Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Authoritative accounting guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 measurements and the lowest priority to Level 3 measurements. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy and a description of the valuation techniques are as follows:

Level 1	-	Quoted prices for identical instruments in active market
Level 2	-	Quoted prices for similar instruments in active market
	-	Quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active
	-	Model-derived valuations for which all significant inputs are observable market data

Models are primarily industry-standard models that consider various assumptions, including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, volatility factors and current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures.

Level 3 - Valuation inputs are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement

FirstEnergy produces a long-term power and capacity price forecast annually with periodic updates as market conditions change. When underlying prices are not observable, prices from the long-term price forecast are used to measure fair value.

FTRs are financial instruments that entitle the holder to a stream of revenues (or charges) based on the hourly day-ahead congestion price differences across transmission paths. FTRs are acquired by FirstEnergy in the annual, monthly and long-term PJM auctions and are initially recorded using the auction clearing price less cost. After initial recognition, FTRs’ carrying values are periodically adjusted to fair value using a mark-to-model methodology, which approximates market. The primary inputs into the model, which are generally less observable than objective sources, are the most recent PJM auction clearing prices and the FTRs’ remaining hours. The model calculates the fair value by multiplying the most recent auction clearing price by the remaining FTR hours less the prorated FTR cost. Significant increases or decreases in inputs in isolation may have resulted in a higher or lower fair value measurement.

NUG contracts represent PPAs with third-party non-utility generators that are transacted to satisfy certain obligations under PURPA. NUG contract carrying values are recorded at fair value and adjusted periodically using a mark-to-model methodology, which approximates market. The primary unobservable inputs into the model are regional power prices and generation MWH. Pricing for the NUG contracts is a combination of market prices for the current year and next two years based on observable data and internal models using historical trends and market data for the remaining years under contract. The internal models use forecasted energy purchase prices as an input when prices are not defined by the contract. Forecasted market prices are based on Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. quotes and management assumptions. Generation MWH reflects data provided by contractual arrangements and historical trends. The model calculates the fair value by multiplying the prices by the generation MWH. Significant increases or decreases in inputs in isolation may have resulted in a higher or lower fair value measurement.

FirstEnergy primarily applies the market approach for recurring fair value measurements using the best information available. Accordingly, FirstEnergy maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs. There were no changes in valuation methodologies used as of March 31, 2020, from those used as of December 31, 2019. The determination of the fair value measures takes into consideration various factors, including but not limited to, nonperformance risk, counterparty credit risk and the impact of credit enhancements (such as cash deposits, LOCs and priority interests). The impact of these forms of risk was not significant to the fair value measurements.

The following tables set forth the recurring assets and liabilities that are accounted for at fair value by level within the fair value hierarchy:

	March 31, 2020										December 31, 2019
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3			Total			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3			Total
Assets	(In millions)
Corporate debt securities	$	—	$	124	$	—		$	124		$	—	$	135	$	—		$	135
Derivative assets FTRs(1)	—		—		—			—			—		—		4			4
Equity securities(2)	2		—		—			2			2		—		—			2
U.S. state debt securities	—		274		—			274			—		271		—			271
Other(3)	166		802		—			968			627		789		—			1,416
Total assets	$	168	$	1,200	$	—		$	1,368		$	629	$	1,195	$	4		$	1,828
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities FTRs(1)	$	—	$	—	$	(1	)	$	(1	)	$	—	$	—	$	(1	)	$	(1	)
Derivative liabilities NUG contracts(1)	—		—		(6		)	(6		)	—		—		(16		)	(16		)
Total liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	(7	)	$	(7	)	$	—	$	—	$	(17	)	$	(17	)
Net assets (liabilities)(4)	$	168	$	1,200	$	(7	)	$	1,361		$	629	$	1,195	$	(13	)	$	1,811

⁽¹⁾  Contracts are subject to regulatory accounting treatment and changes in market values do not impact earnings.

⁽²⁾  NDT funds hold equity portfolios whose performance is benchmarked against the S&P 500 Low Volatility High Dividend Index, S&P 500 Index and MSCI AC World IMI Index.

⁽³⁾  Primarily consists of short-term cash investments.

⁽⁴⁾  Excludes $(18) million and $(16) million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, of receivables, payables, taxes and accrued income associated with financial instruments reflected within the fair value table.

