Investments Accounted for Using the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities, or VIEs

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Variable Interest Entities Disclosure [Abstract]

Investments Accounted for Using the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities, or VIEs

Entities that are not Consolidated

NRG accounts for the Company's significant investments using the equity method of accounting. NRG's carrying value of equity investments can be impacted by a number of elements including impairments, unrealized gains and losses on derivatives and movements in foreign currency exchange rates.

PG&E Bankruptcy — Agua Caliente and two of the three Ivanpah units are party to PPAs with PG&E. Both projects have project financing with the U.S. DOE. On January 29, 2019, PG&E Corp. and primary operating subsidiary utility PG&E filed for Chapter 11 relief in the California Bankruptcy Court. As a result of the bankruptcy filing, Agua Caliente and the two Ivanpah units were issued notices of events of default under their respective loan agreements. On September 9, 2019, PG&E filed a plan of reorganization that would assume all power purchase agreements, including those held by Agua Caliente and the two Ivanpah units. The California Bankruptcy Court approved the PG&E plan and the Confirmation Order was entered on June 19, 2020. The plan went effective, and PG&E emerged from bankruptcy on July 1, 2020. In July 2020, the U.S. DOE agreed to waivers of the bankruptcy-related events of default with respect to the Agua Caliente and Ivanpah projects. Subsequent to PG&E's emergence from bankruptcy, the Agua Caliente and the Ivanpah projects were allowed to resume distributions, and as of November 5, 2020, NRG received $50 million. NRG renewed its efforts to sell its 35% interest in Agua Caliente in July 2020, following PG&E's emergence from bankruptcy.

NRG's maximum exposure to loss is limited to its equity investment, which was $197 million for Agua Caliente and $26 million for Ivanpah as of September 30, 2020.

Variable Interest Entities that are Consolidated

The Company has a controlling financial interest in certain entities that have been identified as VIEs under ASC 810. These arrangements are related to the Receivables Facility as further described in Note 9, Receivables Securitization and Repurchase Facility, and tax equity arrangements entered into with third-parties in order to finance the cost of solar energy systems under operating leases eligible for certain tax credits as further described in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the Company's 2019 Form 10-K. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company repurchased its partners' equity interest in one of the partnerships. As the Company retains control of its interest, the repurchase was recorded to equity. During the third quarter of 2020, the remaining Home Solar VIE was reclassified to held for sale as further discussed in Note 8, Impairments.

The summarized financial information for the Company's consolidated VIEs consisted of the following:


(In millions)	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
Accounts receivable	$	887	$	—
Other current assets	4		3
Net property, plant and equipment	—		71
Other long-term assets	25		27
Total assets	916		101
Current liabilities	5		4
Long-term debt	—		24


Other long-term liabilities	27		8
Total liabilities	32		36
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	—		20

Net assets less noncontrolling interest	$	884	$	45