Fair Value of Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

19.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - MGE Energy and MGE.

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or would be paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The accounting standard clarifies that fair value should be based on the assumptions market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability including assumptions about risk. The standard also establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy based upon the observability of the assumptions used and requires the use of observable market data when available. The levels are:

Level 1 - Pricing inputs are quoted prices within active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Pricing inputs are quoted prices within active markets for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations that are correlated with or otherwise verifiable by observable market data.

Level 3 - Pricing inputs are unobservable and reflect management's best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Recorded at the Carrying Amount.

The carrying amount of cash, cash equivalents, and outstanding commercial paper approximates fair market value due to the short maturity of those investments and obligations. The estimated fair market value of long-term debt is based on quoted market prices for similar financial instruments. Since long-term debt is not traded in an active market, it is classified as Level 2. The estimated fair market value of financial instruments are as follows:


	December 31, 2022				December 31, 2021
(In thousands)	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
Long-term debt(a)	$	643,560	$	571,374	$	623,449	$	729,914

(a)

Includes long-term debt due within one year. Excludes debt issuance costs and unamortized discount of $4.0 million and $4.3 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements.

The following table presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.


	Fair Value as of December 31, 2022
(In thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
MGE Energy
Assets:
Derivatives, net(b)	$	3,069	$	1,353	$	—	$	1,716
Exchange-traded investments		1,516		1,516		—		—
Total Assets	$	4,585	$	2,869	$	—	$	1,716
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net(b)	$	8,163	$	5,581	$	—	$	2,582
Deferred compensation		4,743		—		4,743		—
Total Liabilities	$	12,906	$	5,581	$	4,743	$	2,582

MGE
Assets:
Derivatives, net(b)	$	3,069	$	1,353	$	—	$	1,716
Exchange-traded investments		115		115		—		—
Total Assets	$	3,184	$	1,468	$	—	$	1,716
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net(b)	$	8,163	$	5,581	$	—	$	2,582


Deferred compensation		4,743		—		4,743		—
Total Liabilities	$	12,906	$	5,581	$	4,743	$	2,582


	Fair Value as of December 31, 2021
(In thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
MGE Energy
Assets:
Derivatives, net(c)	$	3,606	$	1,170	$	—	$	2,436
Exchange-traded investments		1,296		1,296		—		—
Total Assets	$	4,902	$	2,466	$	—	$	2,436
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net(c)	$	2,989	$	731	$	—	$	2,258
Deferred compensation		3,653		—		3,653		—
Total Liabilities	$	6,642	$	731	$	3,653	$	2,258

MGE
Assets:
Derivatives, net(c)	$	3,606	$	1,170	$	—	$	2,436
Exchange-traded investments		230		230		—		—
Total Assets	$	3,836	$	1,400	$	—	$	2,436
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net(c)	$	2,989	$	731	$	—	$	2,258
Deferred compensation		3,653		—		3,653		—
Total Liabilities	$	6,642	$	731	$	3,653	$	2,258

(b)

As of December 31, 2022, collateral of $5.2 million was posted against and netted with derivative liability positions on the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the derivative liability disclosed in this table has not been reduced for the collateral posted.

(c)

As of December 31, 2021, MGE received collateral of $1.3 million from counterparties under a master netting agreement for outstanding exchange traded derivative positions. The fair value of the derivative asset disclosed in this table has not been reduced for the collateral received.

Investments include exchange-traded investment securities valued using quoted prices on active exchanges and are therefore classified as Level 1.

The deferred compensation plan allows participants to defer certain cash compensation into a notional investment account. These amounts are included within other deferred liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The notional investments earn interest based upon the semiannual rate of U.S. Treasury Bills having a 26-week maturity increased by 1% compounded monthly with a minimum annual rate of 7%, compounded monthly. The notional investments are based upon observable market data, however, since the deferred compensation obligations themselves are not exchanged in an active market, they are classified as Level 2.

Derivatives include exchange-traded derivative contracts, over-the-counter transactions, a purchased power agreement, and FTRs. Most exchange-traded derivative contracts are valued based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and are therefore classified as Level 1. A small number of exchange-traded derivative contracts are valued using quoted market pricing in markets with insufficient volumes and are therefore considered unobservable and classified as Level 3. Transactions done with an over-the-counter party are on inactive markets and are therefore classified as Level 3. These transactions are valued based on quoted prices from markets with similar exchange-traded transactions. FTRs are priced based upon monthly auction results for identical or similar instruments in a closed market with limited data available and are therefore classified as Level 3.

The purchased power agreement, with a term ended May 2022, (see Footnote 18) was valued using an internal pricing model and therefore was classified as Level 3. The model projected future market energy prices and compared those prices to the projected power costs to be incurred under the contract. Inputs to the model required significant management judgment and estimation. Future energy prices were based on a forward power pricing curve using exchange-traded contracts in the electric futures market. A basis adjustment was applied to the market energy price to reflect the price

differential between the market price delivery point and the counterparty delivery point. The historical relationship between the delivery points was reviewed and a discount (below 100%) or premium (above 100%) was derived. This comparison was done for both peak times when demand was high and off peak times when demand was low. If the basis adjustment was lowered, the fair value measurement would decrease, and if the basis adjustment was increased, the fair value measurement would increase.

The projected power costs anticipated to be incurred under the purchased power agreement were determined using many factors, including historical generating costs, future prices, and expected fuel mix of the counterparty. An increase in the projected fuel costs resulted in a decrease in the fair value measurement of the purchased power agreement. A significant input that MGE estimated was the counterparty's fuel mix in determining the projected power cost. MGE also considered the assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability. This consideration included assumptions about market risk such as liquidity, volatility, and contract duration. The fair value model used a discount rate that incorporated discounting, credit, and model risks.

The following table presents the significant unobservable inputs used in the pricing model.


Significant Unobservable Inputs		2021
Basis adjustment:
On peak		94.1%
Off peak		92.4%
Counterparty fuel mix:
Internal generation - range		41%-66%
Internal generation - weighted average		56.6%
Purchased power - range		59%-34%
Purchased power - weighted average		43.4%

The following table summarizes the changes in Level 3 commodity derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.


(In thousands)	2022			2021			2020
Balance as of January 1,	$	178		$	(14,055	)	$	(26,456	)
Realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in regulatory assets		(1,044	)		—			12,402
Included in regulatory liability		—			14,234			—
Included in other comprehensive income		—			—			—
Included in earnings		14,140			5,521			(6,439	)
Included in current assets		118			237			(87	)
Purchases		11,997			26,287			22,232
Sales		—			—			—
Issuances		—			—			—
Settlements		(26,255	)		(32,046	)		(15,707	)
Balance as of December 31,	$	(866	)	$	178		$	(14,055	)
Total gains (losses) included in earnings attributed to the change in unrealized gains (losses) related to assets and liabilities held as of December 31,(d)	$	—		$	—		$	—

The following table presents total realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in income for Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (d).


(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,	2022			2021			2020
Purchased power expense	$	14,497		$	6,192		$	(5,888	)
Cost of gas sold expense		(357	)		(671	)		(551	)
Total	$	14,140		$	5,521		$	(6,439	)

(d)

MGE's exchange-traded derivative contracts, over-the-counter party transactions, purchased power agreement, and FTRs are subject to regulatory deferral. These derivatives are therefore marked to fair value and are offset in the financial statements with a corresponding regulatory asset or liability.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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