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ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Business Combination and Asset Acquisition [Abstract]  
ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONSNone of the dispositions discussed herein, both individually and combined, represented a strategic shift in operations for the applicable Registrants that has, or is expected to have, a major effect on its operations and financial results; therefore, none of the assets related to the sales have been classified as discontinued operations for any of the periods presented.
Southern Power
Southern Power's acquisition-related costs for the projects discussed under "Asset Acquisitions" and "Construction Projects" below were expensed as incurred and were not material for any of the years presented.
Asset Acquisitions
Project
Facility
ResourceSeller
Approximate Nameplate Capacity (MW)
LocationSouthern
Power
Ownership
Percentage
COD
PPA
Contract Period
Asset Acquisitions During 2021
Deuel Harvest(a)
WindInvenergy Renewables LLC300Deuel County, SD
100% of Class B
February 2021
25 years
and
15 years
Asset Acquisitions During 2020
Beech Ridge IIWindInvenergy Renewables LLC56Greenbrier County, WV
100% of Class A(b)
May
2020
12 years
Asset Acquisitions During 2019
DSGP(c)
Fuel CellBloom Energy28Delaware
100% of Class B
N/A(d)
15 years(e)
(a)On March 26, 2021, Southern Power acquired a controlling interest in the project from Invenergy Renewables LLC and, on March 30, 2021, Southern Power completed a tax equity transaction whereby it sold the Class A membership interests in the project. Southern Power consolidates the project's operating results in its financial statements and the tax equity partner and Invenergy Renewables LLC each own a noncontrolling interest.
(b)In May 2020, Southern Power purchased a controlling interest and now consolidates the project's operating results in its financial statements. The Class B member owns the noncontrolling interest.
(c)During 2019, Southern Power purchased a controlling interest and now consolidates the project's operating results in its financial statements. The Class A and Class C members each own a noncontrolling interest. Southern Power records net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for approximately 10 MWs of the facility.
(d)Southern Power's 18-MW share of the facility was repowered between June and August 2019. In December 2019, a Class C member joined the existing partnership between the Class A member and Southern Power and made an investment to repower the remaining 10 MWs.
(e)Remaining PPA contract period at the time of acquisition.
Construction Projects
During 2021, Southern Power completed construction of and placed in service the Glass Sands wind facility, 73 MWs of the Garland battery energy storage facility, and 32 MWs of the Tranquillity battery energy storage facility. At December 31, 2021, total costs of construction incurred for these projects were $383 million. Southern Power continues construction of the remainder of the Garland and Tranquillity battery energy storage facilities and expects total aggregate construction costs to be between $230 million and $270 million. The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time. See Note 9 under "Lessor" for additional information.
Project
Facility
Resource
Approximate Nameplate Capacity (MW)
LocationActual/Expected
COD
PPA Contract Period
Projects Under Construction at December 31, 2021
Tranquillity Solar Storage(a)
Battery energy storage system72Fresno County, CA
November 2021 and
first quarter 2022(b)
20 years
Garland Solar Storage(a)
Battery energy storage system88Kern County, CA
September 2021,
December 2021,
and first quarter 2022(c)
20 years
Projects Completed During 2021
Glass Sands(d)
Wind118Murray County, OKNovember 202112 years
Projects Completed During 2020
Skookumchuck(e)
Wind136Lewis and Thurston Counties, WANovember 202020 years
Reading(f)
Wind200Osage and Lyon Counties, KSMay 202012 years
(a)In December 2020, Southern Power restructured its ownership of the project, while retaining the controlling interests, by contributing the Class A membership interests to an existing partnership and selling 100% of the Class B membership interests. During the third quarter 2021, Southern Power further restructured its ownership in the battery energy storage projects and completed tax equity transactions whereby it sold the Class A membership interests in the projects. Southern Power consolidates each project's operating results in its financial statements and the tax equity partner and two other partners each own a noncontrolling interest.
(b)The facility has a total capacity of 72 MWs, of which 32 MWs were placed in service in November 2021 and the remaining MWs are expected to be placed in service later in the first quarter 2022.
(c)The facility has a total capacity of 88 MWs, of which 73 MWs were placed in service during 2021 and the remaining MWs are expected to be placed in service later in the first quarter 2022.
(d)In December 2020, Southern Power purchased 100% of the membership interests of the Glass Sands facility.
