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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
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 December 31, 2019 and 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-valued assets and liabilities, and their placement within the fair value hierarchy.
The fair value of commodity derivative assets and liabilities is presented in accordance with our netting policy, as we discuss in Note 11 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 $5 million and $10 million investment at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, measured at NAV):
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 December 31, 2019 and 2018.
RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES  SEMPRA ENERGY CONSOLIDATED
(Dollars in millions)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value at December 31, 2019
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
503

 
$
6

 
$

 
$
509

Debt securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other U.S. government corporations and agencies
46

 
11

 

 
57

Municipal bonds

 
282

 

 
282

Other securities

 
226

 

 
226

Total debt securities
46

 
519

 

 
565

Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(1)
549

 
525

 

 
1,074

Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments

 
24

 

 
24

Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery

 
11

 

 
11

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
43

 

 

 
43

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
5

 
8

 
95

 
108

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
11

 
8

 
6

 
25

Total
$
608

 
$
576

 
$
101

 
$
1,285

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments
$

 
$
157

 
$

 
$
157

Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery

 
17

 

 
17

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
14

 
4

 
67

 
85

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
(14
)
 

 

 
(14
)
Total
$

 
$
178

 
$
67

 
$
245

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 December 31, 2019
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
503

 
$
6

 
$

 
$
509

Debt securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other U.S. government corporations and agencies
46

 
11

 

 
57

Municipal bonds

 
282

 

 
282

Other securities

 
226

 

 
226

Total debt securities
46

 
519

 

 
565

Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(1)
549

 
525

 

 
1,074

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
1

 
3

 
95

 
99

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
10

 

 
6

 
16

Total
$
560

 
$
528

 
$
101

 
$
1,189

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
14

 

 
67

 
81

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(2)
(14
)
 

 

 
(14
)
Total
$

 
$

 
$
67

 
$
67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 December 31, 2019
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
$
4

 
$
5

 
$

 
$
9

Effect of netting and allocation of collateral(1)
1

 
8

 

 
9

Total
$
5

 
$
13

 
$

 
$
18

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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)
 
Years ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Balance at January 1
$
179

 
$
(28
)
 
$
(74
)
Realized and unrealized gains (losses)
(184
)
 
209

 
34

Allocated transmission instruments
6

 
10

 
6

Settlements
27

 
(12
)
 
6

Balance at December 31
$
28

 
$
179

 
$
(28
)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to
instruments still held at December 31
$
(139
)
 
$
183

 
$
30


(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
2020
$
(3.77
)
to
$
6.03

$
(1.58
)
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 11.
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
$
21.00

to
$
61.15

$
37.92

2018
 
22.20

to
 
76.85

 
42.69


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 11.
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 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 Consolidated Balance Sheets.
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
(Dollars in millions)
 
December 31, 2019
 
Carrying
 
Fair value
 
amount
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term amounts due from unconsolidated affiliates
$
742

 
$

 
$
759

 
$

 
$
759

Long-term amounts due to unconsolidated affiliates
195

 

 
184

 

 
184

Total long-term debt(1)
21,247

 

 
22,638

 
26

 
22,664

SDG&E:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total long-term debt(2)
$
5,140

 
$

 
$
5,662

 
$

 
$
5,662

SoCalGas:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total long-term debt(3)
$
3,809

 
$

 
$
4,189

 
$

 
$
4,189

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2018
 
Carrying
 
Fair value
 
amount
 
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(4)(5)
21,340

 

