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Financing
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
FINANCING FINANCING
Bank Credit Arrangements
Bank credit arrangements provide liquidity support to the registrants' commercial paper borrowings and the traditional electric operating companies' revenue bonds. The amount of variable rate revenue bonds of the traditional electric operating companies outstanding requiring liquidity support as of September 30, 2019 was approximately $1.4 billion (comprised of approximately $854 million at Alabama Power, $550 million at Georgia Power, and $40 million at Mississippi Power). In addition, at September 30, 2019, Alabama Power had approximately $87 million of revenue bonds outstanding that were required to be remarketed within the next 12 months. See Note 8 to the financial statements under "Bank Credit Arrangements" in Item 8 of the Form 10-K and "Financing Activities" herein for additional information.
The following table outlines the committed credit arrangements by company as of September 30, 2019:
 
Expires
 
 
 
Company
2020
2022
2024
 
Total
 
Unused
Due within One Year
 
(in millions)
Southern Company(a)
$

$

$
2,000

 
$
2,000

 
$
1,999

$

Alabama Power
3

525

800

 
1,328

 
1,328

3

Georgia Power


1,750

 
1,750

 
1,733


Mississippi Power

150


 
150

 
150


Southern Power(b)


600

 
600

 
591


Southern Company Gas(c)


1,750

 
1,750

 
1,745


Other
30



 
30

 
30

30

Southern Company Consolidated
$
33

$
675

$
6,900

 
$
7,608

 
$
7,576

$
33


(a)
Represents the Southern Company parent entity.
(b)
Does not include Southern Power Company's $120 million continuing letter of credit facility for standby letters of credit expiring in 2021, of which $30 million was unused at September 30, 2019. Southern Power's subsidiaries are not parties to its bank credit arrangement.
(c)
Southern Company Gas, as the parent entity, guarantees the obligations of Southern Company Gas Capital, which is the borrower of $1.25 billion of this arrangement. Southern Company Gas' committed credit arrangement also includes $500 million for which Nicor Gas is the borrower and which is restricted for working capital needs of Nicor Gas. Pursuant to this multi-year credit arrangement, the allocations between Southern Company Gas Capital and Nicor Gas may be adjusted.
As reflected in the table above, in May 2019, Southern Company, Alabama Power, Georgia Power, and Southern Power each amended and restated certain of their multi-year credit arrangements, which, among other things, extended the maturity dates to 2024. Southern Power also decreased its borrowing capacity from $750 million to $600 million. In addition, Southern Company Gas Capital, along with Nicor Gas, amended and restated its multi-year credit arrangement to extend the maturity date to 2024 and decrease the aggregate borrowing capacity from $1.9 billion to $1.75 billion. In June 2019, Mississippi Power entered into a new $50 million credit arrangement that matures in 2022 and amended its existing credit arrangements, which, among other things, extended the maturity dates from 2019 to 2022. In September 2019, Alabama Power amended its $500 million multi-year credit arrangement, which, among other things, extended the maturity date from 2020 to 2022 and increased the borrowing capacity to $525 million.
Subject to applicable market conditions, Southern Company and its subsidiaries expect to renew or replace their bank credit arrangements as needed, prior to expiration. In connection therewith, Southern Company and its subsidiaries may extend the maturity dates and/or increase or decrease the lending commitments thereunder.
DOE Loan Guarantee Borrowings
See Note 8 to the financial statements under "Long-term Debt – DOE Loan Guarantee Borrowings" in Item 8 of the Form 10-K for additional information regarding Georgia Power's 2014 loan guarantee agreement.
Pursuant to the loan guarantee program established under Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program), Georgia Power and the DOE entered into a loan guarantee agreement in 2014 and the Amended and Restated Loan Guarantee Agreement in March 2019. Under the Amended and Restated Loan Guarantee Agreement, the DOE has agreed to guarantee the obligations of Georgia Power under note purchase agreements among the DOE, Georgia Power, and the FFB and related promissory notes which provide for two multi-advance term loan facilities (FFB Credit Facilities). Under the FFB Credit Facilities, Georgia Power may make term loan borrowings through the FFB in an amount up to approximately $5.130 billion, provided that total aggregate borrowings under the FFB Credit Facilities may not exceed 70% of (i) Eligible Project Costs minus (ii) approximately $1.492 billion (reflecting the amounts received by Georgia Power under the Guarantee Settlement Agreement less the Customer Refunds).
In March 2019, Georgia Power made borrowings under the FFB Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount of $835 million at an interest rate of 3.213% through the final maturity date of February 20, 2044. At September 30, 2019, Georgia Power had a total of $3.46 billion of borrowings outstanding under the FFB Credit Facilities.
