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Fair Value Measurements
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Fair Value Measurements

Note K — Fair Value Measurements

The accounting rules for fair value measurements and disclosures define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date in a principal or most advantageous market. Fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on inputs, which refer broadly to assumptions that market participants use in pricing assets or liabilities. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable firm inputs. The Companies often make certain assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, and the risks inherent in the inputs to valuation techniques. The Companies use valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

The accounting rules for fair value measurements and disclosures established a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value in three broad levels. The rules require that assets and liabilities be classified in their entirety based on the level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Assessing the significance of a particular input may require judgment considering factors specific to the asset or liability, and may affect the valuation of the asset or liability and their placement within the fair value hierarchy. The Companies classify fair value balances based on the fair value hierarchy defined by the accounting rules for fair value measurements and disclosures as follows:

 

   

Level 1 – Consists of assets or liabilities whose value is based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets at the measurement date. An active market is one in which transactions for assets or liabilities occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. This category includes contracts traded on active exchange markets valued using unadjusted prices quoted directly from the exchange.

 

   

Level 2 – Consists of assets or liabilities valued using industry standard models and based on prices, other than quoted prices within Level 1, that are either directly or indirectly observable as of the measurement date. The industry standard models consider observable assumptions including time value, volatility factors, and current market and contractual prices for the underlying commodities, in addition to other economic measures. This category includes contracts traded on active exchanges or in over-the-counter markets priced with industry standard models.

 

   

Level 3 – Consists of assets or liabilities whose fair value is estimated based on internally developed models or methodologies using inputs that are generally less readily observable and supported by little, if any, market activity at the measurement date. Unobservable inputs are developed based on the best available information and subject to cost benefit constraints. This category includes contracts priced using models that are internally developed and contracts placed in illiquid markets. It also includes contracts that expire after the period of time for which quoted prices are available and internal models are used to determine a significant portion of the value.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Companies adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-04, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs". The amendments expand existing disclosure requirements for fair value measurements and make other amendments. For fair value measurements in Level 3, this update requires the Companies to provide a description of the valuation process in place, a quantitative disclosure of unobservable inputs and assumptions used in the measurement as well as a narrative description of the sensitivity of the fair value to changes in unobservable inputs and interrelationships between those inputs. The update also requires the Companies to disclose any transfers between Levels 1 and 2 of fair value hierarchy measurements and the reasons for the transfers.

The employees in the risk management groups of the Utilities and the competitive energy businesses develop and maintain the Companies' valuation policies and procedures for, and verify pricing and fair value valuation of, commodity derivatives. Under the Companies' policies and procedures, multiple independent sources of information are obtained for forward price curves used to value commodity derivatives. Fair value and changes in fair value of commodity derivatives are reported on a monthly basis to the Companies' risk committees, comprised of officers and employees of the Companies that oversee energy hedging at the Utilities and the competitive energy businesses. The managers of the risk management groups report to the Companies' Vice President and Treasurer.

 

The table listed below provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending net balances for assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of March 31, 2012 and 2011 and classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy:

 

For the Utilities, realized gains and losses on Level 3 commodity derivative assets and liabilities are reported as part of purchased power, gas and fuel costs. The Utilities generally recover these costs in accordance with rate provisions approved by the applicable state public utilities commissions. See Note A to the financial statements in Item 8 of the Form 10-K. Unrealized gains and losses for commodity derivatives are generally deferred on the consolidated balance sheet in accordance with the accounting rules for regulated operations.

For the competitive energy businesses, realized and unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 commodity derivative assets and liabilities are reported in non-utility revenues ($3 million loss and $12 million loss) and purchased power costs ($43 million loss and $27 million gain) on the consolidated income statement for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The change in fair value relating to Level 3 commodity derivative assets held at March 31, 2012 and 2011 is included in non-utility revenues ($3 million loss and $12 million loss), and purchased power costs ($7 million loss and $29 million gain) on the consolidated income statement for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The accounting rules for fair value measurements and disclosures require consideration of the impact of nonperformance risk (including credit risk) from a market participant perspective in the measurement of the fair value of assets and liabilities. At March 31, 2012, the Companies determined that nonperformance risk would have no material impact on their financial position or results of operations. To assess nonperformance risk, the Companies considered information such as collateral requirements, master netting arrangements, letters of credit and parent company guarantees, and applied a market-based method by using the counterparty (for an asset) or the Companies' (for a liability) credit default swaps rates.

