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Financial and Other Derivative Instruments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Financial and Other Derivative Instruments
FINANCIAL AND OTHER DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The Registrants recognize all derivatives at their fair value as Derivative assets or liabilities on their respective Consolidated Statements of Financial Position unless they qualify for certain scope exceptions, including the normal purchases and normal sales exception. Further, derivatives that qualify and are designated for hedge accounting are classified as either hedges of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (cash flow hedge); or as hedges of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (fair value hedge). For cash flow hedges, the portion of the derivative gain or loss that is effective in offsetting the change in the value of the underlying exposure is deferred in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and later reclassified into earnings when the underlying transaction occurs. Gains or losses from the ineffective portion of cash flow hedges are recognized in earnings immediately. For fair value hedges, changes in fair values for the derivative and hedged item are recognized in earnings each period. For derivatives that do not qualify or are not designated for hedge accounting, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings each period.
The Registrants’ primary market risk exposure is associated with commodity prices, credit, and interest rates. The Registrants have risk management policies to monitor and manage market risks. The Registrants use derivative instruments to manage some of the exposure. DTE Energy uses derivative instruments for trading purposes in its Energy Trading segment. Contracts classified as derivative instruments include electricity, natural gas, oil, certain coal forwards, futures, options, swaps, and foreign currency exchange contracts. Items not classified as derivatives include natural gas inventory, pipeline transportation contracts, renewable energy credits, and natural gas storage assets.
DTE Electric — DTE Electric generates, purchases, distributes, and sells electricity. DTE Electric uses forward contracts to manage changes in the price of electricity and fuel. Substantially all of these contracts meet the normal purchases and normal sales exception and are therefore accounted for under the accrual method. Other derivative contracts are MTM and recoverable through the PSCR mechanism when settled. This results in the deferral of unrealized gains and losses as Regulatory assets or liabilities until realized.
DTE Gas — DTE Gas purchases, stores, transports, distributes, and sells natural gas, and sells storage and transportation capacity. DTE Gas has fixed-priced contracts for portions of its expected natural gas supply requirements through March 2021. Substantially all of these contracts meet the normal purchases and normal sales exception and are therefore accounted for under the accrual method. DTE Gas may also sell forward transportation and storage capacity contracts. Forward transportation and storage contracts are generally not derivatives and are therefore accounted for under the accrual method.
Gas Storage and Pipelines — This segment is primarily engaged in services related to the gathering, transportation, and storage of natural gas. Primarily fixed-priced contracts are used in the marketing and management of transportation and storage services. Generally, these contracts are not derivatives and are therefore accounted for under the accrual method.
Power and Industrial Projects — This segment manages and operates energy and pulverized coal projects, a coke battery, reduced emissions fuel projects, landfill gas recovery, and power generation assets. Primarily fixed-price contracts are used in the marketing and management of the segment assets. These contracts are generally not derivatives and are therefore accounted for under the accrual method.
Energy Trading — Commodity Price Risk — Energy Trading markets and trades electricity, natural gas physical products, and energy financial instruments, and provides energy and asset management services utilizing energy commodity derivative instruments. Forwards, futures, options, and swap agreements are used to manage exposure to the risk of market price and volume fluctuations in its operations. These derivatives are accounted for by recording changes in fair value to earnings unless hedge accounting criteria are met.
Energy Trading — Foreign Currency Exchange Risk — Energy Trading has foreign currency exchange forward contracts to economically hedge fixed Canadian dollar commitments existing under natural gas and power purchase and sale contracts and natural gas transportation contracts. Energy Trading enters into these contracts to mitigate price volatility with respect to fluctuations of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. These derivatives are accounted for by recording changes in fair value to earnings unless hedge accounting criteria are met.
Corporate and Other — Interest Rate Risk — DTE Energy may use interest rate swaps, treasury locks, and other derivatives to hedge the risk associated with interest rate market volatility.
Credit Risk — DTE Energy maintains credit policies that significantly minimize overall credit risk. These policies include an evaluation of potential customers’ and counterparties’ financial condition, including the viability of underlying productive assets, credit rating, collateral requirements, or other credit enhancements such as letters of credit or guarantees. DTE Energy generally uses standardized agreements that allow the netting of positive and negative transactions associated with a single counterparty. DTE Energy maintains a provision for credit losses based on factors surrounding the credit risk of its customers, historical trends, and other information. Based on DTE Energy's credit policies and its September 30, 2018 provision for credit losses, DTE Energy’s exposure to counterparty nonperformance is not expected to have a material adverse effect on DTE Energy's Consolidated Financial Statements.
Derivative Activities
DTE Energy manages its MTM risk on a portfolio basis based upon the delivery period of its contracts and the individual components of the risks within each contract. Accordingly, it records and manages the energy purchase and sale obligations under its contracts in separate components based on the commodity (e.g. electricity or natural gas), the product (e.g. electricity for delivery during peak or off-peak hours), the delivery location (e.g. by region), the risk profile (e.g. forward or option), and the delivery period (e.g. by month and year). The following describes the categories of activities represented by their operating characteristics and key risks:
Asset Optimization — Represents derivative activity associated with assets owned and contracted by DTE Energy, including forward natural gas purchases and sales, natural gas transportation, and storage capacity. Changes in the value of derivatives in this category typically economically offset changes in the value of underlying non-derivative positions, which do not qualify for fair value accounting. The difference in accounting treatment of derivatives in this category and the underlying non-derivative positions can result in significant earnings volatility.
Marketing and Origination — Represents derivative activity transacted by originating substantially hedged positions with wholesale energy marketers, producers, end-users, utilities, retail aggregators, and alternative energy suppliers.
Fundamentals Based Trading — Represents derivative activity transacted with the intent of taking a view, capturing market price changes, or putting capital at risk. This activity is speculative in nature as opposed to hedging an existing exposure.
Other — Includes derivative activity at DTE Electric related to FTRs. Changes in the value of derivative contracts at DTE Electric are recorded as Derivative assets or liabilities, with an offset to Regulatory assets or liabilities as the settlement value of these contracts will be included in the PSCR mechanism when realized.
The following table presents the fair value of derivative instruments for DTE Energy:
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Derivative
Assets
 
