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Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments

The Company has the following firm commitments that are not reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Construction Commitments

In April 2023, PacifiCorp entered into build transfer agreements totaling $1.2 billion through 2025 for the construction of certain wind-powered generating facilities in Wyoming.

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, MidAmerican Energy entered into firm construction commitments totaling $183 million for the remainder of 2023 through 2024 related to the construction of wind-powered generating facilities in Iowa.

Fuel Contracts

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, PacifiCorp entered into certain coal supply and transportation agreements totaling $247 million through 2025.

Environmental Laws and Regulations

The Company is subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations regarding air quality, climate change, emissions performance standards, water quality, coal ash disposal, hazardous and other environmental matters that have the potential to impact the Company's current and future operations. The Company believes it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Lower Klamath Hydroelectric Project

In November 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") issued a license surrender order for the Lower Klamath Project, which was accepted by the Klamath River Renewal Corporation ("KRRC") and the states of Oregon and California ("States") in December 2022, along with the transfer of the Lower Klamath Project dams. Although PacifiCorp no longer owns the Lower Klamath Project, PacifiCorp will continue to operate the facilities under an operation and maintenance agreement with the KRRC until each facility is ready for removal. Removal of the Copco No. 2 facility is anticipated to begin in 2023, and removal of the remaining three dams (J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1 and Iron Gate) is anticipated to begin in 2024. The KRRC has $450 million in funding available for dam removal and restoration; $200 million collected from PacifiCorp's Oregon and California customers and $250 million in California bond funds. PacifiCorp and the States have also agreed to equally share cost overruns that may occur above the initial $450 million in funding. Specifically, PacifiCorp and the States have agreed to equally fund an initial $45 million contingency fund and equally share any additional costs above that amount to ensure dam removal and restoration is complete.

Legal Matters

The Company is party to a variety of legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. The Company does not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material impact on its consolidated financial results. The Company is also involved in other kinds of legal actions, some of which assert or may assert claims or seek to impose fines, penalties and other costs in substantial amounts and are described below.

Wildfire Liability Overview
    
A provision for a loss contingency is recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company evaluates the related range of reasonably estimated losses and records a loss based on its best estimate within that range or the lower end of the range if there is no better estimate.
In California, under inverse condemnation, courts have held that investor-owned utilities can be liable for real and personal property damages from wildfires without the utility being found negligent and regardless of fault. California law also permits inverse condemnation plaintiffs to recover reasonable attorney fees and costs. In both Oregon and California, PacifiCorp has equipment in areas accessed through special use permits, easements or similar agreements that may contain provisions requiring it to pay for damages caused by its equipment regardless of fault. Even if inverse condemnation or other provisions do not apply, PacifiCorp could be found liable for all damages proximately caused by negligence, including real and personal property and natural resource damages; fire suppression costs; personal injury and loss of life damages; and interest.

2020 Wildfires

In September 2020, a severe weather event resulting in high winds, low humidity and warm temperatures contributed to several major wildfires, which resulted in real and personal property and natural resource damage, personal injuries and loss of life and widespread power outages in Oregon and Northern California. The wildfires spread across certain parts of PacifiCorp's service territory and surrounding areas across multiple counties in Oregon and California, including Siskiyou County, California; Jackson County, Oregon; Douglas County, Oregon; Marion County, Oregon; Lincoln County, Oregon; and Klamath County, Oregon, burning over 500,000 acres in aggregate. Third-party reports for these wildfires indicate over 2,000 structures destroyed, including residences; several structures damaged; multiple individuals injured; and several fatalities. Fire suppression costs estimated by various agencies total approximately $150 million.

Investigations into the cause and origin of each wildfire are complex and ongoing and being conducted by various entities, including the U.S. Forest Service, the California Public Utilities Commission, the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Oregon Department of Justice, PacifiCorp and various experts engaged by PacifiCorp.

As of the date of this filing, numerous lawsuits have been filed in Oregon and California, including a class action complaint in Oregon, on behalf of plaintiffs related to the 2020 Wildfires. The plaintiffs seek damages that include property damages, economic losses, punitive damages, exemplary damages, attorneys' fees and other damages. Additionally, several insurance carriers have filed subrogation complaints in Oregon and California with allegations similar to those made in the aforementioned lawsuits. Final determinations of liability, however, will only be made following the completion of comprehensive investigations and litigation processes.

