ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ENBRIDGE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited; in millions, except per unit amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31,
|
|
2018
|
|
2017
|
Operating revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transportation and other services
|
$
|
559
|
|
|
$
|
580
|
|
Transportation and other services - affiliate
|
33
|
|
|
25
|
|
Total operating revenues
|
592
|
|
|
605
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
Operating and administrative
|
70
|
|
|
88
|
|
Operating and administrative - affiliate
|
63
|
|
|
76
|
|
Power
|
77
|
|
|
74
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
110
|
|
|
109
|
|
Impairment of long-lived asset
|
35
|
|
|
—
|
|
Gain on sale of assets
|
—
|
|
|
(11
|
)
|
Total operating expenses
|
355
|
|
|
336
|
|
Operating income
|
237
|
|
|
269
|
|
Interest expense, net
|
104
|
|
|
99
|
|
Allowance for equity used during construction
|
16
|
|
|
10
|
|
Income from equity investment in joint venture
|
23
|
|
|
—
|
|
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
|
172
|
|
|
180
|
|
Income tax expense
|
—
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
Income from continuing operations
|
172
|
|
|
179
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
|
—
|
|
|
(22
|
)
|
Net income
|
172
|
|
|
157
|
|
Noncontrolling interests
|
(98
|
)
|
|
(68
|
)
|
Series 1 preferred unit distributions
|
—
|
|
|
(23
|
)
|
Accretion of discount on Series 1 preferred units
|
—
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
Net income - controlling interests
|
$
|
74
|
|
|
$
|
65
|
|
Net income allocable to common units and i-units:
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
$
|
62
|
|
|
$
|
68
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations
|
—
|
|
|
(14
|
)
|
Net income allocable to common units and i-units
|
$
|
62
|
|
|
$
|
54
|
|
Net income per common unit and i-unit (basic and diluted):
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
$
|
0.19
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations
|
—
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)
|
Net income per common unit and i-unit
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
Weighted average common units and i-units outstanding (basic and diluted)
|
425
|
|
|
353
|
|
Cash Distributions paid per limited partner unit
|
$
|
0.350
|
|
|
$
|
0.583
|
|
_____________________
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
ENBRIDGE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(unaudited; in millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31,
|
|
2018
|
|
2017
|
Net income
|
$
|
172
|
|
|
$
|
157
|
|
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
|
|
|
|
Change in cash flow hedges
|
—
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
Reclassification to income on cash flow hedges
|
12
|
|
|
10
|
|
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
|
12
|
|
|
9
|
|
Comprehensive income
|
184
|
|
|
166
|
|
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
|
(98
|
)
|
|
(68
|
)
|
Series 1 preferred unit distributions
|
—
|
|
|
(23
|
)
|
Accretion of discount on Series 1 preferred units
|
—
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
Comprehensive income attributable to common units and i-units
|
$
|
86
|
|
|
$
|
74
|
|
_____________________
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
ENBRIDGE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited; in millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31,
|
|
2018
|
|
2017
|
Operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
Net income from continuing operations
|
$
|
172
|
|
|
$
|
179
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
110
|
|
|
109
|
|
Changes in unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments, net
|
2
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
Income from equity investment in joint venture
|
(23
|
)
|
|
—
|
|
Gain on sale of assets
|
—
|
|
|
(11
|
)
|
Allowance for equity used during construction
|
(16
|
)
|
|
(10
|
)
|
Amortization of debt issuance and hedging costs
|
9
|
|
|
10
|
|
Impairment of long-lived asset
|
35
|
|
|
—
|
|
Other
|
5
|
|
|
10
|
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
|
28
|
|
|
(53
|
)
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
322
|
|
|
232
|
|
Net cash provided by discontinued operations
|
—
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing activities:
|
|
|
|
Capital expenditures
|
(180
|
)
|
|
(135
|
)
|
Proceeds from the sale of assets
|
—
|
|
|
216
|
|
Investments in joint venture
|
(5
|
)
|
|
(1,511
|
)
|
Other
|
—
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
(185
|
)
|
|
(1,431
|
)
|
Net cash used in discontinued operations
|
—
|
|
|
(8
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Financing activities:
|
|
|
|
Distributions to partners
|
(130
|
)
|
|
(200
|
)
|
Repayments to General Partner and affiliates
|
(157
|
)
|
|
(750
|
)
|
Borrowings from General Partner and affiliates
|
297
|
|
|
1,500
|
|
Net (repayments) borrowings under credit facilities
|
(150
|
)
|
|
260
|
|
Net commercial paper (repayments) borrowings
|
(15
|
)
|
|
369
|
|
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
|
—
|
|
|
(360
|
)
|
Sale of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
|
—
|
|
|
450
|
|
Contributions from noncontrolling interests
|
100
|
|
|
33
|
|
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
|
(94
|
)
|
|
(111
|
)
|
Other
|
(1
|
)
|
|
(1
|
)
|
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
|
(150
|
)
|
|
1,190
|
|
Net cash provided by discontinued operations
|
—
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
|
(13
|
)
|
|
(9
|
)
|
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year – continuing operations
|
35
|
|
|
115
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year – discontinued operations
|
—
|
|
|
18
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period – continuing operations
|
$
|
22
|
|
|
$
|
106
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period – discontinued operations
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
13
|
|
_____________________
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
ENBRIDGE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
(unaudited; in millions, except number of Class F units)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
2018
|
|
December 31,
2017
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$
|
22
|
|
|
$
|
35
|
|
Receivables, trade and other
|
77
|
|
|
65
|
|
Due from General Partner and affiliates
|
87
|
|
|
101
|
|
Accrued receivables
|
101
|
|
|
105
|
|
Other current assets
|
18
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
305
|
|
|
330
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
12,955
|
|
|
12,896
|
|
Equity investment in joint venture
|
1,593
|
|
|
1,565
|
|
Other assets, net
|
33
|
|
|
37
|
|
Total assets
|
$
|
14,886
|
|
|
$
|
14,828
|
|
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and other
|
$
|
176
|
|
|
$
|
173
|
|
Due to General Partner and affiliates
|
54
|
|
|
48
|
|
Interest payable
|
100
|
|
|
85
|
|
Environmental liabilities
|
17
|
|
|
23
|
|
Property and other taxes payable
|
107
|
|
|
106
|
|
Current portion of long-term debt
|
1,000
|
|
|
500
|
|
|
1,454
|
|
|
935
|
|
Long-term debt
|
5,702
|
|
|
6,366
|
|
Loans from General Partner and affiliate
|
750
|
|
|
610
|
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
180
|
|
|
178
|
|
|
8,086
|
|
|
8,089
|
|
Commitments and contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partners’ capital:
|
|
|
|
Class E units (18.1 authorized and issued at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
|
774
|
|
|
774
|
|
Class A common units (326.5 outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
|
737
|
|
|
860
|
|
Class B common units (7.8 authorized and issued at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
i-units (92.1 and 89.8 authorized and issued at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
Class F units (1,000 authorized and issued at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
|
267
|
|
|
267
|
|
General Partner
|
136
|
|
|
68
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
(187
|
)
|
|
(199
|
)
|
Total Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. partners’ capital
|
1,727
|
|
|
1,770
|
|
Noncontrolling interests
|
5,073
|
|
|
4,969
|
|
Total Partners’ capital
|
6,800
|
|
|
6,739
|
|
Total Liabilities and Partners’ capital
|
$
|
14,886
|
|
|
$
|
14,828
|
|
_____________________
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
ENBRIDGE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
(unaudited; in millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31,
|
|
2018
|
|
2017
|
Series 1 Preferred units:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning balance
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
1,192
|
|
Net income
|
—
|
|
|
23
|
|
Distribution payable
|
—
|
|
|
(23
|
)
|
Accretion of discount on preferred units
|
—
|
|
|
1
|
|
Ending balance
|
—
|
|
|
1,193
|
|
Class D units:
|
|
|
|
Beginning balance
|
—
|
|
|
2,518
|
|
Distributions
|
—
|
|
|
(39
|
)
|
Ending balance
|
—
|
|
|
2,479
|
|
Class E units:
|
|
|
|
Beginning balance
|
774
|
|
|
778
|
|
Net income
|
6
|
|
|
6
|
|
Distributions
|
(6
|
)
|
|
(10
|
)
|
Ending balance
|
774
|
|
|
774
|
|
Class A common units:
|
|
|
|
Beginning balance
|
860
|
|
|
—
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
(9
|
)
|
|
142
|
|
Distributions
|
(114
|
)
|
|
(153
|
)
|
Sale of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
|
—
|
|
|
29
|
|
Other
|
—
|
|
|
(18
|
)
|
Ending balance
|
737
|
|
|
—
|
|
Class B common units:
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
3
|
|
|
4
|
|
Sale of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
|
—
|
|
|
1
|
|
Distributions
|
(3
|
)
|
|
(5
|
)
|
Ending balance
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
i-units:
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
—
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
