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Variable Interest Entities
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Variable Interest Entities
Variable Interest Entities

NEP has identified NEP OpCo as a VIE. NEP OpCo is a limited partnership with a general partner and limited partners. NEP has consolidated the results of NEP OpCo and its subsidiaries because of its controlling interest in the general partner of NEP OpCo. At March 31, 2018, NEP owned an approximately 34.9% limited partner interest in NEP OpCo and NEE Equity owned a noncontrolling 65.1% limited partner interest in NEP OpCo (NEE's noncontrolling interest). The assets and liabilities of NEP OpCo as well as the operations of NEP OpCo represent substantially all of NEP's assets and liabilities and its operations.

In addition, at March 31, 2018, NEP OpCo consolidated seven VIEs related to certain subsidiaries that have sold differential membership interests in entities which own and operate ten wind electric generation facilities. These entities are considered VIEs because the holders of the differential membership interests do not have substantive rights over the significant activities of these entities. The assets, primarily property, plant and equipment - net, and liabilities, primarily asset retirement obligation and non-current due to related party, of the VIEs, totaled approximately $2,816 million and $68 million, respectively, at March 31, 2018. The assets, primarily property, plant and equipment - net, and liabilities, primarily deferral related to differential membership interests, totaled approximately $2,840 million and $1,515 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017.

In April 2015, a subsidiary of NEP made an equity method investment in three NEER solar projects. Through a series of transactions, a subsidiary of NEP issued 1,000,000 NEP OpCo Class B Units, Series 1 and 1,000,000 NEP OpCo Class B Units, Series 2, to NEER for approximately 50% of the ownership interests in the three solar projects (non-economic ownership interests). NEER, as holder of the Class B Units, will retain 100% of the economic rights in the projects to which the respective Class B Units relate, including the right to all distributions paid by the project subsidiaries. NEER has agreed to indemnify NEP against all risks relating to NEP’s ownership of the projects until NEER offers to sell economic interests to NEP and NEP accepts such offer, if NEP chooses to do so. NEER has also agreed to continue to manage the operation of the projects at its own cost, and to contribute to the projects any capital necessary for the operation of the projects, until NEER offers to sell economic interests to NEP and NEP accepts such offer. At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, NEP's equity method investment related to the non-economic ownership interests is reflected as investments in non-economic ownership interests on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. All equity in earnings of the non-economic ownership interests is allocated to net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. NEP is not the primary beneficiary and therefore does not consolidate these entities because it does not control any of the ongoing activities of these entities, was not involved in the initial design of these entities and does not have a controlling interest in these entities.