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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
COMMITMENTS
As at December 31, 2022, we have commitments as detailed below:
Total
Less
than
1 year
2 years3 years4 years5 yearsThereafter
(millions of Canadian dollars)       
Annual debt maturities1
78,742 6,024 8,220 6,051 3,730 10,344 44,373 
Purchase of services, pipe and other materials, including transportation2
10,661 3,553 1,513 1,070 1,001 767 2,757 
Maintenance agreements3
536 53 53 53 53 55 269 
Right-of-ways commitments
1,474 45 45 46 46 46 1,246 
Total91,413 9,675 9,831 7,220 4,830 11,212 48,645 
1Includes debentures, term notes, commercial paper and credit facility draws based on the facility's maturity date and excludes short-term borrowings, debt discounts, debt issuance 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 capital and operating commitments. Consists primarily of firm capacity payments that provide us with uninterrupted firm access to natural gas and crude oil transportation and storage contracts; contractual obligations to purchase physical quantities of natural gas; and power commitments.
3Consists primarily of maintenance service contracts for our wind and solar assets.

ENVIRONMENTAL
We are subject to various Canadian and US federal, provincial/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 its 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 our operating activities.

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.
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.

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.

INSURANCE
We maintain a comprehensive insurance program for us, our operating subsidiaries and certain equity investments. This program includes insurance coverage in types and amounts and is subject to certain deductibles, terms, exclusions and conditions that are generally consistent with coverage considered customary for our industry, however insurance does not cover all events in all circumstances. We self-insure a significant portion of expected losses relating to certain insurance property and casualty risk exposures in the US and Canada through our wholly-owned captive insurance subsidiaries.
In the unlikely event multiple insurable incidents occur which exceed coverage limits within the same insurance period, the total insurance coverage will be allocated among entities on an equitable basis based on an insurance allocation agreement we have entered into with us and other subsidiaries. Insurance estimates include certain assumptions and management judgments regarding the frequency and severity of claims, claim development and settlement practices and the selection of estimated loss among estimates derived using different methods.