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Financing
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
FINANCING
FINANCING
Bank Credit Arrangements
Bank credit arrangements provide liquidity support to the registrants' commercial paper borrowings and the traditional electric operating companies' pollution control revenue bonds. The amount of variable rate pollution control revenue bonds outstanding requiring liquidity support as of September 30, 2016 was approximately $1.9 billion (comprised of approximately $890 million at Alabama Power, $868 million at Georgia Power, $82 million at Gulf Power, and $40 million at Mississippi Power). In addition, at September 30, 2016, the traditional electric operating companies had approximately $358 million (comprised of approximately $87 million at Alabama Power, $250 million at Georgia Power, and $21 million at Gulf Power) of fixed rate pollution control revenue bonds outstanding that were required to be reoffered within the next 12 months. See Note 6 to the financial statements of each registrant under "Bank Credit Arrangements" in Item 8 of the Form 10-K and "Financing Activities" herein for additional information.
The following table outlines the committed credit arrangements by company as of September 30, 2016:
 
Expires
 
 
 
Executable Term
Loans
 
Due Within One
Year
Company
2016

2017
2018
2020
 
Total
 
Unused
 
One
Year
 
Two
Years
 
Term
Out
 
No Term
Out
 
(in millions)
 
(in millions)
 
(in millions)
 
(in millions)
Southern Company(a)
$

$

$
1,000

$
1,250

 
$
2,250

 
$
2,250

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

Alabama Power

35

500

800

 
1,335

 
1,335

 

 

 

 
35

Georgia Power



1,750

 
1,750

 
1,732

 

 

 

 

Gulf Power
50

65

165


 
280

 
280

 
45

 

 
45

 
70

Mississippi Power
100

75



 
175

 
150

 

 
15

 
15

 
160

Southern Power Company(b)



600

 
600

 
532

 

 

 

 

Southern Company Gas(c)

75

1,925


 
2,000

 
1,947

 

 

 

 

Other

55



 
55

 
55

 
20

 

 
20

 
35

Southern Company Consolidated
$
150

$
305

$
3,590

$
4,400

 
$
8,445

 
$
8,281

 
$
65

 
$
15

 
$
80

 
$
300


(a)
Represents the Southern Company parent entity.
(b)
Excluding its subsidiaries. See "Southern Power Project Credit Facilities" below and Note (I) under "Southern Power" for additional information.
(c)
Southern Company Gas guarantees the obligations of Southern Company Gas Capital, which is the borrower of $1.3 billion of these arrangements. Southern Company Gas' committed credit arrangements also include $700 million restricted for working capital needs of Nicor Gas.
On May 24, 2016, Southern Company's $8.1 billion Bridge Agreement to provide Merger financing, to the extent necessary, was terminated.
Subject to applicable market conditions, Southern Company and its subsidiaries expect to renew or replace their bank credit arrangements as needed, prior to expiration. In connection therewith, Southern Company and its subsidiaries may extend the maturity dates and/or increase or decrease the lending commitments thereunder.
Southern Power Project Credit Facilities
In connection with the construction of solar facilities by RE Garland Holdings LLC, RE Roserock LLC, and RE Tranquillity LLC, indirect subsidiaries of Southern Power, each subsidiary entered into separate credit agreements (Project Credit Facilities), which are non-recourse to Southern Power (other than the subsidiary party to the agreement). Each Project Credit Facility provides (a) a senior secured construction loan credit facility, (b) a senior secured bridge loan facility, and (c) a senior secured letter of credit facility that is secured by the membership interests of the respective project company, with proceeds directed to finance project costs related to the respective solar facilities. Each Project Credit Facility is secured by the assets of the applicable project subsidiary and membership interests of the applicable project subsidiary. The table below summarizes each Project Credit Facility as of September 30, 2016.
Project
 
Maturity Date
 
Construction Loan Facility
 
Bridge Loan Facility
 
Total Loan Facility
 
Loan Facility Undrawn
 
Letter of Credit Facility
 
Letter of Credit Facility Undrawn
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Garland
 
Earlier of PPA COD or November 30, 2016
 
$
86

 
$
308

 
$
394

 
$
21

 
$
49

 
$
23

Roserock
 
Earlier of PPA COD or November 30, 2016(*)
 
63

 
180

 
243

 
34

 
23

 
16

Tranquillity
 
October 14, 2016
 
86

 
172

 
258

 
12

 
77

 
26

Total
 
 
 
