XML 89 R48.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.7.0.1
Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies

Fuel, Capacity and Transmission Contract Commitments

During the six-month period ended June 30, 2017, MidAmerican Energy amended certain of its natural gas supply and transportation contracts increasing minimum payments by $247 million through 2021 and $70 million for 2022 through 2041.

Construction Commitments

During the six-month period ended June 30, 2017, MidAmerican Energy entered into contracts totaling $514 million for the construction of wind-powered generating facilities in 2017 through 2019, including $222 million in 2017, $284 million in 2018 and $8 million in 2019.

Operating Leases and Easements

During the six-month period ended June 30, 2017, MidAmerican Energy entered into non-cancelable easements with minimum payments totaling $114 million through 2057 for land in Iowa on which some of its wind-powered generating facilities will be located.

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.

Environmental Laws and Regulations

The Company is subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations regarding air and water quality, renewable portfolio standards, emissions performance standards, climate change, coal combustion byproduct disposal, hazardous and solid waste disposal, protected species 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.

Hydroelectric Relicensing

PacifiCorp's Klamath hydroelectric system is currently operating under annual licenses with the FERC. In February 2010, PacifiCorp, the United States Department of the Interior, the United States Department of Commerce, the state of California, the state of Oregon and various other governmental and non-governmental settlement parties signed the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement ("KHSA").

Congress failed to pass legislation needed to implement the original KHSA. On April 6, 2016, PacifiCorp, the states of California and Oregon and the United States Departments of the Interior and Commerce and other stakeholders executed an amendment to the KHSA. Consistent with the terms of the amended KHSA, on September 23, 2016, PacifiCorp and the Klamath River Renewal Corporation ("KRRC") jointly filed an application with the FERC to transfer the license for the four mainstem Klamath River hydroelectric generating facilities from PacifiCorp to the KRRC. Also on September 23, 2016, the KRRC filed an application with the FERC to surrender the license and decommission the facilities. The KRRC's license surrender application included a request for the FERC to refrain from acting on the surrender application until after the transfer of the license to the KRRC is effective.

Under the amended KHSA, PacifiCorp and its customers are protected from uncapped dam removal costs and liabilities. The KRRC must indemnify PacifiCorp from liabilities associated with dam removal. The amended KHSA also limits PacifiCorp's contribution to facilities removal costs to no more than $200 million, of which up to $184 million would be collected from PacifiCorp's Oregon customers with the remainder to be collected from PacifiCorp's California customers. California voters approved a water bond measure in November 2014 from which the state of California's contribution towards facilities removal costs are being drawn. In accordance with this bond measure, additional funding of up to $250 million for facilities removal costs was included in the California state budget in 2016, with the funding effective for at least five years. If facilities removal costs exceed the combined funding that will be available from PacifiCorp's Oregon and California customers and the state of California, sufficient funds would need to be provided by the KRRC or an entity other than PacifiCorp for removal to proceed.

If certain conditions in the amended KHSA are not satisfied and the license does not transfer to the KRRC, PacifiCorp will resume relicensing with the FERC.

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.
PacifiCorp [Member]  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies

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.

Environmental Laws and Regulations

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

Hydroelectric Relicensing

PacifiCorp's Klamath hydroelectric system is currently operating under annual licenses with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"). In February 2010, PacifiCorp, the United States Department of the Interior, the United States Department of Commerce, the state of California, the state of Oregon and various other governmental and non-governmental settlement parties signed the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement ("KHSA").

Congress failed to pass legislation needed to implement the original KHSA. On April 6, 2016, PacifiCorp, the states of California and Oregon, and the United States Departments of the Interior and Commerce and other stakeholders executed an amendment to the KHSA. Consistent with the terms of the amended KHSA, on September 23, 2016, PacifiCorp and the Klamath River Renewal Corporation ("KRRC") jointly filed an application with the FERC to transfer the license for the four mainstem Klamath River hydroelectric generating facilities from PacifiCorp to the KRRC. Also on September 23, 2016, the KRRC filed an application with the FERC to surrender the license and decommission the facilities. The KRRC's license surrender application included a request for the FERC to refrain from acting on the surrender application until after the transfer of the license to the KRRC is effective.

