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Introduction
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The condensed quarterly financial statements of each registrant included herein have been prepared by such registrant, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. The Condensed Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 have been derived from the audited financial statements of each registrant. In the opinion of each registrant's management, the information regarding such registrant furnished herein reflects all adjustments, which, except as otherwise disclosed, are of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly the results of operations for the periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although each registrant believes that the disclosures regarding such registrant are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Disclosures which would substantially duplicate the disclosures in the Form 10-K and details which have not changed significantly in amount or composition since the filing of the Form 10-K are generally omitted from this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q unless specifically required by GAAP. Therefore, these Condensed Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Form 10-K. Due to the seasonal variations in the demand for energy, operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for the full year.
Southern Company's financial statements reflect its investments in its subsidiaries, including Southern Company Gas as a result of the Merger, on a consolidated basis. Southern Company Gas' results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and financial condition as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are reflected within Southern Company's consolidated amounts in these accompanying notes herein. The equity method is used for entities in which Southern Company has significant influence but does not control, including Southern Company Gas' investment in SNG, and for variable interest entities where Southern Company has an equity investment but is not the primary beneficiary. See Note (I) under "Southern Company Merger with Southern Company Gas" for additional information regarding the Merger.
Pursuant to the Merger, Southern Company pushed down the application of the acquisition method of accounting to the consolidated financial statements of Southern Company Gas such that the assets and liabilities are recorded at their respective fair values, and goodwill has been established for the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net identifiable assets. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements of Southern Company Gas for periods before and after July 1, 2016 (acquisition date) reflect different bases of accounting, and the financial positions and results of operations of those periods are not comparable. Throughout Southern Company Gas' condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes herein, periods prior to July 1, 2016 are identified as "predecessor," while periods after the acquisition date are identified as "successor."
Certain prior year data presented in the financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on the results of operations, financial position, or cash flows of any registrant.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In 2014, the FASB issued ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, replacing the existing accounting standard and industry specific guidance for revenue recognition with a five-step model for recognizing and measuring revenue from contracts with customers. The underlying principle of the standard is to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at the amount expected to be collected. The new standard also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and the related cash flows arising from contracts with customers.
While the registrants expect most of their revenue to be included in the scope of ASC 606, they have not fully completed the evaluation of all revenue arrangements. The majority of Southern Company's, the traditional electric operating companies', and Southern Company Gas' revenue, including energy provided to customers, is from tariff offerings that provide electricity or natural gas without a defined contractual term. For such arrangements, the registrants expect that the revenue from contracts with these customers will continue to be equivalent to the electricity or natural gas supplied and billed in that period (including unbilled revenues) and the adoption of ASC 606 will not result in a significant shift in the timing of revenue recognition for such sales.
The registrants' ongoing evaluation of other revenue streams and related contracts includes longer term contractual commitments and unregulated sales to customers. Some revenue arrangements, such as certain PPAs and alternative revenue programs, are excluded from the scope of ASC 606 and, therefore, will be accounted for and presented separately from revenues under ASC 606 on the registrants' financial statements. In addition, the power and utilities industry is currently addressing other specific industry issues, including the applicability of ASC 606 to contributions in aid of construction (CIAC). Although final implementation guidance has not been issued, Southern Company, the traditional electric operating companies, and Southern Company Gas expect CIAC to be out of the scope of ASC 606. Given Southern Power's core activities of selling generation capacity and energy to high credit rated customers, Southern Power currently does not expect the new standard to have a significant impact to net income.
The new standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The registrants must select a transition method to be applied either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings at the date of initial adoption. As the ultimate impact of the new standard has not yet been determined, the registrants have not elected a transition method.
On January 26, 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (ASU 2017-04). ASU 2017-04 removes the requirement to compare the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying amount as part of Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. Under the new standard, the goodwill impairment loss will be measured as the excess of a reporting unit's carrying amount over its fair value, not exceeding the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit, which may increase the frequency of goodwill impairment charges if a future goodwill impairment test does not pass the Step 1 evaluation. ASU 2017-04 is effective prospectively for annual and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is permitted on testing dates after January 1, 2017.
On March 10, 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (ASU 2017-07). ASU 2017-07 requires that an employer report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs and requires the other components of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs to be separately presented in the income statement outside income from operations. Additionally, only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization, when applicable. However, all cost components remain eligible for capitalization under FERC regulations. ASU 2017-07 will be applied retrospectively for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs in the income statement. The capitalization of the service cost component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs in assets will be applied on a prospective basis. ASU 2017-07 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. Southern Company, the traditional electric operating companies, and Southern Company Gas are currently evaluating the new standard. The presentation changes required for net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs will result in a decrease in Southern Company's, the traditional electric operating companies', and Southern Company Gas' operating income and an increase in other income for 2016 and 2017 and are expected to result in a decrease in operating income and an increase in other income for 2018. The adoption of ASU 2017-07 is not expected to have a material impact on Southern Company's, the traditional electric operating companies', or Southern Company Gas' financial statements.
Affiliate Transactions
Prior to the completion of Southern Company Gas' acquisition of its 50% equity interest in SNG, SCS (as agent for Alabama Power, Georgia Power, and Southern Power) and Southern Company Gas had entered into long-term interstate natural gas transportation agreements with SNG. The interstate transportation service provided to Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Southern Power, and Southern Company Gas by SNG pursuant to these agreements is governed by the terms and conditions of SNG's natural gas tariff and is subject to FERC regulation. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, transportation costs under these agreements for Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Southern Power, and Southern Company Gas were approximately $1 million, $26 million, $6 million, and $9 million, respectively.
SCS, as agent for Southern Power, has agreements with certain subsidiaries of Southern Company Gas to purchase natural gas. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, natural gas purchases made by Southern Power from Southern Company Gas' subsidiaries were approximately $23 million.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, goodwill was as follows:
 
