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Derivative Financial Instruments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative Financial Instruments

NOTE 7 – DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

We use derivatives principally to manage the risk of changes in market prices for natural gas, coal, diesel, power, and uranium. Such price fluctuations may cause the following:

 

Ÿ  

an unrealized appreciation or depreciation of our contracted commitments to purchase or sell when purchase or sale prices under the commitments are compared with current commodity prices;

Ÿ  

market values of coal, natural gas, and uranium inventories that differ from the cost of those commodities in inventory; and

Ÿ  

actual cash outlays for the purchase of these commodities that differ from anticipated cash outlays.

The derivatives that we use to hedge these risks are governed by our risk management policies for forward contracts, futures, options, and swaps. Our net positions are continually assessed within our structured hedging programs to determine whether new or offsetting transactions are required. The goal of the hedging program is generally to mitigate financial risks while ensuring that sufficient volumes are available to meet our requirements. Contracts we enter into as part of our risk management program may be settled financially, settled by physical delivery, or net settled with the counterparty.

 

The following table presents open gross derivative volumes by commodity type as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

 

Authoritative accounting guidance regarding derivative instruments requires that all contracts considered to be derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at their fair values, unless the NPNS exception applies. See Note 8 – Fair Value Measurements for discussion of our methods of assessing the fair value of derivative instruments. Many of our physical contracts, such as our coal and purchased power contracts, qualify for the NPNS exception to derivative accounting rules. The revenue or expense recorded in connection with NPNS contracts is recognized at the contract price upon physical delivery.

If we determine that a contract meets the definition of a derivative and is not eligible for the NPNS exception, we review the contract to determine if it qualifies for hedge accounting treatment. We also consider whether gains or losses resulting from such derivatives qualify for regulatory deferral. Contracts that qualify for cash flow hedge accounting treatment are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value charged or credited to accumulated OCI in the period in which the change occurs, to the extent the hedge is effective. To the extent the hedge is ineffective, the related changes in fair value are charged or credited to the statement of income in the period in which the change occurs. When the contract is settled or delivered, the net gain or loss is recorded in the statement of income.

Derivative contracts that qualify for regulatory deferral are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded as regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities in the period in which the change occurs. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois believe derivative gains and losses deferred as regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are probable of recovery or refund through future rates charged to customers. Regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are amortized to operating income as related losses and gains are reflected in rates charged to customers. Therefore, gains and losses on these derivatives have no effect on operating income.

Certain derivative contracts are entered into on a regular basis as part of our risk management program but do not qualify for the NPNS exception, hedge accounting, or regulatory deferral accounting. Such contracts are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value charged or credited to the statement of income in the period in which the change occurs.

Authoritative accounting guidance permits companies to offset fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (a liability) against fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments that are executed with the same counterparty under the same master netting arrangement. The Ameren Companies did not elect to adopt this guidance for any eligible financial instruments or other items.

 

The following table presents the carrying value and balance sheet location of all derivative instruments as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

 

The following table presents the cumulative amount of pretax net gains (losses) on all derivative instruments in accumulated OCI and regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

Derivative instruments are subject to various credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to the transaction. Exchange-traded contracts are supported by the financial and credit quality of the clearing members of the respective exchanges and have nominal credit risk. In all other transactions, we are exposed to credit risk. Our credit risk management program involves establishing credit limits and collateral requirements for counterparties, using master trading and netting agreements, and reporting daily exposure to senior management.

 

We believe that entering into master trading and netting agreements mitigates the level of financial loss that could result from default by allowing net settlement of derivative assets and liabilities. We generally enter into the following master trading and netting agreements: (1) the International Swaps and Derivatives Association Agreement, a standardized financial natural gas and electric contract; (2) the Master Power Purchase and Sale Agreement, created by the Edison Electric Institute and the National Energy Marketers Association, a standardized contract for the purchase and sale of wholesale power; and (3) the North American Energy Standards Board Inc. agreement, a standardized contract for the purchase and sale of natural gas. These master trading and netting agreements allow the counterparties to net settle sale and purchase transactions. Further, collateral requirements are calculated at a master trading and netting agreement level by counterparty.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

In determining our concentrations of credit risk related to derivative instruments, we review our individual counterparties and categorize each counterparty into one of eight groupings according to the primary business in which each engages. The following table presents the maximum exposure, as of December 31, 2011, and 2010, if counterparty groups were to fail completely to perform on contracts by grouping. The maximum exposure is based on the gross fair value of financial instruments, including NPNS contracts, which excludes collateral held, and does not consider the legally binding right to net transactions based on master trading and netting agreements.

 

The potential loss on counterparty exposures is reduced by the application of master trading and netting agreements and collateral held to the extent of reducing the exposure to zero. Collateral includes both cash collateral and other collateral held. The amount of cash collateral held by Marketing Company from counterparties and based on the contractual rights under the agreements to seek collateral and the maximum exposure as calculated under the individual master trading and netting agreements was less than $1 million and $1 million from retail companies at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. There was no cash collateral held at Ameren registrant subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2011, other collateral used to reduce exposure consisted of letters of credit in the amount of $9 million, $1 million, $1 million, and $7 million held by Ameren, Ameren Missouri, Genco, and Marketing Company, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, other collateral used to reduce exposure consisted of letters of credit in the amount of $28 million and $1 million held by Ameren and Ameren Illinois, respectively. The following table presents the potential loss after consideration of the application of master trading and netting agreements and collateral held as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

Derivative Instruments with Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features

Our commodity contracts contain collateral provisions tied to the Ameren Companies' credit ratings. If we were to experience an adverse change in our credit ratings, or if a counterparty with reasonable grounds for uncertainty regarding performance of an obligation requested adequate assurance of performance, additional collateral postings might be required. The following table presents, as of December 31, 2011, and 2010, the aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit risk-related contingent features in a gross liability position, the cash collateral posted, and the aggregate amount of additional collateral that could be required to be posted with counterparties. The additional collateral required is the net liability position allowed under the master trading and netting agreements assuming (1) the credit risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements were triggered on December 31, 2011, or 2010, respectively, and (2) those counterparties with rights to do so requested collateral:

 

 

Cash Flow Hedges

The following table presents the pretax net gain or loss for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, associated with derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges:

 

Other Derivatives

The following table represents the net change in market value associated with derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

 

 

Derivatives Subject to Regulatory Deferral

The following table represents the net change in market value associated with derivatives that qualify for regulatory deferral for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

As part of the 2007 Illinois Electric Settlement Agreement and subsequent Illinois power procurement processes, Ameren Illinois entered into financial contracts with Marketing Company. These financial contracts are derivative instruments. They are accounted for as cash flow hedges by Marketing Company and as derivatives that qualify for regulatory deferral by Ameren Illinois. Consequently, Ameren Illinois and Marketing Company record the fair value of the contracts on their respective balance sheets and the changes to the fair value in regulatory assets or liabilities by Ameren Illinois and OCI by Marketing Company. In Ameren's consolidated financial statements, all financial statement effects of the derivative instruments entered into among affiliates were eliminated. See Note 14 – Related Party Transactions for additional information on these financial contracts. The following table presents the fair value of the financial contracts included on Ameren Illinois' balance sheet at December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

            2011      2010  

Ameren Illinois

   MTM derivative liabilities - affiliates    $ 200       $ 172   
     Other deferred credits and liabilities      -         178   
     Total    $ 200       $ 350
Ameren Energy Generating Company [Member]
 
Derivative Financial Instruments

NOTE 7 – DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

We use derivatives principally to manage the risk of changes in market prices for natural gas, coal, diesel, power, and uranium. Such price fluctuations may cause the following:

 

Ÿ  

an unrealized appreciation or depreciation of our contracted commitments to purchase or sell when purchase or sale prices under the commitments are compared with current commodity prices;

Ÿ  

market values of coal, natural gas, and uranium inventories that differ from the cost of those commodities in inventory; and

Ÿ  

actual cash outlays for the purchase of these commodities that differ from anticipated cash outlays.

The derivatives that we use to hedge these risks are governed by our risk management policies for forward contracts, futures, options, and swaps. Our net positions are continually assessed within our structured hedging programs to determine whether new or offsetting transactions are required. The goal of the hedging program is generally to mitigate financial risks while ensuring that sufficient volumes are available to meet our requirements. Contracts we enter into as part of our risk management program may be settled financially, settled by physical delivery, or net settled with the counterparty.

 

The following table presents open gross derivative volumes by commodity type as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

      Quantity (in millions, except as indicated)  
Commodity   

NPNS

Contracts(a)

    Cash Flow
Hedges(b)
   

Other

Derivatives(c)

    Derivatives That Qualify for
Regulatory Deferral(d)
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Coal (in tons)

                

Ameren Missouri

     116        46        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e

Genco

     24        21        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e

Other(f)

     7        6        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e

Ameren

     147        73        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e

Fuel oils (in gallons)(g)

                

Ameren Missouri

     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     53        80   

Genco

     (e     (e     (e     (e     27        43        (e     (e

Other(f)

     (e     (e     (e     (e     9        12        (e     (e

Ameren

     (e     (e     (e     (e     36        55        53        80   

Natural gas (in mmbtu)

                

Ameren Missouri

     8        13        (e     (e     9        2        19        21   

Ameren Illinois

     42        85        (e     (e     (e     (e     174        173   

Genco

     (e     (e     (e     (e     7        3        (e     (e

Other(f)

     (e     (e     (e     (e     1        16        (e     (e

Ameren

     50        98        (e     (e     17        21        193        194   

Power (in megawatthours)

                

Ameren Missouri

     1        2        (e     (e     1        1        6        5   

Ameren Illinois

     11        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     24        26   

Genco

     (e     (e     (e     (e     -        3        (e     (e

Other(f)

     61        61        17        2        30        57        (9     (13

Ameren

     73        63        17        2        31        61        21        18   

Uranium (pounds in thousands)

                

Ameren Missouri & Ameren

     5,553        5,810        (e     (e     (e     (e     148        185   

 

(a) Contracts through December 2017, March 2015, September 2035, and October 2024 for coal, natural gas, power, and uranium, respectively, as of December 31, 2011.
(b) Contracts through December 2014 for power as of December 31, 2011.
(c) Contracts through October 2014, December 2012, and December 2015 for fuel oils, natural gas, and power, respectively, as of December 31, 2011.
(d) Contracts through October 2014, October 2016, May 2032, and December 2013 for fuel oils, natural gas, power, and uranium, respectively, as of December 31, 2011.
(e) Not applicable.
(f) Includes AERG contracts for coal and fuel oils, Marketing Company contracts for natural gas and power, and intercompany eliminations for power.
(g) Fuel oils consist of heating and crude oil.