Sale of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
|
—
|
|
|
9
|
|
Other
|
—
|
|
|
(6
|
)
|
Ending balance
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
Class F units:
|
|
|
|
Beginning balance
|
267
|
|
|
—
|
|
Net income
|
4
|
|
|
—
|
|
Distributions
|
(4
|
)
|
|
—
|
|
Ending balance
|
267
|
|
|
—
|
|
_____________________
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
ENBRIDGE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS’ CAPITAL - (continued)
(unaudited; millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31,
|
|
2018
|
|
2017
|
Incentive distribution units:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning balance
|
—
|
|
|
495
|
|
Distributions
|
—
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
Ending balance
|
—
|
|
|
490
|
|
General Partner:
|
|
|
|
Beginning balance
|
68
|
|
|
(667
|
)
|
Net income (loss)
|
70
|
|
|
(60
|
)
|
Distributions
|
(3
|
)
|
|
(5
|
)
|
Sale of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
|
—
|
|
|
1
|
|
Other
|
1
|
|
|
—
|
|
Ending balance
|
136
|
|
|
(731
|
)
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
|
|
|
|
Beginning balance
|
(199
|
)
|
|
(339
|
)
|
Changes in fair value of derivative financial instruments recognized in other comprehensive income
|
—
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
Changes in fair value of derivative financial instruments reclassified to income
|
12
|
|
|
10
|
|
Ending balance
|
(187
|
)
|
|
(330
|
)
|
Noncontrolling interests:
|
|
|
|
Beginning balance
|
4,969
|
|
|
3,846
|
|
Capital contributions
|
100
|
|
|
39
|
|
Sale of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
|
—
|
|
|
411
|
|
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
|
—
|
|
|
(360
|
)
|
Net income
|
98
|
|
|
68
|
|
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
|
(94
|
)
|
|
(119
|
)
|
Ending balance
|
5,073
|
|
|
3,885
|
|
Total Partners’ Capital at end of period
|
$
|
6,800
|
|
|
$
|
7,760
|
|
_____________________
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
ENBRIDGE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)
1. GENERAL
The terms “we,” “our,” “us” and “Enbridge Energy Partners” as used in this report refer collectively to Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. and its subsidiaries unless the context suggests otherwise. Those terms are used for convenience only and are not intended as a precise description of any separate legal entity within Enbridge Energy Partners.
Nature of Operations
We, together with our consolidated subsidiaries, provide crude oil and liquid petroleum gathering, transportation and storage services. In June 2017, we sold all of our ownership interest in our Midcoast gas gathering and processing business to our General Partner. The sale of this ownership interest represented a strategic shift in our business and met the criteria for classification as discontinued operations, which resulted in the results of operations, cash flows and financial position of our natural gas business for the prior periods being reflected as discontinued operations. For further information refer to
Note 6 - Asset Held for Sale, Dispositions and Discontinued Operations
.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), for interim consolidated financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. They do not include all the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for annual consolidated financial statements and should therefore be read in conjunction with our annual consolidated financial statements and notes presented in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. In the opinion of management, the interim consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods reported. These interim consolidated financial statements follow the same significant accounting policies as those included in our annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017, except for the adoption of new standards.
Our operations and earnings for interim periods can be affected by seasonal fluctuations in the supply of and demand for crude oil, as well as other factors such as the timing and completion of our construction projects, the effect of environmental costs and related insurance recoveries on our Lakehead System, the impact of forward commodity prices and differentials on derivative financial instruments that are accounted for at fair value and may not be indicative of annual results.
2. CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Adoption of New Standards
Clarifying Guidance on Derecognition and Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets
Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-05 on a modified retrospective basis. The new standard clarifies the scope provisions of nonfinancial assets and how to allocate consideration to each distinct asset upon sale or partial sale and amends the guidance for derecognition of a distinct nonfinancial asset in partial sale transactions so that an in-scope partial sale results in the recognition of a full gain or loss. The adoption of this accounting update did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Clarifying the Presentation of Restricted Cash in the Statement of Cash Flows
Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2016-18 on a retrospective basis. The new standard clarifies guidance on the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents within the statement of cash flows. The amendments require that changes in restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents be included within cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the opening and closing period amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. For current and comparative periods, we amended the presentation in our consolidated statements of cash flows to include restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents with cash and cash equivalents.
Simplifying Cash Flow Classification
Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2016-15 on a retrospective basis. The new standard reduces diversity in practice of how certain cash receipts and cash payments are classified in the statement of cash flows. The new
guidance addresses eight specific presentation issues. We assessed each of the eight specific presentation issues and the adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Revenues from Contracts with Customers
Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2014-09 on a modified retrospective basis to contracts that were not yet completed at the date of initial application. The new standard was issued with the intent of significantly enhancing consistency and comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities and industries. The new standard establishes a single, principles-based five-step model to be applied to all contracts with customers and introduces new and enhanced disclosure requirements. It also requires the use of more estimates and judgments than the present standards in addition to additional disclosures. The adoption of this new standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements, see
Note 3 - Revenue
for further details.
Future Accounting Policy Changes
Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities
ASU 2017-12 was issued in August 2017 with the objective of better aligning an organization's risk management activities and the resulting hedge accounting reflected in the financial statements. The amendments allow cash flow hedging of contractually specified components in financial and non-financial items. Under the new guidance, hedge ineffectiveness is no longer required to be measured and hedging instruments’ fair value changes will be recorded in the same income statement line as the hedged item. The ASU also allows the initial quantitative hedge effectiveness assessment to be performed at any time before the end of the quarter in which the hedge is designated. After initial quantitative testing is performed, an ongoing qualitative effectiveness assessment is permitted. The accounting update is effective January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted and is to be applied on a modified retrospective basis. We are currently assessing the impact of the new standard on the consolidated financial statements.
Accounting for Credit Losses
ASU 2016-13 was issued in June 2016 with the intent of providing financial statement users with more useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. Current treatment uses the incurred loss methodology for recognizing credit losses that delays the recognition until it is probable a loss has been incurred. The accounting update adds a new impairment model, known as the current expected credit loss model, which is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under the new guidance, an entity will recognize as an allowance its estimate of expected credit losses, which the Financial Accounting Standards Board believes will result in more timely recognition of such losses. The accounting update is effective January 1, 2020. We are currently assessing the impact of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.
Recognition of Leases
ASU 2016-02 was issued in February 2016 with the intent to increase transparency and comparability among organizations. It requires lessees of operating lease arrangements to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the statement of financial position and disclose additional key information about lease agreements. The accounting update also replaces the current definition of a lease and requires that an arrangement be recognized as a lease when a customer has the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of an asset, as well as the right to direct the use of the asset. We are currently gathering a complete inventory of our lease contracts in order to assess the impact of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements. We will adopt the new standard on January 1, 2019 and we are currently evaluating options with respect to the transition practical expedients offered in connection with this update.
