COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS

At December 31, 2020, we have commitments as detailed below:


	Total	Less than 1 year	2 years	3 years	4 years	5 years	Thereafter
(millions of Canadian dollars)
Annual debt maturities1	65,358	2,942	10,062	2,565	7,990	5,011	36,788
Interest obligations2	34,799	2,417	2,332	2,193	2,037	1,881	23,939
Purchase of services, pipe and other materials, including transportation3,4	9,206	3,124	1,436	762	783	560	2,541
Maintenance agreements	454	61	59	29	28	27	250
Right-of-ways commitments	1,173	31	38	38	38	38	990
Total	110,990	8,575	13,927	5,587	10,876	7,517	64,508

1Includes debentures, term notes, commercial paper and credit facility draws based on the facility's maturity date and excludes short-term borrowings, debt discount, debt issue costs, finance lease obligations and fair value adjustment. We have the ability under certain debt facilities to call and repay the obligations prior to scheduled maturities. Therefore, the actual timing of future cash repayments could be materially different than presented above.

2Includes debentures and term notes bearing interest at fixed, floating and fixed-to-floating rates.

3Includes capital and operating commitments.

4Consists primarily of gas transportation and storage contracts, firm capacity payments and gas purchase commitments, transportation, service and product purchase obligations, and power commitments.

ENVIRONMENTAL

We are subject to various Canadian and US federal, state and local laws 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 and natural gas pipeline operations, and Enbridge and our affiliates are, at times, subject to environmental remediation obligations at various sites where we operate. We manage this environmental risk through appropriate environmental policies, programs 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 costs arising from environmental incidents associated with the operating activities of our liquids and natural gas businesses.

AUX SABLE

On October 14, 2016, an amended claim was filed against Aux Sable by a counterparty to an NGL supply agreement. On January 5, 2017, Aux Sable filed a Statement of Defence with respect to this claim.

On November 27, 2019, the counterparty filed an amended amended claim providing further particulars of its claim against Aux Sable, increasing its damages claimed, and adding defendants Aux Sable Liquid Products Inc. and Aux Sable Extraction LLC (general partners of the previously existing defendants). Aux Sable filed an amended Statement of Defence responding to the amended amended claim on January 31, 2020.

While the final outcome of this action cannot be predicted with certainty, at this time management believes that the ultimate resolution of this action will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

TAX MATTERS

We and our subsidiaries maintain tax liabilities related to uncertain tax positions. While fully supportable in our view, these tax positions, if challenged by tax authorities, may not be fully sustained on review.

OTHER LITIGATION

We and our subsidiaries are subject to various other legal and regulatory actions and proceedings which arise in the normal course of business, including interventions in regulatory proceedings and challenges to regulatory approvals and permits. While the final outcome of such actions and proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that the resolution of such actions and proceedings will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.