UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
[X] Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018
or
[ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from ______ to _______
Commission File Number | Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter; State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization | IRS Employer Identification No. | ||
001-14881 | BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY COMPANY | 94-2213782 | ||
(An Iowa Corporation) | ||||
666 Grand Avenue, Suite 500 | ||||
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2580 | ||||
515-242-4300 | ||||
001-05152 | PACIFICORP | 93-0246090 | ||
(An Oregon Corporation) | ||||
825 N.E. Multnomah Street | ||||
Portland, Oregon 97232 | ||||
888-221-7070 | ||||
333-90553 | MIDAMERICAN FUNDING, LLC | 47-0819200 | ||
(An Iowa Limited Liability Company) | ||||
666 Grand Avenue, Suite 500 | ||||
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2580 | ||||
515-242-4300 | ||||
333-15387 | MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY | 42-1425214 | ||
(An Iowa Corporation) | ||||
666 Grand Avenue, Suite 500 | ||||
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2580 | ||||
515-242-4300 | ||||
000-52378 | NEVADA POWER COMPANY | 88-0420104 | ||
(A Nevada Corporation) | ||||
6226 West Sahara Avenue | ||||
Las Vegas, Nevada 89146 | ||||
702-402-5000 | ||||
000-00508 | SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY | 88-0044418 | ||
(A Nevada Corporation) | ||||
6100 Neil Road | ||||
Reno, Nevada 89511 | ||||
775-834-4011 | ||||
N/A | ||||
(Former name or former address, if changed from last report) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Registrant | Yes | No |
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY COMPANY | X | |
PACIFICORP | X | |
MIDAMERICAN FUNDING, LLC | X | |
MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY | X | |
NEVADA POWER COMPANY | X | |
SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY | X |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants have submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to submit such files). Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Registrant | Large accelerated filer | Accelerated filer | Non-accelerated filer | Smaller reporting company | Emerging growth company |
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY COMPANY | X | ||||
PACIFICORP | X | ||||
MIDAMERICAN FUNDING, LLC | X | ||||
MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY | X | ||||
NEVADA POWER COMPANY | X | ||||
SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY | X |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrants have elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No x
All shares of outstanding common stock of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company are privately held by a limited group of investors. As of October 31, 2018, 76,996,944 shares of common stock, no par value, were outstanding.
All shares of outstanding common stock of PacifiCorp are indirectly owned by Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company. As of October 31, 2018, 357,060,915 shares of common stock, no par value, were outstanding.
All of the member's equity of MidAmerican Funding, LLC is held by its parent company, Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company, as of October 31, 2018.
All shares of outstanding common stock of MidAmerican Energy Company are owned by its parent company, MHC Inc., which is a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of MidAmerican Funding, LLC. As of October 31, 2018, 70,980,203 shares of common stock, no par value, were outstanding.
All shares of outstanding common stock of Nevada Power Company are owned by its parent company, NV Energy, Inc., which is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company. As of October 31, 2018, 1,000 shares of common stock, $1.00 stated value, were outstanding.
All shares of outstanding common stock of Sierra Pacific Power Company are owned by its parent company, NV Energy, Inc. As of October 31, 2018, 1,000 shares of common stock, $3.75 par value, were outstanding.
This combined Form 10-Q is separately filed by Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company, PacifiCorp, MidAmerican Funding, LLC, MidAmerican Energy Company, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company. Information contained herein relating to any individual company is filed by such company on its own behalf. Each company makes no representation as to information relating to the other companies.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
PART II
i
Definition of Abbreviations and Industry Terms
When used in Forward-Looking Statements, Part I - Items 2 through 3, and Part II - Items 1 through 6, the following terms have the definitions indicated.
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company and Related Entities | ||
BHE | Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company | |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy or the Company | Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company and its subsidiaries | |
PacifiCorp | PacifiCorp and its subsidiaries | |
MidAmerican Funding | MidAmerican Funding, LLC and its subsidiaries | |
MidAmerican Energy | MidAmerican Energy Company | |
NV Energy | NV Energy, Inc. and its subsidiaries | |
Nevada Power | Nevada Power Company and its subsidiaries | |
Sierra Pacific | Sierra Pacific Power Company and its subsidiaries | |
Nevada Utilities | Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company | |
Registrants | Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company, PacifiCorp, MidAmerican Funding, MidAmerican Energy, Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific | |
Subsidiary Registrants | PacifiCorp, MidAmerican Funding, MidAmerican Energy, Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific | |
Northern Powergrid | Northern Powergrid Holdings Company | |
Northern Natural Gas | Northern Natural Gas Company | |
Kern River | Kern River Gas Transmission Company | |
AltaLink | BHE Canada Holdings Corporation | |
ALP | AltaLink, L.P. | |
BHE U.S. Transmission | BHE U.S. Transmission, LLC | |
HomeServices | HomeServices of America, Inc. and its subsidiaries | |
BHE Pipeline Group or Pipeline Companies | Consists of Northern Natural Gas and Kern River | |
BHE Transmission | Consists of AltaLink and BHE U.S. Transmission | |
BHE Renewables | Consists of BHE Renewables, LLC and CalEnergy Philippines | |
Utilities | PacifiCorp, MidAmerican Energy Company, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company | |
Berkshire Hathaway | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | |
Certain Industry Terms | ||
AESO | Alberta Electric System Operator | |
AFUDC | Allowance for Funds Used During Construction | |
AUC | Alberta Utilities Commission | |
CPUC | California Public Utilities Commission | |
Dth | Decatherms | |
EBA | Energy Balancing Account | |
ECAM | Energy Cost Adjustment Mechanism | |
EPA | United States Environmental Protection Agency | |
FERC | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission | |
GHG | Greenhouse Gases | |
GWh | Gigawatt Hours | |
GTA | General Tariff Application | |
IPUC | Idaho Public Utilities Commission | |
IUB | Iowa Utilities Board |
ii
kV | Kilovolt | |
MW | Megawatts | |
MWh | Megawatt Hours | |
OPUC | Oregon Public Utility Commission | |
PCAM | Power Cost Adjustment Mechanism | |
PUCN | Public Utilities Commission of Nevada | |
REC | Renewable Energy Credit | |
RPS | Renewable Portfolio Standards | |
RRA | Renewable Energy Credit and Sulfur Dioxide Revenue Adjustment Mechanism | |
SEC | United States Securities and Exchange Commission | |
SIP | State Implementation Plan | |
TAM | Transition Adjustment Mechanism | |
UPSC | Utah Public Service Commission | |
WPSC | Wyoming Public Service Commission | |
WUTC | Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission |
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. These statements are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements can typically be identified by the use of forward-looking words, such as "will," "may," "could," "project," "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "continue," "intend," "potential," "plan," "forecast" and similar terms. These statements are based upon the relevant Registrant's current intentions, assumptions, expectations and beliefs and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors. Many of these factors are outside the control of each Registrant and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others:
• | general economic, political and business conditions, as well as changes in, and compliance with, laws and regulations, including income tax reform, initiatives regarding deregulation and restructuring of the utility industry, and reliability and safety standards, affecting the respective Registrant's operations or related industries; |
• | changes in, and compliance with, environmental laws, regulations, decisions and policies that could, among other items, increase operating and capital costs, reduce facility output, accelerate facility retirements or delay facility construction or acquisition; |
• | the outcome of regulatory rate reviews and other proceedings conducted by regulatory agencies or other governmental and legal bodies and the respective Registrant's ability to recover costs through rates in a timely manner; |
• | changes in economic, industry, competition or weather conditions, as well as demographic trends, new technologies and various conservation, energy efficiency and private generation measures and programs, that could affect customer growth and usage, electricity and natural gas supply or the respective Registrant's ability to obtain long-term contracts with customers and suppliers; |
• | performance, availability and ongoing operation of the respective Registrant's facilities, including facilities not operated by the Registrants, due to the impacts of market conditions, outages and repairs, transmission constraints, weather, including wind, solar and hydroelectric conditions, and operating conditions; |
• | the effects of catastrophic and other unforeseen events, which may be caused by factors beyond the control of each respective Registrant or by a breakdown or failure of the Registrants' operating assets, including severe storms, floods, fires, earthquakes, explosions, landslides, an electromagnetic pulse, mining incidents, litigation, wars, terrorism, embargoes, and cyber security attacks, data security breaches, disruptions, or other malicious acts; |
• | a high degree of variance between actual and forecasted load or generation that could impact a Registrant's hedging strategy and the cost of balancing its generation resources with its retail load obligations; |
• | changes in prices, availability and demand for wholesale electricity, coal, natural gas, other fuel sources and fuel transportation that could have a significant impact on generating capacity and energy costs; |
• | the financial condition and creditworthiness of the respective Registrant's significant customers and suppliers; |
iii
• | changes in business strategy or development plans; |
• | availability, terms and deployment of capital, including reductions in demand for investment-grade commercial paper, debt securities and other sources of debt financing and volatility in interest rates; |
• | changes in the respective Registrant's credit ratings; |
• | risks relating to nuclear generation, including unique operational, closure and decommissioning risks; |
• | hydroelectric conditions and the cost, feasibility and eventual outcome of hydroelectric relicensing proceedings; |
• | the impact of certain contracts used to mitigate or manage volume, price and interest rate risk, including increased collateral requirements, and changes in commodity prices, interest rates and other conditions that affect the fair value of certain contracts; |
• | the impact of inflation on costs and the ability of the respective Registrants to recover such costs in regulated rates; |
• | fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, primarily the British pound and the Canadian dollar; |
• | increases in employee healthcare costs; |
• | the impact of investment performance and changes in interest rates, legislation, healthcare cost trends, mortality and morbidity on pension and other postretirement benefits expense and funding requirements; |
• | changes in the residential real estate brokerage, mortgage and franchising industries and regulations that could affect brokerage, mortgage and franchising transactions; |
• | the ability to successfully integrate future acquired operations into a Registrant's business; |
• | unanticipated construction delays, changes in costs, receipt of required permits and authorizations, ability to fund capital projects and other factors that could affect future facilities and infrastructure additions; |
• | the availability and price of natural gas in applicable geographic regions and demand for natural gas supply; |
• | the impact of new accounting guidance or changes in current accounting estimates and assumptions on the consolidated financial results of the respective Registrants; and |
• | other business or investment considerations that may be disclosed from time to time in the Registrants' filings with the SEC or in other publicly disseminated written documents. |
Further details of the potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Registrants are described in the Registrants' filings with the SEC, including Part II, Item 1A and other discussions contained in this Form 10-Q. Each Registrant undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The foregoing factors should not be construed as exclusive.
iv
Item 1. | Financial Statements |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company and its subsidiaries | ||
PacifiCorp and its subsidiaries | ||
MidAmerican Energy Company | ||
MidAmerican Funding, LLC and its subsidiaries | ||
Nevada Power Company and its subsidiaries | ||
Sierra Pacific Power Company and its subsidiaries | ||
1
Item 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
2
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company and its subsidiaries
Consolidated Financial Section
3
PART I
Item 1. | Financial Statements |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company
Results of Review of Interim Financial Information
We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of September 30, 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and of changes in equity and cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "interim financial information"). Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying interim financial information for it to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 23, 2018, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
Basis for Review Results
This interim financial information is the responsibility of the Company's management. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Des Moines, Iowa
November 2, 2018
4
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,016 | $ | 935 | |||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents | 358 | 327 | |||||
Trade receivables, net | 2,198 | 2,014 | |||||
Income tax receivable | — | 334 | |||||
Inventories | 851 | 888 | |||||
Mortgage loans held for sale | 501 | 465 | |||||
Other current assets | 860 | 815 | |||||
Total current assets | 5,784 | 5,778 | |||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 67,587 | 65,871 | |||||
Goodwill | 9,683 | 9,678 | |||||
Regulatory assets | 2,778 | 2,761 | |||||
Investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments | 4,754 | 4,872 | |||||
Other assets | 1,276 | 1,248 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 91,862 | $ | 90,208 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
5
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (continued)
(Amounts in millions)
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 1,331 | $ | 1,519 | |||
Accrued interest | 518 | 488 | |||||
Accrued property, income and other taxes | 543 | 354 | |||||
Accrued employee expenses | 414 | 274 | |||||
Short-term debt | 1,784 | 4,488 | |||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 2,205 | 3,431 | |||||
Other current liabilities | 1,026 | 1,049 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 7,821 | 11,603 | |||||
BHE senior debt | 8,620 | 5,452 | |||||
BHE junior subordinated debentures | 100 | 100 | |||||
Subsidiary debt | 26,633 | 26,210 | |||||
Regulatory liabilities | 7,553 | 7,309 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 8,895 | 8,242 | |||||
Other long-term liabilities | 2,552 | 2,984 | |||||
Total liabilities | 62,174 | 61,900 | |||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) | |||||||
Equity: | |||||||
BHE shareholders' equity: | |||||||
Common stock - 115 shares authorized, no par value, 77 shares issued and outstanding | — | — | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | 6,357 | 6,368 | |||||
Long-term income tax receivable | (494 | ) | — | ||||
Retained earnings | 25,361 | 22,206 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net | (1,667 | ) | (398 | ) | |||
Total BHE shareholders' equity | 29,557 | 28,176 | |||||
Noncontrolling interests | 131 | 132 | |||||
Total equity | 29,688 | 28,308 | |||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 91,862 | $ | 90,208 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
6
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Operating revenue: | |||||||||||||||
Energy | $ | 4,419 | $ | 4,322 | $ | 11,818 | $ | 11,501 | |||||||
Real estate | 1,218 | 961 | 3,252 | 2,502 | |||||||||||
Total operating revenue | 5,637 | 5,283 | 15,070 | 14,003 | |||||||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Energy: | |||||||||||||||
Cost of sales | 1,271 | 1,212 | 3,565 | 3,380 | |||||||||||
Operations and maintenance | 901 | 772 | 2,534 | 2,334 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 667 | 635 | 2,110 | 1,905 | |||||||||||
Property and other taxes | 142 | 142 | 428 | 421 | |||||||||||
Real estate | 1,133 | 882 | 3,067 | 2,311 | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 4,114 | 3,643 | 11,704 | 10,351 | |||||||||||
Operating income | 1,523 | 1,640 | 3,366 | 3,652 | |||||||||||
Other income (expense): | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (453 | ) | (464 | ) | (1,380 | ) | (1,379 | ) | |||||||
Capitalized interest | 17 | 14 | 44 | 34 | |||||||||||
Allowance for equity funds | 30 | 24 | 75 | 59 | |||||||||||
Interest and dividend income | 27 | 32 | 85 | 85 | |||||||||||
Gains (losses) on marketable securities, net | 260 | 3 | (336 | ) | 8 | ||||||||||
Other, net | 19 | (17 | ) | 50 | 8 | ||||||||||
Total other income (expense) | (100 | ) | (408 | ) | (1,462 | ) | (1,185 | ) | |||||||
Income before income tax expense (benefit) and equity income | 1,423 | 1,232 | 1,904 | 2,467 | |||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 23 | 184 | (366 | ) | 319 | ||||||||||
Equity income | 9 | 30 | 35 | 80 | |||||||||||
Net income | 1,409 | 1,078 | 2,305 | 2,228 | |||||||||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 8 | 10 | 19 | 30 | |||||||||||
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders | $ | 1,401 | $ | 1,068 | $ | 2,286 | $ | 2,198 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
7
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 1,409 | $ | 1,078 | $ | 2,305 | $ | 2,228 | |||||||
Other comprehensive income, net of tax: | |||||||||||||||
Unrecognized amounts on retirement benefits, net of tax of $-, $1, $12 and $(3) | (1 | ) | 15 | 50 | 16 | ||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | (2 | ) | 227 | (236 | ) | 535 | |||||||||
Unrealized gains on marketable securities, net of tax of $-, $284, $- and $355 | — | 423 | — | 542 | |||||||||||
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of tax of $(1), $1, $(1) and $(3) | 1 | 1 | 2 | (5 | ) | ||||||||||
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax | (2 | ) | 666 | (184 | ) | 1,088 | |||||||||
Comprehensive income | 1,407 | 1,744 | 2,121 | 3,316 | |||||||||||
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 8 | 10 | 19 | 30 | |||||||||||
Comprehensive income attributable to BHE shareholders | $ | 1,399 | $ | 1,734 | $ | 2,102 | $ | 3,286 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
8
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
BHE Shareholders' Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term | Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Income | Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common | Paid-in | Tax | Retained | Comprehensive | Noncontrolling | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Stock | Capital | Receivable | Earnings | Loss, Net | Interests | Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2016 | 77 | $ | — | $ | 6,390 | $ | — | $ | 19,448 | $ | (1,511 | ) | $ | 136 | $ | 24,463 | ||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | — | 2,198 | — | 14 | 2,212 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | — | 1,088 | — | 1,088 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock purchases | — | — | (1 | ) | — | (18 | ) | — | — | (19 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Common stock exchange | — | — | (6 | ) | — | (94 | ) | — | — | (100 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Distributions | — | — | — | — | — | — | (16 | ) | (16 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other equity transactions | — | — | (21 | ) | — | — | — | (3 | ) | (24 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2017 | 77 | $ | — | $ | 6,362 | $ | — | $ | 21,534 | $ | (423 | ) | $ | 131 | $ | 27,604 | ||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2017 | 77 | $ | — | $ | 6,368 | $ | — | $ | 22,206 | $ | (398 | ) | $ | 132 | $ | 28,308 | ||||||||||||||
Adoption of ASU 2016-01 | — | — | — | — | 1,085 | (1,085 | ) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | — | 2,286 | — | 16 | 2,302 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | — | — | (184 | ) | — | (184 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reclassification of long-term income tax receivable | — | — | — | (609 | ) | — | — | — | (609 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term income tax receivable adjustments | — | — | — | 115 | (115 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock purchases | — | — | (6 | ) | — | (101 | ) | — | — | (107 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Distributions | — | — | — | — | — | — | (17 | ) | (17 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other equity transactions | — | — | (5 | ) | — | — | — | — | (5 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2018 | 77 | $ | — | $ | 6,357 | $ | (494 | ) | $ | 25,361 | $ | (1,667 | ) | $ | 131 | $ | 29,688 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
9
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Nine-Month Periods | |||||||
Ended September 30, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | $ | 2,305 | $ | 2,228 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Losses (gains) on marketable securities, net | 336 | (8 | ) | ||||
Depreciation and amortization | 2,147 | 1,943 | |||||
Allowance for equity funds | (75 | ) | (59 | ) | |||
Equity income, net of distributions | 17 | (14 | ) | ||||
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities | 263 | 17 | |||||
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits | (116 | ) | 573 | ||||
Other, net | 40 | 21 | |||||
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions: | |||||||
Trade receivables and other assets | (192 | ) | (82 | ) | |||
Derivative collateral, net | 9 | (16 | ) | ||||
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans | (61 | ) | (29 | ) | |||
Accrued property, income and other taxes, net | 190 | 390 | |||||
Accounts payable and other liabilities | 168 | 170 | |||||
Net cash flows from operating activities | 5,031 | 5,134 | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Capital expenditures | (4,203 | ) | (3,179 | ) | |||
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (105 | ) | (1,102 | ) | |||
Purchases of marketable securities | (287 | ) | (167 | ) | |||
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities | 266 | 186 | |||||
Equity method investments | (236 | ) | (80 | ) | |||
Other, net | 48 | (12 | ) | ||||
Net cash flows from investing activities | (4,517 | ) | (4,354 | ) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Proceeds from BHE senior debt | 3,166 | — | |||||
Repayments of BHE senior debt and junior subordinated debentures | (650 | ) | (1,344 | ) | |||
Common stock purchases | (107 | ) | (19 | ) | |||
Proceeds from subsidiary debt | 2,353 | 1,562 | |||||
Repayments of subsidiary debt | (2,297 | ) | (834 | ) | |||
Net (repayments of) proceeds from short-term debt | (2,694 | ) | 365 | ||||
Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interest | (131 | ) | — | ||||
Other, net | (32 | ) | (60 | ) | |||
Net cash flows from financing activities | (392 | ) | (330 | ) | |||
Effect of exchange rate changes | (3 | ) | 6 | ||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | 119 | 456 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 1,283 | 1,003 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 1,402 | $ | 1,459 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
10
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(1) | General |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company ("BHE") is a holding company that owns a highly diversified portfolio of locally managed businesses principally engaged in the energy industry (collectively with its subsidiaries, the "Company") and is a consolidated subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. ("Berkshire Hathaway").
The Company's operations are organized as eight business segments: PacifiCorp, MidAmerican Funding, LLC ("MidAmerican Funding") (which primarily consists of MidAmerican Energy Company ("MidAmerican Energy")), NV Energy, Inc. ("NV Energy") (which primarily consists of Nevada Power Company ("Nevada Power") and Sierra Pacific Power Company ("Sierra Pacific")), Northern Powergrid Holdings Company ("Northern Powergrid") (which primarily consists of Northern Powergrid (Northeast) Limited and Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) plc), BHE Pipeline Group (which consists of Northern Natural Gas Company ("Northern Natural Gas") and Kern River Gas Transmission Company ("Kern River")), BHE Transmission (which consists of BHE Canada Holdings Corporation ("AltaLink") (which primarily consists of AltaLink, L.P. ("ALP")) and BHE U.S. Transmission, LLC), BHE Renewables (which primarily consists of BHE Renewables, LLC and CalEnergy Philippines) and HomeServices of America, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries, "HomeServices"). The Company, through these locally managed and operated businesses, owns four utility companies in the United States serving customers in 11 states, two electricity distribution companies in Great Britain, two interstate natural gas pipeline companies in the United States, an electric transmission business in Canada, interests in electric transmission businesses in the United States, a renewable energy business primarily investing in solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric projects, the second largest residential real estate brokerage firm in the United States and one of the largest residential real estate brokerage franchise networks in the United States.
The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and regulations for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for annual financial statements. Management believes the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for the fair presentation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2018 and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
The preparation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results may differ from the estimates used in preparing the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 describes the most significant accounting policies used in the preparation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. There have been no significant changes in the Company's assumptions regarding significant accounting estimates and policies during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018.
(2) | New Accounting Pronouncements |
In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2018-14, which amends FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 715, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits." The amendments in this guidance modify the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. The amendments in this guidance remove disclosures that no longer are considered cost beneficial, clarify the specific requirements of disclosures and add disclosure requirements identified as relevant. The updated disclosure requirements make a number of changes to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in the notes to the financial statements. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted, and is required to be adopted retrospectively. The adoption of ASU No. 2018-14 will not have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures included within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
11
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, which amends FASB ASC Topic 220, "Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income." The amendments in this guidance require a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for the stranded tax effects that were created from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted on December 22, 2017 ("2017 Tax Reform"). The reclassification is the difference between the historical income tax rates and the enacted rate for the items previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and is required to be adopted retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the change in 2017 Tax Reform is recognized. Considering the significant components of the Company's accumulated other comprehensive income relate to (a) unrecognized amounts on retirement benefits of foreign pension plans and (b) unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, which were reclassified as required by ASU No. 2016-01 that was adopted on January 1, 2018, the adoption of ASU No. 2018-02 did not have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures included within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, which amends FASB ASC Topic 815, "Derivatives and Hedging." The amendments in this guidance update the hedge accounting model to enable entities to better portray the economics of their risk management activities in the financial statements, expands an entity's ability to hedge non-financial and financial risk components and reduces complexity in fair value hedges of interest rate risk. In addition, it eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and generally requires the entire change in fair value of a hedging instrument to be presented in the same income statement line as the hedged item and also eases certain documentation and assessment requirements. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and is required to be adopted using a modified retrospective approach by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures included within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, which creates FASB ASC Topic 842, "Leases" and supersedes Topic 840 "Leases." This guidance increases transparency and comparability among entities by recording lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. A lessee should recognize in the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee have not significantly changed from previous guidance. During 2018, the FASB issued several ASUs that clarified the implementation guidance and provided optional transition practical expedients for ASU No. 2016-02 including ASU No. 2018-01 that allows companies to forgo evaluating existing land easements if they were not previously accounted for under ASC Topic 840, "Leases" and ASU No. 2018-11 that allows companies to apply the new guidance at the adoption date with the cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings recognized in the period of adoption. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and is required to be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. The Company plans to adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2019 and is currently in the process of evaluating the impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures included within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(3) | Business Acquisitions |
The Company completed various acquisitions totaling $105 million, net of cash acquired, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018. The purchase price for each acquisition was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which primarily related to residential real estate brokerage businesses. There were no other material assets acquired or liabilities assumed. Additionally, in April 2018, HomeServices acquired the remaining 33.3% interest in a real estate brokerage franchise business from the noncontrolling interest member at a contractually determined option exercise price totaling $131 million.
The Company completed various acquisitions totaling $1.1 billion, net of cash acquired, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017. The purchase price for each acquisition was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which primarily related to residential real estate brokerage businesses, development and construction costs for the 110-megawatt Alamo 6 solar project and the 50-megawatt Pearl solar project, and the remaining 25% interest in the Silverhawk natural gas-fueled generation facility at Nevada Power. As a result of the various acquisitions, the Company acquired assets of $1.1 billion, assumed liabilities of $476 million and recognized goodwill of $522 million.
12
(4) | Property, Plant and Equipment, Net |
Property, plant and equipment, net consists of the following (in millions):
As of | |||||||||
Depreciable | September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
Life | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
Regulated assets: | |||||||||
Utility generation, transmission and distribution systems | 5-80 years | $ | 75,751 | $ | 74,660 | ||||
Interstate natural gas pipeline assets | 3-80 years | 7,295 | 7,176 | ||||||
83,046 | 81,836 | ||||||||
Accumulated depreciation and amortization | (25,566 | ) | (24,478 | ) | |||||
Regulated assets, net | 57,480 | 57,358 | |||||||
Nonregulated assets: | |||||||||
Independent power plants | 5-30 years | 6,551 | 6,010 | ||||||
Other assets | 3-30 years | 1,605 | 1,489 | ||||||
8,156 | 7,499 | ||||||||
Accumulated depreciation and amortization | (1,773 | ) | (1,542 | ) | |||||
Nonregulated assets, net | 6,383 | 5,957 | |||||||
Net operating assets | 63,863 | 63,315 | |||||||
Construction work-in-progress | 3,724 | 2,556 | |||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | 67,587 | $ | 65,871 |
Construction work-in-progress includes $3.2 billion as of September 30, 2018 and $2.2 billion as of December 31, 2017, related to the construction of regulated assets.
13
(5) | Investments and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents and Investments |
Investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments consists of the following (in millions):
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Investments: | |||||||
BYD Company Limited common stock | $ | 1,616 | $ | 1,961 | |||
Rabbi trusts | 398 | 441 | |||||
Other | 186 | 124 | |||||
Total investments | 2,200 | 2,526 | |||||
Equity method investments: | |||||||
BHE Renewables tax equity investments | 1,221 | 1,025 | |||||
Electric Transmission Texas, LLC | 530 | 524 | |||||
Bridger Coal Company | 116 | 137 | |||||
Other | 163 | 148 | |||||
Total equity method investments | 2,030 | 1,834 | |||||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments: | |||||||
Quad Cities Station nuclear decommissioning trust funds | 543 | 515 | |||||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents | 385 | 348 | |||||
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments | 928 | 863 | |||||
Total investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments | $ | 5,158 | $ | 5,223 | |||
Reflected as: | |||||||
Current assets | $ | 404 | $ | 351 | |||
Noncurrent assets | 4,754 | 4,872 | |||||
Total investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments | $ | 5,158 | $ | 5,223 |
Investments
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 which amended FASB ASC Subtopic 825-10, "Financial Instruments - Overall." The amendments in this guidance addressed certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments including a requirement that all investments in equity securities that do not qualify for equity method accounting or result in consolidation of the investee be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2018 with a cumulative-effect increase to retained earnings of $1,085 million and a corresponding decrease to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI").
The portion of unrealized losses related to investments still held as of September 30, 2018 is calculated as follows (in millions):
Three-Month Period | Nine-Month Period | ||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||
2018 | 2018 | ||||||
Gains (losses) on marketable securities recognized during the period | $ | 260 | $ | (336 | ) | ||
Less: Net gains recognized during the period on marketable securities sold during the period | — | 1 | |||||
Unrealized gains (losses) recognized during the period on marketable securities still held at the reporting date | $ | 260 | $ | (337 | ) |
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Equity Method Investments
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, which amends FASB ASC Topic 230, "Statement of Cash Flows." The amendments in this guidance address the classification of eight specific cash flow issues within the statement of cash flows with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. The Company adopted this guidance retrospectively effective January 1, 2018 which resulted in the reclassification of certain cash distributions received from equity method investees of $26 million previously recognized within investing cash flows to operating cash flows for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, which amends FASB ASC Subtopic 230-10, "Statement of Cash Flows - Overall." The amendments in this guidance require that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted this guidance January 1, 2018.
Cash equivalents consist of funds invested in money market mutual funds, United States Treasury Bills and other investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased. Cash and cash equivalents exclude amounts where availability is restricted by legal requirements, loan agreements or other contractual provisions. Restricted cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, consist substantially of funds restricted for the purpose of constructing solid waste facilities under tax-exempt bond obligation agreements and debt service obligations for certain of the Company's nonregulated renewable energy projects. A reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is outlined below and disaggregated by the line items in which they appear on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,016 | $ | 935 | |||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents | 358 | 327 | |||||
Investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments | 28 | 21 | |||||
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,402 | $ | 1,283 |
(6) | Recent Financing Transactions |
Long-Term Debt
In July 2018, BHE issued $1.0 billion of its 4.45% Senior Notes due 2049. BHE used the net proceeds to refinance a portion of the Company's short-term indebtedness and for general corporate purposes.
In July 2018, Northern Natural Gas issued $450 million of its 4.30% Senior Bonds due 2049. Northern Natural Gas used the net proceeds to repay at maturity all of its $200 million 5.75% Senior Notes due July 2018 and for general corporate purposes.
In July 2018, PacifiCorp issued $600 million of its 4.125% First Mortgage Bonds due 2049. PacifiCorp used a portion of the net proceeds to repay all of its $500 million 5.65% First Mortgage Bonds due July 2018 and intends to use the remaining net proceeds to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
In April 2018, Nevada Power issued $575 million of its 2.75% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series BB, due April 2020. Nevada Power used a portion of the net proceeds to repay all of its $325 million 6.50% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series O, maturing in May 2018. In August 2018, Nevada Power used the remaining net proceeds, together with available cash, to repay all of Nevada Power's $500 million 6.50% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series S, maturing in August 2018.
15
In February 2018, MidAmerican Energy issued $700 million of its 3.65% First Mortgage Bonds due 2048. An amount equal to the net proceeds was used to finance capital expenditures, disbursed during the period from February 2, 2017 to October 31, 2017, with respect to investments in MidAmerican Energy's 2,000-megawatt (nameplate capacity) Wind XI project and the repowering of certain of MidAmerican Energy's existing wind facilities, which were previously financed with MidAmerican Energy's general funds.
In January 2018, BHE issued $450 million of its 2.375% Senior Notes due 2021, $400 million of its 2.80% Senior Notes due 2023, $600 million of its 3.25% Senior Notes due 2028 and $750 million of its 3.80% Senior Notes due 2048. The net proceeds were used to refinance a portion of the Company's short-term indebtedness and for general corporate purposes.
Credit Facilities
In April 2018, BHE terminated its $1.0 billion unsecured credit facility expiring May 2018 and amended and restated, with lender consent, its existing $2.0 billion unsecured credit facility expiring June 2020, increasing the lender commitment to $3.5 billion, extending the expiration date to June 2021 and increasing from one to two, the available one-year extension options, subject to lender consent.
In April 2018, PacifiCorp amended and restated its existing $400 million unsecured credit facility expiring June 2020, increasing the lender commitment to $600 million, extending the expiration date to June 2021 and increasing from one to two, the available one-year extension options, subject to lender consent.
In April 2018, PacifiCorp and MidAmerican Energy amended and restated their existing $600 million and $900 million unsecured credit facilities, respectively, each expiring June 2020, extending the expiration dates to June 2021 and reducing from two to one, the available one-year extension options, subject to lender consent.
In April 2018, Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific amended and restated their existing $400 million and $250 million secured credit facilities, respectively, each expiring June 2020, extending the expiration dates to June 2021 and reducing from two to one, the available one-year extension options, subject to lender consent.
In April 2018, ALP amended its existing C$750 million secured credit facility expiring December 2019, decreasing the lender commitment to C$500 million effective December 2018 and extending the expiration date to December 2022. ALP also amended its C$75 million secured credit facility expiring December 2019, extending the expiration date to December 2022.
(7) | Income Taxes |
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
2017 Tax Reform impacts many areas of income tax law. The most material items include the reduction of the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, the one-time repatriation tax of foreign earnings and profits and limitations on bonus depreciation for utility property.
In December 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") 118 to assist in the implementation process of 2017 Tax Reform by allowing for calculations to be classified as provisional and subject to remeasurement. There are three different classifications for the accounting: (1) completed, (2) not complete but reasonably estimable or (3) not complete and amounts are not reasonably estimable. The Company has recorded the impacts of 2017 Tax Reform and believes all the impacts to be complete with the exception of the repatriation tax on foreign earnings and interpretations of the bonus depreciation rules. The Company has determined the amounts recorded and the interpretations relating to these two items to be provisional and subject to remeasurement during the measurement period upon obtaining the necessary additional information to complete the accounting. The Company believes the estimates for the repatriation tax to be reasonable, however, additional time is required to validate the inputs to the foreign earnings and profits calculation, the basis on which the repatriation tax is determined, and additional guidance is required to determine state income tax implications. The Company also believes its interpretations for bonus depreciation to be reasonable, however, as the guidance is clarified, estimates may change. During the first half of 2018, the Company reduced the liability estimate by $45 million based on additional guidance for certain state income tax implications of the repatriation tax. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company recorded a current tax benefit and deferred tax expense of $37 million following clarified bonus depreciation guidance. As a result of 2017 Tax Reform and the nature of the Company's regulated businesses, the Company reduced the associated deferred income tax liabilities $14 million and increased regulatory liabilities by the same amount. The accounting will be completed by December 2018.
16
Iowa Senate File 2417
In May 2018, Iowa Senate File 2417 was signed into law, which, among other items, reduces the state of Iowa corporate tax rate from 12% to 9.8% and eliminates corporate federal deductibility, both for tax years starting in 2021. GAAP requires the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates be recognized in the period the tax rate change was enacted. As a result of Iowa Senate File 2417, the Company reduced deferred income tax liabilities $61 million and decreased deferred income tax expense by $2 million. As it is probable the change in deferred taxes for the Company's regulated businesses will be passed back to customers through regulatory mechanisms, the Company increased net regulatory liabilities by $59 million. In connection with Iowa Senate File 2417, the Company determined it was more appropriate to present the deferred income tax assets of $609 million associated with the state of Iowa net operating loss carryforward as a long-term income tax receivable from Berkshire Hathaway as a component of BHE's shareholders' equity. As the Company does not currently expect to receive any income tax amounts from Berkshire Hathaway related to the state of Iowa prior to the 2021 effective date, the Company has remeasured the long-term income tax receivable with Berkshire Hathaway at the enactment date and recorded a decrease to the long-term income tax receivable from Berkshire Hathaway of $115 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018.
A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to the effective income tax rate applicable to income before income tax expense is as follows:
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
Federal statutory income tax rate | 21 | % | 35 | % | 21 | % | 35 | % | |||
Income tax credits | (19 | ) | (19 | ) | (29 | ) | (18 | ) | |||
State income tax, net of federal income tax benefit | 1 | — | (6 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||
Income tax effect of foreign income | — | (3 | ) | (3 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||
Effects of ratemaking | (2 | ) | — | (3 | ) | — | |||||
Equity income | — | 1 | — | 1 | |||||||
Other, net | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | |||||||
Effective income tax rate | 2 | % | 15 | % | (19 | )% | 13 | % |
Income tax credits relate primarily to production tax credits from wind-powered generating facilities owned by MidAmerican Energy, PacifiCorp and BHE Renewables. Federal renewable electricity production tax credits are earned as energy from qualifying wind-powered generating facilities is produced and sold and are based on a per-kilowatt hour rate pursuant to the applicable federal income tax law. Wind-powered generating facilities are eligible for the credits for 10 years from the date the qualifying generating facilities are placed in-service.
The Company's provision for income tax has been computed on a stand-alone basis. Berkshire Hathaway includes the Company in its United States federal and Iowa state income tax returns and substantially all of its currently payable or receivable income tax is remitted to or received from Berkshire Hathaway. For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company received net cash payments for federal income taxes from Berkshire Hathaway totaling $450 million and $659 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had a long-term income tax receivable from Berkshire Hathaway of $494 million for Iowa state income tax reflected as a component of BHE's shareholders' equity.
17
(8) | Employee Benefit Plans |
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, which amends FASB ASC Topic 715, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits." The amendments in this guidance require that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost and report the service cost component in the same line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the statement of operations separately from the service cost component and outside the subtotal of operating income. Additionally, the guidance only allows the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization when applicable. The Company adopted this guidance January 1, 2018 prospectively for the capitalization of the service cost component in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and retrospectively for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net benefit cost in the Consolidated Statements of Operations applying the practical expedient to use the amounts previously disclosed in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements as the estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirement. As a result, amounts other than the service cost for pension and other postretirement benefit plans for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 of $16 million and $8 million, respectively, have been reclassified to Other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Domestic Operations
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost for the domestic pension and other postretirement benefit plans included the following components (in millions):
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Pension: | |||||||||||||||
Service cost | $ | 5 | $ | 6 | $ | 15 | $ | 18 | |||||||
Interest cost | 26 | 29 | 78 | 87 | |||||||||||
Expected return on plan assets | (41 | ) | (40 | ) | (123 | ) | (120 | ) | |||||||
Net amortization | 8 | 7 | 23 | 22 | |||||||||||
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 2 | $ | (7 | ) | $ | 7 | |||||
Other postretirement: | |||||||||||||||
Service cost | $ | 1 | $ | 3 | $ | 6 | $ | 7 | |||||||
Interest cost | 7 | 7 | 19 | 21 | |||||||||||
Expected return on plan assets | (9 | ) | (9 | ) | (31 | ) | (30 | ) | |||||||
Net amortization | (3 | ) | (3 | ) | (9 | ) | (10 | ) | |||||||
Net periodic benefit credit | $ | (4 | ) | $ | (2 | ) | $ | (15 | ) | $ | (12 | ) |
Amounts other than the service cost for pension and other postretirement benefit plans are recorded in Other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Employer contributions to the domestic pension and other postretirement benefit plans are expected to be $39 million and $7 million, respectively, during 2018. As of September 30, 2018, $34 million and $6 million of contributions had been made to the domestic pension and other postretirement benefit plans, respectively.
18
Foreign Operations
Net periodic benefit cost for the United Kingdom pension plan included the following components (in millions):
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Service cost | $ | 5 | $ | 6 | $ | 15 | $ | 19 | |||||||
Interest cost | 14 | 15 | 42 | 44 | |||||||||||
Expected return on plan assets | (25 | ) | (25 | ) | (78 | ) | (74 | ) | |||||||
Settlement | 12 | 18 | 36 | 18 | |||||||||||
Net amortization | 9 | 17 | 38 | 50 | |||||||||||
Net periodic benefit cost | $ | 15 | $ | 31 | $ | 53 | $ | 57 |
Amounts other than the service cost for the United Kingdom pension plan are recorded in Other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Employer contributions to the United Kingdom pension plan are expected to be £46 million during 2018. As of September 30, 2018, £35 million, or $47 million, of contributions had been made to the United Kingdom pension plan.
(9) | Fair Value Measurements |
The carrying value of the Company's cash, certain cash equivalents, receivables, payables, accrued liabilities and short-term borrowings approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. The Company has various financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on the Consolidated Financial Statements using inputs from the three levels of the fair value hierarchy. A financial asset or liability classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels are as follows:
• | Level 1 — Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. |
• | Level 2 — Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs). |
• | Level 3 — Unobservable inputs reflect the Company's judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability since limited market data exists. The Company develops these inputs based on the best information available, including its own data. |
The following table presents the Company's financial assets and liabilities recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in millions):
19
Input Levels for Fair Value Measurements | ||||||||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Other(1) | Total | ||||||||||||||||
As of September 30, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | 53 | $ | 99 | $ | (35 | ) | $ | 117 | |||||||||
Interest rate derivatives | 3 | 22 | 11 | — | 36 | |||||||||||||||
Mortgage loans held for sale | — | 501 | — | — | 501 | |||||||||||||||
Money market mutual funds(2) | 716 | — | — | — | 716 | |||||||||||||||
Debt securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
United States government obligations | 183 | — | — | — | 183 | |||||||||||||||
International government obligations | — | 4 | — | — | 4 | |||||||||||||||
Corporate obligations | — | 47 | — | — | 47 | |||||||||||||||
Municipal obligations | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | |||||||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
United States companies | 300 | — | — | — | 300 | |||||||||||||||
International companies | 1,622 | — | — | — | 1,622 | |||||||||||||||
Investment funds | 187 | — | — | — | 187 | |||||||||||||||
$ | 3,011 | $ | 629 | $ | 110 | $ | (35 | ) | $ | 3,715 | ||||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (168 | ) | $ | (15 | ) | $ | 110 | $ | (74 | ) | ||||||
Interest rate derivatives | — | (5 | ) | (1 | ) | — | (6 | ) | ||||||||||||
$ | (1 | ) | $ | (173 | ) | $ | (16 | ) | $ | 110 | $ | (80 | ) |
Input Levels for Fair Value Measurements | ||||||||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Other(1) | Total | ||||||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | 1 | $ | 42 | $ | 104 | $ | (29 | ) | $ | 118 | |||||||||
Interest rate derivatives | — | 15 | 9 | — | 24 | |||||||||||||||
Mortgage loans held for sale | — | 465 | — | — | 465 | |||||||||||||||
Money market mutual funds(2) | 685 | — | — | — | 685 | |||||||||||||||
Debt securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
United States government obligations | 176 | — | — | — | 176 | |||||||||||||||
International government obligations | — | 5 | — | — | 5 | |||||||||||||||
Corporate obligations | — | 36 | — | — | 36 | |||||||||||||||
Municipal obligations | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | |||||||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
United States companies | 288 | — | — | — | 288 | |||||||||||||||
International companies | 1,968 | — | — | — | 1,968 | |||||||||||||||
Investment funds | 178 | — | — | — | 178 | |||||||||||||||
$ | 3,296 | $ | 565 | $ | 113 | $ | (29 | ) | $ | 3,945 | ||||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | (3 | ) | $ | (167 | ) | $ | (10 | ) | $ | 105 | $ | (75 | ) | ||||||
Interest rate derivatives | — | (8 | ) | — | — | (8 | ) | |||||||||||||
$ | (3 | ) | $ | (175 | ) | $ | (10 | ) | $ | 105 | $ | (83 | ) |
(1) | Represents netting under master netting arrangements and a net cash collateral receivable of $75 million and $76 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. |
(2) | Amounts are included in cash and cash equivalents; other current assets; and noncurrent investments and restricted cash and investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of these money market mutual funds approximates cost. |
20
Derivative contracts are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as either assets or liabilities and are stated at estimated fair value unless they are designated as normal purchases or normal sales and qualify for the exception afforded by GAAP. When available, the fair value of derivative contracts is estimated using unadjusted quoted prices for identical contracts in the market in which the Company transacts. When quoted prices for identical contracts are not available, the Company uses forward price curves. Forward price curves represent the Company's estimates of the prices at which a buyer or seller could contract today for delivery or settlement at future dates. The Company bases its forward price curves upon market price quotations, when available, or internally developed and commercial models, with internal and external fundamental data inputs. Market price quotations are obtained from independent brokers, exchanges, direct communication with market participants and actual transactions executed by the Company. Market price quotations are generally readily obtainable for the applicable term of the Company's outstanding derivative contracts; therefore, the Company's forward price curves reflect observable market quotes. Market price quotations for certain electricity and natural gas trading hubs are not as readily obtainable due to the length of the contract. Given that limited market data exists for these contracts, as well as for those contracts that are not actively traded, the Company uses forward price curves derived from internal models based on perceived pricing relationships to major trading hubs that are based on unobservable inputs. The estimated fair value of these derivative contracts is a function of underlying forward commodity prices, interest rates, currency rates, related volatility, counterparty creditworthiness and duration of contracts.
The Company's mortgage loans held for sale are valued based on independent quoted market prices, where available, or the prices of other mortgage whole loans with similar characteristics. As necessary, these prices are adjusted for typical securitization activities, including servicing value, portfolio composition, market conditions and liquidity.
The Company's investments in money market mutual funds and debt and equity securities are stated at fair value. When available, a readily observable quoted market price or net asset value of an identical security in an active market is used to record the fair value. In the absence of a quoted market price or net asset value of an identical security, the fair value is determined using pricing models or net asset values based on observable market inputs and quoted market prices of securities with similar characteristics.
The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant Level 3 inputs (in millions):
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
Interest | Interest | ||||||||||||||
Commodity | Rate | Commodity | Rate | ||||||||||||
Derivatives | Derivatives | Derivatives | Derivatives | ||||||||||||
2018: | |||||||||||||||
Beginning balance | $ | 83 | $ | 17 | $ | 94 | $ | 9 | |||||||
Changes included in earnings | (1 | ) | 54 | 3 | 140 | ||||||||||
Changes in fair value recognized in OCI | 1 | — | 1 | — | |||||||||||
Changes in fair value recognized in net regulatory assets | 3 | — | (11 | ) | — | ||||||||||
Purchases | 1 | — | 2 | — | |||||||||||
Settlements | (3 | ) | (61 | ) | (5 | ) | (139 | ) | |||||||
Ending balance | $ | 84 | $ | 10 | $ | 84 | $ | 10 |
2017: | |||||||||||||||
Beginning balance | $ | 81 | $ | 8 | $ | 60 | $ | 6 | |||||||
Changes included in earnings | 7 | 34 | 19 | 100 | |||||||||||
Changes in fair value recognized in OCI | (1 | ) | — | (3 | ) | — | |||||||||
Changes in fair value recognized in net regulatory assets | (3 | ) | — | (5 | ) | — | |||||||||
Purchases | — | 8 | 1 | 6 | |||||||||||
Settlements | 2 | (37 | ) | 14 | (99 | ) | |||||||||
Ending balance | $ | 86 | $ | 13 | $ | 86 | $ | 13 |
21
The Company's long-term debt is carried at cost on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of the Company's long-term debt is a Level 2 fair value measurement and has been estimated based upon quoted market prices, where available, or at the present value of future cash flows discounted at rates consistent with comparable maturities with similar credit risks. The carrying value of the Company's variable-rate long-term debt approximates fair value because of the frequent repricing of these instruments at market rates. The following table presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company's long-term debt (in millions):
As of September 30, 2018 | As of December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||
Carrying | Fair | Carrying | Fair | ||||||||||||
Value | Value | Value | Value | ||||||||||||
Long-term debt | $ | 37,558 | $ | 40,520 | $ | 35,193 | $ | 40,522 |
(10) | Commitments and Contingencies |
Commitments
During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, PacifiCorp entered into non-cancelable agreements through 2045 totaling $1.0 billion related to power purchase agreements to meet customer requests for renewable energy, $566 million related to agreements for repowering certain existing wind facilities in Wyoming, Washington and Oregon and $273 million related to fuel supply contracts. The power purchase agreements are from facilities that have not yet achieved commercial operation. To the extent any of these facilities do not achieve commercial operation by contractually agreed upon dates, PacifiCorp has no obligation to the counterparty.
