Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities

Fair Value Measurements

The accounting guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures provides a single definition of fair value and requires certain disclosures about assets and liabilities measured at fair value. A hierarchical framework for disclosing the observability of the inputs utilized in measuring assets and liabilities at fair value is established by this guidance. The three levels in the hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1 — Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. The types of assets and liabilities included in Level 1 are highly liquid and actively traded instruments with quoted prices.

Level 2 — Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, but are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date. The types of assets and liabilities included in Level 2 are typically either comparable to actively traded securities or contracts, or priced with models using highly observable inputs.

Level 3 — Significant inputs to pricing have little or no observability as of the reporting date. The types of assets and liabilities included in Level 3 are those valued with models requiring significant management judgment or estimation.

Specific valuation methods include the following:

Cash equivalents — The fair values of cash equivalents are generally based on cost plus accrued interest; money market funds are measured using quoted NAVs.

Interest rate derivatives — The fair values of interest rate derivatives are based on broker quotes that utilize current market interest rate forecasts.

Commodity derivatives — The methods used to measure the fair value of commodity derivative forwards and options utilize forward prices and volatilities, as well as pricing adjustments for specific delivery locations, and are generally assigned a Level 2. When contractual settlements extend to periods beyond those readily observable on active exchanges or quoted by brokers, the significance of the use of less observable forecasts of long-term forward prices and volatilities on a valuation is evaluated, and may result in Level 3 classification.

Electric commodity derivatives held by SPS include transmission congestion instruments, generally referred to as FTRs, purchased from SPP. FTRs purchased from an RTO are financial instruments that entitle or obligate the holder to monthly revenues or charges based on transmission congestion across a given transmission path. The value of an FTR is derived from, and designed to offset, the cost of energy congestion, which is caused by overall transmission load and other transmission constraints. In addition to overall transmission load, congestion is also influenced by the operating schedules of power plants and the consumption of electricity pertinent to a given transmission path. Unplanned plant outages, scheduled plant maintenance, changes in the relative costs of fuels used in generation, weather and overall changes in demand for electricity can each impact the operating schedules of the power plants on the transmission grid and the value of an FTR. The valuation process for FTRs utilizes complex iterative modeling to predict the impacts of forecasted changes in these drivers of transmission system congestion on the historical pricing of FTR purchases.

If forecasted costs of electric transmission congestion increase or decrease for a given FTR path, the value of that particular FTR instrument will likewise increase or decrease. Given the limited observability of management’s forecasts for several of the inputs to this complex valuation model - including expected plant operating schedules and retail and wholesale demand, fair value measurements for FTRs have been assigned a Level 3. Non-trading monthly FTR settlements are expected to be recovered through fuel and purchased energy cost recovery mechanisms, and therefore changes in the fair value of the yet to be settled portions of FTRs are deferred as a regulatory asset or liability. Given this regulatory treatment and the limited magnitude of FTRs relative to the electric utility operations of SPS, the numerous unobservable quantitative inputs to the complex model used for valuation of FTRs are insignificant to the financial statements of SPS.

Derivative Instruments Fair Value Measurements

SPS enters into derivative instruments, including forward contracts, for trading purposes and to manage risk in connection with changes in interest rates and electric utility commodity prices.

Interest Rate Derivatives — SPS may enter into various instruments that effectively fix the interest payments on certain floating rate debt obligations or effectively fix the yield or price on a specified benchmark interest rate for an anticipated debt issuance for a specific period. These derivative instruments are generally designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes.

At Dec. 31, 2016, accumulated other comprehensive losses related to interest rate derivatives included $0.1 million of net losses expected to be reclassified into earnings during the next 12 months as the related hedged interest rate transactions impact earnings, including forecasted amounts for unsettled hedges, as applicable.

Wholesale and Commodity Trading Risk — SPS conducts various wholesale and commodity trading activities, including the purchase and sale of electric capacity, energy and energy-related instruments, including derivatives. SPS’ risk management policy allows management to conduct these activities within guidelines and limitations as approved by its risk management committee, which is made up of management personnel not directly involved in the activities governed by this policy.

Commodity Derivatives — SPS enters into derivative instruments to manage variability of future cash flows from changes in commodity prices in its electric utility operations. This could include the purchase or sale of energy or energy-related products and FTRs.

