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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]    
Fair Value Measurements

NOTE 8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

We discuss the valuation techniques and inputs we use to measure fair value and the definition of the three levels of the fair value hierarchy in Notes 1 and 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Updated Annual Report. We have not changed the valuation techniques or inputs we use to measure fair value during the six months ended June 30, 2012.

Recurring Fair Value Measures

The three tables below, by level within the fair value hierarchy, set forth our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. We classify financial assets and liabilities in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities, and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

The fair value of commodity derivative assets and liabilities is determined in accordance with our netting policy, as discussed below under Derivative Positions Net of Cash Collateral.

The determination of fair values, shown in the tables below, incorporates various factors, including but not limited to, the credit standing of the counterparties involved and the impact of credit enhancements (such as cash deposits, letters of credit and priority interests).

Our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 in the tables below include the following:

  • Nuclear decommissioning trusts reflect the assets of SDG&E's nuclear decommissioning trusts, excluding cash balances. A third party trustee values the trust assets using prices from a pricing service based on a market approach. We validate these prices by comparison to prices from other independent data sources. Equity and certain debt securities are valued using quoted prices listed on nationally recognized securities exchanges or based on closing prices reported in the active market in which the identical security is traded (Level 1). Other debt securities are valued based on yields that are currently available for comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings (Level 2).
  • We enter into commodity contracts and interest rate derivatives primarily as a means to manage price exposures. We primarily use a market approach with market participant assumptions to value these derivatives. Market participant assumptions include those about risk, and the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation techniques. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable. We have exchange-traded derivatives that are valued based on quoted prices in active markets for the identical instruments (Level 1). We also may have other commodity derivatives that are valued using industry standard models that consider quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, volatility factors, and other relevant economic measures (Level 2). All Level 3 recurring items are related to CRRs at SDG&E, as discussed below under “Level 3 Information. Commodity derivative contracts that are subject to rate recovery are recorded as commodity costs that are offset by regulatory account balances and are recovered in rates.
  • Investments include marketable securities that we value using a market approach based on closing prices reported in the active market in which the identical security is traded (Level 1).

There were no transfers into or out of Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 for Sempra Energy Consolidated, SDG&E or SoCalGas during the periods presented.

RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES – SEMPRA ENERGY CONSOLIDATED
(Dollars in millions)
 At fair value as of June 30, 2012
        Collateral  
  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 netted Total
Assets:          
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:          
Equity securities$ 493$$$$ 493
Debt securities:          
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other           
U.S. government corporations and agencies  77  78    155
Municipal bonds   66    66
Other securities   85    85
Total debt securities  77  229    306
Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(1)  570  229    799
Interest rate instruments   70    70
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery  17   13   30
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery  16  24    40
Investments  1     1
Total$ 604$ 323$ 13$$ 940
Liabilities:          
Interest rate instruments$$ 133$$$ 133
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery  51  14   (51)  14
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery  6  41   (9)  38
Total$ 57$ 188$$ (60)$ 185
           
 At fair value as of December 31, 2011
        Collateral  
  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 netted Total
Assets:          
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:          
Equity securities$ 468$$$$ 468
Debt securities:          
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other           
U.S. government corporations and agencies  92  78    170
Municipal bonds   77    77
Other securities   78    78
Total debt securities  92  233    325
Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(1)  560  233    793
Interest rate instruments   66    66
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery  10  1  23   34
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery  15  35   (2)  48
Investments  5     5
Total$ 590$ 335$ 23$ (2)$ 946
Liabilities:          
Interest rate instruments$ 1$ 124$$$ 125
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery  61  13   (61)  13
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery  1  52   (4)  49
Total$ 63$ 189$$ (65)$ 187
(1)Excludes cash balances and cash equivalents.          

RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES – SDG&E
(Dollars in millions)
 At fair value as of June 30, 2012
        Collateral  
  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 netted Total
Assets:          
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:          
Equity securities$ 493$$$$ 493
Debt securities:          
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other          
U.S. government corporations and agencies  77  78    155
Municipal bonds    66    66
Other securities    85    85
Total debt securities  77  229    306
Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(1)  570  229    799
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery  15   13   28
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery  1     1
Total$ 586$ 229$ 13$$ 828
           
Liabilities:          
Interest rate instruments$$ 83$$$ 83
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery  51  12   (51)  12
Total$ 51$ 95$$ (51)$ 95
           
 At fair value as of December 31, 2011
        Collateral  
  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 netted Total
Assets:          
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:          
Equity securities$ 468$$$$ 468
Debt securities:          
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other          
U.S. government corporations and agencies  92  78    170
Municipal bonds    77    77
Other securities    78    78
Total debt securities  92  233    325
Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(1)  560  233    793
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery  9   23   32
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery  1     1
Total$ 570$ 233$ 23$$ 826
           
Liabilities:          
Interest rate instruments$$ 81$$$ 81
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery  61  12   (61)  12
Total$ 61$ 93$$ (61)$ 93
(1)Excludes cash balances and cash equivalents.          

RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES – SOCALGAS
(Dollars in millions)
 At fair value as of June 30, 2012
        Collateral  
  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 netted Total
Assets:          
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery$ 2$$$$ 2
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery  2     2
Total$ 4$$$$ 4
           
Liabilities:          
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery$$ 2$$$ 2
Total$$ 2$$$ 2
           
 At fair value as of December 31, 2011
        Collateral  
  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 netted Total
Assets:          
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery$ 1$ 1$$$ 2
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery  2     2
Total$ 3$ 1$$$ 4
           
Liabilities:          
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery$$ 1$$$ 1
Total$$ 1$$$ 1

 

Level 3 Information

The following table sets forth reconciliations of changes in the fair value of CRRs classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy for Sempra Energy Consolidated and SDG&E:

 

 Three months ended June 30,
(Dollars in millions)20122011
Balance as of April 1$ 21$ 3
Realized and unrealized gains  5  6
Allocated transmission instruments   1
Settlements  (13)  (7)
Balance as of June 30$ 13$ 3
Change in unrealized gains or losses relating to     
instruments still held at June 30$$

CRRs are recorded at fair value based almost entirely on the most current auction prices published by the California Independent System Operator (ISO), an objective source. The impact associated with discounting is negligible. Because auction prices are a less observable input, these instruments are classified as Level 3. Auction prices range from $(3)/MWh to $5/MWh at a given location, and the fair value of these instruments is derived from auction price differences between two locations. Positive values between two locations represent expected future reductions in congestion costs, whereas negative values between two locations represent expected future charges. Valuation of our CRRs is sensitive to a change in auction price. If auction prices at one location increase (decrease) relative to another location, this could result in a higher (lower) fair value measurement. We summarize CRR volumes in Note 7. The earnings impacts of CRRs are deferred and recorded in regulatory accounts to the extent they are recoverable or refundable through rates. Upon settlement, CRRs are included in Cost of Electric Fuel and Purchased Power on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Derivative Positions Net of Cash Collateral

Each Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet reflects the offsetting of net derivative positions with fair value amounts for cash collateral with the same counterparty when management believes a legal right of offset exists.

The following table provides the amount of fair value of cash collateral receivables that were not offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

 June 30,December 31,
(Dollars in millions)20122011
Sempra Energy Consolidated$ 32$ 20
SDG&E  16  10
SoCalGas  4  2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair values of certain of our financial instruments (cash, temporary investments, accounts and notes receivable, dividends and accounts payable, short-term debt and customer deposits) approximate their carrying amounts. The following table provides the carrying amounts and fair values of certain other financial instruments at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

 

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
(Dollars in millions)
  June 30, 2012
  Carrying Fair Value
  Amount Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Sempra Energy Consolidated:           
Investments in affordable housing partnerships(1)$ 18 $$$ 47$ 47
Total long-term debt(2)  10,832    11,545  755  12,300
Preferred stock of subsidiaries  99    109   109
SDG&E:           
Total long-term debt(3)$ 4,140 $$ 4,283$ 350$ 4,633
Contingently redeemable preferred stock  79    87   87
SoCalGas:           
Total long-term debt(4)$ 1,312 $$ 1,516$$ 1,516
Preferred stock  22    24   24
             
