Fair Value of Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

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 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.

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

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, 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 MGE Energy's and MGE long-term debt is based on quoted market prices for similar financial instruments at December 31. Since long-term debt is not traded in an active market, it is classified as Level 2. The estimated fair market value of MGE Energy's and MGE's financial instruments are as follows:

		2014				2013
(In thousands)		Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
MGE Energy
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	65,755	$	65,755	$	68,813	$	68,813
Liabilities:
Short-term debt - commercial paper		7,000		7,000		-		-
Long-term debt*		399,690		457,420		403,793		432,010

MGE
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	4,562	$	4,562	$	14,808	$	14,808
Liabilities:
Short-term debt - commercial paper		7,000		7,000		-		-
Long-term debt*		399,690		457,420		403,793		432,010

*Includes long-term debt due within one year.

b. Recurring Fair Value Measurements.

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

	Fair Value as of December 31, 2014
(In thousands)		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
MGE Energy
Assets:
Derivatives, net	$	642	$	-	$	-	$	642
Exchange-traded investments		927		927		-		-
Total Assets	$	1,569	$	927	$	-	$	642
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net^(a)	$	55,640	$	1,012	$	-	$	54,628
Deferred compensation		2,832		-		2,832		-
Total Liabilities	$	58,472	$	1,012	$	2,832	$	54,628

MGE
Assets:
Derivatives, net	$	642	$	-	$	-	$	642
Exchange-traded investments		350		350		-		-
Total Assets	$	992	$	350	$	-	$	642
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net^(a)	$	55,640	$	1,012	$	-	$	54,628
Deferred compensation		2,832		-		2,832		-
Total Liabilities	$	58,472	$	1,012	$	2,832	$	54,628


	Fair Value as of December 31, 2013
(In thousands)		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
MGE Energy
Assets:
Derivatives, net	$	1,787	$	735	$	-	$	1,052
Exchange-traded investments		792		792		-		-
Total Assets	$	2,579	$	1,527	$	-	$	1,052
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net	$	65,680	$	-	$	-	$	65,680
Deferred compensation		2,364		-		2,364		-
Total Liabilities	$	68,044	$	-	$	2,364	$	65,680

MGE
Assets:
Derivatives, net	$	1,787	$	735	$	-	$	1,052
Exchange-traded investments		431		431		-		-
Total Assets	$	2,218	$	1,166	$	-	$	1,052
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net	$	65,680	$	-	$	-	$	65,680
Deferred compensation		2,364		-		2,364		-
Total Liabilities	$	68,044	$	-	$	2,364	$	65,680

(a) These amounts are shown gross and exclude $2.2 million and $0.2 million of collateral that was
posted against derivative positions with counterparties as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

No transfers were made in or out of Level 1 or Level 2 for the year ended December 31, 2014.

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

Derivatives include exchange-traded derivative contracts, over-the-counter transactions, a ten-year 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 ten-year purchased power agreement (see Footnote 16) was valued using an internally-developed pricing model and therefore is classified as Level 3. The model projects future market energy prices and compares those prices to the projected power costs to be incurred under the contract. Inputs to the model require significant management judgment and estimation. Future energy prices are based on a forward power pricing curve using exchange-traded contracts in the electric futures market, where such exchange-traded contracts exist, and upon calculations based on forward gas prices, where such exchange-traded contracts do not exist. A basis adjustment is 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 is reviewed and a discount (below 100%) or premium (above 100%) is derived. This comparison is done for both peak times when demand is high and off peak times when demand is low. If the basis adjustment is lowered, the fair value measurement will decrease and if the basis adjustment is increased, the fair value measurement will increase.

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

This model is prepared by members of MGE’s Energy Accounting group. It is reviewed on a quarterly basis by management in Energy Supply and Finance to review the assumptions, inputs, and fair value measurements.

The following table presents the significant unobservable inputs used in the pricing model as of December 31:

	Model Input
Significant Unobservable Inputs	2014	2013
Basis adjustment:
On peak	98.1%	94.2%
Off peak	95.0%	92.6%
Counterparty fuel mix:
Internal generation	50%-70%	50%-70%
Purchased power	50%-30%	50%-30%

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 of MGE Energy and MGE. 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.

The following table summarizes the changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for both MGE Energy and MGE.

(In thousands)		2014		2013		2012
Balance as of January 1,	$	(64,628)	$	(72,346)	$	(40,661)
Realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in regulatory liabilities (assets)		10,642		7,718		(31,685)
Included in other comprehensive income		-		-		-
Included in earnings		5,129		(2,618)		(5,005)
Included in current assets		-		(108)		-
Purchases		26,382		23,726		13,370
Sales		(125)		(2)		92
Issuances		-		-		-
Settlements		(31,386)		(20,998)		(8,457)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3		-		-		-
Balance as of December 31,	$	(53,986)	$	(64,628)	$	(72,346)
Total gains (losses) included in earnings attributed to the
change in unrealized gains (losses) related to assets and
liabilities held at December 31,^(b)	$	-	$	-	$	-

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 for both MGE Energy and MGE (b).

(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,		2014		2013		2012
Purchased power expense	$	5,137	$	(2,618)	$	(5,005)
Cost of gas sold expense		(8)		-		-
Total	$	5,129	$	(2,618)	$	(5,005)

(b) MGE's exchange-traded derivative contracts, over-the-counter party transactions, ten-year 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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