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GENERAL INFORMATION AND OTHER FINANCIAL DATA (Policies)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Principles of Consolidation
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
Sempra Energy
Sempra Energy’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Sempra Energy, a California-based holding company, and its consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs. Sempra Energy’s business activities are organized under five reportable segments, which we discuss in Note 12. All references in these Notes to our reportable segments are not intended to refer to any legal entity with the same or similar name.
We refer to SDG&E and SoCalGas collectively as the California Utilities. Sempra Global is the holding company for our subsidiaries that are not subject to California or Texas utility regulation.
SDG&E
SDG&E’s common stock is wholly owned by Enova Corporation, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sempra Energy.
SoCalGas
SoCalGas’ common stock is wholly owned by Pacific Enterprises, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sempra Energy.
Basis of Presentation
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
This is a combined report of Sempra Energy, SDG&E and SoCalGas. We provide separate information for SDG&E and SoCalGas as required. References in this report to “we,” “our,” “us” and “Sempra Energy Consolidated” are to Sempra Energy and its consolidated entities, collectively, unless otherwise indicated by the context. We have eliminated intercompany accounts and transactions within the consolidated financial statements of each reporting entity.
Throughout these Notes, we refer to the following as Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements when discussed together or collectively:
the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes of Sempra Energy and its subsidiaries and VIEs;
the Condensed Financial Statements and related Notes of SDG&E; and
the Condensed Financial Statements and related Notes of SoCalGas.
We have prepared our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP and in accordance with the interim-period-reporting requirements of Form 10-Q and applicable rules of the SEC. The financial statements reflect all adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods. These adjustments are only of a normal, recurring nature. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year or for any other period. We evaluated events and transactions that occurred after March 31, 2021 through the date the financial statements were issued and, in the opinion of management, the accompanying statements reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation.
All December 31, 2020 balance sheet information in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements has been derived from our audited 2020 Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the interim-period-reporting provisions of U.S. GAAP and the SEC.
We describe our significant accounting policies in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report and the impact of the adoption of new accounting standards on those policies in Note 2 below. We follow the same accounting policies for interim period reporting purposes.
You should read the information in this report in conjunction with the Annual Report.
Discontinued Operations Discontinued OperationsIn January 2019, our board of directors approved a plan to sell our South American businesses based on our strategic focus on North America. We determined that these businesses, which previously constituted the Sempra South American Utilities segment, and certain activities associated with these businesses, met the held-for-sale criteria. These businesses are presented as discontinued operations, which we discuss further in Note 5. We completed the sales of our South American businesses in the second quarter of 2020. Our discussions in the Notes below relate only to our continuing operations unless otherwise noted.
Credit Loss Policy We regularly monitor and evaluate credit losses and record allowances for expected credit losses, if necessary, for trade and other accounts receivable using a combination of factors, including past-due status based on contractual terms, trends in write-offs, the age of the receivable, historical and industry trends, counterparty creditworthiness, economic conditions and specific events, such as bankruptcies. We write off financial assets measured at amortized cost in the period in which we determine they are not recoverable. We record recoveries of amounts previously written off when it is known that they will be recovered.For amounts due from unconsolidated affiliates, on a quarterly basis, we evaluate credit losses and record allowances for expected credit losses, if necessary, based on credit quality indicators such as external credit ratings, published default rate studies, the maturity date of the instrument and past delinquencies. However, we do not record allowances for expected credit losses related to accrued interest receivable on loans due from unconsolidated affiliates because we write off such amounts, if any, through a reversal of interest income in the period we determine such amounts are uncollectible. In the absence of external credit ratings, we may utilize an internally developed credit rating based on our analysis of a counterparty’s financial statements to determine our expected credit losses.
Variable Interest Entity Policy
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
We consolidate a VIE if we are the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Our determination of whether we are the primary beneficiary is based on 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 the right to receive benefits that could be significant to the VIE.
We will continue to evaluate our VIEs for any changes that may impact our determination of whether an entity is a VIE and if we are the primary beneficiary.
Earnings Per Share Policy Basic EPS is calculated by dividing earnings attributable to common shares (from both continuing and discontinued operations) 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.The potentially dilutive impact from stock options and RSUs is calculated under the treasury stock method. Under this method, proceeds based on the exercise price and unearned compensation are assumed to be used to repurchase shares on the open market at the average market price for the period, reducing the number of potential new shares to be issued and sometimes causing an antidilutive effect. The potentially dilutive impact from mandatory convertible preferred stock is calculated under the if-converted method until the mandatory conversion date. After the mandatory conversion date, the converted shares are included in weighted-average common shares outstanding for basic EPS. As we discuss below in “Shareholders’ Equity and Noncontrolling Interests,” we converted our series A preferred stock into common stock on January 15, 2021.
