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Fair Value Accounting and Financial Instruments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Accounting and Financial Instruments
Note 6 — Fair Value Accounting and Financial Instruments
The amounts reflected on Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, 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’s and Cleco Power’s financial instruments not measured at fair value on Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

Cleco
 AT SEPT. 30, 2022AT DEC. 31, 2021
(THOUSANDS)CARRYING
VALUE*
FAIR VALUECARRYING
VALUE*
FAIR VALUE
Long-term debt$3,577,030 $3,284,781 $3,482,405 $3,752,220 
* The carrying value of long-term debt does not include deferred issuance costs of $16.9 million at
September 30, 2022, and $13.2 million at December 31, 2021.
Cleco Power
 AT SEPT. 30, 2022AT DEC. 31, 2021
(THOUSANDS)CARRYING
VALUE*
FAIR VALUECARRYING
VALUE*
FAIR VALUE
Long-term debt$1,920,431 $1,864,342 $1,820,254 $2,085,944 
* The carrying value of long-term debt does not include deferred issuance costs of $12.6 million at
September 30, 2022, and $7.9 million at December 31, 2021.

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 utilizes a mark-to-market approach recognizing changes in the fair value of FTRs and commodity derivatives at Cleco Cajun in earnings and changes in the fair value of FTRs at Cleco Power as a component of deferred fuel assets and liabilities. Therefore, Cleco elects not to apply hedge accounting, as allowed by accounting guidance, to its commodity-related derivatives. 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. Cleco utilizes different valuation techniques for fair value measurements under a fair value hierarchy. Assets and liabilities classified as Level 1 under the hierarchy utilize observable inputs that reflect quotable prices in active markets. Assets and liabilities classified as Level 2 are measured through proxy inputs of similar index or composite pricing. Assets and liabilities classified as Level 3
under the hierarchy are valued based on unobservable inputs, such as internally generated valuation models or valuations obtained in inactive markets where there is no readily available information. 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. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, and the year ended December 31, 2021, Cleco did not experience any transfers into or out of Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
The following tables disclose for Cleco and Cleco Power the fair value of financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis. These amounts are presented on a gross basis before consideration of amounts netted under master netting agreements and the application of collateral received or paid:
Cleco
 FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AT REPORTING DATE
(THOUSANDS)AT SEPT. 30, 2022QUOTED PRICES
IN ACTIVE MARKETS
FOR IDENTICAL
ASSETS
(LEVEL 1)
SIGNIFICANT
OTHER
OBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 2)
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 3)
AT DEC. 31, 2021QUOTED PRICES
IN ACTIVE MARKETS
FOR IDENTICAL
ASSETS
(LEVEL 1)
SIGNIFICANT
OTHER
OBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 2)
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 3)
Asset description        
Money market funds$218,259 $218,259 $ $ $145,033 $145,033 $— $— 
FTRs5,977   5,977 6,977 — — 6,977 
Natural gas derivatives*166,226  166,226  87,464 — 87,464 — 
Total assets$390,462 $218,259 $166,226 $5,977 $239,474 $145,033 $87,464 $6,977 
Liability description        
FTRs$3,982 $ $ $3,982 $834 $— $— $834 
Natural gas derivatives*977  977  — — — — 
Total liabilities$4,959 $ $977 $3,982 $834 $— $— $834 
* Natural gas derivatives include fixed price physical forwards and swap transactions.
Cleco Power
 FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AT REPORTING DATE
(THOUSANDS)AT SEPT. 30, 2022QUOTED PRICES IN ACTIVE MARKETS
FOR IDENTICAL
ASSETS
(LEVEL 1)
SIGNIFICANT
OTHER
OBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 2)
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 3)
AT DEC. 31, 2021QUOTED PRICES
IN ACTIVE MARKETS
FOR IDENTICAL
ASSETS
(LEVEL 1)
SIGNIFICANT
OTHER
OBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 2)
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 3)
Asset description        
Money market funds$151,637 $151,637 $ $ $82,411 $82,411 $— $— 
FTRs5,195   5,195 5,515 — — 5,515 
Total assets$156,832 $151,637 $ $5,195 $87,926 $82,411 $— $5,515 
Liability description        
FTRs$457 $ $ $457 $597 $— $— $597 
Total liabilities*$457 $ $ $457 $597 $— $— $597 
* Cleco Power entered into natural gas derivatives during the three months ended September 30, 2022. Natural gas derivatives include swap transactions. Cleco Power had a current liability for natural gas derivatives at September 30, 2022, of less than $0.1 million.
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 THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30,FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30,
(THOUSANDS)2022202120222021
Beginning balance
$4,682 $7,501 $6,143 $3,180 
Unrealized gains (losses)*1,821 3,955 (1,920)18,861 
Purchases168 619 7,234 11,426 
Settlements(4,676)(4,326)(9,462)(25,718)
Ending balance
$1,995 $7,749 $1,995 $7,749 
* Cleco Power’s unrealized gains (losses) are reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Cleco Cajun’s unrealized gains (losses) are reported through Purchased power on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Income Statement.

