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OTHER FINANCIAL DATA
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Other Financial Data

NOTE 5. OTHER FINANCIAL DATA

INVENTORIES

The components of inventories by segment are as follows:

INVENTORY BALANCES
(Dollars in millions)
Natural gasLiquefied natural gasMaterials and suppliesTotal
March 31, 2015December 31, 2014March 31, 2015December 31, 2014March 31, 2015December 31, 2014March 31, 2015December 31, 2014
SDG&E$6$8$$$63$65$69$73
SoCalGas831552626109181
Sempra South American
Utilities32333233
Sempra Mexico79991618
Sempra Renewables2222
Sempra Natural Gas228345112789
Sempra Energy
Consolidated$111$246$11$14$133$136$255$396

GOODWILL

We discuss goodwill in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report. The decrease in goodwill from $931 million at December 31, 2014 to $903 million at March 31, 2015 is due to foreign currency translation at Sempra South American Utilities. We record the offset of this fluctuation in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss).

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (VIE)

We consolidate a VIE if we are the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Our determination of whether we are the primary beneficiary is based upon qualitative and quantitative analyses, which assess

  • the purpose and design of the VIE;
  • the nature of the VIE’s risks and the risks we absorb;
  • the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE; and
  • the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits that could be significant to the VIE.

SDG&E

Tolling Agreements

SDG&E has agreements under which it purchases power generated by facilities for which it supplies all of the natural gas to fuel the power plant (i.e., tolling agreements). SDG&E’s obligation to absorb natural gas costs may be a significant variable interest. In addition, SDG&E has the power to direct the dispatch of electricity generated by these facilities. Based upon our analysis, the ability to direct the dispatch of electricity may have the most significant impact on the economic performance of the entity owning the generating facility because of the associated exposure to the cost of natural gas, which fuels the plants, and the value of electricity produced. To the extent that SDG&E (1) is obligated to purchase and provide fuel to operate the facility, (2) has the power to direct the dispatch, and (3) purchases all of the output from the facility for a substantial portion of the facility’s useful life, SDG&E may be the primary beneficiary of the entity owning the generating facility. We determine if SDG&E is the primary beneficiary in these cases based on a qualitative approach in which we consider the operational characteristics of the facility, including its expected power generation output relative to its capacity to generate and the financial structure of the entity, among other factors. If we determine that SDG&E is the primary beneficiary, SDG&E and Sempra Energy consolidate the entity that owns the facility as a VIE, as we discuss below.

Otay Mesa VIE

SDG&E has an agreement to purchase power generated at the Otay Mesa Energy Center (OMEC), a 605-MW generating facility. In addition to tolling, the agreement provides SDG&E with the option to purchase the power plant at the end of the contract term in 2019, or upon earlier termination of the purchased-power agreement, at a predetermined price subject to adjustments based on performance of the facility. If SDG&E does not exercise its option, under certain circumstances, it may be required to purchase the power plant at a predetermined price, which we refer to as the put option.

The facility owner, Otay Mesa Energy Center LLC (OMEC LLC), is a VIE (Otay Mesa VIE), of which SDG&E is the primary beneficiary. SDG&E has no OMEC LLC voting rights, holds no equity in OMEC LLC and does not operate OMEC. In addition to the risks absorbed under the tolling agreement, SDG&E absorbs separately through the put option a significant portion of the risk that the value of Otay Mesa VIE could decline. Accordingly, SDG&E and Sempra Energy have consolidated Otay Mesa VIE. Otay Mesa VIE’s equity of $59 million at March 31, 2015 and $60 million at December 31, 2014 is included on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets in Other Noncontrolling Interests for Sempra Energy and in Noncontrolling Interest for SDG&E.

OMEC LLC has a loan outstanding of $322 million at March 31, 2015, the proceeds of which were used for the construction of OMEC. The loan is with third party lenders and is secured by OMEC’s property, plant and equipment. SDG&E is not a party to the loan agreement and does not have any additional implicit or explicit financial responsibility to OMEC LLC. The loan fully matures in April 2019 and bears interest at rates varying with market rates. In addition, OMEC LLC has entered into interest rate swap agreements to moderate its exposure to interest rate changes. We provide additional information concerning the interest rate swaps in Note 7.