 
20,616

 
247

 
20,863

SDG&E:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total long-term debt(4)(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 $225 million and excluding finance lease obligations of $1,289 million.
(2) 
Before reductions of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $48 million and excluding finance lease obligations of $1,270 million.
(3) 
Before reductions of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $34 million and excluding finance lease obligations of $19 million.
(4) 
Level 3 instruments include $220 million related to Otay Mesa VIE.
(5) 
Before reductions of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $206 million and excluding build-to-suit arrangement 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 15.
NON-RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES
Sempra Mexico
TdM
In 2017, while TdM was held for sale, Sempra Mexico received a purchase price offer for TdM resulting from negotiations with an active market participant. This new market information indicated that the fair value of TdM was lower than its carrying value at June 30, 2017. As a result, in the second quarter of 2017, Sempra Mexico further reduced the carrying value of TdM by recognizing a noncash impairment charge of $71 million in Impairment Losses on Sempra Energy’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. A purchase price offer is considered to be a Level 2 input in the fair value hierarchy, as it represents an observable pricing input. TdM was reclassified to held and used in June 2018 when management terminated the sales process.
Sempra Renewables
U.S. Wind Investments
As we discuss in Notes 5 and 6, in June 2018, our board of directors approved a plan to sell all our wind and solar equity method investments at Sempra Renewables. Because of our expectation of a shorter holding period as a result of this plan of sale, we evaluated the recoverability of the carrying amounts of each of these investments and concluded there was an other-than-temporary impairment on certain of our wind equity method investments totaling $200 million ($145 million after tax), which we
recorded in Equity Earnings on Sempra Energy’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2018. We measured the estimated fair value of $145 million at June 25, 2018 using a discounted cash flow model including significant unobservable inputs, adjusted for our applicable ownership percentages, which is a Level 3 measurement in the fair value hierarchy. The key inputs to the methodology were contracted and merchant pricing, and the discount rate. Sempra Renewables completed the sale of its interests in these wind equity method investments in April 2019.
Sempra LNG
Non-Utility Natural Gas Storage Assets
As we discuss in Note 5, in June 2018, our board of directors approved a plan to sell Mississippi Hub, our 90.9% ownership interest in Bay Gas and other non-utility assets (the non-utility natural gas storage assets). We also own a 75.4% interest in LA Storage, a salt cavern development project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. The LA Storage project also includes an existing 23.3-mile pipeline header system that is not currently contracted.
Because of the plan of sale, we considered a market participant’s view of the total value of the non-utility natural gas storage assets and determined that their fair value, less costs to sell, may be less than their carrying value. Additionally, our inability to secure customer contracts that would support further investment in LA Storage led us to assess and conclude that the full carrying value of these other U.S. midstream assets may not be recoverable. As a result, on June 25, 2018, we recorded an impairment of $1.3 billion ($755 million after tax and NCI) in Impairment Losses on Sempra Energy’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
We measured the estimated fair value of $190 million at June 25, 2018 using a discounted cash flow approach. This approach included unobservable inputs, resulting in a Level 3 measurement in the fair value hierarchy. We considered a market participant’s view of the values of the non-utility natural gas storage assets based on an estimation of future net cash flows. To estimate future net cash flows, we considered the non-utility natural gas storage assets’ prospects for generating revenues and cash flows beyond their existing contracted capacity and tenors, including natural gas price volatility and seasonality factors, as well as discount rates commensurate with the risks inherent in the cash flows.
On January 1, 2019, Sempra LNG entered into an agreement to sell Mississippi Hub and Bay Gas to an affiliate of ArcLight Capital Partners for $332 million, subject to working capital adjustments and $20 million representing Sempra LNG’s purchase of the 9.1% minority interest in Bay Gas immediately prior to and included as part of the sale. On February 7, 2019, Sempra LNG completed this sale. Additionally, in December 2018, Sempra LNG entered into an agreement to sell other non-utility assets for $5 million; such sale was completed in January 2019. We considered the assets’ sales prices negotiated with active market participants to be a relevant and material data input. Accordingly, we updated our fair value analysis to reflect the Level 2 market participant input as the primary indicator of fair value. As a result, on December 31, 2018, we reduced the impairment of $1.3 billion recorded on June 25, 2018 by $183 million ($126 million after tax and NCI), resulting in a total impairment of $1.1 billion ($629 million after tax and NCI) for the year ended December 31, 2018, based on a fair value of $337 million for these non-utility natural gas storage assets.
The table below summarizes significant inputs impacting our non-recurring fair value measures. Additional discussions about the related transactions are provided in Note 5, and as applicable, in Note 6.
NON-RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES – SEMPRA ENERGY CONSOLIDATED
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Measurement date
 
Estimated
fair
value (in millions)
Valuation technique
Fair
value
hierarchy
 
% of
fair value
measurement
 
Inputs used to
develop
measurement
 
Range of
inputs (weighted average)
 
Non-utility natural gas storage assets
December 31, 2018
$
337

Market approach
Level 2
 
100%
 
Assets’ sales prices
 
100%
 
Non-utility natural gas storage assets
June 25, 2018
$
190

Discounted cash flows
Level 3
 
100%
 
Storage rates
per Dth/month
 
$0.06 - $0.22 ($0.10)
(1) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
 
10%
(2) 
Certain of our U.S. wind equity method investments
June 25, 2018
$
145

Discounted cash flows
Level 3
 
100%
 
Contracted and observable merchant prices per MWh
 
$29 - $92
(1) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
 
8% - 10% (8.7%)
(2) 
TdM
June 30, 2017
$
62

Market approach
Level 2
 
100%
 
Purchase price offer
 
100%
 
(1) 
Generally, significant increases (decreases) in this input in isolation would result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement.
(2) 
An increase in the discount rate would result in a decrease in fair value.