COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	NOTE 11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES LEGAL PROCEEDINGS We accrue losses for legal proceedings when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amounts of the loss can be reasonably estimated. However, the uncertainties inherent in legal proceedings make it difficult to estimate with reasonable certainty the costs and effects of resolving these matters. Accordingly, actual costs incurred may differ materially from amounts accrued, may exceed applicable insurance coverage and could materially adversely affect our business, cash flows, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. Unless otherwise indicated, we are unable to estimate reasonably possible losses in excess of any amounts accrued. At March 31, 2014, Sempra Energy's accrued liabilities for material legal proceedings, on a consolidated basis, were $183 million. At March 31, 2014, accrued liabilities for material legal proceedings for SDG&E and SoCalGas were $173 million and a negligible amount, respectively. At March 31, 2014, accrued liabilities of $130 million at Sempra Energy and SDG&E were related to wildfire litigation discussed below. SDG&E 2007 Wildfire Litigation In October 2007, San Diego County experienced several catastrophic wildfires. Reports issued by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) concluded that two of these fires (the Witch and Rice fires) were SDG&E “power line caused” and that a third fire (the Guejito fire) occurred when a wire securing a Cox Communications' (Cox) fiber optic cable came into contact with an SDG&E power line “causing an arc and starting the fire.” Cal Fire reported that the Rice fire burned approximately 9,500 acres and damaged 206 homes and two commercial properties, and the Witch and Guejito fires merged and eventually burned approximately 198,000 acres, resulting in two fatalities, approximately 40 firefighters injured and an estimated 1,141 homes destroyed. A September 2008 staff report issued by the CPUC's CPSD reached substantially the same conclusions as the Cal Fire reports, but also contended that the power lines involved in the Witch and Rice fires and the lashing wire involved in the Guejito fire were not properly designed, constructed and maintained. In April 2010, proceedings initiated by the CPUC to determine if any of its rules were violated were settled with SDG&E's payment of $14.75 million. Numerous parties have sued SDG&E and Sempra Energy in San Diego County Superior Court seeking recovery of unspecified amounts of damages, including punitive damages, from the three fires. They assert various bases for recovery, including inverse condemnation based upon a California Court of Appeal decision finding that another California investor-owned utility was subject to strict liability, without regard to foreseeability or negligence, for property damages resulting from a wildfire ignited by power lines. SDG&E has resolved almost all of these lawsuits. In February 2014, the Court set a February 2015 trial date for a trial to be comprised of five of the remaining cases involving plaintiffs who claim damages resulting from the Witch fire. SDG&E filed cross-complaints against Cox and three contractors, seeking indemnification for any liability that SDG&E might incur. SDG&E settled its claims against Cox and the three contractors for a total of approximately $824 million. Among other things, the settlement agreements provide that SDG&E will defend and indemnify Cox and the three contractors against all compensatory damage claims and related costs arising out of the wildfires. SDG&E's settled claims and defense costs have exceeded its $1.1 billion of liability insurance coverage for the covered period and the $824 million recovered from third parties. SDG&E has settled all of the approximately 19,000 claims brought by homeowner insurers for damage to insured property relating to the three fires. Under the settlement agreements, SDG&E has paid or will pay 57.5 percent of the approximately $1.6 billion paid or reserved for payment by the insurers to their policyholders and received an assignment of the insurers' claims against other parties potentially responsible for the fires. The wildfire litigation also includes claims of non-insurer plaintiffs for damage to uninsured and underinsured structures, business interruption, evacuation expenses, agricultural damage, emotional harm, personal injuries and other losses. SDG&E has now settled almost all of the claims of the approximately 6,500 plaintiffs for a total of approximately $1.25 billion. Substantially all of the remaining plaintiffs have submitted settlement demands and damage estimates, which total approximately $250 million. SDG&E does not expect a significant number of additional plaintiffs to file lawsuits given the applicable statutes of limitation, but does expect to receive additional settlement demands and damage estimates from existing plaintiffs as settlement negotiations continue. SDG&E has established reserves for the wildfire litigation as we discuss below. As we discuss in Note 10, SDG&E has concluded that it is probable that it will be permitted to recover in rates a substantial portion of its reasonably incurred costs of resolving wildfire claims in excess of its liability insurance coverage and the amounts recovered from third parties. Accordingly, although such recovery will require future regulatory approval, at March 31, 2014, Sempra Energy and SDG&E have recorded assets of $377 million in Other Regulatory Assets (long-term) on their Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, including $358 million related to CPUC-regulated operations, which represents the amount substantially equal to the aggregate amount it has paid or reserved for payment for the resolution of wildfire claims and related costs in excess of its liability insurance coverage and amounts recovered from third parties. SDG&E will increase the regulatory assets if the estimate of amounts to settle remaining claims increases. SDG&E will continue to assess the probability of recovery of these excess wildfire costs in rates. Should SDG&E conclude that recovery in rates is no longer probable, SDG&E will record a charge against earnings at the time such conclusion is reached. If SDG&E had concluded that the recovery of regulatory assets related to CPUC-regulated operations was no longer probable or was less than currently estimated at March 31, 2014, the resulting after-tax charge against earnings would have been up to approximately $210 million. In addition, in periods following any such conclusion, SDG&E's earnings will be adversely impacted by increases in the estimated cost to litigate or settle pending wildfire claims. We provide additional information about excess wildfire claims cost recovery and related CPUC actions in Note 10 and discuss how we assess the probability of recovery of our regulatory assets in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report. SDG&E's cash flow may be materially adversely affected due to the timing differences between the resolution of claims and the recoveries in rates, which may extend over a number of years. Also, recovery from customers will require future regulatory actions, and a failure to obtain substantial or full recovery, or any negative assessment of the likelihood of recovery, would likely have a material adverse effect on Sempra Energy's and SDG&E's businesses, financial condition, cash flows, results of operations and prospects. SDG&E will continue to gather information to evaluate and assess the remaining wildfire claims and the likelihood, amount and timing of related recoveries in rates and will make appropriate adjustments to wildfire reserves and the related regulatory assets as additional information becomes available. Since 2010, as liabilities for wildfire litigation have become reasonably estimable in the form of settlement demands, damage estimates, and other damage information, SDG&E has recorded related reserves as a liability. Most of the impact of this liability at March 31, 2014 is offset by the recognition of regulatory assets, as discussed above, for reserves in excess of the insurance coverage and recoveries from third parties. The impact of the change in the reserves on SDG&E's and Sempra Energy's after-tax earnings resulted in decreases of $2.8 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At March 31, 2014, wildfire litigation reserves were $130 million ($75 