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Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Note 18 — Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

The Company may from time to time be subject to legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. Although there can be no assurance in this regard, the Company does not expect any of those legal proceedings to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

Refer to Note 5—Discontinued Operations and Divestiture, for discussion related to the administration of Orbit.

Agency and Regulatory Proceedings

From time to time, the Company receives inquiries or requests for information or materials from public utility commissions or other governmental regulatory or law enforcement agencies related to investigations under statutory or regulatory schemes, and the Company responds to those inquiries or requests. The Company cannot predict whether any of those matters will lead to claims or enforcement actions or whether the Company and the regulatory parties will enter into settlements before a formal claim is made.

State of Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

Residents Energy

In August 2020, Residents Energy began marketing retail energy services to Connecticut. For the year ended December 31, 2021, Residents Energy's gross revenues from sales in Connecticut was $0.2 million. During the fourth quarter of 2020, the enforcement division of PURA contacted Residents Energy concerning customer complaints received in connection with alleged door-to-door marketing activities in violation of various rules and regulations. On March 12, 2021, the enforcement division filed a motion against Resident Energy with the adjudicating body of PURA, seeking the assessment of $1.5 million in penalties, along with a suspension of license, auditing of marketing practices upon reinstatement and an invitation for settlement discussions.

In June 2022, the parties settled the dispute. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, Residents Energy paid $0.3 million and volunteered to withdraw from the market in Connecticut for a period of 36 months.

Other Reviews or Investigations

From time to time regulators may initiate reviews, compliance checks or issue subpoenas for information as means to evaluate the Company and its subsidiaries’ compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and practices.

In 2019, the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Illinois ("IL AG") notified Residents Energy (by way of subpoena) that it was conducting an investigation to assess compliance with the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Following a dispute between the Company and the IL AG regarding the merits of the subpoena and investigation, the IL AG filed and complaint in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois (Chancery Division) seeking to enforce compliance. The scope of the subpoena was later modified in response to subsequent negotiations between the Company and the IL AG, and the Company has satisfied the requirements of the subpoena. In April 2023, the IL AG dismissed its complaint against the Company. For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, Resident Energy’s gross revenues from sales in Illinois were $13.6 million and $8.3 million, respectively.

In response to certain customer complaints, the State of Maine Public Utility Commission ("MPUC") has opened a review of the door to door marketing practices of Town Square. In connection with the review, the MPUC has requested information from Town Square demonstrating compliance in the form of an order to show cause as to why its marketing practices are in compliance and it should be permitted to continue licensed operations in Maine. In August 2021, the parties settled the dispute without any obligation for payment by Town Square. In connection with the settlement, Town Square has agreed to voluntarily refrain from door-to-door marketing activities in Maine through June 30, 2023, and to voluntarily refrain from outbound telemarketing to obtain new residential customers for a period of six months, along with certain compliance procedures. For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, Town Square’s gross revenues from sales in Maine were $0.8 million and $0.4million, respectively.

Other Commitments

Purchase Commitments

The Company had future purchase commitments of $132.5 million at March 31, 2023, of which $114.8 million was for future purchase of electricity. The purchase commitments outstanding as of March 31, 2023 are expected to be paid as follows:

(in thousands)
Remainder of 2022		$	71,164
2023			41,673
2024			16,701
2025			2,964
2026			—
Thereafter			—
Total payments		$	132,502

In the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company purchased $15.8 million and $8.2 million of electricity and renewable energy credits, respectively, under these purchase commitments. In the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company purchased $20.1 million and $4.1 million of electricity and renewable energy credits, respectively, under these purchase commitments.

Renewable Energy Credits

GRE must obtain a certain percentage or amount of its power supply from renewable energy sources in order to meet the requirements of renewable portfolio standards in the states in which it operates. This requirement may be met by obtaining renewable energy credits that provide evidence that electricity has been generated by a qualifying renewable facility or resource. At March 31, 2023, GRE had commitments to purchase renewable energy credits of $17.7 million.

Performance Bonds and Unused Letters of Credit

GRE has performance bonds issued through a third party for certain utility companies and for the benefit of various states in order to comply with the states’ financial requirements for REPs. At March 31, 2023, GRE had aggregate performance bonds of $14.9 million outstanding and minimal amount of unused letters of credit.

BP Energy Company Preferred Supplier Agreement

Certain of GRE’s REPs are party to an Amended and Restated Preferred Supplier Agreement with BP, which is to be in effect through November 30, 2023. Under the agreement, the REPs purchase electricity and natural gas at market rate plus a fee. The obligations to BP are secured by a first security interest in deposits or receivables from utilities in connection with their purchase of the REPs’ customer’s receivables, and in any cash deposits or letters of credit posted in connection with any collateral accounts with BP. The ability to purchase electricity and natural gas under this agreement is subject to satisfaction of certain conditions including the maintenance of certain covenants. At March 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with such covenants. At March 31, 2023, restricted cash—short-term of $0.6 million and trade accounts receivable of $63.1 million were pledged to BP as collateral for the payment of trade accounts payable to BP of $14.2 million at March 31, 2023.