Item 1. Business.
THE COMPANY
Introduction
The Company is an energy and energy services provider offering physical delivery and related services for both electricity and natural gas primarily in the south central U.S. The Company conducts these activities through two business segments: (i) electric utility and (ii) natural gas midstream operations. The accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation. The Company generally uses the equity method of accounting for investments where its ownership interest is between 20 percent and 50 percent and it lacks the power to direct activities that most significantly impact economic performance. The Company was incorporated in August 1995 in the State of Oklahoma and its principal executive offices are located at 321 North Harvey, P.O. Box 321, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73101-0321; telephone 405-553-3000.
The electric utility segment generates, transmits, distributes and sells electric energy in Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Its operations are conducted through OG&E and are subject to regulation by the OCC, the APSC and the FERC. OG&E was incorporated in 1902 under the laws of the Oklahoma Territory and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. OG&E is the largest electric utility in Oklahoma, and its franchised service territory includes Fort Smith, Arkansas and the surrounding communities. OG&E sold its retail natural gas business in 1928 and is no longer engaged in the natural gas distribution business.
The natural gas midstream operations segment represents the Company's investment in Enable through wholly owned subsidiaries and ultimately OGE Holdings. Enable is engaged in the business of gathering, processing, transporting and storing natural gas. Enable's natural gas gathering and processing assets are strategically located in four states and serve natural gas production from shale developments in the Anadarko, Arkoma and Ark-La-Tex basins. Enable also owns an emerging crude oil gathering business in the Bakken Shale formation, principally located in the Williston Basin of North Dakota. Enable's natural gas transportation and storage assets extend from western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle to Alabama and from Louisiana to Illinois.
Enable was formed effective May 1, 2013 by the Company, the ArcLight group and CenterPoint to own and operate the midstream businesses of the Company and CenterPoint. In the formation transaction, the Company and the ArcLight group contributed Enogex LLC to Enable, and the Company deconsolidated its previously held investment in Enogex Holdings and acquired an equity interest in Enable. The Company determined that its contribution of Enogex LLC to Enable met the requirements of being in substance real estate and was recorded at historical cost. The general partner of Enable is equally controlled by the Company and CenterPoint, who each have 50 percent management ownership. Based on the 50/50 management ownership, with neither company having control, the Company began accounting for its interest in Enable using the equity method of accounting.
In April 2014, Enable completed an initial public offering of 25.0 million common units resulting in Enable becoming a publicly traded Master Limited Partnership. At December 31, 2017, the Company owned 111.0 million common units, or 25.7 percent, of Enable's outstanding common units. For additional information on the Company's equity investment in Enable and related party transactions, see Note 3 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
Over the past three years, Enable has seen changes in producer activity due to the volatility of commodity prices. In early 2016, natural gas and crude oil prices dropped to their lowest levels in over 10 years. During 2016 and 2017, those prices increased, and have stabilized, but have not rebounded to the pre-2015 levels. If commodity prices decline further, Enable's future operating results and cash flows could be negatively impacted. A portion of our earnings and operating cash flows depend on the performance of, and distributions from, Enable. As disclosed in this Form 10-K, Enable is subject to a number of risks. If any of those risks were to occur, the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
On February 9, 2018, Enable announced a quarterly dividend distribution of $0.31800 per unit on its outstanding common units, which is unchanged from the previous quarter. If cash distributions to Enable’s unitholders exceed $0.330625 per unit in any quarter, the general partner will receive increasing percentages, up to 50 percent, of the cash Enable distributes in excess of that amount. The Company is entitled to 60 percent of those "incentive distributions."
Company Strategy
The Company's mission, through OG&E and its equity interest in Enable, is to fulfill its critical role in the nation's electric utility and natural gas midstream pipeline infrastructure and meet individual customer's needs for energy and related services, focusing on safety, efficiency, reliability, customer service and risk management. The Company's corporate strategy is to continue to maintain its existing business mix and diversified asset position of its regulated electric utility business and interest in a publicly traded midstream company, while providing competitive energy products and services to customers, as well as seeking growth opportunities in both businesses.
OG&E is focused on:
•
providing exceptional customer experiences by continuing to improve customer interfaces, tools, products and services that deliver high customer satisfaction and operating productivity;
•
providing safe, reliable energy to the communities and customers we serve, with a particular focus on enhancing the value of the grid by improving distribution grid reliability by reducing the frequency and duration of customer interruptions and leveraging previous grid technology investments;
•
having strong regulatory and legislative relationships for the long-term benefit of our customers, investors and members;
•
continuing to grow a zero-injury culture and deliver top-quartile safety results;
•
complying with the EPA's Regional Haze Rule requirements;
•
ensuring we have the necessary mix of generation resources to meet the long-term needs of our customers; and
•
continuing focus on operational excellence and efficiencies in order to protect the customer bill.
Additionally, the Company wants to achieve a premium valuation of its businesses relative to its peers, grow earnings per share with a stable earnings pattern, create a high performance culture and achieve desired outcomes with target stakeholders. The Company's financial objectives include a long-term annual earnings growth rate for OG&E of three to five percent on a weather-normalized basis, maintaining a strong credit rating as well as targeting dividend increases of approximately 10 percent annually through 2019. The targeted annual dividend increase has been determined after consideration of numerous factors, including the largely retail composition of the Company's shareholder base, the Company's financial position, the Company's growth targets and the composition of the Company's assets and investment opportunities. The Company also utilizes cash distributions from its investment in Enable to help fund its capital needs and support future dividend growth. The Company believes it can accomplish these financial objectives by, among other things, pursuing multiple avenues to build its business, maintaining a diversified asset position, continuing to develop a wide range of skills to succeed with changes in its industries, providing products and services to customers efficiently, managing risks effectively and having strong regulatory and legislative relationships.
ELECTRIC OPERATIONS - OG&E
General
The electric utility segment generates, transmits, distributes and sells electric energy in Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Its operations are conducted through OG&E. OG&E furnishes retail electric service in 267 communities and their contiguous rural and suburban areas. The service area covers 30,000 square miles in Oklahoma and western Arkansas, including Oklahoma City, the largest city in Oklahoma, and Fort Smith, Arkansas, the second largest city in that state. Of the 267 communities that OG&E serves, 241 are located in Oklahoma, and 26 are in Arkansas. OG&E derived 91 percent of its total electric operating revenues in 2017 from sales in Oklahoma and the remainder from sales in Arkansas. OG&E does not currently serve wholesale customers in either state.
OG&E's system control area peak demand in 2017 was 6,456 MWs on July 21, 2017. OG&E's load responsibility peak demand was 5,752 MWs on July 21, 2017. The following table shows system sales and variations in system sales for 2017, 2016 and 2015.
OG&E is subject to competition in various degrees from government-owned electric systems, municipally-owned electric systems, rural electric cooperatives and, in certain respects, from other private utilities, power marketers and cogenerators as well
as from consumers choosing appliances powered by other energy sources. Oklahoma law forbids the granting of an exclusive franchise to a utility for providing electricity.
Besides competition from other suppliers or marketers of electricity, OG&E competes with suppliers of other forms of energy. The degree of competition between suppliers may vary depending on relative costs and supplies of other forms of energy. It is possible that changes in regulatory policies or advances in technologies such as fuel cells, microturbines, windmills and photovoltaic solar cells will reduce costs of new technology to levels that are equal to or below that of most central station electricity production. Our ability to maintain relatively low cost, efficient and reliable operations is a significant determinate of our competitiveness.
Regulation and Rates
OG&E's retail electric tariffs are regulated by the OCC in Oklahoma and by the APSC in Arkansas. The issuance of certain securities by OG&E is also regulated by the OCC and the APSC. OG&E's transmission activities, short-term borrowing authorization and accounting practices are subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC. The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy has jurisdiction over some of OG&E's facilities and operations. In 2017, 85 percent of OG&E's electric revenue was subject to the jurisdiction of the OCC, eight percent to the APSC and seven percent to the FERC.
The OCC issued an order in 1996 authorizing OG&E to reorganize into a subsidiary of the Company. The order required that, among other things, (i) the Company permit the OCC access to the books and records of the Company and its affiliates relating to transactions with OG&E, (ii) the Company employ accounting and other procedures and controls to protect against subsidization of non-utility activities by OG&E's customers and (iii) the Company refrain from pledging OG&E assets or income for affiliate transactions. In addition, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 enacted the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, which in turn granted to the FERC access to the books and records of the Company and its affiliates as the FERC deems relevant to costs incurred by OG&E or necessary or appropriate for the protection of utility customers with respect to the FERC jurisdictional rates.
Completed Regulatory Matters
Arkansas Rate Case Filing
On August 25, 2016, OG&E filed a general rate case with the APSC. The rate filing requested a $16.5 million rate increase based on a 10.25 percent return on equity. The requested rate increase was based on a June 30, 2016 test year and included recovery of over $3.0 billion of electric infrastructure additions since the last Arkansas general rate case in 2011. The requested increase also reflected increases in operation and maintenance expenses, including vegetation management and increased recovery of depreciation and dismantlement costs.
In May 2017, the APSC approved a settlement between OG&E and the staff of the APSC and other intervenors. The settlement provided for a $7.1 million annual rate increase and a 9.5 percent return on equity on a 50.0 percent equity capital structure.
The settlement also provided that OG&E will be regulated under a formula rate rider, which should result in a more efficient process as the return on equity, depreciation rates and capital structure should not change from what was approved by the APSC in this settlement. OG&E expects to make its first filing under the Arkansas Formula Rate Rider in October 2018.
Fuel Adjustment Clause Review for Calendar Year 2015
On September 8, 2016, the OCC staff filed an application to review OG&E’s fuel adjustment clause for calendar year 2015, including the prudence of OG&E’s electric generation, purchased power and fuel procurement costs. On October 12, 2017, the OCC issued an order finding that, for the calendar year 2015, OG&E's electric generation, purchased power and fuel procurement processes and costs were prudent.
Oklahoma Rate Case Filing - 2015
On December 18, 2015, OG&E filed a general rate case with the OCC requesting a rate increase of $92.5 million and a 10.25 percent return on equity based on a common equity percentage of 53.0 percent. The rate case was based on a June 30, 2015 test year and included recovery of $1.6 billion of electric infrastructure additions since its last general rate case in Oklahoma.
On July 1, 2016, OG&E implemented an annual interim rate increase of $69.5 million, subject to refund for amounts in excess of the rates approved by the OCC.
In December 2016, the ALJ issued a report and recommendations in the case. The ALJ's recommendations included, among other things, the use of OG&E's actual capital structure of 53.0 percent equity and 47.0 percent long-term debt and a return on equity of 9.87 percent resulting in an annual increase in OG&E's revenues of $40.7 million.
During February and March 2017, the OCC held hearings and, on March 20, 2017, issued an order. The order resulted in an annual net increase of approximately $8.8 million in OG&E's rates to its Oklahoma retail customers. Although the order adopted certain recommendations set forth in the ALJ report, it differed in certain key respects.
The primary adjustments to the ALJ report consist of: (i) Oklahoma retail authorized rate of return on equity of 9.50 percent, (ii) depreciation expense is reduced by approximately $28.6 million from the ALJ report or $36.4 million from then current rates on an annual basis, (iii) recovery of 50.0 percent of short-term incentive compensation and no recovery of long-term incentive compensation, (iv) recovery of OG&E's requested vegetation management expenses and (v) recovery of production tax credits expiring in 2017 and air quality control systems consumable costs through the fuel adjustment clause. The order maintained OG&E's existing capital structure of 53.0 percent equity and 47.0 percent long-term debt.
As a result of the March 2017 OCC rate order, OG&E recorded, in the first quarter of 2017, adjustments to depreciation expense, amortization of regulatory assets and liabilities and impacts to the fuel adjustment clause effective July 1, 2016. On May 1, 2017, OG&E implemented new rates and began refunding excess amounts that it had collected in interim rates.
As of November 30, 2017, OG&E had completed the refund of $47.5 million collected in excess interim rates.
Mustang Modernization Plan - Arkansas
On August 15, 2017, OG&E filed for a determination with the APSC that the Mustang facility is in the public interest. The filing did not seek recovery for any costs associated with the Mustang Modernization Plan, as request for recovery of costs will take place with the first formula rate filing expected to be made in October 2018. On January 2, 2018, the APSC issued an order finding the Mustang Modernization Plan to be in the public interest.
Pending Regulatory Matters
Set forth below is a list of various proceedings pending before state or federal regulatory agencies. Unless stated otherwise, OG&E cannot predict when the regulatory agency will act or what action the regulatory agency will take. OG&E's financial results are dependent in part on timely and adequate decisions by the regulatory agencies that set OG&E's rates.
Environmental Compliance Plan
On August 6, 2014, OG&E filed an application with the OCC for approval of its plan to comply with the EPA’s MATS and Regional Haze Rule FIP while serving the best long-term interests of customers in light of future environmental uncertainties. The application sought approval of the ECP and for a recovery mechanism for the associated costs. The ECP includes installing Dry Scrubbers at Sooner Units 1 and 2 and the conversion of Muskogee Units 4 and 5 to natural gas. The application also asked the OCC to predetermine the prudence of its Mustang Modernization Plan and approval for a recovery mechanism for the associated costs.
On December 2, 2015, OG&E received an order from the OCC denying its plan to comply with the environmental mandates of the Federal Clean Air Act, Regional Haze Rule and MATS. The OCC also denied OG&E's request for pre-approval of its Mustang Modernization Plan, revised depreciation rates for both the retirement of the Mustang units and the replacement combustion turbines and pre-approval of early retirement and replacement of generating units at its Mustang site, including cost recovery through a rider.
On February 12, 2016, OG&E filed an application requesting the OCC to issue an order approving its decision to install Dry Scrubbers at the Sooner facility. OG&E's application did not seek approval of the costs of the Dry Scrubber project. Instead, the reasonableness of the costs would be considered after the project is completed, and OG&E seeks recovery in a general rate case. On April 28, 2016, the OCC approved the Dry Scrubber project.
Two parties appealed the OCC's decision to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The Company is unable to predict what action the Oklahoma Supreme Court may take or the timing of any such action.
OG&E anticipates the total cost of Dry Scrubbers will be $542.4 million, including allowance for funds used during construction and capitalized ad valorem taxes and expects the project to be completed in mid to late 2018. As of December 31, 2017, OG&E had invested $401.3 million in the Dry Scrubbers. OG&E anticipates the total cost for the Mustang Modernization Plan will be $390.0 million, including allowance for funds used during construction and capitalized ad valorem taxes and expects the project to be completed in early 2018. As of December 31, 2017, OG&E had invested $348.4 million in the Mustang Modernization Plan.
Integrated Resource Plans
In October 2015, OG&E finalized the 2015 IRP and submitted it to the OCC. The 2015 IRP updated certain assumptions contained in the IRP submitted in 2014 but did not make any material changes to the ECP and other parts of the plan. Currently, OG&E is scheduled to update its IRP in Oklahoma by October 1, 2018 and in Arkansas by October 31, 2018.
Demand Program Rider - Energy Efficiency Lost Net Revenues
During the May 2017 implementation of new rates, OG&E reserved $5.6 million, pending resolution of a dispute with the OCC's Public Utility Division staff, regarding recovery of certain lost revenues associated with energy efficiency incurred prior to the March 2017 OCC rate order. These lost revenues are included within the total Demand Program Rider regulatory asset balance of $31.6 million as disclosed in Note 1 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
Fuel Adjustment Clause Review for Calendar Year 2016
On August 3, 2017, the OCC staff filed an application to review OG&E's fuel adjustment clause for calendar year 2016, including the prudence of OG&E's electric generation, purchased power and fuel procurement costs. On February 7, 2018, an intervenor filed a recommendation to disallow the Oklahoma jurisdictional portion of $3.3 million related to wind sales in the SPP. A hearing is scheduled for March 29, 2018.
Oklahoma Rate Case Filing - 2018
On January 16, 2018, OG&E filed a general rate case in Oklahoma, requesting a rate increase of $1.9 million per year, assuming a 9.9 percent return on equity. The filing seeks recovery of the seven Mustang combustion turbines that are part of the Mustang Modernization Plan, requests an increase in depreciation rates to levels similar with rates in existence prior to the March 2017 OCC rate order and credits customers for the impacts of the 2017 Tax Act, enacted on December 22, 2017.
On December 22, 2017, the Attorney General of Oklahoma requested that the OCC reduce the rates and charges for electric service and provide for any refund due to the customers of OG&E resulting from the 2017 Tax Act. In response, on January 4, 2018, the OCC ordered OG&E to record a reserve, beginning on January 4, 2018, to reflect the reduced federal corporate tax rate of 21 percent and the amortization of excess accumulated deferred income tax and any other tax implications of the 2017 Tax Act on an interim basis, subject to refund until utility rates are adjusted to reflect the federal tax savings and a final order is issued in OG&E's pending rate case filed on January 16, 2018. Further, the OCC ordered the amounts of any refunds of such reserves owed to customers should accrue interest at a rate equivalent to OG&E's cost of capital as previously recognized in the March 2017 OCC rate order.
APSC Order - 2017 Tax Act
On January 12, 2018, as a result of the 2017 Tax Act, the APSC ordered OG&E to prepare and file an analysis, within 30 days of this order, of the ratemaking effects of the 2017 Tax Act on OG&E's revenue requirement and begin, effective January 1, 2018, to book regulatory liabilities to record the current and deferred impacts of the 2017 Tax Act. The APSC will subsequently solicit comments or testimony regarding the extent of the impacts of the 2017 Tax Act and how any resulting benefits, including carrying charges, should be returned to customers.
FERC - Section 206 Filing
In January 2018, the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority filed a complaint at the FERC stating that the base return on common equity used by OG&E in calculating formula transmission rates under the SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff is unjust and unreasonable and should be reduced from 10.60 percent to 7.85 percent, effective upon the date of the complaint. The Company is analyzing the potential impact of the complaint but estimates that if the FERC ultimately orders a reduction, each 25 basis point reduction in the requested return on equity would reduce the Company's SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff transmission revenues by approximately $1.5 million annually. In addition to the request to reduce the return on equity, the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority's complaint also requests that modifications be made to OG&E's transmission formula rates to reflect the impacts of the 2017 Tax Act. Although the proceeding is in the early stages, OG&E expects to contest the reduction of its base return on equity. The Company is unable to predict what action the FERC will take in response to the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority's complaint or the timing of such action. However, if the FERC orders revenue reductions as a result of the complaint, including refunds from the date of the complaint filing, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
OG&E, as a regulated utility, is subject to accounting principles for certain types of rate-regulated activities, which provide that certain incurred costs that would otherwise be charged to expense can be deferred as regulatory assets, based on the expected recovery from customers in future rates. Likewise, certain actual or anticipated credits that would otherwise reduce expense can be deferred as regulatory liabilities, based on the expected flowback to customers in future rates. Management's expected recovery of deferred costs and flowback of deferred credits generally results from specific decisions by regulators granting such ratemaking treatment.
OG&E records certain incurred costs and obligations as regulatory assets or liabilities if, based on regulatory orders or other available evidence, it is probable that the costs or obligations will be included in amounts allowable for recovery or refund in future rates.
At December 31, 2017 and 2016, OG&E had regulatory assets of $323.8 million and $526.6 million, respectively, and regulatory liabilities of $1,287.3 million and $312.0 million, respectively. These amounts include additional regulatory assets and liabilities for OG&E resulting from the reduction in the corporate federal tax rate enacted by the 2017 Tax Act. See Note 1 and Note 7 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further discussion.
Management continuously monitors the future recoverability of regulatory assets. When, in management's judgment, future recovery becomes impaired, the amount of the regulatory asset is adjusted, as appropriate. If OG&E were required to discontinue the application of accounting principles for certain types of rate-regulated activities for some or all of its operations, it could result in writing off the related regulatory assets, which could have significant financial effects.
Rate Structures
Oklahoma
OG&E's standard tariff rates include a cost of service component (including an authorized return on capital) plus a fuel adjustment clause mechanism that allows OG&E to pass through to customers the actual cost of fuel and purchased power.
OG&E offers several alternative customer programs and rate options. Under OG&E's Smart Grid-enabled SmartHours programs, "time-of-use" and "variable peak pricing" rates offer customers the ability to save on their electricity bills by shifting some of the electricity consumption to off-peak times when demand for electricity and costs are at their lowest. The guaranteed flat bill option for residential and small general service accounts allows qualifying customers the opportunity to purchase their electricity needs at a set monthly price for an entire year. Another tariff rate option provides a "renewable energy" resource to OG&E's Oklahoma retail customers. This renewable energy resource is a Renewable Energy Credit purchase program and is available as a voluntary option to all of OG&E's Oklahoma retail customers. OG&E's ownership and access to wind and solar resources makes the renewable option a possible choice in meeting the renewable energy needs of our conservation-minded customers. Another program being offered to OG&E's commercial and industrial customers is a voluntary load curtailment program called Load Reduction. This program provides customers with the opportunity to curtail usage on a voluntary basis when OG&E's system conditions merit curtailment action. Customers that curtail their usage will receive payment for their curtailment response. This voluntary curtailment program seeks customers that can curtail on most curtailment event days but may not be able to curtail every time that a curtailment event is required. OG&E also offers certain qualifying customers "day-ahead price" and "flex price" rate options which allow participating customers to adjust their electricity consumption based on price signals received from OG&E. The prices for the "day-ahead price" and "flex price" rate options are based on OG&E's projected next day hourly operating costs.
OG&E has Public Schools-Demand and Public Schools Non-Demand rate classes that provide OG&E with flexibility to provide targeted programs for load management to public schools and their unique usage patterns. OG&E also provides service level, seasonal and time period fuel charge differentiation that allows customers to pay fuel costs that better reflect the underlying costs of providing electric service. Lastly, OG&E has a military base rider that demonstrates Oklahoma's continued commitment to our military partners.
The previously discussed rate options, coupled with OG&E's other rate choices, provide many tariff options for OG&E's Oklahoma retail customers. The revenue impacts associated with these options are not determinable in future years because customers may choose to remain on existing rate options instead of volunteering for the alternative rate option choices. Revenue variations may occur in the future based upon changes in customers' usage characteristics if they choose alternative rate options.
Arkansas
OG&E's standard tariff rates include a cost of service component (including an authorized return on capital) plus an energy cost recovery mechanism that allows OG&E to pass through to customers the actual cost of fuel and purchased power. In May 2017, the APSC approved a settlement requiring OG&E to be regulated under a formula rate rider. The formula rate rider provides for an adjustment to rates approved by the APSC in the May 2017 settlement if the earned rate of return falls outside of a plus or minus 50 basis point dead-band around the allowed return on equity. Adjustments are limited to plus or minus four percent of revenue for each rate class for the 12 months preceding the projected year. The initial term for the formula rate rider is not to exceed five years, unless additional approval is obtained from the APSC.
OG&E offers several alternative customer programs and rate options. The "time-of-use" and "variable peak pricing" tariffs allow participating customers to save on their electricity bills by shifting some of the electricity consumption to off-peak times when demand for electricity is lowest. A second tariff rate option provides a "renewable energy" resource to OG&E's Arkansas retail customers. This renewable energy resource is a Renewable Energy Credit purchase program and is available as a voluntary option to all of OG&E's Arkansas retail customers. OG&E's ownership and access to wind resources makes the renewable option a possible choice in meeting the renewable energy needs of our conservation-minded customers. OG&E offers its commercial and industrial customers a voluntary load curtailment program called Load Reduction. This program provides customers with the opportunity to curtail usage on a voluntary basis and receive a billing credit when OG&E's system conditions merit curtailment action. OG&E offers certain qualifying customers a "day-ahead price" rate option which allows participating customers to adjust their electricity consumption based on a price signal received from OG&E. The "day-ahead price" is based on OG&E's projected next day hourly operating costs.
Fuel Supply and Generation
In 2017, 54.0 percent of OG&E-generated energy was produced by coal-fired units, 39.0 percent by natural gas-fired units and seven percent by wind-powered units. Of OG&E's 6,304 total MWs of generation capability reflected in the table in "Item 2. Properties," 3,304 MWs, or 52.4 percent, are from natural gas generation, 2,548 MWs, or 40.4 percent, are from coal generation, 449 MWs, or 7.1 percent, are from wind generation and 3 MWs, or 0.1 percent, are from solar generation. Over the last five years, the weighted average cost of fuel used, by type, was as follows:
The increase in the weighted average cost of fuel in 2017 compared to 2016 was primarily due to higher natural gas prices. The increase in the weighted average cost of fuel in 2016 as compared to 2015 was primarily due to higher coal prices. The decrease in the weighted average cost of fuel in 2015 as compared to 2014 was primarily due to lower natural gas prices. The decrease in the weighted average cost of fuel in 2014 as compared to 2013 was primarily due to less natural gas used, partially offset by higher natural gas prices. These fuel costs are recovered through OG&E's fuel adjustment clauses that are approved by the OCC, the APSC and the FERC.
OG&E participates in the SPP Integrated Marketplace. As part of the Integrated Marketplace, the SPP has balancing authority responsibilities for its market participants. The SPP Integrated Marketplace functions as a centralized dispatch, where market participants, including OG&E, submit offers to sell power to the SPP from their resources and bid to purchase power from the SPP for their customers. The SPP Integrated Marketplace is intended to allow the SPP to optimize supply offers and demand bids based upon reliability and economic considerations and to determine which generating units will run at any given time for maximum cost-effectiveness. As a result, OG&E's generating units produce output that is different from OG&E's customer load requirements. Net fuel and purchased power costs are recovered through fuel adjustment clauses.
Coal
OG&E's coal-fired units, with an aggregate capability of 2,548 MWs, are designed to burn low sulfur western sub-bituminous coal. The combination of all 2017 coal had a weighted average sulfur content of 0.23 percent. Based on the average sulfur content and EPA-certified data, OG&E's coal units have an approximate emission rate of 0.5 lbs. of SO2 per MMBtu.
For 2018, OG&E has acquired approximately half of its forecasted annual coal usage via existing inventory and purchase contracts that expire in December 2019. In 2017, OG&E purchased 6.7 million tons of coal from various Wyoming suppliers. See "Environmental Laws and Regulations" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for a discussion of environmental matters which may affect OG&E in the future, including its utilization of coal.
Natural Gas
As a participant in the SPP Integrated Marketplace, OG&E now purchases a relatively small percentage of its natural gas supply through long-term agreements. Alternatively, OG&E relies on a combination of natural gas call agreements, whereby OG&E has the right but not the obligation to purchase a defined quantity of natural gas, combined with day and intra-day purchases to meet the demands of the SPP Integrated Marketplace.
Wind
OG&E owns the 120 MW Centennial, 101 MW OU Spirit and 228 MW Crossroads wind farms. OG&E's current wind power portfolio also includes purchase power contracts with the following:
Solar
In 2015, OG&E placed its first solar plant in service. The plant consists of two separate solar farms and is located in Oklahoma City, on the site of the Mustang generating facility. The Mustang solar plant has a maximum capacity of 2.5 MWs and consists of almost 10,000 photovoltaic panels.
OG&E began construction on a new 10 MW solar farm in 2017. As of December 31, 2017, OG&E had invested $17.9 million and expects the Covington, Oklahoma solar farm to be placed in service during the first quarter of 2018. OG&E will evaluate the need to build additional solar plants based on customer demand, cost and reliability.
Safety and Health Regulation
OG&E is subject to a number of federal and state laws and regulations, including OSHA, the EPA and comparable state statutes, whose purpose is to protect the safety and health of workers.
In addition, the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, the EPA Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know regulations under Title III of the Federal Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act and comparable state statutes require that information be maintained concerning hazardous materials stored, used or produced in OG&E's operations and that this information be provided or made available to employees, state and local government authorities and citizens. OG&E believes that it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations relating to worker safety and health.
NATURAL GAS MIDSTREAM OPERATIONS - ENABLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS
Overview
Enable is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership formed to own, operate and develop strategically located natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. Enable serves current and emerging production areas in the U.S., including several unconventional shale resource plays and local and regional end-user markets in the U.S. Enable's assets and operations are organized into two reportable segments: (i) gathering and processing and (ii) transportation and storage. Enable's gathering and processing segment primarily provides natural gas and crude oil gathering and natural gas processing services to its producer customers. Enable's transportation and storage segment provides interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline transportation and storage services primarily to its producer, power plant, LDC and industrial end-user customers.
Enable's natural gas gathering and processing assets are primarily located in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana and serve natural gas production in the Anadarko, Arkoma and Ark-La-Tex Basins. Enable's crude oil gathering assets are located
in North Dakota and serve crude oil production in the Bakken Shale formation of the Williston Basin. Enable's natural gas transportation and storage assets consist primarily of an interstate pipeline system extending from western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle to Louisiana, an interstate pipeline system extending from Louisiana to Illinois, an intrastate pipeline system in Oklahoma and an investment in SESH, a pipeline extending from Louisiana to Alabama.
Enable was formed on May 1, 2013 to own and operate the midstream businesses of the Company and CenterPoint. As of December 31, 2017, Enable's portfolio of midstream energy infrastructure assets included approximately 13,300 miles of natural gas and crude oil gathering pipelines, 15 major processing plants with 2.6 Bcf/d of processing capacity, approximately 7,800 miles of interstate pipelines (including SESH), approximately 2,200 miles of intrastate pipelines and eight natural gas storage facilities with 86.0 Bcf of storage capacity.
The following table shows the components of Enable's gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Gathering and Processing
Enable owns and operates substantial natural gas and crude oil gathering and natural gas processing assets in five states. Enable's gathering and processing operations consist primarily of natural gas gathering and processing assets serving the Anadarko, Arkoma and Ark-La-Tex Basins and crude oil gathering assets serving the Williston Basin. Enable provides a variety of services to the active producers in its operating areas, including gathering, compressing, treating, and processing natural gas, fractionating NGLs and gathering crude oil and produced water.
Natural Gas Gathering and Processing. The following table sets forth certain information regarding Enable's natural gas gathering and processing assets as of or for the year ended December 31, 2017:
(A)
Ark-La-Tex Basin assets also include 14,500 Bbl/d of fractionation capacity and 6,300 Bbl/d of ethane pipeline capacity, which are not listed in the table.
Enable's natural gas gathering assets include approximately 13,000 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines as of December 31, 2017. Enable's natural gas gathering systems consist of networks of pipelines that collect natural gas from points at or near its customers' wells for delivery to plants for processing or pipelines for transportation. Natural gas is moved from the receipt points to the delivery points on Enable's gathering systems by the use of compression.
Enable's natural gas processing assets included 15 natural gas processing plants with 2,550 MMcf/d of inlet capacity as of December 31, 2017. Natural gas is comprised primarily of methane, but, at the wellhead, natural gas may contain varying amounts of NGLs. Enable's processing plants recover NGLs from natural gas and primarily deliver NGLs and natural gas to pipelines for transportation.
Crude Oil Gathering. As of December 31, 2017, Enable had approximately 175 miles of crude oil gathering pipelines and approximately 160 miles of produced water gathering pipelines in the Bakken Shale of the Williston Basin. Enable's crude
oil gathering systems have a combined design capacity of 57.9 MBbl/d, and as of December 31, 2017, Enable had 0.2 million gross acres dedicated under a crude oil gathering agreement. For the year ended December 31, 2017, Enable had an average daily throughput of 25.56 MBbl/d of crude oil and an average daily throughput of 9.7 MBbl/d of produced water on Enable's Williston Basin gathering system.
Enable's Williston Basin crude oil gathering assets are located in Dunn, McKenzie, Williams and Mountrail Counties in North Dakota. These systems were designed and built to serve the crude oil production of XTO Energy, Inc. in these areas. On Enable's systems, crude oil is received on crude oil gathering pipelines near its customers' wells for delivery to third party transportation pipelines, and produced water is received by produced water gathering pipelines for delivery to third party disposal wells. Enable does not take title to crude oil or produced water gathered, and it does not own or operate produced water disposal wells.
Delivery Points. Natural gas that is gathered, and when applicable, processed, is typically redelivered to Enable's customers at interconnections with transportation pipelines. Enable's gathering lines interconnect with both its interstate and intrastate pipelines, as well as other interstate and intrastate pipelines, including the Acadian, ANR, ETC Tiger, Gulf Crossing, Gulf South, NGPL, Northern Natural, Panhandle Eastern, Regency, Southern Natural Gas, Tennessee Gas and Texas Eastern Transmission pipelines. These connections provide producers with access to a variety of natural gas market hubs.
Crude oil gathered on Enable's Williston Basin gathering systems in Dunn and McKenzie Counties can be redelivered to Enable's customers through interconnections to the BakkenLink Pipeline and the Dakota Access Pipeline. Crude oil gathered on Enable's Williston Basin gathering systems in Williams and Mountrail Counties can be redelivered to Enable's customers through interconnections to the Enbridge North Dakota Pipeline and the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Enable typically purchases the NGLs produced at its processing plants, and most of the NGLs are delivered into third-party pipelines and transported to Conway, Kansas or Mont Belvieu, Texas, where the NGLs are exchanged for fractionated NGLs that are sold under contract or on the spot market. At Enable's Cox City, Calumet and Wetumka plants, Enable operates depropanizers that allow it to extract propane from the NGL stream and sell propane to local markets. Additionally, Enable operates a fractionator at its Waskom plant and sells ethane, propane, butane and natural gasoline to local markets.
Customers. Enable generates revenues from producers in the basins in which it operates. For the year ended December 31, 2017, Enable's top natural gas gathering and processing customers by gathered volumes were Continental Resources, Inc., Vine Oil and Gas, GeoSouthern Energy Corporation, XTO Energy Inc., Tapstone Energy, LLC, Apache Corporation, BP America Production Company, affiliates of Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Covey Park Energy LLC and FourPoint Energy, LLC. For the year ended December 31, 2017, Enable's top ten natural gas producer customers accounted for approximately 70 percent of its gathered natural gas volumes.
Enable's Williston Basin gathering systems serve XTO Energy Inc. The rates and terms of service on Enable's Williston Basin crude oil gathering systems are regulated by the FERC under the Interstate Commerce Act, but Enable's Williston Basin produced water gathering systems are not FERC-regulated. As of December 31, 2017, XTO Energy Inc. was Enable's only customer on these systems.
Contracts. Enable's contracts typically provide for natural gas and crude oil gathering services that are fee-based and for natural gas processing arrangements that are fee-based, or percent-of-liquids, percent-of-proceeds or keep-whole based.
Under a typical fee-based processing arrangement, Enable processes the raw natural gas to extract the NGLs, purchases the NGLs from the producer less a fee, returns the processed natural gas to the producer and sells the NGLs for its own account.
Under a typical percent-of-liquids processing arrangement, Enable processes the raw natural gas to extract the NGLs, purchases the NGLs from the producer at a discount, returns the processed natural gas to the producer and sells the NGLs for its own account.
Under a typical percent-of-proceeds processing arrangement, Enable processes the raw natural gas to extract the NGLs, purchases the NGLs and an agreed upon percentage of the processed natural gas from the producer at a discount, returns the remaining processed natural gas to the producer and sells the purchased natural gas and NGLs for its own account.
Under a typical keep-whole arrangement, Enable processes raw natural gas to extract the NGLs, returns a quantity of the processed natural gas to the producer that is equivalent to the raw natural gas on a Btu basis and retains and sells the NGLs for its own account.
For the year ended December 31, 2017, 58 percent, 35 percent and seven percent of Enable's inlet volumes were under processing arrangements that were fee-based, percent-of-proceeds or percent-of-liquids and keep-whole, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2017, 74 percent of Enable's gathering and processing gross margin was fee-based, and the remaining 26 percent of its gathering and processing gross margin was primarily from sales of commodities, including natural gas, NGLs and condensate received under percent-of-proceeds, percent-of-liquids and keep-whole arrangements.
In lean gas areas, such as the eastern Arkoma Basin and the Haynesville Shale of the Ark-La-Tex Basin, some of Enable's natural gas gathering contracts contain minimum volume commitments from Enable's customers. In addition, a portion of the crude oil gathered by Enable's crude oil gathering system is under a contract with a minimum volume commitment. Under a minimum volume commitment, a customer agrees to either deliver a minimum volume of natural gas or crude oil to Enable's system for service or pay the service fees for the minimum volume of natural gas or crude oil regardless of whether or not the minimum volume of natural gas or crude oil is delivered. Enable calls any payment for the difference between the volume gathered and the minimum volume committed a shortfall payment. Some of Enable's contracts provide its customers the option to elect to pay a higher gathering fee over the remaining term of the contract in lieu of making a shortfall payment. As of December 31, 2017, the percentage of Enable's gathering and processing gross margin attributable to natural gas gathering contracts with minimum volume commitments, and the volume commitment-weighted average remaining terms of those contracts, were as follows:
(A)
Represents the percentage of gathering and processing gross margin from gathering contracts with minimum volume commitments that were attributable to shortfall payments.
(B)
Under the Williston Basin contracts, if the customer ships in excess of the minimum volume, this volume commitment could end before the expiration of the contract term.
For Enable's gathering and processing contracts that do not have minimum volume commitments, Enable strives to obtain acreage dedications. Under an acreage dedication, a customer agrees to deliver all of the natural gas or crude oil produced from a given area to Enable's system for gathering and, if applicable, processing. As of December 31, 2017, the gross acres dedicated under gathering agreements and the volume-weighted average remaining term for all gathering and processing contracts were as follows:
Acquisitions. In the fourth quarter of 2017, Enable acquired Align Midstream, LLC, a midstream company with natural gas gathering and processing facilities in the Cotton Valley and Haynesville plays of the Ark-La-Tex Basin. The acquisition included approximately 190 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines across Rusk, Panola and Shelby counties in Texas and DeSoto Parish in Louisiana and a cryogenic natural gas processing plant in Panola County, Texas, with a capacity of 100 MMcf/d.
Competition. Competition to gather and process natural gas is primarily a function of gathering rate, processing value, system reliability, fuel rate, system run time, construction cycle time and prices at the wellhead. Enable's gathering and processing systems compete with gatherers and processors of all types and sizes, including those affiliated with various producers, other major pipeline companies and various independent midstream entities. In the process of selling NGLs, Enable competes against other natural gas processors extracting and selling NGLs. Enable's primary competitors are other midstream companies who are active in the regions where Enable operates.
Competition to gather crude oil and produced water is primarily a function of rates, terms of service, system reliability and construction cycle time. The rates and terms of service of Enable's crude oil gathering, but not its produced water gathering,
are FERC-regulated. Enable's Williston Basin gathering systems compete with other gatherers, including those affiliated with producers and other midstream companies.
Seasonality. While the results of Enable's gathering and processing segment are not materially affected by seasonality, from time to time its operations and construction of assets can be impacted by inclement weather.
Transportation and Storage
Enable owns and operates interstate and intrastate transportation and storage systems across nine states. Enable's transportation and storage systems consist primarily of its interstate systems, EGT and MRT, its intrastate system, EOIT, and its investment in SESH. Enable's transportation and storage assets transport natural gas from areas of production and interconnected pipelines to power plants, LDCs and industrial end users as well as interconnected pipelines for delivery to additional markets. Enable's transportation and storage assets also provide facilities where natural gas can be stored by customers.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding Enable's transportation and storage assets as of or for the year ended December 31, 2017:
(A)
Actual volumes transported per day may be less than total firm contracted capacity based on demand.
(B)
Includes contracts with Enable's affiliates and subsidiaries.
(C)
Enable's EOIT pipeline system is a web-like configuration with multidirectional flow capabilities between numerous receipt and delivery points, which limits Enable's ability to determine an overall system capacity. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the peak daily throughput was 2.3 TBtu/d or, on a volumetric basis, 2.3 Bcf/d.
(D)
SESH has 1.09 Bcf/d of transportation capacity from Perryville, Louisiana to its endpoint in Mobile County, Alabama.
(E) Enable owns a 50 percent interest in SESH and, as such, does not include certain information regarding its transportation and storage assets in the table above.
