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Fair Value Accounting
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Accounting
Note 8 — Fair Value Accounting
The amounts reflected in Cleco and Cleco Power’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2020, and 2019, for cash equivalents, restricted cash equivalents, accounts receivable, other accounts receivable, short-term debt, and accounts payable approximate fair value because of their short-term nature. Cleco applies the provisions of the fair value measurement standard to its non-recurring, non-financial measurements including business combinations as well as impairment related to goodwill and other long-lived assets.
The following tables summarize the carrying value and estimated market value of Cleco and Cleco Power’s financial instruments not measured at fair value on Cleco and Cleco Power’s Consolidated Balance Sheets:

Cleco
AT DEC. 31,
 20202019
(THOUSANDS)CARRYING
VALUE*
FAIR VALUECARRYING
VALUE*
FAIR VALUE
Long-term debt$3,230,500 $3,541,349 $3,188,664 $3,371,915 
* The carrying value of long-term debt does not include deferred issuance costs of $13.4 million at December 31, 2020, and $13.7 million at December 31, 2019.
Cleco Power
AT DEC. 31,
 20202019
(THOUSANDS)CARRYING
VALUE*
FAIR VALUECARRYING
VALUE*
FAIR VALUE
Long-term debt$1,494,947 $1,794,799 $1,380,688 $1,601,865 
* The carrying value of long-term debt does not include deferred issuance costs of $7.0 million at December 31, 2020, and $7.4 million at December 31, 2019.

In order to fund capital requirements, Cleco issues fixed and variable rate long-term debt with various tenors. The fair value of this class fluctuates as the market interest rates for fixed and variable rate debt with similar tenors and credit ratings change. The fair value of the debt could also change from period to period due to changes in the credit rating of the Cleco entity by which the debt was issued. The fair value of long-term debt is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures
Cleco classifies assets and liabilities that are measured at their fair value according to three different levels depending on the inputs used in determining fair value.
The following tables disclose for Cleco and Cleco Power the fair value of financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis:
Cleco
 FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AT REPORTING DATE
(THOUSANDS)AT DEC. 31, 2020QUOTED
PRICES IN
ACTIVE MARKETS
FOR IDENTICAL
ASSETS
(LEVEL 1)
SIGNIFICANT
OTHER
OBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 2)
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 3)
AT DEC. 31, 2019QUOTED
PRICES IN
ACTIVE MARKETS
FOR IDENTICAL
ASSETS
(LEVEL 1)
SIGNIFICANT
OTHER
OBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 2)
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 3)
Asset Description        
Institutional money market
funds
$86,001 $ $86,001 $ $129,643 $— $129,643 $— 
FTRs
4,805   4,805 6,822 — — 6,822 
Other commodity derivatives8,599  8,599  201 — 201 — 
Total assets$99,405 $ $94,600 $4,805 $136,666 $— $129,844 $6,822 
Liability Description        
FTRs$1,625 $ $ $1,625 $1,044 $— $— $1,044 
Other commodity derivatives1,612  1,612  5,373 — 5,373 — 
Total liabilities$3,237 $ $1,612 $1,625 $6,417 $— $5,373 $1,044 
Cleco Power
 FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AT REPORTING DATE
(THOUSANDS)AT DEC. 31, 2020QUOTED
PRICES IN
ACTIVE MARKETS
FOR IDENTICAL
ASSETS
(LEVEL 1)
SIGNIFICANT
OTHER
OBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 2)
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 3)
AT DEC. 31, 2019QUOTED
PRICES IN
ACTIVE MARKETS
FOR IDENTICAL
ASSETS
(LEVEL 1)
SIGNIFICANT
OTHER
OBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 2)
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 3)
Asset Description        
Institutional money market
funds
$25,357 $ $25,357 $ $74,903 $— $74,903 $— 
FTRs
4,337   4,337 6,311 — — 6,311 
Total assets$29,694 $ $25,357 $4,337 $81,214 $— $74,903 $6,311 
Liability Description        
FTRs$1,121 $ $ $1,121 $586 $— $— $586 
Total liabilities$1,121 $ $ $1,121 $586 $— $— $586 

