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Variable Interest Entities
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]  
Variable Interest Entities
Variable Interest Entities
As discussed in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Dominion’s and Virginia Power’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and Note 14 in Exhibit 99.11(b) to Dominion Gas' Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 26, 2014, certain variable pricing terms in some of the Companies’ contracts cause them to be considered variable interests in the counterparties.

Dominion
Dominion leased the Fairless generating facility in Pennsylvania from Juniper, the lessor, which began commercial operations in June 2004. In August 2013, the lease expired and Dominion purchased Fairless for $923 million from Juniper per the terms of the lease agreement. However, as Dominion had previously consolidated Juniper, the purchase was accounted for as an equity transaction to acquire the noncontrolling interests from Juniper for $923 million, while Dominion retained control of Fairless. The acquisition resulted in the removal of securities due within one year-VIE and noncontrolling interests from Dominion’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2013.

Dominion has an initial 45% membership interest in Atlantic Coast Pipeline. See Note 10 for more details regarding the nature and purpose of this entity. Dominion concluded that Atlantic Coast Pipeline is a VIE because it has insufficient equity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support. Dominion has concluded it is not the primary beneficiary of Atlantic Coast Pipeline as it does not have the power to direct the activities of Atlantic Coast Pipeline that most significantly impact its economic performance, as the power to direct is shared among multiple unrelated parties. Dominion is obligated to provide capital contributions based on its ownership percentage. Dominion's maximum exposure to loss is limited to its current and future investment.

Dominion Gas
DTI has been engaged to oversee the construction of, and to subsequently operate and maintain, the projects undertaken by Atlantic Coast Pipeline based on the overall direction and oversight of Atlantic Coast Pipeline's members. An affiliate of DTI holds a membership interest in Atlantic Coast Pipeline, therefore DTI is considered to have a variable interest in Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The members of Atlantic Coast Pipeline hold the power to direct the construction, operations and maintenance activities of the entity. DTI has concluded it is not the primary beneficiary of Atlantic Coast Pipeline as it does not have the power to direct the activities of Atlantic Coast Pipeline that most significantly impact its economic performance. DTI has no obligation to absorb any losses of the VIE.

Virginia Power
Virginia Power has long-term power and capacity contracts with four non-utility generators with an aggregate summer generation capacity of approximately 870 MW. These contracts contain certain variable pricing mechanisms in the form of partial fuel reimbursement that Virginia Power considers to be variable interests. After an evaluation of the information provided by these entities, Virginia Power was unable to determine whether they were VIEs. However, the information they provided, as well as Virginia Power's knowledge of generation facilities in Virginia, enabled Virginia Power to conclude that, if they were VIEs, it would not be the primary beneficiary. This conclusion reflects Virginia Power's determination that its variable interests do not convey the power to direct the most significant activities that impact the economic performance of the entities during the remaining terms of Virginia Power's contracts and for the years the entities are expected to operate after its contractual relationships expire. The contracts expire at various dates ranging from 2015 to 2021. Virginia Power is not subject to any risk of loss from these potential VIEs other than its remaining purchase commitments which totaled $752 million as of September 30, 2014. Virginia Power paid $55 million and $53 million for electric capacity and $28 million and $29 million for electric energy to these entities in the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Virginia Power paid $166 million and $161 million for electric capacity and $115 million and $74 million for electric energy to these entities in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Virginia Power and Dominion Gas
Virginia Power and Dominion Gas purchased shared services from DRS, an affiliated VIE, of approximately $82 million and and $27 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, $88 million and $30 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, $246 million and $78 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, and $248 million and $81 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. Virginia Power and Dominion Gas determined that each is not the most closely associated entity with DRS and therefore neither is the primary beneficiary. DRS provides accounting, legal, finance and certain administrative and technical services to all Dominion subsidiaries, including Virginia Power and Dominion Gas. Virginia Power and Dominion Gas have no obligation to absorb more than their allocated shares of DRS costs.