Enable's transportation and storage assets were designed and built to primarily serve large natural gas and electric utilities in its areas of operation. In addition, Enable's transportation and storage assets serve natural gas producers, industrial end users and natural gas marketers. For the year ended December 31, 2017, Enable's top transportation and storage customers by revenue were affiliates of CenterPoint, Spire Inc., American Electric Power Co., the Company, Continental Resources, Inc., XTO Energy Inc., Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC, Entergy Corporation and Shell Energy North America.
From time to time, Enable's transportation and storage business involves the construction of natural gas pipelines as needed to serve Enable's existing and new customers. For example, during the year ended December 31, 2017, Enable added 4,500 horsepower of compression and invested $51 million in the construction of transportation pipelines. In April 2017, EGT announced the Cana and Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin Canadian and Kingfisher Counties Expansion project, a system expansion providing firm transportation service for growing Anadarko Basin production. The project’s foundation shipper, Newfield Exploration Company, entered into a 205,000 Dth/d firm natural gas transportation agreement with EGT. The 10-year contract is expected to start at an initial capacity of 45,000 Dth/d in early 2018 and grow to the full contracted capacity by the fourth quarter of 2018. In addition, Enable is currently building an approximately 80-mile pipeline to expand the EOIT system in connection with a 228,000 Dth/d firm natural gas transportation agreement with the Company that is expected to be in-service in late 2018.
Enable's transportation assets include approximately 10,000 miles of transportation pipelines in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas and Missouri, providing access to natural gas supplies from the Anadarko, Arkoma and Ark-La-Tex Basins to natural gas consuming markets in the Southeastern, Northeastern and Midwestern U.S. Enable's storage assets, as of December 31, 2017, provide a combined capacity of 86.0 Bcf with 2.1 Bcf/d of aggregate maximum withdrawal capacity from Enable's seven storage facilities in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Illinois and from its undivided 1/12th interest in the Bistineau Storage
Facility in Louisiana. Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP owns an undivided 11/12th interest in, and operates, the Bistineau Storage Facility. In addition, Enable has contracted for 2.5 Bcf of firm storage capacity in Cardinal’s Perryville salt cavern storage facility.
Enable's transportation and storage assets are comprised of three categories: (1) interstate transportation and storage, (2) intrastate transportation and storage and (3) Enable's investment in SESH.
Interstate Transportation and Storage
Enable's interstate transportation and storage business consists of EGT and MRT. As interstate pipelines, EGT and MRT are subject to regulation as natural gas companies by FERC under the Natural Gas Act of 1938.
EGT
EGT provides natural gas transportation and storage services primarily to customers in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Kansas. In addition to 5,900 miles of interstate pipelines with capacity of 6.5 Bcf/d, EGT has two underground natural gas storage facilities in Oklahoma and one underground natural gas storage facility in Louisiana, which, as of December 31, 2017, operate at a combined capacity of 30.5 Bcf with 739 MMcf/d of aggregate maximum withdrawal capacity.
Customers. EGT primarily serves LDCs owned by CenterPoint, producers in key plays in the Mid-continent, power plants, other LDCs and industrial end-users. EGT’s customers are primarily located in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. For the year ended December 31, 2017, approximately 28 percent of EGT's service revenue was attributable to contracts with LDCs owned by CenterPoint with a volume-weighted average contract life of 3.0 years for transportation contracts and 3.2 years for storage contracts. In addition to CenterPoint's LDCs, EGT’s other major customers include Continental Resources, Inc., American Electric Power Co., Chesapeake Energy Corporation and XTO Energy Inc.
Contracts. Although EGT has established maximum rates for interstate transportation and storage services as required by the FERC, EGT is authorized to enter into negotiated rate and discounted rate agreements with its customers. EGT’s services are typically provided under firm, fee-based transportation and storage agreements. For the year ended December 31, 2017, approximately 53 percent of Enable's transportation and storage gross margin was derived from EGT’s firm contracts, 70 percent of EGT’s transportation capacity was under firm contracts with a volume-weighted average remaining contract life of 3.2 years, and 75 percent of EGT’s storage capacity was under firm contracts with a volume-weighted average remaining contract life of 3.2 years. EGT’s firm transportation contracts representing 10 percent of CenterPoint's LDCs firm transportation capacity are scheduled to expire in March 2018 and 90 percent are scheduled to expire in March 2021. All of CenterPoint's LDCs firm storage contracts with EGT are scheduled to expire in March 2021.
Seasonality. EGT provides gas transmission delivery services to LDCs owned by CenterPoint in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Customer demand for natural gas on EGT is usually greater during the winter, primarily due to LDC demand to serve residential and commercial natural gas requirements. In addition, EGT experiences seasonal impacts associated with storage spreads and basis spreads on interconnected pipelines, as well as power plant demand.
Competition. EGT competes with a variety of other interstate and intrastate pipelines across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Enable's management views the principal elements of competition among pipelines as rates and terms, flexibility and reliability of service. EGT provides both flexibility and reliability of service with access to multiple sources of supply in the Anadarko, Arkoma and Ark-La-Tex Basins and access to multiple markets in the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast through interconnections with other pipelines. EGT’s interconnections with other pipelines are primarily at Enable's Perryville Hub.
MRT
MRT provides natural gas transportation and storage services principally in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Illinois. In addition to 1,600 miles of interstate pipelines with capacity of 1.7 Bcf/d, MRT has one underground natural gas storage facility in Louisiana and one underground natural gas storage facility in Illinois, which, as of December 31, 2017, operate at a combined capacity of 31.5 Bcf with 717 MMcf/d of aggregate maximum withdrawal capacity.
Customers. MRT primarily serves the St. Louis LDC owned by Spire Inc. For the year ended December 31, 2017, 61 percent of MRT's service revenue was attributable to Spire Inc. under contracts with a volume-weighted average contract life of 1.3 years for transportation contracts and 1.4 years for storage contracts. MRT’s other customers include utilities and industrial end users. MRT’s customers are primarily located in Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois.
Contracts. MRT’s services are typically provided under firm, fee-based transportation and storage agreements, with rates and terms of service regulated by the FERC. For the year ended December 31, 2017, approximately 14 percent of Enable's transportation and storage gross margin was derived from MRT’s firm contracts, 96 percent of MRT’s transportation capacity was under firm contracts with a volume-weighted average remaining contract life of 1.9 years and 91 percent of MRT’s storage capacity was under firm contracts with a volume-weighted average remaining contract life of 1.6 years. MRT’s firm transportation contracts representing 63 percent of Spire Inc.'s firm transportation capacity are scheduled to expire in July 2018, and 37 percent of Spire Inc.'s firm transportation capacity are scheduled to expire in July 2020. All of Spire Inc.'s firm storage contracts are scheduled to expire in May 2019.
In January 2017, Spire Inc. filed an application with the FERC to construct the Spire STL Pipeline, which would be an additional interstate pipeline serving the St. Louis, Missouri market. Subject to receiving approval of the proposed project from the FERC, Spire Inc. has indicated that it is targeting an early to mid-2019 in-service date for this pipeline. If Spire Inc. constructs this pipeline, Enable anticipates that Spire Inc.'s need for firm transportation and storage capacity on MRT will decrease.
Seasonality. Customer demand for natural gas on MRT is usually greater during the winter, primarily due to LDC demand to serve residential and commercial natural gas requirements. In addition, MRT experiences seasonal impacts associated with storage spreads and basis spreads on market-based pipelines.
Competition. MRT competes with various intrastate pipelines providing natural gas to the St. Louis market. In addition, MRT, from time-to-time, competes with potential projects to connect one or more third party interstate pipelines to the St. Louis market, such as the proposed Spire Inc. STL Pipeline. Enable's management views the principal elements of competition among pipelines as rates, terms of service, flexibility and reliability of service. MRT, through its interconnections with a variety of interstate and intrastate pipelines and its access to supply from a variety of producing basins, provides its customers with access to a variety of natural gas supply sources.
Intrastate Transportation and Storage
Enable's intrastate transportation and storage assets consist primarily of EOIT. EOIT provides transportation and storage services in Oklahoma. Enable's EOIT system delivers natural gas from the Arkoma and Anadarko Basins, including growth areas in the Cana Woodford, Granite Wash, Cleveland, Tonkawa, South Central Oklahoma Oil Province, Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin Canadian and Kingfisher Counties and Mississippi Lime Shale plays in western Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle, to utilities and industrial end users connected to EOIT and to interstate and intrastate pipelines interconnected with EOIT. EOIT had 1.88 TBtu/d of average daily throughput for the year ended December 31, 2017. In addition to the 2,200 miles of intrastate pipelines, EOIT has two underground natural gas storage facilities in Oklahoma, which, as of December 31, 2017 operate at a combined capacity of 24 Bcf with 605 MMcf/d of aggregate maximum withdrawal capacity. As of December 31, 2017, Enable's intrastate transportation also included a 20-mile intrastate pipeline in Illinois. This 20-mile intrastate pipeline became part of the MRT system on January 1, 2018.
Customers. EOIT’s customers include Oklahoma’s two largest electric utilities, OG&E and Public Service Company of Oklahoma, an affiliate of American Electric Power Co. For the year ended December 31, 2017, approximately six percent of Enable's total transportation and storage gross margin was attributable to a firm contract with its affiliate OG&E, and approximately three percent of Enable's transportation and storage gross margin was attributable to a firm contract with Public Service Company of Oklahoma. Enable's transportation agreement with OG&E extends through April 30, 2019 and will remain in effect year to year thereafter unless either party provides notice of termination to the other party at least 180 days prior to the commencement of the succeeding annual period. Enable's transportation agreement with Public Service Company of Oklahoma extends through December 31, 2020 and includes the option for a one-year extension. EOIT’s customers also include other electric generators, LDCs, Arkoma and Anadarko Basin producers and industrial end users.
Contracts. EOIT provides fee-based firm and interruptible transportation and storage services on both an intrastate basis and, pursuant to Section 311 of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, on an interstate basis. For the year ended December 31, 2017, approximately 21 percent of Enable's transportation and storage gross margin was derived from EOIT’s firm contracts. EOIT's transportation capacity was under firm contracts with a volume-weighted average remaining contract life of 5.5 years, and EOIT's storage capacity was under firm contracts with a volume-weighted average remaining contract life of 0.9 years.
Seasonality. EOIT provides gas transmission delivery services to the majority of OG&E's and all of Public Service Company of Oklahoma's natural gas-fired electric generation facilities in Oklahoma. Customer demand for natural gas transportation and storage services on EOIT is usually greater during the summer, primarily due to demand by natural gas-fired power plants to serve residential and commercial electricity requirements.
Competition. EOIT competes with a variety of interstate and intrastate pipelines in providing transportation and storage services in Oklahoma, including competing against several pipelines with which EOIT interconnects. Enable's management views competition in the transportation and storage market as primarily a function of rates, terms of services, flexibility and reliability of service. EOIT’s integrated transportation and storage system allows Enable to provide load following service to natural gas-fired power plants to allow the power plants the ability to regulate generation and meet the instantaneous changes in customer demand for electricity.
Enable's Investment in SESH
SESH is an approximately 290-mile interstate pipeline that provides transportation services in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Enable owns a 50 percent interest in SESH and provides field operations for the pipeline. Spectra Energy Partners, LP owns the remaining 50 percent interest in SESH and provides gas control and commercial operations for the pipeline. As of December 31, 2017, SESH had 1.09 Bcf/d of transportation capacity from Perryville, Louisiana to its endpoint in Mobile County, Alabama.
Customers and Contracts. SESH’s customers are primarily companies that generate electricity for the Florida power market. The rates charged by SESH for interstate transportation services are regulated by the FERC. SESH’s transportation services are typically provided under firm, fee-based negotiated rate agreements. SESH's transportation contracts have a volume-weighted average remaining contract life of 4.4 years.
Seasonality. SESH is generally not impacted by seasonality, SESH's load factor generally remains constant throughout the year.
Competition. SESH competes with other interstate and intrastate pipelines providing access to the Southeast power generation market. Enable's management views the principal elements of competition among pipelines as rates and terms, flexibility and reliability of service.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
General
The activities of the Company are subject to numerous stringent and complex federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental protection. These laws and regulations can change, restrict or otherwise impact OG&E's business activities in many ways, including the handling or disposal of waste material, planning for future construction activities to avoid or mitigate harm to threatened or endangered species and requiring the installation and operation of emissions control equipment. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements and the issuance of orders enjoining future operations. Management believes that all of its operations are in substantial compliance with current federal, state and local environmental standards.
In the past, environmental regulation caused the Company to incur significant costs because the trend was to place more and more restrictions and limitations on the Company's activities. The Trump administration has delayed, reversed or proposed to repeal some of these regulations and generally has not sought to adopt new, more stringent regulations. Nonetheless, the Company continues to have obligations to take or complete action under previously adopted environmental rules, and the Company cannot assure that future events, such as changes in existing laws, the promulgation of new laws or regulations or the development or discovery of new facts or conditions will not cause it to incur significant costs for environmental matters.
It is estimated that OG&E's total expenditures to comply with environmental laws, regulations and requirements for 2018 will be $189.2 million, of which $170.0 million is for capital expenditures. It is estimated that OG&E's total expenditures to comply with environmental laws, regulations and requirements for 2019 will be approximately $51.8 million, of which $35.2 million is for capital expenditures. The amounts for OG&E above include capital expenditures for Dry Scrubbers and conversion of two coal-fueled units to natural gas. Management continues to evaluate its compliance with existing and proposed environmental legislation and regulations and implement appropriate environmental programs in a competitive market.
For a further discussion of environmental matters that may affect the Company, see "Environmental Laws and Regulations" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
FINANCE AND CONSTRUCTION
Future Capital Requirements
Capital Requirements
The Company's primary needs for capital are related to acquiring or constructing new facilities and replacing or expanding existing facilities at OG&E. Other working capital requirements are expected to be primarily related to maturing debt, operating lease obligations, fuel clause under and over recoveries and other general corporate purposes. The Company generally meets its cash needs through a combination of cash generated from operations, short-term borrowings (through a combination of bank borrowings and commercial paper) and permanent financings. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for a discussion of the Company's capital requirements.
Capital Expenditures
The Company's consolidated estimates of capital expenditures for the years 2018 through 2022 are shown in the following table. These capital expenditures represent the base maintenance capital expenditures (i.e., capital expenditures to maintain and operate the Company's businesses) plus capital expenditures for known and committed projects. Estimated capital expenditures for Enable are not included in the table below.
(A)
Future transmission capital expenditures include the following:
(B)
Represent capital costs associated with OG&E’s ECP to comply with the EPA’s Regional Haze Rule. More detailed discussion regarding the Regional Haze Rule and OG&E’s ECP can be found in Note 14 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" and in "Environmental Laws and Regulations" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
Additional capital expenditures beyond those identified in the table above, including additional incremental growth opportunities in electric transmission assets, will be evaluated based upon their impact upon achieving the Company's financial objectives.
Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans
The Company made a $20.0 million contribution to its Pension Plan in both 2017 and 2016. The Company has not determined whether it will need to make any contributions to the Pension Plan in 2018. See "Future Capital Requirements" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for further discussion of the Company's pension and postretirement benefit plans.
Common Stock Dividends
At the Company's September 2017 board meeting, the Board of Directors approved management's recommendation of a 10 percent increase in the quarterly dividend rate to $0.33250 per share from $0.30250 per share effective in October 2017. See "Future Capital Requirements" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for further discussion.
Financing Activities and Future Sources of Financing
Management expects that cash generated from operations, proceeds from the issuance of long and short-term debt, proceeds from the sales of common stock to the public through the Company's Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan or other offerings and distributions from Enable will be adequate over the next three years to meet anticipated cash needs and to fund future growth opportunities. The Company utilizes short-term borrowings (through a combination of bank borrowings and commercial paper) to satisfy temporary working capital needs and as an interim source of financing capital expenditures until permanent financing is arranged.
Short-Term Debt and Credit Facilities
Short-term borrowings generally are used to meet working capital requirements. The Company borrows on a short-term basis, as necessary, by the issuance of commercial paper and by borrowings under its revolving credit agreement. In March 2017, the Company and OG&E each entered into new $450.0 million unsecured revolving credit agreements which expire March 2022. These bank facilities can also be used as letter of credit facilities. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $168.4 million of short-term debt compared to $236.2 million at December 31, 2016. The average balance of short-term debt in 2017 was $175.7 million at a weighted-average interest rate of 1.30 percent. The maximum month-end balance of short-term debt in 2017 was $260.1 million. At December 31, 2017, the Company had $731.3 million of net available liquidity under its revolving credit agreements. OG&E has the necessary regulatory approvals to incur up to $800.0 million in short-term borrowings at any one time for a two-year period beginning January 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2017, the Company had $14.4 million in cash and cash equivalents. See Note 10 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further discussion.
Issuance of Long-Term Debt
In March 2017, OG&E issued $300.0 million of 4.15 percent senior notes due April 1, 2047. The proceeds from the issuance were used for general corporate purposes, including to repay short-term debt, to repay borrowings under the revolving credit facility, to fund the payment of OG&E's $125.0 million of 6.5 percent senior notes that matured on July 15, 2017 and to fund ongoing capital expenditures and working capital.
In August 2017, OG&E issued $300.0 million of 3.85 percent senior notes due August 15, 2047. The proceeds from the issuance were used for general corporate purposes, including to repay short-term debt, to repay borrowings under the revolving credit facility and to fund ongoing capital expenditures and working capital.
Common Stock
The Company does not expect to issue any common stock in 2018 from its Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. See Note 8 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for a discussion of the Company's common stock activity.
Distributions by Enable
Pursuant to the Enable Limited Partnership Agreement, Enable made distributions of $141.2 million, $141.2 million and $139.3 million during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
EMPLOYEES
The Company had 2,413 employees at December 31, 2017, of which 140 are seconded to Enable.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following persons were Executive Officers of the Registrant as of February 21, 2018:
(A) Mr. Forbes is resigning as Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, effective as of February 28, 2018. Ms. Stafford will succeed Mr. Forbes as Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, effective March 1, 2018. Ms. Stafford was not an Executive Officer as of February 21, 2018.
No family relationship exists between any of the Executive Officers of the Registrant. Messrs. Trauschke, Merrill, Forbes, Sultemeier, Walworth and Ms. Horn are also officers of OG&E. Each Executive Officer is to hold office until the Board of Directors meeting following the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders, currently scheduled for May 17, 2018.
Messrs. Trauschke and Merrill are members of the Board of Directors of Enable GP, LLC, the general partner of Enable.
The business experience of each of the Executive Officers of the Registrant for the past five years is as follows:
(A) Ms. Stafford was not an Executive Officer as of February 21, 2018.
ACCESS TO SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FILINGS
The Company's website address is www.oge.com. Through the Company's website under the heading "Investors," "Investor Relations," "SEC Filings," the Company makes available, free of charge, its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our Internet website and the information contained therein or connected thereto are not intended to be incorporated into this Form 10-K and should not be considered a part of this Form 10-K.
Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
In the discussion of risk factors set forth below, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms "we," "our" and "us" refer to the Company. In addition to the other information in this Form 10-K and other documents filed by us and/or our subsidiaries with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, the following factors should be carefully considered in evaluating OGE Energy and its subsidiaries. Such factors could affect actual results and cause results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of us or our subsidiaries. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently view as immaterial may also impair our business operations.
REGULATORY RISKS
OG&E's profitability depends to a large extent on the ability to fully recover its costs from its customers in a timely manner, and there may be changes in the regulatory environment that impair its ability to recover costs from its customers.
OG&E is subject to comprehensive regulation by several federal and state utility regulatory agencies, which significantly influences its operating environment and its ability to fully recover its costs from utility customers. Recoverability of any under recovered amounts from OG&E's customers due to a rise in fuel costs is a significant risk. The utility commissions in the states where OG&E operates regulate many aspects of its utility operations including siting and construction of facilities, customer service and the rates that OG&E can charge customers. The profitability of the utility operations is dependent on OG&E's ability to fully recover costs related to providing energy and utility services to its customers in a timely manner. Any failure to obtain utility commission approval to increase rates to fully recover costs, or a delay in the receipt of such approval, could have an adverse impact on OG&E's results of operations. In addition, OG&E's jurisdictions have fuel adjustment clauses that permit OG&E to recover fuel costs through rates without a general rate case, subject to a later determination that such fuel costs were prudently incurred. If the state regulatory commissions determine that the fuel costs were not prudently incurred, recovery could be disallowed.
In recent years, the regulatory environments in which OG&E operates have received an increased amount of attention. It is possible that there could be changes in the regulatory environment that would impair OG&E's ability to fully recover costs historically paid by OG&E's customers. State utility commissions generally possess broad powers to ensure that the needs of the utility customers are being met. OG&E cannot assure that the OCC, APSC and the FERC will grant rate increases in the future or in the amounts requested, and they could instead lower OG&E's rates.
OG&E is unable to predict the impact on its operating results from future regulatory activities of any of the agencies that regulate OG&E. Changes in regulations or the imposition of additional regulations could have an adverse impact on OG&E's results of operations.
OG&E's rates are subject to rate regulation by the states of Oklahoma and Arkansas, as well as by a federal agency, whose regulatory paradigms and goals may not be consistent.
OG&E is currently a vertically integrated electric utility. Most of its revenue results from the sale of electricity to retail customers subject to bundled rates that are approved by the applicable state utility commission.
OG&E operates in Oklahoma and western Arkansas and is subject to rate regulation by the OCC and the APSC, in addition to FERC regulation of its transmission activities and any wholesale sales. Exposure to inconsistent state and federal regulatory standards may limit our ability to operate profitably. Further alteration of the regulatory landscape in which we operate, including a change in our authorized return on equity, may harm our financial position and results of operations.
Costs of compliance with environmental laws and regulations are significant, and the cost of compliance with future environmental laws and regulations may adversely affect our results of operations, consolidated financial position or liquidity.
We are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental statutes, rules and regulations relating to air quality, water quality, waste management, wildlife conservation, natural resources and health and safety that could, among other things, restrict or limit the output of certain facilities or the use of certain fuels required for the production of electricity and/or require additional pollution control equipment and otherwise increase costs. There are significant capital, operating and other costs associated with compliance with these environmental statutes, rules and regulations and those costs may be even more significant in the future.
In response to recent regulatory and judicial decisions and international accords, emissions of greenhouse gases including, most significantly, CO2 could be restricted in the future as a result of federal or state legal requirements or litigation relating to
greenhouse gas emissions. No rules are currently in effect that require us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, but if such rules were to become effective, they could result in significant additional compliance costs that would affect our future consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows if such costs are not recovered through regulated rates.
There is inherent risk of the incurrence of environmental costs and liabilities in our operations and historical industry operations practices. These activities are subject to stringent and complex federal, state and local laws and regulations that can restrict or impact OG&E's business activities in many ways, such as restricting the way OG&E can handle or dispose of its wastes or requiring remedial action to mitigate pollution conditions that may be caused by its operations or that are attributable to former operators. OG&E may be unable to recover these costs from insurance or other regulatory mechanisms. Moreover, the possibility exists that stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies could significantly increase compliance costs and the cost of any remediation that may become necessary.
For further discussion of environmental matters that may affect the Company, see "Environmental Laws and Regulations" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
We may not be able to recover the costs of our substantial planned investment in capital improvements and additions.
OG&E's business plan calls for extensive investment in capital improvements and additions, including the installation of environmental upgrades and retrofits and modernizing existing infrastructure as well as other initiatives. Significant portions of OG&E's facilities were constructed many years ago. Older generation equipment, even if maintained in accordance with good engineering practices, may require significant capital expenditures to maintain efficiency, to comply with changing environmental requirements or to provide reliable operations. OG&E currently provides service at rates approved by one or more regulatory commissions. If these regulatory commissions do not approve adjustments to the rates OG&E charges, it would not be able to recover the costs associated with its planned extensive investment. This could adversely affect OG&E's financial position and results of operations. While OG&E may seek to limit the impact of any denied recovery by attempting to reduce the scope of its capital investment, there can be no assurance as to the effectiveness of any such mitigation efforts, particularly with respect to previously incurred costs and commitments.
As of December 31, 2017, OG&E had invested $401.3 million in the Dry Scrubbers and $348.4 million in the Mustang Modernization Plan.
The regional power market in which OG&E operates has changing transmission regulatory structures, which may affect the transmission assets and related revenues and expenses.
OG&E currently owns and operates transmission and generation facilities as part of a vertically integrated utility. OG&E is a member of the SPP regional transmission organization and has transferred operational authority (but not ownership) of OG&E's transmission facilities to the SPP. The SPP has implemented regional day ahead and real-time markets for energy and operating reserves, as well as associated transmission congestion rights. Collectively the three markets operate together under the global name, SPP Integrated Marketplace. OG&E represents owned and contracted generation assets and customer load in the SPP Integrated Marketplace for the sole benefit of its customers. OG&E has not participated in the SPP Integrated Marketplace for any speculative trading activities. OG&E records the SPP Integrated Marketplace transactions as sales or purchases with results reported as Operating Revenues or Cost of Sales in its Consolidated Financial Statements. OG&E's revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities may be adversely affected by changes in the organization, operation and regulation of the SPP Integrated Marketplace by the FERC or the SPP.
Increased competition resulting from restructuring efforts could have a significant financial impact on us and consequently decrease our revenue.
We have been and will continue to be affected by competitive changes to the utility and energy industries. Significant changes have occurred and additional changes have been proposed to the wholesale electric market. Although retail restructuring efforts in Oklahoma and Arkansas have been postponed for the time being, if such efforts were renewed, retail competition and the unbundling of regulated energy service could have a significant financial impact on us due to possible impairments of assets, a loss of retail customers, lower profit margins and/or increased costs of capital. Any such restructuring could have a significant impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. We cannot predict when we will be subject to changes in legislation or regulation, nor can we predict the impact of these changes on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Events that are beyond our control have increased the level of public and regulatory scrutiny of our industry. Governmental and market reactions to these events may have negative impacts on our business, consolidated financial position, results of operations, cash flows and access to capital.
As a result of accounting irregularities at public companies in general, and energy companies in particular, and investigations by governmental authorities into energy trading activities, public companies, including those in the regulated and unregulated utility business, have been under public and regulatory scrutiny and suspicion. The accounting irregularities have caused regulators and legislators to review current accounting practices, financial disclosures and relationships between companies and their independent auditors. The capital markets and rating agencies also have increased their level of scrutiny. We believe that we are complying with all applicable laws and accounting standards, but it is difficult or impossible to predict or control what effect these types of events may have on our business, consolidated financial position, cash flows or access to the capital markets. It is unclear what additional laws or regulations may develop, and we cannot predict the ultimate impact of any future changes in accounting regulations or practices in general with respect to public companies, the energy industry or our operations specifically. Any new accounting standards could affect the way we are required to record revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities and equity. These changes in accounting standards could lead to negative impacts on reported earnings or decreases in assets or increases in liabilities that could, in turn, affect our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
We are subject to substantial utility and energy regulation by governmental agencies. Compliance with current and future utility and energy regulatory requirements and procurement of necessary approvals, permits and certifications may result in significant costs to us.
We are subject to substantial regulation from federal, state and local regulatory agencies. We are required to comply with numerous laws and regulations and to obtain permits, approvals and certifications from the governmental agencies that regulate various aspects of our businesses, including customer rates, service regulations, retail service territories, sales of securities, asset acquisitions and sales, accounting policies and practices and the operation of generating facilities. We believe the necessary permits, approvals and certificates have been obtained for our existing operations and that our business is conducted in accordance with applicable laws; however, we are unable to predict the impact on our operating results from future regulatory activities of these agencies.
In compliance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the FERC approved the NERC as the national energy reliability organization. The NERC is responsible for the development and enforcement of mandatory reliability and cyber security standards for the wholesale electric power system. OG&E's plan is to comply with all applicable standards and to expediently correct a violation should it occur. One of OG&E's regulators, NERC, has comprehensive regulations and standards related to the reliability and security of our operating systems, and is continuously developing additional mandatory compliance requirements for the utility industry. The increasing development of NERC rules and standards will increase compliance costs and our exposure for potential violations of these standards.
OPERATIONAL RISKS
Our results of operations may be impacted by disruptions beyond our control.
We are exposed to risks related to performance of contractual obligations by our suppliers. We are dependent on coal and natural gas for much of our electric generating capacity. We rely on suppliers to deliver coal and natural gas in accordance with short and long-term contracts. We have certain supply contracts in place; however, there can be no assurance that the counterparties to these agreements will fulfill their obligations to supply coal and natural gas to us. The suppliers under these agreements may experience financial or technical problems that inhibit their ability to fulfill their obligations to us. In addition, the suppliers under these agreements may not be required to supply coal and natural gas to us under certain circumstances, such as in the event of a natural disaster. Deliveries may be subject to short-term interruptions or reductions due to various factors, including transportation problems, weather and availability of equipment. Failure or delay by our suppliers of coal and natural gas deliveries could disrupt our ability to deliver electricity and require us to incur additional expenses to meet the needs of our customers.
Also, because our generation and transmission systems are part of an interconnected regional grid, we face the risk of possible loss of business due to a disruption or black-out caused by an event such as a severe storm or generator or transmission facility outage on a neighboring system or the actions of a neighboring utility. Any such disruption could result in a significant decrease in revenues and significant additional costs to repair assets, which could have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
OG&E's electric generating facilities are subject to operational risks that could result in unscheduled plant outages, unanticipated operation and maintenance expenses and increased purchase power costs.
OG&E owns and operates coal-fired, natural gas-fired, wind-powered and solar-powered generating facilities. Operation of electric generating facilities involves risks that can adversely affect energy output and efficiency levels. Included among these risks are:
•
increased prices for fuel and fuel transportation as existing contracts expire;
•
facility shutdowns due to a breakdown or failure of equipment or processes or interruptions in fuel supply;
•
operator error or safety related stoppages;
•
disruptions in the delivery of electricity; and
•
catastrophic events such as fires, explosions, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes or other similar occurrences.
When unplanned maintenance work is required on power plants or other equipment, OG&E will not only incur unexpected maintenance expenses, but it may also have to make spot market purchases of replacement electricity that could exceed OG&E's costs of generation or be forced to retire a generation unit if the cost or timing of the maintenance is not reasonable and prudent. If OG&E is unable to recover any of these increased costs in rates, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance.
Changes in technology, regulatory policies and customer electricity consumption may cause our generating facilities to be less competitive and impact our results of operations.
OG&E primarily generates electricity at large central facilities. This method typically results in economies of scale and lower costs than newer technologies such as fuel cells, microturbines, windmills and photovoltaic solar cells. It is possible that advances in technologies or changes in regulatory policies will reduce costs of new technology to levels that are equal to or below that of most central station electricity production, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. OG&E's widespread use of Smart Grid technology allowing for two-way communications between the utility and its customers could enable the entry of technology companies into the interface between OG&E and its customers, resulting in unpredictable effects on our current business.
Reductions in customer electricity consumption, thereby reducing utility electric sales, could result from increased deployment of renewable energy technologies as well as increased efficiency of household appliances, among other general efficiency gains in technology. However, this potential reduction in load would not reduce our need for ongoing investments in our infrastructure to reliably serve our customers. Continued utility infrastructure investment without increased electricity sales could cause increased rates for customers, potentially resulting in further reductions in electricity sales and reduced profitability.
Economic conditions could negatively impact our business and our results of operations.
Our operations are affected by local, national and worldwide economic conditions. The consequences of a prolonged recession could include a lower level of economic activity and uncertainty regarding energy prices and the capital and commodity markets. A lower level of economic activity could result in a decline in energy consumption, which could adversely affect our revenues and future growth. Instability in the financial markets, as a result of recession or otherwise, also could affect the cost of capital and our ability to raise capital. Economic conditions may also impact the valuation of certain long-lived assets, including our investment in unconsolidated affiliates, that are subject to impairment testing, potentially resulting in impairment charges, which could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.
Current economic conditions may be exacerbated by insufficient financial sector liquidity leading to potential increased unemployment, which could impact the ability of our customers to pay timely, increase customer bankruptcies, and could lead to increased bad debt. If such circumstances occur, we expect that commercial and industrial customers would be impacted first, with residential customers following.
In addition, economic conditions, particularly budget shortfalls, could increase the pressure on federal, state and local governments to raise additional funds by increasing corporate tax rates and/or delaying, reducing or eliminating tax credits, grants or other incentives that could have a material adverse impact on our consolidated results of operations and cash flows.
We are subject to financial risks associated with climate change.
Climate change creates financial risk. Potential regulation associated with climate change legislation could pose financial risks to the Company. In addition, to the extent that any climate change adversely affects the national or regional economic health through physical impacts or increased rates caused by the inclusion of additional regulatory imposed costs, CO2 taxes or costs associated with additional regulatory requirements, the Company may be adversely impacted. A declining economy could adversely impact the overall financial health of the Company due to a lack of load growth and decreased sales opportunities. To the extent financial markets view climate change and emissions of greenhouse gases as a financial risk, this could negatively affect our ability to access capital markets or cause us to receive less than ideal terms and conditions.
We are subject to cybersecurity risks and increased reliance on processes automated by technology.
In the regular course of our businesses, we handle a range of sensitive security and customer information. We are subject to laws and rules issued by different agencies concerning safeguarding and maintaining the confidentiality of this information. A security breach of our information systems such as theft or inappropriate release of certain types of information, including confidential customer information or system operating information, could have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
OG&E operates in a highly regulated industry that requires the continued operation of sophisticated information technology systems and network infrastructure. Despite implementation of security measures, the technology systems are vulnerable to disability, failures or unauthorized access. Such failures or breaches of the systems could impact the reliability of OG&E's generation, transmission and distribution systems which may result in a loss of service to customers and also subject OG&E to financial harm due to the significant expense to repair security breaches or system damage. The implementation of OG&E's Smart Grid program further increases potential risks associated with cybersecurity attacks. Our generation and transmission systems are part of an interconnected system. Therefore, a disruption caused by the impact of a cybersecurity incident of the regional electric transmission grid, natural gas pipeline infrastructure or other fuel sources of our third party service providers’ operations, could also negatively impact our business. If the technology systems were to fail or be breached and not recovered in a timely manner, critical business functions could be impaired and sensitive confidential data could be compromised, which could have a material adverse impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Our security procedures, which include among others, virus protection software, cybersecurity and our business continuity planning, including disaster recovery policies and back-up systems, may not be adequate or implemented properly to fully address the adverse effect of cybersecurity attacks on our systems, which could adversely impact our operations.
We maintain property, casualty and cybersecurity insurance that may cover certain resultant physical damage or third-party injuries caused by potential cyber events. However, damage and claims arising from such incidents may exceed the amount of any insurance available and other damage and claims arising from such incidents may not be covered at all. For these reasons, a significant cyber incident could reduce future net income and cash flows and impact financial condition.
Terrorist attacks, and the threat of terrorist attacks, have resulted in increased costs to our business. Continued hostilities or sustained military campaigns may adversely impact our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
The long-term impact of terrorist attacks and the magnitude of the threat of future terrorist attacks on the electric utility and natural gas midstream industry in general, and on us in particular, cannot be known. Increased security measures taken by us as a precaution against possible terrorist attacks have resulted in increased costs to our business. Uncertainty surrounding continued hostilities or sustained military campaigns may affect our operations in unpredictable ways, including disruptions of supplies and markets for our products, and the possibility that our infrastructure facilities could be direct targets of, or indirect casualties of, an act of terror. Changes in the insurance markets attributable to terrorist attacks may make certain types of insurance more difficult for us to obtain. Moreover, the insurance that may be available to us may be significantly more expensive than existing insurance coverage.
Weather conditions such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, ice storms, wind storms, earthquakes and prolonged droughts, as well as seasonal temperature variations may adversely affect our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Weather conditions directly influence the demand for electric power. In OG&E's service area, demand for power peaks during the hot summer months, with market prices also typically peaking at that time. As a result, overall operating results may fluctuate on a seasonal and quarterly basis. In addition, we have historically sold less power, and consequently received less revenue, when weather conditions are milder. Unusually mild weather in the future could reduce our revenues, net income, available cash and borrowing ability. Severe weather, such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, ice storms, wind storms, earthquakes and prolonged droughts may cause outages and property damage which may require us to incur additional costs that are generally not insured and that may not be recoverable from customers. The effect of the failure of our facilities to operate as planned, as described above, would be particularly burdensome during a peak demand period. In addition, prolonged droughts could cause a lack of sufficient water for use in cooling during the electricity generating process. Additionally, if climate change exacerbates physical changes in weather, operations may be impacted as discussed above.
FINANCIAL RISKS
Market performance, increased retirements, changes in retirement plan regulations and increasing costs associated with our Pension Plan, health care plans and other employee-related benefits may adversely affect our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
We have a Pension Plan that covers a significant amount of our employees hired before December 1, 2009. We also have defined benefit postretirement plans that cover a significant amount of our employees hired prior to February 1, 2000. Assumptions related to future costs, returns on investments, interest rates and other actuarial assumptions with respect to the defined benefit retirement and postretirement plans have a significant impact on our results of operations and funding requirements. Based on our assumptions at December 31, 2017, we expect to make future contributions to maintain required funding levels. It has been our practice to also make voluntary contributions to maintain more prudent funding levels than minimally required. We may continue to make voluntary contributions in the future. These amounts are estimates and may change based on actual stock market performance, changes in interest rates and any changes in governmental regulations.
If the employees who participate in the Pension Plan retire when they become eligible for retirement over the next several years, or if our plan experiences adverse market returns on its investments, or if interest rates materially fall, our pension expense and contributions to the plans could rise substantially over historical levels. The timing and number of employees retiring and selecting the lump-sum payment option could result in pension settlement charges that could materially affect our results of operations if we are unable to recover these costs through our electric rates. In addition, assumptions related to future costs, returns on investments, interest rates and other actuarial assumptions, including projected retirements, have a significant impact on our consolidated financial position and results of operations. Those factors are outside of our control.
In addition to the costs of our Pension Plan, the costs of providing health care benefits to our employees and retirees have increased substantially in recent years. We believe that our employee benefit costs, including costs related to health care plans for our employees, will continue to rise. The increasing costs and funding requirements with our Pension Plan, health care plans and other employee benefits may adversely affect our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
Finally, the Company provides retirement benefits and retiree health care benefits to 140 employees seconded to Enable. If the seconding agreement was terminated, and those employees were no longer employed by the Company, and lump sum payments were made to those employees, the Company would recognize a settlement or curtailment of the pension/retiree health care charges, which would increase expense at the Company by approximately $14.6 million. Settlement and curtailment charges associated with the Enable seconded employees are not reimbursable to the Company by Enable. The seconding agreement can be terminated by mutual agreement of the Company and Enable or solely by the Company upon 120 day notice.
We face certain human resource risks associated with the availability of trained and qualified labor to meet our future staffing requirements.
Workforce demographic issues challenge employers nationwide and are of particular concern to the electric utility industry. The median age of utility workers is significantly higher than the national average. Over the next three years, 39 percent of our current employees will meet the eligibility requirements to retire. Failure to hire and adequately train replacement employees, including the transfer of significant internal historical knowledge and expertise to the new employees, may adversely affect our ability to manage and operate our business.
We are a holding company with our primary assets being investments in our subsidiary and equity investments.
We are a holding company and thus our investments in our subsidiary and unconsolidated affiliate, accounted for under the equity method, are our primary assets. Substantially all of our operations are conducted by our subsidiary and unconsolidated affiliate. Consequently, our operating cash flow and our ability to pay our dividends and service our indebtedness utilizes the operating cash flow of our subsidiary and unconsolidated affiliate and the payment of funds by them to us in the form of dividends or distributions. At December 31, 2017, the Company and its subsidiary had outstanding indebtedness and other liabilities of $6.6 billion. Our subsidiary and unconsolidated affiliate are separate legal entities that have no obligation to pay any amounts due on our indebtedness or to make any funds available for that purpose, whether by dividends or otherwise. In addition, their ability to pay dividends to us depends on any statutory and contractual restrictions that may be applicable to such subsidiary, which may include requirements to maintain minimum levels of working capital and other assets. Claims of creditors, including general creditors, of our subsidiary or unconsolidated affiliate on their respective assets will generally have priority over our claims (except to the extent that we may be a creditor of the subsidiaries and our claims are recognized) and claims by our shareholders.