CECONY [Member]
 
Fair Value Measurements

Note K — Fair Value Measurements

The accounting rules for fair value measurements and disclosures define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date in a principal or most advantageous market. Fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on inputs, which refer broadly to assumptions that market participants use in pricing assets or liabilities. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable firm inputs. The Companies often make certain assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, and the risks inherent in the inputs to valuation techniques. The Companies use valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

The accounting rules for fair value measurements and disclosures established a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value in three broad levels. The rules require that assets and liabilities be classified in their entirety based on the level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Assessing the significance of a particular input may require judgment considering factors specific to the asset or liability, and may affect the valuation of the asset or liability and their placement within the fair value hierarchy. The Companies classify fair value balances based on the fair value hierarchy defined by the accounting rules for fair value measurements and disclosures as follows:

 

   

Level 1 – Consists of assets or liabilities whose value is based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets at the measurement date. An active market is one in which transactions for assets or liabilities occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. This category includes contracts traded on active exchange markets valued using unadjusted prices quoted directly from the exchange.

 

   

Level 2 – Consists of assets or liabilities valued using industry standard models and based on prices, other than quoted prices within Level 1, that are either directly or indirectly observable as of the measurement date. The industry standard models consider observable assumptions including time value, volatility factors, and current market and contractual prices for the underlying commodities, in addition to other economic measures. This category includes contracts traded on active exchanges or in over-the-counter markets priced with industry standard models.

 

   

Level 3 – Consists of assets or liabilities whose fair value is estimated based on internally developed models or methodologies using inputs that are generally less readily observable and supported by little, if any, market activity at the measurement date. Unobservable inputs are developed based on the best available information and subject to cost benefit constraints. This category includes contracts priced using models that are internally developed and contracts placed in illiquid markets. It also includes contracts that expire after the period of time for which quoted prices are available and internal models are used to determine a significant portion of the value.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Companies adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-04, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs". The amendments expand existing disclosure requirements for fair value measurements and make other amendments. For fair value measurements in Level 3, this update requires the Companies to provide a description of the valuation process in place, a quantitative disclosure of unobservable inputs and assumptions used in the measurement as well as a narrative description of the sensitivity of the fair value to changes in unobservable inputs and interrelationships between those inputs. The update also requires the Companies to disclose any transfers between Levels 1 and 2 of fair value hierarchy measurements and the reasons for the transfers.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2012 are summarized below.

 

     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Netting
Adjustments (4)
    Total  
(Millions of Dollars)   Con
Edison
    CECONY     Con
Edison
    CECONY     Con
Edison
    CECONY     Con
Edison
    CECONY     Con
Edison
    CECONY  

Derivative assets:

                   

Commodity (1)

  $ 2      $      $ 86      $ 4      $ 103      $ 13      $ (122   $ 9      $ 69      $ 26   

Other assets (3)

    83        83                      105        95                      188        178   

Transfer in (5) (6)

                  105        95                                    105        95   

Transfer out (5) (6)

                                (105     (95                   (105     (95

Other assets (3)

  $ 83      $ 83      $ 105      $ 95      $      $      $      $      $ 188      $ 178   

Total

  $ 85      $ 83      $ 191      $ 99      $ 103      $ 13      $ (122   $ 9      $ 257      $ 204   

Derivative liabilities:

                   

Commodity (1)

  $ 10      $ 2      $ 316      $ 170      $ 196      $ 26      $ (278   $ (55   $ 244      $ 143   

Interest rate contract (2)

                                8                             8          

Transfer in (5) (6)

                  8                                           8          

Transfer out (5) (6)

                                (8                          (8       

Interest rate contract (2)

  $      $      $ 8      $      $      $      $      $      $ 8      $   

Total

  $ 10      $ 2      $ 324      $ 170      $ 196      $ 26      $ (278   $ (55   $ 252      $ 143   

