Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed below. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include those identified below and those discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We provide clean, solar energy and energy storage to customers at a significant savings compared to traditional utility energy. We have been selling solar energy to residential customers through a variety of offerings since we were founded in 2007. We, either directly or through one of our solar partners, install a solar energy system on a customer’s home and either sell the system to the customer or, as is more often the case, sell the energy generated by the system to the customer pursuant to a lease or PPA with no or low upfront costs. We refer to these leases and PPAs as “Customer Agreements.” Following installation, a system is interconnected to the local utility grid. The home’s energy usage is provided by the solar energy system, with any additional energy needs provided by the local utility. Any excess solar energy, including amounts in excess of battery storage, that is not immediately used by the customers is exported to the utility grid using a bi-directional utility net meter, and the customer generally receives a credit for the excess energy from their utility to offset future usage of utility-generated energy.
We offer our solar service offerings both directly to the customer and through our solar partners, which include sales and installation partners, and strategic partners, which include retail partners. In addition, we sell solar energy systems directly to customers for cash. We also sell solar energy panels and other products (such as racking) to resellers. As of December 31, 2023, we provided our solar services to customers and sold solar energy panels and other products to resellers throughout the United States. More than 45% of our cumulative systems deployed are in California.
We compete mainly with traditional utilities. In the markets we serve, our strategy is to price the energy we sell below prevailing local retail electricity rates. As a result, the price our customers pay under our solar service offerings varies depending on the state where the customer lives, the local traditional utility that otherwise provides electricity to the customer, as well as the prices other solar energy companies charge in that region. Even within the same neighborhood, site-specific characteristics drive meaningful variability in the revenue and cost profiles of each home. Using our proprietary technology, we target homes with advantageous revenue and cost characteristics, which means we are often able to offer pricing that allows customers to save more on their energy bill while maintaining our ability to meet our targeted returns. For example, with the insights provided by our technology, we can offer competitive pricing to customers with homes that have favorable characteristics, such as roofs that allow for easy installation, high electricity consumption, or low shading, effectively passing through the cost savings we are able to achieve on these installations to the customer.
Our ability to offer Customer Agreements depends in part on our ability to finance the purchase and installation of the solar energy systems by monetizing the resulting customer cash flows and related Commercial ITCs, accelerated tax depreciation and other incentives from governments and local utilities. We monetize these incentives under tax equity investment funds, which are generally structured as non-recourse project financings. Since inception we have raised numerous tax equity investment funds to finance the installation of solar energy systems. From time to time, we may repurchase investors' interests in our tax equity investment funds after the recapture period of the relevant tax incentives. We intend to establish additional investment funds and may also use debt, equity and other financing strategies to fund our growth.
In addition, completing the sale and installation of a solar energy system requires many different steps including a site audit, completion of designs, permitting, installation, electrical sign-off and interconnection. Customers may cancel their Customer Agreements with us, subject to certain conditions, during this process until commencement of installation. Customer cancellation rates can change over time and vary between markets.
Market & Macroeconomic Environment
55
Our business and financial performance also depend on worldwide economic conditions. We face global macroeconomic challenges, particularly in light of increases and volatility in interest rates, uncertainty in markets, inflationary trends, navigating complex and evolving regulatory and tax frameworks, and the dynamics of the global trade environment. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, we observed market uncertainty, increasing inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, the market impacts of proposed or newly enacted regulatory frameworks in markets within which we do business and within our industry, supply constraints, and bank failures. In particular, rising interest rates, including recent historic increases starting in 2021, have resulted and may continue to result in a decrease in our advance rates, reducing the proceeds we receive from certain investment funds. Because our financing structure is sensitive to volatility in interest rates, higher rates increase our cost of capital and may decrease the amount of capital available to us to finance the deployment of new solar energy systems. These market dynamics, some of which we expect will continue into the foreseeable future, have impacted and may continue to impact our business and financial results.
In December 2022, California made changes to its net metering policy by adopting NBT, which presents a significant change to the rate structure for new California customers, and has partially limited the financial attractiveness of our offerings in certain regions of the state, particularly for solar-only systems. However, under this new policy, the value proposition of storage offerings is significantly enhanced. We believe that California will be predominantly a solar plus storage market going forward and the vast majority of California sales now consist of either our Sunrun Shift product or our backup battery offerings. As the demand for solar plus storage offerings grows, we anticipate facing additional operational challenges associated with the complexity of deploying storage solutions. For example, solar plus storage offerings tend to have longer cycle times due to factors such as lengthened permitting and inspection times and potential need of a main panel upgrade. Any such factors that extend the timeframes from customer signature to installation have historically resulted in increased operational challenges and correspondingly lower realization rates, and any future instances may continue to do so. Accordingly, this may adversely affect our financial performance, as well as the timing and magnitude of our installations and the recognition of the associated revenue.
Under the new NBT framework, the value proposition of our products is best understood when customers compare the combined costs of their utility bill along with their Sunrun solar and storage bill, due to the impact of time-of-use rates and export rates. The solar industry in California is adjusting from selling based on the value of solar-only to a more complicated rate design with NBT. We believe the best customer offering is one that pairs solar and storage, although it may be more confusing to customers when compared to solar-only offers from competitors. This dynamic may result in less sales efficacy so long as customers continue to be presented with inferior, but simpler, solar-only offerings and as a result, may harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations, and may also harm the reputation of the solar industry in California at large.
Since implementation of NBT, originations in California have continued to be below levels prior to the transition for us and across the residential solar industry. Without further increases in originations, our new installations in California may continue to decline compared to prior periods, which could have a material adverse effect on our business operations and financial performance.
We have also recently seen new market entrants paying significantly higher turnkey prices and sales commissions than prevailing industry norms. Although we believe this to be an economically unsustainable practice, in the short term, it has contributed to increased competition in the industry.
The Opportunity of Home Electrification and a Clean, Resilient Grid
The United States is on the precipice of a once-in-a-generation transformation of our energy system. The decarbonization of the American economy will require powering our energy supply, including our homes, appliances and automobiles, with clean energy. Sunrun’s next goal and chapter of growth is to be the go-to company for clean and reliable home electrification, providing our customers with affordable renewable energy throughout their homes and our communities with a cleaner, more resilient grid.
We intend to pursue these opportunities on a variety of fronts, and we continue to pursue the development of our grid services business, creating virtual power plants that lead to a cleaner, more resilient grid. In collaboration with grid managers, we can deploy our battery systems where they will add the most value for utilities, the grid, and customers. We are actively delivering demand response and capacity services to meet operational needs in multiple geographies, and partnering with grid managers to build a more resilient electricity system that integrates the new energy technologies customers want.
56
We believe the electrification of U.S. households with renewable energy, and the accompanying development of an inter-connected, smart grid will provide a number of market opportunities beyond our traditional solar and battery storage offerings, including EV chargers, battery retrofits, re-powered or expanding systems, home energy management services, and other home electrification products. Additionally, we believe our omni-channel model and geographic reach provides us with the capabilities to execute on these opportunities in a variety of markets.
To further expand such future upsell and retrofit opportunities, from time to time, we may pursue acquisitions of previously installed solar systems. While we do not expect such acquisitions to represent a material portion of our growth on an annual basis, we plan to pursue such transactions opportunistically. For instance, in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, we completed a strategic transaction that added approximately 2,000 Customers and 13 MW of Networked Solar Energy Capacity.
In sum, we believe the electrification of the U.S. economy with renewable energy presents an unprecedented economic opportunity, as well as our country’s best path to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Through these electrification opportunities and our grid services business, we aim to be the consumer brand synonymous with repowering our customers’ homes with renewable energy and providing a pathway to a cleaner, healthier future.
Investment Funds
Our Customer Agreements provide for recurring customer payments, typically over 20 or 25 years, and the related solar energy systems are generally eligible for Commercial ITCs, accelerated tax depreciation and other government or utility incentives. Our financing strategy is to monetize these benefits at a low weighted average cost of capital. This low cost of capital enables us to offer attractive pricing to our customers for the energy generated by the solar energy system on their homes. Historically, we have monetized a portion of the value created by our Customer Agreements and the related solar energy systems through investment funds. These assets are attractive to fund investors due to the long-term, recurring nature of the cash flows generated by our Customer Agreements, the high credit scores of our customers, the fact that energy is a non-discretionary good and our low loss rates. In addition, fund investors can receive attractive after-tax returns from our investment funds due to their ability to utilize Commercial ITCs, accelerated depreciation and certain government or utility incentives associated with the funds’ ownership of solar energy systems.
As of December 31, 2023, we had 64 active investment funds, which are described below. We have established different types of investment funds to implement our asset monetization strategy. Depending on the nature of the investment fund, cash may be contributed to the investment fund by the investor upfront or in stages based on milestones associated with the design, construction or interconnection status of the solar energy systems. The cash contributed by the fund investor is used by the investment fund to purchase solar energy systems. The investment funds either own or enter into a master lease with a Sunrun subsidiary for the solar energy systems, Customer Agreements and associated incentives. We receive on-going cash distributions from the investment funds representing a portion of the monthly customer payments received. We use the upfront cash, as well as on-going distributions to cover our costs associated with designing, purchasing and installing the solar energy systems. In addition, we also use debt, equity and other financing strategies to fund our operations. The allocation of the economic benefits between us and the fund investor and the corresponding accounting treatment varies depending on the structure of the investment fund.
We currently utilize three legal structures in our investment funds, which we refer to as: (i) pass-through financing obligations, (ii) partnership flips and (iii) joint venture (“JV”) inverted leases. We reflect pass-through financing obligations on our consolidated balance sheet as a pass-through financing obligation. We record the investor’s interest in partnership flips or JV inverted leases (which we define collectively as “consolidated joint ventures”) as noncontrolling interests or redeemable noncontrolling interests. These consolidated joint ventures are usually redeemable at our option and, in certain cases, at the investor’s option. If redemption is at our option or the consolidated joint ventures are not redeemable, we record the investor’s interest as a noncontrolling interest and account for the interest using the HLBV method. If the investor has the option to put their interest to us, we record the investor’s interest as a redeemable noncontrolling interest at the greater of the HLBV and the redemption value.
57
The table below provides an overview of our current investment funds (dollars in millions):
Consolidated Joint Ventures
Pass-Through Financing Obligations Partnership Flip JV Inverted Lease
Liability balance as of December 31, 2023 $ 294.6 N/A N/A
For further information regarding our investment funds, including the associated risks, see Item 1A. Risk Factors—"Our ability to provide our solar service offerings to customers on an economically viable basis depends in part on our ability to finance these systems with fund investors who seek particular tax and other benefits.", Note 12, Pass-Through Financing Obligations, Note 13, VIE Arrangements and Note 14, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Pass-through Financing Obligations
Pass-Through Financing Obligations. In this investment fund structure, we and the fund investor each utilize separate entities to facilitate the pass-through of the Commercial ITC to the fund investors. We contribute solar energy systems to an “owner” entity in exchange for interests in the owner entity, and the fund investors contribute cash to a “tenant” entity in exchange for interests in the tenant entity.
Under our pass-through financing obligation structure, in accordance with the provisions of FASB, Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810, Consolidation, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of the owner entity, and accordingly, we consolidate that entity. We have also determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of the tenant entity, and accordingly, we do not consolidate that entity.