Further, ASU 2018-01 was issued in January 2018 to address stakeholder concerns about the costs and complexity of complying with the transition provisions of the new lease requirements as they relate to land easements. The amendments provide an optional transition practical expedient to not evaluate existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases under existing guidance. We intend to elect this practical expedient in connection with the adoption of the new lease requirements.
3. REVENUE
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Major Products and Services
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31,
|
|
2018
|
|
(in millions)
|
Operating revenues:
|
|
Transportation revenue
|
$
|
571
|
|
Storage and other revenue
|
24
|
|
Intersegment revenue
|
—
|
|
Total revenue from contracts with customers
|
595
|
|
Other revenue
|
(3
|
)
|
Total revenue
|
$
|
592
|
|
Recognition and Measurement of Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31,
|
|
2018
|
|
(in millions)
|
Revenue from products transferred at a point in time - crude oil sales
|
$
|
—
|
|
Revenue from products and services transferred over time - crude oil pipeline transportation and storage
|
595
|
|
Total revenue
|
$
|
595
|
|
Payment terms
Payments are received monthly from customers under long-term transportation contracts.
Contract balances
We had Receivables balances of
$250 million
and
$237 million
at January 1, 2018 and March 31, 2018, respectively. We had no material Contract asset and Contract liabilities during the three months ended March 31, 2018.
Revenue to be Recognized from Unfulfilled Performance Obligations
Total revenue from performance obligations expected to be fulfilled in future periods is
$418 million
, of which
$80 million
and
$102 million
is expected to be recognized during the remaining nine months ending December 31, 2018 and for the year ended December 31, 2019, respectively.
Certain revenues such as flow-through operating costs charged to shippers are recognized at the amount for which we have the right to invoice our customers. Those revenues are not included in the amounts for revenue to be recognized in the future from unfulfilled performance obligations above. Variable consideration is excluded from the amounts above due to the uncertainty of the associated consideration, which is generally resolved when actual volumes and prices are determined. Additionally, the effect of escalation on certain tolls which are contractually escalated for inflation has not been reflected in the amounts above as it is not possible to reliably estimate future inflation rates. Finally, revenues from contracts with customers which have an original expected duration of one year or less are excluded from the amounts above.
Significant Judgments made in Recognizing Revenue
Judgment is required in estimating variable consideration for volumetric transportation and sales contracts. We estimate variable consideration for these contracts as the most likely amount based on actual volumes transported and delivered when those quantities are determined at the conclusion of each month using metered volumes and actual average monthly index prices for commodity sales contracts.
4. NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT
We determined basic and diluted net income per limited partner unit as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31,
|
|
2018
|
|
2017
|
|
(in millions, except per unit amounts)
|
Continuing operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
$
|
172
|
|
|
$
|
179
|
|
Noncontrolling interests
|
(98
|
)
|
|
(76
|
)
|
Series 1 preferred unit distributions
|
—
|
|
|
(23
|
)
|
Accretion of discount on Series 1 preferred units
|
—
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
Net income – continuing operations
|
74
|
|
|
79
|
|
Distributions:
|
|
|
|
Incentive distributions to Class F units
|
(4
|
)
|
|
(4
|
)
|
Distributed earnings attributed to our General Partner
|
(3
|
)
|
|
(3
|
)
|
Distributed earnings attributed to Class E units
|
(6
|
)
|
|
(6
|
)
|
Total distributed earnings to our General Partner, Class E and Class F units
|
(13
|
)
|
|
(13
|
)
|
Total distributed earnings attributed to our common units and i-units
|
(150
|
)
|
|
(147
|
)
|
Total distributed earnings
|
(163
|
)
|
|
(160
|
)
|
Overdistributed earnings
|
$
|
(89
|
)
|
|
$
|
(81
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Discontinued operations:
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
(22
|
)
|
Noncontrolling interest
|
—
|
|
|
8
|
|
Net loss – discontinued operations
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
(14
|
)
|
Weighted average common units and i-units outstanding
|
425
|
|
|
353
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted earnings per unit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributed earnings per common unit and i-unit – continuing operations
(1)
|
$
|
0.35
|
|
|
$
|
0.41
|
|
Overdistributed earnings per common unit and i-unit
(2)
|
(0.20
|
)
|
|
(0.22
|
)
|
Net income per common unit and i-unit (basic and diluted) – continuing operations
(3)
|
0.15
|
|
|
0.19
|
|
Net loss per common unit and i-unit (basic and diluted) – discontinued operations
(3)
|
—
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)
|
Net income per common unit and i-unit (basic and diluted)
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
_____________________
|
|
(1)
|
Represents the total distributed earnings to common units and i-units divided by the weighted average number of common units and i-units outstanding for the period.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Represents the common units’ and i-units’ share (
98%
) of distributions in excess of earnings divided by the weighted average number of common units and i-units outstanding for the period and overdistributed earnings allocated to the common units and i-units based on the distribution waterfall that is outlined in our partnership agreement.
|
|
|
(3)
|
For the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
,
18.1 million
anti-dilutive Class E units were excluded from the if-converted method of calculating diluted earnings per share. For the
three
months ended
March 31, 2017
,
43.2 million
anti-dilutive Preferred units and
18.1 million
anti-dilutive Class E units were excluded from the if-converted method of calculating diluted earnings per unit. For the
three
months ended
March 31, 2017
,
66.1 million
anti-dilutive Class D units were excluded from the if-converted method of calculating diluted earnings per unit as a wholly-owned subsidiary of our General Partner irrevocably waived all of its rights associated with the Class D units, effective April 27,2017.
|
5. REGULATORY MATTERS
Regulatory Accounting
Our over and under recovery revenue adjustments and net regulatory asset amortization are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31,
|
|
2018
|
|
2017
|
|
(in millions)
|
Net regulatory asset balance at beginning of period
|
$
|
3
|
|
|
$
|
12
|
|
Prior period true-up
|
4
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
Current period over recovery revenue adjustments
|
(16
|
)
|
|
(39
|
)
|
Amortization of prior year regulatory asset
|
(2
|
)
|
|
(2
|
)
|
Net regulatory liability balance at end of period
|
$
|
(11
|
)
|
|
$
|
(34
|
)
|
6. ASSET HELD FOR SALE, DISPOSITIONS AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Asset Held for Sale
At
March 31, 2018
, we satisfied the conditions as set out in our agreements for the sale of our Line 10 crude oil pipeline, a component of our Lakehead System. Line 10 originates near Hamilton, Ontario and terminates at West Seneca, New York. We own the United States portion of Line 10, while a subsidiary of the indirect parent of our General Partner, Enbridge Inc., (Enbridge) owns the Canadian portion.
We expect to close the sale of Line 10 within one year, subject to regulatory approval and certain closing conditions. As such, we classified our portion of Line 10 assets as held for sale and measured them at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less costs to sell, which resulted in a loss of
$35 million
included within “Impairment of long-lived asset” on our consolidated statements of income. The remaining held for sale assets and liabilities are not material.
Dispositions
In March 2017, we completed the sale of the Ozark Pipeline to a subsidiary of MPLX LP for cash proceeds of approximately
$220 million
, including reimbursement costs. A gain on disposal of
$11 million
before tax was included in “Gain on sale of assets” on our consolidated statements of income.