In addition, as discussed above, OG&E is regulated by state utility commissions in Oklahoma and Arkansas as well as a federal regulatory agency which generally possess broad powers to ensure that the needs of the utility customers are being met. To the extent that the state commissions or federal regulatory agency attempt to impose restrictions on the ability of OG&E to pay dividends to us, it could adversely affect our ability to continue to pay dividends.
Certain provisions in our charter documents have anti-takeover effects.
Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as the Oklahoma corporation statute, may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company. Such provisions, including those regulating the nomination of directors, limiting who may call special stockholders' meetings and eliminating stockholder action by written consent, together with the possible issuance of preferred stock of the Company without stockholder approval, may make it more difficult for other persons, without the approval of our board of directors, to make a tender offer or otherwise acquire substantial amounts of our common stock or to launch other takeover attempts that a stockholder might consider to be in such stockholder's best interest.
We may be able to incur substantially more indebtedness, which may increase the risks created by our indebtedness.
The terms of the indentures governing our debt securities do not fully prohibit us or our subsidiaries from incurring additional indebtedness. If we are in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in our revolving credit agreements and the indentures governing our debt securities, we may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness. If we incur additional indebtedness, the related risks that we now face may intensify.
Any reductions in our credit ratings could increase our financing costs and the cost of maintaining certain contractual relationships or limit our ability to obtain financing on favorable terms.
We cannot assure you that any of our current credit ratings or the ratings of our subsidiaries will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency if, in its judgment, circumstances so warrant. Our ability to access the commercial paper market could be adversely impacted by a credit ratings downgrade or major market disruptions. Pricing grids associated with our credit facilities could cause annual fees and borrowing rates to increase if an adverse rating impact occurs. The impact of any future downgrade could include an increase in the costs of our short-term borrowings, but a reduction in our credit ratings would not result in any defaults or accelerations. Any future downgrade could also lead to higher long-term borrowing costs and, if below investment grade, would require us to post collateral or letters of credit.
Our debt levels may limit our flexibility in obtaining additional financing and in pursuing other business opportunities.
We have revolving credit agreements for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other corporate purposes. The levels of our debt could have important consequences, including the following:
•
the ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes may be impaired or the financing may not be available on favorable terms;
•
a portion of cash flows will be required to make interest payments on the debt, reducing the funds that would otherwise be available for operations and future business opportunities; and
•
our debt levels may limit our flexibility in responding to changing business and economic conditions.
We are exposed to the credit risk of our key customers and counterparties, and any material nonpayment or nonperformance by our key customers and counterparties could adversely affect our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
We are exposed to credit risks in our generation, retail distribution and pipeline operations. Credit risk includes the risk that counterparties who owe us money or energy will breach their obligations. If the counterparties to these arrangements fail to perform, we may be forced to enter into alternative arrangements. In that event, our financial results could be adversely affected and we could incur losses.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR INVESTMENT IN ENABLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS
The Company does not control Enable and therefore is not able to cause or prevent certain actions by Enable. The general partnership of Enable is equally controlled by the Company and CenterPoint.
Enable has its own governing board; therefore, the Company is not able to exercise control over Enable. Accordingly, the Company is unable to cause or prevent certain actions by Enable. Further, the Company cannot control the actions of the other general partner, CenterPoint. Our interests may not align with those of CenterPoint, and this lack of control could adversely impact our investment in Enable.
A portion of our earnings and operating cash flows are based on the performance of Enable. If any of the following risks were to occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
Our operating cash flow is derived partially from cash distributions we receive from Enable.
Our operating cash flow is derived partially from cash distributions we receive from Enable. The amount of cash Enable can distribute on its units principally depends upon the amount of cash generated from its operations, which will fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on, among other things:
•
the fees and gross margins it realizes with respect to the volume of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil that it handles;
•
the prices of, levels of production of, and demand for natural gas, NGLs and crude oil;
•
the volume of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil it gathers, compresses, treats, dehydrates, processes, fractionates, transports and stores;
•
the relationship among prices for natural gas, NGLs and crude oil;
•
cash calls and settlements of hedging positions;
•
margin requirements on open price risk management assets and liabilities;
•
the level of competition from other companies offering midstream services;
•
adverse effects of governmental and environmental regulation;
•
the level of its operation and maintenance expenses and general and administrative costs; and
•
prevailing economic conditions.
In addition, the actual amount of cash Enable will have available for distribution will depend on other factors, including:
•
the level and timing of capital expenditures it makes;
•
the cost of acquisitions;
•
its debt service requirements and other liabilities;
•
fluctuations in working capital needs;
•
its ability to borrow funds and access capital markets;
•
restrictions contained in its debt agreements;
•
the amount of cash reserves established by its general partner;
•
distributions paid on its Series A Preferred Units; and
•
other business risks affecting its cash levels.
Enable's contracts are subject to renewal risk.
As contracts with Enable's existing suppliers and customers expire, Enable negotiates extensions or renewals of those contracts or enter into new contracts with other suppliers and customers. Enable may be unable to extend or renew existing contracts or enter into new contracts on favorable commercial terms, if at all. Depending on prevailing market conditions at the time of an extension or renewal, gathering and processing customers with fee-based contracts may desire to enter into contracts under different fee arrangements, and gathering and processing customers with contracts that contain minimum volume
commitments may desire to enter into contracts without minimum volume commitments. Likewise, Enable's transportation and storage customers may choose not to extend or renew expiring contracts based on the economics of the related areas of production. To the extent Enable is unable to renew or replace its expiring contracts on terms that are favorable to Enable, if at all, or successfully manage its overall contract mix over time, its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us, could be adversely affected.
Enable depends on a small number of customers for a significant portion of its gathering and processing revenues and its transportation and storage revenues. The loss of, or reduction in volumes from, these customers could result in a decline in sales of its gathering and processing or transportation and storage services and adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to us.
For the year ended December 31, 2017, 57 percent of Enable's gathered natural gas volumes were attributable to the affiliates of Continental Resources, Inc., Vine Oil and Gas, GeoSouthern Energy Corporation, XTO Energy Inc. and Tapstone Corporation and 51 percent of its transportation and storage service revenues were attributable to affiliates of CenterPoint, Spire Inc., American Electric Power Co., the Company and Continental Resources, Inc. The loss of all or even a portion of the gathering and processing or transportation and storage services for any of these customers, the failure to extend or replace these contracts or the extension or replacement of these contracts on less favorable terms, as a result of competition or otherwise, could adversely affect Enable's financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
As further discussed in "Natural Gas Midstream Operations - Enable Midstream Partners" in "Item 1. Business," in 2017, Spire Inc. disclosed its plan to construct additional interstate pipeline serving the St. Louis, Missouri market, subject to receiving FERC approval. If Spire Inc. constructs this pipeline, Enable anticipates that Spire Inc.'s need for firm transportation and storage capacity on Enable's pipelines will decrease.
The businesses of Enable are dependent, in part, on the drilling and production decisions of others.
The businesses of Enable are dependent on the drilling and production of natural gas and crude oil. Enable has no control over the level of drilling activity in its areas of operation, or the amount of natural gas, NGL and crude oil reserves associated with wells connected to its systems. In addition, as the rate at which production from wells currently connected to its system naturally declines over time, its gross margin associated with those wells will also decline. To maintain or increase throughput levels on its gathering and transportation systems and the asset utilization rates at its natural gas processing plants, its customers must continually obtain new natural gas, NGL and crude oil supplies. The primary factors affecting its ability to obtain new supplies of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil and attract new customers to its assets are the level of successful drilling activity near its systems, its ability to compete for volumes from successful new wells and its ability to expand its capacity as needed. If Enable is not able to obtain new supplies of natural gas and crude oil to replace the natural decline in volumes from existing wells, throughput on its gathering, processing, transportation and storage facilities would decline, which could adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us. Enable has no control over producers or their drilling and production decisions, which are affected by, among other things:
•
the availability and cost of capital;
•
prevailing and projected commodity prices, including the prices of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil;
•
demand for natural gas, NGLs and crude oil;
•
levels of reserves;
•
geological considerations;
•
environmental or other governmental regulations, including the availability of drilling permits and the regulation of hydraulic fracturing; and
•
the availability of drilling rigs and other costs of production and equipment.
Fluctuations in energy prices can also greatly affect the development of new natural gas, NGL and crude oil reserves. Drilling and production activity generally decreases as commodity prices decrease. In general terms, the prices of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and other hydrocarbon products fluctuate in response to changes in supply and demand, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond its control. Because of these and other factors, even if new reserves are known to exist in areas served by Enable's assets, producers may choose not to develop those reserves. Declines in natural gas, NGL or crude oil prices can have a negative impact on exploration, development and production activity and, if sustained, could lead to decreases in such activity. Sustained low natural gas, NGL or crude oil prices could also lead producers to shut in production from their existing wells. Sustained reductions in exploration or production activity in its areas of operation could lead to further reductions in the utilization of its systems, which could adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders, including us.
In addition, it may be more difficult to maintain or increase the current volumes on its gathering systems and its processing plants, as several of the formations in the unconventional resource plays in which Enable operates generally have higher initial production rates and steeper production decline curves than wells in more conventional basins. Should Enable determine that the economics of its gathering assets do not justify the capital expenditures needed to grow or maintain volumes associated therewith, it may reduce such capital expenditures, which could cause revenues associated with these assets to decline over time.
Enable’s industry is highly competitive, and increased competitive pressure could adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
Enable competes with similar enterprises in its respective areas of operation. The principal elements of competition are rates, terms of service and flexibility and reliability of service. Competitors include large energy companies that have greater financial resources and access to supplies of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil other than Enable. Some of these competitors may expand or construct gathering, processing, transportation and storage systems that would create additional competition for the services Enable provides to its customers. Excess pipeline capacity in the regions served by Enable's interstate pipelines could also increase competition and adversely impact the ability to renew or enter into new contracts with respect to available capacity when existing contracts expire. In addition, customers that are significant producers of natural gas or crude oil may develop their own gathering, processing, transportation and storage systems in lieu of using Enable. Enable’s ability to renew or replace existing contracts with customers at rates sufficient to maintain current revenues and cash flows could be adversely affected by the activities of its competitors and customers. Further, natural gas utilized as a fuel competes with other forms of energy available to end-users, including electricity, coal and liquid fuels. Increased demand for such forms of energy at the expense of natural gas could lead to a reduction in demand for natural gas gathering, processing, transportation and storage services. All of these competitive pressures could adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
Enable derives a substantial portion of its gross margin from subsidiaries through which it holds a substantial portion of its assets.
Enable derives a substantial portion of its gross margin from, and holds a substantial portion of its assets through, its subsidiaries. As a result, it depends on distributions from its subsidiaries in order to meet its payment obligations. In general, these subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to provide Enable with funds for its payment obligations, whether by dividends, distributions, loans or otherwise. In addition, provisions of applicable law, such as those limiting the legal sources of dividends, limit its subsidiaries’ ability to make payments or other distributions, and its subsidiaries could agree to contractual restrictions on its ability to make distributions.
The right by Enable to receive any assets of any subsidiary, and therefore the right of its creditors to participate in those assets, will be effectively subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, including trade creditors. In addition, even if Enable were a creditor of any subsidiary, its rights as a creditor would be subordinated to any security interest in the assets of that subsidiary and any indebtedness of the subsidiary senior to that held by them.
The amount of cash Enable has available for distribution to its limited partners depends primarily on its cash flow rather than on its profitability, which may prevent Enable from making distributions, even during periods in which it records net income.
The amount of cash Enable has available for distribution depends primarily upon its cash flow rather than on profitability. Profitability is affected by non-cash items but cash flow is not. As a result, Enable may make cash distributions during periods when it records losses for financial accounting purposes and may not make cash distributions during periods when it records net earnings for financial accounting purposes.
Enable may not be able to recover the costs of its substantial planned investment in capital improvements and additions, and the actual cost of such improvements and additions may be significantly higher than it anticipates.
Enable's business plan calls for investments in capital improvements and additions. Capital expenditures could range from approximately $450 million to $600 million for the year ending December 31, 2018.
The construction of additions or modifications to Enable's existing systems, and the construction of new midstream assets, involves numerous regulatory, environmental, political and legal uncertainties, many of which are beyond its control and may require the expenditure of significant amounts of capital, which may exceed estimates. These projects may not be completed at the planned cost, on schedule or at all. The construction of new pipeline, gathering, treating, processing, compression or other facilities is subject to construction cost overruns due to labor costs, costs and availability of equipment and materials such as steel,
labor shortages or weather or other delays, inflation or other factors, which could be material. In addition, the construction of these facilities is typically subject to the receipt of approvals and permits from various regulatory agencies. Those agencies may not approve the projects in a timely manner, if at all, or may impose restrictions or conditions on the projects that could potentially prevent a project from proceeding, lengthen its expected completion schedule and/or increase its anticipated cost. Moreover, revenues and cash flows may not increase immediately upon the expenditure of funds on a particular project. For instance, if an existing pipeline is expanded or a new pipeline is constructed, the construction may occur over an extended period of time, and Enable may not receive any material increases in revenues or cash flows until the project is completed. In addition, Enable may construct facilities to capture anticipated future growth in production in a region in which such growth does not materialize. As a result, the new facilities may not be able to achieve an expected investment return, which could adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders, including us.
In connection with its capital investments, Enable may engage a third party to estimate potential reserves in areas to be developed prior to constructing facilities in those areas. To the extent Enable relies on estimates of future production in deciding to construct additions to its systems, those estimates may prove to be inaccurate either in volume or timing due to numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating future production. To the extent estimates of the volume of new production are inaccurate, new facilities may not be able to attract sufficient throughput to achieve expected investment return, which could adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us. To the extent estimates in the timing of new production are inaccurate, new facilities may be constructed in advance of the actual need for capacity or may not be constructed in time to accommodate volume flows, which could adversely affect Enable's financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us. In addition, the construction of additions to existing gathering and transportation assets may require new rights-of-way prior to construction. Those rights-of-way to connect new natural gas supplies to existing gathering lines may be unavailable, and it may not be able to capitalize on attractive expansion opportunities. Additionally, it may become more expensive to obtain new rights-of-way or to renew existing rights-of-way. If the cost of renewing or obtaining new rights-of-way increases, its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us, could be adversely affected.
Natural gas, NGL and crude oil prices are volatile, and changes in these prices could adversely affect Enable's financial position, results of operations and its ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
Enable's financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to us could be negatively affected by adverse changes in the prices of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil depending on factors that are beyond its control. These factors include demand for these commodities, which fluctuates with changes in market and economic conditions and other factors, including the impact of seasonality and weather, general economic conditions, the level of domestic and offshore natural gas production and consumption, the availability of imported natural gas, liquefied natural gas, NGLs and crude oil, actions taken by foreign natural gas and oil producing nations, the availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems, the availability and marketing of competitive fuels, the impact of energy conservation efforts, technological advances affecting energy consumption and the extent of governmental regulation and taxation.
Enable's natural gas processing arrangements exposes Enable to commodity price fluctuations. In 2017, seven percent, 35 percent and 58 percent of Enable's processing plant inlet volumes consisted of keep-whole arrangements, percent-of-proceeds or percent-of-liquids and fee-based, respectively. If the price at which Enable sells natural gas or NGLs is less than the cost at which it purchases natural gas or NGLs under these arrangements, then its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us, could be adversely affected.
At any given time, Enable's overall portfolio of processing contracts may reflect a net short position in natural gas (meaning that it is a net buyer of natural gas) and a net long position in NGLs (meaning that it is a net seller of NGLs). As a result, Enable's financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us, could be adversely affected to the extent the price of NGLs decreases in relation to the price of natural gas.
Enable's exposure to credit risks of its customers, and any material nonpayment or nonperformance by its customers could adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
Some of Enable's customers may experience financial problems that could have a significant effect on its customers' creditworthiness. Severe financial problems encountered by its customers could limit Enable's ability to collect amounts owed to it, or to enforce performance of obligations under contractual arrangements. In addition, many of Enable's customers finance their activities through cash flow from operations, the incurrence of debt or the issuance of equity. The combination of reduction of cash flow resulting from declines in commodity prices, a reduction in borrowing bases under reserve-based credit facilities and the lack of availability of debt or equity financing may result in a significant reduction of its customers’ liquidity and limit its customers' ability to make payments or perform on obligations to Enable. Furthermore, some of Enable's customers may be highly
leveraged and subject to their own operating and regulatory risks, which increases the risk that they may default on their obligations to Enable. Financial problems experienced by its customers could result in the impairment of its assets, reduction of its operating cash flows and may also reduce or curtail its customers' future use of its products and services, which could reduce revenues.
Enable provides certain transportation and storage services under fixed-price "negotiated rate" contracts that are not subject to adjustment, even if the cost to perform such services exceeds the revenues received from such contracts, and, as a result, costs could exceed revenues received under such contracts.
Enable has been authorized by the FERC to provide transportation and storage services at its facilities at negotiated rates.
As of December 31, 2017, approximately 44 percent of Enable's aggregate contracted firm transportation firm capacity on EGT and MRT and 44 percent of its aggregate contracted firm storage capacity on EGT and MRT was subscribed under such "negotiated rate" contracts. These contracts generally do not include provisions allowing for adjustment for increased costs due to inflation, pipeline safety activities or other factors that are not tied to an applicable tracking mechanism authorized by the FERC. Successful recovery of any shortfall of revenue, representing the difference between "recourse rates" (if higher) and negotiated rates, is not assured under current FERC policies. If Enable's costs increase and it is not able to recover any shortfall of revenue associated with its negotiated rate contracts, the cash flow realized by its systems could decrease and, therefore, the cash Enable has available for distribution to its unitholders, including us, could also decrease.
If third-party pipelines and other facilities interconnected to Enable's gathering, processing or transportation facilities become partially or fully unavailable to Enable for any reason, Enable's financial position, results of operations and its ability to make cash distributions to us could be adversely affected.
Enable depends upon third-party pipelines to deliver natural gas to, and take natural gas from, its natural gas transportation systems and upon third party pipelines to take crude oil from its crude oil gathering. It also depends on third-party facilities to transport and fractionate NGLs that are delivered to the third party at the tailgates of its processing plants. Fractionation is the separation of the heterogeneous mixture of extracted NGLs into individual components for end-use sale. For example, an outage or disruption on certain pipelines or fractionators operated by a third party could result in the shutdown of certain of its processing plants and gathering systems, and a prolonged outage or disruption could ultimately result in a reduction in the volume of NGLs it is able to produce. Additionally, Enable depends on third parties to provide electricity for compression at many of its facilities. Since it does not own or operate any of these third-party pipelines or other facilities, continuing operation of those facilities is not within its control. If any of these third-party pipelines or other facilities become partially or fully unavailable to Enable for any reason, its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to us could be adversely affected.
Enable does not own all of the land on which its pipelines and facilities are located, which could disrupt its operations.
Enable does not own all of the land on which its pipelines and facilities have been constructed, and it is therefore subject to the possibility of more onerous terms and/or increased costs to retain necessary land use if it does not have valid rights-of-way or if such rights-of-way lapse or terminate. Enable may obtain the rights to construct and operate its pipelines for a specific period of time on lands owned by governmental agencies, American Indian tribes or other third parties, including on American Indian allotments, title to which is held in trust by the U.S. A loss of these rights, through its inability to renew right-of-way contracts or otherwise, could cause a cease in operations temporarily or permanently on the affected land, increase costs related to the construction and continuing operations elsewhere, and adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
Enable conducts a portion of its operations through joint ventures, which subjects them to additional risks that could adversely affect the success of its operations and financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
Enable conducts a portion of its operations through joint ventures with third parties, including Spectra Energy Partners, LP, DCP Midstream Partners, LP, Trans Louisiana Gas Pipeline, Inc. and Pablo Gathering, LLC. It may also enter into other joint venture arrangements in the future. These third parties may have obligations that are important to the success of the joint venture, such as the obligation to pay their share of capital and other costs of the joint venture. The performance of these third-party obligations, including the ability of the third parties to satisfy their obligations under these arrangements, is outside the control of Enable. If these parties do not satisfy their obligations under these arrangements, Enable's business may be adversely affected.
The joint venture arrangements of Enable may involve risks not otherwise present when operating assets directly, including, for example:
•
joint venture partners may share certain approval rights over major decisions;
•
joint venture partners may not pay their share of the obligations, leaving Enable liable for the liabilities created as a result of those unpaid obligations;
•
possible inability to control the amount of cash it will receive from the joint venture;
•
it may incur liabilities as a result of an action taken by its joint venture partners;
•
it may be required to devote significant management time to the requirements of and matters relating to the joint ventures;
•
its insurance policies may not fully cover loss or damage incurred by both them and its joint venture partners in certain circumstances;
•
its joint venture partners may be in a position to take actions contrary to its instructions or requests or contrary to its policies or objectives; and
•
disputes between them and its joint venture partners may result in delays, litigation or operational impasses.
The risks described above or the failure to continue joint ventures or to resolve disagreements with joint venture partners could adversely affect Enable's ability to transact the business that is the subject of such joint venture, which would in turn adversely affect its financial position and results of operations ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us. The agreements under which certain joint ventures were formed may subject them to various risks, limit the actions it may take with respect to the assets subject to the joint venture and require them to grant rights to its joint venture partners that could limit its ability to benefit fully from future positive developments. Some joint ventures require Enable to make significant capital expenditures. If it does not timely meet its financial commitments or otherwise do not comply with its joint venture agreements, its rights to participate, exercise operator rights or otherwise influence or benefit from the joint venture may be adversely affected. Certain of its joint venture partners may have substantially greater financial resources than Enable has and it may not be able to secure the funding necessary to participate in operations its joint venture partners propose, thereby reducing its ability to benefit from the joint venture.
Under certain circumstances, Spectra Energy Partners, LP could have the right to purchase an ownership interest in SESH at fair market value.
Enable owns a 50 percent ownership interest in SESH. The remaining 50 percent ownership interests are held by Spectra Energy Partners, LP.
CenterPoint owns a 54.1 percent of Enable's common units, 100.0 percent of its Series A Preferred Units and a 40 percent economic interest in Enable GP, LLC. Pursuant to the terms of the limited liability company agreement of SESH, as amended (the SESH LLC Agreement), if, at any time, CenterPoint has a right to receive less than 50 percent of Enable's distributions through its interests in Enable and in the general partner, or does not have the ability to exercise certain control rights, Spectra Energy Partners, LP could have the right to purchase Enable's interest in SESH at fair market value, subject to certain exceptions.
An impairment of long-lived assets, including intangible assets, equity method investments or goodwill could reduce Enable's earnings.
Long-lived assets, including intangible assets with finite useful lives and property, plant and equipment, are evaluated for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment of long-lived assets is recognized if the carrying amount is not recoverable and exceeds fair value. For example, Enable recorded aggregate impairments for its Service Star business line of $38 million during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013, a $25 million impairment of its Atoka assets in its gathering and processing segment during the year ended December 31, 2015, and a $12 million impairment of jurisdictional pipelines in its transportation and storage segment during the year ended December 31, 2015.
Equity method investments are evaluated for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the investment might not be recoverable. An impairment of an equity method investment is recognized if the fair value of the investment as a whole, and not the underlying assets, has declined and the decline is other than temporary. An example of an investment that Enable accounts for under the equity method is its investment in SESH. If Enable enters into additional joint ventures, it could have additional equity method investments.
Goodwill is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis as well as when events or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit is below its carrying amount. An impairment of goodwill is recognized if the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value and the carrying amount of that reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds
the implied value of that goodwill. For example, Enable recorded impairments to goodwill of $1.087 billion during the year ended December 31, 2015. As a result, there was no goodwill recorded as of December 31, 2016 and 2015. As of December 31, 2017, Enable has goodwill of $12 million as a result of the acquisition of Align Midstream, LLC in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Enable could experience future events or circumstances that result in an impairment of long-lived assets, including intangible assets, equity method investments, or goodwill. If Enable recognizes an impairment, it would take an immediate non-cash charge to earnings with a correlative effect on equity and balance sheet leverage as measured by debt to total capitalization. As a result, an impairment could have an adverse effect on Enable's results of operations and its ability to satisfy the financial ratios or other covenants under its existing or future debt agreements.
Enable's business involves many hazards and operational risks, some of which may not be fully covered by insurance. Insufficient insurance coverage and increased insurance costs could adversely affect its financial position, results of operations or ability to make cash distributions to us.
Enable's operations are subject to all of the risks and hazards inherent in the gathering, processing, transportation and storage of natural gas and crude oil, including:
•
damage to pipelines and plants, related equipment and surrounding properties caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, earthquakes and other natural disasters, acts of terrorism and actions by third parties;
•
inadvertent damage from construction, vehicles, farm and utility equipment;
•
leaks of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and other hydrocarbons or losses of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil as a result of the malfunction of equipment or facilities;
•
ruptures, fires and explosions; and
•
other hazards that could also result in personal injury and loss of life, pollution and suspension of operations.
These risks could result in substantial losses due to personal injury or loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property, plant and equipment and pollution or other environmental damage. These risks may also result in curtailment or suspension of its operations. A natural disaster or other hazard affecting the areas in which it operates could adversely affect Enable's results of operations. Enable is not fully insured against all risks inherent in its business. Enable currently has general liability and property insurance in place to cover certain of its facilities in amounts that it considers appropriate. Such policies are subject to certain limits and deductibles. It does not have business interruption insurance coverage for all of its operations. Insurance coverage may not be available in the future at current costs or on commercially reasonable terms, and the insurance proceeds received for any loss of, or any damage to, any of its facilities may not be sufficient to restore the loss or damage without negative impact on its results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders, including us.
The use of derivative contracts by Enable and its subsidiaries in the normal course of business could result in financial losses that could adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and its ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
Enable and its subsidiaries periodically use derivative instruments, such as swaps, options, futures and forwards, to manage its commodity and financial market risks. Enable and its subsidiaries could recognize financial losses as a result of volatility in the market values of these contracts, or should a counterparty fail to perform. In the absence of actively quoted market prices and pricing information from external sources, the valuation of these financial instruments can involve management’s judgment or use of estimates. As a result, changes in the underlying assumptions or use of alternative valuation methods could affect the reported fair value of these contracts.
Failure to attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce could adversely impact Enable's results of operations.
Enable's business is dependent on its ability to recruit, retain and motivate employees. Certain circumstances, such as an aging workforce without appropriate replacements, a mismatch of existing skill sets to future needs, competition for skilled labor or the unavailability of contract resources may lead to operating challenges such as a lack of resources, loss of knowledge or a lengthy time period associated with skill development. Enable's costs, including costs for contractors to replace employees, productivity costs and safety costs, may rise. Failure to hire and adequately train replacement employees, including the transfer of significant internal historical knowledge and expertise to the new employees, or the future availability and cost of contract labor may adversely affect Enable's ability to manage and operate its business. If Enable is unable to successfully attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce, its results of operations could be negatively affected.
Enable has 140 employees who are participants under OGE Energy Corp.’s defined benefit and retiree medical plans, who are seconded to the Partnership, subject to certain termination rights of the Partnership and OGE Energy Corp. If seconding is terminated, employees of OGE Energy Corp. that Enable determines to hire are under no obligation to accept Enable's offer of employment on the terms Enable provides, or at all.
Enable’s ability to grow is dependent on its ability to access external financing sources.
Enable expects its operating subsidiaries will distribute all of their available cash to Enable and that it will distribute all of its available cash to its unitholders. As a result, Enable expects that it and its operating subsidiaries will rely primarily upon external financing sources, including commercial bank borrowings and the issuance of debt and equity securities, to fund acquisitions and expansion capital expenditures. As a result, to the extent Enable or its operating subsidiaries are unable to finance growth externally, its operating subsidiaries' cash distribution policy will significantly impair its operating subsidiaries' ability to grow. In addition, because it and its operating subsidiaries distribute all available cash, its operating subsidiaries' growth may not be as fast as businesses that reinvest their available cash to expand ongoing operations.
To the extent Enable issues additional units in connection with any acquisitions or expansion capital expenditures, the payment of distributions on those additional units may increase the risk it will be unable to maintain or increase its per unit distribution level, which in turn may impact the available cash that Enable has to distribute on each unit. There are no limitations in the partnership agreement on its ability to issue additional units, including units ranking senior to the common units. The incurrence of additional commercial borrowings or other debt by Enable or its operating subsidiaries to finance its growth strategy would result in increased interest expense, which in turn may negatively impact the available cash that its operating subsidiaries have to distribute to it, and thus that it has to distribute to its unitholders, including us.
Enable depends on access to the capital markets to fund its expansion capital expenditures. Historically, unit prices of midstream master limited partnerships have experienced periods of volatility. In addition, because Enable's common units are yield-based securities, rising market interest rates could impact the relative attractiveness of its common units to investors. As a result of capital market volatility, Enable may be unable to issue equity or debt on satisfactory terms, or at all, which may limit its ability to expand its operations or make future acquisitions.
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. has publicly disclosed that it is evaluating strategic alternatives for its investment in Enable. CenterPoint Energy, Inc. has disclosed that the alternatives may include a sale of all or a portion of the interests that it owns in Enable and the general partner of Enable, that if the sale option is not viable, it intends to reduce its ownership in Enable over time through a sale of the common units it holds in the public equity markets subject to market conditions, and that there can be no assurances that these evaluations will result in any specific action. CenterPoint Energy Inc.'s disclosure, as well as any sales by CenterPoint of the common units it holds in the public equity markets, could have an adverse impact on the market for Enable common units, including Enable's ability to issue equity on favorable terms to fund Enable's capital needs or at all.
Enable's merger and acquisition activities may not be successful or may result in completed acquisitions that do not perform as anticipated, which could adversely affect its financial position, results of operations or future growth.
From time to time, Enable has made, and it intends to continue to make, acquisitions of businesses and assets. Such acquisitions involve substantial risks, including the following:
•
acquired businesses or assets may not produce revenues, earnings or cash flow at anticipated levels;
•
acquired businesses or assets could have environmental, permitting or other problems for which contractual protections prove inadequate;
•
it may assume liabilities that were not disclosed to it, that exceed its estimates, or for which its rights to indemnification from the seller are limited;
•
it may be unable to integrate acquired businesses successfully and realize anticipated economic, operational and other benefits in a timely manner, which could result in substantial costs and delays or other operational, technical or financial problems; and
•
acquisitions, or the pursuit of acquisitions, could disrupt its ongoing businesses, distract management, divert resources and make it difficult to maintain its current business standards, controls and procedures.
In addition, Enable's growth strategy includes, in part, the ability to make acquisitions on economically acceptable terms. If Enable is unable to make acquisitions or if its acquisitions do not perform as anticipated, Enable's future growth may be adversely affected.
Enable and its operating subsidiaries’ debt levels may limit its flexibility in obtaining additional financing and in pursuing other business opportunities.
As of December 31, 2017, Enable had approximately $2.6 billion of long-term debt outstanding, excluding the premiums on senior notes. In addition, as of December 31, 2017, Enable had $405.0 million outstanding under its commercial paper program and $450.0 million outstanding under its 2015 term loan agreement. Enable also has a $1.75 billion revolving credit facility for working capital, capital expenditures and other partnership purposes, including acquisitions, of which $1.3 billion was available as of February 1, 2018. Enable has the ability to incur additional debt, subject to limitations in its credit facilities. The levels of debt could have important consequences, including the following:
•
the ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes may be impaired or the financing may not be available on favorable terms, if at all;
•
a portion of cash flows will be required to make interest payments on the debt, reducing the funds that would otherwise be available for operations, future business opportunities and distributions;
•
the debt level will make Enable more vulnerable to competitive pressures or a downturn in the business or the economy generally; and
•
the debt level may limit flexibility in responding to changing business and economic conditions.
Enable’s and its operating subsidiaries’ ability to service its debt will depend upon, among other things, its future financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions, commodity prices and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, some of which are beyond its control. If operating results are not sufficient to service its operating subsidiaries' current or future indebtedness, it and its subsidiaries may be forced to take actions such as reducing distributions, reducing or delaying business activities, acquisitions, investments or capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing debt, or seeking additional equity capital. These actions may not be effected on satisfactory terms, or at all.
Enable’s credit facilities contain operating and financial restrictions, including covenants and restrictions that may be affected by events beyond its control, which could adversely affect its financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders, including us.
Enable's credit facilities contain customary covenants that, among other things, limit the ability to:
•
permit its subsidiaries to incur or guarantee additional debt;
•
incur or permit to exist certain liens on assets;
•
dispose of assets;
•
merge or consolidate with another company or engage in a change of control;
•
enter into transactions with affiliates on non-arm’s length terms; and
•
change the nature of its business.
Enable’s credit facilities also require it to maintain certain financial ratios. Its ability to meet those financial ratios can be affected by events beyond its control, and assurance it will meet those ratios cannot be guaranteed. In addition, its credit facilities contain events of default customary for agreements of this nature.
Enable's ability to comply with the covenants and restrictions contained in its credit facilities may be affected by events beyond its control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. If market or other economic conditions deteriorate, its ability to comply with these covenants may be impaired. If any of the restrictions, covenants, ratios or tests in its credit facilities is violated, a significant portion of its indebtedness may become immediately due and payable. In addition, its lenders’ commitments to make further loans to Enable under the revolving credit facility may be suspended or terminated. Enable might not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments.
Affiliates of Enable's general partner, including CenterPoint and the Company, may compete with Enable, and neither the general partner nor its affiliates have any obligation to present business opportunities to Enable.
Under Enable's omnibus agreement, both CenterPoint and the Company are prohibited from, directly or indirectly, owning, operating, acquiring or investing in any business engaged in midstream operations located within the U.S., other than through Enable. This requirement applies to both CenterPoint and the Company for so long as either CenterPoint or the Company holds any interest in Enable's general partner or at least 20 percent of its common units. However, if CenterPoint or the Company acquires any business with midstream operations assets that have a value in excess of $50.0 million (or $100.0 million in the aggregate with such party’s other acquired midstream operations assets that have not been offered to Enable), the acquiring party
will be required to offer to Enable such assets for such value. If Enable does not purchase such assets, the acquiring party will be free to retain and operate such midstream assets, so long as the value of the assets does not reach certain thresholds.
As a result, under the circumstances described above, CenterPoint and the Company have the ability to construct or acquire assets that directly compete with Enable's assets. Pursuant to the terms of Enable's partnership agreement, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, does not apply to Enable's general partner or any of its affiliates, including its executive officers and directors and CenterPoint and the Company. Any such person or entity that becomes aware of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for Enable will not have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to Enable. Any such person or entity will not be liable to Enable or to any limited partner for breach of any fiduciary duty or other duty by reason of the fact that such person or entity pursues or acquires such opportunity for itself, directs such opportunity to another person or entity or does not communicate such opportunity or information to Enable. This may create actual and potential conflicts of interest between Enable and affiliates of its general partner and result in less than favorable treatment of Enable and its common unitholders.
If Enable fails to maintain an effective system of internal controls, then it may not be able to accurately report financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, current and potential unitholders could lose confidence in its financial reporting, which would harm Enable's business and the trading price of its common units.
Effective internal controls are necessary for Enable to provide reliable financial reports, prevent fraud and operate successfully as a public company. If its efforts to maintain an effective system of internal controls are not successful, it will be unable to maintain adequate controls over its financial processes and reporting in the future and its operating results could be harmed or fail to meet its reporting obligations. Ineffective internal controls also could cause investors to lose confidence in its reported financial information, which would likely have a negative effect on the trading price of Enable's common units.
Cybersecurity attacks or other disruptions of Enable's systems, networks and technology could adversely impact Enable's financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
Enable has become increasingly dependent on the systems, networks and technology that it uses to conduct almost all aspects of its business, including the operation of its gathering, processing, transportation and storage assets, the recording of commercial transactions and the reporting of financial information. Enable depends on both its own systems, networks and technology as well as the systems, networks and technology of its vendors, customers and other business partners. Any disruption of these systems, networks and technology could disrupt the operation of Enable's business. Disruptions can result from a variety of causes, including natural disasters, the failure of software or equipment and manmade events, such as cybersecurity attacks or information security breaches. Cybersecurity attacks and information security breaches could result in the unauthorized use of confidential, proprietary or other information and in the disruption of Enable's critical business functions and operations, adversely affecting its reputation and subjecting it to possible legal claims and liability. In addition, Enable is not fully insured against all cybersecurity risks.
Terrorist attacks or other physical security threats could adversely affect Enable's business.
Enable's gathering, processing, transportation and storage assets may be targets of terrorist activities or other physical security threats that could disrupt its ability to conduct its business. It is possible that any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could adversely affect Enable's financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us. In addition, any physical damage to Enable's assets resulting from acts of terrorism may not be fully covered by Enable's insurance.
Enable may be unable to obtain or renew permits necessary for its operations, which could inhibit its ability to do business.
Performance of its operations require it obtain and maintain a number of federal and state permits, licenses and approvals with terms and conditions containing a significant number of prescriptive limits and performance standards in order to operate. All of these permits, licenses, approval limits and standards require a significant amount of monitoring, record keeping and reporting in order to demonstrate compliance with the underlying permit, license, approval limit or standard. Noncompliance or incomplete documentation of Enable's compliance status may result in the imposition of fines, penalties and injunctive relief. A decision by a government agency to deny or delay the issuance of a new or existing material permit or other approval, or to revoke or substantially modify an existing permit or other approval, could adversely affect its ability to initiate or continue operations at the affected location or facility and on its financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
Additionally, in order to obtain permits and renewals of permits and other approvals in the future, Enable may be required to prepare and present data to governmental authorities pertaining to the potential adverse impact that any proposed pipeline or processing-related activities may have on the environment, individually or in the aggregate, including on public and Indian lands. Certain approval procedures may require preparation of archaeological surveys, endangered species studies and other studies to assess the environmental impact of new sites or the expansion of existing sites. Compliance with these regulatory requirements is expensive and significantly lengthens the time required to prepare applications and to receive authorizations.
Costs of compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations are significant, and the cost of compliance with future environmental laws and regulations may adversely affect Enable's financial position, results of operations and its ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
Enable is subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental statutes, rules and regulations relating to air quality, water quality, waste management, wildlife conservation, natural resources and health and safety that could, among other things, delay or increase costs of construction, restrict or limit the output of certain facilities and/or require additional pollution control equipment and otherwise increase costs. For instance, in May 2016, the EPA issued final standards governing methane emissions imposing more stringent controls on methane and volatile organic compounds emissions at new and modified oil and natural gas production, processing, storage and transmission facilities. These rules have required changes to Enable's operations, including the installation of new equipment to control emissions. Additionally, several states are pursuing similar measures to regulate emissions of methane from new and existing sources. There are significant capital, operating and other costs associated with compliance with these environmental statutes, rules and regulations. Future federal and state regulations relating to Enable's gathering and processing, transmission and storage operations remain a possibility and could result in increased compliance costs on Enable's operations. Furthermore, if new or more stringent federal, state or local legal restrictions are adopted in areas where Enable's oil and natural gas exploration and production customers operate, they could incur potentially significant added costs to comply with such requirements, experience delays or curtailment in the pursuit of exploration, development, or production activities, and perhaps even be precluded from drilling wells, some or all of which could adversely affect demand for Enable's services to those customers.
