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Financing
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
FINANCING
FINANCING
Going Concern
As of March 31, 2017, Mississippi Power's current liabilities exceeded current assets by approximately $1.2 billion primarily due to a $1.2 billion unsecured term loan that matures on March 30, 2018 and $35 million in senior notes that mature on November 15, 2017, as well as $36 million of short-term notes payable, $40 million of tax-exempt variable rate demand obligations, and $50 million of pollution control bonds that are required to be remarketed over the next 12 months. Mississippi Power expects the funds needed to satisfy maturing debt obligations will exceed amounts available from operating cash flows, lines of credit, and other external sources. Accordingly, Mississippi Power intends to satisfy these obligations through loans and/or equity contributions from Southern Company. Specifically, Mississippi Power has been informed by Southern Company that, in the event sufficient funds are not available from external sources, Southern Company intends to provide Mississippi Power with loans and/or equity contributions sufficient to fund the remaining indebtedness scheduled to mature and other cash needs over the next 12 months. Therefore, Mississippi Power's financial statement presentation contemplates continuation of Mississippi Power as a going concern as a result of Southern Company's anticipated ongoing financial support of Mississippi Power, consistent with GAAP. For additional information, see Notes 1 and 6 to the financial statements of Mississippi Power under "Recently Issued Accounting Standards" and "Going Concern," respectively, in Item 8 of the Form 10-K.
DOE Loan Guarantee Borrowings
See Note 6 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Georgia Power in Item 8 of the Form 10-K for additional information regarding Georgia Power's loan guarantee agreement (Loan Guarantee Agreement) with the DOE and related multi-advance term loan facility (FFB Credit Facility) with the FFB.
Advances may be requested under the FFB Credit Facility on a quarterly basis through 2020. The final maturity date for each advance under the FFB Credit Facility is February 20, 2044. Interest is payable quarterly and principal payments will begin on February 20, 2020. Borrowings under the FFB Credit Facility will bear interest at the applicable U.S. Treasury rate plus a spread equal to 0.375%.
Future advances are subject to satisfaction of customary conditions, as well as certification of compliance with the requirements of the Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program, accuracy of project-related representations and warranties, delivery of updated project-related information, absence of liens on Georgia Power's ownership interest in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 other than permitted liens, evidence of compliance with the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931, as amended, and certification from the DOE's consulting engineer that proceeds of the advances are used to reimburse Eligible Project Costs. The Contractor's bankruptcy and failure to perform its obligations under the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement could impact Georgia Power's ability to make further borrowings under the Loan Guarantee Agreement.
Under the Loan Guarantee Agreement, Georgia Power is subject to customary borrower affirmative and negative covenants and events of default. In addition, Georgia Power is subject to project-related reporting requirements and other project-specific covenants and events of default.
In the event certain mandatory prepayment events occur, the FFB's commitment to make further advances under the FFB Credit Facility will terminate and Georgia Power will be required to prepay the outstanding principal amount of all borrowings under the FFB Credit Facility over a period of five years (with level principal amortization). Among other things, these mandatory prepayment events include (i) the termination of the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement under certain circumstances; (ii) cancellation of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 by the Georgia PSC, or by Georgia Power if authorized by the Georgia PSC; and (iii) cost disallowances by the Georgia PSC that could have a material adverse effect on completion of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 or Georgia Power's ability to repay the outstanding borrowings under the FFB Credit Facility. Under certain circumstances, insurance proceeds and any proceeds from an event of taking must be applied to immediately prepay outstanding borrowings under the FFB Credit Facility. Georgia Power also may voluntarily prepay outstanding borrowings under the FFB Credit Facility. Under the FFB Credit Facility, any prepayment (whether mandatory or optional) will be made with a make-whole premium or discount, as applicable.
In connection with any cancellation of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 that results in a mandatory prepayment event, the DOE may elect to continue construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. In such an event, the DOE will have the right to assume Georgia Power's rights and obligations under the principal agreements relating to Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 and to acquire all or a portion of Georgia Power's ownership interest in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
See Note (B) under "Regulatory MattersGeorgia PowerNuclear Construction" for additional information regarding Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
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 of the traditional electric operating companies outstanding requiring liquidity support as of March 31, 2017 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 March 31, 2017, the traditional electric operating companies had approximately $386 million (comprised of approximately $250 million at Georgia Power, $86 million at Gulf Power, and $50 million at Mississippi 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 March 31, 2017:
 
Expires
 
 
 
Executable Term
Loans
 
Expires Within One
Year
Company
2017
2018
2020
 
Total
 
Unused
 
One
Year
 
Two
Years
 
Term
Out
 
No Term
Out
 
(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
85

195


 
280

 
280

 
45

 

 
25

 
70

Mississippi Power
173



 
173

 
141

 

 
13

 
13

 
160

Southern Power Company


600

 
600

 
524

 

 

 

 

Southern Company Gas(b)
75

1,925


 
2,000

 
1,949

 

 

 

 
75

Other
55



 
55

 
55

 
20

 

 
20

 
35

Southern Company Consolidated
$
423

$
3,620

$
4,400

 
$
8,443

 
$
8,266

 
$
65

 
$
13

 
$
58

 
$
375


(a)
Represents the Southern Company parent entity.
(b)
Southern Company Gas, as the parent entity, 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 for which Nicor Gas is the borrower and which is restricted for working capital needs of Nicor Gas.
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.
Financing Activities
The following table outlines the long-term debt financing activities for Southern Company and its subsidiaries for the first three months of 2017:
Company(a)
Senior Note Issuances
 
Senior
Note Maturities and Redemptions
 
Other
Long-Term
Debt
Issuances
 
Other
Long-Term
Debt Redemptions
and
Maturities(b)
 
(in millions)
Southern Company(c)
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
400

Alabama Power
550

 
200

 

 

Georgia Power
850

 

 

 
2

Gulf Power

 

 
6

 

Southern Power

 

 
3

 
2

Other

 

 

 
4

Southern Company Consolidated
$
1,400

 
$
200

 
$
9

 
$
408


(a)
Mississippi Power and Southern Company Gas did not issue or redeem any long-term debt during the first three months of 2017.
(b)
Includes reductions in capital lease obligations resulting from cash payments under capital leases.
(c)
Represents the Southern Company parent entity.
Southern Company
In March 2017, Southern Company repaid at maturity a $400 million 18-month floating rate bank loan.
Alabama Power
In March 2017, Alabama Power issued $550 million aggregate principal amount of Series 2017A 2.45% Senior Notes due March 30, 2022. The proceeds were used to repay Alabama Power's short-term indebtedness and for general corporate purposes, including Alabama Power's continuous construction program.
Georgia Power
In March 2017, Georgia Power issued $450 million aggregate principal amount of Series 2017A 2.00% Senior Notes due March 30, 2020 and $400 million aggregate principal amount of Series 2017B 3.25% Senior Notes due March 30, 2027. The proceeds were used to repay a portion of Georgia Power's short-term indebtedness and for general corporate purposes, including Georgia Power's continuous construction program.
Gulf Power
In March 2017, Gulf Power extended the maturity of a $100 million short-term floating rate bank loan bearing interest based on one-month LIBOR from April 2017 to October 2017.
Mississippi Power
On February 28, 2017, Mississippi Power amended $551 million in promissory notes to Southern Company extending the maturity dates of the notes from December 1, 2017 to July 31, 2018.
On March 31, 2017, Mississippi Power issued a $9 million short-term note bearing interest at 5% per annum, which was repaid on April 27, 2017.