Cleco Power
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30,FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30,
(THOUSANDS)2022202120222021
Beginning balance
$10,138 $5,990 $4,918 $3,216 
Unrealized (losses) gains*(1,363)1,196 189 545 
Purchases168 619 7,037 9,236 
Settlements(4,205)(3,107)(7,406)(8,299)
Ending balance
$4,738 $4,698 $4,738 $4,698 
* Unrealized gains (losses) are reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Cleco Power’s and Cleco Cajun’s FTRs are valued 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 value available
comes from MISO auctions, which occur monthly in the Multi-Period Monthly Auction.
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 September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021:

Cleco
FAIR VALUE
VALUATION TECHNIQUE
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS
FORWARD PRICE RANGE
(THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FORWARD PRICE RANGE)ASSETSLIABILITIESLOWHIGH
FTRs at Sept. 30, 2022$5,977 $3,982 RTO auction pricingFTR price - per MWh$(14.33)$18.50 
FTRs at Dec. 31, 2021$6,977 $834 RTO auction pricingFTR price - per MWh$(3.94)$9.25 

Cleco Power
FAIR VALUE
VALUATION TECHNIQUE
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS
FORWARD PRICE RANGE
(THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FORWARD PRICE RANGE)ASSETSLIABILITIESLOWHIGH
FTRs at Sept. 30, 2022$5,195 $457 RTO auction pricingFTR price - per MWh$(6.64)$18.50 
FTRs at Dec. 31, 2021$5,515 $597 RTO auction pricingFTR price - per MWh$(4.91)$9.25 

Concentrations of Credit Risk
At September 30, 2022, 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 money market funds in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents as recorded on Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021:

Cleco
(THOUSANDS)AT SEPT. 30, 2022AT DEC. 31, 2021
Cash and cash equivalents$94,713 $145,011 
Current restricted cash and cash equivalents$14,902 $— 
Non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents
$108,644 $22 

Cleco Power
(THOUSANDS)AT SEPT. 30, 2022AT DEC. 31, 2021
Cash and cash equivalents$28,113 $82,411 
Current restricted cash and cash equivalents$14,902 $— 
Non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents
$108,622 $— 

Money market fund assets are discounted to the current period using a published U.S. Treasury interest rate as a proxy for a risk-free rate of return. 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 1 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. government 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.
When Cleco enters into commodity derivative or physical commodity transactions directly with market participants, Cleco may be exposed to counterparty credit risk. Cleco is exposed to counterparty credit risk when a counterparty fails to meet their financial obligations causing Cleco to incur replacement cost losses. Cleco enters into master agreements with counterparties that govern the risk of credit default and allow for collateralization above prenegotiated thresholds to
help mitigate potential losses. Alternatively, 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, changes in the amounts counterparties owe to Cleco, and any prenegotiated unsecured thresholds agreed to in the master contract. Changes in any of these factors could cause the amount of requested credit support to increase or decrease.

Commodity Contracts
On Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, the fair value of amounts associated with Cleco Cajun’s derivative instruments are offset with related cash collateral balances with the same counterparty. The following tables present the fair values of derivative instruments and their respective line items as recorded on Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021:

Cleco
 DERIVATIVES NOT DESIGNATED AS HEDGING INSTRUMENTS
AT SEPT. 30, 2022
GROSS AMOUNTS OFFSET
 ON THE BALANCE SHEET
GROSS AMOUNTS NOT OFFSET ON THE BALANCE SHEET (1)
(THOUSANDS)BALANCE SHEET LINE ITEMGROSS ASSET (LIABILITY)CASH
COLLATERAL
NET ASSET (LIABILITY) ON THE BALANCE SHEETCOLLATERALNET AMOUNT
Commodity-related contracts
 
FTRs 
CurrentEnergy risk management assets$5,977 $ $5,977 $ $5,977 
CurrentEnergy risk management liabilities(3,982) (3,982) (3,982)
Natural gas derivatives
CurrentEnergy risk management assets105,206 (30,271)74,935 (73,669)1,266 
Non-currentEnergy risk management assets97,982 (6,129)91,853 (34,338)57,515 
CurrentEnergy risk management liabilities(1,539) (1,539) (1,539)
Commodity-related contracts, net$203,644 $(36,400)$167,244 $(108,007)$59,237 
(1) Represents letters of credit by counterparties.
 DERIVATIVES NOT DESIGNATED AS HEDGING INSTRUMENTS
AT DEC. 31, 2021
GROSS AMOUNTS OFFSET ON
 THE BALANCE SHEET
GROSS AMOUNTS NOT OFFSET ON THE BALANCE SHEET (1)
(THOUSANDS)BALANCE SHEET LINE ITEMGROSS ASSET (LIABILITY)CONTRACT NETTINGNET ASSET (LIABILITY) ON THE BALANCE SHEETCOLLATERALNET AMOUNT
Commodity-related contracts
 
