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Fair Value Measurements
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
As of March 31, 2015, assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis during the period, together with the level of the fair value hierarchy in which they fall, were as follows:
 
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
 
As of March 31, 2015:
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
 
 
(in millions)
Southern Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Energy-related derivatives
 
$

 
$
7

 
$

 
$
7

Interest rate derivatives
 

 
8

 

 
8

Nuclear decommissioning trusts(a)
 
632

 
937

 
4

 
1,573

Cash equivalents
 
863

 

 

 
863

Other investments
 
9

 

 
1

 
10

Total
 
$
1,504

 
$
952

 
$
5

 
$
2,461

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Energy-related derivatives
 
$

 
$
225

 
$

 
$
225

Interest rate derivatives
 

 
46

 

 
46

Total
 
$

 
$
271

 
$

 
$
271

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alabama Power
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Energy-related derivatives
 
$

 
$
1

 
$

 
$
1

Nuclear decommissioning trusts(b)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Domestic equity
 
393

 
90

 

 
483

Foreign equity
 
36

 
65

 

 
101

U.S. Treasury and government agency securities
 

 
34

 

 
34

Corporate bonds
 
10

 
113

 

 
123

Mortgage and asset backed securities
 

 
18

 

 
18

Other
 

 
6

 
4

 
10

Cash equivalents
 
287

 

 

 
287

Total
 
$
726

 
$
327

 
$
4

 
$
1,057

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Energy-related derivatives
 
$

 
$
59

 
$

 
$
59

Interest rate derivatives
 

 
14

 

 
14

Total
 
$

 
$
73

 
$

 
$
73

 
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
 
As of March 31, 2015:
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
 
 
(in millions)
Georgia Power
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Energy-related derivatives
 
$

 
$
6

 
$

 
$
6

Interest rate derivatives
 

 
6

 

 
6

Nuclear decommissioning trusts(b) (c)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Domestic equity
 
182

 
2

 

 
184

Foreign equity
 

 
126

 

 
126

U.S. Treasury and government agency securities
 

 
86

 

 
86

Municipal bonds
 

 
92

 

 
92

Corporate bonds
 

 
192

 

 
192

Mortgage and asset backed securities
 

 
107

 

 
107

Other
 
11

 
6

 

 
17

Cash equivalents
 
406

 

 

 
406

Total
 
$
599

 
$
623

 
$

 
$
1,222

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Energy-related derivatives
 
$

 
$
24

 
$

 
$
24

Interest rate derivatives
 

 
31

 

 
31

Total
 
$

 
$
55

 
$

 
$
55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gulf Power
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
 
$
18

 
$

 
$

 
$
18

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Energy-related derivatives
 

 
90

 

 
90

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mississippi Power
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
 
$
110

 
$

 
$

 
$
110

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Energy-related derivatives
 

 
52

 

 
52

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Southern Power
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
 
$
3

 
$

 
$

 
$
3

(a)
For additional detail, see the nuclear decommissioning trusts sections for Alabama Power and Georgia Power in this table.
(b)
Excludes receivables related to investment income, pending investment sales, payables related to pending investment purchases, and currencies.
(c)
Includes the investment securities pledged to creditors and collateral received and excludes payables related to the securities lending program. As of March 31, 2015, approximately $50 million of the fair market value of Georgia Power's nuclear decommissioning trust funds' securities were on loan and pledged to creditors under the funds' managers' securities lending program.
Valuation Methodologies
The energy-related derivatives primarily consist of over-the-counter financial products for natural gas and physical power products, including, from time to time, basis swaps. These are standard products used within the energy industry and are valued using the market approach. The inputs used are mainly from observable market sources, such as forward natural gas prices, power prices, implied volatility, and overnight index swap interest rates. Interest rate derivatives are also standard over-the-counter financial products valued using the market approach. Inputs for interest rate derivatives include LIBOR interest rates, interest rate futures contracts, and occasionally, implied volatility of interest rate options. See Note (H) herein for additional information on how these derivatives are used.
For fair value measurements of the investments within the nuclear decommissioning trusts, external pricing vendors are designated for each asset class with each security specifically assigned a primary pricing source. For investments held within commingled funds, fair value is determined at the end of each business day through the net asset value, which is established by obtaining the underlying securities' individual prices from the primary pricing source. A market price secured from the primary source vendor is then evaluated by management in its valuation of the assets within the trusts. As a general approach, fixed income market pricing vendors gather market data (including indices and market research reports) and integrate relative credit information, observed market movements, and sector news into proprietary pricing models, pricing systems, and mathematical tools. Dealer quotes and other market information, including live trading levels and pricing analysts' judgment, are also obtained when available.
Investments in private equity and real estate within Alabama Power's nuclear decommissioning trusts are generally classified as Level 3, as the underlying assets typically do not have observable inputs. The fund manager values these assets using various inputs and techniques depending on the nature of the underlying investments. The fair value of partnerships is determined by aggregating the value of the underlying assets.
"Other investments" include investments that are not traded in the open market. The fair value of these investments have been determined based on market factors including comparable multiples and the expectations regarding cash flows and business plan executions.
As of March 31, 2015, the fair value measurements of investments calculated at net asset value per share (or its equivalent), as well as the nature and risks of those investments, were as follows:
As of March 31, 2015:
 
Fair
Value
 
Unfunded
Commitments
 
Redemption
Frequency
 
Redemption
Notice Period
 
 
(in millions)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Southern Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign equity funds
 
$
126

 
None
 
Monthly
 
5 days
Equity - commingled funds
 
65

 
None
 
Daily/Monthly
 
Daily/7 days
Debt - commingled funds
 
16

 
None
 
Daily
 
5 days
Other - commingled funds
 
6

 
None
 
Daily
 
Not applicable
Other - money market funds
 
11

 
None
 
Daily
 
Not applicable
Trust-owned life insurance
 
118

 
None
 
Daily
 
15 days
Cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds
 
863

 
None
 
Daily
 
Not applicable
Alabama Power
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity - commingled funds
 
