Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

The classification of the Registrants' fair value measurements requires judgment regarding the degree to which market data is observable or corroborated by observable market data. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value based on observable and unobservable data. The hierarchy categorizes the inputs into three levels, with the highest priority given to quoted prices in active markets for identical unrestricted assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority given to unobservable inputs (Level 3). Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels defined in the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical unrestricted assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.

Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable at the reporting date for the asset or liability for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

Level 3 inputs are prices or valuation techniques for the asset or liability that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity). Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk).

The Registrants had no financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2020 and 2019. The following table presents the carrying amount and fair value of the Registrants' financial instruments at December 31, 2020 and 2019, as well as the classification level within the fair value hierarchy.


	2020				2019
December 31 (In millions)	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Classification
Long-term Debt (including Long-term Debt due within one year):
OG&E Senior Notes	$	3,349.6	$	4,182.1	$	3,050.3	$	3,500.4	Level 2
OG&E Industrial Authority Bonds	$	135.4	$	135.4	$	135.4	$	135.4	Level 2
Tinker Debt	$	9.4	$	10.7	$	9.5	$	10.0	Level 3

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

As further discussed in Note 5, OGE Energy recorded an impairment on its investment in Enable in March 2020. The nonrecurring fair value measurement consisted of calculating a 20-trading day volume weighted average price for Enable's common units through March 31, 2020. This method of valuation was determined to be representative of the fair value of Enable's common units as it incorporated market prices during the period and reduced the impact of volatility that a single day could represent. OGE Energy concluded that this valuation method resulted in a Level 3 nonrecurring fair value measurement.

- Definition

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

+ References + Details