Discontinued Operations
Sale of Natural Gas Business
In June 2017, we completed the sale of all of our ownership interest in our Midcoast gas gathering and processing business to our General Partner for
$2.26 billion
, which included cash consideration of
$1.31 billion
and outstanding indebtedness at Midcoast Energy Partners, L.P. (MEP) of
$953 million
. This sale included our
48.4%
limited partnership interest in Midcoast Operating, L.P., our
51.9%
limited partnership interest in MEP, and our
100%
interest in Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C., MEP’s general partner. We recorded no gain or loss on the sale as this transaction was between entities under common control of Enbridge. The carrying value of the net assets sold was
$4.29 billion
. As a result of the transaction, partners’ capital decreased by
$2.13 billion
, all of which was allocated to the General Partner’s capital account. Noncontrolling interest (NCI) in MEP of
$297 million
was eliminated.
The following table presents the operating results from discontinued operations of our Midcoast gas gathering and processing business, which have been segregated from our continuing operations in our consolidated statements of income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31,
|
|
2017
|
|
(in millions)
|
Operating revenues
|
$
|
574
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
Commodity costs
|
488
|
|
Operating and administrative
|
70
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
37
|
|
|
595
|
|
Operating loss
|
(21
|
)
|
Interest expense, net
|
8
|
|
Other income
|
8
|
|
Loss before income taxes
|
(21
|
)
|
Income tax expense
|
(1
|
)
|
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
|
$
|
(22
|
)
|
7. EQUITY INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURE
The following table presents our equity investment in a joint venture and ownership interest in MarEn Bakken Company LLC (MarEn).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ownership
Interest
|
|
March 31,
2018
|
|
December 31,
2017
|
|
|
|
(in millions)
|
MarEn Bakken Company LLC
|
75%
|
|
$1,593
|
|
$1,565
|
In February 2017, our joint venture with Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC), MarEn, closed its acquisition to acquire a
49%
interest in Bakken Pipeline Investments LLC (BPI). BPI owns
75%
of the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Energy Transfer Crude Oil Pipeline, collectively the Bakken Pipeline System. The Bakken Pipeline System was placed into service June 1, 2017. Our investment subsidiary, Enbridge Holdings (DakTex) L.L.C. (DakTex) and MPC indirectly hold
75%
and
25%
interests, respectively, of MarEn. The purchase of DakTex's effective
27.6%
interest in the Bakken Pipeline System was
$1.5 billion
and funded through a bridge loan from Enbridge (U.S.) Inc., (EUS) an affiliate of our General Partner and was re-paid and terminated on April 27, 2017, as a result of the finalization by our Board of Directors the joint funding arrangement with our General Partner. The joint funding arrangement with our General Partner, which resulted in DakTex now being owned
75%
by our General Partner and
25%
by us. Refer to
Note 11 - Related Party Transactions
for further details on our joint funding arrangements.
We account for our investment in MarEn under the equity method of accounting. For the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
, we recognized
$23 million
in “Income from equity investment in joint venture" in our consolidated statements of income representing our equity earnings for this investment, net of amortization of the excess of the purchase price over the underlying net book value (basis difference).
Our equity investment includes basis difference of the investees’ assets at the purchase date, which is comprised of
$14 million
in goodwill and
$931 million
in amortizable assets. We amortized
$10 million
for the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
, which was recorded as a reduction to equity earnings.
8. DEBT
Credit Facilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maturity
Dates
(1)
|
|
Total Facilities
(2)
|
|
Draws
(3)
|
|
Available
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in millions)
|
Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.
|
2019 – 2022
|
|
$2,625
|
|
$1,288
|
|
$1,337
|
_______________________
|
|
(1)
|
Includes
$175 million
and
$185 million
of commitments that expire in 2018 and 2020, respectively.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Includes our
$2.0 billion
multi-year revolving credit facility (Credit Facility) and our
$625 million
credit agreement (364-Day Credit Facility).
|
|
|
(3)
|
Includes facility draws, letters of credit and commercial paper issuances that are back-stopped by the credit facility and excludes our unsecured revolving 364 day credit agreement with EUS (the EUS 364-day Credit Facility).
|
Our commercial paper program provides for the issuance of up to an aggregate principal amount of
$1.5 billion
of commercial paper and is supported by the availability of long-term committed credit facilities, and therefore classified as long-term debt as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
In addition to the committed credit facilities noted in the above table, we also have
$175 million
available under an uncommitted letters of credit arrangement, of which
$172 million
and
$174 million
were unutilized as of
March 31, 2018
and
December 31, 2017
, respectively.
Under our multi-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility and our 364-day revolving credit agreement (the Credit Facilities), we had net
repayments
of approximately
$150 million
as of
March 31, 2018
, which includes gross borrowings of
$250 million
and gross repayments of
$400 million
.
Under our commercial paper program, we had net
repayments
of approximately
$15 million
as of
March 31, 2018
, which includes gross borrowings of
$4.59 billion
and gross repayments of
$4.61 billion
.
As of
March 31, 2018
, we had approximately
$1.3 billion
of unutilized commitments under the terms of our Credit Facilities.
Debt Covenants
We and our consolidated subsidiaries were in compliance with the terms of our financial covenants under our consolidated debt agreements as of
March 31, 2018
.
Fair Value of Debt Obligations
The carrying amounts of our outstanding commercial paper, borrowings under our Credit Facilities, and the EUS 364-day Credit Facility approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature and frequent repricing of the amounts outstanding under these obligations. The fair value of our outstanding commercial paper and borrowings under our Credit Facilities and the EUS 364-day Credit Facility are included with our long-term debt obligations above since we have the ability and the intent to refinance the amounts outstanding on a long-term basis.
The approximate fair value of our fixed-rate debt obligations was
$5.7 billion
and
$5.8 billion
as of
March 31, 2018
and
December 31, 2017
, respectively. We determined the approximate fair values using a standard methodology that incorporates pricing points that are obtained from independent, third-party investment dealers who actively make markets in our debt securities. We use these pricing points to calculate the present value of the principal obligation to be repaid at maturity and all future interest payment obligations for any debt outstanding. The fair value of our long-term debt obligations is categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
9. NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
The following table presents income attributable to our noncontrolling interests as outlined below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31,
|
|
2018
|
|
2017
|
|
(in millions)
|
Eastern Access
|
$
|
34
|
|
|
$
|
40
|
|
U.S. Mainline Expansion
|
35
|
|
|
33
|
|
North Dakota Pipeline Company
|
—
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
U.S. Line 3 Replacement Program
|
12
|
|
|
5
|
|
Enbridge Holdings (DakTex) L.L.C.
|
17
|
|
|
—
|
|
Midcoast Energy Partners, L.P. – Discontinued Operations
|
—
|
|
|
(8
|
)
|
Total
|
$
|
98
|
|
|
$
|
68
|
|
10. PARTNERS' CAPITAL
Curing
Our limited partnership agreement does not permit capital deficits to accumulate in the capital accounts of any limited partner and thus requires that such capital account deficits be “cured” by additional allocations from the positive capital accounts of the common units, i-units, and our General Partner, generally on a pro-rated basis. For the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
, the carrying amounts for the capital accounts of the Class B common units were reduced below zero due to distributions to limited partners in excess of earnings and were subsequently cured. Class A units and i-units had positive capital balances and therefore, as outlined in the partnership agreement, we allocated earnings of
$69 million
to our General Partner to recover previous curing allocations made by the General Partner.
11. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Administrative and Workforce Related Services
We do not directly employ any of the individuals responsible for managing or operating our business nor do we have any directors. Enbridge and its affiliates provide management and we obtain managerial, administrative, operational and workforce related services from our General Partner, Enbridge Management and affiliates of Enbridge pursuant to service agreements among our General Partner, Enbridge Management, affiliates of Enbridge, and us. Pursuant to these service agreements, we have agreed to reimburse our General Partner, Enbridge Management and affiliates of Enbridge, for the cost of managerial, administrative, operational and director services they provide to us. Where directly attributable, the cost of all compensation, benefits expenses and employer expenses for these employees are charged directly by Enbridge to the appropriate affiliate. Enbridge does not record any profit or margin for the administrative and operational services charged to us.
