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Derivative Instruments | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] |
Derivative Instruments | Derivative Instruments Types of Derivative Instruments and Volumetric Information Commodity Instruments — We are exposed to changes in prices for the purchase and sale of power, natural gas, fuel oil, environmental products and other energy commodities. We use derivatives, which include physical commodity contracts and financial commodity instruments such as OTC and exchange traded swaps, futures, options, forward agreements and instruments that settle on the power price to natural gas price relationships (Heat Rate swaps and options) or instruments that settle on power price relationships between delivery points for the purchase and sale of power and natural gas to attempt to maximize the risk-adjusted returns by economically hedging a portion of the commodity price risk associated with our assets. By entering into these transactions, we are able to economically hedge a portion of our Spark Spread at estimated generation and prevailing price levels. We also engage in limited trading activities related to our commodity derivative portfolio as authorized by our Board of Directors and monitored by our Chief Risk Officer and Risk Management Committee of senior management. These transactions are executed primarily for the purpose of providing improved price and price volatility discovery, greater market access, and profiting from our market knowledge, all of which benefit our asset hedging activities. Our trading gains and losses were not material for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. Interest Rate Swaps — A portion of our debt is indexed to base rates, primarily LIBOR. We have historically used interest rate swaps to adjust the mix between fixed and floating rate debt to hedge our interest rate risk for potential adverse changes in interest rates. As of December 31, 2015, the maximum length of time over which we were hedging using interest rate derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges was 8 years. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the net forward notional buy (sell) position of our outstanding commodity and interest rate swap contracts that did not qualify or were not designated under the normal purchase normal sale exemption were as follows (in millions):
Derivative Instruments |  | Notional Amounts
| 2015 |  | 2014
Power (MWh) |  | (41 | ) |  | (62 | )
Natural gas (MMBtu) |  | 996 |  |  | 291 |
Environmental credits (Tonnes) |  | 8 |  |  | — |
Interest rate swaps |  | $ | 1,320 |  |  | $ | 1,431 |
Certain of our derivative instruments contain credit risk-related contingent provisions that require us to maintain collateral balances consistent with our credit ratings. If our credit rating were to be downgraded, it could require us to post additional collateral or could potentially allow our counterparty to request immediate, full settlement on certain derivative instruments in liability positions. Currently, we do not believe that it is probable that any additional collateral posted as a result of a one credit notch downgrade from its current level would be material. The aggregate fair value of our derivative liabilities with credit risk-related contingent provisions as of December 31, 2015, was $36 million for which we have posted collateral of $8 million by posting margin deposits or granting additional first priority liens on the assets currently subject to first priority liens under our First Lien Notes, First Lien Term Loans and Corporate Revolving Facility. However, if our credit rating were downgraded by one notch from its current level, we estimate that additional collateral of $12 million would be required and that no counterparty could request immediate, full settlement. Accounting for Derivative Instruments We recognize all derivative instruments that qualify for derivative accounting treatment as either assets or liabilities and measure those instruments at fair value unless they qualify for, and we elect, the normal purchase normal sale exemption. For transactions in which we elect the normal purchase normal sale exemption, gains and losses are not reflected on our Consolidated Statements of Operations until the period of delivery. Revenues and expenses derived from instruments that qualified for hedge accounting or represent an economic hedge are recorded in the same financial statement line item as the item being hedged. Hedge accounting requires us to formally document, designate and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting. We