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Derivative Instruments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Instruments

Note 6.Derivative Instruments

Derivative financial instruments are used to manage exposure to commodity price risk. These risks are managed in part by entering into forward commodity transactions, including options, swaps and futures. To mitigate credit risk from counterparties in the event of nonperformance, master netting agreements are used whenever possible and counterparties may be required to pledge collateral depending on the creditworthiness of each counterparty and the risk associated with the transaction.

Commodity Price Risk

Commodity price risk represents the potential impact that can be caused by a change in the market value of a particular commodity. SCE's electricity price exposure arises from energy purchased from and sold to wholesale markets as a result of differences between SCE's load requirements and the amount of energy delivered from its generating facilities and PPAs. SCE's natural gas price exposure arises from natural gas purchased for the Mountainview power plant and peaker plants,

Qualifying Facilities contracts where pricing is based on a monthly natural gas index and PPAs in which SCE has agreed to provide the natural gas needed for generation, referred to as tolling arrangements.

Credit and Default Risk

Credit and default risk represent the potential impact that can be caused if a counterparty were to default on its contractual obligations and SCE would be exposed to spot markets for buying replacement power or selling excess power. In addition, SCE would be exposed to the risk of non-payment of accounts receivable, primarily related to the sales of excess power and realized gains on derivative instruments.

Certain power and gas contracts contain master netting agreements or similar agreements, which generally allow counterparties subject to the agreement to offset amounts when certain criteria are met, such as in the event of default. The objective of netting is to reduce credit exposure. Additionally, to reduce SCE's risk exposures counterparties may be required to pledge collateral depending on the creditworthiness of each counterparty and the risk associated with the transaction.

Certain power and gas contracts contain a provision that requires SCE to maintain an investment grade rating from each of the major credit rating agencies, referred to as a credit-risk-related contingent feature. If SCE's credit rating were to fall below investment grade, SCE may be required to post additional collateral to cover derivative liabilities and the related outstanding payables. The net fair value of all derivative liabilities with these credit-risk-related contingent features were less than $1 million as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, for which SCE posted no collateral to its counterparties for its derivative liabilities and related outstanding payables for both periods. If the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements were triggered on September 30, 2021, SCE would be required to post $18 million of collateral, all of which is related to outstanding payables.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

SCE presents its derivative assets and liabilities on a net basis on its consolidated balance sheets when subject to master netting agreements or similar agreements. Derivative positions are also offset against margin and cash collateral deposits. In addition, SCE has provided collateral in the form of letters of credit. Collateral requirements can vary depending upon the level of unsecured credit extended by counterparties, changes in market prices relative to contractual commitments and other factors. See Note 4 for a discussion of fair value of derivative instruments. The following table summarizes the gross and net fair values of SCE's commodity derivative instruments:

September 30, 2021

Derivative Assets

Derivative Liabilities

(in millions)

    

Short-Term1

    

Long-Term2

    

Subtotal

    

Short-Term

    

Long-Term

    

Subtotal

    

Net Assets

Commodity derivative contracts

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Gross amounts recognized

$

213

$

28

$

241

$

8

$

3

$

11

$

230

Gross amounts offset in the consolidated balance sheets

 

(8)

 

(3)

 

(11)

 

(8)

 

(3)

 

(11)

 

Cash collateral posted3

 

(86)

 

 

(86)

 

 

 

 

(86)

Net amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets

$

119

$

25

$

144

$

$

$

$

144

December 31, 2020

Derivative Assets

Derivative Liabilities

(in millions)

    

Short-Term1

    

Long-Term2

    

Subtotal

    

Short-Term

    

Long-Term

    

Subtotal

    

Net Assets

Commodity derivative contracts

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Gross amounts recognized

$

103

$

23

$

126

$

16

$

6

$

22

$

104

Gross amounts offset in the consolidated balance sheets

 

(12)

 

(6)

 

(18)

 

(12)

 

(6)

 

(18)

 

Cash collateral posted3

 

 

 

 

(4)

 

 

(4)

 

4

Net amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets

$

91

$

17

$

108

$

$

$

$

108

1Included in "Other current assets" on Edison International's and SCE's consolidated balance sheets.
2Included in "Other long-term assets" on Edison International's and SCE's consolidated balance sheets.
3At September 30, 2021, SCE offset $86 million of cash collateral against derivative assets , of which $76 million was reflected in "Cash" and $10 million in "Receivables" on the consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2020, SCE posted $17 million of cash, of which $4 million was offset against derivative liabilities and $13 million was reflected in "Other current assets" on the consolidated balance sheets.

Financial Statement Impact of Derivative Instruments

SCE recognizes realized gains and losses on derivative instruments as purchased power and fuel expense and expects that such gains or losses will be part of the purchased power costs recovered from customers. As a result, realized gains and losses do not affect earnings, but may temporarily affect cash flows. Due to expected future recovery from customers, unrealized gains and losses are recorded as regulatory assets and liabilities and therefore also do not affect earnings. The remaining effects of derivative activities and related regulatory offsets are reported in cash flows from operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

The following table summarizes the components of SCE's economic hedging activity:

Three months ended September 30, 

Nine months ended September 30, 

(in millions)

    

2021

2020

    

2021

2020

Realized gains

$

66

$

128

$

193

$

68

Unrealized gains (losses)

 

116

 

75

 

126

 

(39)

Notional Volumes of Derivative Instruments

The following table summarizes the notional volumes of derivatives used for SCE's economic hedging activities:

Unit of

Economic Hedges

Commodity

    

Measure

    

September 30, 2021

    

December 31, 2020

Electricity options, swaps and forwards

 

GWh

 

1,036

 

1,581

Natural gas options, swaps and forwards

 

Bcf

 

50

 

34

Congestion revenue rights

 

GWh

 

41,573

 

41,151