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Risk Management Activities
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Financial Instruments [Abstract]  
Risk Management Activities
Risk Management Activities
A. Risk Management Strategy
The Corporation is exposed to market risk from changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange rates, interest rates, credit risk and liquidity risk. These risks affect the Corporation’s earnings and the value of associated financial instruments that the Corporation holds. In certain cases, the Corporation seeks to minimize the effects of these risks by using derivatives to hedge its risk exposures. The Corporation’s risk management strategy, policies and controls are designed to ensure that the risks it assumes comply with the Corporation’s internal objectives and its risk tolerance.

The Corporation has two primary streams of risk management activities: i) financial exposure management and ii) commodity exposure management. Within these activities, risks identified for management include commodity risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, equity price risk and foreign currency risk.

The Corporation seeks to minimize the effects of commodity risk, interest rate risk and foreign currency risk by using derivative financial instruments to hedge risk exposures. Of these derivatives, the Corporation may apply hedge accounting to those hedging commodity price risk and foreign currency risk.

The use of financial derivatives is governed by the Corporation’s policies approved by the Board, which provide written principles on commodity risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, equity price risk and foreign currency risk, as well as the use of financial derivatives and non-derivative financial instruments.

Liquidity risk, credit risk and equity price risk are managed through means other than derivatives or hedge accounting.

The Corporation enters into various derivative transactions as well as other contracting activities that do not qualify for hedge accounting or where a choice was made not to apply hedge accounting. As a result, the related assets and liabilities are classified as derivatives at fair value through profit and loss . The net realized and unrealized gains or losses from changes in the fair value of these derivatives are reported in net earnings in the period the change occurs.

The Corporation designates certain derivatives as hedging instruments to hedge commodity price risk, foreign currency exchange risk in cash flow hedges, and hedges of net investments in foreign operations. Hedges of foreign exchange risk on firm commitments are accounted for as cash flow hedges.
At the inception of the hedge relationship, the Corporation documents the relationship between the hedging instrument and the hedged item, along with its risk management objectives and its strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. At the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, the Corporation also documents whether the hedging instrument is effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk, which is when the hedging relationships meet all of the following hedge effectiveness requirements:

There is an economic relationship between the hedged item and the hedging instrument;
The effect of credit risk does not dominate the value changes that result from that economic relationship; and
The hedge ratio of the hedging relationship is the same as that resulting from the quantity of the hedged item that the Corporation actually hedges and the quantity of the hedging instrument that the entity actually uses to hedge that quantity of hedged item.

If a hedging relationship ceases to meet the hedge effectiveness requirement relating to the hedge ratio, but the risk management objective for that designated hedging relationship remains the same, the Corporation adjusts the hedge ratio of the hedging relationship so that it continues to meet the qualifying criteria.

B. Net Risk Management Assets and Liabilities
 
Aggregate net risk management assets and (liabilities) are as follows: 
As at Dec. 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
Cash flow
hedges

Not
designated
as a hedge

Total

Commodity risk management
 

 

 

Current
59


59

Long-term
628

(8
)
620

Net commodity risk management assets
687

(8
)
679

Other
 

 

 

Current

(3
)
(3
)
Long-term

1

1

Net other risk management assets (liabilities)

(2
)
(2
)
 
 
 
 
Total net risk management assets (liabilities)
687

(10
)
677


As at Dec. 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
Cash flow
hedges

Not
designated
as a hedge

Total

Commodity risk management
 

 

 

Current
74

7

81

Long-term
636

11

647

Net commodity risk management assets
710

18

728

Other
 

 

 

Current

37

37

Long-term

(3
)
(3
)
Net other risk management assets (liabilities)

34

34

 
 
 
 
Total net risk management assets (liabilities)
710

52

762



I. Netting Arrangements
Information about the Corporation’s financial assets and liabilities that are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements is as follows:
As at Dec. 31
2018
2017
 
Current
financial
assets

Long-term
financial
assets

Current
financial
liabilities

Long-term
financial
liabilities

Current
financial
assets

Long-term
financial
assets

Current
financial
liabilities

Long-term
financial
liabilities

Gross amounts recognized
210

666

(121
)
(50
)
281

637

(159
)
(38
)
Gross amounts set-off




(43
)