The affiliate amounts incurred by us for services received pursuant to the services agreements are reflected in “Operating and administrative - affiliate” on our consolidated statements of income.
Enbridge and its affiliates allocated direct workforce costs to us for our construction projects of
$3 million
and
$4 million
for the three months ended
March 31, 2018
and 2017, respectively, that we recorded as additions to “Property, plant and equipment, net” on our consolidated statements of financial position.
Affiliate Revenues
We record operating revenues for storage, transportation and terminalling services we provide to affiliates, which are presented in “Transportation and other services - affiliate” on our consolidated statements of income.
Financial Transactions with Affiliates
EUS 364-day Credit Facility
We are party to the EUS 364-day Credit Facility, with EUS. The EUS 364-day Credit Facility is a committed senior unsecured revolving credit facility that permits aggregate borrowings of up to,
$750 million
. As of
March 31, 2018
, we had
$750 million
outstanding under this facility, excluding any accrued interest to date.
Joint Funding Arrangement for Bakken Pipeline System
We have a joint funding arrangement with our General Partner which established ownership in the Class A units of DakTex, the entity through which we and our General Partner own our interest in MarEn. Our General Partner owns a
75%
interest and we own a
25%
interest in DakTex, with an option for us to increase our interest by
20%
at a price equal to net book value, at any time during the five years subsequent to the June 1, 2017 in-service date of the Bakken Pipeline System.
Our General Partner made contributions of
$3 million
to DakTex for the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
. Equity income for the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
, was
$23 million
, of which
75%
is attributable to our General Partner and recorded as part of NCI.
Joint Funding Arrangement for U.S. Line 3 Replacement Program
We have a joint funding arrangement with our General Partner for the U.S. Line 3 Replacement Program (U.S. L3R Program). Under the terms of the arrangement, our General Partner funds
99%
and we fund
1%
of the capital cost of the U.S. L3R Program. We have an option to increase our interest in the U.S. L3R Program assets up to
40%
in the U.S. portion at book value at any time up to four years after the project goes into service. Our General Partner paid
$450 million
for its
99%
interest in the project in January 2017, including our share of the construction costs and other incremental amounts. The carrying amount of our General Partner's
99%
interest in the project was recorded as an increase to noncontrolling interest. The
$40 million
difference between the cash received and the carrying amount was recorded as an increase to the capital accounts of our common units, i-units, and General Partner interest on a pro-rated basis.
Our General Partner made contributions totaling
$91 million
and
$19 million
, respectively, to Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership (OLP) for the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
and
2017
, respectively, to fund its portion of the construction costs associated with the U.S. L3R Program.
Joint Funding Arrangement for Eastern Access Projects
We have a joint funding arrangement with our General Partner that established the Series EA interests in the OLP (the EA interest), which were created to finance the Eastern Access Project to increase access to refineries in the U.S. Upper Midwest and in Ontario, Canada for light crude oil produced in western Canada and the United States.
In January 2017, we exercised our option under the Eastern Access joint funding arrangement to acquire an additional
15%
interest in the Eastern Access Project, thereby increasing our ownership interest from
25%
to
40%
and reducing the interest of our General Partner from
75%
to
60%
. The exercise of our option occurred at book value of approximately
$360 million
and reduced noncontrolling interest by approximately
$360 million
. The Eastern Access Project was placed into service in June 2016.
Our General Partner made contributions totaling
$1 million
and
$6 million
to the OLP for the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
and
2017
, respectively, to fund its portion of the construction costs associated with the Eastern Access Project.
Joint Funding Arrangement for U.S. Mainline Expansion Projects
The OLP also has a series of partnership interests (the ME interests) which were created to finance the Mainline Expansion Projects to increase access to the markets of North Dakota and western Canada for light oil production on our Lakehead System between Neche, North Dakota and Superior, Wisconsin. Our General Partner owns
75%
of the ME interests and we own
25%
of the ME interests, with an option for us to increase our ownership interest by an additional
15%
at cost, under the Mainline Expansion joint funding arrangement.
Our General Partner made contributions totaling
$5 million
and
$15 million
to the OLP for the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
and
2017
, respectively, to fund its portion of the construction costs associated with the Mainline Expansion Projects.
Distributions
Distribution to Series EA Interests
The following table presents distributions paid by the OLP during the three months ended March 31, 2018, to our General Partner and its affiliate, representing the noncontrolling interest in the Series EA, and to us, as the holders of the Series EA general partner interests and certain limited partner interests.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution
Declaration Date
|
|
Distribution
Payment Date
|
|
Amount Paid to
EEP
|
|
Amount Paid to
Noncontrolling Interest
|
|
Total Series EA
Distribution
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in millions)
|
|
|
January 31, 2018
|
|
February 14, 2018
|
|
$
|
34
|
|
|
$
|
50
|
|
|
$
|
84
|
|
Distribution to Series ME Interests
The following table presents distributions paid by the OLP during the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
, to our General Partner and its affiliate, representing the noncontrolling interest in the Series ME, and to us, as the holders of the Series ME general partner and certain limited partner interests.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution
Declaration Date
|
|
Distribution
Payment Date
|
|
Amount Paid to
EEP
|
|
Amount Paid to
Noncontrolling
Interest
|
|
Total Series ME
Distribution
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in millions)
|
|
|
January 31, 2018
|
|
February 14, 2018
|
|
$
|
15
|
|
|
$
|
44
|
|
|
$
|
59
|
|
12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Environmental Liabilities
We are subject to federal and state laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. These laws and regulations can change from time to time, imposing new obligations on us. Environmental risk is inherent to liquid hydrocarbon pipeline operations, and we are, at times, subject to environmental remediation at various contaminated sites. We manage this environmental risk through environmental policies and practices to minimize any impact our operations may have on the environment. To the extent that we are unable to recover payment for environmental liabilities from insurance or other potentially responsible parties, we will be responsible for payment of liabilities arising from environmental incidents associated with the operating activities of our liquids businesses. Our General Partner has agreed to indemnify us from and against any costs relating to environmental liabilities associated with the Lakehead System assets prior to the transfer of these assets to us in 1991. This excludes any liabilities resulting from a change in laws after such transfer. We continue to voluntarily investigate past leak sites on our systems for the purpose of assessing whether any remediation is required in light of current regulations.
As of
March 31, 2018
and
December 31, 2017
, our consolidated statements of financial position included
$17 million
and $
23 million
, respectively, in “Environmental liabilities,” and $
52 million
and $
51 million
, respectively, in “Other long-term liabilities,” that we have accrued for costs to address remediation of contaminated sites, asbestos containing materials, management of hazardous waste material disposal, outstanding air quality measures for certain of our liquids assets and penalties we have been or expect to be assessed.
Legal and Regulatory Proceedings
We are subject to various legal and regulatory actions and proceedings that arise in the normal course of business, including interventions in regulatory proceedings and challenges to regulatory approvals and permits by special interest groups. Some of these proceedings are covered, in whole or in part, by insurance.
We are in discovery in relation to a unitholder class and derivative action, with trial scheduled in the second quarter of 2019. A motion to dismiss the entirety of the action is pending. An estimate of reasonably possible losses, if any, associated with causes of action cannot be made until all of the facts, circumstances and legal theories relating to
such claims and the defenses are fully disclosed and analyzed. We have not established any reserves relating to this action. We believe the action is without merit and expect to vigorously defend against it. We believe an unfavorable outcome to be more than remote but less than probable.
13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Distribution to Partners
On
April 27, 2018
, the board of directors of Enbridge Management declared a distribution payable to our partners on
May 15, 2018
. The distribution will be paid to unitholders of record as of
May 8, 2018
of our available cash of
$163 million
at
March 31, 2018
, or
$0.35
per limited partner unit. Of this distribution,
$130 million
will be paid in cash,
$32 million
will be distributed in i-units to our i-unitholder, Enbridge Management, and due to the i-unit distribution,
$1 million
will be retained from our General Partner from amounts otherwise distributable to it in respect of its general partner interest and limited partner interest to maintain its
2%
general partner interest.