million current and $55 million long-term). Additionally, through March 31, 2014, SDG&E has expended $374 million in excess of amounts covered by insurance and amounts recovered from third parties to pay for the settlement of wildfire claims and related costs. Sunrise Powerlink Electric Transmission Line The Sunrise Powerlink is a 117-mile, 500-kV electric transmission line between the Imperial Valley and the San Diego region that was energized and placed in service in June 2012. The Sunrise Powerlink project was approved by the CPUC in December 2008, the Bureau of Land Management in January 2009, and the United States Forest Service in July 2010. Numerous administrative appeals and legal challenges have been resolved in favor of the project. Two legal challenges remain pending. In February 2011, opponents of the Sunrise Powerlink filed a lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court against the State Water Resources Control Board and SDG&E alleging that the water quality certification issued by the Board under the Federal Clean Water Act violated the California Environmental Quality Act. The Superior Court denied the plaintiffs' petition in July 2012, and the plaintiffs have appealed. A claim for additional compensation has been submitted by one of SDG&E's contractors on the Sunrise Powerlink project. The contractor was awarded the transmission line overhead and underground construction contract on a fixed-fee basis of $456 million after agreed-upon amendments. The contractor has asserted that it is owed additional compensation above the fixed-fee portion of the contract. In May 2013, the contractor filed claims totaling $180.3 million, including one in San Diego County for the sum of $99.2 million and the other in Imperial County for the sum of $81.1 million, seeking foreclosure of previously filed mechanics liens. In October 2013, the contractor served a Demand for Arbitration pursuant to contractual provisions. SDG&E has answered the demand and filed a counter claim against the contractor. The arbitration panel has set a March 2015 arbitration hearing date. September 2011 Power Outage In September 2011, a power outage lasting approximately 12 hours affected millions of people from Mexico to southern Orange County, California. Within several days of the outage, several SDG&E customers filed a class action lawsuit in Federal District Court in San Diego against Arizona Public Service Company, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and SDG&E alleging that the companies failed to prevent the outage. The lawsuit seeks recovery of unspecified amounts of damages, including punitive damages. In July 2012, the court granted SDG&E's motion to dismiss the punitive damages request and dismissed Arizona Public Service Company and Pinnacle West Capital Corporation from the lawsuit. In September 2013, the court granted SDG&E's motion for summary judgment and dismissed the lawsuit. In October 2013, the plaintiffs appealed the court's dismissal of their action. The FERC and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Staff conducted a joint inquiry to determine the cause of the power failure and issued a report in May 2012 regarding their findings. Following that report, Staff from FERC's Office of Enforcement (FERC Enforcement Staff) investigated potential violations of FERC's Reliability Standards associated with the outage. In January 2014, FERC Enforcement Staff issued a Staff Notice of Alleged Violations, in which FERC Enforcement Staff alleged violations of various Reliability Standards by several entities. FERC Enforcement Staff did not allege or find any violations by SDG&E. Smart Meters Patent Infringement Lawsuit In October 2011, SDG&E was sued by a Texas design and manufacturing company in Federal District Court, Southern District of California, and later transferred to the Federal District Court, Western District of Oklahoma, alleging that SDG&E's recently installed smart meters infringed certain patents. The meters were purchased from a third party vendor that has agreed to defend and indemnify SDG&E. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and recovery of unspecified amounts of damages. Lawsuit Against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. On July 18, 2013, SDG&E filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of California in the County of San Diego against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems, Inc., and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. (collectively MHI). The lawsuit seeks to recover damages SDG&E has incurred and will incur related to the design defects in the steam generators MHI provided to the SONGS nuclear power plant. The lawsuit asserts a number of causes of action, including fraud, based on the representations MHI made about its qualifications and ability to design generators free from defects of the kind that resulted in the permanent shutdown of the plant and further seeks to set aside the contractual limitation of damages that MHI has asserted. On July 24, 2013, MHI removed the lawsuit to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California and on August 8, 2013, MHI moved to stay the proceeding pending resolution of the dispute resolution process involving MHI and Edison arising from their contract for the purchase and sale of the steam generators. On October 16, 2013, Edison initiated an arbitration proceeding against MHI seeking damages stemming from the failure of the replacement steam generators. In late December 2013, MHI answered and filed a counter-claim against Edison. On March 14, 2014, MHI's motion to stay the United States District Court proceeding was granted with instructions that require the parties to allow SDG&E to participate in the ongoing Edison/MHI arbitration. Investment in Wind Farm In 2011, the CPUC and FERC approved SDG&E's estimated $285 million tax equity investment in a wind farm project and its purchase of renewable energy credits from that project. SDG&E's contractual obligations to both invest in the Rim Rock wind farm and to purchase renewable energy credits from the wind farm under the power purchase agreement are subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions which, if not achieved, would allow SDG&E to terminate the power purchase agreement and not make the investment. In December 2013, SDG&E received a closing notice from the project developer indicating that all such conditions had been met. SDG&E responded to the closing notice asserting that the contractual conditions had not been satisfied. On December 19, 2013, SDG&E filed a complaint against the project developer in San Diego Superior Court, asking that the court determine that SDG&E is entitled to terminate both the investment contract and the power purchase agreement due to the project developer's failure to satisfy certain conditions. The project developer filed a separate complaint against SDG&E in Montana state court asking that court to determine that SDG&E breached the investment contract and the power purchase agreement, and asking for several categories of relief, including requiring SDG&E to invest in the project, requiring SDG&E to continue performing under the power purchase agreement, and payment of damages. On January 27, 2014, the Montana court ordered SDG&E to continue making payments under the power purchase agreement pending a hearing on the project developer's preliminary injunction motion. On March 14, 2014, SDG&E notified the project developer that the investment agreement expired by its own terms because a closing had not occurred by that date. The project developer is disputing SDG&E's position. On March 28, 2014, SDG&E filed an amended complaint against the project developer in San Diego seeking damages and declaratory relief that SDG&E was entitled to terminate the power purchase agreement and to permit the investment agreement to expire. On April 25, 2014, the Montana court granted the project developer's preliminary injunction motion to prevent SDG&E from terminating the power purchase agreement on the grounds that the project developer would be irreparably harmed if the payments were not made while the parties' respective rights were being determined in the litigation. The court did not rule on the merits of the parties' claims. SoCalGas SoCalGas, along with Monsanto Co., Solutia, Inc., Pharmacia Corp. and Pfizer, Inc., are defendants in seven Los Angeles County Superior Court lawsuits filed beginning in April 2011 seeking recovery of unspecified