Based on the facts and circumstances available to PacifiCorp as of the date of this filing, which includes the status of litigation and recent settlements, PacifiCorp has accrued cumulative estimated probable losses associated with the 2020 Wildfires of $877 million through March 31, 2023. PacifiCorp's cumulative accrual includes estimates of losses for fire suppression costs, real and personal property damages, natural resource damages for certain areas and noneconomic damages such as personal injury damages and loss of life damages that are considered probable of being incurred and that it is reasonably able to estimate at this time. For certain aspects of the 2020 Wildfires for which loss is considered probable, information necessary to reasonably estimate the potential losses, such as those related to certain areas of natural resource damages, is not currently available.

It is reasonably possible PacifiCorp will incur additional losses beyond the amounts accrued; however, PacifiCorp is currently unable to estimate the range of possible additional losses that could be incurred due to the number of properties and parties involved and the variation in those types of properties and lack of available details. To the extent losses beyond the amounts accrued are incurred, additional insurance coverage is expected to be available to cover a portion of the losses.

The following table presents changes in PacifiCorp's liability for estimated losses associated with the 2020 Wildfires (in millions):
Three-Month Periods
Ended March 31,
20232022
Beginning balance$424 $252 
Accrued losses400 — 
Ending balance$824 $252 
PacifiCorp's receivable for expected insurance recoveries associated with the probable losses was $287 million and $246 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 PacifiCorp recognized probable losses net of expected insurance recoveries associated with the 2020 Wildfires of $359 million and $— million, respectively, and are recorded in operations and maintenance on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

2022 McKinney Fire

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, on July 29, 2022, a wildfire began in the Oak Knoll Ranger District of the Klamath National Forest in Siskiyou County, California (the "2022 McKinney Fire") located in PacifiCorp's service territory. Third-party reports indicate that the 2022 McKinney Fire resulted in 11 structures damaged, 185 structures destroyed, 12 injuries and four fatalities and consumed 60,000 acres. The cause of the 2022 McKinney Fire is undetermined and remains under investigation by the U.S. Forest Service.

Due to the preliminary nature of the investigation PacifiCorp does not believe a loss is probable and therefore has not accrued any loss as of the date of this filing. While the loss is not probable, PacifiCorp estimates the potential loss, excluding losses for natural resource damages, to be $31 million, net of expected insurance recoveries. The loss estimate includes PacifiCorp's estimate of losses for fire suppression costs; real and personal property damages; and noneconomic damages such as personal injury damages and loss of life damages. PacifiCorp is unable to estimate the total potential loss, including losses for natural resource damages, because there are a number of unknown facts and legal considerations that may impact the amount of any potential liability, including the total scope and nature of claims that may be asserted against PacifiCorp. PacifiCorp has insurance available and estimates the potential insurance recoveries to be $103 million, to cover potential losses.

As of the date of this filing, multiple lawsuits have been filed in California on behalf of plaintiffs related to the 2022 McKinney Fire. The plaintiffs seek damages that include property damages, economic and noneconomic losses, punitive damages, exemplary damages, attorneys' fees and other damages but the amount of damages sought are not specified. Final determinations of liability, however, will only be made following the completion of comprehensive investigations and litigation processes.

Guarantees

The Company has entered into guarantees as part of the normal course of business and the sale of certain assets. These guarantees are not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial results.
PAC  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments

PacifiCorp has the following firm commitments that are not reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Construction Commitments

In April 2023, PacifiCorp entered into build transfer agreements totaling $1.2 billion through 2025 for the construction of certain wind-powered generating facilities in Wyoming.

Fuel Contracts

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, PacifiCorp entered into certain coal supply and transportation agreements totaling $247 million through 2025.
Environmental Laws and Regulations

PacifiCorp is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding air quality, climate change, emissions performance standards, water quality, coal ash disposal, wildfire prevention and mitigation and other environmental matters that have the potential to impact its current and future operations. PacifiCorp believes it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Lower Klamath Hydroelectric Project

In November 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") issued a license surrender order for the Lower Klamath Project, which was accepted by the Klamath River Renewal Corporation ("KRRC") and the states of Oregon and California ("States") in December 2022, along with the transfer of the Lower Klamath Project dams. Although PacifiCorp no longer owns the Lower Klamath Project, PacifiCorp will continue to operate the facilities under an operation and maintenance agreement with the KRRC until each facility is ready for removal. Removal of the Copco No. 2 facility is anticipated to begin in 2023, and removal of the remaining three dams (J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1 and Iron Gate) is anticipated to begin in 2024. The KRRC has $450 million in funding available for dam removal and restoration; $200 million collected from PacifiCorp's Oregon and California customers and $250 million in California bond funds. PacifiCorp and the States have also agreed to equally share cost overruns that may occur above the initial $450 million in funding. Specifically, PacifiCorp and the States have agreed to equally fund an initial $45 million contingency fund and equally share any additional costs above that amount to ensure dam removal and restoration is complete.

