On September 23, 2016, TGH had filed a request for resubmission to arbitration seeking damages in addition to those awarded in the First Award. On May 13, 2020, an ICSID tribunal awarded TGH additional damages and costs against Guatemala of more than $35 million USD plus interest (the “Second Award”). TGH subsequently requested a reconsideration of the interest quantum awarded in connection with this Second Award. On October 16, 2020, the tribunal granted TGH’s request for additional interest. The additional amount is approximately $2 million USD. On February 12, 2021, Guatemala filed an application for annulment of the Second Award with ICSID. On March 31, 2021, ICSID constituted an ad hoc Committee to oversee the annulment proceeding. A three-day hearing was held before the ad hoc Committee beginning on July 27, 2022. A decision on the annulment of the Second Award is expected in Q4 2023. To date, the total of the Second Award, with interest, is approximately $64 million USD. Results to date do not reflect any benefit of the Second Award.
Superfund and Former Manufactured Gas Plant Sites
TEC, through its Tampa Electric and PGS divisions, is a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) for certain superfund sites and, through its PGS division, for certain former manufactured gas plant sites. While the joint and several liability associated with these sites presents the potential for significant response costs, as at September 30, 2022, TEC has estimated its financial liability to be $19 million ($14 million USD), primarily at PGS. This estimate assumes that other involved PRPs are credit-worthy entities. This amount has been accrued and is primarily reflected in the long-term liability section under “Other long-term liabilities” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The environmental remediation costs associated with these sites are expected to be paid over many years.
The estimated amounts represent only the portion of the cleanup costs attributable to TEC. The estimates to perform the work are based on TEC’s experience with similar work, adjusted for site-specific conditions and agreements with the respective governmental agencies. The estimates are made in current dollars, are not discounted and do not assume any insurance recoveries.
In instances where other PRPs are involved, most of those PRPs are believed to be currently credit-worthy and are likely to continue to be credit-worthy for the duration of the remediation work. However, in those instances that they are not, TEC could be liable for more than TEC’s actual percentage of the remediation costs. Other factors that could impact these estimates include additional testing and investigation which could expand the scope of the cleanup activities, additional liability that might arise from the cleanup activities themselves or changes in laws or regulations that could require additional remediation. Under current regulations, these costs are recoverable through customer rates established in base rate proceedings.
Other Legal Proceedings
Emera and its subsidiaries may, from time to time, be involved in other legal proceedings, claims and litigation that arise in the ordinary course of business which the Company believes would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company.
C. Principal Financial Risks and Uncertainties
For information on principal financial risks which could materially affect the Company in the normal course of business, refer to note 27 in Emera’s 2021 annual audited consolidated financial statements. Risks associated with derivative instruments and fair value measurements are discussed in note 12 and note 13. There have been no material changes to the principal financial risks as of September 30, 2022, except for the following:
Regulatory and Political Risk
The Company’s rate-regulated subsidiaries and certain investments subject to significant influence are subject to risk of the recovery of costs and investments. Regulatory and political risk can include change in regulatory frameworks, shifts in government policy, and regulatory decisions.
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