present the cash flows from our derivatives in the same category as the item being hedged (or economically hedged) within operating activities on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows unless they contain an other-than-insignificant financing element in which case their cash flows are classified within financing activities. Cash Flow Hedges — We only apply hedge accounting to our interest rate derivative instruments. We report the effective portion of the mark-to-market gain or loss on our interest rate swaps designated and qualifying as a cash flow hedging instrument as a component of OCI and reclassify such gains and losses into earnings in the same period during which the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. Gains and losses due to ineffectiveness on interest rate hedging instruments are recognized currently in earnings as a component of interest expense. If it is determined that the forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring, then hedge accounting will be discontinued prospectively and future changes in fair value are recorded in earnings. If the hedging instrument is terminated or de-designated prior to the occurrence of the hedged forecasted transaction, the net accumulated gain or loss associated with the changes in fair value of the hedge instrument remains deferred in AOCI until such time as the forecasted transaction impacts earnings or until it is determined that the forecasted transaction is probable of not occurring. Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments — We enter into power, natural gas, interest rate, environmental product and fuel oil transactions that primarily act as economic hedges to our asset and interest rate portfolio, but either do not qualify as hedges under the hedge accounting guidelines or qualify under the hedge accounting guidelines and the hedge accounting designation has not been elected. Changes in fair value of commodity derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are recognized currently in earnings and are separately stated on our Consolidated Statements of Operations in mark-to-market gain/loss as a component of operating revenues (for power and Heat Rate swaps and options) and fuel and purchased energy expense (for natural gas, power, environmental product and fuel oil contracts, swaps and options). Changes in fair value of interest rate derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are recognized currently in earnings as interest expense. Derivatives Included on Our Consolidated Balance Sheets The following tables present the fair values of our derivative instruments recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets by location and hedge type at December 31, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):
| December 31, 2015
| Commodity Instruments |  | Interest Rate Swaps |  | Total Derivative Instruments
Balance Sheet Presentation |  |  |  |  |
Current derivative assets | $ | 1,698 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,698 |
Long-term derivative assets | 312 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 313 |
Total derivative assets | $ | 2,010 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 2,011 |
Current derivative liabilities | $ | 1,697 |  |  | $ | 37 |  |  | $ | 1,734 |
Long-term derivative liabilities | 420 |  |  | 53 |  |  | 473 |
Total derivative liabilities | $ | 2,117 |  |  | $ | 90 |  |  | $ | 2,207 |
Net derivative assets (liabilities) | $ | (107 | ) |  | $ | (89 | ) |  | $ | (196 | )
| December 31, 2014
| Commodity Instruments |  | Interest Rate Swaps |  | Total Derivative Instruments
Balance Sheet Presentation |  |  |  |  |
Current derivative assets | $ | 2,058 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,058 |
Long-term derivative assets | 435 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 439 |
Total derivative assets | $ | 2,493 |  |  | $ | 4 |  |  | $ | 2,497 |
Current derivative liabilities | $ | 1,738 |  |  | $ | 44 |  |  | $ | 1,782 |
Long-term derivative liabilities | 374 |  |  | 70 |  |  | 444 |
Total derivative liabilities | $ | 2,112 |  |  | $ | 114 |  |  | $ | 2,226 |
Net derivative assets (liabilities) | $ | 381 |  |  | $ | (110 | ) |  | $ | 271 |
| December 31, 2015 |  | December 31, 2014
| Fair Value of Derivative Assets |  | Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities |  | Fair Value of Derivative Assets |  | Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate swaps | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 92 |  |  | $ | 4 |  |  | $ | 112 |