During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, MidAmerican Energy entered into firm commitments totaling $563 million for the remainder of 2018 through 2020 related to the construction of wind-powered generating facilities.
Easements
During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, MidAmerican Energy entered into non-cancelable easements with minimum payments totaling $422 million through 2058 for land in Iowa on which some of its wind-powered generating facilities will be located.
Maintenance and Service Contracts
During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, MidAmerican Energy entered into non-cancelable maintenance and service contracts related to wind-powered generating facilities with minimum payment commitments totaling $226 million through 2028.
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.
22
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"). Among other things, the KHSA provided that the United States Department of the Interior would conduct scientific and engineering studies to assess whether removal of the Klamath hydroelectric system's mainstem dams was in the public interest and would advance restoration of the Klamath Basin's salmonid fisheries. If it is determined dam removal should proceed, dam removal would begin no earlier than 2020.
Congress failed to pass legislation needed to implement the original KHSA. In April 2016, the principal parties to the KHSA (PacifiCorp, the states of California and Oregon and the United States Departments of the Interior and Commerce) executed an amendment to the KHSA. Consistent with the terms of the amended KHSA, in September 2016, PacifiCorp and the Klamath River Renewal Corporation ("KRRC"), a private, independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization formed by certain signatories of the amended KSHA, 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 in September 2016, the KRRC filed an application with the FERC to surrender the license and decommission the same four 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. In March 2018, the FERC issued an order splitting the existing license for the Klamath Project into two licenses: the Klamath Project (P‑2082) contains East Side, West Side, Keno and Fall Creek developments; the new Lower Klamath Project (P‑14803) contains J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2 and Iron Gate developments. In the same order, the FERC deferred consideration of the transfer of the license for the Lower Klamath facilities from PacifiCorp to the KRRC until some point in the future. PacifiCorp is currently the licensee for both the Klamath Project and Lower Klamath Project facilities and will retain ownership of the Klamath Project facilities after the approval and transfer of the Lower Klamath Project facilities. In April 2018, PacifiCorp filed a motion to stay the effective date of the license amendment until transfer is approved. In June 2018, the FERC granted PacifiCorp's motion to stay the effective date of the Lower Klamath Project license and all related compliance obligations, pending a Commission order on the license transfer. Meanwhile, the FERC continues to assess the KRRC's capacity to become a project licensee for purposes of dam removal.
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
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.
23
(11) | Revenue from Contracts with Customers |
Adoption
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, which created FASB ASC Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASC 606") and superseded ASC Topic 605, "Revenue Recognition." The guidance replaced industry-specific guidance and established a single five-step model to identify and recognize revenue from contracts with customers ("Customer Revenue"). The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue upon transfer of control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Following the issuance of ASU No. 2014-09, the FASB issued several ASUs that clarified the implementation guidance for ASU No. 2014-09 but did not change the core principle of the guidance. The Company adopted this guidance for all applicable contracts as of January 1, 2018 under a modified retrospective method and the adoption did not have a cumulative effect impact at the date of initial adoption.
Customer Revenue
The Company recognizes revenue upon transfer of control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company records sales, franchise and excise taxes collected directly from customers and remitted directly to the taxing authorities on a net basis on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Energy Products and Services
A majority of the Company's energy revenue is derived from tariff based sales arrangements approved by various regulatory bodies. These tariff based revenues are mainly comprised of energy, transmission, distribution and natural gas and have performance obligations to deliver energy products and services to customers which are satisfied over time as energy is delivered or services are provided. The Company's energy revenue that is nonregulated primarily relates to the Company's renewable energy business. Other revenue consists primarily of revenue recognized in accordance with ASC 815, "Derivatives and Hedging", ASC 840, "Leases" and amounts not considered Customer Revenue within ASC 606.
Revenue recognized is equal to what the Company has the right to invoice as it corresponds directly with the value to the customer of the Company's performance to date and includes billed and unbilled amounts. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, trade receivables, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets relate substantially to Customer Revenue, including unbilled revenue of $624 million and $665 million, respectively. Payments for amounts billed are generally due from the customer within 30 days of billing. Rates charged for energy products and services are established by regulators or contractual arrangements that establish the transaction price as well as the allocation of price amongst the separate performance obligations. When preliminary regulated rates are permitted to be billed prior to final approval by the applicable regulator, certain revenue collected may be subject to refund and a liability for estimated refunds is accrued.
24
The following table summarizes the Company's energy products and services revenue by regulated energy and nonregulated energy, with further disaggregation of regulated energy by customer class and line of business, including a reconciliation to the Company's reportable segment information included in Note 14 (in millions):
For the Three-Month Period Ended September 30, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PacifiCorp | MidAmerican Funding | NV Energy | Northern Powergrid | BHE Pipeline Group | BHE Transmission | BHE Renewables | BHE and Other(1) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Customer Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regulated: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retail Electric | $ | 1,323 | $ | 647 | $ | 1,002 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 2,971 | |||||||||||||||||
Retail Gas | — | 83 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | 96 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wholesale(2) | (10 | ) | 82 | 9 | — | — | — | — | (1 | ) | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transmission and distribution | 30 | 14 | 28 | 196 | — | 171 | — | — | 439 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interstate pipeline | — | — | — | — | 283 | — | — | (25 | ) | 258 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Regulated | 1,343 | 826 | 1,052 | 196 | 283 | 171 | — | (27 | ) | 3,844 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nonregulated | — | 2 | — | 10 | — | 3 | 235 | 176 | 426 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Customer Revenue | 1,343 | 828 | 1,052 | 206 | 283 | 174 | 235 | 149 | 4,270 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other revenue(3) | 26 | 4 | 7 | 27 | (24 | ) | — | 85 | 24 | 149 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,369 | $ | 832 | $ | 1,059 | $ | 233 | $ | 259 | $ | 174 | $ | 320 | $ | 173 | $ | 4,419 |
For the Nine-Month Period Ended September 30, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PacifiCorp | MidAmerican Funding | NV Energy | Northern Powergrid | BHE Pipeline Group | BHE Transmission | BHE Renewables | BHE and Other(1) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Customer Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regulated: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retail Electric | $ | 3,534 | $ | 1,538 | $ | 2,232 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 7,303 | |||||||||||||||||
Retail Gas | — | 428 | 72 | — | — | — | — | — | 500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wholesale | 21 | 262 | 26 | — | — | — | — | (3 | ) | 306 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transmission and distribution | 82 | 44 | 73 | 661 | — | 525 | — | — | 1,385 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interstate pipeline | — | — | — | — | 893 | — | — | (91 | ) | 802 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Regulated | 3,637 | 2,272 | 2,404 | 661 | 893 | 525 | — | (95 | ) | 10,297 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nonregulated | — | 7 | 1 | 31 | — | 6 | 538 | 478 | 1,061 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Customer Revenue | 3,637 | 2,279 | 2,405 | 692 | 893 | 531 | 538 | 383 | 11,358 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other revenue(3) | 109 | 18 | 21 | 65 | (22 | ) | — | 182 | 87 | 460 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 3,746 | $ | 2,297 | $ | 2,426 | $ | 757 | $ | 871 | $ | 531 | $ | 720 | $ | 470 | $ | 11,818 |
(1) | The BHE and Other reportable segment represents amounts related principally to other entities, corporate functions and intersegment eliminations. |
(2) | Includes net payments to counterparties for the financial settlement of certain non-derivative forward contracts for energy sales at PacifiCorp. |
(3) | Includes net payments to counterparties for the financial settlement of certain derivative contracts at BHE Pipeline Group. |
Real Estate Services
The Company's HomeServices reportable segment consists of separate brokerage, mortgage and franchise businesses. Rates charged for brokerage, mortgage and franchise real estate services are established through contractual arrangements that establish the transaction price and the allocation of the price amongst the separate performance obligations. Other revenue consists primarily of revenue related to the mortgage businesses recognized in accordance with ASC 815, "Derivatives and Hedging", ASC 825, "Financial Instruments" and ASC 860, "Transfers and Servicing."
25
The full-service residential real estate brokerage business has performance obligations to deliver integrated real estate services including brokerage services, title and closing services, property and casualty insurance, home warranties, relocation services, and other home-related services to customers. All performance obligations related to the full-service residential real estate brokerage business are satisfied in less than one year at the point in time when a real estate transaction is closed or when services are provided. Commission revenue from real estate brokerage transactions and related amounts due to agents are recognized when a real estate transaction is closed. Title and escrow closing fee revenue from real estate transactions and related amounts due to the title insurer are recognized at closing. Payments for amounts billed are generally due from the customer at closing.
The franchise business operates a network that has performance obligations to provide the right to use certain brand names and other related service marks as well as to provide orientation programs, training and consultation services, advertising programs and other services to its franchisees. The performance obligations related to the franchise business are satisfied over time or when the services are provided. Franchise royalty fees are sales-based variable consideration and are based on a percentage of commissions earned by franchisees on real estate sales, which are recognized when the sale closes. Meetings and training revenue, referral fees, late fees, service fees and franchise termination fees are earned when services have been completed. Payments for amounts billed are generally due from the franchisee within 30 days of billing.
The following table summarizes the Company's real estate services revenue by line of business (in millions):
HomeServices | |||||||
Three-Month Period | Nine-Month Period | ||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||
2018 | 2018 | ||||||
Customer Revenue: | |||||||
Brokerage | $ | 1,122 | $ | 2,975 | |||
Franchise | 18 | 52 | |||||
Total Customer Revenue | 1,140 | 3,027 | |||||
Other revenue | 78 | 225 | |||||
Total | $ | 1,218 | $ | 3,252 |
Contract Assets and Liabilities
In the event one of the parties to a contract has performed before the other, the Company would recognize a contract asset or contract liability depending on the relationship between the Company's performance and the customer's payment. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were no material contract assets or contract liabilities recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. During the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, there was no material revenue recognized that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period or from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods.
Remaining Performance Obligations
The following table summarizes the Company's revenue it expects to recognize in future periods related to significant unsatisfied remaining performance obligations for fixed contracts with expected durations in excess of one year as of September 30, 2018, by reportable segment (in millions):
Performance obligations expected to be satisfied: | |||||||||||
Less than 12 months | More than 12 months | Total | |||||||||
BHE Pipeline Group | $ | 835 | $ | 5,879 | $ | 6,714 | |||||
BHE Transmission | 176 | — | 176 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 1,011 | $ | 5,879 | $ | 6,890 |
26
(12) | BHE Shareholders' Equity |
Common Stock
For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, BHE repurchased from certain family interests of Mr. Walter Scott, Jr. 177,381 shares of its common stock for $107 million and 35,000 shares of its common stock for $19 million, respectively.
(13) | Components of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net |
The following table shows the change in AOCI attributable to BHE shareholders by each component of OCI, net of applicable income tax (in millions):
Unrecognized | Foreign | Unrealized | Unrealized | AOCI | ||||||||||||||||
Amounts on | Currency | Gains on | Gains (Losses) | Attributable | ||||||||||||||||
Retirement | Translation | Marketable | on Cash | To BHE | ||||||||||||||||
Benefits | Adjustment | Securities | Flow Hedges | Shareholders, Net | ||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2016 | $ | (447 | ) | $ | (1,675 | ) | $ | 585 | $ | 26 | $ | (1,511 | ) | |||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | 16 | 535 | 542 | (5 | ) | 1,088 | ||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2017 | $ | (431 | ) | $ | (1,140 | ) | $ | 1,127 | $ | 21 | $ | (423 | ) | |||||||
Balance, December 31, 2017 | $ | (383 | ) | $ | (1,129 | ) | $ | 1,085 | $ | 29 | $ | (398 | ) | |||||||
Adoption of ASU 2016-01 | — | — | (1,085 | ) | — | (1,085 | ) | |||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | 50 | (236 | ) | — | 2 | (184 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2018 | $ | (333 | ) | $ | (1,365 | ) | $ | — | $ | 31 | $ | (1,667 | ) |
For more information regarding the adoption of ASU 2016-01, refer to Note 5.
(14) | Segment Information |
The Company's reportable segments with foreign operations include Northern Powergrid, whose business is principally in the United Kingdom, BHE Transmission, whose business includes operations in Canada, and BHE Renewables, whose business includes operations in the Philippines. Intersegment eliminations and adjustments, including the allocation of goodwill, have been made. Information related to the Company's reportable segments is shown below (in millions):
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Operating revenue: | |||||||||||||||
PacifiCorp | $ | 1,369 | $ | 1,430 | $ | 3,746 | $ | 3,956 | |||||||
MidAmerican Funding | 832 | 815 | 2,297 | 2,170 | |||||||||||
NV Energy | 1,059 | 1,047 | 2,426 | 2,384 | |||||||||||
Northern Powergrid | 233 | 221 | 757 | 685 | |||||||||||
BHE Pipeline Group | 259 | 193 | 871 | 700 | |||||||||||
BHE Transmission | 174 | 182 | 531 | 506 | |||||||||||
BHE Renewables | 320 | 283 | 720 | 647 | |||||||||||
HomeServices | 1,218 | 961 | 3,252 | 2,502 | |||||||||||
BHE and Other(1) | 173 | 151 | 470 | 453 | |||||||||||
Total operating revenue | $ | 5,637 | $ | 5,283 | $ | 15,070 | $ | 14,003 |
27
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization: | |||||||||||||||
PacifiCorp | $ | 203 | $ | 200 | $ | 602 | $ | 598 | |||||||
MidAmerican Funding | 133 | 112 | 499 | 370 | |||||||||||
NV Energy | 114 | 105 | 341 | 315 | |||||||||||
Northern Powergrid | 62 | 55 | 189 | 156 | |||||||||||
BHE Pipeline Group | 27 | 42 | 99 | 115 | |||||||||||
BHE Transmission | 61 | 58 | 184 | 165 | |||||||||||
BHE Renewables | 68 | 63 | 198 | 187 | |||||||||||
HomeServices | 14 | 16 | 37 | 38 | |||||||||||
BHE and Other(1) | (1 | ) | — | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||
Total depreciation and amortization | $ | 681 | $ | 651 | $ | 2,147 | $ | 1,943 |
Operating income: | |||||||||||||||
PacifiCorp | $ | 386 | $ | 461 | $ | 917 | $ | 1,133 | |||||||
MidAmerican Funding | 278 | 284 | 444 | 517 | |||||||||||
NV Energy | 307 | 393 | 540 | 683 | |||||||||||
Northern Powergrid | 102 | 106 | 360 | 346 | |||||||||||
BHE Pipeline Group | 105 | 66 | 388 | 328 | |||||||||||
BHE Transmission | 82 | 86 | 244 | 236 | |||||||||||
BHE Renewables | 176 | 157 | 308 | 256 | |||||||||||
HomeServices | 85 | 79 | 185 | 191 | |||||||||||
BHE and Other(1) | 2 | 8 | (20 | ) | (38 | ) | |||||||||
Total operating income | 1,523 | 1,640 | 3,366 | 3,652 | |||||||||||
Interest expense | (453 | ) | (464 | ) | (1,380 | ) | (1,379 | ) | |||||||
Capitalized interest | 17 | 14 | 44 | 34 | |||||||||||
Allowance for equity funds | 30 | 24 | 75 | 59 | |||||||||||
Interest and dividend income | 27 | 32 | 85 | 85 | |||||||||||
Gains (losses) on marketable securities, net | 260 | 3 | (336 | ) | 8 | ||||||||||
Other, net | 19 | (17 | ) | 50 | 8 | ||||||||||
Total income before income tax expense and equity income | $ | 1,423 | $ | 1,232 | $ | 1,904 | $ | 2,467 |
Interest expense: | |||||||||||||||
PacifiCorp | $ | 96 | $ | 95 | $ | 288 | $ | 285 | |||||||
MidAmerican Funding | 61 | 59 | 185 | 177 | |||||||||||
NV Energy | 52 | 57 | 169 | 173 | |||||||||||
Northern Powergrid | 34 | 34 | 107 | 98 | |||||||||||
BHE Pipeline Group | 11 | 11 | 31 | 33 | |||||||||||
BHE Transmission | 42 | 45 | 127 | 125 | |||||||||||
BHE Renewables | 49 | 51 | 150 | 153 | |||||||||||
HomeServices | 6 | 1 | 16 | 3 | |||||||||||
BHE and Other(1) | 102 | 111 | 307 | 332 | |||||||||||
Total interest expense | $ | 453 | $ | 464 | $ | 1,380 | $ | 1,379 |
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Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Operating revenue by country: | |||||||||||||||
United States | $ | 5,209 | $ | 4,869 | $ | 13,757 | $ | 12,793 | |||||||
United Kingdom | 232 | 221 | 754 | 685 | |||||||||||
Canada | 174 | 182 | 531 | 506 | |||||||||||
Philippines and other | 22 | 11 | 28 | 19 | |||||||||||
Total operating revenue by country | $ | 5,637 | $ | 5,283 | $ | 15,070 | $ | 14,003 |
Income before income tax expense and equity income by country: | |||||||||||||||
United States | $ | 1,290 | $ | 1,113 | $ | 1,501 | $ | 2,065 | |||||||
United Kingdom | 59 | 49 | 220 | 213 | |||||||||||
Canada | 43 | 47 | 125 | 127 | |||||||||||
Philippines and other | 31 | 23 | 58 | 62 | |||||||||||
Total income before income tax expense and equity income by country | $ | 1,423 | $ | 1,232 | $ | 1,904 | $ | 2,467 |
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Assets: | |||||||
PacifiCorp | $ | 23,501 | $ | 23,086 | |||
MidAmerican Funding | 19,499 | 18,444 | |||||
NV Energy | 14,078 | 13,903 | |||||
Northern Powergrid | 7,527 | 7,565 | |||||
BHE Pipeline Group | 5,285 | 5,134 | |||||
BHE Transmission | 8,863 | 9,009 | |||||
BHE Renewables | 8,590 | 7,687 | |||||
HomeServices | 2,860 | 2,722 | |||||
BHE and Other(1) | 1,659 | 2,658 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 91,862 | $ | 90,208 |
(1) | The differences between the reportable segment amounts and the consolidated amounts, described as BHE and Other, relate principally to other entities, corporate functions and intersegment eliminations. |
The following table shows the change in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018 (in millions):
BHE Pipeline Group | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MidAmerican Funding | NV Energy | Northern Powergrid | BHE Transmission | BHE Renewables | HomeServices | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PacifiCorp | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2017 | $ | 1,129 | $ | 2,102 | $ | 2,369 | $ | 991 | $ | 73 | $ | 1,571 | $ | 95 | $ | 1,348 | $ | 9,678 | |||||||||||||||||
Acquisitions | 70 | 70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation | (24 | ) | (41 | ) | (65 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2018 | $ | 1,129 | $ | 2,102 | $ | 2,369 | $ | 967 | $ | 73 | $ | 1,530 | $ | 95 | $ | 1,418 | $ | 9,683 |
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Item 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
The following is management's discussion and analysis of certain significant factors that have affected the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Company during the periods included herein. Explanations include management's best estimate of the impact of weather, customer growth and other factors. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company's historical unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q. The Company's actual results in the future could differ significantly from the historical results.
The Company's operations are organized as eight business segments: PacifiCorp, MidAmerican Funding (which primarily consists of MidAmerican Energy), NV Energy (which primarily consists of Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific), Northern Powergrid (which primarily consists of Northern Powergrid (Northeast) Limited and Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) plc), BHE Pipeline Group (which consists of Northern Natural Gas and Kern River), BHE Transmission (which consists of AltaLink and BHE U.S. Transmission), BHE Renewables and HomeServices. BHE, through these locally managed and operated businesses, owns four utility companies in the United States serving customers in 11 states, two electricity distribution companies in Great Britain, two interstate natural gas pipeline companies in the United States, an electric transmission business in Canada, interests in electric transmission businesses in the United States, a renewable energy business primarily investing in solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric projects, the second largest residential real estate brokerage firm in the United States and one of the largest residential real estate brokerage franchise networks in the United States. The reportable segment financial information includes all necessary adjustments and eliminations needed to conform to the Company's significant accounting policies. The differences between the reportable segment amounts and the consolidated amounts, described as BHE and Other, relate principally to other entities, corporate functions and intersegment eliminations.
Results of Operations for the Third Quarter and First Nine Months of 2018 and 2017
Overview
Net income for the Company's reportable segments is summarized as follows (in millions):
Third Quarter | First Nine Months | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Change | 2018 | 2017 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PacifiCorp | $ | 270 | $ | 263 | $ | 7 | 3 | % | $ | 603 | $ | 618 | $ | (15 | ) | (2 | )% | ||||||||||||
MidAmerican Funding | 479 | 383 | 96 | 25 | 685 | 616 | 69 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||
NV Energy | 201 | 223 | (22 | ) | (10 | ) | 311 | 347 | (36 | ) | (10 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Northern Powergrid | 44 | 39 | 5 | 13 | 169 | 174 | (5 | ) | (3 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
BHE Pipeline Group | 79 | 35 | 44 | * | 286 | 183 | 103 | 56 | |||||||||||||||||||||
BHE Transmission | 55 | 58 | (3 | ) | (5 | ) | 164 | 171 | (7 | ) | (4 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
BHE Renewables | 139 | 89 | 50 | 56 | 304 | 194 | 110 | 57 | |||||||||||||||||||||
HomeServices | 60 | 45 | 15 | 33 | 127 | 107 | 20 | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||
BHE and Other | 74 | (67 | ) | 141 | * | (363 | ) | (212 | ) | (151 | ) | (71 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total net income attributable to BHE shareholders | $ | 1,401 | $ | 1,068 | $ | 333 | 31 | $ | 2,286 | $ | 2,198 | $ | 88 | 4 |
* Not meaningful
30
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders increased $333 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 due to an after-tax unrealized gain on the investment in BYD Company Limited in 2018 totaling $182 million and the following factors:
• | PacifiCorp's net income increased $7 million primarily due to a decrease in income tax expense of $78 million from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted on December 22, 2017 ("2017 Tax Reform"), partially offset by lower utility margin of $61 million and higher operations and maintenance expense of $12 million. Utility margin decreased due to lower average retail rates, including the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform of $53 million, higher natural gas costs, higher purchased electricity costs and lower wholesale revenue, partially offset by higher retail customer volumes and lower coal costs. Retail customer volumes increased 1.8% due to higher customer usage, primarily from industrial, commercial and residential customers in Utah, and an increase in the average number of customers across the service territory, offset by impacts of weather across the service territory. |
• | MidAmerican Funding's net income increased $96 million primarily due to a higher income tax benefit of $95 million from a $53 million increase in recognized production tax credits and a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform, higher electric utility margin of $10 million and higher allowances for borrowed and equity funds of $7 million, partially offset by higher depreciation and amortization of $22 million from additional plant in-service and increases for Iowa revenue sharing. Electric utility margin increased due to higher retail customer volumes of 5.9%, primarily from industrial growth and the favorable impact of weather, higher electric wholesale revenue and higher recoveries through bill riders, partially offset by lower average retail rates of $33 million, predominantly from the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform, and higher generation and purchased power costs. |
• | NV Energy's net income decreased $22 million primarily due to an increase in operations and maintenance expense of $60 million, primarily due to earnings sharing of $36 million established in 2018 as part of the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review and higher political activity expenses, a decrease in electric utility margin of $17 million and an increase in depreciation and amortization of $9 million as a result of various regulatory-directed amortizations established in the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review, partially offset by a decrease in income tax expense of $55 million primarily from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform. Electric utility margin decreased due to lower average retail rates, including the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform of $30 million, partially offset by higher retail customer volumes of 2.9%, mainly from the favorable impact of weather. |
• | Northern Powergrid's net income increased $5 million primarily due to lower overall pension expense of $4 million, which includes pension settlement losses recognized in 2017 and 2018, and higher smart meter net income of $2 million reflecting growth in that business. |
• | BHE Pipeline Group's net income increased $44 million primarily due to higher transportation revenue of $58 million at Northern Natural Gas and Kern River from higher volumes and rates due to unique market opportunities, partially offset by $30 million of higher operations and maintenance expense, primarily due to increased pipeline integrity projects at Northern Natural Gas. |
• | BHE Transmission's net income decreased $3 million primarily due to lower earnings at AltaLink from the release of contingent liabilities in 2017 and a stronger United States dollar, partially offset by higher non-regulated revenue. |
• | BHE Renewables' net income increased $50 million primarily due to $35 million of increased revenue from overall higher generation and pricing at existing projects, $15 million of 2017 make-whole payments associated with early debt retirements and $8 million of net income from additional wind and solar capacity placed in-service, partially offset by an unfavorable derivative valuation movement of $8 million and unfavorable earnings of $3 million from tax equity investments, largely due to higher equity losses from certain tax equity investments due to unfavorable operating results, partially offset by earnings from additional tax equity investments. |
• | HomeServices' net income increased $15 million primarily due to net income of $19 million contributed from acquired businesses and a decrease in income tax expense from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform, partially offset by lower margin and higher operating expenses at existing businesses and higher interest expense from increased borrowings related to acquisitions. |
• | BHE and Other had net income of $74 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to a net loss of $67 million for the third quarter of 2017 primarily due to the aforementioned after-tax unrealized gain on the investment in BYD Company Limited totaling $182 million, partially offset by lower federal income tax credits recognized on a consolidated basis, higher other operating costs and a lower income tax benefit of $12 million from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform. |
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Net income attributable to BHE shareholders increased $88 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 due to the following factors, partially offset by an after-tax unrealized loss on the investment in BYD Company Limited in 2018 totaling $250 million:
• | PacifiCorp's net income decreased $15 million primarily due to lower utility margin of $205 million and higher operations and maintenance expenses of $6 million, partially offset by a decrease in income tax expense of $194 million from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform. Utility margin decreased due to lower average retail rates, including the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform of $159 million, lower retail customer volumes, higher purchased electricity costs and higher natural gas costs, partially offset by lower coal costs. Retail customer volumes decreased 0.9% due to the unfavorable impact of weather across the service territory and lower customer usage, primarily from industrial customers in Oregon and Utah, partially offset by higher commercial and irrigation customer usage in Utah, and an increase in the average number of customers across the service territory. |
• | MidAmerican Funding's net income increased $69 million primarily due to a higher income tax benefit of $124 million from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform and a $44 million increase in recognized production tax credits, higher electric utility margin of $84 million, higher allowances for borrowed and equity funds of $19 million and higher natural gas utility margin of $12 million, partially offset by higher depreciation and amortization of $130 million from increases for Iowa revenue sharing and additional plant in-service, higher wind-powered generation maintenance of $17 million, higher fossil-fueled generation maintenance of $12 million and increases in other operations and maintenance expenses. Electric utility margin increased due to higher recoveries through bill riders, higher retail customer volumes of 6.9% from industrial growth and the favorable impact of weather and higher electric wholesale revenue, partially offset by lower average retail rates of $86 million, predominantly from the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform, and higher generation and purchased power costs. |
• | NV Energy's net income decreased $36 million primarily due to an increase in operations and maintenance expense of $77 million, primarily due to earnings sharing of $42 million established in 2018 as part of the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review and higher political activity expenses, a decrease in electric utility margin of $38 million and an increase in depreciation and amortization of $26 million as a result of various regulatory-directed amortizations established in the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review, partially offset by a decrease in income tax expense of $99 million primarily from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform. Electric utility margin decreased due to lower average retail rates, including the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform of $52 million, partially offset by higher retail customer volumes of 1.1%, mainly due to the favorable impact of weather. |
• | Northern Powergrid's net income decreased $5 million primarily due to $22 million of higher distribution-related operating and depreciation expenses and higher pension expense of $14 million, largely resulting from pension settlement losses recognized in 2018 due to higher lump sum payments, partially offset by the weaker United States dollar of $11 million, higher distribution revenue of $10 million and higher smart meter net income of $3 million reflecting growth in that business. Distribution revenue increased mainly due to higher tariff rates, partially offset by unfavorable movements in regulatory provisions. |
• | BHE Pipeline Group's net income increased $103 million primarily due to higher transportation revenue of $102 million at Northern Natural Gas and Kern River from higher volumes and rates due to unique market opportunities and colder temperatures and a decrease in income tax expense of $30 million from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform, partially offset by $49 million of higher operations and maintenance expense, primarily due to increased pipeline integrity projects at Northern Natural Gas. |
• | BHE Transmission's net income decreased $7 million primarily due to lower earnings at BHE U.S. Transmission from lower equity earnings at Electric Transmission Texas, LLC due to the impacts of a regulatory rate order in March 2017. |
• | BHE Renewables' net income increased $110 million primarily due to $59 million of increased revenue from overall higher generation and pricing at existing projects, $20 million of net income from additional wind and solar capacity placed in-service, favorable earnings of $16 million from tax equity investments, largely due to earnings from additional tax equity investments, partially offset by higher equity losses from certain tax equity investments due to unfavorable operating results, $15 million of make-whole premiums paid in 2017 due to early debt retirements and a settlement of $7 million received in 2018 related to transformer issues in 2016, partially offset by an unfavorable derivative valuation movement of $13 million. |
• | HomeServices' net income increased $20 million primarily due to net income of $44 million contributed from acquired businesses and a decrease in income tax expense from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform, partially offset by lower margin and higher operating expenses at existing businesses and higher interest expense from increased borrowings related to acquisitions. |
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• | BHE and Other net loss increased $151 million primarily due to the aforementioned after-tax unrealized loss on the investment in BYD Company Limited totaling $250 million and a lower income tax benefit of $41 million from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform, partially offset by lower consolidated state income tax expense, including a reduction to the state provision for the repatriation tax of $45 million, lower United States income tax on foreign earnings and higher federal income tax credits recognized on a consolidated basis. |
Reportable Segment Results
Operating revenue and operating income for the Company's reportable segments are summarized as follows (in millions):
Third Quarter | First Nine Months | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Change | 2018 | 2017 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating revenue: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PacifiCorp | $ | 1,369 | $ | 1,430 | $ | (61 | ) | (4 | )% | $ | 3,746 | $ | 3,956 | $ | (210 | ) | (5 | )% | |||||||||||
MidAmerican Funding | 832 | 815 | 17 | 2 | 2,297 | 2,170 | 127 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
NV Energy | 1,059 | 1,047 | 12 | 1 | 2,426 | 2,384 | 42 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Northern Powergrid | 233 | 221 | 12 | 5 | 757 | 685 | 72 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||
BHE Pipeline Group | 259 | 193 | 66 | 34 | 871 | 700 | 171 | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||
BHE Transmission | 174 | 182 | (8 | ) | (4 | ) | 531 | 506 | 25 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
BHE Renewables | 320 | 283 | 37 | 13 | 720 | 647 | 73 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||
HomeServices | 1,218 | 961 | 257 | 27 | 3,252 | 2,502 | 750 | 30 | |||||||||||||||||||||
BHE and Other | 173 | 151 | 22 | 15 | 470 | 453 | 17 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total operating revenue | $ | 5,637 | $ | 5,283 | $ | 354 | 7 | $ | 15,070 | $ | 14,003 | $ | 1,067 | 8 |
Operating income: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PacifiCorp | $ | 386 | $ | 461 | $ | (75 | ) | (16 | )% | $ | 917 | $ | 1,133 | $ | (216 | ) | (19 | )% | |||||||||||
MidAmerican Funding | 278 | 284 | (6 | ) | (2 | ) | 444 | 517 | (73 | ) | (14 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
NV Energy | 307 | 393 | (86 | ) | (22 | ) | 540 | 683 | (143 | ) | (21 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Northern Powergrid | 102 | 106 | (4 | ) | (4 | ) | 360 | 346 | 14 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
BHE Pipeline Group | 105 | 66 | 39 | 59 | 388 | 328 | 60 | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||
BHE Transmission | 82 | 86 | (4 | ) | (5 | ) | 244 | 236 | 8 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
BHE Renewables | 176 | 157 | 19 | 12 | 308 | 256 | 52 | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||
HomeServices | 85 | 79 | 6 | 8 | 185 | 191 | (6 | ) | (3 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
BHE and Other | 2 | 8 | (6 | ) | (75) | (20 | ) | (38 | ) | 18 | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total operating income | $ | 1,523 | $ | 1,640 | $ | (117 | ) | (7 | ) | $ | 3,366 | $ | 3,652 | $ | (286 | ) | (8 | ) |
PacifiCorp
Operating revenue decreased $61 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 due to lower retail revenue of $40 million and lower wholesale and other revenue of $21 million. Retail revenue decreased $59 million due to lower average rates, including the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform of $53 million, partially offset by $19 million from higher volumes. Retail customer volumes increased 1.8% due to higher usage, primarily from industrial, commercial and residential customers in Utah, and an increase in the average number of customers across the service territory, offset by impacts of weather across the service territory. Wholesale and other revenue decreased primarily due to lower wholesale market prices, partially offset by higher wholesale sales volumes.
Operating income decreased $75 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to lower utility margin of $61 million and higher operations and maintenance expense of $12 million. Utility margin decreased due to lower average retail rates, including the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform of $53 million, higher natural gas costs from higher generation volumes, higher purchased electricity costs from higher prices and volumes and lower wholesale revenue, partially offset by higher net deferrals of incurred net power costs in accordance with established adjustment mechanisms, higher retail customer volumes and lower coal costs largely from favorable prices.
33
Operating revenue decreased $210 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 due to lower retail revenue of $218 million, partially offset by higher wholesale and other revenue of $8 million. Retail revenue decreased $185 million due to lower average rates, including the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform of $159 million, and $33 million from lower volumes. Retail customer volumes decreased 0.9% due to the unfavorable impact of weather across the service territory and lower usage, primarily from industrial customers in Oregon and Utah, partially offset by higher commercial and irrigation usage in Utah and an increase in the average number of customers across the service territory. Wholesale and other revenue increased due to higher other revenue.
Operating income decreased $216 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to lower utility margin of $205 million and higher operations and maintenance expenses of $6 million. Utility margin decreased due to lower average retail rates, including the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform of $159 million, lower retail customer volumes, higher purchased electricity costs from higher prices and volumes and higher natural gas costs from higher generation volumes offset by lower prices, partially offset by higher net deferrals of incurred net power costs and lower coal costs from lower generation volumes and prices.
MidAmerican Funding
Operating revenue increased $17 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher electric operating revenue of $20 million. Electric operating revenue increased due to higher wholesale and other revenue of $18 million and higher retail revenue of $2 million. Electric wholesale and other revenue increased primarily due to an increase in wholesale volumes of $17 million. Electric retail revenue increased $29 million from industrial growth and higher customer usage, $4 million from higher recoveries through bill riders (substantially offset in cost of fuel and energy, operations and maintenance expense and income tax expense) and $2 million from the impact of weather in 2018, partially offset by lower average rates of $33 million, predominantly from the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform. Electric retail customer volumes increased 5.9% primarily from industrial growth and the favorable impact of weather.
Operating income decreased $6 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher depreciation and amortization of $22 million and higher wind-powered generation maintenance of $6 million, partially offset by higher electric utility margin of $10 million, net of a decrease in electric demand-side management program revenue of $2 million (offset in operations and maintenance expense), higher natural gas utility margin of $4 million and decreases in other operations and maintenance expenses. The increase in depreciation and amortization reflects $18 million related to additional wind generation and other plant placed in-service and $4 million of Iowa revenue sharing. Electric utility margin was higher due to higher retail customer volumes, higher wholesale revenue and higher recoveries through bill riders, partially offset by lower average retail rates, higher generation and purchased power costs and lower transmission revenue. Natural gas utility margin increased due to higher retail sales volumes, partially offset by lower average rates from the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform.
Operating revenue increased $127 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher electric operating revenue of $108 million and higher natural gas operating revenue of $20 million. Electric operating revenue increased due to higher retail revenue of $96 million and higher wholesale and other revenue of $12 million. Electric retail revenue increased $91 million from higher recoveries through bill riders (substantially offset in cost of fuel and energy, operations and maintenance expense and income tax expense), $58 million from higher customer usage, including higher industrial sales volumes, and $33 million from the impact of weather in 2018, partially offset by lower average rates of $86 million predominantly from the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform. Electric retail customer volumes increased 6.9% from industrial growth and the favorable impact of weather. Electric wholesale revenue increased due to higher average per-unit prices of $7 million and a 0.2% growth in sales volumes. Natural gas operating revenue increased due to 22.3% higher retail sales volumes from the impact of weather in 2018 and industrial growth, partially offset by a lower average per-unit price of $27 million (offset in cost of gas purchased for resale and other) and other usage and rate factors, including the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform.
34
Operating income decreased $73 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher depreciation and amortization of $130 million, higher wind-powered generation maintenance of $17 million, higher fossil-fueled generation maintenance of $12 million and increases in other operations and maintenance expenses, partially offset by higher electric utility margin of $84 million, including the impact of an increase in electric demand-side management program revenue of $10 million (offset in operations and maintenance expense), and higher natural gas utility margin of $12 million. The increase in depreciation and amortization reflects increases for Iowa revenue sharing of $83 million and $47 million related to additional wind generation and other plant placed in-service. Electric utility margin increased due to higher recoveries through bill riders, higher retail customer volumes and higher wholesale revenue, partially offset by lower average retail rates and higher generation and purchased power costs. Natural gas utility margin increased due to higher retail sales volumes from colder temperatures, partially offset by lower average rates partially from the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform.
NV Energy
Operating revenue increased $12 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 due to higher electric operating revenue of $12 million. Electric operating revenue increased due to higher electric retail revenue of $6 million and higher wholesale and other revenue of $6 million. Electric retail revenue increased primarily due to higher energy rates (offset in cost of fuel and energy) of $26 million, higher customer volumes of $18 million, primarily due to the impacts of weather, and customer growth of $6 million, partially offset by a decrease from the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform of $30 million and lower rates from the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review of $16 million. Electric retail customer volumes, including distribution only service customers, increased 4.7% compared to 2017.
Operating income decreased $86 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 due to an increase in operations and maintenance expense of $60 million, primarily due to earnings sharing of $36 million established in 2018 as part of the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review and higher political activity expenses, a decrease in electric utility margin of $17 million and higher depreciation and amortization of $9 million as a result of various regulatory-directed amortizations established in the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review. Electric utility margin decreased as higher energy costs of $29 million were offset by higher electric operating revenue of $12 million. Energy costs increased due to higher purchased power costs of $29 million.
Operating revenue increased $42 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher electric operating revenue of $34 million and higher natural gas operating revenue of $8 million. Electric operating revenue increased due to higher electric retail revenue of $38 million, partially offset by lower wholesale and other revenue of $4 million. Electric retail revenue increased primarily due to higher energy rates (offset in cost of fuel and energy) of $82 million, higher customer volumes of $20 million, primarily due to the impacts of weather, and customer growth of $7 million, partially offset by a decrease from the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform of $52 million and lower rates from the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review of $23 million. Electric retail customer volumes, including distribution only service customers, increased 2.7% compared to 2017. Natural gas operating revenue increased $8 million due to a higher average per-unit price (offset in cost of natural gas purchased for resale) of $10 million, partially offset by lower volumes.
Operating income decreased $143 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 due to an increase in operations and maintenance expense of $77 million, primarily due to earnings sharing of $42 million established in 2018 as part of the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review and higher political activity expenses, a decrease in electric utility margin of $38 million and higher depreciation and amortization of $26 million as a result of various regulatory-directed amortizations established in the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review. Electric utility margin decreased as higher energy costs of $72 million were offset by higher electric operating revenue of $34 million. Energy costs increased due to higher net deferred power costs of $103 million and higher purchased power costs of $21 million, partially offset by a lower average cost of fuel for generation of $53 million.
Northern Powergrid
Operating revenue increased $12 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 due to higher smart meter revenue of $8 million from additional smart meter assets placed in-service and higher distribution revenue of $6 million mainly due to higher tariff rates. Operating income decreased $4 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher distribution-related operations and maintenance expense and higher depreciation expense related to additional smart meter and distribution assets placed in-service, partially offset by the increase in operating revenue.
35
Operating revenue increased $72 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to the weaker United States dollar of $45 million, higher smart meter revenue of $21 million from additional smart meter assets placed in-service and higher distribution revenue of $11 million. Distribution revenue increased mainly due to higher tariff rates of $17 million, partially offset by unfavorable movements in regulatory provisions of $5 million. Operating income increased $14 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to the increase in operating revenue and the weaker United States dollar of $24 million, partially offset by higher distribution-related operations and maintenance expense and higher depreciation expense related to additional smart meter and distribution assets placed in-service.
BHE Pipeline Group
Operating revenue increased $66 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 due to higher transportation revenues of $58 million at Northern Natural Gas and Kern River from higher volumes and rates due to unique market opportunities and higher gas sales of $10 million related to system balancing activities (largely offset in cost of sales) at Northern Natural Gas. Operating income increased $39 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to the increase in transportation revenue and lower depreciation expense at Kern River, partially offset by higher operations and maintenance expense, primarily due to increased pipeline integrity projects at Northern Natural Gas.
Operating revenue increased $171 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 due to higher transportation revenues of $102 million at Northern Natural Gas and Kern River from higher volumes and rates due to unique market opportunities and colder temperatures and higher gas sales of $70 million related to system balancing activities (largely offset in cost of sales) at Northern Natural Gas. Operating income increased $60 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to the increase in transportation revenue and lower depreciation expense at Kern River, partially offset by higher operations and maintenance expense, primarily due to increased pipeline integrity projects at Northern Natural Gas.
BHE Transmission
Operating revenue decreased $8 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to lower operating revenue at AltaLink from a stronger United States dollar and the release of contingent liabilities in 2017, partially offset by additional assets placed in-service and higher non-regulated revenue. Operating income decreased $4 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to the lower operating revenue, partially offset by lower non-regulated operating costs at AltaLink.
Operating revenue increased $25 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher operating revenue at AltaLink from a weaker United States dollar, additional assets placed in-service and higher non-regulated revenue, partially offset by the release of contingent liabilities in 2017. Operating income increased $8 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to the higher operating revenue from additional assets placed in-service.
BHE Renewables
Operating revenue increased $37 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 due to overall higher generation and favorable pricing of $35 million at existing projects and $10 million from additional solar and wind capacity placed in-service, partially offset by an unfavorable derivative valuation movement of $8 million. Operating income increased $19 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to the increase in operating revenue, partially offset by higher operations and maintenance expense of $14 million and higher depreciation expense of $6 million, primarily related to additional solar and wind capacity placed in-service.
Operating revenue increased $73 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 due to overall higher generation and pricing of $59 million at existing projects and $27 million from additional wind and solar capacity placed in-service, partially offset by an unfavorable derivative valuation movement of $13 million. Operating income increased $52 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 due to the increase in operating revenue and a decrease in property and other taxes of $4 million due to a property tax refund received in 2018, partially offset by higher operations and maintenance expense of $14 million and higher depreciation expense of $11 million, primarily related to additional solar and wind capacity placed in-service.
HomeServices
Operating revenue increased $257 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 due to an increase from acquired businesses of $273 million. Operating income increased $6 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher earnings from acquired businesses of $21 million, offset by lower brokerage segment earnings at existing businesses of $10 million, mainly due to lower margin and higher operating expenses.
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Operating revenue increased $750 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 due to an increase from acquired businesses of $769 million. Operating income decreased $6 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to lower brokerage segment earnings at existing businesses of $30 million, mainly due to lower margin and higher operating expenses, and a gain on the collection of receivables in 2017 in the franchise segment, partially offset by higher earnings from acquired businesses of $47 million.
BHE and Other
Operating revenue increased $22 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 due to higher electricity and natural gas volumes at MidAmerican Energy Services, LLC. Operating income decreased $6 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 due to higher other operating costs, partially offset by higher margin at MidAmerican Energy Services, LLC.
Operating revenue increased $17 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 due to higher electricity and natural gas volumes at MidAmerican Energy Services, LLC. Operating loss improved $18 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 due to higher margin at MidAmerican Energy Services, LLC and lower other operating costs.
Consolidated Other Income and Expense Items
Interest expense
Interest expense is summarized as follows (in millions):
Third Quarter | First Nine Months | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Change | 2018 | 2017 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Subsidiary debt | $ | 347 | $ | 354 | $ | (7 | ) | (2 | )% | $ | 1,062 | $ | 1,045 | $ | 17 | 2 | % | ||||||||||||
BHE senior debt and other | 105 | 106 | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | 314 | 317 | (3 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
BHE junior subordinated debentures | 1 | 4 | (3 | ) | (75 | ) | 4 | 17 | (13 | ) | (76 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total interest expense | $ | 453 | $ | 464 | $ | (11 | ) | (2 | ) | $ | 1,380 | $ | 1,379 | $ | 1 | — |
Interest expense decreased $11 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to repayments of BHE junior subordinated debentures of $944 million in 2017, scheduled maturities and principal payments and early redemptions of subsidiary debt, partially offset by debt issuances at BHE, MidAmerican Funding, BHE Renewables and HomeServices.
Capitalized interest
Capitalized interest increased $3 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 and $10 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due higher construction work-in-progress balances at MidAmerican Energy and BHE Renewables.
Allowance for equity funds
Allowance for equity funds increased $6 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 and $16 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher construction work-in-progress balances at MidAmerican Energy.
Interest and dividend income
Interest and dividend income decreased $5 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to lower financial asset income from the lower financial asset balance at BHE Renewables and the timing of dividends from the Company's investment in BYD Company Limited.
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Gains (losses) on marketable securities, net
Gains (losses) on marketable securities, net increased $257 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to an unrealized gain on the Company's investment in BYD Company Limited totaling $252 million. The Company had losses on marketable securities for the first nine months of 2018 of $336 million compared to gains on marketable securities in 2017 of $8 million primarily due to an unrealized loss in 2018 on the Company's investment in BYD Company Limited totaling $346 million in the first nine months of 2018.
Other, net
Other, net was income of $19 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to an expense of $17 million in 2017 primarily due to costs incurred in 2017 associated with the early redemption of subsidiary long-term debt and lower non-service pension expense which includes pension settlement losses recognized in 2017 and 2018 at Northern Powergrid.