Cameron LNG JV

Sempra Energy’s equity-method investment in Cameron LNG JV is considered to be a VIE generally due to contractual provisions that transfer certain risks to customers. Sempra Energy is not the primary beneficiary because we do not have the power to direct the most significant activities of Cameron LNG JV. We will continue to evaluate Cameron LNG JV for any changes that may impact our determination of the primary beneficiary. The carrying value of our investment in Cameron LNG JV was $969 million and $1,007 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Our maximum exposure to loss includes the carrying value of our investment and the guarantees discussed in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.

Other Variable Interest Entities

SDG&E’s power procurement is subject to reliability requirements that may require SDG&E to enter into various power purchase arrangements which include variable interests. SDG&E evaluates the respective entities to determine if variable interests exist and, based on the qualitative and quantitative analyses described above, if SDG&E, and thereby Sempra Energy, is the primary beneficiary. SDG&E has determined that no contracts, other than the one relating to Otay Mesa VIE mentioned above, result in SDG&E being the primary beneficiary at March 31, 2015. In addition to the tolling agreements described above, other variable interests involve various elements of fuel and power costs, including certain construction costs, tax credits, and other components of cash flow expected to be paid to or received by our counterparties. In most of these cases, the expectation of variability is not substantial, and SDG&E generally does not have the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the other VIEs. If our ongoing evaluation of these VIEs were to conclude that SDG&E becomes the primary beneficiary and consolidation by SDG&E becomes necessary, the effects are not expected to significantly affect the financial position, results of operations, or liquidity of SDG&E. In addition, SDG&E is not exposed to losses or gains as a result of these other VIEs, because all such variability would be recovered in rates.

Sempra Energy’s other operating units also enter into arrangements which could include variable interests. We evaluate these arrangements and applicable entities based upon the qualitative and quantitative analyses described above. Certain of these entities are service companies that are VIEs. As the primary beneficiary of these service companies, we consolidate them. In all other cases, we have determined that these contracts are not variable interests in a VIE and therefore are not subject to the U.S. GAAP requirements concerning the consolidation of VIEs.

The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations of Sempra Energy and SDG&E include the following amounts associated with Otay Mesa VIE. The amounts are net of eliminations of transactions between SDG&E and Otay Mesa VIE. The financial statements of other consolidated VIEs are not material to the financial statements of Sempra Energy. The captions in the table below generally correspond to SDG&E’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

AMOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH OTAY MESA VIE
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
20152014
Operating expenses
Cost of electric fuel and purchased power$(18)$(18)
Operation and maintenance45
Depreciation67
Total operating expenses(8)(6)
Operating income86
Interest expense(4)(4)
Income before income taxes/Net income42
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest(4)(2)
Earnings attributable to common shares$$

We provide additional information regarding Otay Mesa VIE in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The following three tables provide the components of net periodic benefit cost:

NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST – SEMPRA ENERGY CONSOLIDATED
(Dollars in millions)
Pension benefitsOther postretirement benefits
Three months ended March 31,
2015201420152014
Service cost$30$26$7$6
Interest cost39411212
Expected return on assets(44)(43)(17)(16)
Amortization of:
Prior service cost (credit)32(1)(1)
Actuarial loss85
Settlement3
Regulatory adjustment(29)(24)
Total net periodic benefit cost$7$10$1$1

NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST – SDG&E
(Dollars in millions)
Pension benefitsOther postretirement benefits
Three months ended March 31,
2015201420152014
Service cost$8$8$2$2
Interest cost101122
Expected return on assets(14)(14)(3)(3)
Amortization of:
Prior service cost11
Actuarial loss21
Regulatory adjustment(5)(5)(2)(2)
Total net periodic benefit cost$1$1$$

NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST – SOCALGAS
(Dollars in millions)
Pension benefitsOther postretirement benefits
Three months ended March 31,
2015201420152014
Service cost$19$16$5$4
Interest cost252599
Expected return on assets(27)(26)(14)(13)
Amortization of:
Prior service cost (credit)22(2)(2)
Actuarial loss52
Regulatory adjustment(24)(19)22
Total net periodic benefit cost$$$$

Benefit Plan Contributions

The following table shows our year-to-date contributions to pension and other postretirement benefit plans and the amounts we expect to contribute in 2015:

BENEFIT PLAN CONTRIBUTIONS
(Dollars in millions)
Sempra Energy
ConsolidatedSDG&ESoCalGas
Contributions through March 31, 2015:
Pension plans$15$1$1
Other postretirement benefit plans1
Total expected contributions in 2015:
Pension plans$31$3$2
Other postretirement benefit plans118

RABBI TRUST

In support of its Supplemental Executive Retirement, Cash Balance Restoration and Deferred Compensation Plans, Sempra Energy maintains dedicated assets, including a Rabbi Trust and investments in life insurance contracts, which totaled $476 million and $512 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table provides the per share computations for our earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. Basic earnings per common share (EPS) is calculated by dividing earnings attributable to common stock by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS includes the potential dilution of common stock equivalent shares that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock.

EARNINGS PER SHARE COMPUTATIONS
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts; shares in thousands)
Three months ended March 31,
20152014
Numerator:
Earnings/Income attributable to common shares$437$247
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares
outstanding for basic EPS247,722245,277
Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted
stock awards and restricted stock units3,4844,392
Weighted-average common shares
outstanding for diluted EPS251,206249,669
Earnings per share:
Basic$1.76$1.01
Diluted$1.74$0.99

The dilution from common stock options is based on the treasury stock method. Under this method, proceeds based on the exercise price plus unearned compensation and windfall tax benefits recognized, minus tax shortfalls recognized, are assumed to be used to repurchase shares on the open market at the average market price for the period. The windfall tax benefits are tax deductions we would receive upon the assumed exercise of stock options in excess of the deferred income taxes we recorded related to the compensation expense on the stock options. Tax shortfalls occur when the assumed tax deductions are less than recorded deferred income taxes. The calculation of dilutive common stock equivalents excludes options for which the exercise price on common stock was greater than the average market price during the period (out-of-the-money options). We had no such antidilutive stock options outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2015 or 2014.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we had no stock options outstanding that were antidilutive because of the unearned compensation and windfall tax benefits included in the assumed proceeds under the treasury stock method.

The dilution from unvested restricted stock awards (RSAs) and restricted stock units (RSUs) is also based on the treasury stock method. Proceeds equal to the unearned compensation and windfall tax benefits recognized, minus tax shortfalls recognized, related to the awards and units are assumed to be used to repurchase shares on the open market at the average market price for the period. The windfall tax benefits or tax shortfalls recognized are the difference between tax deductions we would receive upon the assumed vesting of RSAs or RSUs and the deferred income taxes we recorded related to the compensation expense on such awards and units. There were no antidilutive RSAs and 614 antidilutive RSUs from the application of unearned compensation in the treasury stock method for the three months ended March 31, 2015. There were no such antidilutive RSAs or RSUs for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Our performance-based RSUs include awards that vest at the end of three-year (for awards granted in 2015) or four-year performance periods based on Sempra Energy’s total return to shareholders relative to that of specified market indices (Total Shareholder Return or TSR RSUs) or based on the compound annual growth rate of Sempra Energy’s EPS (EPS RSUs). The comparative market indices for the TSR RSUs are the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Utilities Index and the S&P 500 Index. Targets for our EPS RSUs were developed based on Sempra Energy’s long-term earnings-per-share growth guidance as well as analyst consensus long-term earnings-per-share growth estimates for S&P 500 Utilities Index peer companies. TSR RSUs represent the right to receive from zero to 1.5 shares (2.0 shares for awards granted during or after 2014) of Sempra Energy common stock if performance targets are met. EPS RSUs represent the right to receive from zero to 2.0 shares of Sempra Energy common stock if performance targets are met. If performance falls between the targets specified for each performance metric, we calculate the payout using linear interpolation. Participants also receive additional shares for dividend equivalents on shares subject to RSUs, which are deemed reinvested to purchase additional units that become subject to the same vesting conditions as the RSUs to which the dividends relate.

