Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

11. Fair Value Measurements

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

Accounting guidance governing fair value measurements and disclosures provides that fair value represents the amount that would be received in selling an asset or the amount that would be paid in transferring a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based upon assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, accounting guidance also establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

Level 1: Observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets;

Level 2: Inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and

Level 3: Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

Assets and liabilities are measured at fair value based on one or more of the following three valuation techniques noted under accounting guidance:

(A)

Market approach: Prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities;

(B)

Cost approach: Amount that would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset (replacement cost); and

(C)

Income approach: Techniques to convert future amounts to a single present amount based upon market expectations (including present value techniques, option-pricing and excess earnings models).

The fair value of financial instruments is determined by using various market data and other valuation techniques.

The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, TEC’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis. As required by accounting standards for fair value measurements, financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. TEC’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

Recurring Derivative Fair Value Measures
	As of March 31, 2017
(millions)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Natural gas swaps	$	0	$	6	$	0	$	6

	As of December 31, 2016
(millions)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Natural gas swaps	$	0	$	17	$	0	$	17

Natural gas swaps are OTC swap instruments. The fair value of the swaps is estimated utilizing the market approach. The price of swaps is calculated using observable NYMEX quoted closing prices of exchange-traded futures. These prices are applied to the notional quantities of active positions to determine the reported fair value (see Note 10).

TEC considered the impact of nonperformance risk in determining the fair value of derivatives. TEC considered the net position with each counterparty, past performance of both parties, the intent of the parties, indications of credit deterioration and whether the markets in which TEC transacts have experienced dislocation. At March 31, 2017, the fair value of derivatives was not materially affected by nonperformance risk. There were no Level 3 assets or liabilities for the periods presented.

As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the carrying value of TEC’s short-term debt was not materially different from the fair value due to the short-term nature of the instruments and because the stated rates approximate market rates. The fair value of TEC’s short-term debt is determined using Level 2 measurements. See Note 7 for information regarding the fair value of long-term debt.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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