 

(1) A portion of the commodity derivatives categorized in Level 3 is valued using an internally developed model with observable inputs. The models also include some less readily observable inputs resulting in the classification of the entire contract as Level 3. See Note J.
(2) See Note J.
(3) Other assets are comprised of assets such as life insurance contracts within the deferred compensation plan and non-qualified retirement plans.
(4) Amounts represent the impact of legally-enforceable master netting agreements that allow the Companies to net gain and loss positions and cash collateral held or placed with the same counterparties.
(5) The Companies' policy is to recognize transfers into and transfers out of the levels at the end of the reporting period.
(6) Transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 because of reassessment of the levels in the fair value hierarchy within which certain inputs fall.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2011 are summarized below.

 

     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Netting
Adjustments (4)
    Total  
(Millions of Dollars)   Con
Edison
    CECONY     Con
Edison
    CECONY     Con
Edison
    CECONY     Con
Edison
    CECONY     Con
Edison
    CECONY  

Derivative assets:

                   

Commodity (1)

  $ 3      $      $ 64      $ 8      $ 87      $ 11      $ (84   $ 5      $ 70      $ 24   

Other assets (3)

    76        76                      99        90                      175        166   

Total

  $ 79      $ 76      $ 64      $ 8      $ 186      $ 101      $ (84   $ 5      $ 245      $ 190   

Derivative liabilities:

                   

Commodity

  $ 12      $ 4      $ 222      $ 122      $ 169      $ 37      $ (194   $ (41   $ 209      $ 122   

Transfer in (5) (6) (7)

                  26        25        6        6                      32        31   

Transfer out (5) (6) (7)

                  (6     (6     (26     (25                   (32     (31

Commodity (1)

  $ 12      $ 4      $ 242      $ 141      $ 149      $ 18      $ (194   $ (41   $ 209      $ 122   

Interest rate contract (2)

                                8                             8          

Total

  $ 12      $ 4      $ 242      $ 141      $ 157      $ 18      $ (194   $ (41   $ 217      $ 122   

 

(1) A portion of the commodity derivatives categorized in Level 3 is valued using an internally developed model with observable inputs. The models also include some less readily observable inputs resulting in the classification of the entire contract as Level 3. See Note J.
(2) See Note J.
(3) Other assets are comprised of assets such as life insurance contracts within the deferred compensation plan and non-qualified retirement plans.
(4) Amounts represent the impact of legally-enforceable master netting agreements that allow the Companies to net gain and loss positions and cash collateral held or placed with the same counterparties.
(5) The Companies' policy is to recognize transfers into and transfers out of the levels at the end of the reporting period.
(6) Transferred from Level 2 to Level 3 because of reassessment of the levels in the fair value hierarchy within which certain inputs fall.
(7) Transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 because of availability of observable market data due to decrease in the terms of certain contracts from beyond one year as of December 31, 2010 to less than one year as of December 31, 2011.

The employees in the risk management groups of the Utilities and the competitive energy businesses develop and maintain the Companies' valuation policies and procedures for, and verify pricing and fair value valuation of, commodity derivatives. Under the Companies' policies and procedures, multiple independent sources of information are obtained for forward price curves used to value commodity derivatives. Fair value and changes in fair value of commodity derivatives are reported on a monthly basis to the Companies' risk committees, comprised of officers and employees of the Companies that oversee energy hedging at the Utilities and the competitive energy businesses. The managers of the risk management groups report to the Companies' Vice President and Treasurer.

 

(Millions of Dollars)   Fair Value of
Level 3 at
3/31/2012
    Valuation Techniques   Unobservable Inputs

Con Edison

     

Commodity

  $ (93   Market approach (1)   Discount for inactive markets and/or illiquid locations (2)

CECONY

     

Commodity

  $ (13   Market approach (1)   Discount for inactive markets and/or illiquid locations (2)

 

(1) The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets and liabilities. The commodity derivatives are valued using quoted prices or internally developed models with observable inputs, adjusted for certain contracts that are traded in inactive markets and/or at illiquid locations. The unobservable inputs used in the Companies' models do not have a significant impact on the valuation.
(2) Significant increases or decreases in any of these inputs in isolation would have a limited impact on fair value measurement. Generally, a change in the fair value measurement is linearly based on changes in these inputs.