There is inherent risk of the incurrence of environmental costs and liabilities in Enable's operations due to the handling of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and produced water as well as air emissions related to its operations and historical industry operations and waste disposal practices. These matters are subject to stringent and complex federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental protection, including the discharge of materials into the environment and the protection of plants, wildlife, and natural and cultural resources. These laws and regulations can restrict or impact business activities in many ways, such as restricting the handling or disposing of wastes or requiring remedial action to mitigate pollution conditions that may be caused by its operations or that are attributable to former operators. Joint and several strict liability may be incurred, without regard to fault, under certain of these environmental laws and regulations in connection with discharges or releases of wastes on, under or from its properties and facilities, many of which have been used for midstream activities for a number of years, oftentimes by third parties not under its control. Private parties, including the owners of the properties through which its gathering and transportation systems pass and facilities where its wastes are taken for reclamation or disposal, may also have the right to pursue legal actions to enforce compliance, as well as to seek damages for non- compliance, with environmental laws and regulations or for personal injury or property damage. For example, an accidental release from one of its pipelines could subject them to substantial liabilities arising from environmental cleanup and restoration costs, claims made by neighboring landowners and other third parties for personal injury and property damage and fines or penalties for related violations of environmental laws or regulations. Enable may be unable to recover these costs from insurance. Moreover, the possibility exists that stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies could significantly increase compliance costs and the cost of any remediation that may become necessary. Further, stricter requirements could negatively impact its customers’ production and operations, resulting in less demand for its services.
Increased regulation of hydraulic fracturing and waste water injection wells could result in reductions or delays in natural gas production by Enable's customers, which could adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders, including us.
Hydraulic fracturing is a common practice that is used by many of Enable's customers to stimulate production of natural gas and crude oil from dense subsurface rock formations. The hydraulic fracturing process involves the injection of water, sand, and chemicals under pressure into targeted subsurface formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production. Hydraulic fracturing typically is regulated by state oil and natural gas commissions. In addition, certain federal agencies have proposed additional laws and regulations to more closely regulate the hydraulic fracturing process. In past sessions, Congress has considered, but not passed, legislation to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing under the Safe Drinking Water Act and to require disclosure of the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process. The EPA has issued Safe Drinking Water Act permitting guidance for hydraulic fracturing operations involving the use of diesel fuel in fracturing fluids in those states where the EPA is the permitting authority.
Some states have adopted, and other states have considered adopting, legal requirements that could impose more stringent permitting, public disclosure or well construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing activities. Local government also may seek to adopt ordinances within their jurisdictions regulating the time, place and manner of drilling activities in general or hydraulic fracturing activities in particular, in some cases banning hydraulic fracturing entirely. If new or more stringent federal, state or local legal restrictions relating to the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted in areas where Enable's oil and natural gas exploration and production customers operate, they could incur potentially significant added costs to comply with such requirements, experience delays or curtailment in the pursuit of exploration, development, or production activities, and perhaps even be precluded from drilling wells, some or all of which activities could adversely affect demand for Enable's services to those customers.
State and federal regulatory agencies recently have focused on a possible connection between the operation of injection wells used for oil and gas waste disposal and seismic activity. Similar concerns have been raised that hydraulic fracturing may also contribute to seismic activity. When caused by human activity, such events are called induced seismicity. In March 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey identified six states with the most significant hazards from induced seismicity, including Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Arkansas. In March 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey produced an updated seismic hazard survey that forecasted lower earthquake rates in regions of induced activity but still showed significantly elevated hazards in the central and eastern U.S. In light of these concerns, some state regulatory agencies have modified their regulations or issued orders to address induced seismicity. For example, the OCC has implemented volume reduction plans, and at times required shut-ins, for disposal wells injecting wastewater from oil and gas operations into the Arbuckle formation. In December 2016, the OCC also released well completion seismicity guidelines for operators in the South Central Oklahoma Oil Province and the Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin Canadian and Kingfisher Counties that call for hydraulic fracturing operations to be suspended following earthquakes of certain magnitudes in the vicinity. Certain environmental and other groups have also suggested that additional federal, state and local laws and regulations may be needed to more closely regulate the hydraulic fracturing process. Enable cannot predict whether additional federal, state or local laws or regulations applicable to hydraulic fracturing will be enacted in the future and, if so, what actions any such laws or regulations would require or prohibit. Increased regulation and attention given to induced seismicity could lead to greater opposition to, and litigation concerning, oil and gas activities utilizing hydraulic fracturing or injection wells for waste disposal. Additional legislation or regulation could also lead to operational delays or increased operating costs for Enable's customers, which in turn could reduce the demand for Enable's services.
Other governmental agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy, have evaluated or are evaluating various other aspects of hydraulic fracturing. These ongoing or proposed studies, depending on their degree of pursuit and any meaningful results obtained, could spur initiatives to further regulate hydraulic fracturing under the Safe Drinking Water Act or other regulatory mechanisms.
Enable may incur substantial liabilities to comply with climate change legislation and regulatory initiatives.
Because Enable's operations emit various types of greenhouse gases, legislation and regulations governing greenhouse gas emissions could increase its costs related to operating and maintaining its facilities, and could delay future permitting. At the federal level, the EPA has adopted regulations under existing provisions of the federal Clean Air Act that, among other things, require the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from specified onshore and offshore oil and natural gas production sources in the U.S. on an annual basis, which include certain of Enable's operations. Additional rules, such as the updates to the oil and gas new source performance standard requirements finalized by the EPA in May 2016, could affect Enable's ability to obtain air permits for new or modified facilities or require its operations to incur additional expenses to control air emissions by installing emissions control technologies and adhering to a variety of work practice and other requirements. These requirements could increase the costs of development and production, reducing the profits available to Enable and potentially impair its operator’s ability to economically develop its properties.
In addition, the U.S. Congress has in the past and may in the future consider legislation to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and there has been a wide-ranging policy debate, both nationally and internationally, regarding the impact of these gases and possible means for their regulation. Efforts have been made and continue to be made in the international community toward the adoption of international treaties or protocols that would address global climate change issues. From time to time, the U.S. Congress has considered adopting legislation to limit greenhouse gases emissions. A number of state and regional efforts have also emerged that are aimed at tracking and/or reducing greenhouse gas emissions by means of cap and trade programs. These programs typically require major sources of greenhouse gas emissions to acquire and surrender emission allowances in return for emitting those greenhouse gas emissions. Any such future laws and regulations imposing reporting obligations on, or limiting emissions of greenhouse gases could require Enable to incur costs to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Substantial limitations on greenhouse gas emissions could also adversely affect demand for oil and natural gas. Depending on the particular program, Enable could in the future be required to purchase and surrender emission allowances or otherwise undertake measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Any additional costs or operating restrictions associated with new legislation or regulations regarding
greenhouse gas emissions could adversely affect the demand for Enable's service and its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
Increased regulatory-imposed costs may increase the cost of consuming, and thereby reduce demand for, the products that Enable gathers, treats and transports. To the extent financial markets view climate change and emissions of greenhouse gases as a financial risk, this view could negatively affect its ability to access capital markets or cause them to receive less favorable terms and conditions. Consequently, legislation and regulatory initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gases could have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders, including us.
Finally, some scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, floods and other climatic events; if any such effects were to occur, they could adversely affect Enable's results of operations.
Enable's operations are subject to extensive regulation by federal regulatory authorities. Changes or additional regulatory measures adopted by such authorities could adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders, including us.
The rates charged by several of Enable's pipeline systems, including interstate gas transportation service provided by its intrastate pipelines, are regulated by the FERC. The FERC and state regulatory agencies also regulate other terms and conditions of the services it may offer. If one of these regulatory agencies, on its own initiative or due to challenges by third parties, were to lower its tariff rates or deny any rate increase or other material changes to the types or terms and conditions of service it might propose or offer, the profitability of its pipeline businesses could suffer. If it were permitted to raise its tariff rates for a particular pipeline, there might be significant delay between the time the tariff rate increase is approved and the time that the rate increase actually goes into effect, which could also limit profitability. Furthermore, competition from other pipeline systems may prevent them from raising its tariff rates even if permitted by regulatory agencies. The regulatory agencies that regulate its systems periodically implement new rules, regulations and terms and conditions of services subject to its jurisdiction. New initiatives or orders may adversely affect the rates charged for services or otherwise adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders, including us.
Enable's natural gas interstate pipelines are regulated by the FERC under the Natural Gas Act of 1938, the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Generally, the FERC’s authority over interstate natural gas transportation extends to:
•
rates, operating terms, conditions of service and service contracts;
•
certification and construction of new facilities;
•
extension or abandonment of services and facilities or expansion of existing facilities;
•
maintenance of accounts and records;
•
acquisition and disposition of facilities;
•
initiation and discontinuation of services;
•
depreciation and amortization policies;
•
conduct and relationship with certain affiliates;
•
market manipulation in connection with interstate sales, purchases or natural gas transportation; and
•
various other matters.
Should Enable fail to comply with all applicable FERC-administered statutes, rules, regulations and orders, it could be subject to substantial penalties and fines. Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the FERC has civil penalty authority under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to impose penalties for current violations of up to $1 million per day for each violation and possible criminal penalties of up to approximately $1.2 million per violation.
The FERC’s jurisdiction extends to the certification and construction of interstate transportation and storage facilities, including, but not limited to expansions, lateral and other facilities and abandonment of facilities and services. Prior to commencing construction of significant new interstate transportation and storage facilities, an interstate pipeline must obtain a certificate authorizing the construction, or an order amending its existing certificate, from the FERC. Certain minor expansions are authorized by blanket certificates that the FERC has issued by rule. Typically, a significant expansion project requires review by a number of governmental agencies, including state and local agencies, whose cooperation is important in completing the regulatory process on schedule. Any failure by an agency to issue sufficient authorizations or permits in a timely manner for one or more of these projects may mean that Enable will not be able to pursue these projects or that they will be constructed in a manner or with capital requirements that Enable did not anticipate. Enable's inability to obtain sufficient permits and authorizations in a timely manner could materially and negatively impact the additional revenues expected from these projects.
The FERC conducts audits to verify compliance with the FERC’s regulations and the terms of its orders, including whether the websites of interstate pipelines accurately provide information on the operations and availability of services. The FERC’s regulations require uniform terms and conditions for service, as set forth in agreements for transportation and storage services executed between interstate pipelines and their customers. These service agreements are required to conform, in all material respects, with the standard form of service agreements set forth in the pipeline’s FERC-approved tariff. Non-conforming agreements must be filed with, and accepted by, the FERC. In the event that the FERC finds that an agreement, in whole or part, is materially non-conforming, it could reject the agreement or require Enable to seek modification, or alternatively require Enable to modify its tariff so that the non-conforming provisions are generally available to all customers.
The rates, terms and conditions for transporting natural gas in interstate commerce on certain of Enable's intrastate pipelines and for services offered at certain of Enable's storage facilities are subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC under Section 311 of the Natural Gas Policy Act. Rates to provide such interstate transportation service must be "fair and equitable" under the Natural Gas Policy Act and are subject to review, refund with interest if found not to be fair and equitable, and approval by the FERC at least once every five years.
Enable's crude oil gathering pipelines are subject to common carrier regulation by the FERC under the Interstate Commerce Act. The Interstate Commerce Act requires that Enable maintain tariffs on file with the FERC setting forth the rates Enable charges for providing transportation services, as well as the rules and regulations governing such services. The Interstate Commerce Act requires, among other things, that Enable's rates must be "just and reasonable" and that Enable provide service in a manner that is nondiscriminatory. Shippers on Enable's crude oil gathering pipelines may protest its tariff filings, file complaints against its existing rates, or the FERC can investigate Enable's rates on its own initiative. In the event that the FERC finds that Enable's existing or proposed rates are unjust and unreasonable, it could deny requested rate increases or could order Enable to reduce its rates and could require the payment of reparations to complaining shippers for up to two years prior to the complaint.
On December 22, 2017, the 2017 Tax Act was enacted, which reduced the highest marginal U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. Following the effective date of the law, the FERC orders granting certificates to construct proposed pipeline facilities have directed pipelines proposing new rates for service on those facilities to re-file such rates so that the rates reflect the reduction in the corporate tax rate, the FERC has issued data requests in pending certificate proceedings for proposed pipeline facilities requesting pipelines to explain the impacts of the reduction in the corporate tax rate on the rate proposals in those proceedings and to provide re-calculated initial rates for service on the proposed pipeline facilities, and filings have been made at the FERC requesting that the FERC require pipelines to lower their transportation rates to account for lower corporate taxes. Enable's current tariff rates on file with the FERC incorporate the federal income tax rates that were in effect at the time those tariff rates were established. If the FERC requires Enable to establish new tariff rates that reflect a lower federal corporate income tax rate, it is possible the rates would be reduced, which could adversely affect Enable's financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders, including us.
Enable’s operations may also be subject to regulation by state and local regulatory authorities. Changes or additional regulatory measures adopted by such authorities could adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
The pipeline operations of Enable that are not regulated by the FERC may be subject to state and local regulation applicable to intrastate natural and transportation services. The relevant states in which it operates include North Dakota, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Illinois. State and local regulations generally focus on safety, environmental and, in some circumstances, prohibition of undue discrimination among shippers. Additional rules and legislation pertaining to these matters are considered and, in some instances, adopted from time to time. The effect, if any, such changes might have on operations cannot be predicted, but Enable could be required to incur additional capital expenditures and increased costs depending on future legislative and regulatory changes. Other state and local regulations also may affect the business. Any such state or local regulation could have an adverse effect on the business and the financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
Gathering lines may be subject to ratable take and common purchaser statutes. Ratable take statutes generally require gatherers to take, without undue discrimination, oil or natural gas production that may be tendered to the gatherer for handling. Similarly, common purchaser statutes generally require gatherers to purchase without undue discrimination as to source of supply or producer. These statutes restrict the right by Enable as an owner of gathering facilities to decide with whom it contracts to purchase or transport oil or natural gas. Federal law leaves economic regulation of natural gas gathering to the states. The states in which it operates have adopted complaint-based regulation of oil and natural gas gathering activities, which allows oil and natural gas producers and shippers to file complaints with state regulators in an effort to resolve grievances relating to access to oil and natural gas gathering pipelines and rate discrimination.
Other state regulations may not directly regulate the business, but may nonetheless affect the availability of natural gas for processing, including state regulation of production rates and maximum daily production allowable from gas wells. While its gathering lines are currently subject to limited state regulation, there is a risk that state laws will be changed, which may give producers a stronger basis to challenge the regulatory status of a line, or the rates, terms and conditions of a gathering line providing transportation service.
A change in the jurisdictional characterization of some of Enable’s assets by federal, state or local regulatory agencies or a change in policy by those agencies may result in increased regulation of its assets, which may cause its revenues to decline and operating expenses to increase.
Enable’s natural gas gathering and intrastate transportation operations are generally exempt from the jurisdiction of the FERC under the Natural Gas Act, but the FERC regulation may indirectly impact these businesses and the markets for products derived from these businesses. The FERC’s policies and practices across the range of its oil and natural gas regulatory activities, including, for example, its policies on interstate open access transportation, ratemaking, capacity release, and market center promotion may indirectly affect intrastate markets. In recent years, the FERC has pursued pro-competitive policies in its regulation of interstate oil and natural gas pipelines. However, it cannot be assured that the FERC will continue to pursue this approach as it considers matters such as pipeline rates and rules and policies that may indirectly affect the intrastate natural gas transportation business. Although the FERC has not made a formal determination with respect to all of its facilities they consider to be gathering facilities, Enable believes that its natural gas gathering pipelines meet the traditional tests that the FERC has used to determine that a pipeline is a gathering pipeline and is therefore not subject to FERC jurisdiction. The distinction between FERC-regulated transmission services and federally unregulated gathering services, however, has been the subject of substantial litigation, and the FERC determines whether facilities are gathering facilities on a case-by-case basis, so the classification and regulation of its gathering facilities is subject to change based on future determinations by the FERC, the courts or Congress. If the FERC were to consider the status of an individual facility and determine that the facility and/or services provided by it are not exempt from FERC regulation under the Natural Gas Act and that the facility provides interstate service, the rates for, and terms and conditions of, services provided by such facility would be subject to regulation by the FERC under the Natural Gas Act or the Natural Gas Policy Act. Such regulation could decrease revenue, increase operating costs and, depending upon the facility in question, could adversely affect Enable’s financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders, including us. In addition, if any of Enable's facilities were found to have provided services or otherwise operated in violation of the Natural Gas Act or Natural Gas Policy Act regulations, this could result in the imposition of substantial civil penalties, as well as a requirement to disgorge revenues collected for such services in excess of the maximum rates established by the FERC.
Natural gas gathering may receive greater regulatory scrutiny at the state level; therefore, Enable's natural gas gathering operations could be adversely affected should it become subject to the application of state regulation of rates and services. Enable’s gathering operations could also be subject to safety and operational regulations relating to the design, construction, testing, operation, replacement and maintenance of gathering facilities. The effect, if any, such changes might have on its operations cannot be predicted, but additional capital expenditures could be required and increased costs could be incurred depending on future legislative and regulatory changes.
Enable may incur significant costs and liabilities resulting from compliance with pipeline safety laws and regulations, pipeline integrity and other similar programs and related repairs.
Certain of Enable's pipeline operations are subject to pipeline safety laws and regulations. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration regulates safety requirements for the design, construction, maintenance and operation of its jurisdictional natural gas and hazardous liquids pipeline facilities. All of Enable's interstate and intrastate natural gas transportation pipeline facilities are Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration jurisdictional and certain of Enable's natural gas gathering, NGL and crude oil pipeline facilities are Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration jurisdictional. Among other things, these laws and regulations require pipeline operators to develop integrity management programs, including more frequent inspections and other measures, for pipelines located in “high consequence areas.” The regulations require operators, including Enable, to, among other things:
•
perform ongoing assessments of pipeline integrity;
•
develop a baseline plan to prioritize the assessment of a covered pipeline segment;
•
identify and characterize applicable threats that could impact a high consequence area;
•
improve data collection, integration, and analysis;
•
repair and remediate pipelines as necessary; and
•
implement preventive and mitigating action.
Failure to comply with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or comparable state pipeline safety regulations could result in a number of consequences which may have an adverse effect on Enable's operations. Enable incurs significant costs associated with its compliance with existing Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and comparable state pipeline regulations. Enable currently estimates that it will incur maintenance and capital expenditures and operation and maintenance expenses of up to $285.0 million from 2018 through 2022 to comply with existing pipeline safety laws and regulations related to integrity assessments and repairs. Enable may incur significant cost associated with repair, remediation, preventative and mitigation measures associated with its integrity management programs for pipelines that are not currently subject to regulation by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
Changes to pipeline safety laws and regulations that result in more stringent or costly safety standards could have a significant adverse effect on Enable. For example, in August 2011, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking in which the agency was seeking public comment on a number of changes to regulations governing the safety of gas transmission pipelines and gathering lines, including, for example, revising the definitions of “high consequence areas” and “gathering lines” and strengthening integrity management requirements as they apply to existing regulated operators and to currently exempt operators should certain exemptions be removed. On April 8, 2016, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration published a notice of proposed rulemaking responding to several of the integrity management topics raised in the August 2011 advance notice of proposed rulemaking and proposing new requirements to address safety issues for natural gas transmission and gathering lines that have arisen since the issuance of the advance notice of proposed rulemaking. The proposed rule would strengthen existing integrity management requirements, expand assessment and repair requirements to pipelines in areas with medium population densities, and extend regulatory requirements to onshore gas gathering lines that are currently exempt. Comments were due July 7, 2016. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued, but has yet to publish, a similar rule for hazardous liquids (including oil) pipelines on January 13, 2017. This rule extends regulatory reporting requirements to all liquid gathering lines, require additional event-driven and periodic inspections, require use of leak detection systems on all hazardous liquid pipelines, modify repair criteria, and require certain pipelines to eventually accommodate inline inspection tools. It is unclear when or if this rule will go into effect as, on January 20, 2017, the Trump Administration requested that all regulations that had been sent to the Office of the Federal Register, but not yet published, be immediately withdrawn for further review. Enable is still monitoring and evaluating the effect of these requirements and proposals on its operations.
Proposed rulemakings such as the notice of proposed rulemakings published on October 13, 2015 and April 8, 2016 could expand the scope of the natural gas and hazardous liquids integrity management programs and other related pipeline safety regulations to include additional requirements or previously exempt pipelines. Enable have not estimated the cost of complying with any proposed changes to the regulations administered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or state pipeline safety regulators.
Financial reform regulations under the Dodd-Frank Act could adversely affect Enable's ability to use derivative instruments to hedge risks associated with its business.
At times, Enable may hedge all or a portion of its commodity risk and its interest rate risk. The federal government regulates the derivatives markets and entities, including businesses like Enable, that participate in those market through the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the Dodd-Frank Act, which requires the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission to promulgate rules and regulations implementing the legislation. Under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's regulations, Enable is subject to reporting and recordkeeping obligations for transactions involving non-financial swap transactions the Commodity Futures Trading Commissions initially adopted regulations to set position limits for certain futures and option contracts in the major energy markets and for swaps that are their economic equivalents, but these rules were successfully challenged in federal district court by the Securities Industry Financial Markets Association and the International Swaps and Derivatives Association and largely vacated by the court. In December 2013, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission published a notice of proposed rulemaking designed to implement new position limits regulation and in December 2016, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's re-proposed regulations for position limits. The ultimate form and timing of the implementation of the regulatory regime affecting commodity derivatives remains uncertain.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has imposed mandatory clearing requirements on certain categories of swaps, including certain interest rate swaps, but has exempted derivatives intended to hedge or mitigate commercial risk from the mandatory swap clearing requirement, where the counterparty such as Enable has required identification number, is not a financial entity as defined by the regulations, and meets a minimum asset test. Enable's management believes its hedging transactions qualify for this "commercial end-user" exception. The Dodd-Frank Act may also require Enable to comply with margin requirements in connection with its hedging activities, although the application of those provisions to Enable is uncertain at this time. The Dodd-Frank Act may also require the counterparties to its derivative instruments to spin off some of their hedging activities to a separate entity, which may not be as creditworthy as the current counterparty.
The Dodd-Frank Act and related regulations could significantly increase the cost of derivatives contracts for Enable's industry (including requirements to post collateral which could adversely affect Enable's available liquidity), materially alter the terms of derivatives contracts, reduce the availability of derivatives to protect against risks Enable encounters, reduce its ability to monetize or restructure its existing derivatives contracts, and increase its exposure to less creditworthy counterparties, particularly if Enable is unable to utilize the commercial end user exception with respect to certain of its hedging transactions. If Enable reduces its use of hedging as a result of the legislation and regulations, its results of operations may become more volatile and its cash flows may be less predictable, which could adversely affect its ability to plan for and fund capital expenditures and fund unitholder distributions. Finally, the legislation was intended, in part, to reduce the volatility of crude oil and natural gas prices, which some legislators attributed to speculative trading in derivatives and commodity instruments related to crude oil and natural gas. Enable's revenues could therefore be adversely affected if a consequence of the legislation and regulations is to lower commodity prices. Any of these consequences could adversely affect its results of operations and its ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us.
Any reductions in Enable's credit ratings could increase its financing costs and the cost of maintaining certain contractual relationships.
Enable cannot provide assurance that its credit ratings will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency if, in its judgment, circumstances warrant. If any of Enable's credit ratings are below investment grade, it may have higher future borrowing costs and it or its subsidiaries may be required to post cash collateral or letters of credit under certain contractual agreements. If cash collateral requirements were to occur at a time when Enable was experiencing significant working capital requirements or otherwise lacked liquidity, its financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, including us, could be adversely affected.
Enable's Series A Preferred Units have rights, preferences and privileges that are not held by, and are preferential to the rights of, holders of its common units.
Enable's 10 percent Series A Fixed-to-Floating Non-Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in Enable, issued in February 2016, rank senior to all of its other classes or series of equity securities with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation. Enable cannot declare or pay a distribution to its common unitholders for any quarter unless full distributions have been or contemporaneously are being paid on all outstanding Series A Preferred Units for such quarter. These preferences could adversely affect the cash distributions we receive from Enable, or could make it more difficult for Enable to sell its common units in the future.
Holders of the Series A Preferred Units will receive, on a non-cumulative basis and if and when declared by Enable's general partner, a quarterly cash distribution, subject to certain adjustments, equal to an annual rate of 10 percent on the stated liquidation preference from the date of original issue to, but not including, the five year anniversary of the original issue date, and an annual rate of the London Interbank Offered Rate plus a spread of 850 basis points on the stated liquidation preference thereafter. In connection with certain transfers of the Series A Preferred Units, the Series A Preferred Units will automatically convert into one or more new series of preferred units (the "other preferred units") on the later of the date of transfer or the second anniversary of the date of issue. The other preferred units will have the same terms as Enable's Series A Preferred Units except that unpaid distributions on the other preferred units will accrue from the date of their issuance on a cumulative basis until paid. Enable's Series A Preferred Units are convertible into common units by the holders of such units in certain circumstances. Payment of distributions on Enable's Series A Preferred Units, or on the common units issued following the conversion of such Series A Preferred Units, could impact its liquidity and reduce the amount of cash flow available for working capital, capital expenditures, growth opportunities, acquisitions, and other general partnership purposes. Enable's obligations to the holders of Series A Preferred Units could also limit its ability to obtain additional financing or increase its borrowing costs, which could have an adverse effect on its financial condition.
Enable's Series A Preferred Units contain covenants that may limit its business flexibility.
Enable's Series A Preferred Units contain covenants preventing it from taking certain actions without the approval of the holders of 66 2/3 percent of the Series A Preferred Units. The need to obtain the approval of holders of the Series A Preferred Units before taking these actions could impede Enable's ability to take certain actions that its management or its board of directors may consider to be in the best interests of its unitholders. The affirmative vote of 66 2/3 percent of the outstanding Series A Preferred Units, voting as a single class, is necessary to amend Enable's Partnership Agreement in any manner that would or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the rights, preferences, obligations or privileges of the Series A Preferred Units. The affirmative vote of 66 2/3 percent of the outstanding Series A Preferred Units and any outstanding series of other preferred units, voting as a single class, is necessary to (A) create or issue certain party securities with proceeds in an aggregate
amount in excess of $700.0 million or create or issue any senior securities or (B) subject to Enable's right to redeem the Series A Preferred Units, approve certain fundamental transactions.
Enable's Series A Preferred Units are required to be redeemed in certain circumstances if they are not eligible for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, and Enable may not have sufficient funds to redeem its Series A Preferred Units if it is required to do so.
The holders of Enable's Series A Preferred Units may request that Enable list those units for trading on the New York Stock Exchange. If Enable is unable to list the Series A Preferred Units in certain circumstances, it will be required to redeem the Series A Preferred Units. There can be no assurance that Enable would have sufficient financial resources available to satisfy its obligation to redeem the Series A Preferred Units. In addition, mandatory redemption of Enable's Series A Preferred Units could adversely affect its financial position, results of operations and ability to make quarterly cash distributions to its unitholders, including us.
Enable may issue additional units without the approval of its unitholders, which would dilute unitholders' existing ownership interests.
Enable's partnership agreement does not limit the number of additional limited partner interests, including limited partner interests that rank senior to the common units, that it may issue at any time without the approval of its unitholders. The issuance by Enable of additional common units or other equity securities of equal or senior rank will have the following effects:
•
Enable's existing unitholders’ proportionate ownership interest in Enable will decrease;
•
the amount of distributable cash flow on each unit may decrease;
•
because the amount payable to holders of incentive distribution rights is based on a percentage of the total distributable cash flow, the distributions to holders of incentive distribution rights will increase even if the per unit distribution on common units remains the same;
•
the ratio of taxable income to distributions may increase;
•
the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding unit may be diminished; and
•
the market price of the common units may decline.
In addition, upon a change of control or certain fundamental transactions, Enable's Series A Preferred Units are convertible into common units at the option of the holders of such units. If a substantial portion of the Series A Preferred Units were converted into common units, common unitholders could experience significant dilution. In addition, if holders of such converted Series A Preferred Units were to dispose of a substantial portion of these common units in the public market, whether in a single transaction or series of transactions, it could adversely affect the market price for Enable's common units. In addition, these sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, could make it more difficult for Enable to sell its common units in the future.
Affiliates of Enable's general partner may sell common units in the public or private markets, which could have an adverse impact on the trading price of the common units and may sell their interest in its general partner, which may impact its strategic direction.
As of February 1, 2018, CenterPoint held 233,856,623 of Enable's common units and 14,520,000 Series A Preferred Units, and the Company held 110,982,805 of Enable's common units. Enable's Series A Preferred Units are convertible into common units upon a change of control or certain fundamental transactions at the option of the holders of such units. Both Enable's common units held by CenterPoint and the Company, as well as Enable's Series A Preferred Units held by CenterPoint, are subject to certain registration rights. In addition, CenterPoint has publicly disclosed that it is evaluating strategic alternatives for its investment in Enable. CenterPoint has disclosed that the alternatives may include a sale of all or a portion of the interests that it owns in Enable and the general partner of Enable, that if the sale option is not viable it intends to reduce its ownership in Enable over time through a sale of the common units it holds in the public equity markets subject to market conditions, and that there can be no assurances that these evaluations will result in any specific action. CenterPoint's disclosure, as well as any sales by CenterPoint of the common units it holds in the public or equity markets, could have an adverse impact on the market for Enable's common units, including its ability to issue equity on favorable terms to fund its capital needs or at all. Any sale of Enable's general partner by CenterPoint or the Company may impact Enable's strategic direction, business or results of operations.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties.
OG&E
OG&E owns and operates an interconnected electric generation, transmission and distribution system, located in Oklahoma and western Arkansas, which included 10 generating stations with an aggregate capability of 6,304 MWs at December 31, 2017. The following tables set forth information with respect to OG&E's electric generating facilities, all of which are located in Oklahoma.
(A)
2017 Capacity Factor = 2017 Net Actual Generation / (2017 Net Maximum Capacity (Nameplate Rating in MWs) x Period Hours (8,760 Hours))
(B)
Represents OG&E's 51 percent ownership interest in the Redbud Plant.
(C)
On December 31, 2017, Mustang units 3 and 4 were retired. On December 30, 2017, Mustang unit 8, the first of seven efficient combustion turbines installed as part of the Mustang Modernization Plan, was placed in service. The Company expects units 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 to be placed in service at various times during the first quarter of 2018.
(D)
Represents OG&E's 77 percent ownership interest in the McClain Plant.
At December 31, 2017, OG&E's transmission system included: (i) 52 substations with a total capacity of 13.3 million kV-amps and 4,949 structure miles of lines in Oklahoma and (ii) seven substations with a total capacity of 2.9 million kV-amps and 277 structure miles of lines in Arkansas. OG&E's distribution system included: (i) 346 substations with a total capacity of 9.7 million kV-amps, 29,317 structure miles of overhead lines, 2,824 miles of underground conduit and 10,875 miles of underground
conductors in Oklahoma and (ii) 30 substations with a total capacity of 0.9 million kV-amps, 2,785 structure miles of overhead lines, 282 miles of underground conduit and 689 miles of underground conductors in Arkansas.
OG&E owns 140,133 square feet of office space at its executive offices at 321 North Harvey, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102. In addition to its executive offices, OG&E owns numerous facilities throughout its service territory that support its operations. These facilities include, but are not limited to, service centers, fleet and equipment service facilities, operation support and other properties.
During the three years ended December 31, 2017, the Company's gross property, plant and equipment (excluding construction work in progress) additions were $1.4 billion, and gross retirements were $315.5 million. These additions were provided by cash generated from operations, short-term borrowings (through a combination of bank borrowings and commercial paper), long-term borrowings and permanent financings. The additions during this three-year period amounted to 12.5 percent of gross property, plant and equipment (excluding construction work in progress) at December 31, 2017.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
In the normal course of business, the Company is confronted with issues or events that may result in a contingent liability. These generally relate to lawsuits or claims made by third parties, including governmental agencies. When appropriate, management consults with legal counsel and other experts to assess the claim. If, in management's opinion, the Company has incurred a probable loss as set forth by GAAP, an estimate is made of the loss, and the appropriate accounting entries are reflected in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. At the present time, based on currently available information, the Company believes that any reasonably possible losses in excess of accrued amounts arising out of pending or threatened lawsuits or claims would not be quantitatively material to its financial statements and would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 4.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not Applicable.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
The Company's common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "OGE." The following table gives information with respect to price ranges, as reported in The Wall Street Journal as New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions, and dividends paid for the periods shown.
At the Company's September 2017 board meeting, the Board of Directors approved management's recommendation of a 10 percent increase in the quarterly dividend rate to $0.3325 per share from $0.3025 per share effective in October 2017.
The number of record holders of the Company's common stock at December 31, 2017, was 14,920. The book value of the Company's common stock at December 31, 2017 was $32.91 per share.
Dividend Restrictions
Before the Company can pay any dividends on its common stock, the holders of any of its preferred stock that may be outstanding are entitled to receive their dividends at the respective rates as may be provided for the shares of their series. Currently, there are no shares of preferred stock of the Company outstanding. Because the Company is a holding company and conducts all of its operations through its subsidiaries and equity affiliates, the Company's cash flow and ability to pay dividends is dependent on the earnings and cash flows of its subsidiaries and equity affiliate and the distribution or other payments of those earnings to the Company in the form of dividends or distributions or in the form of repayments of loans or receipt of advances. The Company expects to derive principally all of the funds required by it to enable it to pay dividends on its common stock from dividends paid by OG&E, on OG&E's common stock. The Company may also utilize distributions paid by Enable to help fund its capital needs and support future dividend growth. The Company's ability to receive dividends on OG&E's common stock is subject to the prior rights of the holders of any OG&E preferred stock that may be outstanding, any covenants of OG&E's certificate of incorporation and OG&E's debt instruments limiting the ability of OG&E to pay dividends and the ability of public utility commissions that regulate OG&E to effectively restrict the payment of dividends by OG&E. The Company's ability to receive distributions on its limited partnership interest in Enable is subject to Enable's cash available for distribution, the terms of its limited partnership agreement and the covenants of Enable's debt instruments limiting the ability of Enable to pay distributions. Enable's partnership agreement requires that it distribute all "available cash," as defined as cash on hand at the end of a quarter after the payment of expenses and the establishment of cash reserves and cash on hand resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter.
Pursuant to the leverage restriction in the Company’s revolving credit agreement, the Company must maintain a percentage of debt to total capitalization at a level that does not exceed 65 percent. The payment of cash dividends indirectly results in an increase in the percentage of debt to total capitalization, which results in the restriction of approximately $605.3 million of the Company’s retained earnings from being paid out in dividends. Accordingly, approximately $2.2 billion of the Company’s retained earnings as of December 31, 2017 are unrestricted for the payment of dividends.
Pursuant to the Federal Power Act, OG&E is restricted from paying dividends from its capital accounts. Dividends are paid from retained earnings. Pursuant to the leverage restriction in OG&E’s revolving credit agreement, OG&E must also maintain a percentage of debt to total capitalization at a level that does not exceed 65 percent. The payment of cash dividends indirectly
results in an increase in the percentage of debt to total capitalization, which results in the restriction of approximately $600.1 million of OG&E’s retained earnings from being paid out in dividends. Accordingly, approximately $1.8 billion of OG&E’s retained earnings as of December 31, 2017 are unrestricted for the payment of dividends.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
None.
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
HISTORICAL DATA
(A)
In May 2013, Enable was formed to own and operate the midstream businesses of OGE Energy and CenterPoint. OGE Energy accounts for its interest in Enable using the equity method of accounting subsequent to the formation of Enable. Prior to May 1, 2013, OGE Energy consolidated the results of Enogex LLC.
(B)
Capitalization ratios = [Total stockholders' equity / (Total stockholders' equity + Long-term debt + Long-term debt due within one year)] and [(Long-term debt + Long-term debt due within one year) / (Total stockholders' equity + Long-term debt + Long-term debt due within one year)].
(C)
For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, (i) earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, plus distributed equity income plus fixed charges, less allowance for borrowed funds used during construction and other capitalized interest and (ii) fixed charges consist of interest on long-term debt, related amortization, interest on short-term borrowings and a calculated portion of rents considered to be interest.
Item 7.
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Introduction
The Company is an energy and energy services provider offering physical delivery and related services for both electricity and natural gas primarily in the south central U.S. The Company conducts these activities through two business segments: (i) electric utility and (ii) natural gas midstream operations. The accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation. The Company generally uses the equity method of accounting for investments where its ownership interest is between 20 percent and 50 percent and it lacks the power to direct activities that most significantly impact economic performance.
The electric utility segment generates, transmits, distributes and sells electric energy in Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Its operations are conducted through OG&E and are subject to regulation by the OCC, the APSC and the FERC. OG&E was incorporated in 1902 under the laws of the Oklahoma Territory and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. OG&E is the largest electric utility in Oklahoma, and its franchised service territory includes Fort Smith, Arkansas and the surrounding communities. OG&E sold its retail natural gas business in 1928 and is no longer engaged in the natural gas distribution business.
The natural gas midstream operations segment represents the Company's investment in Enable through wholly owned subsidiaries and ultimately OGE Holdings. Enable is engaged in the business of gathering, processing, transporting and storing natural gas. Enable's natural gas gathering and processing assets are strategically located in four states and serve natural gas production from shale developments in the Anadarko, Arkoma and Ark-La-Tex basins. Enable also owns an emerging crude oil gathering business in the Bakken Shale formation, principally located in the Williston Basin of North Dakota. Enable's natural gas transportation and storage assets extend from western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle to Alabama and from Louisiana to Illinois.
Enable was formed effective May 1, 2013 by the Company, the ArcLight group and CenterPoint to own and operate the midstream businesses of the Company and CenterPoint. In the formation transaction, the Company and the ArcLight group contributed Enogex LLC to Enable, and the Company deconsolidated its previously held investment in Enogex Holdings and acquired an equity interest in Enable. The Company determined that its contribution of Enogex LLC to Enable met the requirements of being in substance real estate and was recorded at historical cost. The general partner of Enable is equally controlled by the Company and CenterPoint, who each have 50 percent management ownership. Based on the 50/50 management ownership, with neither company having control, the Company began accounting for its interest in Enable using the equity method of accounting.
In April 2014, Enable completed an initial public offering of 25.0 million common units resulting in Enable becoming a publicly traded Master Limited Partnership. At December 31, 2017, the Company owned 111.0 million common units, or 25.7 percent, of Enable's outstanding common units. For additional information on the Company's equity investment in Enable and related party transactions, see Note 3 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
Over the course of 2015 and continuing into early 2016, natural gas and crude oil prices dropped to their lowest levels in over 10 years. During 2016 and 2017, those prices increased, and have stabilized, but have not rebounded to the pre-2015 levels. Based on these recent commodity prices, Enable has seen changes in producer activity that have negatively impacted Enable's operations and financial position and could see additional changes in producer activity that may negatively impact Enable's operations and affect its future distribution rates. If commodity prices decline further, Enable's future operating results and cash flows could be negatively impacted. A portion of our earnings and operating cash flows depend on the performance of, and distributions from, Enable. As disclosed in this Form 10-K, Enable is subject to a number of risks, including contract renewal risk, the reliance on the drilling and production decisions of others and the volatility of natural gas, NGL and crude oil prices. If any of those risks were to occur, the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
On February 9, 2018, Enable announced a quarterly dividend distribution of $0.31800 per unit on its outstanding common units, which is unchanged from the previous quarter. If cash distributions to Enable’s unitholders exceed $0.330625 per unit in any quarter, the general partner will receive increasing percentages, up to 50 percent, of the cash Enable distributes in excess of that amount. The Company is entitled to 60 percent of those "incentive distributions."