Other, net increased $42 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to costs incurred in 2017 associated with the early redemption of subsidiary long-term debt, favorable changes in the valuations of interest rate swap derivatives of $8 million and a settlement received in 2018 related to transformer related outages at the Solar Star projects in 2016.
Income tax expense (benefit)
Income tax expense decreased $161 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 and the effective tax rate was 2% for 2018 and 15% for 2017. The effective tax rate decreased primarily due to the reduction in the United States federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018, the favorable impacts of ratemaking and higher production tax credits recognized of $35 million, partially offset by income tax expense of $70 million related to an unrealized gain on the Company's investment in BYD Company Limited.
For the first nine months of 2018, the Company had an income tax benefit of $366 million, including a $96 million benefit related to an unrealized loss on the Company's investment in BYD Company Limited. For the first nine months of 2017, the Company had an income tax expense of $319 million. The effective tax rate was (19)% for 2018 and 13% for 2017. The effective tax rate decreased primarily due to the reduction in the United States federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018, lower consolidated state income tax expense, including a reduction to the state provision for the repatriation tax of $45 million, higher production tax credits recognized of $97 million, lower United States income tax on foreign earnings and the favorable impacts of rate making.
Production tax credits are recognized in earnings for interim periods based on the application of an estimated annual effective tax rate to pretax earnings. Federal renewable electricity production tax credits are earned as energy from qualifying wind-powered generating facilities is produced and sold based on a per-kilowatt rate pursuant to the applicable federal income tax law and are eligible for the credit for 10 years from the date the qualifying generating facilities are placed in-service. Production tax credits recognized in 2018 were $529 million, or $97 million higher than 2017, while production tax credits earned in 2018 were $413 million, or $67 million higher than 2017. The difference between production tax credits recognized and earned of $116 million as of September 30, 2018, primarily at MidAmerican Energy, will be reflected in earnings over the remainder of 2018.
Equity income
Equity income decreased $21 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 and $45 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to lower pre-tax equity earnings from tax equity investments at BHE Renewables and lower equity earnings at Electric Transmission Texas, LLC due to the impacts of new retail rates effective March 2017.
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests decreased $2 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 and $11 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to the April 2018 purchase of a redeemable noncontrolling interest at HomeServices.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Each of BHE's direct and indirect subsidiaries is organized as a legal entity separate and apart from BHE and its other subsidiaries. It should not be assumed that the assets of any subsidiary will be available to satisfy BHE's obligations or the obligations of its other subsidiaries. However, unrestricted cash or other assets that are available for distribution may, subject to applicable law, regulatory commitments and the terms of financing and ring-fencing arrangements for such parties, be advanced, loaned, paid as dividends or otherwise distributed or contributed to BHE or affiliates thereof. The Company's long-term debt may include provisions that allow BHE or its subsidiaries to redeem such debt in whole or in part at any time. These provisions generally include make-whole premiums. Refer to Note 17 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 for further discussion regarding the limitation of distributions from BHE's subsidiaries.
As of September 30, 2018, the Company's total net liquidity was as follows (in millions):
MidAmerican | NV | Northern | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BHE | PacifiCorp | Funding | Energy | Powergrid | AltaLink | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 92 | $ | 308 | $ | 115 | $ | 148 | $ | 36 | $ | 59 | $ | 258 | $ | 1,016 | |||||||||||||||
Credit facilities(1)(2) | 3,500 | 1,200 | 909 | 650 | 202 | 1,026 | 1,635 | 9,122 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Short-term debt | (508 | ) | — | — | — | (43 | ) | (380 | ) | (853 | ) | (1,784 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Tax-exempt bond support and letters of credit | — | (89 | ) | (370 | ) | (80 | ) | — | (5 | ) | — | (544 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net credit facilities | 2,992 | 1,111 | 539 | 570 | 159 | 641 | 782 | 6,794 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total net liquidity | $ | 3,084 | $ | 1,419 | $ | 654 | $ | 718 | $ | 195 | $ | 700 | $ | 1,040 | $ | 7,810 | |||||||||||||||
Credit facilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maturity dates(1) | 2021 | 2021 | 2019, 2021 | 2021 | 2020 | 2018, 2022 | 2018, 2019, 2022 |
(1) | Refer to Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for further discussion regarding the Company's recent financing transactions. |
(2) | Includes the drawn uncommitted credit facilities totaling $7 million at Northern Powergrid. |
Operating Activities
Net cash flows from operating activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $5.0 billion and $5.1 billion, respectively. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in income tax receipts, partially offset by changes in working capital.
The timing of the Company's income tax cash flows from period to period can be significantly affected by the estimated federal income tax payment methods and assumptions used for each payment date.
2017 Tax Reform reduced the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, created a one-time repatriation tax of foreign earnings and profits, eliminated bonus depreciation on qualifying regulated utility assets acquired after December 31, 2017 and extended and modified the additional first-year bonus depreciation for non-regulated property. BHE's regulated subsidiaries anticipate passing the benefits of lower tax expense to customers through regulatory mechanisms including lower rates and reductions to rate base. 2017 Tax Reform and the related regulatory outcomes will result in lower revenue, income tax and cash flow in 2018 and future years compared to 2017. BHE does not expect 2017 Tax Reform and related regulatory treatment to have a material adverse impact on its cash flows, subject to actual regulatory outcomes, which will be determined based on rulings by regulatory commissions expected in 2018 and 2019.
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In December 2015, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 ("PATH") was signed into law, extending bonus depreciation for qualifying property acquired and placed in-service before January 1, 2020 (bonus depreciation rates were set at 50% in 2015-2017, 40% in 2018, and 30% in 2019), with an additional year for certain longer lived assets. Production tax credits were extended and phased-out for wind power and other forms of non-solar renewable energy projects that begin construction before the end of 2019. Production tax credits are maintained at full value through 2016, at 80% of the published rate in 2017, at 60% of the published rate in 2018, and 40% of the published rate in 2019. Investment tax credits were extended and phased-down for solar projects that are under construction before the end of 2021 (investment tax credit rates are 30% through 2019, 26% in 2020 and 22% in 2021; they revert to the statutory rate of 10% thereafter). The Company's cash flows from operations are expected to benefit from PATH due to bonus depreciation on qualifying assets through 2019 and from 2017 Tax Reform for non-regulated property through 2026, production tax credits through 2029 and investment tax credits earned on qualifying wind and solar projects through 2021, respectively. As a result of 2017 Tax Reform, bonus depreciation on qualifying assets acquired after December 31, 2017 is eliminated for regulated utility property and is extended and modified for non-regulated property. The Company believes property acquired on or before September 27, 2017 will remain subject to PATH.
Investing Activities
Net cash flows from investing activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $(4.5) billion and $(4.4) billion, respectively. The change was primarily due to higher capital expenditures of $1.0 billion, partially offset by lower cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, of $997 million. Refer to "Future Uses of Cash" for further discussion of capital expenditures.
Acquisitions
The Company completed various acquisitions totaling $105 million, net of cash acquired, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018. The purchase price for each acquisition was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which primarily related to residential real estate brokerage businesses. There were no other material assets acquired or liabilities assumed.
The Company completed various acquisitions totaling $1.1 billion, net of cash acquired, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017. The purchase price for each acquisition was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which primarily related to residential real estate brokerage businesses, development and construction costs for the 110-megawatt Alamo 6 solar project and the 50-megawatt Pearl solar project, and the remaining 25% interest in the Silverhawk natural gas-fueled generation facility at Nevada Power. As a result of the various acquisitions, the Company acquired assets of $1.1 billion, assumed liabilities of $476 million and recognized goodwill of $522 million.
Financing Activities
Net cash flows from financing activities for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018 was $(392) million. Uses of cash totaled $5.9 billion and consisted mainly of net repayments of short-term debt totaling $2.7 billion, repayments of subsidiary debt totaling $2.3 billion, repayments of BHE senior debt of $650 million and the purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interest of $131 million. Sources of cash totaled $5.5 billion and consisted of proceeds from BHE senior debt issuances totaling $3.2 billion and proceeds from subsidiary debt issuances totaling $2.4 billion.
For a discussion of recent financing transactions, refer to Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Net cash flows from financing activities for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017 was $(330) million. Uses of cash totaled $2.3 billion and consisted mainly of repayments of BHE senior debt and junior subordinated debentures totaling $1.3 billion and repayments of subsidiary debt totaling $834 million. Sources of cash totaled $1.9 billion and consisted of $1.6 billion of proceeds from subsidiary debt issuances and $365 million of net proceeds from short-term debt.
The Company may from time to time seek to acquire its outstanding debt securities through cash purchases in the open market, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Any debt securities repurchased by the Company may be reissued or resold by the Company from time to time and will depend on prevailing market conditions, the Company's liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. The amounts involved may be material.
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Future Uses of Cash
The Company has available a variety of sources of liquidity and capital resources, both internal and external, including net cash flows from operating activities, public and private debt offerings, the issuance of commercial paper, the use of unsecured revolving credit facilities, the issuance of equity and other sources. These sources are expected to provide funds required for current operations, capital expenditures, acquisitions, investments, debt retirements and other capital requirements. The availability and terms under which BHE and each subsidiary has access to external financing depends on a variety of factors, including its credit ratings, investors' judgment of risk and conditions in the overall capital markets, including the condition of the utility industry and project finance markets, among other items.
Capital Expenditures
The Company has significant future capital requirements. Capital expenditure needs are reviewed regularly by management and may change significantly as a result of these reviews, which may consider, among other factors, impacts to customers' rates; changes in environmental and other rules and regulations; outcomes of regulatory proceedings; changes in income tax laws; general business conditions; load projections; system reliability standards; the cost and efficiency of construction labor, equipment and materials; commodity prices; and the cost and availability of capital. Expenditures for certain assets may ultimately include acquisitions of existing assets.
The Company's historical and forecast capital expenditures, each of which exclude amounts for non-cash equity AFUDC and other non-cash items, are as follows (in millions):
Nine-Month Periods | Annual | ||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Forecast | ||||||||||
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | |||||||||
Capital expenditures by business: | |||||||||||
PacifiCorp | $ | 553 | $ | 713 | $ | 1,198 | |||||
MidAmerican Funding | 1,165 | 1,466 | 2,365 | ||||||||
NV Energy | 333 | 342 | 545 | ||||||||
Northern Powergrid | 434 | 446 | 535 | ||||||||
BHE Pipeline Group | 174 | 251 | 480 | ||||||||
BHE Transmission | 255 | 203 | 269 | ||||||||
BHE Renewables | 239 | 741 | 868 | ||||||||
HomeServices | 18 | 34 | 49 | ||||||||
BHE and Other | 8 | 7 | 11 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 3,179 | $ | 4,203 | $ | 6,320 |
Capital expenditures by type: | |||||||||||
Wind generation | $ | 804 | $ | 1,696 | $ | 2,658 | |||||
Electric transmission | 267 | 118 | 194 | ||||||||
Other growth | 495 | 504 | 706 | ||||||||
Operating | 1,613 | 1,885 | 2,762 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 3,179 | $ | 4,203 | $ | 6,320 |
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The Company's historical and forecast capital expenditures consisted mainly of the following:
•Wind generation includes the following:
◦ | Construction of wind-powered generating facilities at MidAmerican Energy totaling $704 million and $455 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. MidAmerican Energy anticipates costs for wind-powered generating facilities will total an additional $550 million for 2018. In August 2016, the IUB issued an order approving ratemaking principles related to MidAmerican Energy's construction of up to 2,000 MW (nominal ratings) of wind-powered generating facilities expected to be placed in-service in 2017 through 2019, including 334 MW (nominal ratings) placed in-service in 2017. The ratemaking principles establish a cost cap of $3.6 billion, including AFUDC, and a fixed rate of return on equity of 11.0% over the proposed 40-year useful lives of those facilities in any future Iowa rate proceeding. The cost cap ensures that as long as total costs are below the cap, the investment will be deemed prudent in any future Iowa rate proceeding. Additionally, the ratemaking principles modify the revenue sharing mechanism in effect prior to 2018. The revised sharing mechanism, which was effective January 1, 2018, will be triggered each year by actual equity returns exceeding a weighted average return on equity for MidAmerican Energy calculated annually. Pursuant to the change in revenue sharing, MidAmerican Energy will share 100% of the revenue in excess of this trigger with customers. Such revenue sharing will reduce coal and nuclear generation rate base, which is intended to mitigate future base rate increases. MidAmerican Energy expects all of these wind-powered generating facilities to qualify for 100% of production tax credits available. |
◦ | Construction of wind-powered generating facilities at PacifiCorp totaling $5 million and $4 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. PacifiCorp anticipates costs for these activities will total an additional $62 million for 2018. The new wind-powered generating facilities are expected to be placed in-service in 2020. The energy production from the new wind-powered generating facilities is expected to qualify for 100% of the federal production tax credits available for ten years once the equipment is placed in-service. |
◦ | Repowering certain existing wind-powered generating facilities at PacifiCorp and MidAmerican Energy totaling $303 million and $276 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. PacifiCorp and MidAmerican Energy anticipate costs for these activities will total an additional $297 million for 2018. The energy production from such repowered facilities is expected to qualify for 100% of the federal renewable electricity production tax credits available for ten years following each facility's return to service. |
◦ | Construction of wind-powered generating facilities at BHE Renewables totaling $684 million and $69 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. In April 2018, BHE Renewables completed the asset acquisition of 300 MW of wind-powered generating facilities in Texas totaling $495 million. BHE Renewables anticipates costs will total an additional $51 million in 2018 for development and construction of up to 212 MW of wind-powered generating facilities. |
• | Electric transmission includes PacifiCorp's costs associated with main grid reinforcement and the Energy Gateway Transmission Expansion Program, MidAmerican Energy's Multi-Value Projects approved by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. for the construction of approximately 250 miles of 345 kV transmission line located in Iowa and Illinois and AltaLink's directly assigned projects from the AESO. |
• | Other growth includes investments in solar generation for the construction of the community solar gardens project in Minnesota comprised of 28 locations with a nominal facilities capacity of 98 MW, projects to deliver power and services to new markets, new customer connections and enhancements to existing customer connections. |
• | Operating includes ongoing distribution systems infrastructure needed at the Utilities and Northern Powergrid, investments in routine expenditures for generation, transmission, distribution and other infrastructure needed to serve existing and expected demand and environmental spending relating to emissions control equipment and the management of coal combustion residuals. |
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In May 2018, MidAmerican Energy filed with the IUB an application for ratemaking principles related to the construction of up to 591 MW (nominal ratings) of additional wind-powered generating facilities ("Wind XII") expected to be placed in-service by the end of 2020. The filing, which is subject to IUB approval, establishes a cost cap of $922 million, including AFUDC, a fixed rate of return on equity of 11.25% over the proposed 40-year useful lives of those facilities in any future Iowa rate proceeding, and maintains the revenue sharing mechanism currently in effect. The cost cap ensures that as long as total costs are below the cap, the investment will be deemed prudent in any future Iowa rate proceeding. In September 2018, MidAmerican Energy filed with the IUB a settlement agreement signed by a majority of the parties to the ratemaking principles proceeding for Wind XII. The settlement agreement, which is subject to IUB approval, establishes a fixed rate of return on equity of 11.0% over the proposed 40-year useful lives of those facilities in any future Iowa rate proceeding and provides that all Iowa retail energy benefits from Wind XII will be excluded from the Iowa energy adjustment clause and, instead, will reduce rate base. Additionally, the settlement agreement modifies the current revenue sharing mechanism, effective January 1, 2019, such that revenue sharing will be triggered each year by actual equity returns above a threshold calculated annually or 11%, whichever is less, and MidAmerican Energy will share 90% of the revenue in excess of the trigger, instead of the current 100% sharing. The calculated threshold will be the year-end weighted average of equity returns for rate base as authorized via ratemaking principles and, for remaining rate base, interest rates on 30-year single A-rated utility bond yields plus 400 basis points, with a minimum return of 9.5%. MidAmerican Energy expects all of these wind-powered generating facilities to qualify for 100% of production tax credits available.
Other Renewable Investments
The Company has invested in projects sponsored by third parties, commonly referred to as tax equity investments. Under the terms of these tax equity investments, the Company has entered into equity capital contribution agreements with the project sponsors that require contributions. The Company has made contributions of $403 million, $584 million and $170 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Additionally, the Company has made contributions of $252 million through September 30, 2018, and has commitments as of September 30, 2018, subject to satisfaction of certain specified conditions, to provide equity contributions of $540 million for the remainder of 2018 and $348 million in 2019 pursuant to these equity capital contribution agreements as the various projects achieve commercial operation. Once a project achieves commercial operation, the Company enters into a partnership agreement with the project sponsor that directs and allocates the operating profits and tax benefits from the project.
Contractual Obligations
As of September 30, 2018, there have been no material changes outside the normal course of business in contractual obligations from the information provided in Item 7 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 other than the recent financing transactions and the renewable tax equity investments previously discussed.
Quad Cities Generating Station Operating Status
Exelon Generation Company, LLC ("Exelon Generation"), the operator of Quad Cities Generating Station Units 1 and 2 ("Quad Cities Station") of which MidAmerican Energy has a 25% ownership interest, announced on June 2, 2016, its intention to shut down Quad Cities Station on June 1, 2018, as a result of Illinois not passing adequate legislation and Quad Cities Station not clearing the 2019-2020 PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. capacity auction. MidAmerican Energy expressed to Exelon Generation its desire for the continued operation of the facility through the end of its operating license in 2032 and worked with Exelon Generation on solutions to that end. In December 2016, Illinois passed legislation creating a zero emission standard, which went into effect June 1, 2017. The zero emission standard requires the Illinois Power Agency to purchase zero emission credits ("ZECs") and recover the costs from certain ratepayers in Illinois, subject to certain limitations. The proceeds from the zero emission credits will provide Exelon Generation additional revenue through 2027 as an incentive for continued operation of Quad Cities Station. For the nuclear assets already in rate base, MidAmerican Energy's customers will not be charged for the subsidy, and MidAmerican Energy will not receive additional revenue from the subsidy.
On February 14, 2017, two lawsuits were filed with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ("Northern District of Illinois") against the Illinois Power Agency alleging that the state's zero emission credit program violates certain provisions of the U.S. Constitution. Both complaints argue that the Illinois zero emission credit program will distort the FERC's energy and capacity market auction system of setting wholesale prices. As majority owner and operator of Quad Cities Station, Exelon Generation intervened and filed motions to dismiss in both matters. On July 14, 2017, the Northern District of Illinois granted the motions to dismiss. On July 17, 2017, the plaintiffs filed appeals with the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ("Seventh Circuit"). On May 29, 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice and the FERC filed an amicus brief concluding federal rules do not preempt Illinois' ZEC program. On September 13, 2018, the Seventh Circuit upheld the Northern District of Illinois' ruling concluding that Illinois' ZEC program does not violate the Federal Power Act and is thus constitutional.
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On January 9, 2017, the Electric Power Supply Association filed two requests with the FERC seeking to expand Minimum Offer Price Rule ("MOPR") provisions to apply to existing resources receiving zero emission credit compensation. If successful, an expanded MOPR could result in an increased risk of Quad Cities Station not clearing in future capacity auctions and Exelon Generation no longer receiving capacity revenues for the facility. As majority owner and operator of Quad Cities Station, Exelon Generation has filed protests at the FERC in response to each filing. The timing of the FERC's decision with respect to both proceedings is currently unknown and the outcome of these matters is currently uncertain.
Regulatory Matters
BHE's regulated subsidiaries and certain affiliates are subject to comprehensive regulation. The discussion below contains material developments to those matters disclosed in Item 1 of each Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and new regulatory matters occurring in 2018.
PacifiCorp
In June 2017, PacifiCorp filed two applications each with the UPSC, IPUC and the WPSC for the Energy Vision 2020 project. The first application sought approvals to construct or procure four new Wyoming wind resources with a total capacity of 860 MWs identified as benchmark resources and certain transmission facilities. A request for proposals was issued in September 2017 seeking up to 1,270 MWs to compete against PacifiCorp's benchmark resources in the final resource selection process for the project. The combined new wind and transmission projects will cost approximately $2 billion. In October 2018, the WPSC approved a settlement agreement and certificates of public convenience and necessity for the transmission facilities and three of the winning wind resources. The settlement supports 950 MWs of owned wind resources and the 200 MW purchase power agreement. Hearings were held by the UPSC and IPUC in May 2018. The UPSC approved the application in an order issued in June 2018. The order grants approval of the 1,150 MWs of new wind and transmission facilities up to the projected costs. PacifiCorp can seek recovery of any actual costs in excess of the estimates in a general rate case. The IPUC approved a partial settlement agreement in an order issued in July 2018. The settlement provides cost recovery through a tracking mechanism. The IPUC order caps cost recovery at the overall estimated costs for the new wind and transmission facilities. The second application sought approval of PacifiCorp's resource decision to upgrade or "repower" existing wind resources, as prudent and in the public interest. PacifiCorp estimates the wind repowering project will cost approximately $1 billion. Applications filed in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming seek approval for the proposed rate-making treatment associated with the projects, including recovery of the replaced equipment. In December 2017, the IPUC approved an all-party stipulation for approval of the application to repower existing wind facilities and allow recovery of costs in rates through an adjustment to the annual ECAM filing. In May 2018, the UPSC approved the application for repowering, up to the estimated costs, with the exception of the Leaning Juniper project, for which the commission expressed concern with the economics. If PacifiCorp chooses to proceed with this project, the project will be subject to a standard prudence review in future general rate cases. The WPSC approved an all-party settlement agreement to repower wind facilities in a bench decision in June 2018. In the decision, the WPSC specifically removed the Leaning Juniper project, located in Oregon, from the agreement and the approval, consistent with the treatment in Utah.
2017 Tax Reform enacted significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code, including, among other things, a reduction in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. PacifiCorp has agreed to defer the impact of the tax law change with each of its state regulatory bodies. PacifiCorp proposed reducing customer rates for a portion of the lower annual income tax expense resulting from the decrease in federal tax rates and deferring the remainder to offset other costs as approved by the regulatory bodies. In March 2018, PacifiCorp proposed 1% rate reductions in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. PacifiCorp proposed the rate reductions to be effective May 1, 2018 in Utah, July 1, 2018 in Wyoming and June 1, 2018 in Idaho. In April 2018, the UPSC ordered a rate reduction of $61 million, or 3.1%, effective May 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018, based on a preliminary estimate of the revenue requirement impact of 2017 Tax Reform. In October 2018, PacifiCorp filed an all-party settlement with the UPSC that continues the current rate reduction of $61 million, with other benefits provided to customers through a combination of a reduction to thermal steam plant and deferral to offset costs in the next general rate case. PacifiCorp filed a partial settlement with the WPSC in April 2018 that provides a rate reduction of $23 million, or 3.3%, effective July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019, with the remaining tax savings to be deferred with offsets to other costs. In June 2018, the WPSC approved the rate reduction on an interim basis. In May 2018, the IPUC approved an all-party settlement to implement a rate reduction of $6 million, or 2.2%, effective June 1, 2018 through May 31, 2019, to pass back a portion of the tax benefit. The credit may be adjusted following the next phase of the proceeding. In June 2018, PacifiCorp filed reports with the WPSC and IPUC with the calculation of the full impact of the tax law change on revenue requirements. These reports initiated the next phase of the proceedings in these states. The WPSC scheduled a hearing for January 2019. A hearing has not yet been scheduled in Idaho.
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In September 2018, PacifiCorp filed applications for depreciation rate changes with the UPSC, the OPUC, the WPSC, the WUTC and the IPUC based on PacifiCorp's most recent depreciation study. The proposed depreciation rate changes would result in an increase in annual depreciation expense of approximately $300 million. The depreciation study will be evaluated by the state commissions during 2018 and 2019 and is subject to their review and approval. PacifiCorp requested that the new depreciation rates become effective January 1, 2021. The impacts of the new depreciation study will be included in rates as part of a future regulatory proceeding.
Utah
In March 2018, PacifiCorp filed its annual EBA with the UPSC seeking approval to recover from customers $3 million in deferred net power costs for the period January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, reflecting the difference between base and actual net power costs in the 2017 deferral period. The rate change was approved by the UPSC effective May 1, 2018 on an interim basis. A hearing on final approval is scheduled for February 2019.
In March 2018, PacifiCorp filed its annual REC balancing account application with the UPSC seeking to recover $1 million from customers for the period January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 for the difference in base and actual RECs. The rate change became effective on an interim basis June 1, 2018, with final approval received in August 2018.
Oregon
In March 2018, PacifiCorp submitted its filing for the annual TAM filing in Oregon requesting an annual increase of $17 million, or an average price increase of 1.3%, based on forecasted net power costs and loads for calendar year 2019. The filing includes an update of the impact of expiring production tax credits, which accounts for $11 million of the total rate adjustment, consistent with Oregon Senate Bill 1547 and reflecting the decrease in the revenue requirement benefit of production tax credits due to the change in the federal income tax rate. The filing was updated in July to reflect an all-parties partial stipulation resolving all but one issue in the proceeding and to update changes in contracts and market conditions. The updated filing is requesting an annual increase of $1 million. The OPUC approved the all-parties partial stipulation and resolved all issues in the proceeding in an order issued in October 2018. The filing will be updated for changes in contracts and market conditions again in November 2018, before final rates become effective in January 2019.
Wyoming
In April 2018, PacifiCorp filed its annual ECAM and RRA application with the WPSC. The filing requests approval to refund to customers $3 million in deferred net power costs for the period January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. The rate change was approved by the WPSC on an interim basis, effective July 1, 2018. PacifiCorp expects the interim rates to become final in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Washington
In December 2017, PacifiCorp submitted a tariff filing to implement the first price change for the decoupling mechanism approved in PacifiCorp's 2015 regulatory rate review. WUTC staff disputed PacifiCorp's interpretation of the WUTC's order for the decoupling mechanism and PacifiCorp's subsequent calculations requesting additional funds be booked for return to customers. In February 2018, the WUTC granted the staff's motions and rejected PacifiCorp's tariff revision and required that PacifiCorp re-file price changes for its decoupling mechanism. In March 2018, the WUTC issued a letter accepting PacifiCorp's revised compliance filing in the Washington Decoupling Revenue Adjustment docket. The filing resulted in a net credit to customers of $2 million, effective April 1, 2018.
In May 2018, PacifiCorp filed a settlement stipulation and joint narrative in support of the settlement stipulation resolving all issues in the 2016 PCAM with the WUTC. The settlement agreement resulted in a net credit to the PCAM balancing account of $5 million. The WUTC issued an order in July 2018 approving the settlement in full.
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In June 2018, PacifiCorp submitted its 2017 PCAM filing with WUTC seeking approval to credit $13 million to the PCAM balancing account. No rate changes were requested. In August 2018, the WUTC issued an order approving PacifiCorp's filing and directed PacifiCorp to amortize the PCAM balance of $18 million over 12 months and allowed PacifiCorp to petition the WUTC to alter the amortization period. In October 2018, PacifiCorp submitted a compliance filing and petition requesting to amortize the balance over 24 months effective January 1, 2019. The WUTC denied PacifiCorp's petition and ordered PacifiCorp to submit a compliance filing with tariffs supporting a 12-month amortization period effective November 1, 2018.
In June 2018, PacifiCorp filed with WUTC a proposal to decrease the System Benefits Charge ("SBC") collection rate by $2 million. In July 2018, the WUTC approved the proposed rates to go into effect August 1, 2018.
Idaho
In March 2018, PacifiCorp filed its annual ECAM application with the IPUC requesting recovery of $8 million for deferred costs in 2017. This filing includes recovery of the difference in actual net power costs to the base level in rates, an adder for recovery of the Lake Side 2 resource, recovery of Deer Creek longwall mine investment and changes in production tax credits and renewable energy credits. The IPUC approved recovery of the deferred costs, which resulted in a rate reduction of $2 million, or 0.8% effective June 1, 2018.
California
In April 2017, PacifiCorp filed an application with the CPUC for an overall rate increase of $3 million, or 1.3%, to recover costs recorded in the catastrophic events memorandum account over a two-year period effective April 1, 2018. The catastrophic events memorandum account includes costs for implementing drought-related fire hazard mitigation measures and storm damage and recovery efforts associated with the December 2016 and January 2017 winter storms. The CPUC issued an order in February 2018 approving this request.
In April 2018, PacifiCorp filed a general rate case with the CPUC for an overall rate increase of $1 million, or 0.9%, effective January 1, 2019.
In December 2014, PacifiCorp filed an advice letter with the CPUC to request approval to sell certain Utah mining assets and to establish memorandum accounts to track the costs associated with the Utah Mine Disposition for future recovery. In July 2015, the CPUC Energy Division issued a letter requiring PacifiCorp to file a formal application for approval of the sale of certain Utah mining assets. Accordingly, in September 2015, PacifiCorp filed an application with the CPUC. In February 2017, a joint motion was filed with the CPUC seeking approval of a settlement agreement reached by PacifiCorp and all other parties. The agreement states, among other things, that the decision to sell certain Utah mining assets is in the public interest. Parties also reserve their rights to additional testimony, briefs and hearings to the extent the CPUC determines that additional California Environmental Quality Act proceedings are necessary. In September 2018, the CPUC issued a decision that (1) approves, with modification, the stipulation entered into between PacifiCorp and all other parties; (2) finds that the sale of the mining assets and early closure of the Deer Creek mine was in the public interest; and (3) finds that the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") does not apply to the sale of the mining assets.
MidAmerican Energy
2017 Tax Reform enacted significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code, including, among other things, a reduction in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. Accumulated deferred income tax balances were re-measured at the 21% rate and regulatory liabilities increased pursuant to mechanisms approved in Iowa. MidAmerican Energy has made filings or has been in discussions with each of its state rate regulatory bodies proposing either a reduction in retail rates or rate base for all or a portion of the net benefits of 2017 Tax Reform for 2018 and beyond. MidAmerican Energy proposed in Iowa, its largest jurisdiction, to reduce customer revenue via a rider mechanism for the impact of the lower statutory rate on current operations, subject to change depending on actual results, and defer as a regulatory liability the amortization of excess deferred income taxes. The Iowa Utilities Board approved MidAmerican Energy's Iowa tax reform rate reduction tariff on April 27, 2018, although it has opened a docket to consider concerns by certain stakeholders. The Illinois Commerce Commission approved MidAmerican Energy's Illinois tax reform rate reduction tariff on March 21, 2018. MidAmerican Energy currently estimates that its 2018 revenue will be reduced by approximately $86 million due to rate reductions for tax reform.
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NV Energy (Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific)
Regulatory Rate Reviews
In June 2017, Nevada Power filed an electric regulatory rate review with the PUCN. The filing supported an annual revenue increase of $29 million, or 2%, but requested no incremental annual revenue relief. In December 2017, the PUCN issued an order which reduced Nevada Power's revenue requirement by $26 million and requires Nevada Power to share 50% of regulatory earnings above 9.7%. As a result of the order, Nevada Power recorded expense of $28 million in December 2017 primarily due to the reduction of a regulatory asset to return to customers revenue collected for costs not incurred. The new rates were effective on February 15, 2018. In January 2018, Nevada Power filed a petition for clarification of certain findings and directives in the order and intervening parties filed motions for reconsideration. The PUCN has not yet ruled on the filed motions. Nevada Power cannot predict the timing or ultimate outcome of the PUCN rulings.
2017 Tax Reform enacted significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code, including, among other things, a reduction in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. In February 2018, the Nevada Utilities made filings with the PUCN proposing a tax rate reduction rider for the lower annual income tax expense anticipated to result from 2017 Tax Reform for 2018 and beyond. The filings supported an annual rate reduction of $59 million and $25 million for Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific, respectively. In March 2018, the PUCN issued an order approving the rate reduction proposed by the Nevada Utilities. The new rates were effective April 1, 2018. The order extended the procedural schedule to allow parties additional discovery relevant to 2017 Tax Reform and a hearing was held in July 2018. In September 2018, the PUCN issued an order directing the Nevada Utilities to record the amortization of any excess protected accumulated deferred income tax arising from the 2017 Tax Reform as a regulatory liability effective January 1, 2018.
In March 2018, the FERC issued a Show Cause Order related to 2017 Tax Reform. In May 2018, in response to the Show Cause Order, the Nevada Utilities proposed a reduction to transmission and certain ancillary service rates under the NV Energy Open Access Transmission Tariff for the lower annual income tax expense anticipated from 2017 Tax Reform. The new rates are expected to become effective March 21, 2018. Upon the FERC's acceptance of the rates and the effective date, the Nevada Utilities will begin billing transmission customers under the new rates subject to refund from the effective date. As of September 30, 2018, the Nevada Utilities accrued $2 million for amounts subject to rate refund.
Chapter 704B Applications
Chapter 704B of the Nevada Revised Statutes allows retail electric customers with an average annual load of one MW or more to file with the PUCN an application to purchase energy from alternative providers of a new electric resource and become distribution only service customers. On a case-by-case basis, the PUCN will assess the application and may deny or grant the application subject to conditions, including paying an impact fee, paying on-going charges and receiving approval for specific alternative energy providers and terms. The impact fee and on-going charges are assessed to alleviate the burden on other Nevada customers for the applicant's share of previously committed investments and long-term renewable contracts and are set at a level designed such that the remaining customers are not subjected to increased costs.
In October 2016, Wynn Las Vegas, LLC ("Wynn"), became a distribution only service customer and started procuring energy from another energy supplier. In April 2017, Wynn filed a motion with the PUCN seeking relief from the January 2016 order that established the impact fee that was paid in September 2016 and requested the PUCN adopt an alternative impact fee and revise on-going charges associated with retirement of assets and high cost renewable contracts. In September 2018, the PUCN granted relief requiring Nevada Power to credit $3 million as an offset against Wynn's remaining impact fee obligation. In October 2018, Wynn elected to pay the net present value lump sum of its Renewable Base Tariff Energy Rate obligation of $2 million, net of the credit of $3 million. The PUCN ordered Nevada Power to establish a regulatory liability and amortize the lump sum payment amount in equal monthly installments through December 2022.
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In November 2016, Caesars Enterprise Service ("Caesars"), a customer of the Nevada Utilities, filed an application with the PUCN to purchase energy from alternative providers of a new electric resource and become a distribution only service customer of Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific. In March 2017, the PUCN approved the application allowing Caesars to purchase energy from alternative providers subject to conditions, including paying an impact fee. In March 2017, Caesars provided notice that it intends to pay the impact fee monthly for three and six years at Sierra Pacific and Nevada Power, respectively, and proceed with purchasing energy from alternative providers. In July 2017, Caesars made the required compliance filings and, in September 2017, the PUCN issued an order allowing Caesars to acquire electric energy and ancillary services from another energy supplier and become a distribution only service customer of the Nevada Utilities. In January 2018, Caesars became a distribution only service customer and started procuring energy from another energy supplier for its eligible meters in the Sierra Pacific service territory. In February 2018, Caesars became a distribution only service customer and started procuring energy from another energy supplier for its eligible meters in the Nevada Power service territory. Following the PUCN's order from March 2017, Caesars' will pay Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific impact fees of $44 million in 72 equal monthly payments and $4 million in 36 monthly payments, respectively.
In May 2017, Peppermill Resort Spa Casino ("Peppermill"), a customer of Sierra Pacific, filed an application with the PUCN to purchase energy from alternative providers of a new electric resource and become a distribution only service customer of Sierra Pacific. In August 2017, the PUCN approved a stipulation allowing Peppermill to purchase energy from alternative providers subject to conditions, including paying an impact fee. In September 2017, Peppermill provided notice that it intends to pay the impact fee and proceed with purchasing energy from alternative providers. In April 2018, Peppermill paid a one-time impact fee of $3 million and became a distribution only service customer and started procuring energy from another energy supplier.
In June 2018, Station Casinos LLC ("Station"), a customer of Nevada Power, filed an application with the PUCN to purchase energy from alternative providers of a new electric resource and become a distribution only service customer of Nevada Power. In October 2018, the PUCN approved a stipulation allowing Station to purchase energy from alternative providers subject to conditions, including paying an impact fee of $15 million.
As of October 2018, the Nevada Utilities have received communications from seven additional current and pending customers, of which four provided a letter of intent to file with the PUCN an application and three have filed an application to purchase energy from alternative providers of a new electric resource and become distribution only service customers.
Net Metering
Nevada enacted Assembly Bill 405 ("AB 405") on June 15, 2017. The legislation, among other things, established net metering crediting rates for private generation customers with installed net metering systems less than 25 kilowatts. Under AB 405, private generation customers will be compensated at 95% of the rate the customer would have paid for a kilowatt-hour of electricity supplied by the Nevada Utilities for the first 80 MWs of cumulative installed capacity of all net metering systems in Nevada, 88% of the rate the customer would have paid for a kilowatt-hour of electricity supplied by the Nevada Utilities for the next 80 MWs of cumulative installed capacity in Nevada, 81% of the rate the customer would have paid for a kilowatt-hour of electricity supplied by the Nevada Utilities for the next 80 MWs of cumulative installed capacity in Nevada and 75% of the rate the customer would have paid for a kilowatt-hour of electricity supplied by the Nevada Utilities for any additional private generation capacity. As of September 30, 2018, the cumulative installed and applied-for capacity of all net metering systems in Nevada was 97 MWs. In July 2017, the Nevada Utilities filed with the PUCN proposed amendments to their tariffs necessary to comply with the provisions of AB 405. The filing in July 2017 also included a proposed optional time of use rate tariff for both Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific, which has not yet been set for procedural review. In September 2017, the PUCN issued an order directing the Nevada Utilities to place all new private generation customers who have submitted applications after June 15, 2017, into a new rate class with rates equal to the rate class they would be in if they were not private generation customers. Private generation customers with installed net metering systems less than 25 kilowatts prior to June 15, 2017, may elect to migrate to the new rate class created under AB 405 or stay in their otherwise-applicable rate class. The new AB 405 rates became effective December 1, 2017. In February 2018, the Nevada Utilities filed with the PUCN a settlement agreement resolving the outstanding issues related to its proposal for optional time-differentiated rate schedules. In March 2018, the PUCN approved the settlement agreement.
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Energy Choice Initiative - Deregulation
In November 2016, a majority of Nevada voters supported a ballot measure to amend Article 1 of the Nevada Constitution. If approved again in November 2018, the proposed constitutional amendment would require the Nevada Legislature to create, on or before July 2023, an open and competitive retail electric market that includes provisions to reduce costs to customers, protect against service disconnections and unfair practices and prohibit the granting of monopolies and exclusive franchises for the generation of electricity. The outcome of any customer choice initiative could have broad implications to the Nevada Utilities. The Governor issued an executive order establishing the Governor's Committee on Energy Choice in which the Nevada Utilities have representation. The Nevada Utilities have been engaged in the legislative process before the Governor's committee and related proceedings before the PUCN and the legislature. In April 2018, the PUCN released a study on the potential effects of electricity deregulation on Nevada. In July 2018, the Governor's Committee on Energy Choice released a report of findings and recommendations to the Governor. The Nevada Utilities cannot assess or predict the outcome of the potential constitutional amendment or the financial impact, if any, at this time. The uncertainty created by the ballot initiative complicates both the short-term allocation of resources and long-term resource planning for the Nevada Utilities, including the ability to forecast load growth and the timing of resource additions. This uncertainty in planning is evidenced by a decision the PUCN issued denying Nevada Power's proposed purchase of the South Point Energy Center, citing the unknown outcomes of the Energy Choice Initiative as one of the factors considered in their decision.
Northern Powergrid Distribution Companies
The Gas and Electricity Markets Authority through its office of gas and electric markets (known as "Ofgem") published its RIIO-2 framework consultation on March 7, 2018, marking the first milestone in the development of the price control arrangements that will apply to Northern Powergrid from April 2023. Ofgem published its RIIO-2 framework decision on July 30, 2018. A significant part of the framework relates to setting the allowed return on capital, where Ofgem has set out an early view of the allowed cost of equity which is no higher than 5% (plus inflation calculated using the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs as the measure of UK inflation rather than the currently used retail price index).
BHE Pipeline Group
In July 2018, the FERC issued a final rule adopting procedures for determining which natural gas pipelines may be collecting unjust and unreasonable rates in light of the reduction in the federal corporate tax rate from 2017 Tax Reform. Pursuant to the final rule, in October 2018, Northern Natural Gas filed an informational filing on FERC Form No. 501-G and a Statement Demonstrating Why No Rate Adjustment is Necessary. Likewise, in October 2018, Kern River filed an informational filing on FERC Form No. 501-G and a Statement Explaining Why No Rate Adjustment is Necessary, along with a Tax Reform Credit Rate Settlement in a companion docket. Kern River's Tax Reform Credit Rate Settlement offered an 11% rate credit against the Maximum Base Tariff Rates for firm service and any one-part rate that includes fixed costs. The Tax Reform Credit Rate Settlement is subject to approval by FERC. Responses to Northern Natural Gas' and Kern River's FERC Form Nos. 501-G filings and Kern River's Tax Reform Credit Rate Settlement were due October 23, 2018 and both Northern Natural Gas and Kern River have responded to all issues raised. The FERC's evaluation of Northern Natural Gas' and Kern River's filings will occur thereafter and the impact of the FERC's action, if any, would be prospective.
ALP
2019-2021 General Tariff Application
In August 2018, ALP filed its 2019-2021 general tariff application ("GTA") with the AUC, delivering on the first three years of its commitment to keep rates lower or flat for customers for the next five years. The three-year application achieves flat tariffs by keeping operating and maintenance expenses flat, with the exception of salaries and wages and software licensing fees, transitioning to a new salvage recovery approach and continuing the use of the flow-through income tax method. In addition, similar to the refund approved by the AUC for the 2017-2018 GTA of C$31 million, ALP proposes to provide a further tariff reduction over the three years by refunding previously collected accumulated depreciation surplus of an additional C$31 million. The application requests the approval of revenue requirements of C$885 million, C$887 million and C$889 million for 2019, 2020 and 2021 respectively, which are lower than the approved 2018 revenue requirement of C$904 million. The forecast revenue requirement is based on an 8.5% return on equity and 37% deemed equity approved by the AUC for 2019 and 2020 and assumes the same for 2021 as placeholders.
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2018 Generic Cost of Capital Proceeding
In July 2017, the AUC denied the utilities' request that the interim determinations of 8.5% return on equity and deemed capital structures for 2018 be made final, by stating that it is not prepared to finalize 2018 values in the absence of an evidentiary process and its intention to issue the generic cost of capital decision for 2018, 2019 and 2020 by the end of 2018 to reduce regulatory lag.
In October 2017, ALP's expert witness evidence and company evidence was submitted recommending a range of 9% to 10.75% return on equity, on a recommended equity ratio of 40%. ALP also filed company evidence that outlined increased uncertainties in the Alberta utility regulatory environment. In January 2018, the Consumers' Coalition of Alberta, the Utilities Consumer Advocate and the City of Calgary filed intervenor evidence. The return on equity recommended by the intervenors ranges from 6.3% to 7.75%. The equity ratio recommended by the intervenors for ALP ranges from 35% to 37%.
In March 2018, an oral hearing was held and in August 2018, the AUC issued Decision 22570-D01-2018 on the 2018 Generic Cost of Capital proceeding approving ALP's return on equity at 8.5% with a 37% equity ratio for 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Deferral Account Reconciliation Application
In April 2017, ALP filed its application with the AUC with respect to ALP's 2014 projects and deferral accounts and specific 2015 projects. The application included approximately C$2.0 billion in net capital additions. In June 2017, the AUC ruled that the scope of the deferral account proceeding would not be extended to consider the utilization of assets for which final cost approval is sought. However, the AUC will initiate a separate proceeding to address the issue of transmission asset utilization and how the corporate and property law principles applied in the Utility Asset Disposition ("UAD") decision may relate.
In December 2017, ALP amended its application to include the remaining capital projects completed in 2015. The amended 2014 and 2015 deferral account reconciliation application includes 110 completed projects with total gross capital additions, excluding AFUDC, of C$3.8 billion. An oral hearing was held in September 2018 after the completion of an extensive information request process earlier in the year. Following written arguments in October 2018, a decision is expected in late 2018 or early 2019.
Environmental Laws and Regulations
Each Registrant is subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations regarding air and water quality, RPS, 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 each Registrant's current and future operations. In addition to imposing continuing compliance obligations, these laws and regulations provide regulators with the authority to levy substantial penalties for noncompliance, including fines, injunctive relief and other sanctions. These laws and regulations are administered by various federal state, local and international agencies. Each Registrant believes it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, although many laws and regulations are subject to interpretation that may ultimately be resolved by the courts. Refer to "Liquidity and Capital Resources" of each respective Registrant in Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q for discussion of each Registrant's forecast environmental-related capital expenditures. The discussion below contains material developments to those matters disclosed in Item 1 of each Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and new environmental matters occurring in 2018.
Clean Air Act Regulations
The Clean Air Act is a federal law administered by the EPA that provides a framework for protecting and improving the nation's air quality and controlling sources of air emissions. The implementation of new standards is generally outlined in SIPs, which are a collection of regulations, programs and policies to be followed. SIPs vary by state and are subject to public hearings and EPA approval. Some states may adopt additional or more stringent requirements than those implemented by the EPA. The major Clean Air Act programs most directly affecting the Registrants' operations are described below.
Regional Haze
The EPA's Regional Haze Rule, finalized in 1999, requires states to develop and implement plans to improve visibility in designated federally protected areas ("Class I areas"). Some of PacifiCorp's coal-fueled generating facilities in Utah, Wyoming, Arizona and Colorado and certain of Nevada Power's and Sierra Pacific's fossil-fueled generating facilities are subject to the Clean Air Visibility Rules. In accordance with the federal requirements, states are required to submit SIPs that address emissions from sources subject to best available retrofit technology ("BART") requirements and demonstrate progress towards achieving natural visibility requirements in Class I areas by 2064.
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The state of Colorado regional haze SIP requires selective catalytic reduction ("SCR") controls at Craig Unit 2 and Hayden Units 1 and 2, in which PacifiCorp has ownership interests. Each of those regional haze compliance projects are either already in service or currently being constructed. In addition, in February 2015, the state of Colorado finalized an amendment to its regional haze SIP relating to Craig Unit 1, in which PacifiCorp has an ownership interest, to require the installation of SCR controls by 2021. In September 2016, the owners of Craig Units 1 and 2 reached an agreement with state and federal agencies and certain environmental groups that were parties to the previous settlement requiring SCR controls to retire Unit 1 by December 31, 2025, in lieu of SCR controls installation, or alternatively to remove the unit from coal-fueled service by August 31, 2021 with an option to convert the unit to natural gas by August 31, 2023, in lieu of SCR controls installation. The terms of the agreement were approved by the Colorado Air Quality Board in December 2016. The terms of the agreement were incorporated into an amended Colorado regional haze SIP in 2017 and were submitted to the EPA for its review and approval. The EPA's approval of the amended Colorado regional haze SIP was published in the Federal Register July 5, 2018, with an effective date of August 6, 2018. Until the EPA takes final action in each state and decisions have been made in the pending appeals, PacifiCorp, cannot fully determine the impacts of the Regional Haze Rule on its respective generating facilities.