Derivative Liabilities
 
Derivative
Assets
 
Derivative Liabilities
 
(In millions)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural gas
$
200

 
$
(229
)
 
$
357

 
$
(378
)
Electricity
234

 
(227
)
 
285

 
(275
)
Other
7

 
(1
)
 
9

 
(1
)
Foreign currency exchange contracts
1

 
(1
)
 
1

 
(3
)
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
$
442

 
$
(458
)
 
$
652

 
$
(657
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
$
361

 
$
(342
)
 
$
540

 
$
(558
)
Noncurrent
81

 
(116
)
 
112

 
(99
)
Total derivatives
$
442

 
$
(458
)
 
$
652

 
$
(657
)

The following table presents the fair value of derivative instruments for DTE Electric:
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
(In millions)
FTRs — Other current assets
$
6

 
$
9

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
$
6

 
$
9


Certain of DTE Energy's derivative positions are subject to netting arrangements which provide for offsetting of asset and liability positions as well as related cash collateral. Such netting arrangements generally do not have restrictions. Under such netting arrangements, DTE Energy offsets the fair value of derivative instruments with cash collateral received or paid for those contracts executed with the same counterparty, which reduces DTE Energy's Total Assets and Liabilities. Cash collateral is allocated between the fair value of derivative instruments and customer accounts receivable and payable with the same counterparty on a pro-rata basis to the extent there is exposure. Any cash collateral remaining, after the exposure is netted to zero, is reflected in Accounts receivable and Accounts payable as collateral paid or received, respectively.
DTE Energy also provides and receives collateral in the form of letters of credit which can be offset against net Derivative assets and liabilities as well as Accounts receivable and payable. DTE Energy had issued letters of credit of $4 million outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, which could be used to offset net Derivative liabilities. Letters of credit received from third parties which could be used to offset net Derivative assets were $6 million and $4 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Such balances of letters of credit are excluded from the tables below and are not netted with the recognized assets and liabilities in DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
For contracts with certain clearing agents, the fair value of derivative instruments is netted against realized positions with the net balance reflected as either 1) a Derivative asset or liability or 2) an Account receivable or payable. Other than certain clearing agents, Accounts receivable and Accounts payable that are subject to netting arrangements have not been offset against the fair value of Derivative assets and liabilities.
For DTE Energy, the total cash collateral posted, net of cash collateral received, was $13 million and $28 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. DTE Energy had $1 million of cash collateral related to unrealized positions to net against Derivative assets and no cash collateral related to unrealized positions to net against Derivative liabilities as of September 30, 2018. DTE Energy had $9 million of cash collateral related to unrealized positions to net against Derivative assets while Derivative liabilities are shown net of cash collateral of $22 million as of December 31, 2017. DTE Energy recorded cash collateral paid of $21 million and cash collateral received of $7 million not related to unrealized derivative positions as of September 30, 2018. DTE Energy recorded cash collateral paid of $18 million and cash collateral received of $3 million not related to unrealized derivative positions as of December 31, 2017. These amounts are included in Accounts receivable and Accounts payable and are recorded net by counterparty.
The following table presents the netting offsets of Derivative assets and liabilities for DTE Energy:
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets (Liabilities)
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
 
Net Amounts of Assets (Liabilities) Presented in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
 
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets (Liabilities)
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
 
Net Amounts of Assets (Liabilities) Presented in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
 
