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Investments in Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts and Other Special Use Funds
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments in Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts and Other Special Use Funds Investments in Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts and Other Special Use Funds
We have investments in debt and equity securities held in Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts, Coal Mine Reclamation Escrow Account, and an Active Union Employee Medical Account. Investments in debt securities are classified as available-for-sale securities. We record both debt and equity security investments at their fair value on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 11 for a discussion of how fair value is determined and the classification of the investments within the fair value hierarchy. The investments in each trust or account are restricted for use and are intended to fund specified costs and activities as further described for each fund below.

Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts — APS established external decommissioning trusts in accordance with NRC regulations to fund the future costs APS expects to incur to decommission Palo Verde.  Third-party investment managers are authorized to buy and sell securities per stated investment guidelines.  The trust funds are invested in fixed income securities and equity securities. Earnings and proceeds from sales and maturities of securities are reinvested in the trusts. Because of the ability of APS to recover decommissioning costs in rates, and in accordance with the regulatory treatment, APS has deferred realized and unrealized gains and losses (including credit losses) in other regulatory liabilities.

Coal Mine Reclamation Escrow Account — APS has investments restricted for the future coal mine reclamation funding related to Four Corners. This escrow account is primarily invested in fixed income securities. Earnings and proceeds from sales of securities are reinvested in the escrow account. Because of the ability of APS to recover coal mine reclamation costs in rates, and in accordance with the regulatory treatment, APS has deferred realized and unrealized gains and losses (including credit losses) in other regulatory liabilities. Activities relating to APS coal mine reclamation escrow account investments are included within the other special use funds in the table below.

Active Union Employee Medical Account — APS has investments restricted for paying active union employee medical costs. These investments may be used to pay active union employee medical costs incurred in the current and future periods. The account is invested primarily in fixed income securities. In accordance with the ratemaking treatment, APS has deferred the unrealized gains and losses (including credit losses) in other regulatory liabilities. Activities relating to active union employee medical account investments are included within the other special use funds in the table below.
APS

The following tables present the unrealized gains and losses based on the original cost of the investment and summarizes the fair value of APS's Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts and other special use fund assets (dollars in thousands):  
September 30, 2020
 Fair ValueTotal
Unrealized
Gains
Total
Unrealized
Losses
Investment Type:Nuclear Decommissioning TrustsOther Special Use FundsTotal
Equity securities$570,382 $8,090 $578,472 $359,112 $(36)
Available for sale-fixed income securities513,603 258,758 772,361 (a)47,158 (674)
Other(14,148)1,444 (12,704)(b)— — 
Total$1,069,837 $268,292 $1,338,129 $406,270 $(710)

(a)As of September 30, 2020, the amortized cost basis of these available-for-sale investments is $726 million.
(b)Represents net pending securities sales and purchases.
December 31, 2019
 Fair ValueTotal
Unrealized
Gains
Total
Unrealized
Losses
Investment Type:Nuclear Decommissioning TrustsOther Special Use FundsTotal
Equity securities$529,716 $7,142 $536,858 $337,681 $— 
Available for sale-fixed income securities478,658 237,479 716,137 (a)25,795 (669)
Other2,401 474 2,875 (b)— — 
Total$1,010,775 $245,095 $1,255,870 $363,476 $(669)

(a)As of December 31, 2019, the amortized cost basis of these available-for-sale investments is $691 million.
(b)Represents net pending securities sales and purchases.
The following tables set forth APS's realized gains and losses relating to the sale and maturity of available-for-sale debt securities and equity securities, and the proceeds from the sale and maturity of these investment securities (dollars in thousands):
 Three Months Ended September 30,
 Nuclear Decommissioning TrustsOther Special Use FundsTotal
2020
Realized gains$2,933 $— $2,933 
Realized losses(750)(15)(765)
Proceeds from the sale of securities (a)178,919 37,107 216,026 
2019
Realized gains$4,732 $$4,736 
Realized losses(2,360)— (2,360)
Proceeds from the sale of securities (a)155,386 56,255 211,641 

(a)    Proceeds are reinvested in the Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts and other special use funds, excluding amounts reimbursed to the Company for active union employee medical claims from the active union employee medical account.
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 Nuclear Decommissioning TrustsOther Special Use FundsTotal
2020
Realized gains$10,746 $— $10,746 
Realized losses(4,598)(15)(4,613)
Proceeds from the sale of securities (a)534,057 73,828 607,885 
2019
Realized gains$8,478 $$8,482 
Realized losses(5,465)— (5,465)
Proceeds from the sale of securities (a)371,538 149,458 520,996 

(a)    Proceeds are reinvested in the Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts and other special use funds, excluding amounts reimbursed to the Company for active union employee medical claims from the active union employee medical account.

    
The fair value of APS's fixed income securities, summarized by contractual maturities, at September 30, 2020, is as follows (dollars in thousands):
 Nuclear Decommissioning TrustCoal Mine Reclamation Escrow AccountActive Union Employee Medical AccountTotal
Less than one year$23,079 $34,578 $40,506 $98,163 
1 year – 5 years146,885 29,041 142,938 318,864 
5 years – 10 years122,619 2,772 — 125,391 
Greater than 10 years221,020 8,923 — 229,943 
Total$513,603 $75,314 $183,444 $772,361