Legal Matters

PacifiCorp is party to a variety of legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. PacifiCorp does not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material impact on its consolidated financial results. PacifiCorp is also involved in other kinds of legal actions, some of which assert or may assert claims or seek to impose fines, penalties and other costs in substantial amounts and are described below.

Wildfires Overview

A provision for a loss contingency is recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. PacifiCorp evaluates the related range of reasonably estimated losses and records a loss based on its best estimate within that range or the lower end of the range if there is no better estimate.

In California, under inverse condemnation, courts have held that investor-owned utilities can be liable for real and personal property damages from wildfires without the utility being found negligent and regardless of fault. California law also permits inverse condemnation plaintiffs to recover reasonable attorney fees and costs. In both Oregon and California, PacifiCorp has equipment in areas accessed through special use permits, easements or similar agreements that may contain provisions requiring it to pay for damages caused by its equipment regardless of fault. Even if inverse condemnation or other provisions do not apply, PacifiCorp could be found liable for all damages proximately caused by negligence, including real and personal property and natural resource damages; fire suppression costs; personal injury and loss of life damages; and interest.

2020 Wildfires

In September 2020, a severe weather event resulting in high winds, low humidity and warm temperatures contributed to several major wildfires, which resulted in real and personal property and natural resource damage, personal injuries and loss of life and widespread power outages in Oregon and Northern California. The wildfires spread across certain parts of PacifiCorp's service territory and surrounding areas across multiple counties in Oregon and California, including Siskiyou County, California; Jackson County, Oregon; Douglas County, Oregon; Marion County, Oregon; Lincoln County, Oregon; and Klamath County, Oregon, burning over 500,000 acres in aggregate. Third-party reports for these wildfires indicate over 2,000 structures destroyed, including residences; several structures damaged; multiple individuals injured; and several fatalities. Fire suppression costs estimated by various agencies total approximately $150 million.

Investigations into the cause and origin of each wildfire are complex and ongoing and being conducted by various entities, including the U.S. Forest Service, the California Public Utilities Commission, the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Oregon Department of Justice, PacifiCorp and various experts engaged by PacifiCorp.
As of the date of this filing, numerous lawsuits have been filed in Oregon and California, including a class action complaint in Oregon, on behalf of plaintiffs related to the 2020 Wildfires. The plaintiffs seek damages that include property damages, economic losses, punitive damages, exemplary damages, attorneys' fees and other damages. Additionally, several insurance carriers have filed subrogation complaints in Oregon and California with allegations similar to those made in the aforementioned lawsuits. Final determinations of liability, however, will only be made following the completion of comprehensive investigations and litigation processes.

Based on the facts and circumstances available to PacifiCorp as of the date of this filing, which includes the status of litigation and recent settlements, PacifiCorp has accrued cumulative estimated probable losses associated with the 2020 Wildfires of $877 million through March 31, 2023. PacifiCorp's cumulative accrual includes estimates of losses for fire suppression costs, real and personal property damages, natural resource damages for certain areas and noneconomic damages such as personal injury damages and loss of life damages that are considered probable of being incurred and that it is reasonably able to estimate at this time. For certain aspects of the 2020 Wildfires for which loss is considered probable, information necessary to reasonably estimate the potential losses, such as those related to certain areas of natural resource damages, is not currently available.

It is reasonably possible PacifiCorp will incur additional losses beyond the amounts accrued; however, PacifiCorp is currently unable to estimate the range of possible additional losses that could be incurred due to the number of properties and parties involved and the variation in those types of properties and lack of available details. To the extent losses beyond the amounts accrued are incurred, additional insurance coverage is expected to be available to cover a portion of the losses.

The following table presents changes in PacifiCorp's liability for estimated losses associated with the 2020 Wildfires (in millions):
Three-Month Periods
Ended March 31,
20232022
Beginning balance$424 $252 
Accrued losses400 — 
Ending balance$824 $252 
PacifiCorp's receivable for expected insurance recoveries associated with the probable losses was $287 million and $246 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, PacifiCorp recognized probable losses net of expected insurance recoveries associated with the 2020 Wildfires of $359 million and $— million, respectively, and are recorded in operations and maintenance on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

2022 McKinney Fire

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, on July 29, 2022, a wildfire began in the Oak Knoll Ranger District of the Klamath National Forest in Siskiyou County, California (the "2022 McKinney Fire") located in PacifiCorp's service territory. Third-party reports indicate that the 2022 McKinney Fire resulted in 11 structures damaged, 185 structures destroyed, 12 injuries and four fatalities and consumed 60,000 acres. The cause of the 2022 McKinney Fire is undetermined and remains under investigation by the U.S. Forest Service.

