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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Financial Instruments

NOTE 7. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

We use derivative instruments primarily to manage exposures arising in the normal course of business. Our principal exposures are commodity market risk, benchmark interest rate risk and foreign exchange rate exposures. Our use of derivatives for these risks is integrated into the economic management of our anticipated revenues, anticipated expenses, assets and liabilities. Derivatives may be effective in mitigating these risks (1) that could lead to declines in anticipated revenues or increases in anticipated expenses, or (2) that our asset values may fall or our liabilities increase. Accordingly, our derivative activity summarized below generally represents an impact that is intended to offset associated revenues, expenses, assets or liabilities that are not included in the tables below.

In certain cases, we apply the normal purchase or sale exception to derivative instruments and have other commodity contracts that are not derivatives. These contracts are not recorded at fair value and are therefore excluded from the disclosures below.

In all other cases, we record derivatives at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. We designate each derivative as (1) a cash flow hedge, (2) a fair value hedge, or (3) undesignated. Depending on the applicability of hedge accounting and, for the California Utilities and other operations subject to regulatory accounting, the requirement to pass impacts through to customers, the impact of derivative instruments may be offset in other comprehensive income (loss) (cash flow hedge), on the balance sheet (fair value hedges and regulatory offsets), or recognized in earnings. We classify cash flows from the settlements of derivative instruments as operating activities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

HEDGE ACCOUNTING

We may designate a derivative as a cash flow hedging instrument if it effectively converts anticipated cash flows associated with revenues or expenses to a fixed dollar amount. We may utilize cash flow hedge accounting for derivative commodity instruments, foreign currency instruments and interest rate instruments. Designating cash flow hedges is dependent on the business context in which the instrument is being used, the effectiveness of the instrument in offsetting the risk that the future cash flows of a given revenue or expense item may vary, and other criteria.

We may designate an interest rate derivative as a fair value hedging instrument if it effectively converts our own debt from a fixed interest rate to a variable rate. The combination of the derivative and debt instrument results in fixing that portion of the fair value of the debt that is related to benchmark interest rates. Designating fair value hedges is dependent on the instrument being used, the effectiveness of the instrument in offsetting changes in the fair value of our debt instruments, and other criteria.

ENERGY DERIVATIVES

Our market risk is primarily related to natural gas and electricity price volatility and the specific physical locations where we transact. We use energy derivatives to manage these risks. The use of energy derivatives in our various businesses depends on the particular energy market, and the operating and regulatory environments applicable to the business, as follows:

  • The California Utilities use energy derivatives, both natural gas and electricity, for the benefit of customers, with the objective of managing price risk and basis risks, and stabilizing and lowering natural gas and electricity costs. These derivatives include fixed price natural gas and electricity positions, options, and basis risk instruments, which are either exchange-traded or over-the-counter financial instruments, or bilateral physical transactions. This activity is governed by risk management and transacting activity plans that have been filed with and approved by the CPUC. Natural gas and electricity derivative activities are recorded as commodity costs that are offset by regulatory account balances and are recovered in rates. Net commodity cost impacts on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations are reflected in Cost of Electric Fuel and Purchased Power or in Cost of Natural Gas.
  • SDG&E is allocated and may purchase congestion revenue rights (CRRs), which serve to reduce the regional electricity price volatility risk that may result from local transmission capacity constraints. Unrealized gains and losses do not impact earnings, as they are offset by regulatory account balances. Realized gains and losses associated with CRRs, which are recoverable in rates, are recorded in Cost of Electric Fuel and Purchased Power on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
  • Sempra Mexico, Sempra Natural Gas, and Sempra Renewables may use natural gas and electricity derivatives, as appropriate, to optimize the earnings of their assets which support the following businesses: liquefied natural gas (LNG), natural gas transportation and storage, and power generation. Gains and losses associated with undesignated derivatives are recognized in Energy-Related Businesses Revenues or in Cost of Natural Gas, Electric Fuel and Purchased Power on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Certain of these derivatives may also be designated as cash flow hedges. Sempra Mexico also uses natural gas energy derivatives with the objective of managing price risk and lowering natural gas prices at its Mexican distribution operations. These derivatives, which are recorded as commodity costs that are offset by regulatory account balances and recovered in rates, are recognized in Cost of Natural Gas on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
  • From time to time, our various businesses, including the California Utilities, may use other energy derivatives to hedge exposures such as the price of vehicle fuel.

