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Fair Value Measurements
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value Measurements

NOTE 10: FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

PG&E Corporation and the Utility measure their cash equivalents, trust assets, price risk management instruments, and other investments at fair value.  A three-tier fair value hierarchy is established that prioritizes the inputs to valuation methodologies used to measure fair value:

 

  • Level 1 – Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

 

  • Level 2 – Other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.

 

  • Level 3 – Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activities.

 

The fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

 

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for PG&E Corporation and the Utility are summarized below (assets held in rabbi trusts and other investments are held by PG&E Corporation and not the Utility):

 

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

At December 31, 2015

(in millions)

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Netting (1)

 

Total

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market investments

$

64 

 

$

- 

 

$

- 

 

$

- 

 

$

64 

Nuclear decommissioning trusts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Money market investments

 

36 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

36 

  Global equity securities

 

1,520 

 

 

13 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

1,533 

  Fixed-income securities

 

694 

 

 

521 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

1,215 

Total nuclear decommissioning trusts (2)

 

2,250 

 

 

534 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

2,784 

Price risk management instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Note 9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Electricity

 

- 

 

 

9 

 

 

259 

 

 

18 

 

 

286 

  Gas

 

- 

 

 

1 

 

 

- 

 

 

1 

 

 

2 

Total price risk management

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

instruments

 

- 

 

 

10 

 

 

259 

 

 

19 

 

 

288 

Rabbi trusts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Fixed-income securities

 

- 

 

 

57 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

57 

  Life insurance contracts

 

- 

 

 

70 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

70 

Total rabbi trusts

 

- 

 

 

127 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

127 

Long-term disability trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Money market investments

 

7 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

7 

  Global equity securities

 

- 

 

 

26 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

26 

  Fixed-income securities

 

- 

 

 

132 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

132 

Total long-term disability trust

 

7 

 

 

158 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

165 

Total assets

$

2,321 

 

$

829 

 

$

259 

 

$

19 

 

$

3,428 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Price risk management instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Note 9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Electricity

$

69 

 

$

1 

 

$

170 

 

$

(70)

 

$

170 

  Gas

 

- 

 

 

2 

 

 

- 

 

 

(1)

 

 

1 

Total liabilities

$

69 

 

$

3 

 

$

170 

 

$

(71)

 

$

171 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes the effect of the contractual ability to settle contracts under master netting agreements and margin cash collateral.

(2) Represents amount before deducting $314 million, primarily related to deferred taxes on appreciation of investment value.

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

At December 31, 2014

(in millions)

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Netting (1)

 

Total

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market investments

$

94 

 

$

- 

 

$

- 

 

$

- 

 

$

94 

Nuclear decommissioning trusts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Money market investments

 

17 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

17 

  Global equity securities

 

1,585 

 

 

13 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

1,598 

  Fixed-income securities

 

741 

 

 

389 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

1,130 

Total nuclear decommissioning trusts (2)

 

2,343 

 

 

402 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

2,745 

Price risk management instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Note 9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Electricity

 

- 

 

 

17 

 

 

232 

 

 

2 

 

 

251 

  Gas

 

1 

 

 

1 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

2 

Total price risk management

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

instruments

 

1 

 

 

18 

 

 

232 

 

 

2 

 

 

253 

Rabbi trusts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Fixed-income securities

 

- 

 

 

42 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

42 

  Life insurance contracts

 

- 

 

 

72 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

72 

Total rabbi trusts

 

- 

 

 

114 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

114 

Long-term disability trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Money market investments

 

7 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

7 

  Global equity securities

 

- 

 

 

25 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

25 

  Fixed-income securities

 

- 

 

 

128 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

128 

Total long-term disability trust

 

7 

 

 

153 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

160 

Other investments

 

33 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

33 

Total assets

$

2,478 

 

$

687 

 

$

232 

 

$

2 

 

$

3,399 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Price risk management instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Note 9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Electricity

$

47 

 

$

5 

 

$

163 

 

$

(52)

 

$

163 

  Gas

 

- 

 

 

3 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

3 

Total liabilities

$

47 

 

$

8 

 

$

163 

 

$

(52)

 

$

166 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes the effect of the contractual ability to settle contracts under master netting agreements and margin cash collateral.