43


Net amounts as presented in the
  Consolidated Statements of
  Financial Position
210

666

(121
)
(50
)
238

637

(116
)
(38
)

C. Nature and Extent of Risks Arising from Financial Instruments
 
I. Market Risk
 
a. Commodity Price Risk Management
 
The Corporation has exposure to movements in certain commodity prices in both its electricity generation and proprietary trading businesses, including the market price of electricity and fuels used to produce electricity. Most of the Corporation’s electricity generation and related fuel supply contracts are considered to be contracts for delivery or receipt of a non-financial item in accordance with the Corporation’s expected own use requirements and are not considered to be financial instruments. As such, the discussion related to commodity price risk is limited to the Corporation’s proprietary trading business and commodity derivatives used in hedging relationships associated with the Corporation’s electricity generating activities.

To mitigate the risk of adverse commodity price changes, the Corporation uses three tools:
a framework of risk controls;
a pre-defined hedging plan, including fixed price financial power swaps and long-term physical power sale contracts to hedge commodity price for electricity generation; and
a committee dedicated to overseeing the risk and compliance program in trading and ensuring the existence of appropriate controls, processes, systems and procedures to monitor adherence to the program.

The Corporation has executed commodity price hedges for its Centralia coal plant and for its portfolio of merchant power exposure in Alberta, including a long-term physical power sale contract at Centralia and fixed price financial swaps for the Alberta portfolio to hedge the prices. Both hedging strategies fall under the Corporation’s risk management strategy used to hedge commodity price risk.

There is no source of hedge ineffectiveness for the merchant power exposure in Alberta.

Market risk exposures are measured using Value at Risk (VaR) supplemented by sensitivity analysis. There has been no change to the Corporation’s exposure to market risks or the manner in which these risks are managed or measured.

i. Commodity Price Risk Management – Proprietary Trading
 
The Corporation’s Energy Marketing segment conducts proprietary trading activities and uses a variety of instruments to manage risk, earn trading revenue and gain market information.
In compliance with the Commodity Exposure Management Policy, proprietary trading activities are subject to limits and controls, including Value at Risk (“VaR”) limits. The Board approves the limit for total VaR from proprietary trading activities. VaR is the most commonly used metric employed to track and manage the market risk associated with trading positions. A VaR measure gives, for a specific confidence level, an estimated maximum pre-tax loss that could be incurred over a specified period of time. VaR is used to determine the potential change in value of the Corporation’s proprietary trading portfolio, over a three-day period within a 95 per cent confidence level, resulting from normal market fluctuations. VaR is estimated using the historical variance/covariance approach. VaR is a measure that has certain inherent limitations. The use of historical information in the estimate assumes that price movements in the past will be indicative of future market risk. As such, it may only be meaningful under normal market conditions. Extreme market events are not addressed by this risk measure. In addition, the use of a three-day measurement period implies that positions can be unwound or hedged within three days, although this may not be possible if the market becomes illiquid.
Changes in market prices associated with proprietary trading activities affect net earnings in the period that the price changes occur. VaR at Dec. 31, 2018, associated with the Corporation’s proprietary trading activities was $2 million (2017 - $5 million, 2016 - $2 million).
ii. Commodity Price Risk - Generation 
The generation segments utilize various commodity contracts to manage the commodity price risk associated with electricity generation, fuel purchases, emissions and byproducts, as considered appropriate. A Commodity Exposure Management Policy is prepared and approved annually, which outlines the intended hedging strategies associated with the Corporation’s generation assets and related commodity price risks. Controls also include restrictions on authorized instruments, management reviews on individual portfolios and approval of asset transactions that could add potential volatility to the Corporation’s reported net earnings.
TransAlta has entered into various contracts with other parties whereby the other parties have agreed to pay a fixed price for electricity to TransAlta. While not all of the contracts create an obligation for the physical delivery of electricity to other parties, the Corporation has the intention and believes it has sufficient electrical generation available to satisfy these contracts and, where able, has designated these as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes. As a result, changes in market prices associated with these cash flow hedges do not affect net earnings in the period in which the price change occurs. Instead, changes in fair value are deferred until settlement through AOCI, at which time the net gain or loss resulting from the combination of the hedging instrument and hedged item affects net earnings.
VaR at Dec. 31, 2018, associated with the Corporation’s commodity derivative instruments used in generation hedging activities was $18 million (2017 - $16 million, 2016 - $19 million). For positions and economic hedges that do not meet hedge accounting requirements or for short-term optimization transactions such as buybacks entered into to offset existing hedge positions, these transactions are marked to the market value with changes in market prices associated with these transactions affecting net earnings in the period in which the price change occurs. VaR at Dec. 31, 2018, associated with these transactions was $13 million (2017 - $5 million, 2016 - $7 million).
iii. Commodity Price Risk Management - Hedges
The Corporation’s outstanding commodity derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments are as follows:
As at Dec. 31
2018
2017
Type
(thousands)
Notional
amount
sold

