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Related Party Transactions
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Related Party Transactions  
Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions

Constellation Energy

CENG

We have a unit contingent power purchase agreement (PPA) with CENG under which we will purchase between 85-90% of the output of CENG's nuclear plants that is not sold to third parties under pre-existing PPAs through 2014. Beginning on January 1, 2015 and continuing to the end of the life of the respective plants, we will purchase 50.01% of the output of CENG's nuclear plants, and EDF will purchase 49.99% of that output.

        In addition to the PPA, we have a power services agency agreement (PSA) and an administrative service agreement (ASA) with CENG. The PSA is a five-year agreement under which we will provide scheduling, asset management and billing services to CENG and recognize average annual revenue of approximately $16 million. The ASA expires in 2017 and under the agreement we provide certain administrative services to CENG including back office, human resources and information technology. The ASA includes both a consumption-based pricing structure as well as a fixed-price structure which are subject to change in future years based on the level of service needed. The fixed price fee for 2011 is approximately $48 million and will increase annually in line with inflation. The charges under this agreement are intended to represent the actual cost of the services provided to CENG by us.

        The impact of transactions under these agreements is summarized below:

 
  Increase (Decrease)
in Earnings

   
   
  At
December 31,
2010
Accounts
Receivable/
(Accounts
Payable)

 
 
   
  At June 30,
2011
Accounts
Receivable/
(Accounts
Payable)

 
 
  Quarter
Ended
June 30,

  Six Months
Ended
June 30,

   
 
 
  Income
Statement
Classification

 
Agreement
  2011
  2010
  2011
  2010
 
   

PPA

  $ (209.3 ) $ (222.1 ) $ (404.1 ) $ (420.6 ) Fuel and
purchased
energy
expenses
  $ (46.5 ) $ (47.6 )

PSA

    4.0     4.0     8.0     8.0   Nonregulated
revenues
         

ASA

    12.0     16.5     24.0     33.0   Operating
expenses
    4.0     5.5  

        In May 2011, CENG issued an unsecured revolving promissory note to borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $62.5 million from a subsidiary of Constellation Energy. CENG also issued a promissory note with EDF on substantially identical terms, such that any request for borrowings by CENG must be submitted 50% to Constellation Energy and 50% to EDF.

        Interest accrues on the amounts borrowed on a daily basis at a fixed rate per year equal to the rate at which deposits of United States dollars are offered by prime banks in the London interbank market, plus 250 basis points. Amounts are due at the earlier of October 31, 2012 or the date upon which the note is accelerated in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

        As of June 30, 2011, CENG has borrowed $15.0 million from Constellation Energy.

        In June 2011, CENG executed a settlement agreement with the DOE under which Constellation Energy will receive payment of $35.5 million related to costs incurred through October 31, 2008 to store spent nuclear fuel at the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant. As a result, we recorded $35.5 million as an amount due from CENG in "Accounts receivable" on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We discuss this settlement in more detail on page 12.

BGE—Income Statement

BGE is obligated to provide market-based standard offer service to all of its electric customers for varying periods. Bidding to supply BGE's market-based standard offer service to electric customers will occur from time to time through a competitive bidding process approved by the Maryland PSC.

        Our NewEnergy business will supply a portion of BGE's market-based standard offer service obligation to electric customers through September 30, 2013.

        The cost of BGE's purchased energy from nonregulated subsidiaries of Constellation Energy to meet its standard offer service obligation was as follows:

 
  Quarter
Ended
June 30,

  Six Months
Ended
June 30,

 
 
  2011
  2010
  2011
  2010
 
   
 
  (In millions)
 

Purchased energy

  $ 73.2   $ 114.6   $ 129.9   $ 238.6  
   

        In addition, Constellation Energy charges BGE for the costs of certain corporate functions. Certain costs, both capital and expense, are directly assigned to BGE. We allocate other corporate function costs based on a total percentage of expected use by BGE. We believe this method of allocation is reasonable and approximates the cost BGE would have incurred as an unaffiliated entity.

        The following table presents all of the costs Constellation Energy charged to BGE in each period, both directly-charged and allocated.

 
  Quarter
Ended
June 30,

  Six Months
Ended
June 30,

 
 
  2011
  2010
  2011
  2010
 
   
 
  (In millions)
 

Charges to BGE

  $ 44.3   $ 42.3   $ 91.8   $ 78.5  
   

        Other nonregulated affiliates of BGE also charge BGE for the costs of certain services provided.

BGE—Balance Sheet

BGE's Consolidated Balance Sheets include intercompany amounts related to BGE's purchases to meet its standard offer service obligation, BGE's charges to Constellation Energy and its nonregulated affiliates for certain services it provides them, Constellation Energy and its nonregulated affiliates' charges to BGE, and the participation of BGE's employees in the Constellation Energy defined benefit plans.