Basis of Presentation and Business Changes and Development	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Basis of Presentation and Business Changes and Development [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Business Changes and Development	Note 1—Basis of Presentation and Business Changes and Development The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Genie Energy Ltd. and its subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Genie”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023. The balance sheet at December 31, 2022 has been derived from the Company’s audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. For further information, please refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Company owns 99.5% of Genie Energy International Corporation (“GEIC”), which owns 100% of Genie Retail Energy (“GRE”), 100% of Genie Retail Energy International ("GRE International") and varied interests in entities within Genie Renewables. GRE owns and operates retail energy providers (“REPs”), including IDT Energy (“IDT Energy”), Residents Energy (“Residents Energy”), Town Square Energy and Town Square Energy East (collectively, "TSE"), Southern Federal Power ("Southern Federal") and Mirabito Natural Gas (“Mirabito”). GRE's REP businesses resell electricity and natural gas to residential and small business customers primarily in the Eastern and Midwestern United States and Texas. Genie Renewables consists of 95.5% interest in Genie Solar, a solar energy company, a 92.8% interest in CityCom Solar, a marketer of community solar energy solutions, a 96.0% interest in Diversegy, a broker for commercial customers, and a 60.0% interest in Prism Solar Technology ("Prism"), a solar solutions company that is engaged in the manufacturing of solar panels, solar installation design and solar energy project management. One-Time Tax Credit In the first quarter of 2023, the Company received $3.1 million related to a one-time tax credit related to payroll taxes incurred in prior years, which the Company recognized as a gain included in other income (expense), net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Discontinued Operations in Finland and Sweden Previously, the Company had a third segment, Genie Retail Energy International, or GRE International, which supplied electricity to residential and small business customers in Scandinavia. However, as a result of volatility in the energy market in Europe, in the third quarter of 2022, the Company decided to discontinue the operations of Lumo Energia Oyj ("Lumo Finland") and Lumo Energi AB ("Lumo Sweden"). In July 2022, the Company entered into a series of transactions to sell most of the electricity swap instruments held by Lumo Sweden. The Company also entered into a series of transactions to transfer the customers of Lumo Finland and Lumo Sweden to other suppliers. The Company determined that the discontinued operations in Finland and Sweden represented a strategic shift that will have a major effect on the Company's operations and financial statements. The Company has accounted for these businesses as discontinued operations and accordingly, has presented the results of operations and related cash flows as discontinued operations. The results of operations and related cash flows are presented as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Any remaining assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations have been presented separately, and are reflected within assets and liabilities from discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. Lumo Finland and Lumo Sweden are continuing to liquidate their remaining receivables and settle any remaining liabilities. In November 2022, Lumo Finland declared bankruptcy and the administration of Lumo Finland was transferred to an administrator (the "Lumo Administrators"). All assets and liabilities of Lumo Finland remain with Lumo Finland, in which Genie retains its interest, however, the management and control of Lumo Finland were transferred to the Lumo Administrators. Since the Company lost control of the management of Lumo Finland in favor of the Lumo Administrators, the accounts of Lumo Finland were deconsolidated effective November 9, 2022. Following the discontinuance of operations of Lumo Finland and Lumo Sweden, GRE International ceased to be a segment and the remaining assets and liabilities and results of continuing operations of GRE International were combined with corporate. Discontinued Operations in United Kingdom In October 2021, as part of the orderly exit process from the United Kingdom market, Orbit Energy Limited ("Orbit"), a REP owed by the Company that used to operate in U.K., and Shell U.K. Limited ("Shell") agreed to terminate the exclusive supply contract between them. As part of the termination agreement, Orbit was required to unwind all physical forward hedges with Shell which resulted in net cash proceeds after settlement of all related liabilities with Shell. Following the termination of the contract with Shell, Orbit filed a petition with the High Court of Justice Business and Property of England and Wales (the “Court”) to declare Orbit insolvent based on the Insolvency Act of 1986. On November 29, 2021, the Court declared Orbit insolvent, revoked Orbit's license to supply electricity and natural gas in the United Kingdom, ordered the current customers to be transferred to “supplier of last resort” and transferred the administration of Orbit to Administrators effective December 1, 2021. All of the customers of Orbit were transferred to a third-party supplier effective December 1, 2021 as ordered by the Court. All assets and liabilities of Orbit, including cash and receivables remain with Orbit, in which Genie retains a 100% interest, however, the management and control of Orbit was transferred to the Administrators. The Company determined that the discontinued operations in the United Kingdom represented a strategic shift that will have a major effect on the Company's operations and financial statements. Since the appointment of the Administrators, the Company has accounted for the Orbit business as discontinued operations and accordingly, has presented the results of operations and related cash flows as discontinued operations. The results of operations and related cash flows are presented as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Any remaining assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations have been presented separately, and are reflected within assets and liabilities from discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. Since the Company lost control of the management of Orbit in favor of the Administrators, the accounts of Orbit were deconsolidated effective December 1, 2021. Seasonality and Weather; Climate Change and Volatility in Pricing The weather and the seasons, among other things, affect GRE’s revenues. Weather conditions have a significant impact on the demand for natural gas used for heating and electricity used for heating and cooling. Typically, colder winters increase demand for natural gas and electricity, and hotter summers increase demand for electricity. Milder winters or summers have the opposite effect. Unseasonable temperatures in other periods may also impact demand levels. Natural gas revenues typically increase in the first quarter due to increased heating demands and electricity revenues typically increase in the third quarter due to increased air conditioning use. Approximately 39.7% and 44.5% of GRE’s natural gas revenues for the relevant years were generated in the first quarters 2022 and 2021, respectively, when demand for heating was highest. Although the demand for electricity is not as seasonal as natural gas (due, in part, to usage of electricity for both heating and cooling), approximately 30.5% and 30.3% of GRE’s electricity revenues were generated in the third quarters of 2022 and 2021, respectively. GRE’s REPs’ revenues and operating income are subject to material seasonal variations, and the interim financial results are not necessarily indicative of the estimated financial results for the full year. In addition to the direct physical impact that climate change may have on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations because of the effect on pricing, demand for our offerings and/or the energy supply markets, we may also be adversely impacted by other environmental factors, including: (i) technological advances designed to promote energy efficiency and limit environmental impact; (ii) increased competition from alternative energy sources; (iii) regulatory responses aimed at decreasing greenhouse gas emissions; and (iv) litigation or regulatory actions that address the environmental impact of our energy products and services.