 

Authoritative accounting guidance regarding derivative instruments requires that all contracts considered to be derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at their fair values, unless the NPNS exception applies. See Note 8 – Fair Value Measurements for discussion of our methods of assessing the fair value of derivative instruments. Many of our physical contracts, such as our coal and purchased power contracts, qualify for the NPNS exception to derivative accounting rules. The revenue or expense recorded in connection with NPNS contracts is recognized at the contract price upon physical delivery.

If we determine that a contract meets the definition of a derivative and is not eligible for the NPNS exception, we review the contract to determine if it qualifies for hedge accounting treatment. We also consider whether gains or losses resulting from such derivatives qualify for regulatory deferral. Contracts that qualify for cash flow hedge accounting treatment are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value charged or credited to accumulated OCI in the period in which the change occurs, to the extent the hedge is effective. To the extent the hedge is ineffective, the related changes in fair value are charged or credited to the statement of income in the period in which the change occurs. When the contract is settled or delivered, the net gain or loss is recorded in the statement of income.

Derivative contracts that qualify for regulatory deferral are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded as regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities in the period in which the change occurs. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois believe derivative gains and losses deferred as regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are probable of recovery or refund through future rates charged to customers. Regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are amortized to operating income as related losses and gains are reflected in rates charged to customers. Therefore, gains and losses on these derivatives have no effect on operating income.

Certain derivative contracts are entered into on a regular basis as part of our risk management program but do not qualify for the NPNS exception, hedge accounting, or regulatory deferral accounting. Such contracts are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value charged or credited to the statement of income in the period in which the change occurs.

Authoritative accounting guidance permits companies to offset fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (a liability) against fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments that are executed with the same counterparty under the same master netting arrangement. The Ameren Companies did not elect to adopt this guidance for any eligible financial instruments or other items.

 

The following table presents the carrying value and balance sheet location of all derivative instruments as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

      Balance Sheet Location      Ameren(a)        Ameren
Missouri
     Ameren
Illinois
     Genco  

2011:

                  

Derivative assets designated as hedging instruments

               

Commodity contracts:            

                  

Power

   MTM derivative assets      $ 8         $ (b    $ (b    $ -   
     Other assets        16           -         -         -   
     Total assets      $ 24         $ -       $ -       $ -   

Derivative liabilities designated as hedging instruments

               

Commodity contracts:

                  

Power

   Other deferred credits and liabilities      $ 1         $ -       $ -       $ -   
     Total liabilities      $ 1         $ -       $ -       $ -   

Derivative assets not designated as hedging instruments(c)

               

Commodity contracts:

                  

Fuel oils

   MTM derivative assets      $ 29         $ (b    $ (b    $ 10   
   Other current assets        -           17         -         -   
   Other assets        8           6         -         1   

Natural gas

   MTM derivative assets        6           (b      (b      2   
   Other current assets        -           2         1         -   
   Other assets        -           -         1         -   

Power

   MTM derivative assets        72           (b      (b      -   
   Other current assets        -           30         -         -   
     Other assets        99           -         77         -   
     Total assets      $         214         $         55       $         79       $         13   

Derivative liabilities not designated as hedging instruments(c)

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Fuel oils

   MTM derivative liabilities      $ 2       $ (b    $ -       $ 1   
   Other current liabilities        -         1         -         -   

Natural gas

   MTM derivative liabilities        106         (b      90         2   
   Other current liabilities        -         13         -         -   
   Other deferred credits and liabilities        92         13         79         -   

Power

   MTM derivative liabilities        53         (b      9         -   
   MTM derivative liabilities - affiliates        (b      (b      200         -   
   Other current liabilities        -         9         -         -   
   Other deferred credits and liabilities        26         -         8         -   

Uranium

   Other deferred credits and liabilities        1         1         -         -   
     Total liabilities      $ 280       $ 37       $ 386       $ 3   

2010:

                

Derivative assets designated as hedging instruments

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Power

   MTM derivative assets      $ 3       $ (b    $ (b    $ -   
     Other assets        2         -         -         -   
     Total assets      $ 5       $ -       $ -       $ -   

Derivative liabilities designated as hedging instruments

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Power

   MTM derivative liabilities      $ 1       $ (b    $ -       $ -   
     Total liabilities      $ 1       $ -       $ -       $ -   

Derivative assets not designated as hedging instruments(c)

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Fuel oils

   MTM derivative assets      $ 42       $ (b    $ (b    $ 14   
   Other current assets        -         24         -         -   
   Other assets        22         13         -         7   

Natural gas

   MTM derivative assets        4         (b      (b      1   
   Other current assets        -         1         1         -   
   Other assets        1         -         1         -   

Power

   MTM derivative assets        78         (b      (b      11   
   Other current assets        -         8         2         -   
   Other assets        20         -         6         -   

Uranium

   MTM derivative assets        2         (b      (b      -   
     Other current assets        -         2         -         -   
     Total assets      $ 169       $ 48       $ 10       $ 33   

Derivative liabilities not designated as hedging instruments(c)

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Fuel oils

   MTM derivative liabilities      $ 12       $ (b    $ -       $ 4   
   Other current liabilities        -         7         -         -   
   Other deferred credits and liabilities        1         -         -         -   

Natural gas

   MTM derivative liabilities        87         (b      73         2   
   Other current liabilities        -         11         -         -   
   Other deferred credits and liabilities        84         13         70         -   

Power

   MTM derivative liabilities        61         (b      9         3   
   MTM derivative liabilities - affiliates        (b      (b      172         5   
   Other current liabilities        -         6         -         -   
     Other deferred credits and liabilities        7         -         179         -   
     Total liabilities      $         252       $         37       $         503       $         14   

 

(a) Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries and intercompany eliminations.
(b) Balance sheet line item not applicable to registrant.
(c) Includes derivatives subject to regulatory deferral.

 

The following table presents the cumulative amount of pretax net gains (losses) on all derivative instruments in accumulated OCI and regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

        Ameren      Ameren
Missouri
     Ameren
Illinois
     Genco      Other(a)  

2011:

                

Cumulative gains (losses) deferred in accumulated OCI:

                

Power derivative contracts(b)

     $ 19       $ -       $ -       $ -       $ 19   

Interest rate derivative contracts(c)(d)

       (8      -         -         (8      -   

Cumulative gains (losses) deferred in regulatory liabilities or assets:

                

Fuel oils derivative contracts(e)

       19         19         -         -         -   

Natural gas derivative contracts(f)

       (191      (24      (167      -         -   

Power derivative contracts(g)

       81         21         (140      -         200   

Uranium derivative contracts(h)

       (1      (1      -         -         -   

2010:

                

Cumulative gains (losses) deferred in accumulated OCI:

                

Power derivative contracts(b)

     $ 8       $ -       $ -       $ -       $ 8   

Interest rate derivative contracts(c)(d)

       (9      -         -         (9      -   

Cumulative gains (losses) deferred in regulatory liabilities or assets:

                

Fuel oils derivative contracts(e)

       19         19         -         -         -   

Natural gas derivative contracts(f)

       (165      (24      (141      -         -   

Power derivative contracts(g)

       1         3         (352      -         350   

Uranium derivative contracts(h)

       2         2         -         -         -   

 

(a) Includes amounts for Marketing Company and intercompany eliminations.
(b) Represents net gains associated with power derivative contracts at Ameren. These contracts are a partial hedge of electricity price exposure through December 2014 as of December 31, 2011. Current gains of $5 million and $8 million were recorded at Ameren as of December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, respectively.
(c) Includes net gains associated with interest rate swaps at Genco that were a partial hedge of the interest rate on debt issued in June 2002. The swaps cover the first 10 years of debt that has a 30-year maturity, and the gain in OCI is amortized over a 10-year period that began in June 2002. The carrying value at December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010 was less than $1 million and less than $1 million, respectively. The balance of the gain will be amortized by June 2012.
(d) Includes net losses associated with interest rate swaps at Genco. The swaps were executed during the fourth quarter of 2007 as a partial hedge of interest rate risks associated with Genco's April 2008 debt issuance. The loss on the interest rate swaps is being amortized over a 10-year period that began in April 2008. The carrying value at December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, was a loss of $9 million and a loss of $10 million, respectively. Over the next 12 months, $1.4 million of the loss will be amortized.
(e) Represents net gains on fuel oils derivative contracts at Ameren Missouri. These contracts are a partial hedge of Ameren Missouri's transportation costs for coal through October 2014 as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $16 million and $16 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2011, respectively. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $1 million and $1 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2011, respectively. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $13 million and $13 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2010, respectively. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $6 million and $6 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2010, respectively.
(f) Represents net losses associated with natural gas derivative contracts. These contracts are a partial hedge of natural gas requirements through October 2016 at Ameren, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois in each case as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $1 million and $1 million at Ameren and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2011. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $101 million, $11 million, and $90 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $2 million, $1 million, and $1 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2010. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $84 million, $11 million, and $73 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2010.
(g) Represents net losses associated with power derivative contracts. These contracts are a partial hedge of power price requirements through May 2032 at Ameren and Ameren Illinois and through December 2015 at Ameren Missouri, in each case as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $29 million and $29 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri, respectively, as of December 31, 2011. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $17 million, $8 million, and $209 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $8 million, $6 million, and $2 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2010. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $13 million, $3 million, and $181 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2010.
(h) Represents net gains(losses) on uranium derivative contracts at Ameren Missouri. These contracts are a partial hedge of our uranium requirements through December 2013 as of December 31, 2011. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include less than $1 million and less than $1 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2011, respectively. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $2 million at Ameren and $2 million at Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2010.

