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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Principles of Consolidation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Cleco include the accounts of Cleco and its majority-owned subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. Cleco’s condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial results of Cleco Cajun from the closing of the Cleco Cajun Transaction on February 4, 2019, through March 31, 2020
Basis of Presentation
The condensed consolidated financial statements of Cleco and Cleco Power have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to the Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Accordingly, these condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements. Because the interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements, the condensed consolidated financial statements and other information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in the Registrants’ Combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
These condensed consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, reflect all normal recurring adjustments that are necessary to fairly state the financial position and results of operations of Cleco and Cleco Power. Amounts reported in Cleco and Cleco Power’s interim financial statements are not necessarily indicative of amounts expected for the annual periods due to the effects of seasonal
temperature variations on energy consumption, regulatory rulings, the timing of maintenance on electric generating units, changes in mark-to-market valuations, changing commodity prices, discrete income tax items, and other factors.
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the current outbreak of COVID-19 to be a global pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the U.S. declared a national emergency. In response to these declarations and the rapid spread of COVID-19, federal, state and local governments have imposed varying degrees of restrictions on business and social activities to contain COVID-19, including quarantine and “stay-at-home” orders and directives in Cleco’s service territory. Cleco has modified some of its business operations, as these restrictions have significantly impacted many sectors of the economy, including record levels of unemployment, with businesses, nonprofit organizations, and governmental entities modifying, curtailing, or ceasing normal operations. Cleco has also modified certain business practices to conform to government restrictions and best practices encouraged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and other governmental and regulatory authorities.
Cleco cannot predict the full impact that COVID-19 or the significant disruption and volatility currently being experienced in the markets will have on its business, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations at this time, due to numerous uncertainties. The ultimate impacts will depend on future developments, including, among others, the ultimate geographic spread of COVID-19, the consequences of governmental and other measures designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the development of effective treatments, the duration of the outbreak, actions taken by governmental authorities, customers, suppliers and other third parties, workforce availability, and the timing and extent to which normal economic and operating conditions resume.
In preparing financial statements that conform to GAAP, management must make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses, and the
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Cleco Katrina/Rita had the right to bill and collect storm restoration costs from Cleco Power’s customers. As cash was collected, it was restricted for payment of administration fees, interest, and principal on storm recovery bonds.Various agreements to which Cleco is subject contain covenants that restrict its use of cash. As certain provisions under these agreements are met, cash is transferred out of related escrow accounts and becomes available for its intended purposes and/or general corporate purposes.
Reserves for Credit Losses
Reserves for Credit Losses
Customer accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Customer accounts receivables are generally considered to become past due 20 days after the billing date. Cleco recognizes write-offs within the allowance for credit losses once all recovery methods have
been exhausted. It is the policy of management to review accounts receivable and unbilled revenue monthly using a reserve matrix based on historical bad debt write-offs as well as current and forecasted economic conditions to establish a credit loss estimate. Management’s historical credit loss analysis included periods of economic recessions, natural disasters, and temporary changes to collection policies. Due to the critical necessity of electricity, none of these past events have significantly impacted Cleco’s credit loss rates. While the LPSC has issued a moratorium on disconnects of customers for nonpayment on March 13, 2020, and Cleco’s service territory experienced a recent decline in the economy related to the COVID-19 outbreak, the economic outlook at March 31, 2020, was still within range of Cleco’s historical credit loss analysis.
Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Various accounting pronouncements require certain assets and liabilities to be measured at their fair values. Some assets and liabilities are required to be measured at their fair value each reporting period, while others are required to be measured only one time, generally the date of acquisition or debt issuance. Cleco and Cleco Power disclose the fair value of certain assets and liabilities by one of three levels when required for recognition purposes.
Derivatives and Other Risk Management Activity
Cleco’s Energy Market Risk Management Policy authorizes hedging of commodity price risk with physical or financially settled derivative instruments. Some of these contracts may qualify for the normal purchase, normal sale (NPNS) exception under derivative accounting guidance. Contracts that do not qualify for NPNS accounting treatment or are not elected for NPNS accounting treatment are marked-to-market and recorded on the balance sheet at their fair value.
Additionally, Cleco Power and Cleco Cajun are awarded and/or purchase FTRs in auctions facilitated by MISO. FTRs represent economic hedges of future congestion charges that will be incurred in serving customer load. FTRs are derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes.
Cleco Power’s FTRs are marked-to-market with the resulting unrealized gains or losses deferred as a component of deferred fuel assets or liabilities in accordance with regulatory policy. At settlement, realized gains or losses are included in the FAC and reflected on customers’ bills as a component of the fuel charge.
Cleco Cajun’s FTRs are marked-to-market with the resulting unrealized gains and losses recorded on the income statement as a component of purchased power expense. At settlement, realized gains or losses are also recorded on the income statement as a component of purchased power expense.
Cleco Cajun entered into other commodity derivative contracts during the three months ended March 31, 2020. Management did not elect to apply hedge accounting to these contracts as allowed under applicable accounting standards. When these contracts are marked-to-market, the resulting unrealized gain or loss is recorded on the income statement as a component of fuel expense for gas related derivative contracts or purchased power for power related derivative contracts. At settlement, realized gains or losses are also recorded on the income statement as a component of fuel expense for gas related derivative contracts or purchased power for power related derivative contracts.
For more information on FTRs and other commodity derivatives, see Note 7 — “Fair Value Accounting — Commodity Contracts.”
Cleco may also enter into contracts to mitigate the volatility in interest rate risk. These contracts include, but are not limited to, interest rate swaps and treasury rate locks. For each reporting period presented, the Registrants did not enter into any contracts to mitigate the volatility in interest rate risk.
