Material Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Manhattan Explosion and Fire

On March 12, 2014, two multi-use five-story tall buildings located on Park Avenue between 116th and 117th Streets in Manhattan were destroyed by an explosion and fire. CECONY had delivered gas to the buildings through service lines from a distribution main located below ground on Park Avenue. Eight people died and more than 50 people were injured. Additional buildings were also damaged. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated. The parties to the investigation included CECONY, the City of New York, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the NYSPSC. In June 2015, the NTSB issued a final report concerning the incident, its probable cause and safety recommendations. The NTSB determined that the probable cause of the incident was (1) the failure of a defective fusion joint at a service tee (which joined a plastic service line to a plastic distribution main) installed by CECONY that allowed gas to leak from the distribution main and migrate into a building where it ignited and (2) a breach in a city sewer line that allowed groundwater and soil to flow into the sewer, resulting in a loss of support for the distribution main, that caused it to sag and overstressed the defective fusion joint. The NTSB also made safety recommendations, including recommendations to CECONY that addressed its procedures for the preparation and examination of plastic fusions, training of its staff on conditions for notifications to the city’s Fire Department and extension of its gas main isolation valve installation program. In February 2017, the NYSPSC approved a settlement agreement with CECONY related to the NYSPSC's investigations of the incident and the practices of qualifying persons to perform plastic fusions. Pursuant to the agreement, CECONY provided $27 million of future benefits to customers (for which it accrued a regulatory liability) and did not recover from customers $126 million of costs for gas emergency response activities that it had previously incurred and expensed. Lawsuits are pending against CECONY seeking generally unspecified damages and, in some cases, punitive damages, for wrongful death, personal injury, property damage and business interruption. CECONY notified its insurers of the incident and believes that the policies in force at the time of the incident will cover CECONY’s costs, in excess of a required retention (the amount of which is not material), to satisfy any liability it may have for damages in connection with the incident. During 2020, CECONY accrued its estimated liability for the suits of $40 million and an insurance receivable in the same amount, and such estimated liability and receivable did not change as of March 31, 2023.

Other Contingencies

For additional contingencies, see "COVID-19 Regulatory Matters" and "Other Regulatory Matters" in Note B, Note G and “Uncertain Tax Positions” in Note J.

Guarantees

Con Edison has entered into various agreements providing financial or performance assurance to third parties on behalf of its subsidiaries. In addition, Con Edison has provided guarantees to third parties on behalf of its former subsidiary, the Clean Energy Businesses, that are in the process of being transferred to the buyer of the Clean Energy Businesses, RWE Aktiengesellschaft (RWE). Maximum amounts guaranteed by Con Edison under these agreements totaled $910 million and $2,412 million at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

A summary, by type and term, of Con Edison's total guarantees under these agreements at March 31, 2023 is as follows:


Guarantee Type	0 – 3 years	4 – 10 years	> 10 years	Total
	(Millions of Dollars)
Con Edison Transmission	$381	$—	$—	$381
Guarantees on behalf of the Clean Energy Businesses (a)	278	16	226	520
Broken Bow II	—	—	9	9

Total	$659	$16	$235	$910

(a) On March 1, 2023, Con Edison completed the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Clean Energy Businesses. See Note S and Note T. Guarantee amount shown represents guarantees issued on behalf of the Clean Energy Businesses that remain outstanding at March 31, 2023. Prior to and following the sale, RWE, with Con Edison's assistance, engaged in the process of transferring responsibility for these guarantees from Con Edison to RWE and that process is ongoing. Pursuant to the purchase and sale agreement, RWE is obligated to reimburse and hold harmless Con Edison for any payments Con Edison makes under guarantees issued by Con Edison on behalf of the Clean Energy Businesses. As of March 31, 2023, no such payments have been, or are probable of being, made.

Con Edison Transmission — Con Edison has guaranteed payment by Con Edison Transmission of the contributions Con Edison Transmission agreed to make to New York Transco LLC (NY Transco). Con Edison Transmission owns a 45.7 percent interest in NY Transco. In April 2019, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) selected a transmission project that was jointly proposed by National Grid and NY Transco. The siting, construction and operation of the project will require approvals and permits from appropriate governmental agencies and authorities, including the NYSPSC. The NYISO indicated it will work with the developers to enter into agreements for the development and operation of the projects, including a schedule for entry into service by December 2023. Guarantee amount shown includes the maximum possible required amount of Con Edison Transmission's contributions for this project as calculated based on the assumptions that the project is completed at 175 percent of its estimated costs and NY Transco does not use any debt financing for the project.

Broken Bow II — Con Edison has guaranteed obligations on behalf of its indirect subsidiary, Broken Bow II, associated with its investment in a wind energy facility. Broken Bow II is held for sale as of March 31, 2023. See Note T.