Short-Term Borrowing

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Short-Term Borrowing

Short-Term Borrowing

In December 2016, Con Edison and the Utilities entered into a credit agreement (Credit Agreement), under which banks are committed to provide loans and letters of credit on a revolving credit basis. The Credit Agreement, as amended in 2019, expires in December 2023. There is a maximum of $2,250 million of credit available through December 2022 and $2,200 million of credit available from then through December 2023. The full amount is available to CECONY and $1,000 million (subject to increase up to $1,500 million) is available to Con Edison, including up to $1,200 million of letters of credit. The Credit Agreement supports the Companies’ commercial paper programs. The Companies have not borrowed under the Credit Agreement. At December 31, 2019, Con Edison had $1,692 million of commercial paper outstanding, of which $1,137 million was outstanding under CECONY’s program. The weighted average interest rate at December 31, 2019 was 2.0 percent for both Con Edison and CECONY. At December 31, 2018, Con Edison had $1,741 million of commercial paper outstanding of which $1,192 million was outstanding under CECONY’s program. The weighted average interest rate at December 31, 2018 was 3.0 percent for both Con Edison and CECONY.

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, no loans were outstanding under the Credit Agreement. An immaterial amount of letters of credit were outstanding under the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.

The banks’ commitments under the Credit Agreement are subject to certain conditions, including that there be no event of default. The commitments are not subject to maintenance of credit rating levels or the absence of a material adverse change. Upon a change of control of, or upon an event of default by one of the Companies, the banks may terminate their commitments with respect to that company, declare any amounts owed by that company under the Credit Agreement immediately due and payable and require that company to provide cash collateral relating to the letters of credit issued for it under the Credit Agreement. Events of default for a company include that company exceeding at any time of a ratio of consolidated debt to consolidated total capital of 0.65 to 1 (at December 31, 2019 this ratio was 0.51 to 1 for Con Edison and 0.53 to 1 for CECONY); that company having liens on its assets in an aggregate amount exceeding five percent of its consolidated total capital, subject to certain exceptions; that company or any of its material subsidiaries failing to make one or more payments in respect of material financial obligations (in excess of an aggregate $150 million of debt or derivative obligations other than non-recourse debt) of that company; the occurrence of an event or condition which results in the acceleration of the maturity of any material debt (in excess of an aggregate $150 million of debt other than non-recourse debt) of that company or enables the holders of such debt to accelerate the maturity thereof; and other customary events of default. Interest and fees charged for the revolving credit facilities and any loans made or letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement reflect the Companies’ respective credit ratings. The Companies were in compliance with their covenants at December 31, 2019.

See Note S for information about short-term borrowing between related parties.