monthly utilizing a three-year weighted average formula that considers charge-off history, late charge history and turnover history on the sold receivables, as well as a component for the time value of money. The discount rate, or component for the time value of money, is the prior month-end LIBOR plus a fixed rate of 1.00 percent.