Recent Authoritative Guidance
In June 2016, FASB amended the guidance for the measurement of credit losses on receivables and certain other assets. In-scope items for Cleco include unbilled revenue, trade receivables, notes receivables, other accounts receivables, and guarantees. The guidance requires use of a current expected loss model, which may result in earlier recognition of credit losses. Effective January 1, 2020, Cleco adopted the amended guidance using the prospective transition method. Adoption of this standard resulted in a $0.1 million increase in credit loss reserves related to unbilled revenue and trade receivables. The current expected credit loss model did not impact reserves related to any other in-scope items. For more information on Cleco’s accounting for credit losses, see Note 1 — “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies — Reserves for Credit Losses.”
In August 2018, FASB issued guidance that allows for the deferral of certain implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement. Effective January 1, 2020, Cleco adopted the guidance using the prospective transition method. Adoption of this guidance did not materially impact the Registrants’ results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
In March 2020, FASB issued amendments that are elective and apply to all entities, subject to meeting certain criteria, for
the contract modifications or hedging relationships that are referencing LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. The amendments include a general principal that permits an entity to consider contract modifications due to reference rate reform to be an event that does not require contract remeasurement at the modification date or reassessment of a previous accounting determination. The amendment became effective March 12, 2020. Management is evaluating this guidance and the impact it may have on the Registrants’ results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
Cleco Power capitalizes or defers certain costs for recovery from customers and recognizes a liability for amounts
expected to be returned to customers based on regulatory approval and management’s ongoing assessment that it is probable these items will be recovered or refunded through the ratemaking process.
Under the current regulatory environment, Cleco Power believes these regulatory assets will be fully recoverable; however, if in the future, as a result of regulatory changes or competition, Cleco Power’s ability to recover these regulatory assets would no longer be probable, then to the extent that such regulatory assets were determined not to be recoverable, Cleco Power would be required to write-down such assets. In addition, potential deregulation of the industry or possible
future changes in the method of rate regulation of Cleco Power could require discontinuance of the application of the authoritative guidance on regulated operations.
Pension Plan and Employee Benefits
Employees hired before August 1, 2007, are covered by a non-contributory, defined benefit pension plan. In September 2019, Cleco made a $12.3 million discretionary contribution to the pension plan. Based on updated funding assumptions at December 31, 2019, management estimates that $66.5 million in pension contributions will be required through 2024. Cleco expects to make a $15.5 million minimum required contribution to the pension plan in 2020.
Cleco Power is the plan sponsor and Support Group is the plan administrator. The plan was amended on February 4, 2019, to include certain former NRG Energy employees who are now Cleco Cajun employees. The Cleco Cajun employees are eligible to participate as a cash balance participant and are credited with all service that was credited to them under the NRG Pension Plan as of February 4, 2019. Benefits under the plan amendment reflect an employee’s years of service, age at retirement, and accrued benefit at retirement.
Cleco’s retirees may be eligible to receive Other Benefits. Dependents of Cleco’s retirees may also be eligible to receive Other Benefits with the exception of life insurance benefits.
The non-service components of net periodic pension and Other Benefits cost are included in Other income (expense), net within Cleco and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Cleco’s 401(k) Plan is intended to provide active, eligible employees with voluntary, long-term savings and investment opportunities. The 401(k) Plan is a defined contribution plan and is subject to the applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In accordance with the 401(k) Plan, employer contributions are made in the form of cash. Cash contributions are invested in proportion to the participant’s voluntary contribution investment choices. Participation in the Plan is voluntary, and active Cleco employees are eligible to participate.
Certain Cleco officers are covered by SERP. Cleco does not fund the SERP liability, but instead pays for current benefits out of the general funds available. Cleco Power has formed a rabbi trust. The life insurance policies issued on SERP participants designate the rabbi trust as the beneficiary. Market conditions could have a significant impact on the cash surrender value of the life insurance policies. Proceeds from the life insurance policies are expected to be used to pay the SERP participants’ death benefits, as well as future SERP payments. However, because SERP is a non-qualified plan, the assets of the trust could be used to satisfy general creditors of Cleco Power in the event of insolvency. All SERP benefits are paid out of the general cash available of the respective companies that employed the officer. Cleco Power is the plan sponsor and Support Group is the plan administrator.
The non-service components of net periodic benefit cost related to SERP are included in Other income (expense), net within Cleco and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Income.
Income Taxes Cleco classifies income tax penalties as a component of other expense.Cleco classifies all interest related to uncertain tax positions as a component of interest payable and interest expense.
Segment Reporting
The financial results in the following tables are presented on an accrual basis. Management evaluates the performance of its segments and allocates resources to them based on segment profit and the requirements to implement strategic initiatives and projects to meet current business objectives. Material intercompany transactions occur on a regular basis. These intercompany transactions relate primarily to joint and common administrative support services as well as transmission services provided by Cleco Power to Cleco Cajun.
Equity Method Investments
Cleco and Cleco Power apply the equity method of accounting to report the investment in Oxbow in the consolidated financial statements. Under the equity method, the assets and liabilities of this entity are reported as Equity investment in investee on Cleco and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The revenue and expenses (excluding income taxes) of this entity are netted and reported as equity income or loss from investees on Cleco and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
Variable Interest Entities
Cleco and Cleco Power apply the equity method of accounting to report the investment in Oxbow in the consolidated financial statements. Under the equity method, the assets and liabilities of this entity are reported as Equity investment in investee on Cleco and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The revenue and expenses (excluding income taxes) of this entity are netted and reported as equity income or loss from investees on Cleco and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.