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Variable Interest Entities
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]  
Variable Interest Entities VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
CONSOLIDATED VIEs
The obligations of the consolidated VIEs discussed in the following paragraphs are nonrecourse to the Duke Energy Registrants. The registrants have no requirement to provide liquidity to, purchase assets of or guarantee performance of these VIEs unless noted in the following paragraphs.
No financial support was provided to any of the consolidated VIEs during the three months ended March 31, 2020, and the year ended December 31, 2019, or is expected to be provided in the future that was not previously contractually required.
Receivables Financing – DERF/DEPR/DEFR
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. The sole source of funds to satisfy the related debt obligations is cash collections from the receivables. Amounts borrowed under the credit facilities are reflected on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as 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. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as described in Note 1, the Duke Energy Registrants suspended customer disconnections for nonpayment. The impact of COVID-19 and the Duke Energy Registrant’s related response on customers’ ability to pay for service is uncertain, and it is reasonably possible eventual write-offs of customer receivables may increase over current estimates. See Note 3 for information about COVID-19 filings with state utility commissions.
Receivables Financing – CRC
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. 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 Condensed 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. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as described in Note 1, the Duke Energy Registrants suspended customer disconnections for nonpayment. The impact of COVID-19 and the Duke Energy Registrant’s related response on customers’ ability to pay for service is uncertain, and it is reasonably possible eventual write-offs of customer receivables may increase over current estimates. See Note 3 for information about COVID-19 filings with state utility commissions.
Receivables Financing – Credit Facilities
The following table summarizes the amounts and expiration dates of the credit facilities and associated restricted receivables described above.
 
Duke Energy
 
 
 
Duke Energy

 
Duke Energy

 
Duke Energy

 
 
 
Carolinas

 
Progress

 
Florida

(in millions)
CRC

 
DERF

 
DEPR

 
DEFR

Expiration date
February 2023

 
December 2022

 
April 2023

 
April 2021

Credit facility amount
$
350

 
$
475

 
$
375

 
$
250

Amounts borrowed at March 31, 2020
350

 
475

 
325

 
250

Amounts borrowed at December 31, 2019
350

 
474

 
325

 
250

Restricted Receivables at March 31, 2020
467

 
616

 
410

 
331

Restricted Receivables at December 31, 2019
522

 
642

 
489

 
336


Nuclear Asset-Recovery Bonds – DEFPF
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.
The following table summarizes the impact of DEFPF on Duke Energy Florida's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(in millions)
March 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

Receivables of VIEs
$
4

$
5

Regulatory Assets: Current
53

52

Current Assets: Other
13

39

Other Noncurrent Assets: Regulatory assets
980

989

Current Liabilities: Other
2

10

Current maturities of long-term debt
54

54

Long-Term Debt
1,028

1,057


Commercial Renewables
Certain of Duke Energy’s renewable energy facilities are VIEs due to Duke Energy issuing guarantees for debt service and operations and maintenance reserves in support of debt financings. Assets are restricted and cannot be pledged as collateral or sold to third parties without prior approval of debt holders. Additionally, Duke Energy has VIEs associated with tax equity arrangements entered into with third-party investors in order to finance the cost of renewable assets eligible for tax credits. The activities that most significantly impacted the economic performance of these renewable energy facilities were decisions associated with siting, negotiating PPAs and Engineering, Procurement and Construction agreements, and decisions associated with ongoing operations and maintenance-related activities. Duke Energy is considered the primary beneficiary and consolidates the entities as it is responsible for all of these decisions.
The table below presents material balances reported on Duke Energy's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets related to Commercial Renewables VIEs.
(in millions)
March 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

Current Assets: Other
$
287

$
203

Property, Plant and Equipment: Cost
6,106

5,747

Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(1,094
)
(1,041
)
Other Noncurrent Assets: Other
82

106

Current maturities of long-term debt
162

162

Long-Term Debt
1,538

1,541

Other Noncurrent Liabilities: AROs
129

127

Other Noncurrent Liabilities: Other
258

228


NON-CONSOLIDATED VIEs
The following tables summarize the impact of non-consolidated VIEs on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
March 31, 2020
 
Duke Energy
 
Duke

 
Duke

 
Pipeline

 
Commercial

 
Other

 
 
 
Energy

 
Energy

(in millions)
Investments

 
Renewables

 
VIEs 

 
Total

 
Ohio

 
Indiana

Receivables from affiliated companies
$

 
$
(1
)
 
$

 
$
(1
)
 
$
39

 
$
48

Investments in equity method unconsolidated affiliates
1,243

 
371

 

 
1,614

 

 

Total assets
$
1,243

 
$
370

 
$

 
$
1,613

 
$
39

 
$
48

Taxes accrued
(1
)
 

 

 
(1
)
 

 

Other current liabilities

 

 
3

 
3

 

 

Deferred income taxes
69

 

 

 
69

 

 

Other noncurrent liabilities
105

 

 
11

 
116

 

 

Total liabilities
$
173

 
$

 
$
14

 
$
187

 
$

 
$

Net assets (liabilities)
$
1,070

 
$
370

 
$
(14
)
 
$
1,426

 
$
39

 
$
48


 
December 31, 2019
 
Duke Energy
 
Duke

 
Duke

 
Pipeline

 
Commercial

 
Other

 
 