(e)In 2019, Southern Power purchased 100% of the membership interests of the Skookumchuck facility pursuant to a joint development arrangement. In November 2020, Southern Power completed a tax equity transaction whereby it received $121 million, resulting in 100% ownership of the Class B membership interests. Southern Power subsequently sold a noncontrolling interest in the Class B membership interests and now retains the controlling ownership interest in the facility.
(f)In 2018, Southern Power purchased 100% of the membership interests of the Reading facility pursuant to a joint development arrangement. In June 2020, Southern Power completed a tax equity transaction whereby it received $156 million and owns 100% of the Class B membership interests.
Development Projects
Southern Power continues to evaluate and refine the deployment of the remaining wind turbine equipment purchased in 2016 and 2017 for development and construction projects. Wind projects utilizing equipment purchased in 2016 and 2017, and reaching commercial operation by the end of 2021 and 2022, are expected to qualify for 100% and 80% PTCs, respectively. The significant majority of this equipment either has been deployed to projects that have been completed, are under construction, or are probable of completion, or has been sold to third parties. Gains on wind turbine equipment contributed to various equity method investments totaled approximately $37 million in 2021. Gains on wind turbine equipment sales were immaterial in 2020 and totaled approximately $17 million in 2019.
Sales of Natural Gas and Biomass Plants
In June 2019, Southern Power completed the sale of its equity interests in Plant Nacogdoches, a 115-MW biomass facility located in Nacogdoches County, Texas, to Austin Energy, for a purchase price of approximately $461 million, including final working capital adjustments. Southern Power recorded a gain of $23 million ($88 million after tax) on the sale.
In January 2020, Southern Power completed the sale of its equity interests in Plant Mankato (including the 385-MW expansion unit completed in May 2019) to a subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc. for a purchase price of approximately $663 million, including final working capital adjustments. The sale resulted in a gain of approximately $39 million ($23 million after tax).
Plant Nacogdoches and Plant Mankato represented individually significant components of Southern Power. Pre-tax income for these components for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 are presented below:
20202019
(in millions)
Earnings before income taxes:
Plant Nacogdoches(a)(b)
N/A$13 
Plant Mankato(a)(c)
$$29 
(a)Earnings before income taxes reflect the cessation of depreciation and amortization on the long-lived assets being sold upon classification as held for sale (November 2018 for Plant Mankato and April 2019 for Plant Nacogdoches).
(b)2019 amount represents the period from January 1, 2019 to June 13, 2019 (the divestiture date).
(c)2020 amount represents the period from January 1, 2020 to January 17, 2020 (the divestiture date).
Southern Company Gas
Sale of Sequent
On July 1, 2021, Southern Company Gas affiliates completed the sale of Sequent to Williams Field Services Group for a total cash purchase price of $159 million, including final working capital adjustments. The pre-tax gain associated with the transaction was approximately $121 million ($92 million after tax). As a result of the sale, changes in state apportionment rates resulted in $85 million of additional tax expense.
Prior to the sale, Southern Company Gas had existing agreements in place in which it guaranteed the payment performance of Sequent. Southern Company Gas will continue to guarantee Sequent's payment performance for a period of time as Williams Field Services Group obtains releases from these obligations. At December 31, 2021, the remaining obligations subject to the payment performance guarantee were immaterial. Changes in the price of natural gas, market conditions, and the number of open contracts may change the amount that Southern Company Gas is required to guarantee for Sequent each month.
Sale of Pivotal LNG and Atlantic Coast Pipeline
In March 2020, Southern Company Gas completed the sale of its interests in Pivotal LNG and Atlantic Coast Pipeline to Dominion Modular LNG Holdings, Inc. and Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC, respectively, with aggregate proceeds of $178 million, including final working capital adjustments. The loss associated with the transactions was immaterial. During 2019, based on the terms of these transactions, Southern Company Gas recorded an asset impairment charge, exclusive of the contingent payments, for Pivotal LNG of approximately $24 million ($17 million after tax) as of December 31, 2019. In connection with the sale, Southern Company Gas was entitled to two $5 million payments contingent upon Dominion Modular LNG Holdings, Inc. meeting certain milestones related to Pivotal LNG. Southern Company Gas received the first payment on April 22, 2021 and expects to receive the second payment in March 2022.