Notional
amount
purchased

Notional
amount
sold

Notional
amount
purchased

Electricity (MWh)
2,128


1,997

44


During 2018, unrealized pre-tax gains of $4 million (2017 - $2 million, 2016 - $0 million) related to certain power hedging relationships that were previously de-designated and deemed ineffective for accounting purposes were released from AOCI and recognized in net earnings.
iv. Commodity Price Risk Management - Non-Hedges
The Corporation’s outstanding commodity derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments are as follows:
As at Dec. 31
2018
2017
Type
(thousands)
Notional
amount
sold

Notional
amount
purchased

Notional
amount
sold

Notional
amount
purchased

Electricity (MWh)
58,885

37,023

14,688

7,348

Natural gas (GJ)
80,413

110,488

74,195

103,805

Transmission (MWh)
29

11,163

1

3,455

Emissions (tonnes)
3,134

2,948

516

717


b. Interest Rate Risk Management
 
Interest rate risk arises as the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument can fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. Changes in interest rates can impact the Corporation’s borrowing costs and the capacity payments received under the Alberta coal PPAs. Changes in the cost of capital may also affect the feasibility of new growth initiatives.
The Corporation's credit facility and the Poplar Creek non-recourse bond are the only debt instruments subject to floating interest rates, which represents 14 per cent of the Corporation’s debt as at Dec. 31, 2018 (2017 - 6 per cent).
Interest rate risk is managed with the use of derivatives. No derivatives related to interest rate risk were outstanding as at Dec. 31, 2018, 2017 or 2016.

c. Currency Rate Risk 
The Corporation has exposure to various currencies, such as the US dollar, the Japanese yen and the Australian dollar (“AUD”), as a result of investments and operations in foreign jurisdictions, the net earnings from those operations and the acquisition of equipment and services from foreign suppliers.
The Corporation may enter into the following hedging strategies to mitigate currency rate risk, including:
Foreign exchange forward contracts to mitigate adverse changes in foreign exchange rates on project-related expenditures and distributions received in foreign currencies.
Foreign exchange forward contracts and cross-currency swaps to manage foreign exchange exposure on foreign-denominated debt not designated as a net investment hedge.
Designating foreign currency debt as a hedge of the net investment in foreign operations to mitigate the risk due to fluctuating exchange rates related to certain foreign subsidiaries.

i. Net Investment Hedges
When designating foreign currency debt as a hedge of the Corporation’s net investment in foreign subsidiaries, the Corporation has determined that the hedge is effective as the foreign currency of the net investment is the same as the currency of the hedge, and therefore an economic relationship is present.

The Corporation’s hedges of its net investment in foreign operations were comprised of US-dollar-denominated long-term debt with a face value of US$400 million (2017 - US$480 million). During 2016, the Corporation de-designated its foreign currency forward contracts from its net investment hedges.  The cumulative unrealized losses on these contracts are deferred in AOCI until the disposal of the related foreign operation.
ii. Cash Flow Hedges
The Corporation had no significant foreign currency cash flow hedges outstanding at Dec. 31, 2018 or 2017.

iii. Non-Hedges
As part of the sale of the economic interest in Australian Assets to TransAlta Renewables, the Corporation agreed to mitigate the risks to TransAlta Renewables shareholders of adverse changes in the USD and AUD in respect of cash flows from the Australian Assets in relation to the Canadian dollar to June 30, 2020. The financial effects of the agreements eliminate on consolidation.