Climate Change
In December 2015, an international agreement was negotiated by 195 nations to create a universal framework for coordinated action on climate change in what is referred to as the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement reaffirms the goal of limiting global temperature increase well below 2 degrees Celsius, while urging efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius; establishes commitments by all parties to make nationally determined contributions and pursue domestic measures aimed at achieving the commitments; commits all countries to submit emissions inventories and report regularly on their emissions and progress made in implementing and achieving their nationally determined commitments; and commits all countries to submit new commitments every five years, with the expectation that the commitments will get more aggressive. In the context of the Paris Agreement, the United States agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 26% to 28% by 2025 from 2005 levels. After more than 55 countries representing more than 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions submitted their ratification documents, the Paris Agreement became effective November 4, 2016. Under the terms of the Paris Agreement, ratifying countries are bound for a three-year period and must provide one-year's notice of their intent to withdraw. On June 1, 2017, President Trump announced the United States would withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, the withdrawal would be effective in November 2020. The cornerstone of the United States' commitment was the Clean Power Plan which was finalized by the EPA in 2015 but has since been proposed for repeal by the EPA.
GHG Performance Standards
Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA may establish emissions standards that reflect the degree of emissions reductions achievable through the best technology that has been demonstrated, taking into consideration the cost of achieving those reductions and any non-air quality health and environmental impact and energy requirements. On August 3, 2015, the EPA issued final new source performance standards, establishing a standard of 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per MWh for large natural gas-fueled generating facilities and 1,400 pounds of carbon dioxide per MWh for new coal-fueled generating facilities with the "Best System of Emission Reduction" reflecting highly efficient supercritical pulverized coal facilities with partial carbon capture and sequestration or integrated gasification combined-cycle units that are co-fired with natural gas or pre-combustion slipstream capture of carbon dioxide. The new source performance standards were appealed to the D.C. Circuit and oral argument was scheduled for April 17, 2017. However, oral argument was deferred and the court held the case in abeyance for an indefinite period of time. Until such time as the EPA undertakes further action to reconsider the new source performance standards or the court takes action, any new fossil-fueled generating facilities constructed by the relevant Registrants will be required to meet the GHG new source performance standards.
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Clean Power Plan
In June 2014, the EPA released proposed regulations to address GHG emissions from existing fossil-fueled generating facilities, referred to as the Clean Power Plan, under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act. The EPA's proposal calculated state-specific emission rate targets to be achieved based on the "Best System of Emission Reduction." In August 2015, the final Clean Power Plan was released, which established the Best System of Emission Reduction as including: (a) heat rate improvements; (b) increased utilization of existing combined-cycle natural gas-fueled generating facilities; and (c) increased deployment of new and incremental non-carbon generation placed in-service after 2012. The compliance period would have begun in 2022, with three interim periods of compliance and with the final goal to be achieved by 2030 and was expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the power sector to 32% below 2005 levels by 2030. On February 9, 2016, the United States Supreme Court ordered that the EPA's emission guidelines for existing sources be stayed pending the disposition of the challenges to the rule in the D.C. Circuit and any action on a writ of certiorari before the U.S. Supreme Court. Oral argument was heard before the D.C. Circuit on September 27, 2016. The court has not yet issued its decision. On October 10, 2017, the EPA issued a proposal to repeal the Clean Power Plan and the EPA took comments on the proposed repeal until April 26, 2018. In addition, the EPA published in the Federal Register an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on December 28, 2017, seeking public input on, without committing to, a potential replacement rule. The public comment period for the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concluded February 26, 2018. On August 21, 2018, the EPA proposed the Affordable Clean Energy rule, which would replace the Clean Power Plan. The Affordable Clean Energy rule would determine that the best system of emissions reduction for existing coal-fueled power plants is heat rate improvements and proposes a set of candidate technologies and measures that could improve heat rates. The EPA did not propose to set a specific numerical standard of performance for all affected units. Instead, states would be required to evaluate the candidate technologies and measures to establish standards of performance on a unit-specific basis, setting a standard of performance for each affected unit, measured in terms of pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour. Measures taken to meet the standards of performance must be achieved at the source itself. Under the proposed rule, states would have three years from rule finalization to submit a plan to the EPA, which would have one year to determine the approvability of the plan. If a state does not submit a plan or a submitted plan is not satisfactory, the EPA would have two years to develop a federal plan. Comments on the proposal were due October 31, 2018. Until the proposed rule is finalized and state plans are developed, the full impacts on the Registrants cannot be determined. However, PacifiCorp, MidAmerican Energy, Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific have historically pursued cost-effective projects, including plant efficiency improvements, increased diversification of their generating fleets to include deployment of renewable and lower carbon generating resources, and advanced customer energy efficiency programs.
GHG Litigation
Each Registrant closely monitors ongoing environmental litigation applicable to its respective operations. Numerous lawsuits have been unsuccessfully pursued against the industry that attempt to link GHG emissions to public or private harm. The lower courts initially refrained from adjudicating the cases under the "political question" doctrine, because of their inherently political nature. These cases have typically been appealed to federal appellate courts and, in certain circumstances, to the United States Supreme Court. In the U.S. Supreme Court's 2011 decision in the case of American Electric Power Co., Inc., et al. v. Connecticut et al., the court addressed the question of whether federal common law nuisance claims could be maintained against certain electric power companies' for their GHG emissions and require the setting of an emissions cap for the emitters. The court held that the Clean Air Act and the EPA actions it authorizes displace any federal common law right to seek abatement of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel-fired power plants. Recent efforts by the EPA to repeal the Clean Power Plan could increase the filing of common law nuisance lawsuits against emitters of GHG. Adverse rulings in GHG-related cases could result in increased or changed regulations and could increase costs for GHG emitters, including the Registrants' generating facilities. While the Registrants are not a party to pending climate-related lawsuits, there are several suits pending in federal and state courts related to product liability, public nuisance, consumer protection and trespass cases against certain fossil fuel companies, as well as a case brought under the public trust doctrine against several federal government entities and officials. The GHG rules, changes to those rules, and the Registrants' compliance requirements are subject to potential outcomes from proceedings and litigation challenging the rules.
Coal Combustion Byproduct Disposal
In May 2010, the EPA released a proposed rule to regulate the management and disposal of coal combustion byproducts under the RCRA. The final rule was released by the EPA on December 19, 2014, was published in the Federal Register on April 17, 2015 and was effective on October 19, 2015. The final rule regulates coal combustion byproducts as non-hazardous waste under RCRA Subtitle D and establishes minimum nationwide standards for the disposal of coal combustion residuals. Under the final rule, surface impoundments and landfills utilized for coal combustion byproducts may need to be closed unless they can meet the more stringent regulatory requirements. The final rule requires regulated entities to post annual groundwater monitoring and corrective action reports. The first of these reports were posted to the respective Registrant's coal combustion rule compliance data and information websites prior to March 2, 2018. Based on the results in those reports, additional monitoring and action may be required under the rule.
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On March 15, 2018, the EPA issued a proposal to address provisions of the final coal combustion rule that were remanded back to the agency on June 14, 2016, by the D.C. Circuit. The proposal included provisions that establish alternative performance standards for owners and operators of coal combustion residuals units located in states that have approved permit programs or are otherwise subject to oversight through a permit program administered by the EPA. The EPA published the first phase of the coal combustion rule amendments on July 30, 2018, with an effective date of August 28, 2018. Additional substantive revisions to the rule are expected to be finalized by the EPA by December 2019 but have not yet been released for public comment. If adopted, certain elements of the proposal have the potential to reduce costs of compliance. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a decision August 21, 2018, vacating several elements of the rule, including closure provisions for unlined surface impoundments, and finding that the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act provides the EPA authority to regulate inactive surface impoundments at inactive facilities. The court's order was effective October 15, 2018, and as a result, the EPA will need to undertake additional rulemaking to implement the Court's order. Until such time as additional rulemaking is final, the impacts on the Registrants cannot be determined.
At the time the rule was published in April 2015, PacifiCorp operated 18 surface impoundments and seven landfills that contained coal combustion byproducts. Prior to the effective date of the rule in October 2015, nine surface impoundments and three landfills were either closed or repurposed to no longer receive coal combustion byproducts and are not subject to the final rule. As PacifiCorp proceeded to implement the final coal combustion rule, it was determined that two surface impoundments located at the Dave Johnston Generating Station were hydraulically connected and effectively constitute a single impoundment. A total of eight existing surface impoundments, plus a new surface impoundment placed into service in November 2017 at the Naughton Generating Station, and four active landfills remain subject to the final rule. Three of the surface impoundments are inactive and undergoing closure. At the time the rule was published in April 2015, MidAmerican Energy owned or operated nine surface impoundments and four landfills that contained coal combustion byproducts. Prior to the effective date of the rule in October 2015, two surface impoundments were closed and are not subject to the rule. Three surface impoundments were closed in December 2017, and the remaining four are undergoing closure. Two landfills are lined and remain active and subject to the final rule. Two landfills are unlined and will commence closure by December 2018 and April 2019, respectively. At the time the rule was published in April 2015, the Nevada Utilities operated ten evaporative surface impoundments and two landfills that contained coal combustion byproducts. Prior to the effective date of the rule in October 2015, the Nevada Utilities removed eight surface impoundments from service and commenced closure. Two surface impoundments and two landfills remain active and subject to the final rule. Refer to Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of Berkshire Hathaway Energy in Item 8 and Note 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of PacifiCorp in Item 8 of the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 for discussion of the impacts on asset retirement obligations as a result of the final rule.
Multiple parties filed challenges over various aspects of the final rule in the D.C. Circuit in 2015, resulting in settlement of some of the issues and subsequent regulatory action by the EPA, including subjecting inactive surface impoundments to regulation. On September 13, 2017, EPA Administrator Pruitt issued a letter to parties petitioning for administrative reconsideration of certain aspects of the coal combustion byproducts rule concluding it was appropriate and in the public interest to reconsider the provisions of the final rule addressed in the petitions. On September 27, 2017, the D.C. Circuit issued an order to the EPA requiring the agency to identify provisions of the rule that the agency intended to reconsider. The EPA submitted its list of potential issues to be reconsidered on November 15, 2017 and oral argument was held by the D.C. Circuit November 20, 2017 over certain portions of the final rule. The court has not yet issued a decision on the issues presented in the oral arguments. Separately, on August 10, 2017, the EPA issued proposed permitting guidance on how states' coal combustion residuals permit programs should comply with the requirements of the final rule as authorized under the December 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. Utilizing that guidance, the state of Oklahoma submitted an application to the EPA for approval of its state program and, on June 28, 2018, the EPA's approval of the application was published in the Federal Register. Environmental groups, including Waterkeeper Alliance and the Sierra Club, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on September 26, 2018, alleging that the EPA unlawfully approved Oklahoma's permit program. This suit also incorporates claims first identified in a July 26, 2018 notice of intent to sue that alleged the EPA failed to perform nondiscretionary duties related to the development and publication of minimum guidelines for public participation in the approval of state permit programs for coal combustion residuals. To date, none of the states in which the Registrants operate has submitted an application for approval of state permitting authority. The state of Utah adopted the federal final rule in September 2016, which required two landfills to submit permit applications by March 2017. It is anticipated that the state of Utah will submit an application for approval of its coal combustion residuals permit program prior to the end of 2019.
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Notwithstanding the status of the final coal combustion residuals rule, citizens' suits have been filed against regulated entities seeking judicial relief for contamination alleged to have been caused by releases of coal combustion byproducts. Some of these cases have been successful in imposing liability upon companies if coal combustion byproducts contaminate groundwater that is ultimately released or connected to surface water. In addition, actions have been filed against regulated entities seeking to require that surface impoundments containing coal combustion residuals be subject to closure by removal rather than being allowed to effectuate closure in place as provided under the final rule. The Registrants are not a party to these lawsuits and until they are resolved, the Registrants cannot predict the impact on overall compliance obligations.
New Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of new accounting pronouncements affecting the Company, refer to Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Certain accounting measurements require management to make estimates and judgments concerning transactions that will be settled several years in the future. Amounts recognized on the Consolidated Financial Statements based on such estimates involve numerous assumptions subject to varying and potentially significant degrees of judgment and uncertainty and will likely change in the future as additional information becomes available. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, the accounting for the effects of certain types of regulation, derivatives, impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, pension and other postretirement benefits, income taxes and revenue recognition - unbilled revenue. For additional discussion of the Company's critical accounting estimates, see Item 7 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. There have been no significant changes in the Company's assumptions regarding critical accounting estimates since December 31, 2017.
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PacifiCorp and its subsidiaries
Consolidated Financial Section
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PART I
Item 1. | Financial Statements |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of PacifiCorp
Results of Review of Interim Financial Information
We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of PacifiCorp and subsidiaries ("PacifiCorp") as of September 30, 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, of changes in shareholders' equity and of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "interim financial information"). Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying interim financial information for it to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheet of PacifiCorp as of December 31, 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 23, 2018, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
Basis for Review Results
This interim financial information is the responsibility of PacifiCorp's management. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to PacifiCorp in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards of the PCAOB. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Portland, Oregon
November 2, 2018
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PACIFICORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
As of | ||||||||
September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 308 | $ | 14 | ||||
Accounts receivable, net | 761 | 684 | ||||||
Inventories | 429 | 433 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses | 59 | 73 | ||||||
Other current assets | 55 | 111 | ||||||
Total current assets | 1,612 | 1,315 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 19,338 | 19,203 | ||||||
Regulatory assets | 1,028 | 1,030 | ||||||
Other assets | 358 | 372 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 22,336 | $ | 21,920 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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PACIFICORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (continued)
(Amounts in millions)
As of | ||||||||
September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | |||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 438 | $ | 453 | ||||
Accrued interest | 106 | 115 | ||||||
Accrued property, income and other taxes | 219 | 66 | ||||||
Accrued employee expenses | 126 | 70 | ||||||
Short-term debt | — | 80 | ||||||
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations | 352 | 588 | ||||||
Other current liabilities | 245 | 245 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 1,486 | 1,617 | ||||||
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations | 6,682 | 6,437 | ||||||
Regulatory liabilities | 3,151 | 2,996 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | 2,560 | 2,582 | ||||||
Other long-term liabilities | 700 | 733 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 14,579 | 14,365 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11) | ||||||||
Shareholders' equity: | ||||||||
Preferred stock | 2 | 2 | ||||||
Common stock - 750 shares authorized, no par value, 357 shares issued and outstanding | — | — | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 4,479 | 4,479 | ||||||
Retained earnings | 3,291 | 3,089 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net | (15 | ) | (15 | ) | ||||
Total shareholders' equity | 7,757 | 7,555 | ||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 22,336 | $ | 21,920 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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PACIFICORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | |||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Operating revenue | $ | 1,369 | $ | 1,430 | $ | 3,746 | $ | 3,956 | ||||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Cost of fuel and energy | 465 | 465 | 1,300 | 1,305 | ||||||||||||
Operations and maintenance | 266 | 254 | 777 | 771 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 203 | 200 | 602 | 598 | ||||||||||||
Property and other taxes | 49 | 50 | 150 | 149 | ||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 983 | 969 | 2,829 | 2,823 | ||||||||||||
Operating income | 386 | 461 | 917 | 1,133 | ||||||||||||
Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (96 | ) | (95 | ) | (288 | ) | (285 | ) | ||||||||
Allowance for borrowed funds | 5 | 4 | 13 | 12 | ||||||||||||
Allowance for equity funds | 9 | 7 | 24 | 21 | ||||||||||||
Other, net | 14 | 12 | 36 | 30 | ||||||||||||
Total other income (expense) | (68 | ) | (72 | ) | (215 | ) | (222 | ) | ||||||||
Income before income tax expense | 318 | 389 | 702 | 911 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 48 | 126 | 100 | 294 | ||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 270 | $ | 263 | $ | 602 | $ | 617 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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PACIFICORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred | Common | Paid-in | Retained | Comprehensive | Shareholders' | |||||||||||||||||||
Stock | Stock | Capital | Earnings | Loss, Net | Equity | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2016 | $ | 2 | $ | — | $ | 4,479 | $ | 2,921 | $ | (12 | ) | $ | 7,390 | |||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | 617 | — | 617 | ||||||||||||||||||
Common stock dividends declared | — | — | — | (500 | ) | — | (500 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2017 | $ | 2 | $ | — | $ | 4,479 | $ | 3,038 | $ | (12 | ) | $ | 7,507 | |||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2017 | $ | 2 | $ | — | $ | 4,479 | $ | 3,089 | $ | (15 | ) | $ | 7,555 | |||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | 602 | — | 602 | ||||||||||||||||||
Common stock dividends declared | — | — | — | (400 | ) | — | (400 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2018 | $ | 2 | $ | — | $ | 4,479 | $ | 3,291 | $ | (15 | ) | $ | 7,757 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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PACIFICORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Nine-Month Periods | |||||||
Ended September 30, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | $ | 602 | $ | 617 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 602 | 598 | |||||
Allowance for equity funds | (24 | ) | (21 | ) | |||
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities | 127 | 21 | |||||
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits | (53 | ) | 14 | ||||
Other, net | (1 | ) | 1 | ||||
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts receivable and other assets | (31 | ) | 42 | ||||
Inventories | 4 | (1 | ) | ||||
Derivative collateral, net | 4 | (4 | ) | ||||
Prepaid expenses | 10 | 9 | |||||
Accrued property, income and other taxes, net | 204 | 145 | |||||
Accounts payable and other liabilities | 36 | 40 | |||||
Net cash flows from operating activities | 1,480 | 1,461 | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Capital expenditures | (713 | ) | (553 | ) | |||
Other, net | 2 | 5 | |||||
Net cash flows from investing activities | (711 | ) | (548 | ) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Proceeds from long-term debt, net | 593 | — | |||||
Repayments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations | (588 | ) | (54 | ) | |||
Net repayments of short-term debt | (80 | ) | (270 | ) | |||
Dividends paid | (400 | ) | (500 | ) | |||
Other, net | — | (3 | ) | ||||
Net cash flows from financing activities | (475 | ) | (827 | ) | |||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | 294 | 86 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 29 | 33 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 323 | $ | 119 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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PACIFICORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(1) | General |
PacifiCorp, which includes PacifiCorp and its subsidiaries, is a United States regulated electric utility company serving retail customers, including residential, commercial, industrial, irrigation and other customers in portions of Utah, Oregon, Wyoming, Washington, Idaho and California. PacifiCorp owns, or has interests in, a number of thermal, hydroelectric, wind-powered and geothermal generating facilities, as well as electric transmission and distribution assets. PacifiCorp also buys and sells electricity on the wholesale market with other utilities, energy marketing companies, financial institutions and other market participants. PacifiCorp is subject to comprehensive state and federal regulation. PacifiCorp's subsidiaries support its electric utility operations by providing coal mining services. PacifiCorp is an indirect subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company ("BHE"), a holding company based in Des Moines, Iowa and is a consolidated subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. ("Berkshire Hathaway").
The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and regulations for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for annual financial statements. Management believes the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for the fair presentation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2018 and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income have been omitted as net income equals comprehensive income for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
The preparation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results may differ from the estimates used in preparing the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in PacifiCorp's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 describes the most significant accounting policies used in the preparation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. There have been no significant changes in PacifiCorp's assumptions regarding significant accounting estimates and policies during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018.
(2) | New Accounting Pronouncements |
In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2018-14, which amends FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 715, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits." The amendments in this guidance modify the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. The amendments in this guidance remove disclosures that no longer are considered cost beneficial, clarify the specific requirements of disclosures and add disclosure requirements identified as relevant. The updated disclosure requirements make a number of changes to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in the notes to the financial statements. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted, and is required to be adopted retrospectively. The adoption of ASU No. 2018-14 will not have a material impact on PacifiCorp's Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures included within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, which creates FASB ASC Topic 842, "Leases" and supersedes Topic 840 "Leases." This guidance increases transparency and comparability among entities by recording lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. A lessee should recognize in the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee have not significantly changed from previous guidance. During 2018, the FASB issued several ASUs that clarified the implementation guidance and provided optional transition practical expedients for ASU No. 2016-02 including ASU No. 2018-01 that allows companies to forgo evaluating existing land easements if they were not previously accounted for under ASC Topic 840, "Leases" and ASU No. 2018-11 that allows companies to apply the new guidance at the adoption date with the cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings recognized in the period of adoption. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and is required to be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. PacifiCorp plans to adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2019 and is currently in the process of evaluating the impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures included within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(3) | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents |
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, which amends FASB ASC Subtopic 230-10, "Statement of Cash Flows - Overall." The amendments in this guidance require that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. PacifiCorp adopted this guidance January 1, 2018.
Cash equivalents consist of funds invested in money market mutual funds, United States Treasury Bills and other investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased. Cash and cash equivalents exclude amounts where availability is restricted by legal requirements, loan agreements or other contractual provisions. A reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is outlined below and disaggregated by the line items in which they appear on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 308 | $ | 14 | |||
Restricted cash included in other current assets | 13 | 13 | |||||
Restricted cash included in other assets | 2 | 2 | |||||
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | $ | 323 | $ | 29 |
Equity Method Investments
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, which amends FASB ASC Topic 230, "Statement of Cash Flows." The amendments in this guidance address the classification of eight specific cash flow issues within the statement of cash flows with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. PacifiCorp adopted this guidance retrospectively effective January 1, 2018 which resulted in the reclassification of certain cash distributions received from equity method investees of $26 million previously recognized within investing cash flows to operating cash flows for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017.
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(4) | Property, Plant and Equipment, Net |
Property, plant and equipment, net consists of the following (in millions):
As of | |||||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||||
Depreciable Life | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
Utility Plant: | |||||||||
Utility plant in-service | 5-75 years | $ | 28,201 | $ | 27,880 | ||||
Accumulated depreciation and amortization | (9,750 | ) | (9,366 | ) | |||||
Utility plant in-service, net | 18,451 | 18,514 | |||||||
Other non-regulated, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization | 45 years | 10 | 11 | ||||||
Plant, net | 18,461 | 18,525 | |||||||
Construction work-in-progress | 877 | 678 | |||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | 19,338 | $ | 19,203 |
(5) | Regulatory Matters |
Retail Regulated Rates
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted on December 22, 2017 ("2017 Tax Reform") enacted significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code, including, among other things, a reduction in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. PacifiCorp has agreed to defer the impact of the tax law change with each of its state regulatory bodies. PacifiCorp proposed reducing customer rates for a portion of the lower annual income tax expense resulting from the decrease in federal tax rates and deferring the remainder to offset other costs as approved by the regulatory bodies. In March 2018, PacifiCorp proposed 1% rate reductions in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. PacifiCorp proposed the rate reductions to be effective May 1, 2018 in Utah, July 1, 2018 in Wyoming and June 1, 2018 in Idaho. In April 2018, the Utah Public Service Commission ("UPSC") ordered a rate reduction of $61 million, or 3.1%, effective May 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018, based on a preliminary estimate of the revenue requirement impact of 2017 Tax Reform. In October 2018, PacifiCorp filed an all-party settlement with the UPSC that continues the current rate reduction of $61 million, with other benefits provided to customers through a combination of a reduction to thermal steam plant and deferral to offset costs in the next general rate case. PacifiCorp filed a partial settlement with the Wyoming Public Service Commission ("WPSC") in April 2018 that provides a rate reduction of $23 million, or 3.3%, effective July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019, with the remaining tax savings to be deferred with offsets to other costs. In June 2018, the WPSC approved the rate reduction on an interim basis. In May 2018, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission ("IPUC") approved an all-party settlement to implement a rate reduction of $6 million, or 2.2%, effective June 1, 2018 through May 31, 2019, to pass back a portion of the tax benefit. The credit may be adjusted following the next phase of the proceeding. In June 2018, PacifiCorp filed reports with the WPSC and IPUC with the calculation of the full impact of the tax law change on revenue requirements. These reports initiated the next phase of the proceedings in these states. The WPSC scheduled a hearing for January 2019. A hearing has not yet been scheduled in Idaho. As of September 30, 2018, the estimated potential refund liability attributable to lower customer rates enabled by the benefits of tax reform was $112 million.
(6) | Recent Financing Transactions |
Long-Term Debt
In July 2018, PacifiCorp issued $600 million of its 4.125% First Mortgage Bonds due 2049. PacifiCorp used a portion of the net proceeds to repay all of PacifiCorp's $500 million 5.65% First Mortgage Bonds due July 2018 and intends to use the remaining net proceeds to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
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Credit Facilities
In April 2018, PacifiCorp amended and restated, its existing $400 million unsecured credit facility expiring June 2020, increasing the lender commitment to $600 million, extending the expiration date to June 2021 and increasing from one to two, the available one-year extension options, subject to lender consent.
In April 2018, PacifiCorp amended and restated, its existing $600 million unsecured credit facility expiring June 2020, extending the expiration date to June 2021 and reducing from two to one, the available one-year extension options, subject to lender consent.
(7) | Income Taxes |
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
2017 Tax Reform impacts many areas of income tax law. The most material items include the reduction of the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 and limitations on bonus depreciation for utility property.
In December 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") 118 to assist in the implementation process of 2017 Tax Reform by allowing for calculations to be classified as provisional and subject to remeasurement. There are three different classifications for the accounting: (1) completed, (2) not complete but reasonably estimable or (3) not complete and amounts are not reasonably estimable. PacifiCorp has recorded the impacts of 2017 Tax Reform and believes all the impacts to be complete with the exception of the interpretations of the bonus depreciation rules. PacifiCorp has determined the amounts recorded and the interpretations relating to this item to be provisional and subject to remeasurement during the measurement period upon obtaining the necessary additional information to complete the accounting. PacifiCorp believes its interpretations for bonus depreciation to be reasonable, however, as the guidance is clarified estimates may change. PacifiCorp recorded a current tax benefit and deferred tax expense of $21 million during the three-month period ended September 30, 2018 following clarified bonus depreciation guidance. As a result of 2017 Tax Reform and PacifiCorp's regulatory nature, PacifiCorp reduced the associated deferred income tax liabilities $8 million and increased regulatory liabilities by the same amount. The accounting will be completed by December 2018.
A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to the effective income tax rate applicable to income before income tax expense is as follows:
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
Federal statutory income tax rate | 21 | % | 35 | % | 21 | % | 35 | % | |||
State income tax, net of federal income tax benefit | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | |||||||
Federal income tax credits | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | |||
Effects of ratemaking | (4 | ) | 1 | (4 | ) | 1 | |||||
Other | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | |||
Effective income tax rate | 15 | % | 32 | % | 14 | % | 32 | % |
Income tax credits relate primarily to production tax credits earned by PacifiCorp's wind-powered generating facilities. Federal renewable electricity production tax credits are earned as energy from qualifying wind-powered generating facilities is produced and sold and are based on a per-kilowatt hour rate pursuant to the applicable federal income tax law. Wind-powered generating facilities are eligible for the credits for 10 years from the date the qualifying generating facilities are placed in-service.
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(8) | Employee Benefit Plans |
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, which amends FASB ASC Topic 715, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits." The amendments in this guidance require that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost and report the service cost component in the same line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the statement of operations separately from the service cost component and outside the subtotal of operating income. Additionally, the guidance only allows the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization when applicable. PacifiCorp adopted this guidance January 1, 2018 prospectively for the capitalization of the service cost component in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and retrospectively for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net benefit cost in the Consolidated Statements of Operations utilizing the practical expedient to use the amounts previously disclosed in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements as the estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirement. As a result, amounts other than the service cost for pension and other postretirement benefit plans for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 of $6 million and $17 million, respectively, have been reclassified to Other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Net periodic benefit credit for the pension and other postretirement benefit plans included the following components (in millions):
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
Pension: | |||||||||||
Service cost | — | — | — | — | |||||||
Interest cost | 11 | 12 | 32 | 37 | |||||||
Expected return on plan assets | (18 | ) | (18 | ) | (54 | ) | (54 | ) | |||
Net amortization | 3 | 3 | 10 | 10 | |||||||
Net periodic benefit credit | (4 | ) | (3 | ) | (12 | ) | (7 | ) | |||
Other postretirement: | |||||||||||
Service cost | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||
Interest cost | 3 | 3 | 9 | 10 | |||||||
Expected return on plan assets | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | (16 | ) | (16 | ) | |||
Net amortization | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | (4 | ) | (4 | ) | |||
Net periodic benefit credit | (3 | ) | (2 | ) | (10 | ) | (8 | ) |
Amounts other than the service cost for pension and other postretirement benefit plans are recorded in Other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Employer contributions to the pension and other postretirement benefit plans are expected to be $4 million and $- million, respectively, during 2018. As of September 30, 2018, $3 million and $- million of contributions had been made to the pension and other postretirement benefit plans, respectively.
(9) | Risk Management and Hedging Activities |
PacifiCorp is exposed to the impact of market fluctuations in commodity prices and interest rates. PacifiCorp is principally exposed to electricity, natural gas, coal and fuel oil commodity price risk as it has an obligation to serve retail customer load in its regulated service territories. PacifiCorp's load and generating facilities represent substantial underlying commodity positions. Exposures to commodity prices consist mainly of variations in the price of fuel required to generate electricity and wholesale electricity that is purchased and sold. Commodity prices are subject to wide price swings as supply and demand are impacted by, among many other unpredictable items, weather, market liquidity, generating facility availability, customer usage, storage, and transmission and transportation constraints. Interest rate risk exists on variable-rate debt and future debt issuances. PacifiCorp does not engage in a material amount of proprietary trading activities.
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PacifiCorp has established a risk management process that is designed to identify, assess, manage, mitigate, monitor and report each of the various types of risk involved in its business. To mitigate a portion of its commodity price risk, PacifiCorp uses commodity derivative contracts, which may include forwards, options, swaps and other agreements, to effectively secure future supply or sell future production generally at fixed prices. PacifiCorp manages its interest rate risk by limiting its exposure to variable interest rates primarily through the issuance of fixed-rate long-term debt and by monitoring market changes in interest rates. Additionally, PacifiCorp may from time to time enter into interest rate derivative contracts, such as interest rate swaps or locks, to mitigate PacifiCorp's exposure to interest rate risk. No interest rate derivatives were in place during the periods presented. PacifiCorp does not hedge all of its commodity price and interest rate risks, thereby exposing the unhedged portion to changes in market prices.
There have been no significant changes in PacifiCorp's accounting policies related to derivatives. Refer to Note 10 for additional information on derivative contracts.
The following table, which reflects master netting arrangements and excludes contracts that have been designated as normal under the normal purchases or normal sales exception afforded by GAAP, summarizes the fair value of PacifiCorp's derivative contracts, on a gross basis, and reconciles those amounts to the amounts presented on a net basis on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):
Other | Other | Other | |||||||||||||||||
Current | Other | Current | Long-term | ||||||||||||||||
Assets | Assets | Liabilities | Liabilities | Total | |||||||||||||||
As of September 30, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||
Not designated as hedging contracts(1): | |||||||||||||||||||
Commodity assets | $ | 10 | $ | 4 | $ | 6 | $ | — | $ | 20 | |||||||||
Commodity liabilities | (6 | ) | 2 | (47 | ) | (74 | ) | (125 | ) | ||||||||||
Total | 4 | 6 | (41 | ) | (74 | ) | (105 | ) | |||||||||||
Total derivatives | 4 | 6 | (41 | ) | (74 | ) | (105 | ) | |||||||||||
Cash collateral receivable | — | — | 18 | 52 | 70 | ||||||||||||||
Total derivatives - net basis | $ | 4 | $ | 6 | $ | (23 | ) | $ | (22 | ) | $ | (35 | ) | ||||||
As of December 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||
Not designated as hedging contracts(1): | |||||||||||||||||||
Commodity assets | $ | 11 | $ | 1 | $ | 1 | $ | — | $ | 13 | |||||||||
Commodity liabilities | (3 | ) | — | (32 | ) | (82 | ) | (117 | ) | ||||||||||
Total | 8 | 1 | (31 | ) | (82 | ) | (104 | ) | |||||||||||
Total derivatives | 8 | 1 | (31 | ) | (82 | ) | (104 | ) | |||||||||||
Cash collateral receivable | — | — | 17 | 57 | 74 | ||||||||||||||
Total derivatives - net basis | $ | 8 | $ | 1 | $ | (14 | ) | $ | (25 | ) | $ | (30 | ) |
(1) | PacifiCorp's commodity derivatives are generally included in rates and as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, a regulatory asset of $102 million and $101 million, respectively, was recorded related to the net derivative liability of $105 million and $104 million, respectively. |
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The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of PacifiCorp's net regulatory assets and summarizes the pre-tax gains and losses on commodity derivative contracts recognized in net regulatory assets, as well as amounts reclassified to earnings (in millions):
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Beginning balance | $ | 116 | $ | 95 | $ | 101 | $ | 73 | |||||||
Changes in fair value recognized in net regulatory assets | 14 | 6 | 48 | 36 | |||||||||||
Net (losses) gains reclassified to operating revenue | (36 | ) | (5 | ) | (30 | ) | 8 | ||||||||
Net gains (losses) reclassified to cost of fuel and energy | 8 | 1 | (17 | ) | (20 | ) | |||||||||
Ending balance | $ | 102 | $ | 97 | $ | 102 | $ | 97 |
Derivative Contract Volumes
The following table summarizes the net notional amounts of outstanding commodity derivative contracts with fixed price terms that comprise the mark-to-market values as of (in millions):
Unit of | September 30, | December 31, | |||||
Measure | 2018 | 2017 | |||||
Electricity sales | Megawatt hours | (7 | ) | (9 | ) | ||
Natural gas purchases | Decatherms | 115 | 113 | ||||
Fuel oil purchases | Gallons | 2 | — |
Credit Risk
PacifiCorp is exposed to counterparty credit risk associated with wholesale energy supply and marketing activities with other utilities, energy marketing companies, financial institutions and other market participants. Credit risk may be concentrated to the extent PacifiCorp's counterparties have similar economic, industry or other characteristics and due to direct or indirect relationships among the counterparties. Before entering into a transaction, PacifiCorp analyzes the financial condition of each significant wholesale counterparty, establishes limits on the amount of unsecured credit to be extended to each counterparty and evaluates the appropriateness of unsecured credit limits on an ongoing basis. To further mitigate wholesale counterparty credit risk, PacifiCorp enters into netting and collateral arrangements that may include margining and cross-product netting agreements and obtains third-party guarantees, letters of credit and cash deposits. If required, PacifiCorp exercises rights under these arrangements, including calling on the counterparty's credit support arrangement.
Collateral and Contingent Features
In accordance with industry practice, certain wholesale derivative contracts contain credit support provisions that in part base certain collateral requirements on credit ratings for senior unsecured debt as reported by one or more of the three recognized credit rating agencies. These derivative contracts may either specifically provide bilateral rights to demand cash or other security if credit exposures on a net basis exceed specified rating-dependent threshold levels ("credit-risk-related contingent features") or provide the right for counterparties to demand "adequate assurance," or in some cases terminate the contract, in the event of a material adverse change in PacifiCorp's creditworthiness. These rights can vary by contract and by counterparty. As of September 30, 2018, PacifiCorp's credit ratings from the three recognized credit rating agencies were investment grade.
The aggregate fair value of PacifiCorp's derivative contracts in liability positions with specific credit-risk-related contingent features totaled $108 million and $110 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, for which PacifiCorp had posted collateral of $70 million and $74 million, respectively, in the form of cash deposits. If all credit-risk-related contingent features for derivative contracts in liability positions had been triggered as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, PacifiCorp would have been required to post $26 million and $34 million, respectively, of additional collateral. PacifiCorp's collateral requirements could fluctuate considerably due to market price volatility, changes in credit ratings, changes in legislation or regulation, or other factors.
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(10) | Fair Value Measurements |
The carrying value of PacifiCorp's cash, certain cash equivalents, receivables, payables, accrued liabilities and short-term borrowings approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. PacifiCorp has various financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on the Consolidated Financial Statements using inputs from the three levels of the fair value hierarchy. A financial asset or liability classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels are as follows:
• | Level 1 — Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that PacifiCorp has the ability to access at the measurement date. |
• | Level 2 — Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs). |
• | Level 3 — Unobservable inputs reflect PacifiCorp's judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability since limited market data exists. PacifiCorp develops these inputs based on the best information available, including its own data. |
The following table presents PacifiCorp's financial assets and liabilities recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in millions):
Input Levels for Fair Value Measurements | ||||||||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Other(1) | Total | ||||||||||||||||
As of September 30, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | 20 | $ | — | $ | (10 | ) | $ | 10 | |||||||||
Money market mutual funds(2) | 310 | — | — | — | 310 | |||||||||||||||
Investment funds | 26 | — | — | — | 26 | |||||||||||||||
$ | 336 | $ | 20 | $ | — | $ | (10 | ) | $ | 346 | ||||||||||
Liabilities - Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | (125 | ) | $ | — | $ | 80 | $ | (45 | ) | ||||||||
As of December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | 13 | $ | — | $ | (4 | ) | $ | 9 | |||||||||
Money market mutual funds(2) | 21 | — | — | — | 21 | |||||||||||||||
Investment funds | 21 | — | — | — | 21 | |||||||||||||||
$ | 42 | $ | 13 | $ | — | $ | (4 | ) | $ | 51 | ||||||||||
Liabilities - Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | (117 | ) | $ | — | $ | 78 | $ | (39 | ) |
(1) | Represents netting under master netting arrangements and a net cash collateral receivable of $70 million and $74 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. |
(2) | Amounts are included in cash and cash equivalents, other current assets and other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of these money market mutual funds approximates cost. |
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Derivative contracts are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as either assets or liabilities and are stated at estimated fair value unless they are designated as normal purchases or normal sales and qualify for the exception afforded by GAAP. When available, the fair value of derivative contracts is estimated using unadjusted quoted prices for identical contracts in the market in which PacifiCorp transacts. When quoted prices for identical contracts are not available, PacifiCorp uses forward price curves. Forward price curves represent PacifiCorp's estimates of the prices at which a buyer or seller could contract today for delivery or settlement at future dates. PacifiCorp bases its forward price curves upon market price quotations, when available, or internally developed and commercial models, with internal and external fundamental data inputs. Market price quotations are obtained from independent energy brokers, exchanges, direct communication with market participants and actual transactions executed by PacifiCorp. Market price quotations for certain major electricity and natural gas trading hubs are generally readily obtainable for the first three years; therefore, PacifiCorp's forward price curves for those locations and periods reflect observable market quotes. Market price quotations for other electricity and natural gas trading hubs are not as readily obtainable for the first three years. Given that limited market data exists for these contracts, as well as for those contracts that are not actively traded, PacifiCorp uses forward price curves derived from internal models based on perceived pricing relationships to major trading hubs that are based on unobservable inputs. The estimated fair value of these derivative contracts is a function of underlying forward commodity prices, interest rates, currency rates, related volatility, counterparty creditworthiness and duration of contracts. Refer to Note 9 for further discussion regarding PacifiCorp's risk management and hedging activities.
PacifiCorp's investments in money market mutual funds and investment funds are stated at fair value. When available, PacifiCorp uses a readily observable quoted market price or net asset value of an identical security in an active market to record the fair value. In the absence of a quoted market price or net asset value of an identical security, the fair value is determined using pricing models or net asset values based on observable market inputs and quoted market prices of securities with similar characteristics.
PacifiCorp's long-term debt is carried at cost on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of PacifiCorp's long-term debt is a Level 2 fair value measurement and has been estimated based upon quoted market prices, where available, or at the present value of future cash flows discounted at rates consistent with comparable maturities with similar credit risks. The carrying value of PacifiCorp's variable-rate long-term debt approximates fair value because of the frequent repricing of these instruments at market rates. The following table presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of PacifiCorp's long-term debt (in millions):
As of September 30, 2018 | As of December 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||
Carrying | Fair | Carrying | Fair | |||||||||||||
Value | Value | Value | Value | |||||||||||||
Long-term debt | $ | 7,014 | $ | 7,862 | $ | 7,005 | $ | 8,370 |
(11) | Commitments and Contingencies |
Commitments
During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, PacifiCorp entered into non-cancelable agreements through 2045 totaling $1.0 billion related to power purchase agreements to meet customer requests for renewable energy, $566 million related to agreements for repowering certain existing wind facilities in Wyoming, Washington and Oregon, and $273 million related to fuel supply contracts. The power purchase agreements are from facilities that have not yet achieved commercial operation. To the extent any of these facilities do not achieve commercial operation by contractually agreed upon dates, PacifiCorp has no obligation to the counterparty.
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.
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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"). Among other things, the KHSA provided that the United States Department of the Interior would conduct scientific and engineering studies to assess whether removal of the Klamath hydroelectric system's mainstem dams was in the public interest and would advance restoration of the Klamath Basin's salmonid fisheries. If it is determined dam removal should proceed, dam removal would begin no earlier than 2020.
Congress failed to pass legislation needed to implement the original KHSA. In April 2016, the principal parties to the KHSA (PacifiCorp, the states of California and Oregon and the United States Departments of the Interior and Commerce) executed an amendment to the KHSA. Consistent with the terms of the amended KHSA, in September 2016, PacifiCorp and the Klamath River Renewal Corporation ("KRRC"), a private, independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization formed by certain signatories of the amended KSHA, 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 in September 2016, the KRRC filed an application with the FERC to surrender the license and decommission the same four 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. In March 2018, the FERC issued an order splitting the existing license for the Klamath Project into two licenses: the Klamath Project (P‑2082) contains East Side, West Side, Keno and Fall Creek developments; the new Lower Klamath Project (P‑14803) contains J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2 and Iron Gate developments. In the same order, the FERC deferred consideration of the transfer of the license for the Lower Klamath facilities from PacifiCorp to the KRRC until some point in the future. PacifiCorp is currently the licensee for both the Klamath Project and Lower Klamath Project facilities and will retain ownership of the Klamath Project facilities after the approval and transfer of the Lower Klamath Project facilities. In April 2018, PacifiCorp filed a motion to stay the effective date of the license amendment until transfer is approved. In June 2018, the FERC granted PacifiCorp's motion to stay the effective date of the Lower Klamath Project license and all related compliance obligations, pending a Commission order on the license transfer. Meanwhile, the FERC continues to assess the KRRC's capacity to become a project licensee for purposes of dam removal.
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.
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(12) | Revenue from Contracts with Customers |
Adoption
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, which created FASB ASC Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASC 606") and superseded ASC Topic 605, "Revenue Recognition." The guidance replaced industry-specific guidance and established a single five-step model to identify and recognize revenue from contracts with customers ("Customer Revenue"). The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue upon transfer of control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Following the issuance of ASU No. 2014-09, the FASB issued several ASUs that clarified the implementation guidance for ASU No. 2014-09 but did not change the core principle of the guidance. PacifiCorp adopted this guidance for all applicable contracts as of January 1, 2018 under a modified retrospective method. The adoption did not have a cumulative effect impact at the date of initial adoption.
Customer Revenue
PacifiCorp recognizes revenue upon transfer of control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which PacifiCorp expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. PacifiCorp records sales, franchise and excise taxes collected directly from customers and remitted directly to the taxing authorities on a net basis on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Substantially all of PacifiCorp's Customer Revenue is derived from tariff based sales arrangements approved by various regulatory bodies. These tariff based revenues are mainly comprised of energy, transmission and distribution and have performance obligations to deliver energy products and services to customers which are satisfied over time as energy is delivered or services are provided. Other revenue consists primarily of revenue recognized in accordance with ASC 815, "Derivatives and Hedging."
Revenue recognized is equal to what PacifiCorp has the right to invoice as it corresponds directly with the value to the customer of PacifiCorp's performance to date and includes billed and unbilled amounts. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, accounts receivable from contracts with customers, net of allowance for doubtful accounts was $673 million and $635 million, respectively, including unbilled revenue of $229 million and $255 million, respectively, and was included in accounts receivables, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Payments for amounts billed are generally due from the customer within 30 days of billing. Rates charged for energy products and services are established by regulators or contractual arrangements that establish the transaction price as well as the allocation of price amongst the separate performance obligations. When preliminary regulated rates are permitted to be billed prior to final approval by the applicable regulator, certain revenue collected may be subject to refund and a liability for estimated refunds is accrued.
The following table summarizes PacifiCorp's revenue by regulated energy, with further disaggregation of regulated energy by customer class, for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 (in millions):
Three-Month Period | Nine-Month Period | ||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||
2018 | 2018 | ||||||
Customer Revenue: | |||||||
Retail: | |||||||
Residential | $ | 478 | $ | 1,284 | |||
Commercial | 418 | 1,129 | |||||
Industrial | 305 | 862 | |||||
Other retail | 106 | 204 | |||||
Total retail | 1,307 | 3,479 | |||||
Wholesale (1) | (10 | ) | 21 | ||||
Transmission | 30 | 82 | |||||
Other Customer Revenue | 16 | 55 | |||||
Total Customer Revenue | 1,343 | 3,637 | |||||
Other revenue | 26 | 109 | |||||
Total operating revenue | $ | 1,369 | $ | 3,746 |
(1) | During the three-month period ended September 30, 2018, PacifiCorp financially settled certain non-derivative forward contracts for energy sales by making net payments to counterparties. |
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Contract Assets and Liabilities
In the event one of the parties to a contract has performed before the other, PacifiCorp would recognize a contract asset or contract liability depending on the relationship between PacifiCorp's performance and the customer's payment. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were no material contract assets or contract liabilities recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. During the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, there was no material revenue recognized that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period or from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods.
(13) | Related Party Transactions |
Berkshire Hathaway includes BHE and its subsidiaries in its United States federal income tax return. Consistent with established regulatory practice, PacifiCorp's provision for federal and state income tax has been computed on a stand-alone basis, and substantially all of its currently payable or receivable income tax is remitted to or received from BHE. For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, PacifiCorp made net cash payments for federal and state income tax to BHE totaling $21 million and $205 million, respectively.
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Item 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
The following is management's discussion and analysis of certain significant factors that have affected the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of PacifiCorp during the periods included herein. Explanations include management's best estimate of the impact of weather, customer growth and other factors. This discussion should be read in conjunction with PacifiCorp's historical unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10‑Q. PacifiCorp's actual results in the future could differ significantly from the historical results.
