Note 10. Regulatory Matters
FERC regulates the transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce under the NGA and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, as amended. Under the NGA, FERC has authority over rates, terms and conditions of services performed by Cove Point, DECG and Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline. FERC also has jurisdiction over siting, construction and operation of natural gas import and export facilities and interstate natural gas pipeline facilities.
There have been no significant developments regarding the pending regulatory matters disclosed in Note 13 to the DCPI Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, with the exception of the items described below.
In connection with the Eastern Market Access Project, in August 2019, Cove Point filed to update its annual electric power cost adjustment requesting FERC approval to recover $25.2 million representing an increase of $1.4 million from the adjustment approved in March 2019. FERC approved the adjustment in August 2019.
In December 2018, the Import Shippers filed a complaint with FERC challenging Cove Point’s application of the fuel retainage provisions of its tariff during the period January 1, 2017 to April 8, 2018. The Import Shippers argued that the assessed fuel retainage resulted in an unlawful subsidy of the Liquefaction Project by import services, and were seeking approximately 1.4 million Dth of LNG or natural gas in relief. In March 2019, FERC denied the Import Shippers’ complaint. In April 2019, the Import Shippers filed a request for rehearing with FERC, and in August 2019, FERC issued an order denying the request for rehearing. The Commission’s order became final in November 2019.
Note 11. Variable Interest Entities
There have been no significant changes regarding the entities DCPI considers VIEs as described in Note 15 to the DCPI Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2018.
DCPI purchased shared services from DES, DECGS and DEQPS of approximately $8.5 million, $3.5 million and $7.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $31.0 million, $12.5 million and $27.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. DCPI purchased shared services from DES, DECGS and DEQPS of approximately $9.1 million, $3.8 million and $7.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and $29.3 million, $12.5 million and $21.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. The Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include amounts due from DCPI to DES, DECGS and DEQPS of approximately $14.8 million and $22.9 million, respectively.
Note 12. Significant Financing Transactions
Long-term Debt
In February 2019, Dominion Energy Midstream repaid its $300.0 million variable rate term loan agreement due in December 2019 at the principal outstanding plus accrued interest and terminated its $500 million revolving credit facility due March 2021 subsequent to repaying the outstanding balance of $73.0 million plus accrued interest.
In September 2019, Dominion Energy repaid its $3.0 billion promissory note to DCPI and the proceeds were used to repay the $3.0 billion term loan. As a result, DCPI recognized a $3.6 million loss on the debt extinguishment recorded in interest expense. Total interest expenses incurred on the term loan for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2019 were $35.0 million and $102.5 million, respectively.
Promissory Note Payable to Dominion Energy
In January 2019, Dominion Energy Midstream entered into an intercompany note with Dominion Energy. The note allowed for borrowings of up to $400.0 million and bears an interest rate of 3.5% and matures in January 2022. Total borrowings on the note were $395.0 million at September 30, 2019. Interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 were $3.5 million and $9.3 million, respectively. In October 2019, Dominion Energy Midstream repaid the outstanding balance and accrued interest.
Note 13. Commitments and Contingencies
As a result of issues generated in the ordinary course of business, DCPI is involved in legal proceedings before various courts and is periodically subject to governmental examinations (including by FERC), inquiries and investigations. Certain legal proceedings and governmental examinations involve demands for unspecified amounts of damages, are in an initial procedural phase, involve uncertainty as to the outcome of pending appeals or motions, or involve significant factual issues that need to be
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