Guarantees and Indemnifications

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Guarantees [Abstract]

Guarantees and Indemnifications

GUARANTEES AND INDEMNIFICATIONS

Duke Energy has various financial and performance guarantees and indemnifications with non-consolidated entities, which are issued in the normal course of business. As discussed below, these contracts include performance guarantees, standby letters of credit, debt guarantees and indemnifications. Duke Energy enters into these arrangements to facilitate commercial transactions with third parties by enhancing the value of the transaction to the third party. At December 31, 2020, Duke Energy does not believe conditions are likely for significant performance under these guarantees, except for ACP as described below. To the extent liabilities are incurred as a result of the activities covered by the guarantees, such liabilities are included on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

On January 2, 2007, Duke Energy completed the spin-off of its previously wholly owned natural gas businesses to shareholders. Guarantees issued by Duke Energy or its affiliates, or assigned to Duke Energy prior to the spin-off, remained with Duke Energy subsequent to the spin-off. Guarantees issued by Spectra Capital or its affiliates prior to the spin-off remained with Spectra Capital subsequent to the spin-off, except for guarantees that were later assigned to Duke Energy. Duke Energy has indemnified Spectra Capital against any losses incurred under certain of the guarantee obligations that remain with Spectra Capital. At December 31, 2020, the maximum potential amount of future payments associated with these guarantees were $56 million, the majority of which expires by 2028.

In October 2017, ACP executed a $3.4 billion revolving credit facility with a stated maturity date of October 2021. Duke Energy entered into a guarantee agreement to support its share of the ACP revolving credit facility. In July 2020, ACP reduced the size of the credit facility to $1.9 billion. Duke Energy's maximum exposure to loss under the terms of the guarantee is $860 million as of December 31, 2020. This amount represents 47% of the outstanding borrowings under the credit facility.

Duke Energy recognized the $860 million within Other Current Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2020, of which $95 million was previously recognized due the adoption of new guidance for credit losses effective January 1, 2020. See Notes 3 and 12 for more information. The remaining reserve for credit losses for financial guarantees of $4 million at December 31, 2020, is included within Other Noncurrent Liabilities on the Duke Energy's Consolidated Balance Sheets. Management considers financial guarantees for evaluation under this standard based on the anticipated amount outstanding at the time of default. The reserve for credit losses is based on the evaluation of the contingent components of financial guarantees. Management evaluates the risk of default, exposure and length of time remaining in the period for each contract.

In addition to the Spectra Capital and ACP revolving credit facility guarantees above, Duke Energy has issued performance guarantees to customers and other third parties that guarantee the payment and performance of other parties, including certain non-wholly owned entities, as well as guarantees of debt of certain non-consolidated entities. If such entities were to default on payments or performance, Duke Energy would be required under the guarantees to make payments on the obligations of these entities. The maximum potential amount of future payments required under these guarantees as of December 31, 2020, was $56 million of which $53 million expire between 2021 and 2030, with the remaining performance guarantees having no contractual expiration. Additionally, certain guarantees have uncapped maximum potential payments; however, Duke Energy does not believe these guarantees will have a material effect on its results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Duke Energy uses bank-issued standby letters of credit to secure the performance of wholly owned and non-wholly owned entities to a third party or customer. Under these arrangements, Duke Energy has payment obligations to the issuing bank that are triggered by a draw by the third party or customer due to the failure of the wholly owned or non-wholly owned entity to perform according to the terms of its underlying contract. At December 31, 2020, Duke Energy had issued a total of $566 million in letters of credit, which expire between 2021 and 2023. The unused amount under these letters of credit was $76 million.

Duke Energy recognized $11 million and $23 million as of December 31, 2020, and 2019, respectively, primarily in Other within Other Noncurrent Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, for the guarantees discussed above. As current estimates change, additional losses related to guarantees and indemnifications to third parties, which could be material, may be recorded by the Duke Energy Registrants in the future.