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Summary of Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies

Restricted Cash - At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, NEE had approximately $476 million ($114 million for FPL) and $508 million ($118 million for FPL), respectively, of restricted cash, of which approximately $368 million ($73 million for FPL) and $411 million ($54 million for FPL), respectively, is included in current other assets and the remaining balance is included in noncurrent other assets on NEE's and FPL's condensed consolidated balance sheets. Restricted cash is primarily related to debt service payments, bond proceeds held for construction at FPL and Gulf Power and margin cash collateral requirements. In addition, where offsetting positions exist, restricted cash related to margin cash collateral of $158 million is netted against derivative assets and $14 million is netted against derivative liabilities at September 30, 2020 and $139 million is netted against derivative assets and $66 million is netted against derivative liabilities at December 31, 2019. See Note 4.
Disposal of Businesses - On February 11, 2020, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources completed the sale of its ownership interest in two solar generation facilities located in Spain with a total generating capacity of 99.8 MW, which resulted in net cash proceeds of approximately €111 million (approximately $121 million). In connection with the sale, a gain of approximately $270 million (pretax and after tax) was recorded in NEE's condensed consolidated statements of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The carrying amounts of the major classes of assets related to the facilities that were classified as held for sale, which are included in current other assets on NEE's condensed consolidated balance sheets, were approximately $440 million at December 31, 2019 and primarily represent property, plant and equipment. Liabilities associated with assets held for sale, which are included in current other liabilities on NEE's condensed consolidated balance sheets, were approximately $647 million at December 31, 2019 and primarily represent long-term debt and interest rate derivatives.

In June 2019, subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources completed the sale of ownership interests in three wind generation facilities and three solar generation facilities, including noncontrolling interests in two of the solar facilities, located in the Midwest and West regions of the U.S. with a total net generating capacity of 611 MW to a NEP subsidiary for cash proceeds of approximately $1.0 billion, plus working capital of $12 million. A NEER affiliate continues to operate the facilities included in the sale. In connection with the sale, a gain of approximately $341 million ($259 million after tax) was recorded in NEE's condensed consolidated statements of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, which is included in gains on disposal of businesses/assets - net, and noncontrolling interests of approximately $118 million were recorded on NEE's condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments - Effective January 1, 2020, NEE and FPL adopted an accounting standards update that provides for a new methodology, the current expected credit loss (CECL) model, to account for credit losses for certain financial assets measured at amortized cost. On January 1, 2020, NEE recorded a reduction to retained earnings of approximately $11 million representing the cumulative effect of adopting the new standards update, which primarily related to the impact of applying the CECL model to NEER's receivables. The impact of adopting the new standards update was not material to FPL. See also Note 5 - Special Use Funds.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - FPL maintains an accumulated provision for uncollectible customer accounts receivable that is estimated using a percentage, derived from historical revenue and write-off trends, of the previous four months of revenue. NEER regularly reviews collectibility of its receivables and establishes a provision for losses estimated as a percentage of accounts receivable based on the historical bad debt write-off trends for its retail electricity provider operations. When necessary, NEER uses the specific identification method for all other receivables. Current events and reasonable and supportable forecasts are considered when reviewing all receivables for collectibility.

Reference Rate Reform - In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an accounting standards update which provides certain options to apply GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting as companies transition from the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates that are yet to be determined or finalized. NEE’s and FPL’s contracts that reference LIBOR or other interbank offered rates mainly relate to debt and derivative instruments. The standards update was effective upon issuance but can be applied prospectively through December 31, 2022. NEE and FPL are currently evaluating whether to apply the options provided by the standards update with regard to their contracts that reference LIBOR or other interbank offered rates as an interest rate benchmark.

Storm Cost Recovery - In mid-September 2020, Hurricane Sally made landfall near the Florida panhandle causing damage to much of Gulf Power’s service area and approximately 285,000 customers experienced electrical outages. Gulf Power experienced damage to its transmission and distribution systems, as well as certain power generation equipment. As of September 30, 2020, Gulf Power had not finalized its estimate of storm restoration costs associated with Hurricane Sally; however, its current estimate of recoverable storm restoration costs is approximately $200 million. Gulf Power is authorized to recover storm restoration costs on an interim basis from customers through a surcharge under the terms of its current base rate settlement agreement and subject to a subsequent prudence review by the FPSC. The accrued storm restoration costs eligible for recovery have been deferred and are recorded as a regulatory asset, primarily noncurrent, on NEE’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2020.

Construction Activity - In September 2019, NEER determined it was no longer moving forward with the construction of a 220 MW wind facility due to unresolved permitting issues. NEE recorded charges of approximately $73 million ($54 million after tax), which are included in taxes other than income taxes and other in NEE’s condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily related to the write-off of capitalized construction costs.