The following table details the gross notional amounts of commodity FTRs at Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015:


^(a)	Amounts are not reflective of net positions in the underlying commodities.

Consideration of Credit Risk and Concentrations — SPS continuously monitors the creditworthiness of the counterparties to its interest rate derivatives and commodity derivative contracts prior to settlement, and assesses each counterparty’s ability to perform on the transactions set forth in the contracts. Given this assessment, as well as an assessment of the impact of SPS’ own credit risk when determining the fair value of derivative liabilities, the impact of considering credit risk was immaterial to the fair value of unsettled commodity derivatives presented in the balance sheets.

SPS employs additional credit risk control mechanisms when appropriate, such as letters of credit, parental guarantees, standardized master netting agreements and termination provisions that allow for offsetting of positive and negative exposures. Credit exposure is monitored and, when necessary, the activity with a specific counterparty is limited until credit enhancement is provided.

SPS’ most significant concentrations of credit risk with particular entities or industries are contracts with counterparties to its wholesale, trading and non-trading commodity activities. At Dec. 31, 2016, seven of the eight most significant counterparties, comprising $50.0 million or 56 percent of this credit exposure, were not rated by external rating agencies, but based on SPS’ internal analysis, had credit quality consistent with investment grade. One of these significant counterparties, comprising $1.9 million or 2 percent of this credit exposure, had credit quality less than investment grade, based on SPS’ internal analysis. Seven of these significant counterparties are municipal or cooperative electric entities, or other utilities.

Financial Impact of Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges — The impact of qualifying interest rate cash flow hedges on SPS’ accumulated other comprehensive loss, included in the statements of common stockholder’s equity and in the statements of comprehensive income, is detailed in the following table:



(Thousands of Dollars)	2016			2015			2014
Accumulated other comprehensive loss related to cash flow hedges at Jan. 1	$	(817	)	$	(989	)	$	(1,161	)
After-tax net realized losses on derivative transactions reclassified into earnings	139			172			172
Accumulated other comprehensive loss related to cash flow hedges at Dec. 31	$	(678	)	$	(817	)	$	(989	)

Pre-tax losses related to interest rate derivatives reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings were $0.2 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2016 and $0.3 million each of the years ended Dec. 31, 2015 and 2014.

Changes in the fair value of FTRs resulting in pre-tax net gains of $3.0 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2016 and pre-tax net losses of $3.1 million and $3.9 million for the years ended Dec. 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, were reclassified as regulatory assets and liabilities. The classification as a regulatory asset or liability is based on expected recovery of FTR settlements through fuel and purchased energy cost recovery mechanisms.

FTR settlement gains of $2.1 million were recognized for the year ended Dec. 31, 2016 and FTR settlement losses of $1.6 million and $8.2 million were recognized for the years ended Dec. 31, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2014, recorded to electric fuel and purchased power. These derivative settlement gains and losses are shared with electric customers through fuel and purchased energy cost-recovery mechanisms, and reclassified out of income as regulatory assets or liabilities, as appropriate.

SPS had no derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges during the years ended Dec. 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. Therefore, no gains or losses from fair value hedges or related hedged transactions were recognized for these periods.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements — The following table presents for each of the fair value hierarchy levels, SPS’ derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at Dec. 31, 2016:



	Dec. 31, 2016
	Fair Value						Fair Value Total		Counterparty Netting ^(b)
(Thousands of Dollars)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Fair Value Total		Counterparty Netting ^(b)			Total
Current derivative assets
Other derivative instruments:
Electric commodity	$	—	$	—	$	3,254	$	3,254	$	(1,299	)	$	1,955
Total current derivative assets	$	—	$	—	$	3,254	$	3,254	$	(1,299	)	1,955
PPAs ^(a)												3,159
Current derivative instruments												$	5,114
Noncurrent derivative assets
PPAs ^(a)												$	22,113
Noncurrent derivative instruments												$	22,113
Current derivative liabilities
Other derivative instruments:
Electric commodity	$	—	$	—	$	1,299	$	1,299	$	(1,299	)	$	—
Total current derivative liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	1,299	$	1,299	$	(1,299	)	—
PPAs ^(a)												3,565
Current derivative instruments												$	3,565
Noncurrent derivative liabilities
PPAs ^(a)												$	23,513
Noncurrent derivative instruments												$	23,513