OG&E participates in the SPP Integrated Marketplace. As part of the Integrated Marketplace, the SPP has balancing authority responsibilities for its market participants. The SPP Integrated Marketplace functions as a centralized dispatch, where market participants, including OG&E, submit offers to sell power to the SPP from their resources and bid to purchase power from the SPP for their customers. The SPP Integrated Marketplace is intended to allow the SPP to optimize supply offers and demand bids based upon reliability and economic considerations and to determine which generating units will run at any given time for
maximum cost-effectiveness. As a result, OG&E's generating units produce output that is different from OG&E's customer load requirements. Net fuel and purchased power costs are recovered through fuel adjustment clauses.
Overview
Company Strategy
The Company's mission, through OG&E and its equity interest in Enable, is to fulfill its critical role in the nation's electric utility and natural gas midstream pipeline infrastructure and meet individual customer's needs for energy and related services, focusing on safety, efficiency, reliability, customer service and risk management. The Company's corporate strategy is to continue to maintain its existing business mix and diversified asset position of its regulated electric utility business and interest in a publicly traded midstream company, while providing competitive energy products and services to customers, as well as seeking growth opportunities in both businesses.
OG&E is focused on:
•
providing exceptional customer experiences by continuing to improve customer interfaces, tools, products and services that deliver high customer satisfaction and operating productivity;
•
providing safe, reliable energy to the communities and customers we serve, with a particular focus on enhancing the value of the grid by improving distribution grid reliability by reducing the frequency and duration of customer interruptions and leveraging previous grid technology investments;
•
having strong regulatory and legislative relationships for the long-term benefit of our customers, investors and members;
•
continuing to grow a zero-injury culture and deliver top-quartile safety results;
•
complying with the EPA's Regional Haze Rule requirements;
•
ensuring we have the necessary mix of generation resources to meet the long-term needs of our customers; and
•
continuing focus on operational excellence and efficiencies in order to protect the customer bill.
Additionally, the Company wants to achieve a premium valuation of its businesses relative to its peers, grow earnings per share with a stable earnings pattern, create a high performance culture and achieve desired outcomes with target stakeholders. The Company's financial objectives include a long-term annual earnings growth rate for OG&E of three to five percent on a weather-normalized basis, maintaining a strong credit rating as well as targeting dividend increases of approximately 10 percent annually through 2019. The targeted annual dividend increase has been determined after consideration of numerous factors, including the largely retail composition of the Company's shareholder base, the Company's financial position, the Company's growth targets and the composition of the Company's assets and investment opportunities. The Company also utilizes cash distributions from its investment in Enable to help fund its capital needs and support future dividend growth. The Company believes it can accomplish these financial objectives by, among other things, pursuing multiple avenues to build its business, maintaining a diversified asset position, continuing to develop a wide range of skills to succeed with changes in its industries, providing products and services to customers efficiently, managing risks effectively and having strong regulatory and legislative relationships.
Summary of Operating Results
2017 compared to 2016. Net income was $619.0 million, or $3.10 per diluted share, in 2017 as compared to $338.2 million, or $1.69 per diluted share, in 2016. The increase in net income of $280.8 million, or 83.0 percent, or $1.41 per diluted share, in 2017 as compared to 2016 was primarily due to:
•
an increase in net income at OGE Holdings of $271.5 million, or $1.36 per diluted share of the Company's common stock, primarily due to an income tax benefit of $245.2 million as a result of the 2017 Tax Act and an increase of equity in earnings of Enable; and
•
an increase in net income at OG&E of $21.4 million, or $0.11 per diluted share of the Company's common stock, primarily due to higher net other income and lower depreciation and amortization expense as a result of the March 2017 OCC rate order mandating a reduction in depreciation rates, partially offset by higher income tax expense, higher operation and maintenance expense and lower gross margin primarily due to milder weather; partially offset by
•
an increase in net loss of other operations of $12.1 million, or $0.06 per diluted share of the Company's common stock, primarily due to income tax expense of $10.5 million as a result of the 2017 Tax Act.
2016 compared to 2015. Net income was $338.2 million, or $1.69 per diluted share, in 2016 as compared to $271.3 million, or $1.36 per diluted share, in 2015. The increase in net income of $66.9 million, or 24.7 percent, or $0.33 per diluted share, in 2016 as compared to 2015 was primarily due to:
•
an increase in net income at OGE Holdings of $44.3 million, or $0.22 per diluted share of the Company's common stock, primarily due to the goodwill impairment adjustment at Enable in September 2015, partially offset by higher income tax expense due to higher pre-tax operating income and a change in state tax rates;
•
an increase in net income at OG&E of $15.2 million, or $0.07 per diluted share of the Company's common stock, primarily due to an increase in gross margin related to warmer summer weather and increased wholesale transmission revenues and an increase in other income. Partially offsetting these items was an increase in other operation and maintenance expense, an increase in depreciation expense due to additional assets being placed in service and an increase in income tax expense; and
•
an increase in net income of other operations of $7.4 million, or $0.04 per diluted share of the Company's common stock, primarily due to charges in 2015 associated with pre-construction expenditures for cancelled new office space to consolidate Oklahoma City personnel and a decrease in depreciation, partially offset by an increase in interest expense.
A more detailed discussion regarding the financial performance of OG&E and the Natural Gas Midstream Operations can be found under "Results of Operations" below.
2018 Outlook
Key assumptions for 2018 include:
OG&E
The Company projects OG&E to earn approximately $286 million to $306 million or $1.43 to $1.53 per average diluted share in 2018 and is based on the following assumptions:
•
normal weather patterns are experienced for the remainder of the year;
•
gross margin on revenues of approximately $1.380 billion to $1.390 billion based on sales growth of approximately one percent on a weather-adjusted basis;
•
operating expenses of approximately $927 million to $937 million, with operation and maintenance expenses comprising approximately 53 percent of the total;
•
interest expense of approximately $152 million to $155 million which assumes an $11 million allowance for borrowed funds used during construction reduction to interest expense and assumes a debt refinancing of $250 million in the second half of 2018;
•
other income of approximately $33 million including approximately $21 million of allowance for equity funds used during construction;
•
assumes a regulatory asset for the Dry Scrubbers for approximately $9 million, or $0.03 per share;
•
an effective tax rate of approximately 10.9 percent;
•
new rates take effect in Oklahoma by August 1, 2018; and
•
every 25 basis point change in the allowed Oklahoma return on equity equates to a change of approximately $8 million in revenue.
OG&E has significant seasonality in its earnings. OG&E typically shows minimal earnings in the first and fourth quarters with a majority of earnings in the third quarter due to the seasonal nature of air conditioning demand.
OGE Holdings
The Company projects the earnings contribution from its ownership interest in Enable for 2018 to be approximately $96 million to $104 million or $0.48 to $0.52 per average diluted share and receive approximately $140 million in cash distributions.
Consolidated OGE
The Company’s 2018 earnings guidance is between approximately $380 million and $410 million of net income, or $1.90 to $2.05 per average diluted share and is based on the following assumptions:
•
approximately 200 million average diluted shares outstanding;
•
an effective tax rate of approximately 14 percent; and
•
a $0.00 to $0.01 or up to $2 million loss at OGE Energy (holding company) due to interest expense.
OG&E's Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Gross margin is defined by OG&E as operating revenues less fuel, purchased power and certain transmission expenses. Gross margin is a non-GAAP financial measure because it excludes depreciation and amortization, and other operation and maintenance expenses. Expenses for fuel and purchased power are recovered through fuel adjustment clauses and as a result changes in these expenses are offset in operating revenues with no impact on net income. OG&E believes gross margin provides a more meaningful basis for evaluating its operations across periods than operating revenues because gross margin excludes the revenue effect of fluctuations in these expenses. Gross margin is used internally to measure performance against budget and in reports for management and the Board of Directors. OG&E's definition of gross margin may be different from similar terms used by other companies. For a reconciliation of gross margin to revenue for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, see OG&E (Electric Utility) Results of Operations below.
Detailed below is a reconciliation of gross margin to revenue included in the 2018 Outlook.
(A)
Based on the midpoint of OG&E earnings guidance for 2018.
Enable's Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Gross margin is defined by Enable as total revenues minus costs of natural gas and NGLs, excluding depreciation and amortization. Total revenues consist of the fees that they charge their customers and the sales price of natural gas and NGLs that they sell. The cost of natural gas and NGLs consists of the purchase price of natural gas and NGLs that they purchase. Enable deducts the cost of natural gas and NGLs from total revenue to arrive at a measure of the core profitability of their mix of fee-based and commodity-based customer arrangements. Gross margin allows for meaningful comparison of the operating results between Enable's fee-based revenues and Enable's commodity-based contracts which involve the purchase or sale of natural gas, NGLs and/or crude oil. In addition, the Company believes gross margin allows for a meaningful comparison of the results of Enable's commodity-based activities across different commodity price environments because it measures the spread between the product sales price and cost of products sold.
Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis presents factors that affected the Company's consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 and the Company's consolidated financial position at December 31, 2017 and 2016. The following information should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto. Known trends and contingencies of a material nature are discussed to the extent considered relevant.
Results by Business Segment
(A)
The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $245.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2017 due to the Company remeasuring deferred taxes at OGE Holdings, as a result of the 2017 Tax Act. See Note 7 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further discussion of the effects of the 2017 Tax Act. The Company recorded a $108.4 million pre-tax charge during the third quarter of 2015 for its share of Enable's goodwill impairment, as adjusted for the basis differences. See Note 3 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further discussion of the goodwill impairment.
(B)
The Company recorded an income tax expense of $10.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2017 due to the Company remeasuring deferred taxes at OGE Energy (holding company), as a result of the 2017 Tax Act. Other operations primarily includes the operations of the holding company and consolidating eliminations.
The following operating results analysis by business segment includes intercompany transactions that are eliminated in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
OG&E (Electric Utility)
(A)
Degree days are calculated as follows: The high and low degrees of a particular day are added together and then averaged. If the calculated average is above 65 degrees, then the difference between the calculated average and 65 is expressed as cooling degree days, with each degree of difference equaling one cooling degree day. If the calculated average is below 65 degrees, then the difference between the calculated average and 65 is expressed as heating degree days, with each degree of difference equaling one heating degree day. The daily calculations are then totaled for the particular reporting period.
2017 compared to 2016. OG&E's net income increased $21.4 million, or 7.5 percent, in 2017 as compared to 2016, primarily due to lower depreciation and amortization expense as a result of the March 2017 OCC rate order mandating a reduction in depreciation rates, higher allowance for equity funds used during construction, higher other income and higher allowance for borrowed funds used during construction, partially offset by higher income tax expense, higher operation and maintenance expense, lower gross margin and higher interest on long-term debt.
Gross margin was $1,363.5 million in 2017 as compared to $1,379.1 million in 2016, a decrease of $15.6 million, or 1.1 percent. The below factors contributed to the change in gross margin:
(A)
Cooling degree days decreased approximately 13 percent in 2017.
(B)
Decreased primarily due to additional reserves for rate refunds in both Oklahoma and Arkansas, as well as riders moving to base rates in the March 2017 OCC rate order.
Cost of sales for OG&E consists of fuel used in electric generation, purchased power and transmission related charges. The actual cost of fuel used in electric generation and certain purchased power costs are passed through to OG&E's customers through fuel adjustment clauses. The fuel adjustment clauses are subject to periodic review by the OCC and the APSC. OG&E's cost of sales increased $17.5 million, or 2.0 percent, in 2017 as compared to 2016. The changes are detailed in the table below.
(A)
Decrease in fuel expense was primarily due to decreased utilization of company-owned generation.
(B)
Increase in the cost of purchases from the SPP was due to an increase of 26.8 percent in MWh purchased and an increase of 16.2 percent in cost per MWhs purchased. The increase in cost per MWh purchased was due to an increase in fuel prices and higher grid congestion costs during 2017.
(C)
Increase in transmission-related charges was primarily due to higher SPP charges for the base plan projects of other utilities.
Other operation and maintenance expense increased $16.3 million, or 3.5 percent, in 2017 as compared to 2016. The below factors contributed to the change in other operation and maintenance expense:
(A)
Increased during 2017 primarily due to more storm costs exceeding the $2.7 million OCC-allowed threshold, which were moved to a regulatory asset, as well as mutual assistance, which was provided in the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $35.5 million, or 11.2 percent, primarily due to lower depreciation expense related to the reduction in depreciation rates approved in the March 2017 OCC rate order as discussed in Note 14 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," partially offset by additional assets being placed into service.
Allowance for equity funds used during construction increased $25.5 million, primarily due to higher construction work in progress balances resulting from increased spending for environmental projects.
Other income increased $20.2 million, primarily due to an increase in the tax gross-up related to higher allowance for funds used during construction and an increase in gains on guaranteed flat bill margins.
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction increased $10.5 million, primarily due to higher construction work in progress balances resulting from increased spending for environmental projects.
Income tax expense increased $27.4 million, or 24.0 percent, primarily due to higher pre-tax operating income and lower tax credits generated.
2016 compared to 2015. OG&E's net income increased $15.2 million, or 5.7 percent, in 2016 as compared to 2015, primarily due to an increase in gross margin related to warmer summer weather and increased transmission revenues and an increase in other income, partially offset by increases in other operation and maintenance expense, depreciation expense and income tax expense.
Gross margin was $1,379.1 million in 2016 as compared to $1,331.9 million in 2015, an increase of $47.2 million, or 3.5 percent. The below factors contributed to the change in gross margin:
(A)
As discussed in Note 14 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," on July 1, 2016, OG&E implemented an annual interim rate increase of $69.5 million. Interim rates are subject to refund of any amount recovered in excess of the rates ultimately approved by the OCC in the general rate case.
(B)
Increased primarily due to the SPP's settlement of revenue credits related to the Windspeed Transmission line for the years 2008 through August 2016. Other increases include a recovery of the base plan projects in the SPP formula rate for 2015 and 2016.
(C)
Increased primarily due to the reversal of a reserve for gas transportation charges in addition to the pricing impact of weather related sales.
(D)
On June 30, 2015, the wholesale power contract with AVEC expired.
OG&E's cost of sales increased $15.1 million, or 1.7 percent, in 2016 as compared to 2015. The changes are detailed in the table below.
(A)
Increased primarily due to higher volumes of natural gas used partially offset by lower natural gas prices. In 2016, OG&E's fuel mix was 48.0 percent coal, 45.3 percent natural gas and 6.7 percent wind. In 2015, OG&E's fuel mix was 49.0 percent coal, 44.0 percent natural gas and seven percent wind.
(B)
Decreased primarily due to a decrease in purchases from the SPP.
(C)
Increased primarily due to higher SPP charges for the base plan projects of other utilities and SPP charges for the Windspeed Transmission line for the years 2008 through August 2016.
Other operation and maintenance expense increased $25.3 million, or 5.7 percent, in 2016 as compared to 2015. The below factors contributed to the change in other operation and maintenance expense:
(A)
Increased primarily due to increases in incentive compensation, pension expense, annual salaries and medical/dental expense, partially offset by a decrease in overtime.
(B)
Increased primarily due to increased consulting costs associated with demand side management programs.
(C)
Increased primarily due to additional direct support in information technology, facility direct support, strategy and marketing support.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $16.5 million, or 5.5 percent, primarily due to additional assets being placed in service and amortization of deferred storm costs.
Taxes other than income taxes decreased $3.1 million, or 3.6 percent, due to increased capitalization of ad valorem taxes primarily associated with environmental projects.
Allowance for equity funds used during construction increased $5.9 million, or 71.1 percent, primarily due to higher construction work in progress balances resulting from increased spending for environmental projects.
Other income increased $3.1 million, or 23.3 percent, primarily due to an increase in the tax gross-up related to higher allowance for equity funds used during construction and an increase in interest income related to riders, partially offset by decreased guaranteed flat bill margins.
Other expense increased $1.3 million, or 81.3 percent, primarily due to increased other miscellaneous expenses, increased charitable donations during 2016 and an increase in consulting services.
Interest expense decreased $8.6 million, or 5.9 percent, primarily due to the retirement of senior notes in January 2016, partially offset by increased allowance for borrowed funds used during construction primarily associated with environmental projects.
Income tax expense increased $9.6 million, or 9.2 percent, primarily due to higher pre-tax operating income in addition to lower renewable energy credits.
OGE Holdings (Natural Gas Midstream Operations)
(A)
The Company recorded a $108.4 million pre-tax charge during the third quarter of 2015 for its share of Enable's goodwill impairment, as adjusted for the basis difference. See Note 3 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further discussion of the goodwill impairment.
(B)
Includes an income tax benefit of $245.2 million due to the remeasurement of deferred taxes, as a result of the 2017 Tax Act.
Reconciliation of Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates
The following table reconciles OGE Energy's equity in earnings of its unconsolidated affiliates for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates includes the Company's share of Enable earnings adjusted for the amortization of the basis difference of the Company's investment in Enogex LLC and its underlying equity in the net assets of Enable and is also adjusted for the elimination of the Enogex Holdings fair value adjustments.
The difference between OGE Energy's investment in Enable and its underlying equity in the net assets of Enable was $714.2 million as of December 31, 2017. The basis difference is being amortized over approximately 30 years, beginning in May 2013. The following table reconciles the basis difference in Enable from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2017.
Enable Results of Operations
The following tables represents summarized financial information of Enable for 2017, 2016 and 2015:
(A) Excludes condensate.
(B) NGLs sold includes volumes of NGLs withdrawn from inventory or purchased for system balancing purposes.
Year Ended December 31, 2017 as compared to Year Ended December 31, 2016
OGE Holdings' earnings before taxes increased $35.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the same period in 2016, primarily due to an increase in equity in earnings of Enable of $29.4 million and a decrease in pension settlement expense of $6.8 million. The increase in the Company's equity in earnings of Enable was primarily attributable to a $143.0 million increase in Enable's operating income. Enable's operating income increased primarily due to an increase in gross margin of $167.0 million and a decrease in impairments of $9.0 million that increased the Company's equity in earnings of Enable by $42.9 million and $2.3 million, respectively, partially offset by an increase in depreciation and amortization expense of $28.0 million, an increase in interest expense of $21.0 million and an increase in preferred distributions of $14.0 million that decreased the Company's equity in earnings of Enable by $7.2 million, $5.4 million and $3.6 million, respectively.
Enable's gathering and processing business segment reported an increase in operating income of $131.0 million. The increase in operating income was primarily due to an increase in gross margin of $160.0 million that increased the Company's equity in earnings of Enable by $41.1 million. The increase in gross margin was partially offset by an increase in depreciation and amortization expense of $20.0 million and an increase in operations and maintenance and general and administrative expenses of $13.0 million that decreased the Company's equity in earnings of Enable by $5.1 million and $3.3 million, respectively. Gathering and processing gross margin increased primarily due to an increase in gross margin from natural gas sales due to higher average natural gas prices and higher gathering volumes in the Anadarko and Ark-La-Tex Basins, an increase in processing margins resulting from higher average NGL prices and higher processed volumes in the Anadarko Basin, an increase in gathering margin due to increased gathering volumes in the Anadarko and Ark-La-Tex Basins and increased billings under minimum volume commitments in the Arkoma Basin and an increase in gross margin from changes in the fair value of condensate and NGL derivatives.
Enable's transportation and storage business segment reported an increase in operating income of $13.0 million. The increase in operating income was primarily due to a decrease in operations and maintenance and general and administrative expenses of $12.0 million and an increase in gross margin of $10.0 million that increased the Company's equity in earnings of Enable by $3.1 million and $2.6 million, respectively. These increases were partially offset by an increase of depreciation and amortization expense of $8.0 million that decreased the Company's equity in earnings of Enable by $2.1 million. Transportation and storage gross margin increased primarily due to an increase in gross margin from changes in the fair value of natural gas derivatives, an increase in NGL sales due to an increase in transported volumes and NGL prices and an increase in off-system transportation margins. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in system management activities, a decrease in firm transportation services between Carthage, Texas and Perryville, Louisiana and a decrease in realized gains on natural gas derivatives.
Income tax benefit was $195.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to income tax expense of $40.5 million during the same period in 2016. The change is primarily due to a remeasurement of federal deferred taxes related to the 2017 Tax Act, a remeasurement of state deferred taxes and return to provision adjustments related to the Company's investment in Enable during the year ended December 31, 2016, offset by higher pre-tax operating income.
Year Ended December 31, 2016 as compared to Year Ended December 31, 2015
OGE Holdings' earnings before taxes increased $85.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the same period of 2015, primarily due to an increase in equity in earnings of Enable of $86.3 million. The increase in the Company's equity in earnings of Enable was primarily attributable to an increase of $1.097 billion in Enable's operating income during the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to 2015. This increase was primarily due to goodwill and asset impairments recorded by Enable in 2015 of $1.125 billion, which resulted in the Company recognizing a $108.4 million goodwill impairment during 2015, as adjusted for basis differences. In addition, a decrease in operation and maintenance expense that includes administrative expense of $56.0 million increased the Company's equity in earnings of Enable by approximately $15.0 million and was partially offset by a decrease in Enable's gross margin of $66.0 million that decreased the Company's equity in earnings of Enable by $17.0 million.
Enable's gathering and processing business segment reported an increase in operating income of $499 million. Goodwill and asset impairments recorded in 2015 positively impacted operating income by $534 million in 2016. Absent the impact of such impairment, operating income decreased $35 million primarily due to a reduction in gross margin of $33 million and an increase in depreciation and amortization expense of $17 million that decreased the Company's equity in earnings of Enable by $9 million and $4 million, respectively. These changes were partially offset by a decrease of $17 million in operation and maintenance expenses that increased the Company's equity in earnings of Enable by $4 million. Gathering and processing gross margin decreased primarily due to lower commodity prices and a decrease due to one-time project reimbursements partially offset by increased volumes in the Williston Basin, increased billings under minimum volume commitments, higher rates on fee-based gathering services and an increase in the imbalance receivable associated with the annual fuel rate determination.
Enable's transportation and storage segment reported an increase in operating income of $601 million. Goodwill and asset impairments recorded in 2015 represented $591 million of this increase; further, a decrease of $39 million in operation and maintenance expense increased the Company's equity in earnings of Enable by $10 million. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in gross margin of $29 million that decreased the Company's equity in earnings of Enable by $8 million, primarily due to lower margin on unrealized natural gas derivatives, lower system management activities and lower firm transportation revenues partially offset by an increase in gross margin from transportation services for local distribution companies.
Over the course of 2015 and continuing into 2016, natural gas and crude oil prices have dropped to their lowest levels in over 10 years. Should lower commodity prices persist, or should commodity prices decline further, Enable's future operating results and cash flows could be negatively impacted.
Income tax expense was $40.5 million in 2016 as compared to a benefit of $1.0 million in 2015, an increase in expense of $41.5 million primarily due to higher pre-tax operating income and a state deferred tax revaluation resulting from a change in state tax rates.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement
OG&E Railcar Lease Agreement
OG&E has a noncancellable operating lease with a purchase option, covering 1,243 rotary gondola railcars to transport coal from Wyoming to OG&E's coal-fired generation units. Rental payments are charged to fuel expense and are recovered through OG&E's tariffs and fuel adjustment clauses.
On December 17, 2015, OG&E renewed the lease agreement effective February 1, 2016. At the end of the new lease term, which is February 1, 2019, OG&E has the option to either purchase the railcars at a stipulated fair market value or renew the lease. If OG&E chooses not to purchase the railcars or renew the lease agreement and the actual fair value of the railcars is less than the stipulated fair market value, OG&E would be responsible for the difference in those values up to a maximum of $18.2 million. OG&E is also required to maintain all of the railcars it has under the operating lease.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Working Capital
Working capital is defined as the difference in current assets and current liabilities. The Company's working capital requirements are driven generally by changes in accounts receivable, accounts payable, commodity prices, credit extended to and the timing of collections from customers, the level and timing of spending for maintenance and expansion activity, inventory levels and fuel recoveries.
Accounts Receivable and Accrued Unbilled Revenues. The balance of Accounts Receivable and Accrued Unbilled Revenues was $257.1 million and $235.2 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, an increase of $21.9 million, or 9.3 percent, primarily due to an increase in billings to OG&E's retail customers.
Other Current Assets. The balance of Other Current Assets was $54.6 million and $81.8 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, a decrease of $27.2 million, or 33.3 percent, primarily due to increased revenue collections from customers associated with various rate riders.
Short-Term Debt. The balance of Short-term Debt was $168.4 million and $236.2 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, a decrease of $67.8 million, or 28.7 percent. The Company borrows on a short-term basis, as necessary, by the issuance of commercial paper and by borrowings under its revolving credit agreements. The decrease in 2017 compared to 2016 was primarily due to the repayment of short-term debt from the proceeds of the senior notes issuance in both March and August 2017.
Accounts Payable. The balance of Accounts Payable was $230.4 million and $205.4 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, an increase of $25.0 million, or 12.2 percent, primarily due to the timing of vendor payments and accruals, partially offset by a decrease in fuel and purchased power payables.
Accrued Compensation. The balance of Accrued Compensation was $35.9 million and $45.1 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, a decrease of $9.2 million, or 20.4 percent, primarily due to lower accruals for incentive compensation payouts.
Long-Term Debt Due Within One Year. The balance of Long-Term Debt Due Within One Year was $249.8 million and $224.7 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, an increase of $25.1 million, or 11.2 percent, primarily due to the reclassification of long-term debt that will mature on September 1, 2018, partially offset by debt that matured July 15, 2017 and November 24, 2017.
Fuel Clause Recoveries. The balance of Fuel Clause Over Recoveries was $1.7 million at December 31, 2017 compared to a Fuel Clause Under Recoveries balance of $51.3 million at December 31, 2016. The change is primarily due to higher recoveries from OG&E retail customers as compared to the actual cost of fuel and purchased power.
Other Current Liabilities. The balance of Other Current Liabilities was $28.7 million and $96.0 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, a decrease of $67.3 million, or 70.1 percent, primarily due to amounts refunded to customers in 2017.
Cash Flows
* Greater than a 100 percent variance.
Operating Activities
The increase of $139.8 million, or 21.7 percent, in net cash provided from operating activities in 2017 as compared to 2016 was primarily due to increased amounts received from customers, primarily due to recovery of fuel costs, and increased equity in earnings of Enable, partially offset by an increase in vendor payments. Cash distributions from Enable did not change compared to prior year; however, the increase in equity in earnings of Enable resulted in an increased portion of the cash distributions being classified as a return on investment in operating activities as opposed to the prior year classification as a return of investment in investing activities.
The decrease of $222.4 million, or 25.6 percent, in net cash provided from operating activities in 2016 as compared to 2015 was primarily due to a return of cash from fuel over recoveries to customers at OG&E.
Investing Activities
The increase of $201.5 million, or 32.5 percent, in net cash used in investing activities in 2017 as compared to 2016 was primarily due to an increase in capital expenditures related to environmental projects at OG&E and a decrease in return of investment. An increase in equity in earnings of Enable resulted in an increased portion of cash distributions from Enable being classified as a return on investment in operating activities as opposed to the prior year classification as a return of investment in investing activities.
The increase of $120.3 million, or 24.1 percent, in net cash used in investing activities in 2016 as compared to 2015 was primarily due to an increase in capital expenditures related to environmental projects at OG&E.
Financing Activities
The increase of $150.7 million in net cash provided from financing activities in 2017 as compared to 2016 was primarily due to the issuance by OG&E of $300.0 million in long-term debt in each of March 2017 and August 2017, partially offset by a decrease in short-term debt and the payment of $100.0 million in long-term debt in November 2017.
The decrease of $198.1 million, or 66.6 percent, in net cash used in financing activities in 2016 as compared to 2015 was primarily due to an increase in short-term debt, partially offset by the payment of $110.0 million in long-term debt during the first quarter of 2016.
2017 Capital Requirements, Sources of Financing and Financing Activities
Total capital requirements, consisting of capital expenditures and maturities of long-term debt, were $1,049.2 million, and contractual obligations, net of recoveries through fuel adjustment clauses, were $78.8 million, resulting in total net capital requirements and contractual obligations of $1,128.0 million in 2017, of which $213.9 million was to comply with environmental regulations. This compares to net capital requirements of $770.3 million and net contractual obligations of $82.6 million totaling $852.9 million in 2016, of which $135.8 million was to comply with environmental regulations.
In 2017, the Company's primary sources of capital were cash generated from operations, proceeds from the issuance of short-term debt and distributions from Enable. Changes in working capital reflect the seasonal nature of the Company's business, the revenue lag between billing and collection from customers and fuel inventories. See "Working Capital" for a discussion of significant changes in net working capital requirements as it pertains to operating cash flow and liquidity.
The Dodd-Frank Act
Derivative instruments have been used at times in managing OG&E's commodity price exposure. The Dodd-Frank Act, among other things, provides for regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission of certain commodity-related contracts. Although OG&E qualifies for an end-user exception from mandatory clearing of commodity-related swaps, these regulations could affect the ability of OG&E to participate in these markets and could add additional regulatory oversight over its contracting activities.
Future Capital Requirements
The Company's primary needs for capital are related to acquiring or constructing new facilities and replacing or expanding existing facilities at OG&E. Other working capital requirements are expected to be primarily related to maturing debt, operating lease obligations, fuel clause under and over recoveries and other general corporate purposes. The Company generally meets its cash needs through a combination of cash generated from operations, short-term borrowings (through a combination of bank borrowings and commercial paper) and permanent financings.
Capital Expenditures
The Company's consolidated estimates of capital expenditures for the years 2018 through 2022 are shown in the following table. These capital expenditures represent the base maintenance capital expenditures (i.e., capital expenditures to maintain and operate the Company's businesses) plus capital expenditures for known and committed projects. Estimated capital expenditures for Enable are not included in the table below.
(A)
Future transmission capital expenditures include the following:
(B)
Represent capital costs associated with OG&E’s ECP to comply with the EPA’s Regional Haze Rule. More detailed discussion regarding the Regional Haze Rule and OG&E’s ECP can be found in Note 14 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" and in "Environmental Laws and Regulations" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
Additional capital expenditures beyond those identified in the table above, including additional incremental growth opportunities in electric transmission assets, will be evaluated based upon their impact upon achieving the Company's financial objectives.
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes the Company's contractual obligations at December 31, 2017. See the Company's Consolidated Statements of Capitalization and Note 13 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional information.
(A)
Maturities of the Company's long-term debt during the next five years consist of $250.1 million, $250.1 million, $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
(B)
Includes expected recoveries of costs incurred for OG&E's railcar operating lease obligations, OG&E's expected cogeneration energy payments, OG&E's minimum fuel purchase commitments and OG&E's expected wind purchase commitments.
OG&E also has 440 MWs of QF contracts to meet its current and future expected customer needs. OG&E will continue reviewing all of the supply alternatives to these QF contracts that minimize the total cost of generation to its customers, including exercising its options (if applicable) to extend these QF contracts at pre-determined rates.
The actual cost of fuel used in electric generation (which includes the operating lease obligations for OG&E's railcar leases shown above) and certain purchased power costs are passed through to OG&E's customers through fuel adjustment clauses. Accordingly, while the cost of fuel related to operating leases and the vast majority of minimum fuel purchase commitments of OG&E noted above may increase capital requirements, such costs are recoverable through fuel adjustment clauses and have little, if any, impact on net capital requirements and future contractual obligations. The fuel adjustment clauses are subject to periodic review by the OCC and the APSC.
Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans
At December 31, 2017, 35.6 percent of the Pension Plan investments were in listed common stocks with the balance primarily invested in corporate fixed income, other securities and U.S. Treasury notes and bonds as presented in Note 11 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data." During 2017, actual returns on the Pension Plan were $84.4 million, compared to expected return on plan assets of $42.6 million. During the same time, corporate bond yields, which are used in determining the discount rate for future pension obligations, decreased. Funding levels are dependent on returns on plan assets and future discount rates. The Company made a $20.0 million contribution to its Pension Plan in both 2017 and 2016. The Company has not determined whether it will need to make any contributions to the Pension Plan in 2018. The Company could be required to make additional contributions if the value of its pension trust and postretirement benefit plan trust assets are adversely impacted by a major market disruption in the future.
The following table presents the status of the Company's Pension Plan, the Restoration of Retirement Income Plan and the postretirement benefit plans at December 31, 2017 and 2016. These amounts have been recorded in Accrued Benefit Obligations with the offset in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (except OG&E's portion, which is recorded as a regulatory asset as discussed in Note 1 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data") in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss and those recorded as a regulatory asset represent a net periodic benefit cost to be recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income in future periods.
Common Stock Dividends
The Company's dividend policy is reviewed by the Board of Directors at least annually and is based on numerous factors, including management's estimation of the long-term earnings power of its businesses. The Company's financial objective includes dividend increases of approximately 10 percent annually through 2019. The targeted annual dividend increase has been determined after consideration of numerous factors, including the largely retail composition of the Company's shareholder base, the Company's financial position, the Company's growth targets and the composition of the Company's assets and investment opportunities. At the Company's September 2017 board meeting, the Board of Directors approved management's recommendation of a 10 percent increase in the quarterly dividend rate to $0.3325 per share from $0.3025 per share effective in October 2017.
Financing Activities and Future Sources of Financing
Management expects that cash generated from operations, proceeds from the issuance of long and short-term debt, proceeds from the sales of common stock to the public through the Company's Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan or other offerings and distributions from Enable will be adequate over the next three years to meet anticipated cash needs and to fund future growth opportunities. The Company utilizes short-term borrowings (through a combination of bank borrowings and commercial paper) to satisfy temporary working capital needs and as an interim source of financing capital expenditures until permanent financing is arranged.
Short-Term Debt and Credit Facilities
Short-term borrowings generally are used to meet working capital requirements. The Company borrows on a short-term basis, as necessary, by the issuance of commercial paper and by borrowings under its revolving credit agreement. In March 2017, the Company and OG&E each entered into new $450.0 million unsecured revolving credit agreements which expire March 2022. These bank facilities can also be used as letter of credit facilities. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $168.4 million of short-term debt compared to $236.2 million at December 31, 2016. The average balance of short-term debt in 2017 was $175.7 million at a weighted-average interest rate of 1.30 percent. The maximum month-end balance of short-term debt in 2017 was $260.1 million. At December 31, 2017, the Company had $731.3 million of net available liquidity under its revolving credit agreements. OG&E has the necessary regulatory approvals to incur up to $800.0 million in short-term borrowings at any one time for a two-year period beginning January 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2017, the Company had $14.4 million in cash and cash equivalents. See Note 10 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further discussion.
Issuance of Long-Term Debt
In March 2017, OG&E issued $300.0 million of 4.15 percent senior notes due April 1, 2047. The proceeds from the issuance were used for general corporate purposes, including to repay short-term debt, to repay borrowings under the revolving credit facility, to fund the payment of OG&E's $125.0 million of 6.5 percent senior notes that matured on July 15, 2017 and to fund ongoing capital expenditures and working capital.
In August 2017, OG&E issued $300.0 million of 3.85 percent senior notes due August 15, 2047. The proceeds from the issuance were used for general corporate purposes, including to repay short-term debt, to repay borrowings under the revolving credit facility and to fund ongoing capital expenditures and working capital.
Security Ratings
Access to reasonably priced capital is dependent in part on credit and security ratings. Generally, lower ratings lead to higher financing costs. Pricing grids associated with the Company's credit facilities could cause annual fees and borrowing rates to increase if an adverse rating impact occurs. The impact of any future downgrade could include an increase in the costs of the Company's short-term borrowings, but a reduction in the Company's credit ratings would not result in any defaults or accelerations. Any future downgrade could also lead to higher long-term borrowing costs and, if below investment grade, would require the Company to post collateral or letters of credit.
A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. Such rating may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the credit rating agency, and each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.
On June 29, 2017, Moody's Investors Service revised the rating outlooks on the Company and OG&E from stable to negative. Moody's Investors Service indicated that the revised outlooks reflect the potential for a decline in financial metrics amidst some uncertainty over cost recovery and earned returns in Oklahoma. The revised outlooks did not trigger any collateral requirements or change fees under the revolving credit agreements.
Future financing requirements may be dependent, to varying degrees, upon numerous factors such as general economic conditions, abnormal weather, load growth, commodity prices, acquisitions of other businesses and/or development of projects, actions by rating agencies, inflation, changes in environmental laws or regulations, rate increases or decreases allowed by regulatory agencies, new legislation and market entry of competing electric power generators.
Common Stock
The Company does not expect to issue any common stock in 2018 from its Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. See Note 8 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for a discussion of the Company's common stock activity.
Distributions by Enable
Pursuant to the Enable Limited Partnership Agreement, Enable made distributions of $141.2 million, $141.2 million and $139.3 million to the Company during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. On June 22, 2016, Enable's Limited Partnership Agreement was amended to change the last permitted distribution date from 45 days to 60 days after the close of each quarter. Enable's General Partner Agreement was amended to change the distribution deadline from 50 days after the close of each quarter to five days following distributions by Enable.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contain information that is pertinent to Management's Discussion and Analysis. In preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets
and contingent liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Changes to these assumptions and estimates could have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. However, the Company believes it has taken reasonable positions where assumptions and estimates are used in order to minimize the negative financial impact to the Company that could result if actual results vary from the assumptions and estimates. In management's opinion, the areas of the Company where the most significant judgment is exercised includes the determination of Pension Plan assumptions, income taxes, contingency reserves, asset retirement obligations and depreciable lives of property, plant and equipment. For the electric utility segment, significant judgment is also exercised in the determination of regulatory assets and liabilities and unbilled revenues. The selection, application and disclosure of the following critical accounting estimates have been discussed with the Company's Audit Committee. The Company discusses its significant accounting policies, including those that do not require management to make difficult, subjective or complex judgments or estimates, in Note 1 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans
The Company has a Pension Plan that covers a significant amount of the Company's employees hired before December 1, 2009. Effective December 1, 2009, the Company's Pension Plan is no longer being offered to employees hired on or after December 1, 2009. The Company also has defined benefit postretirement plans that cover a significant amount of its employees. Pension and other postretirement plan expenses and liabilities are determined on an actuarial basis and are affected by the market value of plan assets, estimates of the expected return on plan assets, assumed discount rates and the level of funding. Actual changes in the fair market value of plan assets and differences between the actual return on plan assets and the expected return on plan assets could have a material effect on the amount of pension expense ultimately recognized. The Pension Plan rate assumptions are shown in Note 11 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data." The assumed return on plan assets is based on management's expectation of the long-term return on the plan assets portfolio. The discount rate used to compute the present value of plan liabilities is based generally on rates of high-grade corporate bonds with maturities similar to the average period over which benefits will be paid. Funding levels are dependent on returns on plan assets and future discount rates. Higher returns on plan assets and an increase in discount rates will reduce funding requirements to the Pension Plan. The following table indicates the sensitivity of the Pension Plan funded status to these variables.
Income Taxes
The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, a deferred tax asset or liability is recognized for the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities as well as tax credit carry forwards and net operating loss carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period of the change.
The application of income tax law is complex. Laws and regulations in this area are voluminous and often ambiguous. Interpretations and guidance surrounding income tax laws and regulations change over time. Accordingly, it is necessary to make judgments regarding income tax exposure. As a result, changes in these judgments can materially affect amounts the Company recognized in its consolidated financial statements. Tax positions taken by the Company on its income tax returns that are recognized in the financial statements must satisfy a more likely than not recognition threshold, assuming that the position will be examined by taxing authorities with full knowledge of all relevant information.
On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed the 2017 Tax Act into law, significantly changing U.S. corporate income tax laws. The 2017 Tax Act reduces the corporate federal tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. See Note 7 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further discussion of the effects of the 2017 Tax Act.
Asset Retirement Obligations
The Company has recorded asset retirement obligations that are being accreted over their respective lives ranging from three to 74 years. The inputs used in the valuation of asset retirement obligations include the assumed life of the asset placed into service, the average inflation rate, market risk premium, the credit-adjusted risk free interest rate and the timing of incurring costs related to the retirement of the asset.