Derivative instruments are subject to various credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to the transaction. Exchange-traded contracts are supported by the financial and credit quality of the clearing members of the respective exchanges and have nominal credit risk. In all other transactions, we are exposed to credit risk. Our credit risk management program involves establishing credit limits and collateral requirements for counterparties, using master trading and netting agreements, and reporting daily exposure to senior management.

 

We believe that entering into master trading and netting agreements mitigates the level of financial loss that could result from default by allowing net settlement of derivative assets and liabilities. We generally enter into the following master trading and netting agreements: (1) the International Swaps and Derivatives Association Agreement, a standardized financial natural gas and electric contract; (2) the Master Power Purchase and Sale Agreement, created by the Edison Electric Institute and the National Energy Marketers Association, a standardized contract for the purchase and sale of wholesale power; and (3) the North American Energy Standards Board Inc. agreement, a standardized contract for the purchase and sale of natural gas. These master trading and netting agreements allow the counterparties to net settle sale and purchase transactions. Further, collateral requirements are calculated at a master trading and netting agreement level by counterparty.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

In determining our concentrations of credit risk related to derivative instruments, we review our individual counterparties and categorize each counterparty into one of eight groupings according to the primary business in which each engages. The following table presents the maximum exposure, as of December 31, 2011, and 2010, if counterparty groups were to fail completely to perform on contracts by grouping. The maximum exposure is based on the gross fair value of financial instruments, including NPNS contracts, which excludes collateral held, and does not consider the legally binding right to net transactions based on master trading and netting agreements.

 

      Affiliates(a)     

Coal

Producers

    

Commodity

Marketing

Companies

    

Electric

Utilities

    

Financial

Companies

    

Municipalities/

Cooperatives

     Oil and Gas
Companies
    

Retail

Companies

     Total  

2011:

                          

AMO

   $ 1       $ 35       $ 1       $ 4       $ 26       $ 4       $ -       $ -       $ 71   

AIC

     -         -         84         -         1         -         -         -         85   

Genco

     -         1         1         2         6         -         3         -         13   

Other(b)

     275         1         3         10         51         194         -         87         621   

Ameren

   $         276       $             37       $             89       $             16       $             84       $             198       $             3       $             87       $         790   

2010:

                          

AMO

   $ -       $ 21       $ 1       $ 2       $ 5       $ 11       $ 1       $ -       $ 41   

AIC

     -         -         3         -         1         -         -         -         4   

Genco

     -         6         2         1         1         -         6         -         16   

Other(b)

     410         3         10         19         65         539         3         72         1,121   

Ameren

   $ 410       $ 30       $ 16       $ 22       $ 72       $ 550       $ 10       $ 72       $ 1,182   

 

(a) Primarily composed of Marketing Company's exposure to Ameren Illinois related to financial contracts. The exposure is not eliminated at the consolidated Ameren level for purposes of this disclosure, as it is calculated without regard to the offsetting affiliate counterparty's liability position. See Note 14 – Related Party Transactions for additional information on these financial contracts.
(b) Includes amounts for Marketing Company, AERG, and AFS.

The potential loss on counterparty exposures is reduced by the application of master trading and netting agreements and collateral held to the extent of reducing the exposure to zero. Collateral includes both cash collateral and other collateral held. The amount of cash collateral held by Marketing Company from counterparties and based on the contractual rights under the agreements to seek collateral and the maximum exposure as calculated under the individual master trading and netting agreements was less than $1 million and $1 million from retail companies at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. There was no cash collateral held at Ameren registrant subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2011, other collateral used to reduce exposure consisted of letters of credit in the amount of $9 million, $1 million, $1 million, and $7 million held by Ameren, Ameren Missouri, Genco, and Marketing Company, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, other collateral used to reduce exposure consisted of letters of credit in the amount of $28 million and $1 million held by Ameren and Ameren Illinois, respectively. The following table presents the potential loss after consideration of the application of master trading and netting agreements and collateral held as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

      Affiliates(a)     

Coal

Producers

    

Commodity
Marketing

Companies

    

Electric

Utilities

    

Financial

Companies

    

Municipalities/

Cooperatives

     Oil and Gas
Companies
    

Retail

Companies

     Total  

2011:

                          

AMO

   $ 1       $ 35       $ 1       $ 3       $ 22       $ 4       $ -       $ -       $ 66   

AIC

     -         -         84         -         -         -         -         -         84   

Genco

     -         -         -         1         1         -         2         -         4   

Other(b)

     273         -         3         5         42         187         -         86         596   

Ameren

   $         274       $         35       $         88       $         9       $         65       $         191       $         2       $         86       $         750   

2010:

                          

AMO

   $ -       $ 8       $ -       $ 1       $ 2       $ 10       $ -       $ -       $ 21   

AIC

     -         -         2         -         -         -         -         -         2   

Genco

     -         1         1         1         1         -         5         -         9   

Other(b)

     404         1         8         7         56         513         2         71         1,062   

Ameren

   $         404       $         10       $         11       $         9       $         59       $         523       $         7       $         71       $       1,094   

 

(a) Primarily comprised of Marketing Company's exposure to Ameren Illinois related to financial contracts. The exposure is not eliminated at the consolidated Ameren level for purposes of this disclosure, as it is calculated without regard to the offsetting affiliate counterparty's liability position. See Note 14 – Related Party Transactions for additional information on these financial contracts.
(b) Includes amounts for Marketing Company, AERG, and AFS.

Derivative Instruments with Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features

Our commodity contracts contain collateral provisions tied to the Ameren Companies' credit ratings. If we were to experience an adverse change in our credit ratings, or if a counterparty with reasonable grounds for uncertainty regarding performance of an obligation requested adequate assurance of performance, additional collateral postings might be required. The following table presents, as of December 31, 2011, and 2010, the aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit risk-related contingent features in a gross liability position, the cash collateral posted, and the aggregate amount of additional collateral that could be required to be posted with counterparties. The additional collateral required is the net liability position allowed under the master trading and netting agreements assuming (1) the credit risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements were triggered on December 31, 2011, or 2010, respectively, and (2) those counterparties with rights to do so requested collateral:

 

     

Aggregate Fair Value of

Derivative Liabilities(a)

    

Cash

Collateral Posted

     Potential Aggregate Amount of
Additional Collateral Required(b)
 

2011:

        

Ameren Missouri

   $         102       $ 8       $ 86   

Ameren Illinois

     220                 96                 125   

Genco

     55         1         58   

Other(c)

     79         11         63   

Ameren

   $ 456       $ 116       $ 332   

2010:

        

Ameren Missouri

   $ 105       $ 7       $ 93   

Ameren Illinois

     233         109         111   

Genco

     31         -         28   

Other(c)

     62         18         42   

Ameren

   $ 431       $ 134       $ 274   

 

(a) Prior to consideration of master trading and netting agreements and including NPNS contract exposures.
(b) As collateral requirements with certain counterparties are based on master trading and netting agreements, the aggregate amount of additional collateral required to be posted is determined after consideration of the effects of such agreements.
(c) Includes amounts for Marketing Company and Ameren (parent).

 

Cash Flow Hedges

The following table presents the pretax net gain or loss for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, associated with derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges:

 

    

Gain (Loss)

Recognized in OCI(a)

   

Location of (Gain) Loss

Reclassified from

Accumulated OCI into

Income(b)

 

(Gain) Loss

Reclassified from

Accumulated OCI

into Income(b)

    Location of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income(c)
 

Gain (Loss)
Recognized

in Income(c)

 

2011:                        

         

Ameren:(d)

         

Power

  $ 6      Operating Revenues - Electric   $         5      Operating Revenues - Electric   $ (10

Interest rate(e)

    -      Interest Charges     (f   Interest Charges               -   

Genco:

         

Interest rate(e)

    -      Interest Charges     (f   Interest Charges     -   

2010:

         

Ameren:(d)

         

Power

  $ (2   Operating Revenues - Electric   $ (14   Operating Revenues - Electric   $ (3

Interest rate(e)

    -      Interest Charges     (f   Interest Charges     -   

Genco:

         

Interest rate(e)

    -      Interest Charges     (f   Interest Charges     -   

 

(a) Effective portion of gain (loss).
(b) Effective portion of (gain) loss on settlements.
(c) Ineffective portion of gain (loss) and amount excluded from effectiveness testing.
(d) Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries.
(e) Represents interest rate swaps settled in prior periods. The cumulative gain and loss on the interest rate swaps is being amortized into income over a 10-year period.
(f) Less than $1 million.

Other Derivatives

The following table represents the net change in market value associated with derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

     

Location of Gain (Loss)

Recognized in Income

  

Gain (Loss) Recognized

in Income

 
      2011     2010  

Ameren(a)

   Fuel oils    Operating Expenses - Fuel    $ (1   $ 9   
   Natural gas (generation)    Operating Expenses - Fuel      2        -   
     Power    Operating Revenues - Electric      (2     9   
          Total    $ (1   $ 18   

Ameren Missouri

   Natural gas (generation)    Operating Expenses - Fuel    $ (1   $ 1   

Genco

   Fuel oils    Operating Expenses - Fuel    $ (1   $ 7   
   Natural gas (generation)    Operating Expenses - Fuel      2        -   
     Power    Operating Revenues      (3     1   
          Total    $ (2   $ 8   

 

(a) Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries and intercompany eliminations.

