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Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Con Edison’s subsidiaries hedge market price fluctuations associated with physical purchases and sales of electricity, natural gas, steam and, to a lesser extent, refined fuels by using derivative instruments including futures, forwards, basis swaps, options, transmission congestion contracts and financial transmission rights contracts. These are economic hedges, for which the Utilities and the Clean Energy Business do not elect hedge accounting. The Clean Energy Businesses use interest rate swaps to manage the risks associated with interest rates related to outstanding and expected future debt issuances and borrowings. Derivatives are recognized on the consolidated balance sheet at fair value (see Note P), unless an exception is available under the accounting rules for derivatives and hedging. Qualifying derivative contracts that have been designated as normal purchases or normal sales contracts are not reported at fair value under the accounting rules.

In August 2017, the FASB issued amendments to the guidance for derivatives and hedging through ASU 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities.” The amendments in this update provide greater clarification on hedge accounting for risk components, presentation and disclosure of hedging instruments, and overall targeted improvements to simplify hedge accounting. The amendments were effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The application of the guidance did not have a material impact on the Companies’ financial position, results of operations and liquidity because the Companies do not elect hedge accounting for their derivative instruments and hedging activities.

The fair values of the Companies’ derivatives including the offsetting of assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2019 and 2018 were:
(Millions of Dollars)
2019
 
2018
 
Balance Sheet Location
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Assets/
(Liabilities)
Gross
Amounts
Offset
Net Amounts of Assets/(Liabilities) (a)
 
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Assets/
(Liabilities)
Gross
Amounts
Offset
Net Amounts of Assets/(Liabilities) (a)
 
Con Edison
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value of derivative assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
$60
$(3)
$57
(b)
$43
$(14)
$29
(b)
Noncurrent
19
(13)
6
(c)
16
(7)
9
(d)
Total fair value of derivative assets
$79
$(16)
$63

$59
$(21)
$38
 
Fair value of derivative liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
$(140)
$17
$(123)
(c)
$(61)
$11
$(50)
 
Noncurrent
(122)
16
(106)
(c)
(25)
9
(16)
(d)
Total fair value of derivative liabilities
$(262)
$33
$(229)
 
$(86)
$20
$(66)
 
Net fair value derivative assets/(liabilities)
$(183)
$17
$(166)

$(27)
$(1)
$(28)

CECONY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value of derivative assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
$39
$(6)
$33
(b)
$25
$(6)
$19
(b)
Noncurrent
17
(12)
5
 
11
(5)
6
 
Total fair value of derivative assets
$56
$(18)
$38
 
$36
$(11)
$25
 
Fair value of derivative liabilities


 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
$(100)
$19
$(81)
 
$(31)
$6
$(25)
 
Noncurrent
(80)
16
(64)
 
(12)
6
(6)
 
Total fair value of derivative liabilities
$(180)
$35
$(145)
 
$(43)
$12
$(31)
 
Net fair value derivative assets/(liabilities)
$(124)
$17
$(107)

$(7)
$1
$(6)

 
(a)
Derivative instruments and collateral were offset on the consolidated balance sheet as applicable under the accounting rules. The Companies enter into master agreements for their commodity derivatives. These agreements typically provide offset in the event of contract termination. In such case, generally the non-defaulting party’s payable will be offset by the defaulting party’s payable. The non-defaulting party will customarily notify the defaulting party within a specific time period and come to an agreement on the early termination amount.
(b)
At December 31, 2019 and 2018, margin deposits for Con Edison ($9 million and $7 million, respectively) and CECONY ($8 million and $6 million, respectively) were classified as derivative assets on the consolidated balance sheet, but not included in the table. Margin is collateral, typically cash, that the holder of a derivative instrument is required to deposit in order to transact on an exchange and to cover its potential losses with its broker or the exchange.
(c)
Includes amounts for interest rate swaps of $1 million in noncurrent assets, $(7) million in current liabilities and $(34) million in noncurrent liabilities. At December 31, 2019, the Clean Energy Businesses had interest rate swaps with notional amounts of $919 million. The expiration dates of the swaps range from 2024-2041.
(d)
Includes amounts for interest rate swaps of $2 million in noncurrent assets and $(6) million in noncurrent liabilities. At December 31, 2018, the Clean Energy Businesses had interest rate swaps with notional amounts of $499 million. The expiration dates of the swaps range from 2024-2035.

The Utilities generally recover their prudently incurred fuel, purchased power and gas costs, including hedging gains and losses, in accordance with rate provisions approved by the applicable state utility regulators. See "Recoverable Energy Costs" in Note A. In accordance with the accounting rules for regulated operations, the Utilities record a regulatory asset or liability to defer recognition of unrealized gains and losses on their electric and gas derivatives. As gains and losses are realized in future periods, they will be recognized as purchased power, gas and fuel costs in the Companies’ consolidated income statements.