(In millions)
Derivative assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural gas
$
200

 
$
(139
)
 
$
61

 
$
357

 
$
(256
)
 
$
101

Electricity
234

 
(173
)
 
61

 
285

 
(241
)
 
44

Other
7

 
(1
)
 
6

 
9

 

 
9

Foreign currency exchange contracts
1

 
(1
)
 

 
1

 
(1
)
 

Total derivative assets
$
442

 
$
(314
)
 
$
128

 
$
652

 
$
(498
)
 
$
154

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural gas
$
(229
)
 
$
139

 
$
(90
)
 
$
(378
)
 
$
263

 
$
(115
)
Electricity
(227
)
 
172

 
(55
)
 
(275
)
 
246

 
(29
)
Other
(1
)
 
1

 

 
(1
)
 
1

 

Foreign currency exchange contracts
(1
)
 
1

 

 
(3
)
 
1

 
(2
)
Total derivative liabilities
$
(458
)
 
$
313

 
$
(145
)
 
$
(657
)
 
$
511

 
$
(146
)

The following table presents the netting offsets of Derivative assets and liabilities showing the reconciliation of derivative instruments to DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position:
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Derivative Assets
 
Derivative Liabilities
 
Derivative Assets
 
Derivative Liabilities
 
Current
 
Noncurrent
 
Current
 
Noncurrent
 
Current
 
Noncurrent
 
Current
 
Noncurrent
 
(In millions)
Total fair value of derivatives
$
361

 
$
81

 
$
(342
)
 
$
(116
)
 
$
540

 
$
112

 
$
(558
)
 
$
(99
)
Counterparty netting
(263
)
 
(50
)
 
263

 
50

 
(437
)
 
(52
)
 
437

 
52

Collateral adjustment
(1
)
 

 

 

 

 
(9
)
 
22

 

Total derivatives as reported
$
97

 
$
31

 
$
(79
)
 
$
(66
)
 
$
103

 
$
51

 
$
(99
)
 
$
(47
)

The effect of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Operations is as follows:
Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments
 
Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
 
Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives for the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives for the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
 
 
(In millions)
Commodity contracts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural gas
 
Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations
 
$
(29
)
 
$
(14
)
 
$
(51
)
 
$
63

Natural gas
 
Fuel, purchased power, and gas — non-utility
 
(6
)
 
10

 
(74
)
 
56

Electricity
 
Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations
 
26

 
33

 
37

 
39

Other
 
Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations
 

 
2

 
1

 
1

Foreign currency exchange contracts
 
Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
2

 
(3
)
Total
 
 
 
$
(11
)
 
$
29

 
$
(85
)
 
$
156


Revenues and energy costs related to trading contracts are presented on a net basis in DTE Energy's Consolidated Statements of Operations. Commodity derivatives used for trading purposes, and financial non-trading commodity derivatives, are accounted for using the MTM method with unrealized and realized gains and losses recorded in Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations. Non-trading physical commodity sale and purchase derivative contracts are generally accounted for using the MTM method with unrealized and realized gains and losses for sales recorded in Operating Revenues — Non-utility operations and purchases recorded in Fuel, purchased power, and gas — non-utility.
The following represents the cumulative gross volume of DTE Energy's derivative contracts outstanding as of September 30, 2018:
Commodity
 
Number of Units
Natural gas (MMBtu)
 
1,845,918,994

Electricity (MWh)
 
35,321,134

Foreign currency exchange (Canadian dollars)
 
101,360,396


Various subsidiaries of DTE Energy have entered into contracts which contain ratings triggers and are guaranteed by DTE Energy. These contracts contain provisions which allow the counterparties to require that DTE Energy post cash or letters of credit as collateral in the event that DTE Energy’s credit rating is downgraded below investment grade. Certain of these provisions (known as “hard triggers”) state specific circumstances under which DTE Energy can be required to post collateral upon the occurrence of a credit downgrade, while other provisions (known as “soft triggers”) are not as specific. For contracts with soft triggers, it is difficult to estimate the amount of collateral which may be requested by counterparties and/or which DTE Energy may ultimately be required to post. The amount of such collateral which could be requested fluctuates based on commodity prices (primarily natural gas, power, and coal) and the provisions and maturities of the underlying transactions. As of September 30, 2018, DTE Energy's contractual obligation to post collateral in the form of cash or letters of credit in the event of a downgrade to below investment grade, under both hard trigger and soft trigger provisions, was $502 million.
As of September 30, 2018, DTE Energy had $363 million of derivatives in net liability positions, for which hard triggers exist. There is $1 million of collateral that has been posted against such liabilities, including cash and letters of credit. Associated derivative net asset positions for which contractual offset exists were $295 million. The net remaining amount of $67 million is derived from the $502 million noted above.