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Commitments and Contingencies
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
 
Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978

OG&E had QF contracts with AES-Shady Point, Inc. and Oklahoma Cogeneration LLC, which expired in January and August 2019, respectively. For the 320 MW AES-Shady Point, Inc. QF contract and the 120 MW Oklahoma Cogeneration LLC QF contract, OG&E purchased 100 percent of the electricity generated by the qualified cogeneration facilities. In 2019, OG&E received approval from the OCC and APSC to acquire the plants from AES-Shady Point, Inc. and Oklahoma Cogeneration LLC.

For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, OG&E made total payments to cogenerators of $14.7 million and $112.4 million, respectively, of which $7.4 million and $60.0 million, respectively, represented capacity payments. All payments for purchased power, including cogeneration, are included in the Registrants' statements of income as Cost of Sales.

Purchase Obligations and Commitments

The following table presents the Registrants' future purchase obligations and commitments estimated for the next five years. 
(In millions)20212022202320242025Total
Purchase obligations and commitments:      
Minimum purchase commitments$72.5 $50.4 $50.4 $36.7 $25.9 $235.9 
Expected wind purchase commitments55.2 55.6 56.0 56.6 56.9 280.3 
Long-term service agreement commitments2.4 2.4 7.9 35.1 31.2 79.0 
Total purchase obligations and commitments$130.1 $108.4 $114.3 $128.4 $114.0 $595.2 

OG&E Minimum Purchase Commitments
 
OG&E has coal contracts for purchases through June 30, 2021, whereby OG&E has the right but not the obligation to purchase a defined quantity of coal. OG&E may also purchase coal through spot purchases on an as-needed basis. As a participant in the SPP Integrated Marketplace, OG&E purchases its natural gas supply through short-term agreements. OG&E relies on a combination of natural gas base load agreements and 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 has natural gas transportation service contracts with Enable, ONEOK, Inc. and Southern Star. The contracts with Enable end in May 2024 and December 2038; the contracts with ONEOK, Inc. end in March 2024 and August 2037; and the contract with Southern Star ends in June 2024. These transportation contracts grant Enable, ONEOK, Inc. and Southern Star the responsibility of delivering natural gas to OG&E's generating facilities.

OG&E Wind Purchase Commitments
 
The following table presents OG&E's wind power purchase contracts.
CompanyLocationOriginal Term of ContractExpiration of ContractMWs
CPV KeenanWoodward County, OK20 years2030152.0
Edison Mission EnergyDewey County, OK20 years2031130.0
NextEra EnergyBlackwell, OK20 years203260.0

The following table presents a summary of OG&E's wind power purchases for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. 
Year Ended December 31 (In millions)
202020192018
CPV Keenan$27.5 $27.2 $27.0 
Edison Mission Energy22.8 23.1 21.7 
NextEra Energy7.0 7.4 6.8 
FPL Energy (A)— — 2.1 
Total wind power purchased$57.3 $57.7 $57.6 
(A)OG&E's purchased power contract with FPL Energy for 50 MWs expired in 2018.

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. In December 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 2033. 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 2030. The contract requires payments based on both a fixed and variable cost component, depending on how much the Redbud Plant is used.

Environmental Laws and Regulations
 
The activities of the Registrants 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 the Registrants' 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 or pollution 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 the Registrants' 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. Management continues to evaluate its compliance with existing and proposed environmental legislation and regulations and implement appropriate environmental programs in a competitive market.
CO2 Emission Limits for Existing Generating Units

On January 19, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals vacated the EPA's latest effort to adopt CO2 emissions standards for existing coal-fired electric generating units, and the court remanded the matter to the EPA for further consideration. The decision was based on the court's conclusion that the Clean Air Act does not require the EPA to limit the standards to measures that can be applied at and to an existing unit. The time for seeking further judicial review of the decision does not expire until June 18, 2021, and the EPA has not announced how it plans to respond to the decision. 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 Registrants' future 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 Registrants are 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 Registrants have 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 financial statements. At the present time, based on currently available information, the Registrants believe 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 their financial statements and would not have a material adverse effect on their financial position, results of operations or cash flows.