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Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments
Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments

Short-Term Borrowings

Money Pool — Xcel Energy Inc. and its utility subsidiaries have established a money pool arrangement that allows for short-term investments in and borrowings between the utility subsidiaries. Xcel Energy Inc. may make investments in the utility subsidiaries at market-based interest rates; however, the money pool arrangement does not allow the utility subsidiaries to make investments in Xcel Energy Inc. Money pool borrowings for PSCo were as follows:
(Amounts in Millions, Except Interest Rates)
 
Three Months Ended Dec. 31, 2016
Borrowing limit
 
$
250

Amount outstanding at period end
 

Average amount outstanding
 
56

Maximum amount outstanding
 
141

Weighted average interest rate, computed on a daily basis
 
0.78
%
Weighted average interest rate at period end
 
N/A

(Amounts in Millions, Except Interest Rates)
 
Twelve Months Ended Dec. 31, 2016
 
Twelve Months Ended Dec. 31, 2015
 
Twelve Months Ended Dec. 31, 2014
Borrowing limit
 
$
250

 
$
250

 
$
250

Amount outstanding at period end
 

 

 

Average amount outstanding
 
21

 
1

 
4

Maximum amount outstanding
 
141

 
34

 
97

Weighted average interest rate, computed on a daily basis
 
0.73
%
 
0.41
%
 
0.25
%
Weighted average interest rate at period end
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A


Commercial Paper — PSCo meets its short-term liquidity requirements primarily through the issuance of commercial paper and borrowings under its credit facility. Commercial paper borrowings for PSCo were as follows:
(Amounts in Millions, Except Interest Rates)
 
Three Months Ended Dec. 31, 2016
Borrowing limit
 
$
700

Amount outstanding at period end
 
129

Average amount outstanding
 
33

Maximum amount outstanding
 
151

Weighted average interest rate, computed on a daily basis
 
0.78
%
Weighted average interest rate at period end
 
0.95

(Amounts in Millions, Except Interest Rates)
 
Twelve Months Ended Dec. 31, 2016
 
Twelve Months Ended Dec. 31, 2015
 
Twelve Months Ended Dec. 31, 2014
Borrowing limit
 
$
700

 
$
700

 
$
700

Amount outstanding at period end
 
129

 
14

 
382

Average amount outstanding
 
24

 
95

 
167

Maximum amount outstanding
 
154

 
449

 
393

Weighted average interest rate, computed on a daily basis
 
0.70
%
 
0.51
%
 
0.31
%
Weighted average interest rate at period end
 
0.95

 
0.60

 
0.65



Letters of Credit PSCo uses letters of credit, generally with terms of one-year, to provide financial guarantees for certain operating obligations. At Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015, there were $3 million and $4 million of letters of credit outstanding, respectively, under the credit facility. The contract amounts of these letters of credit approximate their fair value and are subject to fees.

Credit Facility — In order to use its commercial paper program to fulfill short-term funding needs, PSCo must have a revolving credit facility in place at least equal to the amount of its commercial paper borrowing limit and cannot issue commercial paper in an aggregate amount exceeding available capacity under this credit facility. The credit facility provides short-term financing in the form of notes payable to banks, letters of credit and back-up support for commercial paper borrowings.

Amended Credit Agreement  In June 2016, PSCo entered into an amended five-year credit agreement with a syndicate of banks. The total borrowing limit under the amended credit agreement remained at $700 million. The amended credit agreement has substantially the same terms and conditions as the prior credit agreement with the following exceptions:
The maturity extended from October 2019 to June 2021.
The Eurodollar borrowing margin on this line of credit was reduced to a range of 75 to 150 basis points per year, from a range of 87.5 to 175 basis points per year, based upon applicable long-term credit ratings.
The commitment fees, calculated on the unused portion of the line of credit, were reduced to a range of 6 to 22.5 basis points per year, from a range of 7.5 to 27.5 basis points per year, also based on applicable long-term credit ratings.

PSCo has the right to request an extension of the termination date for two additional one-year periods. The extension requests are subject to majority bank group approval.

Other features of PSCo’s credit facility include:

PSCo may increase its credit facility by up to $100 million.
The credit facility has a financial covenant requiring that the debt-to-total capitalization ratio be less than or equal to 65 percent. PSCo was in compliance as its debt-to-total capitalization ratio was 45 percent at both Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015. If PSCo does not comply with the covenant, an event of default may be declared, and if not remedied, any outstanding amounts due under the facility can be declared due by the lender.
The credit facility has a cross-default provision that provides PSCo will be in default on its borrowings under the facility if PSCo or any of its subsidiaries whose total assets exceed 15 percent of PSCo’s consolidated total assets, default on certain indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $75 million.
PSCo was in compliance with all financial covenants on its debt agreements as of Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015.

At Dec. 31, 2016, PSCo had the following committed credit facility available (in millions):
Credit Facility (a)
 
Drawn (b)
 
Available
$
700

 
$
132

 
$
568


(a) 
This credit facility matures in June 2021.
(b) 
Includes outstanding commercial paper and letters of credit.

All credit facility bank borrowings, outstanding letters of credit and outstanding commercial paper reduce the available capacity under the credit facility. PSCo had no direct advances on the credit facility outstanding at Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015.

Long-Term Borrowings

Generally, all real and personal property of PSCo is subject to the liens of its first mortgage indenture. Debt premiums, discounts and expenses are amortized over the life of the related debt. The premiums, discounts and expenses associated with refinanced debt are deferred and amortized over the life of the related new issuance, in accordance with regulatory guidelines.

In 2016, PSCo issued $250 million of 3.55 percent first mortgage bonds due June 15, 2046. In 2015, PSCo issued $250 million of 2.9 percent first mortgage bonds due May 15, 2025.

During the next five years, PSCo has long-term debt maturities of $300 million, $400 million and $400 million due in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Deferred Financing Costs — Deferred financing costs of approximately $26.8 million and $26.6 million, net of amortization, are presented as a deduction from the carrying amount of long-term debt at Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  PSCo is amortizing these financing costs over the remaining maturity periods of the related debt.

Dividend Restrictions PSCo’s dividends are subject to the FERC’s jurisdiction, which prohibits the payment of dividends out of capital accounts; payment of dividends is allowed out of retained earnings only.