Basis of Presentation and Business Changes and Development

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Basis of Presentation and Business Changes and Development [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Business Changes and Development

Note 1—Basis of Presentation and Business Changes and Development

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Genie Energy Ltd. and its subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Genie”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023. The balance sheet at December 31, 2022 has been derived from the Company’s audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. For further information, please refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

The Company owns 99.5% of Genie Energy International Corporation (“GEIC”), which owns 100% of Genie Retail Energy (“GRE”), 100% of Genie Retail Energy International ("GRE International") and varied interests in entities within Genie Renewables.

GRE owns and operates retail energy providers (“REPs”), including IDT Energy (“IDT Energy”), Residents Energy (“Residents Energy”), Town Square Energy and Town Square Energy East (collectively, "TSE"), Southern Federal Power ("Southern Federal") and Mirabito Natural Gas (“Mirabito”). GRE's REP businesses resell electricity and natural gas to residential and small business customers primarily in the Eastern and Midwestern United States and Texas.

Genie Renewables consists of 95.5% interest in Genie Solar, a solar energy company, a 92.8% interest in CityCom Solar, a marketer of community solar energy solutions, a 96.0% interest in Diversegy, a broker for commercial customers, and a 60.0% interest in Prism Solar Technology ("Prism"), a solar solutions company that is engaged in the manufacturing of solar panels, solar installation design and solar energy project management.

One-Time Tax Credit

In the first quarter of 2023, the Company received $3.1 million related to a one-time tax credit related to payroll taxes incurred in prior years, which the Company recognized as a gain included in other income (expense), net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Discontinued Operations in Finland and Sweden

Previously, the Company had a third segment, Genie Retail Energy International, or GRE International, which supplied electricity to residential and small business customers in Scandinavia. However, as a result of volatility in the energy market in Europe, in the third quarter of 2022, the Company decided to discontinue the operations of Lumo Energia Oyj ("Lumo Finland") and Lumo Energi AB ("Lumo Sweden"). In July 2022, the Company entered into a series of transactions to sell most of the electricity swap instruments held by Lumo Sweden. The Company also entered into a series of transactions to transfer the customers of Lumo Finland and Lumo Sweden to other suppliers.