In order to mitigate some of the risk that is attributable to non-controlling interests, the Corporation entered into foreign currency contracts with third parties to the extent of the non-controlling interest percentage of the expected cash flow over five years to June 30, 2020. Hedge accounting was not applied to these foreign currency contracts. In early 2017, the Corporation revised its hedging strategies related to cash flows from its foreign operations. These foreign currency contracts became part of the Corporation's revised strategy, as opposed to a separate hedge program.

The Corporation also uses foreign currency contracts to manage its expected foreign operating cash flows. Hedge accounting is not applied to these foreign currency contracts.
As at Dec. 31
 

2018

 
2017
Notional
amount
sold
Notional
amount
purchased

Fair value
asset
(liability)

Maturity
Notional
amount
purchased
Fair value
asset
(liability)

Maturity
Foreign exchange forward contracts - foreign-denominated receipts/expenditures
 
 

 
AUD218
CAD205

(5
)
2019-2022
CAD157
(9
)
2018-2021
USD164
CAD214

(7
)
2019-2022
CAD104
11

2018-2021
Foreign exchange forward contracts - foreign-denominated debt
 
 
 

 
CAD124
USD100

10

2022
USD230
(4
)
2018
Cross currency swaps - foreign-denominated debt
 
 
 
 



USD270
35

2018


During the first quarter of 2017, the Corporation discontinued hedge accounting for certain foreign currency cash flow hedges on US$690 million of debt. Changes in the risk management assets and liabilities related to these discontinued hedge positions have been reflected within net earnings prospectively.

iv. Impacts of currency rate risk
The possible effect on net earnings and OCI, due to changes in foreign exchange rates associated with financial instruments denominated in currencies other than the Corporation’s functional currency, is outlined below. The sensitivity analysis has been prepared using management’s assessment that an average four cent (2017 and 2016 - four cent) increase or decrease in these currencies relative to the Canadian dollar is a reasonable potential change over the next quarter.
Year ended Dec. 31
2018
2017
2016
Currency
Net earnings
increase
(decrease)(1)

OCI gain(1),(2)

Net earnings
increase(1)

OCI gain(1),(2)

Net earnings
decrease(1)

OCI gain(1),(2)

USD
(13
)

(5
)

(5
)

AUD
(7
)

(7
)

(7
)

Total
(20
)

(12
)

(12
)

(1) These calculations assume an increase in the value of these currencies relative to the Canadian dollar.  A decrease would have the opposite effect.
(2) The foreign exchange impact related to financial instruments designated as hedging instruments in net investment hedges has been excluded.

II. Credit Risk 
Credit risk is the risk that customers or counterparties will cause a financial loss for the Corporation by failing to discharge their obligations, and the risk to the Corporation associated with changes in creditworthiness of entities with which commercial exposures exist. The Corporation actively manages its exposure to credit risk by assessing the ability of counterparties to fulfil their obligations under the related contracts prior to entering into such contracts. The Corporation makes detailed assessments of the credit quality of all counterparties and, where appropriate, obtains corporate guarantees, cash collateral, third-party credit insurance and/or letters of credit to support the ultimate collection of these receivables. For commodity trading and origination, the Corporation sets strict credit limits for each counterparty and monitors exposures on a daily basis. TransAlta uses standard agreements that allow for the netting of exposures and often include margining provisions. If credit limits are exceeded, TransAlta will request collateral from the counterparty or halt trading activities with the counterparty.
The Corporation uses external credit ratings, as well as internal ratings in circumstances where external ratings are not available, to establish credit limits for customers and counterparties. The following table outlines the Corporation’s maximum exposure to credit risk without taking into account collateral held, including the distribution of credit ratings, as at Dec. 31, 2018:
 
Investment grade
 (Per cent)

Non-investment grade
 (Per cent)

Total
 (Per cent)

Total
amount

Trade and other receivables(1)
86

14

100

731

Long-term finance lease receivables
100


100

191

Risk management assets(1)
99

1

100

808

Loans and notes receivable(2)

100

100

77

Total
 
 
 
1,807

 
(1) Letters of credit and cash and cash equivalents are the primary types of collateral held as security related to these amounts. 
(2) Includes the promissory note receivable for $25 million (see Note 13), the loan receivable of $37 million and the note receivable for $15 million (see Note 20). The counterparties have no external credit ratings.