We summarize net energy derivative volumes at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 as follows:

NET ENERGY DERIVATIVE VOLUMES
(Quantities in millions)
June 30,December 31,
Segment and CommodityUnit of measure20162015
California Utilities:
SDG&E:
Natural gasMMBtu(1)7270
ElectricityMWh(2)11
Congestion revenue rightsMWh3036
SoCalGas – natural gasMMBtu1
Energy-Related Businesses:
Sempra Natural Gas – natural gasMMBtu3043
(1)Million British thermal units
(2)Megawatt hours

In addition to the amounts noted above, we frequently use commodity derivatives to manage risks associated with the physical locations of contractual obligations and assets, such as natural gas purchases and sales.

INTEREST RATE DERIVATIVES

We are exposed to interest rates primarily as a result of our current and expected use of financing. We periodically enter into interest rate derivative agreements intended to moderate our exposure to interest rates and to lower our overall costs of borrowing. We utilize interest rate swaps typically designated as fair value hedges, as a means to achieve our targeted level of variable rate debt as a percent of total debt. In addition, we may utilize interest rate swaps, typically designated as cash flow hedges, to lock in interest rates on outstanding debt or in anticipation of future financings.

Interest rate derivatives are utilized by the California Utilities as well as by other Sempra Energy subsidiaries and joint ventures. Interest rate derivatives are generally accounted for as hedges, and although the California Utilities generally recover borrowing costs in rates over time, the use of interest rate derivatives is subject to certain regulatory constraints, and the impact of interest rate derivatives may not be recovered from customers as timely as described above with regard to energy derivatives. Separately, Otay Mesa VIE has entered into interest rate swap agreements, designated as cash flow hedges, to moderate its exposure to interest rate changes.

At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the net notional amounts of our interest rate derivatives, excluding joint ventures and cross-currency derivatives discussed below, were:

INTEREST RATE DERIVATIVES
(Dollars in millions)
June 30, 2016December 31, 2015
Notional debtMaturitiesNotional debtMaturities
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Cash flow hedges(1)$3772016-2028$3842016-2028
Fair value hedges3002016
SDG&E:
Cash flow hedge(1)3102016-20193152016-2019
(1)Includes Otay Mesa VIE. All of SDG&E’s interest rate derivatives relate to Otay Mesa VIE.

FOREIGN CURRENCY DERIVATIVES

We utilize cross-currency swaps to hedge exposure related to Mexican peso-denominated debt at our Mexican subsidiaries and joint ventures. These cash flow hedges exchange our Mexican-peso denominated principal and interest payments into the U.S. dollar and swap Mexican variable interest rates for U.S. fixed interest rates.

We are also exposed to exchange rate movements at our Mexican subsidiaries and joint ventures, which have U.S. dollar denominated cash balances, receivables, payables and debt (monetary assets and liabilities) that give rise to Mexican currency exchange rate movements for Mexican income tax purposes. They also have deferred income tax assets and liabilities denominated in the Mexican peso, which must be translated to U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. In addition, monetary assets and liabilities and certain nonmonetary assets and liabilities are adjusted for Mexican inflation for Mexican income tax purposes. We utilize foreign currency derivatives as a means to manage the risk of exposure to significant fluctuations in our income tax expense and equity earnings from these impacts. In January 2016, we entered into foreign currency derivatives with a notional amount totaling $550 million.

At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the net notional amounts of our foreign currency derivatives, excluding joint ventures, were:

FOREIGN CURRENCY DERIVATIVES
(Dollars in millions)
June 30, 2016December 31, 2015
Notional debtMaturitiesNotional debtMaturities
Sempra Mexico:
Cross-currency swaps$4082018-2023$4082018-2023
Other foreign currency derivatives5502016

In addition, Sempra South American Utilities uses foreign currency derivatives at its subsidiaries and joint ventures as a means to manage foreign currency rate risk. We discuss such swaps at Chilquinta Energía’s Eletrans joint venture investment in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION

The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets reflect the offsetting of net derivative positions and cash collateral with the same counterparty when a legal right of offset exists. The following tables provide the fair values of derivative instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, including the amount of cash collateral receivables that were not offset, as the cash collateral is in excess of liability positions.