In this investment fund structure, the investors make a series of large up-front payments as well as, in some instances, subsequent smaller quarterly lease payments through their respective tenant entity to the corresponding owner entity in exchange for the assignment of cash flows from Customer Agreements and certain other benefits associated with the Customer Agreements and related solar energy systems. We account for the payments from investors as borrowings by recording the proceeds received as financing obligations. The financing obligation is reduced over a period of approximately 22 years, or over 7 years in the case of one fund, by customer payments under the Customer Agreements; and proceeds from the contracted resale of SRECs as they are received by the investor. In addition, funds paid for the Commercial ITC value upfront are initially recorded as a refund liability and recognized as revenue as the associated solar system reaches permission to operate ("PTO").
58
We account for these investment funds in our consolidated financial statements as if we have not assigned the Customer Agreement to the investor, and we record on our consolidated financial statements activities arising from the Customer Agreements and any related Commercial ITCs monetized as part of the upfront payments received from the investor and SREC sales. The interest charge on our pass-through financing obligations is imputed at the inception of the fund based on the effective interest rate in the arrangement giving rise to the obligation and is updated prospectively as appropriate.
In certain arrangements, we agree to defer a portion of the up-front payments by arranging a loan between one of our indirectly wholly owned subsidiaries to a subsidiary of the investor’s tenant entity.
Consolidated Joint Ventures
Partnership Flips. Under partnership flip structures, we and our fund investors contribute cash into a partnership entity. The partnership uses the cash to acquire solar energy systems developed by us with signed Customer Agreements. Each fund investor receives a rate of return, typically on an after-tax basis, which varies by investment fund. Prior to the fund investor receiving its contractual rate of return or for a time period specified in the contractual arrangements, the fund investor receives a significant portion of the value attributable to customer payments, a majority of the accelerated tax depreciation and substantially all of the Commercial ITCs. After the fund investor receives its contractual rate of return or after the specified time period, we receive substantially all of the value attributable to the remaining customer payments and SREC sales.
Under our partnership flip structures, we have determined that we control the partnership entity which is a variable interest entity (“VIE”), and accordingly we consolidate the entity and record the investor’s interest as either noncontrolling interests or redeemable noncontrolling interests in our consolidated balance sheets.
Inverted Leases. Under our inverted lease structure, we and the fund investor set up a multi-tiered investment vehicle that is comprised of two partnership entities which facilitate the pass through of the tax benefits to the fund investors. In this structure we contribute solar energy systems to an “owner” partnership entity in exchange for interests in the owner partnership and the fund investors contribute cash to a “tenant” partnership in exchange for interests in the tenant partnership, which in turn makes an investment in the owner partnership entity in exchange for interests in the owner partnership. The owner partnership uses the cash contributions received from the tenant partnership to purchase systems from us and/or fund installation of such systems. Under our existing JV inverted lease structure, a substantial portion of the value generated by the solar energy systems is provided to thefund investor for a specified period of time, which is generally based upon the period of time corresponding to the expiry of the recapture period associated with the Commercial ITCs. After that point in time, we receive substantially all of the value attributable tothe long-term recurring customer payments and the other incentives. Generally, under the terms of each agreement, the investors’ contributions include the value of Commercial ITCs earned or grants to be received by the fund investor. Any other proceeds are allocatedon a pro rata basis to the fund investor and us in accordance with their ownership percentages. Since Sunrun has the power to control both the owner and tenant entities, both entities are included in our consolidated financial statements.
For all of our partnership flips and JV inverted leases, the redeemable noncontrolling interest is carried on our balance sheet at the greater of the redemption value or the amount calculated under the HLBV method. The HLBV method estimates the amount that, if the fund’s assets were hypothetically sold at their book value, the investor would be entitled to receive according to the liquidation waterfall in the partnership agreement.
Key Operating Metrics
The following operating metrics are used by management to evaluate the performance of the business. Management believes these metrics provide investors with helpful information to determine the economic performance of the business activities in a period that would otherwise not be observable from historic GAAP measures. We regularly review a number of metrics, including the following key operating metrics, to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate financial projections and make strategic decisions. Some of our key operating metrics are estimates that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each of these estimates, we caution you that these estimates are based on a combination of assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate over time. Any inaccuracies could be material to our actual results when compared to our calculations. Please see the section titled “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information. Furthermore, other companies may calculate these metrics differently than we do now or in the future, which would reduce their usefulness as a comparative measure.
59
•Networked Solar Energy Capacity represents the aggregate megawatt production capacity of our solar energy systems, whether sold directly to customers or subject to executed Customer Agreements (i) for which we have confirmation that the systems are installed on the roof, subject to final inspection; (ii) in the case of certain system installations by our partners, for which we have accrued at least 80% of the expected project cost (inclusive of acquisitions of installed systems), or (iii) for multi-family and any other systems that have reached Notice to Proceed (“NTP”), measured on the percentage of the project that has been completed based on expected project cost. Systems that have met these criteria are considered to be deployed. We believe it is helpful to investors to evaluate networked solar energy capacity added during the period in order to measure the growth of our business as a whole, whether sold directly to customers or subject to executed Customer Agreements.
•Gross Earning Assets is calculated as Gross Earning Assets Contracted Period plus Gross Earning Assets Renewal Period.
◦Gross Earning Assets Contracted Period represents the present value of the remaining net cash flows (discounted at 6%) during the initial term of our Customer Agreements as of the measurement date. It is calculated as the present value of cash flows (discounted at 6%) we expect to receive from Subscribers in future periods, after deducting expected operating and maintenance costs based on the service agreements underlying each fund, equipment replacements costs, distributions to tax equity partners in consolidated joint venture partnership flip structures, and distributions to project equity investors. We include cash flows we expect to receive in future periods from state incentive and rebate programs, contracted sales of solar renewable energy credits, and awarded net cash flows from grid service programs with utility or grid operators.
◦Gross Earning Assets Renewal Period is the forecasted net present value we would receive upon or following the expiration of the initial Customer Agreement term but before the 30th anniversary of the system’s activation (either in the form of cash payments during any applicable renewal period or a system purchase at the end of the initial term), for Subscribers as of the measurement date. We calculate the Gross Earning Assets Renewal Period amount at the expiration of the initial contract term assuming either a system purchase or a renewal, forecasting only a 30-year customer relationship (although the customer may renew for additional years, or purchase the system), at a contract rate equal to 90% of the customer’s contractual rate in effect at the end of the initial contract term. After the initial contract term, our Customer Agreements typically automatically renew annually or for five years and the rate is initially set at up to a 10% discount to then-prevailing utility power prices.
•Subscribers represent the cumulative number of Customer Agreements for systems that have been recognized as deployments through the measurement date.
•Customers represent the cumulative number of deployments, from our inception through the measurement date. We believe that it is helpful to investors to evaluate customers
added during the period in order to measure the growth of our business as a whole.
Gross Earning Assets is forecasted as of a specific date. It is forward-looking, and we use judgment in developing the assumptions used to calculate it. Factors that could impact Gross Earning Assets include, but are not limited to, customer payment defaults, or declines in utility rates or early termination of a contract in certain circumstances, including prior to installation. We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate the future expected cash flows from all customers that have been deployed through the respective measurement date, less estimated costs to maintain such systems and estimated distributions to tax equity partners in consolidated joint venture partnership flip
60
structures, and distributions to project equity investors. Various assumptions are made when calculating these metrics. Gross Earning Assets utilize a 6% unlevered discount rate (weighted average cost of capital or “WACC”) to discount future cash flows to the present period. Furthermore, this metric assumes that customers renew after the initial contract period at a rate equal to 90% of the rate in effect at the end of the initial contract term. For Customer Agreements with 25-year initial contract terms, a 5-year renewal period is assumed. For a 20-year initial contract term, a 10-year renewal period is assumed. In all instances, we assume a 30-year customer relationship, although the customer may renew for additional years, or purchase the system. Estimated cost of servicing assets has been deducted and is estimated based on the service agreements underlying each fund.
As of December 31,
Networked Solar Energy Capacity (megawatts) 6,689 5,667
As of December 31,
(in thousands)
(1) The Gross Earning Assets as of December 31, 2022 reflect the application of a 5% unlevered discount rate, which is consistent with the discount rate used during that period. If we had applied an unlevered discount rate of 6% as of December 31, 2022, the Gross Earning Assets Contracted Period would have been $8,151,849 and the Gross Earning Assets Renewal Period would have been $2,918,950.
The tables below provide a range of Gross Earning Asset amounts if different default, discount and purchase and renewal assumptions were used.
Gross Earning Assets Contracted Period:
Discount rate
Default rate 4% 5% 6% 7% 8%
(in thousands)
Gross Earning Assets Renewal Period:
Discount rate
Purchase or Renewal rate 4% 5% 6% 7% 8%
(in thousands)
61
Total Gross Earning Assets:
Discount rate
Purchase or Renewal rate 4% 5% 6% 7% 8%
(in thousands)
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and related disclosures. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. In many instances, we could have reasonably used different accounting estimates, and in other instances, changes in the accounting estimates are reasonably likely to occur from period-to-period. Actual results could differ significantly from our estimates. Our future financial statements will be affected to the extent that our actual results materially differ from these estimates. For further information on all of our significant accounting policies, see Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We believe that policies associated with our principles of consolidation, revenue recognition, goodwill, impairment of long-lived assets, provision for income taxes, business combinations and calculation of noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests have the greatest impact on our consolidated financial statements. Therefore, we consider these to be our critical accounting policies and estimates.
Principles of Consolidation
Our consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our subsidiaries in which we have a controlling financial interest. The typical condition for a controlling financial interest is holding a majority of the voting interests of an entity. However, a controlling financial interest may also exist in entities, such as VIEs, through arrangements that do not involve controlling financial interests. We consolidate any VIE of which we are the primary beneficiary, which is defined as the party that has (1) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. We evaluate our relationships with our VIEs on an ongoing basis to determine whether we continue to be the primary beneficiary. Our financial statements reflect the assets and liabilities of VIEs that we consolidate. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. For further information regarding consolidation of our investment funds, see “—Investment Funds” above.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when control of goods or services is transferred to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.
Customer Agreements and Incentives Revenue. Customer agreements and incentives revenue is primarily comprised of revenue from our Customer Agreements and sales of Commercial ITCs and SRECs to third parties.
62
We begin to recognize revenue from a Customer Agreement when PTO for the applicable solar energy system is given by the local utility company or on the date daily operation commences if utility approval is not required. For Customer Agreements that include a fixed fee per month which entitles the customer to any and all electricity generated by the system, we recognize revenue evenly over the time that we satisfy our performance obligations over the initial term of Customer Agreements. For Customer Agreements that charge a fixed price per kilowatt hour, revenue is recognized based on the actual amount of power generated at rates specified under the contracts. Customer Agreements typically have an initial term of 20 or 25 years. After the initial contract term, our Customer Agreements typically automatically renew annually or for five years.
We also apply for and receive SRECs associated with the energy generated by our solar energy systems and sell them to third parties in certain jurisdictions. SREC revenue is estimated net of any variable consideration related to possible liquidated damages if we were to deliver fewer SRECs than contractually committed, and is generally recognized upon delivery of the SRECs to the counterparty.
