nep-20210331

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

☑ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ________ to ________

Commission

File

Number

Exact name of registrant as specified in its

charter, address of principal executive offices and

registrant's telephone number

IRS Employer

Identification

Number

1-36518

NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP

30-0818558

700 Universe Boulevard

Juno Beach, Florida 33408

(561) 694-4000

State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization: Delaware

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol

Name of exchange
on which registered

Common units

NEP

New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months. Yes þ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.

Large Accelerated Filer þ Accelerated Filer ☐ Non-Accelerated Filer ☐ Smaller Reporting Company ☐ Emerging Growth Company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes ☐ No ☑

Number of NextEra Energy Partners, LP common units outstanding at March 31, 2021: 75,892,712

DEFINITIONS

Acronyms and defined terms used in the text include the following:


Term			Meaning
2017 convertible notes			senior unsecured convertible notes issued in 2017
2020 convertible notes			senior unsecured convertible notes issued in 2020
2020 Form 10-K			NEP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020
AOCI			accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
ASA			administrative services agreement
BLM			U.S. Bureau of Land Management



CSCS agreement			amended and restated cash sweep and credit support agreement








Genesis Holdings			Genesis Solar Holdings, LLC
IDR fee			certain payments from NEP OpCo to NEE Management as a component of the MSA which are based on the achievement by NEP OpCo of certain target quarterly distribution levels to its unitholders
IPP			independent power producer


limited partner interest in NEP OpCo			limited partner interest in NEP OpCo's common units
Management's Discussion			Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Meade			Meade Pipeline Co LLC
Meade purchaser			Meade Pipeline Investment, LLC
MSA			amended and restated management services agreement among NEP, NEE Management, NEP OpCo and NEP OpCo GP
MW			megawatt(s)
NEE			NextEra Energy, Inc.
NEECH			NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc.
NEE Equity			NextEra Energy Equity Partners, LP
NEE Management			NextEra Energy Management Partners, LP
NEER			NextEra Energy Resources, LLC
NEP			NextEra Energy Partners, LP
NEP GP			NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc.
NEP OpCo			NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP


NEP Pipelines			NextEra Energy Partners Pipelines, LLC
NEP Renewables			NEP Renewables, LLC
NEP Renewables II			NEP Renewables II, LLC

NOLs			net operating losses
Note __			Note __ to condensed consolidated financial statements
O&M			operations and maintenance

Pemex			Petróleos Mexicanos
PPA			power purchase agreement
preferred units			Series A convertible preferred units representing limited partner interests in NEP



SEC			U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission


Silver State			Silver State South Solar, LLC
STX Midstream			South Texas Midstream, LLC
Texas pipelines			natural gas pipeline assets located in Texas

Texas pipeline entities			the subsidiaries of NEP that directly own the Texas pipelines
U.S.			United States of America

VIE			variable interest entity

Each of NEP and NEP OpCo has subsidiaries and affiliates with names that may include NextEra Energy, NextEra Energy Partners and similar references. For convenience and simplicity, in this report, the terms NEP and NEP OpCo are sometimes used as abbreviated references to specific subsidiaries, affiliates or groups of subsidiaries or affiliates. The precise meaning depends on the context. Discussions of NEP's ownership of subsidiaries and projects refers to its controlling interest in the general partner of NEP OpCo and NEP's indirect interest in and control over the subsidiaries of NEP OpCo. See Note 6 for a description of NEE Equity's noncontrolling interest in NEP OpCo. References to NEP's projects and NEP's pipelines generally include NEP's consolidated subsidiaries and the projects and pipelines in which NEP has equity method investments.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page No.

Definitions		2
Forward-Looking Statements		4

	PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	Financial Statements	7
Item 2.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	19
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	23
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	24

	PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	25
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	25
Item 5.	Other Information	25
Item 6.	Exhibits	26

Signatures		27

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, strategies, future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as result, are expected to, will continue, is anticipated, believe, will, could, should, would, estimated, may, plan, potential, future, projection, goals, target, outlook, predict and intend or words of similar meaning) are not statements of historical facts and may be forward looking. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the following important factors (in addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with such forward-looking statements) that could have a significant impact on NEP's operations and financial results, and could cause NEP's actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of NEP in this Form 10-Q, in presentations, on its website, in response to questions or otherwise.

Operational Risks

•NEP's ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders is affected by wind and solar conditions at its renewable energy projects.

•Operation and maintenance of renewable energy projects and pipelines involve significant risks that could result in unplanned power outages, reduced output, personal injury or loss of life.