amounts of damages, including punitive damages, as a result of plaintiffs' exposure to PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). The lawsuits allege plaintiffs were exposed to PCBs not only through the food chain and other various sources but from PCB-contaminated natural gas pipelines owned and operated by SoCalGas. This contamination allegedly caused plaintiffs to develop cancer and other serious illnesses. Plaintiffs assert various bases for recovery, including negligence and products liability. SoCalGas has settled two of the seven lawsuits for an amount that is not significant. Sempra Mexico Permit Challenges and Property Disputes Sempra Mexico has been engaged in a long-running land dispute relating to property adjacent to its Energía Costa Azul LNG terminal near Ensenada, Mexico. Ownership of the adjacent property is not required by any of the environmental or other regulatory permits issued for the operation of the terminal. A claimant to the adjacent property has nonetheless asserted that his health and safety are endangered by the operation of the facility, and filed an action in the Federal Court challenging the permits. In February 2011, based on a complaint by the claimant, the municipality of Ensenada opened an administrative proceeding and sought to temporarily close the terminal based on claims of irregularities in municipal permits issued six years earlier. This attempt was promptly countermanded by Mexican federal and Baja California state authorities. No terminal permits or operations were affected as a result of these proceedings or events and the terminal has continued to operate normally. Sempra Mexico expects additional Mexican court proceedings and governmental actions regarding the claimant's assertions as to whether the terminal's permits should be modified or revoked in any manner. The claimant filed complaints in the federal Agrarian Court challenging the refusal of the Secretaría Reforma Agraria (now the Secretaría de Desarrollo Agrario, Territorial y Urbano, or SEDATU) in 2006 to issue a title to him for the disputed property. In November 2013, the Agrarian Court ordered that SEDATU issue the requested title and cause it to be registered. Both SEDATU and Sempra Mexico have challenged the rulings. Sempra Mexico expects additional proceedings regarding the claims, although such proceedings are not related to the permit challenges referenced above. The property claimant also filed a lawsuit in July 2010 against Sempra Energy in Federal District Court in San Diego seeking compensatory and punitive damages as well as the earnings from the Energía Costa Azul LNG terminal based on his allegations that he was wrongfully evicted from the adjacent property and that he has been harmed by other allegedly improper actions. Sempra Energy has disputed the claims and allegations in this lawsuit. Additionally, several administrative challenges are pending in Mexico before the Mexican environmental protection agency (SEMARNAT) and/or the Federal Tax and Administrative Courts seeking revocation of the environmental impact authorization (EIA) issued to Energía Costa Azul in 2003. These cases generally allege that the conditions and mitigation measures in the EIA are inadequate and challenge findings that the activities of the terminal are consistent with regional development guidelines. The Mexican Supreme Court decided to exercise jurisdiction over one such case, and on March 21, 2014, issued a resolution denying the relief sought by the plaintiff on the grounds its action was not timely presented. A similar administrative challenge seeking to revoke the port concession for our marine operations at our Energía Costa Azul LNG terminal, which was filed with and rejected by the Mexican Communications and Transportation Ministry, remains on appeal in Mexican federal court as well. Two real property cases have been filed against Energía Costa Azul in which the plaintiffs seek to annul the recorded property titles for parcels on which the Energía Costa Azul LNG terminal is situated and to obtain possession of different parcels that allegedly sit in the same place; one of these cases was dismissed in September 2013 at the direction of the state appellate court. A third complaint was served in April 2013 seeking to invalidate the contract by which Energía Costa Azul purchased another of the terminal parcels, on the grounds the purchase price was unfair. Sempra Mexico expects further proceedings on the remaining two matters. Sempra Natural Gas Liberty Gas Storage, LLC (Liberty) received a demand for arbitration from Williams Midstream Natural Gas Liquids, Inc. (Williams) in February 2011 related to a sublease agreement. Williams alleges that Liberty was negligent in its attempt to convert certain salt caverns to natural gas storage and seeks damages of $56.7 million. Liberty filed a counterclaim alleging breach of contract in the inducement and seeks damages of more than $215 million. Other Litigation As described in Note 4, Sempra Energy holds a noncontrolling interest in RBS Sempra Commodities, a limited liability partnership in the process of being liquidated. In March 2012, RBS received a letter from the United Kingdom's Revenue and Customs Department (HMRC) regarding a value-added-tax (VAT) matter related to RBS Sempra Energy Europe (RBS SEE), a former indirect subsidiary of RBS Sempra Commodities that was sold to JP Morgan. The letter states that HMRC is conducting a number of investigations into VAT refund claims made by various businesses related to the purchase and sale of carbon credit allowances. The letter also states that HMRC believes it has grounds to deny RBS the ability to reduce its VAT liability by VAT paid during 2009 because it knew or should have known that certain vendors in the trading chain did not remit their own VAT to HMRC. In September 2012, HMRC issued a protective assessment of £86 million for the VAT paid in connection with these transactions. In January 2014, RBS filed a report responding to the allegations set forth in HMRC's March 2012 letter. HMRC is currently considering the information provided in the January 2014 report, after which it will either continue its investigation and pursue the assessment, or drop the investigation and the assessment. If the assessment stands, RBS can request an internal independent review by HMRC and if the assessment still stands, appeal to an independent tribunal. In August 2007, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision reversing and remanding certain FERC orders declining to provide refunds regarding short-term bilateral sales up to one month in the Pacific Northwest for the January 2000 to June 2001 time period. In December 2010, the FERC approved a comprehensive settlement previously reached by Sempra Energy and RBS Sempra Commodities with the State of California. The settlement resolved all issues with regard to sales between the California Department of Water Resources and Sempra Commodities in the Pacific Northwest, but potential claims may exist regarding sales in the Pacific Northwest between Sempra Commodities and other parties. The FERC is in the process of addressing these potential claims on remand. Pursuant to the agreements related to the formation of RBS Sempra Commodities, we have indemnified RBS should the liability from the final resolution of these matters be greater than the reserves related to Sempra Commodities. Pursuant to our agreement with the Noble Group Ltd., one of the buyers of RBS Sempra Commodities' businesses, we have also indemnified Noble Americas Gas & Power Corp. and its affiliates for all losses incurred by such parties resulting from these proceedings as related to Sempra Commodities. We are also defendants in ordinary routine litigation incidental to our businesses, including personal injury, product liability, property damage and other claims. California juries have demonstrated an increasing willingness to grant large awards, including punitive damages, in these types of cases. CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS We discuss below significant changes in the first three months of 2014 to contractual commitments discussed in Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report. Natural Gas Contracts SoCalGas' natural gas purchase and pipeline capacity commitments have decreased by $45 million since December 31, 2013, primarily due to fulfillment of payment obligations and changes to forecasted gas prices in the first three months of 