All borrowings under the FFB Credit Facilities are full recourse to Georgia Power, and Georgia Power is obligated to reimburse the DOE for any payments the DOE is required to make to the FFB under its guarantee. Georgia Power's reimbursement obligations to the DOE are full recourse and secured by a first priority lien on (i) Georgia Power's 45.7% undivided ownership interest in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 (primarily the units under construction, the related real property, and any nuclear fuel loaded in the reactor core) and (ii) Georgia Power's rights and obligations under the principal contracts relating to Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. There are no restrictions on Georgia Power's ability to grant liens on other property.
In addition to the conditions described above, future advances are subject to satisfaction of customary conditions, as well as certification of compliance with the requirements of the Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program, including accuracy of project-related representations and warranties, delivery of updated project-related information, and evidence of compliance with the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931, as amended, and certification from the DOE's consulting engineer that proceeds of the advances are used to reimburse Eligible Project Costs.
Upon satisfaction of all conditions described above, advances may be requested on a quarterly basis through 2023. The final maturity date for each advance under the FFB Credit Facilities is February 20, 2044. Interest is payable quarterly and principal payments will begin on February 20, 2020. Borrowings under the FFB Credit Facilities will bear interest at the applicable U.S. Treasury rate plus a spread equal to 0.375%.
Under the Amended and Restated Loan Guarantee Agreement, Georgia Power is subject to customary borrower affirmative and negative covenants and events of default. In addition, Georgia Power is subject to project-related reporting requirements and other project-specific covenants and events of default.
In the event certain mandatory prepayment events occur, the FFB's commitment to make further advances under the FFB Credit Facilities will terminate and Georgia Power will be required to prepay the outstanding principal amount of all borrowings under the FFB Credit Facilities over a period of five years (with level principal amortization). Among other things, these mandatory prepayment events include (i) the termination of the Vogtle Services Agreement or rejection of the Vogtle Services Agreement in any Westinghouse bankruptcy if Georgia Power does not maintain access to intellectual property rights under the related intellectual property licenses; (ii) termination of the Bechtel Agreement, unless the Vogtle Owners enter into a replacement agreement; (iii) cancellation of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 by the Georgia PSC or by Georgia Power; (iv) failure of the holders of 90% of the ownership interests in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 to vote to continue construction following certain schedule extensions; (v) cost disallowances by the Georgia PSC that could have a material adverse effect on completion of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 or Georgia Power's ability to repay the outstanding borrowings under the FFB Credit Facilities; or (vi) loss of or failure to receive necessary regulatory approvals. Under certain circumstances, insurance proceeds and any proceeds from an event of taking must be applied to immediately prepay outstanding borrowings under the FFB Credit Facilities. In addition, if Georgia Power discontinues construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, Georgia Power would be obligated to immediately repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under the FFB Credit Facilities to the extent such outstanding borrowings exceed 70% of Eligible Project Costs, net of the proceeds received by Georgia Power under the Guarantee Settlement Agreement less the Customer Refunds. Georgia Power also may voluntarily prepay outstanding borrowings under the FFB Credit Facilities. Under the FFB Credit Facilities, any prepayment (whether mandatory or optional) will be made with a make-whole premium or discount, as applicable.
In connection with any cancellation of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, the DOE may elect to continue construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. In such an event, the DOE will have the right to assume Georgia Power's rights and obligations under the principal agreements relating to Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 and to acquire all or a portion of Georgia Power's ownership interest in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
Financing Activities
The following table outlines the long-term debt financing activities for Southern Company and its subsidiaries for the first nine months of 2019:
Company
Senior
Note
Issuances
 
Senior Note Maturities, Redemptions, and Repurchases
 
Revenue Bond
Issuances and
Reofferings
of Purchased
Bonds
 
Revenue Bond
Maturities, Redemptions,
and
Repurchases
 
Other
Long-Term
Debt
Issuances
 
Other Long-Term Debt Redemptions
and Maturities(a)
 
(in millions)
Southern Company(b)
$

 
$
2,400

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,725

 
$

Alabama Power
600

 
200

 

 

 

 
1

Georgia Power
750

 

 
584

 
223

 
835

 
11

Mississippi Power

 

 
43

 

 

 

Southern Company Gas

 
300

 

 

 
200

 
50

Other

 

 

 
25

 

 
14

Elimination(c)

 

 

 