•NEP's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects can be materially adversely affected by weather conditions, including, but not limited to, the impact of severe weather.

•NEP depends on certain of the renewable energy projects and pipelines in its portfolio for a substantial portion of its anticipated cash flows.

•NEP is pursuing the repowering of wind projects and the expansion of natural gas pipelines that will require up-front capital expenditures and expose NEP to project development risks.

•Terrorist acts, cyberattacks or other similar events could impact NEP's projects, pipelines or surrounding areas and adversely affect its business.

•The ability of NEP to obtain insurance and the terms of any available insurance coverage could be materially adversely affected by international, national, state or local events and company-specific events, as well as the financial condition of insurers. NEP's insurance coverage does not provide protection against all significant losses.

•NEP relies on interconnection, transmission and other pipeline facilities of third parties to deliver energy from its renewable energy projects and to transport natural gas to and from its pipelines. If these facilities become unavailable, NEP's projects and pipelines may not be able to operate or deliver energy or may become partially or fully unavailable to transport natural gas.

•NEP's business is subject to liabilities and operating restrictions arising from environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, compliance with which may require significant capital expenditures, increase NEP's cost of operations and affect or limit its business plans.

•NEP's renewable energy projects or pipelines may be adversely affected by legislative changes or a failure to comply with applicable energy and pipeline regulations.

•Pemex may claim certain immunities under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and Mexican law, and the Texas pipeline entities' ability to sue or recover from Pemex for breach of contract may be limited and may be exacerbated if there is a deterioration in the economic relationship between the U.S. and Mexico.

•NEP does not own all of the land on which the projects in its portfolio are located and its use and enjoyment of the property may be adversely affected to the extent that there are any lienholders or land rights holders that have rights that are superior to NEP's rights or the BLM suspends its federal rights-of-way grants.

•NEP is subject to risks associated with litigation or administrative proceedings that could materially impact its operations, including, but not limited to, proceedings related to projects it acquires in the future.

•NEP's cross-border operations require NEP to comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations of the U.S. government and Mexico.

•NEP is subject to risks associated with its ownership of interests in projects or pipelines that are under construction, which could result in its inability to complete construction projects on time or at all, and make projects too expensive to complete or cause the return on an investment to be less than expected.

Contract Risks

•NEP relies on a limited number of customers and is exposed to the risk that they may be unwilling or unable to fulfill their contractual obligations to NEP or that they otherwise terminate their agreements with NEP.

•NEP may not be able to extend, renew or replace expiring or terminated PPAs, natural gas transportation agreements or other customer contracts at favorable rates or on a long-term basis.

•If the energy production by or availability of NEP's renewable energy projects is less than expected, they may not be able to satisfy minimum production or availability obligations under their PPAs.

Risks Related to NEP's Acquisition Strategy and Future Growth

•NEP's growth strategy depends on locating and acquiring interests in additional projects consistent with its business strategy at favorable prices.

•Reductions in demand for natural gas in the United States or Mexico and low market prices of natural gas could materially adversely affect the NEP pipeline operations and cash flows.

•Government laws, regulations and policies providing incentives and subsidies for clean energy could be changed, reduced or eliminated at any time and such changes may negatively impact NEP's growth strategy.

•NEP's growth strategy depends on the acquisition of projects developed by NEE and third parties, which face risks related to project siting, financing, construction, permitting, the environment, governmental approvals and the negotiation of project development agreements.

•Acquisitions of existing clean energy projects involve numerous risks.

•NEP may continue to acquire other sources of clean energy and may expand to include other types of assets. Any further acquisition of non-renewable energy projects may present unforeseen challenges and result in a competitive disadvantage relative to NEP's more-established competitors.

•NEP faces substantial competition primarily from regulated utilities, developers, IPPs, pension funds and private equity funds for opportunities in North America.

•The natural gas pipeline industry is highly competitive, and increased competitive pressure could adversely affect NEP's business.

Risks Related to NEP's Financial Activities

•NEP may not be able to access sources of capital on commercially reasonable terms, which would have a material adverse effect on its ability to consummate future acquisitions and pursue other growth opportunities.

•Restrictions in NEP and its subsidiaries' financing agreements could adversely affect NEP's business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders.

•NEP's cash distributions to its unitholders may be reduced as a result of restrictions on NEP's subsidiaries’ cash distributions to NEP under the terms of their indebtedness or other financing agreements.

•NEP's subsidiaries’ substantial amount of indebtedness may adversely affect NEP's ability to operate its business, and its failure to comply with the terms of its subsidiaries' indebtedness could have a material adverse effect on NEP's financial condition.