Distribution from DakTex
On
April 6, 2018
, we received total distributions of
$50 million
from DakTex, of which
$38 million
was paid to our General Partner, and represents noncontrolling interest in Class A units of DakTex.
$12 million
was paid to us as the holders of the remaining Class A units of DakTex.
Distribution to Series EA Interests
On
April 27, 2018
the managing general partner of the Series EA interests, declared a distribution payable to the holders of the Series EA general and limited partner interests. The OLP will pay
$47 million
to the noncontrolling interest in the Series EA, while
$32 million
will be paid to us.
Distribution to Series ME Interests
On
April 27, 2018
, the managing general partner of the Series ME interests declared a distribution payable to the holders of the Series ME general and limited partner interests. The OLP will pay
$40 million
to the noncontrolling interest in the Series ME, while
$13 million
will be paid to us.
ITEM 2. MANGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included in
Item 1. Financial Statements
of this report and in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2017
, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 16, 2018.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
REVISED FERC POLICY ON TREATMENT OF INCOME TAXES
On March 15, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) changed its long-standing policy on the treatment of income tax amounts included in the rates of pipelines and other entities subject to cost of service rate regulation within a Master Limited Partnership (MLP). The FERC revised a policy in-place since 2005 to no longer permit entities organized as MLP's to recover an income tax allowance in their cost of service rates. The announcement of the Revised Policy Statement was accompanied by a Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on how FERC should address changes related to Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes (ADIT) and bonus depreciation. We are organized as an MLP and certain of the rates applicable to our expansion projects are tolled annually on a cost of service basis, via the Lakehead Facility Surcharge Mechanism (FSM). These FERC announcements have adversely affected MLPs generally, including us.
The 2018 financial impact to us from the combination of US Tax Reform and FERC policy actions is expected to be an approximate $180 million reduction in revenues, exclusive of the impact of ADIT and other implementation issues, which are pending further guidance from the FERC. We filed comments to request clarification, reconsideration, and rehearing of FERC’s Revised Policy Statement in April and expect to file comments in response to the Notice of Inquiry later this month. On April 27, 2018, the FERC issued a tolling order for the purpose of affording it additional time for consideration of matters raised on rehearing.
Pending greater clarification from the FERC on the application of its new policy, assessing the near-term and long-term implication of the policy is challenging. We have provided our best estimate of the implication to 2018 and are assessing alternatives to mitigate the impacts of the policy on our financial outlook and results of operations. Both the direct consequences of the change in FERC policy, as well as the adverse market effect may negatively impact the longer-term availability of capital to us at attractive terms.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
-
OVERVIEW
We provide services to our customers and returns for our unitholders through our liquids business, which consists of interstate pipeline transportation and storage of crude oil and liquid petroleum. Our liquids business is conducted through three systems: Lakehead System, Mid-Continent System and Bakken Assets. These systems largely consist of FERC regulated interstate crude oil and liquid petroleum pipelines, gathering systems and storage facilities. The Lakehead System, together with the Canadian portion of the liquid petroleum mainline system (Enbridge System), forms the longest liquid petroleum pipeline system in the world. Our liquids systems generate revenues primarily from charging shippers a rate per barrel to gather, transport and store crude oil and liquid petroleum.
In June 2017 our General Partner acquired all of our ownership interests in our Midcoast gas gathering and processing business through the acquisition of all of our 48.4% interest in Midcoast Operating, all of our ownership interests in Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C., and all of our limited partnership interests in MEP.
The results of our Midcoast gas gathering and processing business are included in “Loss from discontinued operations” in our consolidated statements of income.
The following table reflects our results of operations for the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
and
2017
:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31,
|
|
2018
|
|
2017
|
|
(in millions)
|
Operating revenues
|
$
|
592
|
|
|
$
|
605
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
Operating and administrative
|
70
|
|
|
88
|
|
Operating and administrative - affiliate
|
63
|
|
|
76
|
|
Power
|
77
|
|
|
74
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
110
|
|
|
109
|
|
Impairment of long-lived asset
|
35
|
|
|
—
|
|
Gain on sale of assets
|
—
|
|
|
(11
|
)
|
|
355
|
|
|
336
|
|
Operating income
|
237
|
|
|
269
|
|
Interest expense, net
|
104
|
|
|
99
|
|
Allowance for equity used during construction
|
16
|
|
|
10
|
|
Income from equity investment in joint venture
|
23
|
|
|
—
|
|
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
|
172
|
|
|
180
|
|
Income tax expense
|
—
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
Income from continuing operations
|
172
|
|
|
179
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
|
—
|
|
|
(22
|
)
|
Net income
|
172
|
|
|
157
|
|
Noncontrolling interests
|
(98
|
)
|
|
(68
|
)
|
Series 1 preferred unit distributions
|
—
|
|
|
(23
|
)
|
Accretion of discount on Series 1 preferred units
|
—
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
Net income - controlling interests
|
$
|
74
|
|
|
$
|
65
|
|
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2017
Operating Revenues
The
$13 million
decrease was mainly driven by:
|
|
•
|
Lower operating revenue from our Mid-Continent System as a result of the sale of the Ozark Pipeline in March 2017, partially offset by higher storage revenue from the Cushing Storage Terminal.
|
Operating Expenses
The
$19 million
increase was mainly driven by:
|
|
•
|
An impairment charge of
$35 million
in 2018 related to our Line 10 crude oil pipeline, a component of the Lakehead System. The impairment charge results from the classification of Line 10 as held for sale and the subsequent measurement at the lower of carrying value and fair value less cost to sell, partially offset by:
|
|
|
•
|
Lower operating expenses from our Mid-Continent System primarily due to lower environmental costs resulting from $10 million in environmental remediation costs related to a release on the Ozark Pipeline in January 2017. Additionally, lower repair and maintenance expenses on the Cushing Storage Terminal due to timing of work scheduled during the period, and
|
|
|
•
|
The timing of operating expenses on the Lakehead System.
|
Income from equity investment in joint venture
The
$23 million
increase was driven by equity earnings from our interest in the Bakken Pipeline System, which was placed into service in June 2017.
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
The
$22 million
decrease was driven by the sale of our Midcoast gas gathering and processing business in June 2017, to our General Partner, resulting in the absence of losses in the first quarter of 2018.
Income attributable to noncontrolling interests
The
$30 million
increase was mainly driven by:
|
|
•
|
The sale of all our interest in our Midcoast gas gathering and processing business resulting in the absence of losses attributable to NCI,
|
|
|
•
|
Equity earnings from our investment in the Bakken Pipeline System, which was placed into service in June 2017, of which 75% of the earnings are attributable to NCI, and
|
|
|
•
|
The allocation of credits in relation to both the interest component (AIDC) and the cost of equity component (AEDC) of allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) related to contributions made by our General Partner in relation to the U.S. L3R Program, of which 99% is attributable to NCI under the terms of our joint funding arrangement.