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
OG&E, as a regulated utility, is subject to accounting principles for certain types of rate-regulated activities, which provide that certain incurred costs that would otherwise be charged to expense can be deferred as regulatory assets, based on the expected recovery from customers in future rates. Likewise, certain actual or anticipated credits that would otherwise reduce expense can be deferred as regulatory liabilities, based on the expected flowback to customers in future rates. Management's expected recovery of deferred costs and flowback of deferred credits generally results from specific decisions by regulators granting such ratemaking treatment.
OG&E records certain incurred costs and obligations as regulatory assets or liabilities if, based on regulatory orders or other available evidence, it is probable that the costs or obligations will be included in amounts allowable for recovery or refund in future rates. The benefit obligations regulatory asset is comprised of expenses recorded which are probable of future recovery and that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost, including net loss and prior service cost.
See Note 1 and Note 7 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further discussion of the 2017 Tax Act's impact on OG&E's regulatory assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2017.
Unbilled Revenues
OG&E recognizes revenue from electric sales when power is delivered to customers. OG&E reads its customers' meters and sends bills to its customers throughout each month. As a result, there is a significant amount of customers' electricity consumption that has not been billed at the end of each month. OG&E accrues an estimate of the revenues for electric sales delivered since the latest billings. Unbilled revenue is presented in Accrued Unbilled Revenues on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and in Operating Revenues on the Consolidated Statements of Income based on estimates of usage and prices during the period. At December 31, 2017, if the estimated usage or price used in the unbilled revenue calculation were to increase or decrease by one percent, this would cause a change in the unbilled revenues recognized of $0.5 million. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, Accrued Unbilled Revenues were $66.5 million and $59.7 million, respectively. The estimates that management uses in this calculation could vary from the actual amounts to be paid by customers.
Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts Receivable
Customer balances are generally written off if not collected within six months after the final billing date. The allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable for OG&E is calculated by multiplying the last six months of electric revenue by the provision rate, which is based on a 12-month historical average of actual balances written off. To the extent the historical collection rates are not representative of future collections, there could be an effect on the amount of uncollectible expense recognized. Also, a portion of the uncollectible provision related to fuel within the Oklahoma jurisdiction is being recovered through the fuel adjustment clause. At December 31, 2017, if the provision rate were to increase or decrease by 10 percent, this would cause a change in the uncollectible expense recognized of $0.1 million. The allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable is a reduction to Accounts Receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and is included in the Other Operation and Maintenance Expense on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable was $1.5 million at both December 31, 2017 and 2016.
Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for discussion of current accounting pronouncements that are applicable to the Company.
Commitments and Contingencies
In the normal course of business, the Company is confronted with issues or events that may result in a contingent liability. These generally relate to lawsuits or claims made by third parties, including governmental agencies. When appropriate, management consults with legal counsel and other experts to assess the claim. If, in management's opinion, the Company has
incurred a probable loss as set forth by GAAP, an estimate is made of the loss, and the appropriate accounting entries are reflected in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. At the present time, based on available information, the Company believes that any reasonably possible losses in excess of accrued amounts arising out of pending or threatened lawsuits or claims would not be quantitatively material to its financial statements and would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See Note 13 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" and "Item 3. Legal Proceedings" for a discussion of the Company's commitments and contingencies.
Environmental Laws and Regulations
The activities of the Company are subject to numerous stringent and complex federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental protection. These laws and regulations can change, restrict or otherwise impact OG&E's business activities in many ways, including the handling or disposal of waste material, planning for future construction activities to avoid or mitigate harm to threatened or endangered species and requiring the installation and operation of emissions control equipment. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements and the issuance of orders enjoining future operations. Management believes that all of its operations are in substantial compliance with current federal, state and local environmental standards.
Environmental regulation can increase the cost of planning, design, initial installation and operation of OG&E's facilities. OG&E is managing several potentially material uncertainties about the scope and timing for the acquisition, installation and operation of additional pollution control equipment and compliance costs for a variety of the EPA rules that are being challenged in court. OG&E is unable to predict the financial impact of these matters with certainty at this time. Management continues to evaluate its compliance with existing and proposed environmental legislation and regulations and implement appropriate environmental programs in a competitive market.
It is estimated that OG&E's total expenditures to comply with environmental laws, regulations and requirements for 2018 will be $189.2 million, of which $170.0 million is for capital expenditures. It is estimated that OG&E's total expenditures to comply with environmental laws, regulations and requirements for 2019 will be approximately $51.8 million, of which $35.2 million is for capital expenditures. The amounts for OG&E above include capital expenditures for Dry Scrubbers and conversion of two coal-fueled units to natural gas.
Air
Federal Clean Air Act Overview
OG&E’s operations are subject to the Federal Clean Air Act, as amended, and comparable state laws and regulations. These laws and regulations regulate emissions of air pollutants from various industrial sources, including electric generating units, and also impose various monitoring and reporting requirements. Such laws and regulations may require that OG&E obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of certain projects or facilities expected to produce air emissions or result in the increase of existing air emissions, obtain and strictly comply with air permits containing various emissions and operational limitations or install emission control equipment. OG&E likely will be required to incur certain capital expenditures in the future for air pollution control equipment and technology in connection with obtaining and maintaining operating permits and approvals for air emissions.
Regional Haze Control Measures
The EPA's 2005 Regional Haze Rule is intended to protect visibility in certain national parks and wilderness areas throughout the U.S. that may be impacted by air pollutant emissions. On December 28, 2011, the EPA issued a final Regional Haze Rule for Oklahoma which adopted a FIP for SO2 emissions at Sooner Units 1 and 2 and Muskogee Units 4 and 5. The FIP compliance date is January 4, 2019 as a result of an appeal filed by OG&E and others.
OG&E's strategy for satisfying the FIP includes installing Dry Scrubbers at Sooner Units 1 and 2 and the conversion of Muskogee Units 4 and 5 to natural gas. As described in Note 14 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," the OCC has approved the Company's decision to install Dry Scrubbers at the Sooner units. As of December 31, 2017, OG&E has invested $401.3 million in the Dry Scrubbers and $13.0 million in the Muskogee gas conversion.
Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
In August 2011, the EPA finalized its CSAPR that required 27 states in the eastern half of the U.S. (including Oklahoma) to reduce power plant emissions that contribute to ozone and particulate matter pollution in other states. Litigation challenging the
rule prevented it from entering into effect until 2014. Several parties to that litigation, including OG&E, have petitions for review that remain pending although the rule is now effective. Compliance with the CSAPR began in 2015 using the amount of allowances originally scheduled to be available in 2012. As of December 31, 2017, OG&E has installed seven low NOX burner systems on two Muskogee units, two Sooner units and three Seminole units and is in compliance.
On September 7, 2016, the EPA finalized an update to the 2011 CSAPR. The new rule applies to ozone-season NOX in 22 eastern states (including Oklahoma), utilizes a cap and trade program for NOX emissions and took effect on May 1, 2017. The rule reduces the 2016 CSAPR emissions cap for all seven of OG&E’s coal and gas facilities by 47 percent combined. OG&E and numerous other parties filed petitions for judicial and administrative review of the 2016 rule. Those petitions all are pending without any relevant substantive decisions by the authorities.
Due to the pending litigation and administrative proceedings, the ultimate timing and impact of the 2016 CSAPR update rule on our operations cannot be determined with certainty at this time. However, the Company does not anticipate additional capital expenditures beyond what has already been disclosed and does not expect that the reduced emissions cap, if upheld, will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Hazardous Air Pollutants Emission Standards
On February 16, 2012, the EPA published the final MATS rule regulating the emissions of certain hazardous air pollutants from electric generating units, which became effective April 16, 2012. The Company believes that it complied with the MATS rule by the April 16, 2016 deadline that applied to OG&E. Nonetheless, there is continuing litigation, to which the Company is not a party, challenging whether the EPA had statutory authority to issue the MATS rule. The Company cannot predict the outcome of this litigation or how it will affect the Company.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
The EPA is required to set NAAQS for certain pollutants considered to be harmful to public health or the environment. The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to review each NAAQS every five years. As a result of these reviews, the EPA periodically has taken action to adopt more stringent NAAQS for those pollutants. If any areas of Oklahoma were to be designated as not attaining the NAAQS for a particular pollutant, the Company could be required to install additional emission controls on its facilities to help the state achieve attainment with the NAAQS. As of the end of 2017, no areas of Oklahoma had been designated as non-attainment for pollutants that are likely to affect the Company's operations. Several processes are under way to designate areas in Oklahoma as attaining or not attaining revised NAAQS.
The EPA proposed to designate part of Muskogee County in which OG&E's Muskogee Power Plant is located as non-attainment for the 2010 SO2 NAAQS on March 1, 2016, even though nearby monitors indicate compliance with the NAAQS. The proposed designation is based on modeling that does not reflect the planned conversion of two of the coal units at Muskogee to natural gas. OG&E commented that the EPA should defer a designation of the area to allow time for additional monitoring. The State of Oklahoma's revised monitoring plan was approved by the EPA, and the required monitoring commenced at the beginning of 2017 and will continue through the end of 2019. Nonetheless, the EPA has a deadline for making a decision on the designation pursuant to a consent decree entered by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to resolve a citizen suit. The deadline has been extended several times, with the current deadline being August 26, 2017, but a decision has yet to be reached. It is unclear what impact, if any, the consent decree deadline will have on the monitoring plan. At this time, OG&E cannot determine with any certainty whether the proposed designation of Muskogee County will cause a material impact to OG&E's financial results. The EPA has published final decisions on all other areas of Oklahoma. In this decision, Noble County, in which the Sooner plant is located, was deemed to be in attainment with the 2010 standard.
On September 30, 2015, the EPA finalized a NAAQS for ozone at 70 ppb, which is more stringent than the previous standard of 75 ppb, set in 2008. In September 2016, Governor Mary Fallin submitted to the EPA the recommendation of "attainment/unclassifiable" for all 77 counties in Oklahoma. This recommendation is subject to approval by the EPA. In a letter to Oklahoma dated December 20, 2017, the EPA proposed to approve this recommendation.
The Company is monitoring those processes and their possible impact on its operations but, at this time, cannot determine with any certainty whether they will cause a material impact to the Company's financial results.
Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
There is continuing discussion and evaluation of possible global climate change in certain regulatory and legislative arenas. The focus is generally on emissions of greenhouse gases, including CO2, sulfur hexafluoride and methane, and whether these emissions are contributing to the warming of the earth's atmosphere. On June 1, 2017, President Trump announced that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord and begin negotiations to re-enter the agreement with different terms. A new agreement may result in future additional emissions reductions in the U.S.; however, it is not possible to determine what the international legal standards for greenhouse gas emissions will be in the future and the extent to which these commitments will be implemented through the Clean Air Act or any other existing statutes and new legislation.
If legislation or regulations are passed at the federal or state levels in the future requiring mandatory reductions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases on the Company's facilities, this could result in significant additional compliance costs that would affect the Company’s future financial position, results of operations and cash flows if such costs are not recovered through regulated rates. Several states outside the area where the Company operates have passed laws, adopted regulations or undertaken regulatory initiatives to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, primarily through the planned development of greenhouse gas emission inventories and/or regional greenhouse gas cap and trade programs.
On October 23, 2015, the EPA published the final Clean Power Plan that established standards of performance for CO2 emissions from existing fossil-fuel-fired power plants along with state-specific CO2 reduction standards expressed as both rate-based (lbs./MWh) and mass-based (tons/yr.) goals. However, the rule was challenged in court when it was issued, and the U.S. Supreme Court issued orders staying implementation of the Clean Power Plan on February 9, 2016 pending resolution of the court challenges. The EPA published a proposal on October 16, 2017 to repeal the Clean Power Plan. In addition, the EPA published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comments on regulatory options for replacing the Clean Power Plan. The ultimate timing and impact of these standards on OG&E's operations cannot be determined with certainty at this time, although a requirement for significant reduction of CO2 emissions from existing fossil-fuel-fired power plants ultimately could result in significant additional compliance costs that would affect the Company's future consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows if such costs are not recovered through regulated rates.
Nonetheless, OG&E’s current business strategy will result in a reduced carbon emissions rate compared to current levels. As discussed in Note 14 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" under "Pending Regulatory Matters," OG&E's plan to comply with the EPA’s MATS rule and Regional Haze Rule FIP includes converting two coal-fired generating units at the Muskogee Station to natural gas, among other measures. OG&E’s deployment of Smart Grid technology helps to reduce the peak load demand. OG&E is also deploying more renewable energy sources that do not emit greenhouse gases. OG&E's service territory borders one of the nation's best wind resource areas, and OG&E has leveraged its geographic position to develop renewable energy resources and completed transmission investments to deliver the renewable energy. The SPP has begun to authorize the construction of transmission lines capable of bringing renewable energy out of the wind resource areas in western Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle and western Kansas to load centers by planning for more transmission to be built in the area. In addition to increasing overall system reliability, these new transmission resources should provide greater access to additional wind resources that are currently constrained due to existing transmission delivery limitations.
EPA Startup, Shutdown and Malfunction Policy
On May 22, 2015, the EPA issued a final rule to address the provisions in the SIPs of 36 states (including Oklahoma) regarding the treatment of emissions that occur during startup, shutdown and malfunction operations. The final rule clarifies the EPA's Startup, Shutdown and Malfunction Policy. Although judicial challenges to the rule are ongoing, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality submitted a SIP revision for the EPA's approval on November 7, 2016 to comply with this rule. This rule has resulted in permit modifications for certain OG&E units. The Company does not anticipate capital expenditures or a material impact to its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows, as a result of adoption of this rule.
Air Quality Control System
On September 10, 2014, OG&E executed a contract for the design, engineering and fabrication of two circulating Dry Scrubber systems to be installed at Sooner Units 1 and 2. OG&E entered into an agreement on February 9, 2015 to install the Dry Scrubber systems. The Dry Scrubbers are expected to be completed in mid to late 2018. More detail regarding the ECP can be found under the "Pending Regulatory Matters" section of Note 14 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
Endangered Species
Certain federal laws, including the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act, provide special protection to certain designated species. These laws and any state equivalents provide for significant civil and criminal penalties for unpermitted activities that result in harm to or harassment of certain protected animals and plants, including damage to their habitats. If such species are located in an area in which the Company conducts operations, or if additional species in those areas become subject to protection, the Company’s operations and development projects, particularly transmission, wind or pipeline projects, could be restricted or delayed, or the Company could be required to implement expensive mitigation measures.
Waste
OG&E's operations generate wastes that are subject to the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 as well as comparable state laws which impose detailed requirements for the handling, storage, treatment and disposal of waste.
On December 19, 2014, the EPA finalized a rule under the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act for the handling and disposal of coal combustion residuals or coal ash. The final rule regulates coal ash as a solid waste rather than a hazardous waste, which would have made the management of coal ash more costly. The final rule is currently being appealed at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. OG&E is in compliance with this rule at this time.
On January 16, 2018, the EPA proposed to approve the application from the State of Oklahoma to administer the Coal Combustion Residual rule in lieu of the "self-implementing" oversight authorities under the EPA coal ash rule of 2015. Oklahoma has incorporated all of the required elements of the EPA Coal Combustion Residual rule into the state permit program. Upon final approval by the EPA, the state Coal Combustion Residual program will operate in lieu of the self-implementing governance as per the final, 2015 EPA coal ash rule.
The Company has sought and will continue to seek pollution prevention opportunities and to evaluate the effectiveness of its waste reduction, reuse and recycling efforts. In 2017, the Company obtained refunds of $2.1 million from the recycling of scrap metal, salvaged transformers and used transformer oil. This figure does not include the additional savings gained through the reduction and/or avoidance of disposal costs and the reduction in material purchases due to the reuse of existing materials. Similar savings are anticipated in future years.
Water
OG&E's operations are subject to the Federal Clean Water Act and comparable state laws and regulations. These laws and regulations impose detailed requirements and strict controls regarding the discharge of pollutants into state and federal waters.
The EPA issued a final rule on May 19, 2014 to implement Section 316(b) of the Federal Clean Water Act, which requires that power plant cooling water intake structure location, design, construction and capacity reflect the best available technology for minimizing their adverse environmental impact via the impingement and entrainment of aquatic organisms. OG&E submitted compliance plans to the State of Oklahoma in April 2015. On December 22, 2017, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality issued a final permit for Muskogee Power Plant in compliance with the final 316(b) rule, which did not incur material cost. OG&E expects to be able to provide a reasonable estimate of any material costs associated with the rule's implementation at other facilities following the future issuance of permits from the State of Oklahoma.
On September 30, 2015, the EPA issued a final rule addressing the effluent limitation guidelines for power plants under the Federal Clean Water Act. The final rule establishes technology and performance based standards that may apply to discharges of six waste streams including bottom ash transport water. Compliance with this rule occurs between 2018 and 2023. OG&E is evaluating what, if any, compliance actions are needed but is not able to quantify with any certainty what costs may be incurred. OG&E expects to be able to provide a reasonable estimate of any material costs associated with the rule's implementation following issuance of the permits from the State of Oklahoma.
Site Remediation
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 and comparable state laws impose liability, without regard to the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes of persons responsible for the release of hazardous substances into the environment. Because OG&E utilizes various products and generate wastes that are considered hazardous substances for purposes of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, OG&E could be subject to liability for the costs of cleaning up and restoring sites where those substances have been released to the environment. At this time, it is not anticipated that any associated liability will cause a significant impact to OG&E.
For a further discussion regarding contingencies relating to environmental laws and regulations, see Note 13 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Market risks are, in most cases, risks that are actively traded in a marketplace and have been well studied in regards to quantification. Market risks include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates and commodity prices. The Company's exposure to changes in interest rates relates primarily to short-term variable-rate debt and commercial paper. The Company is exposed to commodity prices in its operations.
Risk Oversight Committee
Management monitors market risks using a risk committee structure. The Company's Risk Oversight Committee, which consists primarily of corporate officers, is responsible for the overall development, implementation and enforcement of strategies and policies for all market risk management activities of the Company. This committee's emphasis is a holistic perspective of risk measurement and policies targeting the Company's overall financial performance. On a quarterly basis, the Risk Oversight Committee reports to the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors on the Company's risk profile affecting anticipated financial results, including any significant risk issues.
The Company also has a Corporate Risk Management Department. This group, in conjunction with the aforementioned committees, is responsible for establishing and enforcing the Company's risk policies.
Risk Policies
Management utilizes risk policies to control the amount of market risk exposure. These policies are designed to provide the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors and senior executives of the Company with confidence that the risks taken on by the Company's business activities are in accordance with their expectations for financial returns and that the approved policies and controls related to market risk management are being followed.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company's exposure to changes in interest rates primarily relates to short-term variable-rate debt and commercial paper. The Company manages its interest rate exposure by monitoring and limiting the effects of market changes in interest rates. The Company may utilize interest rate derivatives to alter interest rate exposure in an attempt to reduce the effects of these changes. Interest rate derivatives would be used solely to modify interest rate exposure and not to modify the overall leverage of the debt portfolio, but the Company has no intent at this time to utilize interest rate derivatives.
The fair value of the Company's long-term debt is based on quoted market prices and estimates of current rates available for similar issues with similar maturities or by calculating the net present value of the monthly payments discounted by the Company's current borrowing rate. The following table shows the Company's long-term debt maturities and the weighted-average interest rates by maturity date.
(A)
Prior to or when these debt obligations mature, the Company may refinance all or a portion of such debt at then-existing market interest rates which may be more or less than the interest rates on the maturing debt.
(B)
A hypothetical change of 100 basis points in the underlying variable interest rate incurred by the Company would change interest expense by $1.4 million annually.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
OGE ENERGY CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part hereof.
OGE ENERGY CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part hereof.
OGE ENERGY CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part hereof.
OGE ENERGY CORP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part hereof.
OGE ENERGY CORP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part hereof.
OGE ENERGY CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITALIZATION
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part hereof.
OGE ENERGY CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part hereof.
OGE ENERGY CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Organization
The Company is an energy and energy services provider offering physical delivery and related services for both electricity and natural gas primarily in the south central U.S. The Company conducts these activities through two business segments: (i) electric utility and (ii) natural gas midstream operations. The accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation. The Company generally uses the equity method of accounting for investments where its ownership interest is between 20 percent and 50 percent and it lacks the power to direct activities that most significantly impact economic performance.
The electric utility segment generates, transmits, distributes and sells electric energy in Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Its operations are conducted through OG&E and are subject to regulation by the OCC, the APSC and the FERC. OG&E was incorporated in 1902 under the laws of the Oklahoma Territory and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. OG&E is the largest electric utility in Oklahoma, and its franchised service territory includes Fort Smith, Arkansas and the surrounding communities. OG&E sold its retail natural gas business in 1928 and is no longer engaged in the natural gas distribution business.
The natural gas midstream operations segment represents the Company's investment in Enable through wholly owned subsidiaries and ultimately OGE Holdings. Enable is engaged in the business of gathering, processing, transporting and storing natural gas. Enable's natural gas gathering and processing assets are strategically located in four states and serve natural gas production from shale developments in the Anadarko, Arkoma and Ark-La-Tex basins. Enable also owns an emerging crude oil gathering business in the Bakken Shale formation, principally located in the Williston Basin of North Dakota. Enable's natural gas transportation and storage assets extend from western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle to Alabama and from Louisiana to Illinois.
Enable was formed effective May 1, 2013 by the Company, the ArcLight group and CenterPoint to own and operate the midstream businesses of the Company and CenterPoint. In the formation transaction, the Company and the ArcLight group contributed Enogex LLC to Enable, and the Company deconsolidated its previously held investment in Enogex Holdings and acquired an equity interest in Enable. The Company determined that its contribution of Enogex LLC to Enable met the requirements of being in substance real estate and was recorded at historical cost. The general partner of Enable is equally controlled by the Company and CenterPoint, who each have 50 percent management ownership. Based on the 50/50 management ownership, with neither company having control, the Company began accounting for its interest in Enable using the equity method of accounting.
The Company charges operating costs to OG&E and Enable based on several factors. Operating costs directly related to OG&E and Enable are assigned as such. Operating costs incurred for the benefit of OG&E and Enable are allocated either as overhead based primarily on labor costs or using the "Distrigas" method. The "Distrigas" method is a three-factor formula that uses an equal weighting of payroll, net operating revenues and gross property, plant and equipment. The Company adopted this method in January 1996 as a result of a recommendation by the OCC Staff. The Company believes this method provides a reasonable basis for allocating common expenses.
Accounting Records
The accounting records of OG&E are maintained in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts prescribed by the FERC and adopted by the OCC and the APSC. Additionally, OG&E, as a regulated utility, is subject to accounting principles for certain types of rate-regulated activities, which provide that certain incurred costs that would otherwise be charged to expense can be deferred as regulatory assets, based on the expected recovery from customers in future rates. Likewise, certain actual or anticipated credits that would otherwise reduce expense can be deferred as regulatory liabilities, based on the expected flowback to customers in future rates. Management's expected recovery of deferred costs and flowback of deferred credits generally results from specific decisions by regulators granting such ratemaking treatment.
OG&E records certain incurred costs and obligations as regulatory assets or liabilities if, based on regulatory orders or other available evidence, it is probable that the costs or obligations will be included in amounts allowable for recovery or refund in future rates.
The following table is a summary of OG&E's regulatory assets and liabilities:
(A)
Included in Other Current Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(B)
Included in Other Current Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
OG&E recovers program costs related to the Demand and Energy Efficiency Program. An extension of the demand program rider was approved in January 2016, which allows for the recovery through December 2018 of (i) energy efficiency program costs, (ii) lost revenues associated with certain achieved energy efficiency and demand savings, (iii) performance-based incentives and (iv) costs associated with research and development investments.
OG&E recovers certain SPP costs related to base plan charges from its customers and refunds certain SPP revenues received to its customers in Oklahoma through the SPP cost tracker.
Fuel clause under recoveries are generated from under recoveries from OG&E's customers when OG&E's cost of fuel exceeds the amount billed to its customers. Fuel clause over recoveries are generated from over recoveries from OG&E's customers when the amount billed to its customers exceeds OG&E's cost of fuel. OG&E's fuel recovery clauses are designed to smooth the impact of fuel price volatility on customers' bills. As a result, OG&E under recovers fuel costs in periods of rising fuel prices above the baseline charge for fuel and over recovers fuel costs when prices decline below the baseline charge for fuel. Provisions in the fuel clauses are intended to allow OG&E to amortize under and over recovery balances.
The benefit obligations regulatory asset is comprised of expenses recorded which are probable of future recovery and that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost, including net loss and prior service cost. These expenses are recorded as a regulatory asset as OG&E had historically recovered and currently recovers pension and postretirement benefit plan expense in its electric rates. If, in the future, the regulatory bodies indicate a change in policy related to the recovery of pension and postretirement benefit plan expenses, this could cause the benefit obligations regulatory asset balance to be reclassified to accumulated other comprehensive income.
The following table is a summary of the components of the benefit obligations regulatory asset:
The following amounts in the benefit obligations regulatory asset at December 31, 2017 are expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost in 2018:
OG&E includes in expense any Oklahoma storm-related operation and maintenance expenses up to $2.7 million annually and defers any additional expenses incurred over $2.7 million. OG&E expects to recover the amounts deferred each year over a five-year period in accordance with historical practice.
OG&E previously recovered the cost of system-wide deployment of smart grid technology and implementing the smart grid pilot program through a rider. Costs not included in the rider are the incremental costs for web portal access, education and home energy reports, which are capped at $6.9 million, and the stranded costs associated with OG&E's analog electric meters, which have been replaced by smart meters. These incremental and stranded costs were accumulated during the smart grid deployment and have been included in the Smart Grid asset in the regulatory assets and liabilities table above. As approved in the recent Oklahoma rate case effective May 1, 2017, these costs are now being recovered over a six year period.
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt is comprised of unamortized debt issuance costs related to the early retirement of OG&E's long-term debt. These amounts are recorded in interest expenses and are being amortized over the term of the long-term debt which replaced the previous long-term debt. The unamortized loss on reacquired debt is recovered as a part of OG&E's cost of capital.
Income taxes refundable to customers, net, represent the reduction in accumulated deferred income taxes resulting from the reduction in the federal income tax rate, as part of the 2017 Tax Act. These amounts will be returned to customers in varying amounts over approximately 80 years. Currently, those amounts are shown net of income taxes recoverable from customers, which represents income tax benefits previously used to reduce OG&E's revenues, are treated as regulatory assets and are being amortized over the estimated remaining life of the assets to which they relate. These amounts are being recovered in rates as the temporary differences that generated the income tax benefit turn around.
Accrued removal obligations, net represent asset retirement costs previously recovered from ratepayers for other than legal obligations.
OG&E recovers specific amounts of pension and postretirement medical costs in rates approved in its Oklahoma rate cases. In accordance with approved orders, OG&E defers the difference between actual pension and postretirement medical expenses and the amount approved in its last Oklahoma rate case as a regulatory asset or regulatory liability. These amounts have been recorded in the Pension tracker regulatory liability in the regulatory assets and liabilities table above.
Management continuously monitors the future recoverability of regulatory assets. When, in management's judgment, future recovery becomes impaired, the amount of the regulatory asset is adjusted, as appropriate. If OG&E were required to
discontinue the application of accounting principles for certain types of rate-regulated activities for some or all of its operations, it could result in writing off the related regulatory assets, which could have significant financial effects.
Use of Estimates
In preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and contingent liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Changes to these assumptions and estimates could have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. However, the Company believes it has taken reasonable positions where assumptions and estimates are used in order to minimize the negative financial impact to the Company that could result if actual results vary from the assumptions and estimates. In management's opinion, the areas of the Company where the most significant judgment is exercised includes the determination of Pension Plan assumptions, income taxes, contingency reserves, asset retirement obligations and depreciable lives of property, plant and equipment. For the electric utility segment, significant judgment is also exercised in the determination of regulatory assets and liabilities and unbilled revenues.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. These investments are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.
Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts Receivable
Customer balances are generally written off if not collected within six months after the final billing date. The allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable for OG&E is calculated by multiplying the last six months of electric revenue by the provision rate, which is based on a 12-month historical average of actual balances written off. To the extent the historical collection rates are not representative of future collections, there could be an effect on the amount of uncollectible expense recognized. Also, a portion of the uncollectible provision related to fuel within the Oklahoma jurisdiction is being recovered through the fuel adjustment clause. The allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable is a reduction to Accounts Receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and is included in the Other Operation and Maintenance Expense on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable was $1.5 million at both December 31, 2017 and 2016.
New business customers are required to provide a security deposit in the form of cash, bond or irrevocable letter of credit that is refunded when the account is closed. New residential customers whose outside credit scores indicate an elevated risk are required to provide a security deposit that is refunded based on customer protection rules defined by the OCC and the APSC. The payment behavior of all existing customers is continuously monitored, and, if the payment behavior indicates sufficient risk within the meaning of the applicable utility regulation, customers will be required to provide a security deposit.
Fuel Inventories
Fuel inventories for the generation of electricity consist of coal, natural gas and oil. OG&E uses the weighted-average cost method of accounting for inventory that is physically added to or withdrawn from storage or stockpiles. The amount of fuel inventory was $84.3 million and $82.4 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Effective May 1, 2014, the gas storage services agreement with Enable was terminated. As a result of this contract termination, approximately 5.3 Bcf of cushion gas owned by OG&E and stored on the Enable system is being directed to OG&E's power plants over a five-year period during peak time of June 1 to August 31 at a rate of 11,500 MMBtu/day for a total of 1.06 Bcf per year. In 2014, approximately $11.0 million of cushion gas was reclassified from Plant-in-Service to Other Deferred Assets, representing natural gas in storage that will be removed from storage over four years. As of December 31, 2017, the remaining balance of cushion gas of $2.8 million is included in Fuel Inventories.
Property, Plant and Equipment
All property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. Newly constructed plant is added to plant balances at cost which includes contracted services, direct labor, materials, overhead, transportation costs and the allowance for funds used during construction. Replacements of units of property are capitalized as plant. For assets that belong to a common plant account, the replaced plant is removed from plant balances, and the cost of such property is charged to Accumulated Depreciation. For assets that do not belong to a common plant account, the replaced plant is removed from plant balances with the related accumulated depreciation, and the remaining balance net of any salvage proceeds is recorded as a loss in the Consolidated Statements of Income
as Other Expense. Repair and replacement of minor items of property are included in the Consolidated Statements of Income as Other Operation and Maintenance Expense.
The tables below present OG&E's ownership interest in the jointly-owned McClain Plant and the jointly-owned Redbud Plant, and, as disclosed below, only OG&E's ownership interest is reflected in the property, plant and equipment and accumulated depreciation balances in these tables. The owners of the remaining interests in the McClain Plant and the Redbud Plant are responsible for providing their own financing of capital expenditures. Also, only OG&E's proportionate interests of any direct expenses of the McClain Plant and the Redbud Plant, such as fuel, maintenance expense and other operating expenses, are included in the applicable financial statement captions in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
(A)
Construction work in progress was $0.4 million and $7.8 million for the McClain and Redbud Plants, respectively.
(B)
This amount includes a plant acquisition adjustment of $148.3 million and accumulated amortization of $50.8 million.
(A)
Construction work in progress was $0.2 million and $1.8 million for the McClain and Redbud Plants, respectively.
(B)
This amount includes a plant acquisition adjustment of $148.3 million and accumulated amortization of $45.3 million.
The Company's property, plant and equipment and related accumulated depreciation are divided into the following major classes:
(A)
This amount includes a plant acquisition adjustment of $148.3 million and accumulated amortization of $50.8 million.
(B)
This amount includes a plant acquisition adjustment of $3.3 million and accumulated amortization of $0.6 million.
(A)
This amount includes a plant acquisition adjustment of $148.3 million and accumulated amortization of $45.3 million.
(B)
This amount includes a plant acquisition adjustment of $3.3 million and accumulated amortization of $0.6 million.
The following table summarizes the Company's unamortized computer software costs included in intangible plant above.
The following table summarizes the Company's amortization expense for computer software costs.
Depreciation and Amortization
The provision for depreciation, which was 2.5 percent and 3.0 percent of the average depreciable utility plant for 2017 and 2016, respectively, is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated service life of the utility assets. Depreciation is provided at the unit level for production plant and at the account or sub-account level for all other plant and is based on the average life group method. In 2018, the provision for depreciation is projected to be 2.7 percent of the average depreciable utility plant.
Amortization of intangible assets is calculated using the straight-line method. Of the remaining amortizable intangible plant balance at December 31, 2017, 98.6 percent will be amortized over 10.4 years with the remaining 1.4 percent of the intangible plant balance at December 31, 2017 being amortized over 23.7 years.
Amortization of plant acquisition adjustments is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated remaining service life of the acquired asset. Plant acquisition adjustments include $148.3 million for the Redbud Plant, which is being amortized over a 27 year life and $3.3 million for certain transmission substation facilities in OG&E's service territory, which are being amortized over a 37 to 59 year period.
Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate
The Company's investment in Enable is considered to be a variable interest entity because the owners of the equity at risk in this entity have disproportionate voting rights in relation to their obligations to absorb the entity's expected losses or to receive its expected residual returns. However, the Company is not considered the primary beneficiary of Enable since it does
not have the power to direct the activities that are considered most significant to the economic performance of Enable. The Company accounts for its investment in Enable using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, the investment will be adjusted each period for contributions made, distributions received and the Company's share of the investee's comprehensive income as adjusted for basis differences. The Company's maximum exposure to loss related to Enable is limited to the Company's equity investment in Enable at December 31, 2017 as presented in Note 12. The Company evaluates its equity method investments for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate there is a loss in value of the investment that is other than a temporary decline.
The Company considers distributions received from Enable which do not exceed cumulative equity in earnings subsequent to the date of investment to be a return on investment and are classified as operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The Company considers distributions received from Enable in excess of cumulative equity in earnings subsequent to the date of investment to be a return of investment and are classified as investing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Asset Retirement Obligations
OG&E has asset retirement obligations primarily associated with the removal of company-owned wind turbines on leased land, as well as the removal of asbestos from certain power generating stations.
The Company has recorded asset retirement obligations that are being accreted over their respective lives ranging from three to 74 years.
The following table summarizes changes to the Company's asset retirement obligations during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
(A)
Assumptions changed related to the estimated timing of asbestos abatement and estimated cost of ash pond removal at two of OG&E's generating facilities.
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction
Allowance for funds used during construction, a non-cash item, is reflected as an increase to net Other Income and a reduction to Interest Expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income and as an increase to Construction Work in Progress in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Allowance for funds used during construction is calculated according to the FERC requirements for the imputed cost of equity and borrowed funds. Allowance for funds used during construction rates, compounded semi-annually, were 8.2 percent, 8.2 percent and 8.1 percent for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Collection of Sales Tax
In the normal course of its operations, OG&E collects sales tax from its customers. OG&E records a current liability for sales taxes when it bills its customers and eliminates this liability when the taxes are remitted to the appropriate governmental authorities. OG&E excludes the sales tax collected from its operating revenues.
Revenue Recognition
General
OG&E recognizes revenue from electric sales when power is delivered to customers. OG&E reads its customers' meters and sends bills to its customers throughout each month. As a result, there is a significant amount of customers' electricity consumption that has not been billed at the end of each month. OG&E accrues an estimate of the revenues for electric sales delivered since the latest billings. Unbilled revenue is presented in Accrued Unbilled Revenues on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and in Operating Revenues on the Consolidated Statements of Income based on estimates of usage and prices during the period. The estimates that management uses in this calculation could vary from the actual amounts to be paid by customers.
SPP Purchases and Sales
OG&E currently owns and operates transmission and generation facilities as part of a vertically integrated utility. OG&E is a member of the SPP regional transmission organization and has transferred operational authority, but not ownership, of OG&E's transmission facilities to the SPP. The SPP has implemented FERC-approved regional day-ahead and real-time markets for energy and operating services, as well as associated transmission congestion rights. Collectively, the three markets operate together under the global name, SPP Integrated Marketplace. OG&E represents owned- and contracted-generation assets and customer load in the SPP Integrated Marketplace for the sole benefit of its customers. OG&E has not participated in the SPP Integrated Marketplace for any speculative trading activities. OG&E records the SPP Integrated Marketplace transactions as sales or purchases per FERC Order 668, which requires that purchases and sales be recorded on a net basis for each settlement period of the SPP Integrated Marketplace. These results are reported as Operating Revenues or Cost of Sales in the Consolidated Financial Statements. OG&E revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities may be adversely affected by changes in the organization, operating and regulation by the FERC or the SPP.
Fuel Adjustment Clauses
The actual cost of fuel used in electric generation and certain purchased power costs are passed through to OG&E's customers through fuel adjustment clauses. The fuel adjustment clauses are subject to periodic review by the OCC and the APSC.
Income Taxes
The Company files consolidated income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. Income taxes are generally allocated to each company in the affiliated group based on its stand-alone taxable income or loss. Federal investment tax credits previously claimed on electric utility property have been deferred and are being amortized to income over the life of the related property. The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, a deferred tax asset or liability is recognized for the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities as well as tax credit carry forwards and net operating loss carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period of the change. The Company recognizes interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in Interest Expense and recognizes penalties in Other Expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed the 2017 Tax Act into law, significantly changing U.S. corporate income tax laws. The 2017 Tax Act reduces the corporate federal tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. See Note 7 for further discussion of the effects of the 2017 Tax Act.
Accrued Vacation
The Company accrues vacation pay monthly by establishing a liability for vacation earned. Vacation may be taken as earned and is charged against the liability. At the end of each year, the liability represents the amount of vacation earned but not taken.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following tables summarize changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to OGE Energy during 2016 and 2017. All amounts below are presented net of tax.
The following table summarizes significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss by the respective line items in net income during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
(A)
These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see Note 11 for additional information).
The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain) at December 31, 2017 that are expected to be recognized into earnings in 2018 are as follows:
Environmental Costs
Accruals for environmental costs are recognized when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Costs are charged to expense or deferred as a regulatory asset based on expected recovery from customers in future rates, if they relate to the remediation of conditions caused by past operations or if they are not expected to mitigate or prevent contamination from future operations. Where environmental expenditures relate to facilities currently in use, such as pollution control equipment, the costs may be capitalized and depreciated over the future service periods. Estimated remediation costs are recorded at undiscounted amounts, independent of any insurance or rate recovery, based on prior experience, assessments and current technology. Accrued obligations are regularly adjusted as environmental assessments and estimates are revised and remediation efforts proceed. For sites where OG&E has been designated as one of several potentially responsible parties, the amount accrued represents OG&E's estimated share of the cost. The Company had $17.1 million and $13.9 million in accrued environmental liabilities at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, which are included in the Company's asset retirement obligations.
2.
Accounting Pronouncements
Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)." The new revenue standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 2017. The Company has assessed the effect of this new guidance on its tariff-based sales, bundled arrangements and alternative revenue programs and is not aware of any issues that would have a material impact on the timing of revenue recognition. The new standard will not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and financial position but will change the income statement presentation of revenues and require new disclosures. The Company adopted the new standard beginning in the first quarter of 2018 utilizing the modified retrospective transition method.
Leases. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)." The main difference between current lease accounting and Topic 842 is the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under current accounting guidance. Lessees, such as the Company, will need to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for virtually all of their leases, other than leases that meet the definition of a short-term lease. The liability will be equal to the present value of lease payments. The asset will be based on the liability, subject to adjustment, such as for initial direct costs. For income statement purposes, Topic 842 retains a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance. Operating leases will result in straight-line expense, while finance leases will result in a front-loaded expense pattern, similar to current capital leases. Classification of operating and finance leases will be based on criteria that are largely similar to those applied in current lease guidance but without the explicit thresholds. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 2018. The new guidance must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition method and provides for certain practical expedients. Transition will require application of the new guidance at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. The Company has started evaluating its current lease contracts. The Company has not quantified the impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements, but it anticipates an increase in the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities.