Certain upfront payments related to Customer Agreements and SRECs are deemed to have a financing component, and therefore increase both revenue and interest expense by the same amount over the term of the related agreement. The additional revenue is included in the total transaction price to be recorded over the term of the agreement and is recognized based on the timing of the delivery. The interest expense is recognized based upon an amortization schedule which typically decreases throughout the term of the related agreement.
For pass-through financing obligation funds, the value attributable to the Commercial ITCs is recognized in the period a solar system is granted PTO, at which point we have met our obligation to the investor. The Commercial ITCs are subject to recapture under the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) if the underlying solar energy system either ceases to be a qualifying property or undergoes a change in ownership within five years of its placed-in-service date. The recapture amount decreases on the anniversary of the PTO date. We have not historically incurred a material recapture of Commercial ITCs, and do not expect to experience a material recapture of Commercial ITCs in the future.
Consideration from customers is considered variable due to the performance guarantee under Customer Agreements and liquidated damage provisions under SREC contracts in the event minimum deliveries are not achieved. Customer Agreements with a performance guarantee provide a credit to the customer if the system's cumulative production, as measured on various PTO anniversary dates, is below our guarantee of a specified minimum. Revenue is recognized to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of such revenue will not occur. If our estimate of the future production shortfall amount for Customer Agreements with a performance guarantee was 10% higher, the additional reduction to revenue in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 would have been less than $3.3 million. Our estimated production shortfall reduced revenue during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 by less than $8.3 million more than the prior year's period. We have historically estimated an immaterial amount of liquidated damages pursuant to SREC contracts, and actual damages have not been materially different from estimates, nor material in amount during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Solar Energy Systems and Product Sales. Solar energy systems sales are revenue from the sale of solar energy systems directly to customers. We generally recognize revenue from solar energy systems sold to customers when the solar energy system passes inspection by the authority having jurisdiction, which inspection generally occurs after installation but prior to PTO, at which time we have met the performance obligation in the contract. For solar energy system sales that include delivery obligations up until interconnection to the local power grid with permission to operate, we recognize revenue at PTO. Certain solar energy systems sold to customers include fees for extended warranty and maintenance services. These fees are recognized over the life of the service agreement.
Product sales revenue consists of revenue from the sale of solar panels, inverters, racking systems, roof repair, and other solar energy products sold to resellers, as well as the sale of customer leads to third parties, including our partners and other solar providers. Product sales revenue is recognized when control is transferred, generally upon shipment, or as services are delivered. Customer lead revenue is recognized at the time the lead is delivered.
63
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. We have determined that we operate as one reporting unit and our goodwill is tested for impairment at the enterprise level. We perform our annual impairment test of goodwill on October 1 of each fiscal year or whenever events or circumstances change or occur that would indicate that goodwill might be impaired. When assessing goodwill for impairment, we use qualitative and if necessary, quantitative methods in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350, Goodwill. We also consider our enterprise value and if necessary, a discounted cash flow model, which involves assumptions and estimates, including our future financial performance, weighted average cost of capital and interpretation of currently enacted tax laws.
Circumstances that could indicate impairment and require us to perform a quantitative impairment test include a significant decline in our financial results, a significant decline in our enterprise value relative to our net book value, a sustained decline in our stock price, or an unanticipated change in competition or our market share and a significant change in our strategic plans. A sustained decrease in the price of our common stock is one of the qualitative factors to be considered as part of an impairment test when evaluating whether events or changes in circumstances may indicate that it is more likely than not that a potential goodwill impairment exists.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2023, consistent with other industry peers, our stock price continued to decline resulting in a decline in our market capitalization after consideration of a control premium below the book value of equity. We performed an interim quantitative assessment as of September 30, 2023 related to the recoverability of our goodwill for our one reporting unit. We estimated the fair value of our reporting unit primarily based on consideration of an income approach analysis. Under the income approach, our future cash flows were estimated and present valued based on a discount rate reflecting a market participant risk-adjusted rate of return. As of September 30, 2023, we concluded that the fair value of our one reporting unit did not exceed its carrying value with consideration of a control premium and recorded an impairment charge of $1.2 billion in our consolidated statements of operations.
For our interim quantitative assessment of goodwill as of September 30, 2023, we estimated the fair value of our one reporting unit and compared that fair value to its recorded carrying value. The assumptions and estimates used in the assessment include, among others, estimated future net annual contracted cash flows under our existing long term customer agreements, as well as future growth estimates which rely on management judgements. We also compared the total invested capital (including market capitalization) to the fair value of our reporting unit to assess the reasonableness of fair value after consideration of a control premium based on observable comparable company transactions.
We utilized varying discount rates depending on the risk associated and sensitivity with differing cash flow projections. Holding all other assumptions constant, a 50 basis point increase in the discount rate assumptions would have increased the goodwill impairment charge by approximately $0.5 billion. Should, among other events and circumstances, industry conditions deteriorate, the outlook for future operating results and cash flow decline or regulations change, costs of equity or debt capital increase, valuations for comparable public companies or comparable acquisition valuations decrease, or our market capitalization experience a further sustained decline below its book value, we may need to further reassess the recoverability of goodwill in future periods. Given the inherent estimation uncertainty in assumptions underlying a discounted cash flow analysis, actual conditions may differ materially from the Company’s estimates, which could result in additional impairment charges.
As of October 1, 2023, we conducted our annual goodwill impairment test. The test concluded that no additional impairment had occurred during the fourth quarter of 2023. To corroborate this conclusion, we compared the carrying value of our one reporting unit to our enterprise market capitalization after consideration of a reasonable control premium and concluded that there was no goodwill impairment during the fourth quarter of 2023.
64
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The carrying values of our long-lived assets, including solar energy systems, are periodically reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable or that the useful life is shorter than originally estimated. Factors that we consider in deciding when to perform an impairment review would include significant negative industry or economic trends, and significant changes or planned changes in our use of the assets. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparison of the carrying value of each asset group to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate over its remaining life. If the asset is considered to be impaired, the amount of any impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the impaired asset. If the useful life is shorter than originally estimated, we amortize the remaining carrying value over the new shorter useful life. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, there were no indicators of impairment and therefore no cash flow analysis was performed.
Provision for Income Taxes
We account for income taxes under an asset and liability approach. Deferred income taxes reflect the impact of temporary differences between assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting purposes and the amounts recognized for income tax reporting purposes, net operating loss carryforwards and other tax credits measured by applying currently enacted tax laws. A valuation allowance is provided when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized. We consider all available evidence, both positive and negative, including historical levels of income, estimates of future taxable income, reversing taxable temporary differences, and ongoing tax planning strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. We recognize the effect of tax rate and law changes on deferred taxes in the reporting period in which the legislation is enacted.
We sell solar energy systems to investment funds. As the investment funds are consolidated by us, the gain on the sale of the solar energy systems is not recognized in the consolidated financial statements. However, this gain is recognized for tax reporting purposes. We account for the income tax consequences of these intra-entity transfers, both current and deferred, as a component of income tax expense and deferred tax liability, net during the period in which the transfers occur.
We account for investment tax credits as a reduction of income tax expense in the year in which the credits arise (i.e. the flow-through method).
We determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. We use a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon tax authority examination, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
Our policy is to include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, within the provision for taxes in the consolidated statements of operations.
Business Combinations
We allocate the fair value of purchase price to the tangible assets acquired, liabilities assumed and intangible assets acquired based on their estimated fair values. Any residual purchase price is recorded as goodwill. The allocation of the purchase price requires management to make significant estimates in determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, especially with respect to the solar energy systems acquired as part of our acquisition of Vivint Solar in 2020.
Significant estimates in valuing certain tangible assets include but are not limited to discount rates. These estimates are inherently uncertain and unpredictable.
65
Noncontrolling Interests and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Our noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests represent fund investors’ interests in the net assets of certain investment funds, which we consolidate, that we have entered into in order to finance the costs of solar energy facilities under Customer Agreements. We have determined that the provisions in the contractual arrangements of the investment funds represent substantive profit-sharing arrangements, which gives rise to the noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests. We have further determined that for all but two of these arrangements, the appropriate methodology for attributing income and loss to the noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests each period is a balance sheet approach using the HLBV method.
Attributing income and loss to the noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests under the HLBV method requires the use of various inputs to calculate the amounts that fund investors would receive upon a hypothetical liquidation. Changes in these inputs, including change in tax rates, can have a significant impact on the amount that fund investors would receive upon a hypothetical liquidation.
We classify certain noncontrolling interests with redemption features that are not solely within our control outside of permanent equity on our consolidated balance sheets. Redeemable noncontrolling interests are reported using the greater of their carrying value at each reporting date as determined by the HLBV method or their estimated redemption value in each reporting period. Estimating the redemption value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests requires the use of significant assumptions and estimates such as projected future cash flows at the time the redemption feature can be exercised.
We determine the net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by deducting from net loss, the net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests in these funds. The net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests represents the fund investors’ allocable share in the results of operations of these investment funds. For these funds, we have determined that the provisions in the contractual arrangements represent substantive profit-sharing arrangements, where the allocations to the partners sometimes differ from the stated ownership percentages. We have further determined that, for these arrangements, the appropriate methodology for attributing income and loss to the noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests each period is a balance sheet approach using the HLBV method. Under the HLBV method, the amounts of income and loss attributed to the noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests in the consolidated statements of operations reflect changes in the amounts the fund investors would hypothetically receive at each balance sheet date under the liquidation provisions of the contractual provisions of these funds, assuming the net assets of the respective investment funds were liquidated at the carrying value determined in accordance with GAAP. The fund investors’ interest in the results of operations of these investment funds is initially determined by calculating the difference in the noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests’ claim under the HLBV method at the start and end of each reporting period, after taking into account any contributions and distributions between the fund and the fund investors and subject to the redemption provisions in certain funds.
The calculation of HLBV does not require estimates since each HLBV calculation is based upon the liquidation provisions of each fund’s contractual agreement. The calculation of the redeemable noncontrolling interest balance involves estimates such as a discount rate used in net present value calculations, and customer default rates. If the assumptions used for each of these were 10% higher, the impact to the aggregate redeemable noncontrolling interest balance as of December 31, 2023 would be a reduction of $20.6 million.
Results of Operations
The results of operations presented below should be reviewed in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 includes a discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 in Item 7 of Part II, “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
66
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Revenue:
Operating expenses:
Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders $ (1,604,497) $ 173,377
Net (loss) income per share attributable to common stockholders
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Revenue
Year Ended December 31, Change
(in thousands)
67
Customer Agreements and Incentives. The $204.8 million increase in Revenue from Customer Agreements was primarily due to new systems placed in service in 2023 and a full year of revenue recognized in 2023 for systems placed in service in 2022 versus only a partial amount of such revenue related to the period in which the assets were in service in 2022. Revenue from incentives, which primarily consisted of the sale of SRECs, decreased by $1.1 million when compared to the prior year related to the timing and volume of SREC sales which were responsive to market conditions.