|
Series 1 Preferred Units Distribution
The
$23 million
decrease was driven by the April 2017 redemption of our outstanding Series 1 Preferred Units resulting in the absence of preferred distributions in the first quarter of 2018.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
-
LIQUIDS
The following tables set forth the operating results and statistics of our sole operating segment for the periods presented:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31,
|
|
2018
|
|
2017
|
|
(in millions)
|
Operating Results:
|
|
|
|
Operating revenues
|
$
|
592
|
|
|
$
|
605
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
Operating and administrative
|
(130
|
)
|
|
(161
|
)
|
Power
|
(77
|
)
|
|
(74
|
)
|
Gain on sale of assets
|
—
|
|
|
11
|
|
Impairment of long-lived asset
|
(35
|
)
|
|
—
|
|
Allowance for equity used during construction
|
16
|
|
|
10
|
|
Income from equity investment in joint venture
|
23
|
|
|
—
|
|
EBITDA
|
$
|
389
|
|
|
$
|
391
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Statistics:
|
|
|
|
Lakehead System:
|
|
|
|
United States
(1)
|
2,078
|
|
|
2,057
|
|
Canada
(1)
|
688
|
|
|
691
|
|
Total Lakehead System delivery volumes
(1)
|
2,766
|
|
|
2,748
|
|
Barrel miles (billions)
|
192
|
|
|
191
|
|
Average haul (miles)
|
770
|
|
|
773
|
|
Mid-Continent System delivery volumes
(1)
|
—
|
|
|
145
|
|
Bakken Assets:
|
|
|
|
North Dakota System to Clearbrook
(1)
|
215
|
|
|
203
|
|
Bakken System to Cromer
(1)
|
44
|
|
|
131
|
|
Total Bakken Assets delivery volumes
(1)
|
259
|
|
|
334
|
|
Total Liquids segment delivery volumes
(1)
|
3,025
|
|
|
3,227
|
|
___________________________
|
|
(1)
|
Average Bpd in thousands.
|
Three months ended
March 31, 2018
compared with the three months ended
March 31, 2017
EBITDA decreased by
$2 million
primarily due to the following items:
|
|
•
|
An impairment charge of
$35 million
in 2018 related to our Line 10 crude oil pipeline, a component of the Lakehead System, resulting from the classification as held for sale and the subsequent measurement at the lower of its carrying value or fair value less cost to sell and a lower tax rate pursuant to the United States Tax Reform, which decreased revenue collected in our rates; and
|
|
|
•
|
Lower transportation revenues due to the sale of the Ozark Pipeline on March 1, 2017; partially offset by
|
|
|
•
|
An increase in Lakehead System EBITDA resulting from the timing of operating expenses, the net effect of recognizing the Return on Equity (ROE) component of revenue under-collection in 2017; and
|
|
|
•
|
EBITDA from our interest in the Bakken Pipeline System, which was placed into service in June 2017; and
|
|
|
•
|
Higher EBITDA from our Mid-Continent System resulting from higher storage revenue and lower operating costs at the Cushing Storage Terminal.
|
GROWTH PROJECTS
-
COMMERCIALLY SECURED PROJECTS
We currently have a multi-billion dollar growth program underway, with projects expected to come into service in 2019, in addition to options to increase our economic interest in projects that are jointly funded by Enbridge and us.
The following table summarizes the status of our commercially secured projects for the Liquids segment. Expenditures to date reflect total cumulative expenditures incurred from inception of the project to
March 31, 2018
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ownership Interest
|
|
Estimated Capital
Costs
(1)
|
|
Expenditures to
Date
(2)
|
|
Status
|
|
Expected
In-Service Date
|
Lakehead System Mainline Expansion - Line 61
(3)(4)
|
25%
|
|
$0.4 billion
|
|
$0.4 billion
|
|
Substantially complete
|
|
2H - 2019
|
U.S. Line 3 Replacement Program
(5)
|
1%
|
|
$2.9 billion
|
|
$0.8 billion
|
|
Pre- construction
(6)
|
|
2H - 2019
|
_____________________
|
|
(1)
|
These amounts are estimates and are subject to upward or downward adjustment based on various factors.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Expenditures to date reflect total cumulative expenditures incurred from inception of the project up to
March 31, 2018
.
|
|
|
(3)
|
Jointly funded 25% by us and 75% by our General Partner under the Mainline Expansion joint funding arrangement. Estimated capital costs are presented at 100% before our General Partner’s contributions.
|
|
|
(4)
|
Estimated in-service date will be adjusted to coincide with the in-service date of the U.S. L3R Program.
|
|
|
(5)
|
Jointly funded 1% by us and 99% by our General Partner under the Line 3 Replacement joint funding arrangement. Estimated capital costs are presented at 100% before our General Partner's contributions.
|
|
|
(6)
|
Construction of the Wisconsin portion of the project is mechanically complete as noted below. The remaining portion of the project is in pre-construction status.
|
The following commercially secured growth projects are expected to be placed into service in 2019:
|
|
•
|
U.S. L3R PROGRAM
- Construction on the Wisconsin portion of the U.S. L3R Program commenced in late June 2017, was mechanically completed in February 2018 and is expected to be commissioned in May 2018. For additional updates on the project, refer to
Growth Projects - Regulatory Matters
.
|
GROWTH PROJECTS
-
REGULATORY MATTERS
U.S. L3R PROGRAM
We are in the process of obtaining the appropriate permits for constructing the U.S. L3R Program in Minnesota. The project requires both a Certificate of Need (Certificate) and an approval of the pipeline’s route (Route Permit) from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MNPUC). On February 1, 2016, the MNPUC issued a written order requiring the Minnesota Department of Commerce (DOC) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before the Certificate and Route Permit processes commence. The DOC issued the final EIS on August 17, 2017. The MNPUC determined the final EIS to be inadequate in four specific areas on December 7, 2017, which the MNPUC directed the DOC to address. As a result, the DOC provided a supplemental EIS on February 12, 2018 and the MNPUC deemed it adequate on March 15, 2018. Progress continues with the parallel Certificate and Route Permit dockets, with public and evidentiary hearings now complete.
On April 23, 2018, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommendation (the ALJ Report) to the MNPUC in connection with our applications for a Certificate and Route Permit. The ALJ recommended that the MNPUC grant our application for a Certificate, but only if the MNPUC also selects a route that would require in-trench replacement of the existing Line 3, which is not our preferred route. The ALJ Report is not binding on the MNPUC and the MNPUC is expected to issue a ruling in the Certificate and Route Permit dockets late in the second quarter of 2018. We believe that our preferred route remains the best solution for Minnesota and we intend to continue our efforts to secure MNPUC approval for our preferred route. On May 9, 2018, we filed our exceptions to the ALJ Report with the MNPUC, in which we set out our proposed revisions to the ALJ’s summary of the evidentiary record, as well as our points of disagreement with her conclusions and route recommendation.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
GENERAL
Our primary operating cash requirements consist of normal operating expenses, maintenance capital expenditures, funding requirements associated with environmental costs, distributions to our partners and payments associated with our risk management activities. We expect to fund our current and future short-term cash requirements for these items from our operating cash flows supplemented as necessary by issuances of commercial paper and borrowings under our Credit Facilities. Margin requirements associated with our derivative transactions are generally supported by letters of credit issued under our Credit Facilities.
We expect to initially fund our long-term cash requirements for expansion projects and acquisitions, as well as retire our maturing and callable debt, first from operating cash flows and then from issuances of commercial paper and borrowings on our Credit Facilities. We expect to obtain permanent financing as needed through the issuance of additional equity and debt securities, which we will use to repay amounts initially drawn to fund these activities although there can be no assurance that such financings will be available on favorable terms, if at all.
In the past, when we had attractive growth opportunities in excess of our own capital raising capabilities, our General Partner provided supplementary funding, or participated directly in projects, to enable us to undertake such opportunities. If in the future we have attractive growth opportunities that exceed capital raising capabilities, we could seek similar arrangements from our General Partner, but there can be no assurance that this funding can be obtained.
AVAILABLE LIQUIDITY
Our primary source of short-term liquidity is provided by our $1.5 billion commercial paper program, which is supported by our $
2.0 billion
multi-year unsecured revolving credit facility (Credit Facility) and our $
625 million
credit agreement (364-Day Credit Facility) together providing approximately $2.6 billion of committed bank credit facilities. We refer to the 364-day Credit Facility and the Credit Facility as our Credit Facilities. We access our commercial paper program primarily to provide temporary financing for our operating activities, capital expenditures and acquisitions when the interest rates available to us for commercial paper are more favorable than the rates available under our Credit Facilities. At
March 31, 2018
, we had approximately
$1.3 billion
in available credit under the terms of our Credit Facilities.