The following tables summarize the net changes in the net fair value of FTR assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy for Cleco and Cleco Power: 

Cleco
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)20202019
Beginning balance
$5,778 $22,887 
Unrealized (losses) gains *187 (1,659)
Purchases11,333 27,881 
Settlements(14,118)(43,331)
Ending balance
$3,180 $5,778 
* Cleco Power’s unrealized (losses) gains are reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on Cleco’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. Cleco Cajun’s unrealized (losses) gains are reported through Purchased power on Cleco’s Consolidated Income Statement.
Cleco Power
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)20202019
Beginning balance
$5,725 $22,887 
Unrealized (losses) gains *450 (945)
Purchases9,378 21,609 
Settlements(12,337)(37,826)
Ending balance
$3,216 $5,725 
* Unrealized gains (losses) are reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on Cleco Power's Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The following tables quantify the significant unobservable inputs used in developing the fair value of Level 3 positions for Cleco and Cleco Power as of December 31, 2020:

Cleco
FAIR VALUE
VALUATION TECHNIQUESIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS
FORWARD PRICE RANGE
(THOUSANDS, EXCEPT DOLLAR PER MWh)AssetsLiabilitiesLowHigh
FTRs at December 31, 2020$4,805 $1,625 RTO auction pricingFTR price - per MWh$(3.49)$4.36 
FTRs at December 31, 2019$6,822 $1,044 RTO auction pricingFTR price - per MWh$(2.57)$2.86 

Cleco Power
FAIR VALUE
VALUATION TECHNIQUESIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS
FORWARD PRICE RANGE
(THOUSANDS, EXCEPT DOLLAR PER MWh)AssetsLiabilitiesLowHigh
FTRs at December 31, 2020$4,337 $1,121 RTO auction pricingFTR price - per MWh$(3.34)$4.36 
FTRs at December 31, 2019$6,311 $586 RTO auction pricingFTR price - per MWh$(2.04)$2.86 

Cleco utilizes different valuation techniques for fair value calculations. In order to measure the fair value for Level 1 assets and liabilities, Cleco obtains the closing price from published indices in active markets for the various instruments and multiplies this price by the appropriate volume of instruments held. Level 2 fair values are determined by obtaining the closing price of similar assets and liabilities from published indices in active markets. Institutional money market funds assets are discounted to the current period using a U.S. Treasury published interest rate as a proxy for a risk-free rate of return. Level 3 fair values occur in situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date and prices are not observable. Cleco has consistently applied the Level 2 and Level 3 fair value techniques from fiscal period to fiscal period. Significant increases or decreases in any of those inputs in isolation would result in a significantly different fair value measurement. The
assets and liabilities reported at fair value are grouped into classes based on the underlying nature and risks associated with the individual asset or liability.
At December 31, 2020, Cleco and Cleco Power were exposed to concentrations of credit risk through their short-term investments classified as cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents. The following tables present the institutional money market funds in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents as recorded on Cleco and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2020, and 2019:

Cleco
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)20202019
Cash and cash equivalents$80,712 $103,409 
Current restricted cash and cash equivalents$4,545 $11,100 
Non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents
$744 $15,134 

Cleco Power
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)20202019
Cash and cash equivalents$20,812 $49,509 
Current restricted cash and cash equivalents$4,545 $11,100 
Non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents
$ $14,294 

