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Variable Interest Entities
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
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, 2022, and the year ended December 31, 2021, 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, which generally exclude receivables past due more than a predetermined number of days and reserves for expected past-due balances. 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.
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, which generally exclude receivables past due more than a predetermined number of days and reserves for expected past-due balances. 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.
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 EnergyDuke EnergyDuke Energy
CarolinasProgressFlorida
(in millions)CRCDERFDEPRDEFR
Expiration dateFebruary 2025January 2025April 2023April 2023
Credit facility amount$350 $475 $350 $250 
Amounts borrowed at March 31, 2022350 499 350 250 
Amounts borrowed at December 31, 2021350 475 350 250 
Restricted Receivables at March 31, 2022566 858 658 503 
Restricted Receivables at December 31, 2021587 844 574 427 
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, 2022December 31, 2021
Receivables of VIEs$5 $
Regulatory Assets: Current54 54 
Current Assets: Other13 39 
Other Noncurrent Assets: Regulatory assets872 883 
Current Liabilities: Other2 
Current maturities of long-term debt56 56 
Long-Term Debt916 946 
Storm Recovery Bonds – Duke Energy Carolinas NC Storm Funding and Duke Energy Progress NC Storm Funding
Duke Energy Carolinas NC Storm Funding, LLC. (DECNCSF) and Duke Energy Progress NC Storm Funding, LLC. (DEPNCSF) are bankruptcy remote, wholly owned special purpose subsidiaries of Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress, respectively. These entities were formed in 2021 for the sole purpose of issuing storm recovery bonds to finance certain of Duke Energy Carolinas’ and Duke Energy Progress’ unrecovered regulatory assets related to storm costs.
In November 2021, DECNCSF and DEPNCSF issued $237 million and $770 million of senior secured bonds, respectively and used the proceeds to acquire storm recovery property from Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress. The storm recovery property was created by state legislation and NCUC financing orders for the purpose of financing storm costs incurred in 2018 and 2019. The storm recovery property acquired includes the right to impose, bill, collect and adjust a non-bypassable charge from all Duke Energy Carolinas’ and Duke Energy Progress’ retail customers until the bonds are paid in full and all financing costs have been recovered. The storm recovery bonds are secured by the storm recovery property and cash collections from the storm recovery charges are the sole source of funds to satisfy the debt obligation. The bondholders have no recourse to Duke Energy Carolinas or Duke Energy Progress.
DECNCSF and DEPNCSF are considered VIEs primarily because the equity capitalization is insufficient to support their operations. Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress have the power to direct the significant activities of the VIEs as described above and therefore Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress are considered the primary beneficiaries and consolidate DECNCSF and DEPNCSF, respectively.
The following table summarizes the impact of these VIEs on Duke Energy Carolinas’ and Duke Energy Progress’ Consolidated Balance Sheets.
March 31, 2022December 31, 2021
Duke EnergyDuke EnergyDuke EnergyDuke Energy
(in millions)CarolinasProgressCarolinasProgress
Regulatory Assets: Current$12 $39 $12 $39 
Current Assets: Other4 14 — — 
Other Noncurrent Assets: Regulatory assets217 711 220 720 
Other Noncurrent Assets: Other1 4 
Current Liabilities: Other2 6 — — 
Current maturities of long-term debt10 32 15 
Long-Term Debt223 730 228 747 
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, 2022December 31, 2021
Current Assets: Other$215 $215 
Property, Plant and Equipment: Cost7,337 7,339 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization(1,534)(1,474)
Other Noncurrent Assets: Other70 62 
Current maturities of long-term debt297 167 
Long-Term Debt1,325 1,475 
Other Noncurrent Liabilities: AROs173 173 
Other Noncurrent Liabilities: Other360 319 
NON-CONSOLIDATED VIEs
The following tables summarize the impact of non-consolidated VIEs on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
March 31, 2022
Duke EnergyDuke Duke
PipelineCommercialEnergyEnergy
(in millions)InvestmentsRenewablesTotalOhioIndiana
Receivables from affiliated companies$ $ $ $65 $80 
Investments in equity method unconsolidated affiliates29 504 533   
Deferred tax asset61  61   
Total assets$90 $504 $594 $65 $80 
Other current liabilities50 3 53   
Other noncurrent liabilities52 3 55   
Total liabilities$102 $6 $108 $ $ 
Net (liabilities) assets$(12)$498 $486 $65 $80 
December 31, 2021
Duke EnergyDuke Duke
PipelineCommercialEnergyEnergy
(in millions)InvestmentsRenewablesTotalOhioIndiana
Receivables from affiliated companies$— $— $— $79 $97 
Investments in equity method unconsolidated affiliates15 508 523 — — 
Other noncurrent assets61 — 61 — — 
Total assets$76 $508 $584 $79 $97 
Other current liabilities47 51 — — 
Other noncurrent liabilities54 57 — — 
Total liabilities$101 $$108 $— $— 
Net (liabilities) assets$(25)$501 $476 $79 $97 
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 certain renewable energy project entities guarantees for debt services and operations and maintenance, as discussed below.
Pipeline Investments
Duke Energy has investments in various joint ventures to construct and operate pipeline projects. 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.
Commercial Renewables
Duke Energy has investments in various renewable energy project entities. Duke Energy has a 50% ownership in a VIE, which owns a portfolio of wind projects. This entity is a VIE as a result of Duke Energy issuing guarantees for debt service and operations and maintenance reserves in support of debt financings. Duke Energy does not consolidate this VIE because power to direct and control key activities is shared jointly by Duke Energy and the other owner. Duke Energy also has equity ownership in an entity, which owns a portfolio of fuel cell projects. Duke Energy does not consolidate the fuel cell portfolio as it does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the entity.
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.
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 OhioDuke Energy Indiana
(in millions)March 31, 2022December 31, 2021March 31, 2022December 31, 2021
Receivables sold$263 $269 $305 $328 
Less: Retained interests65 79 80 97 
Net receivables sold$198 $190 $225 $231 
The following table shows sales and cash flows related to receivables sold.
Duke Energy OhioDuke Energy Indiana
Three Months EndedThree Months Ended
March 31,March 31,
(in millions)2022202120222021
Sales
Receivables sold$663 $561 $782 $698 
Loss recognized on sale3 4 
Cash flows
Cash proceeds from receivables sold$674 $596 $795 $746 
Collection fees received —  — 
Return received on retained interests1 2 
Cash flows from sales of receivables are reflected within Cash Flows From Operating Activities and Cash Flows from Investing Activities on Duke Energy Ohio’s and Duke Energy Indiana’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.