 
Energy

 
Energy

(in millions)
Investments

 
Renewables

 
VIEs

 
Total

 
Ohio

 
Indiana

Receivables from affiliated companies
$

 
$
(1
)
 
$

 
$
(1
)
 
$
64

 
$
77

Investments in equity method unconsolidated affiliates
1,179

 
300

 

 
1,479

 

 

Total assets
$
1,179

 
$
299

 
$

 
$
1,478

 
$
64

 
$
77

Taxes accrued
(1
)
 

 

 
(1
)
 

 

Other current liabilities

 

 
4

 
4

 

 

Deferred income taxes
59

 

 

 
59

 

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

 
11

 
11

 

 

Total liabilities
$
58


$


$
15


$
73


$


$

Net assets (liabilities)
$
1,121

 
$
299

 
$
(15
)
 
$
1,405

 
$
64

 
$
77


The Duke Energy Registrants are not aware of any situations where the maximum exposure to loss significantly exceeds the carrying values shown above except for the PPA with OVEC, which is discussed below, and various guarantees, including Duke Energy's guarantee agreement to support its share of the ACP revolving credit facility. Duke Energy's maximum exposure to loss under the terms of the guarantee is $845 million, which represents 47% of the outstanding borrowings under the credit facility as of March 31, 2020. For more information on various guarantees, refer to Note 4.
Pipeline Investments
Duke Energy has investments in various joint ventures with pipeline projects currently under construction. 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.
The table below presents Duke Energy's ownership interest and investment balances in these joint ventures.
 
 
 
VIE Investment Amount (in millions)
 
Ownership
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
Entity Name
Interest
 
2020
 
2019
ACP(a)
47
%
 
$
1,243

 
$
1,179

Constitution(b)
24
%
 

 

Total
 
 
$
1,243

 
$
1,179


(a)
Duke Energy evaluated this investment for impairment as of March 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019, and determined that fair value approximated carrying value and therefore no impairment was necessary.
(b)
During the year ended December 31, 2019, Duke Energy recorded an OTTI related to Constitution. This charge resulted in the full write-down of Duke Energy's investment in Constitution.
Commercial Renewables
Duke Energy has investments in various renewable energy project entities. Some of these entities are VIEs due to Duke Energy issuing guarantees for debt service and operations and maintenance reserves in support of debt financings. Duke Energy does not consolidate these VIEs because power to direct and control key activities is shared jointly by Duke Energy and other owners. In 2019, Duke Energy acquired a majority ownership in a portfolio of distributed fuel cell projects from Bloom Energy Corporation. Duke Energy is not the primary beneficiary of the assets within the portfolio and does not consolidate the assets in the portfolio.
OVEC
Duke Energy Ohio’s 9% ownership interest in OVEC is considered a non-consolidated VIE due to OVEC having insufficient equity to finance its activities without subordinated financial support. The activities that most significantly impact OVEC's economic performance include fuel strategy and supply activities and decisions associated with ongoing operations and maintenance-related activities. Duke Energy Ohio does not have the unilateral power to direct these activities, and therefore, does not consolidate OVEC.
As a counterparty to an Inter-Company Power Agreement (ICPA), Duke Energy Ohio has a contractual arrangement to receive entitlements to capacity and energy from OVEC’s power plants through June 2040 commensurate with its power participation ratio, which is equivalent to Duke Energy Ohio's ownership interest. Costs, including fuel, operating expenses, fixed costs, debt amortization and interest expense, are allocated to counterparties to the ICPA based on their power participation ratio. The value of the ICPA is subject to variability due to fluctuation in power prices and changes in OVEC's cost of business. On March 31, 2018, FirstEnergy Solutions Corp (FES), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. and an ICPA counterparty with a power participation ratio of 4.85%, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which could increase costs allocated to the counterparties. On July 31, 2018, the bankruptcy court rejected the FES ICPA, which means OVEC is an unsecured creditor in the FES bankruptcy proceeding. In addition, certain proposed environmental rulemaking could result in future increased OVEC cost allocations. See Note 3 for additional information.
CRC
See discussion under Consolidated VIEs for additional information related to CRC.
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.
The following table shows the gross and net receivables sold.
 
Duke Energy Ohio
 
Duke Energy Indiana
(in millions)
March 31, 2020

 
December 31, 2019

 
March 31, 2020

 
December 31, 2019

Receivables sold
$
234

 
$
253

 
$
274

 
$
307

Less: Retained interests
39

 
64

 
48

 
77

Net receivables sold
$
195

 
$
189

 
$
226

 
$
230


The following table shows sales and cash flows related to receivables sold.
 
Duke Energy Ohio
 
Duke Energy Indiana
 
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
March 31,
(in millions)
2020

 
2019

 
2020

 
2019

Sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Receivables sold
$
537

 
$
575

 
$
647

 
$
734

Loss recognized on sale
4

 
4

 
4

 
5

Cash flows
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash proceeds from receivables sold
$
559

 
$
597

 
$
672

 
$
758

Return received on retained interests
2

 
2

 
2

 
3


Cash flows from sales of receivables are reflected within Cash Flows From Operating Activities on Duke Energy Ohio’s and Duke Energy Indiana’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.