Interim period effective tax rate policy Sempra Energy, SDG&E and SoCalGas record income taxes for interim periods utilizing a forecasted ETR anticipated for the full year. Unusual and infrequent items and items that cannot be reliably estimated are recorded in the interim period in which they occur, which can result in variability in the ETR.
Flow-through rate-making treatment tax policy
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 ETR. As a result, changes in the relative size of these items compared to pretax income, from period to period, can cause variations in the ETR. The following items are subject to flow-through treatment:
repairs expenditures related to a certain portion of utility plant fixed assets
the equity portion of AFUDC, which is non-taxable
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
state income taxes
The AFUDC related to equity recorded for regulated construction projects at Sempra Mexico has similar flow-through treatment.
We record income tax (expense) benefit from the transactional effects of foreign currency and inflation. Through the first quarter of 2021, such effects are offset by net gains (losses) from foreign currency derivatives that are hedging Sempra Mexico parent’s exposure to movements in the Mexico peso from its controlling interest in IEnova.
New Accounting Standards
ASU 2020-06, “Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity”: ASU 2020-06 simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’s own equity. In addition to other changes, this standard amends ASC 470-20, “Debt with Conversion and Other Options,” by removing the accounting models for instruments with beneficial conversion and cash conversion features. The standard also amends ASC 260, “Earnings Per Share,” as follows:
requires an entity to apply the if-converted method when calculating diluted EPS for convertible instruments and no longer use the treasury stock method, which was previously allowed for certain convertible instruments;
requires an entity to include the effect of potential share settlement in the diluted EPS calculation when an instrument may be settled in cash or shares, and no longer allows an entity to rebut the presumption of share settlement if it has a history or policy of cash settlement;
requires an entity to include equity-classified convertible preferred stock that contains down-round features whereby, if the down-round feature is triggered, its effect is treated as a dividend and as a reduction of income available to common shareholders in basic EPS;
clarifies that the average market price should be used to calculate the diluted EPS denominator when the exercise price or the number of shares that may be issued is variable, except for certain contingently issuable shares; and
clarifies that the weighted-average share count from each quarter should be used when calculating the year-to-date weighted-average share count.
For public entities, ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods therein, with early adoption permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. An entity can use either a full or modified retrospective approach to adopt ASU 2020-06 and must disclose, in the period of adoption, EPS transition information about the effect of the change on affected per-share amounts. We plan to adopt the standard on January 1, 2022 and are currently evaluating the effect of the standard on our ongoing financial reporting.
Derivative Financial Instruments
HEDGE ACCOUNTING
We may designate a derivative as a cash flow hedging instrument if it effectively converts anticipated cash flows associated with revenues or expenses to a fixed dollar amount. We may utilize cash flow hedge accounting for derivative commodity instruments, foreign currency instruments and interest rate instruments. Designating cash flow hedges is dependent on the business context in which the instrument is being used, the effectiveness of the instrument in offsetting the risk that the future cash flows of a given revenue or expense item may vary, and other criteria.
ENERGY DERIVATIVES
Our market risk is primarily related to natural gas and electricity price volatility and the specific physical locations where we transact. We use energy derivatives to manage these risks. The use of energy derivatives in our various businesses depends on the particular energy market, and the operating and regulatory environments applicable to the business, as follows:
The California Utilities use natural gas and electricity derivatives, for the benefit of customers, with the objective of managing price risk and basis risks, and stabilizing and lowering natural gas and electricity costs. These derivatives include fixed-price natural gas and electricity positions, options, and basis risk instruments, which are either exchange-traded or over-the-counter financial instruments, or bilateral physical transactions. This activity is governed by risk management and transacting activity plans that have been filed with and approved by the CPUC. Natural gas and electricity derivative activities are recorded as commodity costs that are offset by regulatory account balances and are recovered in rates. Net commodity cost impacts on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations are reflected in Cost of Electric Fuel and Purchased Power or in Cost of Natural Gas.
SDG&E is allocated and may purchase CRRs, which serve to reduce the regional electricity price volatility risk that may result from local transmission capacity constraints. Unrealized gains and losses do not impact earnings, as they are offset by regulatory account balances. Realized gains and losses associated with CRRs, which are recoverable in rates, are recorded in Cost of Electric Fuel and Purchased Power on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Sempra Mexico and Sempra LNG may use natural gas and electricity derivatives, as appropriate, in an effort to optimize the earnings of their assets which support the following businesses: LNG, natural gas transportation and storage, and power generation. Gains and losses associated with undesignated derivatives are recognized in Energy-Related Businesses Revenues or in Energy-Related Businesses Cost of Sales on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Certain of these derivatives may also be designated as cash flow hedges. Sempra Mexico may also use natural gas energy derivatives with the objective of managing price risk and lowering natural gas prices at its distribution operations. These derivatives, which are recorded as commodity costs that are offset by regulatory account balances and recovered in rates, are recognized in Cost of Natural Gas on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
From time to time, our various businesses, including the California Utilities, may use other energy derivatives to hedge exposures such as the price of vehicle fuel and greenhouse gas allowances.