2014. Sempra Natural Gas' natural gas purchase and storage capacity commitments have decreased by $40 million since December 31, 2013, primarily due to payments on existing contracts in the first three months of 2014. Net future payments are expected to decrease by $36 million in 2014, $3 million in 2015, and $1 million in 2016 compared to December 31, 2013. LNG Purchase Agreements At March 31, 2014, Sempra Natural Gas has various purchase agreements with major international companies for the supply of LNG to the Energía Costa Azul and Cameron terminals. The agreements range from short-term to multi-year periods and are priced using a predetermined formula based on natural gas market indices. Although these contracts specify a number of cargoes to be delivered, under their terms, customers may divert certain cargoes, which would reduce amounts paid under the contracts by Sempra Natural Gas. Sempra Natural Gas' commitments under all LNG purchase agreements, reflecting changes in forward prices since December 31, 2013 and actual transactions for the first three months of 2014, are expected to decrease by $121 million in 2014, and to increase by $22 million in 2015, $10 million in 2016, $19 million in 2017, $24 million in 2018 and $626 million thereafter compared to December 31, 2013. These amounts are based on forward prices of the index applicable to each contract from 2014 to 2023 and an estimated one percent escalation per year beyond 2023. The LNG commitment amounts above are based on Sempra Natural Gas' commitment to accept the maximum possible delivery of cargoes under the agreements. Actual LNG purchases in the current and prior years have been significantly lower than the maximum amounts possible. Purchased-Power Contracts SDG&E's commitments under purchased-power contract commitments have increased by $742 million since December 31, 2013. The increase is primarily due to new contracts associated with renewable energy development projects. Net future payments are therefore expected to increase by $11 million in 2014, decrease by $7 million in 2015, and increase by $37 million in 2016, $36 million in 2017, $34 million in 2018 and $631 million thereafter compared to December 31, 2013. Operating Leases In the first three months of 2014, the change to operating lease commitments at Sempra Renewables was a decrease of $82 million primarily for the deconsolidation of the Copper Mountain Solar 3 project, as we discuss in Note 3. Net future payments are expected to decrease by $2 million each year in 2014 through 2018 and $72 million thereafter. Construction and Development Projects In the first three months of 2014, significant net increases to contractual commitments at SDG&E were $99 million primarily for the South Bay Substation and East County Substation projects. Net future payments under these contractual commitments are expected to increase by $60 million in 2014, $36 million in 2015 and $3 million in 2016. In the first three months of 2014, significant net increases to contractual commitments at SoCalGas were $159 million primarily for the Aliso Canyon Turbine Replacement Project and the Pipeline Safety Enhancement Program. Net future payments under these contractual commitments are expected to increase by $86 million in 2014, $55 million in 2015, $12 million in 2016 and $6 million in 2017 compared to December 31, 2013. In the first three months of 2014, significant net increases to contractual commitments at Sempra Mexico were $9 million, all in 2014, for contracts related to the construction of the Sonora Pipeline project, a natural gas transport pipeline network. In the first three months of 2014, the change to contractual commitments at Sempra Renewables was a decrease of $489 million primarily for the deconsolidation of the Copper Mountain Solar 3 project. Net future payments under these contractual commitments are expected to decrease by $449 million in 2014 and $40 million in 2015. In March 2014, Cameron LNG entered into an engineering, procurement and construction contract with a joint venture consisting of CB&I Shaw Constructors, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V., and Chiyoda International Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chiyoda Corporation, to construct the Cameron liquefaction project in Hackberry, Louisiana. The scope of work under this contract includes the engineering, procurement and construction of three liquefaction trains with an aggregate nameplate capacity of approximately 13.5 million tonnes per year of LNG. The construction contract is a lump sum, date certain agreement, with a cost to Cameron LNG of approximately $6 billion as of the execution date. The lump sum price may be adjusted based on the occurrence of well-defined events, such as change orders issued by Cameron LNG, and the occurrence of other events where an adjustment to the lump sum price is customary for lump sum, date certain construction agreements. Under the contract, Cameron LNG may, in its discretion, issue a series of three limited notices to proceed to commence certain items of work prior to issuance of a full notice to proceed to commence all contemplated work. Each limited notice to proceed authorizes the performance of additional, discrete portions of work and is subject to a firm cancellation cap if the construction contract is subsequently terminated prior to issuance of the full notice to proceed. The first limited notice to proceed, authorizing up to $27 million of expenditures, was issued in April 2014. Cameron LNG also has the right under the construction contract, subject to the terms and conditions of the joint venture documents with its partners on the project, to issue at any time the full notice to proceed to commence the construction of all work. NUCLEAR INSURANCE SDG&E and the other owners of SONGS have insurance to cover claims from nuclear liability incidents arising at SONGS. This insurance provides $375 million in coverage limits, the maximum amount available, including coverage for acts of terrorism. In addition, the Price-Anderson Act provides for up to $13.2 billion of secondary financial protection (SFP). If a nuclear liability loss occurring at any U.S. licensed/commercial reactor exceeds the $375 million insurance limit, all nuclear reactor owners could be required to contribute to the SFP. SDG&E's contribution would be up to $50.93 million. This amount is subject to an annual maximum of $7.6 million, unless a default occurs by any other SONGS owner. If the SFP is insufficient to cover the liability loss, SDG&E could be subject to an additional assessment. The SONGS owners, including SDG&E, also have $2.75 billion of nuclear property, decontamination, and debris removal insurance, subject to a $2.5 million deductible for “each and every loss.” This insurance coverage is provided through NEIL. The NEIL policies have specific exclusions and limitations that can result in reduced or eliminated coverage. Insured members as a group are subject to retrospective premium assessments to cover losses sustained by NEIL under all issued policies. SDG&E could be assessed up to $9.7 million of retrospective premiums based on overall member claims. Edison, on behalf of itself and the minority owners of SONGS (including SDG&E), has placed NEIL on notice of claims under both the property damage and outage insurance policies as a result of SONGS' Units 2 and 3 outages in early 2012 and the resultant plant closure in June 2013. The nuclear property insurance program includes an industry aggregate loss limit for non-certified acts of terrorism (as defined by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act). The industry aggregate loss limit for property claims arising from non-certified acts of terrorism is $3.24 billion. This is the maximum amount that will be paid to insured members who suffer losses or damages from these non-certified terrorist acts. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) NUCLEAR FUEL DISPOSAL The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 made the DOE responsible for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel. However, it is uncertain when the DOE will begin accepting spent nuclear fuel from SONGS. This delay will lead to increased costs for spent fuel storage. This cost will be recovered through SONGS revenue unless SDG&E is able to recover the increased cost from the federal government. We provide additional information about SONGS in Note 9.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]