Results of Operations for the Third Quarter and First Nine Months of 2018 and 2017
Overview
Net income for the third quarter of 2018 was $270 million, an increase of $7 million, or 3%, compared to 2017. Net income increased primarily due to a decrease in income tax expense of $78 million from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted on December 22, 2017 ("2017 Tax Reform"), partially offset by lower utility margin of $61 million and higher operations and maintenance expense of $12 million. Utility margin decreased due to lower average retail and wholesale rates, including $53 million of refund accruals related to 2017 Tax Reform, higher natural gas costs from higher volumes and higher purchased electricity from higher prices, partially offset by higher retail volumes and lower coal prices. Retail customer volumes increased 2% due to higher customer usage, primarily from industrial, commercial and residential customers in Utah, and an increase in the average number of customers across the service territory, offset by impacts of weather across the service territory. Energy generated increased 7% for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher natural gas and wind-powered generation, offset by lower coal-fueled and hydroelectric generation. Wholesale electricity sales volumes increased 33% and purchased electricity volumes decreased 17%.
Net income for the first nine months of 2018 was $602 million, a decrease of $15 million, or 2%, compared to 2017. Net income decreased primarily due to lower utility margin of $205 million, and higher operations and maintenance expenses of $6 million, partially offset by lower income tax expense of $194 million from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform. Utility margin decreased due to lower retail revenue from lower average retail rates, including $159 million of refund accruals related to 2017 Tax Reform, and lower retail volumes, higher purchased electricity from higher prices and volumes, lower average wholesale prices, and higher natural gas generation volumes, partially offset by higher wholesale volumes, lower coal costs from lower volumes and prices, and lower average natural gas prices. Retail customer volumes decreased 1% due to the unfavorable impact of weather across the service territory, and lower customer usage, primarily from industrial customers in Oregon and Utah, partially offset by higher commercial and irrigation customer usage in Utah and an increase in the average number of customers across the service territory. Energy generated increased 2% for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher natural gas and wind-powered generation, offset by lower hydroelectric and coal-fueled generation. Wholesale electricity sales volumes increased 37% and purchased electricity volumes increased 4%.
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
Management utilizes various key financial measures that are prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as non-GAAP financial measures such as, Utility Margin, to help evaluate results of operations. Utility Margin is calculated as operating revenue less cost of fuel and energy, which are captions presented on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
PacifiCorp's cost of fuel and energy is directly recovered from its customers through regulatory recovery mechanisms and as a result, changes in PacifiCorp's revenue are comparable to changes in such expenses. As such, management believes Utility Margin more appropriately and concisely explains profitability rather than a discussion of revenue and cost of fuel and energy separately. Management believes the presentation of Utility Margin provides meaningful and valuable insight into the information management considers important to running the business and a measure of comparability to others in the industry.
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Utility Margin is not a measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income which is the most comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP. The following table provides a reconciliation of utility margin to operating income (in millions):
Third Quarter | First Nine Months | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Change | 2018 | 2017 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Utility margin: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating revenue | $ | 1,369 | $ | 1,430 | $ | (61 | ) | (4 | )% | $ | 3,746 | 3,956 | $ | (210 | ) | (5 | )% | ||||||||||
Cost of fuel and energy | 465 | 465 | — | — | 1,300 | 1,305 | (5 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Utility margin | 904 | 965 | (61 | ) | (6 | ) | 2,446 | 2,651 | (205 | ) | (8 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Operations and maintenance | 266 | 254 | 12 | 5 | 777 | 771 | 6 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 203 | 200 | 3 | 2 | 602 | 598 | 4 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
Property and other taxes | 49 | 50 | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | 150 | 149 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
Operating income | $ | 386 | $ | 461 | $ | (75 | ) | (16 | ) | $ | 917 | $ | 1,133 | $ | (216 | ) | (19 | ) |
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A comparison of PacifiCorp's key operating results is as follows:
Third Quarter | First Nine Months | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Change | 2018 | 2017 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Utility margin (in millions): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating revenue | $ | 1,369 | $ | 1,430 | $ | (61 | ) | (4 | )% | $ | 3,746 | $ | 3,956 | $ | (210 | ) | (5 | )% | |||||||||||
Cost of fuel and energy | 465 | 465 | — | — | 1,300 | 1,305 | (5 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Utility margin | $ | 904 | $ | 965 | $ | (61 | ) | (6 | ) | $ | 2,446 | $ | 2,651 | $ | (205 | ) | (8 | ) | |||||||||||
Sales (GWh): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential | 4,347 | 4,372 | (25 | ) | (1 | )% | 11,996 | 12,410 | (414 | ) | (3 | )% | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial | 4,941 | 4,783 | 158 | 3 | 13,530 | 13,303 | 227 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Industrial, irrigation and other | 5,823 | 5,683 | 140 | 2 | 15,889 | 16,061 | (172 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total retail | 15,111 | 14,838 | 273 | 2 | 41,415 | 41,774 | (359 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wholesale | 1,802 | 1,350 | 452 | 33 | 5,963 | 4,362 | 1,601 | 37 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total sales | 16,913 | 16,188 | 725 | 4 | 47,378 | 46,136 | 1,242 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Average number of retail customers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | 1,902 | 1,868 | 34 | 2 | % | 1,896 | 1,863 | 33 | 2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Average revenue per MWh: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retail | $ | 86.29 | $ | 90.58 | $ | (4.29 | ) | (5 | )% | $ | 83.92 | $ | 88.41 | $ | (4.49 | ) | (5 | )% | |||||||||||
Wholesale | $ | 9.12 | $ | 28.74 | $ | (19.62 | ) | (68 | )% | $ | 21.62 | $ | 29.55 | $ | (7.93 | ) | (27 | )% | |||||||||||
Heating degree days | 208 | 304 | (96 | ) | (32 | )% | 5,655 | 6,472 | (817 | ) | (13 | )% | |||||||||||||||||
Cooling degree days | 1,532 | 1,804 | (272 | ) | (15 | )% | 1,980 | 2,342 | (362 | ) | (15 | )% | |||||||||||||||||
Sources of energy (GWh)(1): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coal | 10,510 | 10,764 | (254 | ) | (2 | )% | 26,231 | 27,120 | (889 | ) | (3 | )% | |||||||||||||||||
Natural gas | 3,841 | 2,486 | 1,355 | 55 | 7,770 | 5,647 | 2,123 | 38 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Hydroelectric(2) | 467 | 641 | (174 | ) | (27 | ) | 2,640 | 3,598 | (958 | ) | (27 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Wind and other(2) | 569 | 460 | 109 | 24 | 2,353 | 2,030 | 323 | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total energy generated | 15,387 | 14,351 | 1,036 | 7 | 38,994 | 38,395 | 599 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Energy purchased | 2,506 | 3,023 | (517 | ) | (17 | ) | 11,279 | 10,845 | 434 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | 17,893 | 17,374 | 519 | 3 | 50,273 | 49,240 | 1,033 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Average cost of energy per MWh: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Energy generated(3) | $ | 19.45 | $ | 19.89 | $ | (0.44 | ) | (2 | )% | $ | 18.96 | $ | 19.21 | $ | (0.25 | ) | (1 | )% | |||||||||||
Energy purchased | $ | 70.75 | $ | 53.34 | $ | 17.41 | 33 | % | $ | 44.43 | $ | 42.20 | $ | 2.23 | 5 | % |
(1) | GWh amounts are net of energy used by the related generating facilities. |
(2) | All or some of the renewable energy attributes associated with generation from these generating facilities may be: (a) used in future years to comply with RPS or other regulatory requirements or (b) sold to third parties in the form of RECs or other environmental commodities. |
(3) | The average cost per MWh of energy generated includes only the cost of fuel associated with the generating facilities. |
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Utility margin decreased $61 million, or 6%, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to:
• | $59 million of lower retail revenue primarily due to lower average retail rates, including the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform of $53 million; |
• | $30 million of lower wholesale revenues from lower average prices; |
• | $23 million of higher natural gas costs due to higher volumes; and |
• | $16 million of higher purchased electricity costs due to higher prices and volumes. |
The decreases above were partially offset by:
• | $31 million of higher net deferrals of incurred net power costs in accordance with established adjustment mechanisms; |
• | $19 million of higher retail revenue from higher volumes. Retail volumes increased 2% due to due to higher customer usage, primarily from industrial, commercial and residential customers in Utah, and an increase in the average number of customers across the service territory, offset by impacts of weather across the service territory; |
• | $8 million of lower coal costs from lower prices; and |
• | $8 million of higher wholesale revenues from higher volumes. |
Operations and maintenance increased $12 million, or 5%, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to reserves accrued for 2018 wildfires and higher labor costs.
Depreciation and amortization increased $3 million, or 2%, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher plant-in-service.
Income tax expense decreased $78 million, or 62%, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017. The effective tax rate was 15% for 2018 and 32% for 2017. The effective tax rate decreased primarily as a result of the reduction in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018, and the amortization of the excess deferred income taxes resulting from the reduction in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate.
Utility margin decreased $205 million, or 8%, for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to:
• | $184 million of lower retail revenue primarily due to lower average retail rates, including the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform of $159 million; |
• | $44 million of higher purchased electricity costs due to higher prices and volumes; |
• | $36 million of lower wholesale revenue from lower average prices; |
• | $34 million of higher natural gas costs due to higher volumes; and |
• | $33 million of lower retail revenue from lower retail customer volumes. Retail volumes decreased 1% due to the unfavorable impacts of weather across the service territory, and lower customer usage, primarily from industrial customers in Oregon and Utah, partially offset by higher commercial and irrigation customer usage in Utah and an increase in the average number of customers across the service territory. |
The decreases above were partially offset by:
• | $55 million of higher net deferrals of incurred net power costs in accordance with established adjustment mechanisms; |
• | $36 million of higher wholesale revenue due to higher volumes; |
• | $20 million of lower coal costs due to lower volumes and prices; and |
• | $12 million of lower natural gas costs from lower average prices. |
Operations and maintenance increased $6 million, or 1%, for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to reserves accrued for 2018 wildfires, partially offset by lower labor costs.
Depreciation and amortization increased $4 million, or 1%, for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher plant-in-service, partially offset by an adjustment to the Oregon accelerated depreciation reserve based on the Oregon allocation factor in 2018.
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Income tax expense decreased $194 million, or 66%, for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017. The effective tax rate was 14% for 2018 and 32% for 2017. The effective tax rate decreased primarily as a result of the reduction in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018, and the amortization of the excess deferred income taxes resulting from the reduction in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2018, PacifiCorp's total net liquidity was as follows (in millions):
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 308 | ||
Credit facilities | 1,200 | |||
Less: | ||||
Short-term debt | - | |||
Tax-exempt bond support | (89 | ) | ||
Net credit facilities | 1,111 | |||
Total net liquidity | $ | 1,419 | ||
Credit facilities: | ||||
Maturity dates | 2021 |
Operating Activities
Net cash flows from operating activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $1,480 million and $1,461 million, respectively. The change was primarily due to lower current year income tax paid and higher current year collections from wholesale customers, primarily due to timing, partially offset by higher current year purchased power costs and lower current year collections from retail customers, primarily due to the 2017 Tax Reform.
2017 Tax Reform reduced the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, and eliminated bonus depreciation on qualifying regulated utility assets acquired after December 31, 2017. PacifiCorp anticipates passing the benefits of lower tax expense to customers through regulatory mechanisms. PacifiCorp expects lower revenue and income tax as well as lower bonus depreciation benefits compared to 2017 as a result of 2017 Tax Reform and related regulatory treatment. PacifiCorp does not expect 2017 Tax Reform and related regulatory treatment to have a material adverse impact on its cash flows, subject to actual regulatory outcomes, which will be determined based on rulings by regulatory commissions expected in 2018 and 2019. The timing of PacifiCorp's income tax cash flows from period to period can be significantly affected by the estimated federal income tax payment methods and assumptions for each payment date.
Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") rules provide for re-establishment of the production tax credit for an existing wind-powered generating facility upon the replacement of a significant portion of its components. Such component replacement is commonly referred to as repowering. If the degree of component replacement in such projects meets IRS guidelines, production tax credits are re-established for ten years at rates that depend upon the date in which construction begins. PacifiCorp's current repowering projects are expected to earn production tax credits at 100% of the value of such credits.
Investing Activities
Net cash flows from investing activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $(711) million and $(548) million, respectively. The change is primarily the result of a current year increase in capital expenditures of $160 million. Refer to "Future Uses of Cash" for discussion of capital expenditures.
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Financing Activities
Net cash flows from financing activities for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018 was $(475) million. Uses of cash consisted substantially of $586 million for the repayment of long term debt, $400 million for common stock dividends paid to PPW Holdings LLC and $80 million for the repayment of short-term debt, offset by $593 million net proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt.
Net cash flows from financing activities for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017 was $(827) million. Uses of cash consisted substantially of $270 million for the repayment of short-term debt, $500 million for common stock dividends paid to PPW Holdings LLC and $50 million for the repayment of long-term debt.
Short-term Debt
Regulatory authorities limit PacifiCorp to $1.5 billion of short-term debt. As of September 30, 2018, PacifiCorp had no short-term debt outstanding. As of December 31, 2017, PacifiCorp had $80 million of short-term debt outstanding at a weighted average interest rate of 1.83%.
Long-term Debt
In July 2018, PacifiCorp issued $600 million of its 4.125% First Mortgage Bonds due January 2049. PacifiCorp used a portion of the net proceeds to repay all of PacifiCorp's $500 million 5.65% First Mortgage Bonds due July 2018 and intends to use the remaining net proceeds to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
PacifiCorp currently has regulatory authority from the OPUC and the IPUC to issue an additional $725 million of long-term debt. PacifiCorp must make a notice filing with the WUTC prior to any future issuance.
As of September 30, 2018, PacifiCorp had $170 million of letters of credit providing credit enhancement and liquidity support for variable-rate tax-exempt bond obligations totaling $168 million plus interest. These letters of credit were fully available as of September 30, 2018 and expire periodically through March 2019.
Future Uses of Cash
PacifiCorp has available a variety of sources of liquidity and capital resources, both internal and external, including net cash flows from operating activities, public and private debt offerings, the issuance of commercial paper, the use of unsecured revolving credit facilities, capital contributions and other sources. These sources are expected to provide funds required for current operations, capital expenditures, debt retirements and other capital requirements. The availability and terms under which PacifiCorp has access to external financing depends on a variety of factors, including PacifiCorp's credit ratings, investors' judgment of risk and conditions in the overall capital markets, including the condition of the utility industry.
Capital Expenditures
PacifiCorp has significant future capital requirements. Capital expenditure needs are reviewed regularly by management and may change significantly as a result of these reviews, which may consider, among other factors, impacts to customers' rates; changes in environmental and other rules and regulations; outcomes of regulatory proceedings; changes in income tax laws; general business conditions; load projections; system reliability standards; the cost and efficiency of construction labor, equipment and materials; commodity prices; and the cost and availability of capital.
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Historical and forecast capital expenditures, each of which exclude amounts for non-cash equity AFUDC and other non-cash items, are as follows (in millions):
Nine-Month Periods | Annual | ||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Forecast | ||||||||||
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | |||||||||
Transmission system investment | $ | 75 | $ | 34 | $ | 66 | |||||
Wind investment | 8 | 76 | 384 | ||||||||
Advanced meter infrastructure | 20 | 44 | 74 | ||||||||
Operating and other | 450 | 559 | 674 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 553 | $ | 713 | $ | 1,198 |
PacifiCorp's historical and forecast capital expenditures include the following:
• | Transmission system investment primarily reflects initial costs for the 140-mile 500 kV Aeolus-Bridger/Anticline transmission line, a major segment of PacifiCorp's Energy Gateway Transmission expansion program expected to be placed in-service in 2020. Planned spending for the Aeolus-Bridger/Anticline line totals $45 million in 2018. |
• | Construction of wind-powered generating facilities at PacifiCorp totaling $5 million and $4 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. PacifiCorp anticipates costs for these activities will total an additional $62 million for 2018. The new wind-powered generating facilities are expected to be placed in-service in 2020. The energy production from the new wind-powered generating facilities is expected to qualify for 100% of the federal production tax credits available for ten years once the equipment is placed in-service. |
• | Repowering certain existing wind-powered generating facilities at PacifiCorp totaling $70 million and $4 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. PacifiCorp anticipates costs for these activities will total an additional $246 million for 2018. The repowering projects are expected to be placed in-service at various dates in 2019 and 2020. The energy production from such repowered facilities is expected to qualify for 100% of the federal renewable electricity production tax credits available for ten years following each facility's return to service. |
• | Advanced meter infrastructure ("AMI") includes costs for customer meter replacements and installation of infrastructure and systems to implement smart meter features that improve customers' energy management capabilities and reduce company meter-related costs. AMI projects are in progress or planned in Oregon, California, Utah and Idaho in 2018. |
• | Remaining investments relate to operating projects that consist of routine expenditures for generation, transmission, distribution and other infrastructure needed to serve existing and expected demand. |
Integrated Resource Plan
In April 2017, PacifiCorp filed its 2017 Integrated Resource Plan ("IRP") with its state commissions. The IRP, which includes the Energy Vision 2020 project in the preferred portfolio, includes investments in renewable energy resources, upgrades to the existing wind fleet, and energy efficiency measures to meet future customer needs. The OPUC acknowledged PacifiCorp's 2017 IRP in December 2017, the UPSC acknowledged the 2017 IRP in March 2018, the IPUC acknowledged the 2017 IRP in April 2018, and the WUTC acknowledged the 2017 IRP in May 2018. PacifiCorp filed its 2017 IRP Update with its state commissions, except for California, in May 2018. In August 2018, PacifiCorp filed its 2017 IRP and its 2017 IRP Update with the California Public Utilities Commission to comply with new IRP requirements in California.
Request for Proposals
PacifiCorp issues individual Request for Proposals ("RFP"), each of which typically focuses on a specific category of generation resources consistent with the IRP or other customer-driven demands. The IRP and the RFPs provide for the identification and staged procurement of resources to meet load or renewable portfolio standard requirements. Depending upon the specific RFP, applicable laws and regulations may require PacifiCorp to file draft RFPs with the UPSC, the OPUC and the WUTC. Approval by the UPSC, the OPUC or the WUTC may be required depending on the nature of the RFPs.
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As required by applicable laws and regulations, PacifiCorp filed its draft 2017R RFP with the UPSC in June 2017 and with the OPUC in August 2017. The UPSC and the OPUC approved PacifiCorp's 2017R RFP in September 2017. The 2017R RFP was subsequently released to the market on September 27, 2017. The 2017R RFP sought up to approximately 1,270 MW of new wind resources that can interconnect to PacifiCorp's transmission system in Wyoming once a proposed high-voltage transmission line is constructed. The 2017R RFP also sought proposals for wind resources located outside of Wyoming capable of delivering all-in economic benefits for PacifiCorp's customers. The proposed high-voltage transmission line and new wind resources must be placed in service by December 31, 2020, to maximize potential federal production tax credit benefits for PacifiCorp's customers. Bids were received in October 2017 and best-and-final pricing, reflecting changes in federal tax law, was received in December 2017. PacifiCorp finalized its bid-selection process and established a final shortlist in February 2018. PacifiCorp is finalizing agreements to acquire energy and capacity from three wind facilities totaling 1,150 MWs, consisting of 950 MWs owned and 200 MWs as a power-purchase agreement.
Contractual Obligations
As of September 30, 2018, there have been no material changes outside the normal course of business in contractual obligations from the information provided in Item 7 of PacifiCorp's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Regulatory Matters
PacifiCorp is subject to comprehensive regulation. Refer to "Regulatory Matters" in Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q for discussion regarding PacifiCorp's current regulatory matters.
Environmental Laws and Regulations
PacifiCorp is subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations regarding air and water quality, RPS, 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. In addition to imposing continuing compliance obligations, these laws and regulations provide regulators with the authority to levy substantial penalties for noncompliance including fines, injunctive relief and other sanctions. These laws and regulations are administered by the EPA and various state, local and international agencies. PacifiCorp believes it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, although many are subject to interpretation that may ultimately be resolved by the courts. Environmental laws and regulations continue to evolve, and PacifiCorp is unable to predict the impact of the changing laws and regulations on its operations and financial results. Refer to "Liquidity and Capital Resources" for discussion of PacifiCorp's forecast environmental-related capital expenditures.
Refer to "Environmental Laws and Regulations" in Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q for additional information regarding environmental laws.
New Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of new accounting pronouncements affecting PacifiCorp, refer to Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of the Form 10-Q.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Certain accounting measurements require management to make estimates and judgments concerning transactions that will be settled several years in the future. Amounts recognized on the Consolidated Financial Statements based on such estimates involve numerous assumptions subject to varying and potentially significant degrees of judgment and uncertainty and will likely change in the future as additional information becomes available. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, the accounting for the effects of certain types of regulation, derivatives, pension and other postretirement benefits, income taxes and revenue recognition-unbilled revenue. For additional discussion of PacifiCorp's critical accounting estimates, see Item 7 of PacifiCorp's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. There have been no significant changes in PacifiCorp's assumptions regarding critical accounting estimates since December 31, 2017.
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MidAmerican Funding, LLC and its subsidiaries and MidAmerican Energy Company
Consolidated Financial Section
82
PART I
Item 1. | Financial Statements |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholder of MidAmerican Energy Company
Results of Review of Interim Financial Information
We have reviewed the accompanying balance sheet of MidAmerican Energy Company ("MidAmerican Energy") as of September 30, 2018, the related statements of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and of changes in shareholder's equity and cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "interim financial information"). Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying interim financial information for it to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the balance sheet of MidAmerican Energy as of December 31, 2017, and the related statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in shareholder's equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 23, 2018, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying balance sheet as of December 31, 2017, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the balance sheet from which it has been derived.
Basis for Review Results
This interim financial information is the responsibility of MidAmerican Energy's management. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to MidAmerican Energy in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards of the PCAOB. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Des Moines, Iowa
November 2, 2018
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MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY
BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 115 | $ | 172 | |||
Accounts receivable, net | 384 | 344 | |||||
Income tax receivable | 150 | 51 | |||||
Inventories | 205 | 245 | |||||
Other current assets | 104 | 134 | |||||
Total current assets | 958 | 946 | |||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 15,233 | 14,207 | |||||
Regulatory assets | 230 | 204 | |||||
Investments and restricted investments | 756 | 728 | |||||
Other assets | 211 | 233 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 17,388 | $ | 16,318 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY
BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (continued)
(Amounts in millions)
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 348 | $ | 452 | |||
Accrued interest | 55 | 48 | |||||
Accrued property, income and other taxes | 155 | 132 | |||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 500 | 350 | |||||
Other current liabilities | 153 | 128 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 1,211 | 1,110 | |||||
Long-term debt | 4,880 | 4,692 | |||||
Regulatory liabilities | 1,645 | 1,661 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 2,322 | 2,237 | |||||
Asset retirement obligations | 546 | 528 | |||||
Other long-term liabilities | 325 | 326 | |||||
Total liabilities | 10,929 | 10,554 | |||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) | |||||||
Shareholder's equity: | |||||||
Common stock - 350 shares authorized, no par value, 71 shares issued and outstanding | — | — | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | 561 | 561 | |||||
Retained earnings | 5,898 | 5,203 | |||||
Total shareholder's equity | 6,459 | 5,764 | |||||
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity | $ | 17,388 | $ | 16,318 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Operating revenue: | |||||||||||||||
Regulated electric | $ | 727 | $ | 707 | $ | 1,785 | $ | 1,677 | |||||||
Regulated natural gas and other | 105 | 106 | 510 | 489 | |||||||||||
Total operating revenue | 832 | 813 | 2,295 | 2,166 | |||||||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Cost of fuel and energy | 140 | 130 | 366 | 342 | |||||||||||
Cost of natural gas purchased for resale and other | 50 | 54 | 296 | 288 | |||||||||||
Operations and maintenance | 201 | 204 | 598 | 561 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 133 | 111 | 499 | 369 | |||||||||||
Property and other taxes | 30 | 30 | 92 | 90 | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 554 | 529 | 1,851 | 1,650 | |||||||||||
Operating income | 278 | 284 | 444 | 516 | |||||||||||
Other income (expense): | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (56 | ) | (54 | ) | (170 | ) | (160 | ) | |||||||
Allowance for borrowed funds | 6 | 4 | 14 | 9 | |||||||||||
Allowance for equity funds | 16 | 11 | 39 | 25 | |||||||||||
Other, net | 13 | 9 | 34 | 27 | |||||||||||
Total other income (expense) | (21 | ) | (30 | ) | (83 | ) | (99 | ) | |||||||
Income before income tax benefit | 257 | 254 | 361 | 417 | |||||||||||
Income tax benefit | (226 | ) | (131 | ) | (334 | ) | (207 | ) | |||||||
Net income | $ | 483 | $ | 385 | $ | 695 | $ | 624 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Retained Earnings | Total Shareholder's Equity | ||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2016 | $ | — | $ | 561 | $ | 4,599 | $ | 5,160 | |||||||
Net income | — | — | 624 | 624 | |||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2017 | $ | — | $ | 561 | $ | 5,223 | $ | 5,784 | |||||||
Balance, December 31, 2017 | $ | — | $ | 561 | $ | 5,203 | $ | 5,764 | |||||||
Net income | — | — | 695 | 695 | |||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2018 | $ | — | $ | 561 | $ | 5,898 | $ | 6,459 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Nine-Month Periods | |||||||
Ended September 30, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | $ | 695 | $ | 624 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 499 | 369 | |||||
Amortization of utility plant to other operating expenses | 26 | 25 | |||||
Allowance for equity funds | (39 | ) | (25 | ) | |||
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits | (35 | ) | 64 | ||||
Other, net | 13 | 5 | |||||
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts receivable and other assets | (46 | ) | (29 | ) | |||
Inventories | 40 | 29 | |||||
Derivative collateral, net | — | 3 | |||||
Contributions to pension and other postretirement benefit plans, net | (10 | ) | (8 | ) | |||
Accrued property, income and other taxes, net | (77 | ) | 98 | ||||
Accounts payable and other liabilities | (38 | ) | 18 | ||||
Net cash flows from operating activities | 1,028 | 1,173 | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Capital expenditures | (1,466 | ) | (1,162 | ) | |||
Purchases of marketable securities | (224 | ) | (126 | ) | |||
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities | 198 | 127 | |||||
Other, net | 29 | (10 | ) | ||||
Net cash flows from investing activities | (1,463 | ) | (1,171 | ) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Proceeds from long-term debt | 687 | 842 | |||||
Repayments of long-term debt | (350 | ) | (255 | ) | |||
Net repayments of short-term debt | — | (99 | ) | ||||
Other, net | (1 | ) | — | ||||
Net cash flows from financing activities | 336 | 488 | |||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | (99 | ) | 490 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 282 | 26 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 183 | $ | 516 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(1) | General |
MidAmerican Energy Company ("MidAmerican Energy") is a public utility with electric and natural gas operations and is the principal subsidiary of MHC Inc. ("MHC"). MHC is a holding company that conducts no business other than the ownership of its subsidiaries and related corporate services. MHC's nonregulated subsidiaries include Midwest Capital Group, Inc. and MEC Construction Services Co. MHC is the direct, wholly owned subsidiary of MidAmerican Funding, LLC ("MidAmerican Funding"), which is an Iowa limited liability company with Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company ("BHE") as its sole member. BHE is a holding company based in Des Moines, Iowa and is a consolidated subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. ("Berkshire Hathaway").
The unaudited Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and regulations for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for annual financial statements. Management believes the unaudited Financial Statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for the fair presentation of the unaudited Financial Statements as of September 30, 2018, and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
The preparation of the unaudited Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results may differ from the estimates used in preparing the unaudited Financial Statements. Note 2 of Notes to Financial Statements included in MidAmerican Energy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, describes the most significant accounting policies used in the preparation of the unaudited Financial Statements. There have been no significant changes in MidAmerican Energy's assumptions regarding significant accounting estimates and policies during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018.
(2) | New Accounting Pronouncements |
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-02, which creates FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 842, "Leases" and supersedes Topic 840 "Leases." This guidance increases transparency and comparability among entities by recording lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. A lessee should recognize in the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee have not significantly changed from previous guidance. During 2018, the FASB issued several ASUs that clarified the implementation guidance and provided optional transition practical expedients for ASU No. 2016-02 including ASU No. 2018-01 that allows companies to forgo evaluating existing land easements if they were not previously accounted for under ASC Topic 840, "Leases" and ASU No. 2018-11 that allows companies to apply the new guidance at the adoption date with the cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings recognized in the period of adoption. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and is required to be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. MidAmerican Energy plans to adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2019 and is currently in the process of evaluating the impact on its Financial Statements and disclosures included within Notes to Financial Statements.
(3) | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents |
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, which amends FASB ASC Subtopic 230-10, "Statement of Cash Flows - Overall." The amendments in this guidance require that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. MidAmerican Energy adopted this guidance January 1, 2018.
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Cash equivalents consist of funds invested in money market mutual funds, United States Treasury Bills and other investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased. Cash and cash equivalents exclude amounts where availability is restricted by legal requirements, loan agreements or other contractual provisions. Restricted cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, consist substantially of funds restricted for the purpose of constructing solid waste facilities under tax-exempt bond obligation agreements. A reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, as presented in the Statements of Cash Flows is outlined below and disaggregated by the line items in which they appear on the Balance Sheets (in millions):
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31 | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 115 | $ | 172 | |||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents in other current assets | 68 | 110 | |||||
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | $ | 183 | $ | 282 |
(4) | Property, Plant and Equipment, Net |
Property, plant and equipment, net consists of the following (in millions):
As of | |||||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||||
Depreciable Life | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
Utility plant in service, net: | |||||||||
Generation | 20-70 years | $ | 12,500 | $ | 12,107 | ||||
Transmission | 52-75 years | 1,870 | 1,838 | ||||||
Electric distribution | 20-75 years | 3,519 | 3,380 | ||||||
Natural gas distribution | 29-75 years | 1,694 | 1,640 | ||||||
Utility plant in service | 19,583 | 18,965 | |||||||
Accumulated depreciation and amortization | (5,850 | ) | (5,561 | ) | |||||
Utility plant in service, net | 13,733 | 13,404 | |||||||
Nonregulated property, net: | |||||||||
Nonregulated property gross | 20-50 years | 7 | 7 | ||||||
Accumulated depreciation and amortization | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||
Nonregulated property, net | 6 | 6 | |||||||
13,739 | 13,410 | ||||||||
Construction work-in-progress | 1,494 | 797 | |||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | 15,233 | $ | 14,207 |
(5) | Recent Financing Transactions |
Long-Term Debt
In February 2018, MidAmerican Energy issued $700 million of its 3.65% First Mortgage Bonds due 2048. An amount equal to the net proceeds was used to finance capital expenditures, disbursed during the period from February 2, 2017 to October 31, 2017, with respect to investments in MidAmerican Energy's 2,000-megawatt (nameplate capacity) Wind XI project and the repowering of certain of MidAmerican Energy's existing wind facilities, which were previously financed with MidAmerican Energy's general funds.
In March 2018, MidAmerican Energy repaid $350 million of its 5.30% Senior Notes due March 2018.
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Credit Facilities
In April 2018, MidAmerican Energy amended and restated its existing $900 million unsecured credit facility, expiring June 2020, extending the expiration date to June 2021 and reducing from two to one, the available one-year extension options, subject to lender consent.
(6) | Income Taxes |
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("2017 Tax Reform") impacts many areas of income tax law. The most material items include the reduction of the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, and limitations on bonus depreciation for utility property.
In December 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") 118 to assist in the implementation process of 2017 Tax Reform by allowing for calculations to be classified as provisional and subject to remeasurement. There are three different classifications for the accounting: (1) completed, (2) not complete but reasonably estimable or (3) not complete and amounts are not reasonably estimable. MidAmerican Energy has recorded the impacts of 2017 Tax Reform and believes all the impacts to be complete with the exception of interpretations of the bonus depreciation rules. MidAmerican Energy has determined the amounts recorded and the interpretations relating to this item to be provisional and subject to remeasurement during the measurement period upon obtaining the necessary additional information to complete the accounting. MidAmerican Energy believes its interpretations for bonus depreciation to be reasonable; however, as the guidance is clarified estimates may change. The accounting will be completed by December 2018.
Iowa Senate File 2417
In May 2018, Iowa Senate File 2417 was signed into law, which, among other items, reduces the state of Iowa corporate tax rate from 12% to 9.8% and eliminates corporate federal deductibility, both for tax years starting in 2021. GAAP requires the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates be recognized in the period the tax rate change was enacted. As a result of Iowa Senate File 2417, MidAmerican Energy reduced net deferred income tax liabilities $54 million and decreased deferred income tax benefit by $2 million. As it is probable the change in deferred taxes for MidAmerican Energy will be passed back to customers through regulatory mechanisms, MidAmerican Energy increased net regulatory liabilities by $56 million.
A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to MidAmerican Energy's effective income tax rate applicable to income before income tax benefit is as follows:
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
Federal statutory income tax rate | 21 | % | 35 | % | 21 | % | 35 | % | |||
Income tax credits | (95 | ) | (74 | ) | (97 | ) | (74 | ) | |||
State income tax, net of federal income tax benefit | (10 | ) | (10 | ) | (9 | ) | (7 | ) | |||
Effects of ratemaking | (4 | ) | (2 | ) | (7 | ) | (4 | ) | |||
Other, net | — | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | — | |||||
Effective income tax rate | (88 | )% | (52 | )% | (93 | )% | (50 | )% |
Income tax credits relate primarily to production tax credits from MidAmerican Energy's wind-powered generating facilities. Federal renewable electricity production tax credits are earned as energy from qualifying wind-powered generating facilities is produced and sold and are based on a per-kilowatt hour rate pursuant to the applicable federal income tax law. Wind-powered generating facilities are eligible for the credits for 10 years from the date the qualifying generating facilities are placed in-service.
Berkshire Hathaway includes BHE and subsidiaries in its United States federal and Iowa state income tax returns. Consistent with established regulatory practice, MidAmerican Energy's provision for income tax has been computed on a stand-alone basis, and substantially all of its currently payable or receivable income tax is remitted to or received from BHE. MidAmerican Energy received net cash payments for income tax from BHE totaling $232 million and $381 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
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(7) | Employee Benefit Plans |
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, which amends FASB ASC Topic 715, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits." The amendments in this guidance require that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost and report the service cost component in the same line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the statement of operations separately from the service cost component and outside the subtotal of operating income. Additionally, the guidance only allows the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization when applicable. MidAmerican Energy adopted this guidance January 1, 2018 prospectively for the capitalization of the service cost component in the Balance Sheets and retrospectively for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net benefit cost in the Statements of Operations, applying the practical expedient to use the amounts previously disclosed in the Notes to Financial Statements as the estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirement. As a result, for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, amounts other than the service cost for pension and other postretirement benefit plans totaling $4 million and $15 million have been reclassified to other, net in the Statements of Operations of the participating subsidiaries, of which $4 million and $14 million, respectively, relates to MidAmerican Energy.
MidAmerican Energy sponsors a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering a majority of all employees of BHE and its domestic energy subsidiaries other than PacifiCorp and NV Energy, Inc. MidAmerican Energy also sponsors certain postretirement healthcare and life insurance benefits covering substantially all retired employees of BHE and its domestic energy subsidiaries other than PacifiCorp and NV Energy, Inc.
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost for the plans of MidAmerican Energy and the aforementioned affiliates included the following components (in millions):
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Pension: | |||||||||||||||
Service cost | $ | 2 | $ | 2 | $ | 6 | $ | 7 | |||||||
Interest cost | 7 | 8 | 21 | 23 | |||||||||||
Expected return on plan assets | (11 | ) | (11 | ) | (33 | ) | (33 | ) | |||||||
Net amortization | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||
Net periodic benefit credit | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (4 | ) | $ | (2 | ) | |||
Other postretirement: | |||||||||||||||
Service cost | $ | 1 | $ | 2 | $ | 4 | $ | 4 | |||||||
Interest cost | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | |||||||||||
Expected return on plan assets | (3 | ) | (3 | ) | (10 | ) | (10 | ) | |||||||
Net amortization | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | (3 | ) | (3 | ) | |||||||
Net periodic benefit credit | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 1 | $ | (3 | ) | $ | (2 | ) |
Amounts other than the service cost for pension and other postretirement benefit plans are recorded in Other, net in the Statements of Operations. Employer contributions to the pension and other postretirement benefit plans are expected to be $8 million and $1 million, respectively, during 2018. As of September 30, 2018, $5 million and $- million of contributions had been made to the pension and other postretirement benefit plans, respectively.
(8) Asset Retirement Obligations
In January 2018, MidAmerican Energy completed groundwater testing at its coal combustion residuals ("CCR") surface impoundments. Based on this information, MidAmerican Energy discontinued sending CCR to surface impoundments effective April 2018 and will remove all CCR material located below the water table in such facilities, the latter of which is a more extensive closure activity than previously assumed. The incremental cost and timing of such actions is not currently reasonably determinable, but an evaluation of such estimates is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2019, with any necessary adjustments to the related asset retirement obligations recognized at that time.
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(9) | Fair Value Measurements |
The carrying value of MidAmerican Energy's cash, certain cash equivalents, receivables, payables, accrued liabilities and short-term borrowings approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. MidAmerican Energy has various financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on the Financial Statements using inputs from the three levels of the fair value hierarchy. A financial asset or liability classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels are as follows:
• | Level 1 — Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that MidAmerican Energy has the ability to access at the measurement date. |
• | Level 2 — Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs). |
• | Level 3 — Unobservable inputs reflect MidAmerican Energy's judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability since limited market data exists. MidAmerican Energy develops these inputs based on the best information available, including its own data. |
The following table presents MidAmerican Energy's financial assets and liabilities recognized on the Balance Sheets and measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in millions):
Input Levels for Fair Value Measurements | ||||||||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Other(1) | Total | ||||||||||||||||
As of September 30, 2018: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | 4 | $ | 1 | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 3 | |||||||||
Money market mutual funds(2) | 88 | — | — | — | 88 | |||||||||||||||
Debt securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
United States government obligations | 183 | — | — | — | 183 | |||||||||||||||
International government obligations | — | 4 | — | — | 4 | |||||||||||||||
Corporate obligations | — | 47 | — | — | 47 | |||||||||||||||
Municipal obligations | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | |||||||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
United States companies | 300 | — | — | — | 300 | |||||||||||||||
International companies | 6 | — | — | — | 6 | |||||||||||||||
Investment funds | 21 | — | — | — | 21 | |||||||||||||||
$ | 598 | $ | 57 | $ | 1 | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 654 | ||||||||||
Liabilities - commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | (7 | ) | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 3 | $ | (6 | ) |
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Input Levels for Fair Value Measurements | ||||||||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Other(1) | Total | ||||||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2017: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | 3 | $ | 4 | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 5 | |||||||||
Money market mutual funds(2) | 133 | — | — | — | 133 | |||||||||||||||
Debt securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
United States government obligations | 176 | — | — | — | 176 | |||||||||||||||
International government obligations | — | 5 | — | — | 5 | |||||||||||||||
Corporate obligations | — | 36 | — | — | 36 | |||||||||||||||
Municipal obligations | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | |||||||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
United States companies | 288 | — | — | — | 288 | |||||||||||||||
International companies | 7 | — | — | — | 7 | |||||||||||||||
Investment funds | 15 | — | — | — | 15 | |||||||||||||||
$ | 619 | $ | 46 | $ | 4 | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 667 | ||||||||||
Liabilities - commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | (9 | ) | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 2 | $ | (8 | ) |
(1) | Represents netting under master netting arrangements and a net cash collateral receivable of $1 million and $- million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. |
(2) | Amounts are included in cash and cash equivalents and investments and restricted cash and investments on the Balance Sheets. The fair value of these money market mutual funds approximates cost. |
Derivative contracts are recorded on the Balance Sheets as either assets or liabilities and are stated at estimated fair value unless they are designated as normal purchases or normal sales and qualify for the exception afforded by GAAP. When available, the fair value of derivative contracts is estimated using unadjusted quoted prices for identical contracts in the market in which MidAmerican Energy transacts. When quoted prices for identical contracts are not available, MidAmerican Energy uses forward price curves. Forward price curves represent MidAmerican Energy's estimates of the prices at which a buyer or seller could contract today for delivery or settlement at future dates. MidAmerican Energy bases its forward price curves upon market price quotations, when available, or internally developed and commercial models, with internal and external fundamental data inputs. Market price quotations are obtained from independent brokers, exchanges, direct communication with market participants and actual transactions executed by MidAmerican Energy. Market price quotations are generally readily obtainable for the applicable term of MidAmerican Energy's outstanding derivative contracts; therefore, MidAmerican Energy's forward price curves reflect observable market quotes. Market price quotations for certain electricity and natural gas trading hubs are not as readily obtainable due to the length of the contract. Given that limited market data exists for these contracts, as well as for those contracts that are not actively traded, MidAmerican Energy uses forward price curves derived from internal models based on perceived pricing relationships to major trading hubs that are based on unobservable inputs. The estimated fair value of these derivative contracts is a function of underlying forward commodity prices, interest rates, related volatility, counterparty creditworthiness and duration of contracts.
MidAmerican Energy's investments in money market mutual funds and debt and equity securities are stated at fair value. When available, a readily observable quoted market price or net asset value of an identical security in an active market is used to record the fair value. In the absence of a quoted market price or net asset value of an identical security, the fair value is determined using pricing models or net asset values based on observable market inputs and quoted market prices of securities with similar characteristics.
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The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of MidAmerican Energy's commodity derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant Level 3 inputs (in millions):
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Beginning balance | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 3 | $ | (2 | ) | ||||
Changes in fair value recognized in net regulatory assets | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | (4 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||||
Settlements | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | |||||||||||
Ending balance | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (2 | ) | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (2 | ) |
MidAmerican Energy's long-term debt is carried at cost on the Balance Sheets. The fair value of MidAmerican Energy's long-term debt is a Level 2 fair value measurement and has been estimated based upon quoted market prices, where available, or at the present value of future cash flows discounted at rates consistent with comparable maturities with similar credit risks. The carrying value of MidAmerican Energy's variable-rate long-term debt approximates fair value because of the frequent repricing of these instruments at market rates. The following table presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of MidAmerican Energy's long-term debt (in millions):
As of September 30, 2018 | As of December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||
Carrying Value | Fair Value | Carrying Value | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Long-term debt | $ | 5,380 | $ | 5,612 | $ | 5,042 | $ | 5,686 |
(10) | Commitments and Contingencies |
Construction Commitments
During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, MidAmerican Energy entered into firm commitments totaling $563 million for the remainder of 2018 through 2020 related to the construction of wind-powered generating facilities.
Easements
During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, MidAmerican Energy entered into non-cancelable easements with minimum payments totaling $422 million through 2058 for land in Iowa on which some of its wind-powered generating facilities will be located.
Maintenance and Service Contracts
During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, MidAmerican Energy entered into non-cancelable maintenance and service contracts related to wind-powered generating facilities with minimum payment commitments totaling $226 million through 2028.
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.
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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 required refunds, plus interest, for the period from November 2013 through February 2015. Customer refunds relative to the first complaint occurred in February 2017. It is uncertain when the FERC will rule on the second complaint, 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 September 30, 2018, has accrued a $10 million liability for refunds under the second complaint of amounts collected under the higher ROE from March 2015 through May 2016.
Retail Regulated Rates
In December 2017, 2017 Tax Reform was signed into law, reducing the federal tax rate from 35% to 21%. Accumulated deferred income tax balances were re-measured at the 21% rate and regulatory liabilities increased reflective of the probability of such balances being passed back to customers. MidAmerican Energy has made filings or has been in discussions with each of its state rate regulatory bodies proposing either a reduction in retail rates or rate base for all or a portion of the net benefits of 2017 Tax Reform for 2018 and beyond. MidAmerican Energy proposed in Iowa, its largest jurisdiction, to reduce customer revenue via a rider mechanism for the impact of the lower statutory rate on current operations, subject to change depending on actual results, and defer as a regulatory liability the amortization of excess deferred income taxes. The Illinois Commerce Commission approved MidAmerican Energy's Illinois tax reform rate reduction tariff on March 21, 2018, and the Iowa Utilities Board approved MidAmerican Energy's Iowa tax reform rate reduction tariff on April 27, 2018, although it has opened a docket to consider concerns by certain stakeholders. The approved tax reform rider mechanisms for each jurisdiction function consistent with MidAmerican Energy's other bill riders in that over or under collection from customers at any given time is included in accounts receivable, net, on the Balance Sheets.
(11) | Revenue from Contracts with Customers |
Adoption
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, which created FASB ASC Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASC 606") and superseded ASC Topic 605, "Revenue Recognition." The guidance replaced industry-specific guidance and established a single five-step model to identify and recognize revenue from contracts with customers ("Customer Revenue"). The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue upon transfer of control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Following the issuance of ASU No. 2014-09, the FASB issued several ASUs that clarified the implementation guidance for ASU No. 2014-09 but did not change the core principle of the guidance. MidAmerican Energy adopted this guidance for all applicable contracts as of January 1, 2018 under a modified retrospective method, and the adoption did not have a cumulative effect impact at the date of initial adoption.
Customer Revenue
MidAmerican Energy recognizes revenue upon transfer of control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. MidAmerican Energy records sales, franchise and excise taxes collected directly from customers and remitted directly to the taxing authorities on a net basis on the Statements of Operations and, accordingly, they do not impact revenue.
Substantially all of MidAmerican Energy's Customer Revenue is derived from tariff-based sales arrangements approved by various regulatory bodies. MidAmerican Energy's electric wholesale and transmission transactions, including the multi-value projects, are substantially with the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. under its tariffs approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. These tariff-based revenues have performance obligations to deliver energy products and services to customers, which are satisfied over time as energy is delivered or services are provided. Other revenue consists primarily of revenue recognized in accordance with ASC 815, "Derivatives and Hedging."
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Revenue recognized is equal to what MidAmerican Energy has the right to invoice as it corresponds directly with the value to the customer of MidAmerican Energy's performance to date and includes billed and unbilled amounts. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, receivables, net on the Balance Sheets relate substantially to Customer Revenue, including unbilled revenue of $98 million and $89 million, respectively. Payments for amounts billed are generally due from the customer within 30 days of billing. Rates charged for energy products and services are established by regulators or contractual arrangements that establish the transaction price as well as the allocation of price amongst the separate performance obligations. When preliminary regulated rates are permitted to be billed prior to final approval by the applicable regulator, certain revenue collected may be subject to refund and a liability for estimated refunds is accrued.
