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Commitments and contingencies
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and contingencies Commitments and contingencies
(a)
Contingencies
APUC and its subsidiaries are involved in various claims and litigation arising out of the ordinary course and conduct of its business. Although such matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not consider APUC’s exposure to such litigation to be material to these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements. Accruals for any contingencies related to these items are recorded in the consolidated financial statements at the time it is concluded that its occurrence is probable and the related liability is estimable.
Claim by Gaia Power Inc.
On October 30, 2018, Gaia Power Inc. (“Gaia”) commenced an action in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against APUC and certain of its subsidiaries, claiming damages of not less than $345,000 and punitive damages in the sum of $25,000. The action arises from Gaia’s 2010 sale, to a subsidiary of APUC, of Gaia’s interest in certain proposed wind farm projects in Canada.  Pursuant to a 2010 royalty agreement, Gaia is entitled to royalty payments if the projects are developed and achieve certain agreed targets. The parties have since agreed to arbitrate the dispute, and it is scheduled to be heard in the first quarter of 2021. It is too early to determine the likelihood of success in this lawsuit; however, APUC intends to vigorously defend it.
Condemnation expropriation proceedings
Liberty Utilities (Apple Valley Ranchos Water) Corp. is the subject of a condemnation lawsuit filed by the town of Apple Valley. A court will determine the necessity of the taking by Apple Valley and, if established, a jury will determine the fair market value of the assets being condemned. The evidentiary portion of the right-to-take condemnation trial finished on July 15, 2020 and a decision is expected from the Court in the first half of 2021. Any taking by government entities would legally require fair compensation to be paid; however, there is no assurance that the value received as a result of the condemnation will be sufficient to recover the Company's net book value of the utility assets taken.
(b)
Commitments
In addition to the commitments related to the proposed acquisitions and development projects disclosed in notes 3 and 8 of the consolidated financial statements of APUC for the year ended December 31, 2019, the following significant commitments exist as of June 30, 2020.
APUC has outstanding purchase commitments for power purchases, gas supply and service agreements, service agreements, capital project commitments and land easements.
Detailed below are estimates of future commitments under these arrangements: 

Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Thereafter
Total
Power purchase (i)
$
29,028

$
11,585

$
11,506

$
11,735

$
11,913

$
173,436

$
249,203

Gas supply and service agreements (ii)
78,698

55,000

49,588

42,756

39,758

129,584

395,384

Service agreements
50,661

40,697

43,813

46,436

46,375

268,663

496,645

Capital projects
543,211

—

—

—

—

—

543,211

Land easements
6,607

6,641

6,718

6,810

6,887

195,434

229,097

Total
$
708,205

$
113,923

$
111,625

$
107,737

$
104,933

$
767,117

$
1,913,540


(i)
Power purchase: APUC’s electric distribution facilities have commitments to purchase physical quantities of power for load serving requirements. The commitment amounts included in the table above are based on market prices as of June 30, 2020. However, the effects of purchased power unit cost adjustments are mitigated through a purchased power rate-adjustment mechanism.
(ii)  
Gas supply and service agreements: APUC’s gas distribution facilities and thermal generation facilities have commitments to purchase physical quantities of natural gas under contracts for purposes of load serving requirements and of generating power.