We are also party to a 364-day credit agreement with EUS. The EUS 364-day Credit Facility is a committed senior unsecured revolving credit facility that permits aggregate borrowings of up to, at any one time outstanding, $750 million. For the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
, we had net
borrowings
of approximately
$140 million
under the terms of the EUS 364-day Credit Facility.
For further details regarding our commercial paper program, our Credit Facilities, and the EUS 364-day Credit Facility, refer to
Item 1. Financial Statements –
Note 8 - Debt
and
Note 11 - Related Party Transactions
As of
March 31, 2018
, we had a working capital
deficit
of approximately
$1.1 billion
, which includes current portion of long-term debt of $1.0 billion. We had approximately
$1.4 billion
of consolidated liquidity to meet our ongoing operational, investing and financing needs as described above.
The following table sets forth the consolidated liquidity available to us at
March 31, 2018
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2018
|
|
(in millions)
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$
|
22
|
|
Total capacity under the Credit Facilities
|
2,625
|
|
Total capacity under the EUS 364-day Credit Facility
|
750
|
|
Less: Amounts outstanding under the Credit Facilities
|
—
|
|
Amounts outstanding under the EUS 364-day Credit Facility
|
750
|
|
Principal amount of commercial paper outstanding
|
1,288
|
|
Letters of credit outstanding
|
3
|
|
Total
|
$
|
1,356
|
|
CAPITAL RESOURCES
Debt and Equity Securities
Execution of our growth strategy and completion of our planned construction projects contemplate accessing the capital markets to obtain the necessary funding for these activities. We have issued a balanced combination of debt and equity securities to fund our expansion projects and acquisitions. Our organic growth projects and targeted acquisitions will require additional permanent capital and may require us to bear the cost of constructing and acquiring assets before we begin to realize a return on them. From time to time, if the capital markets are constrained, our ability and willingness to complete future debt and equity offerings may be limited, which in turn, could affect our ability to execute our growth strategy or complete our planned construction projects. The timing of any future debt and equity offerings will depend on various factors, including prevailing market conditions, interest rates, our financial condition and our credit rating at the time.
Our shelf registration statement on Form S-3, which allowed us to issue an unlimited amount of equity and debt securities in underwritten public offerings expired in February of 2018. Unless we seek and receive a waiver from the SEC, a new shelf registration statement would not be expected to be filed until August of 2018, at the earliest. The delay in filing a new shelf registration statement is due to the late filing of pro forma financial information after the sale of our Midcoast gas gathering and processing business to our General Partner. Until a new shelf registration statement on Form S-3 is filed with the SEC, any issuances of debt or equity securities in underwritten public offerings would utilize a different form of registration statement or we could seek to issue debt or equity securities in a private placement.
Joint Funding Arrangements
In order to obtain capital, we have explored, and may continue to explore, numerous options, including joint funding arrangements. For certain of our joint funding arrangements currently in place, we have an option to increase our ownership of certain assets. For further details regarding our existing joint funding arrangements, including the option periods and exercise price of certain options held by us, refer to
Item 1. Financial Statements –
Note 11 - Related Party Transactions
.
CASH REQUIREMENTS
Capital Spending
We incurred capital expenditures of approximately $
188 million
for the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
, including $
5 million
of maintenance capital expenditures. Of those capital expenditures, $
97 million
were financed by contributions from our General Partner via joint funding arrangements. At
March 31, 2018
, we had approximately $
216 million
in outstanding purchase commitments attributable to capital projects for the construction of assets that will be recorded as property, plant and equipment in the future.
Forecasted Expenditures
We estimate our capital expenditures based upon our strategic operating and growth plans, which are also dependent upon our ability to produce or otherwise obtain the financing necessary to accomplish our growth strategy. We forecast total expenditures of approximately $
780 million
in 2018, inclusive of $
40 million
related to maintenance capital. We expect to fund $
362 million
and the remaining $
418 million
will be funded by our General Partner based on our joint funding arrangements for the U.S. L3R Program, Eastern Access Projects, and Mainline Expansion Projects.
Although we anticipate making these expenditures in 2018, these estimates may change due to factors beyond our control, including weather-related issues, construction timing, regulatory permitting, changes in supplier prices or poor economic conditions, which may adversely affect our ability to access the capital markets. Additionally, our estimates may also change as a result of decisions made at a later date to revise the scope of a project or undertake a particular capital program or an acquisition of assets.
Distributions
The following table sets forth our distributions, as approved by the board of directors of Enbridge Energy Management during the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution Declaration Date
|
|
Record Date
|
|
Distribution
Payment Date
|
|
Distribution
per Unit
|
|
Cash
Available for
Distribution
|
|
Amount of
Distribution
of i-units
to i-unit
Holders
|
|
Retained
from
General
Partner
(1)
|
|
Distribution
of Cash
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in millions, except per unit amounts)
|
|
|
January 31, 2018
|
|
February 7, 2018
|
|
February 14, 2018
|
|
$
|
0.35
|
|
|
$
|
162
|
|
|
$
|
31
|
|
|
$
|
1
|
|
|
$
|
130
|
|
_____________________
|
|
(1)
|
We retained an amount equal to 2% of the i-unit distribution from our General Partner to maintain its 2% general partner interest in us.
|
Cash Flow Analysis
The following table summarizes the changes in cash flows by operating, investing and financing for each of the periods indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31,
|
|
2018
|
|
2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in millions)
|
Total cash provided by (used in):
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating activities
|
$
|
322
|
|
|
$
|
232
|
|
Investing activities
|
(185
|
)
|
|
(1,431
|
)
|
Financing activities
|
(150
|
)
|
|
1,190
|
|
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
|
(13
|
)
|
|
(9
|
)
|
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year
|
35
|
|
|
115
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
|
$
|
22
|
|
|
$
|
106
|
|
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by our operating activities increased
$90 million
for the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
, compared to the same period in
2017
, primarily due to increased cash from net income after non-cash adjustments, as well as greater cash inflows from net changes in operating assets and liabilities. Increased cash from net income after non-cash adjustments totaled
$9 million
and was primarily due to lower operating expenses during the period, as described in
Results of Operations - Liquids
.
Cash inflows from net changes in operating assets and liabilities increased
$81 million
. Our operating assets and liabilities fluctuate in the normal course of business due to various factors, including timing of cash payments and receipts.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in our investing activities during the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
, decreased by
$1.2 billion
compared to the same period in
2017
, primarily due to the absence of cash outflows of
$1.5 billion
from the acquisition of our interest in the Bakken Pipeline System in the first quarter of 2017. This decrease was partially offset by the absence of cash inflows of
$216 million
from the sale of the Ozark Pipeline during the first quarter of 2017.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities decreased
$1.3 billion
for the
three
months ended
March 31, 2018
compared to the same period in
2017
primarily due to the following:
|
|
•
|
Net repayments on sources of short-term financing of
$794 million
;
|
|
|
•
|
Decrease in borrowing of
$610 million
under the EUS 364-day Credit Facility; and
|
|
|
•
|
The absence of cash inflows of
$450 million
received from the sale of our 99% interest in the U.S. L3R Project to our General Partner during the first quarter of 2017.
|
These decreases in net cash provided by/(used in) our financing activities were partially offset by the following:
|
|
•
|
The absence of cash used in the acquisition of additional 15% interest in the Eastern Access Projects of
$360 million
during the first quarter of 2017;
|
|
|
•
|
Increased contributions from NCI of
$67 million
by our General Partner to fund its equity portion of construction cost in relation to various joint funding arrangements; and
|
|
|
•
|
Decrease in distribution to partners of
$70 million
due to a reduction in our quarterly distribution from $0.583 per unit to $0.35 per unit.
|