  December 31, 2011
  Carrying Fair Value
  Amount Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Sempra Energy Consolidated:           
Investments in affordable housing partnerships(1)$ 21 $$$ 48$ 48
Total long-term debt(2)  9,826    10,447  600  11,047
Preferred stock of subsidiaries  99    106   106
SDG&E:           
Total long-term debt(3)$ 3,895 $$ 3,933$ 355$ 4,288
Contingently redeemable preferred stock  79    86   86
SoCalGas:           
Total long-term debt(4)$ 1,313 $$ 1,506$$ 1,506
Preferred stock  22    23   23
(1)We discuss our investments in affordable housing partnerships in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Updated Annual Report.
(2)Before reductions for unamortized discount (net of premium) of $15 million at June 30, 2012 and $16 million at December 31, 2011, and excluding capital leases of $196 million at June 30, 2012 and $204 million at December 31, 2011, and commercial paper classified as long-term debt of $400 million at December 31, 2011. We discuss our long-term debt in Note 6 above and in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Updated Annual Report.
(3)Before reductions for unamortized discount of $12 million at June 30, 2012 and $11 million at December 31, 2011, and excluding capital leases of $189 million at June 30, 2012 and $193 million at December 31, 2011.
(4)Before reductions for unamortized discount of $2 million at June 30, 2012 and $3 million at December 31, 2011, and excluding capital leases of $7 million at June 30, 2012 and $11 million at December 31, 2011.

We calculate the fair value of our investments in affordable housing partnerships using an income approach based on the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at rates available for similar investments (Level 3).

We base the fair value of certain of our long-term debt and preferred stock on a market approach using quoted market prices for identical or similar securities in thinly-traded markets (Level 2). We value other long-term debt using an income approach based on the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at rates available for similar securities (Level 3).

Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts

We discuss SDG&E's investments in nuclear decommissioning trust funds in Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Updated Annual Report. The following table shows the fair values and gross unrealized gains and losses for the securities held in the trust funds:

NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING TRUSTS
(Dollars in millions)
     Gross Gross Estimated
     Unrealized Unrealized Fair
   Cost Gains Losses Value
As of June 30, 2012:        
Debt securities:        
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other         
U.S. government corporations and agencies(1)$ 143$ 12$$ 155
Municipal bonds(2)  61  6  (1)  66
Other securities(3)  80  5   85
Total debt securities  284  23  (1)  306
Equity securities  242  255  (4)  493
Cash and cash equivalents  48    48
Total $ 574$ 278$ (5)$ 847
As of December 31, 2011:        
Debt securities:        
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other         
U.S. government corporations and agencies$ 157$ 13$$ 170
Municipal bonds  72  5   77
Other securities  76  3  (1)  78
Total debt securities  305  21  (1)  325
Equity securities  246  227  (5)  468
Cash and cash equivalents  11    11
Total $ 562$ 248$ (6)$ 804
(1)Maturity dates are 2012-2042
(2)Maturity dates are 2012-2057
(3)Maturity dates are 2013-2111

The following table shows the proceeds from sales of securities in the trusts and gross realized gains and losses on those sales:

SALES OF SECURITIES
(Dollars in millions)
 Three months ended June 30,Six months ended June 30,
 2012201120122011
Proceeds from sales$ 191$ 48$ 320$ 90
Gross realized gains  5  1  9  2
Gross realized losses  (5)  (1)  (5)  (2)

Net unrealized gains (losses) are included in Regulatory Liabilities Arising from Removal Obligations on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. We determine the cost of securities in the trusts on the basis of specific identification.

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measures – Sempra Energy Consolidated

We discuss non-recurring fair value measures and the associated accounting impact on our investments in RBS Sempra Commodities and Argentina in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Updated Annual Report and, with regard to RBS Sempra Commodities, in Note 4 above. We also discuss non-recurring fair value measures and the associated accounting impact on our investment in Rockies Express in Note 4 above.

 Six months ended June 30,
(Dollars in millions)20122011
Balance as of January 1$ 23$ 2
Realized and unrealized gains  7  12
Allocated transmission instruments  1  2
Settlements  (18)  (13)
Balance as of June 30$ 13$ 3
Change in unrealized gains relating to     
instruments still held at June 30$$