Due to the preliminary nature of the investigation PacifiCorp does not believe a loss is probable and therefore has not accrued any loss as of the date of this filing. While the loss is not probable, PacifiCorp estimates the potential loss, excluding losses for natural resource damages, to be $31 million, net of expected insurance recoveries. The loss estimate includes PacifiCorp's estimate of losses for fire suppression costs; real and personal property damages; and noneconomic damages such as personal injury damages and loss of life damages. PacifiCorp is unable to estimate the total potential loss, including losses for natural resource damages, because there are a number of unknown facts and legal considerations that may impact the amount of any potential liability, including the total scope and nature of claims that may be asserted against PacifiCorp. PacifiCorp has insurance available and estimates the potential insurance recoveries to be $103 million, to cover potential losses.
As of the date of this filing, multiple lawsuits have been filed in California on behalf of plaintiffs related to the 2022 McKinney Fire. The plaintiffs seek damages that include property damages, economic and noneconomic losses, punitive damages, exemplary damages, attorneys' fees and other damages but the amount of damages sought are not specified. Final determinations of liability, however, will only be made following the completion of comprehensive investigations and litigation processes.

Guarantees

PacifiCorp has entered into guarantees as part of the normal course of business and the sale or transfer of certain assets. These guarantees are not expected to have a material impact on PacifiCorp's consolidated financial results.
MEC  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments

MidAmerican Energy has the following firm commitments that are not reflected on the Balance Sheets.

Construction Commitments

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, MidAmerican Energy entered into firm construction commitments totaling $183 million for the remainder of 2023 through 2024 related to the construction of wind-powered generating facilities in Iowa.

Environmental Laws and Regulations

MidAmerican Energy is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding air quality, climate change, emissions performance standards, water quality, coal ash disposal and other environmental matters that have the potential to impact its current and future operations. MidAmerican Energy believes it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Legal Matters

MidAmerican Energy is party to a variety of legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. MidAmerican Energy does not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material impact on its financial results.

Transmission Rates

MidAmerican Energy's wholesale transmission rates are set annually using formula rates approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") subject to true-up for actual cost of service. In November 2013 and February 2015, a coalition of intervenors filed successive complaints with the FERC requesting that the base return on equity ("ROE") used to determine rates in effect prior to September 2016 no longer be found just and reasonable and sought to reduce the base ROE. In August 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an opinion vacating all orders related to the complaints and remanding them back to the FERC. MidAmerican Energy cannot predict the ultimate outcome of these matters or the amount of refunds, if any, and accordingly, has reversed its previously accrued liability for potential refunds of amounts collected under the higher ROE during the periods covered by the complaints.
MidAmerican Funding, LLC  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and ContingenciesMidAmerican Funding is party to a variety of legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. MidAmerican Funding does not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material impact on its consolidated financial results. Refer to Note 8 of MidAmerican Energy's Notes to Financial Statements.
NPC  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Environmental Laws and Regulations

Nevada Power is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding climate change, renewable portfolio standards, air and water quality, emissions performance standards, coal combustion byproduct disposal, hazardous and solid waste disposal, protected species and other environmental matters that have the potential to impact Nevada Power's current and future operations. Nevada Power believes it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Legal Matters

Nevada Power is party to a variety of legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. Nevada Power does not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material impact on its consolidated financial results.
SPPC  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Environmental Laws and Regulations

Sierra Pacific is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding climate change, renewable portfolio standards, air and water quality, emissions performance standards, coal combustion byproduct disposal, hazardous and solid waste disposal, protected species and other environmental matters that have the potential to impact Sierra Pacific's current and future operations. Sierra Pacific believes it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Legal Matters

Sierra Pacific is party to a variety of legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. Sierra Pacific does not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material impact on its consolidated financial results.
EEGH  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Environmental Laws and Regulations

Eastern Energy Gas is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding air quality, climate change, emissions performance standards, water quality and other environmental matters that have the potential to impact its current and future operations. Eastern Energy Gas believes it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Legal Matters

Eastern Energy Gas is party to a variety of legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. Eastern Energy Gas does not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material impact on its consolidated financial results.
EGTS  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Environmental Laws and Regulations

EGTS is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding air quality, climate change, emissions performance standards, water quality and other environmental matters that have the potential to impact its current and future operations. EGTS believes it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Legal Matters

EGTS is party to a variety of legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. EGTS does not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material impact on its consolidated financial results.