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS ON THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in millions)
June 30, 2016
Deferred
credits
CurrentCurrentand other
assets:liabilities:liabilities:
Fixed-priceFixed-priceFixed-price
contractsOthercontractscontracts
and otherassets:and otherand other
derivatives(1)Sundryderivatives(2)derivatives
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments(3)$1$$(15)$(184)
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery(5)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments(12)
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery20822(227)(17)
Associated offsetting commodity contracts(199)(13)19913
Associated offsetting cash collateral301
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery1852(35)(48)
Associated offsetting commodity contracts(4)(2)42
Associated offsetting cash collateral1315
Net amounts presented on the balance sheet2459(48)(218)
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
not subject to rate recovery14
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
subject to rate recovery27
Total(4)$65$59$(48)$(218)
SDG&E:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate instruments(3)$$$(14)$(23)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery1652(32)(48)
Associated offsetting commodity contracts(3)(2)32
Associated offsetting cash collateral1215
Net amounts presented on the balance sheet1350(31)(54)
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
subject to rate recovery26
Total(4)$39$50$(31)$(54)
SoCalGas:
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery$$$(1)$
Associated offsetting cash collateral1
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery2(3)
Associated offsetting commodity contracts(1)1
Associated offsetting cash collateral1
Net amounts presented on the balance sheet1(1)
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
not subject to rate recovery1
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
subject to rate recovery1
Total$3$$(1)$
(1)Included in Current Assets: Other for SoCalGas.
(2)Included in Current Liabilities: Other for SoCalGas.
(3)Includes Otay Mesa VIE. All of SDG&E’s amounts relate to Otay Mesa VIE.
(4)Normal purchase contracts previously measured at fair value are excluded.

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS ON THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in millions)
December 31, 2015
Deferred
credits
CurrentCurrentand other
assets:liabilities:liabilities:
Fixed-priceFixed-priceFixed-price
contractsOthercontractscontracts
and otherassets:and otherand other
derivatives(1)Sundryderivatives(2)derivatives
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments(3)$4$1$(15)$(156)
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery13
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery24532(239)(21)
Associated offsetting commodity contracts(232)(20)23220
Associated offsetting cash collateral(6)4
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery2849(61)(64)
Associated offsetting commodity contracts(2)(2)22
Associated offsetting cash collateral2826
Net amounts presented on the balance sheet5060(49)(193)
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
not subject to rate recovery2
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
subject to rate recovery28
Total(4)$80$60$(49)$(193)
SDG&E:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate instruments(3)$$$(14)$(23)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery(1)
Associated offsetting cash collateral1
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery2749(60)(64)
Associated offsetting commodity contracts(2)(2)22
Associated offsetting cash collateral2826
Net amounts presented on the balance sheet2547(44)(59)
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
not subject to rate recovery1
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
subject to rate recovery27
Total(4)$53$47$(44)$(59)
SoCalGas:
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery$$$(1)$
Associated offsetting cash collateral1
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery1(1)
Net amounts presented on the balance sheet1(1)
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
subject to rate recovery1
Total$2$$(1)$
(1)Included in Current Assets: Other for SoCalGas.
(2)Included in Current Liabilities: Other for SoCalGas.
(3)Includes Otay Mesa VIE. All of SDG&E’s amounts relate to Otay Mesa VIE.
(4)Normal purchase contracts previously measured at fair value are excluded.

The effects of derivative instruments designated as hedges on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and in OCI and AOCI for the three and six months ended June 30 were

FAIR VALUE HEDGE IMPACTS
(Dollars in millions)
Pretax gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in earnings
Three months ended June 30,Six months ended June 30,
Location2016201520162015
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Interest rate instrumentsInterest Expense$1$2$3$4
Interest rate instrumentsOther Income, Net(2)(3)(2)(2)
Total(1)$(1)$(1)$1$2
(1)There was no hedge ineffectiveness in either the three months or six months ended June 30, 2016 or 2015. All other changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements are exactly offset by changes in the fair value of the underlying long-term debt and are recorded in Other Income, Net.

