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Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract] |
Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities | Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities 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. The following table summarizes NRG's equity method investments as of December 31, 2020:
(In millions, except percentages) |  |  |
Name | Economic Interest |  | Investment Balance(a)
Agua Caliente | 35.0 | % |  | $ | 185 |
Gladstone | 37.5 | % |  | 131 |
Ivanpah Master Holdings, LLC | 54.5 | % |  | 17 |
Watson Cogeneration Company | 49.0 | % |  | 14 |
Midway-Sunset Cogeneration Company | 50.0 | % |  | 12 |
Petra Nova Parish Holdings, LLC(b) | 50.0 | % |  | (13) |
Total equity investments in affiliates |  |  | $ | 346 |
(a)As of December 31, 2020, the carry value of NRG's equity method investment was $343 million lower than the underlying net assets of the investees. The basis difference is being amortized into net income over the remaining estimated useful lives of the underlying net assets. The basis difference is primarily due to impairments booked on Petra Nova, but not booked at the project level, as well as differences related to the deconsolidations of Ivanpah and Agua Caliente in 2018 and the treatment of certain deferred tax assets. (b)Refer to Note 11, Asset Impairments, for discussion of NRG's investment in Petra Nova Parish Holdings, LLC
| As of December 31,
(In millions) | 2020 |  | 2019
Undistributed earnings from equity investments | $ | 30 |  |  | $ | 42 |
PG&E Bankruptcy — The Agua Caliente project 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 December 31, 2020, NRG received $50 million. In November 2020, Clearway Energy Inc. agreed to buy NRG’s 35% interest in Agua Caliente. The transaction closed on February 3, 2021. Variable Interest Entities NRG accounts for its interests in certain entities that are considered VIEs under ASC 810, Consolidation, for which NRG is not the primary beneficiary, under the equity method. Through its consolidated subsidiary, NRG Solar Ivanpah LLC, NRG owns a 54.5% interest in Ivanpah Master Holdings, LLC, or Ivanpah, the owner of three solar electric generating projects located in the Mojave Desert with a total capacity of 393 MW. NRG considers this investment a VIE under ASC 810 and NRG is not considered the primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for its interest under the equity method of accounting. The Ivanpah solar electric generating projects were funded in large part by loans guaranteed by the U.S. DOE and equity from the projects' partners. During the first quarter of 2018, all interested parties sought a restructuring of Ivanpah's debt in order to avoid a potential event of default with respect to the loans in connection with several recent events. Ensuing negotiations culminated in a settlement during the second quarter of 2018 between the parties which resulted in certain transactions, including the release of reserves totaling $95 million to fund equity distributions to the partners, which reduced the equity at risk, and the prepayment of certain of the debt balance outstanding, and the amendment of certain of Ivanpah's governing documents. The equity distributions and prepayment of debt were funded by the agreed upon release of reserve funds. These events were considered to be a reconsideration event in accordance with ASC 810. As a result, NRG determined that it is not the primary beneficiary and deconsolidated Ivanpah. NRG recognized a loss of $22 million on the deconsolidation and subsequent recognition of Ivanpah as an equity method investment. The deconsolidation of Ivanpah reduced the Company's assets by approximately $1.3 billion, which was primarily property, plant and equipment, and reduced the Company's liabilities by $1.2 billion, which was primarily long-term debt. Other Equity Investments Gladstone — Through a joint venture, NRG owns a 37.5% interest in Gladstone, a 1,613 MW coal-fueled power generation facility in Queensland, Australia. The power generation facility is managed by the joint venture participants and the facility is operated by NRG. Operating expenses incurred in connection with the operation of the facility are funded by each of the participants in proportion to their ownership interests. Coal is sourced from local mines in Queensland. NRG and the joint venture participants receive their respective share of revenues directly from the off takers in proportion to the ownership interests in the joint venture. Power generated by the facility is primarily sold to an adjacent aluminum smelter, with excess power sold to the Queensland Government-owned utility under long-term supply contracts. NRG's investment in Gladstone was $131 million as of December 31, 2020. Entities that are Consolidated The Company has a controlling financial interest in certain entities which have been identified as VIEs under ASC 810. These arrangements are related to the Receivables Facility, as further described in Note 13, 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. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company repurchased its partners' equity interest in one of the remaining partnerships. As the Company retains control of its interest in the entity, the repurchase was recorded to equity. During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company completed the sale of its other remaining tax equity arrangement, as part of the sale of the Home Solar business for $66 million. The summarized financial information for the Company's consolidated VIEs consisted of the following:
(In millions) | December 31, 2020 |  | December 31, 2019
Accounts receivable | $ | 647 |  |  | $ | 3 |
Other current assets | 2 |  |  | — |
Net property, plant and equipment | — |  |  | 71 |
Other long-term assets | — |  |  | 27 |
Total assets | 649 |  |  | 101 |
Current liabilities | 78 |  |  | 4 |
Long-term debt | — |  |  | 24 |
Other long-term liabilities | — |  |  | 8 |
Total liabilities | 78 |  |  | 36 |
Redeemable noncontrolling interests | — |  |  | 20 |
Net assets less noncontrolling interests | $ | 571 |  |  | $ | 45 |

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- Definition The entire disclosure for equity method investments and joint ventures. Equity method investments are investments that give the investor the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of an investee. Joint ventures are entities owned and operated by a small group of businesses as a separate and specific business or project for the mutual benefit of the members of the group. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2196965 + Details
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