Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)

Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)

NEER – At September 30, 2023, NEE consolidates a number of VIEs within the NEER segment. Subsidiaries within the NEER segment are considered the primary beneficiary of these VIEs since they control the most significant activities of these VIEs, including operations and maintenance, and they have the obligation to absorb expected losses of these VIEs.

Eight indirect subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources have an ownership interest ranging from approximately 50% to 67% in entities which own and operate solar generation facilities with the generating capacity of approximately 765 MW. Each of the subsidiaries is considered a VIE since the non-managing members have no substantive rights over the managing members, and is consolidated by NextEra Energy Resources. These entities sell their electric output to third parties under power sales contracts with expiration dates ranging from 2035 through 2052. These entities have third-party debt which is secured by liens against the assets of the entities. The debt holders have no recourse to the general credit of NextEra Energy Resources for the repayment of debt. The assets and liabilities of these VIEs were approximately $1,875 million and $1,095 million, respectively, at September 30, 2023. There were nine of these consolidated VIEs at December 31, 2022 and the assets and liabilities of those VIEs at such date totaled approximately $2,084 million and $1,174 million, respectively. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the assets and liabilities of these VIEs consisted primarily of property, plant and equipment and long-term debt.

NEE consolidates a NEET VIE which owns and operates an approximately 280-mile electric transmission line that went into service during the first quarter of 2022. A NEET subsidiary is the primary beneficiary and controls the most significant activities of the VIE. NEET is entitled to receive 48% of the profits and losses of the entity. The assets and liabilities of the VIE totaled approximately $722 million and $27 million, respectively, at September 30, 2023, and $744 million and $18 million, respectively, at December 31, 2022. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the assets of this VIE consisted primarily of property, plant and equipment.

NextEra Energy Resources consolidates a VIE which has a 10% direct ownership interest in wind and solar generation facilities which have the capability of producing approximately 400 MW and 599 MW, respectively. These entities sell their electric output under power sales contracts to third parties with expiration dates ranging from 2025 through 2040. These entities are also considered a VIE because the holders of differential membership interests in these entities do not have substantive rights over the significant activities of these entities. The assets and liabilities of the VIE were approximately $1,480 million and $90 million, respectively, at September 30, 2023, and $1,488 million and $86 million, respectively, at December 31, 2022. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the assets of this VIE consisted primarily of property, plant and equipment.

NextEra Energy Resources consolidates 31 VIEs that primarily relate to certain subsidiaries which have sold differential membership interests in entities which own and operate wind generation, solar generation and battery storage facilities with the generating/storage capacity of approximately 11,588 MW, 1,401 MW and 1,062 MW, respectively, and own solar generation facilities that, upon completion of construction, which is anticipated in 2023, are expected to have generating capacity of approximately 1,067 MW. These entities sell, or will sell, their electric output either under power sales contracts to third parties with expiration dates ranging from 2024 through 2053 or in the spot market. These entities are considered VIEs because the holders of differential membership interests do not have substantive rights over the significant activities of these entities. NextEra Energy Resources has financing obligations with respect to these entities, including third-party debt which is secured by liens against the generation facilities and the other assets of these entities or by pledges of NextEra Energy Resources' ownership interest in these entities. The debt holders have no recourse to the general credit of NEER for the repayment of debt. The assets and liabilities of these VIEs totaled approximately $20,421 million and $1,592 million, respectively, at September 30, 2023, and $19,690 million and $2,318 million, respectively, at December 31, 2022. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the assets and liabilities of these VIEs consisted primarily of property, plant and equipment and accounts payable. At September 30, 2023, subsidiaries of NEE had guarantees related to certain obligations of three of these consolidated VIEs.

Other – At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, several NEE subsidiaries had investments totaling approximately $4,671 million ($3,661 million at FPL) and $4,016 million ($3,331 million at FPL), respectively, which are included in special use funds and noncurrent other assets on NEE's condensed consolidated balance sheets and in special use funds on FPL's condensed consolidated balance sheets. These investments represented primarily commingled funds and asset-backed securities. NEE subsidiaries, including FPL, are not the primary beneficiaries and therefore do not consolidate any of these entities because they do not control any of the ongoing activities of these entities, were not involved in the initial design of these entities and do not have a controlling financial interest in these entities.

Certain subsidiaries of NEE have noncontrolling interests in entities accounted for under the equity method, including NEE's noncontrolling interest in NEP OpCo. These entities are limited partnerships or similar entity structures in which the limited partners or non-managing members do not have substantive rights over the significant activities of these entities, and therefore are considered VIEs. NEE is not the primary beneficiary because it does not have a controlling financial interest in these entities, and therefore does not consolidate any of these entities. NEE’s investment in these entities totaled approximately $5,201 million and $5,214 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. At September 30, 2023, subsidiaries of NEE had guarantees related to certain obligations of one of these entities, as well as commitments to invest an additional approximately $190 million in several of these entities. See further discussion of such guarantees and commitments in Note 12 – Commitments and – Contracts, respectively.