Solar Energy Systems and Product Sales. Revenue from solar energy systems sales decreased by $257.5 million compared to the prior year primarily due to an increase in the proportion of customers choosing to enter into a Customer Agreement versus purchasing a system outright using a loan, likely due to increased interest rates. Product sales decreased by $7.8 million compared to the prior year primarily due to the lower average sales price of solar energy products, as well as lower sales volume of solar energy products to installers of solar energy systems compared to the prior year, due to easing of supply chain constraints.
Operating Expenses
Year Ended December 31, Change
(in thousands)
Cost of Customer Agreements and Incentives. The $233.0 million increase in Cost of customer agreements and incentives was primarily due to the new systems placed in service in 2023, plus a full year of costs recognized in 2023 for systems placed in service in 2022 versus only a partial amount of such expenses related to the period in which the assets were in service in 2022.
The Cost of customer agreements and incentives increased to 91% of customer agreements and incentives revenue during 2023, from 86% in the prior year. This increase is primarily due to a higher proportion of customers choosing to enter into Customer Agreements versus purchasing a system outright. Customer Agreements fulfillment incurs upfront non-capitalizable costs for building the system which do not recur during the agreement period over which the revenue is recognized.
Cost of Solar Energy Systems and Product Sales. There was a $158.9 million decrease in Cost of solar energy systems and product sales, which was primarily due to the corresponding net decrease in the solar energy systems and product sales discussed above.
The Cost of solar energy systems and product sales increased to 95% of solar energy systems and product sales revenue during 2023, when compared with 88% in the prior year, primarily as a result of sales price increases lagging cost increases, as well as volume pricing granted in our distribution business.
Sales and Marketing Expense. The $4.6 million decrease in Sales and marketing expense was primarily attributable to decreases in headcount driving lower employee compensation and costs to acquire customers through our sales lead generating partners. Included in sales and marketing expense were $56.3 million and $38.7 million of amortization of costs to obtain Customer Agreements for 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Research and Development Expense. The $0.9 million increase in Research and development expense was primarily attributable to an increase in support related consulting costs.
General and Administrative Expense. The $26.5 million increase in General and administrative expenses was primarily attributable to an increase in headcount driving higher employee compensation costs. Additionally, there
68
were increases related to information technology related consulting costs, when compared to the prior year period. Included in general and administrative expense were $7.458 million and $5.364 million of amortization of intangibles for 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Goodwill impairment. The $1.2 billion increase in Goodwill impairment expense related to an impairment charge of $1.2 billion that was a result of an interim impairment test performed during the third quarter of 2023. For further detail, see Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statement included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Non-Operating Expenses
Year EndedDecember 31, Change
(in thousands)
Interest expense, net. The increase in Interest expense, net of $207.2 million is primarily related to additional non-recourse debt entered into in 2023. Included in net interest expense is $31.2 million and $28.3 million of non-cash interest recognized under Customer Agreements that have a significant financing component for 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Other (expense) income, net. The increase in other expense of $324.6 million relates primarily to a $58.7 million loss on an equity investment in Lunar Energy Inc. (“Lunar Energy”) during 2023, compared with a $47.3 million gain on this same equity investment in Lunar Energy during 2022, as well as to gains on derivatives during 2022, with no such comparable activity in 2023.
Income Tax (Benefit) Expense
Year Ended December 31, Change
(in thousands)
The decrease in Income tax (benefit) expense of $15.0 million primarily relates to an increase in tax benefit related to a higher pre-tax loss, which was offset by goodwill impairment, an increase in valuation allowance on certain federal and state tax credits and net operating losses, and an increase in noncontrolling interest and redeemable noncontrolling interests.
Given our net operating loss carryforwards as of December 31, 2023, we do not expect to pay income tax, including in connection with our 2023 income tax provision, until our net operating losses are fully utilized. As of December 31, 2023, we had net operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $720.7 million and $3.3 billion, respectively, which will begin to expire in 2028 for federal purposes and in 2024 for state purposes. In addition, federal and certain state net operating loss carryforwards generated in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 total $2.0 billion and $357.1 million, respectively, and have indefinite carryover periods and do not expire.
69
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Year EndedDecember 31, Change
(in thousands)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests was primarily the result of an addition of six new investment funds since December 31, 2022, for which the HLBV method was used in determining the amount of net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests. Investment funds generally allocate more loss to the noncontrolling interest in the first several years after fund formation.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2023, we had cash of $678.8 million, which consisted of cash held in checking and savings accounts with financial institutions. We finance our operations mainly through a variety of financing fund arrangements that we have formed with fund investors, cash generated from our sources of revenue and borrowings from secured credit facilities arrangements with syndicates of banks and from secured, long-term non-recourse loan arrangements. In 2023, we received $1.0 billion of new commitments on secured credit facilities arrangements with syndicates of banks and $0.8 billion of commitments from secured, long-term non-recourse loan arrangements. Our principal uses of cash are funding our business, including the costs of acquisition and installation of solar energy systems, satisfaction of our obligations under our debt instruments and other working capital requirements. As of December 31, 2023, we had outstanding borrowings of $539.5 million on our $600.0 million credit facility maturing in January 2025. In February 2024, we amended one of our subsidiary’s senior secured credit facility to, among other things, increase the total commitments from $1.8 billion to $2.35 billion and extend the maturity date from April 2025 to April 2028. In February 2024, we amended our bank line of credit to, among other things, reduce the total commitments from $600.0 million to $447.5 million, and to extend the maturity date from January 2025 to November 2025. This maturity date can be further extended to March 2027, if we meet certain liquidity tests as of September 30, 2024. For additional details, see the description of "Senior Secured Credit Facility" and "Line of Credit" in Item 9B.Other Information.
Additionally, we have purchase commitments, which have the ability to be canceled without significant penalties, with multiple suppliers to purchase $366.4 million of photovoltaic modules, inverters and batteries by the end of the first quarter of 2025. In January 2021, we issued $400.0 million of convertible senior notes with a maturity date of February 1, 2026, for net proceeds of approximately $389.0 million. Our business model requires substantial outside financing arrangements to grow the business and facilitate the deployment of additional solar energy systems. The solar energy systems that are operational are expected to generate a positive return rate over the term of the Customer Agreement, typically 20 or 25 years. However, in order to grow, we will continue to be dependent on financing from outside parties. If financing is not available to us on acceptable terms if and when needed, we may be required to reduce planned spending, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations. While there can be no assurances, we anticipate raising additional required capital from new and existing investors. We believe our cash, investment fund commitments and available borrowings as further described below will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for at least the next 12 months. We believe we will meet longer-term expected future cash requirements and obligations through a combination of cash flows from operating activities, available cash balances, and available credit via our credit facilities. The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:
70
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
Consolidated cash flow data:
Net cash used in operating activities $ (820,740) $ (848,793)
Operating Activities
During 2023, we used $820.7 million in net cash from operating activities. The driver of our operating cash outflow consisted of the cost of our revenue, as well as sales, marketing and general and administrative costs. During 2023, our operating cash outflows were $625.5 million from our net loss excluding non-cash and non-operating items. Changes in working capital resulted in a net cash outflow of $195.3 million.
During 2022, we used $848.8 million in net cash from operating activities. The driver of our operating cash outflow consisted of the cost of our revenue, as well as sales, marketing and general and administrative costs. During 2022, our operating cash outflows were $438.1 million from our net loss excluding non-cash and non-operating items. Changes in working capital resulted in a net cash outflow of $410.8 million.
Investing Activities
During 2023, we used $2.6 billion in cash in investing activities. The majority was used to design, acquire and install solar energy systems and components under our long-term Customer Agreements. Included within cash used in investing activities during 2023, was a $5.0 million contribution we made as an additional investment in Lunar Energy.
During 2022, we used $2.1 billion in cash in investing activities. The majority was used to design, acquire and install solar energy systems and components under our long-term Customer Agreements. Included within cash used in investing activities during 2022, was a $75.0 million contribution we made as an additional investment in Lunar Energy.
Financing Activities
During 2023, we generated $3.5 billion from financing activities. This was primarily driven by $1.4 billion in net proceeds from fund investors, $2.2 billion in net proceeds from debt, $22.6 million in net proceeds from stock-based awards activity, offset by $1.5 million in repurchase of convertible senior notes, $46.3 million in acquisition of noncontrolling interests and $23.3 million in repayments under finance lease obligations.
During 2022, we generated $3.0 billion from financing activities. This was primarily driven by $1.2 billion in net proceeds from fund investors, $1.9 billion in net proceeds from debt, $32.9 million in net proceeds from stock-based awards activity, offset by $42.6 million in acquisition of noncontrolling interests and $14.1 million in repayments under finance lease obligations.
Debt, Equity, and Financing Fund Commitments
Debt Instruments
For a discussion of the terms and conditions of debt instruments and changes thereof in the period, refer to Note 10, Indebtedness, to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
71
Investment Fund Commitments
As of December 31, 2023, we had committed and available capital of approximately $386.9 million that may only be used to purchase and install solar energy systems. We intend to establish new investment funds in the future, and we may also use debt, equity or other financing strategies to finance our business.
72
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
73
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are exposed to certain market risks in the ordinary course of our business. Our primary exposure includes changes in interest rates because certain borrowings bear interest at floating rates based on LIBOR or SOFR, as applicable, plus a specified margin. We sometimes manage our interest rate exposure on floating-rate debt by entering into derivative instruments to hedge all or a portion of our interest rate exposure in certain debt facilities. We do not enter into any derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Changes in economic conditions could result in higher interest rates, thereby increasing our interest expense and operating expenses and reducing funds available for capital investments, operations and other purposes. A hypothetical 10% increase in our interest rates on our variable rate debt facilities would have increased our interest expense by $11.7 million and $6.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
74
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 0042) 76
Consolidated Balance Sheets 80
Consolidated Statements of Operations 82
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income 83
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 85
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 86
75
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Sunrun Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Sunrun Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss) income, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated February 21, 2024 expressedan unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
76
Noncontrolling Interests and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Goodwill
77
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2010.
