Fair Value of Financial Instruments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

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.

a.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:

		March 31, 2020				December 31, 2019
(In thousands)		Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
MGE Energy
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	17,451	$	17,451	$	23,481	$	23,481
Liabilities:
Short-term debt - commercial paper		3,000		3,000		-		-
Long-term debt(a)		546,724		604,568		547,879		611,909
MGE
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,321	$	3,321	$	3,196	$	3,196
Liabilities:
Short-term debt - commercial paper		3,000		3,000		-		-
Long-term debt(a)		546,724		604,568		547,879		611,909

(a) Includes long-term debt due within one year. Excludes debt issuance costs and unamortized discount of $4.4 million and $4.5 million as of March 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019, respectively.

b.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 March 31, 2020
(In thousands)		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
MGE Energy
Assets:
Derivatives, net	$	682	$	634	$	-	$	48
Exchange-traded investments		1,382		1,382		-		-
Total Assets	$	2,064	$	2,016	$	-	$	48
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net(b)	$	26,009	$	314	$	-	$	25,695
Deferred compensation		3,195		-		3,195		-
Total Liabilities	$	29,204	$	314	$	3,195	$	25,695
MGE
Assets:
Derivatives, net	$	682	$	634	$	-	$	48
Exchange-traded investments		227		227		-		-
Total Assets	$	909	$	861	$	-	$	48
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net(b)	$	26,009	$	314	$	-	$	25,695
Deferred compensation		3,195		-		3,195		-
Total Liabilities	$	29,204	$	314	$	3,195	$	25,695

		Fair Value as of December 31, 2019
(In thousands)		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
MGE Energy
Assets:
Derivatives, net	$	303	$	189	$	-	$	114
Exchange-traded investments		1,271		1,271		-		-
Total Assets	$	1,574	$	1,460	$	-	$	114
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net(b)	$	27,178	$	608	$	-	$	26,570
Deferred compensation		3,157		-		3,157		-
Total Liabilities	$	30,335	$	608	$	3,157	$	26,570
MGE
Assets:
Derivatives, net	$	303	$	189	$	-	$	114
Exchange-traded investments		209		209		-		-
Total Assets	$	512	$	398	$	-	$	114
Liabilities:
Derivatives, net(b)	$	27,178	$	608	$	-	$	26,570
Deferred compensation		3,157		-		3,157		-
Total Liabilities	$	30,335	$	608	$	3,157	$	26,570

(b) These amounts are shown gross and exclude $1.7 million and $1.5 million of collateral that was posted against derivative positions with counterparties as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

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 (see Footnote 10) was valued using an internal 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. 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.

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

	Model Input
Significant Unobservable Inputs	March 31, 2020		December 31, 2019
Basis adjustment:
On peak	92.8	%	92.1	%
Off peak	93.5	%	92.7	%
Counterparty fuel mix:
Internal generation - range	46.0% - 65.0	%	40.0% - 60.0	%
Internal generation - weighted average	55.9	%	52.2	%
Purchased power - range	54.0% - 35.0	%	60.0% - 40.0	%
Purchased power - weighted average	44.1	%	47.8	%

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

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
(In thousands)		2020		2019
Beginning balance	$	(26,456)	$	(32,002)
Realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in regulatory assets		810		719
Included in other comprehensive income		-		-
Included in earnings		(1,453)		(644)
Included in current assets		247		173
Purchases		5,015		5,765
Sales		-		-
Issuances		-		-
Settlements		(3,810)		(5,294)
Balance as of March 31,	$	(25,647)	$	(31,283)
Total gains (losses) included in earnings attributed to the change in unrealized gains (losses) related to assets and liabilities held at March 31,(c)	$	-	$	-

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^(c).

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
(In thousands)		2020		2019
Purchased power expense	$	(1,184)	$	(556)
Cost of gas sold expense		(269)		(88)
Total	$	(1,453)	$	(644)

(c) 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.