The table listed below provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending net balances for assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of March 31, 2012 and 2011 and classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy:

 

     For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012  
            Total Gains/(Losses)—
Realized and Unrealized
                                           
(Millions of Dollars)   Beginning
Balance as of
January 1, 2012
    Included in
Earnings
    Included in
Regulatory Assets
and Liabilities
    Purchases     Issuances     Sales     Settlements     Transfer
In/Out of
Level 3
   

Ending

Balance as of
March 31, 2012

 

Con Edison

                 

Derivatives:

                 

Commodity

  $ (62   $ (58   $ (17   $ 6      $      $      $ 38      $      $ (93

Interest rate contract

    (8     (1                                 1        8          

Other assets (1)

    99        3        3                                    (105       

Total

  $ 29      $ (56   $ (14   $ 6      $      $      $ 39      $ (97   $ (93

CECONY

                 

Derivatives:

                 

Commodity

  $ (7   $ (5   $ (7   $ 6      $      $      $      $      $ (13

Other assets (1)

    90        3        2                                    (95       

Total

  $ 83      $ (2   $ (5   $ 6      $      $      $      $ (95   $ (13

 

(1) Amounts included in earnings are reported in investment and other income on the consolidated income statement.

 

     For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011  
            Total Gains/(Losses)—
Realized and Unrealized
                                           
(Millions of Dollars)   Beginning
Balance as of
January 1, 2011
    Included in
Earnings
    Included in
Regulatory Assets
and Liabilities
    Purchases     Issuances     Sales     Settlements     Transfer
In/Out of
Level 3
   

Ending

Balance as of
March 31, 2011

 

Con Edison

                 

Derivatives:

                 

Commodity

  $ (88   $ 9      $ 40      $ 10      $      $      $ 3      $ (5   $ (31

Interest rate contract

    (10     (1                                 1               (10

Other assets (1)

    101        2        2                                           105   

Total

  $ 3      $ 10      $ 42      $ 10      $      $      $ 4      $ (5   $ 64   

CECONY

                 

Derivatives:

                 

Commodity

  $ (26   $ (1   $ 27      $ 10      $      $      $ (3   $ (5   $ 2   

Other assets (1)

    92        2        1                                           95   

Total

  $ 66      $ 1      $ 28      $ 10      $      $      $ (3   $ (5   $ 97   

 

(1) Amounts included in earnings are reported in investment and other income on the consolidated income statement.

 

For the Utilities, realized gains and losses on Level 3 commodity derivative assets and liabilities are reported as part of purchased power, gas and fuel costs. The Utilities generally recover these costs in accordance with rate provisions approved by the applicable state public utilities commissions. See Note A to the financial statements in Item 8 of the Form 10-K. Unrealized gains and losses for commodity derivatives are generally deferred on the consolidated balance sheet in accordance with the accounting rules for regulated operations.

For the competitive energy businesses, realized and unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 commodity derivative assets and liabilities are reported in non-utility revenues ($3 million loss and $12 million loss) and purchased power costs ($43 million loss and $27 million gain) on the consolidated income statement for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The change in fair value relating to Level 3 commodity derivative assets held at March 31, 2012 and 2011 is included in non-utility revenues ($3 million loss and $12 million loss), and purchased power costs ($7 million loss and $29 million gain) on the consolidated income statement for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The accounting rules for fair value measurements and disclosures require consideration of the impact of nonperformance risk (including credit risk) from a market participant perspective in the measurement of the fair value of assets and liabilities. At March 31, 2012, the Companies determined that nonperformance risk would have no material impact on their financial position or results of operations. To assess nonperformance risk, the Companies considered information such as collateral requirements, master netting arrangements, letters of credit and parent company guarantees, and applied a market-based method by using the counterparty (for an asset) or the Companies' (for a liability) credit default swaps rates.