Total derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 92 |  |  | $ | 4 |  |  | $ | 112 |
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity instruments | $ | 2,010 |  |  | $ | 2,117 |  |  | $ | 2,493 |  |  | $ | 2,112 |
Interest rate swaps | — |  |  | (2 | ) |  | — |  |  | 2 |
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | $ | 2,010 |  |  | $ | 2,115 |  |  | $ | 2,493 |  |  | $ | 2,114 |
Total derivatives | $ | 2,011 |  |  | $ | 2,207 |  |  | $ | 2,497 |  |  | $ | 2,226 |
We elected not to offset fair value amounts recognized as derivative instruments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets that are executed with the same counterparty under master netting arrangements or other contractual netting provisions negotiated with the counterparty. Our netting arrangements include a right to set off or net together purchases and sales of similar products in the margining or settlement process. In some instances, we have also negotiated cross commodity netting rights which allow for the net presentation of activity with a given counterparty regardless of product purchased or sold. We also post cash collateral in support of our derivative instruments which may also be subject to a master netting arrangement with the same counterparty. The tables below set forth our net exposure to derivative instruments after offsetting amounts subject to a master netting arrangement with the same counterparty at December 31, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):
|  | December 31, 2015
|  | Gross Amounts Not Offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
|  | Gross Amounts Presented on our Consolidated Balance Sheets |  | Derivative Asset (Liability) not Offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets |  | Margin/Cash (Received) Posted (1) |  | Net Amount
Derivative assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity exchange traded futures and swaps contracts |  | $ | 1,736 |  |  | $ | (1,602 | ) |  | $ | (134 | ) |  | $ | — |
Commodity forward contracts |  | 274 |  |  | (202 | ) |  | (3 | ) |  | 69 |
Interest rate swaps |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 1 |
Total derivative assets |  | $ | 2,011 |  |  | $ | (1,804 | ) |  | $ | (137 | ) |  | $ | 70 |
Derivative (liabilities): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity exchange traded futures and swaps contracts |  | $ | (1,604 | ) |  | $ | 1,602 |  |  | $ | 2 |  |  | $ | — |
Commodity forward contracts |  | (513 | ) |  | 202 |  |  | 3 |  |  | (308 | )
Interest rate swaps |  | (90 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (90 | )
Total derivative (liabilities) |  | $ | (2,207 | ) |  | $ | 1,804 |  |  | $ | 5 |  |  | $ | (398 | )
Net derivative assets (liabilities) |  | $ | (196 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (132 | ) |  | $ | (328 | )
|  | December 31, 2014
|  | Gross Amounts Not Offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
|  | Gross Amounts Presented on our Consolidated Balance Sheets |  | Derivative Asset (Liability) not Offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets |  | Margin/Cash (Received) Posted (1) |  | Net Amount
Derivative assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity exchange traded futures and swaps contracts |  | $ | 2,134 |  |  | $ | (1,865 | ) |  | $ | (269 | ) |  | $ | — |
Commodity forward contracts |  | 359 |  |  | (222 | ) |  | — |  |  | 137 |
Interest rate swaps |  | 4 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4 |
Total derivative assets |  | $ | 2,497 |  |  | $ | (2,087 | ) |  | $ | (269 | ) |  | $ | 141 |
Derivative (liabilities): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity exchange traded futures and swaps contracts |  | $ | (1,870 | ) |  | $ | 1,865 |  |  | $ | 5 |  |  | $ | — |
Commodity forward contracts |  | (242 | ) |  | 222 |  |  | 10 |  |  | (10 | )
Interest rate swaps |  | (114 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (114 | )
Total derivative (liabilities) |  | $ | (2,226 | ) |  | $ | 2,087 |  |  | $ | 15 |  |  | $ | (124 | )
Net derivative assets (liabilities) |  | $ | 271 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (254 | ) |  | $ | 17 |
____________
(1) | Negative balances represent margin deposits posted with us by our counterparties related to our derivative activities that are subject to a master netting arrangement. Positive balances reflect margin deposits and natural gas and power prepayments posted by us with our counterparties related to our derivative activities that are subject to a master netting arrangement. See Note 9 for a further discussion of our collateral.