 

 
(7
)
Southern Company Consolidated
$
1,350

 
$
2,900

 
$
627

 
$
248

 
$
2,760

 
$
69

(a)
Includes reductions in finance lease obligations resulting from cash payments under finance leases.
(b)
Represents the Southern Company parent entity.
(c)
Represents reductions in affiliate finance lease obligations at Georgia Power, which are eliminated in Southern Company's consolidated financial statements.
Except as otherwise described herein, Southern Company and its subsidiaries used or will use the proceeds of debt issuances for their redemptions and maturities shown in the table above, to repay short-term indebtedness, and for general corporate purposes, including working capital. The subsidiaries also used or will use the proceeds for their construction programs.
Southern Company
In January 2019, Southern Company repaid a $250 million short-term uncommitted bank credit arrangement and a $1.5 billion short-term floating rate bank loan.
Also in January 2019, through cash tender offers, Southern Company repurchased and retired approximately $522 million of the $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 1.85% Senior Notes due July 1, 2019 (1.85% Notes), approximately $180 million of the $350 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its Series 2014B 2.15% Senior Notes due September 1, 2019 (Series 2014B Notes), and approximately $504 million of the $750 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its Series 2018A Floating Rate Notes due February 14, 2020 (Series 2018A Notes), for an aggregate purchase price, excluding accrued and unpaid interest, of approximately $1.2 billion. In addition, following the completion of the cash tender offers, in February 2019, Southern Company completed the redemption of all of the Series 2018A Notes, 1.85% Notes, and Series 2014B Notes remaining outstanding.
See "Equity Units" herein for information related to Southern Company's August 2019 issuance of 34.5 million equity units for a total stated amount of $1.725 billion.
In September 2019, Southern Company redeemed all $300 million aggregate principal amount of its Series 2017A Floating Rate Senior Notes due September 30, 2020.
Alabama Power
In September 2019, Alabama Power issued $600 million aggregate principal amount of Series 2019A 3.45% Senior Notes due October 1, 2049.
Georgia Power
In January 2019, Georgia Power redeemed approximately $13 million, $20 million, and $75 million aggregate principal amount of Development Authority of Burke County (Georgia) Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (Georgia Power Company Plant Vogtle Project), First Series 1992, Eighth Series 1994, and Second Series 1995, respectively.
In March 2019, Georgia Power reoffered to the public the following pollution control revenue bonds that previously had been purchased and held by Georgia Power:
$173 million aggregate principal amount of Development Authority of Bartow County (Georgia) Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (Georgia Power Company Plant Bowen Project), First Series 2009;
approximately $105 million aggregate principal amount of Development Authority of Burke County (Georgia) Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (Georgia Power Company Plant Vogtle Project), First Series 2013; and
$65 million aggregate principal amount of Development Authority of Burke County (Georgia) Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (Georgia Power Company Plant Vogtle Project), Second Series 2008.
In April 2019, Georgia Power purchased and held the following pollution control revenue bonds. In May 2019, Georgia Power reoffered these pollution control revenue bonds to the public.
$55 million aggregate principal amount of Development Authority of Burke County (Georgia) Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (Georgia Power Company Plant Vogtle Project), Fourth Series 1994;
$30 million aggregate principal amount of Development Authority of Burke County (Georgia) Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (Georgia Power Company Plant Vogtle Project), Fourth Series 1995;
$20 million aggregate principal amount of Development Authority of Burke County (Georgia) Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (Georgia Power Company Plant Vogtle Project), Ninth Series 1994; and
$10 million aggregate principal amount of Development Authority of Burke County (Georgia) Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (Georgia Power Company Plant Vogtle Project), Second Series 1994.
In June 2019, Georgia Power reoffered to the public $55 million aggregate principal amount of Development Authority of Burke County (Georgia) Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (Georgia Power Company Plant Vogtle Project), Fifth Series 1994, which previously had been purchased and held by Georgia Power.
Also in June 2019, Georgia Power entered into two short-term floating rate bank loans in aggregate principal amounts of $125 million each, both of which bear interest based on one-month LIBOR.
In August 2019, Georgia Power reoffered to the public approximately $72 million aggregate principal amount of Development Authority of Bartow County (Georgia) Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (Georgia Power Company Plant Bowen Project), First Series 2013, which previously had been purchased and held by Georgia Power.
In September 2019, Georgia Power issued $400 million aggregate principal amount of Series 2019A 2.20% Senior Notes due September 15, 2024 and $350 million aggregate principal amount of Series 2019B 2.65% Senior Notes due September 15, 2029.
Mississippi Power
In March 2019, Mississippi Power reoffered to the public $43 million of Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2002, which previously had been purchased and held by Mississippi Power.