Rollforward of Level 3 Measurements

The following table provides a reconciliation of changes in the fair value of NUG contracts and FTRs that are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy for the periods ended March 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019:

	NUG Contracts(1)								FTRs(1)
	Derivative Assets		Derivative Liabilities			Net			Derivative Assets			Derivative Liabilities			Net
	(In millions)
January 1, 2019 Balance	$	—	$	(44	)	$	(44	)	$	10		$	(1	)	$	9
Unrealized gain	—		(11		)	(11		)	(1		)	—			(1		)
Purchases	—		—			—			6			(4		)	2
Settlements	—		39			39			(11		)	4			(7		)
December 31, 2019 Balance	$	—	$	(16	)	$	(16	)	$	4		$	(1	)	$	3
Unrealized loss	—		(3		)	(3		)	—			—			—
Purchases	—		—			—			—			—			—
Settlements	—		13			13			(4		)	—			(4		)
March 31, 2020 Balance	$	—	$	(6	)	$	(6	)	$	—		$	(1	)	$	(1	)

⁽¹⁾  Contracts are subject to regulatory accounting treatment and changes in market values do not impact earnings.

Level 3 Quantitative Information

The following table provides quantitative information for FTRs and NUG contracts that are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy for the period ended March 31, 2020:

	Fair Value, Net (In millions)			Valuation Technique	Significant Input	Range	Weighted Average	Units
FTRs	$	(1	)	Model	RTO auction clearing prices	$(0.10) to $2.10	$0.50	Dollars/MWH
NUG Contracts	$	(6	)	Model	Generation	400 to 109,000	27,000	MWH
					Regional electricity prices	$20.50 to $34.70	$21.60	Dollars/MWH

INVESTMENTS

All temporary cash investments purchased with an initial maturity of three months or less are reported as cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at cost, which approximates their fair market value. Investments other than cash and cash equivalents include equity securities, AFS debt securities and other investments. FirstEnergy has no debt securities held for trading purposes.

Generally, unrealized gains and losses on equity securities are recognized in income whereas unrealized gains and losses on AFS debt securities are recognized in AOCI. However, the NDTs and nuclear fuel disposal trusts of JCP&L, ME and PN are subject to regulatory accounting with all gains and losses on equity and AFS debt securities offset against regulatory assets.

The investment policy for the NDT funds restricts or limits the trusts’ ability to hold certain types of assets including private or direct placements, warrants, securities of FirstEnergy, investments in companies owning nuclear power plants, financial derivatives, securities convertible into common stock and securities of the trust funds’ custodian or managers and their parents or subsidiaries.

Nuclear Decommissioning and Nuclear Fuel Disposal Trusts

JCP&L, ME and PN hold debt and equity securities within their respective NDT and nuclear fuel disposal trusts. The debt securities are classified as AFS securities, recognized at fair market value. As further discussed in Note 10, "Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies", assets and liabilities held for sale on the FirstEnergy Consolidated Balance Sheets associated with the TMI-2 transaction consist of an ARO of $700 million, NDTs of $875 million, as well as property, plant and equipment with a net book value of zero, which are included in the regulated distribution segment.

The following table summarizes the amortized cost basis, unrealized gains, unrealized losses and fair values of investments held in NDT and nuclear fuel disposal trusts as of March 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019:

	March 31, 2020(1)									December 31, 2019(2)
	Cost Basis		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value (3)		Cost Basis		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value (3)
	(In millions)
Debt securities	$	405	$	8	$	(16	)	$	397	$	403	$	9	$	(11	)	$	401

⁽¹⁾ Excludes short-term cash investments of $753 million, of which $751 million is classified as held for sale.

⁽²⁾ Excludes short-term cash investments of $751 million, of which $747 million is classified as held for sale.

⁽³⁾ Includes $124 million and $135 million classified as held for sale as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

Proceeds from the sale of investments in equity and AFS debt securities, realized gains and losses on those sales and interest and dividend income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, were as follows:

	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020			2019
	(In millions)
Sale proceeds	$	13		$	153
Realized gains	4			7
Realized losses	(5		)	(6		)
Interest and dividend income	5			9

Other Investments

Other investments include employee benefit trusts, which are primarily invested in corporate-owned life insurance policies and equity method investments. Other investments were $288 million and $299 million as of March 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019, respectively, and are excluded from the amounts reported above.

LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS

All borrowings with initial maturities of less than one year are defined as short-term financial instruments under GAAP and are reported as Short-term borrowings on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at cost. Since these borrowings are short-term in nature, FirstEnergy believes that their costs approximate their fair market value. The following table provides the approximate fair value and related carrying amounts of long-term debt, which excludes finance lease obligations and net unamortized debt issuance costs, premiums and discounts as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

	March 31, 2020		December 31, 2019
	(In millions)
Carrying value (1)	$	21,297	$	20,074
Fair value	$	23,576	$	22,928

⁽¹⁾ The carrying value as of March 31, 2020, includes $2 billion of debt issuances and $778 million of redemptions that occurred in 2020.

The fair values of long-term debt and other long-term obligations reflect the present value of the cash outflows relating to those securities based on the current call price, the yield to maturity or the yield to call, as deemed appropriate at the end of each respective period. The yields assumed were based on securities with similar characteristics offered by corporations with credit ratings similar to those of FirstEnergy. FirstEnergy classified short-term borrowings, long-term debt and other long-term obligations as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy as of March 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019.