Sale of Natural Gas Storage Facility
In December 2020, Southern Company Gas completed the sale of Jefferson Island to EnLink Midstream, LLC for a total purchase price of $33 million, including estimated working capital adjustments. The gain associated with the sale totaled $22 million pre-tax ($16 million after tax). In 2019, Southern Company Gas recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of $91 million ($69 million after-tax) related to Jefferson Island.
Sale of Triton
In May 2019, Southern Company Gas sold its investment in Triton, a cargo container leasing company that was aggregated into Southern Company Gas' all other segment. This disposition resulted in a pre-tax loss of $6 million and a net after-tax gain of $7 million as a result of reversing a $13 million federal income tax valuation allowance.
ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONSNone of the dispositions discussed herein, both individually and combined, represented a strategic shift in operations for the applicable Registrants that has, or is expected to have, a major effect on its operations and financial results; therefore, none of the assets related to the sales have been classified as discontinued operations for any of the periods presented.
Southern Company
In January 2019, Southern Company completed the sale of all of the capital stock of Gulf Power to a wholly-owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy, for an aggregate cash purchase price of approximately $5.8 billion (less $1.3 billion of indebtedness assumed), including the final working capital adjustments. The gain associated with the sale of Gulf Power totaled $2.6 billion pre-tax ($1.4 billion after tax).
In July 2019, PowerSecure completed the sale of its utility infrastructure services business for approximately $65 million, including the final working capital adjustments. In contemplation of this sale, a goodwill impairment charge of $32 million was recorded in the second quarter 2019. In December 2019, PowerSecure completed the sale of its lighting business for approximately $9 million, which included cash of $4 million and a note receivable from the buyer of $5 million. In contemplation of this sale, an impairment charge of $18 million was recorded in the third quarter 2019 related to goodwill, identifiable intangibles, and other assets.
In December 2019, Southern Company completed the sale of one of its leveraged lease investments for an aggregate cash purchase price of approximately $20 million. The sale resulted in an immaterial gain.
In connection with the annual impairment analysis of a leveraged lease investment during the fourth quarter 2020, Southern Company management concluded that the estimated residual value of the generation assets should be reduced due to significant uncertainty as to whether the related natural gas generation assets would continue to operate at the end of the lease term in 2040 and recorded a $34 million ($17 million after tax) impairment charge. Also during the fourth quarter 2020, Southern Company management initiated steps to sell the investment and reclassified it as held for sale at December 31, 2020. In the fourth quarter 2020 and the second quarter 2021, additional charges of $18 million ($14 million after tax) and $7 million ($6 million after tax), respectively, were recorded to further reduce the investment to its estimated fair value, less costs to sell. On October 29, 2021, Southern Company completed the sale to the lessee for $45 million. No gain or loss was recognized on the sale; however, it did result in the recognition of approximately $16 million of additional tax benefits.
On December 13, 2021, Southern Company completed the termination of its leasehold interest in assets associated with its two international leveraged lease projects and received cash proceeds of approximately $673 million after the accelerated exercise of the lessee's purchase options. The pre-tax gain associated with the transaction was approximately $93 million ($99 million gain after tax).
Alabama Power
In August 2020, Alabama Power completed its acquisition of the Central Alabama Generating Station, an approximately 885-MW combined cycle generation facility in Autauga County, Alabama. The total purchase price was $461 million, of which $452 million was related to net assets recorded within property, plant, and equipment on the balance sheet and the remainder primarily related to inventory, current receivables, and accounts payable. Alabama Power assumed an existing power sales agreement under which the full output of the generating facility remains committed to another third party for its remaining term of approximately three years. During the remaining term, the estimated revenues from the power sales agreement are expected to offset the associated costs of operation. See Notes 2 and 9 under "Alabama Power" and "Lessor," respectively, for additional information.
On September 23, 2021, Alabama Power entered into an agreement to acquire all of the equity interests in Calhoun Power Company, LLC, which owns and operates the Calhoun Generating Station. See Note 2 under "Alabama Power – Certificates of Convenience and Necessity" for additional information.
Southern Power
Southern Power's acquisition-related costs for the projects discussed under "Asset Acquisitions" and "Construction Projects" below were expensed as incurred and were not material for any of the years presented.