Southern Power
In May 2019, Southern Power repaid at maturity a $100 million aggregate principal amount short-term bank loan.
Southern Company Gas
In August 2019, Nicor Gas issued $200 million aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds in a private placement. Nicor Gas entered into an agreement to issue an additional $100 million aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds on October 30, 2019.
Equity Units
In August 2019, Southern Company issued 34.5 million 2019 Series A Equity Units (Equity Units), initially in the form of corporate units (Corporate Units), at a stated amount of $50 per Corporate Unit, for a total stated amount of $1.725 billion. Net proceeds from the issuance were approximately $1.682 billion. The proceeds were used to repay short-term indebtedness and for other general corporate purposes, including investments in Southern Company's subsidiaries.
Each Corporate Unit is comprised of (i) a 1/40 undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal amount of Southern Company's Series 2019A Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes (Series 2019A RSNs) due 2024, (ii) a 1/40 undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal amount of Southern Company's Series 2019B Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes (together with the Series 2019A RSNs, the RSNs) due 2027, and (iii) a stock purchase contract, which obligates the holder to purchase from Southern Company, no later than August 1, 2022, a certain number of shares of Southern Company's common stock for $50 in cash (Stock Purchase Contract). Southern Company has agreed to remarket the RSNs in 2022, at which time each interest rate on the RSNs will reset at the applicable market rate. Holders may choose to either remarket their RSNs, receive the proceeds, and use those funds to settle the related Stock Purchase Contract or retain the RSNs and use other funds to settle the related Stock Purchase Contract. If the remarketing is unsuccessful, holders will have the right to put their RSNs to Southern Company at a price equal to the principal amount. The Corporate Units carry an annual distribution rate of 6.75% of the stated amount, which is comprised of a quarterly interest payment on the RSNs of 2.70% per year and a quarterly purchase contract adjustment payment of 4.05% per year.
Each Stock Purchase Contract obligates the holder to purchase, and Southern Company to sell, for $50 a number of shares of Southern Company common stock determined based on the applicable market value (as determined under the related Stock Purchase Contract) in accordance with the conversion ratios set forth below (subject to anti-dilution adjustments):
If the applicable market value is equal to or greater than $68.64, 0.7284 shares.
If the applicable market value is less than $68.64 but greater than $57.20, a number of shares equal to $50 divided by the applicable market value.
If the applicable market value is less than or equal to $57.20, 0.8741 shares.
A holder's ownership interest in the RSNs is pledged to Southern Company to secure the holder's obligation under the related Stock Purchase Contract. If a holder of a Stock Purchase Contract chooses at any time to have its RSNs released from the pledge, such holder's obligation under such Stock Purchase Contract must be secured by a U.S. Treasury security equal to the aggregate principal amount of the RSNs. At the time of issuance, the RSNs were recorded on Southern Company's consolidated balance sheet as long-term debt and the present value of the contract adjustment payments of $198 million was recorded as a liability (of which $63 million was classified as current at September 30, 2019), representing the obligation to make contract adjustment payments, with an offsetting reduction to paid-in capital. The difference between the face value and present value of the contract adjustment payments will be accreted to interest expense on the consolidated statements of income over the three-year period ending in 2022. The liability recorded for the contract adjustment payments is considered non-cash and excluded from the consolidated statements of cash flows. To settle the Stock Purchase Contracts, Southern Company will be required to issue a maximum of 30.2 million shares of common stock (subject to anti-dilution adjustments and a make-whole adjustment if certain fundamental changes occur).
Earnings per Share
For Southern Company, the only difference in computing basic and diluted earnings per share is attributable to awards outstanding under stock-based compensation plans and the Equity Units. Earnings per share dilution resulting from stock-based compensation plans and the Equity Units issuance is determined under the treasury stock method. See "Equity Units" herein for additional information and Note 12 to the financial statements in Item 8 of the Form 10-K for information on stock-based compensation plans. Shares used to compute diluted earnings per share were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
2019
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2018
 
(in millions)
As reported shares
1,048

1,023

1,043

1,016

Effect of stock-based compensation
9

6

8

5

Diluted shares
1,057

1,029

1,051

1,021


There were no stock-based compensation awards that were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation because they were anti-dilutive for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and an immaterial amount of such awards was not included for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.
The Equity Units issued in August 2019 were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 as the dilutive stock price threshold was not met.