•NEP is exposed to risks inherent in its use of interest rate swaps.

Risks Related to NEP's Relationship with NEE

•NEE has influence over NEP.

•Under the CSCS agreement, NEP receives credit support from NEE and its affiliates. NEP's subsidiaries may default under contracts or become subject to cash sweeps if credit support is terminated, if NEE or its affiliates fail to honor their obligations under credit support arrangements, or if NEE or another credit support provider ceases to satisfy creditworthiness requirements, and NEP will be required in certain circumstances to reimburse NEE for draws that are made on credit support.

•NEER or one of its affiliates is permitted to borrow funds received by NEP's subsidiaries and is obligated to return these funds only as needed to cover project costs and distributions or as demanded by NEP OpCo. NEP's financial condition and ability to make distributions to its unitholders, as well as its ability to grow distributions in the future, is highly dependent on NEER’s performance of its obligations to return all or a portion of these funds.

•NEER's right of first refusal may adversely affect NEP's ability to consummate future sales or to obtain favorable sale terms.

•NEP GP and its affiliates may have conflicts of interest with NEP and have limited duties to NEP and its unitholders.

•NEP GP and its affiliates and the directors and officers of NEP are not restricted in their ability to compete with NEP, whose business is subject to certain restrictions.

•NEP may only terminate the MSA under certain limited circumstances.

•If the agreements with NEE Management or NEER are terminated, NEP may be unable to contract with a substitute service provider on similar terms.

•NEP's arrangements with NEE limit NEE's potential liability, and NEP has agreed to indemnify NEE against claims that it may face in connection with such arrangements, which may lead NEE to assume greater risks when making decisions relating to NEP than it otherwise would if acting solely for its own account.

Risks Related to Ownership of NEP's Units

•NEP's ability to make distributions to its unitholders depends on the ability of NEP OpCo to make cash distributions to its limited partners.

•If NEP incurs material tax liabilities, NEP's distributions to its unitholders may be reduced, without any corresponding reduction in the amount of the IDR fee.

•Holders of NEP's units may be subject to voting restrictions.

•NEP's partnership agreement replaces the fiduciary duties that NEP GP and NEP's directors and officers might have to holders of its common units with contractual standards governing their duties and the New York Stock Exchange does not require a publicly traded limited partnership like NEP to comply with certain of its corporate governance requirements.

•NEP's partnership agreement restricts the remedies available to holders of NEP's common units for actions taken by NEP's directors or NEP GP that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duties.

•Certain of NEP's actions require the consent of NEP GP.

•Holders of NEP's common units currently cannot remove NEP GP without NEE's consent and provisions in NEP's partnership agreement may discourage or delay an acquisition of NEP that NEP unitholders may consider favorable.

•NEE's interest in NEP GP and the control of NEP GP may be transferred to a third party without unitholder consent.

•NEP may issue additional units without unitholder approval, which would dilute unitholder interests.

•Reimbursements and fees owed to NEP GP and its affiliates for services provided to NEP or on NEP's behalf will reduce cash distributions from NEP OpCo and from NEP to NEP's unitholders, and there are no limits on the amount that NEP OpCo may be required to pay.

•Increases in interest rates could adversely impact the price of NEP's common units, NEP's ability to issue equity or incur debt for acquisitions or other purposes and NEP's ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders.

•The liability of holders of NEP's units, which represent limited partnership interests in NEP, may not be limited if a court finds that unitholder action constitutes control of NEP's business.

•Unitholders may have liability to repay distributions that were wrongfully distributed to them.

•The issuance of securities convertible into, or settleable with, common units may affect the market price for NEP's common units, will dilute common unitholders’ ownership in NEP and may decrease the amount of cash available for distribution for each common unit.

Taxation Risks

•NEP's future tax liability may be greater than expected if NEP does not generate NOLs sufficient to offset taxable income or if tax authorities challenge certain of NEP's tax positions.

•NEP's ability to use NOLs to offset future income may be limited.

•NEP will not have complete control over NEP's tax decisions.

•Distributions to unitholders may be taxable as dividends.

Coronavirus Pandemic Risks

•The coronavirus pandemic may have a material adverse impact on NEP's business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders.

These factors should be read together with the risk factors included in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in the 2020 Form 10-K and investors should refer to that section of the 2020 Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and NEP undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances, including, but not limited to, unanticipated events, after the date on which such statement is made, unless otherwise required by law. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all of such factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in any forward-looking statement.

