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Derivative contracts
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative contracts

Note 13. Derivative contracts

We are party to derivative contracts through certain of our subsidiaries. The most significant derivative contracts consist of equity index put option contracts. The liabilities and related notional values of these contracts follows (in millions).

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

Notional

Value

 

March 31, 2020

 

$

2,361

 

 

$

14,171

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

968

 

 

 

14,385

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 13. Derivative contracts (Continued)

The equity index put option contracts are European style options written prior to March 2008 on four major equity indexes. Notional value in the preceding table represents the aggregate undiscounted amounts payable assuming the value of each index is zero at each contract’s expiration date. Certain contracts are denominated in foreign currencies and the related notional amounts are based on the foreign currency exchange rates as of the balance sheet date. We recorded pre-tax losses on these contracts of $1,393 million in the first quarter of 2020 and pre-tax gains of $770 million in the first quarter of 2019. The losses in the first quarter of 2020 reflected declines of 20% to 25% in index values between December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, with the declines concentrated in the last six weeks of the quarter.

Substantially all open contracts as of March 31, 2020 will expire by February 2023. The weighted average life of unexpired contracts at March 31, 2020 was approximately 1.5 years.  Future payments, if any, under any given contract will be required if the prevailing index value is below the contract strike price at the expiration date. We received aggregate premiums of $2.5 billion on the contract inception dates with respect to unexpired contracts as of March 31, 2020 and we have no counterparty credit risk. The aggregate intrinsic value (the undiscounted liability assuming the contracts are settled based on the index values and foreign currency exchange rates as of the balance sheet date) was $2.0 billion at March 31, 2020 and $397 million at December 31, 2019. These contracts may not be unilaterally terminated or fully settled before the expiration dates and the ultimate amount of cash basis gains or losses on these contracts will not be determined until the contract expiration dates.

Our regulated utility subsidiaries are exposed to variations in the prices of fuel required to generate electricity, wholesale electricity purchased and sold and natural gas supplied for customers. We may use forward purchases and sales, futures, swaps and options to manage a portion of these price risks. Most of the net derivative contract assets or liabilities of our regulated utilities are probable of recovery through rates and are offset by regulatory liabilities or assets.