A Variable Interest Entity (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 activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance and (ii) what party has rights to receive benefits or is obligated to absorb losses that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The analysis of the party that consolidates a VIE is a continual reassessment.

DERF, DEPR and DEFR are bankruptcy remote, special purpose subsidiaries of Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Florida, respectively. DERF, DEPR and DEFR are wholly owned LLCs with separate legal existence from their parent companies, and their assets are not generally available to creditors of their parent companies. On a revolving basis, DERF, DEPR and DEFR buy certain accounts receivable arising from the sale of electricity and related services from their parent companies.

DERF, DEPR and DEFR borrow amounts under credit facilities to buy these receivables. Borrowing availability from the credit facilities is limited to the amount of qualified receivables purchased, which generally exclude receivables past due more than a predetermined number of days and reserves for expected past-due balances. The sole source of funds to satisfy the related debt obligations is cash collections from the receivables. Amounts borrowed under the DERF and DEPR credit facilities are reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Long-Term Debt. Amounts borrowed under the DEFR credit facility are reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Current maturities of long-term debt.

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 are considered the primary beneficiaries and consolidate DERF, DEPR and DEFR, respectively, as they make those decisions.

CRC is a bankruptcy remote, special purpose entity indirectly owned by Duke Energy. On a revolving basis, CRC buys certain accounts receivable arising from the sale of electricity, natural gas and related services from Duke Energy Ohio and Duke Energy Indiana. CRC borrows amounts under a credit facility to buy the receivables from Duke Energy Ohio and Duke Energy Indiana. Borrowing availability from the credit facility is limited to the amount of qualified receivables sold to CRC, which generally exclude receivables past due more than a predetermined number of days and reserves for expected past-due balances. The sole source of funds to satisfy the related debt obligation is cash collections from the receivables. Amounts borrowed under the credit facility are reflected on Duke Energy's Consolidated Balance Sheets as Long-Term Debt.

The proceeds Duke Energy Ohio and Duke Energy Indiana receive from the sale of receivables to CRC are approximately 75% cash and 25% in the form of a subordinated note from CRC. The subordinated note is a retained interest in the receivables sold. Depending on collection experience, additional equity infusions to CRC may be required by Duke Energy to maintain a minimum equity balance of $3 million.

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


	Duke Energy
			Duke Energy		Duke Energy		Duke Energy
			Carolinas		Progress		Florida
(in millions)	CRC		DERF		DEPR		DEFR
Expiration date	February 2025		January 2025		April 2025		April 2024
Credit facility amount	$	350	$	500	$	400	$	325
Amounts borrowed at December 31, 2023	312		500		400		325
Amounts borrowed at December 31, 2022	350		471		400		250
Restricted Receivables at December 31, 2023	663		991		833		532
Restricted Receivables at December 31, 2022	917		928		793		490

Duke Energy Florida Project Finance, LLC (DEFPF) is a bankruptcy remote, wholly owned special purpose subsidiary of Duke Energy Florida. DEFPF was formed in 2016 for the sole purpose of issuing nuclear asset-recovery bonds to finance Duke Energy Florida's unrecovered regulatory asset related to Crystal River Unit 3.

In 2016, DEFPF issued senior secured bonds and used the proceeds to acquire nuclear asset-recovery property from Duke Energy Florida. The nuclear asset-recovery property acquired includes the right to impose, bill, collect and adjust a non-bypassable nuclear asset-recovery charge from all Duke Energy Florida retail customers until the bonds are paid in full and all financing costs have been recovered. The nuclear asset-recovery bonds are secured by the nuclear asset-recovery property and cash collections from the nuclear asset-recovery charges are the sole source of funds to satisfy the debt obligation. The bondholders have no recourse to Duke Energy Florida.

DEFPF is considered a VIE primarily because the equity capitalization is insufficient to support its operations. Duke Energy Florida has the power to direct the significant activities of the VIE as described above and therefore Duke Energy Florida is considered the primary beneficiary and consolidates DEFPF.

Duke Energy Carolinas NC Storm Funding, LLC. (DECNCSF) and Duke Energy Progress NC Storm Funding, LLC. (DEPNCSF) are bankruptcy remote, wholly owned special purpose subsidiaries of Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress, respectively. These entities were formed in 2021 for the sole purpose of issuing storm recovery bonds to finance certain of Duke Energy Carolinas’ and Duke Energy Progress’ unrecovered regulatory assets related to storm costs.