In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-01, "Leases (Topic 842): Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842," which is an amendment to ASU 2016-02. Land easements (also commonly referred to as rights of way) represent the right to use, access or cross another entity's land for a specified purpose. This new guidance permits an entity to elect a transitional practical expedient, to be applied consistently, to not evaluate under Topic 842 land easements that exist or expired before the entity's adoption of Topic 842 and that were not previously accounted for as leases under ASC 840, "Leases." Once Topic 842 is adopted, an entity is required to apply Topic 842 prospectively to all new (or modified) land easements to determine whether the arrangement should be accounted for as a lease. ASU 2018-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 2018. The Company intends to elect this practical expedient during its adoption of Topic 842.
Employee Share-based Payment Accounting. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, "Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting," which amends ASC Topic 718, "Compensation - Stock Compensation." ASU 2016-09 includes provisions intended to simplify various aspects related to how share-based payments are accounted for and presented in the financial statements. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2017.
The new guidance, among other requirements, requires the following.
•
All of the tax effects related to share-based payments at settlement (or expiration) should be recorded through the income statement. Previously, tax benefits in excess of compensation cost, or windfalls, were recorded in equity, and tax deficiencies, or shortfalls, were recorded in equity to the extent of previous windfalls and then to the income statement. Under the new guidance, the windfall tax benefit is recorded when it arises, subject to normal valuation allowance considerations. This change is required to be applied on a modified retrospective basis, with a cumulative effect adjustment
to opening retained earnings. Excess tax benefits are to be reported as operating activities on the statement of cash flows, which is a change from the previous requirement to present windfall tax benefits as an inflow from financing activities and an outflow from operating activities. As a result of adopting ASU 2016-09, the Company recorded a cumulative effect of $22.3 million as a deferred tax asset with an offset in retained earnings in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Going forward, tax benefits in excess of compensation cost previously recorded in equity will be recorded within the income statement, and the related cash impact will be recorded as an operating activity within the statement of cash flows.
•
Employee taxes paid when an employer withholds shares for tax-withholding purposes should be classified as a financing activity in the statement of cash flows, and this change should be applied retrospectively. As a result of the adoption, the Company reclassified shares withheld for employee taxes of $0.1 million and $1.7 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively, from operating activities to financing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Going forward, shares withheld for employee taxes will be classified as a financing activity within the statement of cash flows.
•
A policy election between recognizing forfeited awards as they occur or estimating the number of awards expected to be forfeited should be made and disclosed. The Company will continue to estimate forfeitures in accounting for stock-based compensation.
Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, "Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost." The new guidance is designed to improve the reporting of pension and other postretirement benefit costs by bifurcating the components of net benefit expense between those that are attributed to compensation for service and those that are not. The service cost component of benefit expense will continue to be presented within operating income, but entities will now be required to present the other components of benefit expense as non-operating within the income statement. Additionally, the new guidance only permits the capitalization of the service cost component of net benefit expense. The accounting change is required to be applied on a retrospective basis for the presentation of components of net benefit cost and on a prospective basis for the capitalization of only the service cost component of net benefit costs. The new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted, subject to certain conditions. The Company believes that the impact of the change in capitalization of only the service cost component of net periodic benefit costs will be immaterial from current practice. The Company adopted the new guidance beginning in the first quarter of 2018.
Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, "Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income" that permits a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings of the stranded tax effects resulting from application of the new federal corporate income tax rate, resulting from the 2017 Tax Act. Prior to ASU 2018-02, GAAP required the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities as a result of a change in tax laws or rates to be presented in net income from continuing operations. Adjusting temporary differences originally recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income through continuing operations resulted in a disproportionate effect lodged in accumulated other comprehensive income. Under ASU 2018-02, entities are permitted, but not required, to reclassify from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings those stranded tax effects resulting from the 2017 Tax Act. ASU 2018-02 is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments would be applied either at the beginning of the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the change in the federal corporate income tax rate is recognized. The Company adopted the new standard for the year ended December 31, 2017. As a result of the adoption, the Company reclassified $4.5 million of deferred tax assets from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
3.
Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate and Related Party Transactions
On March 14, 2013, the Company entered into a Master Formation Agreement with the ArcLight group and CenterPoint pursuant to which the Company, the ArcLight group and CenterPoint, agreed to form Enable to own and operate the midstream businesses of the Company and CenterPoint that was initially structured as a private limited partnership. This transaction closed on May 1, 2013.
Pursuant to the Master Formation Agreement, the Company and the ArcLight group indirectly contributed 100 percent of the equity interests in Enogex LLC to Enable. The Company determined that its contribution of Enogex LLC to Enable met the requirements of being in substance real estate and was recorded at historical cost.
The general partner of Enable is equally controlled by the Company and CenterPoint, who each have 50 percent management ownership. Based on the 50/50 management ownership, with neither company having control, the Company deconsolidated its interest in Enogex Holdings and began accounting for its interest in Enable using the equity method of accounting.
In April 2014, Enable completed an initial public offering of 25.0 million common units resulting in Enable becoming a publicly traded Master Limited Partnership. At December 31, 2017, the Company owned 111.0 million common units, or 25.7 percent, of Enable's outstanding common units. Prior to August 30, 2017, of the Company's 111.0 million common units, 68.2 million units were subordinated. The subordination period began on the closing date of Enable’s initial public offering and extended until the first business day following the distributions of available cash from operating surplus on each of the outstanding common units and subordinated units equal to or exceeding $1.15 per unit (the annualized minimum quarterly distribution) for each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-quarter periods immediately preceding June 30, 2017. On August 30, 2017, the first day following the payment of the cash distribution for common and subordinated units for the second quarter of 2017, the subordination period expired for the Company's 68.2 million subordinated units.
On February 9, 2018, Enable announced a quarterly dividend distribution of $0.31800 per unit on its outstanding common units, which is unchanged from the previous quarter. If cash distributions to Enable’s unitholders exceed $0.330625 per unit in any quarter, the general partner will receive increasing percentages, up to 50 percent, of the cash Enable distributes in excess of that amount. The Company is entitled to 60 percent of those "incentive distributions." In certain circumstances, the general partner has the right to reset the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels at which the incentive distributions receive increasing percentages to higher levels based on Enable’s cash distributions at the time of the exercise of this reset election.
Distributions received from Enable were $141.2 million, $141.2 million and $139.3 million during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
In 2016, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. announced that it was evaluating strategic alternatives for its investment in Enable. On July 18, 2016, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, CenterPoint, provided notice to the Company of CenterPoint Energy Inc.’s solicitation of offers from unrelated third parties to acquire all or any portion of the common units and subordinated units of Enable owned by CenterPoint and all of the membership interests of the general partner of Enable owned by CenterPoint. This notice also constituted a notice pursuant to the right of first offer held by the Company under the Partnership Agreement and the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the general partner. Under the terms of the right of first offer, the Company has 30 days from receipt of a notice from CenterPoint Energy Inc. to make an offer to buy all of CenterPoint’s membership interests in the general partner and all or any portion of CenterPoint's common units and subordinated units. On August 17, 2016, the Company submitted to CenterPoint Energy Inc. a proposal to acquire, in conjunction with a third party, all of CenterPoint's membership interests in the general partner of Enable and all of the common units and subordinated units of Enable owned by CenterPoint. In accordance with the Enable partnership Agreement, CenterPoint Energy Inc. had 30 days after the proposal was submitted to accept the Company's right of first offer proposal. The Company did not receive a reply from CenterPoint Energy Inc. within the required timeframe.
On January 16, 2017, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, CenterPoint, provided a second notice to the Company of CenterPoint Energy Inc.'s solicitation of offers from unrelated third parties to acquire all or any portion of the common units and subordinated units of Enable owned by CenterPoint and all of the membership interests of the general partner of Enable owned by CenterPoint Energy Inc. On February 15, 2017, under the terms of right of first offer, the Company submitted to CenterPoint Energy Inc. another proposal to acquire, in conjunction with a third party, all of CenterPoint's membership interests in the general partner of Enable and all of the common units and subordinated units of Enable owned by CenterPoint. The Company did not receive a reply from CenterPoint Energy Inc. within the required timeframe.
On July 15, 2017, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, CenterPoint, provided a third notice to the Company of CenterPoint Energy Inc.'s solicitation of offers from unrelated third parties to acquire all or any portion of the common units and subordinated units of Enable owned by CenterPoint and all of the membership interests of the general partner of Enable owned by CenterPoint. On August 14, 2017, under the terms of right of first offer, the Company submitted to CenterPoint Energy Inc. another proposal to acquire, in conjunction with a third party, all of CenterPoint's membership interests in the general partner of Enable and all of the common units and subordinated units of Enable owned by CenterPoint.
On December 1, 2017, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, CenterPoint, announced that late-stage discussions regarding a transaction involving CenterPoint's interest in Enable terminated because parties could not reach agreement on a mutually acceptable transaction.
The Company cannot predict what future actions CenterPoint will take, if any, associated with their ownership interest in Enable.
Related Party Transactions - the Company and Enable
Operating costs charged and related party transactions between the Company and its affiliate, Enable, are discussed below.
In connection with the formation of Enable, the Company and Enable entered into a Services Agreement, Employee Transition Agreement and other agreements whereby the Company agreed to provide certain support services to Enable such as accounting, legal, risk management and treasury functions for an initial term ending on April 30, 2016. As of December 31, 2015, Enable terminated all support services except certain information technology, payroll and benefits administration. The remaining services automatically extended for another year on May 1, 2017. Under these agreements, the Company charged operating costs to Enable of $2.3 million, $4.7 million and $12.4 million for December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company charges operating costs to OG&E and Enable based on several factors. Operating costs directly related to OG&E and Enable are assigned as such. Operating costs incurred for the benefit of OG&E and Enable are allocated either as overhead based primarily on labor costs or using the "Distrigas" method.
The Company agreed to provide seconded employees to Enable to support its operations for an initial term ending on December 31, 2014. In October 2014, CenterPoint, the Company and Enable agreed to continue the secondment to Enable for 192 employees that participate in the Company's defined benefit and retirement plans. The Company billed Enable for reimbursement of $29.5 million, $28.7 million and $32.7 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, under the Transitional Seconding Agreement for employment costs. If the seconding agreement was terminated, and those employees were no longer employed by the Company, and lump sum payments were made to those employees, the Company would recognize a settlement or curtailment of the pension/retiree health care charges, which would increase expense at the Company by approximately $14.6 million. Settlement and curtailment charges associated with the Enable seconded employees are not reimbursable to the Company by Enable. The seconding agreement can be terminated by mutual agreement of the Company and Enable or solely by the Company upon 120 day notice.
The Company had accounts receivable from Enable of $2.0 million and $2.7 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, for amounts billed for transitional services, including the cost of seconded employees.
Related Party Transactions - OG&E and Enable
OG&E entered into a contract with Enable to provide transportation services effective May 1, 2014. This transportation agreement grants Enable the responsibility of delivering natural gas to OG&E’s generating facilities and performing an imbalance service. With this imbalance service, in accordance with the cash-out provision of the contract, OG&E purchases gas from Enable when Enable’s deliveries exceed OG&E’s pipeline receipts. Enable purchases gas from OG&E when OG&E’s pipeline receipts exceed Enable’s deliveries. In 2016, OG&E entered into an additional gas transportation services contract with Enable which will be effective upon the conversion of units 4 and 5 at Muskogee from coal to gas. The following table summarizes related party transactions between OG&E and Enable during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.
Summarized Financial Information of Enable
Summarized unaudited financial information for 100 percent of Enable is presented below as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.
The formation of Enable was considered a business combination, and CenterPoint was the acquirer of Enogex Holdings for accounting purposes. Under this method, the fair value of the consideration paid by CenterPoint for Enogex Holdings is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed on May 1, 2013 based on their fair value. Enogex Holdings' assets, liabilities and equity have accordingly been adjusted to estimated fair value as of May 1, 2013, resulting in an increase to Enable's equity of $2.2 billion. Due to the contribution of Enogex LLC to Enable meeting the requirements of being in substance real estate and thus recording the initial investment at historical cost, the effects of the amortization and depreciation expense associated with the fair value adjustments on Enable's results of operations have been eliminated in the Company's recording of its equity in earnings of Enable.
The Company recorded equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates of $131.2 million, $101.8 million and $15.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates includes the Company's share of Enable earnings adjusted for the amortization of the basis difference of the Company's original investment in Enogex LLC and its underlying equity in the net assets of Enable and is also adjusted for the elimination of the Enogex Holdings fair value adjustments. The basis difference is being amortized over approximately 30 years, the average life of the assets to which the basis difference is attributed. Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates is also adjusted for the elimination of the Enogex Holdings fair value adjustments, as described below.
The following table reconciles OGE Energy's equity in earnings of its unconsolidated affiliates for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
The difference between OGE Energy's investment in Enable and its underlying equity in the net assets of Enable was $714.2 million as of December 31, 2017. The basis difference is being amortized over approximately 30 years, beginning in May 2013. The following table reconciles the basis difference in Enable from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2017.
2015 Goodwill Impairment. Enable tests its goodwill for impairment annually on October 1, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicated that the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2014 and continuing into 2015, the crude oil and natural gas industry was impacted by significant commodity price declines, which resulted in decreased producer activity in certain regions in which Enable operates. Based on the decline in producer activity and the forecasted impact on future periods, in addition to an increase in the weighted average cost of capital, Enable determined that the impact on its forecasted operating profits and cash flows for its gathering and processing and transportation and storage segments for the next five years would be significantly reduced. As a result, when Enable performed its annual goodwill impairment analysis as of October 1, 2015, it determined that the goodwill for the gathering and processing and transportation and storage reporting units was completely impaired in the amount of $1.086 billion as of September 30, 2015 and wrote off all of its goodwill in the third quarter of 2015.
Accordingly, the Company recorded a $108.4 million pre-tax charge in the third quarter of 2015 for its share of the goodwill impairment, as adjusted for the basis differences.
4.
Fair Value Measurements
The classification of the Company's fair value measurements requires judgment regarding the degree to which market data is observable or corroborated by observable market data. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value based on observable and unobservable data. The hierarchy categorizes the inputs into three levels, with the highest priority given to quoted prices in active markets for identical unrestricted assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority given to unobservable inputs (Level 3). Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels defined in the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical unrestricted assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.
Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable at the reporting date for the asset or liability for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
Level 3 inputs are prices or valuation techniques for the asset or liability that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity). Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk).
The Company had no financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2017 and 2016. The fair value of the Company's long-term debt is based on quoted market prices and estimates of current rates available for similar issues with similar maturities and is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy with the exception of the Tinker Debt whose fair value is based on calculating the net present value of the monthly payments discounted by the Company's current borrowing rate and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The following table summarizes the fair value and carrying amount of the Company's financial instruments at December 31, 2017 and 2016.
5.
Stock-Based Compensation
In 2013, the Company adopted, and its shareholders approved, the Stock Incentive Plan. Under the Stock Incentive Plan, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options, stock appreciation rights and performance units may be granted to officers, directors and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company has authorized the issuance of up to 7,400,000 shares under the Stock Incentive Plan.
The following table summarizes the Company's pre-tax compensation expense and related income tax benefit for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 related to the Company's performance units and restricted stock.
The Company has issued new shares to satisfy restricted stock grants and payouts of earned performance units. In 2017, 2016 and 2015, there were 2,298 shares, 2,100 shares and 82,046 shares, respectively, of new common stock issued pursuant to the Company's Stock Incentive Plan related to restricted stock grants (net of forfeitures) and payouts of earned performance units. In 2017, there were 146 shares of restricted stock returned to the Company to satisfy tax liabilities.
Performance Units
Under the Stock Incentive Plan, the Company has issued performance units which represent the value of one share of the Company's common stock. The performance units provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control (as defined in the Stock Incentive Plan). Each performance unit is subject to forfeiture if the recipient terminates employment with the Company or a subsidiary prior to the end of the primarily three-year award cycle for any reason other than death, disability or retirement. In the event of death, disability or retirement, a participant will receive a prorated payment based on such participant's number of full months of service during the award cycle, further adjusted based on the achievement of the performance goals during the award cycle.
The performance units granted based on total shareholder return are contingently awarded and will be payable in shares of the Company's common stock subject to the condition that the number of performance units, if any, earned by the employees upon the expiration of a primarily three-year award cycle (i.e., three-year cliff vesting period) is dependent on the Company's total shareholder return ranking relative to a peer group of companies. The performance units granted based on earnings per share are contingently awarded and will be payable in shares of the Company's common stock based on the Company's earnings per share growth over a primarily three-year award cycle (i.e., three-year cliff vesting period) compared to a target set at the time of the grant by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors. All of these performance units are classified as equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. If there is no or only a partial payout for the performance units at the end of the award cycle, the unearned performance units are cancelled. Payout requires approval of the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors. Payouts, if any, are all made in common stock and are considered made when the payout is approved by the Compensation Committee.
Performance Units - Total Shareholder Return
The fair value of the performance units based on total shareholder return was estimated on the grant date using a lattice-based valuation model that factors in information, including the expected dividend yield, expected price volatility, risk-free interest rate and the probable outcome of the market condition, over the expected life of the performance units. Compensation expense for the performance units is a fixed amount determined at the grant date fair value and is recognized over the primarily three-year award cycle regardless of whether performance units are awarded at the end of the award cycle. Dividends were not accrued or paid for awards prior to February 2014 and were therefore not included in the fair value calculation. Beginning with the February 2014 performance unit awards, dividends are accrued on a quarterly basis pending achievement of payout criteria and were therefore included in the fair value calculations. Expected price volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company's common stock for the past three years and was simulated using the Geometric Brownian Motion process. The risk-free interest rate for the performance unit grants is based on the three-year U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The expected life of the units is based on the non-vested period since inception of the award cycle. There are no post-vesting restrictions related to the Company's performance units based on total shareholder return. The number of performance units granted based on total shareholder return and the assumptions used to calculate the grant date fair value of the performance units based on total shareholder return are shown in the following table.
Performance Units - Earnings Per Share
The fair value of the performance units based on earnings per share is based on grant date fair value which is equivalent to the price of one share of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. The fair value of performance units based on earnings per share varies as the number of performance units that will vest is based on the grant date fair value of the units and the probable outcome of the performance condition. The Company reassesses at each reporting date whether achievement of the performance condition is probable and accrues compensation expense if and when achievement of the performance condition is probable. As a result, the compensation expense recognized for these performance units can vary from period to period. There are no post-vesting restrictions related to the Company's performance units based on earnings per share. The number of performance units granted based on earnings per share and the grant date fair value are shown in the following table.
Restricted Stock
Under the Stock Incentive Plan, the Company issued restricted stock to certain existing non-officer employees as well as other executives upon hire to attract and retain individuals to be competitive in the marketplace. The restricted stock vests in one-third annual increments. Prior to vesting, each share of restricted stock is subject to forfeiture if the recipient ceases to render substantial services to the Company or a subsidiary for any reason other than death, disability or retirement. These shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred or pledged and are subject to a risk of forfeiture.
The fair value of the restricted stock was based on the closing market price of the Company's common stock on the grant date. Compensation expense for the restricted stock is a fixed amount determined at the grant date fair value and is recognized as services are rendered by employees over a primarily three-year vesting period. Also, the Company treats its restricted stock as multiple separate awards by recording compensation expense separately for each tranche whereby a substantial portion of the expense is recognized in the earlier years in the requisite service period. Dividends are accrued and paid during the vesting period on restricted stock granted prior to July 2014; therefore, dividends are included in the fair value calculation for such restricted stock granted prior to July 2014.
For restricted stock granted after July 2014, dividends will only be paid on restricted stock awards that vest. Accordingly, for restricted stock granted after July 2014, only the present value of dividends expected to vest are included in the fair value calculations. The expected life of the restricted stock is based on the non-vested period since inception of the primarily three-year award cycle. There are no post-vesting restrictions related to the Company's restricted stock. The number of shares of restricted stock granted and the grant date fair value are shown in the following table.
A summary of the activity for the Company's performance units and restricted stock at December 31, 2017 and changes in 2017 are shown in the following table.
(A)
For performance units, this represents the target number of performance units granted. Actual number of performance units earned, if any, is dependent upon performance and may range from zero percent to 200 percent of the target.
(B)
These amounts represent performance units that vested at December 31, 2016 which were settled in February 2017.
A summary of the activity for the Company's non-vested performance units and restricted stock at December 31, 2017 and changes in 2017 are shown in the following table.
(A)
For performance units, this represents the target number of performance units granted. Actual number of performance units earned, if any, is dependent upon performance and may range from zero percent to 200 percent of the target.
(B)
The intrinsic value of the performance units based on total shareholder return and earnings per share is $2.3 million and $5.7 million, respectively.
Fair Value of Vested Performance Units and Restricted Stock
A summary of the Company's fair value for its vested performance units and restricted stock is shown in the following table.
Unrecognized Compensation Cost
A summary of the Company's unrecognized compensation cost for its non-vested performance units and restricted stock and the weighted-average periods over which the compensation cost is expected to be recognized are shown in the following table.
6.
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
The following table discloses information about investing and financing activities that affected recognized assets and liabilities but did not result in cash receipts or payments. Cash paid for interest, net of interest capitalized, and cash paid for income taxes, net of income tax refunds are also disclosed in the table.
(A)
Net of interest capitalized of $18.0 million, $7.5 million and $4.2 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
7.
Income Taxes
2017 Tax Act
On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed the 2017 Tax Act into law, significantly changing U.S. corporate income tax laws. The 2017 Tax Act reduces the corporate federal tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017.
Among other things, the 2017 Tax Act repeals the alternative minimum tax regime for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. For tax years beginning in 2018, 2019 and 2020, the alternative minimum tax credit carryforward can be utilized to offset regular tax with any remaining alternative minimum tax carryforwards eligible for a refund of 50 percent. Any remaining alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards will become fully refundable beginning in the 2021 tax year. The 2017 Tax Act also limits a taxpayer’s ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards to 80 percent of taxable income. Additionally, net operating losses arising after 2017 can be carried forward indefinitely, but carryback is generally prohibited. Net operating losses generated in tax years beginning before January 1, 2018 will not be subject to the taxable income limitation and will continue to have a two year carryback and 20 year carryforward period. The 2017 Tax Act allows companies to expense 100 percent of the cost of qualified property placed in service after September 27, 2017 and before January 1, 2023 (an additional year is provided for certain property with longer production periods). The 100 percent expense provision is phased down by 20 percent per calendar year beginning in 2023 (i.e., 80 percent, 60 percent, 40 percent and 20 percent for calendar years 2023 through 2026, respectively), with normal depreciation rules applicable after that. The phase out begins in 2024 for certain property with longer production periods. Companies can elect not to immediately expense qualified assets. The 2017 Tax Act limits deductions for net interest expense to 30 percent of adjusted taxable income. The 2017 Tax Act repeals deductions for qualified domestic production activities, entertainment, amusement or recreation expenses, membership dues for clubs and expenses incurred for the use of facilities in connection with these items. The 2017 Tax Act retains the $1 million limitation on deductible compensation to covered employees. However, it eliminates the current exception for performance-based compensation and expands the definition of covered employees
to include the chief financial officer. The new executive compensation limitations are effective in 2018, with certain transition rules.
During 2017, the Company fully utilized all remaining federal net operating losses and alternative minimum tax credits. Changes made by the 2017 Tax Act related to alternative minimum tax and net operating loss utilization are not expected to have a material impact on the Company in the future. For regulated entities, such as OG&E, provisions in the 2017 Tax Act provide for unrestricted deduction of interest expense in lieu of full expensing of qualified property. Full expensing of qualified property will be available with regard to the Company's non-regulated investments, and the Company currently does not believe the interest expense limitations on non-regulated debt will have a significant impact. The Company will see some impact from other provisions related to non-deductible expenses, but those items are not expected to be material with respect to 2018.
ASC 740, "Income Taxes," requires deferred tax assets and liabilities to be measured at the enacted tax rate expected to apply when temporary differences are to be realized or settled. Therefore, at December 31, 2017, the Company remeasured deferred taxes based upon the new 21 percent tax rate. For entities subject to ASC 980, "Accounting for Regulated Entities," such as OG&E, those entities are required to recognize a regulatory liability for the decrease in taxes payable for the change in tax rates that are expected to be returned to customers through future rates and to recognize a regulatory asset for the increase in taxes receivable for the change in tax rates that are expected to be recovered from customers through future rates.
As a result of remeasuring existing deferred taxes at the lower 21 percent tax rate, the Company reduced net deferred income tax liabilities by $1.273 billion, reduced income tax expense by $234.7 million and increased regulatory liabilities, net by $1.038 billion.
Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118
On December 22, 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the 2017 Tax Act. The Company has recognized the provisional tax impacts related to the revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities and included these amounts in its Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2017. The ultimate impact may differ from these provisional amounts, possibly materially, due to, among other things, additional analysis, changes in interpretations and assumptions the Company has made, additional regulatory guidance that may be issued and actions the Company may take as a result of the 2017 Tax Act. Any subsequent adjustment to these amounts will be recorded to adjust the initial recognition of tax reform in the quarter of 2018 when the analysis is complete.
The items comprising income tax (benefit) expense are as follows:
The Company files consolidated income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2014 or state and local tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2013. Income taxes are generally allocated to each company in the affiliated group based on its stand-alone taxable income or loss. Federal investment tax credits previously claimed on electric utility property have been deferred and are being amortized to income over the life of the related property. OG&E earns both federal and Oklahoma state tax credits associated with production from its wind farms and earns Oklahoma state tax credits associated with its investments in electric generating facilities which reduce the Company's effective tax rate.
The following schedule reconciles the statutory tax rates to the effective income tax rate:
(A)
Represents credits associated with the production from OG&E's wind farms.
The deferred tax provisions are recognized as costs in the ratemaking process by the commissions having jurisdiction over the rates charged by OG&E. The components of Deferred Income Taxes at December 31, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:
As of December 31, 2017, the Company has classified $16.4 million of unrecognized tax benefits as a reduction of deferred tax assets recorded. Management is currently unaware of any issues under review that could result in significant additional payments, accruals or other material deviation from this amount.
Following is a reconciliation of the Company’s total gross unrecognized tax benefits as of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.
As of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, there were $16.4 million, $13.5 million and $13.2 million of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the annual effective tax rate.
Where applicable, the Company classifies income tax-related interest and penalties as interest expense and other expense, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2017, there were no income tax-related interest or penalties recorded with regard to uncertain tax positions.
The Company sustained federal and state tax operating losses through 2012 caused primarily by bonus depreciation and other book versus tax temporary differences. As a result, the Company had accrued federal and state income tax benefits carrying into 2017. During 2017, the remaining federal net operating loss was utilized. State operating losses are being carried forward for utilization in future years. In addition to the tax operating losses, the Company was unable to utilize the various tax credits that were generated during these years. These tax losses and credits are being carried as deferred tax assets and will be utilized in future periods. Under current law, the Company anticipates future taxable income will be sufficient to utilize remaining losses and credits before they begin to expire. The following table summarizes these carry forwards:
8.
Common Equity
Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan
The Company issued no shares of common stock under its Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan in 2017. The Company may, from time to time, issue shares under its Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan or purchase shares traded on the open market. At December 31, 2017, there were 4,774,442 shares of unissued common stock reserved for issuance under the Company's Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan.
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of the Company's common shares outstanding during the period. In the calculation of diluted earnings per share, weighted average shares outstanding are increased for additional shares that would be outstanding if potentially dilutive securities were converted to common stock. Potentially dilutive securities for the Company consist of performance units and restricted stock. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the Company were calculated as follows:
Dividend Restrictions
The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation places restrictions on the amount of common stock dividends it can pay when preferred stock is outstanding. As there is no preferred stock outstanding, that restriction did not place any effective limit on the Company’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders. Pursuant to the leverage restriction in the Company’s revolving credit agreement, the Company must maintain a percentage of debt to total capitalization at a level that does not exceed 65 percent. The payment of cash dividends indirectly results in an increase in the percentage of debt to total capitalization, which results in the restriction of approximately $605.3 million of the Company’s retained earnings from being paid out in dividends. Accordingly, approximately $2.2 billion of the Company’s retained earnings as of December 31, 2017 are unrestricted for the payment of dividends.
The Company utilizes receipts from its equity investment in Enable and dividends from OG&E to pay dividends to its shareholders. Enable’s partnership agreement requires that it distribute all "available cash," as defined as cash on hand at the end of a quarter after the payment of expenses and the establishment of cash reserves and cash on hand resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter. Pursuant to the Federal Power Act, OG&E is restricted from paying dividends from its capital accounts. Dividends are paid from retained earnings. Pursuant to the leverage restriction in OG&E’s revolving credit agreement, OG&E must also maintain a percentage of debt to total capitalization at a level that does not exceed 65 percent. The payment of cash dividends indirectly results in an increase in the percentage of debt to total capitalization, which results in the restriction of approximately $600.1 million of OG&E’s retained earnings from being paid out in dividends. Accordingly, approximately $1.8 billion of OG&E’s retained earnings as of December 31, 2017 are unrestricted for the payment of dividends.
9.
Long-Term Debt
A summary of the Company's long-term debt is included in the Consolidated Statements of Capitalization. At December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt agreements.
OG&E Industrial Authority Bonds
OG&E has tax-exempt pollution control bonds with optional redemption provisions that allow the holders to request repayment of the bonds on any business day. The bonds, which can be tendered at the option of the holder during the next 12 months, are as follows:
All of these bonds are subject to an optional tender at the request of the holders, at 100 percent of the principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase. The bond holders, on any business day, can request repayment of the bond by delivering an irrevocable notice to the tender agent stating the principal amount of the bond, payment instructions for the purchase price and the business day the bond is to be purchased. The repayment option may only be exercised by the holder of a bond for the principal amount. When a tender notice has been received by the trustee, a third party remarketing agent for the bonds will attempt to remarket any bonds tendered for purchase. This process occurs once per week. Since the original issuance of these series of bonds in 1995 and 1997, the remarketing agent has successfully remarketed all tendered bonds. If the remarketing agent is unable to remarket any such bonds, OG&E is obligated to repurchase such unremarketed bonds. As OG&E has both the intent and ability to refinance the bonds on a long-term basis and such ability is supported by an ability to consummate the refinancing, the bonds are classified as Long-Term Debt in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. OG&E believes that it has sufficient liquidity to meet these obligations.
Long-Term Debt Maturities
Maturities of the Company's long-term debt during the next five years consist of $250.1 million, $250.1 million, $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
The Company has previously incurred costs related to debt refinancing. Unamortized loss on reacquired debt is classified as a Non-Current Regulatory Asset. Unamortized debt expense and unamortized premium and discount on long-term debt are classified as Long-Term Debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are being amortized over the life of the respective debt.
Issuance of Long-Term Debt
In March 2017, OG&E issued $300.0 million of 4.15 percent senior notes due April 1, 2047. The proceeds from the issuance were used for general corporate purposes, including to repay short-term debt, to repay borrowings under the revolving credit facility, to fund the payment of OG&E's $125.0 million of 6.5 percent senior notes that matured on July 15, 2017 and to fund ongoing capital expenditures and working capital.
In August 2017, OG&E issued $300.0 million of 3.85 percent senior notes due August 15, 2047. The proceeds from the issuance were used for general corporate purposes, including to repay short-term debt, to repay borrowings under the revolving credit facility and to fund ongoing capital expenditures and working capital.
10.
Short-Term Debt and Credit Facilities
On March 8, 2017, the Company and OG&E each entered into new $450.0 million unsecured five-year revolving credit facilities to replace existing facilities. Each of these new facilities is scheduled to terminate on March 8, 2022. However, the Company and OG&E have the right to request an extension of the revolving credit facility termination date under their respective facility for an additional one-year period, which can be exercised up to two times. All such extension requests are subject to majority lender group approval (and only the commitments of those lenders that consent to such extension (or that agree to replace any non-consenting lender) will be extended for such additional period).
Borrowings under the new facilities bear interest at rates equal to either the eurodollar base rate (reserve adjusted, if applicable), plus a margin of 0.69 percent to 1.275 percent, or an alternate base rate, plus a margin of 0.00 percent to 0.275 percent. The new facilities have a facility fee that ranges from 0.06 percent to 0.225 percent. Interest rate margins and facility fees are based on the Company's and OG&E's then-current senior unsecured credit ratings, as applicable.
Each of the facilities provides for issuance of letters of credit, provided that (i) the aggregate outstanding credit exposure shall not exceed the amount of the revolving credit facility and (ii) the aggregate outstanding stated amount of letters of credit issued under such facility shall not exceed a specified maximum sublimit ($100 million for each of the Company and OG&E). Advances under the facilities may be used to refinance existing indebtedness and for working capital and general corporate purposes of the respective borrower and its subsidiaries, including commercial paper liquidity support, letters of credit, acquisitions and distributions.
Each of the facilities is unsecured and, under certain circumstances, may be increased (by up to $150 million in each case for the Company and OG&E) to a maximum revolving commitment limit of $600 million. Advances of revolving loans and letters of credit under the facilities are subject to certain conditions precedent, including the accuracy of certain representations and warranties and the absence of any default or unmatured default.
The Company and OG&E's facilities each have a financial covenant requiring that the respective borrower maintain a maximum debt to capitalization ratio of 65 percent, as defined in each such facility. The Company and OG&E's facilities each also contain covenants which restrict the respective borrower and certain of its subsidiaries in respect of, among other things, mergers and consolidations, sales of all or substantially all assets, incurrence of liens and transactions with affiliates. The Company and OG&E's facilities are each subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of any default, including, among others, payment defaults on such facilities, breach of representations, warranties and covenants, acceleration of indebtedness (other than intercompany and non-recourse indebtedness) of $100.0 million or more in the aggregate, change of control (as defined in each such facility), nonpayment of uninsured judgments in excess of $100.0 million and the occurrence of certain Employee Retirement Income Security Act and bankruptcy events, subject where applicable to specified cure periods.
The Company borrows on a short-term basis, as necessary, by the issuance of commercial paper and by borrowings under its revolving credit agreement. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $168.4 million of short-term debt compared to $236.2 million at December 31, 2016. The following table provides information regarding the Company's revolving credit agreements at December 31, 2017.
(A)
Includes direct borrowings under the revolving credit agreements, commercial paper borrowings and letters of credit at December 31, 2017.
(B)
This bank facility is available to back up the Company's commercial paper borrowings and to provide revolving credit borrowings. This bank facility can also be used as a letter of credit facility.
(C)
This bank facility is available to back up OG&E's commercial paper borrowings and to provide revolving credit borrowings. This bank facility can also be used as a letter of credit facility.
(D)
Represents the weighted-average interest rate for the outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit agreements, commercial paper borrowings and letters of credit.
The Company's ability to access the commercial paper market could be adversely impacted by a credit ratings downgrade or major market disruptions. Pricing grids associated with the Company's credit facilities could cause annual fees and borrowing rates to increase if an adverse rating impact occurs. The impact of any future downgrade could include an increase in the costs of the Company's short-term borrowings, but a reduction in the Company's credit ratings would not result in any defaults or accelerations. Any future downgrade could also lead to higher long-term borrowing costs and, if below investment grade, would require the Company to post collateral or letters of credit.
OG&E must obtain regulatory approval from the FERC in order to borrow on a short-term basis. OG&E has the necessary regulatory approvals to incur up to $800.0 million in short-term borrowings at any one time for a two-year period beginning January 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2018.
11.
Retirement Plans and Postretirement Benefit Plans
Pension Plan and Restoration of Retirement Income Plan
It is the Company's policy to fund the Pension Plan on a current basis based on the net periodic pension expense as determined by the Company's actuarial consultants. Such contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to service to date but also for those expected to be earned in the future. The Company made a $20.0 million contribution to its Pension Plan in both 2017 and 2016. The Company has not determined whether it will need to make any contributions to the Pension Plan in 2018. Any contribution to the Pension Plan during 2018 would be a discretionary contribution, anticipated to be in the form of cash, and is not required to satisfy the minimum regulatory funding requirement specified by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The Company could be required to make additional contributions if the value of its pension trust and postretirement benefit plan trust assets are adversely impacted by a major market disruption in the future.
In accordance with ASC Topic 715, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits," a one-time settlement charge is required to be recorded by an organization when lump sum payments or other settlements that relieve the organization from the responsibility for the pension benefit obligation during a plan year exceed the service cost and interest cost components of the organization’s net periodic pension cost. During 2017 and 2015, the Company experienced an increase in both the number of employees electing to retire and the amount of lump sum payments paid to such employees upon retirement. As a result, the Company recorded
pension settlement charges of $15.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 and $21.7 million during 2015. The pension settlement charges did not increase the Company's total pension expense over time, as the charges were an acceleration of costs that otherwise would be recognized as pension expense in future periods. During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, the Company experienced a settlement of its Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and its non-qualified Restoration of Retirement Income Plan. As a result, the Company recorded pension settlement charges of $8.6 million during 2016.
The Company provides a Restoration of Retirement Income Plan to those participants in the Company's Pension Plan whose benefits are subject to certain limitations of the Code. Participants in the Restoration of Retirement Income Plan receive the same benefits that they would have received under the Company's Pension Plan in the absence of limitations imposed by the federal tax laws. The Restoration of Retirement Income Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan.
Obligations and Funded Status
The following table presents the status of the Company's Pension Plan, the Restoration of Retirement Income Plan and the postretirement benefit plans for 2017 and 2016. These amounts have been recorded in Accrued Benefit Obligations with the offset in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (except OG&E's portion, which is recorded as a regulatory asset as discussed in Note 1) in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss and those recorded as a regulatory asset represent a net periodic benefit cost to be recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income in future periods. The benefit obligation for the Company's Pension Plan and the Restoration of Retirement Income Plan represents the projected benefit obligation, while the benefit obligation for the postretirement benefit plans represents the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation. The accumulated postretirement benefit obligation for the Company's Pension Plan and Restoration of Retirement Income Plan differs from the projected benefit obligation in that the former includes no assumption about future compensation levels. The accumulated postretirement benefit obligation for the Pension Plan and the Restoration of Retirement Income Plan at December 31, 2017 was $626.9 million and $7.5 million, respectively. The accumulated postretirement benefit obligation for the Pension Plan and the Restoration of Retirement Income Plan at December 31, 2016 was $608.0 million and $6.1 million, respectively. The details of the funded status of the Pension Plan, the Restoration of Retirement Income Plan and the postretirement benefit plans and the amounts included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
(A)
Unamortized prior service cost is amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period to the first eligibility age of participants who are expected to receive a benefit and are active at the date of the plan amendment.
(B)
In addition to the $32.9 million, $22.5 million and $40.2 million of net periodic benefit cost recognized in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, OG&E recognized the following:
•
a change in pension expense in 2017, 2016 and 2015 of $(2.3) million, $9.9 million and $(3.1) million, respectively, to maintain the allowable amount to be recovered for pension expense in the Oklahoma jurisdiction, which are included in the Pension tracker regulatory asset or liability (see Note 1);
•
an increase in postretirement medical expense in 2017, 2016 and 2015 of $6.2 million, $7.9 million and $5.8 million, respectively, to maintain the allowable amount to be recovered for postretirement medical expense in the Oklahoma jurisdiction which are included in the Pension tracker regulatory asset or liability (see Note 1); and
•
a deferral of pension expense in 2017, 2016 and 2015 of $1.1 million, $0.1 million and $1.9 million related to the Arkansas jurisdictional portion of the pension settlement charge of $15.3 million, $8.6 million and $21.7 million, respectively.
Rate Assumptions
N/A - not applicable
The discount rate used to compute the present value of plan liabilities is based generally on rates of high-grade corporate bonds with maturities similar to the average period over which benefits will be paid. The discount rate used to determine net benefit cost for the current year is the same discount rate used to determine the benefit obligation as of the previous year's balance sheet date.