In addition to the amounts noted above, we use commodity derivatives to manage risks associated with the physical locations of contractual obligations and assets, such as natural gas purchases and sales.
INTEREST RATE DERIVATIVES
We are exposed to interest rates primarily as a result of our current and expected use of financing. The California Utilities, as well as Sempra Energy and its other subsidiaries and JVs, periodically enter into interest rate derivative agreements intended to moderate our exposure to interest rates and to lower our overall costs of borrowing. In addition, we may utilize interest rate swaps, typically designated as cash flow hedges, to lock in interest rates on outstanding debt or in anticipation of future financings.
FOREIGN CURRENCY DERIVATIVES
We utilize cross-currency swaps to hedge exposure related to Mexican peso-denominated debt at our Mexican subsidiaries and JVs. These cash flow hedges exchange our Mexican peso-denominated principal and interest payments into the U.S. dollar and swap Mexican variable interest rates for U.S. fixed interest rates. From time to time, Sempra Mexico and its JVs may use other foreign currency derivatives to hedge exposures related to cash flows associated with revenues from contracts denominated in Mexican pesos that are indexed to the U.S. dollar.
We are also exposed to exchange rate movements at our Mexican subsidiaries and JVs, which have U.S. dollar-denominated cash balances, receivables, payables and debt (monetary assets and liabilities) that give rise to Mexican currency exchange rate movements for Mexican income tax purposes. They also have deferred income tax assets and liabilities denominated in the Mexican peso, which must be translated to U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. In addition, monetary assets and liabilities and certain nonmonetary assets and liabilities are adjusted for Mexican inflation for Mexican income tax purposes. We may utilize foreign currency derivatives as a means to manage the risk of exposure to significant fluctuations in our income tax expense and equity earnings from these impacts; however, we generally do not hedge our deferred income tax assets and liabilities or for inflation.
We also utilized foreign currency derivatives in 2020 to hedge exposure to fluctuations in the Peruvian sol and Chilean peso related to the sales of our operations in Peru and Chile, respectively.
Fair Value Measurement Policy 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 valued assets and liabilities, and their placement within the fair value hierarchy. We have not changed the valuation techniques or types of inputs we use to measure recurring fair value since December 31, 2020.
The fair value of commodity derivative assets and liabilities is presented in accordance with our netting policy, as we discuss in Note 8 under “Financial Statement Presentation.”
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 in the tables below include the following:
Nuclear decommissioning trusts reflect the assets of SDG&E’s NDT, excluding cash balances, accounts receivable and accounts payable. 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. 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 securities are valued based on yields that are currently available for comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings (Level 2).
For commodity contracts, interest rate derivatives and foreign exchange instruments, we primarily use a market or income 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). Level 3 recurring items relate to CRRs and long-term, fixed-price electricity positions at SDG&E, as we discuss below in “Level 3 Information – SDG&E.”
Rabbi Trust 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). These investments in marketable securities were negligible at both March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
As we discuss in Note 6, in July 2020, Sempra Energy entered into a Support Agreement for the benefit of CFIN. We measure the Support Agreement, which includes a guarantee obligation, a put option and a call option, net of related guarantee fees, at fair value on a recurring basis. We use a discounted cash flow model to value the Support Agreement, net of related guarantee fees. Because some of the inputs that are significant to the valuation are less observable, the Support Agreement is classified as Level 3, as we describe below in “Level 3 Information – Sempra LNG.”
Inputs used to determine the fair value of CRRs and fixed-price electricity positions are reviewed and compared with market conditions to determine reasonableness. SDG&E expects all costs related to these instruments to be recoverable through customer rates. As such, there is no impact to earnings from changes in the fair value of these instruments.CRRs are recorded at fair value based almost entirely on the most current auction prices published by the California ISO, an objective source. Annual auction prices are published once a year, typically in the middle of November, and are the basis for valuing CRRs settling in the following year.The impact associated with discounting is negligible. Because these auction prices are a less observable input, these instruments are classified as Level 3. 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 8.Long-term, fixed-price electricity positions that are valued using significant unobservable data are classified as Level 3 because the contract terms relate to a delivery location or tenor for which observable market rate information is not available. The fair value of the net electricity positions classified as Level 3 is derived from a discounted cash flow model using market electricity forward price inputs.
A significant increase (decrease) in market electricity forward prices would result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value. We summarize long-term, fixed-price electricity position volumes in Note 8.
