Fair Value Measurements and Guarantees

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements and Guarantees [Text Block]

Note 13 – Fair Value Measurements and Guarantees

The following table presents, by level within the fair value hierarchy, certain of our financial assets and liabilities. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, margin deposits, and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. Therefore, these assets and liabilities are not presented in the following table.

							Fair Value Measurements Using
	Carrying Amount			Fair Value			Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(Millions)
Assets (liabilities) at September 30, 2019:
Measured on a recurring basis:
ARO Trust investments	$	187		$	187		$	187		$	—		$	—
Energy derivatives assets not designated as hedging instruments	4			4			4			—			—
Energy derivatives liabilities not designated as hedging instruments	(5		)	(5		)	(2		)	—			(3		)
Additional disclosures:
Long-term debt, including current portion	(22,257		)	(25,234		)	—			(25,234		)	—
Guarantees	(42		)	(29		)	—			(13		)	(16		)
Assets (liabilities) at December 31, 2018:
Measured on a recurring basis:
ARO Trust investments	$	150		$	150		$	150		$	—		$	—
Energy derivatives assets not designated as hedging instruments	3			3			3			—			—
Energy derivatives liabilities not designated as hedging instruments	(7		)	(7		)	(4		)	—			(3		)
Additional disclosures:
Long-term debt, including current portion	(22,414		)	(23,330		)	—			(23,330		)	—
Guarantees	(43		)	(30		)	—			(14		)	(16		)

Fair Value Methods

We use the following methods and assumptions in estimating the fair value of our financial instruments:

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis

ARO Trust investments: Transco deposits a portion of its collected rates, pursuant to its rate case settlement, into an external trust (ARO Trust) that is specifically designated to fund future asset retirement obligations (ARO). The ARO Trust invests in a portfolio of actively traded mutual funds that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis based on quoted prices in an active market and is reported in Regulatory assets, deferred charges, and other in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Both realized and unrealized gains and losses are ultimately recorded as regulatory assets or liabilities.

Energy derivatives: Energy derivatives include commodity-based exchange-traded contracts and over-the-counter contracts, which consist of physical forwards, futures, and swaps that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value amounts are presented on a gross basis and do not reflect the netting of asset and liability positions

permitted under the terms of our master netting arrangements. Further, the amounts do not include cash held on deposit in margin accounts that we have received or remitted to collateralize certain derivative positions. Energy derivatives assets are reported in Other current assets and deferred charges and Regulatory assets, deferred charges, and other in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Energy derivatives liabilities are reported in Accrued liabilities and Regulatory liabilities, deferred income, and other in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Reclassifications of fair value between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, if applicable, are made at the end of each quarter. No transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 or 2018.

Additional fair value disclosures

Long-term debt, including current portion: The disclosed fair value of our long-term debt is determined primarily by a market approach using broker quoted indicative period-end bond prices. The quoted prices are based on observable transactions in less active markets for our debt or similar instruments. The fair values of the financing obligations associated with our Dalton lateral and Atlantic Sunrise projects, which are included within long-term debt, were determined using an income approach.

Guarantees: Guarantees primarily consist of a guarantee we have provided in the event of nonpayment by our previously owned communications subsidiary, Williams Communications Group (WilTel), on a lease performance obligation that extends through 2042. Guarantees also include an indemnification related to a disposed operation.

To estimate the fair value of the WilTel guarantee, an estimated default rate is applied to the sum of the future contractual lease payments using an income approach. The estimated default rate is determined by obtaining the average cumulative issuer-weighted corporate default rate based on the credit rating of WilTel’s current owner and the term of the underlying obligation. The default rate is published by Moody’s Investors Service. The carrying value of the WilTel guarantee is reported in Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The maximum potential undiscounted exposure is approximately $28 million at September 30, 2019. Our exposure declines systematically through the remaining term of WilTel’s obligation.

The fair value of the guarantee associated with the indemnification related to a disposed operation was estimated using an income approach that considered probability-weighted scenarios of potential levels of future performance. The terms of the indemnification do not limit the maximum potential future payments associated with the guarantee. The carrying value of this guarantee is reported in Regulatory liabilities, deferred income, and other in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

We are required by our revolving credit agreement to indemnify lenders for certain taxes required to be withheld from payments due to the lenders and for certain tax payments made by the lenders. The maximum potential amount of future payments under these indemnifications is based on the related borrowings and such future payments cannot currently be determined. These indemnifications generally continue indefinitely unless limited by the underlying tax regulations and have no carrying value. We have never been called upon to perform under these indemnifications and have no current expectation of a future claim.

Nonrecurring fair value measurements

The following table presents impairments of assets and equity-method investments associated with certain nonrecurring fair value measurements within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, except as specifically noted.

					Impairments
					Nine Months Ended   September 30,
	Segment	Date of Measurement	Fair Value		2019			2018
			(Millions)
Impairment of certain assets:
Certain gathering assets (1)	West	June 30, 2019	$	40	$	59
Certain idle gathering assets (2)	West	March 31, 2019	—		12
Certain idle pipeline assets (3)	Other	June 30, 2018	25					$	66
Other impairments and write-downs					5			—
Impairment of certain assets					$	76		$	66
Impairment of equity-method investments:
Laurel Mountain (4)	Northeast G&P	September 30, 2019	$	242	$	79
Appalachia Midstream Investments (5)	Northeast G&P	September 30, 2019	102		17
Pennant (6)	Northeast G&P	August 31, 2019	11		17
UEOM (7)	Northeast G&P	March 17, 2019	1,210		74
Other					(1		)
Impairment of equity-method investments					$	186

_______________

(1) Relates to a gas gathering system in the Eagle Ford region with expected declines in asset utilization and possible idling of the gathering system. The estimated fair value of the Property, plant, and equipment – net was determined using a market approach which incorporated indications of interest from third parties.

(2) Reflects impairment of Property, plant, and equipment – net that is no longer in use for which the fair value was determined to be lower than the carrying value.

(3) Relates to certain idle pipelines. The estimated fair value of the Property, plant, and equipment – net was determined by a market approach incorporating information derived from bids received for these assets, which we marketed for sale together with certain other assets. These inputs resulted in a fair value measurement within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. We sold these assets in the fourth quarter of 2018.

(4) Relates to a gas gathering system in the Marcellus region that was adversely impacted by lower sustained forward natural gas price expectations and changes in expected producer activity. The estimated fair value was determined using an income approach. We utilized a discount rate of 10.2 percent in our analysis. This impairment is reported in Other investing income (loss) – net in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

(5) Relates to a certain gathering system held in Appalachia Midstream Investments that was adversely impacted by changes in the timing of expected producer activity. The estimated fair value was determined using an income approach. We utilized a discount rate of 9.0 percent in our analysis. This impairment is reported in Other investing income (loss) – net in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

(6) The estimated fair value of Pennant Midstream, LLC (“Pennant”) was determined by a market approach based on recent observable third-party transactions. These inputs resulted in a fair value measurement within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. This impairment is reported in Other investing income (loss) – net in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

(7)

The estimated fair value was determined by a market approach based on the transaction price for the purchase of the remaining interest in UEOM as finalized just prior to the signing and closing of the acquisition in March 2019 (see Note 2 – Acquisitions). These inputs resulted in a fair value measurement within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. This impairment is reported in Other investing income (loss) - net in the Consolidated Statement of Income.