Derivative Financial Instruments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

7. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

DESC’s accounting policies, objectives, and strategies for using derivative instruments are discussed in Note 2 in the Consolidated Financial Statements in DESC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. See Note 8 for further information about fair value measurements and associated valuation methods for derivatives.

Cash collateral, as presented in the table below, is used to offset derivative assets and liabilities. Certain of DESC’s derivative instruments contain credit-related contingent provisions. These provisions require DESC to provide collateral upon the occurrence of specific events, primarily a credit rating downgrade. If the credit-related contingent features underlying the instruments that are in a liability position and not fully collateralized with cash were fully triggered as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, DESC would have been required to post $3 million and $1 million, respectively, of additional collateral to its counterparties. The collateral that would be required to be posted includes the impacts of any offsetting asset positions and any amounts already posted for derivatives, non-derivative contracts and derivatives elected under the normal purchases and normal sales exception, per contractual terms. DESC had posted $1 million of collateral at both March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 related to derivatives with credit-related contingent provisions that are in a liability position and not fully collateralized with cash. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-related contingent provisions that are in a liability position and not fully collateralized with cash as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was $4 million and $2 million, respectively, which does not include the impact of any offsetting asset positions.

The table below presents derivative balances by type of financial instrument, if the gross amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were netted with derivative instruments and cash collateral received or paid. DESC’s commodity derivative assets are not subject to a master netting agreement or similar arrangement.


	March 31, 2023								December 31, 2022
	Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet								Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
(millions)	Gross Assets Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet		Financial Instruments		Cash Collateral Received		Net Amounts		Gross Assets Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet		Financial Instruments		Cash Collateral Received		Net Amounts
Interest rate contracts:
Over-the-counter	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	1	$	—	$	—	$	1
Total derivatives	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	1	$	—	$	—	$	1


	March 31, 2023								December 31, 2022
	Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet								Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
(millions)	Gross Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet		Financial Instruments		Cash Collateral Paid		Net Amounts		Gross Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet		Financial Instruments		Cash Collateral Paid		Net Amounts
Interest rate contracts:
Over-the-counter	$	4	$	—	$	1	$	3	$	2	$	—	$	1	$	1
Total derivatives	$	4	$	—	$	1	$	3	$	2	$	—	$	1	$	1

Volumes

The following table presents the volume of derivative activity at March 31, 2023. These volumes are based on open derivative positions and represent the combined absolute value of their long and short positions.


	Current		Noncurrent
Electricity (MWh in millions):
Fixed price		2		24
Interest rate(1)(in millions)	$	—	$	71

(1)

Maturity is determined based on final settlement period.

Fair Value and Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments

The following tables present the fair values of derivatives and where they are presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:


(millions)	Fair Value - Derivatives under Hedge Accounting		Fair Value - Derivatives not under Hedge Accounting		Total Fair Value
At March 31, 2023
ASSETS
Current Assets
Commodity	$	—	$	8	$	8
Total current derivative assets(1)		—		8		8
Noncurrent Assets
Commodity		—		180		180
Total noncurrent derivative assets(2)		—		180		180
Total derivative assets	$	—	$	188	$	188
LIABILITIES
Noncurrent Liabilities
Interest rate		3		1		4
Total noncurrent derivative liabilities(3)		3		1		4
Total derivative liabilities	$	3	$	1	$	4
At December 31, 2022
ASSETS
Current Assets
Commodity	$	—	$	41	$	41
Total current derivative assets(1)		—		41		41
Noncurrent Assets
Commodity		—		210		210
Interest rate		—		1		1
Total noncurrent derivative assets(2)		—		211		211
Total derivative assets	$	—	$	252	$	252
LIABILITIES
Noncurrent Liabilities
Interest rate		2		—		2
Total noncurrent derivative liabilities(3)		2		—		2
Total derivative liabilities	$	2	$	—	$	2

(1)

Current derivative assets are presented in other current assets in DESC’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(2)

Noncurrent derivative assets are presented in other deferred debits and other assets in DESC’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(3)

Noncurrent derivative liabilities are presented in other deferred credits and other liabilities in DESC’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following tables present the gains and losses on derivatives, as well as where the associated activity is presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Statements of Comprehensive Income:

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships


(millions)	Increase (Decrease) in Derivatives Subject to Regulatory Treatment(1)
Three Months Ended March 31,	2023			2022
Derivative type and location of gains (losses):
Interest rate	$	(1	)	$	5
Total	$	(1	)	$	5

(1)

Represents net derivative activity deferred into and amortized out of regulatory assets/liabilities. Amounts deferred into regulatory assets/ liabilities have no associated effect in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments


(millions)	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives(1)
Three Months Ended March 31,	2023		2022
Derivative type and location of gains (losses):
Commodity contracts:
Purchased power	$	1	$	3
Interest rate contracts:
Interest charges		—		(1	)
Total	$	1	$	2

(1)

Includes derivative activity amortized out of regulatory assets/liabilities. Amounts deferred into regulatory assets/liabilities have no associated effect in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.