Realized gains and losses associated with CRRs and long-term, fixed-price electricity positions, which are recoverable in rates, are recorded in Cost of Electric Fuel and Purchased Power on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Because unrealized gains and losses are recorded as regulatory assets and liabilities, they do not affect earnings.
The fair value of the Support Agreement, net of related guarantee fees, is based on a discounted cash flow model using a probability of default and survival methodology. Our estimate of fair value considers inputs such as third-party default rates, credit ratings, recovery rates, and risk-adjusted discount rates, which may be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable inputs. Because CFIN’s credit rating and related default and survival rates are unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation, the Support Agreement, net of related guarantee fees, is classified as Level 3. We assigned CFIN an internally developed credit rating of A3 and relied on default rate data published by Moody’s to assign a probability of default. A hypothetical change in the credit rating up or down one notch could result in a significant change in the fair value of the Support Agreement.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair values of certain of our financial instruments (cash, accounts receivable, short-term amounts due to/from unconsolidated affiliates, dividends and accounts payable, short-term debt and customer deposits) approximate their carrying amounts because of the short-term nature of these instruments. Investments in life insurance contracts that we hold in support of our Supplemental
Executive Retirement, Cash Balance Restoration and Deferred Compensation Plans are carried at cash surrender values, which represent the amount of cash that could be realized under the contracts.
Legal Costs Policy
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We accrue losses for a legal proceeding when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. However, the uncertainties inherent in legal proceedings make it difficult to reasonably estimate the costs and effects of resolving these matters. Accordingly, actual costs incurred may differ materially from amounts accrued, may exceed applicable insurance coverage and could materially adversely affect our business, cash flows, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. Unless otherwise indicated, we are unable to estimate reasonably possible losses in excess of any amounts accrued.
Gains and Losses on NDTs Net unrealized gains and losses, as well as realized gains and losses that are reinvested in the NDT, are included in noncurrent Regulatory Liabilities on Sempra Energy’s and SDG&E’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. We determine the cost of securities in the trusts on the basis of specific identification.
Lessee, Leases Policy Some of our lease agreements contain nonlease components, which represent activities that transfer a separate good or service to the lessee. As the lessee for both operating and finance leases, we have elected to combine lease and nonlease components as a single lease component for real estate, fleet vehicles, power generating facilities, and pipelines, whereby fixed or in-substance fixed payments allocable to the nonlease component are accounted for as part of the related lease liability and ROU asset. As the lessor, we have elected to combine lease and nonlease components as a single lease component for real estate, power generating facilities and terminals if the timing and pattern of transfer of the lease and nonlease components are the same and the lease component would be classified as an operating lease if accounted for separately.
Lessor, Leases Policy Generally, we recognize operating lease income on a straight-line basis over the lease term and evaluate the underlying asset for impairment. Certain of our leases contain rate adjustments or are based on foreign currency exchange rates that may result in lease payments received that vary in amount from one period to the next.
Segment Information
We have five separately managed reportable segments, as follows:
SDG&E provides electric service to San Diego and southern Orange counties and natural gas service to San Diego County.
SoCalGas is a natural gas distribution utility, serving customers throughout most of Southern California and part of central California.
Sempra Texas Utilities holds our investment in Oncor Holdings, which owns an 80.25% interest in Oncor, a regulated electric transmission and distribution utility serving customers in the north-central, eastern, western and panhandle regions of Texas; and our indirect, 50% interest in Sharyland Holdings, which owns Sharyland Utilities, a regulated electric transmission utility serving customers near the Texas-Mexico border.
Sempra Mexico develops, owns and operates, or holds interests in, natural gas, electric, LNG, LPG, ethane and liquid fuels infrastructure, and has marketing operations for the purchase of LNG and the purchase and sale of natural gas in Mexico.
Sempra LNG develops, builds, operates and invests in natural gas liquefaction export facilities, including natural gas pipelines and infrastructure, and buys, sells and transports natural gas through its marketing operations, all within North America.
As we discuss in Note 5, the financial information related to our businesses that constituted the Sempra South American Utilities segment is presented as discontinued operations for all periods presented. The information in the tables below excludes amounts from discontinued operations unless otherwise noted. We completed the sales of our discontinued operations in the second quarter of 2020.
We evaluate each segment’s performance based on its contribution to Sempra Energy’s reported earnings and cash flows. The California Utilities operate in essentially separate service territories, under separate regulatory frameworks and rate structures set by the CPUC and the FERC. We describe the accounting policies of all of our segments in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.
The cost of common services shared by the business segments is assigned directly or allocated based on various cost factors, depending on the nature of the service provided. Interest income and expense is recorded on intercompany loans. The loan balances and related interest are eliminated in consolidation.