(2) Represents amount before deducting $324 million, primarily related to deferred taxes on appreciation of investment value.

 

Valuation Techniques

 

The following describes the valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of the assets and liabilities shown in the tables above.  Investments, primarily consisting of equity securities, that are valued using a net asset value per share can be redeemed quarterly with notice not to exceed 90 days.  Equity investments valued at net asset value per share utilize investment strategies aimed at matching the performance of indexed funds.  Transfers between levels in the fair value hierarchy are recognized as of the end of the reporting period.  There were no material transfers between any levels for the year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

Trust Assets

 

Nuclear decommissioning trust assets and other trust assets are composed primarily of equity securities and debt securities.  In general, investments held in the trusts are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and market volatility risks.

 

Global equity securities primarily include investments in common stock that are valued based on quoted prices in active markets and are classified as Level 1.  Equity securities also include commingled funds that are composed of equity securities traded publicly on exchanges across multiple industry sectors in the U.S. and other regions of the world. Investments in these funds are classified as Level 2 because price quotes are readily observable and available.

 

Debt securities are primarily composed of U.S. government and agency securities, municipal securities, and other fixed-income securities, including corporate debt securities.  U.S. government and agency securities primarily consist of U.S. Treasury securities that are classified as Level 1 because the fair value is determined by observable market prices in active markets.  A market approach is generally used to estimate the fair value of debt securities classified as Level 2 using evaluated pricing data such as broker quotes, for similar securities adjusted for observable differences.  Significant inputs used in the valuation model generally include benchmark yield curves and issuer spreads.  The external credit ratings, coupon rate, and maturity of each security are considered in the valuation model, as applicable.

 

Price Risk Management Instruments

 

Price risk management instruments include physical and financial derivative contracts, such as power purchase agreements, forwards, swaps, options, and CRRs that are traded either on an exchange or over-the-counter. 

 

Power purchase agreements, forwards, and swaps are valued using a discounted cash flow model.  Exchange-traded forwards and swaps that are valued using observable market forward prices for the underlying commodity are classified as Level 1.  Over-the-counter forwards and swaps that are identical to exchange-traded forwards and swaps, or are valued using forward prices from broker quotes that are corroborated with market data are classified as Level 2.  Exchange-traded options are valued using observable market data and market-corroborated data and are classified as Level 2. 

 

Long-dated power purchase agreements that are valued using significant unobservable data are classified as Level 3.  These Level 3 contracts are valued using either estimated basis adjustments from liquid trading points or techniques, including extrapolation from observable prices, when a contract term extends beyond a period for which market data is available.  Market and credit risk management utilizes models to derive pricing inputs for the valuation of the Utility’s Level 3 instruments using pricing inputs from brokers and historical data.

 

The Utility holds CRRs to hedge the financial risk of CAISO-imposed congestion charges in the day-ahead market.  Limited market data is available in the CAISO auction and between auction dates; therefore, the Utility utilizes historical prices to forecast forward prices. CRRs are classified as Level 3.

 

 

Level 3 Measurements and Sensitivity Analysis

 

The Utility’s market and credit risk management function, which reports to the Chief Risk and Audit Officer of the Utility, is responsible for determining the fair value of the Utility’s price risk management derivatives.  The Utility’s finance and risk management functions collaborate to determine the appropriate fair value methodologies and classification for each derivative.  Inputs used and the fair value of Level 3 instruments are reviewed period-over-period and compared with market conditions to determine reasonableness.

 

Significant increases or decreases in any of those inputs would result in a significantly higher or lower fair value, respectively.  All reasonable costs related to Level 3 instruments are expected to be recoverable through customer rates; therefore, there is no impact to net income resulting from changes in the fair value of these instruments.  (See Note 9 above.)