San Francisco, California
February 21, 2024
78
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Sunrun Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Sunrun Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Sunrun Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the 2023 consolidated financial statements of the Company and our report dated February 21, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
San Francisco, California
February 21, 2024
79
Sunrun Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In Thousands, Except Share Par Values)
As of December 31,
Assets
Current assets:
Liabilities and total equity
Current liabilities:
Deferred grants, current portion 8,199 8,252
Finance lease obligations, current portion 22,053 11,444
Pass-through financing obligation, current portion 16,309 16,544
Finance lease obligations, net of current portion 68,753 17,302
Pass-through financing obligation, net of current portion 278,333 289,011
Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)
Stockholders’ equity:
80
(1)The Company’s consolidated assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 include $11,538,540 and $10,031,506, respectively, in assets of variable interest entities, or “VIEs”, that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIEs. Solar energy systems, net, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were $10,469,093 and $8,968,835, respectively; cash as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were $254,522 and $457,005, respectively; restricted cash as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were $48,169 and $44,514, respectively; accounts receivable, net as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were $76,249 and $66,847, respectively; inventories as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 of $150,065 and $193,836, respectively; prepaid expenses and other current assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were $161,414 and $12,698, respectively and other assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were $379,028 and $287,771, respectively. The Company’s consolidated liabilities as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 include $2,417,984 and $2,227,002, respectively, in liabilities of VIEs whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include accounts payable as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 of $12,187 and $36,315, respectively; distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 of $35,181 and $32,051, respectively; accrued expenses and other liabilities as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 of $185,766 and $32,512, respectively; deferred revenue as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 of $708,413 and $621,457, respectively; deferred grants as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 of $0 and $0, respectively; non-recourse debt as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 of $1,459,621 and $1,489,407, respectively; and other liabilities as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 of $16,816 and $15,260, respectively.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
81
Sunrun Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Year Ended December 31,
Revenue:
Operating expenses:
Net (loss) income per share attributable to common stockholders
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
82
Sunrun Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
(In Thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
83
Sunrun Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests and Stockholders' Equity
(In Thousands)
Shares Amount
Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes — — — — (12,433) — (12,433) — (12,433)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
84
Sunrun Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In Thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Investing activities:
Purchase of equity investment (5,000) (75,000) —
Financing activities:
Proceeds from state tax credits, net of recapture 4,033 — —
Repurchase of convertible senior notes (1,545) — —
Repayment of pass-through financing obligation — — (18,050)
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid for income taxes $ — $ — $ —
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
85
Sunrun Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1. Organization
Sunrun Inc. (“Sunrun” or the “Company”) was formed in 2007 and is engaged in the design, development, installation, sale, ownership and maintenance of residential solar energy systems (“Projects”) in the United States.
Sunrun acquires customers directly and through relationships with various solar and strategic partners (“Partners”). The Projects are constructed either by Sunrun or by Sunrun’s Partners and are owned by the Company. Sunrun’s customers enter into an agreement to utilize the solar energy system (“Customer Agreement”) which typically has an initial term of 20 or 25 years. Sunrun monitors, maintains and insures the Projects. The Company also sells solar energy systems and products, such as panels and racking and solar leads generated to customers.
The Company has formed various subsidiaries (“Funds”) to finance the development of Projects. These Funds, structured as limited liability companies, obtain financing from outside investors and purchase or lease Projects from Sunrun under master purchase or master lease agreements. The Company currently utilizes three legal structures in its investment Funds, which are referred to as: (i) pass-through financing obligations, (ii) partnership-flips and (iii) joint venture (“JV”) inverted leases.
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and reflect the accounts and operations of the Company and those of its subsidiaries, including Funds, in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. The typical condition for a controlling financial interest ownership is holding a majority of the voting interests of an entity. However, a controlling financial interest may also exist in entities, such as variable interest entities (“VIEs”), through arrangements that do not involve controlling voting interests. In accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810, Consolidation, the Company consolidates any VIE of which it is the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary, as defined in FASB ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, is the party that has (1) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb the losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company evaluates its relationships with its VIEs on an ongoing basis to determine whether it continues to be the primary beneficiary. The consolidated financial statements reflect the assets and liabilities of VIEs that are consolidated. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Reclassifications
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The Company regularly makes estimates and assumptions, including, but not limited to, revenue recognition constraints that result in variable consideration, the discount rate used to adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component, the estimates that affect the collectability of accounts receivable, the valuation of inventories, the useful lives of solar energy systems, the useful lives of property and equipment, the discount rates used in the goodwill impairment calculation, the effective interest rate used to amortize pass-through financing obligations, the discount rate used for operating and financing leases, the valuation of stock-based compensation, the determination of valuation allowances associated with deferred tax assets, the fair value of debt instruments disclosed and the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable. Actual results may differ from such estimates.
86
Sunrun Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Continued
Segment Information
The Company has one operating segment with one business activity, providing solar energy services and products to customers. The Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is its Chief Executive Officer, who manages operations on a consolidated basis for purposes of allocating resources. When evaluating performance and allocating resources, the CODM reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis.
Revenue from external customers (including, but not limited to homeowners) for each group of similar products and services is as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Revenue from Customer Agreements includes payments by customers for the use of the system as well as utility and other rebates assigned by the customer to the Company in the Customer Agreement. Revenue from incentives includes revenue from the sale of commercial investment tax credits ("Commercial ITCs") and solar renewable energy credits (“SRECs”).
Cash and Restricted Cash
Cash consists of bank deposits held in checking and savings accounts. The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company has exposure to credit risk to the extent cash balances exceed amounts covered by federal deposit insurance. The Company believes that its credit risk is not significant.
Restricted cash represents amounts related to obligations under certain financing transactions and future replacement of solar energy system components.
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Cash and restricted cash consists of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consist of amounts due from customers as well as state and utility rebates due from government agencies and utility companies. Under Customer Agreements, the customers typically assign incentive rebates to the Company.
Accounts receivable are recorded at net realizable value. The Company maintains allowances for the applicable portion of receivables using the expected credit loss model. The Company estimates expected credit losses from doubtful accounts based upon the expected collectability of all accounts receivables, which takes into account the number of days past due, collection history, identification of specific customer exposure, current
87
Sunrun Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Continued
economic trends, and management’s expectation of future economic conditions. Once a receivable is deemed to be uncollectible, it is written off. In 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded provisions for credit losses of $21.7 million, $17.0 million and $11.7 million, respectively, and wrote-off uncollectible receivables of $15.8 million, $10.3 million and $5.6 million, respectively.
Accounts receivable, net consists of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventories consist of raw materials such as photovoltaic panels, inverters and mounting hardware as well as miscellaneous electrical components that are sold as-is by the distribution operations and used in installations and work-in-process. Work-in-process primarily relates to solar energy systems that will be sold to customers, which are partially installed and have yet to meet the criteria for revenue recognition. For solar energy systems where the Company performs the installation, the Company commences transferring component parts from inventories to construction-in-progress, a component of solar energy systems, once a lease contract with a lease customer has been executed and the component parts have been assigned to a specific project. Additional costs incurred including labor and overhead are recorded within construction in progress.
The Company periodically reviews inventories for unusable and obsolete items based on assumptions about future demand and market conditions. Based on this evaluation, provisions are made to write inventories down to their market value.
Solar Energy Systems, net
The Company records solar energy systems subject to signed Customer Agreements and solar energy systems that are under installation as solar energy systems, net on its consolidated balance sheet. Solar energy systems, net is comprised of system equipment costs related to solar energy systems, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation on solar energy systems is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the systems of 35 years. The Company periodically reviews its estimated useful life and recognizes changes in estimates by prospectively adjusting depreciation expense. Inverters and batteries are depreciated over their estimated useful life of 10 to 13 years.
Solar energy systems under construction will be depreciated as solar energy systems subject to signed Customer Agreements when the respective systems are completed and interconnected.
Property and Equipment, net
Property and equipment, net consists of leasehold improvements, furniture, computer hardware and software, machinery and equipment and automobiles. All property and equipment are stated at historical cost net of accumulated depreciation. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.
88
Sunrun Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Continued
Property and equipment is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the following periods:
Leasehold improvements Lesser of 6 years or lease term
Furniture 5 years
Computer hardware and software 3 years
Machinery and equipment 5 years or lease term
Automobiles Lease term
Capitalization of Software Costs
For costs incurred in the development of internal use software, the Company capitalizes costs incurred during the application development stage. Costs related to preliminary project activities and post implementation activities are expensed as incurred. Internal use software is amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life of 3 years. Costs of $21.3 million, $10.0 million and $6.2 million were capitalized in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The carrying values of the Company’s long-lived assets, including solar energy systems, are periodically reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable or that the useful life is shorter than originally estimated. Factors that are considered in deciding when to perform an impairment review would include significant negative industry or economic trends and significant changes or planned changes in the use of the assets. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparison of the carrying value of each asset group to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset group is expected to generate over its remaining life. If the asset group is considered to be impaired, the amount of any impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the impaired asset group. If the useful life is shorter than originally estimated, the Company amortizes the remaining carrying value over the new shorter useful life. The Company has recognized no material impairments of its long-lived assets in any of the periods presented.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. The Company has determined that it operates as one reporting unit and the Company’s goodwill is recorded at the enterprise level. The Company performs its annual impairment test of goodwill on October 1 of each fiscal year or whenever events or circumstances change or occur that would indicate that goodwill might be impaired. When assessing goodwill for impairment, the Company uses qualitative and if necessary, quantitative methods in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350, Goodwill. The Company also considers its enterprise value and if necessary, discounted cash flow model, which involves assumptions and estimates, including the Company’s future financial performance, weighted average cost of capital and interpretation of currently enacted tax laws.
Circumstances that could indicate impairment and require the Company to perform a quantitative impairment test include significant declines in the Company’s financial results or enterprise value relative to its net book value or a sustained decline in the Company's stock price below its book value, coupled with declines in valuations for comparable public companies or acquisition premiums. The Company tests goodwill for impairment for its one reporting unit using an estimated fair value approach. The Company’s stock price has continued to decline during 2023, consistent with other industry peers, experiencing a significant decline during the third quarter. A sustained decrease in the Company’s stock price is one of the qualitative factors to be considered as part of an impairment test when evaluating whether events or changes in circumstances may indicate that it is more likely than not that a potential goodwill impairment exists.
89
Sunrun Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Continued
Due to the continued sustained decline in the Company’s market capitalization after consideration of a control premium below the book value of equity, the Company performed a quantitative assessment as of September 30, 2023 related to the recoverability of its goodwill for its one reporting unit. The Company estimated the fair value of its reporting unit primarily based on consideration of an income approach analysis. Under the income approach, future cash flows of the Company were estimated and present valued based on a discount rate reflecting a market participant risk-adjusted rate of return. As of September 30, 2023, the Company concluded that the fair value of the Company’s one reporting unit did not exceed its carrying value with consideration of a control premium and recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $1.2 billion in its consolidated statements of operations. This impairment charge did not result in a change to previously recorded deferred taxes, as goodwill was not deductible for tax purposes, nor did it impact the Company’s liquidity position, its debt covenants or cash flows.
The assumptions and estimates used in the assessment include, among others, estimated future net annual contracted cash flows under its existing long term customer agreements, as well as future growth estimates which rely on management judgements. The Company selected estimates used in the discounted cash flow projections using historical data as well as current and anticipated market conditions, and estimated growth rates with consideration of published industry trends. The Company also compared the total invested capital (including market capitalization) to the fair value of its reporting unit to assess the reasonableness of fair value after consideration of a control premium based on observable comparable company transactions. After the impairment charge, the fair value of the Company’s one reporting unit approximated its estimated carrying value as of September 30, 2023. As of October 1, 2023, the Company conducted its annual goodwill impairment test. The test concluded that no additional impairment had occurred during the fourth quarter of 2023.
Deferred Revenue
When the Company receives consideration, or when such consideration is unconditionally due, from a customer prior to delivering goods or services to the customer under the terms of a Customer Agreement, the Company records deferred revenue. Such deferred revenue consists of amounts for which the criteria for revenue recognition have not yet been met and includes amounts that are collected or assigned from customers, including upfront deposits and prepayments, and rebates. Deferred revenue relating to financing components represents the cumulative excess of interest expense recorded on financing component elements over the related revenue recognized to date and will eventually net to zero by the end of the initial term. Amounts received related to the sales of SRECs which have not yet been delivered to the counterparty are recorded as deferred revenue.