 

 

Derivatives Subject to Regulatory Deferral

The following table represents the net change in market value associated with derivatives that qualify for regulatory deferral for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

     

Gain (Loss) Recognized

In Regulatory Liabilities

or Regulatory Assets

 
   2011      2010  

Ameren(a)

   Fuel oils    $ -       $ 14   
   Natural gas      (26      (91
   Power      80         12   
     Uranium      (3      4   
     Total    $ 51       $ (61

Ameren

   Fuel oils    $ -       $ 14   

Missouri

   Natural gas      -         (11
   Power      18         4   
     Uranium      (3      4   
     Total    $ 15       $ 11   

Ameren

   Natural gas    $ (26    $ (80

Illinois

   Power      212         70   
     Total    $ 186       $ (10

 

(a) Includes amounts for intercompany eliminations.

As part of the 2007 Illinois Electric Settlement Agreement and subsequent Illinois power procurement processes, Ameren Illinois entered into financial contracts with Marketing Company. These financial contracts are derivative instruments. They are accounted for as cash flow hedges by Marketing Company and as derivatives that qualify for regulatory deferral by Ameren Illinois. Consequently, Ameren Illinois and Marketing Company record the fair value of the contracts on their respective balance sheets and the changes to the fair value in regulatory assets or liabilities by Ameren Illinois and OCI by Marketing Company. In Ameren's consolidated financial statements, all financial statement effects of the derivative instruments entered into among affiliates were eliminated. See Note 14 – Related Party Transactions for additional information on these financial contracts. The following table presents the fair value of the financial contracts included on Ameren Illinois' balance sheet at December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

            2011      2010  

Ameren Illinois

   MTM derivative liabilities - affiliates    $ 200       $ 172   
     Other deferred credits and liabilities      -         178   
     Total    $ 200       $ 350
Ameren Illinois Company [Member]
 
Derivative Financial Instruments

NOTE 7 – DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

We use derivatives principally to manage the risk of changes in market prices for natural gas, coal, diesel, power, and uranium. Such price fluctuations may cause the following:

 

Ÿ  

an unrealized appreciation or depreciation of our contracted commitments to purchase or sell when purchase or sale prices under the commitments are compared with current commodity prices;

Ÿ  

market values of coal, natural gas, and uranium inventories that differ from the cost of those commodities in inventory; and

Ÿ  

actual cash outlays for the purchase of these commodities that differ from anticipated cash outlays.

The derivatives that we use to hedge these risks are governed by our risk management policies for forward contracts, futures, options, and swaps. Our net positions are continually assessed within our structured hedging programs to determine whether new or offsetting transactions are required. The goal of the hedging program is generally to mitigate financial risks while ensuring that sufficient volumes are available to meet our requirements. Contracts we enter into as part of our risk management program may be settled financially, settled by physical delivery, or net settled with the counterparty.

 

The following table presents open gross derivative volumes by commodity type as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

      Quantity (in millions, except as indicated)  
Commodity   

NPNS

Contracts(a)

    Cash Flow
Hedges(b)
   

Other

Derivatives(c)

    Derivatives That Qualify for
Regulatory Deferral(d)
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Coal (in tons)

                

Ameren Missouri

     116        46        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e

Genco

     24        21        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e

Other(f)

     7        6        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e

Ameren

     147        73        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e

Fuel oils (in gallons)(g)

                

Ameren Missouri

     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     53        80   

Genco

     (e     (e     (e     (e     27        43        (e     (e

Other(f)

     (e     (e     (e     (e     9        12        (e     (e

Ameren

     (e     (e     (e     (e     36        55        53        80   

Natural gas (in mmbtu)

                

Ameren Missouri

     8        13        (e     (e     9        2        19        21   

Ameren Illinois

     42        85        (e     (e     (e     (e     174        173   

Genco

     (e     (e     (e     (e     7        3        (e     (e

Other(f)

     (e     (e     (e     (e     1        16        (e     (e

Ameren

     50        98        (e     (e     17        21        193        194   

Power (in megawatthours)

                

Ameren Missouri

     1        2        (e     (e     1        1        6        5   

Ameren Illinois

     11        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     24        26   

Genco

     (e     (e     (e     (e     -        3        (e     (e

Other(f)

     61        61        17        2        30        57        (9     (13

Ameren

     73        63        17        2        31        61        21        18   

Uranium (pounds in thousands)

                

Ameren Missouri & Ameren

     5,553        5,810        (e     (e     (e     (e     148        185   

 

(a) Contracts through December 2017, March 2015, September 2035, and October 2024 for coal, natural gas, power, and uranium, respectively, as of December 31, 2011.
(b) Contracts through December 2014 for power as of December 31, 2011.
(c) Contracts through October 2014, December 2012, and December 2015 for fuel oils, natural gas, and power, respectively, as of December 31, 2011.
(d) Contracts through October 2014, October 2016, May 2032, and December 2013 for fuel oils, natural gas, power, and uranium, respectively, as of December 31, 2011.
(e) Not applicable.
(f) Includes AERG contracts for coal and fuel oils, Marketing Company contracts for natural gas and power, and intercompany eliminations for power.
(g) Fuel oils consist of heating and crude oil.

 

Authoritative accounting guidance regarding derivative instruments requires that all contracts considered to be derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at their fair values, unless the NPNS exception applies. See Note 8 – Fair Value Measurements for discussion of our methods of assessing the fair value of derivative instruments. Many of our physical contracts, such as our coal and purchased power contracts, qualify for the NPNS exception to derivative accounting rules. The revenue or expense recorded in connection with NPNS contracts is recognized at the contract price upon physical delivery.

If we determine that a contract meets the definition of a derivative and is not eligible for the NPNS exception, we review the contract to determine if it qualifies for hedge accounting treatment. We also consider whether gains or losses resulting from such derivatives qualify for regulatory deferral. Contracts that qualify for cash flow hedge accounting treatment are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value charged or credited to accumulated OCI in the period in which the change occurs, to the extent the hedge is effective. To the extent the hedge is ineffective, the related changes in fair value are charged or credited to the statement of income in the period in which the change occurs. When the contract is settled or delivered, the net gain or loss is recorded in the statement of income.

Derivative contracts that qualify for regulatory deferral are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded as regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities in the period in which the change occurs. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois believe derivative gains and losses deferred as regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are probable of recovery or refund through future rates charged to customers. Regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are amortized to operating income as related losses and gains are reflected in rates charged to customers. Therefore, gains and losses on these derivatives have no effect on operating income.

Certain derivative contracts are entered into on a regular basis as part of our risk management program but do not qualify for the NPNS exception, hedge accounting, or regulatory deferral accounting. Such contracts are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value charged or credited to the statement of income in the period in which the change occurs.

Authoritative accounting guidance permits companies to offset fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (a liability) against fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments that are executed with the same counterparty under the same master netting arrangement. The Ameren Companies did not elect to adopt this guidance for any eligible financial instruments or other items.

 

The following table presents the carrying value and balance sheet location of all derivative instruments as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

      Balance Sheet Location      Ameren(a)        Ameren
Missouri
     Ameren
Illinois
     Genco  

2011:

                  

Derivative assets designated as hedging instruments

               

Commodity contracts:            

                  

Power

   MTM derivative assets      $ 8         $ (b    $ (b    $ -   
     Other assets        16           -         -         -   
     Total assets      $ 24         $ -       $ -       $ -   

Derivative liabilities designated as hedging instruments

               

Commodity contracts:

                  

Power

   Other deferred credits and liabilities      $ 1         $ -       $ -       $ -   
     Total liabilities      $ 1         $ -       $ -       $ -   

Derivative assets not designated as hedging instruments(c)

               

Commodity contracts:

                  

Fuel oils

   MTM derivative assets      $ 29         $ (b    $ (b    $ 10   
   Other current assets        -           17         -         -   
   Other assets        8           6         -         1   

Natural gas

   MTM derivative assets        6           (b      (b      2   
   Other current assets        -           2         1         -   
   Other assets        -           -         1         -   

Power

   MTM derivative assets        72           (b      (b      -   
   Other current assets        -           30         -         -   
     Other assets        99           -         77         -   
     Total assets      $         214         $         55       $         79       $         13   

Derivative liabilities not designated as hedging instruments(c)

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Fuel oils

   MTM derivative liabilities      $ 2       $ (b    $ -       $ 1   
   Other current liabilities        -         1         -         -   

Natural gas

   MTM derivative liabilities        106         (b      90         2   
   Other current liabilities        -         13         -         -   
   Other deferred credits and liabilities        92         13         79         -   

Power

   MTM derivative liabilities        53         (b      9         -   
   MTM derivative liabilities - affiliates        (b      (b      200         -   
   Other current liabilities        -         9         -         -   
   Other deferred credits and liabilities        26         -         8         -   

Uranium

   Other deferred credits and liabilities        1         1         -         -   
     Total liabilities      $ 280       $ 37       $ 386       $ 3   

2010:

                

Derivative assets designated as hedging instruments

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Power

   MTM derivative assets      $ 3       $ (b    $ (b    $ -   
     Other assets        2         -         -         -   
     Total assets      $ 5       $ -       $ -       $ -   

Derivative liabilities designated as hedging instruments

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Power

   MTM derivative liabilities      $ 1       $ (b    $ -       $ -   
     Total liabilities      $ 1       $ -       $ -       $ -   

Derivative assets not designated as hedging instruments(c)

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Fuel oils

   MTM derivative assets      $ 42       $ (b    $ (b    $ 14   
   Other current assets        -         24         -         -   
   Other assets        22         13         -         7   

Natural gas

   MTM derivative assets        4         (b      (b      1   
   Other current assets        -         1         1         -   
   Other assets        1         -         1         -   

Power

   MTM derivative assets        78         (b      (b      11   
   Other current assets        -         8         2         -   
   Other assets        20         -         6         -   

Uranium

   MTM derivative assets        2         (b      (b      -   
     Other current assets        -         2         -         -   
     Total assets      $ 169       $ 48       $ 10       $ 33   

Derivative liabilities not designated as hedging instruments(c)

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Fuel oils

   MTM derivative liabilities      $ 12       $ (b    $ -       $ 4   
   Other current liabilities        -         7         -         -   
   Other deferred credits and liabilities        1         -         -         -   

Natural gas

   MTM derivative liabilities        87         (b      73         2   
   Other current liabilities        -         11         -         -   
   Other deferred credits and liabilities        84         13         70         -   

Power

   MTM derivative liabilities        61         (b      9         3   
   MTM derivative liabilities - affiliates        (b      (b      172         5   
   Other current liabilities        -         6         -         -   
     Other deferred credits and liabilities        7         -         179         -   
     Total liabilities      $         252       $         37       $         503       $         14   

 

(a) Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries and intercompany eliminations.
(b) Balance sheet line item not applicable to registrant.
(c) Includes derivatives subject to regulatory deferral.