The Company determined that the discontinued operations in Finland and Sweden represented a strategic shift that will have a major effect on the Company's operations and financial statements. The Company has accounted for these businesses as discontinued operations and accordingly, has presented the results of operations and related cash flows as discontinued operations. The results of operations and related cash flows are presented as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Any remaining assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations have been presented separately, and are reflected within assets and liabilities from discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. Lumo Finland and Lumo Sweden are continuing to liquidate their remaining receivables and settle any remaining liabilities.

In November 2022, Lumo Finland declared bankruptcy and the administration of Lumo Finland was transferred to an administrator (the "Lumo Administrators"). All assets and liabilities of Lumo Finland remain with Lumo Finland, in which Genie retains its interest, however, the management and control of Lumo Finland were transferred to the Lumo Administrators. Since the Company lost control of the management of Lumo Finland in favor of the Lumo Administrators, the accounts of Lumo Finland were deconsolidated effective November 9, 2022.

Following the discontinuance of operations of Lumo Finland and Lumo Sweden, GRE International ceased to be a segment and the remaining assets and liabilities and results of continuing operations of GRE International were combined with corporate.

Discontinued Operations in United Kingdom

In October 2021, as part of the orderly exit process from the United Kingdom market, Orbit Energy Limited ("Orbit"), a REP owed by the Company that used to operate in U.K., and Shell U.K. Limited ("Shell") agreed to terminate the exclusive supply contract between them. As part of the termination agreement, Orbit was required to unwind all physical forward hedges with Shell which resulted in net cash proceeds after settlement of all related liabilities with Shell.

Following the termination of the contract with Shell, Orbit filed a petition with the High Court of Justice Business and Property of England and Wales (the “Court”) to declare Orbit insolvent based on the Insolvency Act of 1986. On November 29, 2021, the Court declared Orbit insolvent, revoked Orbit's license to supply electricity and natural gas in the United Kingdom, ordered the current customers to be transferred to “supplier of last resort” and transferred the administration of Orbit to Administrators effective December 1, 2021. All of the customers of Orbit were transferred to a third-party supplier effective December 1, 2021 as ordered by the Court. All assets and liabilities of Orbit, including cash and receivables remain with Orbit, in which Genie retains a 100% interest, however, the management and control of Orbit was transferred to the Administrators.

The Company determined that the discontinued operations in the United Kingdom represented a strategic shift that will have a major effect on the Company's operations and financial statements. Since the appointment of the Administrators, the Company has accounted for the Orbit business as discontinued operations and accordingly, has presented the results of operations and related cash flows as discontinued operations. The results of operations and related cash flows are presented as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Any remaining assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations have been presented separately, and are reflected within assets and liabilities from discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. Since the Company lost control of the management of Orbit in favor of the Administrators, the accounts of Orbit were deconsolidated effective December 1, 2021.

Seasonality and Weather; Climate Change and Volatility in Pricing

The weather and the seasons, among other things, affect GRE’s revenues. Weather conditions have a significant impact on the demand for natural gas used for heating and electricity used for heating and cooling. Typically, colder winters increase demand for natural gas and electricity, and hotter summers increase demand for electricity. Milder winters or summers have the opposite effect. Unseasonable temperatures in other periods may also impact demand levels. Natural gas revenues typically increase in the first quarter due to increased heating demands and electricity revenues typically increase in the third quarter due to increased air conditioning use. Approximately 39.7% and 44.5% of GRE’s natural gas revenues for the relevant years were generated in the first quarters 2022 and 2021, respectively, when demand for heating was highest. Although the demand for electricity is not as seasonal as natural gas (due, in part, to usage of electricity for both heating and cooling), approximately 30.5% and 30.3% of GRE’s electricity revenues were generated in the third quarters of 2022 and 2021, respectively. GRE’s REPs’ revenues and operating income are subject to material seasonal variations, and the interim financial results are not necessarily indicative of the estimated financial results for the full year.

In addition to the direct physical impact that climate change may have on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations because of the effect on pricing, demand for our offerings and/or the energy supply markets, we may also be adversely impacted by other environmental factors, including: (i) technological advances designed to promote energy efficiency and limit environmental impact; (ii) increased competition from alternative energy sources; (iii) regulatory responses aimed at decreasing greenhouse gas emissions; and (iv) litigation or regulatory actions that address the environmental impact of our energy products and services.