Our RSAs, which are solely service-based, and those RSUs that are service-based or issued in connection with certain other performance goals represent the right to receive up to 1.0 share if the service requirements or certain other vesting conditions are met. These RSAs and RSUs have the same dividend equivalent rights as the performance-based RSUs described above. We include RSAs and these RSUs in potential dilutive shares at 100 percent, subject to the application of the treasury stock method. We include our TSR RSUs and EPS RSUs in potential dilutive shares at zero to up to 200 percent to the extent that they currently meet the performance requirements for vesting, subject to the application of the treasury stock method. Due to market fluctuations of both Sempra Energy stock and the comparative indices, dilutive TSR RSU shares may vary widely from period-to-period. If it were assumed that performance goals for all performance-based RSUs were met at maximum levels and if the treasury stock method were not applied to any of our RSAs or RSUs, the incremental potential dilutive shares would be 1,285,193 and 1,142,023 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

We discuss our share-based compensation plans in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report. We recorded share-based compensation expense, net of income taxes, of $8 million and $7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Pursuant to our Sempra Energy share-based compensation plans, Sempra Energy’s compensation committee granted 300,719 TSR RSUs, 76,505 EPS RSUs and 127,753 RSUs issued either as service-based awards or in connection with certain other performance goals during the three months ended March 31, 2015, primarily in January.

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, IEnova issued 148,781 RSUs from the IEnova 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan, under which awards are cash settled at vesting based on the price of IEnova common stock.

CAPITALIZED FINANCING COSTS

Capitalized financing costs include capitalized interest costs and, primarily at the California Utilities, an allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) related to both debt and equity financing of construction projects.

Pipeline projects currently under construction by Sempra Mexico and Sempra Natural Gas that are both subject to certain regulation and meet U.S. GAAP regulatory accounting requirements record the impact of AFUDC related to equity.

Sempra International and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power businesses capitalize interest costs incurred to finance capital projects and interest on equity method investments that have not commenced planned principal operations. The California Utilities also capitalize certain interest costs.

The following table shows capitalized financing costs for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

CAPITALIZED FINANCING COSTS
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
20152014
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
AFUDC related to debt$6$6
AFUDC related to equity2725
Other capitalized financing costs178
Total Sempra Energy Consolidated$50$39
SDG&E:
AFUDC related to debt$3$4
AFUDC related to equity811
Total SDG&E$11$15
SoCalGas:
AFUDC related to debt$3$2
AFUDC related to equity95
Total SoCalGas$12$7

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The following tables present the changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (AOCI) by component and amounts reclassified out of AOCI to net income, excluding amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests:

CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) BY COMPONENT(1)
SEMPRA ENERGY CONSOLIDATED
(Dollars in millions)
Pension and other
postretirement benefits
ForeignTotal
currencyUnamortizedUnamortizedaccumulated other
translationnet actuarialprior serviceFinancialcomprehensive
adjustmentsgain (loss)costinstrumentsincome (loss)
Three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014
2015:
Balance as of December 31, 2014$(322)$(83)$(2)$(90)$(497)
Other comprehensive loss before
reclassifications(62)(54)(116)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss)1(1)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)(62)1(55)(116)
Balance as of March 31, 2015$(384)$(82)$(2)$(145)$(613)
2014:
Balance as of December 31, 2013$(129)$(73)$$(26)$(228)
Other comprehensive loss before
reclassifications(43)(14)(57)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
comprehensive income3912
Net other comprehensive income (loss)(43)3(5)(45)
Balance as of March 31, 2014$(172)$(70)$$(31)$(273)
(1)All amounts are net of income tax, if subject to tax, and exclude noncontrolling interests.