 

The following table presents the cumulative amount of pretax net gains (losses) on all derivative instruments in accumulated OCI and regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

        Ameren      Ameren
Missouri
     Ameren
Illinois
     Genco      Other(a)  

2011:

                

Cumulative gains (losses) deferred in accumulated OCI:

                

Power derivative contracts(b)

     $ 19       $ -       $ -       $ -       $ 19   

Interest rate derivative contracts(c)(d)

       (8      -         -         (8      -   

Cumulative gains (losses) deferred in regulatory liabilities or assets:

                

Fuel oils derivative contracts(e)

       19         19         -         -         -   

Natural gas derivative contracts(f)

       (191      (24      (167      -         -   

Power derivative contracts(g)

       81         21         (140      -         200   

Uranium derivative contracts(h)

       (1      (1      -         -         -   

2010:

                

Cumulative gains (losses) deferred in accumulated OCI:

                

Power derivative contracts(b)

     $ 8       $ -       $ -       $ -       $ 8   

Interest rate derivative contracts(c)(d)

       (9      -         -         (9      -   

Cumulative gains (losses) deferred in regulatory liabilities or assets:

                

Fuel oils derivative contracts(e)

       19         19         -         -         -   

Natural gas derivative contracts(f)

       (165      (24      (141      -         -   

Power derivative contracts(g)

       1         3         (352      -         350   

Uranium derivative contracts(h)

       2         2         -         -         -   

 

(a) Includes amounts for Marketing Company and intercompany eliminations.
(b) Represents net gains associated with power derivative contracts at Ameren. These contracts are a partial hedge of electricity price exposure through December 2014 as of December 31, 2011. Current gains of $5 million and $8 million were recorded at Ameren as of December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, respectively.
(c) Includes net gains associated with interest rate swaps at Genco that were a partial hedge of the interest rate on debt issued in June 2002. The swaps cover the first 10 years of debt that has a 30-year maturity, and the gain in OCI is amortized over a 10-year period that began in June 2002. The carrying value at December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010 was less than $1 million and less than $1 million, respectively. The balance of the gain will be amortized by June 2012.
(d) Includes net losses associated with interest rate swaps at Genco. The swaps were executed during the fourth quarter of 2007 as a partial hedge of interest rate risks associated with Genco's April 2008 debt issuance. The loss on the interest rate swaps is being amortized over a 10-year period that began in April 2008. The carrying value at December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, was a loss of $9 million and a loss of $10 million, respectively. Over the next 12 months, $1.4 million of the loss will be amortized.
(e) Represents net gains on fuel oils derivative contracts at Ameren Missouri. These contracts are a partial hedge of Ameren Missouri's transportation costs for coal through October 2014 as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $16 million and $16 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2011, respectively. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $1 million and $1 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2011, respectively. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $13 million and $13 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2010, respectively. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $6 million and $6 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2010, respectively.
(f) Represents net losses associated with natural gas derivative contracts. These contracts are a partial hedge of natural gas requirements through October 2016 at Ameren, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois in each case as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $1 million and $1 million at Ameren and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2011. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $101 million, $11 million, and $90 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $2 million, $1 million, and $1 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2010. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $84 million, $11 million, and $73 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2010.
(g) Represents net losses associated with power derivative contracts. These contracts are a partial hedge of power price requirements through May 2032 at Ameren and Ameren Illinois and through December 2015 at Ameren Missouri, in each case as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $29 million and $29 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri, respectively, as of December 31, 2011. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $17 million, $8 million, and $209 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $8 million, $6 million, and $2 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2010. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $13 million, $3 million, and $181 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2010.
(h) Represents net gains(losses) on uranium derivative contracts at Ameren Missouri. These contracts are a partial hedge of our uranium requirements through December 2013 as of December 31, 2011. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include less than $1 million and less than $1 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2011, respectively. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $2 million at Ameren and $2 million at Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2010.

Derivative instruments are subject to various credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to the transaction. Exchange-traded contracts are supported by the financial and credit quality of the clearing members of the respective exchanges and have nominal credit risk. In all other transactions, we are exposed to credit risk. Our credit risk management program involves establishing credit limits and collateral requirements for counterparties, using master trading and netting agreements, and reporting daily exposure to senior management.

 

We believe that entering into master trading and netting agreements mitigates the level of financial loss that could result from default by allowing net settlement of derivative assets and liabilities. We generally enter into the following master trading and netting agreements: (1) the International Swaps and Derivatives Association Agreement, a standardized financial natural gas and electric contract; (2) the Master Power Purchase and Sale Agreement, created by the Edison Electric Institute and the National Energy Marketers Association, a standardized contract for the purchase and sale of wholesale power; and (3) the North American Energy Standards Board Inc. agreement, a standardized contract for the purchase and sale of natural gas. These master trading and netting agreements allow the counterparties to net settle sale and purchase transactions. Further, collateral requirements are calculated at a master trading and netting agreement level by counterparty.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

In determining our concentrations of credit risk related to derivative instruments, we review our individual counterparties and categorize each counterparty into one of eight groupings according to the primary business in which each engages. The following table presents the maximum exposure, as of December 31, 2011, and 2010, if counterparty groups were to fail completely to perform on contracts by grouping. The maximum exposure is based on the gross fair value of financial instruments, including NPNS contracts, which excludes collateral held, and does not consider the legally binding right to net transactions based on master trading and netting agreements.

 

      Affiliates(a)     

Coal

Producers

    

Commodity

Marketing

Companies

    

Electric

Utilities

    

Financial

Companies

    

Municipalities/

Cooperatives

     Oil and Gas
Companies
    

Retail

Companies

     Total  

2011:

                          

AMO

   $ 1       $ 35       $ 1       $ 4       $ 26       $ 4       $ -       $ -       $ 71   

AIC

     -         -         84         -         1         -         -         -         85   

Genco

     -         1         1         2         6         -         3         -         13   

Other(b)

     275         1         3         10         51         194         -         87         621   

Ameren

   $         276       $             37       $             89       $             16       $             84       $             198       $             3       $             87       $         790   

2010:

                          

AMO

   $ -       $ 21       $ 1       $ 2       $ 5       $ 11       $ 1       $ -       $ 41   

AIC

     -         -         3         -         1         -         -         -         4   

Genco

     -         6         2         1         1         -         6         -         16   

Other(b)

     410         3         10         19         65         539         3         72         1,121   

Ameren

   $ 410       $ 30       $ 16       $ 22       $ 72       $ 550       $ 10       $ 72       $ 1,182   

 

(a) Primarily composed of Marketing Company's exposure to Ameren Illinois related to financial contracts. The exposure is not eliminated at the consolidated Ameren level for purposes of this disclosure, as it is calculated without regard to the offsetting affiliate counterparty's liability position. See Note 14 – Related Party Transactions for additional information on these financial contracts.
(b) Includes amounts for Marketing Company, AERG, and AFS.

The potential loss on counterparty exposures is reduced by the application of master trading and netting agreements and collateral held to the extent of reducing the exposure to zero. Collateral includes both cash collateral and other collateral held. The amount of cash collateral held by Marketing Company from counterparties and based on the contractual rights under the agreements to seek collateral and the maximum exposure as calculated under the individual master trading and netting agreements was less than $1 million and $1 million from retail companies at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. There was no cash collateral held at Ameren registrant subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2011, other collateral used to reduce exposure consisted of letters of credit in the amount of $9 million, $1 million, $1 million, and $7 million held by Ameren, Ameren Missouri, Genco, and Marketing Company, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, other collateral used to reduce exposure consisted of letters of credit in the amount of $28 million and $1 million held by Ameren and Ameren Illinois, respectively. The following table presents the potential loss after consideration of the application of master trading and netting agreements and collateral held as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

      Affiliates(a)     

Coal

Producers

    

Commodity
Marketing

Companies

    

Electric

Utilities

    

Financial

Companies

    

Municipalities/

Cooperatives

     Oil and Gas
Companies
    

Retail

Companies

     Total  

2011:

                          

AMO

   $ 1       $ 35       $ 1       $ 3       $ 22       $ 4       $ -       $ -       $ 66   

AIC

     -         -         84         -         -         -         -         -         84   

Genco

     -         -         -         1         1         -         2         -         4   

Other(b)

     273         -         3         5         42         187         -         86         596   

Ameren

   $         274       $         35       $         88       $         9       $         65       $         191       $         2       $         86       $         750   

2010:

                          

AMO

   $ -       $ 8       $ -       $ 1       $ 2       $ 10       $ -       $ -       $ 21   

AIC

     -         -         2         -         -         -         -         -         2   

Genco

     -         1         1         1         1         -         5         -         9   

Other(b)

     404         1         8         7         56         513         2         71         1,062   

Ameren

   $         404       $         10       $         11       $         9       $         59       $         523       $         7       $         71       $       1,094   

 

(a) Primarily comprised of Marketing Company's exposure to Ameren Illinois related to financial contracts. The exposure is not eliminated at the consolidated Ameren level for purposes of this disclosure, as it is calculated without regard to the offsetting affiliate counterparty's liability position. See Note 14 – Related Party Transactions for additional information on these financial contracts.
(b) Includes amounts for Marketing Company, AERG, and AFS.

