Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies	Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies We incur various contractual obligations and financial commitments in the normal course of business that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on liquidity or the availability of capital resources. Contractual obligations include future cash payments required under existing contractual arrangements, such as debt and lease agreements. These obligations may result from both general financing activities and commercial arrangements that are directly supported by related revenue-producing activities. As discussed in Note 8 herein, Nicor Gas issued $250 million of first mortgage bonds on June 23, 2016 and Southern Company Gas Capital issued $350 million of senior notes on May 18, 2016. The principal amounts of these long-term debt instruments are due in 2026 and thereafter. Under these debt instruments, interest payments of $10 million will be made in 2016, $19 million will be made annually in 2017 through 2020 and $141 million will be made thereafter. We are also involved in legal or administrative proceedings before various courts and agencies with respect to general claims, environmental remediation and other matters. While we are unable to determine the ultimate outcomes of these contingencies, we believe that our financial statements appropriately reflect these amounts, including the recording of liabilities when a loss is probable and reasonably estimable. For more information on these matters, see Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 8 of our 2015 Form 10-K. Contingencies and Guarantees Contingent financial commitments, such as financial guarantees, represent obligations that become payable only if certain predefined events occur. We have certain subsidiaries that enter into various financial and performance guarantees and indemnities providing assurance to third parties. We believe the likelihood of payment under our guarantees is remote. No liabilities have been recorded for such guarantees and indemnifications, as the fair values were inconsequential at inception. Regulatory Matters In August 2014, staff of the Illinois Commission and the CUB filed testimony in the Nicor Gas 2003 gas cost prudence review disputing certain gas loan transactions offered by Nicor Gas under its Chicago Hub services and requesting refunds of $18 million and $22 million, respectively. We filed surrebuttal testimony in December 2014 disputing that any refund is due, as Nicor Gas was authorized to enter into these transactions and revenues associated with such transactions reduced ratepayers’ costs as either credits to the purchased gas adjustment or reductions to base rates consistent with then-current Illinois Commission orders governing these activities. In July 2015, the Administrative Law Judge issued a proposed order concluding that Nicor Gas’ supply costs and purchases in 2003 were prudent, its reconciliation of the related costs was proper, and the propositions by the staff of the Illinois Commission and the CUB were based on hindsight speculation, which is expressly prohibited in a prudence review examination. In November 2015, the Illinois Commission granted the CUB's petition for a rehearing on this matter. In February 2016, the Administrative Law Judge issued a proposed order on the rehearing affirming the original order by the Illinois Commission, which was approved by the Illinois Commission in March 2016. Environmental Matters We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental quality and pollution control that require us to remove or remedy the effect on the environment of the disposal or release of specified substances at our current and former operating sites. See Note 4 herein for additional information on our environmental remediation costs. In September 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency filed an administrative complaint and notice of opportunity for hearing against Nicor Gas. The complaint alleges violation of the regulatory requirements applicable to polychlorinated biphenyls in the Nicor Gas distribution system and the Environmental Protection Agency seeks a total civil penalty of approximately $0.3 million. While we are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, the final disposition of this matter is not expected to have a material adverse impact on our liquidity or financial condition. Litigation We are involved in litigation arising in the normal course of business. Although in some cases we are unable to estimate the amount of loss reasonably possible in addition to any amounts already recognized, it is possible that the resolution of these contingencies, either individually or in aggregate, will require us to take charges against, or will result in reductions in, future earnings. Management believes that while the resolutions of these contingencies, whether individually or in aggregate, could possibly be material to earnings in a particular quarter, they will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated balance sheets or cash flows for the year. For additional litigation information, see Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 8 of our 2015 Form 10-K.

Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies

We incur various contractual obligations and financial commitments in the normal course of business that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on liquidity or the availability of capital resources. Contractual obligations include future cash payments required under existing contractual arrangements, such as debt and lease agreements. These obligations may result from both general financing activities and commercial arrangements that are directly supported by related revenue-producing activities. As discussed in Note 8 herein, Nicor Gas issued $250 million of first mortgage bonds on June 23, 2016 and Southern Company Gas Capital issued $350 million of senior notes on May 18, 2016. The principal amounts of these long-term debt instruments are due in 2026 and thereafter. Under these debt instruments, interest payments of $10 million will be made in 2016, $19 million will be made annually in 2017 through 2020 and $141 million will be made thereafter.

We are also involved in legal or administrative proceedings before various courts and agencies with respect to general claims, environmental remediation and other matters. While we are unable to determine the ultimate outcomes of these contingencies, we believe that our financial statements appropriately reflect these amounts, including the recording of liabilities when a loss is probable and reasonably estimable. For more information on these matters, see Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 8 of our 2015 Form 10-K.

Contingencies and Guarantees

Contingent financial commitments, such as financial guarantees, represent obligations that become payable only if certain predefined events occur. We have certain subsidiaries that enter into various financial and performance guarantees and indemnities providing assurance to third parties. We believe the likelihood of payment under our guarantees is remote. No liabilities have been recorded for such guarantees and indemnifications, as the fair values were inconsequential at inception.

Regulatory Matters

In August 2014, staff of the Illinois Commission and the CUB filed testimony in the Nicor Gas 2003 gas cost prudence review disputing certain gas loan transactions offered by Nicor Gas under its Chicago Hub services and requesting refunds of $18 million and $22 million, respectively. We filed surrebuttal testimony in December 2014 disputing that any refund is due, as Nicor Gas was authorized to enter into these transactions and revenues associated with such transactions reduced ratepayers’ costs as either credits to the purchased gas adjustment or reductions to base rates consistent with then-current Illinois Commission orders governing these activities. In July 2015, the Administrative Law Judge issued a proposed order concluding that Nicor Gas’ supply costs and purchases in 2003 were prudent, its reconciliation of the related costs was proper, and the propositions by the staff of the Illinois Commission and the CUB were based on hindsight speculation, which is expressly prohibited in a prudence review examination. In November 2015, the Illinois Commission granted the CUB's petition for a rehearing on this matter. In February 2016, the Administrative Law Judge issued a proposed order on the rehearing affirming the original order by the Illinois Commission, which was approved by the Illinois Commission in March 2016.

Environmental Matters

We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental quality and pollution control that require us to remove or remedy the effect on the environment of the disposal or release of specified substances at our current and former operating sites. See Note 4 herein for additional information on our environmental remediation costs.

In September 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency filed an administrative complaint and notice of opportunity for hearing against Nicor Gas. The complaint alleges violation of the regulatory requirements applicable to polychlorinated biphenyls in the Nicor Gas distribution system and the Environmental Protection Agency seeks a total civil penalty of approximately $0.3 million. While we are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, the final disposition of this matter is not expected to have a material adverse impact on our liquidity or financial condition.

Litigation

We are involved in litigation arising in the normal course of business. Although in some cases we are unable to estimate the amount of loss reasonably possible in addition to any amounts already recognized, it is possible that the resolution of these contingencies, either individually or in aggregate, will require us to take charges against, or will result in reductions in, future earnings. Management believes that while the resolutions of these contingencies, whether individually or in aggregate, could possibly be material to earnings in a particular quarter, they will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated balance sheets or cash flows for the year. For additional litigation information, see Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 8 of our 2015 Form 10-K.