In November 2021, DECNCSF and DEPNCSF issued $237 million and $770 million of senior secured bonds, respectively and used the proceeds to acquire storm recovery property from Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress. The storm recovery property was created by state legislation and NCUC financing orders for the purpose of financing storm costs incurred in 2018 and 2019. The storm recovery property acquired includes the right to impose, bill, collect and adjust a non-bypassable charge from all Duke Energy Carolinas’ and Duke Energy Progress’ retail customers until the bonds are paid in full and all financing costs have been recovered. The storm recovery bonds are secured by the storm recovery property and cash collections from the storm recovery charges are the sole source of funds to satisfy the debt obligation. The bondholders have no recourse to Duke Energy Carolinas or Duke Energy Progress.

DECNCSF and DEPNCSF are considered VIEs primarily because the equity capitalization is insufficient to support their operations. Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress have the power to direct the significant activities of the VIEs as described above and therefore Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress are considered the primary beneficiaries and consolidate DECNCSF and DEPNCSF, respectively.


	Duke Energy Carolinas				Duke Energy Progress
	December 31,				December 31,
(in millions)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Regulatory Assets: Current	$	12	$	12	$	39	$	39
Current Assets: Other	9		8		31		29
Other Noncurrent Assets: Regulatory assets	196		208		643		681
Other Noncurrent Assets: Other	1		1		2		2

Current maturities of long-term debt	10		10		34		34
Current Liabilities: Other	3		3		8		8
Long-Term Debt	208		219		680		714

Duke Energy Florida Purchasing Company, LLC (DEF ProCo) is a wholly owned special purpose subsidiary of Duke Energy Florida. DEF ProCo was formed in 2023 as the primary procurement agent for equipment, materials and supplies for Duke Energy Florida. DEF ProCo interacts with third party suppliers on Duke Energy Florida’s behalf with credit and risk support provided by Duke Energy Florida. DEF ProCo is a qualified reseller under Florida tax law and conveys acquired assets to Duke Energy Florida through leases on each acquired asset.


	December 31, 2023
	Duke Energy		Duke	Duke
	Natural Gas				Energy		Energy
(in millions)	Investments				Ohio		Indiana
Receivables from affiliated companies	$	—			$	150	$	208

Investments in equity method unconsolidated affiliates	67				—		—
Other noncurrent assets	43				—		—
Total assets	$	110			$	150	$	208

Other current liabilities	4				—		—

Other noncurrent liabilities	5				—		—
Total liabilities	9				$	—	$	—
Net assets	$	101			$	150	$	208


	December 31, 2022
	Duke Energy		Duke	Duke
	Natural Gas				Energy		Energy
(in millions)	Investments				Ohio		Indiana
Receivables from affiliated companies	$	—			$	198	$	317

Investments in equity method unconsolidated affiliates	43				—		—
Other noncurrent assets	45				—		—
Total assets	$	88			$	198	$	317

Other current liabilities	59				—		—

Other noncurrent liabilities	47				—		—
Total liabilities	$	106			$	—	$	—
Net (liabilities) assets	$	(18)			$	198	$	317

Duke Energy has investments in various joint ventures including pipeline and renewable natural gas projects. These entities are considered VIEs due to having insufficient equity to finance their own activities without subordinated financial support. Duke Energy does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance, the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of these VIEs and therefore does not consolidate these entities.

Amounts included in Receivables from affiliated companies 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% and a 20% 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.


	Duke Energy Ohio						Duke Energy Indiana
	Years Ended December 31,						Years Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2023		2022		2021		2023		2022		2021
Sales
Receivables sold	$	2,578	$	2,562	$	2,023	$	3,223	$	3,744	$	2,909
Loss recognized on sale	34		18		10		39		26		13
Cash flows
Cash proceeds from receivables sold	2,591		2,424		2,018		3,294		3,498		2,909
Collection fees received	1		1		1		2		2		1
Return received on retained interests	19		10		4		25		15		6

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 Daily Simple SOFR plus a fixed rate of 1%.