Goodwill
 
(in millions)
Southern Company
$
6,251

Southern Power
$
2

Southern Company Gas


Gas distribution operations
$
4,702

Gas marketing services
1,265

Southern Company Gas total
$
5,967


Goodwill is not amortized, but is subject to an annual impairment test during the fourth quarter of each year, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise.
Other intangible assets were as follows:
 
As of March 31, 2017
 
As of December 31, 2016
 
Gross Carrying Amount
Accumulated Amortization
Other
Intangible Assets, Net
 
Gross Carrying Amount
Accumulated Amortization
Other
Intangible Assets, Net
 
(in millions)
 
(in millions)
Southern Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other intangible assets subject to amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Customer relationships
$
268

$
(44
)
$
224

 
$
268

$
(32
)
$
236

Trade names
158

(8
)
150

 
158

(5
)
153

Patents
4


4

 
4


4

Backlog
5

(1
)
4

 
5

(1
)
4

Storage and transportation contracts
64

(15
)
49

 
64

(2
)
62

Software and other
2

(1
)
1

 
2


2

PPA fair value adjustments
456

(28
)
428

 
456

(22
)
434

Total other intangible assets subject to amortization
$
957

$
(97
)
$
860

 
$
957

$
(62
)
$
895

Other intangible assets not subject to amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal Communications Commission licenses
$
75

$

$
75

 
$
75

$

$
75

Total other intangible assets
$
1,032

$
(97
)
$
935

 
$
1,032

$
(62
)
$
970

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Southern Power
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other intangible assets subject to amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PPA fair value adjustments
$
456

$
(28
)
$
428

 
$
456

$
(22
)
$
434

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Southern Company Gas
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other intangible assets subject to amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gas marketing services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Customer relationships
$
221

$
(41
)
$
180

 
$
221

$
(30
)
$
191

Trade names
115

(4
)
111

 
115

(2
)
113

Wholesale gas services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Storage and transportation contracts
64

(15
)
49

 
64

(2
)
62

Total other intangible assets subject to amortization
$
400

$
(60
)
$
340

 
$
400

$
(34
)
$
366


Amortization associated with other intangible assets was as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2017
 
(in millions)
Southern Company
$
35

Southern Power
$
6

Southern Company Gas
$
26


See Note 12 to the financial statements of Southern Company under "Southern Power" and Note 2 to the financial statements of Southern Power in Item 8 of the Form 10-K for additional information regarding Southern Power's PPA fair value adjustments related to its business acquisitions. Also see Note (I) under "Southern Company Acquisition of PowerSecure" and " Merger with Southern Company Gas" for additional information.
Property Damage Reserve
See Note 1 to the financial statements of Gulf Power under "Property Damage Reserve" in Item 8 of the Form 10-K for additional information.
Gulf Power's cost of repairing damages from major storms and other uninsured property damages, including uninsured damages to transmission and distribution facilities, generation facilities, and other property is charged to Gulf Power's property damage reserve. In accordance with a settlement agreement approved by the Florida PSC on April 4, 2017 (2017 Rate Case Settlement Agreement), Gulf Power suspended further property damage reserve accruals effective April 2017. Gulf Power may make discretionary accruals, but is required to resume accruals of $3.5 million annually if the reserve balance falls below zero. In addition, Gulf Power may initiate a storm surcharge to recover costs associated with any tropical systems named by the National Hurricane Center or other catastrophic storm events that reduce the property damage reserve in the aggregate by approximately $31 million (75% of the April 1, 2017 balance) or more. The storm surcharge would begin, on an interim basis, 60 days following the filing of a cost recovery petition, would be limited to $4.00/month for a 1,000 KWH residential customer unless Gulf Power incurs in excess of $100 million in qualified storm recovery costs in a calendar year, and would replenish the storm reserve to approximately $40 million. See Note (B) under "Regulatory Matters Gulf Power Retail Base Rate Cases" for additional details regarding the 2017 Rate Case Settlement Agreement.
Natural Gas for Sale
Southern Company Gas' natural gas distribution utilities, with the exception of Nicor Gas, carry natural gas inventory on a WACOG basis.
Nicor Gas' natural gas inventory is carried at cost on a LIFO basis. Inventory decrements occurring during the year that are restored prior to year end are charged to cost of natural gas at the estimated annual replacement cost. Inventory decrements that are not restored prior to year end are charged to cost of natural gas at the actual LIFO cost of the inventory layers liquidated. Southern Company Gas' inventory decrement at March 31, 2017 is expected to be restored prior to year end. The cost of natural gas, including inventory costs, is recovered from customers under a purchased gas recovery mechanism adjusted for differences between actual costs and amounts billed; therefore, LIFO liquidations have no impact on Southern Company's or Southern Company Gas' net income.
Natural gas inventories for Southern Company Gas' non-utility businesses are carried at the lower of weighted average cost or current market price, with cost determined on a WACOG basis. For any declines in market prices below the WACOG considered to be other than temporary, an adjustment is recorded to reduce the value of natural gas inventories to market value. Southern Company Gas recorded no LOCOM adjustment in the successor first quarter 2017 and recorded a $3 million LOCOM adjustment in the predecessor first quarter 2016.