RECLASSIFICATIONS OUT OF ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Dollars in millions)
Details about accumulatedAmounts reclassified
other comprehensive income (loss)from accumulated otherAffected line item on Condensed
componentscomprehensive income (loss)Consolidated Statements of Operations
Three months ended March 31,
20152014
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Financial instruments:
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments$6$3Interest Expense
Interest rate instruments2Gain on Sale of Equity Interest
Interest rate instruments33Equity Earnings, Before Income Tax
Commodity contracts not subject Revenues: Energy-Related
to rate recovery(7)10 Businesses
Total before income tax218
1(6)Income Tax Expense
Net of income tax312
(4)(3)Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
$(1)$9
Pension and other postretirement benefits:
Amortization of actuarial loss$2$5See (1) below
(1)(2)Income Tax Expense
Net of income tax$1$3
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax$$12
SDG&E:
Financial instruments:
Interest rate instruments$3$3Interest Expense
(3)(3)Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
$$
(1)Amounts are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see "Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits" above).

For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, Other Comprehensive Income, excluding amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests, at SDG&E and SoCalGas was negligible, and reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to Net Income were also negligible for SoCalGas.

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

The following two tables provide reconciliations of changes in Sempra Energy’s and SDG&E’s shareholders’ equity and noncontrolling interests for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. The only change in SoCalGas’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was comprehensive income and a negligible amount of preferred stock dividends declared.

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS ― SEMPRA ENERGY CONSOLIDATED
(Dollars in millions)
Sempra EnergyNon-
shareholders’controllingTotal
equityinterestsequity
Balance at December 31, 2014$11,326$774$12,100
Comprehensive income3218329
Share-based compensation expense1313
Common stock dividends declared(173)(173)
Issuance of common stock3030
Repurchase of common stock(65)(65)
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation5252
Distributions to noncontrolling interests(5)(5)
Balance at March 31, 2015$11,504$777$12,281
Balance at December 31, 2013$11,008$842$11,850
Comprehensive income 20217219
Share-based compensation expense1010
Common stock dividends declared(162)(162)
Issuance of common stock1111
Repurchase of common stock(37)(37)
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation88
Equity contributed by noncontrolling interest11
Distributions to noncontrolling interests(11)(11)
Balance at March 31, 2014$11,040$849$11,889

SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY AND NONCONTROLLING INTEREST ― SDG&E
(Dollars in millions)
SDG&ENon-
shareholder’scontrollingTotal
equityinterestequity
Balance at December 31, 2014$4,932$60$4,992
Comprehensive income 1472149
Distributions to noncontrolling interest(3)(3)
Balance at March 31, 2015$5,079$59$5,138
Balance at December 31, 2013$4,628$91$4,719
Comprehensive income 992101
Distributions to noncontrolling interest(6)(6)
Balance at March 31, 2014$4,727$87$4,814

Ownership interests that are held by owners other than Sempra Energy and SDG&E in subsidiaries or entities consolidated by them are accounted for and reported as noncontrolling interests. As a result, noncontrolling interests are reported as a separate component of equity on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Earnings or losses attributable to noncontrolling interests are separately identified on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, and comprehensive income or loss attributable to noncontrolling interests is separately identified on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Preferred Stock

At Sempra Energy, the preferred stock of SoCalGas is presented as a noncontrolling interest and preferred stock dividends are charges against income related to noncontrolling interests. We provide additional information concerning preferred stock in Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.

At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we reported the following noncontrolling ownership interests held by others (not including preferred shareholders) recorded in Other Noncontrolling Interests in Total Equity on Sempra Energy’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

OTHER NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
(Dollars in millions)
Percent ownership held by others
March 31, December 31, March 31, December 31,
2015201420152014
SDG&E:
Otay Mesa VIE100%100%$59$60
Sempra South American Utilities:
Chilquinta Energía subsidiaries(1)23.5 – 43.423.6 – 43.42323
Luz del Sur16.416.4174177
Tecsur9.89.834
Sempra Mexico:
IEnova, S.A.B. de C.V.18.918.9460452
Sempra Natural Gas:
Bay Gas Storage Company, Ltd.9.19.12323
Liberty Gas Storage, LLC25.025.01414
Southern Gas Transmission Company49.049.011
Total Sempra Energy$757$754
(1)Chilquinta Energía has four subsidiaries with noncontrolling interests held by others. Percentage range reflects the highest and lowest ownership percentages amongst these subsidiaries.

TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Current and noncurrent amounts due from unconsolidated affiliates on the Sempra Energy Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:

DUE FROM UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES(1)
(Dollars in millions)
March 31, 2015December 31, 2014
Sempra South American Utilities:
Eletrans S.A.:
4% Note(2)$46$41
Sempra Mexico:
Affiliates of joint venture with PEMEX:
Note due November 13, 2017(3)4444
Note due November 14, 2018(3)4140
Note due November 14, 2018(3)3333
Note due November 14, 2018(3)88
Energía Sierra Juárez:
Note due June 15, 2018(4)2322
Other(5)538
Total$200$226
(1)Amounts include principal balances plus accumulated interest outstanding.
(2)U.S. dollar-denominated loan, at a fixed interest rate with no stated maturity date, to provide project financing for the construction of transmission lines at Eletrans S.A., an affiliate of Chilquinta Energía.
(3)U.S. dollar-denominated loan, at a variable interest rate based on a 30-day LIBOR plus 450 basis points (4.67 percent at March 31, 2015), to finance the Los Ramones Norte pipeline project.
(4)U.S. dollar-denominated loan, at a variable interest rate based on a 30-day LIBOR plus 637.5 basis points (6.55 percent at March 31, 2015), to finance the first phase of the Energía Sierra Juárez wind project.
(5)Amounts represent accounts receivable from various Sempra Renewables and Sempra Mexico joint venture investments.

Service Agreements

Sempra Energy, SDG&E and SoCalGas provide certain services to each other and are charged an allocable share of the cost of such services. Also, from time-to-time, SDG&E and SoCalGas may loan surplus cash to Sempra Energy at interest rates based on one-month commercial paper rates. Amounts due to/from affiliates are as follows:

AMOUNTS DUE TO AND FROM AFFILIATES AT SDG&E AND SOCALGAS
(Dollars in millions)
March 31, 2015December 31, 2014
SDG&E:
Current:
Due from Sempra Energy$40$
Due from various affiliates11
$41$1
Due to Sempra Energy$$17
Due to SoCalGas24
$2$21
Income taxes due from Sempra Energy(1)$15$16
SoCalGas:
Current:
Due from Sempra Energy$59$
Due from SDG&E24
$61$4
Due to Sempra Energy$$13
Income taxes due (to) from Sempra Energy(1)$(107)$9
(1)SDG&E and SoCalGas are included in the consolidated income tax return of Sempra Energy and are allocated income tax expense from Sempra Energy in an amount equal to that which would result from the companies having always filed a separate return.

Revenues from unconsolidated affiliates at SDG&E and SoCalGas are as follows:

REVENUES FROM UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES AT SDG&E AND SOCALGAS
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
20152014
SDG&E$3$3
SoCalGas1918

OTHER INCOME, NET

Other Income, Net on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations consists of the following:

OTHER INCOME, NET
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
20152014
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Allowance for equity funds used during construction$27$25
Investment gains(1)98
Regulatory interest, net(2)11
Foreign currency losses(1)
Gains on interest rate and foreign exchange instruments, net2
Sundry, net34
Total$39$40
SDG&E:
Allowance for equity funds used during construction$8$11
Regulatory interest, net(2)11
Sundry, net1
Total$9$13
SoCalGas:
Allowance for equity funds used during construction$9$5
Sundry, net(1)(1)
Total $8$4
(1)Represents investment gains on dedicated assets in support of our executive retirement and deferred compensation plans. These amounts are partially offset by corresponding changes in compensation expense related to the plans.
(2)Interest on regulatory balancing accounts.