^(a)

In 2003, as a result of implementing new guidance on the normal purchase exception for derivative accounting, SPS began recording several long-term PPAs at fair value due to accounting requirements related to underlying price adjustments. As these purchases are recovered through normal regulatory recovery mechanisms in the respective jurisdictions, the changes in fair value for these contracts were offset by regulatory assets and liabilities. During 2006, SPS qualified these contracts under the normal purchase exception. Based on this qualification, the contracts are no longer adjusted to fair value and the previous carrying value of these contracts will be amortized over the remaining contract lives along with the offsetting regulatory assets and liabilities.

^(b)

SPS nets derivative instruments and related collateral in its balance sheet when supported by a legally enforceable master netting agreement, and all derivative instruments and related collateral amounts were subject to master netting agreements at Dec. 31, 2016. At Dec. 31, 2016, derivative assets and liabilities include no obligations to return cash collateral or rights to reclaim cash collateral. The counterparty netting amounts presented exclude settlement receivables and payables and non-derivative amounts that may be subject to the same master netting agreements.

The following table presents for each of the fair value hierarchy levels, SPS’ derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at Dec. 31, 2015:



	Dec. 31, 2015
	Fair Value						Fair Value Total		Counterparty Netting ^(b)
(Thousands of Dollars)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Fair Value Total		Counterparty Netting ^(b)			Total
Current derivative assets
Other derivative instruments:
Electric commodity	$	—	$	—	$	8,980	$	8,980	$	(3,920	)	$	5,060
Total current derivative assets	$	—	$	—	$	8,980	$	8,980	$	(3,920	)	5,060
PPAs ^(a)												7,892
Current derivative instruments												$	12,952
Noncurrent derivative assets
PPAs ^(a)												$	25,272
Noncurrent derivative instruments												$	25,272
Current derivative liabilities
Other derivative instruments:
Electric commodity	$	—	$	—	$	3,920	$	3,920	$	(3,920	)	$	—
Total current derivative liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	3,920	$	3,920	$	(3,920	)	—
PPAs ^(a)												3,565
Current derivative instruments												$	3,565
Noncurrent derivative liabilities
PPAs ^(a)												$	27,078
Noncurrent derivative instruments												$	27,078

^(a)

^(b)

SPS nets derivative instruments and related collateral in its balance sheet when supported by a legally enforceable master netting agreement, and all derivative instruments and related collateral amounts were subject to master netting agreements at Dec. 31, 2015. At Dec. 31, 2015, derivative assets and liabilities include no obligations to return cash collateral or rights to reclaim cash collateral. The counterparty netting amounts presented exclude settlement receivables and payables and non-derivative amounts that may be subject to the same master netting agreements.

The following table presents the changes in Level 3 commodity derivatives for the years ended Dec. 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:



	Year Ended Dec. 31
(Thousands of Dollars)	2016			2015			2014
Balance at Jan. 1	$	5,060		$	15,884		$	9,933
Purchases	7,616			23,425			50,244
Settlements	(41,923		)	(31,703		)	(44,283		)
Net transactions recorded during the period:
Gains (losses) recognized as regulatory assets	31,202			(2,546		)	(10		)
Balance at Dec. 31	$	1,955		$	5,060		$	15,884

SPS recognizes transfers between levels as of the beginning of each period. There were no transfers of amounts between levels for derivative instruments for the years ended Dec. 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

Fair Value of Long-Term Debt

As of Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015, other financial instruments for which the carrying amount did not equal fair value were as follows:



	2016				2015
(Thousands of Dollars)	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
Long-term debt, including current portion^(a)	$	1,635,858	$	1,741,502	$	1,538,522	$	1,678,673


^(a)	Amounts reflect the classification of debt issuance costs as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt. See Note 2, Accounting Pronouncements for more information on the adoption of ASU No. 2015-03.

The fair value of SPS’ long-term debt is estimated based on recent trades and observable spreads from benchmark interest rates for similar securities. The fair value estimates are based on information available to management as of Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015, and given the observability of the inputs to these estimates, the fair values presented for long-term debt have been assigned a Level 2.

(Amounts in Thousands) ^(a)

Dec. 31, 2016

Dec. 31, 2015

MWh of electricity