The opening balance of deferred revenue was $873.6 million as of December 31, 2021. Deferred revenue consists of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Under Customer Agreements:
Under SREC contracts:
During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company recognized revenue of $113.3 million, $99.0 million and $86.3 million, respectively, from amounts included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the respective periods. Revenue allocated to remaining performance obligations represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized and includes deferred revenue as well as amounts that will be invoiced and recognized as revenue in future periods. Contracted but not yet recognized revenue was approximately $25.1 billion as of December 31, 2023, of which the Company expects to recognize approximately 5% over the next 12 months. The annual recognition is not expected to vary significantly over the next 10 years as the vast majority of existing
90
Sunrun Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Continued
Customer Agreements have at least 10 years remaining, given that the average age of the Company's fleet of residential solar energy systems under Customer Agreements is less than five years due to the Company being formed in 2007 and having experienced significant growth in the last few years. The annual recognition on these existing contracts will gradually decline over the midpoint of the Customer Agreements over the following 10 years as the typical 20- or 25-year initial term expires on individual Customer Agreements.
Deferred Grants
Deferred grants consist of U.S. Treasury grants and state tax credits. The Company applied for a renewable energy technologies income tax credit offered by one of the states in the form of a cash payment and deferred the tax credit as a grant on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company records the grants as deferred grants and recognizes the benefit on a straight-line basis over the estimated depreciable life of the associated assets as a reduction in Cost of customer agreements and incentives.
Warranty Accrual
The Company accrues warranty costs when revenue is recognized for solar energy systems sales, based on the estimated future costs of meeting its warranty obligations. Warranty costs primarily consist of replacement costs for supplies and labor costs for service personnel since warranties for equipment and materials are covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty (other than a small deductible in certain cases). As such, the warranty reserve is immaterial in all periods presented. The Company makes and revises these estimates based on the number of solar energy systems under warranty, the Company’s historical experience with warranty claims, assumptions on warranty claims to occur over a systems’ warranty period and the Company’s estimated replacement costs. A warranty is provided for solar systems sold and leased. However, for the solar energy systems under Customer Agreements, the Company does not accrue a warranty liability because those systems are owned by consolidated subsidiaries of the Company. Instead, any repair costs on those solar energy systems are expensed when they are incurred as a component of customer agreements and incentives costs of revenue.
Solar Energy Performance Guarantees
The Company guarantees to customers certain specified minimum solar energy production output for solar facilities over the initial term of the Customer Agreements. The Company monitors the solar energy systems to determine whether these specified minimum outputs are being achieved. Annually or every two years, depending on the terms of the Customer Agreement, the Company will refund a portion of electricity payments to a customer if the solar energy production output was less than the performance guarantee. The Company considers this a variable component that offsets the transaction price.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company recognizes all derivative instruments on the balance sheet at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in current earnings or other comprehensive income if a derivative is designated as part of a hedge transaction. The ineffective portion of the hedge, if any, is immediately recognized in earnings and is included in other income (expenses), net in the consolidated statements of operations.
The Company uses derivative financial instruments, primarily interest rate swaps, to manage its exposure to interest rate risks on its syndicated term loans, which are recognized on the balance sheet at their fair values. On the date that the Company enters into a derivative contract, the Company formally documents all relationships between the hedging instruments and the hedged items, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking each hedge transaction. Derivative instruments designated in a hedge relationship to mitigate exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Cash flow hedges are accounted for by recording the fair value of the derivative instrument on the balance sheet as either a freestanding asset or liability. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated and qualifies as an effective cash flow hedge are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows of the hedged item. Any derivative gains and losses that are not effective in hedging the variability of expected cash flows of the hedged item or that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment are recognized directly into income. At the hedge’s inception and at least quarterly thereafter, a formal assessment is performed to determine whether changes in cash flows of the derivative instrument have been highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of the hedged items and whether they are expected to
91
Sunrun Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Continued
be highly effective in the future. The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when (i) it determines that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of a hedged item; (ii) the derivative expires or is sold, terminated, or exercised; or (iii) management determines that designating the derivative as a hedging instrument is no longer appropriate. In all situations in which hedge accounting is discontinued and the derivative remains outstanding, the derivative instrument is carried at its fair market value on the balance sheet with the changes in fair value recognized in current period earnings. The remaining balance in accumulated other comprehensive income associated with the derivative that has been discontinued is not recognized in the income statement unless it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur. Such amounts are recognized in earnings when earnings are affected by the hedged transaction.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or an exit price that would be paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Company uses valuation approaches to measure fair value that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The FASB establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements as follows:
•Level 1—Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date;
•Level 2—Inputs are observable, unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the related assets or liabilities; and
•Level 3—Inputs that are unobservable, significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities and are supported by little or no market data.
The Company’s financial instruments include cash, receivables, accounts payable, accrued expenses, distributions payable to noncontrolling interests, derivatives, contingent consideration, and recourse and non-recourse debt.
Certain assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These assets are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis, but are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances. These assets can include goodwill that is written down to fair value when it is impaired, which uses level 3 inputs.Assets that are written down to fair value when impaired are not subsequently adjusted to fair value unless further impairment occurs.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue when control of goods or services is transferred to its customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.
Customer agreements and incentives
Customer agreements and incentives revenue is primarily comprised of revenue from Customer Agreements in which the Company provides continuous access to a functioning solar energy system and revenue from the sales of SRECs generated by the Company’s solar energy systems to third parties.
The Company begins to recognize revenue on Customer Agreements when permission to operate ("PTO") is given by the local utility company or on the date daily operation commences if utility approval is not required. Revenue recognition does not necessarily follow the receipt of cash. For Customer Agreements that include a fixed fee per month which entitles the customer to any and all electricity generated by the system, and for which the Company’s obligation is to provide continuous access to a functioning solar energy system, the Company recognizes revenue evenly over the time that it satisfies its performance obligations, which is over the initial term of the Customer Agreements. For Customer Agreements that charge a fixed price per kilowatt hour, and for which the Company’s obligation is the provision of electricity from a solar energy system, revenue is recognized based on the actual amount of power generated at rates specified under the contracts. Customer Agreements typically have an
92
Sunrun Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Continued
initial term of 20 or 25 years. After the initial contract term, Customer Agreements typically automatically renew annually or for five years.
SREC revenue arises from the sale of environmental credits generated by solar energy systems and is generally recognized upon delivery of the SRECs to the counterparty or upon reporting of the electricity generation. For pass-through financing obligation Funds, the value attributable to the monetization of Commercial ITCs are recognized in the period a solar energy system is granted PTO - see Note 12, Pass-Through Financing Obligations.
In determining the transaction price, the Company adjusts the promised amount of consideration for the effects of the time value of money when the timing of payments provides it with a significant benefit of financing the transfer of goods or services to the customer. In those circumstances, the contract contains a significant financing component. When adjusting the promised amount of consideration for a significant financing component, the Company uses the discount rate that would be reflected in a separate financing transaction between the entity and its customer at contract inception and recognizes the revenue amount on a straight-line basis over the term of the Customer Agreement, and interest expense using the effective interest rate method.
Consideration from customers is considered variable due to the performance guarantee under Customer Agreements and liquidating damage provisions under SREC contracts in the event minimum deliveries are not achieved. Performance guarantees provide a credit to the customer if the system's cumulative production, as measured on various PTO anniversary dates, is below the Company's guarantee of a specified minimum. Revenue is recognized to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of such revenue will not occur.
The Company capitalizes incremental costs incurred to obtain a contract in Other Assets in the consolidated balance sheets. These amounts are amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the Customer Agreements, and are included in Sales and marketing in the consolidated statements of operations.
Solar energy systems and product sales
For solar energy systems sold to customers, revenue is recognized when the solar energy system passes inspection by the authority having jurisdiction, which inspection generally occurs after installation but prior to PTO, at which time the Company has met the performance obligation in the contract. For solar energy system sales that include delivery obligations up until interconnection to the local power grid with permission to operate, the Company recognizes revenue at PTO. Certain solar energy systems sold to customers include fees for extended warranty and maintenance services. These fees are recognized over the life of the service agreement. The Company’s installation Projects are typically completed in less than twelve months.
Product sales consist of solar panels, racking systems, inverters, other solar energy products sold to resellers, roofing repair, and customer leads. Product sales revenue is recognized at the time when control is transferred, upon shipment, or as services are delivered. Customer lead revenue, included in product sales, is recognized at the time the lead is delivered.
Taxes assessed by government authorities that are directly imposed on revenue producing transactions are excluded from solar energy systems and product sales.
Cost of Revenue
Customer agreements and incentives
Cost of revenue for customer agreements and incentives is primarily comprised of (1) the depreciation of the cost of the solar energy systems, as reduced by amortization of deferred grants, (2) solar energy system operations, monitoring and maintenance costs including associated personnel costs, and (3) allocated corporate overhead costs.
Solar energy systems and product sales
Cost of revenue for solar energy systems and non-lead generation product sales consist of direct and indirect material and labor costs for solar energy systems installations and product sales. Also included are engineering and design costs, estimated warranty costs, freight costs, allocated corporate overhead costs, vehicle depreciation costs and personnel costs associated with supply chain, logistics, operations management, safety and quality control.
93
Sunrun Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Continued
Cost of revenue for lead generations consists of costs related to direct-response advertising activities associated with generating customer leads.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expenses include personnel costs, allocated overhead costs, and other costs related to the development of the Company’s proprietary technology.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company grants stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) for its equity incentive plan and employee stock purchase plan. Stock-based compensation to employees is measured based on the grant date fair value of the awards and recognized over the period during which the employee is required to perform services in exchange for the award (generally the vesting period of the award). When determining the grant date fair value of stock-based compensation, the Company utilizes the observable closing share price of its stock on the grant date. The Company considers whether any adjustments are needed to the share price to reflect fair value, including in instances where the observable market price does not reflect certain material non-public information known to the Company, but unavailable to marketplace participants at the time the market price is observed. No such adjustments were made during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options and employee stock purchase plans awards granted using the Black-Scholes option-valuation model. Upon completion of the acquisition of Vivint Solar, all outstanding equity awards under Vivint Solar's equity incentive plans were automatically converted to Sunrun equity awards with the number of shares underlying such awards (and, in the case of stock options, the applicable exercise price) adjusted based on the exchange ratio of 0.55 shares of Sunrun common stock per share of Vivint Solar common stock and the fair value was also updated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Stock Compensation. Compensation cost is recognized over the vesting period of the applicable award using the straight-line method for those options expected to vest. For performance-based equity compensation awards, the Company generally recognizes compensation expense for each vesting tranche over the related performance period.
The Company also grants RSUs to non-employees that vest upon the satisfaction of both performance and service conditions. For RSUs granted to non-employees that vest upon the satisfaction of a performance condition, the Company starts recognizing expense on the RSUs when the performance condition is met.
Net (Loss) Income Per Share
Basic net (loss) income per share is computed by dividing net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net (loss) income per share is computed by dividing net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period adjusted to include the effect of potentially dilutive securities. Potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the computation of dilutive EPS in periods in which the effect would be antidilutive.