If the money market funds failed to perform under the terms of the investments, Cleco and Cleco Power would be exposed to a loss of the invested amounts. Collateral on these types of investments is not required by either Cleco or Cleco Power. The Level 2 institutional money market funds asset consists of a single class. In order to capture interest income and minimize risk, cash is invested in money market funds that invest primarily in short-term securities issued by the U. S. Treasury to maintain liquidity and achieve the goal of a net asset value of a dollar. The risks associated with this class are counterparty risk of the fund manager and risk of price volatility associated with the underlying securities of the fund.
Other commodity derivatives include fixed price physical forwards and swap transactions. These other commodity derivatives are recorded at fair value and categorized as Level 2 because pricing is indexed to other contracts.
These contracts contain counterparty credit risk because they are transacted directly with a counterparty and are not cleared on an exchange. Cleco may be required to provide credit support or pay liquidated damages with respect to any open trading contracts that Cleco has entered into or may enter into in the future. The amount of credit support that Cleco may be required to provide at any point in the future is dependent on the amount of the initial contract, changes in the market price, changes in open contracts, and changes in the amounts counterparties owe to Cleco. Changes in any of these factors could cause the amount of requested credit support to increase or decrease.
Cleco Power and Cleco Cajun’s FTRs were priced using MISO’s monthly auction prices. Forward seasonal periods are not included in every monthly auction; therefore, the average of
the most recent seasonal auction prices is used for monthly valuation. FTRs are categorized as Level 3 fair value measurements because the only relevant pricing available comes from MISO auctions, which occur monthly in the Multi-Period Monthly Auction.
During the years ended December 31, 2020, and 2019, Cleco did not experience any transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy.

Commodity Contracts
The following tables present the fair values of derivative instruments and their respective line items as recorded on
Cleco and Cleco Power’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2020, and 2019:

Cleco
 DERIVATIVES NOT DESIGNATED AS HEDGING INSTRUMENTS
(THOUSANDS)BALANCE SHEET LINE ITEMAT DEC. 31, 2020AT DEC. 31, 2019
Commodity-related contracts
  
FTRs   
CurrentEnergy risk management assets$4,805 $6,822 
CurrentEnergy risk management liabilities(1,625)(1,044)
Other commodity derivatives
CurrentEnergy risk management assets8,276 201 
Non-currentOther deferred charges323 — 
CurrentEnergy risk management liabilities(828)(3,069)
Non-currentOther deferred credits(784)(2,304)
Commodity-related contracts, net$10,167 $606 

Cleco Power
 DERIVATIVES NOT DESIGNATED AS HEDGING INSTRUMENTS
(THOUSANDS)BALANCE SHEET LINE ITEMAT DEC. 31, 2020AT DEC. 31, 2019
Commodity-related contracts
  
FTRs:   
CurrentEnergy risk management assets$4,337 $6,311 
CurrentEnergy risk management liabilities(1,121)(586)
Commodity-related contracts, net$3,216 $5,725 

The following tables present the effect of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Cleco and Cleco Power’s Consolidated Statements of Income for the years December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018:
Cleco
 AMOUNT OF GAIN/(LOSS) RECOGNIZED IN INCOME ON DERIVATIVES
  FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)DERIVATIVES LINE ITEM202020192018
Commodity contracts 
FTRs(1)
Electric operations$9,213 $13,043 $39,659 
FTRs(1)
Purchased power(3,467)(15,685)(4,566)
Other commodity derivatives
Fuel used for electric generation(12,159)(5,172)— 
Total $(6,413)$(7,814)$35,093 
(1) For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, unrealized gains (losses) associated with FTRs for Cleco Power of $0.5 million, $(1.7) million and $11.9 million, respectively, were reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on the balance sheet.

Cleco Power
AMOUNT OF GAIN/(LOSS) RECOGNIZED IN INCOME ON DERIVATIVES
  FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)DERIVATIVES LINE ITEM202020192018
Commodity contracts   
FTRs(1)
Electric operations$9,213 $13,047 $39,659 
FTRs(1)
Purchased power(6,803)(6,066)(4,566)
Total $2,410 $6,981 $35,093 
(1) For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, unrealized gains (losses) associated with FTRs of $0.5 million, $(0.9) million, and $11.9 million, respectively, were reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on the balance sheet.
The total volume of FTRs that Cleco Power had outstanding at December 31, 2020, and 2019 was 9.5 million MWh and 9.2 million MWh, respectively. The total volume of FTRs that Cleco had outstanding at December 31, 2020, and 2019 was 15.3 million MWh and 14.6 million MWh, respectively. The total volume of other commodity derivatives Cleco had outstanding at December 31, 2020, and 2019 was 73.0 million MMBtus and 58.5 million MMBtus, respectively.