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAX EXPENSE AND EFFECTIVE INCOME TAX RATES
(Dollars in millions)
Effective Effective
Income tax incomeIncome tax income
expensetax rateexpensetax rate
Three months ended March 31,
20152014
Sempra Energy Consolidated$16327%$12733%
SDG&E88378345
SoCalGas95313833

Changes in Income Tax Expense and Effective Income Tax Rates

Sempra Energy Consolidated

The increase in income tax expense in the three months ended March 31, 2015 was mainly due to higher pretax income primarily from SoCalGas, offset by a lower effective tax rate. The lower effective tax rate was primarily due to a $17 million charge in 2014 to reduce certain tax regulatory assets attributed to SDG&E’s investment in San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) that we discuss in Note 9.

Sempra Energy, SDG&E and SoCalGas record income taxes for interim periods utilizing a forecasted effective tax rate anticipated for the full year, as required by U.S. GAAP. The income tax effect of items that can be reliably forecasted are factored into the forecasted effective tax rate and their impact is recognized proportionately over the year. The forecasted items, anticipated on a full year basis, may include, among others:

  • utility self-developed software expenditures
  • repairs to certain utility plant assets
  • renewable energy income tax credits
  • deferred income tax benefits related to renewable energy projects
  • exclusions from taxable income of the equity portion of AFUDC
  • depreciation on a certain portion of utility plant assets
  • U.S. tax on repatriation of current year earnings from non-U.S. subsidiaries

Items that cannot be reliably forecasted (e.g., adjustments related to prior years’ income tax items, remeasurement of deferred tax asset valuation allowances, Mexican currency translation and inflation adjustments, and deferred income tax benefit associated with the impairment of a book investment) are recorded in the interim period in which they actually occur, which can result in variability to income tax expense.

SDG&E

The increase in SDG&E’s income tax expense in the three months ended March 31, 2015 was mainly due to higher pretax income, offset by a lower effective tax rate, primarily from the $17 million charge in 2014 to reduce certain tax regulatory assets attributed to SDG&E’s investment in SONGS discussed in Note 9.

The results for Sempra Energy Consolidated and SDG&E include Otay Mesa VIE, which is not included in Sempra Energy’s federal or state income tax returns but is consolidated for financial statement purposes, and therefore, Sempra Energy Consolidated’s and SDG&E’s effective income tax rates are impacted by the VIE’s stand-alone effective income tax rate. We discuss Otay Mesa VIE above in “Variable Interest Entities.”

SoCalGas

The increase in SoCalGas’ income tax expense in the three months ended March 31, 2015 was mainly due to higher pretax income, partially offset by a lower effective tax rate that was primarily due to higher exclusions from taxable income of the equity portion of AFUDC. Higher pretax income was primarily due to recognizing core gas authorized revenue during interim periods based on seasonal factors beginning January 1, 2015 in accordance with the TCAP, compared to recognizing such revenue ratably over the year in 2014. We discuss the impact of the TCAP decision further in Note 10.

For SDG&E and SoCalGas, the CPUC requires flow-through rate-making treatment for the current income tax benefit or expense arising from certain property-related and other temporary differences between the treatment for financial reporting and income tax, which will reverse over time. Under the regulatory accounting treatment required for these flow-through temporary differences, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are not recorded to deferred income tax expense, but rather to a regulatory asset or liability, which impacts the current effective income tax rate. As a result, changes in the relative size of these items compared to pretax income, from period to period, can cause variations in the effective income tax rate. The following items are subject to flow-through treatment:

  • repairs expenditures related to a certain portion of utility plant assets
  • the equity portion of AFUDC
  • a portion of the cost of removal of utility plant assets
  • utility self-developed software expenditures
  • depreciation on a certain portion of utility plant assets

The AFUDC related to equity recorded for regulated construction projects at Sempra Mexico and Sempra Natural Gas has similar flow-through treatment.

We provide additional information about our accounting for income taxes in Notes 1 and 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.