Variable Interest Entities and Equity Method Investments

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES AND EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS

The disclosures in this note apply to AEP only.

The accounting guidance for “Variable Interest Entities” is a consolidation model that considers if a company has a variable interest in a VIE. A VIE is a legal entity that possesses any of the following conditions: the entity’s equity at risk is not sufficient to permit the legal entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, equity owners are unable to direct the activities that most significantly impact the legal entity’s economic performance (or they possess disproportionate voting rights in relation to the economic interest in the legal entity), or the equity owners lack the obligation to absorb the legal entity’s expected losses or the right to receive the legal entity’s expected residual returns. Entities are required to consolidate a VIE when it is determined that they have a controlling financial interest in a VIE and therefore, are the primary beneficiary of that VIE, as defined by the accounting guidance for “Variable Interest Entities.” In determining whether AEP is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, management considers whether AEP has the power to direct the most significant activities of the VIE and is obligated to absorb losses or receive the expected residual returns that are significant to the VIE. Management believes that significant assumptions and judgments were applied consistently.

AEP holds ownership interests in businesses with varying ownership structures. Partnership interests and other variable interests are evaluated to determine if each entity is a VIE, and if so, whether or not the VIE should be consolidated into AEP’s financial statements. If an entity is determined not to be a VIE, or if the entity is determined to be a VIE and AEP is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary, the entity is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The Variable Interest Entities note within the 2018 Annual Report should be read in conjunction with this report as this note only includes significant changes to AEP’s VIEs and equity method investments during 2019.

Consolidated Variable Interests Entities

In April 2019, AEP acquired an equity interest in Apple Blossom Wind Holdings LLC (Apple Blossom) and Black Oak Getty Wind Holdings LLC (Black Oak) (“the Project Entities”) as part of the purchase of Sempra Renewables LLC. Both of the Project Entities have long-term PPAs for 100% of their energy production. The Project Entities are tax equity partnerships with nonaffiliated noncontrolling interests to which a percentage of earnings, tax attributes and cash flows are allocated in accordance with the respective limited liability company agreements. Management has concluded that the Project Entities are VIEs and that AEP is the primary beneficiary based on its power as managing member to direct the activities that most significantly impact the Project Entity’s economic performance. In addition, AEP has not provided material financial or other support to the Project Entities that was not previously contractually required. As the primary beneficiary of the Project Entities, AEP consolidates the Project Entities into its financial statements. See the table below for the classification of Project Entities’ assets and liabilities on the balance sheet:



American Electric Power Company, Inc.
Variable Interest Entities
June 30, 2019

	Apple Blossom and Black Oak
	(in millions)
ASSETS
Current Assets	$	8.6
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	235.4
Other Noncurrent Assets	14.0
Total Assets	$	258.0

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities	$	6.8
Noncurrent Liabilities	4.6
Equity	246.6
Total Liabilities and Equity	$	258.0

The nonaffiliated interests in the Project Entities is presented in Noncontrolling Interests on the balance sheets. As of June 30, 2019, AEP recorded $131 million of Noncontrolling Interests related to the Project Entities in Equity on the balance sheets.

The Project Entities’ tax equity partnerships represent substantive profit-sharing arrangements. The method for attributing income and loss to the noncontrolling interests is a balance sheet approach referred to as the hypothetical liquidation at book value (HLBV) method. Under the HLBV method, the income and loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests reflect changes in the amounts the members would hypothetically receive at each balance sheet date under the liquidation provisions of the respective limited liability company agreements, assuming the net assets of these entities were liquidated at recorded amounts, after taking into account any capital transactions, such as contributions or distributions, between the entities and the members. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, the HLBV method resulted in a $4 million loss allocated to Noncontrolling Interests.

Significant Equity Method Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

The equity method of accounting is used for equity investments where AEP exercises significant influence but does not hold a controlling financial interest. Such investments are initially recorded at cost in Deferred Charges and Other Noncurrent Assets on the balance sheets. The proportionate share of the investee’s equity earnings or losses is included in Equity Earnings of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries on the statements of income. AEP regularly monitors and evaluates equity method investments to determine whether they are impaired. An impairment is recorded when the investment has experienced a decline in value that is other-than-temporary in nature.

Sempra Renewables LLC

In April 2019, AEP acquired a 50% interest in five wind farms in multiple states as part of the purchase of Sempra Renewables LLC. The wind farms are joint ventures with BP Wind Energy who holds the other 50% interest. All five wind farms have long-term PPAs for 100% of their energy production. One of the jointly-owned wind farms has PPAs with I&M and OPCo for a portion of its energy production. Another jointly-owned wind farm has a PPA with SWEPCo for a portion of its energy production. The joint venture wind farms are not considered VIEs and AEP is not required to consolidate them as AEP does not have a controlling financial interest. However, AEP is able to exercise significant influence over the wind farms and therefore applies the equity method of accounting. As of June 30, 2019, AEP’s investment in the five joint venture wind farms was $403 million. The investment includes amounts recognized in AOCI related to interest rate cash flow hedges. The investment is comprised of a historical investment of $425 million plus a basis difference of $(19) million. AEP’s equity earnings associated with the five joint venture wind farms was a $3 million loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019. AEP recognized $14 million of production tax credits attributable to the joint venture wind farms for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 which is recorded in Income Tax Expense (Benefit) on the statements of income.

ETT

ETT designs, acquires, constructs, owns and operates certain transmission facilities in ERCOT. Berkshire Hathaway Energy, a nonaffiliated entity, holds a 50%membership interest in ETT, AEP Transmission Holdco a 49.5% interest in ETT and AEP Transmission Partner held the remaining 0.5% membership interest in ETT. On July 1, 2019 AEP Transmission Partner was merged into AEP Transmission Holdco, increasing AEP Transmission Holdco’s interest in ETT to 50%. As a result, AEP, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, holds a 50% membership interest in ETT. As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, AEP’s investment in ETT was $677 million and $666 million, respectively. AEP’s equity earnings associated with ETT were $16 million and $15 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. AEP’s equity earnings associated with ETT were $33 million and $31 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.