Derivative Instruments with Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features

Our commodity contracts contain collateral provisions tied to the Ameren Companies' credit ratings. If we were to experience an adverse change in our credit ratings, or if a counterparty with reasonable grounds for uncertainty regarding performance of an obligation requested adequate assurance of performance, additional collateral postings might be required. The following table presents, as of December 31, 2011, and 2010, the aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit risk-related contingent features in a gross liability position, the cash collateral posted, and the aggregate amount of additional collateral that could be required to be posted with counterparties. The additional collateral required is the net liability position allowed under the master trading and netting agreements assuming (1) the credit risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements were triggered on December 31, 2011, or 2010, respectively, and (2) those counterparties with rights to do so requested collateral:

 

     

Aggregate Fair Value of

Derivative Liabilities(a)

    

Cash

Collateral Posted

     Potential Aggregate Amount of
Additional Collateral Required(b)
 

2011:

        

Ameren Missouri

   $         102       $ 8       $ 86   

Ameren Illinois

     220                 96                 125   

Genco

     55         1         58   

Other(c)

     79         11         63   

Ameren

   $ 456       $ 116       $ 332   

2010:

        

Ameren Missouri

   $ 105       $ 7       $ 93   

Ameren Illinois

     233         109         111   

Genco

     31         -         28   

Other(c)

     62         18         42   

Ameren

   $ 431       $ 134       $ 274   

 

(a) Prior to consideration of master trading and netting agreements and including NPNS contract exposures.
(b) As collateral requirements with certain counterparties are based on master trading and netting agreements, the aggregate amount of additional collateral required to be posted is determined after consideration of the effects of such agreements.
(c) Includes amounts for Marketing Company and Ameren (parent).

 

Cash Flow Hedges

The following table presents the pretax net gain or loss for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, associated with derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges:

 

    

Gain (Loss)

Recognized in OCI(a)

   

Location of (Gain) Loss

Reclassified from

Accumulated OCI into

Income(b)

 

(Gain) Loss

Reclassified from

Accumulated OCI

into Income(b)

    Location of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income(c)
 

Gain (Loss)
Recognized

in Income(c)

 

2011:                        

         

Ameren:(d)

         

Power

  $ 6      Operating Revenues - Electric   $         5      Operating Revenues - Electric   $ (10

Interest rate(e)

    -      Interest Charges     (f   Interest Charges               -   

Genco:

         

Interest rate(e)

    -      Interest Charges     (f   Interest Charges     -   

2010:

         

Ameren:(d)

         

Power

  $ (2   Operating Revenues - Electric   $ (14   Operating Revenues - Electric   $ (3

Interest rate(e)

    -      Interest Charges     (f   Interest Charges     -   

Genco:

         

Interest rate(e)

    -      Interest Charges     (f   Interest Charges     -   

 

(a) Effective portion of gain (loss).
(b) Effective portion of (gain) loss on settlements.
(c) Ineffective portion of gain (loss) and amount excluded from effectiveness testing.
(d) Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries.
(e) Represents interest rate swaps settled in prior periods. The cumulative gain and loss on the interest rate swaps is being amortized into income over a 10-year period.
(f) Less than $1 million.

Other Derivatives

The following table represents the net change in market value associated with derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

     

Location of Gain (Loss)

Recognized in Income

  

Gain (Loss) Recognized

in Income

 
      2011     2010  

Ameren(a)

   Fuel oils    Operating Expenses - Fuel    $ (1   $ 9   
   Natural gas (generation)    Operating Expenses - Fuel      2        -   
     Power    Operating Revenues - Electric      (2     9   
          Total    $ (1   $ 18   

Ameren Missouri

   Natural gas (generation)    Operating Expenses - Fuel    $ (1   $ 1   

Genco

   Fuel oils    Operating Expenses - Fuel    $ (1   $ 7   
   Natural gas (generation)    Operating Expenses - Fuel      2        -   
     Power    Operating Revenues      (3     1   
          Total    $ (2   $ 8   

 

(a) Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries and intercompany eliminations.

 

 

Derivatives Subject to Regulatory Deferral

The following table represents the net change in market value associated with derivatives that qualify for regulatory deferral for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

     

Gain (Loss) Recognized

In Regulatory Liabilities

or Regulatory Assets

 
   2011      2010  

Ameren(a)

   Fuel oils    $ -       $ 14   
   Natural gas      (26      (91
   Power      80         12   
     Uranium      (3      4   
     Total    $ 51       $ (61

Ameren

   Fuel oils    $ -       $ 14   

Missouri

   Natural gas      -         (11
   Power      18         4   
     Uranium      (3      4   
     Total    $ 15       $ 11   

Ameren

   Natural gas    $ (26    $ (80

Illinois

   Power      212         70   
     Total    $ 186       $ (10

 

(a) Includes amounts for intercompany eliminations.

As part of the 2007 Illinois Electric Settlement Agreement and subsequent Illinois power procurement processes, Ameren Illinois entered into financial contracts with Marketing Company. These financial contracts are derivative instruments. They are accounted for as cash flow hedges by Marketing Company and as derivatives that qualify for regulatory deferral by Ameren Illinois. Consequently, Ameren Illinois and Marketing Company record the fair value of the contracts on their respective balance sheets and the changes to the fair value in regulatory assets or liabilities by Ameren Illinois and OCI by Marketing Company. In Ameren's consolidated financial statements, all financial statement effects of the derivative instruments entered into among affiliates were eliminated. See Note 14 – Related Party Transactions for additional information on these financial contracts. The following table presents the fair value of the financial contracts included on Ameren Illinois' balance sheet at December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

            2011      2010  

Ameren Illinois

   MTM derivative liabilities - affiliates    $ 200       $ 172   
     Other deferred credits and liabilities      -         178   
     Total    $ 200       $ 350
Union Electric Company [Member]
 
Derivative Financial Instruments

NOTE 7 – DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

We use derivatives principally to manage the risk of changes in market prices for natural gas, coal, diesel, power, and uranium. Such price fluctuations may cause the following:

 

Ÿ  

an unrealized appreciation or depreciation of our contracted commitments to purchase or sell when purchase or sale prices under the commitments are compared with current commodity prices;

Ÿ  

market values of coal, natural gas, and uranium inventories that differ from the cost of those commodities in inventory; and

Ÿ  

actual cash outlays for the purchase of these commodities that differ from anticipated cash outlays.

The derivatives that we use to hedge these risks are governed by our risk management policies for forward contracts, futures, options, and swaps. Our net positions are continually assessed within our structured hedging programs to determine whether new or offsetting transactions are required. The goal of the hedging program is generally to mitigate financial risks while ensuring that sufficient volumes are available to meet our requirements. Contracts we enter into as part of our risk management program may be settled financially, settled by physical delivery, or net settled with the counterparty.

 

The following table presents open gross derivative volumes by commodity type as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

      Quantity (in millions, except as indicated)  
Commodity   

NPNS

Contracts(a)

    Cash Flow
Hedges(b)
   

Other

Derivatives(c)

    Derivatives That Qualify for
Regulatory Deferral(d)
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Coal (in tons)

                

Ameren Missouri

     116        46        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e

Genco

     24        21        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e

Other(f)

     7        6        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e

Ameren

     147        73        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e

Fuel oils (in gallons)(g)

                

Ameren Missouri

     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     53        80   

Genco

     (e     (e     (e     (e     27        43        (e     (e

Other(f)

     (e     (e     (e     (e     9        12        (e     (e

Ameren

     (e     (e     (e     (e     36        55        53        80   

Natural gas (in mmbtu)

                

Ameren Missouri

     8        13        (e     (e     9        2        19        21   

Ameren Illinois

     42        85        (e     (e     (e     (e     174        173   

Genco

     (e     (e     (e     (e     7        3        (e     (e

Other(f)

     (e     (e     (e     (e     1        16        (e     (e

Ameren

     50        98        (e     (e     17        21        193        194   

Power (in megawatthours)

                

Ameren Missouri

     1        2        (e     (e     1        1        6        5   

Ameren Illinois

     11        (e     (e     (e     (e     (e     24        26   

Genco

     (e     (e     (e     (e     -        3        (e     (e

Other(f)

     61        61        17        2        30        57        (9     (13

Ameren

     73        63        17        2        31        61        21        18   

Uranium (pounds in thousands)

                

Ameren Missouri & Ameren

     5,553        5,810        (e     (e     (e     (e     148        185   

 

(a) Contracts through December 2017, March 2015, September 2035, and October 2024 for coal, natural gas, power, and uranium, respectively, as of December 31, 2011.
(b) Contracts through December 2014 for power as of December 31, 2011.
(c) Contracts through October 2014, December 2012, and December 2015 for fuel oils, natural gas, and power, respectively, as of December 31, 2011.
(d) Contracts through October 2014, October 2016, May 2032, and December 2013 for fuel oils, natural gas, power, and uranium, respectively, as of December 31, 2011.
(e) Not applicable.
(f) Includes AERG contracts for coal and fuel oils, Marketing Company contracts for natural gas and power, and intercompany eliminations for power.
(g) Fuel oils consist of heating and crude oil.

 

Authoritative accounting guidance regarding derivative instruments requires that all contracts considered to be derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at their fair values, unless the NPNS exception applies. See Note 8 – Fair Value Measurements for discussion of our methods of assessing the fair value of derivative instruments. Many of our physical contracts, such as our coal and purchased power contracts, qualify for the NPNS exception to derivative accounting rules. The revenue or expense recorded in connection with NPNS contracts is recognized at the contract price upon physical delivery.

If we determine that a contract meets the definition of a derivative and is not eligible for the NPNS exception, we review the contract to determine if it qualifies for hedge accounting treatment. We also consider whether gains or losses resulting from such derivatives qualify for regulatory deferral. Contracts that qualify for cash flow hedge accounting treatment are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value charged or credited to accumulated OCI in the period in which the change occurs, to the extent the hedge is effective. To the extent the hedge is ineffective, the related changes in fair value are charged or credited to the statement of income in the period in which the change occurs. When the contract is settled or delivered, the net gain or loss is recorded in the statement of income.