The following table summarizes MidAmerican Energy's revenue by line of business and customer class, including a reconciliation to MidAmerican Energy's reportable segment information included in Note 12, (in millions):
For the Three-Month Period Ended September 30, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
Electric | Natural Gas | Other | Total | ||||||||||||
Customer Revenue: | |||||||||||||||
Retail: | |||||||||||||||
Residential | $ | 233 | $ | 54 | $ | — | $ | 287 | |||||||
Commercial | 100 | 17 | — | 117 | |||||||||||
Industrial | 268 | 3 | — | 271 | |||||||||||
Natural gas transportation services | — | 8 | — | 8 | |||||||||||
Other retail | 46 | 1 | — | 47 | |||||||||||
Total retail | 647 | 83 | — | 730 | |||||||||||
Wholesale | 62 | 20 | — | 82 | |||||||||||
Multi-value transmission projects | 14 | — | — | 14 | |||||||||||
Other Customer Revenue | — | — | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
Total Customer Revenue | 723 | 103 | 2 | 828 | |||||||||||
Other revenue | 4 | — | — | 4 | |||||||||||
Total operating revenue | $ | 727 | $ | 103 | $ | 2 | $ | 832 |
For the Nine-Month Period Ended September 30, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
Electric | Natural Gas | Other | Total | ||||||||||||
Customer Revenue: | |||||||||||||||
Retail: | |||||||||||||||
Residential | $ | 567 | $ | 287 | $ | — | $ | 854 | |||||||
Commercial | 251 | 100 | — | 351 | |||||||||||
Industrial | 608 | 13 | — | 621 | |||||||||||
Natural gas transportation services | — | 27 | — | 27 | |||||||||||
Other retail | 113 | 1 | — | 114 | |||||||||||
Total retail | 1,539 | 428 | — | 1,967 | |||||||||||
Wholesale | 187 | 75 | — | 262 | |||||||||||
Multi-value transmission projects | 43 | — | — | 43 | |||||||||||
Other Customer Revenue | — | — | 5 | 5 | |||||||||||
Total Customer Revenue | 1,769 | 503 | 5 | 2,277 | |||||||||||
Other revenue | 16 | 2 | — | 18 | |||||||||||
Total operating revenue | $ | 1,785 | $ | 505 | $ | 5 | $ | 2,295 |
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Contract Assets and Liabilities
In the event one of the parties to a contract has performed before the other, MidAmerican Energy would recognize a contract asset or contract liability depending on the relationship between MidAmerican Energy's performance and the customer's payment. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were no contract assets or contract liabilities recorded on the Balance Sheets.
(12) | Segment Information |
MidAmerican Energy has identified two reportable segments: regulated electric and regulated natural gas. The regulated electric segment derives most of its revenue from regulated retail sales of electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and from wholesale sales. The regulated natural gas segment derives most of its revenue from regulated retail sales of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and also obtains revenue by transporting natural gas owned by others through its distribution system. Pricing for regulated electric and regulated natural gas sales are established separately by regulatory agencies; therefore, management also reviews each segment separately to make decisions regarding allocation of resources and in evaluating performance. Common operating costs, interest income, interest expense and income tax expense are allocated to each segment based on certain factors, which primarily relate to the nature of the cost.
The following tables provide information on a reportable segment basis (in millions):
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Operating revenue: | |||||||||||||||
Regulated electric | $ | 727 | $ | 707 | $ | 1,785 | $ | 1,677 | |||||||
Regulated natural gas | 103 | 103 | 505 | 485 | |||||||||||
Other | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | |||||||||||
Total operating revenue | $ | 832 | $ | 813 | $ | 2,295 | $ | 2,166 | |||||||
Operating income: | |||||||||||||||
Regulated electric | $ | 278 | $ | 287 | $ | 392 | $ | 475 | |||||||
Regulated natural gas | 1 | (3 | ) | 52 | 41 | ||||||||||
Other | (1 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||
Total operating income | 278 | 284 | 444 | 516 | |||||||||||
Interest expense | (56 | ) | (54 | ) | (170 | ) | (160 | ) | |||||||
Allowance for borrowed funds | 6 | 4 | 14 | 9 | |||||||||||
Allowance for equity funds | 16 | 11 | 39 | 25 | |||||||||||
Other, net | 13 | 9 | 34 | 27 | |||||||||||
Income before income tax benefit | $ | 257 | $ | 254 | $ | 361 | $ | 417 |
As of | |||||||
September 30, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | ||||||
Assets: | |||||||
Regulated electric | $ | 16,066 | $ | 14,914 | |||
Regulated natural gas | 1,322 | 1,403 | |||||
Other | — | 1 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 17,388 | $ | 16,318 |
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Managers and Member of MidAmerican Funding, LLC
Results of Review of Interim Financial Information
We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of MidAmerican Funding, LLC and subsidiaries ("MidAmerican Funding") as of September 30, 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and of changes in member's equity and cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "interim financial information"). Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying interim financial information for it to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, the consolidated balance sheet of MidAmerican Funding as of December 31, 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in member's equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 23, 2018, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
Basis for Review Results
This interim financial information is the responsibility of MidAmerican Funding's management. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to MidAmerican Funding in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards of the PCAOB and with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America applicable to reviews of interim financial information. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Des Moines, Iowa
November 2, 2018
99
MIDAMERICAN FUNDING, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 115 | $ | 172 | |||
Accounts receivable, net | 385 | 348 | |||||
Income tax receivable | 150 | 64 | |||||
Inventories | 205 | 245 | |||||
Other current assets | 104 | 134 | |||||
Total current assets | 959 | 963 | |||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 15,246 | 14,221 | |||||
Goodwill | 1,270 | 1,270 | |||||
Regulatory assets | 230 | 204 | |||||
Investments and restricted investments | 758 | 730 | |||||
Other assets | 208 | 233 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 18,671 | $ | 17,621 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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MIDAMERICAN FUNDING, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (continued)
(Amounts in millions)
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER'S EQUITY | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 348 | $ | 451 | |||
Accrued interest | 57 | 53 | |||||
Accrued property, income and other taxes | 155 | 133 | |||||
Note payable to affiliate | 158 | 164 | |||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 500 | 350 | |||||
Other current liabilities | 153 | 128 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 1,371 | 1,279 | |||||
Long-term debt | 5,120 | 4,932 | |||||
Regulatory liabilities | 1,645 | 1,661 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 2,319 | 2,235 | |||||
Asset retirement obligations | 546 | 528 | |||||
Other long-term liabilities | 325 | 326 | |||||
Total liabilities | 11,326 | 10,961 | |||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) | |||||||
Member's equity: | |||||||
Paid-in capital | 1,679 | 1,679 | |||||
Retained earnings | 5,666 | 4,981 | |||||
Total member's equity | 7,345 | 6,660 | |||||
Total liabilities and member's equity | $ | 18,671 | $ | 17,621 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
101
MIDAMERICAN FUNDING, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Operating revenue: | |||||||||||||||
Regulated electric | $ | 727 | $ | 707 | $ | 1,785 | $ | 1,677 | |||||||
Regulated natural gas and other | 105 | 108 | 512 | 493 | |||||||||||
Total operating revenue | 832 | 815 | 2,297 | 2,170 | |||||||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Cost of fuel and energy | 140 | 130 | 366 | 342 | |||||||||||
Cost of natural gas purchased for resale and other | 50 | 54 | 297 | 289 | |||||||||||
Operations and maintenance | 201 | 206 | 599 | 563 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 133 | 111 | 499 | 369 | |||||||||||
Property and other taxes | 30 | 30 | 92 | 90 | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 554 | 531 | 1,853 | 1,653 | |||||||||||
Operating income | 278 | 284 | 444 | 517 | |||||||||||
Other income (expense): | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (61 | ) | (59 | ) | (185 | ) | (177 | ) | |||||||
Allowance for borrowed funds | 6 | 4 | 14 | 9 | |||||||||||
Allowance for equity funds | 16 | 11 | 39 | 25 | |||||||||||
Other, net | 12 | 10 | 35 | 28 | |||||||||||
Total other income (expense) | (27 | ) | (34 | ) | (97 | ) | (115 | ) | |||||||
Income before income tax benefit | 251 | 250 | 347 | 402 | |||||||||||
Income tax benefit | (228 | ) | (133 | ) | (338 | ) | (214 | ) | |||||||
Net income | $ | 479 | $ | 383 | $ | 685 | $ | 616 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
102
MIDAMERICAN FUNDING, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBER'S EQUITY (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Paid-in Capital | Retained Earnings | Total Member's Equity | |||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2016 | $ | 1,679 | $ | 4,407 | $ | 6,086 | |||||
Net income | — | 616 | 616 | ||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2017 | $ | 1,679 | $ | 5,023 | $ | 6,702 | |||||
Balance, December 31, 2017 | $ | 1,679 | $ | 4,981 | $ | 6,660 | |||||
Net income | — | 685 | 685 | ||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2018 | $ | 1,679 | $ | 5,666 | $ | 7,345 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
103
MIDAMERICAN FUNDING, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Nine-Month Periods | |||||||
Ended September 30, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | $ | 685 | $ | 616 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 499 | 369 | |||||
Amortization of utility plant to other operating expenses | 26 | 25 | |||||
Allowance for equity funds | (39 | ) | (25 | ) | |||
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits | (35 | ) | 64 | ||||
Other, net | 17 | 4 | |||||
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts receivable and other assets | (42 | ) | (32 | ) | |||
Inventories | 40 | 29 | |||||
Derivative collateral, net | — | 3 | |||||
Contributions to pension and other postretirement benefit plans, net | (10 | ) | (8 | ) | |||
Accrued property, income and other taxes, net | (65 | ) | 96 | ||||
Accounts payable and other liabilities | (41 | ) | 13 | ||||
Net cash flows from operating activities | 1,035 | 1,154 | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Capital expenditures | (1,466 | ) | (1,162 | ) | |||
Purchases of marketable securities | (224 | ) | (126 | ) | |||
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities | 198 | 127 | |||||
Other, net | 29 | (13 | ) | ||||
Net cash flows from investing activities | (1,463 | ) | (1,174 | ) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Proceeds from long-term debt | 687 | 842 | |||||
Repayments of long-term debt | (350 | ) | (255 | ) | |||
Net change in note payable to affiliate | (6 | ) | 21 | ||||
Net repayments of short-term debt | — | (99 | ) | ||||
Other, net | (2 | ) | — | ||||
Net cash flows from financing activities | 329 | 509 | |||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | (99 | ) | 489 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 282 | 27 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 183 | $ | 516 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
104
MIDAMERICAN FUNDING, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(1) | General |
MidAmerican Funding, LLC ("MidAmerican Funding") is an Iowa limited liability company with Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company ("BHE") as its sole member. BHE is a holding company based in Des Moines, Iowa and is a consolidated subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. ("Berkshire Hathaway"). MidAmerican Funding's direct, wholly owned subsidiary is MHC Inc. ("MHC"), which constitutes substantially all of MidAmerican Funding's assets, liabilities and business activities except those related to MidAmerican Funding's long-term debt securities. MHC conducts no business other than the ownership of its subsidiaries and related corporate services. MHC's principal subsidiary is MidAmerican Energy Company ("MidAmerican Energy"), a public utility with electric and natural gas operations. Direct, wholly owned nonregulated subsidiaries of MHC are Midwest Capital Group, Inc. and MEC Construction Services Co.
The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and regulations for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for annual financial statements. Management believes the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for the fair presentation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2018, and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
The preparation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results may differ from the estimates used in preparing the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in MidAmerican Funding's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, describes the most significant accounting policies used in the preparation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. There have been no significant changes in MidAmerican Funding's assumptions regarding significant accounting estimates and policies during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018.
(2) | New Accounting Pronouncements |
Refer to Note 2 of MidAmerican Energy's Notes to Financial Statements.
(3) | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents |
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, which amends FASB ASC Subtopic 230-10, "Statement of Cash Flows - Overall." The amendments in this guidance require that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. MidAmerican Funding adopted this guidance January 1, 2018.
105
Cash equivalents consist of funds invested in money market mutual funds, United States Treasury Bills and other investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased. Cash and cash equivalents exclude amounts where availability is restricted by legal requirements, loan agreements or other contractual provisions. Restricted cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, consist substantially of funds restricted for the purpose of constructing solid waste facilities under tax-exempt bond obligation agreements. A reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is outlined below and disaggregated by the line items in which they appear on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):
As of | |||||||
September 30 | December 31 | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 115 | $ | 172 | |||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents in other current assets | 68 | 110 | |||||
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | $ | 183 | $ | 282 |
(4) | Property, Plant and Equipment, Net |
Refer to Note 4 of MidAmerican Energy's Notes to Financial Statements. In addition to MidAmerican Energy's property, plant and equipment, net, MidAmerican Funding had as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, nonregulated property gross of $24 million and related accumulated depreciation and amortization of $11 million and $10 million, respectively, which consisted primarily of a corporate aircraft owned by MHC.
(5) | Recent Financing Transactions |
Refer to Note 5 of MidAmerican Energy's Notes to Financial Statements.
(6) | Income Taxes |
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("2017 Tax Reform") impacts many areas of income tax law. The most material items include the reduction of the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, and limitations on bonus depreciation for utility property.
In December 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") 118 to assist in the implementation process of 2017 Tax Reform by allowing for calculations to be classified as provisional and subject to remeasurement. There are three different classifications for the accounting: (1) completed, (2) not complete but reasonably estimable or (3) not complete and amounts are not reasonably estimable. MidAmerican Funding has recorded the impacts of 2017 Tax Reform and believes all the impacts to be complete with the exception of interpretations of the bonus depreciation rules. MidAmerican Funding has determined the amounts recorded and the interpretations relating to this item to be provisional and subject to remeasurement during the measurement period upon obtaining the necessary additional information to complete the accounting. MidAmerican Funding believes its interpretations for bonus depreciation to be reasonable; however, as the guidance is clarified estimates may change. The accounting will be completed by December 2018.
Iowa Senate File 2417
In May 2018, Iowa Senate File 2417 was signed into law, which, among other items, reduces the state of Iowa corporate tax rate from 12% to 9.8% and eliminates corporate federal deductibility, both for tax years starting in 2021. GAAP requires the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates be recognized in the period the tax rate change was enacted. As a result of Iowa Senate File 2417, MidAmerican Funding reduced net deferred income tax liabilities $54 million and decreased deferred income tax benefit by $2 million. As it is probable the change in deferred taxes for MidAmerican Energy will be passed back to customers through regulatory mechanisms, MidAmerican Funding increased net regulatory liabilities by $56 million.
106
A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to MidAmerican Funding's effective income tax rate applicable to income before income tax benefit is as follows:
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
Federal statutory income tax rate | 21 | % | 35 | % | 21 | % | 35 | % | |||
Income tax credits | (97 | ) | (76 | ) | (101 | ) | (76 | ) | |||
State income tax, net of federal income tax benefit | (10 | ) | (10 | ) | (10 | ) | (8 | ) | |||
Effects of ratemaking | (5 | ) | (2 | ) | (7 | ) | (4 | ) | |||
Effective income tax rate | (91 | )% | (53 | )% | (97 | )% | (53 | )% |
Income tax credits relate primarily to production tax credits from MidAmerican Energy's wind-powered generating facilities. Federal renewable electricity production tax credits are earned as energy from qualifying wind-powered generating facilities is produced and sold and are based on a per-kilowatt hour rate pursuant to the applicable federal income tax law. Wind-powered generating facilities are eligible for the credits for 10 years from the date the qualifying generating facilities are placed in-service.
Berkshire Hathaway includes BHE and subsidiaries in its United States federal and Iowa state income tax returns. Consistent with established regulatory practice, MidAmerican Funding's and MidAmerican Energy's provisions for income tax have been computed on a stand-alone basis, and substantially all of their currently payable or receivable income tax is remitted to or received from BHE. MidAmerican Funding received net cash payments for income tax from BHE totaling $248 million and $386 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
(7) | Employee Benefit Plans |
Refer to Note 7 of MidAmerican Energy's Notes to Financial Statements.
(8) | Asset Retirement Obligations |
Refer to Note 8 of MidAmerican Energy's Notes to Financial Statements.
(9) | Fair Value Measurements |
Refer to Note 9 of MidAmerican Energy's Notes to Financial Statements. MidAmerican Funding's long-term debt is carried at cost on the Consolidated Financial Statements. The fair value of MidAmerican Funding's long-term debt is a Level 2 fair value measurement and has been estimated based upon quoted market prices, where available, or at the present value of future cash flows discounted at rates consistent with comparable maturities with similar credit risks. The carrying value of MidAmerican Funding's variable-rate long-term debt approximates fair value because of the frequent repricing of these instruments at market rates. The following table presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of MidAmerican Funding's long-term debt (in millions):
As of September 30, 2018 | As of December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||
Carrying Value | Fair Value | Carrying Value | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Long-term debt | $ | 5,620 | $ | 5,908 | $ | 5,282 | $ | 6,006 |
(10) | 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 10 of MidAmerican Energy's Notes to Financial Statements.
107
(11) | Revenue from Contracts with Customers |
Refer to Note 11 of MidAmerican Energy's Notes to Financial Statements. Additionally, MidAmerican Funding had $- million and $2 million of other Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 revenue for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, respectively.
(12) | Segment Information |
MidAmerican Funding has identified two reportable segments: regulated electric and regulated natural gas. The regulated electric segment derives most of its revenue from regulated retail sales of electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and from wholesale sales. The regulated natural gas segment derives most of its revenue from regulated retail sales of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and also obtains revenue by transporting natural gas owned by others through its distribution system. Pricing for regulated electric and regulated natural gas sales are established separately by regulatory agencies; therefore, management also reviews each segment separately to make decisions regarding allocation of resources and in evaluating performance. Common operating costs, interest income, interest expense and income tax expense are allocated to each segment based on certain factors, which primarily relate to the nature of the cost. "Other" in the tables below consists of the financial results and assets of nonregulated operations, MHC and MidAmerican Funding.
The following tables provide information on a reportable segment basis (in millions):
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Operating revenue: | |||||||||||||||
Regulated electric | $ | 727 | $ | 707 | $ | 1,785 | $ | 1,677 | |||||||
Regulated natural gas | 103 | 103 | 505 | 485 | |||||||||||
Other | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 | |||||||||||
Total operating revenue | $ | 832 | $ | 815 | $ | 2,297 | $ | 2,170 | |||||||
Operating income: | |||||||||||||||
Regulated electric | $ | 278 | $ | 287 | $ | 392 | $ | 475 | |||||||
Regulated natural gas | 1 | (3 | ) | 52 | 41 | ||||||||||
Other | (1 | ) | — | — | 1 | ||||||||||
Total operating income | 278 | 284 | 444 | 517 | |||||||||||
Interest expense | (61 | ) | (59 | ) | (185 | ) | (177 | ) | |||||||
Allowance for borrowed funds | 6 | 4 | 14 | 9 | |||||||||||
Allowance for equity funds | 16 | 11 | 39 | 25 | |||||||||||
Other, net | 12 | 10 | 35 | 28 | |||||||||||
Income before income tax benefit | $ | 251 | $ | 250 | $ | 347 | $ | 402 |
As of | |||||||
September 30, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | ||||||
Assets(1): | |||||||
Regulated electric | $ | 17,257 | $ | 16,105 | |||
Regulated natural gas | 1,401 | 1,482 | |||||
Other | 13 | 34 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 18,671 | $ | 17,621 |
(1) | Assets by reportable segment reflect the assignment of goodwill to applicable reporting units. |
108
Item 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
MidAmerican Funding is an Iowa limited liability company whose sole member is BHE. MidAmerican Funding owns all of the outstanding common stock of MHC Inc., which owns all of the common stock of MidAmerican Energy, Midwest Capital Group, Inc. and MEC Construction Services Co. MidAmerican Energy is a public utility company headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. MHC Inc., MidAmerican Funding and BHE are also headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa.
The following is management's discussion and analysis of certain significant factors that have affected the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of MidAmerican Funding and its subsidiaries and MidAmerican Energy as presented in this joint filing. Information in Management's Discussion and Analysis related to MidAmerican Energy, whether or not segregated, also relates to MidAmerican Funding. Information related to other subsidiaries of MidAmerican Funding pertains only to the discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of MidAmerican Funding. Where necessary, discussions have been segregated under the heading "MidAmerican Funding" to allow the reader to identify information applicable only to MidAmerican Funding. Explanations include management's best estimate of the impact of weather, customer growth and other factors. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the historical unaudited Financial Statements and Notes to Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q. MidAmerican Energy's and MidAmerican Funding's actual results in the future could differ significantly from the historical results.
Results of Operations for the Third Quarter and First Nine Months of 2018 and 2017
Overview
MidAmerican Energy -
MidAmerican Energy's net income for the third quarter of 2018 was $483 million, an increase of $98 million, or 25%, compared to 2017 primarily due to a higher income tax benefit of $95 million from a $53 million increase in recognized production tax credits and a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform, higher electric utility margin of $10 million, higher allowances for borrowed and equity funds of $7 million due to higher construction balances for wind-powered generation, and higher natural gas utility margin of $4 million, partially offset by higher depreciation and amortization of $22 million from additional plant in-service and Iowa revenue sharing. Electric utility margin increased due to higher retail customer volumes of 6% primarily from industrial growth and the favorable impact of weather, higher wholesale volumes of 37% and higher recoveries through bill riders, partially offset by lower average retail rates of $33 million predominantly from the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform and higher generation and purchased power costs.
MidAmerican Energy's net income for the first nine months of 2018 was $695 million, an increase of $71 million, or 11%, compared to 2017 primarily due to a higher income tax benefit of $127 million from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform and a $44 million increase in recognized production tax credits, higher electric utility margin of $84 million, higher allowances for borrowed and equity funds of $19 million due to higher construction balances for wind-powered generation and higher natural gas utility margin of $12 million, partially offset by higher depreciation and amortization of $130 million from Iowa revenue sharing and additional plant in-service, higher wind-powered generation maintenance of $17 million, higher fossil-fueled generation maintenance of $12 million and increases in other operating expenses. Electric utility margin increased due to higher recoveries through bill riders, higher retail customer volumes of 7% from industrial growth and the favorable impact of weather and higher electric wholesale revenues from higher average prices, partially offset by lower average retail rates of $86 million predominantly from the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform and higher generation and purchased power costs.
MidAmerican Funding -
MidAmerican Funding's net income for the third quarter of 2018 was $479 million, an increase of $96 million, or 25%, compared to 2017. MidAmerican Funding's net income for the first nine months of 2018 was $685 million, an increase of $69 million, or 11%, compared to 2017. The increases were primarily due to the changes in MidAmerican Energy's earnings discussed above.
109
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
Management utilizes various key financial measures that are prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as non-GAAP financial measures such as, Electric Utility Margin and Natural Gas Utility Margin, to help evaluate results of operations. Electric Utility Margin is calculated as regulated electric operating revenue less cost of fuel and energy, which are captions presented on the Statements of Operations. Natural Gas Utility Margin is calculated as regulated natural gas operating revenue less regulated cost of natural gas purchased for resale, which are included in regulated natural gas and other and cost of natural gas purchased for resale and other, respectively, on the Statements of Operations.
MidAmerican Energy's cost of fuel and energy and regulated cost of natural gas purchased for resale are directly recovered from its retail customers through regulatory recovery mechanisms, and as a result, changes in MidAmerican Energy's revenue from the related recovery mechanisms are comparable to changes in such expenses. As such, management believes Electric Utility Margin and Natural Gas Utility Margin more appropriately and concisely explains profitability rather than a discussion of revenue and cost of sales separately. Management believes the presentation of Electric Utility Margin and Natural Gas Utility Margin provides meaningful and valuable insight into the information management considers important to running the business and a measure of comparability to others in the industry.
Electric Utility Margin and Natural Gas Utility Margin is not a measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income, which is the most comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP. The following table provides a reconciliation of utility margin to MidAmerican Energy's operating income (in millions):
Third Quarter | First Nine Months | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Change | 2018 | 2017 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Electric utility margin: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regulated electric operating revenue | $ | 727 | $ | 707 | $ | 20 | 3 | % | $ | 1,785 | $ | 1,677 | $ | 108 | 6 | % | ||||||||||||
Cost of fuel and energy | 140 | 130 | 10 | 8 | 366 | 342 | 24 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Electric utility margin | 587 | 577 | 10 | 2 | 1,419 | 1,335 | 84 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
�� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas utility margin: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regulated natural gas operating revenue | 103 | 103 | — | — | % | 505 | 485 | 20 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
Cost of natural gas purchased for resale | 50 | 54 | (4 | ) | (7 | ) | 296 | 288 | 8 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas utility margin | 53 | 49 | 4 | 8 | 209 | 197 | 12 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Utility margin | 640 | 626 | 14 | 2 | % | 1,628 | 1,532 | 96 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
Other operating revenue | 2 | 3 | (1 | ) | (33 | ) | 5 | 4 | 1 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||
Operations and maintenance | 201 | 204 | (3 | ) | (1 | )% | 598 | 561 | 37 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 133 | 111 | 22 | 20 | 499 | 369 | 130 | 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Property and other taxes | 30 | 30 | — | — | 92 | 90 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operating income | $ | 278 | $ | 284 | $ | (6 | ) | (2 | )% | $ | 444 | $ | 516 | $ | (72 | ) | (14 | ) |
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Regulated Electric Utility Margin
A comparison of key operating results related to regulated electric utility margin is as follows:
Third Quarter | First Nine Months | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Change | 2018 | 2017 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electric utility margin (in millions): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating revenue | $ | 727 | $ | 707 | $ | 20 | 3 | % | $ | 1,785 | $ | 1,677 | $ | 108 | 6 | % | |||||||||||||
Cost of fuel and energy | 140 | 130 | 10 | 8 | 366 | 342 | 24 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Electric utility margin | $ | 587 | $ | 577 | $ | 10 | 2 | $ | 1,419 | $ | 1,335 | $ | 84 | 6 | |||||||||||||||
Electricity Sales (GWh): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential | 1,952 | 1,790 | 162 | 9 | % | 5,307 | 4,753 | 554 | 12 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Commercial | 1,025 | 987 | 38 | 4 | 2,944 | 2,796 | 148 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Industrial | 3,550 | 3,366 | 184 | 5 | 10,158 | 9,621 | 537 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other | 415 | 411 | 4 | 1 | 1,218 | 1,185 | 33 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total retail | 6,942 | 6,554 | 388 | 6 | 19,627 | 18,355 | 1,272 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wholesale | 2,160 | 1,571 | 589 | 37 | 7,179 | 7,162 | 17 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total sales | 9,102 | 8,125 | 977 | 12 | 26,806 | 25,517 | 1,289 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Average number of retail customers (in thousands) | 780 | 771 | 9 | 1 | % | 778 | 769 | 9 | 1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Average revenue per MWh: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retail | $ | 93.39 | $ | 98.15 | $ | (4.76 | ) | (5 | )% | $ | 78.63 | $ | 78.62 | $ | 0.01 | — | % | ||||||||||||
Wholesale | $ | 27.19 | $ | 25.57 | $ | 1.62 | 6 | % | $ | 25.09 | $ | 23.90 | $ | 1.19 | 5 | % | |||||||||||||
Heating degree days | 91 | 44 | 47 | * | 4,126 | 3,203 | 923 | 29 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cooling degree days | 784 | 752 | 32 | 4 | % | 1,295 | 1,098 | 197 | 18 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Sources of energy (GWh)(1): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coal | 4,559 | 4,354 | 205 | 5 | % | 11,293 | 11,019 | 274 | 2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Nuclear | 990 | 961 | 29 | 3 | 2,838 | 2,820 | 18 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas | 275 | 257 | 18 | 7 | 549 | 274 | 275 | 100 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind and other(2) | 2,428 | 1,929 | 499 | 26 | 9,693 | 9,129 | 564 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total energy generated | 8,252 | 7,501 | 751 | 10 | 24,373 | 23,242 | 1,131 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Energy purchased | 1,054 | 812 | 242 | 30 | 3,010 | 2,756 | 254 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 9,306 | 8,313 | 993 | 12 | 27,383 | 25,998 | 1,385 | 5 |
* | Not meaningful. |
(1) | GWh amounts are net of energy used by the related generating facilities. |
(2) | All or some of the renewable energy attributes associated with generation from these generating facilities may be: (a) used in future years to comply with renewable portfolio standards or other regulatory requirements or (b) sold to third parties in the form of renewable energy credits or other environmental commodities. |
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Regulated electric utility margin increased $10 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to:
(1) | Higher wholesale utility margin of $14 million due to higher margins per unit, reflecting higher market prices and lower costs, and higher sales volumes; |
(2) | Higher retail utility margin of $1 million due to - |
• | an increase of $25 million from non-weather-related usage factors, including higher industrial sales volumes; |
• | an increase of $4 million from higher recoveries through bill riders, including lower electric demand-side management ("DSM") program revenue of $2 million (offset in operations and maintenance expense); |
• | an increase of $4 million from various other revenue; |
• | an increase of $2 million from the impact of weather; partially offset by |
• | a decrease of $33 million in average rates predominantly from the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform; and |
• | a decrease of $1 million from higher retail energy costs; partially offset by |
(3) | Lower Multi-Value Projects ("MVP") transmission revenue of $5 million due to refund accruals. |
Regulated electric utility margin increased $84 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to:
(1) | Higher retail utility margin of $69 million due to - |
• | an increase of $91 million from higher recoveries through bill riders, including $10 million of electric DSM program revenue (offset in operations and maintenance expense); |
• | an increase of $52 million from non-weather-related usage factors, including higher industrial sales volumes; |
• | an increase of $30 million from the impact of weather; |
• | an increase of $4 million from various other revenue; partially offset by |
• | a decrease of $86 million in averages rates, predominantly from the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform; and |
• | a decrease of $22 million from higher retail energy costs due to higher generation and purchased power costs; |
(2) | Higher wholesale gross margin of $16 million due to higher margins per unit from higher market prices and lower fuel costs; partially offset by |
(3) | Lower MVP transmission revenue of $1 million due to refund accruals. |
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Regulated Natural Gas Utility Margin
A comparison of key operating results related to regulated natural gas utility margin is as follows:
Third Quarter | First Nine Months | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Change | 2018 | 2017 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas utility margin (in millions): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating revenue | $ | 103 | $ | 103 | $ | — | — | % | $ | 505 | $ | 485 | $ | 20 | 4 | % | |||||||||||||
Cost of natural gas purchased for resale | 50 | 54 | (4 | ) | (7 | ) | 296 | 288 | 8 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas utility margin | $ | 53 | $ | 49 | $ | 4 | 8 | $ | 209 | $ | 197 | $ | 12 | 6 | |||||||||||||||
Natural gas throughput (000's Dth): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential | 2,773 | 2,773 | — | — | % | 36,493 | 29,442 | 7,051 | 24 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Commercial | 1,651 | 1,788 | (137 | ) | (8 | ) | 17,661 | 14,797 | 2,864 | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||
Industrial | 985 | 717 | 268 | 37 | 3,690 | 3,070 | 620 | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other | 3 | 2 | 1 | 50 | 33 | 29 | 4 | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total retail sales | 5,412 | 5,280 | 132 | 3 | 57,877 | 47,338 | 10,539 | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wholesale sales | 7,569 | 8,815 | (1,246 | ) | (14 | ) | 27,940 | 29,111 | (1,171 | ) | (4 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total sales | 12,981 | 14,095 | (1,114 | ) | (8 | ) | 85,817 | 76,449 | 9,368 | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas transportation service | 21,876 | 19,784 | 2,092 | 11 | 73,968 | 65,431 | 8,537 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total natural gas throughput | 34,857 | 33,879 | 978 | 3 | 159,785 | 141,880 | 17,905 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Average number of retail customers (in thousands) | 754 | 746 | 8 | 1 | % | 755 | 747 | 8 | 1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Average revenue per retail Dth sold | $ | 13.90 | $ | 13.33 | $ | 0.57 | 4 | % | $ | 6.95 | $ | 7.93 | $ | (0.98 | ) | (12) | % | ||||||||||||
Average cost of natural gas per retail Dth sold | $ | 5.48 | $ | 5.56 | $ | (0.08 | ) | (1) | % | $ | 3.81 | $ | 4.33 | $ | (0.52 | ) | (12) | % | |||||||||||
Combined retail and wholesale average cost of natural gas per Dth sold | $ | 3.86 | $ | 3.82 | $ | 0.04 | 1 | % | $ | 3.44 | $ | 3.76 | $ | (0.32 | ) | (9) | % | ||||||||||||
Heating degree days | 92 | 45 | 47 | * | 4,269 | 3,406 | 863 | 25 | % |
* | Not meaningful. |
Regulated natural gas utility margin increased $4 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 due to:
(1) | An increase of $5 million from rate and non-weather-related usage factors, including the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform; partially offset by |
(2) | A decrease of $1 million from lower natural gas DSM program revenue (offset in operations and maintenance expense). |
Regulated natural gas utility margin increased $12 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 due to:
(1) | An increase of $13 million from higher retail sales volumes due to the impact of colder temperatures; |
(2) | An increase of $1 million from higher natural gas transportation services; partially offset by |
(3) | A decrease of $2 million from rate and non-weather-related usage factors, including the impact of a lower federal tax rate due to 2017 Tax Reform. |
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Operating Expenses
MidAmerican Energy -
Operations and maintenance decreased $3 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to lower DSM program expense of $3 million, which is recoverable in bill riders and offset in operating revenue, lower fossil-fueled generation maintenance of $3 million due to the timing of planned outages, and lower administrative and other costs, partially offset by higher wind-powered generation maintenance from additional wind turbines of $5 million.
Operations and maintenance increased $37 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher wind-powered generation maintenance from additional wind turbines of $17 million, higher fossil-fueled generation maintenance of $12 million from planned outages, higher DSM program expense of $9 million and higher transmission operations costs from MISO of $3 million, both of which are recoverable in bill riders and offset in operating revenue, partially offset by lower nuclear operations and maintenance expense of $4 million.
Depreciation and amortization increased $22 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 due to $18 million related to wind-powered generating facilities and other plant placed in-service and $4 million from higher accruals for Iowa revenue sharing.
Depreciation and amortization increased $130 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 due to higher accruals for Iowa revenue sharing of $83 million and $47 million related to wind-powered generating facilities and other plant placed in-service.
Other Income (Expense)
MidAmerican Energy -
Interest expense increased $2 million and $10 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to 2017 primarily due to higher interest expense from the issuance of $700 million of first mortgage bonds in February 2018, partially offset by the redemption of $350 million of senior notes in March 2018, and additionally for the first nine months comparison, the issuance of $850 million of first mortgage bonds in February 2017.
Allowance for borrowed and equity funds increased $7 million and $19 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to 2017 primarily due to higher construction work-in-progress balances related to wind-powered generation.
Other, net increased $4 million and $7 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to 2017 primarily due to higher returns on corporate-owned life insurance policies, higher income related to amounts other than the service cost for MidAmerican Energy's pension and other postretirement benefit plans and higher interest income from favorable cash positions.
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Income Tax Benefit
MidAmerican Energy -
MidAmerican Energy's income tax benefit increased $95 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017, and the effective tax rate was (88)% for 2018 and (52)% for 2017. For the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017, MidAmerican Energy's income tax benefit increased $127 million in 2018 compared to 2017, and the effective tax rate was (93)% for 2018 and (50)% for 2017. The changes in the effective tax rates for 2018 compared to 2017 were substantially due to the reduction in the United States federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018, the recognition of production tax credits and the effects of ratemaking.
Production tax credits are recognized in earnings for interim periods based on the application of an estimated annual effective tax rate to pretax earnings. Federal renewable electricity production tax credits are earned as energy from qualifying wind-powered generating facilities is produced and sold and are based on a per-kilowatt hour rate pursuant to the applicable federal income tax law. Wind-powered generating facilities are eligible for the credits for 10 years from the date the qualifying generating facilities were placed in-service. Production tax credits recognized in the first nine months of 2018 were $349 million, or $43 million higher than the first nine months of 2017, while production tax credits earned in the first nine months of 2018 were $220 million, or $20 million higher than the first nine months of 2017 primarily due to wind-powered generation placed in-service in late 2017, partially offset by facilities no longer eligible to earn production tax credits. The difference between production tax credits recognized and earned of $129 million as of September 30, 2018, will be reflected in earnings over the remainder of 2018.
MidAmerican Funding -
MidAmerican Funding's income tax benefit increased $95 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017, and the effective tax rate was (91)% for 2018 and (53)% for 2017. For the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017, MidAmerican Funding's income tax benefit increased $124 million of 2018 compared to 2017, and the effective tax rate was (97)% for 2018 and (53)% for 2017. The changes in the effective tax rates were principally due to the factors discussed for MidAmerican Energy.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2018, MidAmerican Energy's and MidAmerican Funding's total net liquidity were as follows (in millions):
MidAmerican Energy: | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 115 | ||
Credit facilities, maturing 2019 and 2021 | 905 | |||
Less: | ||||
Tax-exempt bond support | (370 | ) | ||
Net credit facilities | 535 | |||
MidAmerican Energy total net liquidity | $ | 650 | ||
MidAmerican Funding: | ||||
MidAmerican Energy total net liquidity | $ | 650 | ||
MHC, Inc. credit facility, maturing 2019 | 4 | |||
MidAmerican Funding total net liquidity | $ | 654 |
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Operating Activities
MidAmerican Energy's net cash flows from operating activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, were $1,028 million and $1,173 million, respectively. MidAmerican Funding's net cash flows from operating activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, were $1,035 million and $1,154 million, respectively. Cash flows from operating activities decreased primarily due to the timing of MidAmerican Energy's income tax cash flows with BHE and greater payments to vendors, partially offset by higher cash gross margin for MidAmerican Energy's regulated electric business. MidAmerican Energy's income tax cash flows with BHE totaled net cash receipts in 2018 and 2017 of $232 million and $381 million, respectively. The timing of MidAmerican Energy's income tax cash flows from period to period can be significantly affected by the estimated federal income tax payment methods and assumptions for each payment date.
In December 2017, 2017 Tax Reform was enacted which, among other items, reduced the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 and eliminated bonus depreciation on qualifying regulated utility assets acquired after December 31, 2017, but did not impact production tax credits. MidAmerican Energy believes for qualifying assets acquired on or before December 31, bonus depreciation will be available for 2018 and 2019. MidAmerican Energy is required to pass the benefits of lower tax expense to customers in the form of either rate reductions or rate base reductions. MidAmerican Energy expects lower revenue and income tax as well as lower bonus depreciation benefits compared to 2017 as a result of 2017 Tax Reform and related regulatory treatment. MidAmerican Energy does not expect 2017 Tax Reform and related regulatory treatment to have a material adverse impact on its cash flows. Refer to Regulatory Matters for further discussion of regulatory matters associated with 2017 Tax Reform.
Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") rules provide for re-establishment of the production tax credit for an existing wind-powered generating facility upon the replacement of a significant portion of its components. Such component replacement is commonly referred to as repowering. If the degree of component replacement in such projects meets IRS guidelines, production tax credits are re-established for ten years at rates that depend upon the date in which construction begins, as noted in the above paragraph. MidAmerican Energy's current repowering projects are expected to earn production tax credits at 100% of the value of such credits.
Investing Activities
MidAmerican Energy's net cash flows from investing activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, were $(1,463) million and $(1,171) million, respectively. MidAmerican Funding's net cash flows from investing activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, were $(1,463) million and $(1,174) million, respectively. Net cash flows from investing activities consist almost entirely of capital expenditures, which increased due to higher wind-powered generating facility construction expenditures. Purchases and proceeds related to marketable securities primarily consist of activity within the Quad Cities Generating Station nuclear decommissioning trust.
Financing Activities
MidAmerican Energy's net cash flows from financing activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $336 million and $488 million, respectively. MidAmerican Funding's net cash flows from financing activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, were $329 million and $509 million, respectively. In February 2018, MidAmerican Energy issued $700 million of its 3.65% First Mortgage Bonds due 2048. An amount equal to the net proceeds was used to finance capital expenditures, disbursed during the period from February 2, 2017 to October 31, 2017, with respect to investments in MidAmerican Energy's 2,000-megawatt (nameplate capacity) Wind XI project and the repowering of certain of MidAmerican Energy's existing wind facilities, which were previously financed with MidAmerican Energy's general funds. In March 2018, MidAmerican Energy repaid $350 million of its 5.30% Senior Notes due March 2018. In February 2017, MidAmerican Energy issued $375 million of its 3.10% First Mortgage Bonds due 2027 and $475 million of its 3.95% First Mortgage Bonds due 2047. An amount equal to the net proceeds was used to finance capital expenditures disbursed during the period from February 2, 2016 to February 1, 2017, with respect to investments in MidAmerican Energy's 551-megawatt Wind X and 2,000-megawatt Wind XI projects, which were previously financed with MidAmerican Energy's general funds. In February 2017, MidAmerican Energy redeemed in full through optional redemption $250 million of its 5.95% Senior Notes due July 2017. Through its commercial paper program, MidAmerican Energy made payments totaling $99 million in 2017. MidAmerican Funding repaid $6 million and received $21 million in 2018 and 2017, respectively, through its note payable with BHE.
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Debt Authorizations and Related Matters
MidAmerican Energy has authority from the FERC to issue through July 31, 2020, commercial paper and bank notes aggregating $1.3 billion at interest rates not to exceed the applicable London Interbank Offered Rate plus a spread of 400 basis points. MidAmerican Energy has a $900 million unsecured credit facility expiring in June 2021 for which MidAmerican Energy may request that the banks extend the credit facility up to one year. The credit facility, which supports MidAmerican Energy's commercial paper program and its variable-rate tax-exempt bond obligations and provides for the issuance of letters of credit, has a variable interest rate based on the Eurodollar rate or a base rate, at MidAmerican Energy's option, plus a spread that varies based on MidAmerican Energy's credit ratings for senior unsecured long-term debt securities. Additionally, MidAmerican Energy has a $5 million unsecured credit facility for general corporate purposes.
MidAmerican Energy currently has an effective registration statement with the SEC to issue an indeterminate amount of long-term debt securities through June 26, 2021. Additionally, MidAmerican Energy has authorization from the FERC to issue, through August 31, 2019, preferred stock up to an aggregate of $500 million and long-term debt securities up to an aggregate of $1.5 billion at interest rates not to exceed the applicable United States Treasury rate plus a spread of 175 basis points and from the ICC to issue preferred stock up to an aggregate of $500 million through November 1, 2020, and additional long-term debt securities up to an aggregate of $1.5 billion, of which $500 million expires March 15, 2019, and $1.0 billion expires November 1, 2020.
In conjunction with the March 1999 merger, MidAmerican Energy committed to the IUB to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain an investment grade rating on its long-term debt and to maintain its common equity level above 42% of total capitalization unless circumstances beyond its control result in the common equity level decreasing to below 39% of total capitalization. MidAmerican Energy must seek the approval of the IUB of a reasonable utility capital structure if MidAmerican Energy's common equity level decreases below 42% of total capitalization, unless the decrease is beyond the control of MidAmerican Energy. MidAmerican Energy is also required to seek the approval of the IUB if MidAmerican Energy's equity level decreases to below 39%, even if the decrease is due to circumstances beyond the control of MidAmerican Energy. If MidAmerican Energy's common equity level were to drop below the required thresholds, MidAmerican Energy's ability to issue debt could be restricted. As of September 30, 2018, MidAmerican Energy's common equity ratio was 52% computed on a basis consistent with its commitment.
Future Uses of Cash
MidAmerican Energy and MidAmerican Funding have available a variety of sources of liquidity and capital resources, both internal and external, including net cash flows from operating activities, public and private debt offerings, the issuance of commercial paper, the use of unsecured revolving credit facilities, and other sources. These sources are expected to provide funds required for current operations, capital expenditures, debt retirements and other capital requirements. The availability and terms under which MidAmerican Energy and MidAmerican Funding have access to external financing depends on a variety of factors, including their credit ratings, investors' judgment of risk and conditions in the overall capital markets, including the condition of the utility industry.
Capital Expenditures
MidAmerican Energy has significant future capital requirements. Capital expenditure needs are reviewed regularly by management and may change significantly as a result of these reviews, which may consider, among other factors, impacts to customers' rates; changes in environmental and other rules and regulations; outcomes of regulatory proceedings; changes in income tax laws; general business conditions; load projections; system reliability standards; the cost and efficiency of construction labor, equipment and materials; commodity prices; and the cost and availability of capital.
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MidAmerican Energy's historical and forecast capital expenditures, each of which exclude amounts for non-cash equity AFUDC and other non-cash items, are as follows (in millions):
Nine-Month Periods | Annual | ||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Forecast | ||||||||||
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | |||||||||
Wind-powered generation | $ | 455 | $ | 704 | $ | 1,254 | |||||
Wind-powered generation repowering | 272 | 233 | 284 | ||||||||
Transmission Multi-Value Projects | 18 | 33 | 52 | ||||||||
Other | 417 | 496 | 775 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 1,162 | $ | 1,466 | $ | 2,365 |
MidAmerican Energy's forecast capital expenditures for 2018 include the following:
• | The construction of wind-powered generating facilities in Iowa. In August 2016, the IUB issued an order approving ratemaking principles related to MidAmerican Energy's construction of up to 2,000 MW (nominal ratings) of additional wind-powered generating facilities expected to be placed in service in 2017 through 2019, including 334 MW (nominal ratings) placed in-service in 2017. The ratemaking principles establish a cost cap of $3.6 billion, including AFUDC, and a fixed rate of return on equity of 11.0% over the proposed 40-year useful lives of those facilities in any future Iowa rate proceeding. The cost cap ensures that as long as total costs are below the cap, the investment will be deemed prudent in any future Iowa rate proceeding. Additionally, the ratemaking principles modify the revenue sharing mechanism in effect prior to 2018. The revised sharing mechanism, which was effective January 1, 2018, will be triggered each year by actual equity returns exceeding a weighted average return on equity for MidAmerican Energy calculated annually. Pursuant to the change in revenue sharing, MidAmerican Energy will share 100% of the revenue in excess of this trigger with customers. Such revenue sharing will reduce coal and nuclear generation rate base, which is intended to mitigate future base rate increases. MidAmerican Energy expects all of these wind-powered generating facilities to qualify for 100% of production tax credits available. |
• | The repowering of certain existing wind-powered generating facilities in Iowa. This project entails the replacement of significant components of the oldest turbines in MidAmerican Energy's fleet. The energy production from such repowered facilities is expected to qualify for 100% of the federal production tax credits available for ten years following each facility's return to service. Under MidAmerican Energy's Iowa electric tariff, federal production tax credits related to facilities that were in-service prior to 2013 must be included in its Iowa energy adjustment clause. In August 2017, the IUB approved a tariff change that excludes from MidAmerican Energy's Iowa energy adjustment clause any future federal production tax credits related to these repowered facilities. |
• | Transmission MVP investments. In 2012, MidAmerican Energy started the construction of four MVPs located in Iowa and Illinois that were approved by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. When complete, the four MVPs will have added approximately 250 miles of 345 kV transmission line to MidAmerican Energy's transmission system and will be owned and operated by MidAmerican Energy. As of September 30, 2018, 224 miles of these MVP transmission lines have been placed in-service. |
• | Remaining costs primarily relate to routine expenditures for generation, transmission, distribution and other infrastructure needed to serve existing and expected demand. |
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In May 2018, MidAmerican Energy filed with the IUB an application for ratemaking principles related to the construction of up to 591 MW (nominal ratings) of additional wind-powered generating facilities ("Wind XII") expected to be placed in-service by the end of 2020. The filing, which is subject to IUB approval, establishes a cost cap of $922 million, including AFUDC, a fixed rate of return on equity of 11.25% over the proposed 40-year useful lives of those facilities in any future Iowa rate proceeding, and maintains the revenue sharing mechanism currently in effect. The cost cap ensures that as long as total costs are below the cap, the investment will be deemed prudent in any future Iowa rate proceeding. In September 2018, MidAmerican Energy filed with the IUB a settlement agreement signed by a majority of the parties to the ratemaking principles proceeding for Wind XII. The settlement agreement, which is subject to IUB approval, establishes a fixed rate of return on equity of 11.0% over the proposed 40-year useful lives of those facilities in any future Iowa rate proceeding and provides that all Iowa retail energy benefits from Wind XII will be excluded from the Iowa energy adjustment clause and, instead, will reduce rate base. Additionally, the settlement agreement modifies the current revenue sharing mechanism, effective January 1, 2019, such that revenue sharing will be triggered each year by actual equity returns above a threshold calculated annually or 11%, whichever is less, and MidAmerican Energy will share with customers 90% of the revenue in excess of the trigger, instead of the current 100% sharing. The calculated threshold will be the year-end weighted average of equity returns for rate base as authorized via ratemaking principles proceedings and, for remaining rate base, interest rates on 30-year single A-rated utility bond yields plus 400 basis points, with a minimum return of 9.5%. MidAmerican Energy expects all of these wind-powered generating facilities to qualify for 100% of production tax credits available.