NOTE 11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We accrue losses for legal proceedings when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amounts of the loss can be reasonably estimated. However, the uncertainties inherent in legal proceedings make it difficult to estimate with reasonable certainty the costs and effects of resolving these matters. Accordingly, actual costs incurred may differ materially from amounts accrued, may exceed applicable insurance coverage and could materially adversely affect our business, cash flows, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. Unless otherwise indicated, we are unable to estimate reasonably possible losses in excess of any amounts accrued.

At March 31, 2014, Sempra Energy's accrued liabilities for material legal proceedings, on a consolidated basis, were $183 million. At March 31, 2014, accrued liabilities for material legal proceedings for SDG&E and SoCalGas were $173 million and a negligible amount, respectively. At March 31, 2014, accrued liabilities of $130 million at Sempra Energy and SDG&E were related to wildfire litigation discussed below.

SDG&E

2007 Wildfire Litigation

In October 2007, San Diego County experienced several catastrophic wildfires. Reports issued by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) concluded that two of these fires (the Witch and Rice fires) were SDG&E “power line caused” and that a third fire (the Guejito fire) occurred when a wire securing a Cox Communications' (Cox) fiber optic cable came into contact with an SDG&E power line “causing an arc and starting the fire.” Cal Fire reported that the Rice fire burned approximately 9,500 acres and damaged 206 homes and two commercial properties, and the Witch and Guejito fires merged and eventually burned approximately 198,000 acres, resulting in two fatalities, approximately 40 firefighters injured and an estimated 1,141 homes destroyed.

A September 2008 staff report issued by the CPUC's CPSD reached substantially the same conclusions as the Cal Fire reports, but also contended that the power lines involved in the Witch and Rice fires and the lashing wire involved in the Guejito fire were not properly designed, constructed and maintained. In April 2010, proceedings initiated by the CPUC to determine if any of its rules were violated were settled with SDG&E's payment of $14.75 million.

Numerous parties have sued SDG&E and Sempra Energy in San Diego County Superior Court seeking recovery of unspecified amounts of damages, including punitive damages, from the three fires. They assert various bases for recovery, including inverse condemnation based upon a California Court of Appeal decision finding that another California investor-owned utility was subject to strict liability, without regard to foreseeability or negligence, for property damages resulting from a wildfire ignited by power lines. SDG&E has resolved almost all of these lawsuits. In February 2014, the Court set a February 2015 trial date for a trial to be comprised of five of the remaining cases involving plaintiffs who claim damages resulting from the Witch fire.

SDG&E filed cross-complaints against Cox and three contractors, seeking indemnification for any liability that SDG&E might incur. SDG&E settled its claims against Cox and the three contractors for a total of approximately $824 million. Among other things, the settlement agreements provide that SDG&E will defend and indemnify Cox and the three contractors against all compensatory damage claims and related costs arising out of the wildfires.

SDG&E's settled claims and defense costs have exceeded its $1.1 billion of liability insurance coverage for the covered period and the $824 million recovered from third parties. SDG&E has settled all of the approximately 19,000 claims brought by homeowner insurers for damage to insured property relating to the three fires. Under the settlement agreements, SDG&E has paid or will pay 57.5 percent of the approximately $1.6 billion paid or reserved for payment by the insurers to their policyholders and received an assignment of the insurers' claims against other parties potentially responsible for the fires.

The wildfire litigation also includes claims of non-insurer plaintiffs for damage to uninsured and underinsured structures, business interruption, evacuation expenses, agricultural damage, emotional harm, personal injuries and other losses. SDG&E has now settled almost all of the claims of the approximately 6,500 plaintiffs for a total of approximately $1.25 billion. Substantially all of the remaining plaintiffs have submitted settlement demands and damage estimates, which total approximately $250 million. SDG&E does not expect a significant number of additional plaintiffs to file lawsuits given the applicable statutes of limitation, but does expect to receive additional settlement demands and damage estimates from existing plaintiffs as settlement negotiations continue. SDG&E has established reserves for the wildfire litigation as we discuss below.

As we discuss in Note 10, SDG&E has concluded that it is probable that it will be permitted to recover in rates a substantial portion of its reasonably incurred costs of resolving wildfire claims in excess of its liability insurance coverage and the amounts recovered from third parties. Accordingly, although such recovery will require future regulatory approval, at March 31, 2014, Sempra Energy and SDG&E have recorded assets of $377 million in Other Regulatory Assets (long-term) on their Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, including $358 million related to CPUC-regulated operations, which represents the amount substantially equal to the aggregate amount it has paid or reserved for payment for the resolution of wildfire claims and related costs in excess of its liability insurance coverage and amounts recovered from third parties. SDG&E will increase the regulatory assets if the estimate of amounts to settle remaining claims increases.

SDG&E will continue to assess the probability of recovery of these excess wildfire costs in rates. Should SDG&E conclude that recovery in rates is no longer probable, SDG&E will record a charge against earnings at the time such conclusion is reached. If SDG&E had concluded that the recovery of regulatory assets related to CPUC-regulated operations was no longer probable or was less than currently estimated at March 31, 2014, the resulting after-tax charge against earnings would have been up to approximately $210 million. In addition, in periods following any such conclusion, SDG&E's earnings will be adversely impacted by increases in the estimated cost to litigate or settle pending wildfire claims. We provide additional information about excess wildfire claims cost recovery and related CPUC actions in Note 10 and discuss how we assess the probability of recovery of our regulatory assets in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.

SDG&E's cash flow may be materially adversely affected due to the timing differences between the resolution of claims and the recoveries in rates, which may extend over a number of years. Also, recovery from customers will require future regulatory actions, and a failure to obtain substantial or full recovery, or any negative assessment of the likelihood of recovery, would likely have a material adverse effect on Sempra Energy's and SDG&E's businesses, financial condition, cash flows, results of operations and prospects.

SDG&E will continue to gather information to evaluate and assess the remaining wildfire claims and the likelihood, amount and timing of related recoveries in rates and will make appropriate adjustments to wildfire reserves and the related regulatory assets as additional information becomes available.

Since 2010, as liabilities for wildfire litigation have become reasonably estimable in the form of settlement demands, damage estimates, and other damage information, SDG&E has recorded related reserves as a liability. Most of the impact of this liability at March 31, 2014 is offset by the recognition of regulatory assets, as discussed above, for reserves in excess of the insurance coverage and recoveries from third parties. The impact of the change in the reserves on SDG&E's and Sempra Energy's after-tax earnings resulted in decreases of $2.8 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At March 31, 2014, wildfire litigation reserves were $130 million ($75 million current and $55 million long-term). Additionally, through March 31, 2014, SDG&E has expended $374 million in excess of amounts covered by insurance and amounts recovered from third parties to pay for the settlement of wildfire claims and related costs.