The Clean Energy Businesses record realized and unrealized gains and losses on their derivative contracts in purchased power, gas purchased for resale and non-utility revenue in the reporting period in which they occur. The Clean Energy Businesses record changes in the fair value of their interest rate swaps in other interest expense at the end of each reporting period. Management believes that these derivative instruments represent economic hedges that mitigate exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices and interest rates.
The following table presents the realized and unrealized gains or losses on derivatives that have been deferred or recognized in earnings for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:
 
 
              Con Edison
 
              CECONY
 
(Millions of Dollars)
Balance Sheet Location
2019
 
2018
 
2019

 
2018

 
Pre-tax gains/(losses) deferred in accordance with accounting rules for regulated operations:
 
 
 
 
 
Current
Deferred derivative gains
$4
 
$(1)
 
$5
 
$1
 
Noncurrent
Deferred derivative gains
(3)
 
4
 
(1)
 
3
 
Total deferred gains/(losses)
$1
 
$3
 
$4
 
$4
 
Current
Deferred derivative losses
$(91)
 
$4
 
$(83)
 
$8
 
Current
Recoverable energy costs
(142)
 
(26)
 
(124)
 
(26)
 
Noncurrent
Deferred derivative losses
(67)
 
27
 
(65)
 
26
 
Total deferred gains/(losses)
$(300)
 
$5
 
$(272)
 
$8
 
Net deferred gains/(losses)
$(299)
 
$8
 
$(268)
 
$12
 
 
Income Statement Location
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pre-tax gain/(loss) recognized in income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gas purchased for resale
$(2)
 
$(2)
 

$—

 

$—

 
 
Non-utility revenue
25
 
4
 
—

 
—

 
 
Other operations and maintenance expense
1
 
(2)
 
1
 
(2)
 
 
Other interest expense
(36)
 
(4)
 
—

 
—

 
Total pre-tax gain/(loss) recognized in income
$(12)
 
$(4)
 
$1
 
$(2)
 
 
The following table presents the hedged volume of Con Edison’s and CECONY’s commodity derivative transactions at December 31, 2019:
 
Electric Energy (MWh) (a)(b)
Capacity (MW) (a)
Natural Gas (Dt) (a)(b)
Refined Fuels (gallons)
Con Edison
24,868,670
28,916
277,827,601
5,712,000
CECONY
22,487,800
19,950
258,080,000
5,712,000
 
(a)
Volumes are reported net of long and short positions, except natural gas collars where the volumes of long positions are reported.
(b)
Excludes electric congestion and gas basis swap contracts which are associated with electric and gas contracts and hedged volumes.
The Companies are exposed to credit risk related to transactions entered into primarily for the various energy supply and hedging activities by the Utilities and the Clean Energy Businesses. Credit risk relates to the loss that may result from a counterparty’s nonperformance. The Companies use credit policies to manage this risk, including an established credit approval process, monitoring of counterparty limits, netting provisions within agreements, collateral or prepayment arrangements, credit insurance and credit default swaps. The Companies measure credit risk exposure as the replacement cost for open energy commodity and derivative positions plus amounts owed from counterparties for settled transactions. The replacement cost of open positions represents unrealized gains, net of any unrealized losses where the Companies have a legally enforceable right to offset.
At December 31, 2019, Con Edison and CECONY had $128 million and $8 million of credit exposure in connection with open energy supply net receivables and hedging activities, net of collateral, respectively. Con Edison’s net credit exposure consisted of $62 million with independent system operators, $27 million with non-investment grade/non-rated counterparties, $24 million with investment-grade counterparties, and $15 million with commodity exchange brokers. CECONY’s net credit exposure consisted of $8 million with commodity exchange brokers.
The collateral requirements associated with, and settlement of, derivative transactions are included in net cash flows from operating activities in the Companies’ consolidated statement of cash flows. Most derivative instrument contracts contain provisions that may require a party to provide collateral on its derivative instruments that are in a net liability position. The amount of collateral to be provided will depend on the fair value of the derivative instruments and the party’s credit ratings.
The following table presents the aggregate fair value of the Companies’ derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position, the collateral posted for such positions and the additional collateral that would have been required to be posted had the lowest applicable credit rating been reduced one level and to below investment grade at December 31, 2019:
(Millions of Dollars)
Con Edison (a)
CECONY (a)
Aggregate fair value – net liabilities
$163
$145
Collateral posted
25
25
Additional collateral (b) (downgrade one level from current ratings)
50
41
Additional collateral (b)(c) (downgrade to below investment grade from current ratings)
159
134
 
(a)
Non-derivative transactions for the purchase and sale of electricity and gas and qualifying derivative instruments, which have been designated as normal purchases or normal sales, are excluded from the table. These transactions primarily include purchases of electricity from independent system operators. In the event the Utilities and the Clean Energy Businesses were no longer extended unsecured credit for such purchases, the Companies would be required to post additional collateral of $1 million at December 31, 2019. For certain other such non-derivative transactions, the Companies could be required to post collateral under certain circumstances, including in the event counterparties had reasonable grounds for insecurity.
(b)
The Companies measure the collateral requirements by taking into consideration the fair value amounts of derivative instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liabilities position plus amounts owed to counterparties for settled transactions and amounts required by counterparties for minimum financial security. The fair value amounts represent unrealized losses, net of any unrealized gains where the Companies have a legally enforceable right to offset.
(c)
Derivative instruments that are net assets have been excluded from the table. At December 31, 2019, if Con Edison had been downgraded to below investment grade, it would have been required to post additional collateral for such derivative instruments of $49 million.