 

 

 

Fair Value at

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

At December 31, 2015

 

Valuation

 

Unobservable

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurement

 

Assets

 

Liabilities

 

Technique

 

Input

 

Range (1)

Congestion revenue rights

 

$

259 

 

$ 

63 

 

Market approach

 

CRR auction prices

 

$

(161.36) - 8.76

Power purchase agreements

 

$

- 

 

$ 

107 

 

Discounted cash flow

 

Forward prices

 

$

15.08 - 37.27 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1.                Represents price per megawatt-hour

 

 

 

Fair Value at

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

At December 31, 2014

 

Valuation

 

Unobservable

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurement

 

Assets

 

Liabilities

 

Technique

 

Input

 

Range (1)

Congestion revenue rights

 

$

232 

 

$

63 

 

Market approach

 

CRR auction prices

 

$

(15.97) - 8.17

Power purchase agreements

 

$

- 

 

$

100 

 

Discounted cash flow

 

Forward prices

 

$

16.04 - 56.21 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Represents price per megawatt-hour

 

Level 3 Reconciliation

 

The following table presents the reconciliation for Level 3 price risk management instruments for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively:

 

 

Price Risk Management Instruments

(in millions)

2015

 

2014

Asset (liability) balance as of January 1

$

69 

 

$

(30)

Net realized and unrealized gains:

 

 

 

 

 

Included in regulatory assets and liabilities or balancing accounts (1)

 

20 

 

 

99 

Asset (liability) balance as of December 31

$

89 

 

$

69 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    (1) The costs related to price risk management activities are recoverable through customer rates, therefore, balancing account revenue is recorded for amounts settled and purchased and there is no impact to net income. Unrealized gains and losses are deferred in regulatory liabilities and assets.

 

Financial Instruments

 

PG&E Corporation and the Utility use the following methods and assumptions in estimating fair value for financial instruments:

 

  • The fair values of cash, restricted cash, net accounts receivable, short-term borrowings, accounts payable, customer deposits, floating rate senior notes, and the Utility’s variable rate pollution control bond loan agreements approximate their carrying values at December 31, 2015 and 2014, as they are short-term in nature or have interest rates that reset daily. 

 

  • The fair values of the Utility’s fixed-rate senior notes and fixed-rate pollution control bonds and PG&E Corporation’s fixed-rate senior notes were based on quoted market prices at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

The carrying amount and fair value of PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s debt instruments were as follows (the table below excludes financial instruments with carrying values that approximate their fair values):

 

 

At December 31,

 

2015

 

2014

(in millions)

Carrying Amount

 

Level 2 Fair Value

 

Carrying Amount

 

Level 2 Fair Value

Debt (Note 4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PG&E Corporation

$

350 

 

$

354 

 

$

350 

 

$

352 

Utility

 

14,918 

 

 

16,422 

 

 

13,778 

 

 

15,851 

 

 

Available for Sale Investments

 

The following table provides a summary of available-for-sale investments:

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

Total Fair

(in millions)

Cost

 

 

Gains

 

 

Losses

 

 

Value

As of December 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nuclear decommissioning trusts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Money market investments

$

36 

 

$

- 

 

$

- 

 

$

36 

  Global equity securities

 

508 

 

 

1,034 

 

 

(9)

 

 

1,533 

  Fixed-income securities

 

1,165 

 

 

58 

 

 

(8)

 

 

1,215 

Total (1)

$

1,709 

 

$

1,092 

 

$

(17)

 

$

2,784 

As of December 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nuclear decommissioning trusts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Money market investments

$

17 

 

$

- 

 

$

- 

 

$

17 

  Global equity securities

 

520 

 

 

1,087 

 

 

(9)

 

 

1,598 

  Fixed-income securities

 

1,059 

 

 

75 

 

 

(4)

 

 

1,130 

Total nuclear decommissioning trusts (1)

 

1,596 

 

 

1,162 

 

 

(13)

 

 

2,745 

Other investments

 

5 

 

 

28 

 

 

- 

 

 

33 

Total

$

1,601 

 

$

1,190 

 

$

(13)

 

$

2,778 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Represents amounts before deducting $314 million and $324 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, primarily related to deferred taxes on appreciation of investment value.

 

The fair value of debt securities by contractual maturity is as follows:

 

 

As of

(in millions)

December 31, 2015

Less than 1 year

$

18 

1–5 years

 

470 

5–10 years

 

273 

More than 10 years

 

454 

Total maturities of debt securities

$

1,215 

 

The following table provides a summary of activity for the debt and equity securities:

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2013

(in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

investments

$

1,268 

 

$

1,336 

 

$

1,619 

Gross realized gains on sales of securities held as available-for-sale

 

55 

 

 

118 

 

 

94 

Gross realized losses on sales of securities held as available-for-sale

 

(37)

 

 

(12)

 

 

(13)