The overall expected rate of return on plan assets assumption was 7.50 percent in both 2017 and 2016, which was used in determining net periodic benefit cost due to recent returns on the Company's long-term investment portfolio. The rate of return on plan assets assumption is the average long-term rate of earnings expected on the funds currently invested and to be invested for the purpose of providing benefits specified by the Pension Plan or postretirement benefit plans. This assumption is reexamined at least annually and updated as necessary. The rate of return on plan assets assumption reflects a combination of historical return analysis, forward-looking return expectations and the plans' current and expected asset allocation.
The assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for postretirement medical benefit plans. Future health care cost trend rates are assumed to be 6.50 percent in 2018 with the rates trending downward to 4.50 percent by 2026. A one-percentage point change in the assumed health care cost trend rate would have the following effects:
Pension Plan Investments, Policies and Strategies
The Pension Plan assets are held in a trust which follows an investment policy and strategy designed to reduce the funded status volatility of the Plan by utilizing liability driven investing. The purpose of liability-driven investing is to structure the asset portfolio to more closely resemble the pension liability and thereby more effectively hedge against changes in the liability. The investment policy follows a glide path approach that shifts a higher portfolio weighting to fixed income as the Plan's funded status increases. The table below sets forth the targeted fixed income and equity allocations at different funded status levels.
Within the portfolio's overall allocation to equities, the funds are allocated according to the guidelines in the table below.
The Company has retained an investment consultant responsible for the general investment oversight, analysis, monitoring investment guideline compliance and providing quarterly reports to certain of the Company's members and the Company's Investment Committee. The various investment managers used by the trust operate within the general operating objectives as established in the investment policy and within the specific guidelines established for each investment manager's respective portfolio.
The portfolio is rebalanced at least on an annual basis to bring the asset allocations of various managers in line with the target asset allocation listed above. More frequent rebalancing may occur if there are dramatic price movements in the financial markets which may cause the trust's exposure to any asset class to exceed or fall below the established allowable guidelines.
To evaluate the progress of the portfolio, investment performance is reviewed quarterly. It is, however, expected that performance goals will be met over a full market cycle, normally defined as a three to five year period. Analysis of performance is within the context of the prevailing investment environment and the advisors' investment style. The goal of the trust is to provide a rate of return consistently from three percent to five percent over the rate of inflation (as measured by the national Consumer Price Index) on a fee adjusted basis over a typical market cycle of no less than three years and no more than five years. Each investment manager is expected to outperform its respective benchmark. Below is a list of each asset class utilized with appropriate comparative benchmark(s) each manager is evaluated against:
The fixed income managers are expected to use discretion over the asset mix of the trust assets in its efforts to maximize risk-adjusted performance. Exposure to any single issuer, other than the U.S. government, its agencies or its instrumentalities (which have no limits), is limited to five percent of the fixed income portfolio as measured by market value. At least 75 percent of the invested assets must possess an investment-grade rating at or above Baa3 or BBB- by Moody's Investors Services, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services or Fitch Ratings. The portfolio may invest up to 10 percent of the portfolio's market value in convertible bonds as long as the securities purchased meet the quality guidelines. A portfolio may invest up to 15 percent of the portfolio's market value in private placement, including 144A securities with or without registration rights and allow for futures to be traded in the portfolio. The purchase of any of the Company's equity, debt or other securities is prohibited.
The domestic value equity managers focus on stocks that the manager believes are undervalued in price and earn an average or less than average return on assets and often pays out higher than average dividend payments. The domestic growth equity manager will invest primarily in growth companies which consistently experience above average growth in earnings and sales, earn a high return on assets and reinvest cash flow into existing business. The domestic mid-cap equity portfolio manager focuses on companies with market capitalizations lower than the average company traded on the public exchanges with the following characteristics: price/earnings ratio at or near the Russell Midcap Index, small dividend yield, return on equity at or near the Russell Midcap Index and an earnings per share growth rate at or near the Russell Midcap Index. The domestic small-cap equity manager will purchase shares of companies with market capitalizations lower than the average company traded on the public exchanges with the following characteristics: price/earnings ratio at or near the Russell 2000, small dividend yield, return on equity at or near the Russell 2000 and an earnings per share growth rate at or near the Russell 2000. The international global equity manager invests primarily in non-dollar denominated equity securities. Investing internationally diversifies the overall trust across the global equity markets. The manager is required to operate under certain restrictions including regional constraints, diversification requirements and percentage of U.S. securities. The Morgan Stanley Capital International All Country World ex-U.S. Index is the benchmark for comparative performance purposes. The Morgan Stanley Capital International All Country World ex-U.S. Index is a market value weighted index designed to measure the combined equity market performance of developed and emerging markets countries, excluding the U.S. All of the equities which are purchased for the international portfolio are thoroughly researched. All securities are freely traded on a recognized stock exchange, and there are no over-the-counter derivatives. The following investment categories are excluded: options (other than traded currency options), commodities, futures (other than currency futures or currency hedging), short sales/margin purchases, private placements, unlisted securities and real estate (but not real estate shares).
For all domestic equity investment managers, no more than five percent can be invested in any one stock at the time of purchase and no more than 10 percent after accounting for price appreciation. Options or financial futures may not be purchased unless prior approval of the Company's Investment Committee is received. The purchase of securities on margin is prohibited as is securities lending. Private placement or venture capital may not be purchased. All interest and dividend payments must be swept on a daily basis into a short-term money market fund for re-deployment. The purchase of any of the Company's equity, debt or other securities is prohibited. The purchase of equity or debt issues of the portfolio manager's organization is also prohibited. The aggregate positions in any company may not exceed one percent of the fair market value of its outstanding stock.
Pension Plan Investments
The following tables summarize the Pension Plan's investments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2017 and 2016. There were no Level 3 investments held by the Pension Plan at December 31, 2017 and 2016.
(A)
GAAP allows the measurement of certain investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value at the net asset value. These investments do not consider the observability of inputs; therefore, they are not included within the fair value hierarchy.
(B)
This category represents U.S. Treasury notes and bonds with a Moody's Investors Services rating of Aaa and Government Agency Bonds with a Moody's Investors Services rating of A1 or higher.
(C)
This category represents units of participation in a commingled fund that primarily invested in stocks of international companies and emerging markets.
The three levels defined in the fair value hierarchy and examples of each are as follows:
Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical unrestricted assets or liabilities that are accessible by the Pension Plan at the measurement date. Instruments classified as Level 1 include investments in common stocks, U.S. Treasury notes and bonds, mutual funds and cash collateral.
Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable at the reporting date for the asset or liability for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active. Instruments classified as Level 2 include corporate fixed income and other securities, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, U.S. municipal bonds, foreign government bonds, U.S. Treasury futures contracts and forward contracts.
Level 3 inputs are prices or valuation techniques for the asset or liability that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity). Unobservable inputs reflect the Plan's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk).
Postretirement Benefit Plans
In addition to providing pension benefits, the Company provides certain medical and life insurance benefits for eligible retired members. Regular, full-time, active employees hired prior to February 1, 2000 whose age and years of credited service total or exceed 80 or have attained at least age 55 with 10 or more years of service at the time of retirement are entitled to postretirement medical benefits, while employees hired on or after February 1, 2000 are not entitled to postretirement medical benefits. Eligible retirees must contribute such amount as the Company specifies from time to time toward the cost of coverage for postretirement benefits. The benefits are subject to deductibles, co-payment provisions and other limitations. OG&E charges
postretirement benefit costs to expense and includes an annual amount as a component of the cost-of-service in future ratemaking proceedings.
The Company's contribution to the medical costs for pre-65 aged eligible retirees are fixed at the 2011 level, and the Company covers future annual medical inflationary cost increases up to five percent. Increases in excess of five percent annually are covered by the pre-65 aged retiree in the form of premium increases. The Company provides Medicare-eligible retirees and their Medicare-eligible spouses an annual fixed contribution to a Company-sponsored health reimbursement arrangement. Medicare-eligible retirees are able to purchase individual insurance policies supplemental to Medicare through a third-party administrator and use their health reimbursement arrangement funds for reimbursement of medical premiums and other eligible medical expenses.
In August 2017, the Company adopted an amendment to the retiree medical plan. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company will reduce the amount of supplemental Medicare coverage for Medicare-eligible retirees, providing a fixed stipend based on current market analysis in August 2017. The Company will continue to allow those Medicare-eligible retirees to acquire coverage from a company-provided third-party administrator. The effect of these plan amendments is reflected in the Company’s December 31, 2017 Consolidated Balance Sheet as a reduction to the postretirement benefit obligation of $42.9 million.
In August 2017, the Company settled the retiree life plan in its entirety and paid $26.4 million to participants in August 2017. No gain or loss was recognized upon settlement, and the effect of the settlement is reflected in the Company’s December 31, 2017 Consolidated Balance Sheet as a reduction in the Accrued Benefit Obligations of $27.9 million and related other comprehensive income and regulatory asset of $2.1 million.
Postretirement Plans Investments
The following tables summarize the postretirement benefit plans' investments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2017 and 2016. There were no Level 2 investments held by the postretirement benefit plans at December 31, 2017 and 2016.
The group retiree medical insurance contract invests in a pool of common stocks, bonds and money market accounts, of which a significant portion is comprised of mortgage-backed securities. The unobservable input included in the valuation of the contract includes the approach for determining the allocation of the postretirement benefit plans' pro-rata share of the total assets in the contract.
The following table summarizes the postretirement benefit plans' investments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 expanded coverage for prescription drugs. The following table summarizes the gross benefit payments the Company expects to pay related to its postretirement benefit plans, including prescription drug benefits.
The following table summarizes the benefit payments the Company expects to pay related to OGE Energy's Pension Plan and Restoration of Retirement Income Plan. These expected benefits are based on the same assumptions used to measure the Company's benefit obligation at the end of the year and include benefits attributable to estimated future employee service.
Post-Employment Benefit Plan
Disabled employees receiving benefits from the Company's Group Long-Term Disability Plan are entitled to continue participating in the Company's Medical Plan along with their dependents. The post-employment benefit obligation represents the actuarial present value of estimated future medical benefits that are attributed to employee service rendered prior to the date as of which such information is presented. The obligation also includes future medical benefits expected to be paid to current employees participating in the Company's Group Long-Term Disability Plan and their dependents, as defined in the Company's Medical Plan.
The post-employment benefit obligation is determined by an actuary on a basis similar to the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation. The estimated future medical benefits are projected to grow with expected future medical cost trend rates and
are discounted for interest at the discount rate and for the probability that the participant will discontinue receiving benefits from the Company's Group Long-Term Disability Plan due to death, recovery from disability or eligibility for retiree medical benefits. The Company's post-employment benefit obligation was $2.5 million and $2.4 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
401(k) Plan
The Company provides a 401(k) Plan, and each regular full-time employee of the Company or a participating affiliate is eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan immediately. All other employees of the Company or a participating affiliate are eligible to become participants in the 401(k) Plan after completing one year of service as defined in the 401(k) Plan. Participants may contribute each pay period any whole percentage between two percent and 19 percent of their compensation, as defined in the 401(k) Plan, for that pay period. Participants who have reached age 50 before the close of a year are allowed to make additional contributions referred to as "Catch-Up Contributions," subject to certain limitations of the Code. Participants may designate, at their discretion, all or any portion of their contributions as: (i) a before-tax contribution under Section 401(k) of the Code subject to the limitations thereof, (ii) a contribution made on a non-Roth after-tax basis or (iii) a Roth contribution. The 401(k) Plan also includes an eligible automatic contribution arrangement and provides for a qualified default investment alternative consistent with the U.S. Department of Labor regulations. Participants may elect, in accordance with the 401(k) Plan procedures, to have his or her future salary deferral rate to be automatically increased annually on a date and in an amount as specified by the participant in such election. For employees hired or rehired on or after December 1, 2009, the Company contributes to the 401(k) Plan, on behalf of each participant, 200 percent of the participant's contributions up to five percent of compensation.
No Company contributions are made with respect to a participant's Catch-Up Contributions, rollover contributions or with respect to a participant's contributions based on overtime payments, pay-in-lieu of overtime for exempt personnel, special lump-sum recognition awards and lump-sum merit awards included in compensation for determining the amount of participant contributions. Once made, the Company's contribution may be directed to any available investment option in the 401(k) Plan. The Company match contributions vest over a three-year period. After two years of service, participants become 20 percent vested in their Company contribution account and become fully vested on completing three years of service. In addition, participants fully vest when they are eligible for normal or early retirement under the Pension Plan requirements, in the event of their termination due to death or permanent disability or upon attainment of age 65 while employed by the Company or its affiliates. The Company contributed $13.2 million, $11.9 million and $11.6 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, to the 401(k) Plan.
Deferred Compensation Plan
The Company provides a nonqualified deferred compensation plan which is intended to be an unfunded plan. The plan's primary purpose is to provide a tax-deferred capital accumulation vehicle for a select group of management, highly compensated employees and non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company and to supplement such employees' 401(k) Plan contributions as well as offering this plan to be competitive in the marketplace.
Eligible employees who enroll in the plan have the following deferral options: (i) eligible employees may elect to defer up to a maximum of 70 percent of base salary and 100 percent of annual bonus awards or (ii) eligible employees may elect a deferral percentage of base salary and bonus awards based on the deferral percentage elected for a year under the 401(k) Plan with such deferrals to start when maximum deferrals to the qualified 401(k) Plan have been made because of limitations in that plan. Eligible directors who enroll in the plan may elect to defer up to a maximum of 100 percent of directors' meeting fees and annual retainers. The Company matches employee (but not non-employee director) deferrals to make up for any match lost in the 401(k) Plan because of deferrals to the deferred compensation plan and to allow for a match that would have been made under the 401(k) Plan on that portion of either the first six percent of total compensation or the first five percent of total compensation, depending on prior participant elections, deferred that exceeds the limits allowed in the 401(k) Plan. Matching credits vest based on years of service, with full vesting after three years or, if earlier, on retirement, disability, death, a change in control of the Company or termination of the plan. Deferrals, plus any Company match, are credited to a recordkeeping account in the participant's name. Earnings on the deferrals are indexed to the assumed investment funds selected by the participant. In 2017, those investment options included a Company Common Stock fund, whose value was determined based on the stock price of the Company's common stock. The Company accounts for the contributions related to the Company's executive officers in this plan as Accrued Benefit Obligations, and the Company accounts for the contributions related to the Company's directors in this plan as Other Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The investment associated with these contributions is accounted for as Other Property and Investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The appreciation of these investments is accounted for as Other Income, and the increase in the liability under the plan is accounted for as Other Expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
12.
Report of Business Segments
The Company reports its operations in two business segments: (i) the electric utility segment, which is engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy and (ii) natural gas midstream operations segment. Other Operations primarily includes the operations of the holding company.
Intersegment revenues are recorded at prices comparable to those of unaffiliated customers and are affected by regulatory considerations.
The following tables summarize the results of the Company's business segments for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.
(A) The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $245.2 million and income tax expense of $10.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2017 due to the Company remeasuring deferred taxes related to the natural gas midstream operations and other operations segments, respectively, as a result of the 2017 Tax Act. See Note 7 for further discussion of the effects of the 2017 Tax Act.
(A)
The Company recorded a $108.4 million pre-tax charge during the third quarter of 2015 for its share of Enable's goodwill impairment, as adjusted for the basis difference. See Note 3 for further discussion of the goodwill impairment.
13.
Commitments and Contingencies
Operating Lease Obligations
The Company has operating lease obligations expiring at various dates, primarily for OG&E railcar leases, OG&E wind farm land leases and the Company's noncancellable operating lease. Future minimum payments for noncancellable operating leases are as follows:
Payments for operating lease obligations were $6.2 million, $9.3 million and $7.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
OG&E Railcar Lease Agreement
OG&E has a noncancellable operating lease with a purchase option, covering 1,243 rotary gondola railcars to transport coal from Wyoming to OG&E's coal-fired generation units. Rental payments are charged to fuel expense and are recovered through OG&E's tariffs and fuel adjustment clauses.
On December 17, 2015, OG&E renewed the lease agreement effective February 1, 2016. At the end of the new lease term, which is February 1, 2019, OG&E has the option to either purchase the railcars at a stipulated fair market value or renew the lease. If OG&E chooses not to purchase the railcars or renew the lease agreement and the actual fair value of the railcars is less than the stipulated fair market value, OG&E would be responsible for the difference in those values up to a maximum of $18.2 million. OG&E is also required to maintain all of the railcars it has under the operating lease.
OG&E Wind Farm Land Lease Agreements
OG&E has operating leases related to land for its Centennial, OU Spirit and Crossroads wind farms expiring at various dates. The Centennial lease has rent escalations which increase annually based on the Consumer Price Index. The OU Spirit and Crossroads leases have rent escalations which increase after five and 10 years. Although the leases are cancellable, OG&E is required to make annual lease payments as long as the wind turbines are located on the land. OG&E does not expect to terminate the leases until the wind turbines reach the end of their useful life.
Noncancellable Operating Lease
On August 29, 2012, the Company executed a five-year lease agreement for office space from September 1, 2013 to August 31, 2018. This lease has rent escalations which increase after five years and allows for leasehold improvements.
Other Purchase Obligations and Commitments
The Company's other future purchase obligations and commitments estimated for the next five years are as follows:
Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978
At December 31, 2017, OG&E has a QF contract with Oklahoma Cogeneration LLC which expires on August 31, 2019, and a QF contract with AES-Shady Point, Inc. which expires on January 15, 2023. These contracts were entered into pursuant to the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978. Stated generally, the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 and the regulations thereunder promulgated by the FERC require OG&E to purchase power generated in a manufacturing process from a QF. The rate for such power to be paid by OG&E was approved by the OCC. The rate generally consists of two components: one is a rate for actual electricity purchased from the QF by OG&E, and the other is a capacity charge, which OG&E must pay the QF for having the capacity available. However, if no electrical power is made available to OG&E for a period of time (generally three months), OG&E's obligation to pay the capacity charge is suspended. The total cost of cogeneration payments is recoverable in rates from customers. For the 320 MWs AES-Shady Point, Inc. QF contract and the 120 MWs Oklahoma Cogeneration LLC QF contract, OG&E purchases 100 percent of the electricity generated by the QFs.
As part of the QF contract with AES-Shady Point Inc., OG&E had the option beginning in July 2017 to provide notice to AES-Shady Point Inc. to terminate the contract in January 2018. On July 17, 2017, OG&E and AES-Shady Point, Inc. amended the agreement to allow OG&E the ability, through July 17, 2018, to provide AES-Shady Point Inc. a termination notice that would terminate the agreement on January 15, 2019.
For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, OG&E made total payments to cogenerators of $115.2 million, $124.8 million and $124.0 million, respectively, of which $63.0 million, $66.3 million and $69.5 million, respectively, represented capacity payments. All payments for purchased power, including cogeneration, are included in the Consolidated Statements of Income as Cost of Sales.
OG&E Minimum Fuel Purchase Commitments
OG&E has coal contracts for purchases through June 2018. As a participant in the SPP Integrated Marketplace, OG&E now purchases a relatively small percentage of its natural gas supply through long-term agreements. Alternatively, OG&E relies on a combination of natural gas call agreements, whereby OG&E has the right but not the obligation to purchase a defined quantity of natural gas, combined with day and intra-day purchases to meet the demands of the SPP Integrated Marketplace.
OG&E Wind Purchase Commitments
OG&E owns the 120 MW Centennial, 101 MW OU Spirit and 228 MW Crossroads wind farms. OG&E's current wind power portfolio also includes purchase power contracts with the following:
The following table summarizes OG&E's wind power purchases for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.
OG&E Long-Term Service Agreement Commitments
OG&E has a long-term parts and service maintenance contract for the upkeep of the McClain Plant. In May 2013, a new contract was signed that is expected to run for the earlier of 128,000 factored-fired hours or 4,800 factored-fired starts. On December 30, 2015, the McClain Long-Term Service Agreement was amended to define the terms and conditions for the exchange of spare rotors between OG&E and General Electric International, Inc. Based on historical usage and current expectations for future usage, this contract is expected to run until 2031. The contract requires payments based on both a fixed and variable cost component, depending on how much the McClain Plant is used.
OG&E has a long-term parts and service maintenance contract for the upkeep of the Redbud Plant. In March 2013, the contract was amended to extend the contract coverage for an additional 24,000 factored-fired hours resulting in a maximum of the earlier of 144,000 factored-fired hours or 4,500 factored-fired starts. Based on historical usage and current expectations for future usage, this contract is expected to run until 2029. The contract requires payments based on both a fixed and variable cost component, depending on how much the Redbud Plant is used.
Enable Gas Transportation Agreement
OG&E contracts with Enable for firm non-notice load following gas transportation services under a five year contract. The contract will expire in April 2019. In 2016, OG&E entered into an additional gas transportation services contract with Enable which will be effective upon the conversion of units 4 and 5 at Muskogee from coal to gas.
Environmental Laws and Regulations
The activities of OG&E are subject to numerous stringent and complex federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental protection. These laws and regulations can change, restrict or otherwise impact OG&E's business activities in many ways, including the handling or disposal of waste material, planning for future construction activities to avoid or mitigate harm to threatened or endangered species and requiring the installation and operation of emissions control equipment. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements and the issuance of orders enjoining future operations. Management believes that all of its operations are in substantial compliance with current federal, state and local environmental standards.
Environmental regulation can increase the cost of planning, design, initial installation and operation of OG&E's facilities. OG&E is managing several potentially material uncertainties about the scope and timing for the acquisition, installation and operation of additional pollution control equipment and compliance costs for a variety of the EPA rules that are being challenged in court. OG&E is unable to predict the financial impact of these matters with certainty at this time. Management continues to
evaluate its compliance with existing and proposed environmental legislation and regulations and implement appropriate environmental programs in a competitive market.
Air Quality Control System
On September 10, 2014, OG&E executed a contract for the design, engineering and fabrication of two circulating Dry Scrubber systems to be installed at Sooner Units 1 and 2. OG&E entered into an agreement on February 9, 2015 to install the Dry Scrubber systems. The Dry Scrubbers are expected to be completed in mid to late 2018. More detail regarding the ECP can be found under the "Pending Regulatory Matters" in Note 14.
Clean Power Plan
On October 23, 2015, the EPA published the final Clean Power Plan that established standards of performance for CO2 emissions from existing fossil-fuel-fired power plants along with state-specific CO2 reduction standards expressed as both rate-based (lbs./MWh) and mass-based (tons/yr.) goals. However, the rule was challenged in court when it was issued, and the U.S. Supreme Court issued orders staying implementation of the Clean Power Plan on February 9, 2016 pending resolution of the court challenges. The EPA published a proposal on October 16, 2017 to repeal the Clean Power Plan. In addition, the EPA published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comments on regulatory options for replacing the Clean Power Plan. The ultimate timing and impact of these standards on OG&E's operations cannot be determined with certainty at this time, although a requirement for significant reduction of CO2 emissions from existing fossil-fuel-fired power plants ultimately could result in significant additional compliance costs that would affect the Company's future consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows if such costs are not recovered through regulated rates.
Other
In the normal course of business, the Company is confronted with issues or events that may result in a contingent liability. These generally relate to lawsuits or claims made by third parties, including governmental agencies. When appropriate, management consults with legal counsel and other experts to assess the claim. If, in management's opinion, the Company has incurred a probable loss as set forth by GAAP, an estimate is made of the loss, and the appropriate accounting entries are reflected in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. At the present time, based on current available information, the Company believes that any reasonably possible losses in excess of accrued amounts arising out of pending or threatened lawsuits or claims would not be quantitatively material to its financial statements and would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
14.
Rate Matters and Regulation
Regulation and Rates
OG&E's retail electric tariffs are regulated by the OCC in Oklahoma and by the APSC in Arkansas. The issuance of certain securities by OG&E is also regulated by the OCC and the APSC. OG&E's transmission activities, short-term borrowing authorization and accounting practices are subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC. The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy has jurisdiction over some of OG&E's facilities and operations. In 2017, 85 percent of OG&E's electric revenue was subject to the jurisdiction of the OCC, eight percent to the APSC and seven percent to the FERC.
The OCC issued an order in 1996 authorizing OG&E to reorganize into a subsidiary of the Company. The order required that, among other things, (i) the Company permit the OCC access to the books and records of the Company and its affiliates relating to transactions with OG&E, (ii) the Company employ accounting and other procedures and controls to protect against subsidization of non-utility activities by OG&E's customers and (iii) the Company refrain from pledging OG&E assets or income for affiliate transactions. In addition, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 enacted the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, which in turn granted to the FERC access to the books and records of the Company and its affiliates as the FERC deems relevant to costs incurred by OG&E or necessary or appropriate for the protection of utility customers with respect to the FERC jurisdictional rates.
Completed Regulatory Matters
Arkansas Rate Case Filing
On August 25, 2016, OG&E filed a general rate case with the APSC. The rate filing requested a $16.5 million rate increase based on a 10.25 percent return on equity. The requested rate increase was based on a June 30, 2016 test year and included recovery of over $3.0 billion of electric infrastructure additions since the last Arkansas general rate case in 2011. The requested
increase also reflected increases in operation and maintenance expenses, including vegetation management and increased recovery of depreciation and dismantlement costs.
In May 2017, the APSC approved a settlement between OG&E and the staff of the APSC and other intervenors. The settlement provided for a $7.1 million annual rate increase and a 9.5 percent return on equity on a 50.0 percent equity capital structure.
The settlement also provided that OG&E will be regulated under a formula rate rider, which should result in a more efficient process as the return on equity, depreciation rates and capital structure should not change from what was approved by the APSC in this settlement. The formula rate rider provides for an adjustment to rates if the earned rate of return falls outside of a plus or minus 50 basis point dead-band around the allowed return on equity. Adjustments are limited to plus or minus four percent of revenue for each rate class for the 12 months preceding the projected year. The initial term for the formula rate rider is not to exceed five years, unless additional approval is obtained from the APSC. OG&E expects to make its first filing under the Arkansas Formula Rate Rider in October 2018.
Fuel Adjustment Clause Review for Calendar Year 2015
On September 8, 2016, the OCC staff filed an application to review OG&E’s fuel adjustment clause for calendar year 2015, including the prudence of OG&E’s electric generation, purchased power and fuel procurement costs. On October 12, 2017, the OCC issued an order finding that, for the calendar year 2015, OG&E's electric generation, purchased power and fuel procurement processes and costs were prudent.
Oklahoma Rate Case Filing - 2015
On December 18, 2015, OG&E filed a general rate case with the OCC requesting a rate increase of $92.5 million and a 10.25 percent return on equity based on a common equity percentage of 53.0 percent. The rate case was based on a June 30, 2015 test year and included recovery of $1.6 billion of electric infrastructure additions since its last general rate case in Oklahoma.
On July 1, 2016, OG&E implemented an annual interim rate increase of $69.5 million, subject to refund for amounts in excess of the rates approved by the OCC.
In December 2016, the ALJ issued a report and recommendations in the case. The ALJ's recommendations included, among other things, the use of OG&E's actual capital structure of 53.0 percent equity and 47.0 percent long-term debt and a return on equity of 9.87 percent resulting in an annual increase in OG&E's revenues of $40.7 million.
During February and March 2017, the OCC held hearings and, on March 20, 2017, issued an order. The order resulted in an annual net increase of approximately $8.8 million in OG&E's rates to its Oklahoma retail customers. Although the order adopted certain recommendations set forth in the ALJ report, it differed in certain key respects.
The primary adjustments to the ALJ report consist of: (i) Oklahoma retail authorized rate of return on equity of 9.50 percent, (ii) depreciation expense is reduced by approximately $28.6 million from the ALJ report or $36.4 million from then current rates on an annual basis, (iii) recovery of 50.0 percent of short-term incentive compensation and no recovery of long-term incentive compensation, (iv) recovery of OG&E's requested vegetation management expenses and (v) recovery of production tax credits expiring in 2017 and air quality control systems consumable costs through the fuel adjustment clause. The order maintained OG&E's existing capital structure of 53.0 percent equity and 47.0 percent long-term debt.
As a result of the March 2017 OCC rate order, OG&E recorded, in the first quarter of 2017, adjustments to depreciation expense, amortization of regulatory assets and liabilities and impacts to the fuel adjustment clause effective July 1, 2016. On May 1, 2017, OG&E implemented new rates and began refunding excess amounts that it had collected in interim rates.
As of November 30, 2017, OG&E had completed the refund of $47.5 million collected in excess interim rates.
Mustang Modernization Plan - Arkansas
On August 15, 2017, OG&E filed for a determination with the APSC that the Mustang facility is in the public interest. The filing did not seek recovery for any costs associated with the Mustang Modernization Plan, as request for recovery of costs will take place with the first formula rate filing expected to be made in October 2018. On January 2, 2018, the APSC issued an order finding the Mustang Modernization Plan to be in the public interest.
Pending Regulatory Matters
Set forth below is a list of various proceedings pending before state or federal regulatory agencies. Unless stated otherwise, OG&E cannot predict when the regulatory agency will act or what action the regulatory agency will take. OG&E's financial results are dependent in part on timely and adequate decisions by the regulatory agencies that set OG&E's rates.
Environmental Compliance Plan
On August 6, 2014, OG&E filed an application with the OCC for approval of its plan to comply with the EPA’s MATS and Regional Haze Rule FIP while serving the best long-term interests of customers in light of future environmental uncertainties. The application sought approval of the ECP and for a recovery mechanism for the associated costs. The ECP includes installing Dry Scrubbers at Sooner Units 1 and 2 and the conversion of Muskogee Units 4 and 5 to natural gas. The application also asked the OCC to predetermine the prudence of its Mustang Modernization Plan and approval for a recovery mechanism for the associated costs.
On December 2, 2015, OG&E received an order from the OCC denying its plan to comply with the environmental mandates of the Federal Clean Air Act, Regional Haze Rule and MATS. The OCC also denied OG&E's request for pre-approval of its Mustang Modernization Plan, revised depreciation rates for both the retirement of the Mustang units and the replacement combustion turbines and pre-approval of early retirement and replacement of generating units at its Mustang site, including cost recovery through a rider.
On February 12, 2016, OG&E filed an application requesting the OCC to issue an order approving its decision to install Dry Scrubbers at the Sooner facility. OG&E's application did not seek approval of the costs of the Dry Scrubber project. Instead, the reasonableness of the costs would be considered after the project is completed, and OG&E seeks recovery in a general rate case. On April 28, 2016, the OCC approved the Dry Scrubber project.
Two parties appealed the OCC's decision to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The Company is unable to predict what action the Oklahoma Supreme Court may take or the timing of any such action.
OG&E anticipates the total cost of Dry Scrubbers will be $542.4 million, including allowance for funds used during construction and capitalized ad valorem taxes and expects the project to be completed in mid to late 2018. As of December 31, 2017, OG&E had invested $401.3 million in the Dry Scrubbers. OG&E anticipates the total cost for the Mustang Modernization Plan will be $390.0 million, including allowance for funds used during construction and capitalized ad valorem taxes and expects the project to be completed in early 2018. As of December 31, 2017, OG&E had invested $348.4 million in the Mustang Modernization Plan.
Integrated Resource Plans
In October 2015, OG&E finalized the 2015 IRP and submitted it to the OCC. The 2015 IRP updated certain assumptions contained in the IRP submitted in 2014 but did not make any material changes to the ECP and other parts of the plan. Currently, OG&E is scheduled to update its IRP in Oklahoma by October 1, 2018 and in Arkansas by October 31, 2018.
Demand Program Rider - Energy Efficiency Lost Net Revenues
During the May 2017 implementation of new rates, OG&E reserved $5.6 million, pending resolution of a dispute with the OCC's Public Utility Division staff, regarding recovery of certain lost revenues associated with energy efficiency incurred prior to the March 2017 OCC rate order. These lost revenues are included within the total Demand Program Rider regulatory asset balance of $31.6 million as disclosed in Note 1.
Fuel Adjustment Clause Review for Calendar Year 2016
On August 3, 2017, the OCC staff filed an application to review OG&E's fuel adjustment clause for calendar year 2016, including the prudence of OG&E's electric generation, purchased power and fuel procurement costs. On February 7, 2018, an intervenor filed a recommendation to disallow the Oklahoma jurisdictional portion of $3.3 million related to wind sales in the SPP. A hearing is scheduled for March 29, 2018.
Oklahoma Rate Case Filing - 2018
On January 16, 2018, OG&E filed a general rate case in Oklahoma, requesting a rate increase of $1.9 million per year, assuming a 9.9 percent return on equity. The filing seeks recovery of the seven Mustang combustion turbines that are part of the Mustang Modernization Plan, requests an increase in depreciation rates to levels similar with rates in existence prior to the March 2017 OCC rate order and credits customers for the impacts of the 2017 Tax Act, enacted on December 22, 2017.
On December 22, 2017, the Attorney General of Oklahoma requested that the OCC reduce the rates and charges for electric service and provide for any refund due to the customers of OG&E resulting from the 2017 Tax Act. In response, on January 4, 2018, the OCC ordered OG&E to record a reserve, beginning on January 4, 2018, to reflect the reduced federal corporate tax rate of 21 percent and the amortization of excess accumulated deferred income tax and any other tax implications of the 2017 Tax Act on an interim basis, subject to refund until utility rates are adjusted to reflect the federal tax savings and a final order is issued in OG&E's pending rate case filed on January 16, 2018. Further, the OCC ordered the amounts of any refunds of such reserves owed to customers should accrue interest at a rate equivalent to OG&E's cost of capital as previously recognized in the March 2017 OCC rate order.
APSC Order - 2017 Tax Act
On January 12, 2018, as a result of the 2017 Tax Act, the APSC ordered OG&E to prepare and file an analysis, within 30 days of this order, of the ratemaking effects of the 2017 Tax Act on OG&E's revenue requirement and begin, effective January 1, 2018, to book regulatory liabilities to record the current and deferred impacts of the 2017 Tax Act. The APSC will subsequently solicit comments or testimony regarding the extent of the impacts of the 2017 Tax Act and how any resulting benefits, including carrying charges, should be returned to customers.
FERC - Section 206 Filing
In January 2018, the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority filed a complaint at the FERC stating that the base return on common equity used by OG&E in calculating formula transmission rates under the SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff is unjust and unreasonable and should be reduced from 10.60 percent to 7.85 percent, effective upon the date of the complaint. The Company is analyzing the potential impact of the complaint but estimates that if the FERC ultimately orders a reduction, each 25 basis point reduction in the requested return on equity would reduce the Company's SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff transmission revenues by approximately $1.5 million annually. In addition to the request to reduce the return on equity, the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority's complaint also requests that modifications be made to OG&E's transmission formula rates to reflect the impacts of the 2017 Tax Act. Although the proceeding is in the early stages, OG&E expects to contest the reduction of its base return on equity. The Company is unable to predict what action the FERC will take in response to the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority's complaint or the timing of such action. However, if the FERC orders revenue reductions as a result of the complaint, including refunds from the date of the complaint filing, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
15.
Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
Due to the seasonal fluctuations and other factors of the Company's businesses, the operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year. In the Company's opinion, the following quarterly financial data includes all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to fairly present such amounts. Summarized consolidated quarterly unaudited financial data is as follows:
(A)
Due to the impact of dilution on the earnings per share calculation, quarterly earnings per share amounts may not add to the total.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of OGE Energy Corp.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of capitalization of OGE Energy Corp. (the "Company") as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of other auditors, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We did not audit the consolidated financial statements of Enable Midstream Partners, LP ("Enable"), a partnership in which the Company has a 25.7 percent interest at December 31, 2017. The Company’s investment in Enable constituted 11.1 percent and 11.7 percent of the Company’s total assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and the Company’s equity earnings in the net income of Enable constituted 23.0 percent, 20.9 percent and 4.2 percent of the Company’s income before taxes for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Those statements were audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for Enable, is based solely on the report of the other auditors.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 21, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2002.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
February 21, 2018
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
The Company maintains a set of disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms. In addition, the disclosure controls and procedures ensure that information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, allowing timely decisions regarding required disclosure. As of the end of the period covered by this report, based on an evaluation carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), the chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
No change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting has occurred during the Company's most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Company's internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company's management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
The Company's management assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017. In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessment, we believe that, as of December 31, 2017, the Company's internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.
The Company's independent auditors have issued an attestation report on the Company's internal control over financial reporting. This report appears on the following page.
/s/ Sean Trauschke
/s/ Scott Forbes
Sean Trauschke, Chairman of the Board, President
Scott Forbes, Controller
and Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Accounting Officer
/s/ Stephen E. Merrill
Stephen E. Merrill
Chief Financial Officer
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of OGE Energy Corp.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited OGE Energy Corp.'s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, OGE Energy Corp. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the 2017 consolidated financial statements of the Company and our report dated February 21, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
February 21, 2018
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information.
On February 16, 2018, the Company's Board of Directors elected a new director, Peter D. Clarke, to a term beginning on February 19, 2018 and expiring at the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for May 17, 2018, at which time he is expected to be nominated for approval by the Company's shareholders. Mr. Clarke will receive compensation for his Board service consistent with compensation received by the Company's other non-employee directors (which is described in Exhibit 10.12 to this Form 10-K).
Mr. Clarke, 67, recently retired from the law firm of Jones Day following more than 40 years of representing the public utility and energy industries. Mr. Clarke’s energy practice focused on corporate finance, disclosure obligations under the federal securities laws, corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions.
Jones Day provided legal services on a variety of matters on the Company’s behalf during 2017 while Mr. Clarke was Of Counsel at Jones Day. Mr. Clarke retired from Jones Day on December 31, 2017. For the period of time from January 1, 2017 to February 15, 2018, Jones Day received fees from the Company for these services in the total amount of $4,315,445. Mr. Clarke was among a number of lawyers who provided those services; however, Mr. Clarke did not receive any direct compensation from legal fees the Company paid to Jones Day.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Code of Ethics Policy
OGE Energy maintains a code of ethics for our chief executive officer and senior financial officers, including the chief financial officer and chief accounting officer, which is available for public viewing on OGE Energy's website address www.oge.com under the heading "Investors," "Investor Relations," "Corporate Governance." The code of ethics will be provided, free of charge, upon request. OGE Energy intends to satisfy the disclosure requirements under Section 5, Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of the code of ethics by posting such information on its website at the location specified above. OGE Energy will also include in its proxy statement information regarding the Audit Committee financial experts.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
Items 10 through 14 (other than Item 10 information regarding the Code of Ethics) are omitted pursuant to General Instruction G of Form 10-K, because the Company will file copies of a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about April 2, 2018. Such proxy statement is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) 1. Financial Statements
(i)
The following Consolidated Financial Statements are included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report:
•
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
•
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
•
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
•
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017 and 2016
•
Consolidated Statements of Capitalization at December 31, 2017 and 2016
•
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
•
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
•
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Audit of Financial Statements)
•
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
•
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Audit of Internal Control over Financial Reporting)
(ii)
The financial statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of Enable Midstream Partners, LP, required pursuant to Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X are filed as Exhibit 99.02
2. Financial Statement Schedule (included in Part IV)
•
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
All other schedules have been omitted since the required information is not applicable or is not material, or because the information required is included in the respective Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto.
3. Exhibits
OGE ENERGY CORP.
SCHEDULE II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(A)
Uncollectible accounts receivable written off, net of recoveries.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Oklahoma City, and State of Oklahoma on February 21, 2018.
OGE ENERGY CORP.
(Registrant)
By /s/
Sean Trauschke
Sean Trauschke
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Sean Trauschke
Sean Trauschke
Principal Executive
Officer and Director;
February 21, 2018
/s/ Stephen E. Merrill
Stephen E. Merrill
Principal Financial Officer;
February 21, 2018
/s/ Scott Forbes
Scott Forbes
Principal Accounting Officer.
February 21, 2018
Frank A. Bozich
Director;
James H. Brandi
Director;
Peter D. Clarke
Director;
Luke R. Corbett
Director;
David L. Hauser
Director;
Kirk Humphreys
Director;
Robert O. Lorenz
Director;
Judy R. McReynolds
Director;
J. Michael Sanner
Director;
Sheila G. Talton
Director;