Derivative contracts that qualify for regulatory deferral are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded as regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities in the period in which the change occurs. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois believe derivative gains and losses deferred as regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are probable of recovery or refund through future rates charged to customers. Regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are amortized to operating income as related losses and gains are reflected in rates charged to customers. Therefore, gains and losses on these derivatives have no effect on operating income.

Certain derivative contracts are entered into on a regular basis as part of our risk management program but do not qualify for the NPNS exception, hedge accounting, or regulatory deferral accounting. Such contracts are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value charged or credited to the statement of income in the period in which the change occurs.

Authoritative accounting guidance permits companies to offset fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (a liability) against fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments that are executed with the same counterparty under the same master netting arrangement. The Ameren Companies did not elect to adopt this guidance for any eligible financial instruments or other items.

 

The following table presents the carrying value and balance sheet location of all derivative instruments as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

      Balance Sheet Location      Ameren(a)        Ameren
Missouri
     Ameren
Illinois
     Genco  

2011:

                  

Derivative assets designated as hedging instruments

               

Commodity contracts:            

                  

Power

   MTM derivative assets      $ 8         $ (b    $ (b    $ -   
     Other assets        16           -         -         -   
     Total assets      $ 24         $ -       $ -       $ -   

Derivative liabilities designated as hedging instruments

               

Commodity contracts:

                  

Power

   Other deferred credits and liabilities      $ 1         $ -       $ -       $ -   
     Total liabilities      $ 1         $ -       $ -       $ -   

Derivative assets not designated as hedging instruments(c)

               

Commodity contracts:

                  

Fuel oils

   MTM derivative assets      $ 29         $ (b    $ (b    $ 10   
   Other current assets        -           17         -         -   
   Other assets        8           6         -         1   

Natural gas

   MTM derivative assets        6           (b      (b      2   
   Other current assets        -           2         1         -   
   Other assets        -           -         1         -   

Power

   MTM derivative assets        72           (b      (b      -   
   Other current assets        -           30         -         -   
     Other assets        99           -         77         -   
     Total assets      $         214         $         55       $         79       $         13   

Derivative liabilities not designated as hedging instruments(c)

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Fuel oils

   MTM derivative liabilities      $ 2       $ (b    $ -       $ 1   
   Other current liabilities        -         1         -         -   

Natural gas

   MTM derivative liabilities        106         (b      90         2   
   Other current liabilities        -         13         -         -   
   Other deferred credits and liabilities        92         13         79         -   

Power

   MTM derivative liabilities        53         (b      9         -   
   MTM derivative liabilities - affiliates        (b      (b      200         -   
   Other current liabilities        -         9         -         -   
   Other deferred credits and liabilities        26         -         8         -   

Uranium

   Other deferred credits and liabilities        1         1         -         -   
     Total liabilities      $ 280       $ 37       $ 386       $ 3   

2010:

                

Derivative assets designated as hedging instruments

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Power

   MTM derivative assets      $ 3       $ (b    $ (b    $ -   
     Other assets        2         -         -         -   
     Total assets      $ 5       $ -       $ -       $ -   

Derivative liabilities designated as hedging instruments

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Power

   MTM derivative liabilities      $ 1       $ (b    $ -       $ -   
     Total liabilities      $ 1       $ -       $ -       $ -   

Derivative assets not designated as hedging instruments(c)

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Fuel oils

   MTM derivative assets      $ 42       $ (b    $ (b    $ 14   
   Other current assets        -         24         -         -   
   Other assets        22         13         -         7   

Natural gas

   MTM derivative assets        4         (b      (b      1   
   Other current assets        -         1         1         -   
   Other assets        1         -         1         -   

Power

   MTM derivative assets        78         (b      (b      11   
   Other current assets        -         8         2         -   
   Other assets        20         -         6         -   

Uranium

   MTM derivative assets        2         (b      (b      -   
     Other current assets        -         2         -         -   
     Total assets      $ 169       $ 48       $ 10       $ 33   

Derivative liabilities not designated as hedging instruments(c)

             

Commodity contracts:

                

Fuel oils

   MTM derivative liabilities      $ 12       $ (b    $ -       $ 4   
   Other current liabilities        -         7         -         -   
   Other deferred credits and liabilities        1         -         -         -   

Natural gas

   MTM derivative liabilities        87         (b      73         2   
   Other current liabilities        -         11         -         -   
   Other deferred credits and liabilities        84         13         70         -   

Power

   MTM derivative liabilities        61         (b      9         3   
   MTM derivative liabilities - affiliates        (b      (b      172         5   
   Other current liabilities        -         6         -         -   
     Other deferred credits and liabilities        7         -         179         -   
     Total liabilities      $         252       $         37       $         503       $         14   

 

(a) Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries and intercompany eliminations.
(b) Balance sheet line item not applicable to registrant.
(c) Includes derivatives subject to regulatory deferral.

 

The following table presents the cumulative amount of pretax net gains (losses) on all derivative instruments in accumulated OCI and regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

        Ameren      Ameren
Missouri
     Ameren
Illinois
     Genco      Other(a)  

2011:

                

Cumulative gains (losses) deferred in accumulated OCI:

                

Power derivative contracts(b)

     $ 19       $ -       $ -       $ -       $ 19   

Interest rate derivative contracts(c)(d)

       (8      -         -         (8      -   

Cumulative gains (losses) deferred in regulatory liabilities or assets:

                

Fuel oils derivative contracts(e)

       19         19         -         -         -   

Natural gas derivative contracts(f)

       (191      (24      (167      -         -   

Power derivative contracts(g)

       81         21         (140      -         200   

Uranium derivative contracts(h)

       (1      (1      -         -         -   

2010:

                

Cumulative gains (losses) deferred in accumulated OCI:

                

Power derivative contracts(b)

     $ 8       $ -       $ -       $ -       $ 8   

Interest rate derivative contracts(c)(d)

       (9      -         -         (9      -   

Cumulative gains (losses) deferred in regulatory liabilities or assets:

                

Fuel oils derivative contracts(e)

       19         19         -         -         -   

Natural gas derivative contracts(f)

       (165      (24      (141      -         -   

Power derivative contracts(g)

       1         3         (352      -         350   

Uranium derivative contracts(h)

       2         2         -         -         -   

 

(a) Includes amounts for Marketing Company and intercompany eliminations.
(b) Represents net gains associated with power derivative contracts at Ameren. These contracts are a partial hedge of electricity price exposure through December 2014 as of December 31, 2011. Current gains of $5 million and $8 million were recorded at Ameren as of December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, respectively.
(c) Includes net gains associated with interest rate swaps at Genco that were a partial hedge of the interest rate on debt issued in June 2002. The swaps cover the first 10 years of debt that has a 30-year maturity, and the gain in OCI is amortized over a 10-year period that began in June 2002. The carrying value at December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010 was less than $1 million and less than $1 million, respectively. The balance of the gain will be amortized by June 2012.
(d) Includes net losses associated with interest rate swaps at Genco. The swaps were executed during the fourth quarter of 2007 as a partial hedge of interest rate risks associated with Genco's April 2008 debt issuance. The loss on the interest rate swaps is being amortized over a 10-year period that began in April 2008. The carrying value at December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, was a loss of $9 million and a loss of $10 million, respectively. Over the next 12 months, $1.4 million of the loss will be amortized.
(e) Represents net gains on fuel oils derivative contracts at Ameren Missouri. These contracts are a partial hedge of Ameren Missouri's transportation costs for coal through October 2014 as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $16 million and $16 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2011, respectively. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $1 million and $1 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2011, respectively. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $13 million and $13 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2010, respectively. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $6 million and $6 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2010, respectively.
(f) Represents net losses associated with natural gas derivative contracts. These contracts are a partial hedge of natural gas requirements through October 2016 at Ameren, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois in each case as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $1 million and $1 million at Ameren and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2011. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $101 million, $11 million, and $90 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $2 million, $1 million, and $1 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2010. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $84 million, $11 million, and $73 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2010.
(g) Represents net losses associated with power derivative contracts. These contracts are a partial hedge of power price requirements through May 2032 at Ameren and Ameren Illinois and through December 2015 at Ameren Missouri, in each case as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $29 million and $29 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri, respectively, as of December 31, 2011. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $17 million, $8 million, and $209 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2011. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $8 million, $6 million, and $2 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2010. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include $13 million, $3 million, and $181 million at Ameren, Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively, as of December 31, 2010.
(h) Represents net gains(losses) on uranium derivative contracts at Ameren Missouri. These contracts are a partial hedge of our uranium requirements through December 2013 as of December 31, 2011. Current losses deferred as regulatory assets include less than $1 million and less than $1 million at Ameren and Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2011, respectively. Current gains deferred as regulatory liabilities include $2 million at Ameren and $2 million at Ameren Missouri as of December 31, 2010.

Derivative instruments are subject to various credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to the transaction. Exchange-traded contracts are supported by the financial and credit quality of the clearing members of the respective exchanges and have nominal credit risk. In all other transactions, we are exposed to credit risk. Our credit risk management program involves establishing credit limits and collateral requirements for counterparties, using master trading and netting agreements, and reporting daily exposure to senior management.

 

We believe that entering into master trading and netting agreements mitigates the level of financial loss that could result from default by allowing net settlement of derivative assets and liabilities. We generally enter into the following master trading and netting agreements: (1) the International Swaps and Derivatives Association Agreement, a standardized financial natural gas and electric contract; (2) the Master Power Purchase and Sale Agreement, created by the Edison Electric Institute and the National Energy Marketers Association, a standardized contract for the purchase and sale of wholesale power; and (3) the North American Energy Standards Board Inc. agreement, a standardized contract for the purchase and sale of natural gas. These master trading and netting agreements allow the counterparties to net settle sale and purchase transactions. Further, collateral requirements are calculated at a master trading and netting agreement level by counterparty.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

In determining our concentrations of credit risk related to derivative instruments, we review our individual counterparties and categorize each counterparty into one of eight groupings according to the primary business in which each engages. The following table presents the maximum exposure, as of December 31, 2011, and 2010, if counterparty groups were to fail completely to perform on contracts by grouping. The maximum exposure is based on the gross fair value of financial instruments, including NPNS contracts, which excludes collateral held, and does not consider the legally binding right to net transactions based on master trading and netting agreements.