An impairment analysis is performed at each reporting date using a provision matrix to measure expected credit losses. The provision rates are based on historical rates of default by segment of trade receivables as well as forward-looking credit ratings and forecasted default rates. In addition to the calculation of expected credit losses, TransAlta monitors key forward looking information as potential indicators that historical bad debt percentages, forward-looking S&P credit ratings and forecasted default rates would no longer be representative of future expected credit losses. The calculation reflects the probability-weighted outcome, the time value of money and reasonable and supportable information that is available at the reporting date about past events, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions. TransAlta evaluates the concentration of risk with respect to trade receivables as low, as its customers are located in several jurisdictions and industries. The Corporation did not have significant expected credit losses as at Dec. 31, 2018.

The Corporation’s maximum exposure to credit risk at Dec. 31, 2018, without taking into account collateral held or right of set-off, is represented by the current carrying amounts of receivables and risk management assets as per the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Letters of credit and cash are the primary types of collateral held as security related to these amounts. The maximum credit exposure to any one customer for commodity trading operations and hedging, including the fair value of open trading, net of any collateral held, at Dec. 31, 2018, was $13 million (2017 - $40 million).
III. Liquidity Risk
 
Liquidity risk relates to the Corporation’s ability to access capital to be used for proprietary trading activities, commodity hedging, capital projects, debt refinancing and general corporate purposes. In December 2015, Moody’s downgraded the senior unsecured rating on TransAlta’s US bonds one notch from Baa3 to Ba1. As at Dec. 31, 2018, TransAlta maintains investment grade ratings from three credit rating agencies. TransAlta is focused on strengthening its financial position and maintaining investment grade credit ratings with these major rating agencies.
Counterparties enter into certain commodity agreements, such as electricity and natural gas purchase and sale contracts, for the purposes of asset-backed sales and proprietary trading. The terms and conditions of these agreements may contain credit-contingent features (such as downgrades in creditworthiness), which if triggered may result in the Corporation having to post collateral to its counterparties.
TransAlta manages liquidity risk by monitoring liquidity on trading positions; preparing and revising longer-term financing plans to reflect changes in business plans and the market availability of capital; reporting liquidity risk exposure for proprietary trading activities on a regular basis to the Risk Management Committee, senior management and the Board; maintaining investment grade credit ratings; and maintaining sufficient undrawn committed credit lines to support potential liquidity requirements. The Corporation does not use derivatives or hedge accounting to manage liquidity risk.
A maturity analysis of the Corporation’s financial liabilities is as follows:
 
2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024 and thereafter

Total

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
497






497

Long-term debt(1)
130

486

91

947

141

1,439

3,234

Commodity risk management assets
58

89

137

125

113

157

679

Other risk management (assets) liabilities
(3
)
(3
)
(3
)
7



(2
)
Finance lease obligations
18

16

9

5

5

10

63

Interest on long-term debt and finance lease
  obligations(2)
161

152

129

123

84

694

1,343

Dividends payable
58






58

Total
919

740

363

1,207

343

2,300

5,872

(1) Excludes impact of hedge accounting.
(2) Not recognized as a financial liability on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

IV. Equity Price Risk
a. Total Return Swaps 
The Corporation has certain compensation, deferred and restricted share unit programs, the values of which depend on the common share price of the Corporation. The Corporation has fixed a portion of the settlement cost of these programs by entering into a total return swap for which hedge accounting has not been applied. The total return swap is cash settled every quarter based upon the difference between the fixed price and the market price of the Corporation’s common shares at the end of each quarter.
D. Hedging Instruments - Uncertainty of Future Cash Flows
The following table outlines the terms and conditions of derivative hedging instruments and how they affect the amount, timing and uncertainty of future cash flows:
 
