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Variable Interest Entities | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Variable interest Entities [Abstract] |
VariableInterestEntities [Text Block] | VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES PGE has determined that as of December 31, 2014 it is the primary beneficiary of two VIEs (three as of December 31, 2013), and, therefore, consolidates the VIEs within the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Such arrangements were formed for the sole purpose of designing, developing, constructing, owning, maintaining, operating and financing photovoltaic solar power facilities located on real property owned by third parties, and selling the energy generated by the facilities. The Company is the Managing Member and a financial institution is the Investor Member in each of the Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), holding equity interests of less than 1% and more than 99%, respectively, in each entity. PGE has determined that its interests in these VIEs contain the obligation to absorb the variability of the entities that could potentially be significant to the VIEs, and the Company has the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the entities’ economic performance. Determining whether PGE is the primary beneficiary of a VIE is complex, subjective and requires the use of judgments and assumptions. Significant judgments and assumptions made by PGE in determining it is the primary beneficiary of these LLCs include the following: i) PGE has the experience to own and operate electric generating facilities and is authorized to operate the LLCs pursuant to the operating agreements, and, therefore, PGE has control over the most significant activities of the LLCs; ii) PGE expects to own 100% of the LLCs shortly after five years have elapsed from when the facility was placed in service, at which time the facilities will have approximately 75% of their estimated useful life remaining; and iii) based on projections prepared in accordance with the operating agreements, PGE expects to absorb a majority of any expected losses of the LLCs. Included in PGE’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are LLC net assets of $4 million and $5 million, respectively, primarily comprised of Electric utility plant, and includes Cash and cash equivalents of $1 million as of December 31, 2013. These assets can only be used to settle the obligations of the consolidated VIEs and their creditors have no recourse to the general credit of PGE. In January 2015, PGE acquired the equity interest held by the Investor Member of one of the LLCs pursuant to the terms of the operating agreement. The transaction did not have a significant impact to the Company’s consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations or consolidated cash flows.

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