 

      Affiliates(a)     

Coal

Producers

    

Commodity

Marketing

Companies

    

Electric

Utilities

    

Financial

Companies

    

Municipalities/

Cooperatives

     Oil and Gas
Companies
    

Retail

Companies

     Total  

2011:

                          

AMO

   $ 1       $ 35       $ 1       $ 4       $ 26       $ 4       $ -       $ -       $ 71   

AIC

     -         -         84         -         1         -         -         -         85   

Genco

     -         1         1         2         6         -         3         -         13   

Other(b)

     275         1         3         10         51         194         -         87         621   

Ameren

   $         276       $             37       $             89       $             16       $             84       $             198       $             3       $             87       $         790   

2010:

                          

AMO

   $ -       $ 21       $ 1       $ 2       $ 5       $ 11       $ 1       $ -       $ 41   

AIC

     -         -         3         -         1         -         -         -         4   

Genco

     -         6         2         1         1         -         6         -         16   

Other(b)

     410         3         10         19         65         539         3         72         1,121   

Ameren

   $ 410       $ 30       $ 16       $ 22       $ 72       $ 550       $ 10       $ 72       $ 1,182   

 

(a) Primarily composed of Marketing Company's exposure to Ameren Illinois related to financial contracts. The exposure is not eliminated at the consolidated Ameren level for purposes of this disclosure, as it is calculated without regard to the offsetting affiliate counterparty's liability position. See Note 14 – Related Party Transactions for additional information on these financial contracts.
(b) Includes amounts for Marketing Company, AERG, and AFS.

The potential loss on counterparty exposures is reduced by the application of master trading and netting agreements and collateral held to the extent of reducing the exposure to zero. Collateral includes both cash collateral and other collateral held. The amount of cash collateral held by Marketing Company from counterparties and based on the contractual rights under the agreements to seek collateral and the maximum exposure as calculated under the individual master trading and netting agreements was less than $1 million and $1 million from retail companies at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. There was no cash collateral held at Ameren registrant subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2011, other collateral used to reduce exposure consisted of letters of credit in the amount of $9 million, $1 million, $1 million, and $7 million held by Ameren, Ameren Missouri, Genco, and Marketing Company, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, other collateral used to reduce exposure consisted of letters of credit in the amount of $28 million and $1 million held by Ameren and Ameren Illinois, respectively. The following table presents the potential loss after consideration of the application of master trading and netting agreements and collateral held as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

      Affiliates(a)     

Coal

Producers

    

Commodity
Marketing

Companies

    

Electric

Utilities

    

Financial

Companies

    

Municipalities/

Cooperatives

     Oil and Gas
Companies
    

Retail

Companies

     Total  

2011:

                          

AMO

   $ 1       $ 35       $ 1       $ 3       $ 22       $ 4       $ -       $ -       $ 66   

AIC

     -         -         84         -         -         -         -         -         84   

Genco

     -         -         -         1         1         -         2         -         4   

Other(b)

     273         -         3         5         42         187         -         86         596   

Ameren

   $         274       $         35       $         88       $         9       $         65       $         191       $         2       $         86       $         750   

2010:

                          

AMO

   $ -       $ 8       $ -       $ 1       $ 2       $ 10       $ -       $ -       $ 21   

AIC

     -         -         2         -         -         -         -         -         2   

Genco

     -         1         1         1         1         -         5         -         9   

Other(b)

     404         1         8         7         56         513         2         71         1,062   

Ameren

   $         404       $         10       $         11       $         9       $         59       $         523       $         7       $         71       $       1,094   

 

(a) Primarily comprised of Marketing Company's exposure to Ameren Illinois related to financial contracts. The exposure is not eliminated at the consolidated Ameren level for purposes of this disclosure, as it is calculated without regard to the offsetting affiliate counterparty's liability position. See Note 14 – Related Party Transactions for additional information on these financial contracts.
(b) Includes amounts for Marketing Company, AERG, and AFS.

Derivative Instruments with Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features

Our commodity contracts contain collateral provisions tied to the Ameren Companies' credit ratings. If we were to experience an adverse change in our credit ratings, or if a counterparty with reasonable grounds for uncertainty regarding performance of an obligation requested adequate assurance of performance, additional collateral postings might be required. The following table presents, as of December 31, 2011, and 2010, the aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit risk-related contingent features in a gross liability position, the cash collateral posted, and the aggregate amount of additional collateral that could be required to be posted with counterparties. The additional collateral required is the net liability position allowed under the master trading and netting agreements assuming (1) the credit risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements were triggered on December 31, 2011, or 2010, respectively, and (2) those counterparties with rights to do so requested collateral:

 

     

Aggregate Fair Value of

Derivative Liabilities(a)

    

Cash

Collateral Posted

     Potential Aggregate Amount of
Additional Collateral Required(b)
 

2011:

        

Ameren Missouri

   $         102       $ 8       $ 86   

Ameren Illinois

     220                 96                 125   

Genco

     55         1         58   

Other(c)

     79         11         63   

Ameren

   $ 456       $ 116       $ 332   

2010:

        

Ameren Missouri

   $ 105       $ 7       $ 93   

Ameren Illinois

     233         109         111   

Genco

     31         -         28   

Other(c)

     62         18         42   

Ameren

   $ 431       $ 134       $ 274   

 

(a) Prior to consideration of master trading and netting agreements and including NPNS contract exposures.
(b) As collateral requirements with certain counterparties are based on master trading and netting agreements, the aggregate amount of additional collateral required to be posted is determined after consideration of the effects of such agreements.
(c) Includes amounts for Marketing Company and Ameren (parent).

 

Cash Flow Hedges

The following table presents the pretax net gain or loss for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, associated with derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges:

 

    

Gain (Loss)

Recognized in OCI(a)

   

Location of (Gain) Loss

Reclassified from

Accumulated OCI into

Income(b)

 

(Gain) Loss

Reclassified from

Accumulated OCI

into Income(b)

    Location of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income(c)
 

Gain (Loss)
Recognized

in Income(c)

 

2011:                        

         

Ameren:(d)

         

Power

  $ 6      Operating Revenues - Electric   $         5      Operating Revenues - Electric   $ (10

Interest rate(e)

    -      Interest Charges     (f   Interest Charges               -   

Genco:

         

Interest rate(e)

    -      Interest Charges     (f   Interest Charges     -   

2010:

         

Ameren:(d)

         

Power

  $ (2   Operating Revenues - Electric   $ (14   Operating Revenues - Electric   $ (3

Interest rate(e)

    -      Interest Charges     (f   Interest Charges     -   

Genco:

         

Interest rate(e)

    -      Interest Charges     (f   Interest Charges     -   

 

(a) Effective portion of gain (loss).
(b) Effective portion of (gain) loss on settlements.
(c) Ineffective portion of gain (loss) and amount excluded from effectiveness testing.
(d) Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries.
(e) Represents interest rate swaps settled in prior periods. The cumulative gain and loss on the interest rate swaps is being amortized into income over a 10-year period.
(f) Less than $1 million.

Other Derivatives

The following table represents the net change in market value associated with derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

     

Location of Gain (Loss)

Recognized in Income

  

Gain (Loss) Recognized

in Income

 
      2011     2010  

Ameren(a)

   Fuel oils    Operating Expenses - Fuel    $ (1   $ 9   
   Natural gas (generation)    Operating Expenses - Fuel      2        -   
     Power    Operating Revenues - Electric      (2     9   
          Total    $ (1   $ 18   

Ameren Missouri

   Natural gas (generation)    Operating Expenses - Fuel    $ (1   $ 1   

Genco

   Fuel oils    Operating Expenses - Fuel    $ (1   $ 7   
   Natural gas (generation)    Operating Expenses - Fuel      2        -   
     Power    Operating Revenues      (3     1   
          Total    $ (2   $ 8   

 

(a) Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries and intercompany eliminations.

 

 

Derivatives Subject to Regulatory Deferral

The following table represents the net change in market value associated with derivatives that qualify for regulatory deferral for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

     

Gain (Loss) Recognized

In Regulatory Liabilities

or Regulatory Assets

 
   2011      2010  

Ameren(a)

   Fuel oils    $ -       $ 14   
   Natural gas      (26      (91
   Power      80         12   
     Uranium      (3      4   
     Total    $ 51       $ (61

Ameren

   Fuel oils    $ -       $ 14   

Missouri

   Natural gas      -         (11
   Power      18         4   
     Uranium      (3      4   
     Total    $ 15       $ 11   

Ameren

   Natural gas    $ (26    $ (80

Illinois

   Power      212         70   
     Total    $ 186       $ (10

 

(a) Includes amounts for intercompany eliminations.

As part of the 2007 Illinois Electric Settlement Agreement and subsequent Illinois power procurement processes, Ameren Illinois entered into financial contracts with Marketing Company. These financial contracts are derivative instruments. They are accounted for as cash flow hedges by Marketing Company and as derivatives that qualify for regulatory deferral by Ameren Illinois. Consequently, Ameren Illinois and Marketing Company record the fair value of the contracts on their respective balance sheets and the changes to the fair value in regulatory assets or liabilities by Ameren Illinois and OCI by Marketing Company. In Ameren's consolidated financial statements, all financial statement effects of the derivative instruments entered into among affiliates were eliminated. See Note 14 – Related Party Transactions for additional information on these financial contracts. The following table presents the fair value of the financial contracts included on Ameren Illinois' balance sheet at December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

            2011      2010  

Ameren Illinois

   MTM derivative liabilities - affiliates    $ 200       $ 172   
     Other deferred credits and liabilities      -         178   
     Total    $ 200       $ 350