Under the amended KHSA, PacifiCorp and its customers are protected from uncapped dam removal costs and liabilities. The KRRC must indemnify PacifiCorp from liabilities associated with dam removal. The amended KHSA also limits PacifiCorp's contribution to facilities removal costs to no more than $200 million, of which up to $184 million would be collected from PacifiCorp's Oregon customers with the remainder to be collected from PacifiCorp's California customers. California voters approved a water bond measure in November 2014 from which the state of California's contribution toward facilities removal costs are being drawn. In accordance with this bond measure, additional funding of up to $250 million for facilities removal costs was included in the California state budget in 2016, with the funding effective for at least five years. If facilities removal costs exceed the combined funding that will be available from PacifiCorp's Oregon and California customers and the state of California, sufficient funds would need to be provided by the KRRC or an entity other than PacifiCorp for removal to proceed.

If certain conditions in the amended KHSA are not satisfied and the license does not transfer to the KRRC, PacifiCorp will resume relicensing with the FERC.

Guarantees

PacifiCorp 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 PacifiCorp's consolidated financial results.
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies

Natural Gas Commitments

During the six-month period ended June 30, 2017, MidAmerican Energy amended certain of its natural gas supply and transportation contracts increasing minimum payments by $247 million through 2021 and $70 million for 2022 through 2041.

Construction Commitments

During the six-month period ended June 30, 2017, MidAmerican Energy entered into contracts totaling $514 million for the construction of wind-powered generating facilities in 2017 through 2019, including $222 million in 2017, $284 million in 2018 and $8 million in 2019.

Easements

During the six-month period ended June 30, 2017, MidAmerican Energy entered into non-cancelable easements with minimum payments totaling $114 million through 2057 for land in Iowa on which some of its wind-powered generating facilities will be located.

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.

Environmental Laws and Regulations

MidAmerican Energy is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding air and water quality, emissions performance standards, climate change, coal combustion byproduct disposal, hazardous and solid waste disposal, protected species 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.

Transmission Rates

MidAmerican Energy's wholesale transmission rates are set annually using FERC-approved formula rates subject to true-up for actual cost of service. Prior to September 2016, the rates in effect were based on a 12.38% return on equity ("ROE"). In November 2013 and February 2015, a coalition of intervenors filed successive complaints with the FERC requesting that the 12.38% ROE no longer be found just and reasonable and sought to reduce the base ROE to 9.15% and 8.67%, respectively. MidAmerican Energy is authorized by the FERC to include a 0.50% adder beyond the base ROE effective January 2015. In September 2016, the FERC issued an order for the first complaint, which reduces the base ROE to 10.32% and requires refunds, plus interest, for the period from November 2013 through February 2015. Customer refunds relative to the first complaint occurred in February 2017. The FERC is expected to rule on the second complaint in 2017, covering the period from February 2015 through May 2016. MidAmerican Energy believes it is probable that the FERC will order a base ROE lower than 12.38% in the second complaint and, as of June 30, 2017, has accrued a $9 million liability for refunds under the second complaint of amounts collected under the higher ROE from February 2015 through May 2016.
MidAmerican Funding, LLC and Subsidiaries [Domain]  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies

MidAmerican 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.
Nevada Power Company [Member]  
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 air and water quality, renewable portfolio standards, emissions performance standards, climate change, 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.

Senate Bill 123

In June 2013, the Nevada State Legislature passed Senate Bill No. 123 ("SB 123"), which included the retirement of coal plants and replacing the capacity with renewable facilities and other generating facilities. In May 2014, Nevada Power filed its Emissions Reduction Capacity Replacement Plan ("ERCR Plan") in compliance with SB 123. In July 2015, Nevada Power filed an amendment to its ERCR Plan with the PUCN which was approved in September 2015. In June 2015, the Nevada State Legislature passed Assembly Bill No. 498, which modified the capacity replacement components of SB 123.

Consistent with the ERCR Plan, Nevada Power acquired a 272-MW natural gas co-generating facility in 2014, acquired a 210-MW natural gas peaking facility in 2014, constructed a 15-MW solar photovoltaic facility in 2015, contracted two renewable power purchase agreements with 100-MW solar photovoltaic generating facilities in 2015, contracted a renewable power purchase agreement with 100-MW solar photovoltaic generating facility in 2016 and acquired the remaining 130 MW, 25%, of the Silverhawk natural gas-fueled generating facility in April 2017, of which 54 MW were approved as part of the ERCR Plan. Nevada Power has the option to acquire 35 MW of nameplate renewable energy capacity in the future under the ERCR Plan, subject to PUCN approval. Nevada Power retired Reid Gardner Units 1, 2, and 3, 300 MW of coal-fueled generation, in 2014 and Reid Gardner Unit 4, 257 MW of coal-fueled generation, in March 2017. These transactions are related to Nevada Power's compliance with SB 123, resulting in the retirement of 812 MW of coal-fueled generation by 2019.

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.
Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member]  
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 air and water quality, renewable portfolio standards, emissions performance standards, climate change, 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.