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Financing
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
FINANCING
FINANCING
Bank Credit Arrangements
Bank credit arrangements provide liquidity support to the registrants' commercial paper borrowings and the traditional operating companies' pollution control revenue bonds. The amount of variable rate pollution control revenue bonds outstanding requiring liquidity support as of March 31, 2016 was approximately $1.8 billion (comprised of approximately $810 million at Alabama Power, $868 million at Georgia Power, $82 million at Gulf Power, and $40 million at Mississippi Power). In addition, at March 31, 2016, the traditional operating companies had approximately $269 million (comprised of approximately $167 million at Alabama Power, $69 million at Georgia Power, and $33 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 for additional information. See "Financing Activities" herein for additional information.
The following table outlines the committed credit arrangements by company as of March 31, 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)
Southern Company (a)
$

$

$
1,000

$1,250
 
$
2,250

 
$
2,250

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

Alabama Power
40


500

800

 
1,340

 
1,340

 

 

 

 
40

Georgia Power



1,750

 
1,750

 
1,732

 

 

 

 

Gulf Power
75

40

165


 
280

 
280

 
45

 

 
45

 
40

Mississippi Power
205




 
205

 
180

 
30

 
15

 
45

 
160

Southern Power Company (b)



600

 
600

 
560

 

 

 

 

Other
70




 
70

 
70

 
20

 

 
20

 
50

Total
$
390

$
40

$
1,665

$4,400
 
$
6,495

 
$
6,412

 
$
95

 
$
15

 
$
110

 
$
290


(a)
Excludes the $8.1 billion Bridge Agreement entered into in September 2015 that will be funded only to the extent necessary to provide financing for the Merger as discussed herein.
(b)
Excluding its subsidiaries. See "Project Credit Facilities" below and Note (I) under "Southern Power" for additional information.
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 Company intends to fund the cash consideration for the Merger using a mix of debt and equity. Southern Company finances its capital needs on a portfolio basis and expects to issue a minimum of $8.0 billion in debt prior to closing the Merger and a minimum of $1.2 billion in equity during 2016. This capital is expected to provide funding for the Merger, the proposed acquisition of PowerSecure International, Inc. (PowerSecure), and Southern Power and other Southern Company system capital projects. Total capital raised in 2016 may increase due to cash needed at the closing of the Merger, settlement of hedges, and incremental investment opportunities, including additional Southern Power projects in excess of its current capital plans. In addition, Southern Company entered into the $8.1 billion Bridge Agreement on September 30, 2015 to provide financing for the Merger in the event long-term financing is not available. As of March 31, 2016, Southern Company had no outstanding loans under the Bridge Agreement. See Note (I) under "Southern Company Proposed Merger with AGL Resources" for additional information regarding the Merger. See Note 6 to the financial statements of Southern Company under "Bank Credit Arrangements" in Item 8 of the Form 10-K for additional information regarding the Bridge Agreement.
Southern Power Project Credit Facilities
In connection with the construction of solar facilities by RE Tranquillity LLC, RE Roserock LLC, and RE Garland Holdings 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. Proceeds from the Project Credit Facilities are being used to finance project costs related to the respective solar facilities currently under construction. 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 March 31, 2016.
Project
 
Maturity Date
 
Construction Loan Facility
 
Bridge Loan Facility
 
Total
 
Total Undrawn
 
Letter of Credit Facility
 
Total Undrawn
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Tranquillity
 
Earlier of COD or December 31, 2016
 
$
86

 
$
172

 
$
258

 
$
52

 
$
77

 
$
26

Roserock
 
Earlier of COD or November 30, 2016
 
63

 
180

 
243

 
121

 
23

 
16

Garland
 
Earlier of COD or November 30, 2016
 
86

 
308

 
394

 
309

 
49

 
32

Total
 
 
 
$
235

 
$
660

 
$
895

 
$
482

 
$
149

 
$
74


The Project Credit Facilities had total amounts outstanding as of March 31, 2016 of $413 million at a weighted average interest rate of 1.99%. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, these credit agreements had a maximum amount outstanding of $413 million, and an average amount outstanding of $260 million at a weighted average interest rate of 1.99%.
Financing Activities
The following table outlines the long-term debt financing activities for Southern Company and its subsidiaries for the first three months of 2016:
Company(a)
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(b)
 
(in millions)
Alabama Power
$
400

 
$
200

 
$

 
$
45

 
$

Georgia Power
650

 
250

 
4

 

 
1

Mississippi Power

 

 

 
1,100

 
426

Southern Power

 

 

 
2

 
3

Other

 

 

 

 
4

Elimination(c)

 

 

 
(200
)
 

Total
$
1,050

 
$
450

 
$
4

 
$
947

 
$
434


(a)
Southern Company and Gulf Power did not issue or redeem any long-term debt during the first three months of 2016.    
(b)
Includes reductions in capital lease obligations resulting from cash payments under capital leases.
(c)
Intercompany loans from Southern Company to Mississippi Power eliminated in Southern Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
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 power generation facilities or electric vehicle charging infrastructure, or payments under PPAs served by solar power or wind generation 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.
Mississippi Power
In January 2016, Mississippi Power issued a floating rate promissory note to Southern Company in an aggregate principal amount of up to $275 million, which matures on December 1, 2017, bearing interest based on one-month LIBOR. As of March 31, 2016, Mississippi Power had borrowed $100 million under this promissory note with a $50 million draw occurring on each of January 29, 2016 and March 14, 2016. In addition, on January 19, 2016, Mississippi Power borrowed $100 million from Southern Company pursuant to a promissory note issued in November 2015.
On March 8, 2016, Mississippi Power entered into an unsecured term loan agreement for an aggregate amount of $1.2 billion to repay existing indebtedness and for other general corporate purposes. Mississippi Power borrowed $900 million under the term loan agreement and has the right to borrow the remaining $300 million on or before October 15, 2016, upon satisfaction of certain customary conditions. Mississippi Power used the initial proceeds to repay $900 million in maturing bank notes on March 8, 2016 and expects the remaining $300 million to be used to repay senior notes maturing in October 2016. The term loan pursuant to this agreement matures on April 1, 2018 and bears interest based on one-month LIBOR.
Also in March 2016, Mississippi Power renewed a $10 million short-term note, which matures on June 30, 2016, bearing interest based on three-month LIBOR.
Southern Power
During the three months ended March 31, 2016, Southern Power's subsidiary repaid $3 million of long-term debt payable to Turner Renewable Energy, LLC (TRE) and borrowed $2 million due February 28, 2036 under promissory notes payable to TRE.
During the three months ended March 31, 2016, Southern Power's subsidiaries borrowed $276 million pursuant to the Project Credit Facilities at a weighted average interest rate of 1.99%. In addition, Southern Power's subsidiaries issued $8 million in letters of credit.