SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

Subsequent Events

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On April 7, 2016, we entered into a forward-starting interest rate swap contract with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association to reduce the interest rate variability exposure of the projected interest cash flows of our prospective new ten-year debt offering (private placement, investment grade bonds, term loan or otherwise) (anticipated to close on or before March 31, 2017). The forward-starting ten-year swap contract had a notional amount of $100 million, a termination date of March 31, 2027, a fixed pay rate of 1.748%, and a receive rate equal to the three-month LIBOR, with fixed rate payments due semi-annually commencing September 29, 2017, floating payments due semi-annually commencing September 29, 2017, and floating reset dates the first day of each quarterly period. The forward-starting ten-year swap contract accrual period, March 31, 2017 to March 31, 2027, was designed to match the expected tenor of our prospective new ten-year debt offering (private placement, investment grade bonds, term loan or otherwise). There can be no assurances that the prospective debt offering described above will close on the terms described herein, or at all.

The forward-starting interest rate swap contract was deemed to be a highly effective cash flow hedge and we elected to designate the forward-starting swap contract as an accounting hedge.