Contractual Obligations
As of September 30, 2018, there have been no material changes outside the normal course of business in MidAmerican Energy's and MidAmerican Funding's contractual obligations from the information provided in Item 7 of their Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Regulatory Matters
MidAmerican Energy is subject to comprehensive regulation. Refer to "Regulatory Matters" in Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q for discussion regarding MidAmerican Energy's current regulatory matters.
Quad Cities Generating Station Operating Status
Exelon Generation Company, LLC ("Exelon Generation"), the operator of Quad Cities Generating Station Units 1 and 2 ("Quad Cities Station") of which MidAmerican Energy has a 25% ownership interest, announced on June 2, 2016, its intention to shut down Quad Cities Station on June 1, 2018, as a result of Illinois not passing adequate legislation and Quad Cities Station not clearing the 2019-2020 PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. capacity auction. MidAmerican Energy expressed to Exelon Generation its desire for the continued operation of the facility through the end of its operating license in 2032 and worked with Exelon Generation on solutions to that end. In December 2016, Illinois passed legislation creating a zero emission standard, which went into effect June 1, 2017. The zero emission standard requires the Illinois Power Agency to purchase zero emission credits ("ZECs") and recover the costs from certain ratepayers in Illinois, subject to certain limitations. The proceeds from the zero emission credits will provide Exelon Generation additional revenue through 2027 as an incentive for continued operation of Quad Cities Station. For the nuclear assets already in rate base, MidAmerican Energy's customers will not be charged for the subsidy, and MidAmerican Energy will not receive additional revenue from the subsidy.
On February 14, 2017, two lawsuits were filed with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ("Northern District of Illinois") against the Illinois Power Agency alleging that the state's zero emission credit program violates certain provisions of the U.S. Constitution. Both complaints argue that the Illinois zero emission credit program will distort the FERC's energy and capacity market auction system of setting wholesale prices. As majority owner and operator of Quad Cities Station, Exelon Generation intervened and filed motions to dismiss in both matters. On July 14, 2017, the Northern District of Illinois granted the motions to dismiss. On July 17, 2017, the plaintiffs filed appeals with the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ("Seventh Circuit"). On May 29, 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice and the FERC filed an amicus brief concluding federal rules do not preempt Illinois' ZEC program. On September 13, 2018, the Seventh Circuit upheld the Northern District of Illinois' ruling concluding that Illinois' ZEC program does not violate the Federal Power Act and is thus constitutional.
On January 9, 2017, the Electric Power Supply Association filed two requests with the FERC seeking to expand Minimum Offer Price Rule ("MOPR") provisions to apply to existing resources receiving zero emission credit compensation. If successful, an expanded MOPR could result in an increased risk of Quad Cities Station not clearing in future capacity auctions and Exelon Generation no longer receiving capacity revenues for the facility. As majority owner and operator of Quad Cities Station, Exelon Generation has filed protests at the FERC in response to each filing. The timing of the FERC's decision with respect to both proceedings is currently unknown and the outcome of these matters is currently uncertain.
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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. In addition to imposing continuing compliance obligations and capital expenditure requirements, these laws and regulations provide regulators with the authority to levy substantial penalties for noncompliance including fines, injunctive relief and other sanctions. These laws and regulations are administered by the EPA and various state and local agencies. All such laws and regulations are subject to a range of interpretation, which may ultimately be resolved by the courts. Environmental laws and regulations continue to evolve, and MidAmerican Energy is unable to predict the impact of the changing laws and regulations on its operations and consolidated financial results. MidAmerican Energy believes it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Refer to "Liquidity and Capital Resources" for discussion of MidAmerican Energy's forecast environmental-related capital expenditures.
Refer to "Environmental Laws and Regulations" in Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q for additional information regarding environmental laws and regulations.
New Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of new accounting pronouncements affecting MidAmerican Energy and MidAmerican Funding, refer to Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Certain accounting measurements require management to make estimates and judgments concerning transactions that will be settled several years in the future. Amounts recognized on the Financial Statements based on such estimates involve numerous assumptions subject to varying and potentially significant degrees of judgment and uncertainty and will likely change in the future as additional information becomes available. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, the accounting for the effects of certain types of regulation, derivatives, impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, pension and other postretirement benefits, income taxes and revenue recognition - unbilled revenue. For additional discussion of MidAmerican Energy's and MidAmerican Funding's critical accounting estimates, see Item 7 of their Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. There have been no significant changes in MidAmerican Energy's and MidAmerican Funding's assumptions regarding critical accounting estimates since December 31, 2017.
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Nevada Power Company and its subsidiaries
Consolidated Financial Section
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PART I
Item 1. | Financial Statements |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholder of Nevada Power Company
Results of Review of Interim Financial Information
We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Nevada Power Company and subsidiaries ("Nevada Power") as of September 30, 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and of changes in shareholder's equity and cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "interim financial information"). Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying interim financial information for it to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheet of Nevada Power as of December 31, 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholder's equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 23, 2018, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
Basis for Review Results
This interim financial information is the responsibility of Nevada Power's management. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to Nevada Power in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards of the PCAOB. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Las Vegas, Nevada
November 2, 2018
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NEVADA POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions, except share data)
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 80 | $ | 57 | |||
Accounts receivable, net | 368 | 238 | |||||
Inventories | 58 | 59 | |||||
Regulatory assets | 16 | 28 | |||||
Other current assets | 79 | 44 | |||||
Total current assets | 601 | 426 | |||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 6,830 | 6,877 | |||||
Regulatory assets | 880 | 941 | |||||
Other assets | 41 | 35 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 8,352 | $ | 8,279 | |||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 168 | $ | 156 | |||
Accrued interest | 33 | 50 | |||||
Accrued property, income and other taxes | 128 | 63 | |||||
Regulatory liabilities | 51 | 91 | |||||
Current portion of long-term debt and financial and capital lease obligations | 519 | 842 | |||||
Customer deposits | 64 | 73 | |||||
Other current liabilities | 43 | 16 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 1,006 | 1,291 | |||||
Long-term debt and financial and capital lease obligations | 2,297 | 2,233 | |||||
Regulatory liabilities | 1,123 | 1,030 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 757 | 767 | |||||
Other long-term liabilities | 264 | 280 | |||||
Total liabilities | 5,447 | 5,601 | |||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) | |||||||
Shareholder's equity: | |||||||
Common stock - $1.00 stated value; 1,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding | — | — | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | 2,308 | 2,308 | |||||
Retained earnings | 601 | 374 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net | (4 | ) | (4 | ) | |||
Total shareholder's equity | 2,905 | 2,678 | |||||
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity | $ | 8,352 | $ | 8,279 | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. |
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NEVADA POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Operating revenue | $ | 820 | $ | 819 | $ | 1,777 | $ | 1,785 | |||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Cost of fuel and energy | 331 | 318 | 740 | 721 | |||||||||||
Operations and maintenance | 146 | 96 | 344 | 276 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 85 | 77 | 253 | 231 | |||||||||||
Property and other taxes | 11 | 10 | 31 | 29 | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 573 | 501 | 1,368 | 1,257 | |||||||||||
Operating income | 247 | 318 | 409 | 528 | |||||||||||
Other income (expense): | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (38 | ) | (44 | ) | (128 | ) | (132 | ) | |||||||
Allowance for borrowed funds | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
Allowance for equity funds | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||
Other, net | 7 | 4 | 16 | 16 | |||||||||||
Total other income (expense) | (30 | ) | (39 | ) | (109 | ) | (114 | ) | |||||||
Income before income tax expense | 217 | 279 | 300 | 414 | |||||||||||
Income tax expense | 53 | 103 | 72 | 151 | |||||||||||
Net income | $ | 164 | $ | 176 | $ | 228 | $ | 263 | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. |
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NEVADA POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions, except shares)
Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid-in | Retained | Comprehensive | Shareholder's | |||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | Earnings | Loss, Net | Equity | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2016 | 1,000 | $ | — | $ | 2,308 | $ | 667 | $ | (3 | ) | $ | 2,972 | |||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | 263 | — | 263 | |||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared | — | — | — | (412 | ) | — | (412 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2017 | 1,000 | $ | — | $ | 2,308 | $ | 518 | $ | (3 | ) | $ | 2,823 | |||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2017 | 1,000 | $ | — | $ | 2,308 | $ | 374 | $ | (4 | ) | $ | 2,678 | |||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | 228 | — | 228 | |||||||||||||||||
Other equity transactions | — | — | — | (1 | ) | — | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2018 | 1,000 | $ | — | $ | 2,308 | $ | 601 | $ | (4 | ) | $ | 2,905 | |||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. |
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NEVADA POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Nine-Month Periods | |||||||
Ended September 30, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | $ | 228 | $ | 263 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Gain on marketable securities | (1 | ) | — | ||||
Gain on nonrecurring items | — | (1 | ) | ||||
Depreciation and amortization | 253 | 231 | |||||
Allowance for equity funds | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | |||
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities | 75 | 25 | |||||
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits | (7 | ) | 61 | ||||
Deferred energy | 12 | (22 | ) | ||||
Amortization of deferred energy | 13 | 13 | |||||
Other, net | 9 | (1 | ) | ||||
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts receivable and other assets | (138 | ) | (125 | ) | |||
Inventories | 1 | 6 | |||||
Accrued property, income and other taxes, net | 54 | 11 | |||||
Accounts payable and other liabilities | (11 | ) | 9 | ||||
Net cash flows from operating activities | 486 | 469 | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Capital expenditures | (203 | ) | (202 | ) | |||
Acquisitions | — | (77 | ) | ||||
Other, net | 1 | 4 | |||||
Net cash flows from investing activities | (202 | ) | (275 | ) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Proceeds from long-term debt | 573 | 91 | |||||
Repayments of long-term debt and financial and capital lease obligations | (836 | ) | (86 | ) | |||
Dividends paid | — | (412 | ) | ||||
Net cash flows from financing activities | (263 | ) | (407 | ) | |||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | 21 | (213 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 66 | 290 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 87 | $ | 77 | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. |
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NEVADA POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(1) | General |
Nevada Power Company, together with its subsidiaries ("Nevada Power"), is a wholly owned subsidiary of NV Energy, Inc. ("NV Energy"), a holding company that also owns Sierra Pacific Power Company ("Sierra Pacific") and certain other subsidiaries. Nevada Power is a United States regulated electric utility company serving retail customers, including residential, commercial and industrial customers, primarily in the Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and adjoining areas. NV Energy is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company ("BHE"). BHE is a holding company based in Des Moines, Iowa and is a consolidated subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. ("Berkshire Hathaway").
The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and regulations for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for annual financial statements. Management believes the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for the fair presentation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2018 and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income have been omitted as net income equals comprehensive income for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
The preparation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results may differ from the estimates used in preparing the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Nevada Power's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 describes the most significant accounting policies used in the preparation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. There have been no significant changes in Nevada Power's assumptions regarding significant accounting estimates and policies during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018.
(2) | New Accounting Pronouncements |
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, which creates FASB ASC Topic 842, "Leases" and supersedes Topic 840 "Leases." This guidance increases transparency and comparability among entities by recording lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. A lessee should recognize in the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee have not significantly changed from previous guidance. During 2018, the FASB issued several ASUs that clarified the implementation guidance and provided optional transition practical expedients for ASU No. 2016-02 including ASU No. 2018-01 that allows companies to forgo evaluating existing land easements if they were not previously accounted for under ASC Topic 840, "Leases" and ASU No. 2018-11 allowing companies to apply the new guidance at the adoption date with the cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings recognized in the period of adoption. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and is required to be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. Nevada Power plans to adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2019 and is currently in the process of evaluating the impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures included within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(3) | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents |
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, which amends FASB ASC Subtopic 230-10, "Statement of Cash Flows - Overall." The amendments in this guidance require that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. Nevada Power adopted this guidance January 1, 2018.
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Cash equivalents consist of funds invested in money market mutual funds, United States Treasury Bills and other investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased. Cash and cash equivalents exclude amounts where availability is restricted by legal requirements, loan agreements or other contractual provisions. Restricted cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, consist of funds restricted by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada ("PUCN") for a certain renewable energy contract. A reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is outlined below and disaggregated by the line items in which they appear on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 80 | $ | 57 | |||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents included in other current assets | 7 | 9 | |||||
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | $ | 87 | $ | 66 |
(4) | Property, Plant and Equipment, Net |
Property, plant and equipment, net consists of the following (in millions):
As of | |||||||||
Depreciable Life | September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
Utility plant: | |||||||||
Generation | 30 - 55 years | $ | 3,702 | $ | 3,707 | ||||
Distribution | 20 - 65 years | 3,373 | 3,314 | ||||||
Transmission | 45 - 70 years | 1,864 | 1,860 | ||||||
General and intangible plant | 5 - 65 years | 820 | 793 | ||||||
Utility plant | 9,759 | 9,674 | |||||||
Accumulated depreciation and amortization | (3,026 | ) | (2,871 | ) | |||||
Utility plant, net | 6,733 | 6,803 | |||||||
Other non-regulated, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization | 45 years | 1 | 1 | ||||||
Plant, net | 6,734 | 6,804 | |||||||
Construction work-in-progress | 96 | 73 | |||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | 6,830 | $ | 6,877 |
During 2017, Nevada Power revised its electric depreciations rates effective January 2018 based on the results of a new depreciation study, the most significant impact of which was shorter estimated useful lives at the Navajo Generating Station and longer average service lives for various other utility plant groups. The net effect of these changes will increase depreciation and amortization expense by $7 million annually, or $5 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, based on depreciable plant balances at the time of the change.
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(5) | Regulatory Matters |
Deferred Energy
Nevada statutes permit regulated utilities to adopt deferred energy accounting procedures. The intent of these procedures is to ease the effect on customers of fluctuations in the cost of purchased natural gas, fuel and electricity and are subject to annual prudency review by the PUCN. Under deferred energy accounting, to the extent actual fuel and purchased power costs exceed fuel and purchased power costs recoverable through current rates that excess is not recorded as a current expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations but rather is deferred and recorded as a regulatory asset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Conversely, a regulatory liability is recorded to the extent fuel and purchased power costs recoverable through current rates exceed actual fuel and purchased power costs. These excess amounts are reflected in quarterly adjustments to rates and recorded as cost of fuel and energy in future time periods.
Regulatory Rate Review
In June 2017, Nevada Power filed an electric regulatory rate review with the PUCN. The filing supported an annual revenue increase of $29 million, or 2%, but requested no incremental annual revenue relief. In December 2017, the PUCN issued an order which reduced Nevada Power's revenue requirement by $26 million and requires Nevada Power to share 50% of regulatory earnings above 9.7%. As a result of the order, Nevada Power recorded expense of $28 million in December 2017 primarily due to the reduction of a regulatory asset to return to customers revenue collected for costs not incurred. The new rates were effective on February 15, 2018. In January 2018, Nevada Power filed a petition for clarification of certain findings and directives in the order and intervening parties filed motions for reconsideration. The PUCN has not yet ruled on the filed motions. Nevada Power cannot predict the timing or ultimate outcome of the PUCN rulings.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("2017 Tax Reform") enacted significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code, including, among other things, a reduction in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. In February 2018, Nevada Power made a filing with the PUCN proposing a tax rate reduction rider for the lower annual income tax expense anticipated to result from 2017 Tax Reform for 2018 and beyond. The filing supports an annual rate reduction of $59 million. In March 2018, the PUCN issued an order approving the rate reduction proposed by Nevada Power. The new rates were effective April 1, 2018. The order extended the procedural schedule to allow parties additional discovery relevant to 2017 Tax Reform and a hearing was held in July 2018. In September 2018, the PUCN issued an order directing Nevada Power to record the amortization of any excess protected accumulated deferred income tax arising from the 2017 Tax Reform as a regulatory liability effective January 1, 2018.
Chapter 704B Applications
Chapter 704B of the Nevada Revised Statutes allows retail electric customers with an average annual load of one megawatt ("MW") or more to file with the PUCN an application to purchase energy from alternative providers of a new electric resource and become distribution only service customers. On a case-by-case basis, the PUCN will assess the application and may deny or grant the application subject to conditions, including paying an impact fee, paying on-going charges and receiving approval for specific alternative energy providers and terms. The impact fee and on-going charges are assessed to alleviate the burden on other Nevada customers for the applicant's share of previously committed investments and long-term renewable contracts and are set at a level designed such that the remaining customers are not subjected to increased costs.
In October 2016, Wynn Las Vegas, LLC ("Wynn"), became a distribution only service customer and started procuring energy from another energy supplier. In April 2017, Wynn filed a motion with the PUCN seeking relief from the January 2016 order that established the impact fee that was paid in September 2016 and requested the PUCN adopt an alternative impact fee and revise on-going charges associated with retirement of assets and high cost renewable contracts. In September 2018, the PUCN granted relief requiring Nevada Power to credit $3 million as an offset against Wynn's remaining impact fee obligation. In October 2018, Wynn elected to pay the net present value lump sum of its Renewable Base Tariff Energy Rate obligation of $2 million, net of the credit of $3 million. The PUCN ordered Nevada Power to establish a regulatory liability and amortize the lump sum payment amount in equal monthly installments through December 2022.
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In November 2016, Caesars Enterprise Service ("Caesars"), a customer of Nevada Power, filed an application with the PUCN to purchase energy from alternative providers of a new electric resource and become a distribution only service customer of Nevada Power. In March 2017, the PUCN approved the application allowing Caesars to purchase energy from alternative providers subject to conditions, including paying an impact fee. In March 2017, Caesars provided notice that it intends to pay the impact fee and proceed with purchasing energy from alternative providers. In July 2017, Caesars made the required compliance filings and, in September 2017, the PUCN issued an order allowing Caesars to acquire electric energy and ancillary services from another energy supplier and become a distribution only service customer of Nevada Power. In February 2018, Caesars became a distribution only service customer and started procuring energy from another energy supplier. Following the PUCN's order from March 2017, Caesars' will pay an impact fee of $44 million in 72 equal monthly payments.
In June 2018, Station Casinos LLC ("Station"), a customer of Nevada Power, filed an application with the PUCN to purchase energy from alternative providers of a new electric resource and become a distribution only service customer of Nevada Power. In October 2018, the PUCN approved a stipulation allowing Station to purchase energy from alternative providers subject to conditions, including paying an impact fee of $15 million.
(6) | Recent Financing Transactions |
Long-Term Debt
In April 2018, Nevada Power issued $575 million of its 2.75% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series BB, due April 2020. Nevada Power used a portion of the net proceeds to repay all of Nevada Power's $325 million 6.50% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series O, maturing in May 2018. In August 2018, Nevada Power used the remaining net proceeds, together with available cash, to repay all of Nevada Power's $500 million 6.50% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series S, maturing in August 2018.
Credit Facilities
In April 2018, Nevada Power amended and restated its existing $400 million secured credit facility, expiring June 2020, extending the expiration date to June 2021 and reducing from two to one, the available one-year extension options, subject to lender consent.
(7) | Income Taxes |
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
2017 Tax Reform impacts many areas of income tax law. The most material items include the reduction of the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, the elimination of the deduction for production activities and limitations on bonus depreciation for utility property.
In December 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 to assist in the implementation process of 2017 Tax Reform by allowing for calculations to be classified as provisional and subject to remeasurement. There are three different classifications for the accounting: (1) completed, (2) not complete but reasonably estimable or (3) not complete and amounts are not reasonably estimable. Nevada Power has recorded the impacts of 2017 Tax Reform and believes all the impacts to be complete with the exception of interpretations of the bonus depreciation rules. Nevada Power has determined the amounts recorded and the interpretations relating to this items to be provisional and subject to remeasurement during the measurement period upon obtaining the necessary additional information to complete the accounting. Nevada Power believes its interpretations for bonus depreciation to be reasonable, however, as the guidance is clarified estimates may change. Nevada Power recorded a current tax benefit and deferred tax expense of $12 million during the three-month period ended September 30, 2018 following clarified bonus depreciation guidance. As a result of 2017 Tax Reform and Nevada Power's regulatory nature, Nevada Power reduced the associated deferred income tax liabilities $5 million and increased regulatory liabilities by the same amount. The accounting will be completed by December 2018.
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A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to the effective income tax rate applicable to income before income tax expense is as follows:
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
Federal statutory income tax rate | 21 | % | 35 | % | 21 | % | 35 | % | |||
Nondeductible expenses | 3 | — | 3 | — | |||||||
Effects of ratemaking | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
Other | (1 | ) | 2 | — | 1 | ||||||
Effective income tax rate | 24 | % | 37 | % | 24 | % | 36 | % |
(8) Employee Benefit Plans
Nevada Power is a participant in benefit plans sponsored by NV Energy. The NV Energy Retirement Plan includes a qualified pension plan ("Qualified Pension Plan") and a supplemental executive retirement plan and a restoration plan (collectively, "Non‑Qualified Pension Plans") that provide pension benefits for eligible employees. The NV Energy Comprehensive Welfare Benefit and Cafeteria Plan provides certain postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for eligible retirees ("Other Postretirement Plans") on behalf of Nevada Power. Nevada Power contributed $19 million to the Qualified Pension Plan and $1 million to the Non-Qualified Pension Plans for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018. Amounts attributable to Nevada Power were allocated from NV Energy based upon the current, or in the case of retirees, previous, employment location. Offsetting regulatory assets and liabilities have been recorded related to the amounts not yet recognized as a component of net periodic benefit costs that will be included in regulated rates. Net periodic benefit costs not included in regulated rates are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net.
Amounts receivable from (payable to) NV Energy are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and consist of the following (in millions):
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Qualified Pension Plan: | |||||||
Other long-term liabilities | $ | (4 | ) | $ | (23 | ) | |
Non-Qualified Pension Plans: | |||||||
Other current liabilities | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | |||
Other long-term liabilities | (10 | ) | (10 | ) | |||
Other Postretirement Plans: | |||||||
Other assets | 1 | — | |||||
Other long-term liabilities | — | 1 |
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(9) | Fair Value Measurements |
The carrying value of Nevada Power's cash, certain cash equivalents, receivables, payables, accrued liabilities and short-term borrowings approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. Nevada Power has various financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets using inputs from the three levels of the fair value hierarchy. A financial asset or liability classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels are as follows:
• | Level 1 — Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that Nevada Power has the ability to access at the measurement date. |
• | Level 2 — Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs). |
• | Level 3 — Unobservable inputs reflect Nevada Power's judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability since limited market data exists. Nevada Power develops these inputs based on the best information available, including its own data. |
The following table presents Nevada Power's assets and liabilities recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in millions):
Input Levels for Fair Value Measurements | |||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
As of September 30, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
Assets: | |||||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1 | $ | 1 | |||||||
Money market mutual funds(1) | 67 | — | — | 67 | |||||||||||
Investment funds | 2 | — | — | 2 | |||||||||||
$ | 69 | $ | — | $ | 1 | $ | 70 | ||||||||
Liabilities - commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (8 | ) | $ | (8 | ) | |||||
As of December 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||
Assets - investment funds | $ | 2 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2 | |||||||
Liabilities - commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (3 | ) | $ | (3 | ) |
(1) | Amounts are included in cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of these money market mutual funds approximates cost. |
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Derivative contracts are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as either assets or liabilities and are stated at estimated fair value unless they are designated as normal purchases or normal sales and qualify for the exception afforded by GAAP. When available, the fair value of derivative contracts is estimated using unadjusted quoted prices for identical contracts in the market in which Nevada Power transacts. When quoted prices for identical contracts are not available, Nevada Power uses forward price curves. Forward price curves represent Nevada Power's estimates of the prices at which a buyer or seller could contract today for delivery or settlement at future dates. Nevada Power bases its forward price curves upon internally developed models, with internal and external fundamental data inputs. Market price quotations for certain electricity and natural gas trading hubs are not as readily obtainable due to markets that are not active. Given that limited market data exists for these contracts, Nevada Power uses forward price curves derived from internal models based on perceived pricing relationships to major trading hubs that are based on unobservable inputs. The model incorporates a mid-market pricing convention (the mid‑point price between bid and ask prices) as a practical expedient for valuing its assets and liabilities measured and reported at fair value. The determination of the fair value for derivative contracts not only includes counterparty risk, but also the impact of Nevada Power's nonperformance risk on its liabilities, which as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, had an immaterial impact to the fair value of its derivative contracts. As such, Nevada Power considers its derivative contracts to be valued using Level 3 inputs.
Nevada Power's investments in money market mutual funds and equity securities are stated at fair value. When available, a readily observable quoted market price or net asset value of an identical security in an active market is used to record the fair value.
The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of Nevada Power's commodity derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant Level 3 inputs (in millions):
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Beginning balance | $ | (9 | ) | $ | (4 | ) | $ | (3 | ) | $ | (14 | ) | |||
Changes in fair value recognized in regulatory assets | 2 | (1 | ) | (6 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||
Settlements | — | 1 | 2 | 13 | |||||||||||
Ending balance | $ | (7 | ) | $ | (4 | ) | $ | (7 | ) | $ | (4 | ) |
Nevada Power's long-term debt is carried at cost on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of Nevada Power's long‑term debt is a Level 2 fair value measurement and has been estimated based upon quoted market prices, where available, or at the present value of future cash flows discounted at rates consistent with comparable maturities with similar credit risks. The carrying value of Nevada Power's variable-rate long-term debt approximates fair value because of the frequent repricing of these instruments at market rates. The following table presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of Nevada Power's long‑term debt (in millions):
As of September 30, 2018 | As of December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||
Carrying | Fair | Carrying | Fair | ||||||||||||
Value | Value | Value | Value | ||||||||||||
Long-term debt | $ | 2,351 | $ | 2,653 | $ | 2,600 | $ | 3,088 |
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(10) | 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.
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.
(11) | Revenue from Contracts with Customers |
Adoption
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, which created FASB ASC Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASC 606") and superseded ASC Topic 605, "Revenue Recognition." The guidance replaced industry-specific guidance and established a single five-step model to identify and recognize revenue from contracts with customers ("Customer Revenue"). The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue upon transfer of control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Following the issuance of ASU No. 2014-09, the FASB issued several ASUs that clarified the implementation guidance for ASU No. 2014-09 but did not change the core principle of the guidance. Nevada Power adopted this guidance for all applicable contracts as of January 1, 2018 under a modified retrospective method and the adoption did not have a cumulative effect impact at the date of initial adoption.
Customer Revenue
Nevada Power recognizes revenue upon transfer of control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which Nevada Power expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Nevada Power records sales, franchise and excise taxes collected directly from customers and remitted directly to the taxing authorities on a net basis on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Substantially all of Nevada Power's Customer Revenue is derived from tariff based sales arrangements approved by various regulatory bodies. These tariff based revenues are mainly comprised of energy, transmission and distribution and have performance obligations to deliver energy products and services to customers which are satisfied over time as energy is delivered or services are provided. Other revenue consists primarily of amounts not considered Customer Revenue within ASC 606 and revenue recognized in accordance with ASC 840, "Leases".
Revenue recognized is equal to what Nevada Power has the right to invoice as it corresponds directly with the value to the customer of Nevada Power's performance to date and includes billed and unbilled amounts. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, accounts receivables, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets relate substantially to Customer Revenue, including unbilled revenue of $178 million and $111 million, respectively. Payments for amounts billed are generally due from the customer within 30 days of billing. Rates charged for energy products and services are established by regulators or contractual arrangements that establish the transaction price as well as the allocation of price amongst the separate performance obligations. When preliminary regulated rates are permitted to be billed prior to final approval by the applicable regulator, certain revenue collected may be subject to refund and a liability for estimated refunds is accrued.
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The following table summarizes Nevada Power's revenue by customer class for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 (in millions):
Three-Month Period | Nine-Month Period | ||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||
2018 | 2018 | ||||||
Customer Revenue: | |||||||
Retail: | |||||||
Residential | $ | 484 | $ | 989 | |||
Commercial | 135 | 340 | |||||
Industrial | 164 | 351 | |||||
Other | 7 | 18 | |||||
Total fully bundled | 790 | 1,698 | |||||
Distribution only service | 9 | 24 | |||||
Total retail | 799 | 1,722 | |||||
Wholesale, transmission and other | 15 | 38 | |||||
Total Customer Revenue | 814 | 1,760 | |||||
Other revenue | 6 | 17 | |||||
Total revenue | $ | 820 | $ | 1,777 |
Contract Assets and Liabilities
In the event one of the parties to a contract has performed before the other, Nevada Power would recognize a contract asset or contract liability depending on the relationship between Nevada Power's performance and the customer's payment. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were no contract assets or contract liabilities recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
General
Nevada Power's revenues and operating income are subject to fluctuations during the year due to impacts that seasonal weather, rate changes, and customer usage patterns have on demand for electric energy and resources. Nevada Power is a summer peaking utility experiencing its highest retail energy sales in response to the demand for air conditioning. The variations in energy usage due to varying weather, customer growth and other energy usage patterns, including energy efficiency and conservation measures, necessitates a continual balancing of loads and resources and purchases and sales of energy under short- and long-term energy supply contracts. As a result, the prudent management and optimization of available resources has a direct effect on the operating and financial performance of Nevada Power. Additionally, the timely recovery of purchased power, fuel costs and other costs and the ability to earn a fair return on investments through rates are essential to the operating and financial performance of Nevada Power.
The following is management's discussion and analysis of certain significant factors that have affected the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of Nevada Power during the periods included herein. Explanations include management's best estimate of the impact of weather, customer growth and other factors. This discussion should be read in conjunction with Nevada Power's historical unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q. Nevada Power's actual results in the future could differ significantly from the historical results.
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Results of Operations for the Third Quarter and First Nine Months of 2018 and 2017
Overview
Net income for the third quarter of 2018 was $164 million, a decrease of $12 million, or 7%, compared to 2017 primarily due to $50 million of higher operations and maintenance expense, mainly due to an accrual for earnings sharing established in 2018 as part of the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review and increased political activity expenses, $12 million of lower utility margin, primarily due to lower average retail rates including rate impacts related to the tax rate reduction rider as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("2017 Tax Reform"), and $8 million in higher depreciation and amortization, primarily due to various regulatory-directed amortizations established in the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review, partially offset by a decrease in income tax expense of $50 million, primarily from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform, and $6 million of lower interest expense on long-term debt.
Net income for the first nine months of 2018 was $228 million, a decrease of $35 million, or 13%, compared to 2017 primarily due to $68 million of higher operations and maintenance expense, mainly due to an accrual for earnings sharing established in 2018 as part of the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review and increased political activity expenses, $27 million of lower utility margin, primarily due to lower average retail rates including rate impacts related to the tax rate reduction rider as a result of 2017 Tax Reform, and a $22 million increase in depreciation and amortization, primarily due to various regulatory-directed amortizations established in the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review, partially offset by a decrease in income tax expense of $79 million, primarily from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform.
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
Management utilizes various key financial measures that are prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as non-GAAP financial measures such as, utility margin, to help evaluate results of operations. Utility margin is calculated as electric operating revenue less cost of fuel and energy, which are captions presented on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Nevada Power's cost of fuel and energy are directly recovered from its customers through regulatory recovery mechanisms and as a result, changes in Nevada Power's revenue are comparable to changes in such expenses. As such, management believes utility margin more appropriately and concisely explains profitability rather than a discussion of revenue and cost of sales separately. Management believes the presentation of utility margin provides meaningful and valuable insight into the information management considers important to running the business and a measure of comparability to others in the industry.
Utility margin is not a measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income which is the most comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP. The following table provides a reconciliation of utility margin to operating income (in millions):
Third Quarter | First Nine Months | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Change | 2018 | 2017 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Utility margin: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating revenue | $ | 820 | $ | 819 | $ | 1 | — | % | $ | 1,777 | $ | 1,785 | $ | (8 | ) | — | % | |||||||||||
Cost of fuel and energy | 331 | 318 | 13 | 4 | 740 | 721 | 19 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Utility margin | 489 | 501 | (12 | ) | (2 | ) | 1,037 | 1,064 | (27 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Operations and maintenance | 146 | 96 | 50 | 52 | 344 | 276 | 68 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 85 | 77 | 8 | 10 | 253 | 231 | 22 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Property and other taxes | 11 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 31 | 29 | 2 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operating income | $ | 247 | $ | 318 | $ | (71 | ) | (22 | ) | $ | 409 | $ | 528 | $ | (119 | ) | (23 | ) |
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A comparison of Nevada Power's key operating results is as follows:
Third Quarter | First Nine Months | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Change | 2018 | 2017 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Utility margin (in millions): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating revenue | $ | 820 | $ | 819 | $ | 1 | — | % | $ | 1,777 | $ | 1,785 | $ | (8 | ) | — | % | |||||||||||
Cost of fuel and energy | 331 | 318 | 13 | 4 | 740 | 721 | 19 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Utility margin | $ | 489 | $ | 501 | $ | (12 | ) | (2 | ) | $ | 1,037 | $ | 1,064 | $ | (27 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||||
GWh sold: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential | 4,213 | 3,899 | 314 | 8 | % | 8,299 | 7,899 | 400 | 5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Commercial | 1,568 | 1,517 | 51 | 3 | 3,759 | 3,669 | 90 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Industrial | 1,631 | 1,783 | (152 | ) | (9 | ) | 4,281 | 4,870 | (589 | ) | (12 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Other | 61 | 60 | 1 | 2 | 157 | 154 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total fully bundled(1) | 7,473 | 7,259 | 214 | 3 | 16,496 | 16,592 | (96 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Distribution only service | 775 | 617 | 158 | 26 | 1,938 | 1,367 | 571 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total retail | 8,248 | 7,876 | 372 | 5 | 18,434 | 17,959 | 475 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wholesale | 53 | 59 | (6 | ) | (10 | ) | 181 | 214 | (33 | ) | (15 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total GWh sold | 8,301 | 7,935 | 366 | 5 | 18,615 | 18,173 | 442 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Average number of retail customers (in thousands): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential | 828 | 813 | 15 | 2 | % | 823 | 809 | 14 | 2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Commercial | 108 | 106 | 2 | 2 | 107 | 106 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Industrial | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 938 | 921 | 17 | 2 | 932 | 917 | 15 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Average per MWh: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue - fully bundled(1) | $ | 105.82 | $ | 109.85 | $ | (4.03 | ) | (4 | )% | $ | 102.93 | $ | 104.06 | $ | (1.13 | ) | (1 | )% | ||||||||||
Total cost of energy(2) | $ | 41.93 | $ | 42.46 | $ | (0.53 | ) | (1 | )% | $ | 44.14 | $ | 41.80 | $ | 2.34 | 6 | % | |||||||||||
Heating degree days | — | — | — | — | % | 839 | 791 | 48 | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Cooling degree days | 2,580 | 2,319 | 261 | 11 | % | 4,072 | 3,808 | 264 | 7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Sources of energy (GWh)(3): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas | 5,282 | 4,592 | 690 | 15 | % | 11,295 | 10,338 | 957 | 9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Coal | 403 | 367 | 36 | 10 | 891 | 1,182 | (291 | ) | (25 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Renewables | 20 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 56 | 57 | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Total energy generated | 5,705 | 4,978 | 727 | 15 | 12,242 | 11,577 | 665 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Energy purchased | 2,214 | 2,500 | (286 | ) | (11 | ) | 5,209 | 5,665 | (456 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total | 7,919 | 7,478 | 441 | 6 | 17,451 | 17,242 | 209 | 1 |
* Not meaningful
(1) | Fully bundled includes sales to customers for combined energy, transmission and distribution services. |
(2) | The average total cost of energy per MWh includes the cost of fuel, purchased power and deferrals and does not include other costs and excludes - and 39 GWh of coal and - and 481 GWh of gas generated energy that is purchased at cost by related parties for the third quarter of 2018 and 2017, respectively. The average total cost of energy per MWh includes the cost of fuel, purchased power and deferrals and does not include other costs and excludes 93 and 226 GWh of coal and 1,043 and 1,631 GWh of gas generated energy that is purchased at cost by related parties for the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
(3) | GWh amounts are net of energy used by the related generating facilities. |
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Utility margin decreased $12 million, or 2%, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to:
• | $23 million in lower retail rates due to the tax rate reduction rider as a result of 2017 Tax Reform; |
• | $15 million due to lower retail rates as a result of the 2017 regulatory rate review with rates effective February 2018 and |
• | $3 million in lower commercial and industrial retail revenue from customers purchasing energy from alternative providers and becoming distribution only service customers. |
The decrease in utility margin was offset by:
• | $15 million in higher residential volumes primarily from the impacts of weather; |
• | $4 million due to residential customer growth; |
• | $3 million in higher other revenue primarily from impact fees and revenue relating to customers becoming distribution only service customers; |
• | $2 million in higher energy efficiency program rate revenue, which is offset in operating and maintenance expense and |
• | $2 million from higher transmission revenue. |
Operations and maintenance increased $50 million, or 52%, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to an accrual for earnings sharing established in 2018 as part of the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review and higher political activity expenses.
Depreciation and amortization increased $8 million, or 10%, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to various regulatory-directed amortizations and increased depreciation expense as a result of the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review.
Other income (expense) is favorable $9 million, or 23%, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to lower interest expense on long-term debt and higher interest income.
Income tax expense decreased $50 million, or 49%, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017. The effective tax rate was 24% in 2018 and 37% in 2017. The decrease in the effective tax rate is primarily due to 2017 Tax Reform, which reduced the United States federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018, partially offset by an increase in nondeductible expenses.
Utility margin decreased $27 million, or 3%, for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to:
• | $39 million in lower retail rates due to the tax rate reduction rider as a result of 2017 Tax Reform; |
• | $23 million in lower retail rates as a result of the 2017 regulatory rate review with rates effective February 2018 and |
• | $8 million in lower commercial and industrial retail revenue from customers purchasing energy from alternative providers and becoming distribution only service customers. |
The decrease in utility margin was offset by:
• | $17 million in higher residential volumes primarily from the impacts of weather; |
• | $8 million due to residential customer growth; |
• | $7 million in higher other revenue primarily from impact fees and revenue relating to customers becoming distribution only service customers and |
• | $3 million in higher energy efficiency program rate revenue, which is offset in operating and maintenance expense. |
Operations and maintenance increased $68 million, or 25%, for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to an accrual for earnings sharing established in 2018 as part of the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review and higher political activity expenses.
Depreciation and amortization increased $22 million, or 10%, for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to various regulatory-directed amortizations and increased depreciation expense as a result of the Nevada Power 2017 regulatory rate review.
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Other income (expense) is favorable $5 million, or 4%, for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to lower interest expense on long-term debt.
Income tax expense decreased $79 million, or 52%, for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017. The effective tax rate was 24% in 2018 and 36% in 2017.The decrease in the effective tax rate is primarily due to 2017 Tax Reform, which reduced the United States federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018, partially offset by an increase in nondeductible expenses.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2018, Nevada Power's total net liquidity was as follows (in millions):
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 80 | ||
Credit facility | 400 | |||
Total net liquidity | $ | 480 | ||
Credit facility: | ||||
Maturity date | 2021 |
Operating Activities
Net cash flows from operating activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $486 million and $469 million, respectively. Increases were due to lower federal tax payments and increased collections from customers due to higher deferred energy rates, partially offset by impact fees received in 2017, higher payments for operating costs and higher contributions to the pension plan.
Nevada Power's income tax cash flows benefited in 2017 and 2016 from 50% bonus depreciation on qualifying assets placed in service and from investment tax credits earned on qualifying solar projects. In December 2017, 2017 Tax Reform was enacted which, among other items, reduces the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, eliminated bonus depreciation on qualifying regulated utility assets acquired after December 31 and eliminated the deduction for production activities, but did not impact investment tax credits. Nevada Power believes for qualifying assets acquired on or before December 31, bonus depreciation will remain available for 2018 and 2019. In February 2018, Nevada Power made a filing with the PUCN proposing a tax rate reduction rider for the lower annual income tax expense anticipated to result from 2017 Tax Reform for 2018 and beyond. The filing supported an annual rate reduction of $59 million. In March 2018, the PUCN issued an order approving the rate reduction proposed by Nevada Power. The new rates were effective April 1, 2018. The order extended the procedural schedule to allow parties additional discovery relevant to 2017 Tax Reform and a hearing was held in July 2018. Nevada Power expects lower revenue collections and income tax payments as well as lower bonus depreciation benefits compared to 2017 as a result of 2017 Tax Reform and related regulatory treatment. Nevada Power does not expect 2017 Tax Reform and related regulatory treatment to have a material adverse impact on its cash flows, subject to actual regulatory outcomes. The timing of Nevada Power's income tax cash flows from period to period can be significantly affected by the estimated federal income tax payment methods and assumptions for each payment date.
Investing Activities
Net cash flows from investing activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $(202) million and $(275) million, respectively. The change was primarily due to the acquisition of the remaining 25% in the Silverhawk generating station in 2017.
Financing Activities
Net cash flows from financing activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $(263) million and $(407) million, respectively. The change was due to greater proceeds from issuance of long-term debt in 2018 and dividends paid to NV Energy, Inc. of $412 million in 2017 compared to no dividends paid in 2018, partially offset by higher repayments of long-term debt in 2018.
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Ability to Issue Debt
Nevada Power's ability to issue debt is primarily impacted by its financing authority from the PUCN. Following the April 2018 issuance of $575 million of general and refunding mortgage securities, Nevada Power has financing authority from the PUCN consisting of the ability to: (1) issue new long-term debt securities of up to $1.3 billion; (2) refinance up to $656 million of long-term debt securities; and (3) maintain a revolving credit facility of up to $1.3 billion. Nevada Power's revolving credit facility contains a financial maintenance covenant which Nevada Power was in compliance with as of September 30, 2018.
Future Uses of Cash
Nevada Power has available a variety of sources of liquidity and capital resources, both internal and external, including net cash flows from operating activities, public and private debt offerings, the use of its secured revolving credit facility, capital contributions and other sources. These sources are expected to provide funds required for current operations, capital expenditures, debt retirements and other capital requirements. The availability and terms under which Nevada Power has access to external financing depends on a variety of factors, including Nevada Power's credit ratings, investors' judgment of risk and conditions in the overall capital markets, including the condition of the utility industry.
Capital Expenditures
Nevada Power has significant future capital requirements. Capital expenditure needs are reviewed regularly by management and may change significantly as a result of these reviews, which may consider, among other factors, impacts to customers' rates; changes in environmental and other rules and regulations; outcomes of regulatory proceedings; changes in income tax laws; general business conditions; load projections; system reliability standards; the cost and efficiency of construction labor, equipment and materials; commodity prices; and the cost and availability of capital. Prudently incurred expenditures for compliance-related items such as pollution control technologies, replacement generation and associated operating costs are generally incorporated into Nevada Power's regulated retail rates. Expenditures for certain assets may ultimately include acquisition of existing assets.
Nevada Power's historical and forecast capital expenditures, each of which exclude amounts for non-cash equity AFUDC and other non-cash items are as follows (in millions):
Nine-Month Periods | Annual | ||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Forecast | ||||||||||
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | |||||||||
Distribution | 41 | 93 | 155 | ||||||||
Transmission system investment | 6 | 6 | 19 | ||||||||
Other | 155 | 104 | 157 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 202 | $ | 203 | $ | 331 |
Nevada Power's forecast capital expenditures include investments related to operating projects that consist of routine expenditures for transmission, distribution, generation and other infrastructure needed to serve existing and expected demand.
Contractual Obligations
As of September 30, 2018, there have been no material changes outside the normal course of business in contractual obligations from the information provided in Item 7 of Nevada Power's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
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Regulatory Matters
Nevada Power is subject to comprehensive regulation. Refer to "Regulatory Matters" in Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q for discussion regarding Nevada Power's current regulatory matters.
Integrated Resource Plan ("IRP")
In June 2018, Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific filed with the PUCN a joint application for approval of a 2019-2038 Triennial IRP, 2019-2021 Action Plan, and 2019-2021 Energy Supply Plan ("ESP"). As part of the filings, the Nevada Utilities seek the PUCN authorization to add 1,001 MW of renewable energy and 100 MW of energy storage capacity. The Nevada Utilities are requesting to achieve with power purchase agreements from six new solar generating resources, three battery storage systems, transmission network upgrades and the conditional early retirement of North Valmy Unit 1 generating station. The agreements are conditional upon voters not approving the ballot measure on energy choice in November 2018.