CASH FLOW HEDGE IMPACTS
(Dollars in millions)
Pretax gain (loss)Pretax (loss) gain reclassified
recognized in OCIfrom AOCI into earnings
(effective portion)(effective portion)
Three months ended June 30,Three months ended June 30,
20162015Location20162015
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Interest rate and foreign
exchange instruments(1)$1$6Interest Expense$(3)$(3)
Equity Earnings (Losses),
Interest rate instruments(70)89 Before Income Tax(2)(3)
Interest rate and foreignEquity Earnings,
exchange instruments(15) Net of Income Tax(5)
Commodity contracts not subjectRevenues: Energy-Related
to rate recovery(5)1 Businesses
Total(2)$(89)$96$(10)$(6)
SDG&E:
Interest rate instruments(1)(2)$(2)$Interest Expense$(3)$(3)
Six months ended June 30,Six months ended June 30,
20162015Location20162015
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Interest rate and foreign
exchange instruments(1)$(10)$(12)Interest Expense$(7)$(9)
Equity Earnings (Losses),
Interest rate instruments(207)11 Before Income Tax(5)(6)
Interest rate and foreignEquity Earnings,
exchange instruments(33) Net of Income Tax(6)
Commodity contracts not subjectRevenues: Energy-Related
to rate recovery(4) Businesses77
Total(2)$(254)$(1)$(11)$(8)
SDG&E:
Interest rate instruments(1)(2)$(7)$(5)Interest Expense$(6)$(6)
(1)Amounts include Otay Mesa VIE. All of SDG&E’s interest rate derivative activity relates to Otay Mesa VIE.
(2)Amounts include negligible hedge ineffectiveness in the three months and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

For Sempra Energy Consolidated, we expect that losses of $23 million, which are net of income tax benefit, that are currently recorded in AOCI (including $13 million in noncontrolling interests, substantially all of which is related to Otay Mesa VIE at SDG&E) related to cash flow hedges will be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months as the hedged items affect earnings. Actual amounts ultimately reclassified into earnings depend on the interest rates in effect when derivative contracts that are currently outstanding mature.

SoCalGas expects that negligible losses, which are net of income tax benefit, that are currently recorded in AOCI related to cash flow hedges will be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months as the hedged items affect earnings.

For all forecasted transactions, the maximum remaining term over which we are hedging exposure to the variability of cash flows at June 30, 2016 is approximately 13 years and 3 years for Sempra Energy Consolidated and SDG&E, respectively. The maximum remaining term for which we are hedging exposure to the variability of cash flows at our equity method investees is 19 years.

The effects of derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months and six months ended June 30 were

UNDESIGNATED DERIVATIVE IMPACTS
(Dollars in millions)
Pretax (loss) gain on derivatives recognized in earnings
Three months endedJune 30,Six months ended June 30,
Location2016201520162015
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Foreign exchange instrumentsOther Income, Net$(15)$(3)$(12)$(3)
Foreign exchange instrumentsEquity Earnings,
Net of Income Tax2(1)
Commodity contracts not subjectRevenues: Energy-Related
to rate recovery Businesses(24)9(29)12
Commodity contracts not subject
to rate recoveryOperation and Maintenance1111
Commodity contracts subjectCost of Electric Fuel
to rate recovery and Purchased Power40(53)28(73)
Commodity contracts subject
to rate recoveryCost of Natural Gas(1)(2)1
Total$1$(46)$(12)$(63)
SDG&E:
Commodity contracts subjectCost of Electric Fuel
to rate recovery and Purchased Power$40$(53)$28$(73)
SoCalGas:
Commodity contracts not subject
to rate recoveryOperation and Maintenance$$1$$1
Commodity contracts subject
to rate recoveryCost of Natural Gas(1)(2)1
Total$(1)$1$(2)$2

CONTINGENT FEATURES

For Sempra Energy Consolidated and SDG&E, certain of our derivative instruments contain credit limits which vary depending on our credit ratings. Generally, these provisions, if applicable, may reduce our credit limit if a specified credit rating agency reduces our ratings. In certain cases, if our credit ratings were to fall below investment grade, the counterparty to these derivative liability instruments could request immediate payment or demand immediate and ongoing full collateralization. 

For Sempra Energy Consolidated, the total fair value of this group of derivative instruments in a net liability position is $6 million at both June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. At June 30, 2016, if the credit ratings of Sempra Energy were reduced below investment grade, $8 million of additional assets could be required to be posted as collateral for these derivative contracts.

For SDG&E, the total fair value of this group of derivative instruments in a net liability position at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 is $2 million and $5 million, respectively. At June 30, 2016, if the credit ratings of SDG&E were reduced below investment grade, $4 million of additional assets could be required to be posted as collateral for these derivative contracts.

For Sempra Energy Consolidated, SDG&E and SoCalGas, some of our derivative contracts contain a provision that would permit the counterparty, in certain circumstances, to request adequate assurance of our performance under the contracts. Such additional assurance, if needed, is not material and is not included in the amounts above.