Sunrise Powerlink Electric Transmission Line

The Sunrise Powerlink is a 117-mile, 500-kV electric transmission line between the Imperial Valley and the San Diego region that was energized and placed in service in June 2012. The Sunrise Powerlink project was approved by the CPUC in December 2008, the Bureau of Land Management in January 2009, and the United States Forest Service in July 2010. Numerous administrative appeals and legal challenges have been resolved in favor of the project. Two legal challenges remain pending.

In February 2011, opponents of the Sunrise Powerlink filed a lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court against the State Water Resources Control Board and SDG&E alleging that the water quality certification issued by the Board under the Federal Clean Water Act violated the California Environmental Quality Act. The Superior Court denied the plaintiffs' petition in July 2012, and the plaintiffs have appealed.

A claim for additional compensation has been submitted by one of SDG&E's contractors on the Sunrise Powerlink project. The contractor was awarded the transmission line overhead and underground construction contract on a fixed-fee basis of $456 million after agreed-upon amendments. The contractor has asserted that it is owed additional compensation above the fixed-fee portion of the contract. In May 2013, the contractor filed claims totaling $180.3 million, including one in San Diego County for the sum of $99.2 million and the other in Imperial County for the sum of $81.1 million, seeking foreclosure of previously filed mechanics liens. In October 2013, the contractor served a Demand for Arbitration pursuant to contractual provisions. SDG&E has answered the demand and filed a counter claim against the contractor. The arbitration panel has set a March 2015 arbitration hearing date.

September 2011 Power Outage

In September 2011, a power outage lasting approximately 12 hours affected millions of people from Mexico to southern Orange County, California. Within several days of the outage, several SDG&E customers filed a class action lawsuit in Federal District Court in San Diego against Arizona Public Service Company, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and SDG&E alleging that the companies failed to prevent the outage. The lawsuit seeks recovery of unspecified amounts of damages, including punitive damages. In July 2012, the court granted SDG&E's motion to dismiss the punitive damages request and dismissed Arizona Public Service Company and Pinnacle West Capital Corporation from the lawsuit. In September 2013, the court granted SDG&E's motion for summary judgment and dismissed the lawsuit. In October 2013, the plaintiffs appealed the court's dismissal of their action.

The FERC and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Staff conducted a joint inquiry to determine the cause of the power failure and issued a report in May 2012 regarding their findings. Following that report, Staff from FERC's Office of Enforcement (FERC Enforcement Staff) investigated potential violations of FERC's Reliability Standards associated with the outage. In January 2014, FERC Enforcement Staff issued a Staff Notice of Alleged Violations, in which FERC Enforcement Staff alleged violations of various Reliability Standards by several entities. FERC Enforcement Staff did not allege or find any violations by SDG&E.

Smart Meters Patent Infringement Lawsuit

In October 2011, SDG&E was sued by a Texas design and manufacturing company in Federal District Court, Southern District of California, and later transferred to the Federal District Court, Western District of Oklahoma, alleging that SDG&E's recently installed smart meters infringed certain patents. The meters were purchased from a third party vendor that has agreed to defend and indemnify SDG&E. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and recovery of unspecified amounts of damages.

Lawsuit Against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

On July 18, 2013, SDG&E filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of California in the County of San Diego against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems, Inc., and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. (collectively MHI). The lawsuit seeks to recover damages SDG&E has incurred and will incur related to the design defects in the steam generators MHI provided to the SONGS nuclear power plant. The lawsuit asserts a number of causes of action, including fraud, based on the representations MHI made about its qualifications and ability to design generators free from defects of the kind that resulted in the permanent shutdown of the plant and further seeks to set aside the contractual limitation of damages that MHI has asserted. On July 24, 2013, MHI removed the lawsuit to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California and on August 8, 2013, MHI moved to stay the proceeding pending resolution of the dispute resolution process involving MHI and Edison arising from their contract for the purchase and sale of the steam generators. On October 16, 2013, Edison initiated an arbitration proceeding against MHI seeking damages stemming from the failure of the replacement steam generators. In late December 2013, MHI answered and filed a counter-claim against Edison. On March 14, 2014, MHI's motion to stay the United States District Court proceeding was granted with instructions that require the parties to allow SDG&E to participate in the ongoing Edison/MHI arbitration.

Investment in Wind Farm

In 2011, the CPUC and FERC approved SDG&E's estimated $285 million tax equity investment in a wind farm project and its purchase of renewable energy credits from that project. SDG&E's contractual obligations to both invest in the Rim Rock wind farm and to purchase renewable energy credits from the wind farm under the power purchase agreement are subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions which, if not achieved, would allow SDG&E to terminate the power purchase agreement and not make the investment. In December 2013, SDG&E received a closing notice from the project developer indicating that all such conditions had been met. SDG&E responded to the closing notice asserting that the contractual conditions had not been satisfied. On December 19, 2013, SDG&E filed a complaint against the project developer in San Diego Superior Court, asking that the court determine that SDG&E is entitled to terminate both the investment contract and the power purchase agreement due to the project developer's failure to satisfy certain conditions. The project developer filed a separate complaint against SDG&E in Montana state court asking that court to determine that SDG&E breached the investment contract and the power purchase agreement, and asking for several categories of relief, including requiring SDG&E to invest in the project, requiring SDG&E to continue performing under the power purchase agreement, and payment of damages.

On January 27, 2014, the Montana court ordered SDG&E to continue making payments under the power purchase agreement pending a hearing on the project developer's preliminary injunction motion. On March 14, 2014, SDG&E notified the project developer that the investment agreement expired by its own terms because a closing had not occurred by that date. The project developer is disputing SDG&E's position. On March 28, 2014, SDG&E filed an amended complaint against the project developer in San Diego seeking damages and declaratory relief that SDG&E was entitled to terminate the power purchase agreement and to permit the investment agreement to expire. On April 25, 2014, the Montana court granted the project developer's preliminary injunction motion to prevent SDG&E from terminating the power purchase agreement on the grounds that the project developer would be irreparably harmed if the payments were not made while the parties' respective rights were being determined in the litigation. The court did not rule on the merits of the parties' claims.

SoCalGas

SoCalGas, along with Monsanto Co., Solutia, Inc., Pharmacia Corp. and Pfizer, Inc., are defendants in seven Los Angeles County Superior Court lawsuits filed beginning in April 2011 seeking recovery of unspecified amounts of damages, including punitive damages, as a result of plaintiffs' exposure to PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). The lawsuits allege plaintiffs were exposed to PCBs not only through the food chain and other various sources but from PCB-contaminated natural gas pipelines owned and operated by SoCalGas. This contamination allegedly caused plaintiffs to develop cancer and other serious illnesses. Plaintiffs assert various bases for recovery, including negligence and products liability. SoCalGas has settled two of the seven lawsuits for an amount that is not significant.