Maturity
 
2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024 and thereafter

Cash flow hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity Derivative Instruments
 
 
 
 
 
   Electricity
 
 
 
 
 
 
        Notional amount (thousands MWh)
3,950

3,465

3,424

3,329

3,329

5,966

        Average Price ($ per MWh)
66.86

70.75

74.16

76.81

78.74

81.59



E. Effects of Hedge Accounting on the Financial Position and Performance

I. Effect of Hedges

The impact of the hedging instruments on the statement of financial position is, as follows:
As at Dec. 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
Notional amount
Carrying amount

Line item in the statement of financial position
Change in fair value used for measuring ineffectiveness

Commodity price risk
 
 
 
 
Cash flow hedges
 
 
 
 
Physical power sales
23 MMWh
687

Risk management assets
60

Foreign currency risk
 
 
 
 
Net investment hedges
 
 
 
 
Foreign-denominated debt
USD400
CAD546
Credit facilities, long-term debt and finance lease obligations
41


The impact of the hedged items on the statement of financial position is, as follows:
As at Dec. 31, 2018
 
 
 
Change in fair value used for measuring ineffectiveness

Cash flow hedge reserve

Commodity price risk
 
 
Cash flow hedges
 
 
Power forecast sales - Centralia
60

508

 
 
 
 
Change in fair value used for measuring ineffectiveness

Foreign currency translation reserve

Net investment hedges
 
 
Net investment in foreign subsidiaries
41

84


The hedging gain recognized in OCI before tax is equal to the change in fair value used for measuring effectiveness. There is no ineffectiveness recognized in profit or loss.

The impact of hedged items designated in hedging relationships on OCI and net earnings is:
Year ended Dec. 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
Effective portion
 
 
 
Ineffective portion
 
 
Derivatives in cash
flow hedging
relationships
 
Pre-tax
gain (loss)
recognized in OCI

 
Location of (gain) loss
reclassified
from OCI
 
Pre-tax (gain) loss
reclassified
from OCI

 
Location of (gain) loss
reclassified
from OCI
 
Pre-tax
(gain) loss
recognized in
earnings

Commodity contracts
 
(9
)
 
Revenue
 
(67
)
 
Revenue
 

 
 
 

 
Fuel and purchased power
 

 
Fuel and purchased power
 

Foreign exchange forwards on commodity contracts
 

 
Revenue
 

 
Revenue
 

Foreign exchange forwards on project hedges
 

 
Property, plant and equipment
 

 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 

Foreign exchange forwards on US debt
 

 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 
3

 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 

Cross-currency swaps
 

 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 

 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 

Forward starting interest rate swaps
 

 
Interest expense
 
7

 
Interest expense
 

OCI impact
 
(9
)
 
OCI impact
 
(57
)
 
Net earnings impact
 



Over the next 12 months, the Corporation estimates that approximately $68 million of after-tax gains will be reclassified from AOCI to net earnings. These estimates assume constant natural gas and power prices, interest rates, and exchange rates over time; however, the actual amounts that will be reclassified may vary based on changes in these factors.
Year ended Dec. 31, 2017 (as reported under IAS 39)
 
 
 
 
Effective portion
 
 
 
Ineffective portion
 
 
Derivatives in cash
flow hedging
relationships
 
Pre-tax
gain (loss)
recognized in OCI

 
Location of (gain) loss
reclassified
from OCI
 
Pre-tax (gain) loss
reclassified
from OCI

 
Location of (gain) loss
reclassified
from OCI
 
Pre-tax
(gain) loss
recognized in 
earnings

Commodity contracts
 
163

 
Revenue
 
(172
)
 
Revenue
 

 
 
 

 
Fuel and purchased power
 

 
Fuel and purchased power
 

Foreign exchange forwards on commodity contracts
 

 
Revenue
 

 
Revenue
 

Foreign exchange forwards on project hedges
 
(1
)
 
Property, plant and equipment
 

 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 

Foreign exchange forwards on US debt
 

 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 
3

 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 

Cross-currency swaps
 
(26
)
 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 
24

 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 

Forward starting interest rate swaps
 

 
Interest expense
 
7

 
Interest expense
 

OCI impact
 
136

 
OCI impact
 
(138
)
 