Asset Acquisitions
Project
Facility
ResourceSeller
Approximate Nameplate Capacity (MW)
LocationSouthern
Power
Ownership
Percentage
COD
PPA
Contract Period
Asset Acquisitions During 2021
Deuel Harvest(a)
WindInvenergy Renewables LLC300Deuel County, SD
100% of Class B
February 2021
25 years
and
15 years
Asset Acquisitions During 2020
Beech Ridge IIWindInvenergy Renewables LLC56Greenbrier County, WV
100% of Class A(b)
May
2020
12 years
Asset Acquisitions During 2019
DSGP(c)
Fuel CellBloom Energy28Delaware
100% of Class B
N/A(d)
15 years(e)
(a)On March 26, 2021, Southern Power acquired a controlling interest in the project from Invenergy Renewables LLC and, on March 30, 2021, Southern Power completed a tax equity transaction whereby it sold the Class A membership interests in the project. Southern Power consolidates the project's operating results in its financial statements and the tax equity partner and Invenergy Renewables LLC each own a noncontrolling interest.
(b)In May 2020, Southern Power purchased a controlling interest and now consolidates the project's operating results in its financial statements. The Class B member owns the noncontrolling interest.
(c)During 2019, Southern Power purchased a controlling interest and now consolidates the project's operating results in its financial statements. The Class A and Class C members each own a noncontrolling interest. Southern Power records net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for approximately 10 MWs of the facility.
(d)Southern Power's 18-MW share of the facility was repowered between June and August 2019. In December 2019, a Class C member joined the existing partnership between the Class A member and Southern Power and made an investment to repower the remaining 10 MWs.
(e)Remaining PPA contract period at the time of acquisition.
Construction Projects
During 2021, Southern Power completed construction of and placed in service the Glass Sands wind facility, 73 MWs of the Garland battery energy storage facility, and 32 MWs of the Tranquillity battery energy storage facility. At December 31, 2021, total costs of construction incurred for these projects were $383 million. Southern Power continues construction of the remainder of the Garland and Tranquillity battery energy storage facilities and expects total aggregate construction costs to be between $230 million and $270 million. The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time. See Note 9 under "Lessor" for additional information.
Project
Facility
Resource
Approximate Nameplate Capacity (MW)
LocationActual/Expected
COD
PPA Contract Period
Projects Under Construction at December 31, 2021
Tranquillity Solar Storage(a)
Battery energy storage system72Fresno County, CA
November 2021 and
first quarter 2022(b)
20 years
Garland Solar Storage(a)
Battery energy storage system88Kern County, CA
September 2021,
December 2021,
and first quarter 2022(c)
20 years
Projects Completed During 2021
Glass Sands(d)
Wind118Murray County, OKNovember 202112 years
Projects Completed During 2020
Skookumchuck(e)
Wind136Lewis and Thurston Counties, WANovember 202020 years
Reading(f)
Wind200Osage and Lyon Counties, KSMay 202012 years
(a)In December 2020, Southern Power restructured its ownership of the project, while retaining the controlling interests, by contributing the Class A membership interests to an existing partnership and selling 100% of the Class B membership interests. During the third quarter 2021, Southern Power further restructured its ownership in the battery energy storage projects and completed tax equity transactions whereby it sold the Class A membership interests in the projects. Southern Power consolidates each project's operating results in its financial statements and the tax equity partner and two other partners each own a noncontrolling interest.
(b)The facility has a total capacity of 72 MWs, of which 32 MWs were placed in service in November 2021 and the remaining MWs are expected to be placed in service later in the first quarter 2022.
(c)The facility has a total capacity of 88 MWs, of which 73 MWs were placed in service during 2021 and the remaining MWs are expected to be placed in service later in the first quarter 2022.
(d)In December 2020, Southern Power purchased 100% of the membership interests of the Glass Sands facility.
(e)In 2019, Southern Power purchased 100% of the membership interests of the Skookumchuck facility pursuant to a joint development arrangement. In November 2020, Southern Power completed a tax equity transaction whereby it received $121 million, resulting in 100% ownership of the Class B membership interests. Southern Power subsequently sold a noncontrolling interest in the Class B membership interests and now retains the controlling ownership interest in the facility.
(f)In 2018, Southern Power purchased 100% of the membership interests of the Reading facility pursuant to a joint development arrangement. In June 2020, Southern Power completed a tax equity transaction whereby it received $156 million and owns 100% of the Class B membership interests.