Sempra Mexico

Permit Challenges and Property Disputes

Sempra Mexico has been engaged in a long-running land dispute relating to property adjacent to its Energía Costa Azul LNG terminal near Ensenada, Mexico. Ownership of the adjacent property is not required by any of the environmental or other regulatory permits issued for the operation of the terminal. A claimant to the adjacent property has nonetheless asserted that his health and safety are endangered by the operation of the facility, and filed an action in the Federal Court challenging the permits. In February 2011, based on a complaint by the claimant, the municipality of Ensenada opened an administrative proceeding and sought to temporarily close the terminal based on claims of irregularities in municipal permits issued six years earlier. This attempt was promptly countermanded by Mexican federal and Baja California state authorities. No terminal permits or operations were affected as a result of these proceedings or events and the terminal has continued to operate normally. Sempra Mexico expects additional Mexican court proceedings and governmental actions regarding the claimant's assertions as to whether the terminal's permits should be modified or revoked in any manner.

The claimant filed complaints in the federal Agrarian Court challenging the refusal of the Secretaría Reforma Agraria (now the Secretaría de Desarrollo Agrario, Territorial y Urbano, or SEDATU) in 2006 to issue a title to him for the disputed property. In November 2013, the Agrarian Court ordered that SEDATU issue the requested title and cause it to be registered. Both SEDATU and Sempra Mexico have challenged the rulings. Sempra Mexico expects additional proceedings regarding the claims, although such proceedings are not related to the permit challenges referenced above. The property claimant also filed a lawsuit in July 2010 against Sempra Energy in Federal District Court in San Diego seeking compensatory and punitive damages as well as the earnings from the Energía Costa Azul LNG terminal based on his allegations that he was wrongfully evicted from the adjacent property and that he has been harmed by other allegedly improper actions. Sempra Energy has disputed the claims and allegations in this lawsuit.

Additionally, several administrative challenges are pending in Mexico before the Mexican environmental protection agency (SEMARNAT) and/or the Federal Tax and Administrative Courts seeking revocation of the environmental impact authorization (EIA) issued to Energía Costa Azul in 2003. These cases generally allege that the conditions and mitigation measures in the EIA are inadequate and challenge findings that the activities of the terminal are consistent with regional development guidelines. The Mexican Supreme Court decided to exercise jurisdiction over one such case, and on March 21, 2014, issued a resolution denying the relief sought by the plaintiff on the grounds its action was not timely presented. A similar administrative challenge seeking to revoke the port concession for our marine operations at our Energía Costa Azul LNG terminal, which was filed with and rejected by the Mexican Communications and Transportation Ministry, remains on appeal in Mexican federal court as well.

Two real property cases have been filed against Energía Costa Azul in which the plaintiffs seek to annul the recorded property titles for parcels on which the Energía Costa Azul LNG terminal is situated and to obtain possession of different parcels that allegedly sit in the same place; one of these cases was dismissed in September 2013 at the direction of the state appellate court. A third complaint was served in April 2013 seeking to invalidate the contract by which Energía Costa Azul purchased another of the terminal parcels, on the grounds the purchase price was unfair. Sempra Mexico expects further proceedings on the remaining two matters.

Sempra Natural Gas

Liberty Gas Storage, LLC (Liberty) received a demand for arbitration from Williams Midstream Natural Gas Liquids, Inc. (Williams) in February 2011 related to a sublease agreement. Williams alleges that Liberty was negligent in its attempt to convert certain salt caverns to natural gas storage and seeks damages of $56.7 million. Liberty filed a counterclaim alleging breach of contract in the inducement and seeks damages of more than $215 million.

Other Litigation

As described in Note 4, Sempra Energy holds a noncontrolling interest in RBS Sempra Commodities, a limited liability partnership in the process of being liquidated. In March 2012, RBS received a letter from the United Kingdom's Revenue and Customs Department (HMRC) regarding a value-added-tax (VAT) matter related to RBS Sempra Energy Europe (RBS SEE), a former indirect subsidiary of RBS Sempra Commodities that was sold to JP Morgan. The letter states that HMRC is conducting a number of investigations into VAT refund claims made by various businesses related to the purchase and sale of carbon credit allowances. The letter also states that HMRC believes it has grounds to deny RBS the ability to reduce its VAT liability by VAT paid during 2009 because it knew or should have known that certain vendors in the trading chain did not remit their own VAT to HMRC. In September 2012, HMRC issued a protective assessment of £86 million for the VAT paid in connection with these transactions. In January 2014, RBS filed a report responding to the allegations set forth in HMRC's March 2012 letter. HMRC is currently considering the information provided in the January 2014 report, after which it will either continue its investigation and pursue the assessment, or drop the investigation and the assessment. If the assessment stands, RBS can request an internal independent review by HMRC and if the assessment still stands, appeal to an independent tribunal.

In August 2007, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision reversing and remanding certain FERC orders declining to provide refunds regarding short-term bilateral sales up to one month in the Pacific Northwest for the January 2000 to June 2001 time period. In December 2010, the FERC approved a comprehensive settlement previously reached by Sempra Energy and RBS Sempra Commodities with the State of California. The settlement resolved all issues with regard to sales between the California Department of Water Resources and Sempra Commodities in the Pacific Northwest, but potential claims may exist regarding sales in the Pacific Northwest between Sempra Commodities and other parties. The FERC is in the process of addressing these potential claims on remand. Pursuant to the agreements related to the formation of RBS Sempra Commodities, we have indemnified RBS should the liability from the final resolution of these matters be greater than the reserves related to Sempra Commodities. Pursuant to our agreement with the Noble Group Ltd., one of the buyers of RBS Sempra Commodities' businesses, we have also indemnified Noble Americas Gas & Power Corp. and its affiliates for all losses incurred by such parties resulting from these proceedings as related to Sempra Commodities.

We are also defendants in ordinary routine litigation incidental to our businesses, including personal injury, product liability, property damage and other claims. California juries have demonstrated an increasing willingness to grant large awards, including punitive damages, in these types of cases.

CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS

We discuss below significant changes in the first three months of 2014 to contractual commitments discussed in Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.

Natural Gas Contracts

SoCalGas' natural gas purchase and pipeline capacity commitments have decreased by $45 million since December 31, 2013, primarily due to fulfillment of payment obligations and changes to forecasted gas prices in the first three months of 2014.