Net earnings impact
 



During December 2016, the Corporation entered into a new contract with the Ontario IESO relating to the Mississauga cogeneration facility that principally terminates the generation effective Jan. 1, 2017. Accordingly, in 2017 the Corporation reclassified unrealized pre-tax cash flow commodity hedge losses of $31 million and $15 million of unrealized pre-tax cash flow foreign exchange hedge gains from AOCI to net earnings due to hedge de-designations for accounting purposes. The cash flow hedges were in respect of future gas purchases expected to occur between 2017 and 2018. See Note 9(C) for further details.
Year ended Dec. 31, 2016 (as reported under IAS 39)
 
 
 
 
Effective portion
 
 
 
Ineffective portion
 
 
Derivatives in cash
flow hedging
relationships
 
Pre-tax
gain (loss)
recognized in OCI

 
Location of (gain) loss
reclassified
from OCI
 
Pre-tax (gain) loss
reclassified
from OCI

 
Location of (gain) loss
reclassified
from OCI
 
Pre-tax
(gain) loss
recognized in 
earnings

Commodity contracts
 
304

 
Revenue
 
(169
)
 
Revenue
 

 
 
 
 
Fuel and purchased power
 
44

 
Fuel and purchased power
 
31

Foreign exchange forwards on commodity contracts
 
(5
)
 
Revenue
 
(16
)
 
Revenue
 
(15
)
Foreign exchange forwards on project hedges
 
(1
)
 
Property, plant, and equipment
 

 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 

Foreign exchange forwards on US debt
 
(2
)
 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 
53

 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 

Cross-currency swaps
 
(25
)
 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 
(23
)
 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 

Forward starting interest rate swaps
 

 
Interest expense
 
6

 
Interest expense
 

OCI impact
 
271

 
OCI impact
 
(105
)
 
Net earnings impact
 
16

II. Effect of Non-Hedges
For the year ended Dec. 31, 2018, the Corporation recognized a net unrealized loss of $29 million (2017 - gain of $45 million, 2016 - loss of $63 million) related to commodity derivatives.

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2018, a gain of $3 million (2017 - gain of $28 million, 2016 - gain of $9 million) related to foreign exchange and other derivatives was recognized, which is comprised of net unrealized gains of $4 million (2017 - losses of $2 million, 2016 - gains of $4 million) and net realized losses of $1 million (2017 - gains of $30 million, 2016 - gains of $5 million).

F. Collateral
 
I. Financial Assets Provided as Collateral
 
At Dec. 31, 2018, the Corporation provided $105 million (2017 - $67 million) in cash and cash equivalents as collateral to regulated clearing agents as security for commodity trading activities. These funds are held in segregated accounts by the clearing agents. Collateral provided is included in accounts receivable in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
II. Financial Assets Held as Collateral 
At Dec. 31, 2018, the Corporation held $17 million (2017 - $21 million) in cash collateral associated with counterparty obligations. Under the terms of the contracts, the Corporation may be obligated to pay interest on the outstanding balances and to return the principal when the counterparties have met their contractual obligations or when the amount of the obligation declines as a result of changes in market value. Interest payable to the counterparties on the collateral received is calculated in accordance with each contract. Collateral held is included in accounts payable in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
III. Contingent Features in Derivative Instruments 
Collateral is posted in the normal course of business based on the Corporation’s senior unsecured credit rating as determined by certain major credit rating agencies. Certain of the Corporation’s derivative instruments contain financial assurance provisions that require collateral to be posted only if a material adverse credit-related event occurs. If a material adverse event resulted in the Corporation’s senior unsecured debt falling below investment grade, the counterparties to such derivative instruments could request ongoing full collateralization.
As at Dec. 31, 2018, the Corporation had posted collateral of $120 million (Dec. 31, 2017 - $131 million) in the form of letters of credit on derivative instruments in a net liability position. Certain derivative agreements contain credit-risk-contingent features, which if triggered could result in the Corporation having to post an additional $120 million (Dec. 31, 2017 - $96 million) of collateral to its counterparties.