Noncontrolling Interests and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Noncontrolling interests represent investors’ interests in the net assets of the Funds that the Company has created to finance the cost of its solar energy systems subject to the Company’s Customer Agreements. The Company has determined that the contractual provisions in the funding arrangements represent substantive profit sharing arrangements. The Company has further determined that the appropriate methodology for attributing income and loss to the noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests each period is a balance sheet approach referred to as the hypothetical liquidation at book value (“HLBV”) method.
Under the HLBV method, the amounts of income and loss attributed to the noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests in the consolidated statements of operations reflect changes in the amounts the investors would hypothetically receive at each balance sheet date under the liquidation provisions of the contractual agreements of these arrangements, which are based on the investors' tax capital accounts, assuming the net assets of these funding structures were liquidated at recorded amounts. The Company’s initial calculation of the investor’s noncontrolling interest in the results of operations of these funding arrangements is determined as the difference in the noncontrolling interests’ claim under the HLBV method at the start and end of each reporting period, after taking into account any capital transactions, such as contributions or distributions, between the Fund and the investors.
94
Sunrun Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Continued
The Company classifies certain noncontrolling interests with redemption features that are not solely within the control of the Company outside of permanent equity on its consolidated balance sheets. Redeemable noncontrolling interests are reported using the greater of their carrying value as determined by the HLBV method or their estimated redemption value at each reporting date.
Income Taxes
The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements and tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided against deferred tax assets to the extent that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company is subject to the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, which establishes consistent thresholds as it relates to accounting for income taxes. It defines the threshold for recognizing the benefits of tax return positions in the financial statements as “more likely than not” to be sustained by the taxing authority and requires measurement of a tax position meeting the more-likely-than-not criterion, based on the largest benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized. Management has analyzed the Company’s inventory of tax positions with respect to all applicable income tax issues for all open tax years (in each respective jurisdiction).
The Company sells solar energy systems to the Funds. As the Funds are consolidated by the Company, the gain on the sale of the solar energy systems is not recognized in the consolidated financial statements. However, this gain is recognized for tax reporting purposes. The Company accounts for the income tax consequences of these intra-entity transfers, both current and deferred, as a component of income tax expense and deferred tax liability, net during the period in which the transfers occur.
The Company accounts for investment tax credits as a reduction of income tax expense in the year in which the credits arise (i.e. the flow-through method).
The Company files tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by federal, state and local jurisdictions, where applicable. The statute of limitations for the tax returns varies by jurisdiction.
Concentrations of Risk
Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and accounts receivable, which includes rebates receivable. The associated risk of concentration for cash is mitigated by banking with institutions with high credit ratings. At certain times, amounts on deposit exceed Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits. The Company does not require collateral or other security to support accounts receivable. To reduce credit risk, management performs periodic credit evaluations and ongoing evaluations of its customers’ financial condition. Rebates receivable are due from various states and local governments as well as various utility companies. The Company considers the collectability risk of such amounts to be low. The Company is not dependent on any single customer. The Company’s customers under Customer Agreements are primarily located in California, Arizona, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Illinois and Massachusetts. The loss of a customer would not adversely impact the Company’s operating results or financial position. The Company depends on a limited number of suppliers of solar panels and other system components. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the solar materials purchases from the top five suppliers were approximately $561.6 million and $747.1 million, respectively.
Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Standards
Accounting standards adopted January 1, 2021:
In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope, which permits entities to elect certain optional expedients and exceptions when accounting for derivative contracts and certain hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform. This ASU is effective upon issuance and can
95
Sunrun Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Continued
generally be applied through December 31, 2022. The Company adopted ASU 2019-12 effective January 1, 2021, and there was no impact to its consolidated financial statements.
In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740), which simplifies the accounting for income taxes, primarily by eliminating certain exceptions to the guidance in FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. The Company adopted ASU 2019-12 effective January 1, 2021, and there was no impact to its consolidated financial statements.
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity's Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40), simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments and the application of the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity. This ASU is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company adopted ASU 2020-06 effective January 1, 2021, and applied this guidance to the convertible senior notes issued in January 2021, see Note 10, Indebtedness, which allowed the Company to account for the notes and their underlying conversion feature as a liability. There was no other impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements as a result of this adoption.
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848), Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or other reference rates that are expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. This ASU is available for adoption as of the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022, as contract modifications or hedging relationships entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2022 are excluded unless an entity has elected certain optional expedients for and that are retained through the end of the hedging relationship. In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848, which defers the sunset date from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2024, after which entities will no longer be permitted to apply the relief in Topic 848. For the Company’s cash flow hedges in which the designated hedged risk is LIBOR or another rate that is expected to be discontinued, the Company adopted upon issuance of ASU 2020-04 the portion of the guidance that allows it to assert that it remains probable that the hedged forecasted transaction will occur. The Company adopted the remainder of this guidance effective January 1, 2021, and there was no impact to its consolidated financial statements.
Accounting standards adopted January 1, 2022:
In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, which requires contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination to be recognized and measured in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022 on a prospective basis, with early adoption permitted. Effective January 1, 2022, the Company early adopted ASU 2021-08 on a prospective basis. There was no impact to its consolidated financial statements.
In May 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-04, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt— Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging— Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40), which requires issuers to account for modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options that remain equity classified after the modification or exchange based on the economic substance of the modification or exchange. The Company adopted ASU 2021-04 effective January 1, 2022, and there was no impact to its consolidated financial statements.
Accounting standards adopted January 1, 2023:
In October 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-04, Liabilities — Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations, which requires entities to disclose the key terms of
supplier finance programs they use in connection with the purchase of goods and services along with information about their obligations under these programs, including a rollforward of those obligations. This ASU is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2022-04 effective January 1, 2023 and there was no impact to its financial statement disclosures.
Accounting standards to be adopted:
96
Sunrun Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Continued
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which expands disclosures about a public entity’s reportable segments and requires more enhanced information about a reportable segment’s expenses, interim segment profit or loss, and how a public entity’s chief operating decision maker uses reported segment profit or loss information in assessing segment performance and allocating resources. This ASU is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2023, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance and the impact it may have on its financial statement disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which expands disclosures in an entity’s income tax rate reconciliation table and regarding cash taxes paid both in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions. This ASU is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance and the impact it may have on its financial statement disclosures.
Note 3. Fair Value Measurement
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the carrying value of receivables, accounts payable, accrued expenses and distributions payable to noncontrolling interests approximates fair value due to their short-term nature and falls under the Level 2 hierarchy. The carrying values and fair values of debt instruments are as follows (in thousands):
Carrying Value Fair Value Carrying Value Fair Value
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the fair value of certain recourse debt and certain senior, subordinated and securitization loans approximate their carrying values because their interest rates are variable rates that approximate rates currently available to the Company. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the fair value of the Company’s other debt instruments are based on rates currently offered for debt with similar maturities and terms. The Company’s fair value of the debt instruments fell under the Level 2 hierarchy. These valuation approaches involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the instruments or market.
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis, based upon the fair value hierarchy are as follows (in thousands):
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Derivative assets:
Derivative liabilities:
97
Sunrun Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Continued
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Derivative assets:
Derivative liabilities:
Interest rate swaps $ — $ 8,247 $ — $ 8,247
The above balances are recorded in other assets and other liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets, except for $55.5 million and $55.0 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which is recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets.
The Company determines the fair value of its interest rate swaps using a discounted cash flow model that incorporates an assessment of the risk of non-performance by the interest rate swap counterparty and an evaluation of the Company’s credit risk in valuing derivative instruments. The valuation model uses various inputs including contractual terms, interest rate curves, credit spreads and measures of volatility.
Note 4. Inventories
Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Note 5. Solar Energy Systems, net
Solar energy systems, net consists of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization (2,165,171) (1,682,296)
All solar energy systems, including construction-in-progress, have been leased to or are subject to signed Customer Agreements with customers. The Company recorded depreciation expense related to solar energy systems of $500.6 million, $426.7 million and $368.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The depreciation expense was reduced by the amortization of deferred grants of $8.2 million, $8.3 million and $8.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
98
Sunrun Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Continued
Note 6. Property and Equipment, net
Property and equipment, net consists of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Leasehold improvements, furniture, and computer hardware 47,810 44,547
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization (148,009) (136,985)
Depreciation and amortization expense was $31.9 million, $27.2 million and $23.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Note 7. Goodwill, net
The goodwill was acquired as part of the acquisition of Mainstream Energy Corporation, which included AEE Solar and its racking business SnapNrack; Clean Energy Experts, LLC; Omni Energy, LLC; and Vivint Solar.
The Company has determined that it has one reporting unit and performs its annual impairment test of goodwill on October 1 of each fiscal year or whenever events or circumstances change or occur that would indicate that goodwill might be impaired. During the third quarter of 2023, due to the continued material sustained decline in the Company’s market capitalization after consideration of a control premium below the book value of equity, the Company performed an interim quantitative assessment as of September 30, 2023 related to the recoverability of its goodwill for its one reporting unit. As of September 30, 2023, the Company concluded that the fair value of the Company’s one reporting unit did not exceed its carrying value with consideration of a control premium and recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $1.2 billion in its consolidated statements of operations. There were no such impairments during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. As of October 1, 2023, the Company conducted its annual goodwill impairment test. The test concluded that no additional impairment had occurred during the fourth quarter of 2023. To corroborate this conclusion, the Company compared the carrying value of its one reporting unit to its enterprise market capitalization after consideration of a reasonable control premium and concluded that there was no goodwill impairment during the fourth quarter of 2023.
The change in the carrying value of goodwill is as follows (in millions):
99
Note 8. Other Assets
Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Costs to obtain contracts - customer agreements $ 1,565,098 $ 1,096,346
Costs to obtain contracts - incentives 2,481 2,481
Accumulated amortization of costs to obtain contracts (168,564) (112,968)
Allowance for credit loss on unbilled receivables (4,774) (3,322)
The Company recorded amortization of costs to obtain contracts of $56.3 million and $38.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, in sales and marketing expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
The majority of unbilled receivables arise from fixed price escalators included in the Company's long-term Customer Agreements. The escalator is included in calculating the total estimated transaction value for an individual Customer Agreement. The total estimated transaction value is then recognized over the term of the Customer Agreement. The amount of unbilled receivables increases while billings for an individual Customer Agreement are less than the revenue recognized for that Customer Agreement. Conversely, the amount of unbilled receivables decreases once the billings become higher than the amount of revenue recognized in the period. At the end of the initial term of a Customer Agreement, the cumulative amounts recognized as revenue and billed to date are the same, therefore the unbilled receivable balance for an individual Customer Agreement will be zero. The Company applies an estimated loss-rate in order to determine the current expected credit loss for unbilled receivables. The estimated loss-rate is determined by analyzing historical credit losses, residential first and second mortgage foreclosures and consumers' utility default rates, as well as current economic conditions. The Company reviews individual customer collection status of electricity billings to determine whether the unbilled receivables for an individual customer should be written off, including the possibility of a service transfer to a potential new homeowner.
Note 9. Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
100
Note 10. Indebtedness
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, debt consisted of the following (in thousands, except percentages):
Recourse debt
Unamortized debt discount (4,775) (7,118) —
Non-recourse debt (6)
Unamortized debt (discount) premium, net (80,571) (46,938) —
(1)Represents the additional amount the Company could borrow, if any, based on the state of its existing assets as of December 31, 2023.