Development Projects
Southern Power continues to evaluate and refine the deployment of the remaining wind turbine equipment purchased in 2016 and 2017 for development and construction projects. Wind projects utilizing equipment purchased in 2016 and 2017, and reaching commercial operation by the end of 2021 and 2022, are expected to qualify for 100% and 80% PTCs, respectively. The significant majority of this equipment either has been deployed to projects that have been completed, are under construction, or are probable of completion, or has been sold to third parties. Gains on wind turbine equipment contributed to various equity method investments totaled approximately $37 million in 2021. Gains on wind turbine equipment sales were immaterial in 2020 and totaled approximately $17 million in 2019.
Sales of Natural Gas and Biomass Plants
In June 2019, Southern Power completed the sale of its equity interests in Plant Nacogdoches, a 115-MW biomass facility located in Nacogdoches County, Texas, to Austin Energy, for a purchase price of approximately $461 million, including final working capital adjustments. Southern Power recorded a gain of $23 million ($88 million after tax) on the sale.
In January 2020, Southern Power completed the sale of its equity interests in Plant Mankato (including the 385-MW expansion unit completed in May 2019) to a subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc. for a purchase price of approximately $663 million, including final working capital adjustments. The sale resulted in a gain of approximately $39 million ($23 million after tax).
Plant Nacogdoches and Plant Mankato represented individually significant components of Southern Power. Pre-tax income for these components for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 are presented below:
20202019
(in millions)
Earnings before income taxes:
Plant Nacogdoches(a)(b)
N/A$13 
Plant Mankato(a)(c)
$$29 
(a)Earnings before income taxes reflect the cessation of depreciation and amortization on the long-lived assets being sold upon classification as held for sale (November 2018 for Plant Mankato and April 2019 for Plant Nacogdoches).
(b)2019 amount represents the period from January 1, 2019 to June 13, 2019 (the divestiture date).
(c)2020 amount represents the period from January 1, 2020 to January 17, 2020 (the divestiture date).
Southern Company Gas
Sale of Sequent
On July 1, 2021, Southern Company Gas affiliates completed the sale of Sequent to Williams Field Services Group for a total cash purchase price of $159 million, including final working capital adjustments. The pre-tax gain associated with the transaction was approximately $121 million ($92 million after tax). As a result of the sale, changes in state apportionment rates resulted in $85 million of additional tax expense.
Prior to the sale, Southern Company Gas had existing agreements in place in which it guaranteed the payment performance of Sequent. Southern Company Gas will continue to guarantee Sequent's payment performance for a period of time as Williams Field Services Group obtains releases from these obligations. At December 31, 2021, the remaining obligations subject to the payment performance guarantee were immaterial. Changes in the price of natural gas, market conditions, and the number of open contracts may change the amount that Southern Company Gas is required to guarantee for Sequent each month.
Sale of Pivotal LNG and Atlantic Coast Pipeline
In March 2020, Southern Company Gas completed the sale of its interests in Pivotal LNG and Atlantic Coast Pipeline to Dominion Modular LNG Holdings, Inc. and Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC, respectively, with aggregate proceeds of $178 million, including final working capital adjustments. The loss associated with the transactions was immaterial. During 2019, based on the terms of these transactions, Southern Company Gas recorded an asset impairment charge, exclusive of the contingent payments, for Pivotal LNG of approximately $24 million ($17 million after tax) as of December 31, 2019. In connection with the sale, Southern Company Gas was entitled to two $5 million payments contingent upon Dominion Modular LNG Holdings, Inc. meeting certain milestones related to Pivotal LNG. Southern Company Gas received the first payment on April 22, 2021 and expects to receive the second payment in March 2022.
Sale of Natural Gas Storage Facility
In December 2020, Southern Company Gas completed the sale of Jefferson Island to EnLink Midstream, LLC for a total purchase price of $33 million, including estimated working capital adjustments. The gain associated with the sale totaled $22 million pre-tax ($16 million after tax). In 2019, Southern Company Gas recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of $91 million ($69 million after-tax) related to Jefferson Island.
Sale of Triton
In May 2019, Southern Company Gas sold its investment in Triton, a cargo container leasing company that was aggregated into Southern Company Gas' all other segment. This disposition resulted in a pre-tax loss of $6 million and a net after-tax gain of $7 million as a result of reversing a $13 million federal income tax valuation allowance.