FTRs 
CurrentEnergy risk management assets$6,977 $— $6,977 $— $6,977 
CurrentEnergy risk management liabilities(834)— (834)— (834)
Natural gas derivatives
CurrentEnergy risk management assets37,061 (559)36,502 (15,000)21,502 
Non-currentEnergy risk management assets50,962 — 50,962 — 50,962 
CurrentEnergy risk management liabilities(559)559 — — — 
Commodity-related contracts, net$93,607 $— $93,607 $(15,000)$78,607 
(1) Represents letters of credit by counterparties.
Cleco Power
 DERIVATIVES NOT DESIGNATED AS HEDGING INSTRUMENTS
(THOUSANDS)BALANCE SHEET LINE ITEMAT SEPT. 30, 2022AT DEC. 31, 2021
Commodity-related contracts
  
FTRs   
CurrentEnergy risk management assets$5,195 $5,515 
CurrentEnergy risk management liabilities(457)(597)
Commodity-related contracts, net*$4,738 $4,918 
* Cleco Power entered into natural gas derivatives during the three months ended September 30, 2022. Cleco Power had a current liability for natural gas derivatives at September 30, 2022, of less than $0.1 million.
At September 30, 2022, cash collateral received from counterparties and held by Cleco was $36.4 million, of which
$30.3 million was netted against the current portion of Energy risk management assets on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and $6.1 million was netted against the non-current portion of Energy risk management assets on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. At December 31, 2021, there was no cash collateral posted with or received from counterparties that was netted on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The following tables present the effect of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021:

Cleco
AMOUNT OF GAIN(LOSS) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED IN INCOME
 FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30,FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30,
(THOUSANDS)INCOME STATEMENT LINE ITEM2022202120222021
Commodity-related contracts
FTRs(1)
Electric operations$5,297 $1,959 $12,960 $11,167 
FTRs(1)
Purchased power2,137 (770)
(2)
(7,829)(9,742)
(2)
Natural gas derivativesFuel used for electric generation84,377 107,687 250,264 165,584 
Total(3)
 $91,811 $108,876 $255,395 $167,009 
(1) For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, unrealized (losses) gains associated with FTRs for Cleco Power of $(1.4) million and $0.2 million, respectively, were reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on the balance sheet. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, unrealized gains associated with FTRs for Cleco Power of $1.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively, were reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on the balance sheet.
(2) Prior year balance has been revised to correct errors that were immaterial, both quantitatively and qualitatively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.
(3) Cleco Power entered into natural gas derivatives during the three months ended September 30, 2022, and unrealized losses associated with natural gas derivatives of less than $0.1 million were reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on the balance sheet.
Cleco Power
AMOUNT OF GAIN(LOSS) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED IN INCOME
 FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30,FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30,
(THOUSANDS)INCOME STATEMENT LINE ITEM2022202120222021
Commodity-related contracts
FTRs(1)
Electric operations$5,297 $1,959 $12,960 $11,167 
FTRs(1)
Purchased power$(2,575)$(822)$(5,658)$(9,236)
Total (2)
 $2,722 $1,137 $7,302 $1,931 
(1) For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, unrealized (losses) gains associated with FTRs of $(1.4) million and $0.2 million, respectively, were reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on the balance sheet. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, unrealized gains associated with FTRs of $1.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively, were reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on the balance sheet.
(2) Cleco Power entered into natural gas derivatives during the three months ended September 30, 2022, and unrealized losses associated with natural gas derivatives of less than $0.1 million were reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on the balance sheet.
The following tables present the volume of commodity-related derivative contracts outstanding at September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, for Cleco and Cleco Power:

Cleco
TOTAL VOLUME OUTSTANDING
(THOUSAND)UNIT OF MEASUREAT SEPT. 30, 2022AT DEC. 31, 2021
Commodity-related contracts
FTRsMWh23,678 14,055 
Natural gas derivativesMMBtus91,710 109,306 
Cleco Power
TOTAL VOLUME OUTSTANDING
(THOUSAND)UNIT OF MEASUREAT SEPT. 30, 2022AT DEC. 31, 2021
Commodity-related contracts
FTRsMWh14,642 8,899 
Natural gas derivativesMMBtus1,860 —