$
235

 
$
660

 
$
895

 
$
67

 
$
149

 
$
65


(*)
Subsequent to September 30, 2016, Roserock extended the maturity date of its Project Credit Facility to December 31, 2016.
The Project Credit Facilities above had total amounts outstanding as of September 30, 2016 of $828 million at a weighted average interest rate of 2.05%. For the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, these credit agreements had a maximum amount outstanding of $828 million and an average amount outstanding of $805 million at a weighted average interest rate of 2.02%.
Furthermore, in connection with the acquisition of the Henrietta solar facility on July 1, 2016, a subsidiary of Southern Power assumed a $217 million construction loan, which was fully repaid prior to September 30, 2016. For the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, this credit agreement had a maximum amount outstanding of $217 million and an average amount outstanding of $137 million at a weighted average interest rate of 2.21%.
Financing Activities
The following table outlines the long-term debt financing activities for Southern Company and its subsidiaries for the first nine months of 2016:
Company
Senior Note Issuances
 
Senior
Note Maturities and Redemptions
 
Revenue
Bond
Maturities Redemptions and
Repurchases
 
Other
Long-Term
Debt
Issuances
 
Other
Long-Term
Debt Redemptions
and
Maturities(a)
 
(in millions)
Southern Company(b)
$
8,500

 
$
500

 
$

 
$
800

 
$

Alabama Power
400

 
200

 

 
45

 

Georgia Power
650

 
700

 
4

 
300

 
5

Gulf Power

 
125

 

 
2

 

Mississippi Power

 

 

 
1,100

 
652

Southern Power
1,531

 

 

 
63

 
84

Southern Company Gas(c)
900

 
300

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 
60

Elimination(d)

 

 

 
(200
)
 
