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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
We discuss the valuation techniques and inputs we use to measure fair value and the definition of the three levels of the fair value hierarchy in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.
RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES
The three tables below, by level within the fair value hierarchy, set forth our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. We classify financial assets and liabilities in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities, and their placement within the fair value hierarchy. We have not changed the valuation techniques or types of inputs we use to measure recurring fair value since December 31, 2018.
The fair value of commodity derivative assets and liabilities is presented in accordance with our netting policy, as we discuss in Note 8 under “Financial Statement Presentation.”
The determination of fair values, shown in the tables below, incorporates various factors, including but not limited to, the credit standing of the counterparties involved and the impact of credit enhancements (such as cash deposits, letters of credit and priority interests).
Our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis in the tables below include the following (other than a $7 million investment at March 31, 2019 measured at net asset value):
Nuclear decommissioning trusts reflect the assets of SDG&E’s NDT, excluding cash balances. A third party trustee values the trust assets using prices from a pricing service based on a market approach. We validate these prices by comparison to prices from other independent data sources. Securities are valued using quoted prices listed on nationally recognized securities exchanges or based on closing prices reported in the active market in which the identical security is traded (Level 1). Other securities are valued based on yields that are currently available for comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings (Level 2).
For commodity contracts, interest rate derivatives and foreign exchange instruments, we primarily use a market or income approach with market participant assumptions to value these derivatives. Market participant assumptions include those about risk, and the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation techniques. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable. We have exchange-traded derivatives that are valued based on quoted prices in active markets for the identical instruments (Level 1). We also may have other commodity derivatives that are valued using industry standard models that consider quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, volatility factors, and other relevant economic measures (Level 2). Level 3 recurring items relate to CRRs and long-term, fixed-price electricity positions at SDG&E, as we discuss below in “Level 3 Information.”
Rabbi Trust investments include marketable securities that we value using a market approach based on closing prices reported in the active market in which the identical security is traded (Level 1). These investments in marketable securities were negligible at both March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES – SEMPRA ENERGY CONSOLIDATED
(Dollars in millions)
 
Fair value at March 31, 2019
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
454

 
$
5

 
$

 
$
459

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government corporations and agencies
39

 
9

 

 
48

Municipal bonds

 
279

 

 
279

Other securities

 
238

 

 
238

Total debt securities
39

 
526

 

 
565

Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(1)
493

 
531

 

 
1,024

Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments

 
12

 

 
12

Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery

 
15

 

 
15

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
25

 

 

 
25

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery

 
8

 
271

 
279

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
21

 

 
5

 
26

Total
$
539

 
$
566

 
$
276

 
$
1,381

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments
$

 
$
151

 
$

 
$
151

Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery

 
21

 

 
21

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
6

 
4

 
89

 
99

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
(6
)
 

 

 
(6
)
Total
$

 
$
176

 
$
89

 
$
265

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value at December 31, 2018
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
407

 
$
4

 
$

 
$
411

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government corporations and agencies
43

 
10

 

 
53

Municipal bonds

 
269

 

 
269

Other securities

 
234

 

 
234

Total debt securities
43

 
513

 

 
556

Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(1)
450

 
517

 

 
967

Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments

 
2

 

 
2

Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery

 
24

 

 
24

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
19

 

 

 
19

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
2

 
9

 
278

 
289

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
28

 

 
5

 
33

Total
$
499

 
$
552

 
$
283

 
$
1,334

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments
$

 
$
150

 
$

 
$
150

Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery

 
34

 

 
34

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
2

 
5

 
99

 
106

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
(2
)
 

 

 
(2
)
Total
$

 
$
189

 
$
99

 
$
288

(1) 
Excludes cash balances and cash equivalents.
(2) 
Includes the effect of the contractual ability to settle contracts under master netting agreements and with cash collateral, as well as cash collateral not offset.
 
RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES – SDG&E
(Dollars in millions)
 
Fair value at March 31, 2019
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
454

 
$
5

 
$

 
$
459

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government corporations and agencies
39

 
9

 

 
48

Municipal bonds

 
279

 

 
279

Other securities

 
238

 

 
238

Total debt securities
39

 
526

 

 
565

Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(1)
493

 
531

 

 
1,024

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery

 
1

 
271

 
272

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
20

 

 
5

 
25

Total
$
513

 
$
532

 
$
276

 
$
1,321

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
$
6

 
$

 
$
89

 
$
95

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
(6
)
 

 

 
(6
)
Total
$

 
$

 
$
89

 
$
89

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value at December 31, 2018
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
407

 
$
4

 
$

 
$
411

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government corporations and agencies
43

 
10

 

 
53

Municipal bonds

 
269

 

 
269

Other securities

 
234

 

 
234

Total debt securities
43

 
513

 

 
556

Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(1)
450

 
517

 

 
967

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
1

 
6

 
278

 
285

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
23

 

 
5

 
28

Total
$
474

 
$
523

 
$
283

 
$
1,280

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate instruments
$

 
$
1

 
$

 
$
1

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
2

 

 
99

 
101

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
(2
)
 

 

 
(2
)
Total
$

 
$
1

 
$
99

 
$
100

(1) 
Excludes cash balances and cash equivalents.
(2) 
Includes the effect of the contractual ability to settle contracts under master netting agreements and with cash collateral, as well as cash collateral not offset.
 
RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES – SOCALGAS
(Dollars in millions)
 
Fair value at March 31, 2019
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
$

 
$
7

 
$

 
$
7

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(1)
1

 

 

 
1

Total
$
1

 
$
7

 
$

 
$
8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
$

 
$
4

 
$

 
$
4

Total
$

 
$
4

 
$

 
$
4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value at December 31, 2018
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
$
1

 
$
3

 
$

 
$
4

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(1)
5

 

 

 
5

Total
$
6

 
$
3

 
$

 
$
9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
$

 
$
5

 
$

 
$
5

Total
$

 
$
5

 
$

 
$
5

(1) 
Includes the effect of the contractual ability to settle contracts under master netting agreements and with cash collateral, as well as cash collateral not offset.
Level 3 Information
The table below sets forth reconciliations of changes in the fair value of CRRs and long-term, fixed-price electricity positions classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy for Sempra Energy Consolidated and SDG&E.
LEVEL 3 RECONCILIATIONS(1)
(Dollars in millions)
 
Three months ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Balance at January 1
$
179

 
$
(28
)
Realized and unrealized gains
5

 
4

Allocated transmission instruments

 
3

Settlements
(2
)
 
(19
)
Balance at March 31
$
182

 
$
(40
)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to instruments still held at March 31
$
13

 
$
(8
)
(1) 
Excludes the effect of the contractual ability to settle contracts under master netting agreements.

Inputs used to determine the fair value of CRRs and fixed-price electricity positions are reviewed and compared with market conditions to determine reasonableness. SDG&E expects all costs related to these instruments to be recoverable through customer rates. As such, there is no impact to earnings from changes in the fair value of these instruments.
CRRs are recorded at fair value based almost entirely on the most current auction prices published by the California ISO, an objective source. Annual auction prices are published once a year, typically in the middle of November, and are the basis for valuing CRRs settling in the following year. For the CRRs settling from January 1 to December 31, the auction price inputs, at a given location, were in the following ranges for the years indicated below:
CONGESTION REVENUE RIGHTS AUCTION PRICE INPUTS
 
 
Settlement year
Price per MWh
Median price per MWh
2019
$
(8.57
)
to
$
35.21

$
(2.94
)
2018
(7.25
)
to
11.99

0.09


The impact associated with discounting is negligible. Because these auction prices are a less observable input, these instruments are classified as Level 3. The fair value of these instruments is derived from auction price differences between two locations. Positive values between two locations represent expected future reductions in congestion costs, whereas negative values between two locations represent expected future charges. Valuation of our CRRs is sensitive to a change in auction price. If auction prices at one location increase (decrease) relative to another location, this could result in a higher (lower) fair value measurement. We summarize CRR volumes in Note 8.
Long-term, fixed-price electricity positions that are valued using significant unobservable data are classified as Level 3 because the contract terms relate to a delivery location or tenor for which observable market rate information is not available. The fair value of the net electricity positions classified as Level 3 is derived from a discounted cash flow model using market electricity forward price inputs. The range and weighted-average price of these inputs were as follows:
LONG-TERM, FIXED-PRICE ELECTRICITY POSITIONS PRICE INPUTS
 
 
 
 
 
Settlement year
 
Price per MWh
 
Weighted-average price per MWh
2019
$
23.25

to
$
81.75

$
42.49

2018
 
20.00

to
 
47.65

 
35.42


A significant increase or decrease in market electricity forward prices would result in a significantly higher or lower fair value, respectively. We summarize long-term, fixed-price electricity position volumes in Note 8.
Realized gains and losses associated with CRRs and long-term electricity positions, which are recoverable in rates, are recorded in Cost of Electric Fuel and Purchased Power on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Because unrealized gains and losses are recorded as regulatory assets and liabilities, they do not affect earnings.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair values of certain of our financial instruments (cash, accounts and notes receivable, short-term amounts due to/from unconsolidated affiliates, dividends and accounts payable, short-term debt and customer deposits) approximate their carrying amounts because of the short-term nature of these instruments. Investments in life insurance contracts that we hold in support of our Supplemental Executive Retirement, Cash Balance Restoration and Deferred Compensation Plans are carried at cash surrender values, which represent the amount of cash that could be realized under the contracts. The following table provides the carrying amounts and fair values of certain other financial instruments that are not recorded at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
(Dollars in millions)
 
March 31, 2019
 
Carrying
amount
 
Fair value
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term amounts due from unconsolidated affiliates
$
668

 
$

 
$
689

 
$

 
$
689

Long-term amounts due to unconsolidated affiliates
38

 

 
37

 

 
37

Total long-term debt(1)(2)
20,814

 

 
20,598

 
248

 
20,846

SDG&E:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total long-term debt(2)(3)
$
4,978

 
$

 
$
4,918

 
$
220

 
$
5,138

SoCalGas:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total long-term debt(4)
$
3,459

 
$

 
$
3,595

 
$

 
$
3,595

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2018
 
Carrying
amount
 
Fair value
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term amounts due from unconsolidated affiliates
$
644

 
$

 
$
648

 
$
4

 
$
652

Long-term amounts due to unconsolidated affiliates
37

 

 
35

 

 
35

Total long-term debt(2)(5)
21,340

 

 
20,616

 
247

 
20,863

SDG&E:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total long-term debt(6)
$
4,996

 
$

 
$
4,897

 
$
220

 
$
5,117

SoCalGas:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total long-term debt(7)
$
3,459

 
$

 
$
3,505

 
$

 
$
3,505

(1) 
Before reductions of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $201 million and excluding finance lease obligations of $1,277 million.
(2) 
Level 3 instruments includes $220 million at both March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 related to Otay Mesa VIE.
(3) 
Before reductions of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $48 million and excluding finance lease obligations of $1,272 million.
(4) 
Before reductions of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $32 million and excluding finance lease obligations of $5 million.
(5) 
Before reductions of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $206 million and excluding build-to-suit and capital lease obligations of $1,413 million.
(6) 
Before reductions of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $49 million and excluding capital lease obligations of $1,272 million.
(7) 
Before reductions of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $32 million and excluding capital lease obligations of $3 million.

We provide the fair values for the securities held in the NDT related to SONGS in Note 10.