$
65

 
None
 
Daily/Monthly
 
Daily/7 days
Debt - commingled funds
 
16

 
None
 
Daily
 
5 days
Trust-owned life insurance
 
118

 
None
 
Daily
 
15 days
Cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds
 
287

 
None
 
Daily
 
Not applicable
Georgia Power
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign equity funds
 
$
126

 
None
 
Monthly
 
5 days
Other - commingled funds
 
6

 
None
 
Daily
 
Not applicable
Other - money market funds
 
11

 
None
 
Daily
 
Not applicable
Cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds
 
406

 
None
 
Daily
 
Not applicable
Gulf Power
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds
 
$
18

 
None
 
Daily
 
Not applicable
Mississippi Power
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds
 
$
110

 
None
 
Daily
 
Not applicable
Southern Power
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds
 
$
3

 
None
 
Daily
 
Not applicable

The NRC requires licensees of commissioned nuclear power reactors to establish a plan for providing reasonable assurance of funds for future decommissioning. Alabama Power and Georgia Power have external trust funds (the Funds) to comply with the NRC's regulations. The foreign equity fund in Georgia Power's nuclear decommissioning trusts seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation. In pursuing this investment objective, the foreign equity fund primarily invests in a diversified portfolio of equity securities of foreign companies, including those in emerging markets. These equity securities may include, but are not limited to, common stocks, preferred stocks, real estate investment trusts, convertible securities, depositary receipts (including American depositary receipts, European depositary receipts, and global depositary receipts), and rights and warrants to buy common stocks. Georgia Power may withdraw all or a portion of its investment on the last business day of each month subject to a minimum withdrawal of $1 million, provided that a minimum investment of $10 million remains. If notices of withdrawal exceed 20% of the aggregate value of the foreign equity fund, then the foreign equity fund's board may refuse to permit the withdrawal of all such investments and may scale down the amounts to be withdrawn pro rata and may further determine that any withdrawal that has been postponed will have priority on the subsequent withdrawal date.
The other-commingled funds and other-money market funds in Georgia Power's nuclear decommissioning trusts are invested primarily in a diversified portfolio of high-quality, short-term, liquid debt securities. The funds represent cash collateral received under the Funds' managers' securities lending program and/or excess cash held within each separate investment account. The primary objective of the funds is to provide a high level of current income consistent with stability of principal and liquidity. The funds invest primarily in, but not limited to, commercial paper, floating and variable rate demand notes, debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, time deposits, repurchase agreements, municipal obligations, notes, and other high-quality short-term liquid debt securities that mature in 90 days or less. Redemptions are available on a same day basis up to the full amount of the investment in the fund. See Note 1 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Georgia Power under "Nuclear Decommissioning" in Item 8 of the Form 10-K for additional information.
Alabama Power's nuclear decommissioning trusts include investments in Trust-Owned Life Insurance (TOLI). The taxable nuclear decommissioning trusts invest in the TOLI in order to minimize the impact of taxes on the portfolios and can draw on the value of the TOLI through death proceeds, loans against the cash surrender value, and/or the cash surrender value, subject to legal restrictions. The amounts reported in the table above reflect the fair value of investments the insurer has made in relation to the TOLI agreements. The nuclear decommissioning trusts do not own the underlying investments, but the fair value of the investments approximates the cash surrender value of the TOLI policies. The investments made by the insurer are in commingled funds. These commingled funds, along with other equity and debt commingled funds held in Alabama Power's nuclear decommissioning trusts, primarily include investments in domestic and international equity securities and predominantly high-quality fixed income securities. These fixed income securities may include U.S. Treasury and government agency fixed income securities, non-U.S. government and agency fixed income securities, domestic and foreign corporate fixed income securities, and mortgage and asset backed securities. The passively managed funds seek to replicate the performance of a related index. The actively managed funds seek to exceed the performance of a related index through security analysis and selection. See Note 1 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Alabama Power under "Nuclear Decommissioning" in Item 8 of the Form 10-K for additional information.
Southern Company, Alabama Power, and Georgia Power continue to elect the option to fair value investment securities held in the nuclear decommissioning trust funds. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the change in fair value of the funds, including reinvested interest and dividends reduced by the funds' expenses, increased by $65 million at Southern Company. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, Alabama Power recorded an increase in fair value of $47 million as an increase in regulatory liabilities. Georgia Power recorded an increase in fair value of $18 million as a reduction of its regulatory asset related to its ARO.
The money market funds are short-term investments of excess funds in various money market mutual funds, which are portfolios of short-term debt securities. The money market funds are regulated by the SEC and typically receive the highest rating from credit rating agencies. Regulatory and rating agency requirements for money market funds include minimum credit ratings and maximum maturities for individual securities and a maximum weighted average portfolio maturity. Redemptions are available on a same day basis up to the full amount of the investment in the money market funds.
As of March 31, 2015, other financial instruments for which the carrying amount did not equal fair value were as follows:
 
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair
Value
 
 
(in millions)
Long-term debt:
 
 
 
 
Southern Company
 
$
24,241

 
$
26,350

Alabama Power
 
$
6,922

 
$
7,696

Georgia Power
 
$
9,801

 
$
10,733

Gulf Power
 
$
1,370

 
$
1,501

Mississippi Power
 
$
2,251

 
$
2,323

Southern Power
 
$
1,621

 
$
1,789


The fair values are determined using Level 2 measurements and are based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to Southern Company, Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power, and Southern Power.