Sempra Natural Gas' natural gas purchase and storage capacity commitments have decreased by $40 million since December 31, 2013, primarily due to payments on existing contracts in the first three months of 2014. Net future payments are expected to decrease by $36 million in 2014, $3 million in 2015, and $1 million in 2016 compared to December 31, 2013.

LNG Purchase Agreements

At March 31, 2014, Sempra Natural Gas has various purchase agreements with major international companies for the supply of LNG to the Energía Costa Azul and Cameron terminals. The agreements range from short-term to multi-year periods and are priced using a predetermined formula based on natural gas market indices. Although these contracts specify a number of cargoes to be delivered, under their terms, customers may divert certain cargoes, which would reduce amounts paid under the contracts by Sempra Natural Gas.

Sempra Natural Gas' commitments under all LNG purchase agreements, reflecting changes in forward prices since December 31, 2013 and actual transactions for the first three months of 2014, are expected to decrease by $121 million in 2014, and to increase by $22 million in 2015, $10 million in 2016, $19 million in 2017, $24 million in 2018 and $626 million thereafter compared to December 31, 2013. These amounts are based on forward prices of the index applicable to each contract from 2014 to 2023 and an estimated one percent escalation per year beyond 2023. The LNG commitment amounts above are based on Sempra Natural Gas' commitment to accept the maximum possible delivery of cargoes under the agreements. Actual LNG purchases in the current and prior years have been significantly lower than the maximum amounts possible.

Purchased-Power Contracts

SDG&E's commitments under purchased-power contract commitments have increased by $742 million since December 31, 2013. The increase is primarily due to new contracts associated with renewable energy development projects. Net future payments are therefore expected to increase by $11 million in 2014, decrease by $7 million in 2015, and increase by $37 million in 2016, $36 million in 2017, $34 million in 2018 and $631 million thereafter compared to December 31, 2013.

Operating Leases

In the first three months of 2014, the change to operating lease commitments at Sempra Renewables was a decrease of $82 million primarily for the deconsolidation of the Copper Mountain Solar 3 project, as we discuss in Note 3. Net future payments are expected to decrease by $2 million each year in 2014 through 2018 and $72 million thereafter.

Construction and Development Projects

In the first three months of 2014, significant net increases to contractual commitments at SDG&E were $99 million primarily for the South Bay Substation and East County Substation projects. Net future payments under these contractual commitments are expected to increase by $60 million in 2014, $36 million in 2015 and $3 million in 2016.

In the first three months of 2014, significant net increases to contractual commitments at SoCalGas were $159 million primarily for the Aliso Canyon Turbine Replacement Project and the Pipeline Safety Enhancement Program. Net future payments under these contractual commitments are expected to increase by $86 million in 2014, $55 million in 2015, $12 million in 2016 and $6 million in 2017 compared to December 31, 2013.

In the first three months of 2014, significant net increases to contractual commitments at Sempra Mexico were $9 million, all in 2014, for contracts related to the construction of the Sonora Pipeline project, a natural gas transport pipeline network.

In the first three months of 2014, the change to contractual commitments at Sempra Renewables was a decrease of $489 million primarily for the deconsolidation of the Copper Mountain Solar 3 project. Net future payments under these contractual commitments are expected to decrease by $449 million in 2014 and $40 million in 2015.

In March 2014, Cameron LNG entered into an engineering, procurement and construction contract with a joint venture consisting of CB&I Shaw Constructors, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V., and Chiyoda International Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chiyoda Corporation, to construct the Cameron liquefaction project in Hackberry, Louisiana. The scope of work under this contract includes the engineering, procurement and construction of three liquefaction trains with an aggregate nameplate capacity of approximately 13.5 million tonnes per year of LNG. The construction contract is a lump sum, date certain agreement, with a cost to Cameron LNG of approximately $6 billion as of the execution date. The lump sum price may be adjusted based on the occurrence of well-defined events, such as change orders issued by Cameron LNG, and the occurrence of other events where an adjustment to the lump sum price is customary for lump sum, date certain construction agreements.

Under the contract, Cameron LNG may, in its discretion, issue a series of three limited notices to proceed to commence certain items of work prior to issuance of a full notice to proceed to commence all contemplated work. Each limited notice to proceed authorizes the performance of additional, discrete portions of work and is subject to a firm cancellation cap if the construction contract is subsequently terminated prior to issuance of the full notice to proceed. The first limited notice to proceed, authorizing up to $27 million of expenditures, was issued in April 2014. Cameron LNG also has the right under the construction contract, subject to the terms and conditions of the joint venture documents with its partners on the project, to issue at any time the full notice to proceed to commence the construction of all work.

NUCLEAR INSURANCE

SDG&E and the other owners of SONGS have insurance to cover claims from nuclear liability incidents arising at SONGS. This insurance provides $375 million in coverage limits, the maximum amount available, including coverage for acts of terrorism. In addition, the Price-Anderson Act provides for up to $13.2 billion of secondary financial protection (SFP). If a nuclear liability loss occurring at any U.S. licensed/commercial reactor exceeds the $375 million insurance limit, all nuclear reactor owners could be required to contribute to the SFP. SDG&E's contribution would be up to $50.93 million. This amount is subject to an annual maximum of $7.6 million, unless a default occurs by any other SONGS owner. If the SFP is insufficient to cover the liability loss, SDG&E could be subject to an additional assessment.

The SONGS owners, including SDG&E, also have $2.75 billion of nuclear property, decontamination, and debris removal insurance, subject to a $2.5 million deductible for “each and every loss.” This insurance coverage is provided through NEIL. The NEIL policies have specific exclusions and limitations that can result in reduced or eliminated coverage. Insured members as a group are subject to retrospective premium assessments to cover losses sustained by NEIL under all issued policies. SDG&E could be assessed up to $9.7 million of retrospective premiums based on overall member claims. Edison, on behalf of itself and the minority owners of SONGS (including SDG&E), has placed NEIL on notice of claims under both the property damage and outage insurance policies as a result of SONGS' Units 2 and 3 outages in early 2012 and the resultant plant closure in June 2013.

The nuclear property insurance program includes an industry aggregate loss limit for non-certified acts of terrorism (as defined by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act). The industry aggregate loss limit for property claims arising from non-certified acts of terrorism is $3.24 billion. This is the maximum amount that will be paid to insured members who suffer losses or damages from these non-certified terrorist acts.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) NUCLEAR FUEL DISPOSAL

The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 made the DOE responsible for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel. However, it is uncertain when the DOE will begin accepting spent nuclear fuel from SONGS. This delay will lead to increased costs for spent fuel storage. This cost will be recovered through SONGS revenue unless SDG&E is able to recover the increased cost from the federal government.

We provide additional information about SONGS in Note 9.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies.

+ References+ Details