Derivatives Included on Our Consolidated Statements of Operations Changes in the fair values of our derivative instruments (both assets and liabilities) are reflected either in cash for option premiums paid or collected, in OCI, net of tax, for the effective portion of derivative instruments which qualify for and we have elected cash flow hedge accounting treatment, or on our Consolidated Statements of Operations as a component of mark-to-market activity within our earnings. The following tables detail the components of our total activity for both the net realized gain (loss) and the net mark-to-market gain (loss) recognized from our derivative instruments in earnings and where these components were recorded on our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
| 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Realized gain (loss)(1)(2) |  |  |  |  |
Commodity derivative instruments | $ | 450 |  |  | $ | 110 |  |  | $ | 86 |
Total realized gain (loss) | $ | 450 |  |  | $ | 110 |  |  | $ | 86 |
Mark-to-market gain (loss)(3) |  |  |  |  |
Commodity derivative instruments | $ | (113 | ) |  | $ | 342 |  |  | $ | (14 | )
Interest rate swaps | 3 |  |  | 11 |  |  | 2 |
Total mark-to-market gain (loss) | $ | (110 | ) |  | $ | 353 |  |  | $ | (12 | )
Total activity, net | $ | 340 |  |  | $ | 463 |  |  | $ | 74 |
___________
(1) | Does not include the realized value associated with derivative instruments that settle through physical delivery.
(2) | Includes amortization of acquisition date fair value of derivative activity related the acquisition of Champion Energy.
(3) | In addition to changes in market value on derivatives not designated as hedges, changes in mark-to-market gain (loss) also includes de-designation of interest rate swap cash flow hedges and related reclassification from AOCI into earnings, hedge ineffectiveness and adjustments to reflect changes in credit default risk exposure.
| 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Realized and mark-to-market gain (loss) |  |  |  |  |
Derivatives contracts included in operating revenues(1) | $ | 528 |  |  | $ | 384 |  |  | $ | (119 | )
Derivatives contracts included in fuel and purchased energy expense(1) | (191 | ) |  | 68 |  |  | 191 |
Interest rate swaps included in interest expense | 3 |  |  | 11 |  |  | 2 |
Total activity, net | $ | 340 |  |  | $ | 463 |  |  | $ | 74 |
___________
(1) | Does not include the realized value associated with derivative instruments that settle through physical delivery.
Derivatives Included in OCI and AOCI The following table details the effect of our net derivative instruments that qualified for hedge accounting treatment and are included in OCI and AOCI for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
| Gains (Loss) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion) |  | Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)(3)(4)
| 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | Affected Line Item on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Interest rate swaps(1)(2) | $ | 23 |  |  | $ | (2 | ) |  | $ | 86 |  |  | $ | (47 | ) |  | $ | (46 | ) |  | $ | (51 | ) |  | Interest expense
____________
(1) | We did not record any material gain (loss) on hedge ineffectiveness related to our interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
(2) | We recorded income tax expense of nil for each of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, and an income tax expense of $3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, in AOCI related to our cash flow hedging activities.
(3) | Cumulative cash flow hedge losses attributable to Calpine, net of tax, remaining in AOCI were $127 million, $149 million and $148 million at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Cumulative cash flow hedge losses attributable to the noncontrolling interest, net of tax, remaining in AOCI were $11 million, $12 million and $11 million at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
(4) | Includes losses of $10 million and $12 million that were reclassified from AOCI to interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, where the hedged transactions are no longer expected to occur.
We estimate that pre-tax net losses of $41 million would be reclassified from AOCI into interest expense during the next 12 months as the hedged transactions settle; however, the actual amounts that will be reclassified will likely vary based on changes in interest rates. Therefore, we are unable to predict what the actual reclassification from AOCI into earnings (positive or negative) will be for the next 12 months.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for derivative instruments and hedging activities including, but not limited to, risk management strategies, non-hedging derivative instruments, assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and methodologies and assumptions used in determining the amounts. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6441202&loc=d3e80720-113993 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624171-113959 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=d3e41620-113959 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624163-113959 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5579240-113959 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4D -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624177-113959 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736893&loc=d3e80784-113994 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=d3e41641-113959 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5579245-113959 Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624258-113959 Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736893&loc=d3e80748-113994 Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4K -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5708775-113959 Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4J -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5708773-113959 Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5618551-113959 Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5580258-113959 Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4E -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624181-113959 Reference 17: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 25 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6886632&loc=d3e76258-113986 Reference 18: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=d3e41638-113959 Reference 19: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(n)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 + Details
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