Website Access to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Filings. NEP makes its SEC filings, including the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports, available free of charge on NEP's internet website, www.nexteraenergypartners.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after those documents are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. The information and materials available on NEP's website are not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-Q.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)

(millions, except per unit amounts)

(unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021		2020
OPERATING REVENUES
Renewable energy sales		$	155	$	157
Texas pipelines service revenues		91		55
Total operating revenues(a)		246		212
OPERATING EXPENSES
Operations and maintenance(b)		92		92
Depreciation and amortization		67		66
Taxes other than income taxes and other		9		5
Total operating expenses – net		168		163
OPERATING INCOME		78		49
OTHER INCOME (DEDUCTIONS)
Interest expense		504		(839)
Equity in earnings of equity method investees		43		18
Equity in earnings (losses) of non-economic ownership interests		14		(23)
Other – net		2		—
Total other income (deductions) – net		563		(844)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES		641		(795)
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)		70		(75)
NET INCOME (LOSS)(c)		571		(720)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PREFERRED DISTRIBUTIONS		—		(2)
NET LOSS (INCOME) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS		(369)		500
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP		$	202	$	(222)

Earnings (loss) per common unit attributable to NextEra Energy Partners, LP – basic		$	2.66	$	(3.39)
Earnings (loss) per common unit attributable to NextEra Energy Partners, LP – assuming dilution		$	2.66	$	(3.39)

____________________

(a) Includes related party revenues of $34 million and $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

(b) Includes O&M expenses related to renewable energy projects of $43 million and $50 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Includes O&M expenses related to the Texas pipelines of $13 million and $11 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Total O&M expenses presented include related party amounts of $45 million and $32 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

(c) Comprehensive income (loss), including comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests and NextEra Energy Partners, LP, is the same as reported net income (loss).

This report should be read in conjunction with the Notes herein and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2020 Form 10-K.

NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(millions)

(unaudited)


	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	110	$	108
Accounts receivable	101		83
Other receivables	156		155
Due from related parties	122		28
Inventory	24		24
Other	16		16
Total current assets	529		414
Other assets:
Property, plant and equipment – net	7,103		7,163
Intangible assets – PPAs – net	1,546		1,572
Intangible assets – customer relationships – net	606		610
Goodwill	609		609
Investments in equity method investees	1,830		1,814
Deferred income taxes	190		249
Other	153		131
Total other assets	12,037		12,148
TOTAL ASSETS	$	12,566	$	12,562
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	137	$	143
Due to related parties	68		66
Current portion of long-term debt	12		12
Accrued interest	17		25
Derivatives	21		20
Accrued property taxes	12		22
Other	49		62
Total current liabilities	316		350
Other liabilities and deferred credits:
Long-term debt	3,541		3,376
Asset retirement obligation	140		144
Derivatives	247		782
Due to related parties	35		33
Other	166		170
Total other liabilities and deferred credits	4,129		4,505
TOTAL LIABILITIES	4,445		4,855
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
EQUITY

Common units (75.9 and 75.9 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	2,460		2,362
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(8)		(8)
Noncontrolling interests	5,669		5,353
TOTAL EQUITY	8,121		7,707
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$	12,566	$	12,562

This report should be read in conjunction with the Notes herein and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2020 Form 10-K.

NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(millions)

(unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	$	571	$	(720)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	67		66
Intangible amortization – PPAs	26		26

Change in value of derivative contracts	(540)		795
Deferred income taxes	70		(75)
Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of distributions received	(4)		7
Equity in losses of non-economic ownership interests	(14)		23
Other – net	2		5
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Current assets	(50)		4

Current liabilities	(24)		(31)
Noncurrent liabilities	—		(1)
Net cash provided by operating activities	104		99
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Capital expenditures and other investments	(45)		(52)

Payments to related parties under CSCS agreement – net	(74)		(48)
Distributions from equity method investee	—		8
Other	12		4
Net cash used in investing activities	(107)		(88)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issuance of common units – net	3		2
Issuances of long-term debt	102		57
Retirements of long-term debt	(2)		(11)
Debt issuance costs	(1)		(1)

Partner contributions	—		3
Partner distributions	(117)		(97)
Preferred unit distributions	—		(2)
Proceeds from differential membership investors	41		46
Payments to differential membership investors	(6)		(6)
Payments to Class B noncontrolling interest investors	(14)		(10)



Change in amounts due to related parties	(1)		(1)

Other	(1)		—
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

SEC Form 10-Q filed by NextEra Energy Partners, LP