Environmental Laws and Regulations
Nevada Power is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding air and water quality, RPS, 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. In addition to imposing continuing compliance obligations and capital expenditure requirements, these laws and regulations provide regulators with the authority to levy substantial penalties for noncompliance including fines, injunctive relief and other sanctions. These laws and regulations are administered by the EPA and various state and local agencies. All such laws and regulations are subject to a range of interpretation, which may ultimately be resolved by the courts. Environmental laws and regulations continue to evolve, and Nevada Power is unable to predict the impact of the changing laws and regulations on its operations and consolidated financial results. Nevada Power believes it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Refer to "Liquidity and Capital Resources" for discussion of Nevada Power's forecasted environmental-related capital expenditures.
Refer to "Environmental Laws and Regulations" in Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q for additional information regarding environmental laws and regulations.
New Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of new accounting pronouncements affecting Nevada Power, refer to Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Nevada Power's Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Certain accounting measurements require management to make estimates and judgments concerning transactions that will be settled several years in the future. Amounts recognized on the Consolidated Financial Statements based on such estimates involve numerous assumptions subject to varying and potentially significant degrees of judgment and uncertainty and will likely change in the future as additional information becomes available. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, the accounting for the effects of certain types of regulation, derivatives, impairment of long-lived assets, income taxes and revenue recognition - unbilled revenue. For additional discussion of Nevada Power's critical accounting estimates, see Item 7 of Nevada Power's Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2017. There have been no significant changes in Nevada Power's assumptions regarding critical accounting estimates since December 31, 2017.
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Sierra Pacific Power Company and its subsidiaries
Consolidated Financial Section
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PART I
Item 1. | Financial Statements |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholder of Sierra Pacific Power Company
Results of Review of Interim Financial Information
We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Sierra Pacific Power Company and subsidiaries ("Sierra Pacific") as of September 30, 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and of changes in shareholder's equity and cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "interim financial information"). Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying interim financial information for it to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheet of Sierra Pacific as of December 31, 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholder's equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 23, 2018, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
Basis for Review Results
This interim financial information is the responsibility of Sierra Pacific's management. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to Sierra Pacific in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards of the PCAOB. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Las Vegas, Nevada
November 2, 2018
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SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions, except share data)
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 71 | $ | 4 | |||
Accounts receivable, net | 106 | 112 | |||||
Inventories | 53 | 49 | |||||
Regulatory assets | 8 | 32 | |||||
Other current assets | 32 | 17 | |||||
Total current assets | 270 | 214 | |||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 2,938 | 2,892 | |||||
Regulatory assets | 293 | 300 | |||||
Other assets | 15 | 7 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 3,516 | $ | 3,413 | |||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 84 | $ | 92 | |||
Accrued interest | 11 | 14 | |||||
Accrued property, income and other taxes | 13 | 10 | |||||
Regulatory liabilities | 32 | 19 | |||||
Current portion of long-term debt and financial and capital lease obligations | 2 | 2 | |||||
Customer deposits | 19 | 15 | |||||
Other current liabilities | 25 | 12 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 186 | 164 | |||||
Long-term debt and financial and capital lease obligations | 1,153 | 1,152 | |||||
Regulatory liabilities | 489 | 481 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 333 | 330 | |||||
Other long-term liabilities | 107 | 114 | |||||
Total liabilities | 2,268 | 2,241 | |||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) | |||||||
Shareholder's equity: | |||||||
Common stock - $3.75 stated value, 20,000,000 shares authorized and 1,000 issued and outstanding | — | — | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | 1,111 | 1,111 | |||||
Retained earnings | 138 | 62 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | |||
Total shareholder's equity | 1,248 | 1,172 | |||||
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity | $ | 3,516 | $ | 3,413 | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. |
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SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Operating revenue: | |||||||||||||||
Regulated electric | $ | 225 | $ | 215 | $ | 575 | $ | 534 | |||||||
Regulated natural gas | 14 | 15 | 74 | 66 | |||||||||||
Total operating revenue | 239 | 230 | 649 | 600 | |||||||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Cost of fuel and energy | 90 | 76 | 245 | 193 | |||||||||||
Cost of natural gas purchased for resale | 4 | 4 | 35 | 26 | |||||||||||
Operations and maintenance | 53 | 41 | 140 | 122 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 30 | 29 | 89 | 85 | |||||||||||
Property and other taxes | 6 | 6 | 18 | 18 | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 183 | 156 | 527 | 444 | |||||||||||
Operating income | 56 | 74 | 122 | 156 | |||||||||||
Other income (expense): | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (12 | ) | (11 | ) | (33 | ) | (33 | ) | |||||||
Allowance for borrowed funds | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
Allowance for equity funds | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |||||||||||
Other, net | 3 | 3 | 8 | 5 | |||||||||||
Total other income (expense) | (8 | ) | (6 | ) | (21 | ) | (25 | ) | |||||||
Income before income tax expense | 48 | 68 | 101 | 131 | |||||||||||
Income tax expense | 13 | 24 | 25 | 46 | |||||||||||
Net income | $ | 35 | $ | 44 | $ | 76 | $ | 85 | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. |
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SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions, except shares)
Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Retained | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid-in | Earnings | Comprehensive | Shareholder's | |||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | (Deficit) | Loss, Net | Equity | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2016 | 1,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,111 | $ | (2 | ) | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 1,108 | ||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | 85 | — | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared | — | — | — | (5 | ) | — | (5 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2017 | 1,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,111 | $ | 78 | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 1,188 | |||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2017 | 1,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,111 | $ | 62 | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 1,172 | |||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | 76 | — | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2018 | 1,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,111 | $ | 138 | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 1,248 | |||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. |
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SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)
Nine-Month Periods | |||||||
Ended September 30, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | $ | 76 | $ | 85 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 89 | 85 | |||||
Allowance for equity funds | (3 | ) | (2 | ) | |||
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities | 32 | 9 | |||||
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits | 9 | 46 | |||||
Deferred energy | 26 | (23 | ) | ||||
Amortization of deferred energy | (6 | ) | (43 | ) | |||
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts receivable and other assets | (3 | ) | 11 | ||||
Inventories | (5 | ) | (2 | ) | |||
Accrued property, income and other taxes, net | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | |||
Accounts payable and other liabilities | (5 | ) | (54 | ) | |||
Net cash flows from operating activities | 208 | 110 | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Capital expenditures | (139 | ) | (131 | ) | |||
Net cash flows from investing activities | (139 | ) | (131 | ) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Repayments of long-term debt and financial and capital lease obligations | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | |||
Dividends paid | — | (5 | ) | ||||
Net cash flows from financing activities | (2 | ) | (6 | ) | |||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | 67 | (27 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 8 | 60 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 75 | $ | 33 | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. |
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SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(1) | General |
Sierra Pacific Power Company, together with its subsidiaries ("Sierra Pacific"), is a wholly owned subsidiary of NV Energy, Inc. ("NV Energy"), a holding company that also owns Nevada Power Company ("Nevada Power") and certain other subsidiaries. Sierra Pacific is a United States regulated electric utility company serving retail customers, including residential, commercial and industrial customers and regulated retail natural gas customers primarily in northern Nevada. NV Energy is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company ("BHE"). BHE is a holding company based in Des Moines, Iowa and is a consolidated subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. ("Berkshire Hathaway").
The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and regulations for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for annual financial statements. Management believes the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for the fair presentation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2018 and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income have been omitted as net income equals comprehensive income for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
The preparation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results may differ from the estimates used in preparing the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Sierra Pacific's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 describes the most significant accounting policies used in the preparation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. There have been no significant changes in Sierra Pacific's assumptions regarding significant accounting estimates and policies during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018.
(2) | New Accounting Pronouncements |
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, which creates FASB ASC Topic 842, "Leases" and supersedes Topic 840 "Leases." This guidance increases transparency and comparability among entities by recording lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. A lessee should recognize in the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee have not significantly changed from previous guidance. During 2018, the FASB issued several ASUs that clarified the implementation guidance and provided optional transition practical expedients for ASU No. 2016-02 including ASU No. 2018-01 that allows companies to forgo evaluating existing land easements if they were not previously accounted for under ASC Topic 840, "Leases" and ASU No. 2018-11 that allows companies to apply the new guidance at the adoption date with the cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and is required to be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. Sierra Pacific plans to adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2019 and is currently in the process of evaluating the impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures included within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(3) | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents |
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, which amends FASB ASC Subtopic 230-10, "Statement of Cash Flows - Overall." The amendments in this guidance require that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. Sierra Pacific adopted this guidance January 1, 2018.
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Cash equivalents consist of funds invested in money market mutual funds, United States Treasury Bills and other investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased. Cash and cash equivalents exclude amounts where availability is restricted by legal requirements, loan agreements or other contractual provisions. Restricted cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, consist of funds restricted by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada ("PUCN") for a certain renewable energy contract. A reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is outlined below and disaggregated by the line items in which they appear on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 71 | $ | 4 | |||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents included in other current assets | 4 | 4 | |||||
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | $ | 75 | $ | 8 |
(4) | Property, Plant and Equipment, Net |
Property, plant and equipment, net consists of the following (in millions):
As of | |||||||||
Depreciable Life | September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
Utility plant: | |||||||||
Electric generation | 25 - 60 years | $ | 1,144 | $ | 1,144 | ||||
Electric distribution | 20 - 100 years | 1,518 | 1,459 | ||||||
Electric transmission | 50 - 100 years | 817 | 786 | ||||||
Electric general and intangible plant | 5 - 70 years | 191 | 181 | ||||||
Natural gas distribution | 35 - 70 years | 398 | 390 | ||||||
Natural gas general and intangible plant | 5 - 70 years | 14 | 14 | ||||||
Common general | 5 - 70 years | 305 | 294 | ||||||
Utility plant | 4,387 | 4,268 | |||||||
Accumulated depreciation and amortization | (1,573 | ) | (1,513 | ) | |||||
Utility plant, net | 2,814 | 2,755 | |||||||
Other non-regulated, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization | 70 years | 5 | 5 | ||||||
Plant, net | 2,819 | 2,760 | |||||||
Construction work-in-progress | 119 | 132 | |||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | 2,938 | $ | 2,892 |
(5) | Regulatory Matters |
Deferred Energy
Nevada statutes permit regulated utilities to adopt deferred energy accounting procedures. The intent of these procedures is to ease the effect on customers of fluctuations in the cost of purchased natural gas, fuel and electricity and are subject to annual prudency review by the PUCN. Under deferred energy accounting, to the extent actual fuel and purchased power costs exceed fuel and purchased power costs recoverable through current rates that excess is not recorded as a current expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations but rather is deferred and recorded as a regulatory asset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Conversely, a regulatory liability is recorded to the extent fuel and purchased power costs recoverable through current rates exceed actual fuel and purchased power costs. These excess amounts are reflected in quarterly adjustments to rates and recorded as cost of fuel and energy in future time periods.
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Regulatory Rate Review
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("2017 Tax Reform") enacted significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code, including, among other things, a reduction in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. In February 2018, Sierra Pacific made a filing with the PUCN proposing a tax rate reduction rider for the lower annual income tax expense anticipated to result from 2017 Tax Reform for 2018 and beyond. The filing supports an annual rate reduction of $25 million. In March 2018, the PUCN issued an order approving the rate reduction proposed by Sierra Pacific, The new rates were effective April 1, 2018. The order extended the procedural schedule to allow parties additional discovery relevant to 2017 Tax Reform and a hearing was held in July 2018. In September 2018, the PUCN issued an order directing Sierra Pacific to record the amortization of any excess protected accumulated deferred income tax arising from the 2017 Tax Reform as a regulatory liability effective January 1, 2018.
Chapter 704B Applications
Chapter 704B of the Nevada Revised Statutes allows retail electric customers with an average annual load of one megawatt ("MW") or more to file with the PUCN an application to purchase energy from alternative providers of a new electric resource and become distribution only service customers. On a case-by-case basis, the PUCN will assess the application and may deny or grant the application subject to conditions, including paying an impact fee, paying on-going charges and receiving approval for specific alternative energy providers and terms. The impact fee and on-going charges are assessed to alleviate the burden on other Nevada customers for the applicant's share of previously committed investments and long-term renewable contracts and are set at a level designed such that the remaining customers are not subjected to increased costs.
In November 2016, Caesars Enterprise Service ("Caesars"), a customer of Sierra Pacific, filed an application with the PUCN to purchase energy from alternative providers of a new electric resource and become a distribution only service customer of Sierra Pacific. In March 2017, the PUCN approved the application allowing Caesars to purchase energy from alternative providers subject to conditions, including paying an impact fee. In March 2017, Caesars provided notice that it intends to pay the impact fee and proceed with purchasing energy from alternative providers. In July 2017, Caesars made the required compliance filings and, in September 2017, the PUCN issued an order allowing Caesars to acquire electric energy and ancillary services from another energy supplier and become a distribution only service customer of Sierra Pacific. In January 2018, Caesars became a distribution only service customer and started procuring energy from another energy supplier for its eligible meters in the Sierra Pacific service territory. Following the PUCN's order from March 2017, Caesars' will pay an impact fee of $4 million in 36 monthly payments.
In May 2017, Peppermill Resort Spa Casino ("Peppermill"), a customer of Sierra Pacific, filed an application with the PUCN to purchase energy from alternative providers of a new electric resource and become a distribution only service customer of Sierra Pacific. In August 2017, the PUCN approved a stipulation allowing Peppermill to purchase energy from alternative providers subject to conditions, including paying an impact fee. In September 2017, Peppermill provided notice that it intends to pay the impact fee and proceed with purchasing energy from alternative providers. In April 2018, Peppermill paid a one-time impact fee of $3 million and became a distribution only service customer and started procuring energy from another energy supplier.
(6) Recent Financing Transactions
Credit Facilities
In April 2018, Sierra Pacific amended and restated its existing $250 million secured credit facility, expiring June 2020, extending the expiration date to June 2021 and reducing from two to one, the available one-year extension options, subject to lender consent.
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(7) | Income Taxes |
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
2017 Tax Reform impacts many areas of income tax law. The most material items include the reduction of the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, the elimination of the deduction for production activities and limitations on bonus depreciation for utility property.
In December 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 to assist in the implementation process of 2017 Tax Reform by allowing for calculations to be classified as provisional and subject to remeasurement. There are three different classifications for the accounting: (1) completed, (2) not complete but reasonably estimable or (3) not complete and amounts are not reasonably estimable. Sierra Pacific has recorded the impacts of 2017 Tax Reform and believes all the impacts to be complete with the exception of interpretations of the bonus depreciation rules. Sierra Pacific has determined the amounts recorded and the interpretations relating to this items to be provisional and subject to remeasurement during the measurement period upon obtaining the necessary additional information to complete the accounting. Sierra Pacific believes its interpretations for bonus depreciation to be reasonable, however, as the guidance is clarified estimates may change. Sierra Pacific recorded a current tax benefit and deferred tax expense of $4 million during the three-month period ended September 30, 2018 following clarified bonus depreciation guidance. As a result of 2017 Tax Reform and Sierra Pacific's regulatory nature, Sierra Pacific reduced the associated deferred income tax liabilities $2 million and increased regulatory liabilities by the same amount. The accounting will be completed by December 2018.
A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to the effective income tax rate applicable to income before income tax expense is as follows:
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
Federal statutory income tax rate | 21 | % | 35 | % | 21 | % | 35 | % | |||
Nondeductible expenses | 5 | — | 4 | — | |||||||
Effects of ratemaking | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
Effective income tax rate | 27 | % | 35 | % | 25 | % | 35 | % |
(8) | Employee Benefit Plans |
Sierra Pacific is a participant in benefit plans sponsored by NV Energy. The NV Energy Retirement Plan includes a qualified pension plan ("Qualified Pension Plan") and a supplemental executive retirement plan and a restoration plan (collectively, "Non‑Qualified Pension Plans") that provide pension benefits for eligible employees. The NV Energy Comprehensive Welfare Benefit and Cafeteria Plan provides certain postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for eligible retirees ("Other Postretirement Plans") on behalf of Sierra Pacific. Sierra Pacific contributed $6 million to the Qualified Pension Plan and $6 million to the Other Postretirement Plan for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018. Amounts attributable to Sierra Pacific were allocated from NV Energy based upon the current, or in the case of retirees, previous, employment location. Offsetting regulatory assets and liabilities have been recorded related to the amounts not yet recognized as a component of net periodic benefit costs that will be included in regulated rates. Net periodic benefit costs not included in regulated rates are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net.
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Amounts receivable from (payable to) NV Energy are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and consist of the following (in millions):
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Qualified Pension Plan: | |||||||
Other assets | $ | 6 | $ | — | |||
Other long-term liabilities | — | (2 | ) | ||||
Non-Qualified Pension Plans: | |||||||
Other current liabilities | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | |||
Other long-term liabilities | (8 | ) | (8 | ) | |||
Other Postretirement Plans: | |||||||
Other long-term liabilities | (13 | ) | (20 | ) |
(9) | Fair Value Measurements |
The carrying value of Sierra Pacific's cash, certain cash equivalents, receivables, payables, accrued liabilities and short-term borrowings approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. Sierra Pacific has various financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets using inputs from the three levels of the fair value hierarchy. A financial asset or liability classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels are as follows:
• | Level 1 — Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that Sierra Pacific has the ability to access at the measurement date. |
• | Level 2 — Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs). |
• | Level 3 — Unobservable inputs reflect Sierra Pacific's judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability since limited market data exists. Sierra Pacific develops these inputs based on the best information available, including its own data. |
The following table presents Sierra Pacific's assets and liabilities recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in millions):
Input Levels for Fair Value Measurements | |||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
As of September 30, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
Assets - money market mutual funds(1) | $ | 18 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 18 | |||||||
Liabilities - commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (1 | ) | |||||
As of December 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||
Assets - investment funds | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — |
(1) | Amounts are included in cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of these money market mutual funds approximates cost. |
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Derivative contracts are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as either assets or liabilities and are stated at estimated fair value unless they are designated as normal purchases or normal sales and qualify for the exception afforded by GAAP. When available, the fair value of derivative contracts is estimated using unadjusted quoted prices for identical contracts in the market in which Sierra Pacific transacts. When quoted prices for identical contracts are not available, Sierra Pacific uses forward price curves. Forward price curves represent Sierra Pacific's estimates of the prices at which a buyer or seller could contract today for delivery or settlement at future dates. Sierra Pacific bases its forward price curves upon internally developed models, with internal and external fundamental data inputs. Market price quotations for certain electricity and natural gas trading hubs are not as readily obtainable due to markets that are not active. Given that limited market data exists for these contracts, Sierra Pacific uses forward price curves derived from internal models based on perceived pricing relationships to major trading hubs that are based on unobservable inputs. The model incorporates a mid-market pricing convention (the mid‑point price between bid and ask prices) as a practical expedient for valuing its assets and liabilities measured and reported at fair value. The determination of the fair value for derivative contracts not only includes counterparty risk, but also the impact of Sierra Pacific's nonperformance risk on its liabilities, which as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, had an immaterial impact to the fair value of its derivative contracts. As such, Sierra Pacific considers its derivative contracts to be valued using Level 3 inputs.
Sierra Pacific's investments in money market mutual funds and equity securities are stated at fair value. When available, a readily observable quoted market price or net asset value of an identical security in an active market is used to record the fair value.
The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of Sierra Pacific's commodity derivative liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant Level 3 inputs (in millions):
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Beginning balance | $ | (2 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Changes in fair value recognized in regulatory assets | 2 | — | (1 | ) | — | ||||||||||
Settlements | (1 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||
Ending balance | $ | (1 | ) | $ | — | $ | (1 | ) | $ | — |
Sierra Pacific's long-term debt is carried at cost on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of Sierra Pacific's long-term debt is a Level 2 fair value measurement and has been estimated based upon quoted market prices, where available, or at the present value of future cash flows discounted at rates consistent with comparable maturities with similar credit risks. The carrying value of Sierra Pacific's variable-rate long-term debt approximates fair value because of the frequent repricing of these instruments at market rates. The following table presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of Sierra Pacific's long-term debt (in millions):
As of September 30, 2018 | As of December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||
Carrying | Fair | Carrying | Fair | ||||||||||||
Value | Value | Value | Value | ||||||||||||
Long-term debt | $ | 1,120 | $ | 1,153 | $ | 1,120 | $ | 1,221 |
(10) | 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.
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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.
(11) | Revenue from Contracts with Customers |
Adoption
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, which created FASB ASC Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASC 606") and superseded ASC Topic 605, "Revenue Recognition." The guidance replaced industry-specific guidance and established a single five-step model to identify and recognize revenue from contracts with customers ("Customer Revenue"). The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue upon transfer of control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Following the issuance of ASU No. 2014-09, the FASB issued several ASUs that clarified the implementation guidance for ASU No. 2014-09 but did not change the core principle of the guidance. Sierra Pacific adopted this guidance for all applicable contracts as of January 1, 2018 under a modified retrospective method and the adoption did not have a cumulative effect impact at the date of initial adoption.
Customer Revenue
Sierra Pacific recognizes revenue upon transfer of control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which Sierra Pacific expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Sierra Pacific records sales, franchise and excise taxes collected directly from customers and remitted directly to the taxing authorities on a net basis on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Substantially all of Sierra Pacific's Customer Revenue is derived from tariff based sales arrangements approved by various regulatory bodies. These tariff based revenues are mainly comprised of energy, transmission, distribution and natural gas and have performance obligations to deliver energy products and services to customers which are satisfied over time as energy is delivered or services are provided. Other revenue consists primarily of revenue recognized in accordance with ASC 840, "Leases" and amounts not considered Customer Revenue within ASC 606.
Revenue recognized is equal to what Sierra Pacific has the right to invoice as it corresponds directly with the value to the customer of Sierra Pacific's performance to date and includes billed and unbilled amounts. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, accounts receivables, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets relate substantially to Customer Revenue, including unbilled revenue of $51 million and $62 million, respectively. Payments for amounts billed are generally due from the customer within 30 days of billing. Rates charged for energy products and services are established by regulators or contractual arrangements that establish the transaction price as well as the allocation of price amongst the separate performance obligations. When preliminary regulated rates are permitted to be billed prior to final approval by the applicable regulator, certain revenue collected may be subject to refund and a liability for estimated refunds is accrued.
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The following table summarizes Sierra Pacific's revenue by customer class, including a reconciliation to Sierra Pacific's reportable segment information included in Note 12, for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 (in millions):
Three-Month Period | Nine-Month Period | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Electric | Gas | Total | Electric | Gas | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Customer Revenue: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Retail: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential | $ | 76 | $ | 9 | $ | 85 | $ | 203 | $ | 48 | $ | 251 | |||||||||||
Commercial | 75 | 3 | 78 | 190 | 18 | 208 | |||||||||||||||||
Industrial | 59 | 1 | 60 | 136 | 6 | 142 | |||||||||||||||||
Other | 2 | — | 2 | 5 | — | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
Total fully bundled | 212 | 13 | 225 | 534 | 72 | 606 | |||||||||||||||||
Distribution only service | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | — | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
Total retail | 213 | 13 | 226 | 537 | 72 | 609 | |||||||||||||||||
Wholesale, transmission and other | 12 | 1 | 13 | 35 | 1 | 36 | |||||||||||||||||
Total Customer Revenue | 225 | 14 | 239 | 572 | 73 | 645 | |||||||||||||||||
Other revenue | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
Total revenue | $ | 225 | $ | 14 | $ | 239 | $ | 575 | $ | 74 | $ | 649 |
Contract Assets and Liabilities
In the event one of the parties to a contract has performed before the other, Sierra Pacific would recognize a contract asset or contract liability depending on the relationship between Sierra Pacific's performance and the customer's payment. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were no contract assets or contract liabilities recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
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(12) | Segment Information |
Sierra Pacific has identified two reportable operating segments: regulated electric and regulated natural gas. The regulated electric segment derives most of its revenue from regulated retail sales of electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and from wholesale sales. The regulated natural gas segment derives most of its revenue from regulated retail sales of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and also obtains revenue by transporting natural gas owned by others through its distribution system. Pricing for regulated electric and regulated natural gas sales are established separately by the PUCN; therefore, management also reviews each segment separately to make decisions regarding allocation of resources and in evaluating performance.
The following tables provide information on a reportable segment basis (in millions):
Three-Month Periods | Nine-Month Periods | ||||||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Operating revenue: | |||||||||||||||
Regulated electric | $ | 225 | $ | 215 | $ | 575 | $ | 534 | |||||||
Regulated natural gas | 14 | 15 | 74 | 66 | |||||||||||
Total operating revenue | $ | 239 | $ | 230 | $ | 649 | $ | 600 | |||||||
Operating income: | |||||||||||||||
Regulated electric | $ | 56 | $ | 71 | $ | 111 | $ | 141 | |||||||
Regulated natural gas | — | 3 | 11 | 15 | |||||||||||
Total operating income | 56 | 74 | 122 | 156 | |||||||||||
Interest expense | (12 | ) | (11 | ) | (33 | ) | (33 | ) | |||||||
Allowance for borrowed funds | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
Allowance for equity funds | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |||||||||||
Other, net | 3 | 3 | 8 | 5 | |||||||||||
Income before income tax expense | $ | 48 | $ | 68 | $ | 101 | $ | 131 |
As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Assets: | |||||||
Regulated electric | $ | 3,131 | $ | 3,103 | |||
Regulated natural gas | 300 | 300 | |||||
Regulated common assets(1) | 85 | 10 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 3,516 | $ | 3,413 |
(1) | Consists principally of cash and cash equivalents not included in either the regulated electric or regulated natural gas segments. |
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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
General
Sierra Pacific's revenues and operating income are subject to fluctuations during the year due to impacts that seasonal weather, rate changes, and customer usage patterns have on demand for electric energy and resources. Sierra Pacific is a summer peaking utility experiencing its highest retail energy sales in response to the demand for air conditioning. The variations in energy usage due to varying weather, customer growth and other energy usage patterns, including energy efficiency and conservation measures, necessitates a continual balancing of loads and resources and purchases and sales of energy under short- and long-term energy supply contracts. As a result, the prudent management and optimization of available resources has a direct effect on the operating and financial performance of Sierra Pacific. Additionally, the timely recovery of purchased power, fuel costs and other costs and the ability to earn a fair return on investments through rates are essential to the operating and financial performance of Sierra Pacific.
The following is management's discussion and analysis of certain significant factors that have affected the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of Sierra Pacific during the periods included herein. Explanations include management's best estimate of the impact of weather, customer growth and other factors. This discussion should be read in conjunction with Sierra Pacific's historical unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q. Sierra Pacific's actual results in the future could differ significantly from the historical results.
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Results of Operations for the Third Quarter and First Nine Months of 2018 and 2017
Overview
Net income for the third quarter of 2018 was $35 million, a decrease of $9 million, or 20%, compared to 2017 primarily due to $12 million of higher operations and maintenance expense, primarily due to increased political activity expenses, and $5 million of lower utility margin, primarily due to lower average retail rates including rate impacts related to the tax rate reduction rider as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("2017 Tax Reform"), partially offset by a decrease in income tax expense of $11 million, primarily from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform.
Net income for the first nine months of 2018 was $76 million, a decrease of $9 million, or 11%, compared to 2017 primarily due to $18 million of higher operations and maintenance expense, primarily due to increased political activity expenses, and $11 million of lower electric utility margin, primarily due to lower average retail rates including rate impacts related to the tax rate reduction rider as a result of 2017 Tax Reform, partially offset by a decrease in income tax expense of $21 million, primarily from a lower federal tax rate due to the impact of 2017 Tax Reform.
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
Management utilizes various key financial measures that are prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as non-GAAP financial measures such as, electric utility margin and natural gas utility margin, to help evaluate results of operations. Electric utility margin is calculated as electric operating revenue less cost of fuel and energy while natural gas utility margin is calculated as natural gas operating revenue less cost of natural gas purchased for resale, which are captions presented on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Sierra Pacific's cost of fuel and energy and cost of natural gas purchased for resale are directly recovered from its customers through regulatory recovery mechanisms and as a result, changes in Sierra Pacific's revenue are comparable to changes in such expenses. As such, management believes electric utility margin and natural gas utility margin more appropriately and concisely explains profitability rather than a discussion of revenue and cost of sales separately. Management believes the presentation of electric utility margin and natural gas utility margin provides meaningful and valuable insight into the information management considers important to running the business and a measure of comparability to others in the industry.
Electric utility margin and natural gas utility margin are not measures calculated in accordance with GAAP and should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income which is the most comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP. The following table provides a reconciliation of utility margin to operating income (in millions):
Third Quarter | First Nine Months | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Change | 2018 | 2017 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Electric utility margin: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electric operating revenue | $ | 225 | $ | 215 | $ | 10 | 5 | % | $ | 575 | $ | 534 | $ | 41 | 8 | % | ||||||||||||
Cost of fuel and energy | 90 | 76 | 14 | 18 | 245 | 193 | 52 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Electric utility margin | 135 | 139 | (4 | ) | (3 | ) | 330 | 341 | (11 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Natural gas utility margin: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas operating revenue | 14 | 15 | (1 | ) | (7 | )% | 74 | 66 | 8 | 12 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Cost of natural gas purchased for resale | 4 | 4 | — | — | 35 | 26 | 9 | 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas utility margin | 10 | 11 | (1 | ) | (9 | ) | 39 | 40 | (1 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Utility margin | 145 | 150 | (5 | ) | (3 | )% | 369 | 381 | (12 | ) | (3 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Operations and maintenance | 53 | 41 | 12 | 29 | % | 140 | 122 | 18 | 15 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 30 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 89 | 85 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Property and other taxes | 6 | 6 | — | — | 18 | 18 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operating income | $ | 56 | $ | 74 | $ | (18 | ) | (24 | )% | $ | 122 | $ | 156 | $ | (34 | ) | (22 | )% |
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A comparison of Sierra Pacific's key operating results is as follows:
Electric Utility Margin
Third Quarter | First Nine Months | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Change | 2018 | 2017 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Electric utility margin (in millions): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electric operating revenue | $ | 225 | $ | 215 | $ | 10 | 5 | % | $ | 575 | $ | 534 | $ | 41 | 8 | % | ||||||||||||
Cost of fuel and energy | 90 | 76 | 14 | 18 | 245 | 193 | 52 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Electric utility margin | $ | 135 | $ | 139 | $ | (4 | ) | (3 | ) | $ | 330 | $ | 341 | $ | (11 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||||
GWh sold: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential | 737 | 736 | 1 | — | % | 1,877 | 1,904 | (27 | ) | (1 | )% | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial | 874 | 850 | 24 | 3 | 2,282 | 2,271 | 11 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Industrial | 867 | 797 | 70 | 9 | 2,497 | 2,346 | 151 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other | 4 | 4 | — | — | 12 | 12 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total fully bundled(1) | 2,482 | 2,387 | 95 | 4 | 6,668 | 6,533 | 135 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distribution only service | 375 | 348 | 27 | 8 | 1,124 | 1,041 | 83 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total retail | 2,857 | 2,735 | 122 | 4 | 7,792 | 7,574 | 218 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wholesale | 109 | 103 | 6 | 6 | 391 | 392 | (1 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Total GWh sold | 2,966 | 2,838 | 128 | 5 | 8,183 | 7,966 | 217 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Average number of retail customers (in thousands): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential | 300 | 295 | 5 | 2 | % | 299 | 295 | 4 | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Commercial | 48 | 47 | 1 | 2 | 48 | 47 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 348 | 342 | 6 | 2 | 347 | 342 | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Average per MWh: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue - fully bundled(1) | $ | 84.84 | $ | 85.07 | $ | (0.23 | ) | — | % | $ | 80.02 | $ | 75.89 | $ | 4.13 | 5 | % | |||||||||||
Revenue - wholesale | $ | 58.09 | $ | 61.21 | $ | (3.12 | ) | (5 | )% | $ | 49.92 | $ | 52.92 | $ | (3.00 | ) | (6 | )% | ||||||||||
Total cost of energy(2) | $ | 36.76 | $ | 28.53 | $ | 8.23 | 29 | % | $ | 34.57 | $ | 26.07 | $ | 8.50 | 33 | % | ||||||||||||
Heating degree days | 14 | 118 | (104 | ) | (88 | )% | 2,639 | 2,823 | (184 | ) | (7 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Cooling degree days | 1,043 | 1,070 | (27 | ) | (3 | )% | 1,283 | 1,401 | (118 | ) | (8 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Sources of energy (GWh)(3): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas | 1,480 | 1,221 | 259 | 21 | % | 3,615 | 3,227 | 388 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Coal | 361 | 355 | 6 | 2 | 558 | 457 | 101 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Renewables | 12 | 12 | — | — | 30 | 31 | (1 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Total energy generated | 1,853 | 1,588 | 265 | 17 | 4,203 | 3,715 | 488 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Energy purchased | 785 | 1,074 | (289 | ) | (27 | ) | 3,090 | 3,698 | (608 | ) | (16 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total | 2,638 | 2,662 | (24 | ) | (1 | ) | 7,293 | 7,413 | (120 | ) | (2 | ) |
* Not meaningful
(1) | Fully bundled includes sales to customers for combined energy, transmission and distribution services. |
(2) | The average total cost of energy per MWh includes the cost of fuel, purchased power and deferrals and does not include other costs and excludes 35 GWh of coal and 136 GWh of gas generated energy that is purchased at cost by related parties for the third quarter of 2018. The average total cost of energy per MWh includes the cost of fuel, purchased power and deferrals and does not include other costs and excludes 54 GWh of coal and 185 GWh of gas generated energy that is purchased at cost by related parties for the first nine months of 2018. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, there were no GWh of coal or gas excluded. |
(3) | GWh amounts are net of energy used by the related generating facilities. |
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Natural Gas Utility Margin
Third Quarter | First Nine Months | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Change | 2018 | 2017 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas utility margin (in millions): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas operating revenue | $ | 14 | $ | 15 | $ | (1 | ) | (7 | )% | $ | 74 | $ | 66 | $ | 8 | 12 | % | |||||||||||
Cost of natural gas purchased for resale | 4 | 4 | — | — | 35 | 26 | 9 | 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas utility margin | $ | 10 | $ | 11 | $ | (1 | ) | (9 | ) | $ | 39 | $ | 40 | $ | (1 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||||
Dth sold: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential | 740 | 835 | (95 | ) | (11 | )% | 6,520 | 6,866 | (346 | ) | (5 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Commercial | 464 | 494 | (30 | ) | (6 | ) | 3,364 | 3,522 | (158 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Industrial | 267 | 244 | 23 | 9 | 1,364 | 1,255 | 109 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total retail | 1,471 | 1,573 | (102 | ) | (6 | ) | 11,248 | 11,643 | (395 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Average number of retail customers (in thousands) | 167 | 164 | 3 | 2 | % | 167 | 164 | 3 | 2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Average revenue per retail Dth sold | $ | 8.98 | $ | 8.59 | $ | 0.39 | 5 | % | $ | 6.44 | $ | 5.47 | $ | 0.97 | 18 | % | ||||||||||||
Average cost of natural gas per retail Dth sold | $ | 2.69 | $ | 2.53 | $ | 0.16 | 6 | % | $ | 3.11 | $ | 2.20 | $ | 0.91 | 41 | % | ||||||||||||
Heating degree days | 14 | 118 | (104 | ) | (88 | )% | 2,639 | 2,823 | (184 | ) | (7 | )% |
Electric utility margin decreased $4 million, or 3%, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to lower retail rates due to the tax rate reduction rider as a result of 2017 Tax Reform.
Operations and maintenance increased $12 million, or 29%, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to increased political activity expenses and higher transmission and distribution costs.
Income tax expense decreased $11 million, or 46%, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017. The effective tax rate was 27% in 2018 and 35% in 2017. The decrease in the effective tax rate is primarily due to 2017 Tax Reform, which reduced the United States federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018, offset by an increase in nondeductible expenses and unfavorable effects of ratemaking.
Electric utility margin decreased $11 million, or 3%, for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to:
• | $12 million in lower retail rates due to the tax rate reduction rider as a result of 2017 Tax Reform and |
• | $2 million in lower customer volumes primarily from the impacts of weather. |
The decrease in utility margin was partially offset by:
• | $1 million due to customer growth. |
Operations and maintenance increased $18 million, or 15%, for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to increased political activity expenses and higher transmission and distribution costs.
Depreciation and amortization increased $4 million, or 5%, for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to higher plant placed in service.
Other income (expense) is favorable $4 million, or 16%, for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to lower pension expense.
Income tax expense decreased $21 million, or 46%, for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017. The effective tax rate was 25% in 2018 and 35% in 2017. The decrease in the effective tax rate is primarily due to 2017 Tax Reform, which reduced the United States federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018, offset by an increase in nondeductible expenses.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2018, Sierra Pacific's total net liquidity was as follows (in millions):
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 71 | ||
Credit facility | 250 | |||
Less: | ||||
Tax-exempt bond support | (80 | ) | ||
Net credit facility | 170 | |||
Total net liquidity | $ | 241 | ||
Credit facility: | ||||
Maturity date | 2021 |
Operating Activities
Net cash flows from operating activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $208 million and $110 million, respectively. The change was due to a decrease in fuel costs and increased collections from customers due to higher deferred energy rates, partially offset by higher federal tax payments and higher contributions to the pension plan.
Sierra Pacific's income tax cash flows benefited in 2017 and 2016 from 50% bonus depreciation on qualifying assets placed in service. In December 2017, 2017 Tax Reform was enacted which, among other items, reduces the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, eliminated bonus depreciation on qualifying regulated utility assets acquired after December 31, 2017 and eliminated the deduction for production activities. Sierra Pacific believes for qualifying assets acquired on or before December 31, 2017, bonus depreciation will remain available for 2018 and 2019. In February 2018, Sierra Pacific made a filing with the PUCN proposing a tax rate reduction rider for the lower annual income tax expense anticipated to result from 2017 Tax Reform for 2018 and beyond. The filing supported an annual rate reduction of $25 million. In March 2018, the PUCN issued an order approving the rate reduction proposed by Sierra Pacific. The new rates were effective April 1, 2018. The order extended the procedural schedule to allow parties additional discovery relevant to 2017 Tax Reform and a hearing was held in July 2018. Sierra Pacific expects lower revenue collections and income tax payments as well as lower bonus depreciation benefits compared to 2017 as a result of 2017 Tax Reform and the related regulatory treatment. Sierra Pacific does not expect 2017 Tax Reform and related regulatory treatment to have a material adverse impact on its cash flows, subject to actual regulatory outcomes. The timing of Sierra Pacific's income tax cash flows from period to period can be significantly affected by the estimated federal income tax payment methods and assumptions for each payment date.
Investing Activities
Net cash flows from investing activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $(139) million and $(131) million, respectively. The change was due to increased capital expenditures.
Financing Activities
Net cash flows from financing activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $(2) million and $(6) million, respectively. The change was primarily due to dividends paid to NV Energy, Inc. in 2017.
Ability to Issue Debt
Sierra Pacific's ability to issue debt is primarily impacted by its financing authority from the PUCN. As of September 30, 2018, Sierra Pacific has financing authority from the PUCN consisting of the ability to: (1) issue additional long-term debt securities of up to $350 million; (2) refinance up to $55 million of long-term debt securities; and (3) maintain a revolving credit facility of up to $600 million. Sierra Pacific's revolving credit facility contains a financial maintenance covenant which Sierra Pacific was in compliance with as of September 30, 2018.
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Future Uses of Cash
Sierra Pacific has available a variety of sources of liquidity and capital resources, both internal and external, including net cash flows from operating activities, public and private debt offerings, the use of its secured revolving credit facility, capital contributions and other sources. These sources are expected to provide funds required for current operations, capital expenditures, debt retirements and other capital requirements. The availability and terms under which Sierra Pacific has access to external financing depends on a variety of factors, including Sierra Pacific's credit ratings, investors' judgment of risk and conditions in the overall capital markets, including the condition of the utility industry.
Capital Expenditures
Sierra Pacific has significant future capital requirements. Capital expenditure needs are reviewed regularly by management and may change significantly as a result of these reviews, which may consider, among other factors, impacts to customers' rates; changes in environmental and other rules and regulations; outcomes of regulatory proceedings; changes in income tax laws; general business conditions; load projections; system reliability standards; the cost and efficiency of construction labor, equipment and materials; commodity prices; and the cost and availability of capital. Prudently incurred expenditures for compliance-related items such as pollution-control technologies, replacement generation and associated operating costs are generally incorporated into Sierra Pacific's regulated retail rates. Expenditures for certain assets may ultimately include acquisition of existing assets.
Sierra Pacific's historical and forecast capital expenditures, each of which exclude amounts for non-cash equity AFUDC and other non-cash items are as follows (in millions):
Nine-Month Periods | Annual | ||||||||||
Ended September 30, | Forecast | ||||||||||
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | |||||||||
Distribution | $ | 61 | $ | 101 | $ | 158 | |||||
Transmission system investment | 9 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||
Other | 61 | 35 | 51 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 131 | $ | 139 | $ | 214 |
Sierra Pacific's forecast capital expenditures include investments related to operating projects that consist of routine expenditures for transmission, distribution, generation and other infrastructure needed to serve existing and expected demand.
Contractual Obligations
As of September 30, 2018, there have been no material changes outside the normal course of business in contractual obligations from the information provided in Item 7 of Sierra Pacific's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Regulatory Matters
Sierra Pacific is subject to comprehensive regulation. Refer to "Regulatory Matters" in Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q for discussion regarding Sierra Pacific's current regulatory matters.
Integrated Resource Plan ("IRP")
In June 2018, Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific filed with the PUCN a joint application for approval of a 2019-2038 Triennial IRP, 2019-2021 Action Plan, and 2019-2021 Energy Supply Plan ("ESP"). As part of the filings, the Nevada Utilities seek the PUCN authorization to add 1,001 MW of renewable energy and 100 MW of energy storage capacity. The Nevada Utilities are requesting to achieve with power purchase agreements from six new solar generating resources, three battery storage systems, transmission network upgrades and the conditional early retirement of North Valmy Unit 1 generating station. The agreements are conditional upon voters not approving the ballot measure on energy choice in November 2018.
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Environmental Laws and Regulations
Sierra Pacific is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding air and water quality, RPS, 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. In addition to imposing continuing compliance obligations and capital expenditure requirements, these laws and regulations provide regulators with the authority to levy substantial penalties for noncompliance including fines, injunctive relief and other sanctions. These laws and regulations are administered by the EPA and various state and local agencies. All such laws and regulations are subject to a range of interpretation, which may ultimately be resolved by the courts. Environmental laws and regulations continue to evolve, and Sierra Pacific is unable to predict the impact of the changing laws and regulations on its operations and consolidated financial results. Sierra Pacific believes it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Refer to "Liquidity and Capital Resources" for discussion of Sierra Pacific's forecasted environmental-related capital expenditures.
Refer to "Environmental Laws and Regulations" in Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q for additional information regarding environmental laws and regulations.
New Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of new accounting pronouncements affecting Sierra Pacific, refer to Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Sierra Pacific's Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Certain accounting measurements require management to make estimates and judgments concerning transactions that will be settled several years in the future. Amounts recognized on the Consolidated Financial Statements based on such estimates involve numerous assumptions subject to varying and potentially significant degrees of judgment and uncertainty and will likely change in the future as additional information becomes available. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, the accounting for the effects of certain types of regulation, derivatives, impairment of long-lived assets, income taxes and revenue recognition - unbilled revenue. For additional discussion of Sierra Pacific's critical accounting estimates, see Item 7 of Sierra Pacific's Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2017. There have been no significant changes in Sierra Pacific's assumptions regarding critical accounting estimates since December 31, 2017.
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Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
For quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk affecting the Registrants, see Item 7A of each Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Each Registrant's exposure to market risk and its management of such risk has not changed materially since December 31, 2017. Refer to Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of PacifiCorp in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for disclosure of the respective Registrant's derivative positions as of September 30, 2018.
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |
At the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, each of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company, PacifiCorp, MidAmerican Funding, LLC, MidAmerican Energy Company, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company carried out separate evaluations, under the supervision and with the participation of each such entity's management, including its Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and its Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), or persons performing similar functions, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based upon these evaluations, management of each such entity, including its Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and its Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), or persons performing similar functions, in each case, concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures for such entity were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by such entity in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to its management, including its Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and its Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), or persons performing similar functions, in each case, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure by it. Each such entity hereby states that there has been no change in its internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings |
Not applicable.
Item 1A. | Risk Factors |
There has been no material change to each Registrant's risk factors from those disclosed in Item 1A of each Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
Not applicable.
Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
Not applicable.
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures |
Information regarding Berkshire Hathaway Energy's and PacifiCorp's mine safety violations and other legal matters disclosed in accordance with Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is included in Exhibit 95 to this Form 10-Q.
Item 5. | Other Information |
Not applicable.
Item 6. | Exhibits |
The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Quarterly Report.
166
Exhibit No. | Description |
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY
4.1 |
4.2 |
10.1 |
10.2 |
10.3 |
15.1 |
31.1 |
31.2 |
32.1 |
32.2 |
PACIFICORP
15.2 |
31.3 |
31.4 |
32.3 |
32.4 |
167
Exhibit No. | Description |
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY AND PACIFICORP
4.3 |
10.4 |
10.5 |
95 |
MIDAMERICAN ENERGY
15.3 |
31.5 |
31.6 |
32.5 |
32.6 |
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY AND MIDAMERICAN ENERGY
10.6 |
MIDAMERICAN FUNDING
31.7 |
31.8 |
32.7 |
32.8 |
NEVADA POWER
3.1 |
15.4 |
31.9 |
31.10 |
32.9 |
32.10 |
168
Exhibit No. | Description |
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY AND NEVADA POWER
4.4 |
10.7 |
SIERRA PACIFIC
3.2 |
31.11 |
31.12 |
32.11 |
32.12 |
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY AND SIERRA PACIFIC
10.8 |
ALL REGISTRANTS
101 | The following financial information from each respective Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, is formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) and included herein: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged in summary and detail. |
169
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ENERGY COMPANY | |
Date: November 2, 2018 | /s/ Patrick J. Goodman |
Patrick J. Goodman | |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
(principal financial and accounting officer) | |
PACIFICORP | |
Date: November 2, 2018 | /s/ Nikki L. Kobliha |
Nikki L. Kobliha | |
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |
(principal financial and accounting officer) | |
MIDAMERICAN FUNDING, LLC | |
MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY | |
Date: November 2, 2018 | /s/ Thomas B. Specketer |
Thomas B. Specketer | |
Vice President and Controller | |
of MidAmerican Funding, LLC and | |
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
of MidAmerican Energy Company | |
(principal financial and accounting officer) | |
NEVADA POWER COMPANY | |
Date: November 2, 2018 | /s/ Michael E. Cole |
Michael E. Cole | |
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
(principal financial and accounting officer) | |
SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY | |
Date: November 2, 2018 | /s/ Michael E. Cole |
Michael E. Cole | |
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
(principal financial and accounting officer) |
170