(225
)
Southern Company Consolidated
$
11,981

 
$
1,825

 
$
4

 
$
2,110

 
$
576


(a)
Includes reductions in capital lease obligations resulting from cash payments under capital leases.
(b)
Represents the Southern Company parent entity.
(c)
Reflects only long-term debt financing activities occurring subsequent to completion of the Merger. The senior notes were issued by Southern Company Gas Capital and guaranteed by Southern Company Gas.
(d)
Intercompany loans from Southern Company to Mississippi Power eliminated in Southern Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
Southern Company
In May 2016, Southern Company issued the following series of senior notes for an aggregate principal amount of $8.5 billion:
$0.5 billion of 1.55% Senior Notes due July 1, 2018;
$1.0 billion of 1.85% Senior Notes due July 1, 2019;
$1.5 billion of 2.35% Senior Notes due July 1, 2021;
$1.25 billion of 2.95% Senior Notes due July 1, 2023;
$1.75 billion of 3.25% Senior Notes due July 1, 2026;
$0.5 billion of 4.25% Senior Notes due July 1, 2036; and
$2.0 billion of 4.40% Senior Notes due July 1, 2046.
The net proceeds were used to fund a portion of the consideration for the Merger and related transaction costs and for other general corporate purposes.
In September 2016, Southern Company issued $800 million aggregate principal amount of Series 2016A 5.25% Junior Subordinated Notes due October 1, 2076. The proceeds were used to repay short-term indebtedness that was incurred to repay at maturity $500 million aggregate principal amount of Southern Company's Series 2011A 1.95% Senior Notes due September 1, 2016 and for other general corporate purposes.
Alabama Power
In January 2016, Alabama Power issued $400 million aggregate principal amount of Series 2016A 4.30% Senior Notes due January 2, 2046. The proceeds were used to repay at maturity $200 million aggregate principal amount of Alabama Power's Series FF 5.20% Senior Notes due January 15, 2016 and for general corporate purposes, including Alabama Power's continuous construction program.
In March 2016, Alabama Power entered into three bank term loan agreements with maturity dates of March 2021, in an aggregate principal amount of $45 million, one of which bears interest at 2.38% per annum and two of which bear interest based on three-month LIBOR.
Georgia Power
In March 2016, Georgia Power issued $325 million aggregate principal amount of Series 2016A 3.25% Senior Notes due April 1, 2026 and $325 million aggregate principal amount of Series 2016B 2.40% Senior Notes due April 1, 2021. An amount equal to the proceeds from the Series 2016A 3.25% Senior Notes due April 1, 2026 will be allocated to eligible green expenditures, including financing of or investments in solar generating facilities or electric vehicle charging infrastructure, or payments under PPAs served by solar or wind generating facilities. The proceeds from the Series 2016B 2.40% Senior Notes due April 1, 2021 were used to repay at maturity $250 million aggregate principal amount of Georgia Power's Series 2013B Floating Rate Senior Notes due March 15, 2016, to repay a portion of Georgia Power's short-term indebtedness, and for general corporate purposes, including Georgia Power's continuous construction program.
In June 2016, Georgia Power made additional borrowings under the FFB Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount of $300 million at a 2.571% interest rate through the final maturity date of February 20, 2044. The proceeds were used to reimburse Georgia Power for Eligible Project Costs relating to the construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
Gulf Power
In May 2016, Gulf Power redeemed $125 million aggregate principal amount of its Series 2011A 5.75% Senior Notes due June 1, 2051.
Also in May 2016, Gulf Power entered into an 11-month floating rate bank loan bearing interest based on one-month LIBOR. This short-term loan was for $100 million aggregate principal amount and the proceeds were used to repay existing indebtedness and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
Mississippi Power
On January 28, 2016, Mississippi Power issued a promissory note for up to $275 million to Southern Company, which matures in December 2017, bearing interest based on one-month LIBOR. During the first nine months of 2016, Mississippi Power borrowed $100 million under this promissory note and an additional $100 million under a separate promissory note issued to Southern Company in November 2015. On March 8, 2016, Mississippi Power entered into an unsecured term loan agreement with a syndicate of financial institutions for an aggregate amount of $1.2 billion. Mississippi Power borrowed $900 million on March 8, 2016 under the term loan agreement and the remaining $300 million on October 7, 2016. Mississippi Power used the initial proceeds to repay $900 million in maturing bank loans on March 8, 2016 and the remaining $300 million to repay at maturity Mississippi Power's Series 2011A 2.35% Senior Notes due October 15, 2016. The term loan pursuant to this agreement matures on April 1, 2018 and bears interest based on one-month LIBOR. On June 27, 2016, Mississippi Power received a capital contribution from Southern Company of $225 million, the proceeds of which were used to repay to Southern Company a portion of the promissory note issued in November 2015. As of September 30, 2016, the amount of outstanding promissory notes to Southern Company totaled $551 million.
In June 2016, Mississippi Power renewed a $10 million short-term note, which matures on June 30, 2017, bearing interest based on three-month LIBOR.
Southern Power
In June 2016, Southern Power issued €600 million aggregate principal amount of Series 2016A 1.00% Senior Notes due June 20, 2022 and €500 million aggregate principal amount of Series 2016B 1.85% Senior Notes due June 20, 2026. The proceeds are being allocated to renewable energy generation projects. Southern Power's obligations under its euro-denominated fixed-rate notes were effectively converted to fixed-rate U.S. dollars at issuance through cross-currency swaps, removing foreign currency exchange risk associated with the interest and principal payments. See Note (H) under "Foreign Currency Derivatives" for additional information.
In September 2016, Southern Power issued $290 million aggregate principal amount of Series 2016C 2.75% Senior Notes due September 20, 2023. The proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including Southern Power's growth strategy and continuous construction program, as well as repayment of amounts outstanding under the Project Credit Facilities.
Also in September 2016, Southern Power repaid $80 million of an outstanding $400 million floating rate bank loan and extended the maturity date of the remaining $320 million from September 2016 to September 2018. In addition, Southern Power entered into a $60 million aggregate principal amount floating rate bank loan bearing interest based on one-month LIBOR due September 2017. The proceeds were used to repay existing indebtedness and for other general corporate purposes.
In addition, Southern Power issued $34 million in letters of credit during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, Southern Power's subsidiaries incurred an additional $691 million of short-term borrowings pursuant to the Project Credit Facilities at a weighted average interest rate of 2.05%. Furthermore, in connection with the acquisition of the Henrietta solar facility, a subsidiary of Southern Power assumed a $217 million construction loan, which was fully repaid prior to September 30, 2016. In addition, Southern Power's subsidiaries issued $16 million in letters of credit.
Southern Company Gas
In September 2016, Southern Company Gas Capital issued $350 million aggregate principal amount of 2.45% Senior Notes due October 1, 2023 and $550 million aggregate principal amount of 3.95% Senior Notes due October 1, 2046, both of which are guaranteed by Southern Company Gas. The proceeds were used to repay a $360 million promissory note issued to Southern Company for the purpose of funding a portion of the purchase price for Southern Company Gas' 50% equity interest in SNG, to fund Southern Company Gas' purchase of Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.'s (Piedmont) interest in SouthStar Energy Services, LLC (SouthStar), to make a voluntary pension contribution, to repay at maturity $120 million aggregate principal amount of Series A Floating Rate Senior Notes due October 27, 2016, and for general corporate purposes. See Note (I) under "Southern Company Investment in Southern Natural Gas" and " Acquisition of Remaining Interest in SouthStar" for additional information regarding Southern Company Gas' investment in SNG and purchase of Piedmont's interest in SouthStar, respectively.