(2)Reflects weighted average contractual, unhedged rates. See Note 11, Derivatives, for hedge rates.
(3)Ranges shown reflect fixed interest rate and rates using SOFR, as applicable.
(4)The former working capital facility was terminated in January 2022 and was replaced by this syndicated working capital facility with banks has a total commitment up to $600.0 million and is secured by substantially all of the unencumbered assets of the Company, as well as ownership interests in certain subsidiaries of the Company. Borrowings under the Facility may be designated as Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Loans, subject to certain terms and conditions under the Credit Agreement. Base Rate Loans accrue interest at a rate per year equal to 2.25% plus the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) the interest rate determined from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate and notified to the Company, (c) the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate (defined below) for a one-month interest period in effect on such day (or if such day is not a business day, the immediately preceding business day) plus 1.00% and (d) 0.00%. Term SOFR Loans accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to (a) 3.25% plus (b) the greater of (i) 0.00% and (ii) the sum of (x) the forward-looking term rate for a period comparable to the applicable available tenor based on SOFR that is published by CME Group Benchmark Administration Ltd or a successor for the applicable interest period and (y) (1) if the applicable interest period is one month, 0.11448%, (2) if the applicable interest period is three months, 0.26161% or (c) if the applicable interest period is six months, 0.42826% (the rate pursuant to clause (b), the “Adjusted Term SOFR Rate”). This facility is subject to various restrictive covenants, such as the completion and presentation of audited consolidated financial statements, maintaining a minimum modified interest coverage ratio, a minimum modified current ratio, a maximum modified leverage ratio, and a minimum unencumbered cash balance, in each case, tested quarterly. The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants as of December 31, 2023. In February 2024, the Company extended its working capital
101
facility with a new maturity date of November 1, 2025 and a total commitment up to $447.5 million, and repaid approximately $152.3 million in outstanding borrowings. The maturity date can be further extended to March 2027, if the Company meets certain liquidity tests as of September 30, 2024.
(5)These convertible senior notes ("Notes") will not bear regular interest, and the principal amount of the notes will not accrete. The Notes may bear special interest under specified circumstances relating to the Company’s failure to comply with its reporting obligations under the Indenture or if the Notes are not freely tradeable as required by the Indenture. The Notes will mature on February 1, 2026, unless earlier repurchased by the Company, redeemed by the Company or converted pursuant to their terms. The initial conversion rate of the Notes is 8.4807 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $117.91 per share. The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain specified events but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid special interest. In addition, upon the occurrence of a make-whole fundamental change or an issuance of a notice of redemption, the Company will, in certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate by a number of additional shares for a holder that elects to convert its Notes in connection with such make-whole fundamental change or notice of redemption. The debt discount recorded on the Notes is being amortized to interest expense at an effective interest rate of 0.57%. As of December 31, 2023, $6.6 million of the debt discount was amortized to interest expense inception to date. In connection with the offering of the Notes, the Company entered into privately negotiated capped call transactions (“Capped Calls”) with certain of the initial purchasers and/or their respective affiliates at a cost of approximately $28.0 million. The Capped Calls are classified as equity and were recorded to additional paid-in-capital within stockholders’ equity as of March 31, 2021. The Capped Calls each have an initial strike price of approximately $117.91 per share, subject to certain adjustments, which corresponds to the initial conversion price of the Notes. The Capped Calls have initial cap prices of $157.22 per share. The Capped Calls cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments, approximately 3.4 million shares of Common Stock. The Capped Calls are expected generally to reduce the potential dilution to the Common Stock upon any conversion of Notes and/or offset any cash payments the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount of the Notes, as the case may be, in the event the market price per share of common stock, as measured under the Capped Calls, is greater than the strike price of the Capped Call, with such offset subject to a cap. If, however, the market price per share of the common stock, as measured under the Capped Calls, exceeds the cap price of the Capped Calls, there would be dilution and/or there would not be an offset of such potential cash payments, in each case, to the extent that the then-market price per share of the common stock exceeds the cap price. The final components of the Capped Calls are scheduled to expire on January 29, 2026. None of the conversion criteria has been met as of December 31, 2023.
(6)Certain loans under this category are part of project equity transactions.
(7)Pursuant to the terms of the aggregation facilities within this category the Company may draw up to an aggregate principal amount of $2.2 billion in revolver borrowings depending on the available borrowing base at the time. In February 2024, the Company increased the size of the facilities within this category to $2.35 billion and extended the maturity date to April 2028.
(8)A loan under this category with an outstanding balance of $140.0 million as of December 31, 2023 contains a put option that can be exercised beginning in 2036 that would require the Company to pay off the entire loan on November 30, 2037.
(9)Loans under this category with a floating rate had a total outstanding balance of $462.1 million as of December 31, 2023.
(10)As of December 31, 2023, a loan under this category has a balance of $160.6 million with a maturity date of April 2024 and is reflected in Non-recourse debt, current portion within the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Although there is no assurance that the Company will be able to do so, the Company plans to extend or otherwise refinance the facility prior to maturity.
(11)As of December 31, 2023, a loan under this category has a balance of $100.0 million with a maturity date of April 2024 and is reflected in Non-recourse debt, current portion within the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Although there is no assurance that the Company will be able to do so, the Company plans to extend or otherwise refinance the facility prior to maturity.
(12)As of December 31, 2023, a loan under this category had a balance of $54.2 million with a final rated maturity date of July 2045. Although there is no assurance that the Company will be able to do so, the Company plans to extend or otherwise refinance the facility prior to anticipated repayment date.
102
Senior and Subordinated Debt Facilities
Each of the Company's senior and subordinated debt facilities contain customary covenants including the requirement to maintain certain financial measurements and provide lender reporting. Each of the senior and subordinated debt facilities also contain certain provisions in the event of default that entitle lenders to take certain actions including acceleration of amounts due under the facilities and acquisition of membership interests and assets that are pledged to the lenders under the terms of the senior and subordinated debt facilities. The facilities are non-recourse to the Company and are secured by net cash flows from Customer Agreements or inventories less certain operating, maintenance and other expenses that are available to the borrower after distributions to tax equity investors, where applicable. Under the terms of these facilities, the Company's subsidiaries pay interest and principal from the net cash flows available to the subsidiaries. The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants as of December 31, 2023.
Non-Recourse Financings
In connection with each of the Company's non-recourse debt (including securitized loans), assets (consisting of membership interests in project companies that own photovoltaic systems and related customer agreements) were contributed by the Company to special purpose subsidiaries of the Company (each a “Non-Recourse Borrower”). Each of such financings contains customary covenants including the requirement to provide reporting to the indenture trustee or collateral agent and, if applicable, ratings agencies. Each of the financings also contains certain provisions which entitle the indenture trustee or collateral agent to take certain actions upon the occurrence of an event of default, including acceleration of amounts due under the facilities and the foreclosure on the assets of the Non-Recourse Borrower that are pledged to the lenders under the terms thereof. The facilities are non-recourse to the Company and are secured by first priority security interests by each Non-Recourse Borrower in favor of the indenture trustee or collateral agent in all of the Non-Recourse Borrower’s assets including the cash flows from Customer Agreements which are available to each Non-Recourse Borrower after giving effect to certain operating, maintenance and other expenses and, where applicable, distributions to tax equity investors. As a result of such security interests, the assets of each Non-Recourse Borrower are not available to the creditors of the Company unless and until distributions from such entities are made to the Company as permitted under the applicable facility documentation. Under the terms of these financings, each Non-Recourse Borrower pays interest and principal from such net cash flows. The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants as of December 31, 2023.
Maturities of Indebtedness
The aggregate future principal payments for debt as of December 31, 2023 are as follows (in thousands):
Debt discount, net (85,346)
Note 11. Derivatives
Interest Rate Swaps
103
The Company uses interest rate swaps to hedge variable interest payments due on certain of its term loans and aggregation facility. These swaps allow the Company to incur fixed interest rates on these loans and receive payments based on variable interest rates with the swap counterparty based on SOFR (daily, one month, three month) on the notional amounts over the life of the swaps. In the second quarter of 2023, the Company entered into bilateral agreements with its swap counterparties to transition the remaining portion of its swaps to SOFR. The Company made various elections under FASB ASC Topic 848, Reference Rate Reform, related to changes in critical terms of the hedging relationships due to reference rate reform to not result in a de-designation of these hedging relationships. As of September 30, 2023, all of the Company's interest rate swap agreements were indexed to SOFR.
The interest rate swaps have been designated as cash flow hedges. The credit risk adjustment associated with these swaps is the risk of non-performance by the counterparties to the contracts. In the quarter ended December 31, 2023, the hedge relationships on the Company’s interest rate swaps have been assessed as highly effective as the quarterly assessment performed determined changes in cash flows of the derivative instruments have been highly effective in offsetting the changes in the cash flows of the hedged items, are expected to be highly effective in the future and the critical terms of the interest rate swaps match the critical terms of the underlying forecasted hedged transactions. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of these derivatives are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income taxes. Changes in the fair value of these derivatives are subsequently reclassified into earnings, and are included in interest expense, net in the Company’s statements of operations, in the period that the hedged forecasted transactions affect earnings. To the extent that the hedge relationships are not effective, changes in the fair value of these derivatives are recorded in other expense (income), net in the Company's statements of operations on a prospective basis.
The Company’s master netting and other similar arrangements allow net settlements under certain conditions. When those conditions are met, the Company presents derivatives at net fair value. As of December 31, 2023, the information related to these offsetting arrangements were as follows (in thousands):
Assets:
Liabilities:
104
(1)Comprised of 79 interest rate swaps which effectively fix the SOFR portion of interest rates on outstanding balances of certain loans under the senior and securitized sections of the debt footnote table (see Note 10, Indebtedness) at 0.31% to 4.53% per annum. These swaps mature from April 30, 2024 to January 31, 2043.
As of December 31, 2022, the information related to these offsetting arrangements were as follows (in thousands):
Assets:
Liabilities:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments (3,724) — (3,724) —
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments (4,523) 4,523 — —
The gains on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges recognized into OCI, before tax effect, consisted of the following (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
105
The losses (gains) on derivatives financial instruments recognized into the consolidated statements of operations, before tax effect, consisted of the following (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
Interest rate swaps
Derivatives not designated as cash flow hedges:
Interest rate swaps
All amounts in Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income ("AOCI") in the consolidated statements of redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity relate to derivatives, refer to the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. The net gains (losses) on derivatives includes the tax effect of $0.5 million, $34.9 million and $12.9 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
During the next 12 months, the Company expects to reclassify $28.1 million of net gains on derivative instruments from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings. There were forty-four undesignated derivative instruments recorded by the Company as of December 31, 2023.
Note 12. Pass-Through Financing Obligations
The Company's pass-through financing obligations ("financing obligations") arise when the Company leases solar energy systems to Fund investors who are considered commercial customers under a master lease agreement, and these investors in turn are assigned the Customer Agreements with customers. The Company receives all of the value attributable to the accelerated tax depreciation and some or all of the value attributable to the other incentives. Given the assignment of operating cash flows, these arrangements are accounted for as financing obligations. The Company also sells the rights and related value attributable to the Commercial ITC to these investors.